Hope.

Her daughter was the only thing that Maya could think about in these dark days. She consumed her thought, vision, and dreams as well. Maya tried to push down those feelings that came up whenever Hope was thought of. Some might think that she was weak for feeling this way, but Maya knew better.

She knew that this tragedy would only make her stronger and have a thick skin on which she needed if she were to be now living and plotting in the Capital. In truth, this was her fault…she had killed her daughter. Maya wanted to end it all.

Sometimes she thought dark enough to want to end her life…to end the endless pain she received in her life right now. Maya felt as if she had lost herself on the way. The only thing that is keeping her strong and alive is her thirst for vengeance. She gave no thought to Jaime in her thirst for justice for her daughter and father and mother and brothers and sisters.

Her hunger for blood.

Maya Stark wanted all of the Lannisters gone.

And I will destroy them if it is the last thing I do.

Maya stood up from her chair and called for her handmaidens who immediately rushed in.

"Yes, my lady," she answered.

"I need you to do something for me," Maya said coldly. "I need you to find me dark colored clothes only. Throw out any pastel or light colors. Do not try to sneak some inside of my wardrobe because I will find out if you did. I hate the colors."

"What kind of dark colors will you like, my lady?" she asked hesitantly.

"Dark purple, black, and dark red. Yes, those will do."

"Of course, Lady Stark."

"Wait!" Maya halted her with a small smirk when she moved for the door. "Call me 'Lady Lannister'. It is my official title, is it not?"

The handmaiden agreed and bowed, leaving her alone. Maya sighed.

If they wanted to see me as the villain then fine…I'm the villain now. Or at least that is what they will think now. We all have a part to play and I am one hell of an actress.

Maya ripped open the wardrobe doors and found a backless dark purple long gown. Maya slipped it on her body, it seem to wrap itself around the curves of her body. The gown had small diamonds on the shoulders and even though the dress was backless it had many diamond chains connected from one shoulder blade to the other as it went down only the skin of her back. Maya had her hair done in a very elegant updo, very queen like in a way according to one of her handmaidens.

She still didn't trust them since they belonged to either the queen or the Lannisters. Maya couldn't tell at the time, but she decided to still keep her distance from them.

This war needs to end, but how though?

Maya walked out of her chambers and down the hall where she could clearly hear the clanking of metal behind her. She rolled her eyes as she stopped walking and then turned around. The three Lannister guards halted in their stride.

She walked towards them and asked, "Who do you work for?"

"We're ordered not to tell you, Lady Lannister," one of them answered her.

Maya narrowed her eyes. "Fine then I will be very blunt about this. Which Lannister did you either take money from or fucked?"

Maya's eyes caught one of them gulping and she smirked in victory.

"You." She said to guard to the right. "You probably took money from Lord Tywin, didn't you? No need to lie to me because I will find out eventually."

"Yes, Lady Lannister."

"Was it the Queen as well?"

"Yes." The one on the left responded to her.

"I feel as though you're only telling me what I want to hear." Maya told them, eyeing them. "You all know that I am The Mocking Knight, yes?"

They nodded. "Good. Then you know that I managed to fight the Mountain and live to tell the tale. Oh, I fought Ser Jaime as well. I won both battles. So I could easily kill all three of you if I wanted to and believe me when I say that I really, really want to cut your throats."

"Lady Lannis-"

Maya grabbed the middle guard's sword and aimed the tip at his throat in the blink of an eye. "Like I said," she drawled out. "I am a cold blooded killer. It is why I fit so well with my in-laws. I am your Lady Lannister of Casterly Rock. I am the Lady Stark of Winterfell as well. You will do well to remember that or I will have your hearts in my hand before you could even squeal. Now I am going to ask one more time and if you lie to me when I will castrate you all, but if you tell me the truth then I will let you live your miserable lives, is that clear?"

They all nodded and she put the sword the down. "Answer my question."

"We work for Lord Tywin, Lady Lannister, but the queen tried to get information about your whereabouts earlier and we were informed not to tell her anything,"

"Good then," she replied. "Now leave my sight immediately for an hour or two. You still make me want to kill you and that's not a good thing."

They all bowed and left her sight.

Holy shit that actually worked! I guess spending time with Jaime and Tyrion has taught me a thing or two about manipulation.

Maya turned around and started to walk down the hall, turning a corner. She mentally groaned when she saw that Joffrey was walking towards her with three of the Kingsguards behind him. Maya guessed that their names were Ser Meryn, Ser Osmund, and Ser Boras. Joffrey had this cruel smile on his face as he looked at her. If he wasn't king, she would've slapped. She knew that it was him who sent that assassin after her brother, Bran. He tortured Sansa and her father and anyone she cared for. This was his entire fault.

Maya knew that he wasn't exactly the mastermind or brains behind the operation, but still…he had a hand in her father's death.

"My lady you are a sight for sore eyes," Joffrey complimented.

Maya chuckled and curtsied. "Your Grace. So lovely to see you again. How have you been?"

"I am better now that your traitorous brother is dead." Joffrey said and leaned in close to her ear. "I plan to serve his head to you and Sansa at my wedding. After all, we are family and I am your king."

Maya stepped away from him, but then bumped into the armored chests of Ser Osmund and Ser Boras. They held her arms in a grip tight hold, forcing her not to move. She glared angrily at Joffrey.

"You see? I can don whatever I want to you, your sister, and anyone else that I see fit to punish. Right now I want to see you specifically in pain. Ser Meryn!" Maya struggled in their hold, but they held her legs down as well with their own. "Hit her until you can barely recognize her beautiful face-the body too."

