"It's a weight in my chest that makes it hard for me to breath. Something pulling me down deeper and deeper into my grave, suffocating me."

She wondered what would happen if she died. The busy streets of Meereen laid out under her, the odd voice rising through the waves of sound. The room they'd rented sat on the second floor of an old building, and she sat on the balcony with aching feet. Kaysi had insisted that Arya and Egg learned the Queen's favorite song's dance as she had, Stole You Away. Berating them over every misstep for what felt like hours the night before. Kaysi was inside their room now gushing over her dress in the mirror, red silk and lined with golden thread. The young priestess looked beautiful, but Arya hadn't even bothered to get dressed yet. Instead, she watched the sun slowly inch closer and closer to the horizon, bright and orange, casting the whole city in a flaming shadow.

If she were to die tonight not one member of her family would be the wiser, they already thought her gone. If she died tonight, she'd no idea if she'd changed enough of importance. No idea if the wars she'd prevented, if the lives she'd saved, the ones she'd taken, would mean anything against the impending doom Westeros faced. If she died tonight, her duty would be put to rest.

Family. Duty. Honor. She snorted softly to herself. Arya had no doubt her family had moved on a long time ago, leaving her left with only duty and very little honor. Robb had married Alys Karstark a couple years ago, a grand wedding held in the North. Jon had gone to the Wall as he always said he wanted to, where he seemed to be destined to belong. She'd heard rumors that Sansa had been engaged to Willas Tyrell, known as a handsome and respectable knight and future Lord of High Garden. Her father still ruled as the Lord of Winterfell, her mother alongside him, and the Starks lived peacefully in their grand northern castle. All but one.

"Are you done brooding over the sunset yet?"

Arya sighed, smiling softly at Kaysi's impatient stance in the doorway; hand on her hips with her head tilted like a mother ready to scold her child. "If I must be." She pushed herself off her chair closing Madysen Feller's diary and entered the musty old room. The smell reminding her of an old person's coffin as a dead women's words echoed in her mind. "Where'd you put my stupid dress?"

Once both girls were finally dressed there was little light left peering in through the cracks in the walls. Kaysi had put her golden blond hair up, intricate braids wrapped around her head. How she'd managed to do it by herself was a mystery to her. Arya had left her hair down and pushed to one side leaving half her neck bare, and with the assistance of a merchant in the streets the day before, she'd gotten her hair coloured a fresh shade of dark red. The girls stood waiting in the hall of the apartment building, looking far to fancy for the half beaten down building. It's tan stone walls crumbling, and large cracks snaking up the walls.

"You look amazing Madi, but why grey?" Kaysi pouted again at her dress.

"I like grey."

"It brings out your eyes, I'll give you that much. But I don't know if you noticed but people wear garments with color here, lots of color! And if you'd worn red it's have gone amazing with your hair."

"Probably, but I guess I'm just not most people then."

Kaysi rolled her eyes "No one thinks they are."

Arya laughed "No I suppose they don't."

"Ladies." Egg moved toward them with a grin dancing on his handsome features, his eyes sliding over her. He wore a black shirt made of silk, a cherry red cloak that put the one she'd worn their whole trip to shame. His golden ring with the ruby in the center glinting off the little light left in the hall. He looked like a wealthy lord's son. "You both look wonderful."

"Thank you, Young Griff, you look quite becoming yourself." Kaysi was almost jumping with excitement by the time Old Griff had joined them. The blue dye from his hair was gone now, leaving it a fiery red speckled with grey. His shirt was a glowing white, by far the cleanest thing she'd ever seen the man wear.

Old Griff gave them all a nod. "Good to see you could clean up for a change."

Egg gave his companion a smile, "Better than you, old man." All Old Griff gave back in response was a hmmf but Arya could see the affection in his eyes. No matter their true relationship, it was clear they loved each other like family; something she'd give anything to have again.

"Now let's go, we can't be late!" Kaysi walked ahead of them and Old Griff followed. Arya found herself matching pace with Egg as they moved through the crowded streets. There were celebrations all over the city, people dancing and drinking on the road in honor of their Queen's Name day. They walked around them all, trying not to get lost in the shuffle of partiers and city folk just trying to get home.

