The journey North was not one Cersei enjoyed or believed she would ever cherish. They had set out in the dark hours of the early morning with the intention of reaching Darry by evening. The weather was abysmal, with clouds hanging across the sky spitting drizzle down on them with gusts of wind driving in from the east. Cersei was certainly warmer in her heavy crimson cloak than a member of her 300 soldier escort but even she felt the tips of her ears being nipped at by the cold.

And her traveling companions were no better. Tygett Lannister was a man of few words and what words one could prompt from him were often curt and clipped. Her gaggle of handmaidens were all to quick to say 'yes' to her every word. And Jeyne Algood was simply the worst.

Somehow Cersei was not so lucky as to buck the tiresome girl off her as Lord Algood had begged the honor of her father that his daughter stay on as her handmaiden. Cersei felt her father agreed just so the man would shut up. Either way, the annoying girl was now riding beside her, sniffling and sneezing into her thin blue cloak.

And so, Cersei was forced to ride in silence through the wind and rain, her mind constantly wandering North and her possible husband.

A savage, she thought, gritting her teeth, Father is hoping to marry me to a savage. Other ladies will marry strong lords and loyal bannermen. But I get a northman in furs far from my home.

And so, even in the cold rain, she seethed and boiled with anger the entire ride.

It was afternoon when they reached Castle Darry, only to find it charred and smoking. Her uncle had rode forth to a couple of Mooten men who were putting out the fires.

"Lord Darry and his outlaw band," their sergeant at arms reported, a flushed keg of a man with a red salmon on his chest, "Seems the Plowman didn't like how we captured his home so quick at the beginning. He sent in a few of his boys last night and set fires all about. Only the kitchens aren't charred now."

When Uncle Tygett tried to say how they needed shelter for the night the sergeant just shrugged, "Well, you'll not anything find but ash here, mi'lord. If you need a place to stay, I'd suggest the Inn at the Crossroads. Its just across the ford and its safe enough. Ser Halmon Paege is using it as a base for his searches for Lords Darry and Smallwood. Now off with you, I've this fire to put out!"

So the party was forced to cross the Trident as the sun began to set.

It was a difficult crossing. The rains had raised the river by a good foot and the force of the water slowed the wagons immensely. All the while, her Uncle Tygett was on edge. He did not like the idea of being caught out in the water by one of the rebel riverlords' outlaw bands.

But the worst was the corpses. Floating down the river like shadowed wraiths they moved past, bloated and rotting. Some wore blues and others blacks and some reds and some greys. But all stank of death and all continued their slow trip to the sea and many were filled with arrows and bedecked with the sigils of House Tully.

"The leftovers of the Sack of Riverrun," her Uncle said, nodding, "Many a trout fell into the river that day and few escaped the eyes of Aerys' archers."

The men did their best to push the bodies away with their poleaxes and pikes but one body drifted too close to Jeyne's horse and spooked them both so much that the girl had to be pulled from the river soaking, spluttering, and shivering. The sight would have been very amusing to Cersei had the body not that scared the horse not had the direwolf of stark emblazoned on its breast.

Lord Rickard and his heir were at Riverrun when Aerys fell upon it, she remembered, The attack occurred during Lord Brandon's wedding to Lady Catelyn. Some escaped, but most died, including the Starks.

By the time the entire party had crossed it was now night and they still had a good hours ride till they reached the Inn. Jeyne had the chills as the wind blew at her damp clothes and made her shiver. The men lit lanterns and pointed their weapons at any sound made in the brush that lined the road. Everyone was on edge until they reached the Inn.

It was a welcome sight, Cersei decided, a strong wooden building with warm light pouring from every window. The stable was filled with horses and the yard was filled with several black tents with the snakes of House Paege emblazoned on their sides.

When their party came into the view, they already had Ser Halmon waiting for them at the door.

"My outriders saw you crossing the ford," he said as he welcomed them in, "Though you may not have seen them."

The Knight of the Two Snakes was a thin looking man bedecked in black with stripes of red and white flowing down his arms. He had a very courteous nature about him and seemed to have a soft smile always plying his dry lips.

"I'm now a glorified hunter, I suppose," he told them over a dinner of roasted boar that had been found on one of the hunts. "After their defeat at Harrenfield, all the lords loyal to Aerys fled, either back to their castles or into the woods. The Green Vances were able to talk their kin at Wayfarer's Rest to lay down their arms. Lord Piper is battling Lord Ryger along the God's Eye and it is no surprise that Lord Blackwood was rushing to siege Stonehedge when word came that the Bracken's lost many of their men at the Route of Pennytree. As for me, Ser Brynden wants Lords Darry and Smallwood caught and hung to end this robber nonsense."

Uncle Tygett nodded, chewing a piece of boar, "How is the Blackfish handling things?"

"Well enough, I suppose," Paege nodded thoughtfully, sipping his wine, "He accepted your brother's offer to keep young Lord Edmure safe at Casterly Rock till all this nonsense is taken care of."

"And Ser Brynden himself?" Cersei asked, "Is he doing anything himself?"

At that, Ser Halmon frowned and stared into the broth that had been set before him, "He's up at Seagard. He doesn't leave his nieces side..."

For a second her uncle was silent before asking, "How is Lady Catelyn?"

"The Mallister's maester says she might not live for long and if she does, she'll be forever scarred. King Aerys was not... kind to her during her captivity..."

