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"Yes?" Mance Ryder parroted beside her in shock. Not shocking as the sorcerer revealed that she could take all the free folk to the south of the Wall. Many of the sorcerers who became previous Kings beyond the Wall have claimed that yet the conviction with which the girl said it was something else. It was said in a resolute but highly bored tone as if it was a trivial task for her.

"Yes, I can take you to the south of the Wall."

Val brashly moved in front of both and shouted brashly. "Do you take us for fools?" She growled. "No sorcerer can surpass the magic contained by the wall."

The girl raised an eyebrow lazily and formed another illusion. Before any of them could react, the clone took hold of Mance and both of them disappeared in a flash of fire. Immediately all of them raised their weapons to attack her.

"Calm down everyone…" The girl spoke in a soft but firm tone. "You asked for proof and I'll give you one. Your friend Mance had once crossed over the Wall and was now at Winterfell. He'll be back in few minutes." The Free-folk put down their weapons wearily but were still on guard when the illusion and Mance reappeared the same way as he was taken.

In his hands, there was a great sword as wide as a man's hand it was almost as tall as Mance himself. It has a distinct smoky quality as if it spent eternity in the heat of the forge. It has deep ripples on its surface and has a wolf's head as its pommel.

"Mance…" Tormund Giantsbane for the first time in his life spoke in a low voice. His eyes are a bit glazed and he leaned on one of the Free-Folk to support himself from falling down in shock. "Isn't that ancestral blade of Starks?"

"It is…" Mance spoke in a stunned but cheerful tone. The weary eyes he used to have now lit up in hope as he turned towards the form of the sorcerer. "The girl can take us over the wall. I went to Winterfell several times during my life as a member of Night's Watch. The girl took me there. Bring over something to use for guest right…"

"I said I can take you over the wall." The girl cut him off. "Never said I will." Taking the sword back from his slackened grip the girl handed it to the clone which disappeared in a flash of light.

"Horrifying, is it not?" A smooth grandfatherly voice spoke from beside her revealing a tall old man with crinkles around his blue eyes. The soldiers guarding the body seeing the man bowed in respect and greeted him "Master Qyburn.".

"So, none of you disturbed the body in any way, did you?" the question was asked in a clinical tone as if it was some insect that died and not a man who was murdered brutally. Olenna inwardly shivered and understood why this man was called amoral and ingratiating. The soldiers shivered but nodded nonetheless.

One look at the dead man the Maester hummed nodding to himself. One of the braver soldiers approached him and asked "Did you find anything about this murder Lord Qyburn?"

The disgraced grey rat shook his head. "This is not a murder. This is a punishment for betrayal. So, which of you found the body?"

"Punishment for betrayal?" One of the soldiers repeated dumbly.

"Blodörn in the language of the First Men or Aquila De Sangue in High Valyrian is what this punishment is called. It was a punishment usually given to a backstabber in the North. Looking at the struggle around this body the executioner dragged him to this place. It was at this very place the man was tortured and killed.

Also, If I am not wrong... this is a statement. The North has banned this punishment since the rule of King Baelor the Blessed. The question is who made the statement and at whom it was directed towards."

"How can you say this is a statement Maester Qyburn..." The Lord Commander of Gold Cloaks asked. "I'm not doubting your words but I didn't understand when you said this is a statement."

"This is a statement because of the choice of victim Ser Thorne..." The immoral man stated. "In case you didn't recognize this man... This is Lord Petyr Baelish." He said coolly. "He was sentenced to get five thousand lashes as he stole from the crown. He'd have died from the punishment alone. No need for anyone to kill him this brutally. No... if I'm not wrong, he's involved in some plot that counted as backstabbing or betrayal with others and he's killed as a warning to the co-conspirators.

Olenna's heart jumped to her throat. The man described exactly what happened. If she left the scene immediately there would be doubt cast on her family so steeling her nerves, she asked brashly "Is there a chance that Northern fool did this?" She asked.

"That foolish wolf..." Alliser Thorne laughed. "He couldn't find a way to his wife's cunt let alone a betrayal did against him without anyone holding his dick. In fact, it would take a knife to his throat and words stating that he was betrayed to find someone plotted against him. Has his head too far up his ass. Honour, this honour that." He scoffed. "Also, there is no way in hell he could have done this... he is a soft-hearted and week willed man."

"Pray that the King doesn't hear about this Ser Thorne. Lord Stark is his good-brother." One of the knights stated softly to which the man shook his head and stated. "He is no King's good-brother. Just the brother of girl the King fucked."

The crowd gathered there except for three of them who nodded their heads in agreement. Among three of them, the Old Maester plainly did not care, the crone's old heart hammered within her breast in fear. But no one recognized the third one as Eddard Stark himself under his helmet.

His niece stated that people mocked him for his honour in the Seven Kingdoms and he never completely believed it till now. Even a Knight who couldn't even swing his sword properly mocked him openly. To the rest of Seven Kingdoms, he's a toy to be played with. The Tyrells, The Martells and to hell his own wife he's nothing more than a puppet to be played with. This has to change. The old Eddard Stark has to die because there is no other way for his family to survive if he continued to be like this.

