The Lion's Den:

King's Landing:

Astrid and the forces she had chosen to take to King's Landing on the mission to rescue Sansa Stark from the Lannisters before she was married against her will had managed to get a ship to take them from Saltpans towards King's Landing pretending to be merchants from Braavos. The group consisted of Astrid, Arya, the Grey-Mane siblings Thorald and Avulstein and their friends, Geirlund and Vidrald. The four of them had worked with Astrid before on the infiltration of Winterfell so they were ideal. Smalljon Umber, Wendel Manderly and Darcy Mormont joined them to serve the King in the North. Torrhen Karstark had offered to join as well but Astrid had refused his service since she did not wish to antagonise or worry Lord Rickard Karstark who was already growing disillusioned with the conflict after losing Harrion during the War. Torrhen understood and said he would watch his father to prevent him doing something rash. They had also been joined by one of Arya's friends, the Blacksmith Gendry who while he was skilled as a Blacksmith also turned out to be skilled with a Warhammer as well.

The ship they were using was a Braavos' merchant galleon that Paymaster Tytas Wrought had managed to secure from some of his friends in Braavos. They were using the ship as a merchant ship and Astrid and her team would pretend to be soldiers guarding the goods which were destined for high end markets since they consisted of valuable good from Braavos such as the valuable purple dye made from sea snails found in the lagoon at Braavos. One of the first things they were doing was taking Tytos Hill to see his contact at rich gambling den at the Street of Silver. After that they would find the hidden tunnel that Arya had found when she was in King's Landing.

With the Battle of the Blackwater over and Stannis' fleet shattered, the blockade of King's Landing had ended allowing foreign ships to return to the capital to trade while the people of the city tried to rebuild. The journey through the Blackwater Bay to the docks of King's Landing was an eyrie sight since the Bay was still littered with shattered and charred wreckage of the ships that once belonged to Stannis and the royal fleet. Most of them had been blown to pieces since there had been a massive trap using wildfire during the battle which had destroyed most the ships of both fleets. In the morning fog, the wrecks looked even creepier but once the sun came out, it was not as spooky but those wrecks would have to be cleared soon before they became a hazard for shipping.

They soon docked at King's Landing and Tytos dressed as the merchant carrying the goods walked off the ramp with Astrid, Thorald and Wendel following him. Astrid looked at the others "The rest of you wait here for now. We can't draw attention to ourselves here; too many foreign guards will draw suspicions. Wait on the ship until we return then Arya will find the tunnel she used before." She then looked at Arya "And stay here Arya, we can't be detected here, this is the Lion's Den, the heart of Lannister control right now so wait until the time is right."

"Yes I understand." Arya replied

...

Tytos led Astrid, Thorald and Wendel through the streets of King's Landing. Even though the Battle had ended nearly 3 months ago, the city was still being repaired. During the war, thousands of refugees particularly from the Riverlands had fled here until Queen Cersei had shut the gates. The people on the streets looked dirty and underweight. When Renly had declared himself King, the vast food source of the Reach had been cut off leaving King's Landing to survive on the good that came from the Crownlands which was not much, combined with Stannis' blockade, it left the city without much food and led to starvation. Starving peasants was never good as it often led to riots which at one point it had done from what Tytos had said. Even though the Tyrells had now joined the alliance and brought food to the city, it was still quite expensive for most people and half the city was still starving. It cost five copper stars for a loaf of bread, a sliver stag for a fresh melon or any decent piece of fruit and a whole gold dragon for a piece of any type of meat. Considering that it took 210 silver stags to make a Gold dragon and seven copper starts for a single stag, it took 1470 copper stars to make the value of just one single gold dragon, more than most common folk would make in their entire life.

The market stalls were still full of fresh food and people were rushing to try and buy food only for most to find that they couldn't afford it resulting in them just to try and find scraps in the allies. Tytos and the group went through the market as fast as they could so that they did not try to catch people's attention. Since they wore foreign armour, it could make them a target as the starving and restless could attack foreign merchants accusing them of hoarding food and profiting off the unfortunate.

