Chapter Four- The Broken Kraken
The two laid together still nude as they wrapped themselves around the other, the hours came and went nothing but wind to Sansa as they rested for a time, only the sound of the guttering torches to fill the silence. With the world turning so fast it was pleasant to find silence with her brother if only for a little while. In this gentle peace Sansa fell asleep against him her head resting against him, where else but with him did the world feel the same and safe, no blood only a soft dream. It wasn't a minute or hour but what she wanted was to stay all day. Forever her brother to never leave this cave and let the war and world continue to their problems while she had her love beside. Only that was a fairy tale and her brother had his many duties to attend and she was not some lady of another family. Never could she show him affection or kiss him or tell him how much she cared, she was his blood and not even his cousin but his sister. After another hour came Jon knew he couldn't stay here all day. Nothing came close to being here, yet they had to depart.
"Sansa." He whispered so gently. Her eyes met his and she knew, as she had come to known many morning's.
"We have to get back. It's been to long and many will wonder. We mustn't heed any suspicion." He explained.
"No, let's stay longer, until the sun has fallen and the moon has risen." She answered rapidly.
"Stay another hour." She pleaded. Jon pushed her hair back behind her ear as he never adverted his eyes.
"You know we can't." his voice was soft and lingered for a moment gazing into her eyes, eyes that once only showed malice and hate yet after all this time purely love unconditional love.
"I wish we could." Jon stated as he leaned forward gently kissing her, his lips pressed so gently as she slipped her hand against him, she wanted it to never end. After a long time it had to. As he leaned back she leaned forward but he stopped her pressing his hand to her shoulder.
"Once more brother." She pleaded looking at him and he couldn't resist himself from her as he smiled and she returned it. One more turned to several until the day was half and Jon stopped himself from letting the day turn to night. The two fully clothed Jon slipped his hand into hers and they left the cave heading back up the path into the light of the sun. The cold of midday hit them in the face as it had many times, the snow came down onto the grass filling the trees with the softness. Jon went to his horse as did Sansa straddling and headed back, the journey back was short as the wind picked up and did not take long but once they saw winterfell town's in their sight they stopped and Sansa found her brother as they halted together for a final kiss just before winterfell. The kiss was long and filled her with that warmth.
"That won't be enough to hold me over." she teased as he happily leaned forward again kissing her deeply. With that they leaned back both digging their feet into their horses and took off toward the town.
Through the town men and women rang" the king of the north" as he pass and he nodded to all. Sansa saw the once quiet life in the towns had now become filled with laughs and always men and women bowed when the king went. Men carrying crates they yelled to others. From here she no longer could she show any affection, no long in winterfell where eyes were watching at all times.
They galloped past the main gate and into the courtyard, to the sounds of dozens of men clashing with steel as others loosed arrows, many men went and grabbed their horses reigns. Men were losing arrows at targets striking the targets. While knights of the vale in armor and heavy helms and mail were teaching the wildings trying their best yet most freefolk ran without grace into their enemy and the knight would easily bring his foe to the ground. As Jon watched as a knight best a wilding a voice interrupted his thought to begin a spar which he loved.
"My grace." He heard Tormund say. The two wheeled around, looked over finding the large man in his furs standing with solemn on his face and his hand on his hilt of his weapon still sheathed.
"Hello Tormund." Sansa said as her brother nodded as he stood before them.
"There are matters we need to speak of." Tromund said not wasting a moment.
"Of course my friend." He spoke as he turned to his sister. I will speak with you again sister."
"Yes my king." She stated as their eyes grazed into the other for what felt like an entirety, then he turned and left her in the courtyard.
As she stood she saw the last glimpse of his cloak flapping in the wind as the two went further disappearing into the castle with the large man beside him. Once gone, she turned her attention to the men fighting all over the courtyard. She saw a young knight she knew to be Ser Lucas Corbray a man of the vale and was devoted to his king as others she had come to know graced the courtyard Ser Lyn Corbray and Ser bartumis with his one leg as he shouted with wine skin in his hand. All of it brought her a smile, the once silent winterfell was alive and with men all rallied behind the starks. As she gazed over the fight she felt eyes burning into her skull, recently more oft. Turning she found the red woman standing with grace and a calmness starring at her with those eyes, eyes that never blinked wherever she went, and carried secrets she never spoke. It was the woman whom she always saw beside her brother, never did she speak with the others, only him. She went with a serenity wherever she was and she was before Sansa with barely anything to keep her from the bitter wind. They met under the cold snow falling into their hair. As always she wore all red yet no longer since castle black did she wear the gold chocker around her neck.
