Chapter 38:

A/N: Hi everyone. School delayed this chapter by weeks (as you've probably noticed).

They had spent a few hours just sitting quietly in front of the fire in Ashley's tent. All Ashley had done was hold Spencer, let her breathe. She had questions, but they could wait, Spencer needed her to wait. Ashley had brought them to her tent and had been handed another coat by Doreah. The handmaiden had smiled at her Khaleesi with hooded eyes and Ashley had known immediately what was running through her head. Doreah had been a former pleasure slave before Ashley had taken her as a handmaiden and she knew the woman felt that Ashley should reaffirm her relationship with Spencer. Ashley shook her head at her handmaiden and dismissed her before settling on the lounging chair with Spencer beside her.

As the silence grew on, Spencer seemed to be ready to release whatever had been plaguing her. "My uncle, Edmure Tully was to be wed to Roslin Frey as a way to gain House Frey as an ally for Glen. The Twins," Spencer looked to Ashley to see if she understood and continued at Ashley's nod, "are of strategic importance and my other uncle, Lord Blackfish, felt as this would be a good thing for Glen's ambitions. We arrived in celebration, continued in livery but we were ultimately deceived. Walder Frey has allied with House Lannister and killed my brother…Uncle Edmure…my mother, everyone. Jhogo and I were the only ones to escape. It was a massacre and all because one cowardly, old man values power and treachery above all else." She took a breath before carrying on with her account. "House Frey has laid siege to Riverrun and when we left, they had still not found a way to cross the forge without losing many lives in the process. I do not know how long my uncle can hold out until they run out of provisions. We did not even have time to remove women and children because of the betrayal wrought upon us and if Jhogo and I had not escaped, all in Riverrun would have been slaughtered by that bastard!"

"What of Phantom?" Ashley asked quietly.

Spencer smiled, "She is alive. I could not convince her to come with us to the wedding party and had left her in the woods. She had known, they had both known. Glen's direwolf had howled and fought within the encampment until he had been placed inside a cage. He was killed as well. My mother was right we should have listened to them. Are they not connected to House Carlin after all?"

"What do you mean?" Ashley asked.

"Our emblem is a direwolf, you know this. The story is that direwolves can sense when their masters are in danger and always warn them of trouble. I had always believed to be superstition until that night. Maybe if we had all believed the tale I would still have a family." Spencer answered.

"I have made you a promise Spencer and I will see it done. You shall have your vengeance." Ashley said with conviction. She placed her hand on Spencer's arm in comfort. Her needs before mine, she reminded herself. "Until then, any comfort I can give you I will offer. All you need is to say the word."

Spencer looked into Ashley's eyes, seeing the sincerity there. "Would a want for a kiss be misplaced?"

Ashley swallowed before shaking her head, a slight blush working its way onto her face. "No it would not."

Spencer smiled. She had seen the concealed desire in Ashley's eyes when she had first seen her in the meeting tent. "We still seem wary of our desires."

"Doreah says I should take what I want. Strength is a sign of passion and an aphrodisiac," Ashley cleared her throat. "According to her past experiences I mean."

"So what holds you back?"

"You needed to speak and I gave you the opportunity." Ashley was halted by a finger on her lips.

"Thank you," she dragged her finger slowly across the lip before her before tracing a line down Ashley's neck, "but I think I may heal faster if you offer me a different sort of comfort."

Ashley did not need any more encouragement. She surged forward and kissed Spencer hard, their teeth knocking together for a second before she calmed herself and slowed the kiss. A lesson Doreah had taught came into her mind at that moment. A slow burn is what Spencer needs now until she can feel without the taint of grief.

Ashley dragged a hand slowly forward and into the fur coat Spencer had worn. She could not feel any flesh yet but did not want to seem to rash. Her tongue slowly probed the inside of Spencer's mouth, opening it a little wider so she could take Spencer's tongue into her own mouth. Spencer moaned as Ashley sucked in her tongue and Ashley almost smiled in relief. I must remember to thank Doreah for her knowledge. A lob throb began in her stomach, heat spreading quickly through her.

Spencer murmured in appreciation, almost sagging into Ashley's arms as she released all the tension and fear and grief, instead embracing the comfort and the lust now enveloping her.

All of a sudden Ashley stopped her touch and leaned back. She sighed, wishing that she could just stop thinking just this once. "I'm sorry. We need to find a plan to save Riverrun and remove Daario before it's too late."

Spencer rubbed an eye wearily. Annoyance flashed on her face before she breathed in deeply and let the breath out. "Tonight there will be no interruptions. Just you and I."

"I swear it." Ashley responded. She focused on what needed to be done. "How long can Riverrun hold out?"

"I cannot say. Maybe a month, maybe more but the winter cannot pass without help being sent to Riverrun."

Ashley nodded to herself, her mind grasping at each thought. "We will go to Riverrun once we take White Haven."

"But Daario…" Spencer began.

"Daario is a fool," Ashley's eyes flashed in anger. "I will take White Haven and march towards to Riverrun. They may know we are coming but they will not be victorious. As for Daario…I will feed him to Drogon."

"No," Spencer disagreed, "Drogon would be poisoned with such spoiled meat."

Ashley smiled. "Maybe but I think Drogon will not disagree with a fresh meal. I will go and consult with my captains. When I return, as you said, I am all yours."

Spencer leaned and kissed Ashley forcefully. "An incentive for you to hasten this meeting."

Ashley nodded, feeling dazed before her mind cleared again. She wrapped her coat around her stood to leave. "I fear my captains will not see another meeting go by as quickly this one will." She looked to Spencer again before shaking her head and hurrying out of the tent.

Spencer smiled at Ashley's behavior and lay down on the chair. Before she knew it sleep came over her and the fire continued to feed her its warmth.

I thought I'd let the girls have a breather. Thanks to everyone who's stuck with the story and reviewed too. You guys make me keep coming back and pushing to finish this story.

Ryoko05: In your opinion, has Ashley changed? If she has, in what way?