Arya under the supervision of Ser Rodrick was shown the manor which served as Tyrion Lannister's home, and Tywin Lannister's current residence while he was in King's Landing, by a guard. The head of House Lannister had invited her while her father was busy with his new problems. The manor was certainly an impressive building. It was far more modern than the ancient castles they had seen thus far. Made of tan-coloured bricks with sandstone with elaborate tiles around the decorative windows it stood at three stories tall with towers flying the Lannister flag that would have looked grand on any castle. At its massive thick wooden doors, there were statues of majestic lions and a steward bid them entry and they walked into an entrance hall with dark wood panels and artwork spread decoratively around.

"Lord Tywin would prefer to dine with the young lady without you present. You may wait in the lounge if you like, refreshments will be provided." Rodrick wanted to argue with the steward who welcomed them but Rodrick held his tongue. The Lannister Lord didn't give them any reason to not to trust him and it'd be an insult if he didn't heed his order. And everyone in the Seven Kingdoms knew better than to insult Tywin Lannister. Praying to Old Gods and new that there won't be any problems he gave an encouraging look to the little Underfoot and walked out.

As one of the handmaids escorted her to the room of Tywin Lannister, Arya took a good look around the place for places to escape if things went awry. Moments later they emerged onto a sunlit veranda with an incredible view of Blackwater Bay. At a table, an old man stood dressed in fine clothes of velvet with images of golden lions sewn into it. He was years older than her father looking in his mid-fifties and he was tall, easily as tall as Ned Stark may be taller and his short hair was still blond but seemed to be going grey in some areas. However, instead of the hard lines on his face what really made the young girl nervous was the intensity and cunning in his green eyes that were flecked with gold. His gaze seemed to burn into her as he turned to face her and studied her in every visible detail. Arya belatedly realized why her cousin respected but hated this Lord. Her cousin might be more dangerous but both are dangerous predators who are willing to cross any boundaries for what they want to achieve. Cut from the same cloth is the apt description.

"Please sit." He said gesturing to one of the two chairs on her side of the table while he took his seat. "So, you're Lady Arya? Looking at you reminds me of your cousin. Though it's easy to say that you're not her." He said, but it was a statement rather than a question although she nodded anyway. Arya despite being intimidated was determined not to cower so she plucked up the courage to say back.

"And you are Lord Tywin Lannister. Did you really write the Rains of Castamere?" She asked him. The frown on the face of Old Lion lessened a bit.

"No, I personally did not write the Rains of Castamere although my actions did inspire it."

He poured the girl a drink of water and sat back taking a goblet of wine for himself before asking her. "Do you mind if I asked you a few questions?" the sentence might've worded as a request but the tone he asked in was anything but order. Nodding slightly, she leaned forward as the first question came.

"I want to think on this problem and answer the way you think is best to solve it." He said to them both as Arya gave her sister a glare before turning back to him. "A house with fertile lands asks you for your protection from a house with a strong navy that could one day oppose you. What do you do? How do find the most beneficial outcome for your family?" He asked and waited patiently for her answer.

She remembered what her cousin had told her about this Lord; he admired those of intelligence and were prepared to use different methods to achieve what they wanted. She also remembered the stories she had heard about his ruthless ambition for his house and using politics to solve problems rather than brute force although he was not afraid of applying that when it was necessary. Although politics was not her usual area of interest as it got too complicated, she had heard a lot of it in the last few days so she thought long and hard before giving her answer.

"Marry members of your house into other two. Then have both members of your family amass as much influence as possible before arranging a peace treaty between the two houses so you can exploit their wealth and expand your own influence." She had struggled as she had little experience in strategic politics but her parents ' marriage was a political one to build an alliance between the North and the Riverlands so why could marriage not be used as a weapon too? It had been used several times in the past according to Maester Luwin when she had spied on his lessons to her brothers and Theon. After all, that was how the Targaryens had brought Dorne into the Seven Kingdoms.

He nodded. "What is the most dangerous animal to walk on earth? Only two persons have answered this correctly and no neither of them is your cousin."

She pressed her lips together and pondered. A few months earlier she'd have said it's a wolf and her sister Sansa would have argued it's a dragon. But now "Man…" she said softly in almost a whisper "out of every creature that walks on the earth there's none more dangerous than a man."

"Care to elaborate?"

"Compared to all the animals in the wild a man… truthfully his strength lies not even above a dog. We have no fur to protect against elements, no claws to kill our enemies, our senses piss poor compared to wolves, dogs and other beasts, can't swim like a fish or fly like a bird. Yet we conquered the seas, ruled the lands and did much more than more powerful animals and we did all with just our minds.

These buildings, the fields and much more we crafted with no more than our hands using our minds. So, in my opinion, there's no one more powerful than man. And funnily for all Targaryen argue that Dragons are not slaves... a dragon is a slave to its master's command."

That was a trick question he used to ask every girl that was thrown towards him by their fathers. It determines a few aspects of the character of the person with the answer they give him. If she said it is a lion... then a bootlicker. If she argued it's her house symbol... a prideful idiot. And if she says it's a dragon... well a naïve idiotic swooning fool. Also, if she said any animal other than the above, he has a piece of free potential information for blackmail as there is an extremely high chance that she has a lover in that house. And that's how he had free blackmail against Lady Arryn. That fool waxed poetics on mocking birds of all bloody things.

