Hi everyone,

Last chapter was light on the dialogue for obvious reasons, this chapter is not so enjoy some cool conversations :)

Chapter 3: Summer Sacrifices

Next Morning a few hours later …

Just outside the Walls of Winterfell, Seat of power of House Stark in the North, Capital of the Kingdom of the North

Varys watched from the Walls of Winterfell as the torches made their way to their designated pyres.

Loras Tyrell was tearfully marching his way towards his father's pyre. Varys understood that Mace Tyrell had been one of the first to fall and Loras had himself dealt his father's his second death when he had returned as a wright. Killing your own father was a weight no man should bare.

A young man Varys new had been Tyrion's squire hobbled up to Brienne's pyre and threw his torch onto the body of the great warrior. He seemed to mumble a few words before his eyes settled on his shoes.

Sansa gracefully glided towards Theon Greyjoy's pyre which was an interesting development consider the dead Kraken's traitors past but Varys acknowledged the heart of his spider web was in the South of Westeros not the North.

Sansa's sister Arya equally, swiftly made her way towards the pyre bearing the Hound. This relationship he knew more about. Traveling companions during the height of the War of Five Kings it was easy to imagine the Hound leaving an impression on the notoriously boisterous Stark girl.

Varys flicked his eyes to the two remaining Targaryens. Jon was standing beside a pyre holding the body of a small girl who he believed was Lady Lyanna Mormont and Daenerys was holding back her tears as she threw her burning torch on top of Jorah Mormont's pyre.

The elder Mormont's death had hit his Queen so tragically hard. Vary's eyes narrowed in on the final pyre which was by far the most interesting one to him.

Tywin and Tyrion both stood besides Jaime's unlit pyre. All the rest were now burning. Both Lannister men held a torch in their hands.

"Father," Tyrion said wondering what was staying the taller Lannister's hand, "We need to lit his pyre."

Tywin didn't answer his youngest but simply threw his torch so it landed by Jaime's feet. Tyrion copied his father's motion and soon his brother's pyre was burning and sending plumes of smoke into the air.

They could now barely see Jaime's body through the fire.

"You are wishing it was me in there instead of him, aren't you?" Tyrion said, letting out his inner feelings.

Still Tywin remained silent, staring into the flames.

"Or are you thinking of throwing me in there?" Tyrion questioned becoming nervous with his father's silence and turning to humour to ease his anxiety, "It would be understandable, the last time we saw each other I tried to murder you."

Tyrion flinched as his father finally responded.

"And you failed. Just like I failed the day you were born. You made me pay for my failure. I will make you pay for yours. But the moment to settle our differences is not here, not now. Not as your brother burns before us."

"I have nothing left for you to take from me Father so why not settle our differences now," Tyrion exclaimed as he held back his own tears, "It is what Jaime would have wanted."

"Tyrion," Tywin warned in a low growl but his son wasn't paying him anymore attention.

"There will never be another moment to settle our differences. The next time we lay eyes on each other one of us will most likely be dead," Tyrion tried to reason.

"I am not standing here as Hand to King Tommen Baratheon," Tywin said with frustration in his voice before it went unnaturally soft, "I am standing here as a father who just watched his son die."

Tyrion bit his tongue to stop the unruly gasp of shock that was forming in his mouth at the sudden show of emotion from his father. Tyrion had never witnessed his father lower his steely mask in such a way. It was unnerving for him to see his father as anything other than the might Lord Tywin who crushed all in his path.

Tyrion respected his father's wish he really did but he owed it to the Realm to try to end the bloodshed before it even began so he pleaded, "She had two adult dragons and she will come for the Iron Throne. Surrender and she might spare Cersei and Tommen."

"I have seen how your Queen enjoys her power. Tommen as a claimant to the Iron Throne will never be safe and the only thing that will stop Cersei plotting for revenge would be her death so do not promise things you cannot give."

"Daenerys will be a good ruler, a good Queen, she truly cares for the people and nobility alike. Beside you must know by now that the rumors regarding Cersei and Jaime are true, that Tommen isn't a claimant to the Iron Throne."

"Aerys was once a good King; just and fair but I witnessed his descent into madness all the same," Tywin pointed out choosing to ignore the comment about his eldest children, "And I hear that Daenerys doesn't even have the strongest Targaryen claim."

"Who told you that?" Tyrion said evenly controlling his facial features.

Tywin saw through Tyrion's reaction, "So it is true."

"He doesn't want it."

"But she does."

"She does," Tyrion confirmed.

"Telling that, isn't it," Tywin snapped as he turned around to leave his youngest son to ponder on his words.

An hour later ..

"I am sorry about Jaime's death; he was a good man in the end."

Those words stopped Tywin in his tracks as well as his personal guard. Tywin looked directly above him to see Arya Stark dangling her legs off a stone bridge a few metres above him.

