A lone woman in a dark gray cowl hooded cloak on a black stallion walks through the woods winding through the brush and trees. She dismounts her horse, taking the bow off her back and an arrow from her quiver, aims and shoots a rabbit in the underbrush. She guts and skins the rabbit, returning to her horse and hangs it to drain from a leather thong on her saddle. The woman then mounts and proceeds ahead whilst placing her bow on its sling on her back, her knife back in its sheath and arrow back in her quiver.

She moves silently but for the sound of hooves in the brush. As evening sets in, she makes camp in an area by a large natural berm of debris. The woman had collected wood and set up a spit roasting the rabbit. She was eating an apple whilst watching the rabbit roasted. It was rubbed in salt and rosemary, all the time listening to the woods for indications of anything foreign. There were many wolf howls at a far distance. That night she did as always, she slept with one eye open.

Due south of her position was a war camp being hosted by Lord Tywin Lannister and his army settling in for the night. They were camped for the night at High Heart.

—--

That morning in the early hours the woman put out her fire and continued on her way southeast unaware of intersecting with an army.

As she rode, she came up on the sounds of men, horses and clashing steel. Knowing contact with outsiders was never good, she turned and headed northeast in hopes of avoiding contact. It didn't work.

The soldiers were sent out around the camp perimeter to comb the woods for strangers, deserters and spies from Robb Stark's armies. The woman was spotted moving in through the woods. A party of soldiers took off after her in pursuit.

She ran her horse through the woods ducking branches and jumping streams avoiding capture. Her horse was tiring when she was cornered. The woman aimed her arrow at the soldiers waiting to see which would be the first to die, knowing the weak spots in every chink of their armor.

The leader announced, "Give it up lad, we have ya outnumbered and surrounded. Even if ya killed one of us, we'd all over power ya anyways. Just put down the bow and come with us peaceful-like to my Lord Lannister and you may live to see another day."

She knew she couldn't take all seven of them down, so she put her arrow in her quiver. The first man took down her hood and gasped looking at the dark brown almost black haired beauty with cerulean blue green eyes. They took all her weapons, her bow, valyrian sword, three valyrian steel daggers and a hunting knife.

They tied her hands behind her back and led her horse back to the army camp. One of the soldiers went to find Lord Tywin Lannister and inform him of a captured woman in the woods on horseback.

That evening when they made camp, Lord Tywin Lannister had the woman brought to his counciling tent. Kevan and Tyrion Lannister were sitting at a large table looking at scroll maps, drinking wine and eating venison stew for dinner with Tywin. Tyrion had just returned from being released from the Vale. Tywin had requested the woman be brought to him. The woman had her hands tied behind her, her tunics shoulder was torn open to the elbow and was dragged into the tent looking roughed up. She had a large black bruise across her left side of her face, black fingerprints around her throat and a bloody split busted lip, whilst being thrown to the wooden floor in the tent. She had her head down with her long braid unraveling as she made a "Ooff!" sound. Tyrion frowned looking at her condition.

Tywin stood up and shouted, "I told you fools not to lay a hand on her until I had seen her! Who's responsible for her treatment!"

The soldier said carefully, "The Mountain was about to um… have his way and she spit in his face, bit his hand and kicked him in his balls." Tyrion was stifling a grin. The soldier continued, "He got up and back handed her and started choking her. We told him you gave orders not to touch her and he dropped her to the ground and walked off."

Tywin was enraged to have his orders ignored. It was difficult to discipline the Mountain, though he was handy as a mindless killing beast. He said, "Leave her." The soldier left the tent.

He said in a commanding voice, "Girl, get off the floor and let's have a look at you." The woman refused to move and just sat there not looking at him. Tywin growled and said, "Either you get up or I'll throw you to my men."

Tyrion said pleading, "Father, don't." He got up and went over to the girl and bent over saying gently, "My lady, if you stand up and just get it over with, you will come to no harm." She got on her knees trying to balance whist standing. She wobbled a bit in her black boots, but got to her feet not looking at them. Tyrion sat back down at the table.

Tywin commanded, "Look at me girl!" She defiantly glared at him in the eyes, lifting her head. He noticed that she was terribly swollen on the left side of her face that was blackened and a lot of blood had cracked, dried and ran down her chin. He was not happy about the damage done to her. Tywin noticed she was an exceptionally beautiful woman with piercing unusual eyes and a lovely figure. She was dressed in men's black leather pants, belt and boots with a black ripped tunic.

He said, "I want to know why you were in the forest with valyrian steel weapons? They are extremely expensive for a common woman traveling dressed as a man." The woman remained silent.

