Jon's evening was spent packing for the journey to follow, and while going through his things he found his pouch holding Myrcella's favor. Running it through his fingers he sighed and left his room, knocking on Dom's door. When it opened Dom motioned for him to step inside, closing the door as Jon turned to him and held out the favor.
"I thought it usually the one leaving who gets the favor?" Dom asked with a smile.
"I need you to return this for me. With Jaime gone and Ser Barristan on the hunt I can't approach her without one of the other kinsguard finding out."
"You'd have them think she gave me a favor?"
"I doubt you'd be so obvious."
Dom nodded, taking the favor with a sigh. "As you command."
"It's a favor not a command," Jon clarified.
"I know what it is," Dom said waving the kerchief while Jon rolled his eyes.
Sleep didn't come easy that night as Jon lay in bed thinking over what could happen, both while he was gone and where he was going. Dom would watch out for the Starks, Loras might also if only for Jon's sake.
The little sleep he got was broken before the sun had risen as Jon dreamt of the Mountain striding into the Tower of the Hand and smashing Stark skulls against walls. His skin felt taut and his hand hot where it laid upon the egg in his bed. Sitting up he looked at the small cart holding his gold. With Jon gone, even those who didn't frequent his room might come looking for it, and when they didn't find enough they would look through all they could.
Opening the mattress again he removed the dragon egg and sword, keeping them wrapped in cloaks as he packed them with his armor. Better to take them with him than leave them for Dom to bring North in time. He couldn't carry the gold, but they all knew where it was so could find it before they left, leaving Jon and Sam to take more than they'd likely need but less than they could.
By the time he finished closing the mattress again he heard a knock at the door as Ghost rose. "Ser Jon," Edric called through the door. "Lord Beric told me to make sure you were getting ready."
Jon opened the door, revealing he was already dressed in riding clothes. "Lord Beric asked you?" He'd expected Alyn or one of the guards.
"Lord Stark spoke with him yesterday," Edric offered, "I believe he asked him to care for you."
Jon nodded, imagining Eddard had told Beric of his intent to send Jon north after they handled Gregor. "Thank you, Ned."
Edric nodded, turning and hurrying back to his lord while Jon went to wake Sam and help him prepare. Dom was also there to see them off, helping Sam prepare his horse while Jon handled his own.
"You might not be able to fight like them, but you can fight in your own way," Dom told Sam, who smiled at his clear concern. "You can be as brave as any of them, and you can be smarter than many of them. Use that and keep him safe as well as yourself."
"I will," Sam nodded. "Thank you."
It was midday when Dom made his way toward Myrcella's garden and found Mandon Moore stood guard. Dom ignored his suspicious glare to call out, "Princess!" A moment later he saw her rise from behind a bush, brushing off her skirt. "May I join you?"
"Of course, Ser Domeric," she said with a nod.
Dom stepped past Moore, who turned to watch them but seemed to only barely be paying attention. "What are you doing?" He asked looking to the bush she'd been sat beside.
"My dragon's breath flowers seem to have wilted so I was replanting them."
"May I help?"
Myrcella tilted her head but nodded when she noticed him nudge his head just slightly toward where the kingsguard stood. "Of course."
When Dom knelt and watched her do the same before he said quietly, "I'd imagine you've heard of the band gone to deal justice to Ser Gregor Clegane?"
"I have," Myrcella nodded. "My handmaids worried Lord Stark sent the men to their deaths."
"He hasn't," said Dom, "else he wouldn't have sent his son with them."
Myrcella's face paled as she turned to Dom. "Jon rides with them?"
"He left this morning with Ghost and Sam."
"But he's…" Myrcella frowned, turning back to the flowers. He was a knight and it was his duty to obey his liege lord and the king, and his father had spoken on behalf of the king.
"Lord Stark hired us to his guard so it is his duty to obey his father thrice over now," Dom said with a snort. "Sadly he lacked my will to disobey his father."
Myrcella looked to him with a somber smile. "How have you disobeyed yours?"
