AN:

This is a chapter away from the main story so far, it'll be relevant though I promise.

One month after the crash:

The forest the airship crashed in had a scar through it now. Looking from above, it was clear where the thing hit, and how far it went. It could have been worse… the experimental device that malfunctioned was supposed to form a tunnel through space, giving them some protection at least, but it also ended up tearing the ship apart. Captain Leonard was looking at the crash site silently from a small hill, thinking of the events that led up to this. Thinking of the impossibility of it all.

People had come to investigate, but not a crash crew, no ambulances or even fire departments had arrived. They were over the ocean when this happened, so he was completely unsure of where they were. The instruments were either completely destroyed, or not working due to the lack of power. No one on the crew knew how to read stars… it was such an old-fashioned skill these days, but one that would have been helpful perhaps.

No the people that had shown up were skittish, and looked at them as if they had never seen an airship crash. Which by now, all corners of the world would be familiar with them. Finding out where they were proved to be difficult. But even when they started to get answers, nothing made sense.

The experimental device was being made as a means on an instant strike on the enemy. No sensors or warning systems could detect a tunnel through reality itself. Bombs could be sent, troops and airships, right inside an enemy base with any guards against them. It was part of the back and forth that had been happening for years, even before the war.

New improved weapons and targeting systems, new and improved safeguards to negate those weapons. Of course, the device was never completed, it never fully worked and the war was won without it. They ended up with the person that had been used against them so effectively.

After talking with the one crew member who survived that was familiar with the device, a somewhat believable conclusion was reached. After experiencing some turbulence in the air, the device was triggered. Straightforward so far. Instead of opening a tunnel to a predetermined location as it was meant to, it opened a tunnel to an alternate reality, or parallel universe.

Something different happened in the past of this place, causing a different world to form, but still, they thought it was Earth. It was the only explanation that would explain the common language, and other impossible similarities.

The captain observed the surrounding area, Barrowton to the west, where the first people to stay and talk to them were from. They promised to stay in their area for the time being and promised no ill intentions. They notably did not promise the same which made the Captain weary. They noticed a patrol almost every day get close, but not approach them.

He looked north then, where the other part of the ship went, without the protection of the device, and with the one person that could help power it back on. The one person that they were taking back to D.C., who had ended the war, who had… done something unexplainable. They didn't discuss it.

He looked down at his military issued cell phone. It had been a month since the crash, and even to longest battery life there could be and turning it off for long periods couldn't keep it alive forever. There was only encrypted communication technology in this one, with some pictures saved. Civilian technology wasn't allowed due to the tracking capabilities their enemies had.

He looked at it sadly while the red low battery symbol flashed in the corner. His partner and their daughter smiled up at him. He tried to memorize their faces as best he could. Who knew how long it would be until they could get back?

He had to believe that they could though. They had the device. They just needed to get it to happen again. The screen went dark. He stared at it for a few more moments before putting it in his pocket.

He saw a group approaching through the trees, a group of maybe ten, holding a white flag as they approached. He started walking down, back towards the crash site where they had set up camp. If this was a more official party, he needed to brief his crew on just how much to tell them. If he had learned anything, he knew that giving an unknown place like this even the slightest reason to be afraid or nervous they would move to eliminate the threat.

Apparently the group represented a place called the Citadel, and brought with them several letters from different leaders of this place. All of them including some warning on what would happen should they choose sides, and should they cause any disturbance… the most overt threat came from the capital city. Although some letters addressed them facetiously, like they didn't think they existed. They started with " To the supposed people who fell out of the sky…"

Their official response was to formally acknowledge the threat made against them, declare themselves neutral in all their conflicts, promise not to harm the people of Westeros, and state the only goal they had was to get home. But he also included the fact that they would defend themselves if pushed. It wouldn't do to be pushed around so quickly.

These Maesters were sent to learn about them, and to explain Westeros. It was helpful to learn more, and to actually see a map.

They asked for more information on the other part of their ship, but it could be weeks to get a response from the north they were told. It made him miss the instant communication he was used to… their military issued cells where mostly destroyed, the ones that weren't broken weren't capable of sending messages at the moment. There was only two that they left turned off, the three others were dead, like his own. No way to charge them.

