[The Sea At Night]

King Stannis Baratheon's fleet sailed through the night. Ser Davos Searworth walked around the deck, and looked out the stern at the rest of the ships. Stannis was also looking ahead while his soldiers were sitting below, tired and waiting. One vomited from seasickness.

Davos and his son, Mattos Seaworth, stood above deck.

"That's it. The tide's against us." Matthos said.

"Aye, but we have the wind. She'll blow us straight to the gates."

"You're coming home."

"King's Landing hasn't been home for twenty years. I spent most of my life dodging the royal fleet. And now I'm sailing right at them."

"This is the royal fleet. And you're not a smuggler anymore, you're the high captain."

"Of course, there are several royal fleets at the moment."

"Not after tonight. When the sun rises, Stannis will sit on the Iron Throne and you will be his Hand." Matthos told his father.

"Gods be good."

"God. Father, there is only one and he watches over us."

"But not over them?"

"Over all of us. The people of King's Landing did not choose the false king, Joffrey Baratheon. They will be glad to see his head on a spike."

"Well, first, we have to put it there."

"Our ships outnumber theirs ten-to-one."

"Our army outnumbers theirs five-to-one Those walls have nevr been breached, and the men guarding the walls, when they see you, they don't see a liberator, they see a stranger come to set their city on fire."

"I have faith in the Lord of Light. I have faith in our cause. And I have faith in my captain."

[King's Landing - Cersei's Chambers]

Queen Cersei Lannister looked out her window as Grand Maestar Pycelle was advising her.

"As you know, Your Grace, it is not only the sworn duty of a maester to carry out the wishes of the house he serves, but also to offer guidance and counsel in times of war."

"Your words are alwys wise and measured."

"If you could - If anything, a maester's duties become more urgent in times of war and turmoil. I remember back in the days of King..."

"You brought me something?"

"Yes. Essence of nightshade is as dangerous as it is efficacious. A single drop in a cup of wine suffices to soothe ragged nerves. Three drops will bring on a deep and dreamless sleep. Ten drops, however-"

"I know what ten drops will bring."

"Your Grace, if I may ask-"

"You may not. You must have a lot of work to do. I'm sure many brave men will need your wisdom soon."

"Yes. A siege is very-"

"Be careful on the stairs, Grand Maester. There are so many." Cersei cut him off.

"Your Grace." He bowed before leaving.

[King's Landing - Red Keep, Tyrion's Chambers]

Varys stood by the window while Podrick Payne helped dress Tyrion in his armor.

"I've alwys hated the bells. They ring for horror. A dead king, a city under siege."

"A wedding." Tyrion interjected.

"Exactly. Podrick, is that it?"

"Is that it?" Nice touch. As if you don't know the name of every boy in town."

"I'm not entirely sure what you're suggesting."

"I'm entirely sure you're entirely sure what I'm suggesting."

"Do you trust him?"

"Oddly enough, I do."

"Good." Varys unfolded a map before them. "The map you asked for."

Tyrion stepped down to study the map while Podrick continued to dress him.

"There must be twenty miles of tunnels beneath the city."

"Closer to fifty. The Targaryens built this city to withstand a siege and to provide escape if necessary."

"I'm not escaping. Strange as it sounds, I'm the captain of the ship, and if the ship goes down, I go with her."

"That is good to hear. Though I'm sure many captains say the same while their ship is afloat. You look well suited for battle, my lord."

"Well, I'm not."

"For all our sakes, I hope you are wrong. My little birds tell me that Stannis Baratheon has taken up with a red priestess from Asshai."

"What of it?"

"You don't believe in the old powers, my lord?"

"Blood spells, curses, shape-shifting. What do you think?"

"I think you believe in what you see and in what those you trust have seen. You probably don't entirely trust me."

"Mmm, don't take it personally. I don't entirely trust myself."

"And yet I have seen things and heard things, things you have not, things I wish I had not. I don't believe I've ever told you how I was cut."

"No, I don't believe you have."

