The Known World

Flint and the crew storm Noonan's, they were rowdy, loud and thirsty for rum and women. They pushed many out of their seats, no one challenged the Crimson Crew and now that crew, those men were his to look out for. The Captain commanded them but he watched over them, like an older brother. At this very moment that older brother was taking all his younger brothers out for drinks and with luck all of them would have a fine smelling girl to take to bed by nights end. As it happened no one seemed to be having much trouble with either endeavor. Drinks were being poured and the whores flocked to the men, it was as if they could smell when men had a pay day coming. Flint laughed as he and four of his men took up seats in the corner of the room, surrounded by the rest of the crew. Bottles were set on the table and women appeared out of no where. A pretty blonde sat in his lap, leaning in to his neck. Flint only chuckled and pushed her off him.

"For your sake sweetheart, find someone else to entertain. I've brought more than enough friends."

The men laughed as one of them pulled her into his lap, she had no objections, she was getting paid reguardless. Flint enjoyed a few drinks with his crew, laughing and telling bawdy stories when finally he started to wonder where Robyn was. All his men had someone beautiful in their company and he was alone. He wanted his Crimson Lady, but to have her he still needed that room.

"Girl,"

Flint spoke up, over the roar of the revelry to one of the whores tending to them.

"Run and fetch Noonan, I want to rent a room."

The whore looked puzzled for a moment before realization struck her.

"Oh ye don't know do ye? Guess ye would ye what with just gettin back and all, Noonan died. Passed in his sleep poor soul. The brothel has got itself a new owner, a Lady of The House."

Flint, along with a few of his men rose a cup to Noonan. The old man was well liked by the crews.

"Whose this new Lady of The House then?"

Flint asked after setting his tankard down. The whore turned in and pointed to the stairwell on the second floor. Overlooking the floor was a woman he'd seen grow up. He'd held her when she'd had a frightening dream and listened to her sing, he'd told her stories of brave knights and dragon kings. Now she was a woman grown and in charge of the most profitable brothel on Nassau.

"Max?..."

Jon and Jack watched in awe as Khal Jinn returned to his cot without once touching the woman that was thrown in his cell. He spoke to her, almost tenderly in a laguage Jon did not recognize but could only assume was his native tongue. To his suprise she spoke it as well, effortlessly for all he could tell. Jack and Jon exchanged suprised looks before going back to staring at the mysterious pair in the cell across from them. Jinn sat up in his bed, a look that Jon took for suprise playing across his harsh, foreign features. The big Dothraki almost seemed amused. He touched his chest and the only word Jon picked out was ...Khal Jinn....

"I think he's telling her his name."

Jon said, his voice low and full of curiosity. He watched as they continued speaking, no more words stood out to him but as quickly as it began it was over. Jinn laid back in his bed and closed his eyes, he spoke a final word then was silent, allowing sleep to come to him. His eyes went back to the woman, bound in iron shackles and wearing little more than strips of silk Jon wondered who she was and why she was placed with the most dangerous man in the pits. Even Jinn did not have to wear shackles at all times yet she did.

"I wonder who she is."

He said almost more to himself than Jack as the two men stared. She seemed to be in pain, scared and nervous of her enclosed surroundings. Jon was little different is first day, he felt for her, he knew her fear. She no doubt had family, friends, maybe a husband who now thought her dead as Dae may have thought him. Jon turned from cell to return to his cot. His mind full of memories of Dae, the sound of her voice, the smell of her skin and the feeling of her touch.

"Try and get some sleep Jack..."

Jon said solemly as he turned to the wall, trying to capture the elusive quarry that was sleep.

Khal Jinn sat up in his cot, suprise tickling his mind. She spoke Dotrhaki, well at that. He looked at the woman, bound in silk and iron with the shadow of a smile on his face. Curiosity teased him now, this midnight haired beauty who shone like the moon and spoke like a Dothraki. Her name was Tenanye and she was an Empress of Anansai. No Dothraki had ever rode their horse through teh fae lands and Jinn was no exception. What he knew of Anansai was only stories but Tenanye was real, flesh and blood right in front of him. The magic of her homeland was the central point of all those stories, Jinn wondered what power she held that could account for her bindings and being placed in his cell. Jinn placed his hand to his chest softly in introduction.

"Athchomar chomakaan. Ahna zin Khal mra Khals, Khal Jinn."

He gestured to the cells that had been his home for many moons and would now serve as Tenanye's.

"Jini mra rekke lajak drivolat."

He said with a measure of dark humour and resignment. Jinn was one of the finest killers living, he had no qualms about that. Tenanye on the other hand was a mystery, she did not have the look of a warrior and in truth Jinn wondered how she would fare in her first blooding. He did not enjoy the thought of her dying on the sands. He leaned back and rested his head on his cot once again, closing his eyes with a tired sigh.

"Remekat, Jalan."

He said to her softly, before sleep took him.





*Athchomar chomakaan. Ahna zin Khal mra Khals, Khal Jinn.- Greeting said to a non-dothraki, directed at one person. (Respect to one that is respectful.) I am the Khal of Khals, Khal Jinn
*Jini mra rekke lajak drivolat- This is where fighters come to die
*Remekat Jalan- Sleep, Moon

Jack watched on as Khal Jinn spoke to the woman, and she spoke back. Was she Dothraki too? Why was she in chains? Why was she in the men's cell with the most dangerous of all of the fighters? Why did she seem to glow?

Questions wracked Jack's mind. Never before did this happen and he felt the overwhelming need to protect her. In the morning they would be released into the common area for training and breakfast, only she'd be with hundreds of lonely men who haven't seen a woman for more then a few moments at time. She wasn't supposed to be here?

For the first time, in his life, Jack began to question the point of all this. Who brought her here and why did they seem to want her to suffer?

"Try and get some sleep Jack..." Jack turned to see Jon sliding back into his cot, his voice solemn and grey. He was thinking about her again. Jack couldn't be surprised. Jack looked back at the woman with the glow and sighed before climbing into his own cot. He had to look out for her, or she won't make it.

"Athchomar chomakaan. Ahna zin Khal mra Khals, Khal Jinn." He said and Tenanye gave him a stiff nod. He then gestured the cell around them.

"Jini mra rekke lajak drivolat." He said, with a bit of sarcasm and resentment in his tone. Tenanye sighed. Fighting pits. She'd heard of such things, in places like Meereen, but they'd long since been disbanded as far as she was to understand. She looked down at her arms, the iron shackles keeping her hands and feet about 20 inches apart through the chains and at the moment she was much to weak to break them. Someone wanted her to fight here, the put her in iron chains to be level the playing field. She would have laughed it she were not in so much pain.

"Remekat, Jalan." Tenanye looked up to see the Khal laying back on his cot, his voice soft before he drifted off to sleep. Tenanye sighed and lay back on the cold floor, and was surprised at how easy sleep came to her.

******

They were awoken to the sound of banging on the cells. Tenanye sat straight up,hissing like a viper. "Get up, Time to go."

Tenanye hopped to her feet, the pain and weakness was still there but her stamina had returned. She blinked the sun having crept into the cells from the few holes in the stone above them.
"Fin ajjin melikh?" She asked the Khal.

Before he had time to answer, four men came toward her, grabbing her chains and dragging her toward one of two exits.

