Hi everyone,

This is a bloody long chapter, maybe grab a tea before you start to read?

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Chapter 41: Charge of the Stag

A few hours later in the evening ….

Blackwater Bay, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Lannister) in the Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms

Stannis turned to his Hand, "Stay on Silent Storm with Shireen. I can't have my best adviser die before my reign has really begun. Lord Grafton and Commander Strickland are leading the current charge."

"You will hear no complaints from me, your Grace," Ser Davos said in an understanding tone. "I am not much of a fighter. I will remain on the ship."

Stannis gave a stiff nod before jumping down from the ship into a smaller boat to join the mass of small boats carrying his army towards the doomed city of King's Landing.

Davos watched as the torches of the assaulting force lit up the black water. There was hardly an area of Blackwater Bay that was not touched by the light of Stannis's new found god.

"It is beautiful is it not," Melisandre said, startling the old smuggler.

"Men rowing to their possible deaths?" Davos replied in a churlish voice.

The red woman took hold of Davos's fingerless hand. "No, faith in destiny. Stannis is the Prince that was Promised and he will take back King's Landing from those that do not believe in the Lord of Light and he will cast away the shadows that plague its inhabitants."

Davos took his malformed hand back from Melisandre's grip and stated in a dour voice, "Only if he survives the siege."

"Your lack of faith in your King is disturbing, especially when the Lord of Light has ordained your King to be the one to combat the impending darkness. I have already given a sacrifice to ensure that Stannis will be victorious this time."

Melisandre started to move away from Ser Davos but the Onion Knight struck out his good hand blocking the red priestess exit from the conversation.

"What do you mean sacrifice," he said with a look of dread covering his face.

"Stannis knows what I did," she calmly said.

Davos lowered his arm and charged towards the lower decks of the ship.

The red priestess didn't follow Ser Davos's movement, knowing already what he was going to find. Instead she settled on the ships bow to watch the growing stream of torches advance on King's Landing's shores. Some boats had already reached the shores. Shouts and screams started to reach her ears and the noise of war started to dominate the Bay.

A few minutes later Davos appeared by her side again.

"Why?" he asked in a somber tone.

"King Stannis asked me to do everything in my powers to secure his victory this time," Melisandre said not taking her eyes away from the fiery scene in front of her.

Davos copied her and looked out into the bay, watching as the light of the massing torches reflected on the sea and started to converge on King's Landing's walls.

"Stannis knew that you were going to kill her?"

A second later Davos felt the red priestesses press a hand to his cheek and it took all of his restraint not to flinch away from her touch or the ignited show of belief in her eyes as she paralyzed the old smuggler with her words.

"I didn't kill her Ser Davos. I gave her the poison, she swallowed it of her own volition. She wanted to help Stannis become the King that she knew he could become. The man that would bring light to a land full of darkness. I watch as the poison burned through her and not for one moment did she regret her decision. She was a true believer and she will now walk eternally in the light of R'hllor."

"You have left a daughter without her mother."

"Yes, but Princes Shireen is not alone. She has you. And her father will be King," Melisandre said as she returned her attention to the siege of King's Landing.

Davos didn't carry the conversation on further he seemed to struggle to find the words to appropriately express his disgust or was silently thanking whatever gods were listening that it had been Selyse and not Shireen that Melisandre had chosen to sacrifice.

Same time ….

Outer walls of King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Lannister) in the Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms

"Notch, Loose. Just bloody keep firing," Bronn yelled at the City Watch guards that lined the outer walls of King's Landing.

He knew and the men knew that they simply didn't have the numbers to repel the invading force. Even if every time they drew an arrow it killed a man there weren't enough arrows for the mass of men that were running towards them.

Bronn spotted Tyrion and Tommen on the wall, looking down at the screaming cluster of Baratheon, Arryn and Golden Company men. Some were ramming the gate; some were firing arrows back at the defenders and some were climbing ladders to reach the top of the walls.

"What no bright idea this time," Bronn shouted at his friend as he ran past him to kick a ladder off the wall.

"Last time I had more time," Tyrion looked around him, "and more men."

"We aren't wining this are we Uncle?" Tommen asked in a soft voice that was misplaced on the battlefield.

"No, your Grace we are not," Tyrion agreed, impressed Tommen hadn't transformed into a puddle of tears seeing his first real experience of war.

Tyrion had tried to convince Tommen to stay with Cersei and Margaery in Maegor's Holdfast but the young King had insisted it was his responsibility to lead the defenders and protect his people.

He was already a million times a better king that Joffrey had been but his reign was about to be shorter than his elder brothers.

"Maybe you shouldn't have sent that tall Lord to the cells. He looked like he could handle a sword and would have been useful in a fight," Bronn said as he fired a crossbow into the swarming men below the walls of King's Landing.

"What Lord Royce? You do realised he is a Vale Lord and some of the men below trying to kill us are from the Vale. If he had stayed and I had given him a sword he would have been more likely to cut your head off than help us," Tyrion expounded.