After nearly getting knocked off her feet by a shove, Egg hooked his arm through hers and led them to a clearer path. "So, what are you doing after this?"

Arya gave a shrug, not pulling away from him even though they'd left most of the crowd behind. "Going back to the rooms we've paid for?"

"Hmmm." He pretended to ponder the answer seriously. "And after that?"

After I protect the dragon, then I'll save everyone else. "I guess it's back to King's Landing." There were too many things left undone there, too many people still alive. She'd thought little contact with the Royals would be good, but what could be accomplished if Cersei still had any power? The King's wife needed to die. Getting Baelish out of the way and stopping the country from tearing itself apart had worked for now. It'd kept thousands of more people alive before the real war began. But they still needed to be truly united.

"If everything works out with Daenerys and Old Griff, then the Golden Company will be working for her. I've no doubt she plans to take your home one day…you could come with us, instead of traveling on your own." He said it casually, but there was a note of vulnerability she couldn't help but notice.

Arya shoved away any sense of longing she had. Save the dragon, save the world. "And returning while the city is under siege would be safer?"

"It'd be better than being inside. If the Queen uses her dragons, there's no telling how many people could die."

Arya leaned closer to him as they passed by another group of celebrators, losing sight of Kaysi and Old Griff in the process. They were forced to stop as the horde pushed their way by, the bells from their clothes ringing in the evening. She looked up at Egg, serious. "If she uses her dragons, then thousand will die."

He stared back just as grave. "And I don't want you to die." She felt her throat tighten by the look in his eyes and she glanced at her feet. She wished she could just tell him the truth, that she'd stay if she could. She'd stay if it wouldn't cost them both everything. He took her hand and opened it. "I never noticed that before." He said softly.

The X she'd carved into her skin that day in the Godswood had never fully faded, a reminder of her burden. She'd learned how to stop The War of The Five Kings then, but not how to save Westeros. "I tried my hand at blood magic once." She scoffed to herself and he grinned.

"Did it work?"

She nodded slowly, "It sort of did."

"Seriously?" and just like that his grin faded. "The mark above your heart…

"Egg-"

He went on despite the warning in her tone. "Is that some kind of dark magic?"

She wanted to tell him to forget it, but his gaze was so full of determination. "Egg, I've lied about a lot of things in my life, but I swear to you, I don't know what that mark means." She lifted her scarred hand, "and this wasn't some forbidden dark magic…it was just a little blood." Arya knew he wanted a better answer, but he wasn't the only one. "Let's go before Old Griff thinks we ran away." She turned around before he had the chance to try and convince her anymore.

The pyramid Daenerys's name day celebration would take place in was the grandest in the city, and the greatest one she'd ever seen. The crumbling brownstone stretched far into the sky, blocking out the setting sun completely and leaving their side of the pyramid in shadows. The four of them stood in line, waiting to see if the guards would consider them worthy of attending the celebration. A few women and men in expensive clothes were muttering behind them, complaining that they had to wait anytime at all to get in.

"One more thing." Egg's voice drew her attention back and he took her hand again, dropping a golden chain into her palm. Her brows drew together as she examined the neckless, the ruby in the center of the little diamonds gleamed. "You have to wear it if you want me to get you in."

Arya grinned "Or I could just say I'm with Kaysi?"

He scoffed at her plan as if it were ridiculous, "and how many Red Priestesses do you think they're going to let in?" he gestured to the few couples around them. They all seemed to have some garment matching; a bracelet to a pair of earrings, a shirt to a dress, or a corsage wrapped around a wrist or tucked in a pocket.

"It matches your ring." She noted as she ran her thumb over the dark red stone, it was beautiful and no doubt worth more than anything she owned.

"Turn around." She thought to protest for a moment but found she didn't want to. Arya pushed her hair to the side and caught eyes with Kaysi while Egg's fingers brushed the back of her neck. Her friend gave her a knowing wink and Arya fought off a smile, a smile she didn't need to fight once she saw Old Griff's glare. His cold blue eyes met hers with silent furry, but she held his glare until he turned away. "You just have to promise me something."

Arya turned to face him again. "What?"

"First, you can't lose it."

She nodded with a chuckle. "I promise I won't lose it."

"And second…" She bit back the urge to deny him more than one thing. "For as long as you wear it, you have to consider joining me." He read her conflicted glance quickly, "Just consider it, nothing more."