Tywin lifted his head which sent a little shock of pain through him as his injuries from the night caught up with him, "You have my condolences for your brother, although I hear no body has been found."

"I believe Bran is now one with the Weirwood tree," Arya speculated from her lofty position.

"Mmm," Tywin replied neither agreeing or disagreeing with her but noting how fast the little Lady had recovered.

Just a few hours ago she had been trembling and shaking all over, deathly cold to the touch and now she looked perfectly healthy.

After a few moments of silence and stillness Arya let out an audible sigh.

"May I walk with you?"

Tywin turned his palm up in a positive gesture and Arya slipped off the edge of the bridge to land cat like right before Tywin. Her movement startled the Lannister guards but Tywin calmed them with a single wave of his hand as the little Lady occupied the space next to him.

They started to walk through the streets of Winterfell passing soldiers belonging to all the major Houses of the Realm.

"You are nervous," Tywin suddenly barked.

"No I am not," Arya replied fiercely.

"You are fiddling with your belt," Tywin pointed out, "You used to do that at Harrenhal when I asked about your family."

After a few more strides of silence Arya conceded the point. She was nervous. She was in the Old Lion's debt and it was not a position she wanted to be in for long.

"You saved my life twice last night," Arya half murmured her mind flashing back to the White Walker's raised sword and the Night King's cold grip, "Therefore, the many-faced god is owed two deaths."

At Arya's words Tywin stopped in his tracks and flicked his gaze around the street then to the young wolf beside him.

"Are you offering to kill for me," Tywin asked in a hushed tone aware that Vary's spies would be following him and that the girl that stood in front of him was a highly skilled killer.

"Only twice and I will have to agree with your choices," Arya said quietly but firmly.

Tywin nodded and proceeded to walk through Winterfell towards the Walls with his personal guard in tow, thinking on the two names to give Arya that she would actually accept.

Ten minutes later and Arya was still waiting patiently for her two names but she knew Tywin Lannister was not a man to be rushed.

Their party reached the gate of Winterfell and Arya saw the sea of bones litter the ground around Winterfell. The only colour that touched the land was the marching armies of the Lannisters and the Tyrells as they started their journey south.

"I have two names."

Arya looked at him expectantly.

The Lord dipped his head so it rested beside her ear and he whispered the two names so inaudible that not even the winter wind would carry them further.

Arya immediately looked straight back into Tywin's eyes as if shocked at his chosen two.

Tywin nearly smirked, "I thought you liked a challenge and as I understand it those that have trained at the House of Black and White are the best killers in the world."

"I do and we are," Arya said impressed that Tywin had worked out where she had been the past few years.

"Then you accept?"

"I do," Arya repeated but more reluctantly, "Do not ask when it will happen just know that it will."

Tywin's choices were within her parameters. They weren't her family; they weren't a ruler and the world would be a better place without them.

"Excellent," Tywin said as he unsheathed Widow's Wail, "I believe this belongs to House Stark."

"You are giving it back," Arya said suspiciously.

"The war for the Iron Throne won't be won with swords," Tywin said cryptically as he spotted his squire readying his white warhorse in the courtyard, "I have no further use for it but maybe you will."

Ah he thinks it will be useful in killing my new targets, Arya correctly deduced as her hand curled around the handle of the offered sword.

"Be careful my Lord on your journey South, I can't repay a debt to a dead man," Arya warned knowing fully well that a pact between Daenerys and Tywin had been struck for a temporary year long truce for the Realm to recover from the devastating winter and loss of life that had occurred over the past few weeks before the fight for the Iron Throne would recommence.

Tywin chuckled at the bravado on display, "Yes and anyone can be killed."

Arya nodded slowly realising he was quoting her and watched as he mounted his white horse.

She tested the Valyrian blade with a few quick swipes before her. It was perfectly balance and felt so light.

"Good luck Arya Stark of Winterfell," Tywin said before kicking his horse through the gate to rejoin his marching army and then mumbling to himself, "I am sure we will see each other again."

Author's Notes

The parallels between Tyrion being a Hand to Dany and Tywin being a Hand to Areys is fun to play with :)

Just so we are clear Tywin wasn't just giving Widow's Wail back because he is a nice guy (he isn't) but because Arya could use it to take out her two new targets.

Reviews:

ThetaGraphics – Yeah I totally agree. You got some Tywin Tyrion in this chapter so hopefully that was entertaining!

Sanmyaku Ninja – Good :) The Night King should have been a beast so no way he wasn't going to kill a few of the main characters before being put down.

Supremus85 – LOL but so accurate XD Thanks!

Ksyushangel – Nice, I mean Arya has some special skills :D Hahaha

Dannazj – Oh snap yeah I have been meaning to get back to Power Grab! Yeah poor Jon but he was the one to finish the Night King :) The Arya Tywin bond or relationship is a cool and complex one.

Next Up: Dany experiences a devastating loss and King's Landing pays the price for it.