They were being worked on to connect to each other without a satellite signal… They had the radios in the airship that he had assigned a team to, to try and convert them into a two-way communication device. It wasn't exactly going spectacular. It was something to work on at least. Despite them not having power.

Though they were all seasoned soldiers at this point, they were still used to certain technologies and standards of living. Some people were better at camping than others, to put it plainly. They didn't have much in terms of food either. Only one man knew how to make snares and traps, but a few rabbits weren't enough to feed seventeen people. The Captain had ordered his crew to not use their weapons after realizing what environment they were in, he did not want to draw attention to that.

A crew member had explained alternate realities and parallel universes to the Citadel group, who all took notes studiously. That was as much as he had given leave to explain at that time. He still wanted to learn about this place before revealing more. They also helped with their more injured crew, which did let the Captain warm up to them more. He didn't want to bury anyone else.

As the weeks went by, and their supplies were running even lower, the Captain needed to make the call to gather their things, and start to sell them to the merchants in Barrowton. They had consulted with the Citadel group on what would be useful, and also requested their help to get into town in the first place. It helped that they were respected in this country.

They mostly brought with them different cloths and under-armors that were designed to keep you cool in the heat… those were useless to them now but apparently people were very interested. Some jewelry a few people had, mostly traditional commemorative bracelets, some had medals on their jackets that they were willing to part with.

In any case, it made relations with the town slightly better. It reassured people to know what happened was an accident, and they didn't have any grand schemes. They probably believed them because they were so clueless. The Captain may have asked people to play it up to appear unassuming…

There was one merchant in particular they ended up traded with, who had a wife and three kids, a boy and two girls. They had found someone selling cloaks and were trading with them when Lothor came across them.

"You don't trade much, where you're from?" He asked them, staring at their new cloaks with amusement.

Apparently, they were pretty bad quality… they seemed thick but didn't keep heat in well at all, and others would have bought what they gave the other merchant for a lot more than what they got in return. Captain Leonard shoved the cloaks in Everett's arms, he was the one who got swindled after all. They were his now.

Lothor gave them fair payment, but still not the most they could get. But it was understandable, he had to make a profit too. At least the quality of his goods were better. Its not like they were planning on staying here, so if the man was making a small fortune off them, well, good for him.

He had decided soon after the Maester got there to not mention the amount of people back home. They mentioned a war that ended, but not the scope of it. He did his best to portray a retired veteran vibe, the people here seemed to respect that.

They only mentioned their country, not the others. They mentioned at lot of the most popular stories, they said were plays and not movies. He recommended older ones with similar values as this place… It took a while to describe all six Star Wars trilogies, it preoccupied a lot of their time, and he told the Citadel members it was vital in understanding their culture, which wasn't exactly false. They often devolved into long philosophical debates, which steered them clear of specifics at least. That and they played music.

There were a few people in the crew who knew how to play instruments, and between them all, they knew a lot of songs. Though he asked them to stow the edgy shit they came up with. They needed to portray a non-combative atmosphere. They played some older Beetles songs, and John Lennon's Imagine did very well in town. Some minstrels had actually put it down for themselves to play too.

Having the next conversation with the women on his crew was awkward to say the least. But they had all picked up on the society here. The brothels in town were very blatant with their… displays. He simply told them don't hesitate to ask anyone to accompany them if they felt unsafe. But he wouldn't order them to stay with a man, that would be crossing a line. Laureen had given him a look, that clearly meant, I can handle myself better than you can, what are you worried about. Still, it needed to be acknowledged how backwards this place seemed to be…

After a while, the members of the Citadel didn't need to travel with them for them to be admitted into town. So that was progress in Captain Leonard's eyes.
It almost became a tradition, they sent a group there at the end of the week and got some coin by selling things and playing some songs, and it supplied them for the week. It was becoming more well known they were here, people would come to town to see if they were 'real'. It was a big thing in the Capital apparently, most common folk thought that they weren't real. Not that they minded that, it made things less tense for them.