"Fine, only while I wear it."

Egg smiled "Fine."

Once inside the ballroom it nearly took her breath away. Despite all the beautiful rooms she'd seen in her lives, this one was near the top of the list. Statues the size of young children clung to the pale-yellow stone walls, gargoyles with their clawed hands holding the torches and their red flames. Foreign music flooded the room, odd lutes and flutes bouncing off the walls and the dizzyingly tall ceiling. Upon the dais the Queen's throne was still empty, still-faced guards in black shining armor stood with spears in their hands, nearly hidden eyes in search of danger.

"It's so beautiful." Kaysi's often excited voice was hushed with awe. Arya nodded in agreement as she inspected the guards, Unsullied stood around every wall, none mingling in with the growing crowd. There were tables lining the back of the room, giant plates of food standing obnoxiously tall. Some people ate in the back, some danced, and almost all drank. Serving girls in tight dresses swam through the crowd, holding themselves and their trays of wine with a water dancer's grace.

Arya walked slowly beside Old Griff, stopping once her gaze met a familiar pair of old blue eyes. What is he doing here? There beside the bottom of the dais stood Ser Barristan the Bold, blue eyes locked on her with a face of puzzled concern. Arya held the knight's gaze a moment in her own confusion, trying to figure out why he was here and not on the other side of the Narrow Sea. Some things are fate I suppose.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees it then." Old Griff commented, following her stare.

Arya looked up at him, "Sees what?"

"The woman you resemble so much. Even with your red hair."

"What woman?" she pressed.

Old Griff frowned a moment, considering if she was worth an answer. He glanced around and seemed to note Egg and Kaysi had gotten lost in their own conversation. "Lyanna Stark." She stared at him in surprise, instantly wondering how he'd ever seen her aunts face. "She's the Lord of Winterfell's sister but passed a long time ago."

"I know who she is." Arya muttered in surprise, "How on earth did you know her?"

Old Griff scowled at her tone. "Never mind how I knew her; the better question is why a girl from Kings Landing looks so much like her."

She shrugged off the comment, "I'm not really from Kings Landing." His eyes glanced down suspiciously at her. "I was born in the North. Just like Lyanna." Arya smiled intentionally. "Maybe I'm the bastard of some Stark."

"Your act of innocence may have your friends fooled, but not me Madalyn. I still remember where we first met."

"Then you remember we were both there. But I think your disquiet lies more with Lyanna than me." She eyed the man beside her, "I suppose you wouldn't want a girl who resembles the honorable Rhaegar's last victim around when meeting his sister."

"Lyanna wasn't his victim!" Old Griff hissed at her with unconcealed rage, a rage that might have made the child in her flinch. Arya didn't answer, still stunned by his sudden anger. "You can pretend to know everything, but you nothing about them or their relationship."

Relationship…was he saying Rhaegar and Lyanna weren't as one-sided as the whole of the North believed? Old Griff left her standing there with her questions.One more glance at Ser Barristan told her he knew Old Griff too, and she had to bite back the questions burning on her tongue. Who is he? She closed her eyes, scolding herself. This isn't important, saving the dragon is.

Kaysi appeared and pulled her to the back of the room towards the wine. Arya's mind was still swimming with questions for Old Griff, questions for why Ser Barristan was here, and how they all seemed to know the members of her House and each other. She smiled past her confusion as her friend offered her a glass, taking the cup and vowing only to have the one. She needed to stay sharp tonight. "So, you and Egg?" the girl raised a blond eyebrow.

"Are friends, same as me and you."

Kaysi just grinned and placed a hand over her heart, "I'm flattered truly, but I don't think I can be the kind of friend to you."

Arya scoffed. "Now you're just breaking my heart."

The girl shook her head, "Oh, come on, you're wearing his mothers' necklace for R'hllor's sake."

"What?"

Kaysi pointed at her neck before her eyebrows lit up. "He didn't tell you, that's even more romantic!" Arya held the ruby that laid close to her heart, feeling both weigh more the longer she stared at it. "Aye, stop it with the sad eyes."

Arya did her best to conceal her emotions. "We're just friends, and that's all we can be. Now I have to give this back to him." She put her drink down but Kaysi slapped at her hand when she went for the necklace's binding link.

