"Well well well," a man's voice said shrewdly. "What have we here? Looks like young Lady Vivian Cynious of Firelake. Soon to be Lady Vivian Lannister, I do believe?"

Vivian stopped in her tracks and looked at Lord Petyr Baelish, also known as Littlefinger.

"I have not seen you in court for…" he paused as he thought. "Three years?" he asked with a hint of glee.

It was true. It had been three years since Jaime announced his intentions on marrying her. Three years since she had to write that dreadful letter to Robb. And three years of her trying to avoid Jaime, the court, and basically Starks. She had made herself into a little noble hermit.

Vivian gave him a polite smile as she curtsied. "My lord," she said.

"Rumor has it that you two have not seen each other in these past three years," he continued to tease.

Vivian gave him a polite smile as she shook her head. "Rumor is incorrect," she stated, but didn't bother to elaborate. Jaime had visited a few times during those years, although they didn't do much.

"And what brings you to court?" Littlefinger continued. "I'm afraid that you have missed your betrothed by mere days. Surely you know that Jaime has left with their majesties up north. I do believe they are going to visit the Starks."

Vivian's neck tensed ever so slightly at the name of the Starks. "I had heard," she responded. "But I am here with my mother to see the High Septon."

"I hear she is not doing so well," he said with fake concern. "I do hope she gets better."

"If you will excuse me," Vivian said as she curtsied and started to leave.

Littlefinger grabbed her arm, refusing to let her go. "Your family has never been very good with playing politics," he said softly in her ear. "Trust me on this. You will want to stay on the Lannister side. They are very powerful people. I would not want to anger them if I were you. And blatantly ignoring your betrothed is a way to do that. Being related to the queen is not such a bad thing."

"Unhand me, my lord," Vivian said in a commanding voice.

He half-smiled at her as he let her go. "Something to think about," he said as he bowed.

Vivian swiftly walked away from him and continued on her way. The past three years had been anything but pleasant for her. Her heart ached for Robb. Jaime had visited her multiple times during the years. She couldn't help but wonder why he was interested in her. There were plenty of other noble women who were richer, had more power, and were far more beautiful than her.

She had overheard her grandfather and mother talking once about it. Her grandfather had said that he suspected that Jaime was interested in her because she was not interested in him. She was polite while in his presence, but it was clear to everyone that she wanted nothing to do with him. Her grandfather had said, "Nothing brings more joy to a man like Jaime Lannister than a challenge."

But was it that simple? He viewed her as a challenge that he had to achieve?

"Lady Cynious," another voice said, almost pleasantly, bringing her back to the present.

Vivian blinked in surprise then quickly curtsied to the little man who stood before her. "Lord Tyrion," she said.

He held a goblet in one hand and didn't bother to bow. "Oh come now," he replied slyly. "I hear you shall be joining my family soon. No need for formality around me. Call me Tyrion."

Vivian let a small smile cross her lips, even though she didn't mean it. "Will it come true?" she asked, trying to sound enthusiastic.

Tyrion laughed as he shrugged. "You are the easiest person that I have met to read. My brother has clearly picked a feisty one."

"Should I take that as a complement?" she icily asked him.

He shook his head. "I am not your enemy," he said. "If anything, you will want me as an ally when you join our family. And, trust me, what a Lannister wants a Lannister gets."

Vivian didn't answer, but her eyes softened. She had no reason to be mad at the younger brother.

"What brings you here?" Tyrion asked. "My brother is not here. He has already left."

"And shouldn't you be with them?" she asked him with raised eyebrows.

He laughed as he nodded his head and raised his goblet at her. "Most observant of you," he said. "But you see I know that my sister will not miss me yet. It will take the convoy at least a month to reach Winterfell. As long as I reach it before they do then everything shall be fine. I will be leaving later today to start my journey and surpass the group. My sister will not notice my absence."

Vivian gave him a polite smile as she fidgeted. A frown crossed Tyrion's face when he finally looked at her then he laughed. "Come to see where your new home will be?" he asked her.

"Tyrion," she said in a serious voice. "Is your brother close to being able to have a wife?"

He looked at her in surprise. Her eyes searched his face earnestly for an answer.

"I do not know," he finally admitted. "It appears that the queen is attempting to influence the king to allow a break from tradition. Rumor has it that my father is already planning on pronouncing the first born son of my brother as heir." There was a slight bitterness in his voice.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

He chuckled as he shook his head. "And what have you done?"

"With your brother being unable to own lands, then the Lannister household should have gone to you," she replied.

Tyrion shrugged his shoulders. "My father would never have left the House to me, anyway," he said as he took another drink.

"Maybe, if I pray to the Seven, and they grant my wish and make sure that your brother cannot marry me. Oh!" She jumped up, surprising Tyrion. "I can do something scandalous, so scandalous that your brother will not marry me. Then he will have no children and your father will absolutely have to claim you as his heir."

Tyrion blinked a few times then laughed as he shook his head. "You have been engaged to my brother for three years and you have not tried to get out of the marriage. At least, you have not tried to do anything scandalous. You are too pure for your own good, Lady Vivian."

She smiled as she looked away wistfully. "Doesn't hurt to imagine," she said with a smile.

Tyrion chuckled. "You are not bad, Lady Vivian," he said as he walked away.

She waited until he was completely gone, before she continued to her destination. She had heard a rumor and she had to see if it was true. She made her way down a set of stairs and reached the dungeon.

"Lady!" a soldier said as he quickly stood at attention. "This is not…"

"I'm here to see the fortuneteller," she commanded the man.