Tywin looked at her for few moments and one corner of his lip raised in almost a smile. "Well, I have my answer then. I have yet another two other questions for you. What do you expect from when you have married?"

"I want to stand at his side as an equal and rule together, to fight and stop him if he does something foolish."

The man nodded his head and asked. "If your husband who you'll marry is unfaithful to you … what will be your action?"

Despite wanting to say how she'll never marry and compromise on her freedom…Arya knew everything in this world demanded a sacrifice. Her aunt's wild and careless nature cost her life and the lives of her father and brother. Her daughter Aella couldn't even walk in her own form in Seven Kingdoms. The price for freedom is death in both cases. It was something that was drilled into her head. The day she bought Mycah to her cousin, despite not showing it Aella was angered. On that night she explained how Mycah would have been killed in another time and place. She defiantly proclaimed that she'd never let anyone harm him but the verbal tear down was horrific. On that day for the first time, they met Aella was disappointed with her.

"You sound like Sansa." These words never fail to stop her cold. "Just because you have a sword in your hand you think you are strong enough to fight against the world foolish child? Tell me if your father himself was ordered by the king to behead him… will you be able to protect him?"

Arya gritted her teeth but knew it's the truth. She knew it's true but she hated it. Her cousin simply smiled.

"So, you don't like what I'm asking of you. Well, if you don't like the hand that fates dealt you with, fight for a new one. Don't accept it. Don't let it bring you down but fight for the one you like. But for now, there isn't enough strength in you. When you are strong and powerful enough you can be defiant towards the world but for now bloody play by the rules. I am not strong enough so I paid for my freedom by faking my death. You may think living a life as a fugitive is a romantic one... trust me it's not. Now whatever strength you have is your father's. It's not yours to be arrogant of. Till that day play by their rules and from then make them play by yours. I always think the student must surpass their teacher. Win where I lost."

On that day Arya swore that she'll be the strongest in the world.

"I'll give him a warning. If he doesn't heed my warning first or the second time, I'll have an heir and a spare from him and then render him infertile."

"Very well, I have a proposal for you. If you don't accept what I am proposing, give me a good reason on why not and I'll never mention it again."

Arya was on guard but simply nodded. "I'll be blunt. I want to talk about a prospective betrothal between you and Tommen Baratheon, my second grandchild through my daughter Cersei." Arya who just started to drink spat it out in surprise.

"WHAT?!"

"What the bloody hell do you mean by that? " Tormund roared as the sorcerer rubbed her ears in an irritated manner. "You said we Free Folk can ask of you anything and you'll do it."

"I did say that. And I would have taken all of you to the south of the Wall if not for a fact…" The girl hummed. With a wave of the hand, several benches rose out of the ground. She sat on one of them and gestured to all of them to be seated. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "Within a week or so you'll be slaughtered. And at a wrong time and a wrong place maybe it'll be these hands…" she said calmly. "… that might hold that sword to your necks."

The words were spoken in a calm and non-threatening tone yet each and everyone present felt a chill going down their spines. They saw what the girl was capable of. Thousands of wights are burned by the girl as if it was nothing. If this is what they are to face they won't even be able to mount even a token of resistance before they die.

"Please sit down." She requested this time as every one of them collapsed on their benches. "I never introduced myself, did I? My name is Aella Waters. I'm really sorry but I will not callously lead you to your death disguised as a boon."

Sighing a bit she looked at the people sitting in front of her "Ok I'll take you to the South of the Wall… and then what will you do next? Which Lord will you serve under? What…"

"We would die rather than bend our knees to a Southern Ponce." A particularly hotheaded Free Folk shouted to silence the girl. Her calm emotionless face regarded the rat-faced man. Grinning maliciously he continued "Why don't I take over your body and do what we wanted to."

"You're skin-changer aren't you?" The girl sighed a bit before snorting. "Even if you enter my mind you'll have next to no knowledge of my magic so not really a good plan. But please do try. You'll lose your mind in seconds." The grin was absolutely predator-like and he flinched back a moment.

"Vyman stand down," Mance ordered. "We don't have the slightest idea what the witch is capable of."

"Anyway, that answers my question. Very well I'll take you South so how will you…well live your lives I mean. The Lord's down in South will not let you hunt in their woods. And even if they allow it, you don't know how to reap or sow in their fields. How will you live I really wonder? You'll die of starvation within months at the very least." She snorted. "So, trust me if you follow me to the South of the Wall, you're no better than a sheep following a butcher into a slaughterhouse."

"We'll raid those pompous Lords…" One of them shouted.

"The King in the South of the Wall is my father. I dislike him truthfully speaking but…" she clicked her tongue irritated "…but trust me I'll slaughter anyone who causes problems for my family. So like I said in wrong place and wrong time this hand…" she raised her hand letting lightening chirp around it threateningly and let out slight a bit of killing intent for good measure " … might be the one that'll end your lives."

"However, in the South of the Wall Westros is not the only country present," Mace spoke, trying his best to keep stuttering out of his tone, having more knowledge about the South of the Wall due to his stint as Black brother.

