Nearly a year and a half had passed, and virtually everything that could have happened, did.

Daenerys met her own lover, Daario, while pledging to marry another. It was fun to talk about Daario and how even Dany, the queen herself, couldn't betray what she wanted.

To Lana's great shock, a Lannister named Tyrion asked to go in Dany's service.

Varys was astonished, not only to see Lana, but to learn of her heritage - which resulted in a long, and exciting conversation.

The Sons of the Harpee revealed themselves to be vengeful cowards, lurking behind masks. Lana wasn't terribly surprised. Any usurpation would face blowback, but it still didn't mean that Lana hoped it would end sooner rather than later. Ser Barriston nearly died in a fight with them and was still nursing his wounds, although he was expected to make a full recovery.

Jorah had been uncovered as a spy against Daenerys, and even though she chose to cast him out, he came back, professing his loyalty to her. But Dany was more unforgiving than Lana, and after threatening his life, Dany sent him away once more.

Things started to unravel when the Sons of the Harpee unleashed a daunting attack, nearly killing them all until Drogon came to save his mother.

Dany was currently somewhere in Essos, flying around on the black dragon. Nearly immediately, after she left, the city fell into absolute chaos. It got so bad that Lana had to help free the other dragons, in hopes that their presence would remind Meereen who their queen was.

Tyrion filled in the Dany's void, and even though he wasn't doing a terrible job at ruling, everything was starting to crumble.

The worst part, in Lana's eyes?

Clegane had never arrived.

Lana sighed, still thinking about him, even after all these months, verging on years.

She was sitting alone in the room often used to discuss private matters with the queen, leaning into her chair with a chalice of wine in her hand. Daario, Dany's burning flame, and Jorah, her loyal bear, had gone to find her.

Who knows how long that would take...

Lana couldn't stop wondering what had happened to Clegane. Shouldn't he have come for her, as Daario and Jorah went for Daenerys? Had Lana misjudged Sandor so severely? Maybe he didn't see her the way she thought he did. Perhaps he only wanted to fuck her and collect her coin, but had found a better job elsewhere.

"You seem unhappy," Tyrion said as he entered the room.

Lana regarded him as he walked in before she looked out at the clouds. "I was expecting someone to come here, a long while ago. Was just contemplating about it," she said despondently and took a long sip of wine. She was getting better about not spilling it on her beautiful dresses, although at first, she had ruined a few.

"Who?"

"His name is Clegane," Lana said, and then her cheeks grew so hot. She forgot for a moment that Clegane had guarded Tyrion's nephew once. Of course, you idiot. Sandor worked for the damned Lannisters.

"Which Clegane?" Tyrion asked, halting, and observing her with great caution. She looked over to the dwarf, always surprised at how well that beard fit him.

"Sandor," she admitted.

"The Hound?" he asked with one of the most incredulous tones she had heard in a long time. "I am going to need wine for this," he said and poured himself a large drink.

"Yes, the Hound. I foolishly forgot that you knew him," she said while Tyrion scooted a chair closer.

"Of course, I know him. The bastard abandoned me when I needed him most."

Lana tutted, then bit her lip and clenched her jaw with a bitter smile. Clegane did tell her once that he abandoned his king. She couldn't believe she had let herself get worked up over a man like that. "Well, he did the same for me."

"Anyone in Westeros would have warned you not to trust him. He was a loyal beast, but I think Joffrey beat that out of him."

"He was supposed to come here and guard me," she said, finding herself opening up more than she liked, but it had been eating at her. "It's not like I asked him to guard me for anything special. I was going to pay him too, and he needed the gold. I could have paid more than any sellsword company would pay him."

"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I think Clegane is done guarding anyone."

"Clearly."

He drank more of his wine and sucked his lips to his teeth before curiously cocking his head. "How did you two meet, by the way?"

"On the road, when I was coming here and still had the bounty on my head."

"Ah, yes. The sister to the queen, who is also an assassin. That could prove quite useful if we ever amount any vexatious enemies in Westeros. Could even use it for Cersei."

Lana took in a deep breath and sighed as she eyed Tyrion. "Why are you here? Helping Dany, anyway? I never asked."