The boy from across the cell, jumped up.

"Oi! Where are you taking her?!" He asked, grabbing on to the bars. " She's not supposed to be in here? They'll hurt her!" He called out and Tenanye looked at him oddly. He was concerned for her safety? "Quiet you, or we'll make you fight her." said one of them as she was tugged by her chains.

"I will live." was all that she could tell the concerned boy before she was yanked out of his sight and into a large area where men looked at her in awe.

"Train, and Eat, then you'll fight." said one of the guards and then with a shove, they disappeared back in the cells. She noticed how they didn't seem to do this with the others. They just opened the cells for them and they could leave if they want to.

The boy, dashed out, leaving his cell mate behind and rushed up to her.
"Ma'am, ma'am um, I am so sorry this is happening to you, there are woman cells but--"

"Back off, Jack, she dun't want no little boy wet behind the ears." said a man with half of his teeth missing and a glass eye. He sauntered up to her with all the swagger he could muster. "What is a pretty thing like you doing in here?"

"It must be a mistake, how about we go back inside and I'll find a guard to --" The boy, Jack, took a gentle hand to the crook of her elbow, trying to lead her away, but the man cut him off again. "Piss off, boy, she's mine!" He hissed and Tenanye's eye twitched as he took her arm and tried to lead her away. The boy was clearly trying to help, thinking her weak and this man clearly thought her someone that could be claimed. They both would be sadly mistaken. Tenanye, grabbed the man by the throat and lifted him off of his feet, and slowly began to crush his throat. She felt a bit of disappointment, if she were at full strength, it wouldn't have taken much effort to shatter his windpipe. Oh well.
"Whoa!" Jack exclaimed, looking back his cellmate who was one of the many that circled them, seeing what Tenanye could or would do.
"I do not belong to anyone." She told the man as he hit the sand, clutching his throat. She could have snapped his neck, but she decided not to, she needed the example.
"Be glad, I chose mercy, If you touch me again....any of you, try touching me, I will forget I know the meaning of the word." She told them, and walked through the crowd, they all given her space, as she approached what looked like food. She turned up her nose.

"I wouldn't eat that." she turned to see the boy back, a little nervous but still concerned.

She smiled at him. He had a sweet heart, she could see that. "I can't imagine I would, and thank you, for your concern of my safety." She said, and graced him with a kiss to his cheek. The boy turned bright red. "Um...Yea--Uh, You're Welcome?" He stammered and spotted her own cellmate across the sand, his expression difficult to read. It was then she noticed it. It was weak but she felt it. Magic.

"What is your name, boy?" She asked, her eyes not leaving the Khal. "J-Jack, Jack Dandy ma'am."

"I am Tenanye Ananse, Empress of Anansai, Queen of the Faeries." She said and the boy looked stunned. "F-Faerie?"

"Yes, I owe you a debt of gratitude, Jack Dandy, anything you need, you shall have it." She said. "Now run along, I need to eat, and you do not want to see my choice of breakfast." She said and he looked frightened but did as she asked and ran off to a pretty looking fellow with a perpetually sullen look.

She turned to the food, turned up her nose.

She brushed her tongue over her teeth and smiled. Her fangs were still there, hidden, but there, which meant so was her venom. She would eat, and she would eat well.

*What is happening?

Clara stood looking out, not really seeing anything, as men came and went. She just watched the sun as it peeked over the horizon. Jon was out there, had been all this time. She almost laughed at the irony. He was the one that brooded, not her. She would tease him for it.

"You're doing it again, Pup." She heard herself saying, the past echoing in her mind. "Doing what?" "That thing you do with your face....You are much too handsome to look so sad all the time."

She could remember the look on his face, when she made comments like that. She often tell him how handsome he was, and how he could have his pick of women if only he wouldn't look so sad. It seemed, he didn't need her to tell him that, he didn't need her help at all. He found love. It broke her heart that she missed it.

But he was missing now. Some believed that his new wife had something to do with it, but Clara knew better. Jon was too private a person to ever marry someone he didn't know, he would know this girl, and he would love this girl as she would love him. It wasn't hard. If there was foul play involved, it wasn't the woman. Not if Jon loved her.

"Max?"

A voice broke her thoughts and she looked down and smiled. "Flint!" She called and darted down the stairs. Oh she had so much to tell him.

"Welcome back, I have so much to tell you, my office." She told him and before he had time to think, she dragged him off and up the stairs, to the room just at the top.

She closed the door and pressed herself against it.

"I know, You're probably wondering how I ended up running the brothel and no, I have not become the product with which I sell." She started and took a breath.

"Take a seat, you're going to need it. " She said and thus she began her tale. She told him everything, how she found out about Jon, how when she told Eleanor, she already knew, she'd known since he himself returned, she told him how she wanted to go home, help find Jon, but asked Eleanor to come with her only for that to lead into a fight which ended things for them. How the same friend that told her about Jon told her about Noonan and the leadership vaccum and how she stepped in, took control.

"I've been living and working here, ever since." She concluded and she could see his mind was on Jon.

"Pup's alive....somewhere...." She said. She hadn't called him Pup out loud in years. "We have to find him, Robb." She said, she said, Robb, not Flint. "We have to."

Jon rushed out of the cells with the others. The spectacle of the woman being dragged out into the yard had stirred everyone's blood, most in a way that meant Jack would try and defend her and then Jon would have to defend him. He set his jaw as he ran, shoving his way through the others. He could already hear Jack's voice, talking to the woman, asking her if she was alright. Jon finally made his way to the front just as Hazak, a big Tyroshi with a glass eye and a nasty disposition, loomed over the two of them. Jon had gotten into a fist fight with him his first day when he tried to take Jon's food. It took three men to break them up, the two had always hated each other after that. Now Hazak seemed he was hungry for a different meal as he eyed the woman hungrily. Jon couldn't deny the desire to feed Hazak his teeth but he stayed back for the moment, watching the events unfold.

Jack tried to lead her away only for Hazak to make a grab for her. Jon clenched his fist and stepped forward, ready to floor him when something amazing happened. The woman tore away from his grip, seized him by the throat and lifted him into the air as if he weighed no more than a child. Jon could only stare in awe as did the others gathered.

"I do not belong to anyone."

She snarled at Hazak before dropping him to the sand. The big Tyroshi clutched at his throat, trying to suck in some much needed air.

"Be glad, I chose mercy, If you touch me again....any of you, try touching me, I will forget I know the meaning of the word."

With that she walked off, Jack in hot pursuit though only after exchanging stunned glances with Jon. Jon shook his head and was about to follow when a shadow walked by him. Khal Jinn had pulled himself from the darkness of his cell. The crowd had given the woman a wide berth given what she'd just done to Hazak, they always scurried from Jinn like vermin given what he'd done in the past. The Horse Lord had an stoic expression on his face that Jon couldn't help but think of as admiration. He stared at the woman who looked back at him for a moment. The two locked eyes for a moment while she spoke to Jack, he stood near Jon without a word.

Then as quickly as the moment happened it passed, she turned back to the food looking ravenous and Jinn's subtle smile faded, in it's place was his usual mask of savage mystery. Jon made his way over to Jack who'd just left her side and seemed to be filled with boundless energy.