"Why?" The girl's brown eyes were harder than she'd ever seen them. "Why do you have to give it back? Why can't you just let yourself get close the guy you obviously like."

"Because I can't stay, I have to go back." She thought a moment. "Same as you."

The blonde's frown twitched as her gaze scanned the crowd for some answer. "I know you won't listen, so fine, give it back. But not yet. It goes too well with your hair and you have to look good when we meet Daenerys." Arya sighed somewhere between troubled and amused. Kaysi handed her back her glass of wine and initiated a toast. "To the Queen." The girl said as her cup touched hers.

"To the last dragon." Arya replied.

The celebration moved in a haze of toasts, dedicated songs, and special dances. Tray after tray of food being brought out and devoured by the hungry crowd. When the Queen had finally made an appearance, Kaysi had hit Arya's shoulder in her excitement, nearly jumping up and down. Arya watched silently as Daenerys thanked her guests for their presence, spoke of changes to come to the city, plans to give the citizens of Meereen a better life. Her friend seemed moved, but Arya could only hear empty promises.

Keeping an eye on her friend Arya fell back into the crowd of dancers, pushing gently through all the bright silks to the edge of the room. Her dark eyes scanned the exits and entrances, deciding where the best place to start would be. Noticing an unguarded door, she began her undertaking of getting through the horde of swaying bodies.

Someone grabbed her sleeve and she jolted, her hand grabbing the stranger's wrist. "Sneaking away-oww."

Seeing Egg's furrowed brows, she drew her hand back. "Sorry."

"Don't worry, it didn't hurt, I guess you just scared me too." He watched her under suspicious eyes. "Are you alright? You seem jumpier than you typically are."

"I'm not jumpy."

"Tell that to your nightmares."

She gave him her best glare before trying to leave. "I was just going to find the restro-"

"Ah, ah, ah." His hands dragged her gently back by her shoulders. "You hear that?"

She could. "No…" she groaned. "Can't we skip it?"

"Kaysi will flay us both." Egg grinned.

Conceding to defeat, she allowed Egg to lead her out onto the dance floor as the strings of the musician's lutes began the intro to Stole you away. The steps started simple, simple enough they could speak while they danced. Egg tapped her head. "I still remember the day we met, all black clothes and dark hair."

Arya nodded with a small smile "I remember."

"You never said why you were at the House of Black and White."

"Neither of us did."

He grinned a smile she'd become fond of. "What were you doing there?" his face grew serious a moment. "Did you want someone dead?"

She smiled softly. "I just like their candles."

Egg scoffed "Their candles?"

"Yes, you walked in there too." Arya kept her stare even, wanting an honest answer to her question. "What did they smell like to you, the candles?"

His eyes grew distant and his brow creased in thought "They smelt like…It was odd actually, the way I could taste the salt of the sea on my tongue. Felt the waves rocking the ground underneath me like I was still at sea. I could remember my friend Duck teasing me, feel his advance with his wooden sword we'd use during lessons. Lemore cooking and Griff's badgering…" suddenly he frowned as she grinned "Those weren't just candles?"

"No." she said. "They're meant to bring people comfort, guide their most precious memories to the surface."

"Magic." He muttered before striking her with his dark eyes. "What did you see?"

"Home."

"Kings Landing?"

Arya scoffed at the thought "No, I lived there a long time but it's not home. It'll never be home." Egg spun her around in perfect sync with a high turned string, then looked at her expectantly as they swayed. It gave her a moment to consider a lie…but lying had become tiresome. "I heard my little brothers laughing, my sister singing softly, felt my mother brushing my hair. Snow and pine needles, riding horses and snowball fights…My father telling me bedtime stories."

"You're from the North?" he frowned.

Arya let her eyes wander over to the Queen as she danced with one of her men, an older gentleman with a Mormont sigil on his cloak. "Yes, and you've lived a life mostly at sea?"

He ignored her question. "You've never mentioned your family before."

"Neither have you."

"You've met Old Grif-"

"I remember the day we met too." He frowned as she cut him off, and a short silence hung. "You called him Jon then." She watched as his lips tightened and how his steps slowed. Arya leaned back as their dancing nearly came to a stop.

