I'll keep this intro short, but personally I'm having a lot of changes happen so I can't promise that I'll be able to keep up a weekly upload schedule. Next week's chapter is already written, but after that as it stands is more up in the air. I will keep writing don't worry about that and I'm going to use the time beforehand to get as much done as possible, but this is just a heads up.

Nonetheless, here is a brand-new chapter that pushes the story over 200,000 words! I hope you all enjoy it.

I own nothing but the OC's. Everyone and everything else is the property of George R R Martin or HBO.

With the night after Obara's trial also being her last night alive, Tommen had given the guilty woman a more comfortable cell that the Black Cells that she had been previously staying in and Loren was grateful for that as he had the gaoler open up the door the morning of her execution day. It was still a grimy, dirty room, but there was at least small window allowing some light inside.

"Five minutes, milord." The gruff man with the keys announced, and he took the plate of crumbs that had been Obara's last dinner away before locking the door behind him.

"My final visitor is a Lannister." Obara muttered darkly. "The Gods are cruel."

Loren didn't react, instead he walked over to the window and stared out at the Red Keep walls that was the only view. "I wanted a trial by combat for you, did you know that?" He told her. "I wished heavily a couple of nights ago for you to have been either trueborn or a knight so that I could kill you myself for what you have done."

Obara laughed bitterly. "Your blade will have a chance at Dornish blood before long, Lannister." She snarled. "I am but the latest in a long line of Dornish daughters dead at Lannister hands, do you think Prince Doran with his endless pacifist wisdom will be able to stop Dorne from marching?"

Loren had definitely expected that to happen in the near future, but the confirmation was almost calming. "We will be at war before long I am sure, though what would be the point?"

"Vengeance." Obara snarled quickly.

"I almost let that consume me when I heard you had murdered my Father." Loren said calmly. "No longer. Vengeance is a disease, it rots and poisons the mind until there is nothing left. You are the proof that vengeance isn't worth focusing on alone. It just leads us here." He gestured to the cell. He turned and stared into the Dornish girl's eyes, both of them glaring at one another. "Your sisters death was regrettable, as was your Aunt's. Yours however, I will enjoy watching." He moved over to the door and banged his gloved fist on it three times. "Enjoy your last day, bastard." He said with an air of finality, happily stepping through the cell door when it opened and walking away to lose his anger in the training yard.

While Loren was coming face to face with his Father's killer, a few levels up there was another Dornish prisoner being visited by a golden haired, green eyed individual. Princess Myrcella Baratheon took a deep breath before entering the more decorated cell as befit Prince Trystane's status. He was lying on his bed, his eyes looking tired and angry.

"It is nice of you to visit me, my love." Trystane said, the anger evident in his voice. "Am I to die with my cousin?"

"You are to be escorted to your ship now." Myrcella said formally, trying her hardest not to choke up as the words left her mouth. "Your men have already boarded, as have your belongings. You are to stay in Dorne for a period of 5 years, any breach of the King's decree will be seen as an act of war."

Trystane shook his head. "It has come to this." He muttered, before swinging his legs over the side of the bed and rising to his feet. "I condemned Obara to death out of love for you, let that eat away at your cold, Lannister heart, Myrcella." He accused, and Myrcella blinked to stop the tears. "I loved you with all my heart."

"As I did you." Myrcella whispered. "But your wish for vengeance broke us apart, Trystane, I didn't."

Trystane sighed, and his hand came up to stroke Myrcella's cheek softly. "My sweet Princess, we were doomed the moment your precious uncle condemned my own to death." He said softly. He kissed her gently on the forehead before breaking away just as quickly. "Lead me to my ship."

Myrcella didn't, but she managed to find a good spot on her balcony about twenty minutes after seeing Jaime take Trystane away to cry silently and to watch the Dornish ship prepare to depart from the bay. A knock came at her door and she wiped her tears away with a handkerchief as Ser Arys announced. "Lord Loren to see you, Princess."

"Send him in." She announced, and she stood up as Loren entered the room and joined her on the balcony. They hugged briefly before leaning against the balcony and watching as the Martell sun and spear sail was raised and the ship began to move.

"We will soon be at war." Loren muttered.