They even became more familiar with a few of the 'lords' of the place. Though, there were still a lot of the upper class that seemed to either be scarred of them or hate them…

Lothor had explained it to him. It was the fact that they interacted with the common people and not the lords that was considered unorthodox. Also the fact they still haven't formally recognized the lords' authority made people uncomfortable in town. It seemed simple enough to rectify the situation, with Lothor's help. He acted as a sort of liaison at times, explaining to the lords the customs were simply different, but they had proven themselves a respectful bunch. The captain liked the guy.
Respect and honor were a big part of their culture from what was gathered, so that was how he wanted his people to be perceived. Spreading only stories of mutual values. Unfortunately, it was known they didn't have a feudal system due to the explanation to the lords that was given, but they did their best to relate to what they could.

The Captain couldn't say relations were all flowers and daisies and shit, but they were respectful to each other, and for now, it was enough. They didn't have information on the rest of the world, everything seemed very closed off outside of Barrowton.

When they finally got more information from the Maesters, it wasn't much to go on. Just that the other part of their ship had been spotted going over a wall. No report on survivors at all. It left him in a bit of a conundrum.

He could either wait for more information or send a team north to investigate themselves. The Citadel group had been trying to persuade him to let a few people travel with them to Old Town, and perhaps show them more of the World. But he couldn't sanction the trip, not when progress on the device was so uncertain. Some days seemed like there was progress, and hope, but some days went very wrong. A few almost explosions had put them all on edge.

The months went by with growing tension. It was clear from some of the letters they received that they were expected to have left by now. After checking up on the device that day, it was clear that there just wasn't a reliable power source that could be used to test the thing. It was too volatile, and it needed to be tested before use. Not doing that was out of the question.

Some of his men had been loosing hope. As much as he tried to make sure they were tight lipped about it around others, some people were sharing a bit too much in town. About how they didn't actually know how to get back, there might be one person who could help but who knew if they were alive. The person that said this was not allowed to go into town anymore when he heard, needless to say.

There were some things though, that the Captain didn't catch. Such as the engineer working on the device venting to a Maester, who had someone taking notes for him close by. They were explaining the fact that there was an option of returning home, a 'back button' so to speak. But actually getting back to Westeros specifically wasn't possible. They didn't have the ability to make what the engineer called, 'an anchor'. So, learning about survivors was important, especially one. After which the engineer realized his mistake, they weren't supposed to mention Verona to them exactly.

And if the Maester's assistant was an informant who was part of the spymaster's web, well, the Captain never figured that out. Too concerned with the potential hostilities that were closest to him, and not far away.

The only reassurance was the ammo and guns they had still intact. There was even a single flamethrower that somehow survived. They all carried their handguns, but the larger rifles were kept under lock and key. They hadn't explained what the handguns were, exactly. They had purchased crossbows to hunt with, to save their ammo and to not call attention to them.

The Captain needed to talk to Everett. He found him using his military issued knife to whittle what might have been a fork?

"We need to talk." He told him directly. Everett looked up at him, curious but knowing somewhat what was going to be asked.

"You were a member of her guard. You know her best out of anyone here. Do you think she's alive? And if she is… do you think she would be stable enough to help?"
"If anyone could survive it would be her. She would find a way. If it were before, I'd say she would be trying to get south and find us if she could, but now… I'd have to see her to determine if she's stable or not." Everett tells him thoughtfully.

This was the closest they had come to acknowledging what had happened.

He would talk with the others tonight, about sending a group to look for her. She could act as a power source for them maybe? The possibility was better than nothing. She was the key to helping them get home before they died of old age.

The group from town was returning, but something was different this time. Captain Leonard walked briskly to meet them, counting how many there were just in case something had happened.

"Captain, we've heard of a horrible act not far from here. They're calling it the Red Wedding. Some of the soldiers from Barrowton were slaughtered, they're calling for a resistance towards the betrayers."

Shit. The fighting hadn't been near them since they'd been there, this was too close.

Yet another reason to send people north, they needed to get out of this place. Even if it meant finding her.

The campfire was silent. After the events of the red wedding were shared with the group, no one wanted to speak. They had known their fare share of atrocities, but the quality of this was disturbing to say the least. It felt much more personal, they hadn't felt like this since she was a prisoner, and no one liked to be reminded of those things done to her.

One thing was certain, they didn't want to deal with people who would betray allies like this, that would stab a pregnant woman in front of the father, and then kill the man in front of his mother. No matter he was considered a king, it was a cruel thing to do, and disturbing to hear.