"By being here. When Lord Stark sent me to be a companion to Jon my father soon wrote demanding my return." Dom gave a hollow laugh. "I fear he forgot I am a man grown. Though even if I had returned I would have disobeyed him by looking for my bastard brother who he kept hidden."
"You hoped to find him?"
"I hoped to have a brother of my own," Dom sighed, smiling as he looked to Myrcella. "Luckily I've found others here that may as well be blood to me."
With a nod Myrcella said, "I have my own bastard brothers I don't know. The only I know of for certain is at Storms End, but I've heard others claimed as my fathers in whispers, though most try to avoid my hearing."
"Have you ever wanted to meet them?"
"At times," she admitted with a sheepish smile. "I wonder sometimes if I have a brother who is as kind and caring as Jon rather than how they often speak of bastards."
Dom smiled, reaching into his sleeve to remove the favor. "Speaking of our kind bastard knight, he asked me to return this to you in his stead." Seeing her disappointment as she took the kerchief he continued, "He hoped to return it himself, but with everything as is and Ser Barristan gone he couldn't find time before leaving. He begs forgiveness and hopes you understand."
Myrcella looked to Dom and shook her head. "I wish he'd taken it with him."
"He'll return, princess," Dom said with a solemn smile. "I've no doubt Jon will make his way back to King's Landing in time."
It was that evening that Ned called on Sansa and Arya, telling them of their impending departure from King's Landing and return to Winterfell.
After both girls erupted with questions, Ned settled them with a wave and Sansa asked with a pout, "Why?"
"For your protection," Ned answered.
Sansa thought of her time and King's Landing and found more she enjoyed than disliked. Arya had been busy so didn't seem too bad, she'd spoken to Myrcella who may become another friend, and even walked through the keep with a gallant knight like Ser Loras and found Jon wasn't like her mother worried, he was as any knight should be. Even after everything that happened, Joffrey had been nice to her lately.
"What of my betrothal?" Sansa asked looking to her father. "I'm supposed to marry Joffrey and be queen and have his babies, as brave as wolves and proud as lions."
"He's not a lion," Arya pouted out with a scoff, "he's a stag like his father. And a craven, and a liar."
"He's not!" Sansa said with a huff, remembering the bruise across Cersei's cheek after she visited their father with the king. "He's not the least bit like that old drunken king."
Ned's face twisted in realization. "Gods. Out of the mouth of babes." He called for Septa Mordane to take them, assuring Arya Syrio Forel would be among their guard if he agreed to enter his service.
He sank into his chair later with a bitter laugh as he saw what Jon Arryn had before his death. One or two with Cersei's looks may have been poor chance, but for all three of his children to lack Roberts looks while every bastard he saw shared them seemed improbable. Robert had no trueborn children, only baseborn. Those he thought true were base as well, though even then for all to retain her looks would still be unlikely, unless her lover shared her looks.
Ned sighed at the thought, his leg seeming to throb at the thought of the man who attacked him. He spent the next few days thinking much on it, considering his options and what he could and should do. Honor would dictate he go to Robert once he returned, let him know the truth and dispose of Cersei and her bastard children.
The day Pycelle told him of Tywin's anger at Beric's mission, the day Joffrey returned with the bulk of the hunting part and he learned Robert was after a boar, Ned decided to warn Cersei. It wasn't for her sake, but for Jon's. He had seen clear enough the boy cared for the princess and the youngest prince seemed to like Jon more than most guards. Cersei and Joffrey could rot, but he wanted to spare the younger two for Jon's sake.
Though it was clear she wouldn't leave, naming Ned a fool and even making an advance on him that earned him a slap, it had at least confirmed Jaime was their father.
Ned's solace that the girls at least would leave before things turned was lost when the day before they were set to board the Wind Witch, Robert was brought back to the keep to die after being gored by the boar he slew. They tried to close the rip from groin to nipple but it wasn't enough. It smelled of death as Robert demanded the boar be served at his funeral before ordering everyone but Ned to leave.
Once they were gone Robert admitted Ned was right about Daenerys Targaryen, thankful that Ned was willing to tell him he was wrong. In his final testament, he named Ned Lord Regent and Protector of the Realm until his son came of age, but Ned worded it as his heir. When he signed it and asked Ned to rescind the death warrant on Daenerys as well as help his son be a better king than he had been. Others returned to watch him seal the letter before taking milk of the poppy and drifting to sleep.