He took another long drink and laughed. "I'm starting to wonder if I should walk around with cards that have answers to all the generic questions everyone ever asks me."

She laughed. "Now there's a clever idea."

His eyes turned serious. "I am here because all my life, I wanted to be a Lannister. I wanted to serve my family. I wanted...I just wanted to be appreciated for who I am. Thought I might finally get it after saving all the ungrateful shits after the failed siege, but no, they decided to have me executed. It was then that I knew Kings Landing, under Cersei, meant nothing to me. Varys convinced me to try a new queen that might be worth it."

"How do we know you won't go back to them?" Lana asked, placing her empty cup on the table with a soft clink.

"I already killed one of my own, and that was my father. Jamie is the only one I care about, but he is useless without his right hand. Cersei can be ripped apart by dragons for all I care."

"What of Tommen?"

Tyrion stared at Lana before answering. "He is a boy."

"He is the king. Sitting on her throne."

"All Tommen needs to see is three dragons, and he will surrender," he said gravely.

She looked him up and down then poured more wine for herself. Tyrion still had a soft spot for the niece and nephew, it seemed. But, at the same time, like Arya, Tyrion was in a hard position. A lot of the Westerosi appeared to be that way.

Lana wondered if that would help bring them together in the end. Or divide them.

"I hope you prove loyal, Lord Tyrion. It can't be easy doing what you're doing. I know you gave up a lot to be here, but besides Dany being the rightful heir, she is a good person. She has proven that. Westeros has been crumbling since my father. We have to think of the greater good of the kingdom now, as hard as that is," she said.

"That's always easier said than done," he said with a cryptic smile.

She nodded. "It always is."

At night, Lana walked about her room, her bare feet sliding on the cold floor as she contemplated. The air was always cool at the top of the tower when the sun had set. She wasn't yet dressed for bed but wondered if she should retire early.

She relatively enjoyed her life here with Dany, but Lana always felt as if she were missing something, or as if something wasn't quite right.

A knock came to the door. "Yes?"

"A woman is here to see you," the handmaid said after opening the door, peeking through.

"Send her in, I guess," Lana said, fiddling with her hands, not sure what to say when someone came to see her at this hour.

A woman in a crimson dress with the octagon necklace came to Lana's quarters, the unsullied guiding her.

"What are you doing here?" Lana asked, breathless. She had not seen a female servant of the Lord since Sedona.

"I have seen you in the flames many times. I have even spoken with Sedona, who told me of your history. You have a role to play, Saelolana Storm, and you are not doing it by sitting here."

"I am here to help my sister; even Sedona said that," Lana said with a furrowed brow, waving the unsullied away. "I am here to help the dragon breathe fire in the west."

The pale, maroon haired priestess strode over, putting her warm hands on Lana's shoulders, her eyes darting back and forth between Lana's. She was a stranger, and yet Lana felt like she had known this woman for a long time.

All the Lord's followers seemed to be that way.

"You must go back to Westeros. There is a brotherhood there, without banners, and they must go north. We cannot tell if their fire priest is receiving word from our Lord. But more than one of us has seen it in the flames. For whatever reason, they are needed. And they need this," she said, placing a bag on the table near them.

The priestess pulled out a short sword with carved bone for the pommel, some kind of onyx stone running through the bone. The blade was Valerian.

"This blade needs to find its way into the right hands. I keep looking into the fire, and so do others, but we cannot see who it goes to. We just know it needs to be on our sister continent. A few weeks ago, I saw you giving this to Thoros of Myr. You must find him, and make sure they are going north when you give this to him."

Lana studied the scene with wide eyes, not sure what to make of any of this. For an outsider, this seemed completely random, but Lana had grown up with these people, and this was how they operated. "What is that blade?"

"It is a blade with archaic, dark, rich magic. The average man can not carry it, nor can anyone not touched by our Lord. You lived in Asshai for your childhood, drinking the waters that made your blood like ours. You are also able to carry it. Thoros can carry it, and I believe Berric, due to him having been brought back by our Lord. Perhaps he is meant to have it. I don't know. But Thoros will know when the time is right. And tell him to be cautious to who he gives it to."