Myrcella nodded. "Trystane won't abide by Tommen's rules." She knew. "He wants blood, our blood."

"Well, mine." Loren countered with a semi amused smirk. "The only blood he wants from you is from your maidenhead."

Myrcella didn't want to laugh in the mood she was in, but she snorted all the same and slapped Loren gently on the chest. "That's vile." She smiled sadly. "No, some other man I care not for will get that now I am sure."

Loren sighed and wrapped his arm around his little cousin. "Are you sure about letting him go?" He asked. "It would be easier to keep him here, we would save lives."

Myrcella had been adamant in sending Trystane away even if she knew that the smart choice would have been to keep him as a hostage. "Would you lock Cerenna up if she had been a party to treason?"

Loren paused for a moment as he thought. "I would have to." He said solemnly.

"Then you are a stronger person than I." Myrcella told him. "We may be enemies now, but I love him dearly. I couldn't handle knowing he was here, resenting me like that. If that means a war, then at least this will end with Trystane fighting for something he believes in and not withering away in the dungeons."

Loren couldn't agree, but he held his silence. He had been judged on his choices due to love enough and Myrcella was still young. "I will write to the Lords of the Marches to prepare." He said as the ship was now a mere speck of darkness on the water. "As well as my own forces."

Myrcella nodded while she stared at the ship, another tear rolling down her cheek. Loren sighed and kissed her cheek before he departed the room and leaving his cousin to her grief.

Noon was coming upon them quickly after the departure of Trystane, and Loren had barely found enough time to get a meal inside of him. He was joined by his friend Damion Jast as they quickly demolished a duck and some vegetables between the pair of them. Loren was enjoying the time to just relax with his friend, as the chances to do that had been lacking recently.

"I suppose you're eager to get back to Lonmount." Loren noted. "It's been a long time since you've seen your bride."

Damion nodded. "She writes to me weekly which is nice." He told Loren awkwardly. "I never know what to say back, I'm sure she thinks me stupid."

Loren shook his head. "You are a knight now, Dame, a well-respected friend of mine. She's likely glad of the rise in station."

Damion snorted. "Rise? She's the daughter of a war hero, of a Sarsfield…"

"And you are one day going to be a Lord in your own right, directly under my banner just as much as Lord Sarsfield. Don't sell yourself short, my friend."

Damion nodded, but he didn't look confident. Loren tucked into his duck leg when a knock sounded at the door. "A raven, My Lord." Vylarr said through the oak. "It has the seal of Ser Cleos on it."

"Ah, Riverrun." Loren noted. He went to the door and grabbed the letter, breaking the seal and unfurling it all before he had settled back in his seat.

"What do they want?" Damion asked as he finished his own meal.

"I had asked about my brother." Loren explained. "Lady Sansa had apparently taken Arthur to the Riverlands in fear of his life, I would like them both to join me in Casterly Rock when I return." He read the scribbles on the page, and his demeanour turned sour.

"Lor?" Damion asked.

"She's not there." He whispered, his thoughts whirring. "Captain!" He called.

Vylarr entered the room. "My Lord?"

"You told me Lady Sansa had travelled to Riverrun." Loren said.

Vylarr nodded. "When I spoke to Ser Jasper about the Lady's safety he told me that she was convinced that Riverrun would be the safest place for her, beside her sister and in a Lannister stronghold. I signed off on their departure."

"How did they leave?" Damion asked, seeing what Loren was thinking.

"By ship, Ser." Vylarr shrugged. "The route was planned out by myself and Ser Jasper. They were to travel to Maidenpool by ship and then ride from there to Riverrun, a lengthier route than riding directly but it was dangerous times."

Loren scrunched up the letter and slammed his fist on the table, sending some dishes jumping in the air. "Dame, send a rider to Maidenpool docks. I want every log since my Father's death checked. We have enemies all over the Riverlands. If they were discovered…"

"Then the Riverlands are plotting something." Damion worked out. He stood up and bowed his head. "I'll go myself."

Loren nodded, hugging his friend. "Ride swiftly." Damion nodded, leaving the room. Loren sighed and turned back to Vylarr. "Of course, there are other explanations."