He wasn't surprised that Varys arrived while he spoke to Ser Barristan to intimate that Robert had been made drunk by his Lannister squire or that Renly arrived after to offer him a hundred swords. He'd considered it, but didn't trust him not to move around him and harm the children. He had too much to gain from their deaths. The same was true of Stannis so, though he considered writing to him so he could claim and distract the Lannisters, his quill remained untouched. He also couldn't risk Stannis seeking justice against those loyal to the Targaryens when Jon needed them and whatever power they had. But he had to make use of Stannis' name as he called on Littlefinger.
Though he doubted Littlefinger's loyalty to him he hoped his love for Catelyn would go to her children and have him aid them as he promised Catelyn. While he made clear he knew of Ned's position as Protector of the Realm upon entering, he also revealed he knew the truth of Cersei's children and promised to turn the city watch to their side by bribing the commander Janos Slynt. Ned disliked the subterfuge, but thought if he could take hold of the throne he could give it to Jon.
Everything seemed to slip through Ned's fingers after that as Robert died, Renly left with Ser Loras and fifty retainers, and he had Ser Barristan read the writ naming him Protect of the Realm before they were called to the throne room. Before long Joffrey ordered Ser Barristan to seize Ned as traitor, but the old knight hesitated and in the mayhem the gold cloaks slew the Stark guards while Littlefinger took the dagger from Ned's sheath and held it to his throat as he thought of Jon on the road and his daughters in the Tower of the Hand.
"Did father really allow this?" Sansa asked with a frown as she watched Arya training with Syrio before they were due to board the ship to Winterfell.
Stood with his arms crossed, Dom nodded. "He set it up for her."
"Mother would be furious." Dom kept quiet on his thoughts of her mother while she glanced at Jeyne Poole sat beside her, holding back a smirk as she watched Arya get hit in the breast by Syrio's sword. Looking to Dom she saw he wasn't dressed as a guard but in his own clothes with faded pink and blacks. "Will you be joining us on the ship to Winterfell?"
"If your father commands it," Dom said with a nod. "Otherwise I'll stay and await Jon's return."
Sansa nodded, going back to stitching the wolf on her kerchief. Part of her had wanted to go run to Cersei and beg her help to keep her there, but she found herself torn on what she wanted. Joffrey had been nice to her, but he had also lied about what happened with Arya. She also couldn't forget the things Jon had written of him and remembering how callous he could be with those beneath him. He never abused them anyone or anything front of her, but she couldn't say he didn't when she wasn't there, and everything else Jon had told her of King's Landing was right. She'd seen what a true knight should be like in her time with Ser Loras and Dom and Jon, and even Sam was gentle and kind, but it seemed different with Joffrey the more she thought on it. Like some mask a mummer wore.
Her thoughts were broken when the great wooden doors of the Small Hall flew open to reveal five Lannisters guards and Ser Meryn Trant of the Kingsguard, each in full armor. She noticed Dom shift at her side, maintaining a slate expression as he observed them.
"Arya Stark," Meryn said, "Sansa Stark. Come with us."
Arya chewed her lips. "What do you want?"
"Your father wants to see you."
Sansa had started to rise until Dom's hand on her shoulder stopped her. Syrio grabbed Arya's arm to stop her as well. "And why is it that Lord Eddard is sending Lannister men in place of his own? I am wondering."
"Mind your place, dancing master," said Ser Meryn. "This is no concern of yours."
"My father wouldn't send you," Arya said pointedly, snatching up her training sword to the Lannisters' amusement.
"Put down the stick, girl," Ser Meryn told her. "I am a sworn brother of the Kingsguard, the White Swords."
"So was the Kingslayer when he killed the old king," said Arya. "We don't have to go with you if I don't want."
Sansa let out small worried whimper as Jeyne shifted closer to her. With a glance to Dom, Ser Meryn lowered his visor. "Take them."
"Don't move," Dom told them as he drew his sword. "Arya, stand aside and let us handle this!"