"Good news is I don't think she needs your protection Jack."

There were murmurs from the crowd and Jack and Jon both turned to see Khal Jinn lift Hazak up with one powerful arm and toss him bodily into the training circle.

"Jinn is going to spar with Hazak..."

The Tyroshi scrambled to his feet, his erratic flailing kicking up dust with each movement. Jinn could smell fear on him, more so than the piss running down his leg. He pushed himself back, trying to flee the ring only for a set of guards with shields to keep him right where he was. He turned back, quivering like a leaf. Jinn did not move, only stood like stone giant, eyes never leaving the man before him. Hazak looked from his fellow fighters back to Jinn in terror.

"Please... Khal... I don't want to fight you."

"Yer affesi anni, Hazak."

Hazak only blinked back at him dumbly.

"W-What? I don't know what you're saying...."

Khal Jinn shook his head in irritation before grabbing a practice sword and tossing it at Hazak's feet. Jinn stood before him unarmed, beckoning him to charge. Hazak looked nervous, the wooden blade giving him confidence.

"Please..."

"Inte vadakhie tihoa ma khewo afilki vi gadimaan."

Khal Jinn said darkly as he advanced with a a slow menace that chilled the blood of the Tyroshi before him. He held up the sword in shaking hands, weakly as if some demon had come for him.

"Eyel varthasoe she ilekaan rikhoya arrekaan vekha vosi yeroon vosma tolorro..."

Jinn growled, his voice low and foreboding as he reached Hazak. Hazak threw up his sword in a mad attempt to defend himself, swinging at Jinn's neck. The Khal caught his hand and broke his arm with ease. Hazak screamed in pain as Jinn forced him to face him.

"Please don't kill me!"

"Jin anha ray et!"



Khal Jinn's titan like gripped found the same place Tenanye's hand was earlier, right around Hazak's windpipe. In one savage tearing motion he ripped out the man's neck flesh, wind pipe and his tongue as blood spurt from the wound. The crowd gasped while some cheered and cursed. Hazak's body fell to the dirt, twitching. Jinn stood there, a savage snarl on his face as he breathed in the fresh kill. He turned to see Tenanye had been watching. He raised the gory mass of meat and tongue to her in salute before he tossed it on the ground and walked away. Not even the guards thought to stop the big Dothraki as he lumbered off on his own.


*Yer affesi anni- You make me itch (a common Dothraki insult for someone they find annoying or tiresome)
*Inte vadakhie tihoa ma khewo afilki vi gadimaan- The beetles will feed on your eyes. The worms will crawl through your lungs.
*Eyel varthasoe she ilekaan rikhoya arrekaan vekha vosi yeroon vosma tolorro- The rain will fall on your rotting skin until nothing is left of you but bones.
*Jin anha ray et- I already have.

He was speechless, lost in the words his sister had spoken. It was as if he couldn't fathom what she'd said, his mind struggling with the reality of it. Jon was alive. No, surely he was dead. He was king. He died during the war, they all did. He got married. He never got to find love. He was missing.You lost him again. Flint blinked in shock as Clara stood before him, Max shimmered and faded away for the briefest of moments and Clara stood before him. Robb looked up at his sister with tears in his eyes.

"Pup's alive....somewhere...."

She said.

"We have to find him, Robb. We have to."

He set his jaw in determination. Anger touched him, anger that Eleanor Guthrie had known his brother lived and kept it hidden to keep he and Clara close. Shame touched him as well, similar to when he'd learned Clara lived but different. Hope touched him, a feeling he had not felt in years.

"We will, Clara I promise. We're not going to lose him twice."

He got to his feet, renewed vigor filled him. He barely took a step before his mind started working, tooling out how best to go about it. They'd need a ship, and a crew. He would have to ask Robyn, she was his only hope. Yet she didn't know who he was, not truly. He'd never spoke about Robb Stark, or The North. The closest she'd ever come was that very moment when she'd given him the pistol with the wolfs head on it. If it meant finding his brother his fears be damned. He had to tell her the truth, all the truth.

"Robyn..."

He said suddenly to his sister as looked at him, the excitement evident in her face.

"I have to tell Robyn about us, everything and when it is done, if I am very lucky she is the woman I know her to be and we will be on our way to The North by dawn."

He grabbed Clara by the shoulders and pulled her in to kiss her forehead.

"Prepare yourself for the voyage, I'll talk to Robyn."

He turned and opened the door to come face to face with The Captain of The Harbinger, The Crimson Lady, and the woman he loved more than anyone and she did not look pleased.

Tenanye turned as the silence she created returned once more and all could be heard was the sound of a body hitting the dirt.

The Khal, large and lumbering stood over the man she'd offered mercy to. Tenanye looked on in curiosity as the Khal, with little effort beat the man. A dark brow rose on her face as he tore his tongue threw his throat.

One man beside her relieved the contents of his stomach beside her while she looked on without a bat of an eye. The Khal, rose the bloodied mass to her in tribute and she nodded with the subtlest of smiles. There was an understanding just then, perhaps even respect, He took her meal from her, but no matter, she'll find another, perhaps during one of these matches. She knew, atleast for now, she had an ally in this place, besides the sweet boy that thought himself a hero.

"Good news is I don't think she needs your protection Jack."

"Heh, no shit. Jon, she's a---" It was in moment, they turned to see Khal Jinn grab Hazak up and tossed him into the ring. Jack dropped his head.

"Jinn is going to spar with Hazak..."

"Spar is not the word that comes to mind..." Jack said. the Khal doesn't spar with anyone. He just kills them. Spar would imply they stood a chance.

Sure enough, the 'match' was over and Hazak was dead, missing a whole lot of his head. Jack could only shake his head. It was good thing he wasn't all that hungry.

The Khal locked eyes with the Fae Queen and Jack saw an odd connection happen between them. That was probably the first time he'd ever seen the Khal react like that to anyone. It probably helped that she was beautiful beyond words, but even still, it looked like respect. Jack never seen that before, full respect. He may have liked Jack enough not to kill him, and he didn't seem to care one way or another for his company, but this was different.

Jack broke from his thoughts when thinking of the Fae Queen and how she graced him with a kiss. Was it laced with magic? He didn't know, but to be in favor the a Faery made him feel good.

"Jon, J-jon, mate," Jack took Jon by the shoulder, and turned in lowering his voice. "She told me her name, she kissed me too, that was--anyway." He cleared his throat. "She's Tenanye Ananse.....Faerie Queen. She's a fucking Faery, and and she said that if I needed anything, ya know for trying to help her, she'll help me." he said, with a laugh. "She doesn't need anyone protection in fact, we might very well need hers."

Robyn walked out of Eleanor's office confused. She didn't know where to begin, what to think.

James Flint, wasn't James Flint. How many times did she breath his name in rapture? That wasn't his name.

It was Robb Stark? Stark? Like the dead family in the north. She'd heard of them. Everyone did. The Family that was sieged and nearly destroyed by Mance Rayder's army, but was killed by the king, Jon Stark.

Robb Stark's younger brother, younger by eight years. By right, Robb Stark was King ,now more so than ever...since Jon Stark was missing.

