"Meera" A voice called from the forest. Meera tried to ignore it but the voice persisted, "Meera."

Knowing that she wasn't going to get any peace Meera answered, "What do you want Bran?"

Bran appeared before her standing tall with a look of sadness on his face. He looked different from the last time she saw him. The Bran she had left in Winterfell was a cold emotionless husk while this Bran appeared to be human. Bran approached her quietly, "I need your help."

Meera growled at this, "I've already given you my help and a lost my brother because of it. You didn't even care!" She cried, "You just thanked me and sent me on my way!"

"That wasn't me!" Bran shouted back, "That thing you brought back was something that just wears my face!" Bran looked down sadly with tears in his eyes, "We shouldn't have gone and now I may have doomed us all."

Meera looked at Bran in confusion, "I don't understand." Meera's brother Jojen believed that they were doing the right thing by helping Brandon Stark in his quest. Now Bran was telling her they shouldn't have gone.

"The Night King was never the true enemy." Bran explained, "The Night King has always served the Old Gods and he still does."

Meera shook her head in disbelief, "How does killing people and turning them into his slaves serve the Old Gods."

"The Three Eyed Raven can't control the dead, only the living." Bran spoke quietly and explained, "When the Night King grabbed my arm he'd shown me things, events in history that the Three Eyed Raven has meddled in."

"I thought that you were the Three Eyed Raven and what events?" Meera questioned trying to make sense of what Bran had just told her.

"The Three Eyed Raven is a spirit that takes possession of your body and uses the magic there to view events in history." Bran explained, "When the body becomes weak and frail the spirit gets transferred into someone else. However over time the Three Eyed Raven's power has grown and now he can change events to suit his own ambition. We all thought that half the Targaryen's went mad but that was not the case. The Three Eyed Raven wanted them gone."

"But why?" Meera was struggling to understand what Bran was telling her.

"The valyrians managed to create an advanced civilisation." Bran spoke in wonder, "The technology and magic was so advanced that the Three Eyed Raven sought to eliminate it but one family escaped his wrath."

"House Targaryen." Everyone knew how Daenys the Dreamer warned her family of the Doom and fled to Westeros.

Bran nodded in agreement, "At first the Three Eyed Raven was content to leave them be as he didn't think one family could make a difference but then Aegon the Conqueror made himself King of the Seven Kingdoms."

"The Three Eyed Raven has been against them since then?" It was hard for Meera to comprehend.

"Their reign over the Seven Kingdoms started with a brother and his two sisters working together towards a common goal." Bran explained, "Now that great family is on the verge of extinction and it will be extinct if the Three Eyed Raven is not stopped."

"You're asking me to stop him?" Meera was shocked, "Why me and not your brother Jon. He's in Winterfell right now."

"Jon believes that the Night King is the enemy as does Daenerys." Bran revealed, "Both of them have no idea that the true enemy is close to them or how his magic is affecting their actions. The magic in Greywater Watch shields you from the Three Eyed Raven's power and thanks to the Night King's magic I'm able to speak to you."

"What do you want me to do?" Meera spoke with determination. If what Bran had told her was true then this Three Eyed Raven had tricked her brother into walking towards his death. She would try to avenge her brother by stopping the Three Eyed Raven.

"The sword you found in the cave to kill the White Walker do you still have it?" Meera nodded and Bran continued, "I have some friends waiting to help you on your journey to Winterfell. Take the sword and stab my body in the heart."

Meera couldn't believe Bran would ask this of her, "If I do that you'll die."

"This is not living." Bran spoke sadly "I'm a prisoner in my own body, unable to protect my family from this monster I helped set free."

Meera understood why Bran needed this done but there was still another problem. "The Three Eyed Raven sees everything and is able to influence those around him. How do I even get close enough to strike the killing blow?"

"The Night King will draw his eye away from you and I'll use what little magic I have left to shield from his gaze." Bran then approached her and pulled Meera into his arms holding her close. "You must go now. We're running out of time but I wanted to say I'm glad to have known you and I wish things could have been different between us."

"How?" Meera held onto Bran tightly not wanting to let him go. Bran pulled away and looked into Meera's eyes smiling sweetly. They kissed until Meere awoke from her slumber.