"Like what, My Lord?" Vylarr asked.

Loren stroked his chin suspiciously. "I will write to Cerenna in the hope that Arthur is at the Rock, but it wouldn't be beyond the Dornish to capture the ship and use my brother against me." He surmised, hoping with everything he had that the inevitable war with Dorne wouldn't be more difficult than it needed to be.

Sansa was stood beside Jon on the parapets of the New Castle as she stared down at the pair entering the Manderly stronghold. There were no banners, just two hooded figures in brown leather cloaks that walked through the gates without any form of fanfare. Her fingers brushed the dagger strapped to her hip, a move that Jon noticed.

"Out of both of my sisters, I never expected you to be wielding a weapon." Jon stated amusedly.

Sansa could see the funny side, but it didn't show on her face. "I will do anything to protect Artos, Jon. Anything." She said firmly. "Come, Lord Wyman will be asking for us soon."

She was right, on their way back to the castle they were met with a Manderly guard who ushered them both to Lord Wyman's solar. As they both arrived, Sansa noticed that the room was relatively cramped. Lord Wyman and his eldest granddaughter Wynafred were behind the desk, while a middle-aged man and woman were stood with their backs to Sansa. Wyman noticed them first and clapped his chubby hands together. "Ah, Lady Sansa." He exclaimed. "And… err…"

"Jon is fine." Jon said tiredly, bored of the discussion of what he should be titled.

"May I introduce Lord Howland Reed and his wife, Lady Jyana." Wyman exclaimed excitedly.

The Crannog pair turned and Howland's eyes met Jon's briefly, before he deferred to Sansa. "My Lady, it is an honour." He bowed his head and kissed her hand. "I knew your Father well, I am grateful to be able to serve him still."

"He spoke often of your bravery in Dorne, My Lord." Sansa responded politely. "I am very glad to meet you."

Howland sighed. "He would call that bravery." He said quietly before he turned to Jon. "You look like him." Jon smiled, but Sansa could tell it was a forced one. "I was glad to hear from you Wyman." Howland said, turning back to the Lord of White Harbour. "I was wondering when you were going to make a move."

Wyman only smirked. "You crafty devil." He wagged a fat finger. "I should have known that you would know something. You always do."

"Only what was shown to us by our son." Jyana said softly. "He saw the wild wolf in the arms of the mermaid, nursing him back to life."

Howland looked pained at the mention of Jojen, but he nodded. "You have the youngest here and you wish for us to rally behind him?"

"I do." Wyman admitted, seeing no reason to lie. He turned to Sansa and Jon. "Lord Howland here spent an entire winter with the Green Men. Many people praise your Father for the North's efforts in Robert's Rebellion but really, Howland was the mind behind our successes."

"I was merely a tool, Ned was the strategist." Howland said shortly, but his voice still had a mystical air of calm around it. "Lately my sight has been clouded, Wyman. I do not see as much as before."

Wyman grimaced. "That is grave news."

"But you see something?" Jon asked.

"What do you mean see?" Sansa asked at the same time.

Howland sighed. "In the Neck, the old powers are more prominent. My son, Jojen, was a Greenseer. He could dream the future and predict it. I only get glimpses."

"Glimpses is all we need." Wyman said. "I've already heard from Lyessa and Ondrew, they will be here soon. Lord Robett is sending an envoy." He turned to Sansa. "They are coming to make sure that you are on our side, my dear."

"I am." She said firmly.

"The Northmen will flock to our cause once we march on Winterfell." Howland predicted. "The Bolton's bought themselves time by defeating the Wildlings, but they didn't buy themselves loyalty."

"Are you with us, My Lord?" Jon asked the Crannogman. "I noticed you both came alone and the Neck hasn't stirred in strength since the Rebellion."

Howland smirked. "It would be too obvious if an army arrived at the gates of White Harbour my boy. The forces of the Neck are exactly where they need to be, at the Moat."

"Bolton can't escape us." Wynafred Manderly surmised. "Not if we have the west coast as well as the east."

Wyman looked at Sansa. "So we need the support of House Glover." He explained. "And I can assure you, Robett won't follow you easily, My Lady. Neither will Lady Lyessa. They see you as a Lannister."