Her chest ached, clenching tight around her heart. Why didn't her tell her this? Did he not trust her? She told him everything, her entire life, he knew of her pain, why did he not share this, small thing. Did he not love her like he said?

They all hurt me... She heard what was life of the child she once was say.
All the men I love, hurt me....


She thought she was over this pain. She thought she'd never have to feel this pain again.

She could feel it happening, the same feeling after he left her for war, the same feeling when she killed the man that'd hurt her, the same feeling she felt when Casey tried to kill her, and he took that bullet for her instead.

All of her emotion was leaving her, and all she had left was just----

Her feet had carried her right to him, how or why she didn't know but one look at his face, was all it took.

He hadn't had time to speak, he had to nerve to look happy to see her.

She sent her fist right into his jaw, knocking him back into the room.

"Captian!" Max---no, Clara Snow cried.

"Shut up, this is between me and him, get out." Robyn hissed as Flin--no, Robb Stark, took her blow and prepared to defend himself and his sister as Robyn, pulled her weapon and aimed, without thinking.

"No, this is my place, and he is my brother, you want him you go through me."

Robyn's eyes turned on the girl, burning with fury, as she stood in front of her brother holding out her arms. She saw Robb Stark try to move her, but it was clear she wasn't about to go anyway. She didn't want to hurt her, her hiding her identity, she understood, a woman in this place was hard enough, princess would have made it worse but him....and from her....that hurt.

"Move." She warned and the girl shook her head. If she were in a better mood, she would admired that. She looked scared out of her mind, but she wasn't about to move. "I will go through you...."

"He did it for my sake, I asked him not to tell you, I begged him, he wanted to, but I asked him,"

"You're a good liar, but I know you're lying." Robyn said and Clara stood her ground. She was lying. Robyn's eyes found Robb Stark's.

"You don't understand, Clara Snow, you don't understand, I don't care that was his name, I don't care that he's king, I care that he lied to me....he hid this from me, when he could have told me." She said and was unable to hide the pain in her last words.

Clara dropped her arms. "I need answers." Robyn said, lowering her weapon. Her brother then gave Clara the okay to leave and while she didn't want to go, she nodded and left.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, unable to place on her mask anymore. "Did you not trust me? I trusted you with all of me, why, why didn't--couldn't you do the same."

"Why didn't you tell me? Did you not trust me? I trusted you with all of me, why, why didn't--couldn't you do the same."

The pain in her voice and agony in her eyes killed him. She blamed herself, assumed, like the others he'd hurt her. In that moment, the look on her face told him that he had.

"Robyn... no..."

His was voice was shaky at best, no weak but sad.

"You think?...You think I didn't tell you becuase I didn't trust you? How could I not trust you? I love you."

She looked ready to strike him again but he held his ground, staring defiantly into her eyes without fear.

"You've always been able to spot a liar. Tell me I'm lying now... Go on."

She looked like she wanted to speak, call him false but she didn't have the words. She couldn't lie to him anymore than he could her. He took her hand. She tried to pull away but gave up the minute his hand touched hers.

"Robyn Sheva, I love you... and I know you love me."

A tear rolled down her cheek as she took in a shuddering breath, her head nodding ever so slightly. She was angry and she was hurt but she loved him, so she'd listen to him. He brought her to the nearby bed and sat on the edge with her.

"I couldn't tell you, but not for the reason you think. It wasn't because I didn't trust you."

He pasued, taking a slow breath as he looked at the dark skinned pirate queen he'd fallen in love with the day he met her. A soft, warm smile touched his lips and all he wanted to do was kiss her and chase away her tears, but first came the words long over due.

"I didn't tell you because I've been on this island for three years, the last of which I spent with you. It was the best year of my life becuase I was with you Robyn, building a new life, together. Every day that passed letting go of Robb Stark became easier and easier because I didn't want to be that man anymore. I wanted to be the man you were falling in love with."

She broke, a sad smile dawned on her face as tears fell freely. He touched her face, wiping away the tears with his thumb as he continued.

"At first it was too difficult, painfull to search the depths of the sea for that dead boy and he'd been through but after a while I didn't care. I was ready to let Robb Stark stay dead, at rest with his family, because I had you and I was happy."

He leaned forward and she allowed him to kiss her, his lips brushing hers tenderly and with apology.

"Robb Stark is dead but his sister isn't. Clara was never Max, she's not like me. She never died, not really. Max was a tool she put on to survive here on Nassau. Now that it turns out our brother yet lives she wants to go home. I can't be Robb Stark anymore, nor would I want to be but I can do this thing for her, if you'll help me. Help me get her home and help me find our brother. Then we can go back to living our lives, the way we choose, free. Clara will be happy at home with Jon, and I'll be happy anywhere with you."

The body fell to the sand, twitching sickeningly. Khall Jin stood over him, Hazaks tongue in his hand. He offered up in tribute to the woman before throwing it to the ground and stalking off. Jon wathed him walk away, his mind replaying the look shared between the Dothraki and his new cell mate. They didn't know each other but he killed Hazak for her, he was sure of it. His mind began working on what that meant when Jack grabbed his shoulder.

"Jon, J-jon, mate,"

Jack said in a hushed tone.

"She told me her name, she kissed me too, that was--anyway."

Jon smirked, that anyway spoke volumes.

"She's Tenanye Ananse.....Faerie Queen. She's a fucking Faery, and and she said that if I needed anything, ya know for trying to help her, she'll help me. She doesn't need anyone protection in fact, we might very well need hers."

Jack's words were like the promise of a raft to a man lost at sea. Jon's mind, already tooling the significance of Tenanye's and Jinn'ls unusal connection, now added the fresh information Jack provided. Jon turned look stare at Khal Jinn on the other side of the training yard practicing with dual arakhs.

"Not just hers..."

Jon said almost more to himself than Jack. The formations of a plan were beginning to take route. Jon turned back to Jack, his tone hushed and hurried.

"Jack you've been here your whole life, you know this place better than anyone. What would you say if I told you I wanted to try an escape with the help of her..."

Jon said, nodding subtley to Tenanye before slowly turning jack so he was looking right at in the direction of Khal Jinn.

"and him."

"How'd you do it?"

Rhaegar asked his Lord Commander of his Kingsguard Ser Barristan Selmy as the two stood over looking the construction of an orphanage in one of the poorer districts of Meereen. Rhaegar wanted to oversee the construction personally. Yet while he was there, as so often happened when Ser Barristan and Rhaegar had a moment to talk, they began swapping old war stories. At the moment Ser Barristan was telling Rhaegar about his first proper engagement, and the first life he took.

"Lance through the heart."

Rhaegar nodded with a knowing smile.

"Ah, quick one."

"What about you Your Grace? Who was your first."

Rhaegars mind flicked back to years ago, when Daenerys was still alive. She'd been learning to walk with his help, he remembered how the sun caught her silver hair and it seemed to shine. Her laugh could fill a room with joy.

"A Braavosi assassin."

Rhaegar said, his voice sombering some. He never liked killing, he accepted it as an eventuality of life but it didn't mean he enjoyed it. It was merely the path to peace in most cases and that was unfortunate but he would not shy away from blood to protect those he loved.

"Our enemies had discovered where we'd been living and sent someone to kill us. I was only ready for him because one of my guards screamed as he died. He broke in with a knife in his hand, no doubt thought he'd just made an easy payday."