The sword Bran had instructed Meera to use was still with her travelling things. Meera hadn't even unpacked when she had returned home from Wnterfell. Meera grabbed the sword inspecting it. It didn't look that much different from any other sword but it had a faint glow to it. She didn't have time to dwell on such things. Bran had given her a mission and she would carry it out, not just for Bran or her brother but for herself. She had aided that creature in its escape and she would be the one to end him.

Once Meera had made out of the swamps she had met with her travelling companions. Her previous travels should not have surprised her but she was still shocked to see a direwolf all the same surrounded by a pack of regular wolfs. After having some experience with Bran's direwolf she approached the beast cautiously. "Are you one Summer's litter mates?"

At the mention of Summer's name the direwolf licked Meera's face. On closer inspection this particular direwolf was a girl. Meera knew that only one female direwolf survived out the Stark litter, "You're Nymeria?" The she-wolf nuzzled Meera in response. Meera petted her and spoke soothingly, "Arya and her pack are in danger girl. Will you help me?"

Nymeria understood Meera's words and lowered to the floor to allow Meera to climb onto the she-wolf's back. Meera had read stories of Stark's riding direwolfs and it felt somewhat wrong that she would get to ride the beast before Arya had the privilege but it was an emergency.

Meera held on tight to Nymeria's fur as she rode swiftly towards Winterfell. Nymeria's pack followed close behind. The battle had already started. Meera could actually feel the heat on her face as she watched Danerys and to her surprise Jon fly on their dragons burning the undead corpses. However Meera had no time to waste. So far the Night King was playing his part but soon the Three Eyed Raven would wonder why his enemy had yet to appear in the battle.

Meera's suspicions were confirmed as the cold weather blew the dragons into one another distracting them. This gave the dead all the time they needed to attack the castle. Meera had no idea how she could get around them and sneak in but fortunately Nymeria seemed to know the way. Winterfell had countless secret passage ways and Nymeria had managed to find one in the crypt.

Meera was careful to avoid the civilians that had taken refuge and managed to follow a secret entrance in the God's Wood. It was there Meera ran into Theon Greyjoy with a handful of people to defend the Three Eyed Raven. She would not be able to fight them all and she doubted they would understand her mission.

Theon spotted one of the wolves and was ready to strike but Meera stopped him, "Don't worry they're with me."

Theon looked at these wolves around them unsure about what he should do. "Who are you?"

Meera quickly looked the place where Bran's body was sitting. She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was somewhere else, using his powers to look for the Night King. Confident that the Three Eyed Raven was not looking at her she spoke, "I'm Meera Reed, Bran's friend. I've brought these wolves to protect him."

Theon was still uncertain as he continued to gaze at the wolves, "How'd you manage it?"

"There is magic in my family." It wasn't strictly a lie but she wasn't going to tell Theon that. "The dead are about to breach the castle wall. They'll need more men to help." Meera needed to get Theon and his men to leave before the Three Eyed Raven turned his gaze towards her. "Me and the wolves will guard Bran."

"I don't know." Theon wasn't sure if he should trust the girl, "I promised I would guard Bran and I can't leave you alone."

Nymeria was beginning to lose her patience and snapped at Theon giving him a fright. Meera glanced at the large direwolf. "Do you still think I need help?" Theon and his men quickly agreed that Meera and the wolves would be fine.

After Theon left Meera pulled her sword ready to strike the Three Eyed Raven down but her senses picked up someone else in the Gods Wood. She quickly turned around and blocked the blow.

Arya locked swords with Meera and smirked, "Impressive, not many would have sensed my attack like that." Arya pushed Meera away from her brother. "Now why does a northern girl like you want to kill my brother?"

Arya wasn't going to wait for an answer as she took another swing at Meera which she quickly avoided. "That is not your brother!" Meera pointed her sword towards Bran's body in the chair. "That thing is just wearing his face!"

"I've trained with the faceless men." Arya countered knocking Meera back, "I know he's not one of them."

Meera tried to hit back but Arya is too quick. "No he's not a faceless man. He's the Three Eyed Raven. The real Brandon Stark died beyond the wall along with his direwolf Summer."

"You're lying!" Arya screamed in rage and knocked Meera to the floor pointing her sword "Needle" at the fallen girl's throat.

"You only have to look at Nymeria to know that I'm right." Meera pointed to the familiar direwolf. Arya glanced at Nymeria unsure how long she had been there. Meera tried to reason with Arya, "Nymeria was the one who brought me here. She didn't stop me from approaching Bran with a sword in my hand. If the Bran sitting there was truly a member of your pack would she allow me to do it?"