He growled and said firmly, "What's your name girl?" She said nothing. "Tell me your name and you can eat." She just glared at him. Tywin was losing patience with the silent woman.

He walked over to her and grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her shouting, "I'll call my men in here if you don't talk!"

She said enraged spitting, "Minding my own business! Aldarra!"

Tywin said, "Aldarra what?"

Aldarra said, "Blackthorne."

Tywin said, "There is no House of Blackthorne anymore or it's people."

Aldarra said matter of factly and sarcastic, "I'm the last. Can I leave now?" He thought what audacity, like he would just let her leave like that.

Tywin knew the House of Blackthorne was destroyed during a small slight towards Aerys II the "Mad King". Aerys II had the entire family put to death over a dispute about an order of gems shipped to King's Landing eight years ago in 290 AD. This must have been the oldest daughter that escaped. She appeared to be about twenty and five name days old. Aldarra had been about ten and six name days old when it all occurred. Her father had been looking into matches for her to marry at the time.

Tywin asked, "Why were you here?"

Aldarra spat angrily, "I was traveling alone, ran across your army and decided to change direction to avoid your soldiers. Like I said, I was minding my own business trying to head south until your men cornered me and took everything I had. They left me alone, tied up and let that craven animal take the initiative and try to rape me when he was passing by, just because I was a woman. I just must say that I appreciate being beaten, attempted raped and knocked around on your watch, milord. Fine hospitality and discipline you have here with your soldiers, milord." She was mocking him, saying milord like a commoner. "That's why I was avoiding your army in the first place. I have nothing to do with any noble people anymore. I stick to myself and leave everyone alone unless they try to harm me. You're all warmongers and violent. Animals in the wild have better manners than the lot of ya!" Tywin was impressed by her lack of fear as she talked, but he was angry about her disrespect towards him.

Tywin growled, "Keep a civil tongue in your head, woman, or I'll have it removed." She said nothing glaring at him. He said, "Your house was part of the Westerlands. So you fall under my jurisdiction."

Aldarra said, spitting fire, "I fall under my own jurisdiction after you let that mad man murder my family over a shipment of gemstones from our mines and pits. It was exactly what he ordered but changed his mind instantly when he decided it was short. I was Braxton and Leona Blackthorne's only child. I was snuck out in darkness from my hidden room after the keep was searched for survivors. My old maester helped me. My father begged me to live as my handmaiden put on my clothes and gave her life to die in my place. I took what I could from there and disappeared into the night. I have no house, so I belong to nowhere and in no one's jurisdiction. My money is in the Iron Bank of Bravos. I don't need anyone controlling my life anymore." Tywin knew he could not have done anything against the king when the tragedy of the Blackthorne's happened. Braxton was a good friend. It was unjust and cruel, but interfering with the king's orders was out of his hands at the time and another vassel house of his was destroyed. He was not able to control what happened so he did not have their blood on his hands. The shame was that he lost another house in his realm as Warden of the West.

Tywin said stiffly, "You're a noble woman from a noble house from the Westerlands. You will remain under my care as a ward until I tell you otherwise." Aldarra growled at him.

She said hatefully, "I don't want your handouts, milord. You're too late for that after eight years. I have been doing fine on my own and don't need anyone anymore." Tyrion was impressed with the woman standing up to his father. Kevan wondered why Tywin was so interested in keeping the woman as a ward at her age. It was odd because she had no status but perhaps could make a claim on the mines he took over. He did remember that Tywin and Braxton were friends and they both had been very wealthy in the mining business. Tywin had taken over the Blackthorne keep and was actively mining it for all its gemstones now, because it was a wealthy investment.

Tywin said in a final tone, "I will listen to none of it anymore from you, girl. You forget yourself. I will have your own tent with guards made up, until we get back to King's Landing. You can have your personal property, but not your weapons. I will keep them."

She said hatefully, "Darkstar is mine! It was given to me by my father that night with my three daggers and bow. You can't have them!" Tywin cut her bonds holding her hands behind her back. She rubbed her wrists.

Tywin got in her face and said in a low deadly voice, "I will hold them in safe keeping. I'll melt them down if I want to, so shut your mouth, girl. Sit down to eat." He refused to use her name because he was angry with this woman pushing at him. He told the soldier to get her food. She flounced into a chair.

