Chapter 1

Relief and fear fought for control of Sansa Stark as the dragon Queen took her army to Kings Landing.

She didn't trust Daenerys.

At a glance the Queen was caring to those in need; she fought for the downtrodden. A liberator of people. Compassionate yet ruthless when needed.

There were few people Sansa trusted in the world, but Jon and Tyrion were two of them. They both believed in this Queen, they both loved her to varying degrees.

Sansa couldn't trust her though. The years had taught her many things and reading people was one of them. There was a darkness in the dragon Queen that her followers were blind to.

"You're going to Kings Landing aren't you?" asked Sansa as the last of the host moved out of sight

"There's still a name on my list"

"Keep an eye on Daenerys"

Arya raised an eyebrow "You don't trust her either?"

"No, I don't"

The South mattered little to Sansa now. The North was her home; her responsibility. Cersei and Daenerys weren't to be trusted. One would destroy the other and when the ashes settled, decisions would be made. For now she would wait.

Protecting her family was the most important thing. They'd lost too much family over the years. Jon had a claim to the iron throne and Daenerys knew - she would see him as a threat.

"Keep Jon safe" she said

"Obviously"

"Whatever else she is, Daenerys inspires blind devotion in her followers. Don't let Jon get trapped by her"

"Anything else?" prompted Arya "No-one else you need updates on?"

'Maybe we should have stayed married'

Sansa's mouth went dry as a certain face drifted through her mind. The crypts. Fighting the dead. A lion at her side, and the softest kiss on her hand.

"No. Just keep me updated" she said finally

There was something else, but Sansa wouldn't allow the thought to continue. Her priority was her family. Loyalties had already been decided; there was nothing to do but wait.

"They have Missandei"

Daenerys was glaring at him as if it was his fault. He hadn't attacked the ships. It wasn't him that shot Rhaegal from the sky.

Tyrion shifted in his seat, his hand fiddling with the badge that marked him hand of the Queen "We will rescue her, my Queen. She is a valuable hostage – Cersei will not harm her"

"Missandei is very important to me" said Daenerys, sharing a look with Grey Worm "I cannot lose her. I've already lost Ser Jorah"

It had been a particularly difficult time for the Queen since she returned to Westeros. Two of her dragons were dead, Ser Jorah was dead and now her closest friend had been taken by Cersei. She'd been a bit more volatile than usual but that was to be expected given her losses. Things would be better when she sat the Iron Throne.

"You won't lose anyone else" said Tyrion, placing his hand over hers "We will rescue Missandei and you will sit the Iron Throne"

The dragon Queen's violet eyes appraised him "I will, no matter the cost. You'll help me won't you Tyrion? Your loyalty is to me"

"Of course it is my Queen"

Tyrion smiled reassuringly. Banished from his home and hunted by his family, Daenerys had given him a purpose again. He might not agree with everything she did; she was perhaps a bit too ruthless where there was room for mercy, but he believed in her. Tyrion had been ready to give up on himself in Essos when she allowed him to join her. She trusted him enough to name him hand.

That was the proudest moment of his life. He wasn't filling a position meant for someone else - he'd earned Daenerys trust himself. It wasn't because of his family's name but in spite of it that he was named hand of the Queen.

Daenerys had trusted him when no-one else in the world wanted him. He loved her in his own way - not as Jon did - but he cared deeply for her. Tyrion had bent the knee to the dragon Queen, he believed in her; despite their differences the past few weeks he wouldn't fail her now.

"What do you see Bran?"

"Nothing good"

Sansa sighed, observing her brother sat across from her "Are Jon and Arya alright?"

"They are. Arya observes from the shadows. Jon travels towards Dragonstone" said Bran, his dark eyes studying her "The ships were attacked. One of the dragons is dead. Missandei has been taken by Cersei"

"Cersei will use her against Daenerys"

"Perhaps" said Bran

"I bear Missandei no ill will, but all I care about is our family surviving" she said, moving her gaze to the hearth between them

"I can't tell you the future"

"It's the present I need to know. If Jon and Arya are in danger I will call the banners"

Bran nodded, folding his hands in his lap as Sansa's mind wandered through all the ways this could develop.

"Aren't you going to ask about him?"

Something stirred in Sansa's chest, and she wasn't entirely sure what to make of it "Who?"