Bronn shrugged and opened his mouth to hurl some abuse at a city watchman who had dropped his bow in terror at the fiery sea below them but was interrupted when an almighty crashing sound indicated that the gate had been breached.

"Now the real fun begins," Bronn said with a smile only a fighting man could conjure up as he unsheathed his sword and dagger.

"We need to work on your definition of fun if we survive this," Tyrion replied as he and Tommen followed Bronn down the stairs to meet Stannis's forces.

Tommen rushed after his Uncle and the rough sell-sword as he fumbled with his Valyrian sword to release it from its sheath.

The Valyrian sword felt unnatural in his hand. Since his brother had died his grandfather had insisted upon a strict regime to build him into the best King he could be but a few months of swordsmanship, military strategy lessons and political lectures from the mighty Tywin Lannister had not prepared him to wield his late brother's sword in combat or repel his Uncle's siege with such limited resources.

Tommen ran down the stairs into the mob of men below knowing that he would most likely not make the trip back up the stairs. What drove him on into the throng of clashing men below was fear.

Fear that if Stannis won everyone he loved would suffer.

Tommen swung his sword at the nearest Baratheon solider not out of spite or anger but out of love for his family. For the Uncle that fought beside him; for his mother that worried for him; for his sister who he promised he would see again; for his grandfather who said he had the potential for greatness; and for his wife that had coaxed out the man inside the boy.

The swing connected with the Baratheon man's arm and the solider turned his attention from the city watchman he had just cut down to the young man that had just missed a perfect killing opportunity.

The man thrashed out with his sword and Tommen only just parried it but ended up on his back at the force of the blow. The Baratheon solider stalked after him as the young King scrambled backwards trying to regain his footing.

"Leave him," a stern voice shouted out and the Baratheon man moved away from Tommen to reveal the would-be usurper Stannis Baratheon.

"You have grown since I last saw you," Stannis said as he watched his young nephew climb back to his feet and hold Widow's Wail in front of him.

Stannis knew from the boy's stance and hold on his sword that he was no threat. He would make this quick. Stannis tightened his grip on his own sword and strode towards the current King of the Seven Kingdoms.

To Tommen's credit he swung first but Stannis easily parried then ripped the sword from the young boy's weak hold and tossed it to the ground.

Stannis pressed forward with his own sword out in front of him and his intentions were clear.

"Stop," a loud voice came from behind Stannis, "If you kill him now you will have one less bargaining chip to barter with when my father comes back and is baying for your head."

Stannis paused his advance towards the frightened and defenseless boy.

He turned around to see that his men had overwhelmed the remaining defenses and were pushing deeper into King's Landing. He saw the current Lord Hand covered in mud, pushed to the floor looking at him with pleading eyes.

The dwarf was right. Tywin Lannister wasn't a man to take lightly and once news of his victory reached the Old Lion he would march his armies back to King's Landing.

Stannis sheathed his sword.

If Eddard's Starks death was a strategic mistake, the lesson was not to execute valuable prisoners who could be used to sue for peace or control your enemies.

Stannis had made enough mistakes in his bid for the Iron Throne. He wasn't going to make any more when securing his reign.

Same time ….

Maegor's Holdfast, Red Keep, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Lannister) in the Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms

"Calm down and sit-down Margaery, you can't influence what happens now. We are at the mercy of the victor," Olenna said to her pacing granddaughter.

"How can you remain so calm?" Margaery asked.

"Life is too short to worry about which man can beat the shit out of another man the best. We just need to ensure that we are more valuable alive than dead."

"Grandmother," Margaery half laughed half reprimanded as the vulgar language attracted the attention of the other noble ladies that were cooped up with them.

"It is true though," Olenna said while indicating for Margaery to sit beside her and once her granddaughter rested near her, she whispered, "If Tommen still reigns when the sun sets, great everything can procced as normal. You are the Queen. If Stannis wins, well he will still need grain and our support in the Reach. He will most likely murder Tommen if the poor boy isn't already dead and we will be back were we started."

"You think Stannis will just let us go?" Margaery said unconvinced.

"What other choice does he have? He can't kill everyone that has opposed him in the past. There would be no one left to rule over," Olenna stated.

"This is a man that killed his own brother for the Throne," Margaery said remembering her first husband.

"Yes, and a man that did that won't have many friends will he," Olenna postulated, "He will have to look for allies where he can get them."

Margaery conceded the point but still retained her worried look.

Kenna stifled a yawn as she gently squeezed Sansa's hand. "Don't worry. One way or another this will all be over soon and no matter who is King your head isn't on the chopping block."

"What about yours," Sansa said in an almost inaudible voice.

That is a good question, thought Kenna. If Stannis won all was rosy for her and the Vale's future; if Tommen remained and Tywin decided to punish Kenna for her role in bringing Stannis to King's Landing then a beheading might be a nice outcome for her.

Kenna smiled back at Sansa, "Let me worry about my head."

"Do you think Tyrion will be allowed to live if he survives?"