"Wasn't expecting Dragon waiting for him, eh?"

Barristan asked. Rhaegar merely chuckled with a shake of his head.

"A tiny dragon, I was only eleven. He came for me first, grabbed me by the hair, never saw the short sword I was hiding behind my back."

Ser Barristan chuckled softly with a knownig nod of the head, they both knew what came next in the story. Just then a courier ran up and Ser Barristan intercepted him, should he be a cut throat. Fortunately he was merely a courier, bringing a letter brought by raven from the Great Pyramid.

"What is it?"

Rhaegar asked. Ser Barristan turned holding the parchment.

"A letter Your Grace, bearing the direwolf of House Stark."

The new Queen of The North had finally responded, Rhaegar spurred his stallion forward and took the letter scanning it quickly.



If Rhaegar had any doubts about the guilt or innocence of this new queen he had his answer. No murderer would ask for help in finding their victim and the way she referred to herself as the wife of the king and not the queen spoke volumes.

"Back to the Pyramid, I need quill and parchment."

Ser Barristan and Rhaegar rode hard, pushing their mounts to keep just below a full gallop. They weaved their way through the winding streets of Meereen and were back in Rhaegars chambers in minutes. Rhaegar took a seat at his desk, unrolled a fresh sheet of parchment, dipped his quill in ink and set to replying to Dae's letter.



Rhaegar set his quill down and quickly read over his work. Satisfied he blew the ink dry with soft breaths before rolling up the parchment, pouring hot red wax and sealing it shut with the three headed dragon of House Targaryen. Rhaegar handed the letter to Ser Barristan with purpose and vigor.

"Have this sent to The North at once and send me Varys, I have a task for him."

"Robyn... no..."
Robyn looked away from him, but her eyes were having a hard time staying away.

"You think?...You think I didn't tell you because I didn't trust you? How could I not trust you? I love you." She clenched her fists at his words. He was lying. He had to be. Nothing he's done proved anything to the contrary.

"You've always been able to spot a liar. Tell me I'm lying now... Go on." He said and she opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. They didn't exist. He wasn't lying, but that just made things more confusing. Why didn't he tell her then? His hand came toward hers and she wanted to smack him away, but couldn't the moment his fingers curled around her fingers.

"Robyn Sheva, I love you... and I know you love me." He said and she took a breath, her chest quaking as she held back all but a single tear. She rolled her eyes, and gave a nod. She did love him, she loved him so much, it hurt.

Whatever he had to say, she's listen.
She allow him to take her toward the bed and sat down with her. Her heart was racing in a way it hadn't since the day he told her he was leaving for war. She wasn't sure if she could take that heart break again.

"I couldn't tell you, but not for the reason you think. It wasn't because I didn't trust you."
He said and Robyn watched his face, for any hint of a lie. There was none, just the same look of love in his eyes, and a warm smile gracing his lips.

"I didn't tell you because I've been on this island for three years, the last of which I spent with you. It was the best year of my life becuase I was with you Robyn, building a new life, together. Every day that passed letting go of Robb Stark became easier and easier because I didn't want to be that man anymore. I wanted to be the man you were falling in love with." He said and she hated that his words made her tears fall. She hated happy tears, they made no sense to her, yet here she was, sobbing because she was happy. He hid it, not from her, but from himself. For her. A soft sad smile tugged at her lips as his hand brushed a thumb over her cheeks to knock away the tears.

"At first it was too difficult, painful to search the depths of the sea for that dead boy and he'd been through but after a while I didn't care. I was ready to let Robb Stark stay dead, at rest with his family, because I had you and I was happy." He leaned forward and she embraced his apologetic kiss.

"Robb Stark is dead but his sister isn't. Clara was never Max, she's not like me. She never died, not really. Max was a tool she put on to survive here on Nassau. Now that it turns out our brother yet lives she wants to go home. I can't be Robb Stark anymore, nor would I want to be but I can do this thing for her, if you'll help me. Help me get her home and help me find our brother. Then we can go back to living our lives, the way we choose, free. Clara will be happy at home with Jon, and I'll be happy anywhere with you."

Robyn took his hand into her lap, looking at the floor. She was still scared, afraid that he would see his old life, and find that perhaps Robb Stark wasn't as dead as he thought, but he truly seemed to think that he wanted to be here with her and she loved him too much not to try.

She sighed. "You should have told me...." She told him "I understand that pain more than....well...you know better than anyone how much I understand wanting to let apart of you die." She said, absentmindedly playing with his fingers. "but still, whether you like it or not, it still apart of who you are....just as my scars are." She said. "They don't define us, but still they are a crucial parts, you know my scars, I should know yours." She said, looking at him then, and her face softened in a way that only happened for him, she reached up and touched his cheek. "I'm still angry..." She told him, with a light slap of his cheek, it wasn't hard at all, just a tap really. "but we'll go, and we'll find your brother, and take your sister home and you'll have all that time to tell me about what it was like to be a prince." She said, and leaned in for a kiss and then chuckled against his lips before pulling away. " You know, You're true name is so close to mine, It's actually funny." She said, with her usual smirk. "Robb and Robyn....Figures."

"Not just hers..." Jon said Jack could see the gears turning in Jon's mind. That could not be good. Ideas in this place, was never a good sign, especially from someone so new. They all had the same idea, and it ended the same way.

"Jack you've been here your whole life, you know this place better than anyone. What would you say if I told you I wanted to try an escape with the help of her..." Jon said, nodding toward Tenanye, who was examining her chains and then toward Khal Jinn.

"and him."
Jack rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "I'd say, you're going to get me in a lot of trouble..." He said with a resigning sigh. It was clear that the Fae Queen and the Khal were the two most formidable people in this place and from what he understood of faeries, she wasn't even at her full strength because of the iron around her wrists and ankles.

"The only people I know that were ever successful at an escape were my parents and they didn't get themselves, only me because I was small. I don't remember how they did it, just that they did, and when they found me again, my parents were killed in the ring before I could even speak to them..." he said, there weren't many things that made Jack sad, but this was definitely one of them. They never saw him, but he saw them, it was brief, but he saw them. he was glad that didn't see him, at least they died thinking he was safe...

"But," Jack shook off his thoughts. "But, if we can find away to get the Faery Queen free from her chains, which I can't imagine will be easy, since she can't seem to get them off, then I think we stand a fair chance with the both of them." He said with a nod and looked back at the Queen who caught his gaze and smiled. He smiled in response and she smiled back. He hoped he wasn't blushing, but his cheeks felt warm. He rubbed his face and turned back to Jon as something occurred to him. "I get the feeling that, you and the Queen's capture are connected. You've only been here a short time, and Aren't you a king or something....if you're a king, and she's a queen, and the Khal is something like that," Jack shook his head, his thoughts weren't all that clear to himself. "All three of you were brought here in a short time of each other and you all are like royal or something....that had to mean something, right?" He asked.

Jon couldn't believe he'd been so dense, there were times he felt as if he knew nothing at all. Jack was right, there was no way it was a coincidence that The Empress of Anansai, The Khal who ruled all other Khals and The King of The North would all just be mysteriously transplanted into the same fighting pit. Someone chose them, for what purpose was yet unclear but as far as Jon was concerned his next move hadn't changed, merely it had gotten more complicated.