The girl rubbed her head in irritation. "Ok outside of Westeros there are three continents, Essos, Ulthos and Sothoryos." The ground around her formed as a map depicting the said continents. "You can completely forget Sothoryos. It is a place that makes shadow cats, bears and dire wolves look like tamed pets in comparison. Also, not to forget the diseases that could wipe out half of you before you could know it." The Free Folk gulped a bit at the description.

"So next is Essos…" A wave of hand remade the entire thing with different colors and the girl pointed towards one of the biggest islands. "This part is called Valyria. Completely inhabitable and no one who wandered there came out alive. So not really an ideal place to live."

"The next is Slavers Bay and The Dothraki Sea. The Dothraki are peerless in cavalry and you guys in comparison…" She looked at them in contemplating gaze and shook her head "…they'll either kill you or sell you to the Slavers. Trust me that's the best scenario. If they're feeling a bit bloodthirsty, they'll keep you as amusement or for their horses to fuck. And the Slavers have Unsullied one of the toughest and fearless armies in the entire world, so…raiding them is out of the question.

The only other place in the known world was Ulthos. A place where fanatics burn other people as sacrifices to bolster their power, a place where the Shadow binders are born. I'll give you all a week before... well all of you are burnt to death for not following their ways. The Yi Ti empire has the most ruthless and bloodthirstiest army in the entire world. Even Slavers don't dare to invade that empire. That empire is wealthy and even if they don't have a standing army, they could buy thousands of Unsullied to deal with you.

As of now…if I take you to anywhere to the South of the Wall, you are no more than cattle blindly following the butcher into the slaughterhouse."

"So, it's our fate to die here huh…" Mance sighed bitterly.

"Well, you do have another option actually. But you'll hate it."

"We have nothing to lose so let's hear that too," Val spoke up.

The girl smiled.

"Greetings Prince Oberyn Martell." The desert snake looked at the man standing before him with a dark smirk gracing his lips and eyes gleaming with repressed hatred from his wheelchair. His beautiful consort laid her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it in a supportive manner.

"Thank you for inviting me. A neutral enough location this is. Had to cancel our meeting in the morning as you wanted to meet in a neutral place and I don't want to be seen in a whore house. So, have to change the location. Sorry I bought a guard." He said, gesturing towards the man decked in Bolton colors. "He's here to make sure I won't try to escape. One of the stipulations of our shared good-brother." The Warden of the North's grin turned bestial for a moment at seeing the hard grip on the armrest tighten further before turning normal.

"So why did you request a meeting with me?"

"Well to ask you to drop the charges on me. I have no reason to off you."

"Pull another one," Oberyn growled. The man shrugged and pulled out a scroll with a seal of Tyrells pressed on it. "See for yourself."

Looking through the scrolls Oberyn's face turned angry before turning to understanding. "So, for the humiliation of his firstborn, he crippled me…"

"And for nearly ruining his nephew's life he tried to ruin mine. Have to kill hundreds of Faceless Men to get these."

"So why don't you show these to the King and get yourself pardoned."

"Well, I really don't want war. If I put this before the King. Dorne and Reach will have to go to war with Crownlands joining it because you are King's brother-in-law. And North has to join otherwise I'd be seen as weak before my sworn Lords. The entirety of the Tyrells will be wiped out. I really don't want the children to die because of their parent's sins. And I certainly don't want to go to war but don't want to be seen as a weak Lord."

"Well, what if I want war?" The dark-haired man asked grinning savagely trying to get a rise out of the man.

But Eddard Stark did exactly the opposite of what he expected. The normally stoic face turned feral as he laughed aloud darkly. Ellaria took a step back a bit frightened with the expression on the normally stoic face of Lord of Winterfell. The guard shifted looking a bit tense between the two Lords

"I was actually hoping that you might ask me that question. By the way, let's play a game, shall we. It will teach you the way a Northern man kills someone he wanted dead."

The sudden change in the man startled his lover into action as she picked the poisoned spear used by her lover and tried to run it through the man sitting in front of her paramour. But before she could even come close the spear was knocked out of her hand by the Bolton guard and he held the sword at her throat.

"So, you do wish for my death then," Oberyn spoke coldly. "However, even if you kill me your entire family will be wiped out. My brother may be a peacemaker. But, my sister has Dornish blood in her. And like your brother, sister and father your entire family will be wiped out."

Not bothering to answer the Red Viper's words the wolf Lord turned to the Bolton guard. "Mycah… escort the Lady outside." The wolf Lord ordered. "Please don't be reckless my lady. Both of you, please wait outside. If your lover is dead in here, I'll gladly walk up to the executioner block myself. I swear upon my honour."

Satisfied with the promise the woman walked out of the room with the guard. Unknown to her the real Ned Stark sliced himself with a dagger and smeared blood on the seal given to him by his niece so that he could hear what Aella and Oberyn are talking about.

When both of them left the room, the girl in man's form shrugged and then took a sip from the goblet. "Well, I wanted to kill you but changed my mind I guess." The eyes went from silvery mist to hardened steel in a matter of seconds. "No… where's the fun in simply killing you, my brother. "She mocked. "I intend to make you the reagent of Dorne."