"Probably not, his last name is Lannister," Kenna said casually.

"Our last names are Lannister," Sansa noted with a hint of fear clinging to her once she had spoken the words.

"So they are," Kenna mumbled, not concerned as Stannis knew her contribution to this night.

In her mind she had never left the Arryn name behind and Sansa was still a Stark in her eyes and in the Light of the Seven since her marriage to Tyrion was still unconsummated.

"I hope he survives and can convince Stannis not to execute him and us. He isn't like the rest of his family. He gave me this to protect myself."

Kenna looked down to see Sansa holding a slim knife in one hand.

"And why would you need that here?" Kenna inquired, resisting the temptation to show Sansa her own knives.

Sansa shifted her head towards the only man in the room.

Ser Ilyn Pyne leaned against the barred door scanning the room every so often.

"He isn't just here for our protection you know," Sansa said into Kenna's ear.

Kenna nodded considering how best to kill the mute before he killed her, realizing that the only reason he would be in the room would be to ensure that certain noble women died if Stannis was victorious and Kenna knew her name would be on his list as well as Sansa's.

Her murderous intent was interrupted when she heard her name wafted through the confined space.

"Lady Kenna, I asked you a question."

Kenna turned her head to see Cersei looking at her expectantly.

"Apologies Lady Cersei, what did you ask me?" Kenna said as she stood from her seated position with Sansa to approach the blond lady and her gaggle of noble women.

"I asked you if you knew how many Valemen where trying to breach the walls of King's Landing to rape and murder us," Cersei said in a loud voice gaining the attention of all those gathered in Maegor's Holdfast.

"Zero as far as I know," Kenna answered quickly aware of the distrustful looks she was getting from the other noble ladies.

"I saw the symbol of your house on one of the ships sails," a noble lady piped up from behind Cersei.

Shut up bitch, Kenna mentally attacked the lady as she sensed the anger and worry of the trapped ladies build. Even Olenna and Margaery were looking at her with darkened eyes.

Kenna tried to calm the situation down and replied in her most assuring voice, "Yes, there are Valemen assaulting the walls of King's Landing but none of them are here to rape and murder you."

"All men in war will rape and murder the conquered," Cersei stated with conviction as she began to stoke the fear and anxiety in the room, "Her men are no different. She is Stannis's ally. She brought Stannis here. She is the reason why King's Landing is under attack. Why your husbands and sons are fighting for their lives right now and why we cower in fear waiting for her men to find us."

There was a beat of silence before one of the younger women behind Cersei launched herself at Kenna, clawing at her face and screaming incoherently.

A few other ladies copied and soon Kenna was fending off half a dozen women.

Kenna heard Olenna shouts to stop as she tried to push the women away and calm them down but after a few punches and scratches to her face and an elbow to her ribs she realised she was in a deadly situation and had to respond in kind.

She screamed in rage as she struck out with her knives and embedded her talons in the nearest woman. It was the woman who had first attacked her that felt her fury.

She immediately regretted her outburst of anger as she stared into the face of the woman she had just stabbed. The woman was younger than Kenna, probably around Sansa's age. The shock and terror that flashed through the woman's eyes pushed all the air from Kenna's lungs and the rage that had consumed her in that deadly moment ebbed from Kenna as quickly as it had flowed into her.

These women weren't her enemies. They were just scared.

The wounded woman fell from Kenna's hands to grip at her stomach and crumbled to the floor.

Margaery rushed towards the fallen lady as the other ladies who had assaulted Kenna backed away from the bloody scene realizing that it could have been one of them that now lay dying on the floor before Kenna.

Kenna looked from her bloody hands to Cersei's face. She was smiling ear to ear.

For a full minute no one spoke till Margaery looked up from her kneeling position by the stabbed woman at Kenna, "She is dead." You killed her, were the unspoken words from Margery's lips.

"Ser Ilyn kill her," Cersei ordered as she brought a cup of wine to her lips. If this was going to be her last night in this world, she was going to enjoy herself and cause as much damage to her enemies as possible.

Fuck. Kenna mentally swore as she looked at Ser Ilyn Pyne.

The mute executioner unsheathed his long sword and walked slowly to Kenna ignoring the calls from Olenna to stop. All Kenna could do was back away from him as she ran out of space. He had the longer weapon and Kenna held no hope that an experienced solider such as Ser Ilyan Pyne would miss time a swing to allow her to reach him with her shorter blades.

Kenna's back hit the wall but the Stranger's servant kept coming towards her. His steps were deliberately slow as if he cherished the fearful moments before death rather than the act of killing itself.

Ser Illyn Pyne grimaced at Kenna or it might have been an attempt at a smile. Kenna didn't care her focus wasn't on the man's face but on his weapon as it gleamed in the candle light.

Kenna braced her hands on the wall behind her. If she was going to die, she was going to die fighting not trapped against the wall waiting for the killing blow.

She pushed herself from the wall and struck out with one of her knifes in the hope she would reach Ser Ilyn Pyne before his sword cut her in half.