"Aye, I'm The King of The North... You're right Jack. That's no coincidence, whatever their reasons for bringing us here doesn't change the fact that we're not staying, and neither are you."

Jack looked surprised, as if he hadn't considered Jon was serious about the attempt. He put his hand on Jack's shoulder reassuringly.

"We can do this, together. Though we will need help. I'll talk to Tenanye. You talk to Khal Jinn and we'll-"

Jack looked liked Jon just told him to shake hands with a grizzly bears, he opened his mouth to interject but Jon cut him off.

"We both know you can barely look at that girl without blushing, let me talk to her. What we're asking of her is no small thing. You convince Khal Jinn, you already said he likes you well enough right? Just... be yourself."

Jon patted his shoulder and walked off toward the where the food was being served before Jack had a chance to refuse. Jon trusted Jack, he knew he could do this. What actually worried Jon was his ability to convince Tenanye to side with him and Jack, a royal he'd never met from a country he'd never been to made up of a people he knew nothing about. Jon took a breath and sat down across from her at one of the many tables in the commissary. All the other fights had given her a wide berth, ensuring if they ate, they chose seats far away from her. Jon got a few looks but ignored them all as met the curious stare of Tenanye Ananse.

The first thing he noticed were her eyes, predatory and patient, like a spider watching to see if a moth would fly into her web. Her skin was the color of amber honey, warmed and fresh. Her hair was as black as his but gave way to waves as opposed to the curls he was so well known for. She was tall for a woman, roughly his height, with a slender build. There was no sign to account for her disproportionate strength which hinted at magic, what kind however Jon had no idea.

"Empress Tenanye, my name is Jon Stark, King of The North. We've never met but you have met my friend..."

He said turning to look at Jack across the courtyard who was standing in the shadow of Khal Jinn. He hadn't realized how small he was in comparison to the big man until now, he hoped Jack wasn't too nervous. He turned back to Tenanye who's eyes lingered on the two on the other side of the training ground.

"You and I are the two newest members of these pits, I've only been here a matter of weeks. Jack?... He's been here his whole life. He knows this place better than anyone and he knows better than anyone, that no one ever wins their freedom. They have no intention of letting us go Empress, if we want to ever see our homes again, which I'm willing to wager you do, we're going to have to do it ourselves. I was hoping we could help each other."

She looked intrigued, and almost playful which was unsettling yet Jon continued regardless.

"Jack is trying to convince your cell mate as we speak to join us. I'm thinking, between the four of us, we might have a chance. If...."

He paused looking at the iron restraints around her wrists.

"We can get you out of those."

Here eyes fell to the iron on her wrists and for a moment Jon could see hatred glimmer in her eyes life fire light.

Flint smiled, a hungry smile after the playful slap from Robyn. He was truly lucky to have found her, or that she found him, either way he loved that damned woman.

"but we'll go, and we'll find your brother, and take your sister home and you'll have all that time to tell me about what it was like to be a prince."

She said, kissing him again. He had a mind to throw on the bed then and there before she started laughing.

"You know, You're true name is so close to mine, It's actually funny. Robb and Robyn....Figures."

"Figures."

Flint echoed as he took her hand.

"I am sorry love, I'll make it up to you..."

He said, ending with that wolfish grin of his he could never lose, no matter what name he took. He helped her to his feet, playing the prince for her, only for her.

"My Lady."

He said in mock bow once they were both standing, as he rose he ran his hand up her thigh, a mischievous look in his eye.

"I really do look forward to making this up to you."

There was a soft knock on the door, his sister must have been listening to hear if they were arguing, making up or if Robyn shot him. They shared a soft chuckled and a shake of the head, Flint felt like he was a teen again with a girl in his room and Sansa or Arya was being nosy.

"Come on in Max, she didn't shoot me."

"Aye, I'm The King of The North... You're right Jack. That's no coincidence, whatever their reasons for bringing us here doesn't change the fact that we're not staying, and neither are you." Jack's brow rose high. He was serious. He was really going to try to break out of here. A fools errand at the least. He liked Jon, he really didn't want to see him dead.
Jon placed a hand on his shoulder with a reassuring squeeze.

"We can do this, together. Though we will need help. I'll talk to Tenanye. You talk to Khal Jinn and we'll-" Jack took a deep shuddering breath and that caught in this throat at the mention of the Great Khal Jinn. Jack opened his mouth to speak, but Jon stopped him.
"We both know you can barely look at that girl without blushing, let me talk to her. What we're asking of her is no small thing. You convince Khal Jinn, you already said he likes you well enough right? Just... be yourself."

He said and Jon left him there, with his jaw slack in shock. Jack turned to the large man, as he worked on his dual blades, as if he ever needed them. Jack wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and walked over to the man.

"Hello." He said. Jon told him to be himself, hopefully that would be enough. "Um, nice blades, I've never seen you use them." He said. Oh Gods, Please don't use them on me.... he thought as he took a seat, crosslegged in front of the man.

"Um....I don't know if you understand any of what I'm about to say, but my friend there, the pretty one speaking to the lady, He's a King, You're a King, and She's an Empress, he seems to think you can help all four of us escape?"

Jack said, with a sigh as the man looked at him without an expression Jack could read. He ran his hand down his face. He probably would have had an easier time with the Empress, atleast she understood his word,s even if he couldn't focus much with her around.

The feeling of the arakhs in his hands felt good. The smooth wooden pommels twirled effortlessly in his practiced fingers. Two a Dothraki growing up the arakh was the first thing taught to any boy after riding, it was an extension of a Dothraki, their arm reaching out from horse back to take the head of an enemy. Generally a Dothraki screamer carried only one, the large curved bade to awkward and cumbersome to dual wield effectively. Khal Jinn however was not a standard Dothraki warrior, his size and strength afforded him the ability to bring two arakhs to bear at once, turning him a living weapon, a storm of swords. He spun and hacked into the practice dummy, his blade cutting deep into the wood as the second arakh followed it's twin in quick succession. Such a series of strikes would have disemboweled a living opponent in seconds.

"Hello."

The voice came from behind him, small and nervous. Jinn took a breath from the exertion of the exercise and turned slowly, his face still dotted with Tyroshi blood.

"Um, nice blades, I've never seen you use them."

Jinn merely arched an eyebrow before sinking both blades deep into the wooden training dummy, holding them in place so he could turn and talk to the young Jack Dandy with free hands. He looked down at him and cocked his head as he spoke.

"Um....I don't know if you understand any of what I'm about to say, but my friend there, the pretty one speaking to the lady, He's a King, You're a King, and She's an Empress, he seems to think you can help all four of us escape?"

Khal Jinn rose his gaze from the boy to the man across the yard, seated across a table with Tenanye Ananse. He could see the way his body was leaned forward he was speaking in a hushed tone, should curious ears be listening in. Tennaye appeared to be listening intently to what he had to say. If this Jon Stark was really bold enough to attempt such thing, Khal Jinn could not help but be impressed and intrigued. He gaze, stoic as ever returned to Jack Dandy who stood before him. Jack was sweating, only partly from the heat and he kept wiping his hands on his pant legs. Khal Jinn grunted subtly before speaking.