"One day, I will. The dark arts have provided Lord Stannis with his armies and paved his path to our door. For a man in service to such powers to sit on the Iron Throne, I can think of nothing worse. And tonight, I believe you are the only man who can stop him." Varys told him.

Podrick handed Tyrion his war axe.

[The Baratheon Fleet]

"They're welcoming the new king."

"I've nevr known bells to mean surrender. They want to play music with us? Let's play. Drums." Davos told his son.

"Drums!" Matthos called.

Soldiers started to play the drums while others sprung into action, readying for battle. Stannis watched them resolutely.

[King's Landing - Throne Room]

A group of men gathered in the throne room as they made last minute preparations and awaited the impending arrival of Stannis Baratheon.

"Remember, wait till the ships-" Tyrion began reminding Bronn of the plan.

"The ships are in the bay."

"They must be far enough in-"

"I know what "in" means. Do you know how to use that?" He gestured to Tyrion's battle axe.

"I chopped wood once. No, I watched my brother chopping wood."

"I saw you kill a man with a shield. You'll be unstoppable with an ax." They clasped hands. "Don't get killed."

"Nor you, my friend."

"Oh, are we friends now?"

"Of course we are. Just because I pay you for your services doesn't diminish our friendship."

"Enhances it, really."

"Oh! "Enhances." Fancy word for a sellsword."

"Been spending time with fancy folks."

Bronn exited as Lady Sansa Stark and Shae entered.

"Lady Sansa and Sheila." Tyrion greeted them, purposely mispronouncing Shae's name.

"Shae."

"Shae, yes. Surely my sister has asked you to join the other highborn ladies in Maegor's holdfast."

"She has, my lord, but King Joffrey sent for me to see him off." Sansa told him.

King Joffrey Baratheon and The Hound entered.

"Sansa."

"Alwys been a great romantic, my nephew."

"Sansa, come here." Joffrey commanded.

"I will pray for your safe return, my lord." Sansa told him.

"Will you?"

"Just as I pray for the king's." She told him before walking over to his nephew.

"Stay safe, my lady." He told Shae.

"And you, my lion."

Podrick and Tyrion exited.

"Your king rides forth to battle. You should see him off with a kiss." Joffrey told Sansa, drawing his sword and presenting it. "My new blade. Hearteater, I've named it. Kiss it.

Sansa leaned down and kissed the blade.

"You'll kiss it again when I return and taste my uncle's blood."

"Will you slay him yourself?"

"If Stannis is fool enough to come near me."

"So you'll be outside the gates fighting in the vanguard?"

"A king doesn't discuss battle plans with stupid girls."

"I'm sorry, Your Grace. You're right, I'm stupid. Of course you'll be in the vanguard. They say my brother Robb alwys goes where the fighting is thickest. And he is only a pretender."

"Your brother's turn will come. Then you can lick his blood off Hearteater, too."

Joffrey and The Hound exited.

"Some of those boys will nevr come back."

"Joffrey will. The worst ones alwys live."

"Shh. Come, my lady."

[The Streets Of King's Landing]

The soldiers were buzzing with activity. Joffrey entered, along with Tyrion, The Hound and Ser Lancel Lannister. A horse galloped through, and some townsfolks scurried past. They climbed the stairs to the top of the exterior wall all look out into the empty harbour.

"Where's our fleet?" Lancel asked

"On the way." Tyrion told him.

"Why isn't it here now? They're coming." Joffrey said.

Tyrion did not answer.

"Hound, tell the Hand that his king has asked him a question."

"The king has asked you a question."

"Ser Lancel, tell the Hound to tell the king that the Hand is extremely busy." Tyrion said.

"The Hand of the King would like me to tell you to tell the king-"

"If I tell the Hound to cut you in half, he'll do it without a second thought." Joffrey asked his uncle.

"That would make me the quarterman. It just doesn't have the same ring to it. Cut me in half and I won't be able to give the signal. No signal, no plan. No plan and Stannis Baratheon sacks this city, takes the Iron Throne, puts your pinched little head atop a gate somewhere. It might be quite amusing, except that my head would be up there, too. I've nevr much liked my head, but I don't want to see it removed just yet."