"Jaime will kill all of you if you lay a finger on me," Maya warned lowly.

Joffrey chuckled and replied, "My Uncle Jaime isn't here right now and you won't tell him about this. If you do then I will hurt Sansa…again. She will be like my little play thing."

Maya stopped struggling at the mention of Sansa. She knew that he had her. She was defeated.

"Ser Meryn, begin!" Joffrey proclaimed gleefully.

Ser Meryn slapped her across the face and her head whipped to the side, she felt the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. He had cut her on the lip. Ser Meryn slapped her again on the other cheek. He raised his hand to hit her again, but an angry voice stopped them.

"What in the seven hells do you think you're doing?!"

Maya saw Tyrion and a man with him. He a wolfish appearance and was lean with dark eyes. He looked to be a sellsword man.

"Ser Meryn step away from Lady Lannister," Tyrion ordered.

"I take orders from the king, not you," Ser Meryn responded.

"Didn't we already have this exact conversation about Sansa Stark," Tyrion reminded them. "Bronn will kill you if you speak again. Right?"

"I always like me an easy kill. It makes me all warm inside," Bronn said.

"You can't tell me what to do," Joffrey snapped at them.

"My dearest nephew, I do hope you know two things right now. One being that you are threatening one of the most powerful women in Westeros right now. Lady Maya is of House Lannister now. She is the Lady Lannister of Casterly Rock and heir to Winterfell and the North. Hurting her would be unwise since I know for a fact that Jaime has a temper and he's a fool in love and your Lord Commander which means that he won't hesitant to hurt any of you. He's already killed one king…who to say that he won't kill another." Tyrion warned him calmly.

"And the second thing?" Joffrey challenged.

"Well, Lady Maya is Ser Dorren. She can easily kill you as well…oh and that if she doesn't do it first then her direwolf will since it's standing right behind your men ready to attack if it's mistress commands it."

Winter growled loudly as her large form came from the shadows and stood by Tyrion, eyeing the men who held her.

Maya groaned. "Enough pleasantries."

She slammed her head into Ser Osmund's head and he fell to the ground. She elbowed the other one in the face as well and kneed him in the crotch. She spinned on her heels as she grabbed the sword from his belt and aimed it at Ser Meryn's throat, raising an elegant eyebrow.

"I am a Stark-a cold one at that and I always will be. Please do well to remember that I can so easily end your pathetic life," Maya said to Ser Meryn then stepped away from him and dropped the sword on thr ground causing it to clank. "Your Grace."

Maya, Tyrion, and Bronn walked back to her chambers with Winter following behind, guarding them. They all went inside of the chambers and locked the doors.

"You shouldn't antagonize him," Maya warned as she looked out into the distance of the sea.

Tyrion stood beside her. "He's stupid and I don't like stupid people."

Maya laughed. "So who is your butt boy?"

"I'm not his butt boy, m'lady," Bronn replied.

"Then who are you?"

"I'm Bronn."

"Just Bronn, huh?" Maya questioned in amusement.

Tyrion glanced around her chambers. "I like what you've done to the place. So much more darker than I could ever imagine."

"It's scary is what it is," Bronn commented.

"Jaime will be so happy," Tyrion said sarcastically.

Maya rolled her eyes. "I don't care anymore."

"He is coming, Maya." Tyrion assured her. "Don't lose hope."

She looked down at him. "I lost hope a while ago, Tyrion. I lost it when my family died as well as my daughter."

"You still have Sansa and Jaime."

Maya scoffed. "Sansa hates me because I love Jaime. She even told me so. She couldn't see past the monster that he created himself into. She doesn't believe me when I say that he's a changed man. She doesn't like you and she doesn't want to marry you."

"Of course she doesn't. Sansa is the kind of girl to fall in love with men like Loras Tyrell. Knights, Maya…not dwarfs."

Maya shook her head. "I just wish that she would be grateful for what she has. To have a husband like you would be a gift from the gods."

"You flatter me, my lady."

"It's not flattery, Tyrion, it's the truth because I know that you won't force her and you will give her back her choice. Her freedom."

"Your faith in me is admirable," Tyrion told her. "Your compassion as well for monsters and beasts."

Maya sighed heavily. "I just miss him, Tyrion."

"Me too, Maya…me too." Tyrion agreed.

"I need to be alone-"

"I understand, Maya." Tyrion said. "We will talk later."

Tyrion and Bronn left the room and Maya felt his consuming sadness come over her as she fell onto the lounge chair. She put a shaky hand over her mouth as sudden tears fell from her eyes and down her cheeks. She felt the pain of the loss…so much loss and so much death that seemed to surround itself around her. It felt good to let it all go.

Maya quickly sniffed and wiped the tears off her cheeks. She took out a piece of parchment and some ink from the desk. Maya sniffled as she started to write the letter.

Dear Jon,

It has been over two years since I have last seen you and written to you.

"Maya," a gruff voice said from behind her.

Maya froze and turned around. Jaime stood on the steps and rags covered his body along with dirt and scars on his face. He looked much older as Maya noticed his missing hand. She quickly stood up and ran to him, wrapping her arms him.

"Jaime…is it really you?" Maya asked as she pulled back and cupped his cheek which seemed to show his cheekbones more. "I'm not dreaming, am I?"

Jaime shook his head. "No. You're not."

TBC….

THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS, FOLLOWS, AND FAVORITES! I AM SO TERRIBLY SORRY FOR THIS LONG OVERDO UPDATE! I will get back on track with this story and I hoped you all liked this chapter. More to come next chapter!

REVIEW. FOLLOW. FAVORITE. Until next time…