She got half way between them before she knew it would be futile to continue in her dash and the next actions all appeared to happen in slow motion.

Ser Ilyn Pyne dropped his long sword and it clattered to the floor. His hands went to his neck where a slim blade protruded. Behind him stood Sansa who appeared to be in a state of total shock at what she had just done.

She stabbed him, Kenna deduced as the executioner pulled the blade from his throat. Blood started to spurt from the open wound but the grizzly man turned away from Kenna and faced Sansa.

He stepped towards Sansa and for a moment Kenna was worried she would have to intervene but after a few unsteady steps Ser Ilyn Pyne too fell to the floor before Sansa.

The frozen girl continued to look at the dead man, even when his blood reached her shoes.

Kenna recovered first and she slowly looked from the dead man's growing pool of blood to Cersei.

Your turn, Kenna communicated with her eyes alone.

The older woman dropped the cup she was drinking from and jumped out of the chair she had been reclining in as Kenna stormed towards her with her knives out.

"Fucking bitch," Kenna growled as she closed on Cersei.

The slap echoed throughout the chamber they were in and Cersei's screams followed as Kenna cornered the former Queen against the wall and dragged her knife over Cersei's left cheek, drawing blood as she went.

Kenna heard Olenna's and Margaery's cries to stop but they were as ineffectual with Kenna as they had been with Ser Ilyn Pyne.

Then she heard a voice that mattered.

"Please stop."

Kenna turned her head back to look at Sansa. Silent tears steaked her face. The candle light revealed a profound sadness in her eyes.

"Don't let them turn you into a monster. Don't become like them," Sansa said, her voice heavy with anguish at the scene in front of her and the violence she had just witnessed and committed. "Please stop."

I think it might be too late for that my dear child, Kenna thought but she relented and allowed Cersei to slide down the wall cradling her bloody cheek.

Kenna went to Sansa and gathered her into a hug. The red head buried her head into Kenna's neck and released the waterfall of tears that she had been holding back. Kenna too let the stress of the day and her recent actions wash over her.

Loud banging could be heard at the door and the squeaking of the hinges indicated it wouldn't hold for much longer.

Kenna disengaged from Sansa and lightly pushed her behind herself so that Kenna was in between Sansa and the weakening door.

Kenna took in a deep breath. If a Crown loyalist broke down the door it meant death. If a Stannis loyalist broke down the door it meant life.

The door fell to the floor.

Lord Royce stomped through the doorway with Lord Grafton and a cluster of Arryn men on his heels.

"Kenna," Lord Royce murmured as he reached his lady and grasped at her shoulder in a supporting manner.

Kenna gave him a small smile in return and couldn't hold back the tears that fell from her eyes.

She was free. Free of the Lannisters. Free of King's Landing. Free of her revenge. Free to rule the Eyrie as she wished.

"I thought you would be pleased to see us," Lord Grafton rumbled as his men rounded up the trapped ladies and escorted them out of the room.

"I am so pleased to see you Lord Grafton, you really have no idea," Kenna said to the stocky Lord. "Where are your men taking Cersei and the Tyrells?"

"Stannis wants any important prisoners brought to him in the throne room once they have been found," the sailing Lord replied in a jolly tone.

"I presume that I and Lady Sansa don't fall into that category," Kenna clarified.

"Over my dead body would you or Eddard Stark's daughter be dragged into the throne room as a prisoner," Lord Grafton declared passionately.

Kenna had forgotten how carefree and gladsome Lord Grafton could be. The Graftons' alongside the Royces' where one of the most loyal houses to the Arryns. Lord Grafton's personal loyalty to Kenna was the main reason she had chosen him to command the three-thousand men that had set sail before the fall of the Eyrie, and because he was the best sea captain that the Vale had to offer.

Lord Royce exchanged a look with Lord Grafton and the smaller Lord offered his hand to Sansa, "Come Lady Sansa I will ensure your safety and you are now under my protection until the day that Queen Kenna releases me from that duty."

"I am still a Queen to you?" Kenna said in a chipper voice.

"You never stopped being a Queen in my eyes," Lord Grafton said as he winked at Kenna, "but just a word of warning when I referred to you as such in front of Stannis, he nearly had me thrown overboard."

Kenna nodded at this piece of information and Lord Grafton offered Sansa his arm and the two left the chamber leaving Lord Royce and Kenna alone with the two dead bodies.

"Care to explain what happened here," Lord Royce gently inquired as he guided Kenna into a comforting hug, just glad that they had been reunited and were now free of the Lannister's influence.

I'd rather not, Kenna silently answered as she melted into Lord Royce's embrace.

A few days later during a sunny morning ….

Nightsong, Seat of power of House Caron guarding the Prince's Pass, southwestern Stormlands

Tywin looked down onto the Prince's Pass that cut through the Red Mountains like a river from the formidable castle of Nightsong as his hands rested on the outer wall of the castle.

He was due to meet with Prince Doran in the valley below at midday to negotiate the conflict between the Crown and Dorne.