"My princess." She spoke as she bowed a faint smile always upon her lips.
"My lady." She replied courteously.
"Are you not cold my lady." Sansa asked always seeing the red woman in nothing but her scarlet cloak, no furs to keep her warm.
"No. the lord of light is within me. I have no need for any cloth, only the light of my lord." She replied, as Sansa watched as the woman only smiled.
"Sansa. Would you care to join me, and share the warmth out of this retched wind." The red woman asked in her high tone of the jade sea.
"I would be glad to." She responded as the red woman and her left the noise and the snow of the courtyard into the large castle to the warmth and lit torches, as guards of many houses holding shield and spear bowed as they went. The darkness swallowed the two as they left the courtyard strutting at a slow pace.
"The king is very fond of you." The red woman finally spoke as they ventured down the hall.
"I am his sister and the last of his family… I see he has a fondness of you as well." She said. Deeper rooms, Into the castle and the warmth where many men stood bowing as they went. "I meant to thank you." Sansa spoke as she had wanted to tell Melisandre, since her brother explained the red woman bringing him back.
"Thank me." she asked puzzled as she stopped still her hands at her waist.
"Jon explained how you brought him back to the living, how he would be beneath the ground if not for you." Sansa had learned many stories from her brother as they had shared more nights together.
"I only wish to please him." She gently spoke as she wanted more than to please.
"I've been meaning to ask. Why help him?" she asked as the question had been on her mind for a fortnight never knowing this woman's intentions. She did not speak only smiled again as she turned and they stop her eyes focusing on Sansa. So bright filled with a fire she had seen, almost.
"Do you truly wish to know." She asked Sansa could see her face brighten all of her turned bright.
"Yes I do very so."
"Because." She began. "He is the prince that was promised I presume he has spoken of the one which I do not speck. The dead that live."
"Yes he has, and the many battles he has fought on the wall." Sansa stated.
"He was promised to defeat the night to use the light and to fade the darkness. He is the only one to defeat the darkness. Yet every time I've told him he disagrees with me. I've even shown him yet still he doesn't believe."
"Shown him. How can you." Sansa asked puzzled.
"If it would please I can show you my grace." She stopped decided to her brother spoke of this woman.
"It would." The two left the hall and went to the red woman's her room was small with a bed in the corner and many books from the library spread out on the table as in the middle of the where a small pit of ash stood and Melisandre stared the fire. The flames swirled around.
"Gaze into the fire and you will see. See all that is need to know." She stated as she stood before the fire with her arm before Sansa.
"Is this some trick." She asked not moving as this was nothing but fire before her.
"No trick. Only truth." She spoke highly as the flame illumined her face. She looked into the fire and saw nothing but the flame. After a stillness washed over them they came to her, images of her brother stranding alone in the snow with a weapon of flames as an army of men charged him, her eyes grew wide as the wind swirl the snow around him and enveloped him as the army surrounded him as the darkness consumed everything. Sweat ran down her body as her heart beat quickened. The snow consumed him and drowned him in shadow lying on the ground de. Sansa had seen it plain as day it was her brother no one else. Stumbling back the red woman caught her as her head ached with pain.
"You have seen the future. Jon must fight yet there is much needed for the night is dark and full of terrors." she spoke.
"I don't know what I saw." She said as she took another step back. "Excuse me." Sansa uttered as she hurried, left the room as she felt her head aching and never looked back.
Tormund and Jon traveled down the hallway, the guards did not accompany him as they would have liked he found that men wanted to stay in his presence something he had ridden of while he was lord of castle black, someone always listening and he had ridden of it. As they went Jon noticed Tormund wasn't himself as usually but only smiled not a laugh to grace the air. They came to halt before the war room. "What is it that troubles you." Jon asked.
"You must know I will fight for you till the end. You are a friend and I will die for you if need."
"Of course I know." He said laying his arm on his friend.
"That being said many do not say the same. Many of The wilding's do not see the need to die in your wars. Many follow you, yet others follow Val. she does not believe her people should die for you. A southern."