"You never said anything." There was a hint of anger in his voice. No one likes being caught in a lie.

"As I said before Egg, we all have our secrets. You said he was your father; it wasn't my place to question it."

"It sounds like your questioning it now."

"Maybe I'm just sick of all the pretending."

"Then stop pretending." Their gazes met, conflicting like fire and ice. "I've known you for months and you never mentioned a life outside of Kings Landing."

"I don't talk about my home because I can't go back."

"Why can't you go home?"

Arya hesitated. "Who's Jon if he's not your father?"

Egg's eyes squinted slightly. "He was one of my fathers' most trusted friends."

"Was?"

"He died before I knew him, now why can't you go home?"

"They think I'm dead." He blinked in his confusion. He opened his mouth for his next question before Kaysi bumped into them.

"What are you two doing? Dance!" They had been just standing there amid the swirling chaos.

"I can't, excuse me." She'd let their conversation stray too far out of control.

"Madelyn, wait." Egg grabbed her arm, but she pulled his hand off her with a stern look. His gaze burned into her, full of questions.

"I'm not who you think I am." Arya swallowed the regret burning in the back of her throat. "You wouldn't like the real me." She forced herself away from Egg's warmth.

Her steps were silent as she slipped away under dim lights, reddish brown stone walls wrapping the hall tightly. Egg's touch still left her skin tingling and her heart pounding. Calm as still water. Doing her best to push dark violet eyes from her mind she focused on the winding path and not being seen. At the sound of boots scuffing the stone ahead of her, Arya pushed open the closet door, and shut it while leaning back, eyes scanning the new room but only finding darkness. The steps grew closer and she closed her eyes.

You said your name was...?

Madelyn, but I prefer Madi.

Once the steps receded far enough to disappear, she dared a look out the door. The dark halls held no shadows she could see, none but her own.

And who exactly am I forgiving?

Carrying on she moved deeper into the heart of the pyramid, eyes wide and ears searching for anything. Calm as still water.

How's your heart?

There were Unsullied guards littered around the halls, turning her down different and constant winding paths.

Never say never, Madelyn.

It felt as though she'd spent hours walking around in the dark going in circles. If she hadn't spent so much time under the tunnels of King's Landing, she'd fear she'd be stuck down here forever.

You just have to promise me something.

Her fingers brushed the red stone at her chest, wishing she could turn her mind off. She stopped in the hall and resisted a groan as her thoughts raced. Reaching behind her neck she unlocked the chain, watching for a moment as the necklace pooled in her palm. Arya took a deep breath and slid the chain into a hidden pocket. For a moment she stood completely lost in the dark, having to remind herself why she was here, what she was doing.

Tomorrow morning when we wake up, I'll get my little sister back.

Are you alright?

We got a brave one here Jon, stupid, but brave.

I love you too Arya, now go to sleep.

A soft cry opened her eyes and she blinked into the darkness, heart-stopping. Another cry sounded from her left, a tiny screech that sent shivers skipping down her spine. Arya followed the sound, seeing the flicker of torches ahead of her. She paused before entering the light, listening closely to the sound of breathing. Only one guard? She shook her head. Stupid. She listened longer, frowning. So incredibly stupid.

Walking into the light as if she belonged there, she saw the man sitting on a wooden chair; head leaned against the stone wall. His breath came slow and steady as he slept, a sword tucked safely in his belt. Arya drew the dagger from her thigh, stalking toward the man on silent toes. This kind of security was laughable really, but she supposed if anyone were to try to leave the party with the contents of the terribly guarded room…things would become less amusing.

Lifting her arms above the clueless man she brought her dagger down hard on his head, Arya caught him before he toppled over. Cursing softly at his weight, she laid the knocked-out guard down gently. Slipping the blade away she studied the door before her. Ebony wood that stretched a few heads taller than her, a black steel bar sealing the room, locked.

Pulling a pin from her sleeve she went to work, the soft crying inside left her heart pounding. A mind that was racing before with the thoughts of a handsome boy and of home was now spinning with the excitement of the child she'd once been. The girl who'd sit at Old Nan's feet with her little brothers, eager for one more tale of Visenya Targaryen. The lock gave a soft click of surrender and her breath caught.

And what would you give child, to do it all again?

Anything.

