Current ages of the major characters (Reeds' ages tweaked slightly, based on actors cast for roles):

Bran-15

Rickon-11

Sansa-18

Arya-16

Meera-22

Jojen-21

Shireen-16

Prologue

Bran

He was their king.

His parents would have been astonished to see him today. His father had taught him well: If you are putting someone to death, you owe it to them to look them in the eyes and wield the sword yourself. Perhaps he put it more eloquently, but the overall meaning had stuck. And being a cripple had not stopped him.

Forming an alliance with Stannis Baratheon, they brought down House Lannister. With humility, King Tommen surrendered his throne and the two former playmates parted as friends.

But Stannis's aid had come with a price. He stopped seeking the throne for himself, in light the more ancient and revered Stark claim, but he demanded one thing in return: that Bran marry Stannis's daughter Shireen and make her his queen.

Bran had not met Shireen prior to his coronation, and he disliked the idea of an arranged marriage. And he liked the idea even less when he saw that half of Shireen's face was deformed. And while, Sansa had eventually found happiness in her marriage to Tyrion, he secretly longed for what Robb had with Talisa. But if Robb had taught him anything through his marriage and death, it was that you did not back out of a promise of marriage. Distraught, once his coronation was over, he went to speak to Jojen.

"What do you think she'll be like, Jojen?" Jojen and Meera had reluctantly come to live with Bran at his new home in King's Landing: Jojen unwillingly was appointed the King's Hand, and Meera the new captain of the Kingsguard.

"You might find you like her," Jojen said, clearly lost in thought again. "She's quite sweet, I've heard. And I've seen..."

"You saw a vision of us happily wed?" Bran finished. "I'm not certain I want a wife. What if I had not promised Stannis?"

"Your birthright would not be restored, and the kingdom would still be in turmoil," Jojen said. "But this way, you've managed to unite what family you have left, and fulfill the legacy left by your father and brother."

"I suppose," said Bran, "though we'll never be as we were, either way."

"You need to be happy, Bran," Jojen advised. "At least for today. And at least give Shireen a chance. And Jon has returned from Winterfell."

Yes, Jon. His now-legitimized half-brother, the new Lord Stark, no doubt with Ghost in tow. And had Sansa returned from her confinement yet? He couldn't remember seeing her during the ceremony.

And then there were Rickon and Arya. Rickon wanted to go to the Wall and join the Night's Watch, but both he and Jon staunchly forbade it. And Arya begged him repeatedly to be allowed to join the Kingsguard, protesting that if Meera was leading it, she was within her rights to become a "brother" herself. The only thing that tamed their wild streaks was, ironically, Jojen's occasional words of wisdom.

Ideas swirled within his head. Perhaps Jojen was the very person who could ground them permanently.

Please R&R!