Country Yard, Red Keep - King's Landing, Crownlands - Next day, Morning

As the sun slowly rose across the sky and signalled the world the start of a new day, the Red Keep was busy.

The latest mission was about to start with some of the best of the Kingsguard and knights having gathered in a small group, ready to be led by the famous Dragoness of the West.

The Lion family had gathered to bid them a temporary goodbye since both Visenyaando Jaime would depart with the group.

Jaime wore his Kingsguard armour, the famous white cloak tied to his shoulders and held with immense pride. His worse was ready and he was exchanging a few words with Tyrion.

"I trust you will look after them, especially Jaenyra," he told the dwarf, putting him in charge of looking after their youngest siblings.

Tyrion dismissively waved his hand, the young man aged 1 and 20 was rather irresponsible so to speak. He liked to drink and would often spend his time with hookers and generally what many would call an unworthy company.

His mannerisms and language were often below his expected status and many believed he was a bad influence for the children. That, of course, did not stop him from being around them when he had the chance.

He did not mind them, although sometimes it did feel odd seeing how much Trystan seemed to resemble Tywin or how Jaenyra would often give him a cold look that could rival that of the Famous Casterly Lion.

"They will be fine, you worry too much," he said, not truly sharing his worries.

Jaime had taken it upon himself to look after his siblings, with a rather unexpected protectiveness when it came to the youngest of the lion cubs.

"That's what you said last time and you could not find Jaenyra for a few hours or did you forget?"

Tyrion felt embarrassment settling within as he remembered the occasion. Jaenyra had slipped when Tyrion was not looking and had made her way to the stables. No one had taken notice of her then younger and shorter form and no one seemed to have seen her heading for the horses.

By the time a stable boy found her, a few hours had passed. Thankfully, Jaime picked her up and returned her to her Chambers before their parents could finish with a rather prolonged council meeting.

Although Visenya did question the two siblings why Jaenyra smelt like horses when it had been clear that she was not to be around them, at least unattended.

"That was back then. I am older now, wiser" the dwarf argued, amusing his older and taller brother. "I promise you no harm will come to any of them nor they will be left unattended"

Jaime, in the end, let out a sigh. "I trust you, Tyrion"

Meanwhile, not that far away; Visenya was rubbing the neck of her stallion. Her loyal horse was past his prime and she knew soon she had to retire him, letting him spend his last years in peace.

A new horse was trained for her, a rather strong and defiant mare. She had worked with her for a while but Visenya and the trainer agreed she was not ready for such a mission. If they were to engage in any combat, she needed a calm and experienced horse.

Thus, she chose Syrax one last time.

She was dressed in her armour, her bow placed diagonally across her chest and her quiver was fully and equipped to her saddle. Small pouches with the basic necessities had also been equipped, with the knights and her counting on staying somewhere in one of the nearby villages.

Tywin was by her side as she petted the neck of her old and loyal friend.

"We are all done and ready. It shall not take more than a few days to end this" she told her husband, sensing his displeasure on the matter as if it was visible to the naked eye.

Tywin had his back straight, hands behind and his face did not show any of his thoughts or emotions on the subject.

Some questioned how he was okay with letting his own wife just go on such a mission but many already knew of the mighty the former Princess possessed.

"Just in time for the Tourney. I do expect ravens with your progress shall I remind you" he said, earning a small smile of amusement.

"I promise I will," she said and glanced above her shoulder, seeing Trystan and Jaenyra standing next to Val.

She had already bid them goodbye but it felt odd, for all three of them. They were not used to seeing her in armour or ready to leave while they stayed behind. And she was not used to departing and spending days without them.

"They will be fine, although that could have been avoided had you declined the offer" Tywin commented, a sign that he was not 100% okay with the decision and the turn of things.

She rolled her eyes but didn't let his words discourage her. "It's too late to change that, now," she said and before he could comment, she had placed one leg on the stirrup and climbed on the saddle like it was nothing.

She could see the faint displeasure in his golden-flecked eyes but also the faintest of amusement at her challenge, her choice to comment and then climb on the horse to avoid continuing.

