Thousands of men wearing armor are gathered around a few huge fires. Tents, carriages with provisions and stock animals are laying beneath their feet like a sea of blood.Astrid is paralyzed and Loras curses his brother's name. They thought they had more time... They thought that supporters of the prince are not that many. They thought... They thought a lot of things that prove now to be wrong.Before she could even wrap her head around the situation, Loras already pulled himself together."Astrid! Give me your hand!" He commands her and she looks up. Just like when they kissed earlier, he is upside down, flying above her."What?" She asks looking at his extended hand with concern."Now!" He says again, and before she could let her fear knock some sense into her, she grabs his hand. As though Aine and Dracos could feel their plan. They roll over and Astrid falls from Aine's back into Loras' arms. Thousands of feet high in the sky. "Great job, little one."This was traumatizing enough

"Do you want me to marry Tommen? If he kills you?" Astrid stares at Loras in utter shock."He would be weak, he would look for ways to strengthen his claim, and marring another dragon rider will be more beneficial for him than any alliance." Loras explains, calmly. And that pisses Astrid off even more."And why would I do that?""Because being his strength would mean he would fight to keep you safe.""Did it cross your mind that I'd better die than marry him?""Yes.""And?""No. You won't die.""You can't order me from beyond the grave.""I don't order you. I am asking you. Let me go to the battle with the consolation that you are going to be safe regardless of the result. Let me go knowing that even if the worse happens, you will be here to stop Tommen from destroying the kingdom." His words are so soft, and the look in his eyes is so warm. Astrid can't help it. Even if her heart breaks with this promise, if this is what he needs, she is ready to sacrifice anything, even her soul."V

The night passes agonizingly slowly as Astrid feels Aine's agitation rising almost untill midnight. And then nothing... She has no way of contacting Loras and she can't explain to anyone why she is so anxious.The morning comes and goes and everything passes by her unnoticed. Tamara's words at breakfast, Esmee's questions, Sansa's screaming at the favorite's meeting. She can't focus on anything, walking around like a zombie. When the time for the messager’s arrival comes she glues herself to the balcony, her eyes fixed on the road."What's up with you today?" Tamara asks for the third time before Astrid even notices she is standing next to her."I have a bad feeling." Astrid explains and the princess' smile vanishes."Don't scare me, Astrid..." She laughs nervously but says nothing else as she starts looking at the road herself. They end hours like this, in an anxiety-filled waiting."Lady Tamara, Lady Astrid." Bella calls them. "Lady Sansa asked for a harem meeting in the common room

"Guards!" Sansa shouts as Astrid sits frozen in front of her, reading over and over the letter in her hands."Your Grace... This letter is a lie!" Astrid finally comes into her senses only when the guards rip the piece of paper from her shaking hands and give it back to Sansa."Do you think I can't recognize my brother's writing? Or his signature?" She asks, puffing."It may be from him, but every word is a lie!" Astrid answers."Why would a rebellious prince caught in the middle of war write you, a mere slave a false love letter? Do you hear yourself?" Sansa turns her back to Astrid before she gets the chance to answer and signs the guard to take it away.Unfortunately... the way to the dungeon goes straight through the common room. During lunch.Astrid can hear the sound of spoons dropping from the girls' hands when she passes by, her eyes glued to the ground. They don't even whisper gossip anymore. They are so shocked, they just stare."Astrid?" Lanna shouts from above as she looks

Astrid listens to Lanna's statement in a defeated silence. Tamara was right..."You were friends with lady Astrid since you came here, weren't you?" The favorite asks."Yes. We came from the same village so we knew each other even from before." Lanna answers."How would you describe her?""When we were little, all the boys were fascinated by her eyes. Grey like a storm. They would swirl around her at every moment, taking bets about who could tame the storm. Childish plays. But Astrid would just use it to torment the other girls. She would make everyone bully the pretty girls until they wouldn't show their faces around. I was lucky because she didn't see me as beautiful." Lanna tells her tearful story with such dramatics that Astrid can't help but roll her eyes.Enough! She gets it. It wasn't ok for Astrid to fall for Loras after he gave Lanna hope. It was a shitty thing to do and she is sorry for it. Lanna went through a lot because of that and even though not everything is on Astrid