Bran's mouth turned downwards "You can't deny it Sansa"

She could and would deny it. Sansa's face was a mask of calm and composure, even as her stomach twisted with worry. This was ridiculous. There was no reason she should care about him.

Warm green eyes flitted through her mind; watching her with admiration and not the pity she usually got from men who knew how she'd been abused. The Northern lords and ladies were kind to her; they respected her. Yet she knew they saw her as the Bolton bastards play thing. A damaged woman.

There was one man who didn't; who treated her as if she wasn't broken.

A man who'd devoted himself to the dragon Queen. If nothing else Tyrion was her friend; for his sake she hoped Daenerys was all he believed her to be.

Sweat trickled down Tyrion's back as they approached Kings Landing.

"Are you ready, lord hand?" asked his Queen

He was stood beside her as the gates loomed ahead of them. Grey Worm was barking orders to the unsullied as they took up position.

"Yes, your Grace" he said, twisting his hands nervously

Daenerys smiled at him, grasping his chin and tilting his head to look at her "Your courage will not be forgotten"

Tyrion nodded "You'll come for me?"

"Of course" said Daenerys, violet eyes burning into him "I promise. When Missandei is safe you will be free"

It was the right thing to do. They had a plan.

Daenerys had ordered Varys to make contact with Cersei. An exchange would be made – him for Missandei. The master of whisperers didn't like the plan, but there was nothing he could do. Daenerys and Tyrion were in agreement.

A flicker of doubt gnawed at his heart. Daenerys had asked him to do this, promising she would send unsullied to free him as soon as Missandei was safe. Varys had brought the offer to his sister and she'd accepted. Missandei was an innocent woman; a former slave – Daenerys said she'd suffered enough.

Tyrion could survive a little while with his sister. Cersei might hate him, lock him away – but she wouldn't hurt him. She'd had the chance to do that after the meeting in the Dragon Pit and she hadn't.

Daenerys was worried for her friend; she trusted him to succeed. Still a voice that reminded him of Sansa whispered a warning. That the dragon Queen couldn't be trusted.

"Are you certain?" asked Tyrion "We could attack now and free Missandei – break the deal"

Daenerys's eyes darkened "We discussed this. I won't risk Missandei in a fight"

"Oh...I understand" he said looking at his feet

Warm lips pressed against his cheek a moment later "You're a lion and you're my hand. I need to protect Missandei but you can survive. Be brave for me; I'll come back for you - I promise"

Heat spread from Tyrion's face to his toes, silencing the whispers of doubt. He stood a little taller as they headed towards the gate. Daenerys was a Queen protecting her people. She wouldn't break her promise to him.

Sansa's hand trembled reading Arya's letter.

Missandei safe. Jon arrived at Dragonstone. Daenerys wants fire and blood – Jon and Varys can't convince her otherwise.

Short and to the point; much like her sister.

All of Arya's updates were much the same. She'd heard Cersei had Missandei, but how had she escaped?

It was no use; she would need to ask Bran for details. The few updates Arya had sent mentioned Jon several times, but she'd heard nothing of Tyrion. Surely he was trying to reason with his Queen?

Sansa ground her teeth together; she was sure Arya was doing this on purpose.

Tyrion would be laughing if he was here now. It amused him to see her composure slip in the face of her little sister.

When Sansa made her way to Bran's room, her brother showed no surprise at her visit – or what she wanted to know.

"How did they free Missandei?"

"Daenerys offered Tyrion in exchange" he said simply

An icy terror wrapped around Sansa's heart "She gave him to Cersei?"

"Tyrion agreed" said Bran "She promised to free him as soon as Missandei was safe. Varys has spies within the Red Keep still. They had a plan"

"When will she free him?" asked Sansa

Bran's dark eyes were full of pity "She won't"

Tyrion shifted awkwardly in his restraints, trying to find a slightly more comfortable position. It had been three days since the exchange. Missandei had looked terrified as they passed each other which had steeled his resolve. This was the right thing to do. As soon as the guards took hold of him he'd been hauled away. Tyrion had cast one final look back at Daenerys, but she wasn't watching him as her host retreated. The sight of his Queen walking away from him sent his stomach into knots, but he trusted her. Daenerys was a good person – they had a plan.

As expected he'd been placed in chains and thrown before his sister. Cersei's face was twisted in a smirk as she sat the Iron Throne that would soon belong to his Queen.