Arya gave the door a gentle push and stepped into the shadows. The walls, or wall rather, made a complete circle of the stone room, with three torches lit. A soft growl halted her where she stood, her eyes searching for the source. Bones were littered all over the floor. If I die tonight, it was all for nothing.

Another cry vibrated the air around her; the softness was as lost as she was in the dark. Closing her eyes in the face of her fear she combed the room for the warmth that all creatures carried, the warmth that had brought Nymeria to her dreams, even in this life. It was there, the heat, single flames that danced away from her each time she attempted to reach for them. Touching the mind of a dragon was nothing like grasping for the thoughts of a cat or raven.

A gust of wind had Arya's eyes open wide, followed by a gasp. The first dragon had landed in the center of the room, its scales a reflective black against the torches lighting the chamber. If Arya didn't know better, she'd believe she was staring into the eyes of a devil, the deepest blaze of red she'd ever seen. It's horns and wing span a matching bloody shade to its eyes. As soon as a warning growl escaped the monsters impossibly black fangs, two bodies fell from the darkness to back their brother.

The one to the left glowed a pale creamy colour, armoured with a golden crown atop its head. Below the golden horns laid eyes of molten gold, a glow to them that reminded her of songs about lovestruck girls drowning in their lovers' eyes. The final brother was darker than the golden dragon but was a torch in the night when compared to the other devil. Its scales glistened a jade-green and its eyes shone a bronze she'd sell her soul to see forever. Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal. Drogon stepped threateningly towards her, his brothers only a step behind. They won't even recognize my body if there's even anything left of it.

The girl put everything she had into reaching for Drogon's mind, attempting to connect with all of them would be impossible, she just needed the leader. She just needed the one. Trying to connect with Drogon's thoughts was like trying to dig through stone, a feat that'd leave you with bloody nails and little progress. Instead, it was her mind that was splitting down the middle, a weight pressing on her skull that brought her to her knees.

Arya gritted her teeth with her hands pressed to her temples, forcing grey eyes to meet red. She gasped with relief when she felt his mind, felt his fear and anxiety swirling in the bottom of her stomach. Arya clutched onto memories of her father, the feelings of safety she'd felt when he'd tuck her in at night; and she pushed it all onto Drogon's mind. The beast stopped stalking toward her, she'd never seen a dragon before, but she thought he looked confused.

Arya shivered, bending over in pain when she felt shoved out of the dragon's thoughts. "Wait…" her voice was strained, her head pounding, nose bleeding. Drogon crept closer to her, his brother's lingering behind, waiting for him to cast judgment. Food or Friend. "Don't eat me." She said, looking him in the eyes again.

Drogon's head was about the size of hers, the beast leaned over with foul breath and sniffed her. She froze, trying not to be afraid. He'd know if she was. His head titled like that of a confused puppy, red eyes discerning her fate. Slowly, very slowly, she lifted her hand to his head. "Just like a puppy." She whispered, her fingers brushing over rough black scales. Dragon's head pressed into her palm, eager for more affection, and a huge smile of relief spread across her face.

Arya stood and wiped the blood from her nose, her heart aching oddly. She was disappointed she couldn't stay with them longer. All I must do now is get back to party…

Arya didn't make it back to the party without being noticed.

She winced as the guard shoved her to her knees, holding and twisting her hair painful in his fist. Her once beautiful grey grown was now torn and revealing much of her right leg, the rest stained messily with deep red blood. If I die tonight, then it was all for nothing. Daenerys Targaryen wore a violet sleeveless gown that glittered at its hems, pale silver hair tied up in complicated braids. Arya was sure she looked terrible when she cried, but the redness and grief echoing in the Queen's gaze only made her more lovely.

There was no furniture in the room, no banners on the walls, nothing but brownstones and a hard floor. One large wooden door only accompanied by two torches on either side of it. Ser Barristan looked down on her with a concerning frown, another unsullied beside his Queen seemed just as distraught as the woman he served.

"Let me just say, there's been a huge misunderstanding." Arya knew it would be impossible to convince her, sitting there covered in the blood of a girl the Queen had trusted with her life.