[The Baratheon Fleet]

"Where are their ships?" Davos asked.

"It was wise to attack at night. We took them by surprise."

"Lord Varys knows what you had for breakfast three days ago. There are no surprises here." Davos told his son.

"If it's true there is dissension in their ranks, maybe their sailors have mutinied."

"Maybe."

Or it was something else entirely.

[King's Landing - Maegor's Holdfast]

Cersei and Prince Tommen Baratheon joined the highborn ladies. They walked past Shae and Sansa.

Princess Aelinor and Lady Eleanor Whent arrived soon after.

"I don't know why she wants me here. She's always saying how stupid I am. She hates me." Sansa told Shae, speaking of the Queen.

"Maybe she hates you less than she hates everyone else." Shae suggested.

"I doubt it."

"Maybe she's jealous of you."

"Why would she be jealous?"

"Sansa." Cersei called. Sansa stood up and walked over to her. "I was wondering where our little dove had flown. You look pale, child. Is your red flower still blooming?"

"Yes."

"Fitting, isn't it? The men will bleed out there and you will bleed in here. Pour Lady Sansa some wine."

A servant poured the wine and Cersei handed it to Sansa.

"I'm not thirsty, Your Grace."

"So? I didn't offer you water."

"What's he doing here?" Sansa looked at Ser Ilyn Payne, the man who executed her father.

"Ser llyn? He's here to defend us. When the axes smash down those doors, you may be glad to have him.

"But we have guards to defend us."

"Guards we have paid. Should the city fall, they'll be the first ones out of the doors." Cersei said.

The door opened and a gold cloak walked in, bowing to Cersei.

"The lads caught a groom and two maids trying to sneak away with a stolen horse and some gold cups." He informed her.

"The battle's first traitors. Have Ser llyn see to them. Put their heads on spikes outside the stables as a warning."

He bowed and moved to Ilyn Payne, then exited the chamber.

"The only way to keep the small folk loyal is to make certain they fear you more than they do the enemy. Remember that if you ever hope to become a queen." Cersei told her.

"You said he was here to protect us."

"He is. Traitors are a danger to us all. More wine."

[The Wall Outside The Harbour]

Tyrion, Joffrey, The Hound, and Lancel looked out across the foggy sea.

"There they are." Joffrey noted, finally noticing the outline of a ship approaching.

"Archers to their marks." Tyrion ordered.

"Archers, to your marks!" A soldier repeated.

The archers set their bows.

"Archers! Nock your arrows!" One soldier said.

"Nock arrows!" Another repeated.

"Hold fast." Tyrion commanded.

"Hold fast!" A soldier repeated.

"What are you doing? We need to attack them." Joffrey asked, impatiently.

"Hold fast." Tyrion kept to his orders ignoring his nephew.

"Boulders ready!" A soldier  told the men in charge of throwing boulders down at any men who attempted to scale or breach their walls.

"Hold fast!" Another repeated the command to wait.

There is but one ship sailing out of the harbor.

"There's only one ship. Where are the rest of them? Where are the rest of them?" Joffrey asked

[The Baratheon Fleet]

Matthos and Davos watched the lone ship approaching.

"There's only one ship." Matthos noted.

"Archers, stand to! Man the below! Nock." Davos told the men.

The soldiers get set.

"Nock and set!" A soldier ordered.

"Draw! Hold." Davos commanded.

"Hold." The soldier repeated.

They watched the ship sailed by. It was unmanned.

"There's no one on board." Davos muttered, confused.

[Harbour Wall]

"More rocks coming up!" A man reported.

Hayllne, a pyromancer, climbed the stairs. Tyrion looked back at him and Hayllne lit a torch and handed it to Tyrion.

"Hold." A Baratheon soldier commanded.

As the empty ship sailed past, Davos saw that it was spewing green liquid into the sea behind it.

"Wildfire. Steer clear! Steer clear!" He ordered.

Meanwhile, at the harbour wall, Tyrion threw the torch over the side of the wall. Bronn, getting the signal, lit his arrow ablaze and launched it high into the sky.