Tyrion poured her a glass of wine and slid it across to her. She took the glass and sipped it. The soldier came back with a bowl of stew and a chunk of bread. She forced herself to eat it because she would get nothing more in the captivity of soldiers. She was so mad about him taking her weapons and trapping her here. Her lip was burning with every bite. She thought, 'How dare he keep me here. I'm not his or anyone's prisoner, captive or ward. He can't keep me. I'll escape as soon as I get Darkstar off of him and my poor horse.'

Aldarra was escorted to a small tent with a cot with a few furs on it, blankets and a table with a large bowl of water on it to wash in. Her baggage and cowl cloak was sitting on the wood planked floor in a pile. Tywin Lannister had her sword and scabbard. She grabbed her gear and sat on the bed sewing up her shirt with her needle and thread in her kit. Afterwards, she washed her face and tended to her injuries with a small piece of mirror she had in her gear and combed out her hair, rebraiding it. The bruising was getting darker and the split in her lip was an inch deep and on the inside too. Aldarra had a small flask of rum, she put a stitch with her rum soaked needle and thread on the inside of her lip and one on the edge of the outside of her lip to hold it closed to heal after cleaning it out with the rum. She thought it would probably leave a scar on her lip anyway. If she was such a noble woman, she wondered why he sent no maester to look after her well being. They had to have one that traveled. She thought, 'Fuck the Lord cunts.' Aldarra laid down and blew out the candle. She went into a light sleep not trusting her safety to anyone.

—--

The next day, Lannisters made her eat with them every meal and Tywin told Tyrion that he was leading the vanguard front line battle at Green Fork with his hill tribe people he befriended on his way from the Vale. Afterwards, Tyrion Lannister would be sent to King's Landing to be "Hand of the King". He was unhappy about that. Tywin sent Aldarra with Tyrion under guard, to be under instructions for her to remain under guard and removed from the battle.

Three days later, At the Lannister camp, Tyrion, Bronn, Shae and Aldarra are drinking together inside Tyrion's tent at night, before the battle at Green Fork.

Tyrion said drunkenly, "Let's play a new game."

Bronn seriously said, "There's a Braavosi knife game l could teach you."

Aldarra asked frowning, "Does it involve the potential for losing fingers?"

Bronn shrugged and said humorlessly, "Not if you win."

Tyrion Lannister said, "No! No knife games. Let's do something l'm good at."

Shae sat back and asked, "What are you good at?"

Tyrion said smugly, "l happen to be a great judge of character." Aldarra snorted whilst drinking from her cup. Bronn refilled his wine.

Bronn said drily, "This sounds like a boring game."

Tyrion said, "lt's not. Here's how it works: l make a statement about your past, if l'm right, you drink and if l'm wrong, l drink. And no lying. l'll know if you're lying."

Shae pouted and said, "l don't want to play this game."

Tyrion said, "Fine. Bronn first. Your father beat you." Bronn drinks.

Bronn smiled and said, "But my mother hit harder." Aldarra laughed.

Tyrion asked, "You killed your first man before you were twelve."

Bronn said matter of factly, "lt was a woman." Tyrion drinks. Shae looks at Bronn, surprised. He says, "She swung an axe at me."

Tyrion said, "You've been north of the Wall."

Shae asked Bronn, "What brought you up there?"

Bronn said briefly, "Work."

Tyrion said, "And you once loved a woman many years ago, but it turned out badly so you've never let yourself love again. Oh, wait, that's me." Tyrion drinks.

Tyrion says,"Your turn, my mysterious foreign beauty."

Shae whines, "l don't want to play."

Tyrion said emphatically, "lt's fun! Look at the fun we're having. Your mother was a whore."

Shae says, "Drink." Tyrion drinks.

Tyrion said, "All right. Your father left the family when you were very young, never to return."

Shae says, "Drink."

Tyrion said, "And we've established the rules about lying?"

Shae said, "Drink!" Tyrion drinks.

Aldarra said, "Seems the only one drinking is you. You're either really bad at this game or Shea is more mysterious than Bronn."

Tyrion said, "Ok, your turn then. You wanted a different life. You came from somewhere and you wanted to be elsewhere."

Bronn complained, "The whole shit-stained world could drink off that one." They all four drank.

Tyrion said grinning pointing at Aldarra, "Alright, so, specifics… You wanted to be elsewhere, but how would you get there? l don't believe the life of the Silent Sisters is for you, but who knows where your parents would send you. So, what's an ex noble born girl to do?"

Aldarra said, "Drink!"

Tyrion slyly asked, "Are you sure?"

Aldarra said, "Drink! And don't talk about my mother and father ever, or l will carve your eyes from your head. It's your cunt if a father's fault my sword is gone and my life is fucked up now. I can't leave without it!"