The members of the Citadel where staying in town at the moment. So, they had this time to plan out what they were going to do. There had been no news of survivors in the north, but information traveled slowly here. The more he thought about it, the more Captain Leonard was convinced he had to send a team north.
If they didn't make progress soon, they would be pulled into the conflicts of the land here, he was sure of it. He had heard rumors of religious groups that were growing increasingly interested in them, the last thing he wanted was to become the obsession of fanatics.

Opening up the discussion on the floor, it seemed like the consensus was they needed to send their own people north to find out more. The next problem was deciding who would go, and how many people. If they were going to tell the Citadel members, who, bless their hearts, where trying so hard to be involved with them.
"It needs to be a small group. Less than four. We need to try to blend in, be unassuming."

"What if we do find people, it'll be a larger group, people would know we were lying coming back. If we find her, they'll know… She's pretty noticeable."
"So, we don't lie. We send a small group but be clear, we're only looking for our survivors. But if they don't ask…"

"Only two people should go. More than a single person but, if all six are alive, it could make people nervous. They don't like more than five people at a time in town."
"So, who's going with Everett." The last statement was made jokingly. Only a few people chuckled. Because it was serious, Everett was obviously going to have to go. Everett's face remained impassive at the moment.

"I'll go with him." Laureen spoke up. She and Everett had known each other vaguely from before, she convinced him to help and join the team when they were preparing to travel back to D.C., they seemed to be close friends now.

They look at the Captain. He looks at Laureen, who's unwavering. Then at Everett, who nods once to him.

"We'll get supplies for you, and horses. You'll leave in a week." He told them.

Traveling north wasn't bad at first, especially with the horses allowing them to travel fairly quickly. They had supplies, Laureen was good with a crossbow so hunting wasn't a problem. Everett had experience tracking animals from before the war, he was from the country after all. Laureen was a quick study and was always a crack shot. She had been fiddling with the crossbow they had with them, thinking of adding a nob on the side, with some gears underneath for the tension, to pull back instead of using her hands.

Everett spent his evenings trying to whittle some gears for her to try out. But they would probably have to be metal for it to really work. There was a lot of tension in the string after all. Some others, including himself, had been trying out bows, but they were just too different from what they were used to. Crossbows were just an easier transition.

They had been told by the captain to avoid the main road when possible, and to avoid Winterfell in particular. They had a map with them and were doing their best to navigate but it was slow going in that department. They're weren't used to navigating like this.

Not to mention it was getting colder. They could layer their cloths easily enough, their uniforms were loose enough that it wasn't much of a problem, but certainly not what they were used to. The winters hadn't brought snow in so long, they had forgotten what it had looked like. And this was only the Fall season for them? Even traveling throughout the last seven years, there had only been a handful of locations that were cold. And that was only compared to the sweltering weather that was considered normal now.

Everett brought the cloaks he had bought, and to his embarrassment, he realized that they really were terrible quality. It made them more unassuming though so… they made do.

One evening though, as they were getting closer to what was called 'The Wall', and a base called Castle Black, Laureen confronted him.

"What do you really think about what happened. Out of everyone, you should be the most upset, the most betrayed. You actually knew her. But you're not. You're worried about her."

Everett stops the whittling he was doing. Looking down. He knew Laureen had some idea of how he was feeling, but he didn't think she'd outright ask. He should have known better, she was always direct.

"It just, doesn't feel like something she would do without a reason." He tells her.

"And you think she had a reason." Laureen asks, voice hard as she stares at him.

He sighs and shakes his head in frustration. "I don't know."

"If you have any doubts at all you need to tell me, and you need to tell me now."

She wasn't asking.

"It's just… I knew her, since almost the moment she woke up after escaping. I was part of her original guard. She was a mess. The cameras didn't show it but, she was much worse than they let on. Paranoid and constantly having panic attacks. She would lash out sometimes, but she never used her powers. She refused to use them. She was getting better though. She really was. And she always played her part… so to speak. She was good at predicting what they would do, and how to stop them…
"And what she did… it doesn't make sense for her, out of nowhere. I still don't think she'll hurt me. Or you. She didn't fight back when she was being taken to her trial. She should have had a problem with being confined, but she already accepted it. I can't help but feel that there's something we don't know. And yet… Of course I feel betrayed. I feel like if I see her I'll loose it sometimes. I just… don't know."