She looked at her companions, and all upon seeing her on the horse quickly moved to get on theirs. Once they were all ready, the gates of the Red Keep were lifted open and they all brought their horses around hers; creating a basic but effective travelling formation.

With Visenya to the very front, they trotted their horses out of the gates and took down the cobble path that would eventually lead them out of the West gate and to the path for the Kingswood.

Kingswood, King's Landing - Middle of Day

The sun was high up in the sky, past its zenith and was on its slow descent towards the horizon. By now, Visenya and her group had covered a significant distance and were now leading their horses across the main path.

So far, the trip had been relatively peaceful and the only ones they had met were a couple of land animals. With the hunting season approaching, it was not odd to see a lot of games around; although the animals were smart enough to keep their distance and flee upon spotting them.

Jaime was riding next to his good-mother, having started partially excited for the mission but also partially worried since he had to leave Jaenyra and Trystan behind with their father.

He glanced at Visenya, seeing her riding with one arm while the other rested on her thigh..she was quiet but seemed less stiff compared to the others, leading the party with confidence on top of her horse.

Yet despite all that, she was on guard and she seemed to be observing everything going on around her; including her good-son.

"You seem on edge" she pointed out as he brought his horse to be next to hers. "What is in your mind?"

Jaime was momentarily surprised by her ability to see right through him, without even having spoken to one another since they left the capital.

However, he quickly realised that she was awaiting an answer and he was not a man to make a woman wait.

"Just... doesn't it seem... I don't know, too quiet?" He asked, glancing around to emphasise his point. "Shouldn't those outlaws have attacked us by now?"

She hummed faintly, a sign that she approved of his way of thinking. "If they were any other group of outlaws, perhaps, but they are not like the others" she pointed out, earning a confused reaction from him. "They have managed to remain undetected this long and they knew that Elia was in that carriage. This shows that they at least plan their attacks and know it is not wise of them to encounter us now"

Jaime parted his lips to argue but then thought of her answer thoroughly and realised that she made a very valid point.

He said nothing else and merely rode in silence the rest of the trip, but he did spend a part of the journey looking around in case the outlaws thought they could surprise them.

It was early in the evening when the group found a village, being the one closest to the robbing sites. While they did have provisions for themselves, the group agreed to try their luck in the village as well.

Paying for a warm meal was better than eating the dried salt meat, cheese and bread they had been taught to eat when no other food source was available.

This was also one of the many reasons Tywin did not truly support such tripe, especially for her. While she could survive on such food for a few days, he found it beneath her station to do so.

She was a former Princess, the current Lady Lannister and she should be eating proper cooked meals; not what hedge knights and peasants would eat.

Entering the village, immediately they felt that none of them were welcomed. Many villagers had come out to look at them but they made it clear they did not like their presence. Hostility was almost sensible all around them and Jaime felt rather odd since he had been used to adoration and respect so far.

After all, they were not simple passengers or knights. They were white cloaks, honoured men chosen to protect the King. They were the best of the best, the noblest and what many kids were inspired to be when they would grow up.

Eventually, they came to a halt in front of a simple inn; the only place they could get something to eat and maybe pick up a word that could lead them to the outlaws they were after.

Immediately upon entering, the mood in the room changed and whatever small festivity one might expect to exist; was quickly gone.

Visenya was at the very front, standing out as a woman but also due to her thinner frame; which had no comparison to the more muscled and broad-shouldered men behind her. Yet, her valyrian features were a dead giveaway of who she was and she knew the villagers knew as well.

Taking a seat at an unoccupied table, they felt the glares of every person inside following them; mental curses being thrown at them behind closed mouths and tired faces.

The innkeeper arrived shortly after but even she was not happy to serve them. She only did, for she knew they could cause her trouble and despite the differences in numbers... they were armed knights against unarmed hungry villagers.

Kingswood, Crownlands - Nightfall

The sun had set and the dark blue blanket of the night had covered the sky, allowing its bright stars to stand out and mesmerise many who spent their time watching them.

Visenya and her group had chosen to camp close to the village but decided to sleep outside, with each person keeping watch for a while and then changing with someone else.

They could rent rooms in the Inn but after the cold treatment they faced, they chose to rest outside. They remained by the outskirts of the village, not truly deep into the forest; reducing the places the outlaws could hide to jump on them when they would least expect it.