The flaming arrow soared over Davos' boat and hits the wildfire in the water, which erupted in green flame. The flames crawled towards the ghost ship.

"Matthos! Get down!" Davos shouted, trying to reach his son, only to be blown overboard by the wildfire.

Thanks to the wildfire, the ghost ship exploded ferociously, overwhelming Matthos and many other soldiers. Stannis recoiled from the blast.

Joffrey shielded his eyes from the blast, Hayllne seemed pleased, while The Hound was resolute.

Bronn watched the explosions from the harbour.

The explosion engulfed the fleet. Men screamed in agony, devoured in green flame, some jumping overboard. The immensity of the explosion was stunning. Chaos ensued on board as the ships collapsed.

Tyrion, Podrick, The Hound, and Joffrey watched while Hayllne smiled. Tyrion was horrified at the devestation.

Stannis's ship was fortunately unharmed. He got to his feet and surveyed the massive destruction. Men screamed and masts collapsed.

"Prepare to land." Stannis ordered.

"Your Grace." A soldier began, hesitantly.

"The dwarf has played his little trick."

"The wildfire."

"He can only play it once.

"We're too far from the gates. The fire, their archers- Hundreds will die."

"Thousands." Stannis descended from the upper deck and addressed his troops. "Come with me and take this city!"

The men yelled in agreement.

[Maegor's Holdfast]

Cersei was a bit drunk, and still drinking wine.

"Sansa, come here, little dove."

"My Queen," she greeted.

"What are you doing?"

"Praying."

"You're perfect, aren't you? Praying. What are you praying for?"

"For the gods to have mercy on us all."

"Oh. On all of us?"

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Even me?"

"Of course, Your Grace."

"Even Joffrey?"

"Joffrey is my-"

"Oh, shut up, you little fool. Praying to the gods to have mercy on us all. The gods have no mercy. That's why they're gods. My father told me that when he caught me praying. My mother had just died, you see. I didn't really understand the concept of death, the finality of it. I thought that if I prayed very, very hard, the gods would return my mother to me. I was four."

"Your father doesn't believe in the gods?"

"He believes in them, he just doesn't like them very much."

"Mother," Aelinor chided. "I know you resent the fact you were born a woman, but must you take it out on young Sansa?"

Cersei did not respond. Instead she held out a glass for her servant to fill. "One for her."

The servant poured the wine and again Cersei handed it to Sansa.

"Here. Sit. Drink."

Sansa sat and took a sip of wine.

"Not like that. Drink, girl."

Sansa took a bigger gulp.

"I should have been born a man. I'd rather face a thousand swords than be shut up inside with this flock of frightened hens."

"They are your guests under your protection. You asked them here."

"It was expected of me, as it will be of you if you ever become Joffrey's queen. If my wretched brother should somehow prevail, these hens will return to their cocks and crow of how my courage inspired them, lifted their spirits."

"And if the city should fall?"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you? The Red Keep should hold for a time, long enough for me to go to the walls and yield to Lord Stannis in person. If it were anyone else outside those gates, I might have hoped for a private audience, but this is Stannis Baratheon. I'd have a better chance of seducing his horse." She said, leaving Sansa speechless. "Have I shocked you, little dove? Tears aren't a woman's only weapon. The best one's between your legs. Learn how to use it. Drink." They both drank. "Do you have any notion of what happens when a city is sacked? No, you wouldn't, would you? If the city falls, these fine women should be in for a bit of a rape. Half of them will have bastards in their bellies come the morning. You'll be glad of your red flower then. When a man's blood is up, anything with tits looks good. A precious thing like you will look very, very good. A slice of cake just waiting to be eaten."

Cersei took a drink and Sansa joined her, panicking.

[The Harbour]

Landing boats from the ships rowed towards the shore.

"More pressure! Pull! Pull! That's it, men! Pull! Pull!"

"He's a serious man, Stannis Baratheon." Tyrion said from the wall.

"They're coming. They're coming ashore." Joffrey noted.

"Rain fire on them."

"Archers!"

"There are too many." Joffrey said.