As they carried on through a market, they saw a group had gathered in front of an alley and taking a closer look, they saw people dressed in brown robes and no shoes giving shoes out to the hungry. Taking a closer look, they saw the man who Astrid assumed was the leader handing out blessings of the seven to some people. Despite her attitude towards the Faith, she did not mind people who practise their faith; she just did not want them trying to force their beliefs on the people of the north who worshipped the Old Gods, that had been something that Catelyn Stark did not understand. She remembered that her mentor Edward Forrester had been one who had been angry at Ned for having the Sept in Winterfell built. It was one thing to have a small Sept with a Septon so his wife could have her faith with her but it was quite another to bring Septa Mordane to Winterfell and have her teach the Stark girls. That had been one confrontation where Edward had angrily told Ned and Catelyn that they were dishonouring the memories of the North, Brandon Stark, Ned's brother would never have allowed this and was one of the reasons why Edward had a negative feeling towards Ned and even to Robb since Edward felt like he was not being raised like a true northern but more like a southern who would slowly turn the Starks away from their origins.

Another thing that Astrid often had a problem with the Faith of the Seven was their corruption and use of money. Astrid knew that the Faith contrasted extravagant buildings and wore robes of fine material whereas the Faith of the Old Gods only required a Godswood and a Heart Tree to worship which was simple. The money used to build these extravagant buildings could be put to better use in Astrid's eye but from what she could see of these people, they seemed to care about the people, she wished that more Septons or Septa were like that. That was until she heard the leader begin to preach and she heard him talking about those northern heathens, Astrid knew they had to leave before her temper got the better of her.

As they walked away, Wendel tapped Astrid on the shoulder "Good job at keeping calm there. My family may worship the New Gods but that kind of attitude is dangerous."

"They're fanatics." Tytos added "They may be people but they can still be dangerous. A mob can be dangerous when they're in heavy numbers and the skill of an army may not always be enough to stop a huge mob. Remember the story of the Shepard and his mob, they stormed the Dragonpit during the Dance of the Dragons and killed the Targaryen Dragons that were there. Thousands died bit in the end the dragons were killed. It shows the dangers a fanatic mob can pose. Anyway we should get moving, we're nearly there, my contact should be waiting inside."

They soon came to the Street of Silver, the street that was full of gambling dens and taverns. Some focused on simple games like cards or dice but others did more illegal activities such as small fighting pits where poor people would be forced to wrestle with each other sometimes to the death and they were often little more than slaves, even orphaned children. The gambling den the group went in was just a small tavern that focused more on cards but as they approached, they spotted some guards dressed in green tunics with a golden rose embroiled on.

"What the fuck are the Tyrells doing here?" Astrid hissed

"Relax." Tytos replied "They were expected here, my contact does use them, don't worry, they're loyal to her."

"Her?" Thorald questioned "Just who are we meeting Tytos?"

"You'll see." Tytos smiled and the three of them entered the gambling den which seemed to be one of the more upper class ones since it was clean and had guards ready to break up a fight and throw people out if they broke the rules. Tytos eyes one of the Tyrell guards and they pointed to a table where the three of them sat down.

Tytos contact was a small old woman with a wrinkled face and greying hair. She wore fancy robes and had a cunning smile on her face "Ah, Tytos. It's been a long time since we last met."

"Indeed Olenna." Tytos replied

"Olenna?" Wendel questioned "Wait, Olenna Tyrell, the Queen of Thorns? That's your contact?"

"Tytos and I have known each other for a long time." Olenna smiled and then looked at Astrid "And you must be Astrid Snow or do you prefer you're real name Visenya." Astrid gasped, she was shocked that Olenna knew her real name even though she had dyed her hair black to avoid attracting attention. Olenna just at her reaction "It was not hard to learn the truth. Eddard Stark was too honourable to have a bastard. Word spreads that one a girl runs away and not long after a silver haired girl of the same age appears as a sellsword in the Company of the Rose. When you're as old as I am, you learn a lot of things."

