Baelor Hightower was a tall and well-built man, looking incredibly impressive in his armour, which had the lighthouse sigil on his breastplate. He had wavy dark hair to his chin and despite being probably well into his late forties, he looked much younger, the young women of the court looking up twice at him.

His wife Rhonda was beside him, a few years younger with long black hair in ringlets and bright eyes, wearing a red dress and a grey cloak. They were both on black horses and had twenty Knights and sellswords with them, some with the Hightower sigil on their armour, the rest with houses that were allied to them.

It had taken them just over a week to arrive at the Red Keep, the whole retinue with them looking equally as impressive, all of them were on large, incredibly powerful looking horses, which was a common trait for the Oldtown Knights.

The retinue was met at the entrance to the castle by Joffrey, Cersei, Kestrel, Margarey, Loras, Tommen, the Kettleblack brothers, Balon Swann, Varys and several others, the ladies dressed up and the men mostly in armour. Sandor was off on a patrol with other men of the King's Guard, checking that the wall was being properly repaired.

Swiftly the retinue dismounted and Rhonda moved forward to Kestrel, who was walking over to them. She held her daughter tightly 'Oh my dear, I've missed you'. She smiled 'I've missed you too'. She released her daughter as Baelor kissed her on the cheek 'it is good to see you again - and safe'.

Kestrel smiled and Baelor glanced back at the retinue 'we'll greet the King, you have an old friend who wants to see you'.

Baelor, Rhonda and most of the retinue followed on and to the steps to greet the Royal party, whilst a familiar face to Kestrel was standing with a smirk beside a black horse, wearing light armour.

Tellan Thatch was the son of Baelor's sworn Knight, and was only a year older than her, the pair having been raised almost as siblings, the Thatch's knowing the truth about Kestrel from day one. He had also been the one to make sure she recovered from her injury and could fight again once she got better.

Tellen was tall, with broad shoulders, short messy brown hair, high cheekbones and green eyes. He was wearing the Thatch sigil on his breastplate, the same as his father was, who had gone to greet the king with Baelor.

'So, 'my lady' I hear you're getting married?'. She nodded, stroking the horse 'it looks that way, how have you been?'. He paused, glancing around 'very good. We can not talk here'.

She nodded and they made their way to the rest of the retinue to speak with Joffrey and Cersei, Baelor and Rhonda greeting their niece and nephew as well.

A little while later Tellen and Kestrel managed to slip away from the group, walking through the castle and speaking idly, both aware that they could be heard by people around them.

It was only when they found a quiet courtyard that they sat to one side, suitably far enough away from everyone else.

Tellen glanced around and leant down, muttering quickly into her ear so quietly it was almost inaudible 'Robb's men are still in the North'. She nodded, thinking for a while, speaking under her breath so they weren't overheard 'does he know?'.

Tellen nodded, turning his head towards her ear 'yes, he's willing to do anything to save his sister, I think he's worried though'. Kestrel frowned and he explained 'he's willing to believe you are his cousin, but it also makes you the cousin of the Targeryn girl, he thinks you could turn'. She shook her head 'no, but he trusts me enough to free Sansa?'.

'Yes, now we've just got to pull it off now. You realise that by doing that, you will be exposing yourself, they could turn on you?'.

'I know, but I can't turn my back on her now'. Tellen looked over her intently with a sigh 'well, I'm staying, I'm not going to leave you here alone'.

She blinked in surprise 'what do you mean?'.

'I'm staying when the retinue leaves, I'm to be your sworn Knight, can't get rid of me that easily Kestrel, I'm not leaving you here to fight the vultures on your own'. She looked surprised but appeased as he held out a hand to pull her to her feet, Kestrel hugging him tightly, feeling relieved.

Sandor had returned from the wall, and had been walking to find Baelor, who had sent for him, asking to meet him in the courtyard at the front of the keep. Out of the corner of his eye Sandor had seen Kestrel talking to the young attractive Knight, and had seen the embrace, moving swiftly on and through the Keep.

He didn't want to think about what he'd seen, feeling something pull at his heart.

It was a feeling he didn't want to have.

The feeling was jealousy.

The Head of the Hightower family had taken to staying in the lighthouse and watching from the top, looking down on his people. Because of this, Baelor had been forced to essentially run the port and the City for nearly ten years now. He was known as a fair man, treating everyone to a fair trial, but if they were found guilty, he was ready with retribution.

The thing that everyone in Oldtown knew however, was that Kestrel was the family's pride and joy, and if anyone so much as breathed a word against her, they would probably have been thrown from the top of the Oldtower Lighthouse.

Sandor saw Baelor waiting for him on the wall, looking out over King's Landing, standing on his own.