Arya wasn't sure if she trusted Meera but she saw the look of distress on her direwolf's face. Nymeria knew she should help Meera but she didn't want to hurt her mistress. Arya was starting to believe the truth of Meera's words and lowered her sword.

"How disappointing." The Three Eyed Raven said looking coldly at Meera. "I was so certain she was going to finish you off."

"It's true isn't it?" Arya turned around and looked at the false Bran. "My brother wouldn't say something like that. You're someone else."

"I told you I'm the Three Eyed Raven." The young man stated simply from his chair.

"And you're dead." Meera growled angrily picking herself up. She moved to strike him but there was something wrong. All the wolves from Nymeria's pack surrounded them. Nymeria growled aggressively trying to gain control of them but they weren't listening.

Arya held her sword up ready to defend herself from the savage wolves, "What's wrong with them?"

Meera looked directly at the Three Eyed Raven. "The Three Eyed Raven is controlling them." She then watched the wolves circling them ready to attack.

Arya was also watching and she also noticed that Nymeria was ready to defend them, "Nymeria doesn't seem to be affected."

"Nymeria is bonded to you." Meera explained, "He can't be influenced like the other wolves."

"No." Arya smirked as she saw something hidden in the snow, "I don't suspect this Three Eyed Raven can influence him either."

Meera had no idea what Arya was on about until she saw a white direwolf leap out of the snow his eyes red with fury. Ghost was always the quietest out of the Stark direwolf litter. Using his fur as camouflage it was easy for him to sneak up on the Three Eyed Raven and knock him out of his chair. Ghost biting on the imposter's arm distracted the Three Eyed Raven long enough to release the hold on the other wolves.

Meera seized the opportunity to raise the sword over the imposter's heart. The Three Eyed Raven made one last ditch effort to stop Meera. He looked at Meera with pleading eyes, "Meera please."

Meera looked at his face with tears in eyes and said, "You're not Bran." Meera drove the sword into the Three Eyed Raven's heart and they were engulfed in a blinding white light.

Jon Snow had been cornered by Viserion. He was going to make one last ditch effort to kill the undead dragon with "Longclaw" when he saw a blinding light come from the Gods Wood which momentarily distracted him. He thought for a second that the light had signalled their victory but as he turned and saw that Viserion hadn't disintegrated like the other corpse's the Night King had reanimated he wasn't so sure. However as he looked into Viserion's blue eyes there was no hint of aggression like there was before.

Uncertain of the dragon's intent Jon raised his sword ready to defend himself until he heard a voice come from behind him, "Peace Aegon. The war is over. Viserion means you no harm."

Jon turned and saw the Night King in all his glory. Jon had never heard the Night King speak before. Jon always assumed that this monster was unable to but he had proven him wrong. However just because the Night King had spoken didn't automatically make Jon believe that he could trust him. "You expect me to believe that after all those people you and your army killed? How do you even know my true name anyway?"

"I know when all of my kin are born into this world." The Night King replied, "I know all of their names and when they died."

Jon could see the sorrow as the Night King had spoken of his kin's death which sparked his curiosity, "You said that we are kin?"

"Why do you think that in our encounters I have never harmed you? I maybe the monster you believe me to be but I still have some honour left." The Night King spoke with conviction, "I'm no kin slayer."

"Who are you?" Jon knew he shouldn't trust his enemy but he saw some truth to the Night King's words. There were many times that the Night King could have ended Jon Snow then and there but the Night King had never attacked Jon directly, not even once.

"In life I was Brandon Stark but you may have known me as Bran the Builder." The Night King revealed.

"Impossible." Jon shook his head in denial, "Everyone knows that Bran the Builder had built the Wall. The Wall was built to keep your army out of these lands."

"You know nothing." The Night King smirked, "Long ago when the Andal's invaded, bringing their seven pointed star and their false gods. I ruled this land and defended its people. Our very way of life was under threat so I sought help from the children of the forest. I took a knife of dragonglass into the heart to save my people from the Andals." This confession caused Jon to trace his finger of his own chest where his own scars lay. Jon didn't want to think he had anything in common with this man but it made Jon think of what lengths he would go to save his people. However the Night King continued, "I used my powers to force the Andals south satisfied that our way of life and our Gods were safe. However just because I wanted to use my power to serve the Old Gods it didn't mean that my people had felt the same way. I saw their ambition and greed in their eyes. They wanted me to conquer the Seven Kingdoms."