"My brother…" Oberyn growled out realization hitting him. "You intend to kill my brother."

The girl wearing wolf Lord's skin shrugged carelessly and nodded. "Your brother or you. I'd say it doesn't matter to me who dies but it'd be a lie. I can't kill you as I need you to drop charges against me. Also, when your brother is dead, I need someone to say I have no hand in it. And someone to stop the foolish hot-blooded Dornish from waging a war against North. Don't worry though. For these services, I'll heal your spine so that you can walk again normally."

The eyes of the Red Viper turned into slits as the wolf Lord laid down his conditions. "So let me get this straight. You'll kill my brother." "Mm-hmm" "You'll not allow me to get justice for how I was crippled." The Warden of the North nodded with a grin. "Moreover, I am to drop the charges against you all just for you healing my spine. Do I look like a half-wit?

"Well, you can die so that your brother can live. But I'd really prefer it if it is Doran Martell who died and not you my Prince. And even the queen couldn't touch me. Truthfully speaking I don't even need to soil my hands with your blood for you to die. For Doran Martell to be killed I'll have a hand in it but yours I don't even need to sully my hands for you to be dead"

"You can't even touch my family barbarian," Oberyn spoke coldly. "Due to your sister's foolishness, you'll be left with no allies except for Riverlands. Hell for my sake or my brother's... my sister will forge an alliance with the Lannisters and the Tyrells. In any case, your family will be wiped out."

The amusement in the wolf Lord's eyes didn't wane. "Whatever you said, Prince Oberyn, is true. But nonetheless indulge me…" here he turned the sand clock upside down. "…for about ten minutes. Let's see if I can't change your mind."

The traces of mad anger slowly disappeared replaced by an easygoing mocking smile. The wolf Lord pulled out a scroll with Martell seal specifically his own seal on it.

"Did you remember why your brother Doran Martell had you married to Lady Ashara Dayne? You'll remember that as it took a lot of time for your brother to convince you when you argued not wanting to touch spoiled goods or something like that."

Oberyn smirked. "Because the Daynes are the most powerful family in Dorne whose military power is the best after my family. To improve the relationship between our families our marriage was arranged. And also, so that the Yronwoods, whose Lord I've killed, would not rise in a war against the Martells. Because our combined forces easily can crush the remaining all families in Dorne."

"Well, what will happen if I can persuade Ser Arthur Dayne to cut off your head?" Eddard Stark's smirked as he sipped a bit of wine.

"Arthur is more likely to cut off your head than mine. We grew up together as friends." The Red Viper sneered at the man sitting in front of him. "You on the other hand are the man who disgraced his sister. And the only reason you're living is that Ashara begged him to let it be."

"There's a caveat to this problem you see." Ned Stark. "Your family is the reason my daughter Acacia... Acacia Sand is missing. "

"That's your plan..." Oberyn smiled mockingly. "Despite whatever you barbarians think, In Dorne we don't hurt little girls. Moreover, my feud is with you, not the girl." He stated passionately.

The wolf Lord took another scroll and placed it before him. Oberyn was surprised to see his seal pressed on it and opened it. On reading its contents his face paled a bit but flushed with anger.

"I have nothing to do with this. " He growled. "I raised that girl with my hands and despite her having your blood I raised her as if she's of my blood. Moreover, you dare to forge this..."

"She herself thinks that you are the one that sold her to the whorehouses." She said effectively to silence the man in front of her. "Saw you paying her guard a few dragons and thought he was ordered to sell her as a bed slave. "

"You found her?" He asked relief evident in his tone. "But, I paid the guard to take her safely to Sunspear and buy whatever she wanted to. "

"Well, that's the reason you are alive. I had Roose Bolton convince the truth out of that man who sold her. " For Oberyn and the real Ned Stark a chill went down their spines at that tone. "Your brother ordered the Darkstar to sell her like a whore. Naively, you didn't bother to read the document he sent you and foolishly signed it with your signet. "

"Either way, let me die. It's my foolishness that caused an innocent to suffer."

"Your loyalty to your brother... I can appreciate that. But it's dishonourable to punish an innocent for a crime he was innocent of. Besides, there's another caveat to this problem. Your brother was the one behind this foolishness. Moreover, I don't punish a man for a crime he's innocent of. And we didn't finish our game.

In the beginning, I asked you what would happen if I could persuade Ser Arthur Dayne to cut off your head what will happen?"

" I'll die here that's what will bloody happen…" the Red Viper laughed cynically.

"I'll die here that's what will bloody happen..." He mocked. "That's a boring answer "Come on Prince Oberyn… you have forged six links in Citadel below the age of five and ten summers. Surely you can do better than that. And it's not like I'll kill you. I already said I need your services, didn't I? And I promised your paramour…" he said mockingly. "that you'll leave here alive. And trust me I never make any promise I cannot fulfil and never break it once I made it."

Looking at his blank face he rubbed his temple in exasperation. "Very well then. Lemme explain to you what will happen. The Queen will order the death of Ser Arthur Dayne. If in an extremely unlikely scenario he is executed… Lord Ulrick Dayne will march into your home. declaring war on your family. The Yronwoods, the Daynes and their allies will wipe out your family. That's the least likely scenario though.