"Hound, form a welcome party for any Baratheon troop that manages to touch solid ground. Pod, run to the King's Gate. Bring any men guarding it here, now." Tyrion commanded.

"Yes, my lord." Podrick obeyed.

Below the wall, The Hound punched Lancel in the chest as he walked past, leaving him stunned. "Let's go. Stannis is sending us fresh meat. You, too. Any of these flaming fucking arrows come near me, I'll strangle you with your own guts."

The wall archers prepared to fire.

"Nock! Draw!"

"Draw! Draw!"

Stannis' men had reached the shore.

"Kill the Lannisters!" They began shouting.

"Loose! Loose!"

The wall archers let their flaming arrows fly.

The arrows landed as the soldiers rushed from the boats to the shore.

"Form the line!"

The arrow landed. Some hit their mark. Some Baratheon men fell while others poured ashore.

"Draw! Draw! Loose! Loose!"

The archers release more salvos. Stannis' forces took heavy casualties, but they did not give up. Yelling, the first of them made it to base of the harbor wall. Above them, Lannister forces drop rocks, which crushed the skulls of the unlucky. Stannis himself was sprayed with the blood of his bludgeoned soldier. They placed their shields above their heads.

"To the Mud Gate, go now!" Stannis commanded.

"First and second squads, to the gate! To the Mud Gate!" One of his men ordered.

The Hound led a charge of Lannister men. "Any man dies with a clean sword, I'll rape his fucking corpse."

He and Lancel engaged with the sieging forces. They each cut down a number of Baratheon men before Lancel was struck in the chest by an arrow. He stumbled and screamed, panting, before he retreated.

[Maegor's Holdfast]

"When we were young, Jaime and I, we looked so much alike even our father couldn't tell us apart. I could never understand why they treated us differently. Jaime was taught to fight with sword and lance and mace, and I was taught to smile and sing and please. He was heir to Casterly Rock, and I was sold to some stranger like a horse to be ridden whenever he desired." Cersei said aloud.

"You were Robert's queen." Sansa answered.

"And you will be Joffrey's. Enjoy." She noticed Shae for the first time. "I don't think I know this one." She walked over to her. "Pretty."

Shae rose and curtsied, awkwardly.

"That's the worst curtsy I've ever seen. Here, it's not difficult. I mastered it when I was four. Straighten your back and bend." Cersei demonstrated and SHAE mirrored her. "Better. You learn fast. How long have you been in Lady Sansa's service?"

"A few weeks, Your Grace."

Cersei sat, still a bit drunk. "When did you leave Lorath?"

Shae was confused.

"I had a Lorathi handmaiden once."

Shae smiled.

"But she was a nobleman's daughter. You're not. When did you come to Westeros?" This quickly wiped the smile from Shae's face.

"Ten years ago, Your Grace."

"From Lorathi commoner to the Red Keep in ten years, all without learning how to curtsy. I imagine that's a very interesting story. What's your name?"

"Shae, Your Grace."

"Tell us a story, Shae."

"When I was thirteen, I-"

The door opened and Lancel stumbled in past the guards.

"Your Grace!"

"What news?"

"The Imp has set the river afire. Hundreds of ships are burning, maybe more. Stannis' fleet destroyed, but But But his troops have landed outside the city walls."

"Where is Joffrey?"

"On the battlements with Lord Tyrion."

"Bring him back inside at once."

"Your Grace-"

"What?"

"The king's presence is good for morale."

"Bring him back to his chambers now."

"Not here?"

"With the women and children? Do you want him to be mocked as a coward for the rest of his life?"

"He is," Aelinor muttered to herself, earning a giggle from the nearby Tommen.

"No, but I-" Lancel stuttered.

"Now!"

Lancel exited.

Cersei sat, requesting more wine. She turned to Sansa. "When I told you about Ser llyn earlier, I lied. Do you want to hear the truth? You want to know why he's really here? He's here for us. Stannis may take the city, he may take the throne, but he will not take us alive."

Sansa looked at Ilyn Payne, who wore his usual grim expression on his face.