"Good to hear Olenna but we didn't come here for a chat." Tytos stated

"Indeed, you came here to rescue the Stark girl, Lady Sansa for her upcoming marriage." Olenna replied "Pretty easy to see why you came here considering that Tywin recently spoke about the marriage."

"After you made your plot to marry her to Loras." Astrid stated

"Sansa was pretty keen on the idea since it would get her away from the city and away from Joffrey." Olenna spoke "And you want my help for it. I will give you help on one condition, my family will not be harmed in what you do especially since you're probably going to kill that little beast. Though considering what Sansa told me, it's probably for the best. I already had a plan for that and you just save me a whole lot of trouble."

"Our beef isn't with you but House Lannister." Astrid said "If I kill Joffrey then Tommen will become king."

"A sweet boy but easily manipulated." Olenna smiled "Easy to get him to agree to a peace with an independent North. This war has dragged on and the North is no great loss."

"And a strong message will be sent that the North remembers and the Lannisters always pay their debts." Astrid added "An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth. House Lannister owns House Stark a Debt and we're come to collect it."

"You deal with Joffrey and rescue your sister and I'll make sure there are a few guards as possible. I can't really do much about the Kingsguard but so far most are useless. Trant and Blount are useless though the newest addition Balon Swann will be trouble. I can get Loras to keep him out but Leave the others in there to draw away suspicions. Cersei will bring in her new friend the Oakheart twins so there will be some protection for the King though most will be pretty useless. Still you're probably going to have to get some guard uniforms from the Lannister Armoury in order to blend in."

"We need to head through a secret tunnel anyway and we have some disguises for this." Tytos replied

"One last thing, I may be able to keep security low but I won't be able to get you in to the Great Hall, nor will I be able to get you out or it will draw too much suspicion on us." Olenna finished

"Don't worry, we're already got a plan for that and how we're going to get into the Keep since the Feast will probably be held in the Great Hall." Tytos stated "They'll wed in the Sept and then have a feast in the Great Hall of the Red Keep. That will be your best place to strike just remember to leave us alone and I'll do what I can after to manipulate events to force the remaining Lannisters to the negotiating table. We're not going to send our men off to die for one family's ego."

"We understand." Astrid said although she was wary as the Tyrells were a very ambitious family just like the Lannisters and knew that this alliance may not last and the Tyrells were only helping because Olenna was worried about her daughter as Joffrey was known to be a vicious monster who took pleasure in causing pain and loved the fear that he inflicted on other people. Olenna did not want her granddaughter to marry such as monster which was why she was helping the Starks.

...

Back at the docks, Arya was waiting with the rest of the strike group in particular Gendry who she had been friends with since leaving with Yoren and the Night's Watch. Gendry was become a Blacksmith with the northern army and had also shown that he could use a warhammer and while he did not really fancy joining the northern forces, he had taken an interest in the Company of the Rose and was thinking about joining them when this mission was over. It was hard for him to be back in King's Landing. He knew he was the bastard son of some lord with a tavern wench and had been a Blacksmith Apprentice to Tobho Mott, a man who claimed to be the best Blacksmith in the world. He had been good but then out of the blue, Mott had dismissed him and he had joined a set of Night's Watch recruits.

"Do you think they're alright." Arya questioned "I mean what if something has happened to them?"

Gendry looked at her "I grew up in this city. Most of the Gold Cloaks here are pretty useless in a real fight. I've seen what Astrid can do; she can handle herself in a fight. The Gold Cloaks are meant to protect us but many are corrupt and take bribes and are just plain thugs. They can intimidate people who can't fight back but when one does, they run screaming like babies. I've seen it before."

Then the two of them heard the Company member Avulstein Grey-Mane call out "They're back." They turned to see Tytos, Astrid, Thorald and Wendel returning "So are we ready?"