Well, the most likely scenario though is after you are killed the King have to pardon Ser Arthur Dayne even against the Queen's protests. You might think that's the end of it. Your children are temperamental idiots. They'll try to incite your brother to go against the House Dayne. If I understood your brother well, I know he'll refuse. And on a very fine day, they'll plunge a dagger into his heart and kill everyone who opposes them and lead an idiotic war against the rest of Dorne.

By the time our sweet good brother intervened your family will be wiped out completely. The Dorne will resemble a place torn apart piece by piece by a pack of wolves. And the funny thing is that these wolves don't even need to do anything."

Oberyn's tanned face paled as he desperately tried to deny that. But he knew his paramour and his children. He could clearly see the scenario playing before his eyes.

The sandglass has been emptied at that moment. "Time's up. Anyway, I could kill you but I won't. Because life for a life is justice. If not you could choose to die in his place. It's just that the entire family will follow you to the grave. The choice is yours, Prince Oberyn. "

The man slumped in his seat. "Anyway… you'll become the reagent of Dorne till your niece comes to age. There's an old saying 'Teach your children well.' Teach your children well, Prince Oberyn Martell. This lesson… please drill into their minds. The words of House Stark say 'Winter is coming.' It's actually a bad translation we adopted because we don't want our subjects to fear us. The real words of our house are 'Death is coming.' In Old Tongue Winter and Death are synonymous. The next time you cross us I'll destroy your house. Teach them that crossing anyone of Stark's blood invites death."

"By the way, I never told you how I'll kill your brother didn't I?" Smiling at the man the Warden of the North took another sip from his goblet. "Exactly seven days from this very moment your brother will die. No poison will make way into his heart and no metal or wood will pierce his skin. Yet he will die and when he does his face will be frozen in fear like a coward he is. And I'll not hire a person to kill him. Quite a lot of restrictions, isn't it?

I'll give you a chance. One final chance. You want your brother along with your entire family to live...go. Go and try to save him. Exactly at this very hour, seven days from now he'll die. And I give my word if you are able to save him, I'll stop any further attempts against him and your entire family. Only one chance you have to save your blood. Time is ticking my friend. My business here with you is concluded. Do your best and struggle in vain to protect your brother."

The way the man raced out of the room in his wheelchair bought a smile to her face. Lord Stark walked in and removed his helmet and the girl changed back to her real form.

"That's a bit ruthless and dishonourable Aella." Eddard Stark said solemnly. "But now I can't find it in me to feel angry about that. But you said it's Oberyn who sold her to Lys."

"I too thought so till I interrogated Ser Gerold Dayne yesterday." At his questioning look, she waved it off. "You don't want to know Lord Stark. You really don't want to know.

Anyway, with this Lord Stark all threats against the North are neutralized." The girl spoke softly. "I sincerely hope you won't make any more foolish decisions. From now on I'll not clean up your messes."

Eddard simply bowed his head in shame.

An hour later.

"So, Arya why did Lord Tywin requested to meet you?" Ned asked a bit apprehensively when they are in the tent alone. Aella along with Tysha went to Flea Bottom to recruit labour for their Glass factory and Ned didn't want either of them for the conversation. His niece more than likely knew but Tysha was once a Lannister who was brutalized by the Lion Lord and Ned didn't want to bring up those memories.

"He wanted to betroth his second grandson to me Father." Ned drew a sharp breath at that. "He told me if I have a valid reason to deny the marriage he'll never bring it up again."

"So what happened?"

"I gave a valid reason for denying the betrothal."

"That reason is..." He prompted.

"I said that the Stark-Baratheon alliance failed once and the people will call him senile behind his back if the marriage was proposed and declared. He said that he doesn't concern with the opinions of the sheep."

"So, what happened then?"

"I said that the remaining families including the Queen will see this alliance as a plot against the King. With that marriage three families get joined. The Starks, the Baratheons and the Lannisters. It will be too big of a threat for the other families and there will be too much instability in the realm. He simply nodded and accepted it." The Stark girl stated softly.

Ned didn't know when his niece started teaching his child politics but he's glad as it helped his daughter but is sad that his daughter knew more about politics than him. Arya though sat pensively thinking of the words spoken by Lord Tywin.

After her explanation, a question niggled at the back of her mind and she couldn't help but ask the Lord before her. "Out of all ladies in the Seven Kingdoms... why me?" She asked seriously. "There are several ladies from North to Dorne who would have loved to be the next Lady of Casterly Rock and I really don't think allying our families would be advantageous to your family. Not to speak poorly of my blood but my Aunt Lyanna's actions made the North, the most hated Kingdom in the entirety of Westros and Lord Hoster barely tolerate us as we are his blood. I really don't even see what value would my marriage bring to the Westerlands as we are very poor in terms of resources. I am requesting this as I don't want to be blindsided against any mechanisms or lose any wealth that was supposed to go to my family."

Tywin regarded her for few moments which nearly had her shifting uncomfortably in her seat and spoke softly. "Have you ever heard of the old adage 'Names have Power.'?"

Arya looked a bit confused at his words but nonetheless nodded. "What if I tell you that it's plain bullshit that was fed to the sheep to keep them in line?"