"Save your breath." The Queen told her; voice cold. "You'll have few left soon." Moments passed in silence, what they were waiting for Arya was unsure of. The hard floor, though flat, seemed to dig into her knees. The guards' grip on her hair stung, as did the bleeding cut left untended on her neck. The red slickness was dripping down her right shoulder, warm and almost ticklish.

Eventually, two more men and a young woman were escorted into the room, Arya's stomach dropping. Kaysi was absolutely mortified at the sight of Arya on her knees, dress a ruin of murder. Old Griff appeared as though he'd swallowed something foul, not an uncommon look for him though. Egg's distraught eyes were the ones that cut the deepest. "W-whats going on?" he managed.

"I'll be the one asking the questions here." Daenerys announced, sounding so much like a Queen despite her age. She's no older than Jon is now, no older than I'd be…had I lived.

"They have nothing to do with this." Arya started, "Just let me explain-"

"Tell me girl, what is there to explain? You murdered one of my most trusted advisors, my most trusted friend!" The young women's pain was written all over her face but her violet eyes held no mercy; Daenerys was more than a pretty face. But Arya had known that already.

"I'm sorry you actually thought her your friend." The punch to her lip came hard and fast and would have knocked her down if the Unsullied hadn't held her up. When vertigo wore off, she could see Egg's jaw had tightened from his spot in the corner, but wisely he hadn't moved.

Daenerys's eyes burned as she turned them on Old Griff and Egg, "You brought her here?"

"No one brought me anywhere." Arya hissed as she spat the blood from her mouth, marking the stone floor. "I would have been here tonight with or without them." She could feel her own hands shaking with anger. I save her life, and this is the thanks I get. "To save your ungrateful life."

"Missandei was no threat to anyone!"

"She was an assassin!"

"She was an eleven-year-old girl!" Tears had brimmed the Queen's eyes and a small part of her felt pity for the women, but she forced herself to think better of it. Daenerys was a threat to everything she sacrificed her life for. Ser Barristan stood behind his queen, resting a hand reassuringly on her shoulder and whispering something in her ear. Arya shook her head sadly, a bitter smile on her face. "You find any of this amusing?" The Queen's voice was getting more dangerous. What would happen if I died tonight?

"That little girl you called your friend, was no little girl and not your friend. She was a faceless assassin who would have killed you before you ever had a chance to see Westeros."

Barristan spoke this time, "You've made a grave mistake. Missandei was innocent and your crimes won't go unpunished."

Arya glared up at the man her brother Bran had admired as a child. "The Old Gods have ensured I'll serve penance for my sins Ser, but this isn't one of them."

"Get her on her feet." She was ripped upward by her hair, but she gritted her teeth rather than cry out. "Put her in the deepest dungeon we have, while I decide the best method of execution." Daenerys was heartbroken, the woman was fighting back tears, probably sending her away so Arya wouldn't see the weakness. Even with all the pain she'd caused, she couldn't forget what the Queen had done. Or rather, what she would do.

"Wait!" Egg's voice was distraught.

"You will hold your tongue if you and your father wish to be heard here tonight." Daenerys spoke with the fierceness of a true Queen, and the grief of someone who just lost a person they loved. Arya could see Old Griff's eyes were darker than usual, Kaysi was aghast with a partly open mouth, and poor Ser Barristan was as pale as the ghost he thought he was seeing.

She found herself quite calm despite the threat to her life. "Westeros will never be yours, your Grace." She spat the title. "You won't survive a year in the country you so desperately wish to rule."

The last Targaryen was taken aback by her words, but her voice betrayed none of it. "You claim to save my life, and now you threaten it?"

"Saving your life was simply a necessary evil, to be sure the dragons are safe. They're the only ones that matter, you, you don't matter. Once you're dead the world will be better for it."

"Get her out of my sight!"

As Arya was dragged away, she could see the tears that had been falling down Kaysi's cheeks, the poor girl was so confused. Griff, as angry as he was, was clearly shocked by Arya's complete change of nature. The mixed emotions in Egg's eyes would have been enough to freeze her in place if she had the choice. She stared ahead and avoided his eyes as they dragged her away; her already broken heart being crushed even more. If I die tonight, then it's all for nothing.

She was honored with Ser Barristan himself escorting her to her cell, him and two other guards. The flaming torches licked up the complete darkness as they walked lower and lower into the pyramid. The air was beginning to turn sour and damp, and she knew that they were holding up Daenerys's command by taking her to the worst cell they could think of. Arya closed her eyes and sighed, taking a deep breath.