"They don't need to follow me." Sansa said calmly. "They will follow Rickon, and I shall trust that they can see my loyalty to my brother quickly."

"They do not trust easily, My Lady." Howland said calmly. "We have been stung by the Lannisters."

Sansa knew that, but as she fingered the hilt of the dagger at her hip she also knew how to win them over. "I will play my part, Lord Reed. Once we have all met with the Lords and Ladies of the North the Bolton's will be one step closer to facing an army of dozens of banners all flying under House Stark, I assure you."

The bright skies from earlier had darkened with clouds as Obara Sand was led out by a pair of Gold Cloaks to the execution block. Loren was stood in a corridor of the Red Keep overlooking the small square where the executions of the smallfolk often took place. Usually this was a setting that went unnoticed by the King and the Small Council, but today all eyes were trained on the bloodstained stage with the executioners block as the Dornish bastard was dragged up towards it. Loren could hear the boos and the jeers being aimed at the woman by the gathered crowd, but the Lannister Lord standing up in the castle looking down at the event was silent and stoic.

"It will soon be over." He heard the Queen say quietly to the King.

"This is only just beginning." Myrcella stated from beside Loren, also stood up with the royal party. "But I admit I will sleep a little easier tonight knowing that justice will be done."

Loren agreed, but he kept his quiet. Also standing in the row were his Lannister Aunt and Uncle, the pair of them as silent as he was, just waiting for the axe to fall. He stared down as Obara had reached the stage and risen its steps, standing in front of the block. Ser Ilyn Payne was there with a hulking battle axe, and the last person stood on the wooden stage was the announcer. "This woman is accused of murdering Lord Tyland Lannister, the Warden of the West and the Hand of the King. Who here bears witness to her crimes?"

It was a farce considering Obara had been found guilty in a trial led by the King, but it was the procedure that had stood for generations and so Loren could only watch as Ser Burton Crakehall of the Kingsguard spoke for Tommen. "I, Ser Burton of the Kingsguard, do speak for His Grace King Tommen. This woman has been found guilty of murdering the Hand of the King in cold blood by both the King and the High Septon."

Boo's and jeers of 'traitor' rang around those down below in the crowd, but once again those stood near Loren were silent, watching on as the parade continued below them. The announcer then turned to Obara and said. "Obara Sand, in the sight of Gods and Men and in the name of the King, I sentence you to die. If you have final words, speak them now."

Obara glared up at the windows where Loren and the royal court had gathered, and smirked as she spat on the floor. "I did not kill this monster, but I will gladly go down in history as the woman who ended his reign of tyranny. Strike me down, and I shall forever be remembered as the slayer of the Red Lion."

"That whore." Loren heard Cersei curse from down the line and Loren clenched his teeth in anger at the Dornish bastard trying to turn this into a triumphant moment, but before he could react he felt a hand slip into his own.

"Ignore her. She will soon be dead." Myrcella whispered. Loren nodded, and he watched on as Obara was being pelted with spit and rotten fruit from the angry crowd as she was forced to kneel and place her head over the wooden block. Then the world seemed to go in slow motion, as Ser Ilyn moved to stand at the side of Obara and he rested the axe on her bare neck, before the axe was raised and swung cleanly, and Obara Sand's severed head fell into the basket beneath the block.

There was something oddly satisfying for Tyrion about the sound of the Unsullied marching in unison onto ships decked out in the sails of House Targaryen. The Lannister dwarf was stood on the docks waiting for the Queen to arrive and he looked out at the bay, with ships bearing the colours of Houses Baratheon, Greyjoy and Targaryen all getting ready for departure. It had been a long time coming, but he was finally on his way home.

Shireen had already boarded her flagship, but Tyrion was required to wait and travel with Daenerys. The thought made him proud once more as in the corner of his eye he noticed the new steel adornment to his tunic, a Hand of the Queen pin. She had given it to him a few days earlier after letting Daario know that he was to stay and keep the peace in the newly renamed Bay of Dragons.

Soon more marching from the Unsullied took Tyrion's attention to behind him, and he noticed a handful of the eunuch soldiers escorting both Daenerys and Missandei towards him. He stood up at attention and waited for the Queen to stop before him. "Your Grace."