"Why can no average man wield it?"

"It drains the light from them, permanently. Only if someone has been touched by our Lord can they cast off the darkness within this blade."

"Why do you possess something that drains the light, when R'hllor is about vanquishing darkness?"

The priestess sighed, and slowly looked around the room, walking over to the hearth that was smoothly rumbling. "The enemy is darker than any shadow. Once in the right hands, that sword will undergo a transformation, absorbing light and casting out the darkness within. Only that light can defeat the darkness that awaits."

Lana sighed, feeling impatient. There were many stressors currently in her life, and this came out of nowhere. If anything, it was more annoying than curious. "If I went, how do I even find them?" she asked, noticing that the fires seemed to burn brighter when the priestess was nearby.

"Go to the Riverlands," the priestess said, looking up at Lana.

Lana stared at the woman for a few seconds before languidly blinking and looking back at the sword, then chuckling, pulling on her chin. Can't believe she wants me to go back there. "That's large, last time I checked. And I am terrible with directions."

The priestess shrugged her shoulders. "That's all I know."

"Send someone else," Lana said, waving her hand. "I am a lady now, I don't know the Riverlands, and the Brotherhood is as easy to catch as smoke. There are plenty of priestesses from Asshai that can carry this. Including yourself."

"It must be you," she said with a fervor that reminded her of Sedona. "I have seen it as you. I don't know why, but it has to be you."

"I am sorry, but I can't go back. My sister is gone, and I don't know when she returns. I can't abandon her," Lana implored.

The woman nodded, recomposing herself as she calmly stated, "She will be back soon."

"You've seen that, too, have you?" Lana asked, irritated by how they always seemed to know the truth. Most of the time, it didn't bother Lana, but it did when it went against what she wanted. Lana craved the security of an unchanging group, doing her best to maintain that order, not wandering off again.

It didn't help the persuasion that the Riverlands would only make her think of Clegane. She didn't want to use the word heartbroken, but him not appearing for her, when Dany had such loyal, devoted men at her beck and call, truly rubbed Lana the wrong way. He had seemed so loyal.

The priestess gestured to the flames. "You know our Lord well, Saelolana. I know you believe in him. Look into the flames yourself if you question-"

"I don't like looking into them," Lana said, cutting her off. Lana had done so a few times, and each time, it made her mind, body, and soul feel violated. Something unnatural was in those flames, and she could have sworn she felt the god that controlled those visions.

To be fair, Lana last looked into the flames when she was a child, her mind still malleable. Even then, Lana remembered the way the flames moved into scenes, and the way it sucked her in, and the way it felt like something was there with her.

It had unnerved her, cementing her respect for the religion.

"You have a role to play as many others do. We are all being arranged, trained, and prepared for this great war, Saelolna. If you don't go now, whoever is meant to have this blade may not ever get it, and the terrors of night will reign."

Lana stared at the priestess for a long while, the fire reflecting against the gemstone around her neck. Lana knew if the woman was here, with this blade, then she probably did see something in the flames. But Lana couldn't leave. Not when Dany relied on her. "There are so many other people you can send, as I said."

"I am sure there is a reason why it is you, but right now, it will not reveal itself. I cannot change that, and you know it," the priestess said, taking a step closer to Lana.

"Plus, I don't know who to take with me. I can't go alone," Lana said, trying to imagine the logistics even if she did go.

"You will have to go alone."

Lana chuckled, her jaw jutted out to the side. "Seriously? This is ridiculous and feels like a joke. I've literally already done this. I can't be alone, and I know this through experience."

Nothing seemed to deter this woman, as she had barely flinched. "The Lord will guide you."

"What bone is this, anyway?" Lana asked as she eyed the blade, wanting to change the subject. It was almost translucent and had a bluish tint to it.

"From a creature of the night. It is an ancient weapon, forged thousands of years ago."

"The black stone?"

"Obsidian," she said, taking another step forward. "Sedona called the blade The Unmaker."