Nothing else needed to be said. When word had reached Casterly Rock of Lady Catelyn's capture, her father had merely sighed and shook his head, "It would have better if she had died with her sister. Aerys will be about as kind a warden as Gregor Clegane." Cersei knew of course what that all meant. At nights when Lady Catelyn should have been lying with Brandon Stark, instead she was forced upon by the Mad King...

"A thousand curses on that King..." Tygett growled under his breath as he shook his head.

"And his followers," Ser Halmon nodded, "Though swords would be of more use here than curses. These outlaws may be small in number but they are given to hiding in the trees and only moving at night. I've not the men to give a full search, only to follow leads that are old and most likely false."

"The Vale is not far from here," her Uncle gave a grunt, "Have you sought help from there?"

Ser Halmon nodded though his face was grim, "I've sent riders up to treat with Ser Alwyn Coldwater at the Bloody Gate to persuade him to send men to help hunt out these brigand lords, but he's only sent his condolences. 'Lord Arryn has his own rebellion on his hands,' the Knight of the Gate says. 'Gulltown is in open revolt and has hired sellswords to defend its walls. The northern lords of the Vale are still marshaling their forces and any that have been prepared are already with Lord Arryn in the siege camps. Until the Graftons and Arryns of Gulltown are brought to heel, the Vale can send no help lest they return home to find mercenaries sitting in their keeps when they return.'"

The riverlander spat, "Yet the bugger still has five hundred men with him up in that pass. I'd only need a hundred more men to work out where these outlaws are hiding!"

Cersei just sat and nibbled at the boar. What did she care for this man's problems? He had a duty to do yet all he did was complain about how he could not do it. If he could not do it, what use was he?

Despite her thoughts, her Uncle Tygett just gave an understanding nod before asking, "Do you think we would have any trouble on the road north of here?"

"North?" Ser Paege raised his eyebrows, "Well no. Lord Frey, for all his cowardice and refusal to act is not one to let outlaws roam his lands and bereft him of good tax money. He's set the Haighs and Erenfords about to patrol from the Neck to Fairmarket. You should have no problem."

The golden haired warrior gave a small smile and stood up, "Then I would be more than willing to leave you the hundred men you require?"

"Truly?" Ser Halmon blustered, "You would?"

Cersei's eyes widened and she cleared her throat, "Uncle, is that wise? I have no doubt that Ser Paege knows the area but there is no guarantee that the outlaws won't be north of here."

Tygett just shrugged, "Even if they are North of here, Ser Halmon and his men would pick up on their trail. And besides, we are too armed to make an easy target for them. And battle would bring the Freys down on them."

"My father has ordered you to see me safe to the North, dear Uncle," she said in the politest growl she could, "Not give away our escort to hunting parties."

Ser Halmon, for all his grace, seemed a bit ashamed by this, "Good Ser, if your niece feels that she needs greater protection than there is no need for you to-"

The riverlands knight was interrupted by the sound of Tygett's heavy sword being thrown onto the table. The candle's shadows danced across his scarred face and glistened in his long golden hair. While her father gave the impression of a wizened leader of a pride, Tygett was the young predator, ferocious and daring. And in this light, Cersei was afraid of him.

"This," he said in a voice more gravelly than usual, "Is the only protection you need, niece." He spat the word like it was an insult.

"Do you know how many men this sword has slain? Well more than your father has. Aye, he is deadly enough when he has men to do his dirty work, but I am the one who does it. I am the one who beheads, disembowels and dismembers. I have put up with his lectures day in and day out and I have lived with them as he is my brother. But I will not be lectured in tactics by my niece who wouldn't know how to swing a blade if the Warrior himself was her teacher!"

Their eyes met across the table, both defiant. Both Lannisters. Finally Tygett broke the silence once more.

"Ser Halmon will keep a hundred men here for his expeditions into the woods. They will answer to him until I come this way again. That is final. Now I find myself weary of company and of lack of sleep. Ser Halmon."

He gave a small bow.

"Niece."

He gave a glare. And with that his heavy foot falls went up the steps and to his room.

After that bit of drama, no one was like to stay and chat. It was not long before Ser Halmon gave a small cough and excuse about camp inspection that Cersei didn't care a lick about. She held in her fury as she went up to her room, escorted by Jeyne and only let out when the Algood had closed the door.

"Who does he think he is!?" she hissed as Jeyne helped her out of her dress, "That up-jumped third son has no right to speak to me in that way. I see now why father does not speak much of him! The man goes too high above his station and does not know his place!"

"Of course my lady," Jeyne parroted through her stuffy nose, "Most unchivalrous..."

"As soon as we reach Winterfell, I will write to father about his brother's abysmal behavior! The way he swung that sword about like he was the greatest knight to ever live! Jaime could best him and is only at half his age! Are you almost done yet!?

Jeyne finished fumbling with the laces and nodded tiredly, "Y-Yes mi'lady."

A chill of the night hit Cersei as she undressed to her shift. "Draw me a bath," she said, sitting into a chair and pouring out a glass of wine from a jug that had been set out on the table, "Not too hot but definitely not cold. Then you can go to sleep."

The Algood girl seemed to work extra hard with the promise of sleep and soon a large copper tub had been brought in and filled with steaming water. Cersei waved her off as she settled into the warm embrace of the tub. And as she lay there she dreamed of Rhaegar and of Jaime... and of living at court, beloved by all in a summer that never ended. Oh how sweet that dream was.

Yet she knew that tomorrow she would have to awake and head into the North where comfort was a thing unheard of...

Thanks for reading! Your reviews are what helps me improve and keep me going! I hope to get the next chapter out soon.