Tywin knew better than to trust the word of a Dornishman alone. He had dragged Prince Oberyn all the way from King's Landing with him so he could use him to treat with his elder brother.

Tywin ran over his tactical positioning in his head. The Tyrells were blocking off the Boneway pass so the Dornish forces couldn't slip past there and his own men were guarding the Prince's Pass. There was nowhere for the Dornish army to go but through either the Lannister or Tyrell host if they wanted to attack north that is. And if they attacked one army the other was free to advance further into Dorne and lay siege to Sunspear.

Of course, Tywin knew of the troubles the Targaryens encountered when trying to conquer Dorne but the threat of an invasion was a card he would like to hold when discussing the future with Prince Doran as well as the threat of executing Prince Oberyn.

"It is time, Father," Tywin heard Jamie say behind him.

Tywin narrowed his eyes as he looked down into the sandy valley below.

"So it is," came his thinking reply.

Jamie trotted beside his father as the hundred strong Lannister party approached the waiting Dornish men. The Dornish had set up a massive tent to shield the talks from the sun and the wind whipped sand.

Jamie saw that Prince Doran was sitting in a wooden wheelchair underneath the roof of open tent, flanked by an enormous black man that wielded a wickedly curved spear. A couple dozen Dornishmen surrounded their Prince with hands on weapons as the Lannister men halted their horses a few dozen meters shy of the tent.

Jamie squinted his eyes towards the tent and saw that Prince Doran was talking to what looked like a miniature version of himself and a young-looking blond lady who sat in the surrounding recliners.

Myrcella, Jamie's mind shouted. His daughter was here.

"If they start the violence, we will finish it," Tywin stated to his son as he dismounted reading the tension in Jamie's face.

Jamie followed suit while containing his unease and they made their way towards the sitting party surrounded by a ring of Lannister guards.

"Lord Tywin, Lord Jamie" Prince Doran greeted.

"Prince Doran, Prince Trystane, granddaughter. Shall we begin," Tywin said authoritatively, as if the presence of his granddaughter changed nothing.

Prince Doran waved his hands indicating the Lannister Lords should sit at the placed chairs but both green eyed men ignored the chairs and remained standing, a few meters away from the Prince as if highlighting Doran's inability to stand.

Jamie saw the tall black man's hands grip his weapon tighter and his own hand went to the hilt of his valyrian sword, although he doubted, he could defeat the black giant if it came to it.

"I came to negotiate the truce between the Crown and Dorne. Not exchange pleasantries," Tywin's voice boomed.

"Well then. Let's negotiate," Doran said in a strong voice as he leaned forward in his chair. "You have my brother. I want him back."

"He tried to kill me," Tywin pointed out in an unamused tone.

"In revenge for the deaths of our sister, nephew and niece," Doran glowered.

"The Mountain did that, not I."

"He was your man; you were his commander. Are you are saying that the Great Lion of Casterly Rock couldn't control his own mad dog?" Doran insulted.

Tywin eyes wandered from Doran to Myrcella as if noticing her for the first time. "As I told your brother, I cannot be held responsible for every action one of my men takes in a war."

Doran sat back in his chair in response to Tywin's words and clear shift in focus, "You know my brother's response to that claim and I am inclined to agree with him."

Tywin ignored the obvious accusation in Doran's words, "Then you might meet the same fate as him."

"No one has ever conquered Dorne. Do you think you could change that?" Prince Trystane challenged, clearly rattled by Tywin's thinly veiled threat.

Tywin turned his head to address the young Prince and observed how his granddaughter's hand rested on Trystane's arm as if tempering him.

"If I must," Tywin said hitting the young man with an icy stare.

"If you must," repeated Doran taking Tywin's attention away from his son. "Meaning you are seeking another option?"

"I once sought out a Dornish alliance. I know we are beyond that now but what I want is a truce. Your armies will stay in Dorne and-"

"Let me guess your armies will stay out of Dorne?" Doran guessed.

Tywin nodded.

"You have just confessed you would like to avoid a war with us which indicates to me you don't think you would have much success. So, forgive me if I already believe that your armies will stay out of Dorne regardless of what I do with mine."

Tywin narrowed his eyes at the crippled Prince and signaled to one of his Lannister guards who promptly disappeared from view.

"If you force me, I will crush your armies and take your cities but not before I have your brother's throat slit before you. I can have that arranged right now if this negotiation concludes without any significant terms agreed."

"Your granddaughter sits in front of you and you talk of killing my brother," Doran expounded.

Tywin replied reading the implication in Doran's words, "If I kill Oberyn I am just serving justice to a man that tried to kill me while you would be killing an innocent little girl who was to become your own good-daughter. You will have lost your brother; your son's future wife and you would have two strong hosts knocking at your gates. Yes, you may inflict many casualties but Dorne will fall. I will make sure of that."

Doran locked eyes with Tywin, "You would play with your granddaughter's life?"