Hearing footsteps approaching, he turned and looked intently at Sandor, who was still in light armour and suddenly realising that there wasn't a single other person around them, which made him uneasy.

Baelor glanced over him quickly

'You won't remember, but I met you when you were just a child, can't have been more than ten. I stayed at Clegane's Keep for a night when I was on my way to King's Landing, night was falling and a storm was raging, your father welcomed me in for the night. He was a gentle man, and I was shocked at the brutality that had been created in his son, even then, Gregor was a monster. You don't remember of course, you were the quiet and retreating one, everyone told me that the burns were an accident… I didn't believe them, I saw the darkness in Gregor's eyes and the fear and anger in yours, even then I knew'.

Sandor looked confused, not knowing what to say as Baelor continued 'I know that Kestrel has told you about who she really is… you understand what this means?' he nodded slightly 'of course'.

'One day, people will find out, and she will be in danger. You are the brother of the man who killed her younger brother and sister. Do you know how Aegon died- his head was smashed against a wall by Gregor who then raped and killed Queen Elia whilst he had the blood of her son on his hands. Your brother failed to kill all of the royal born children that day, but when he finds out, Gregor will want her dead. Do you understand what I am saying?'

Before Sandor could speak, Baelor had continued 'I know that you are not your brother, you are a better man than that –not that it is hard- but the day will come when you may have to protect your wife over your brother'.

'I would protect Kestrel from anyone, especially my brother'.

Baelor narrowed his eyes at Sandor, drawing himself up so they were nearly the same height, voice slightly threatening

'Regardless of blood, Kestrel is my daughter. If you are to be a part of this family then you should be aware of the possible consequences. If you harm my daughter in any way or you upset her, then I will have you killed. You will be thrown from the top of the Hightower lighthouse onto the rocks. Blood is irrelevant, she is my daughter and my heir, do you understand what I am saying Clegane?'.

Sandor nodded 'I will not hurt your daughter Ser, you have my word'.

Baelor nodded, looking over Sandor intently 'that was the correct answer. Make her happy, please, she has been through enough already. You understand what is going to happen though don't you? One day the people of King's Landing will know who Kestrel really is…she will need someone by her side to protect her when myself, my brothers and our men may not be there to help her'.

Sandor nodded 'I will be there, I won't leave her'. Baelor nodded, glancing at the scarring on Sandor's face 'Gregor Clegane has a lot to answer for, I would rather throw myself from the Hightower Lighthouse than have that man near my daughter'. Sandor's eyes were dark

'I wouldn't leave a rat with him, let alone my wife'. Baelor looked happy by his words and glanced out of the window briefly

'You may marry my daughter with my blessing. Remember however, you are not just marrying a Highborn woman, you are marrying a princess'.

Sandor was stabling Stranger in the quiet barn a few hours later when he heard a noise behind him and turned, seeing Kestrel standing there. She looked uncomfortable and glanced around, seeing that they were alone as she leant her back against a wooden pillar and looked at him closely.

'I saw you earlier, when I was speaking with Tellan- you looked at me and then left as fast as you could'. Sandor glanced away 'I hear he is to be your sworn Knight? He is an attractive young man, half the women in King's Landing seem to want him'.

Kestrel blinked in surprise 'Sorry, are you jealous? Is that what this is? You think I'm going to replace you with Tellan? You're a bloody idiot Sandor'.

She looked annoyed, shaking her head and turning to leave the barn. She was halfway to the door before she heard footsteps behind her 'Kestrel- Kestrel'. She turned around and realised they were inches apart, Sandor looked at her intently, voice dark. 'Do you not fear me girl? I am a killer'.

She didn't break eye contact 'I have killed too. It makes you no less of a man in my eyes Sandor'. He blinked 'why do you insist on trying to make me like one of your noblemen, trying to make me a 'good man' Kestrel?'. She sighed very slightly and looked at him softly 'I don't want you to be a nobleman, I don't want you to change'.

He blinked in surprise and she clenched her jaw slightly, continuing. 'What you don't understand Sandor, is that I don't like a man who changes himself for another. I just want you to see that there are those around you who do in fact care about you'. He looked taken aback 'But why?'.

'Because you're a better man than any of the men in King's Landing. Sometimes I don't know why I bother, you are so bitter and twisted that you cannot leave the past where it belongs- I won't apologise for trying to be nice. Bloody hell'.

She turned to leave and he gripped her arm, turning him towards her and swiftly leaning down and giving her a deep, hard kiss before pulling back, looking at her closely.

'You don't need to do this Kestrel'. He saw her eyes look at him intently with some degree of confusion 'you can promise me you will stay with me? Even though this is not going to end well for me? When they find out, I could be killed'.

He swallowed 'I promise'.

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