He was using his knife to sharpen a stink he found on the ground now instead of his previous project. Frustrated for not knowing anything definite. But not wanting to admit just how much he believed something else was going on with her. He couldn't fully believe it though, not with the circumstances that occurred at the final ceremony they held for the ending of the war.

"Do you think there was a reason, or do you just want there to be a reason?" Laureen challenged him.

"I don't know, Laureen." He snapped, throwing down the stick he was carving to pieces to the ground.

"Well, you have to have sort of plan if we find her." She changes the topic slightly, but was still to the point.

"A plan?" Everett gives her a look.

"Do you ever think you plan out too much?"

"No."

"… We should ignore it probably. To get her to come with us and help. She can be… jumpy." Everett decides.

"You really think that's going to happen. If we find her, we'll be traveling all this again. You really think we won't talk about it." Laureen asks incredulously.

"We already don't talk about it." Everett points out.

"If she's not as jumpy as you think she's gonna be, what then? What if she wants to talk about it?"

"Then I guess we'll talk about it. What do you want me to say, huh?"

"You don't think she's guilty and you won't tell me why. Maybe she will."

"It'll be better hearing it from her anyway… So we find a place away from people and ask? Wait for her to start?"

"You're the one who knows her."

"…If she mentions something alluding to it then I'll ask… I can't promise I won't lose my cool though."

He gets up and gets his bag and pulls out his bedroll, clearly done talking for the night. Leaving Laureen with the first watch.

The did need to stop at some smaller towns on the way. They did their best to not stay long, and to talk as little as possible, their accents usually causing suspicion at least. But it so happened that during a storm, they had to stay at a tavern for the night, having already been caught there before it started downpouring. It so happened that the owner was already suspicious of who they were.

They were on edge most of the evening, but the owner did eventually come over to talk, and told them to stop expecting a fight to break out, otherwise it would actually happen. It was said jokingly enough, but they still were uncomfortable.

"You know, if you don't want people to tell you're from… a long way from here, you might consider wearing different boots?" He pointed out to them. "Even up here there have been some descriptions of what you wear. Not many, mind you, but some. And boots covered with laces is an odd thing to see."

"We're not trying to hide exactly, just being discrete." Everett explained. "We don't want any trouble."

"Of course you don't. I've owned this place long enough to recognize the folks wanting a fight." The owner told them, still with a teasing tone.

"I've heard, that you folk have some entertaining ability." He continued, looking fascinated. One of the few people they had met who seemed so, who wasn't a Maester.

"…We know a lot of songs from home I suppose…" Laureen said carefully.

"Well, if you feel inclined, striking up a tune here would give myself quite the reputation. I'd give you room and board free of charge of course." The owner offered them, sounding excited.

Everett and Laureen looked at each other for a bit, communicating silently.

"It's an interesting offer, but we can't stay long, and to draw a crowd the weather would have to be nicer. If we come back this way, we might consider it sir." Everett tells him.

"Ser! I'm no ser, just a tavern keeper. The offers stands should you return. Enjoy your night then." He let them be after that. They shared incredulous looks.
Everett and Laureen both had played at Barrowton a bit, Everett had played the drums since he was a boy, while Laureen had learned guitar the last seven years during the war. Not that there were guitars here, but there were similar instruments at least. They didn't expect other places would welcome them so easily though. Perhaps it was just the one man who was different. Most people they met had cold looks, and an unwelcoming nature.

The night passed uneventfully, and they continued on their way in the morning.

They were getting close; they could see the wall in the distance now. They wound up going too far west though, and had to go east, looking for the inhabited castle they were told about. It was quite a site, there wasn't anything they could compare it to back home. They often exchanged glances when looking at it, just to reaffirm the other is seeing it too.

They see another fort in the side of the ice up ahead. This must be it, there was actual signs of inhabitants in this one. Smoke rising, and a path that was worn leading in. They exchange another glance before squaring their shoulders and approaching, making their horses walk a bit faster.

A small group of men were cowering on the forest floor, hands in the air like the others had told them. The person in charge, called by the others as Captain, approached them.

"Who ordered this attack?" He asks them, voice hard.