The food they had eaten at the Inn was a plain broth, barely containing any meat or vegetables. Now whether that was intentional or truly there was a shortage of the basic ingredients... our heroes didn't know.

It was in the early hours of the night and the first watch was taken by Visenya and Ser Arthur Dayne; also known as the sword of the Morning.

The legendary Knight had been a general favourite of many kids but also adults growing up, perhaps him being one of the noblest of knights to exist. He was the second person to carry that title and the very first to be a Kingsguard.

He had been loyal to the dragons since Aerys was King, being rather young when he was knighted but had definitely proven worthy of that title and honour by being an example for many men all over the known Western world.

The fire cracked as the woods they were feeding it were slowly dying away and the two of them sat around it. The others were asleep in their tents, the occasional faint snoring audible in the silence of the night.

Ser Arthur took notice of the expression Visenya had, something occupying her thoughts at that moment.

He had known the slightly older woman for years now, having the honour to train with her a few times but mostly it was basic formal meetings. He did respect her, though, far greater than he respected other men and women of her status.

He knew she was a kind woman, who looked after her people and had the chance to be a great ruler if ever given the chance. He had seen it first-hand from the few times his sister had paid a visit and the former princess was more than welcoming, truly looking after Ashara.

"You look troubled, my Lady" he pointed out although he was suspecting what could be occupying her thoughts.

Visenya looked from the dancing flames at him before her attention was diverted again. "I simply had a lot in my mind... about the events that took place a few hours prior"

Ser Arthur was right and he nodded his head, for similar thoughts were what had kept him aware and eventually led him to take the first watch. "That village... the visit did not go as expected"

She nodded her head. "And any attempt to search or learn about this brotherhood had proven fruitless. We won't make much progress with the villagers protecting them"

"No, it didn't... although..." he started and she frowned her eyebrows as she started to connect dots in her mind. "I do think it is expected of them. Think how other women of noble status treat them when they pass by. Even soldiers are known to misbehave and use their influence and power to get what they wish from those they cannot defend themselves"

This made her think for a moment. "You believe they are hostile against us because they are protecting them?"

"If you are making the basic of living and suddenly one comes up offering you more than enough gold... if you could have someone offering justice to you... wouldn't you be willing to cooperate?"

This put Visenya deep into thought as things started to fall into place. "They lacked any meat and even the vegetables seemed reduced... if they are facing hard times with their crops... then the timing of this brotherhood would look like a blessing from the seven to them"

He nodded his head. "As long as those outlaws have a place to hide in that village, we cannot truly hunt them down. Not without risking innocents getting harmed and turning into what they believe us to be"

Visenya parted her lips and opened her eyes wider, for she did come to realise something. "Unless we change their mind" she suggested, turning her head to fully look at him.

"Change their mind?"

She nodded. "Most specifically, you" she pointed out, shocking him enough to render him speechless.

"My lady... you honour me, but shouldn't you be the one to speak to them? You represent the King and the Crown as his relative and wife of The Hand" He argued. "And to be honest, you have been trained for such roles"

She shook her head faintly, amused by his attempts. "I am what they hate, Ser Arthur" she reminded him, looking him in the eyes and showing she neither did not mind talking about herself that way. He did but before he could open his mouth to argue, she continued. "I was born lucky, entitled and economically safe. They have no right to believe my words and I would not expect them to"

"And me?"

"You are beloved by the people Ser Arthur and you come from a noble background. You were not born entitled but earned it and I know people respect that" She offered a small comforting smile. "If the villagers truly are feeling left out, then let us change that. We give them more than the brotherhood, more long-lasting and in return; they will stop protecting those wanted men"

Ser Arthur did not say anything directly and instead remained quiet, even after Visenya finished explaining her plan.

He professed everything and he could actually see it working in his mind. It was not 100% it would work but there was hope and perhaps that might be the only option they had at that moment.

However, he needed to think because the weight of the mission truly fell on him. He wanted to help the crown and do the right thing, but he knew he also had to please the villagers... no, he had to truly help them and their lives, like it was expected of them to do.