"We are brother." Thorald replied "We'll need to secure some uniforms in the Red Keep to blend in with the guards which should hopefully be kept to a minimum, we will be dressed as the main guards of this wedding feast."

"Still watch out for the Kingsguard." Tytos said "There's not our contact can do about them but I've been informed that only a the ones who will be there are pretty much useless. Meryn Trant, Borus Blount are pretty much useless as fighters. Osmund Kettleback and Balon Swann may be a problem but my contact says that she may be able to keep Swann out of the way."

Arya's ears perked up when she heard the names "Let me take out Trant, I've got a score to settle with him."

"You'll get your chance Arya but don't do anything until we're all in position." Astrid said "Now then, take us to your secret entrance."

...

Arya seemed to remember her way around. Even though it had only been about a year since she had been here, she had managed to find her way through the secret tunnels. They went from the docks and eventually ended up in a large storage room that was full of massive skulls, nineteen in total.

"The dragon skulls of the Targaryen dragons." Smalljon gasped "My father told me about these, the Mad King had them in around the Throne Room but then King Robert had them removed and stored here."

"These skulls include the three used by Aegon the Conqueror and his sister wives." Astrid said

"I always loved those tales." Arya smiled "Aegon rode Balerion, Visenya rode Vhagar while Rhaenys rode Meraxes."

"All three of those skulls are here." Tytos pointed out showing two massive skulls one slightly bigger than the other and a third smaller skull but still large. "Balerion the Black Dread and Vhagar, the two biggest Targaryen Dragons. Meraxes was smaller since she died younger than the other two but was said to have been as large as Vhagar at the time of her death."

"I wonder which dragons the other skulls belong to?" Thorald questioned

"Well from what I know from history, it's possible that one skull could belong to Meleys, the dragon of Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen who never was and wife of the Sea Snake Corlys Velaryon." Astrid suggested After her death at Rook's Rest the Meleys head was brought back as a trophy. Arrax the dragon and Lucerys Velaryon could be another since after his death in the Clash above Shipbreaker Bay, Arrax's head washed up on shore so it's possible it was taken to King's Landing as a trophy as well."

"As curious as this all is we're still on a mission here." Tytos stated "Although how did you end up here Arya?"

"It was an accident." Arya explained "I was chasing a cat since it's what Syrio Forrel, my teacher told me to do as part of my lessons. I chased it down here but then I saw two cloaked men and hid among the skulls. They locked the door which is why I was forced to use the tunnel to get out of here."

"Syrio Forrel, the First Swordsman to the Sealord of Braavos." Astrid said "I remember him, great at Water dancing, what happened to him."

"He was killed by Meryn Trant." Arya replied sadly "When father was arrested Lannister men led by him tried to take me claiming father had asked for me but I knew he would not send Lannister or even Kingsguard after me, he would have sent his own men. Syrio stayed to protected me and buy me time but he only had a wooden stick, even against a poor fighter he was outnumbered and outmanned. He stood no chance, that's why I want Meryn."

"You'll get your chance soon lass." Vidrald stated as he finally managed to pick the lock on the door that blocked their way.

"Be careful, this passage leads to the Tower of the Hand." Arya warned

"I'll check if the coast is clear." Tytos said as he went ahead, he soon came back "It's clear, Tywin is currently in a meeting, we can check his office first but don't make it too obvious that we've been snooping, I'll keep watch, I managed to secure a Lannister Uniform for me. I'll stand guard outside while you check everything.

...

While Tytos stood outside dressed in Lannister armour, Astrid and the others looked through Tywin's office but were careful not to create too much mess otherwise Tywin would get suspicious that someone had been in his office.

"I remember looking through papers sometimes when I was Tywin's cupbearer at Harrenhal." Arya commented "He never found out that who I was but he knew I was noble born since he caught me reading some of his letters. I was so scared then since I knew what kind of man he was."