"I'd have called you an imposter." She replied suppressing a smile. "Every moment of your life you try to elevate your family name and expect your relatives to be best just because they carry the Lannister. So, I'll think you're an imposter."

"What comes to your mind when you hear the name Lannister?"

She was puzzled at another odd question but without a hint of hesitation, the girl replied "Power, Ruthlessness and Gold."

The Lion Lord didn't even bother to hide his smile at the answer. "Do you know that I hate people who laugh in my presence Lady Arya.?" Arya nodded as it was a tit-bit shared with her by Aella. "Do you know the reason?" She shook her head at the question.

"Do you know forty or so years ago the name Lannister is synonymous with idiocy, grovelling and spinelessness? Do you know that our own bannermen used to play a game called 'Twisting the Lion's Tail' which involves mocking us in our faces?" Arya was stunned by that admission. Tywin Lannister's smile faded and his face grew grimmer with each word he said.

"My father, Tytos Lannister, is called the Laughing Lion." He sighed. "A weak-willed, eager to please, slow to anger, quick to forgive, and too trusting by half was the man he was. He saw the good in everyone, great and small, but this trust blinded him to threats to House Lannister. His bannermen made japes on his face, disobeyed his orders and he had enough vices to make Aegon the Unworthy jealous. Thankfully he never strayed from his marriage bed as my mother who raised us was an unforgiving lady who would have chopped off his balls." Arya smiled a bit at that.

"Under his influence, the Lannister name was a jape to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. They used to say if you insult a Lannister and laugh on his face, he'd join you in your laughter." The Lion Lord's face grew steely mayhap remembering those times. "My father was gentle and amiable, but so weak that his own bannermen mocked him in their cups. Some saw fit to defy him openly. Other lords borrowed his gold and never troubled to repay it. At court, they japed of toothless lions.

After my mother's death, he married a bastard daughter of a candle maker. And even she stole from him. A woman scarcely one step above a whore, and she helped herself to my mother's jewels! I could not even give my wife my mother's jewels as I felt that those are tainted by that whore. It was my greatest regret. That's the reason why I hated laughing. He was a Lannister." The Lion Lord scoffed. "He was a Lannister yet a tamed house cat has more spine than him. Names don't have power, Lady Arya. Only a fool, a child or a sheep would believe that."

Arya was stunned at those words. "It fell on me to restore the Lannister name. I took the name that was mocked by the Seven Kingdoms and made it what it is now. I always insist my relatives to behave worthy of the Lannister name as I don't want my family to go back where it was. And all I ask of my family to uphold it. Because just as all it takes is a man to build up a legacy, all it takes is one fool to tear it down to its roots."

"The fool Mace Tyrell used to say 'Powerful Families produce Powerful People.'. That foolish imbecile." He snorted. "My father was born a Lannister yet I never knew a weaker man. Your father has the most power in the North, yet I never knew a weaker Lord Paramount and please don't even bother to deny it. Aerys Targaryen was the biggest fool I've ever met in my life and the less I say of his son the better. Moreover, they nearly lost the kingdom completely in even less time than the Targaryens have conquered it due to their madness.

Powerful families don't make powerful people, Arya Stark. Powerful people make their families powerful."

"You asked the reason I chose you of all people in the Seven Kingdoms, didn't you? It's a rather simple answer.

I don't want gold, lands or anything from your family. I want a girl who would make the very world bow for her loved ones. I wanted you. I wanted you Arya Stark of Winterfell not for your family name, not for your gold, not for anything. I wanted you as my good daughter because of eho you are.

You are a powerful child. So I know that my family and my legacy would've been in good hands if you have married my grandson."

"How do you know I am a powerful person, Lord Tywin?" She asked suppressing a swell of pride at being recognized by a man called the most dangerous person in the Seven Kingdoms. The man didn't bother to answer that question and dismissed her.

She sometimes doesn't understand what goes on in the minds of the Lords despite being born to one of them.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet me at a short notice Lady Martell and Ser Arthur." The Lord of Dreadfort spoke as he and his sister entered the building where one of the brothels owned by the Littlefinger once stood. Arthur gritted his teeth at the insult but held his tongue. His sister however lashed at the man seated in front of her.

"Where is my daughter?" She growled. "The trinket you sent me..." she said showing a beautiful jade hairpin "belonged to my Acacia. Why have you kidnapped her and where is she now?"

The man signalled his guard and in a minute a beautiful girl who would have been a mirror image of his sister if not for grey-tinted eyes was led into the room by another guard. Ashara ran towards the girl and hugged her tightly, peppering her with kisses crying softly in relief.

"When the word came from you about the disappearance of your daughter... the entirety of the North searched for every nook and corner in Westeros for our King's child. When she's nowhere to be found we then started searching in the other continents. We are very close in giving up searching for her when a man who escaped our laws, Jorah Mormont, contacted one of our spies that he knew where she was."

"Wait a moment." Arthur Dayne growled. "You called Eddard Stark your King. King Rheager Targaryen is the King of Seven Kingdoms. It's treason to call any other a King."