"Welcome home little brother. Your new Queen was quite eager to get rid of you" she'd said "We're going to have such fun"

Tyrion ignored his sister's taunts. Daenerys would come for him – she promised.

Cersei had locked him away deep in the black cells. His hands and feet were chained to the wall in a room little bigger than a cupboard and totally devoid of light. It had been three days since then. What was taking so long? They'd gone over the plan several times. Varys had spies to help direct the unsullied to free him. They would enter through some of the hidden passages Varys knew of. It would be a covert mission. When he was back at his Queen's side they would seize the Iron Throne.

Daenerys would be here any time now. He curled into himself against the biting cold of the cell. Just a little longer.

Daenerys valued him – she named him hand after all. She wouldn't forget him.

"Why is your sister leading an army south?" asked Daenerys as she sat with her council

Jon looked at her with sad eyes "She's coming to support her Queen, your Grace"

The dragon Queen considered this development – she didn't like Sansa. The lady of Winterfell was colder than winter and hadn't treated her as one should a Queen.

"Your Grace, may I ask why we haven't moved to free lord Tyrion yet? My little birds know where he's being held" said Varys

Daenerys straightened up. Jon and Missandei had asked her this as well over the past few days – it was time they knew.

"We aren't freeing lord Tyrion"

Jon's dark eyes flashed with anger "What do you mean? You promised to free him didn't you?"

"Your Grace, he offered himself to save me. Surely we should rescue him – he's your hand after all" said Missandei, her eyes filled with guilt

Daenerys jaw clenched "Tyrion made too many mistakes. Did you see him at Winterfell? He was too close to Sansa and his brother. I can't trust him anymore"

"So you're going to leave him to die?" asked Jon in disbelief

"He was going to die anyway after all his mistakes. Exchanging him for Missandei was a mercy. He's served his Queen and we will all remember his sacrifice" she said, spreading her hands

Grey Worm was unreadable but Daenerys knew he'd understand - his love for Missandei was obvious to see. Missandei appeared upset, but Daenerys understood – she'd suffered quite an ordeal after all. It was Jon and Varys that worried her. The two exchanged a look she couldn't quite figure out.

"If that matter is sorted there are bigger problems that need our attention" said Daenerys, drawing their attention "Sansa Stark is travelling here and I want to know why"

"You look disappointed brother"

"What do you care?" he snapped

Cersei was stood watching him, a cruel smile spread over her face "I don't. You actually thought that foreign whore would come for you?"

Tyrion wouldn't meet her gaze. It had been four days and there was no sign of a rescue. He'd been left forgotten in his cell the whole time. A few meagre pieces of food and some water had been thrown into him, but he was starving. The cell was cold and dark.

"What do you want Cersei?"

His sister bent down, grasping his face "To finally get my revenge on you little brother"

"It's taken you four days to think of that?"

"Qyburn thought it best to wait. If your Queen was going to try and free you I'd have executed you publicly so she could watch. Qyburn has his own little birds you see - I know they're not coming for you"

Tyrion screwed his eyes shut, jerking against his restraints "That's not true. She's not like you!"

Cersei smirked down at him, releasing his face "Deny it all you want; but I'm not lying"

It couldn't be true - Daenerys cared for him. She wouldn't break her promise. Everything he'd done since returning to Westeros had been to build her support; to get people to believe in her the way he did. She had never scorned him for being a dwarf or a Lannister - she'd given him the acceptance he'd always been denied.

Something must have happened. Daenerys wouldn't give up - they'd be here soon.

"Now on to your punishment" said Cersei, gesturing to the guards stood outside the cell "You destroyed my family; now I'll destroy you. My last prisoners were those Dornish whores and they didn't last long. I had a Septa before that - didn't last long either. Qyburn assures me he can keep you alive long enough to experience pain in every possible way I can imagine"

"Daenerys will kill you if you hurt me" he said

His sister laughed, her green eyes glinting with cruelty "Don't you understand little brother? You're nothing. There isn't a soul in the world that cares what I do to you"

"Jamie" he said. His brother would care if no-one else did.

At their brother's name Cersei's face twisted into a snarl "You stole him away from me"

"He's better without you - you're nothing but poison to him"

Cersei's eyes narrowed as she turned to leave the cell "Guards, take the imp to Qyburn's special room. It won't do to have his screams echoing around the Red Keep"

Tyrion swallowed thickly as two men loomed over him.

Daenerys was coming - she promised.