Arya glanced at Dom, nodding as she backed away from Syrio who handled the Lannister guards. Sansa watched as Ser Meryn Trant, cloaked in white armor, approached Ser Domeric Bolton with only his sword and sheathed dagger.
Jeyne yelped, dropping her needles to grasp Sansa's arm as they slid back, watching as Domeric blocked a strike from Meryn. When he parried, Domeric slashed down, the edge of his sword catching the side of Meryn's leg before swinging back up to deflect another strike as the kingsguard yelled in pain. The tip of the sword aimed at the ground, Dom met Meryn's eyes as he parried the strike and turned the blade, slashing beneath Meryn's chin and backing away to avoid the spray of blood released.
Sansa gasped and Jeyne screamed as they watched Dom draw his dagger and stick it through Meryn's eyes while he clutched his throat. He pushed Meryn away from the girls and threw him to the ground, yanking his dagger free and turning to help Syrio with the guards, two of them already laying on the ground.
Syrio backed away as Dom pushed his sword through the back of a Lannister guard's throat, then turned, yanking the blade free and slashing through the face of another. When the last turned to strike Dom, Syrio thrust his wooden sword into the man's throat, making him choke and gag until Dom turned and thrust his dagger through the man's nose. With all of the guards on the ground Dom went and stabbed his sword through each, making sure all would die.
Taking out a kerchief to wipe the blood from his blades before sheathing them, Dom looked to the girls. "We're leaving." Dom looked to Syrio, his eyes ice as he asked, "Are you coming or are you going to run?"
"The First Sword of Braavos does not run."
Arya looked from the corpses to Syrio with a smile as Dom nodded. "Come on," he said waving for Sansa and Jeyne to come to him. She pulled Jeyne to her feet, the girls holding their skirts as they ran to him and he lead the way down to the stables. "We're going to change and once things have settled I'll get you out of the city and we can head north."
"Change?" Jeyne asked with a frown.
"Get out of your dresses, cover Sansa's hair," Dom said holding up a hand to stop them as he looked out a door before waving them forward. "They'll know her easily, but not as a boy or a girl in rags with her hair covered. Arya, get your squire clothes."
"Squire?" Sansa asked with a blink.
Arya nodded. "I squired for Jon at the tourney."
They arrived at the stables where some of the men were downed and found the chests in their wagon turned over. Arya dug through her clothes for Needle and her squire clothes, quickly slipping on her arming cap.
"There they are," a voice hissed behind them. They turned to find a stable boy wielding a pitch fork. His brow sank as they turned to him. "Dom? I guess we can split the reward."
"What reward?" Arya scoffed.
"From handing you over to the guards."
"What are you-" Arya never got the chance to finish before Dom lashed out with his sword, knocking the pitchfork into the ground before slashing into the boy's neck.
Sansa put a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming while Jeyne turned away from the boy gurgling on blood bubbling from his throat. Dom tossed them both plain wool dressed before wiping his sword with one what Sansa recognized as one of her summer dresses. "Change."
Sansa held back tears while Jeyne quietly wept in the stall with her while they changed into the dirtied clothes. Arya had changed into her clothes from when she squired to Jon, including the arming cap while Dom handed Sansa a scarf to hide her hair. Syrio had taken his own bravos blade from his chest and changed into a thicker leather jerkin and cloak with a hood to hide his bald head.
"The gates will be closed, won't they?" Arya said looking to the men.
Syrio nodded. "If they have half a brain."
"They have enough to be annoying," said Dom. "Where the hell can we hide?"
"The dungeons," Arya said, drawing their attention. "There's a way from the sept. From there we can get to Flea Bottom."
"Could you make it there by tonight?"
Arya nodded. "I know the way."
Turning to Syrio he asked. "Master Syrio, I ask you guard the girls until then."
The bald braavosi nodded. "I shall do what I can."
"If I'm not there by the time the moon peaks, find a way to leave the city," he told them as they left the stables.
"What about father?" Sansa asked with a sniff, barely holding back her tears.
"I'll find out where he is," Dom told her, "I promise."