"Our lords requested it. Lord Bolton." One answered, on the verge of tears.

"Who does he take orders from?"

"H – he is in an alliance with the Lannister's!" another squeaks out.

The men are looking around them, the weapons the others had were death itself, and pointed directly at them. There were only seventeen of them. A group of a hundred and fifty should have been more than enough to wipe them out. But their weapons… they had no idea how deadly they were. They dropped like flies while thunder filled the air. They thought arrows would be the best way to attack first before moving in, but after two people dropped, their response was devastating.
The others are talking quietly now, looking disgruntled and angry. Finally, the Captain turns back to them.

"Go back to your lords, or your homes, wherever you wish. Tell them about what happened here. Tell them not to try again. We'll bury the dead. Should their families wish to visit their graves they can. We won't attack first, but you're damn well sure we'll defend ourselves." He nods towards another, who has come back with a note they had written.

"I do request that one of you deliver this to the Lannister who ordered this." It didn't sound like a request. He approached the first man who spoke.

"You'll do this won't you?" He told him.

The man nods his head quickly.

The Captain signals to his men, they lower their weapons. He gives them all a hard stare before telling them to get on their way quickly. They took off immediately after that.

Most were in awe that they were alive and let go so easily. Not even taken prisoner, just sent off right away. They were fierce people, with terrifying weapons, but even still they seemed too trusting. No one just lets people go. None of them wanted to face them again, but more would be sent now, they were sure of it. Once their lords knew, once kings landing knew, they would be a larger target. But perhaps, there was the smallest chance they would be left alone. No one in the group who was sent away really believed it though.

When Roose Bolton had gotten the letter from Tywin Lannister to kill the people near Barrowton, he hadn't been surprised. He had already sent a group to assess what they could do. He had heard varying reports of their abilities, but it could be agreed by everyone, that no one was sure how they fought. When Tywin Lannister included that it was very strongly believed that, despite the other worlders' county had so many people, they didn't have a way of getting to Westeros. Which was reassuring at least, but still, Lord Bolton wasn't sure if he was right. Having the blue lady would be a safeguard just in case, while the Lannister's were left to deal with anyone who got here again somehow.

Lord Bolton couldn't help but wonder how things must be in the capital, if Tywin was willing to take this risk.

Sending a group there directly served two purposes. Either they did as they told and were able to get rid of all the people, or they failed, after which Lord Bolton would have to go with the second plan. Either way, he would know more about what they could do than Tywin.

He had already apprehended the group from the Citadel, away from Barrowton. They had betrayed House Dustin of Barrowton at the Red Wedding, so he didn't want to cause open hostilities, at least so soon. However, the back up plan would require them. So, they would have to accept their presence none the less.
Lord Bolton scowled at the men in front of him. They had run here after their ill fated attack over a week ago. The only survivors they said… He decided there were no survivors. He stared at the men with him, and told them as such. They got the message and killed them quickly.

"Cowards that fled at the fist sight of something unusual. Don't believe a word of it." He ordered his men.

This couldn't get back to the Lannister's after all. Their relation was new and tenuous at best right now because of the presence of these other people. This was a chance for a more solid alliance. Even if what these soldiers said were true, it couldn't be spread around. It was more than he expected to learn, the fact that they were able to kill two of them before they could retaliate was very reassuring. The most ostentatious of reports said they were immortal.

They shouldn't have let his men go, he could move in quicker now, with a better strategy. One that allowed them all to be targeted at once, so they couldn't retaliate. And, getting these weapons that were so powerful.

They had stronger ties in town than was wanted, he should make it known to them the consequences for siding with outsiders. Isolate them completely perhaps, weaken them like they would a normal stronghold.

That would take too long though. He had been working out who they were close to in town already, Lord Bolton would make them join him instead. He would make sure all the Others' guards were lowered before striking. Giving them the chance to target all of them at once. The Red Wedding might have been distasteful to most people in the north, but it was effective in its results.

Perhaps a detour from his plans was necessary. He could be very persuasive in person.

He told his men to get ready to go to Barrowton.

Lord Bolton regarded the note in his hand, addressed for the Lannister's. No doubt a warning of what would happen if they try again. They must have thought it would work if they let so many people go. They were fools. He threw the note in the fire.