"Khal..."

He said, his voice thick as mountain stone. Jack merely stared at him in confusion.

"Dothraki Khalasars don't have kings, they Khals. Kings sit on big chairs, a Khal needs only a horse."

Jack Dandy looked as if he was going to grow a second head the level of confusion and shock was so great. The sight earned a begrudging smirk from the big leader of the Dothraki Sea. He'd never spoken to anyone in the pits in the common tongue since his arrival. He'd only ever spoken in his native tongue but what was to come required too many words to leave up to interpretation.

"Khal..."

Khal Jinn spoke and Jack frowned a little. Yes that was his name? Khal? Right?

"Dothraki Khalasars don't have kings, they Khals. Kings sit on big chairs, a Khal needs only a horse."

Jack paused a moment, looking at the man, unsure of what he heard he actually understood. It took him a long moment, just gaping at the man as each of his words played in his mind one by one.

"Wha..." Jack shook his head, ferociously. "Wait a---You mean this whole time you understood, I've ever said to you? This whole time?!" He exclaimed. "This entire time?" He through up his hands in exasperation. His initial fear replaced by shock and a little embarrassment. Jack never thought himself all that smart, but he never thought he was a complete idiot. But apparently he was very wrong. "Here I am thinking I'm gonna have to pantomime my next several sentences.....but you speak Common Tongue?" He said and then he took one look at the Great Khal and then swallow. "Uh....I'm sorry.....Uh, please don't kill me, I like my tongue where it is, thanks." He said, realizing, this man could probably explode his head with flick of his finger. He really hopped the Khal liked him enough not to kill him. He had so far.

Tenanye sat with bread in her hands, breaking the hard pieces in hopes of finding something soft inside. There was none. She would have to find real food another way, and since the men of this place seemed understand she was not to be trifled, she would have to lure one. Probably one of the guards, that seemed easier. She sensed him before he took a seat and looked up with an easy smile. His intentions were unclear, but she felt no danger from him, directly.
"Empress Tenanye, my name is Jon Stark, King of The North. We've never met but you have met my friend..."
Tenanye's eyes went to the boy, dwarfed by the Dothraki Khal. Tenanye watched them both. She would kill for that boy she realized, he reminded her so of her baby sister, Xiao Jingshen, with their easy smiles, and sweet nature. Tenanye looked back at the Northern King. She knew of him, the young lad that beheaded the murderer of his family, words of his victory made clear across the large seven hundred foot wall the first men built to keep her people out.
"You and I are the two newest members of these pits, I've only been here a matter of weeks. Jack?... He's been here his whole life. He knows this place better than anyone and he knows better than anyone, that no one ever wins their freedom. They have no intention of letting us go Empress, if we want to ever see our homes again, which I'm willing to wager you do, we're going to have to do it ourselves. I was hoping we could help each other."

She listened to his words and her brow twitched. That poor boy has lived here, his entire life? What Jon Stark didn't know, was he already had her support, at the very least, she would get the boy out, however, she let him continued to speak, it seemed he had a whole speech planned.

"Jack is trying to convince your cell mate as we speak to join us. I'm thinking, between the four of us, we might have a chance. If...." He said, and she followed his gaze to the irons around her wrists.

"We can get you out of those."

Tenanye looked down at her restraints. She couldn't even touch them. One touch would burn her skin like a free flame, grabbing it would peel her skin. She wanted them off, and wanted so the kill the ones that took her. If only she could remember what happened.

She looked up at the Northern Boy.

"The First Men, your people, built a very large wall made of ice to keep mine out." She began. "It was a long long time ago, before you or even I were born, We used to be enemies, for no other reason then ignorance." She said and smiled. "Ignorance, is not the bliss the saying would have us to believe, as is clear of our situation here. I know not who took me, nor how they accomplish this, we must first find to whom that is, and why they took us..." She said.

"Beyond the simple fact that we all have magic." She said, and Jon Stark looked shocked. Tenanye smiled. " Oh, I forget, very few mortals have the Sight, graced with magic or not, but yes, Everyone in this place, was has magic, I could sense yours, it's cold, frigid, even." She told him and he looked ashamed but that was his right. "The boy's, his is feral, and the Khal....his....is....curious" She looked over at him. She couldn't place his magic, she could feel it from him, it wasn't strength, no, it was something else. Where it not for these damnable chains.

"They used magic to bind me, breaking my chains will require magic as well." She said. "Once I am free, We will leave this place but we will need the Khal's assistance and all of our magic."

"Figures."
He repeated and she smirked, as he took her hand.

"I am sorry love, I'll make it up to you..."
"Ah, just you wait...." She told him, matching his wolfish grin with one of her own. He then rose, and leading her to her feet and bowing. She rolled her eyes,but was smiling.

"My Lady."
He said as his hand rose up her thigh. She smirked.

"I really do look forward to making this up to you."

"Oh is that how princes behave?" She said, ready to toss him on the bed, but then there was a small knock at the door. She chuckled. Max...or Clara Snow rather, was at the door, wondering how her brother fared.

"Come on in Max, she didn't shoot me." He said and Clara Snow entered the room.

"Oh, I haven't decided on that yet." She said, but was only have joking, she was still upset, but she loved him too much to let it truly bother her. Clara looked between the two of them, assessing for blood. She really has been here too long.

"Oh stop, If I was going to kill him, he'd already be dead...." She said and Clara gave a nervous chuckle. "I'm taking you home." She said and Clara Snow smiled." Truly?!" Truly, Get your things, be ready by morning." She told her.

"I need a drink and a bed." She told Robb Stark. " Where you are when that happens, is entirely up to you." She said, and stalked out of the room.

"There's a free room, upstairs!" Clara called, and Robyn gave her a salute with two fingers without turning around.

She heard Clara ask him if he were alright and Robyn chuckled to herself. She still got it.

She watched from the tower, it was invisible to those without the Sight. She watched as The Faery Queen interacted with the Northern King, the Animal Boy, and the Dothraki.

The book said she needed her, alive. She would just as happy to kill her and siphon her magic, but that wasn't what the Book wanted. It needed the Empress alive. There was something that needed to be unlocked in her, something that would bring Him out. The Empress would be sacrificed.

"Keep an eye on them." She said, speaking to the so called King of Westeros, Stannis Baratheon.. There were at least Seven Kings of Westeros, but he insisted on calling himself THE King. He was no king, no mortal man was. There was only one King, One God, and his name was Malkieth.

"She's taken a liking to the boy, we may be able to use this to our advantage. He doesn't know his magic....we need to keep it that way." She told Stannis as she turned to him walking up to him with the large tome in her hand.

"How has your son fared with the other Hallows?" She asked, she would need all four hallows to gift to the UnSeelie King once he was freed. Without them, he would destroy them all, she wanted to be at his side, she needed to be his bride, that was her destiny. She already had his book, now she needed his Sword, Cup and Song. The Song proved the most elusive, no one knew what came of the song, some say it was given to a mortal upon it's birth, which is why she began these fighting pits, trying to weed out the mortals born with magic yet none of them showed any gifts that would be proof fo the Song.
The Song of Making could create and destroy, someone with that gift would be the most powerful. She'd thought it was the Dothraki, but no, he was just large, and just strong, he could heal but he couldn't create....they still hadn't found the Song, The Sword and Cup should be easier, it was tangible.

