"(Y/n).........(Y/n)..........." The sound of her name slowly waking her.

The last thing she could recall was the big man looming over her and grabbing her wrist, forcing the blade from her hand. And then.....then he had hit her; after that...........

She had been sat with Elna and the children; watching as the bannerman erected the tents, when the men had come from the trees. (Y/n) pushing her maid, children and her younger brother behind her, as she had found her sword; praying that Bronn had taught her enough between the times that they were fucking, to keep some of the bandits at bay, while the bannerman did what they were supposed to do. The lioness hoping that the sellsword would hear the commotion from where he was and would quickly return. The bloodcurdling scream that came from Elna as the first man attacked, sure to help in that respect.

"Ty.........Tyrion........what..........?" (Y/n) tried to ask, as her brother helped her to sit. The lioness hissing and gripping at her side as she moved.

"They are all dead...........Though we lost a number of bannermen........" Tyrion replied, still feeling a little groggy himself, from the slap that had sent him flying.

"The big man hit you, and then kicked you............"

"Well, that would explain the pain in my ribs............." The lioness interrupted. Her pained chuckle, dying away as she saw her brother's face.

"Tyrion.......where are my children........are they alright............?" She continued, as she gripped onto his tunic.

"One of the men.......one of the men, took Markas........." The little lord explained sadly. (Y/n) almost jumping to her feet; her body feeling as though it was broken. That her whole world was coming down around her ears, as she saw a teary eyed Elna with just one babe in her arms. The lady wanting to drop back to the floor; to cry for her son, yet that wouldn't get her anywhere. But hunting down and slaughtering anyone that came between her and getting Markas back, definitely would.

"Where did the man go........tell me.........." The lioness shaking her brother, before staggering towards a horse.

"(Y/n) you can't................"

"Can't what.......go after my child and kill the bastard that dared to take him. I think you will find I can. My life is nothing now without my children, and if I have to surrender it to get Markas back, I will.........." (Y/n) growled back, about to try and pull herself up onto the horse, until she heard a cry. The lioness turning to see Bronn making his way onto the clearing, with a child in his arms. The lioness, with as much speed as she could muster, making her way over to the sellsword as he climbed down from his mount.

"You........you saved him............" Tears streaming from her eyes, as Bronn placed the restless child back in her arms. The sellsword catching her, as her knees suddenly gave way.

"Easy luv, easy. I got ya.....I got all of ya........" Bronn said softly, as he lowered (Y/n) and himself to the floor. The lioness holding her child close, as even more tears fell onto the sellsword's shirt.

"Tell me the man is dead......that you killed him.........." Bronn nodding and brushing the tears from her cheeks as she moved her head from his shoulder.

"Ripped his throat out........no one hurts my woman or my children.....no one..........." He assured. (Y/n) smiling at him, before moving her head back to his shoulder. The sellsword tightening his grip around her and his son, as they sat there.

                                                   >>------------------------------------<<

(Y/n) looked down at the two little beings that slept contentedly in their crib. She knew neither of the twins would remember this day; but for her, it would be seared into her memory for the rest of her life. It would break her heart every time that she thought about it; and she would always blame herself for not being able to do more. For not being able to stop the men from taking her son. The lioness not even wanting to contemplate what might have happened if Bronn had not been there; if he had not been able to retrieve their son.........their son.......surely after what he had done, he deserved for her to admit that. To have it known that he was the father of her babes.

Bronn had just held her and the twins; Elna having placed Aranna into her mother's arms along with her brother. Held them and assured her he would never let any harm come to any of them; that he would protect them all with his life. And......well, she had believed him; there many things that Bronn said that she had taken with a pinch of salt, but this.......no, she had believed every word. The sellsword showing a side of himself that she had never really seen. A side that suggested that she had been wrong about him not being able to love anyone but himself.

"(Y/n)............." The lioness turning to see Bronn stood at the entrance of the quickly erected tent. A smile coming to his lips as she beckoned for him to join her. The sellsword moving to stand with her at the crib.

Even though the party knew they should have moved on, it had been getting too late to continue. So, after moving the bodies of the fallen bannermen, as well as those of the bandits; the temporary dwelling for her and the children had been finished. (Y/n) not caring that there was little more than a bedroll and the crib. As long as both her children were safe and sound, that was all that mattered.

"How is he..............?" Bronn asked, as he reached down and placed his finger on Markas' cheek.

"Fine.........he was just a little dirty. You would never know anything had happened.............." The sellsword nodding, at her words. The space growing quiet for a moment, as they just stood there.

"This was all my fault. If I had fought harder......if I hadn't let that man disarm me............."

"None of this was your fault............" Bronn retorted. Grabbing her and turning her to look at him.

"Ya did everythin ya could. The fuckers had this planned; been following us since Lannisport. They knew that you and tha twins were in that carriage, and they were gonna take one of ya, if not all of ya if they got tha chance; so that they could ransom ya to ya father. And if it wasn't fa you, it could have been fuckin worse....." The sellsword explained, before pulling her into his arms. His fingers carefully combing through her hair, as she held onto him.

"Stay...........sleep here tonight.........I don't think I'll feel safe if you aren't with us. I need to know that you're with us............" (Y/n) feeling Bronn nod; before pulling away from her and then leading her to the bedroll on the floor.