Sansa and Jeyne clutched each other's hands when it was their turn to cross the yard, walking so they didn't draw too much attention. In the sept it took Arya half an hour to find the opening, Sansa holding the candle as Syrio helped Jeyne in after Arya.
"Will you not come with us?" Sansa asked Dom.
"We'll need horses," Dom said shaking his head.
"But the gates-"
"Don't worry, Lady Sansa," Dom said squeezing her shoulder. "You're a Stark. You'll endure this and make it back to Winterfell."
"Girl," Syrio called for her. She frowned, giving Dom a quick curtsy before turning to be helped through the low narrow window that slanted into the dungeons.
"Be quiet," Arya whispered to her. "Don't be scared."
"You sure you won't come?" Syrio asked of the knight.
Dom shook his head. "I'm going to make sure we can survive the journey, and I have some things I need to handle."
Syrio nodded, giving the knight a swift bow. "I await our meeting, Ser Domeric."
Jeyne gasped, clutching her mouth to keep from yelling when she saw the first dragon skull. Sansa bit her lip, Arya holding her hand much as she held Jeyne's to guide her through the dark. When she noticed the small glowing eyes, Sansa couldn't help but whimper.
"It's just rats," Arya said dismissively. That made Jeyne squirm, and Sansa saw Arya's face shift in the dark. "There are worse things than rats and spiders."
"Lions," Sansa whispered with a frown.
Arya glanced back at her sister, torn between pride for her sense and empathy for her clear sadness and distress. Turning back ahead and guiding them through the shadows, Arya was determined to make sure that nothing happened to her. She would stick Needle through every man in the keep before she let them touch either of them.
The sun had set by the time they made it to the street of steal where Dom had told them to meet him. They hide themselves in shops whenever guards passed, Syrio finding it easy to keep the owners busy with questions. The longer they waited the more tense they grew until suddenly bells rang from the sept in the Red Keep.
"Fire!" They heard the yells and looked to the keep where a pillar of smoke rose from the keep.
Sansa clutched her chest and gasped. "Dom."
She wasn't far off the mark, as not long after Dom arrived with three horses, each saddled and bagged, including his crimson steed. He had changed into a mail shirt, surcoat and red cloak stolen from a Lannister guard. Sliding from his saddle he waved them forward. "Come, we need to be quick."
Syrio helped Arya onto the brown courser before leaping into the saddle himself. Dom helped Sansa and Jeyne onto the gray palfrey, making sure they were settled before mounting his own horse.
"Ser Domeric," Sansa said with a frown, "our father?"
"Arrested," Dom said grimly. "The Lannisters call him traitor to the crown and have slain all loyal to the Starks."
Jeyne gasped. "Even-"
"Yes," Dom said with a nod. "I'm sorry, Jeyne." He led them forward slowly as the steward's daughter clung to Sansa, crying quietly into her back. They were heading toward the Iron Gate when Dom motioned for them to stop. "Count to one hundred and then come to the gate," he told them, giving Syrio a nod as he put on the Lannister steel cap.
Sansa squeezed her reins, frowning as she watched Dom gallop toward the gate, out of view of them. Behind them she heard Jeyne whispering, "Three… four… five…"
Syrio moved while Jeyne was only at ninety four, but Sansa followed, watching the dancing master hold the hilt of his thin blade. However at the gate they found the trio of guards laying across the ground in pools of blood as Dom tossed a torch to their bodies and turned to wave them forward, leaving through the Iron Gate.
It wasn't long before he took them off the road, but kept them moving. Sansa fought to keep her composure as she rode to Domeric's side. "Will we ride north to Winterfell?"
Dom glanced at her as Syrio guided his and Arya's horse closer. "It is best we are not where they think."
"I agree," Dom nodded. "I thought we could go around the God's eye, head to Raventree or Riverrun before heading north. They'll give us help for your mother's sake as well as to keep us from the Lannisters whom they war with."
"Maybe we can find Jon," said Arya.
"They'll be heading west," Dom said regretfully. "Before he left he told me if something happened to take you to Winterfell, so that is where we'll go. We just need to do it carefully."