The anxiety in the tent was almost palpable as both Jamie and Trystane caught onto what their fathers were discussing while Myrcella managed to control her features so that the only outwardly sign of stress was the tight grip she had on Trystane's arm.

Tywin stood steadfast and delivered his answer with an air of confidence, "I would have an end to this stupidity your brother has started. He may have wanted war, death and blood but you are a man of peace. Don't let your brother's actions dictate the future of Dorne."

Prince Doran looked into Tywin's eyes. Here was a man that meant what he said. It was true that his brother had always been the fiery one of the two and he held no appetite for war. Especially a war that could be postponed till the Targaryen girl and her dragons had crossed the Narrow Sea.

But he saw through all of Tywin's words. The Lion Lord didn't want war either. He didn't want to waste his men on Dorne if war could be avoided.

Doran knew that a smart man wouldn't invade Dorne but simply keep the Dornish behind the Prince's Pass and The Boneway. As hard as it was to invade Dorne it was equally just as hard for Dorne to invade the Reach or Stormlands due to the two easily defended pathways. Whether there would be war or peace the most likely outcome was two armies stuck on the border of Dorne and the Stormlands fighting or staring at each other.

Tywin was a smart man; he knew this despite his words of invasion. Doran was a smart man as well. Both didn't truly want war against the other.

Not yet anyway.

It had been Oberyn's actions that had brought them together and necessitated this meeting. And it was his brother that he now fixed his eyes on.

Doran sent Tywin a chilling stare as the Lannister guard that Tywin had sent away returned escorting his brother and pushing him so that the Prince of Dorne fell to his knees beside Tywin.

Prince Oberyn's hands were tied and the guard remained one step away from him. Gone was that cocky smile that normally graced his face. There was no swagger in the way he had walked and he hadn't moved with his usual fluidity. His skin was the palest Doran had ever seen it, no doubt a consequence of being locked in dungeons cells. But the most striking aspect of his little brother was how his shoulders stooped and how his eyes stayed on the ground. There was no spark of intrigue or simmering playfulness that Oberyn usually held in himself.

Then it hit Doran. This was his brother when he was beaten and in despair. Doran had never seen his brother defeated. He doubted his brother had ever been beaten before. The image before him chilled him to the bone.

Sending you to King's Landing was a mistake, Doran chided himself as he looked at his weakened brother.

Tywin flicked his eyes between the brothers. "I want to conclude our negotiations today Prince Doran. It will either be war tomorrow or peace."

"You haven't given any terms yet," Doran pointed out tearing his eyes away from Oberyn.

Tywin walked towards the immobile Prince as he spoke, "My terms are simple. We both stand-down our armies. Your brother remains my hostage to ensure your future cooperation. And to make it clear that House Martell and the Crown are committed to this truce, I suggest that my granddaughter and your son are married before either of our armies start their marches home."

Tywin had stopped a mere foot away from Doran, within the swing of the wicked looking spear that Doran's bodyguard held.

Doran gave his brother a pained look, knowing that if Tywin was struck down so would the Red Viper feel the touch of cold steel. From the confidence radiating from Tywin he knew Doran's preference was for everyone to live, not for everyone to die.

"I agree will all your terms but I will add one of my own," Doran said up at Tywin before continuing, "Oberyn's paramour, Ellaria, she is the mother to four of my nieces. I would have her returned to me if not my brother."

Tywin held out a hand, "Agreed."

Doran slowly met Tywin's hand with his own. "Just know Lord Tywin Dorne will never forget."

Tywin inclined his head, allowing Doran the last word if it so pleased him.

That afternoon ….

Jamie kicked his horse on beside his father as they returned to their main host. His mind was running over what had just happened since they had left Trystane and Myrcella's wedding celebration.

"Yes," came his father's voice from his left.

"I didn't say anything," Jamie rebuked.

"You are thinking very loud though."

Jamie paused organizing all his thoughts into a question. "Would you have really condemned Myrcella to death by killing Oberyn if Doran hadn't conceded to a truce."

Tywin shook his head, "That is the wrong question Jamie. The right question was would Doran really have let his brother die for a war he doesn't have the appetite for."

See his son was still not satisfied with his answer Tywin slowed his horse to a walk and addressed Jamie more directly.

"Sometimes it is not about what you have. It is about what you are willing to do. I have demonstrated in the past that I am willing to go to war and destroy entire houses for my family. Prince Doran has demonstrated again and again that he is not willing to do the same or Robert's Rebellion might not have happened."

Jamie nodded, "You have established a reputation so that you may use it to sway people instead of actual actions."

"Yes," Tywin said pleasantly content that his son had grasped the concept.

"And you think Myrcella will be safe in Dorne," Jamie asked once again thinking of his daughter's welfare.

"She is now married to the future ruler of Dorne. She is as safe as any noble woman could be," Tywin replied as he stopped his horse to observe his army marching past him back towards King's Landing.

Jamie positioned his horse beside his father's, "It felt when I let her go at the altar that she was gone for good. That I would never see her again."