"Are we ready?" Daenerys asked.

Tyrion nodded. "Lady Shireen and Yara Greyjoy are both awaiting your boarding before they order their fleets departure." He answered. "Are you ready?"

Daenerys turned and looked back at the Great Pyramid of Meereen for a mere moment, before turning back to her new Hand and nodding. "More than ready." She said with a smile. "It's time to return home."

Tyrion grinned and moved to the side so that Daenerys could be the first of them to board her flagship before following her aboard the vessel. As he stood on the deck listening to the foreign orders being barked by the crew he noticed a trio of flying objects over the Great Pyramid darting towards them, roaring overhead as they passed and flew out into the bay. Grinning once more, the Imp of Casterly Rock thought on his birth family and wondered how they would react when they heard that Daenerys Targaryen was coming for them.

Insert 'The Winds of Winter' music on full volume! Daenerys is coming for the Lannisters, but will they be ready?

The execution scene is heavily inspired by the execution scene in the Telltale Games Game of Thrones game. Obara is a bastard so wouldn't be granted any special treatment.

Myrcella letting Trystane go will be controversial (and will be a plot point going forwards!) but we need to remember that she is still young, still in love and it is a selfish decision that will have an impact.

Now Loren also knows that Sansa has been a bit sneaky. Of course he doesn't know to what extent, but unless something important comes up, he has some investigating to do…

Speaking of the North, Howland Reed is one of my favourite mysterious characters. While it isn't explicitly said that he has any special powers, he travelled down to the Isle of Faces and spent a prolonged period of time there in canon, so to me it makes sense that he has something about him… I said once before that the North's leaders were now either underestimated or green. Well the underestimated are here with a vengeance and mix that with Jon Snow… it will be fun to write about for sure.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Let me know your thoughts in the review section below if you feel so inclined!

Next Time: A new family reunion makes Jon seek answers on Arya, whilst Cersei's past plots become clearer…

Reviews:

roggerlopez99: Yeah I thought it was an interesting dynamic with Yara and Tyrion, Tyrion hates Yara for her family and Yara hates Tyrion for his, but above it all they both hate the same people in Euron and Tyland so them being allies works out.

Mister LaGuardia: It was performed in White Harbour by House Manderly, so it will have been in the Faith of the Seven.

TheRagFromTheCrag: Tyene wasn't there.

Silver crow: For Artos to be the Lord of the North Rickon will have to die… Honestly that image of Tyland having a loving relationship or being loved by all of his children/grandchildren just doesn't compute with me, that's not in his character so if I were to write something like that (which I'm not) it wouldn't be Tyland as I know him. I like that head canon, I would think that sleeping with a woman is the main reason Tyland didn't react badly when Loren threw that in his face and instead just said Loren didn't understand.

Jason Kreuger Myers: Tormund was kept alive in the show but here it wasn't just the Night's Watch, it was Roose Bolton too, so yeah any major Wildling leader at that point in the show would have been flayed. I would say that every reviewer has the right to like who they like, and Silver crow has been a very consistent and welcomed reviewer of all of my stories so that sort of language is a little bit uncalled for in my eyes. Myrcella meanwhile has never had anything bad to say about Tyland and was always treated well by him so she wants to do right by him in death, but you're right in that Tyland's actions in bringing House Lannister short term power by decimating the ruling forces of the regions they warred against has potentially given Dany a massive power base.

suppes1: I'm not sure what I'm going to work on next. While The Golden Dragon has been started and uploaded, it's also a 75 chapter story. The sequel to As High as Honour is only 30 chapters so it's less daunting AND I've already written the first two chapters of that. We'll see.

Trane671: The four main POV areas will be King's Landing, the North, Casterly Rock and wherever Tyrion is, so you'll get a lot of both Lannister and Stark.

Supremus85: It could be annulled but it won't be. As it stands House Manderly are the strongest loyalists that Sansa and Jon have and they won't want to offend White Harbour after Wyman effectively saved Rickon's life. I wouldn't call Tyland an idiot for Theon's death myself either, it was a battle.