On the Harbour shore, The Hound decimated his foes as the chaos of battle continued. Both sides take brutal casualties. A flaming man ran screaming towards The Hound, who was frozen by the horror of the sight. An arrow took down his assailant. The Hound looked up to see that he had Bronn to thank.

"Help me!" The flaming man shouted.

Bronn quickly dispatched some more Baratheon men with his knife. The Hound was in a bit of a daze, overwhelmed by the fires, reliving his own trauma. He turned and re-entered the gates, many of the Lannister forces following.

"Fall back! Fall back!" One of them shouted as they retreated.

Stannis continued to be trapped under his shield at the base of the wall. "Get the ladders up!"

His forces bring ladders to the wall. They set them, and Stannis begins to climb, dodging rocks. He made it to the top and engaged with the Lannister forces atop the wall.

"Faster, you bastards! Faster! Come on, kill the scum!" A Lannister soldier shouted.

The Hound was still in a daze. "Someone bring me a drink." A soldier hands him a skin. He drank and spit it out. "Fuck the water. Bring me wine."

Another soldier gave him wine, which he drank deeply. He shuffled though the courtyard, passing Tyrion.

"Can I get you some iced milk and a nice bowl of raspberries, too?" Tyrion quipped.

"Eat shit, dwarf." The Hound returned.

"You're on the wrong side of the wall."

"I lost half my men. The Blackwater's on fire."

"Dog, I command you to go back out there and fight!" Joffrey shouted.

The Hound looked down, defeated.

"You're Kingsguard, Clegane. You must beat them back or they're going to take this city. Your king's city." Tyrion told him.

"Fuck the Kingsguard. Fuck the city. Fuck the king." The Hound walked off.

More boats came ashore. The soldiers overturned the boat to use it as protection from the arrows. Men could be heard shouting.

"Loose!"

"Put your backs into it!"

"All right, get up!"

"Loose!"

"Clear!"

"Forward!"

"Loose!"

While the overturned boat made slow progress, another group of men with a battering ram overtook them and reached the wall.

"Forward ladders!"

Another ladder was raised against the wall. The boat is placed over the ram. Meanwhile, men were crushed by thrown rocks.

"Heave! Heave!"

Behind the wall, Lancel ran to join the royal group. "Your Grace, the queen has sent me to bring you back to the Red Keep." 

"If you won't defend your own city, why should they?" Tyrion asked

"What would you have me do?" Joffrey asked.

"Lead. Get down there and lead your people against the invaders who want to kill them."

"What did my mother say exactly? Did she have urgent business with me?"

"She did not say, Your Grace." Lancel told him.

Joffrey hesitated.

"All men to the battlements!" A soldier shouted.

"Ser Boros, Ser Mandon, stay with my uncle and represent the king on the field of battle." Joffrey told them.

Mandon nodded.

"Archers, hold your line or I'll kill you myself." A man said.

Joffrey and Lancel exited. A bundle of stones was mismanaged at the top of the wall, and it came crashing down.

Men began shouted instructions.

"Stand fast!"

"No! Get up, you fool."

""We need more arrows!"

The Lannister men gathered in the courtyard, looking for direction.

"Where is the king? Why isn't he with us?" One of them asked.

"Who are we fighting for?" Another followed suit.

"Who leads us?" A third.

Podrick ascended the stairs to Tyrion.

"I'll lead the attack. I'll lead the attack!" Tyrion said.

"Yes." A man agreed.

"What are you talking about?" A second questioned.

"Pod, my helmet. Ser Mandon, you will bear the king's banner. Men, form up. Men Men! They say I'm half a man. But what does that make the lot of you?"

"The only way out is through the gates. And they're at the gates." A soldier said, ignoring the question.

"There's another way out. I'm going to show you. We'll come out behind them and fuck them in their arses." Tyrion told them.

At the base of the wall, the battering ram pounded relentlessly into the wooden door.

"Heave! Heave!"