Lana looked over the excellent quality of the blade, and she swore she felt how old it was, and it reminded her of the magic in the fire. That alone, for a solid moment, convinced Lana that this was real. But she shook her head as she glanced back up to the woman. "I can't go anywhere until my sister is back. Plain and simple," she declared.

The priestess nodded. "That is fair. I will come back within a week. But we cannot wait any longer than that."

And like that, the priestess turned around and began to leave. They have the oddest code of social conduct.

"Aren't you taking the blade?" Lana asked as the priestess continued to head for the door.

The woman merely smiled, oozing the essence of Asshai as she turned to face Lana. "I had a job to deliver it to you and see you off. The blade must remain in your hands until Thoros appears. It is your burden to get it to the next phase. I will be back to see that responsibility through.

Eerily enough, as predicted, Dany was back within four days, flying in on Drogon in the middle of the night. All three dragons burnt the fleet of the masters as Dany reclaimed Meereen.

Lana had no option but to tell her sister what had occurred. Lana had spent a lot of time with the blade, and sure enough, she could feel something alive in there, an energy waiting to burst out.

Daenerys was not pleased.

"You are leaving, again?" she asked when Lana confronted her.

Lana sighed, anticipating this reception. "This is for the Lord of Light."

"You keep placing him above me, your real family, and your queen," Dany scolded, her hair only partially up and gently blowing with the breeze.

"The lord of light is real, and so is the night. It's older than any of us," Lana implored.

Dany nearly rolled her eyes. "Then why don't I fight the night, if it is so dangerous? Why should I sit here and squabble about with masters and pyramids if there is something larger that needs to be faced?"

"You very well may have to," Lana said with a gravity that contrasted Dany's mockery. "Sedona, the woman who adopted me, has said many times that I am to help you bring dragon fire to the west."

Dany moved only her eyes to Lana, although those words seemed to break through to the queen. "Truly?"

"Yes. Aside from wanting to meet you, it was the main thing that motivated me to seek you out."

"What if something happens to you?"

Lana shrugged her shoulders, holding out a hand. "Then it was meant to be."

"Your god and these women could be wrong," Dany said, now facing Lana.

"They often aren't. Sometimes, yes, but even then, you could argue the Lord wanted those results in the first place."

The purple eyes grew with scrutiny. "I didn't know you were such a believer. I thought it might have just been your order."

"I grew up surrounded by it, your grace. It is the lands where your dragon eggs came from. You used blood magic that night to hatch them. You know it's real, too," Lana said, taking a small step forward.

Dany gazed at Lana for a long time, her eyes softening. "I have seen other magic, as well," she said, looking away and walking to the balcony rails, a frustrated sigh escaping her. "You are right; I know it is real. But if that's real, then doesn't that mean that something greater is going on?"

Dany turned to face Lana with furrowed brows. Lana nodded. "And your dragon fire is meant for it. Or something along those lines. The Lord is annoyingly vague at times."

"So then shouldn't I be doing things to help you?" Dany asked, the mockery gone.

"No. I don't think so. If you ever need to change your course, you will know it. For now, act as you would. We may need the seven kingdoms first, for all I know. If the Lord needs you directly, someone will see it in the flames."

Daenerys sighed, a hand sliding off of the balcony rails. "Please don't go alone."

"I must. She said I must," Lana said with less enthusiasm. She was not happy about that part. Lana only survived the last time because of Clegane. "I will be leaving soon," Lana said, pushing thoughts of him out.

"I don't like this."

"It is my role, your grace."

Dany sighed and neared Lana, holding both of her forearms in her hands. They were similar in size and shape, but Lana's arms had more nicks and scars than Dany. "You are my only family."

"And we only have one planet. If whatever darkness the priestesses sees is real, then this will all be for nothing. We all have a role to play, and this is mine."

Dany sighed, looking down before saying, "Then I will meet you in Dragonstone. When I arrive, that's where I will go."

The sisters shared more moments of conversation, discussing the logistics of it all. Lana explained her childhood more, and Dany seemed to understand by the end of it. They finally exchanged more kind words, and Lana left to tell Tyrion, Jorah, and Selmy goodbye.

The next day, Lana departed with a new outfit, new weapons, and fresh wind in her sails.