The Great Khal could only smile, this Jack Dandy made him laugh, a rare feat. Khal Jinn was not a somber man so much as a grim man. His life had harder, harder than most and darker than all. He knew pain and cruelty, shadows and death but laughter and friendship were things more difficult to find. Jinn gave grunted softly and gave Jack the most subtle of nods of approval. Jinn had liked the boy with the painted face since the day he'd first saw him fight in the arena. He may not have been a Dothraki but he fought like one, wild and fierce, daring death to take him. It turned out that he had other qualities Jinn admired, he was funny.

"Vos, no. I'm not going to kill you Jack Dandy, you're tongue is safe."

He said with a friendly pat on the arm. Khal Jinn's big hand forced Jack to stumble a step but he regained his footing almost instantly, seeming surprised by Jinn's friendly demeanor. The Khal rose his gaze from Jack to Jon and Tenanye, still speaking in hushed tones. He wondered what sort of plan the Northern King had come up with, what part Tenanye would play in it, and how many people Jinn would kill before it was done.

"Come, lets here what Jon Stark has in mind."

Jack and Jinn made their way toward the dining area, where the tables were erected for the fighters to eat their fill before training and the pits. The pair got a few odd looks, some from men who would have taken from Jack in the past, one look from Jinn and they knew those days were over. Jack Dandy had made a powerful friend, a friend that would kill every man in the pits for him and they knew it.

"Once I am free, We will leave this place but we will need the Khal's assistance and all of our magic."

"The Khal's assistance you shall have, Jalan."

Jon and Tenanye looked up at him, Tenanye's gaze lingered in a way that warmed the Great Khal's blood. He did not smile, Khal Jinn was not a man to smile often, but his face gifted to her the most subtle touch of warmth.

"You speak Common Tongue?"

Jon said surprised. Jack answered sarcastically as he took a seat beside Jon while Jinn took his place beside Tenanye. Jon caught Jinn and Jack up on what he and Tenanye had been discussing. He told them of how Tenanye could sense that everyone in The Pits had magic of some sort, Jack shifted uncomfortably at that as did Jon, and how three leaders of three nations or peoples had been brought here within a matter of weeks. He told them of the magic bindings on Tenanye's wrists and how only magic could break them. Before they could plot any further a horn blast signaled the end of the days training, it was time for blood.

"I'm fine, really. Robyn is... well, she's a lot like me."

He said with a half chuckle. His sister was practically beaming with excitement. She had found out her long lost dead brother was alive and it was Jon of all people. She and Jon had always had a special connection, they were like twins. Two children of Eddard Stark who felt like outsiders, wolves of a different color. Clara because she was Snow, a bastard, and Jon... was Jon, ever the loner. He was so like his great white Direwolf Ghost, the silent one with the blood red eyes. Jon would vanish for weeks as a boy, and sometimes no one would even notice he was gone. He rarely spoke, and when he did it was a soft word or two. Robb's mother once said that Jon carried around a sadness in him and even he didn't know why. Clara had that sadness too because she never knew her mother, and Catelyn Tully-Stark made sure that Winterfell never truly felt like home to the olive skinned girl with the midnight curls. No matter how much blood she shared with her true born children. For that, Clara even as a child, gravitated to her brooding older brother.

"You remind me of him... Jon, don't know if I've ever told you that. You were always so much like him, now more than ever. You're stronger than you know, and bolder."

He took his sister in his arms and embraced her warmly. Robb Stark loved his family, for all he was, for all he'd lost and all he'd done Robb Stark would always love his family. That part of him would always be there. She looked up at him and he smiled, softly as he used to do when they were children.

"He survived when everyone else died around him, just like you did. Wherever he is now, he'll survive it. Get your things together and get some rest Clara... We have a big day ahead of us."

He kissed her forehead softly, and for a moment he was Robb Stark again, the Northern Prince sharing a tender moment with his younger half sister. He left the room and Robb faded, James Flint looked out on Noonan's. The Crimson Crew were well into their cups by now, the girls of the brothel were enjoying the rush of patronage as coins were spent quickly and with little care. Flint took a moment to check on them, ensure everyone was enjoying themselves before heading upstairs to Robyn's room.

The sun had long since set and the moon light shined off the sea. Robyn stood on the balcony, overlooking the waves. Coated in moonlight he'd never seen a more beautiful sight. Her coat lay over a nearby chair and her boots had been kicked off. She was leaning against the railing of the outer doorway with a bottle of rum in one hand. He paused and drank in the sight of her. Her long wavy black hair falling over her shoulders and down her back. Her dark skin was kissed by moonlight seemed and to glimmer, the hint of late island heat allowing the tiniest beads of sweat to glisten off her bare shoulder as her shirt hung off her carelessly. She rose the bottle to her lips, drank what she wanted and left the bottle at her lips as her mind worked. Flint could only imagine what she was thinking about.

"Have I told you lately..."

His voice was calm and inviting as he approached her from behind and slid his hands around her waist. She smiled as he brought her close, he could almost feel a chuckle bubbling up inside of her.

"How beautiful you are?"

He asked before he began kissing her neck, eliciting that laugh from her he'd been waiting on.

It was like he was here again, she could almost feel him. His strong arms holding her up, the smell of his black leather jerkin or how his hair would get in her face when she hugged him. She always thought of Jon when she looked at Long Claw. His Valyrian steel sword with the white wolf pommel. The blade had deep ripples running through it, Meister Luwin once told her that was due to the dragon fire used in it's creation. Jon always carried it, it was like a part of him. He'd used the blade during the war, he'd defended Winterfell with it and mounted her rescue from Harrenhall with it, he'd taken Mance Rayder head with it. Yet now he didn't have it, he was out there somewhere without his sword. He could probably find another one, swords were common, but Valyrian steel was not.

She sniffed and rubbed her nose with her sleeve when she heard the door open behind her.

"I'm fine Sandor, I don't need..."



The great white direwolf with the blood red eyes, Jon's dire wolf. Ghost was his best friend, with him since he was a boy, just like Nymeria was for Arya. He protected him, bled for him, killed for him, loved him. Ever since Jon vanished Ghost had grown more distant and enigmatic than usual. He'd head off into the wolfs wood and no one would see him for days. He rarely came back to Winterfell, never in the castle walls. When someone did spot him it would generally be little more than a rumor, a momentary glimpse of white fur in the trees.

"Ghost?..."

Arya said, her voice shaky. The massive direwolf stepped forward and sniffed her face before looking up at the sword on the pedestal. He stared at it for several long moments before he nudged Arya with his nose and allowed her to touch his fur.

"You miss him too don't you?"

She asked as she hugged him. Ghost made no sound, only rubbed his large head into her chest spurring her hands to keep moving over his white coat.

"I miss him so much... it hurts..."

A tear fell and touched Ghosts white coat, Arya took a shuddering breath as she looked into those ruby eyes of Jon's closest companion.

"I hear you howling... at night.... It's like you're crying.... like me."

Arya threw her face into his large furry neck and sobbed. She held the large white dire wolf close, as he layed his head down over her shoulder protectively both of them missing their brother.