"Don't fight for your king and don't fight for his kingdoms. Don't fight for honor. Don't fight for glory. Don't fight for riches, because you won't get any. This is your city Stannis means to sack. That's your gate he's ramming. If he gets in, it will be your houses he burns, your gold he steals, your women he will rape." Tyrion told his soldiers.

The battering ram was making progress.

"Heave! Heave! Heave!" Could be heard once more.

"Those are brave men knocking at our door. Let's go kill them."

The Lannister forces raised their swords and shout in support. Tyrion strode off, and they followed.

[Maegor's Holdfast]

Cersei and Tommen sat as Lancel reported the latest happenings.

"The battle is lost, Your Grace. Stannis' troops are at the gates. When the gold cloaks saw the king leaving, they lost all heart." Lancel informed her.

"Where is my son?"

"I want to escort him back to the battle."

"Why do I care what you want? Bring me-"

"Now listen to me-"

Enraged, Cersei leapt up and stabbed Lancel, who fell to ground, writhing and screaming in pain. She walked over him, and exited with Tommen, sending a look back at Aelinor, one she knew was telling her to follow them. The women begin to panic.

"Don't be afraid. The queen has raised the drawbridge. This is the safest place we can be. Joffrey's not hurt. He's fighting bravely. His knights have rallied behind him. They will save the city. Shall we sing a hymn? Gentle mother, fount of mercy..." Sansa suggested.

"Save our sons from war, we pray." They all began.

Shae grabbed Sansa from behind, startling her. "You must go. Run to your chamber and bar your door. Stannis won't hurt you. This one will." She indicated Ilyn Payne, who stood guard.

"Come with me."

"I need to say goodbye to someone."

"The queen said they'd rape everyone."

"No one is raping me." Shae revealed a dagger bound her her calf, beneath her dress. "Go. Run."

Sansa turned and exited quickly.

Aelinor stood and grabbed Eleanor's hand, pulling her out into the hallway, and ducking in to a hidden alcove.

With no one around, the first thing she did was pull Eleanor into a kiss.

Eleanor returned it momentarily before pulling away.

"What is happening? Why did you bring us out here?"

Aelinor grabbed her hands. "I need you to listen to me. I want you to go to my room and bar the door. Answer the door to no one for any reason."

"Why is this beginning to sound like a goodbye?" Aelinor didn't answer. "No! No, I won't let you! Come with me!"

"I would, but I must also look after my brother. My mother is with him, but she can only do so much. I don't know what will happen to me if the city falls to Stannis. I'm the only trueborn child of his brother. Even though their relationship was not great, hopefully, that would be enough."

"And if it isn't?"

"I will kill as many of them as I can." She pulled her in for another kiss, handing her a hidden third dagger. "Now go." Eleanor hesitated. "Go!"

Finally she listened and took off in the direction of the Princess' chambers, stopping to look back before turning the corner and disappearing from sight.

[Red Keep - Sansa's Chambers]

Sansa moved fleetly through the corridor. She entered her chambers and bolted the door, picking up the doll her dad had made for her. The one she was too foolish to appreciate when he was alive.

"The lady is starting to panic." A voice said.

She turned around in fright to find The Hound sitting quietly in the corner.

"What are you doing here?"

"Not here for long. I'm going."

"Where?"

"Someplace that isn't burning. North, might be. Could be."

"What about the king?"

"He can die just fine on his own." He took a drink. "I can take you with me. Take you to Winterfell." He stood. "I'll keep you safe. Do you want to go home?"

"I'll be safe here. Stannis won't hurt me."

The Hound stumbled forward. "Look at me. Stannis is a killer. The Lannisters are killers. Your father was a killer. Your brother is a killer. Your sons will be killers someday. The world is built by killers. So you'd better get used to looking at them."

"You won't hurt me."

"No, little bird, I won't hurt you."

The Hound turned and unlocked the door as Sansa considered whether to join him.

In the sewers, Tyrion used his axe to remove the chain from the sewer's gate. He stepped out onto the shore and the Lannister men followed quietly.

The battle raged, the ram having made further progress. Flaming arrows still rained down.

"Heave!" A Baratheon soldier commanded as they battered the gate.