Roose Bolton shrugged his shoulders and answered. "The North remembers Ser Arthur Dayne. We know no king but the King in the North whose name is Stark." The posture was loose, the face betrayed no emotion yet there's something extremely threatening about the man sitting in front of him. We acknowledge the man on the Iron Throne because our King knelt before him. If it comes to following the orders of the man on the Iron Throne and our King... the North will always follow the Starks. Have no doubt about that."

Pinching his nose in irritation he continued "Our Princess was sold by one of your family to whorehouses of Lys. They have a habit of keeping statement about a change of hands so we learnt who did that. Have to spend a lot of coin to release her and bring her here."

Both the siblings saw red when they heard the news. "Who is that bastard?"

"He's dead." The Bolton Lord replied bluntly. "Also, the girl stays here. She's not going back to Dorne."

"You can't do that," Ashara growled her violet eyes growing cold. "Eddard Stark didn't care for her and never bothered to learn about her. He left me to take all the shame and never in his life acknowledged that Acacia was his. I refuse to send my child to that man who broke his promise to marry me but left me to sharks." The child in her arms hugged her tightly in fear.

"Look Lady Ashara, I do understand your feelings." The pale-eyed man stated softly. "Also, despite whatever you think... I don't want to send your daughter to Winterfell. I won't leave my worst enemy to the tender mercies of that trout bitch... let alone an innocent child. However, the man who sold your daughter to slavery is of your own blood.

Ser Gerold Dayne otherwise known as the Darkstar was the one who did it. Anyone of the North is actively hated in Dorne Lady Ashara.

When I castrated your cousin..." here Arthur shivered at the blasé way the man said those words "all he said in defence was that your child has heathen blood in her veins and that's enough for him to treat her the way he did. Please understand that we cannot leave her in Dorne."

Both the siblings are shaking with barely suppressed rage at this point. "However, I am not thinking of sending her to Winterfell. Lady Sansa Stark is ten summers now. We are currently searching for a House of Lord Paramount to send her as a ward. Lord Stark wanted to send her to Lord Jon Arryn but my personal choice is Lord Tywin Lannister or Lord Stannis Baratheon. The girl was her head far up the clouds and any of them would not tolerate her... well stupidity and will break her out of it. Well, that's not what I said Lord Stark but..."

"Come to the damn point." Arthur Dayne growled. "Sorry I'm a bit peeved about Lord Stark's family so... Anyway, the point is that I give my word that wherever Sansa Stark is sent I'll convince Lord Stark to send Acacia as a part of her entourage. If we can get Lord Stannis Baratheon or Lord Arryn to accept her as a ward, they'll be in King's Landing so their wards too must be here. So, Lady Ashara could spend time with her child. Even if it's Lord Tywin Lannister he was frequently in King's Landing. I know this isn't an ideal solution but..." whatever he was going to say was cut off by a tight hug given by Acacia. The siblings relaxed and slumped in their seats.

"Thank you for not tearing me away from my mother." The girl murmured as the crippled man awkwardly patted her back.

"Eddard Stark is forced to marry that trout because he wanted to honour his father's word. He put his father's promise and honour above his when he married that shrew. However, in that process, he betrayed you and did a grave injustice towards your mother and her family, Lady Acacia. What the North has done... there's nothing in this world that will justify it. Keeping you safe is a small price for our penance. Also, a child should not be indefinitely separated from her loved ones. Don't thank me for that. That's the least we can do for you."

Roose Bolton is called one of the cruellest and cold-blooded men in Westeros. However, looking at him and her child together Ashara couldn't liken this man to what others say about him.

Hey guys... Long time no see. Anyway, this is the last but second chapter before we get to time skip. So, few authors notes.

I tried to make Oberyn a villain but I can't make myself do so. In canon, his most defining traits are that he won't hurt a child and, in his vendetta, he targets only those he feels as responsible. He has an uncontrollable temper but is a person who knows where to direct it towards. I felt like if I did this, I'd be no better than the idiots who bash a character just for the sake of the plot.

But I did bash his brother. I agree with that. But between both the brothers, I think Doran Martell is a bit more amoral and ruthless. He was willing to sacrifice his own daughter to a madman for his ambitions. I'm not saying that lightly. Anyone who spent any time with Viserys Targaryen can understand he's a mad fool. His madness is well-known to spies and I don't believe that he has no knowledge of it. Yet to avenge a sister that died long ago he's willing to sacrifice his own daughter. That I'm unable to understand or accept. My thought process is that if he can sacrifice his own blood... I think he has no compunctions to do so with a person whom he hated. So, for all Dorne lovers out there I'm sorry about how this story took a turn this way.

And few of you spammed many guest reviews saying how I bashed the Starks and other things. I have deleted many flames like that. Is it a nice thing for me to delete those reviews? No. But is it nice of you to hurl insults at me without a good reason? I don't think so. So, I'm thinking of writing an explanation of my thought processes at the end of the chapter. So, please if you have any problem with this story and if you have any more questions for me or don't agree with me... Please do leave a review of this story through your account. I will answer through PM.

Before any of you come at me with pitchforks... yes, I did use few paragraphs from Hadrian Lannister, The Lion of the rock by Sage1988. I took his permission to use it and he allowed it.

As always Read and review.