Tyrion said sincerely, "My dear Lady Blackthorne, if l have offended you, l apologize. Your right my father has fucked your life up by stealing you family sword." Aldarra rolled her eyes and huffed.

Shae said excitedly, "My turn. My turn to play."

Tyrion said, "Fine, fine. Ask away. Try to penetrate the enigma that is me." Bronn shook his head.

Shae asked, "Who were you in love with?"

Tyrion says frowning, "That's not how the game works."

Shae said, "l don't care the way the game works."

Bronn cleared his throat and said, "Our little lord here used to be married." Aldarra's eyebrows went up.

Shae asked surprised, "Married?"

Tyrion asked Bronn, "How did you hear that?"

Bronn looked at him and said, "You hear lots of things playing dice with Lannister soldiers."

Tyrion said, trying to beg off, "Another night, perhaps."

Shae said pouting, "Not another night. This night."

Tyrion said quietly, "lt's not a pleasant story."

Aldarra said, "Most stories about love and family never are."

Tyrion said laughing, "I'll drink to that."

Shae begged, "Oh tell me, maybe l will cry."

Bronn said petulantly, "l'm guessing Shae, the lady and l can tell more unpleasant stories than your lordship."

Tyrion said growling, "Fine. So, l was ten and six name days old. My brother Jaime and l were riding, when we heard a scream. She ran out onto the road, clothes half torn off, with two men on her heels. Jaime scared away the men easily enough, whilst l wrapped her in my cloak. She was too scared to send off on her own, so whilst Jaime hunted down the rapers l took her to the nearest inn and fed her. Her name was Tysha. She was a wheelwright's orphan. And she was hungry. Together we finished off three chickens and a flagon of wine. As impossible as it seems, there was a time when l was unaccustomed to wine. l forgot how afraid l was around girls. How l was always waiting for them to laugh at me or look away embarrassed, or ask me about my tall, handsome brother. l forgot about everything but Tysha and somehow l found myself in her bed."

Bronn smugly said, "For three chickens, l should hope so." Aldarra nudged Bronn sitting next to him grinning at him. He chuckled.

Tyrion said, sighing, "lt didn't last long. l didn't know what the hell l was doing, but she was good to me. She kissed me afterwards and sang me a song. And by morning l was deep enough in love to ask for her hand. A few lies, a few gold coins, one drunken septon and there you have it, man and wife. For a fortnight anyway, until the septon sobered up and told my father."

Bronn shrugged and said, "Well, l imagine that was the end of all that." Aldarra agreed.

Tyrion said frowning and refilling his cup, "Not quite. First, my father had Jaime tell me the truth. The girl was a whore, you see. Jaime had arranged the whole thing - the road, the rapers, all of it. He thought it was time l had a woman. After my brother confessed, my father brought in my wife and gave her to his guards. He paid her well, a silver for each man. How many whores command that kind of price? He brought me into the barracks and made me watch. By the end, she had so much silver that the coins were slipping through her fingers and rolling on to the floor."

Bronn said growling, "l would have killed the man who did that to me."

Shae said, "You should have known she was a whore."

Tyrion asked sarcastically, "Really? l was ten and six name days old, drunk and in love."

Aldarra said, "A girl who was almost raped doesn't invite another man into her bed two hours later." Shae nodded in agreement.

Tyrion rolled his eyes and said, "As l said, l was young and stupid."

Shae said, "You are still young and stupid." Shae starts kissing Tyrion. Aldarra looks at Bronn and nods, causing both of them to leave for each of their tents.

—--

The next day, the Lannisters ride into battle. Tyrion gets stampeded and hit with a mace knocking him out by his own hill tribesmen gearing them up for battle. He missed everything by being unconscious. He is dragged from the battle area by Bronn telling him what a shitty warrior he is.

The day after, Tyrion, Bronn, Shae and Aldarra head to King's Landing to the southeast with a group of twenty soldiers and supplies. Aldarra said to Tyrion as they were riding down the King's Road, "Least you could have done was try to steal my sword out of your father's tent and let me leave."

Tyrion said snarkily, "Why didn't you steal it yourself, my lady? My father would have my head."

Aldarra said sarcastically back, "Because those guards are always stuck to my arse following me like a cat's tail and the ones on his tent all the time seem to inhibit trespassing."

Bronn said grinning looking at her from behind, "I'll stick to your arse like a cat's tail…" She glared at him. "Just wanting to help." She moved her horse up ahead of them.

Tyrion said, "I don't think she wants your help with that."

Bronn said, "It might put her in a better mood... Well it would improve mine." Tyrion grinned.