"Come on, you bastards! Get up those ladders!" Another ordered.

Unfortunately for the second man, he didn't notice Tyrion sneak up behind the man and his ankle was sliced wide open. He fell and Tyrion landed another heavy blow, blood spurting. He then rallied his men forward, coming behind the Baratheon forces.

"Attack!" Tyrion commanded.

Their surprise attack was successful, and they quickly dispatched the vulnerable men.

"Roll it over!" Someone shouted.

They overturn the boat, and someone above dropped a torch inside to set it aflame. They all celebrated with a resounding cheer.

"Halfman! Halfman! Halfman!"

Tyrion turned around to see a host of soldiers coming upon them from the shore. Just like that, the battle begun again.

"Oh, fuck me." Tyrion muttered to himself.

Atop the wall, Stannis continued to wage brutal war against the Lannister men.

At the base of the wall, Tyrion battled a soldier with a mace. The soldier gained the advantage, but was then tackled by one of Tyrion's men. He smiled, while a Baratheon knight noticed him and walks forward. He swung his sword at Tyrion, and sliced open his cheek. Tyrion reeled when, suddenly, a spear pierced the knight's face. He fell to reveal Podrick wielding the fatal weapon. Tyrion went into shock, falling to the ground, and Podrick caught him.

[Throne Room]

Cersei and Tommen sat in the dark on the Iron Throne, Aelinor sitting on the steps at their feet.

"Shh! Be calm, my sweet." Cersei soothed her son.

"They're still fighting."

"No one's going to hurt you. I'll tell you a story. You know the one about the mother lion and her little cub? They lived in the woods."

"The Kingswood?"

"Yes, my love. In the Kingswood, there lived a mother and her cub. She loved him very much. But there were other things that lived in the woods. Evil things."

"Like what?"

"Like stags."

"Stags aren't evil. They only eat grass."

"And wolves."

Aelinor rolled her eyes at her mother. Tommen was just a young boy and here she was spoon feeding him her hatred for the Starks. He wasn't Joffrey. There's still hope for him, and she refused to let her mother destroy it.

On the harbour shore, Podrick held Tyrion, who remained in shock.

"My lord." Podrick said, trying to direct his attention to the shore.

Another wave of soldiers approached from the shore. Some were mounted.

"He could hear them howling in the night. The little cub was frightened. His mother said, "You are a lion, my son. You mustn't be afraid." Cersei told young Tommen.

Stannis looked down from his perch. The mounted soldiers attack.

"For one day, all the beasts will bow to you. You will be king. All the stags will bow. All the wolves will bow. The bears in the north and the foxes of the south, all the birds in the sky and the beasts in the sea, they will all come to you, little lion, to rest a crown upon your head."

Outside, the battle raged on and the mounted soldiers had the advantage.

"And the cub said, "Will I be strong and fierce like my father?" Cersei uncorked the vial she held. "Yes," said his mother. "You will be strong and fierce just like your father." Cersei presented the vial for Tommen to drink. She locked eyes with Aelinor, who quickly looked away. If her mother was going to do this, she didn't want to witness it.

"I will keep you safe, my love. I promise you." She said, looking at Tommen, but speaking of both her children.

[The Harbour Shore]

The Baratheon forces were in retreat.

"Back to the boats!" A Baratheon soldier shouted.

"Stand and fight! Stand and fight, damn you!" Stannis shouted to his men as they restrained. "No!"

They had been overwhelmed and were now forced to retreat.

[Throne Room]

Aelinor shot to her feet along with her mother and brother as the door to the throne room swung open. She pulled out her twin daggers, ready to defend her family.

The first person to removed their helm, revealed himself to be Ser Loras Tyrell of Highgarden.

Soon after, Tywin Lannister entered.

By now, Aelinor had loosened her grip slightly on her daggers.

"Father." Cersei called. She dropped the vial, spilling its deadly contents and causing the vial to shatter.

The battle is over. We have won."

Cersei cried, hugging her youngest son. It was over. They had won. They were safe.

Only at this news did Aelinor allow her grip to loosen on her daggers.

For now, they were safe.