One soldier was running, the adrenaline in his veins keeping him going. He didn't want to go back to the Bolton's, he wanted to return home. Like the others had told him he could.

As soon as someone had dropped their weapons in surrender, they passed by them, only telling him to keep low and shut up until the fight was done. Which was not long. He could see the anger in their eyes, but still, they didn't make a move to hurt him. He saw what Lord Bolton could do, and would do to his men who he thought failed him. He couldn't risk it.

He knew his cousin was one of Lord Glover's men, perhaps after visiting home, he would fight for a new lord…

The High Sparrow did not like the new songs these people from the sky brought with them. The most popular with the common folk being something about, Imagining no religion? No, that did not sit well with him, and his plans.

He had been telling the devout to not believe everything they hear from travelers, who would do anything to earn a few more coins in their pockets. They haven't seen themselves, why follow the words of others so carelessly. It wasn't like how the seven were shown to be in their lives. The mercy of the mother could be seen daily.

So no, he didn't want the common folk of King's Landing to acknowledge these strange people. No matter how harmless they were trying to seem, they were disrupting his gain in influence. Soon, Lancel Lannister would confess, as they all did, and join them. If he did not have the full support of the people, it would be more difficult for his power to grow.

But the fact that things were so chaotic also helped him. People wanted to be reassured, wanted to believe in the gods more now than ever, to explain the scene in the sky. He was using that to his advantage quite well. The crowds gathering to listen to him grew every day.

There are no people from the sky. He repeated it often throughout the day, whenever he heard someone mention it. Sounding gently chiding and carefully condescending. Making sure his sparrows repeated it too, it slowly began to work.

More doubt was thrown into existence at the very least. That was all he needed. They could doubt every other thing that existed, as long as the believed in him alone.
King Joffery would be wed soon, who was widely disliked. He had a feeling, his own rise in power would come soon.

Captain Leonard looked at what remained of the ammunition. It wasn't much, not enough for the weapons they had. He was thinking it was time to take apart and destroy a portion of the rifles they couldn't really use anymore.

He was prepared for a confrontation with either the Citadel members or the people of Barrowton after the attack had occurred. But no one had come. They had traveled to town and not met any resistance. The town was almost a full days travel away so, maybe they didn't hear. They couldn't find the Citadel group at all though.

A few weeks passed, in nervous silence, waiting to hear more. But it was odd, it was like the town was getting friendlier towards them. Lothor had always been kind, but the lords now too, seemed welcoming. It was the lord of House Dustin, the main people in charge as far as he could tell, that eventually gave them the letter they had received weeks ago now. Seeing as the Citadel group wasn't around to deliver things to them anymore.

She had been found. At the place he had sent his crew-members to. The only one it seemed. It was a relief, he knew his people would be getting there soon, and returning, if they hadn't already. It was difficult to tell how long a journey it was exactly. They could be on the return trip, halfway back perhaps?

They invited them all to a celebration of sorts, as a potential farewell party maybe? It was odd, they didn't know what to make of it. The people here had always valued honor, at least as far as they could tell. They had known them for awhile now, it would be considered a bad thing if they betrayed them. And then, Lothor himself had said it was a fine idea, wanting to partake himself. His own crew was happy to celebrate, regaining hope that they lost for a long time now.

Maybe it would be better to invite them to their own camp. So that they would have protection right away… it couldn't hurt to celebrate a bit. Lothor was vouching for these people, and he trusted him.

AN 2:

This chapter serves to explain what has been happening so far in Westeros. Maybe what would happen to an actual group of people. Also disclaimer, I'm not in the military I'm only guessing how they would act. It was something fun to think about in any case, hope you enjoyed in too!

Also, the attack on them took place very shortly after Everett and Laureen left them, so those parts went on while they traveled.

Because of all the confusion in King's landing, I think it would give the high sparrow an opportunity to take control earlier in the mess. People are more inclined to listen to religion at that point.

As a consequence for singing one particular song to appear peaceful and nonthreatening in town (John Lenin's 'Imagine'), that some people happened to especially like and learn to teach others, the high sparrow decided to deny the existence of the other people.

Perhaps Tywin will get involved with the sparrows because of this?

Thanks for reading!