One of the Unsullied's hands held an iron tight grip around her wrists, keeping her arms pinned behind her back. He was tall and more than twice as strong as she was. Another deep breath and she thought of home; Winterfell standing tall, sparkling and layered with freshly fallen snow. Another breath and she saw her home; Winterfell stained with burns and frozen over by unforgiving ice. One more deep breath and she imagined she was a dragon, a monster that could kill with a single breath. A wolf, a dragon, I'll be whatever I must be.

The disturbingly familiar smell of burning flesh filled her nose and the Unsullied holding her yelped, jumping back. And a dance she learned a long time ago, began. While the man who held her reared away, she flew toward him, swiping the dagger off his belt and turning impossibly fast and plunging it into his friend's chest. Ignoring his gasp, and the sure sound of Barristan drawing his sword, she stepped back to the owner of the dagger. The clueless man was still staring dumbstruck at his burned hands, not even thinking to lift them as his own dagger sank in and out of his neck in the time it took to blink.

Arya turned back to Ser Barristan. The sour stink of the dark stone hall was being replaced by the tang of iron. "I don't want to kill you." And she didn't. Her father had spoken fondly of the man who stood before her. An honorable knight who'd served his country well, she'd no idea why he decided to come and support the Dragon Queen.

Barristan's blue eyes were cold, "You won't." He struck first, steel sword swinging for her head as she ducked. The sound of it scraping off the stone wall was ear piercing, and sparks flew from the furry of it. Arya was lucky as she skidded away. If she held a sword as he did, she'd be dead. But she'd didn't hold a sword, she gripped a small dagger in a narrow hall.

However much her father had liked this man, her life was far more important to her than his. Arya drove the dagger into the old man's leg at the first chance. He grunted in pain as she kneed him hard in the groin, bringing him down. Arya knocked his sword from his fingers, the steal ringing loudly as it hit the wet stone floor. Then all that was left to be heard was their combined breaths, both coming fast, his more ragged than hers.

"What are you waiting for?" he growled, her dagger pressing against his throat. "You murder little girls but not old men?"

"She wasn't some little girl you idiot!" She hissed, still catching her breath, unsure of what to do with him. She didn't want to kill him.

"You're truly insane if you thought her an assassin."

Arya considered the small pretty girl who'd attached her in the dark halls of the pyramid. "The House of Black and White was an organization built upon by slaves, slaves who escaped the oppression of Daenerys's family when they controlled dragons hundreds of years ago. Missandei would have put an end to your Queen sooner or later at their order, that or her dragons."

"She was just a young girl."

"So am I, so is Daenerys, how many people have died because of her, because of me?"

"Daenerys deserves to sit the Iron Throne, it's her birthright. And she'd make a far better Queen than Robert's sick son any day."

Arya scoffed. "A dog would make a better king than Cersei's bastard." She didn't like the shifting of his eyes, so she pressed her dagger harder against his neck, freezing him in place. "It's not her birthright if her insane father lost the Throne, not that it matters, that precious chair you've dedicated your life to won't mean a thing when winter comes Ser Barristan. And trust me, winter is coming."

There was something in his eyes as he watched her speak, reminding her of the look he gave her before. She sighed with a sly smile, understanding, and thinking of her father again as she stared into this old man's eyes. "Do I remind you of someone Ser Barristan?" she asked, innocently.

The man's eyebrows drew together with uncertainty. "You…"

"Wolf have your tongue?" His frowned deepened exponentially and she chuckled, "I'm aware of my resemblance to Lyanna Stark, but I doubt I'm anything like her."

"You're right." To his credit, he only appeared slightly paler. "She was kind and as innocent as the girl you just murdered."

"Yet Lyanna's decision, if it was her decision, still cost thousands of lives, didn't it?" He only glared back. "Lyanna's intentions, as innocent as they could have been, still tore Westeros apart. I'm trying to save it."

"You're completely mad." Arya lifted her hand and hit him as hard as she could with the handle of her dagger.

"Maybe I am."

"I fight it and fight it, I'll use any means I can, but my steel becomes ice that melts in my hands, my words more brittle than castles of sand."