"Tywin is a ruthless man but one thing he is someone that I can respect." Astrid stated "True he may be our enemy but I can't help but admire his deeds. When he was a boy, his house was the laughing stock because of his weak father who everyone walked over, mind you he was never meant to rule. Tywin firmly restored his family position and showed everyone that he is not a man to mess with. He's actually quite similar to our ancestors, the Kings of Winter had to be ruthless to rule over the other houses of the north when they were all petty kings. The Dustins and the Boltons were our biggest rivals in those days and being ruthless was the only way to cerement our rule. Show too much weakness and over ambitious rivals will take advantage of us."

"Or betray us to the enemy." Thorald pointed out reading a paper "You need to see this."

Astrid took the paper Thorald was reading and Astrid's eyes narrowed with anger "Those traitorous dogs!" she hissed "Just wait until Robb hears about this."

"Right now we need to rescue Sansa but then we'll head back and warn Robb and put them down." Thorald stated

"We might want to recover something else while we're here." Wendel added "Read this."

Astrid took another paper and her eyes were even angrier now "They seek to desecrate something precious and sacred to us."

"What does it say?" Arya asked

"It seems that Tywin is planning to have our Valyrian Steel Sword Ice desecrated and melted into two new swords for the Lannisters." Astrid hissed in anger "It seems that he's made a deal with Master Smith Tobho Mott to reforge the sword. Right now it's still with Ilyn Payne but we're take him out now. Let's just hope no one notice that he's missing."

"Payne's also on my list for killing father." Arya stated

"We'll take him out once we're in uniform." Astrid said "I don't think we're going to gain much else here so let's go to the armoury and find our uniforms."

...

"It's not fair!" Arya grumbled after everyone had made it to the armoury "Why can't I be in the Hall with you."

"Arya, these uniforms are too big for you." Tytos sighed as he tried to explain again "You still on the small side and it would look weird. You'll attract too much attention."

"Plus you said you served as Tywin's cupbearer at Harrenhal." Astrid added "Tywin might recognise you if you go in dressed as a servant. Plus Joffrey and Cersei know your face. If you get discovered then the mission is a failure."

"But that doesn't mean you don't have to do nothing." Thorald stated "We have a side mission while the wedding is going on."

"And you did say that Payne was on your list." Astrid smirked "You and Thorald will take out Payne while the wedding is going on and we take out the guards at the Hall so we're guarding it. You and Thorald will recover Ice and bring it to us when the signal is given. We're not going to kill everyone but we will taking out some people in there to send a message that the North Remembers."

"As long as they pay for what they've done." Arya sighed "Alright."

Tytos looked at everyone "Remember everyone, we only get one shot at this. This mission will be one that the Company will remember for generations about how we snuck into King's Landing and rescued Lady Sansa. We give the signal, take out our targets then we get out of here through the tunnels and onto a small boat and row to the Narrow Sea where our ship will pick us up at our rendezvous point. Don't take any risks, if anyone messes us, we will be caught, imprisoned and later executed and all of this will be for nothing. This war between the Starks and the Crown has been a stalemate, we're getting nowhere on the battlefield so it's time to fight dirty. Show the Lannisters why you don't mess with the Starks and why we became as powerful as we are."

Wendel, Smalljon and Dacey all smiled at the speech "Yeah, show these southern fuckers that the North never remembers a slight."

"And show them at the Lannisters do indeed pay their debts." Astrid laughed "The Lannisters have a debt to pay to House Stark and we've come to collect."

Chapter End:

Notes: Well we're now approaching one of my favourite scenes to write and I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes. Changes will be coming to the plot of the series but not in the way people may be expecting. I also wanted to clear something up, I know it seems like Astrid hates the South and the Faith of the Seven but really she just doesn't want to have the south influence the north since they have different customs and traditions. This was the problem with Catelyn that some northerns had since while building a Sept may have seemed okay, what was not alright was having a Septon and Septa teach the Stark children which may have had a big impact on the future of the north. I just wanted to clear that up which was why I had the Sparrows make a cameo in this but don't expect them to have a big impact on the story in the north.