"But my…"

"Do you not know who I am?" she asked in horror. "I am Jaime Lannister's betrothed. Do not question me!" It was the first, and hopefully only, time she would have to say those words. There was a strange feeling of power when she saw the guard staggering to do as she commanded.

He looked uneasy but nodded as he grabbed a torch, and led her into the dungeon. He stopped in front of a cell and nodded his head. Cautiously, she neared it. Suddenly, hands reached out and grabbed her skirts. She let out a scream of surprise as she took a step back. The soldier unsheathed his sword.

"No!" Vivian yelled as she held her hand up. She immediately recognized the old woman. "Leave us," she commanded.

The guard began to protest but stopped when he saw her eyes glaring at him. Hesitantly, he walked away.

The old woman looked at Vivian with a curious expression on her face. "Why do you come to me again?" Mistress Usaa asked as she leaned back.

Vivian leaned closer. "Why did you curse me?" she snapped.

The old woman cackled then started to cough in pain. It was quite clear that she had been beaten many times. "I did not curse you, girl," she said. "I told you your future. You were lucky. You had two clear paths that I saw. I told you them and you took one. Most people only get one straight and true fortune."

Vivian crouched as she assessed the woman. "You said that there is a possibility for happiness in this route," she said. "What must I do? Surely, you know of some way? I cannot accept the fate that I must marry Jaime Lannister."

"And what do I get in return?"

Vivian looked at her then around. "What do you want?" she asked. "I do not have much power. I cannot free you."

"Death," Usaa replied. "Give me the means in which I may die."

"Alright."

The old woman neared the bars and smiled a toothless grin. She reached her arm out. Vivian pulled out a small knife that was in her boot and handed it to the woman. Usaa cut herself and began to chant. Finally, she stopped and grabbed Vivian's hand. "Winter is coming," she whispered, closing her eyes. "A war. Everyone will be involved. The power of the phoenix can change the tide of war. But for the phoenix to be released…" she paused and gasped as she opened her eyes.

Vivian bit her lip to keep from screaming in pain as the Usaa clawed her.

"I tell you now," Usaa said in a voice that wasn't hers. "Ashes will not burn for you or your descendants. I cursed Ashes. It must spill the blood of a Cynious before it will come to life. It will only live with your death."

Usaa's grasp on Vivian's hand loosened and she quickly pulled away in shock and fear. "What?" she asked in a shaky voice.

Usaa shook her head as she tried to clear her thoughts. "I'm sorry, my dear," she finally said.

Vivian blinked in horror as she looked at the old woman. Suddenly, she rushed forward and slammed Usaa against the cell bars. "I will not kill my family!" she snarled in anger. She breathed heavily then slowly released the old woman. Her body began to shake as she stifled her tears. Why had she chosen this path? "If I…" she paused, shaking her head.

Usaa knew the question that was coming next, but didn't respond. The girl had to ask it first.

Vivian cleared her throat then looked up at Usaa with determination. "If I spill Cynious blood will that guarantee my happiness?"

"As I said," Usaa coughed. "The road to your happiness will be long and hard. But, Ashes plays a vital role in your happiness. Your future, unlike many others, has many paths. Each one affects everyone differently."

Vivian stood up and let out long breaths as she thought. There were only two people of the direct Cynious line, her mother and her grandfather. She loved both dearly and she knew she could not bring herself to murder either.

"I feel sorry for you, girl," Usaa said with another cough. Vivian turned and looked at her. The old woman stood up and nodded her head. "I did not have to do so much to live my happy life. It was cut shorter than I expected, but…"

"Why are you here?" Vivian asked, suddenly curious.

Usaa let out a small smile as she shook her head. "I seem to be the bearer of bad news. The king asked me about his future and I gave it to him, then his wife's. He did not believe me, but she was furious. I ran away but, as you can see, her brother chased me down and found me."

Vivian nodded her head in understanding. Finally, she stood up and started to walk away. She had completed her end of the bargain. She had left her knife with Usaa and knew that the woman would kill herself with it. It was a simple knife with no design. The only thing to do was to think of how to explain why the old woman had died shortly after she left.

"There is no way around it!" Usaa called out to her. Vivian stopped in her steps. "In order for Ashes to return to life then it must spill Cynious blood. Do not forget that."

Vivian didn't reply as she quickly made her way out of the dungeons. Why had she chosen the hard path? She frowned as she made her way back to the main quarters. There was something that Usaa had said that she didn't pay close attention to though. There was a war coming. She had said that everyone would be involved.

"Few years of happiness followed by sadness," Vivian muttered to herself. That was it. If there was war then she would be sad. If it was indefinite sadness, then that meant that Robb would die and possibly she as well. Vivian shook her head in anger. Ashes was the key.

The sword had old magic in it. If she could unlock it and bring it back to life then she could help Robb win, if he started a war. She would be like her great ancestor with a flaming sword. And, if legend was true, then no one would be able to defeat the one who possessed Ashes. Nothing would be able to stand in her way and Robb's.

For now, she could not run away from Jaime and marry Robb. Eddard would not allow it and it would cause unnecessary strain upon many of the houses. But, if there was war then she could leave Jaime. Especially, if he was against Robb.

Suddenly, Vivian was happy as her imagination ran away with her. She would have no fear riding into Robb's arms. He would gladly welcome and the two could…

Vivian stopped walking as a frown crossed her face. Ashes needed to spill Cynious blood. Could she bring herself to kill her grandfather or mother?

Azalia Fox Knightling: Jaime seems like the kind of guy who wouldn't tell you his true motives, even if they are just. Not saying that him trying to marry her is just or anything. And yeah, poor Vivian. She really didn't ask to go through all of this.

97hollster: Hope you like this chapter as well.

Sy (): I had to explain a reason why he's still not married. :)