Tywin lowered his voice, "She is a Martell now; she isn't a Lannister. She isn't your daughter."

"She was never my daughter. I have never been a father," Jamie said quietly before turning to his father, "Much like you."

Before Tywin could recover from the unexpected slight from his son Jamie kicked his horse forward to rejoin the marching men.

Tywin took a few moments to control the outburst that was rumbling in his throat. He expected this sort of behavior from Tyrion not Jamie.

A Lannister solider rode straight up to Lord Tywin in extreme haste. His face was red from the effort of riding hard and his rapid breaths impeded his ability to relay his message.

"Yes?" Tywin asked impatiently taking some of the residual anger he felt towards Jamie out on the panting messenger.

"My Lord we have received word from King's Landing," the rider gasped.

"Well go on then," Tywin ordered.

The man gulped. His liege Lord was not going to take the news well.

"King's Landing … it has fallen. Stannis Baratheon now sits on the Iron Throne."

"What how?" Tywin exclaimed. "Stannis was supposed to only have a few dozen ships and three thousand Arryn troops to support him. With what army did he take the city?" Tywin demanded.

"He had the Golden Company backing him. There were so many of them and so few of us. They tore through the skeleton defenses. Lord Tyrion told me to rush and inform you of the city's downfall."

Tywin's mind methodically worked through the information presented to him. Stannis, Golden Company, Vale ships and men … and gold … gold Lady Kenna took from Casterly Rock … gold used to pay for the Golden Company's services ….

"My daughter? The King? Tyrion?" Tywin asked becoming aware of how fast his heart was beating.

"I know nothing other than the gates were breached and Stannis's forces had flooded in," the Lannister man replied.

"Go, find my son and replay what you have told me to him. Go. Now," Tywin ordered.

He needed a few moments to process how the balance of power had just dramatically shifted towards the remaining Baratheon brother and what he was going to do about it.

Author' Notes:

Were you all panicking that I had sacrificed Shireen? I wasn't going to let that happened but Stannis's wife was a fanatic so I think she would have sacrificed herself for her cause.

Bless Tommen is trying to be a good King and in my opinion, I think he could make a great one :) He is fifteen in this chapter in case anyone was wondering.

Thoughts on the shenanigans that went on in Maegor's Holdfast? I didn't want a simple bitch fight; I wanted a bitch brawl!

I know Doran didn't really present Tywin with a challenge in the negotiations but from what I know of his character he is more likely to keep the peace until Dany arrives, then join with her.

Let me know which bits you enjoyed and surprised you :)

Reviews:

Guest (commented 11/01/2020) – Thanks for the review, what does electric boogaloo mean?

Bvh (Guest) – Thanks!

DodemGM – That is exactly the image I was going for :D Tywin was not happy! I guess there was a clash of words, wills and deadly intentions. Did the scenes in Maegor's Holdfast work for you? What is electric bugaloo?

That's okay. Is it just Robb as a character or do you just prefer story plots that have more political machinations going on? I thought it would be cool to throw Mance and Robb together :) Ramsey isn't done yet ;) Can't say I have come across too many people who ship Robb with a wildling but I don't actually read many stories focused on Robb.

Redhouseclan (commented on chapter 10, 11 & 12) – Thanks for the reviews! I don't like Mary Sues so my OC (Kenna) was never going to be all powerful she was always going to be a flawed character that had a mixture of successes, spectacular failures, comebacks and grey decisions to make. Story is still going and Oberyn is still alive so far ….

At this point in the story I have moved significantly away from the plot in the TV show with character alive that are dead in the show and I have killed off many characters that were still alive in the show as well as created new threads of stories which I hope people are enjoying :)

Well Jasper died like one chapter later so it had to move fast between them LOL The Freys weren't going to survive in my story! (Note only Frey left is the one Edmure married)

Supremus85 – Thank you :) I was waiting for someone to ask this question. Trust it to be you -_- (joking) :P

Kenna hasn't killed Tywin during one of their evening trysts because her side of the deal/promise isn't complete yet. She still hasn't produced an heir for Tywin and at this point in the story it is unclear if she is pregnant yet. Also, she wouldn't have run away to the Eyrie because she was waiting for Stannis to capture King's Landing so Kenna could form an alliance with him and take back ownership of the men, ships and money she loaned him.

Let me know if something/anything else isn't ringing true to you :)

Mia Slytherin – I was considering doing this. It would be completely unrelated to this story and I am leaning towards it being set in a Modern AU – maybe Mobster era? Could people let me know if they would be interested in a story done by me that focused on an OC/Tywin relationship so I can gauge interest? Oh, and if you have any ideas on what time period, you'd like it as I am open to suggestions. Thanks.

A Simple Cactus – I think so too :)

NCVII – I really like the way you write your reviews as it gives me a nice peek into your head as you were reading the chapter :) That must have sucked but hopefully the party was fun! Isle of Arran is very peaceful and chilled out was very nice to unplug.