"So why didn't you?" Jon asked.

"I'm no God." The Night King replied, "I learned right then and there that men with powers like mine should not rule. So I swore a vow to myself to hold no lands and be the sword in the darkness…"

"The shield that guards the realms of men." Jon finished. He knew those vows well and now he was speaking to the first man that made them.

"Aye." The Night King nodded in understanding, "I made those vows and built those walls to keep ambitious men out so I wouldn't be corrupted by it. However somehow that greed managed to find its way past the wall."

"Who?" Jon wondered. It was clear to Jon that whoever it was had managed to make the cold seemingly emotionless Night King very angry.

"The 13th Lord Commander was jealous of my power and wanted it for himself." The Nigh King explained bitterly, "He captured one the children of the forest and offered her things to grant him powers that were the same as mine but she refused."

Jon had heard of this legend but it was very different to how the Night King had described it. Jon wondered how many other tales and legends were twisted over time. How would his actions would be viewed in a thousand years or so?

The Night King continued with his story, "My people stopped him and imprisoned him deep beneath the ancient Wierwood tree. He would have power alright, to see and watch everything but never to take part. He was the first Three Eyed Raven." The Night King then looked away sadly, "However that punishment also became our ruin. Under the Wierwood tree he became more powerful, so powerful in fact that he managed to alter events in history. I did not notice this until I witnessed Brandon and Rickard Stark's death at the hands of the valyrian King."

This revelation shocked Jon, "Are you saying that the Mad King, my grandfather…"

"Was never mad at all." The Night King finished, "No one in the throne room heard the Three Eyed Raven whisper into the valyrian King's ear but I did. The Three Eyed Raven seemed determined to end House Targareyen's reign. The chaos and tragedy you father's family endured could all be traced back to him. Your relative Bloodraven had sensed the Three Eyed Raven's interference and attempted to stop it. However he died in process and the Three Eyed Raven took possession over his body giving him access to the blood of Old Valyria which made House Targaryen more vulnerable to the Three Eyed Raven's influence."

Jon was beginning to understand but there was something else that bothered him, "You said that the Three Eyed Raven took possession when Bloodraven had died, are you saying that Bran is…"

The Night King nodded sadly, "I tried to warn him of the danger he was in but the Three Eyed Raven took possession of his body before I could stop him. He manipulated events to not only to destroy House Targaryen but to destroy me as well. He turned the free folk and the children of forest against me. Me and my people were being hunted like animals I had no choice but to fight back."

Jon didn't want to hear anymore he was still reeling from the fact that his brother was dead and that the being that killed him was in his home. Jon thought about the revelation regarding his parentage and how the Three Eyed Raven took the opportunity to push Sam into telling Jon shortly after learning from Daenerys that she had Sam's brother and father executed. There was no real reason for Jon to know as he already bonded with Rhaegal. The only reason why the Three Eyed Rave wanted Jon to know was to drive a wedge between him and Daenerys.

This revelation made Jon angry so angry in that moment that Jon had left Night King and marched right into the Gods Wood to confront this coward wearing his brother's face. However he was too late. By the time Jon arrived he saw his sister Arya and some other girl cry over his brother's corpse. Ghost was immediately at his master's side to offer Jon some comfort. Jon's eyes were so full of tears he didn't see the Night King fly off into the darkness.

The war was over the Night King was returning north beyond the wall. The undead foot soldiers would disintegrate as the Night King had no more use for them. The Wight Walkers would remain by his side as they became his children when Craster had given them away. Viserion would also remain by the Night King side as he couldn't bear to part with such a marvellous beast. However he would not take the Dragon Queen's son without giving her something in return. He left behind a clutch of dragon eggs that he had found beyond the wall. Althoughhe knew none of these could ever replace Viserion in her heart there would be other dragons for her to love and care for.

NOTE: I'm still purging the horror that was Season 8 by writing fics. This fic may contain theories that some people may feel is nonsense but be kind as I'm feeling very fragile right now. I may have a following chapter for this one regarding the aftermath of the Three Eyed Raven's death and how people are dealing with knowledge that they were manipulated. Please let me know if you want me to continue or not. It probably won't be a long multiple chapter fic but I think one more would be good to see how the characters are adjusting to the new reality without the Three Eyed Raven.