Thanks for reading my story and finding it interesting enough to reread it! I do actually go back over my chapters checking for spelling errors and I sometimes add in new, albeit small, details for example in the last chapter I realised I had missed a perfect opportunity to include Balerion in a scene so now he has been added into that chapter.

I understand the point about Robb. I was trying to show how his anger was fueling him in the moment and that he wanted to fight, that he wanted to inflict pain and he wanted to show everyone that supports him or stands in his way that he was done playing games. Yup, Meryn Trant was the pedophile. Hahaha okay, Jon and Ygritte haven't come to the forefront of the story yet but there will be a few scenes in the future. I do like Osha :)

Well buckle your seat belt as there is load more Stannis to come and he has finally got his bloody Iron chair he wanted so bad :P Thank you! (Let's just agree to never mention Season 8). I hope I do all my characters justice but I will repeat, try not to get too attached as you don't know which one, I am going to kill next (devil emjoi).

Burnout is a real thing but I have a good system in place but if/when I feel the need for a break, I will always let everyone know when I will be back :)

Tyrion and Kenna's relationship is a bit more provocative now that he knows about Tywin/Kenna but it still has a playful edge to it. Dorne was mostly dealt with in this chapter so let me know your thoughts.

Haha sorry Tywin's intro to the show still reigns supreme :P I love history so feel free to nerd out again :) Well there are some book elements in the story just I didn't come across the Tysha bit when I was planning out this story so I didn't factor it in anywhere. Tyrion is awesome, I get you. Varys survived and served so many Kings and yet his brain falls out when serving Dany … I think not!

I am going to have to go buy red and white roses now ….

Janae.K – It took so bloody long (literally from Chapter 15) to set the moment up of Stannis's arrival in King's Landing and Kenna watching from the walls so I am happy beyond belief that the moment has resonated with you :)

Most of your questions on what people's fates will be should be sorted in the next chapter. There are so many possible directions for characters to charge into and I am having so much fun writing it all :D Stannis won so Kenna and Sansa are in for a more chilled time while the same cannot be said for Cersei and Tyrion ;P

Tywin and Doran really negotiated to the only logical conclusion. A truce. As both don't really want to fight the other, Doran wants to wait for Dany's arrival to attack at maximum strength while Tywin still has enemies in the North and well had Stannis to worry about at the time of negotiations (obviously Stannis is the priority now). I like Myrcella so was happy to give her a run out in this chapter even if she was being used as a bit of rope in a tug of war match between Doran and Tywin. There was certainly a fight in Maegor's Holdfast not sure catfight is a strong enough word for it though :P

Artys? Qyburn? OMG they are still alive aren't they SHIT I thought I had killed them ages ago LOL! Just joking. I have plans for them :) Lord Royce makes his return in this chapter and we will see more of him in a Stannis controlled King's Landing as he will return to his rightful place and Kenna's moral compass and source of incredibly good advice. I would like Osha to stand as proof that I don't kill every character :P Thanks for the review girl!

White Walker (Guest) – Tyrion didn't stand a chance at defending King's Landing :/ Tommen is already a thousand times better than Joffrey. I feel like I have overutilized poison recently so I settled for a good old-fashioned bitch brawl with knives and Cersei manipulating everyone ;)

Yes, I thought I would try to alleviate my reputation of killing every character at every opportunity I got so that I could remain unpredictable …. I also just really like Osha :P Sansa got her hands dirty alright, was it in the way you thought she might? Oh … LOL after telling you of how merciful I am now as a writer I am sorry to inform you that Theon died by Robb's hand in Chapter 19 for his betrayal in taking Winterfell.

RIP

Selyse Baratheon (Committed suicide by drinking poison given to her by Melisandre to ensure Stannis's victory in capturing King's Landing)

To be honest I didn't really like this character in the show and the only redeeming quality in her was she couldn't live with herself after Shireen's death in the TV show. Okay that went darker than I intended. Anyway, she dead now but Shireen survives in her place!

Random aggressive noble Lady (Stabbed by Kenna in self-defense/anger)

Bitch thought she could take Kenna down … Cersei really should be blamed for this she whipped those trapped ladies into a frenzy and unleashed them on Kenna. I guess this death is more of a reminder that although Cersei has lost all traditional forms of power, she is still a manipulative biatch and dangerous.

Ser Ilyn Pyne (Stabbed in the throat by Sansa when he was about to cut Kenna in two)

You go girl! When I started this story, I never thought I would be writing a scene where sweet summer child Sansa would actually kill a man but here we are. Good bye Ser Ilyn Pyne you may now join your relative Podrick in death :) You were very good at cutting heads off people but I already have an abundance of characters who are good at that :P

Next up: Stannis settles into King's Landing, Arya sees Ramsey's madness up close and personal, and Kenna gets an unexpected honour.

NOTE: Would you guys be interested in reading a story focused on an OC/Tywin relationship? See Mia Slytherin review comment for more info.

*Toss a coin to your writer, oh valley of readers* and review please :P… wrong fandom I know but the song is so catchy!

See you guys next Friday! (or possibly earlier)