Jon remembered the young princess of Mance Rayder, with her blue eyes. Long golden blonde hair and high cheekbones that was of beauty. The men in the castle black always stopped when she went and he knew her beauty himself still remembered defending her when Stannis crashed against the free folk.
"I see." Jon stated.
"Many men have seen you in battle and are with you, yet the old and the young that are with her they miss their husband's wives and children and yearn to see them again. Val sees no reason why they should have to fight." Tormund explained.
"I need you all of you." Jon told as he needed all the men he could find to fight in the wars to com.
"I will fight for you and others as well but Val will split the wildings if she has to." jon knew she was fierce and would do what she believed was right which for him was a problem. He knew he wouldn't be standing here without the free folk and would not soon forget it.
"I must speak with her as soon as possible. Tormund take your best riders and tell her I wish to speak with her in a person." Tromund nodded.
"And if she refuses."
"Tell her of the night Stannis charged with his men and would have had their way, killing her and the babe as well." Tormund nodded as he left the hall leaving Jon. For a moment he stood watching as his friend left knowing he could always trust him. Turing his attention, Down in the courtyard he turned saw the men sparing and couldn't contain the want for another fight. In no time he was back in the courtyard as he was so oft when he was just a boy and uncle Benjen told him of the nights watch. The many men bowed as almost daily they saw their king he went to Ser Lucas Corbray and Ser Lyn Corbray standing teaching. As they gazed over seeing the king They dropped to their knee.
"My grace."
"Rise Ser Crorbray would you care for a spar." He asked.
"Nothing would be so worthy your grace." He replied. The men stood back as the two began the clash of steel, turning though the courtyard for a time. In the end Jon bested the fearsome knight as he had with many others. Jon couldn't stop as he watched knights, teaching moves as others crowded around him never did he enjoy sparring so much when their were men who had been fighting for years and year.
"My grace." He heard Nestor break his thought as he watched a young knight fight a man of the north. Stopping turning he found lord Nestor standing his arms at his sides.
"Beg your pardon. My grace you are needed in the war room." He explained.
"Ill join them in a moment." He stated, as the knights continued then he followed behind Jon with lord Nestor. Up into the war room he found Many lords and ladies standing with knights standing with the red woman and his sister as well all around a large table with a map covering Dorne to beyond the wall. He had come to meet all of these men and women and felt it necessary to heed their council every day. Jon had made it his point to meet every lord and lady and not even that but also many knights of the houses. In a fortnight he had many friends who had joined his company. With being in the north for so long he had no knowledge of the new kings and queen the many armies and who allied with what house.
"What news my lords and ladies." Lord Wyman Manderly stood forward clear his throat.
"To the east a battle spanned across the narrow sea, ships lie beneath the water as men of house Greyjoy are dying. Yet the dragon queen sails for westeros resolute with Dothraki and unsullied. And To the south Jamie Lannister has mounted a force as many as twenty eight thousand strong." He stated to everyone's dismay.
"We do not have the men to match a force of that size." Ser Crosbay declared at an instant as he spoke for many.
"We do not need to. No foreign army has ever held all of north and the journey collapses any who venture up the neck. Let them squabble and wait to fight the victor." Lyessa flint lady of widows watch a woman tall and fair.
"And if the victor is the dragon queen. Dragons can take any realm if need." Jon stated as he leaned forward. He looked over to Nestor a man who he didn't fully trust but still was rallied to him. "Lord Nestor what news from the vale." He asked his lord.
"I am sad to say my grace. Many of the houses of the vale see no reason to align themselves with you. Houses who are cautious and do not trust you. They would rather stay behind the wall and hide then fight." He explained in his soft slow voice.
"Cowards." Said lord manderly. As others agreed. Jon laid a fist on the map. He had houses of the north who saw him a usurper while the vale as well flustered with the thoughts. Sansa stood close seeing the frustration in his face all to well. The priestess could see her prince with frustration as well and knew how to council only Jon would never listen to her.
"If we are to fight either we will need to align with other houses. Gain the support of other realms." Melisdra spoke as she was to continue a man in green velvet went into the room breaking her off.
"Excuse my lords. Your king you are needed in the great hall. The glovers have a gift which they heed your presence." A knight of house glover short with a thin body.
"A gift." He asked.
"You must come." The many ladies and lords looked at the man as Jon nodded and left for the hall.
They waited in wintefell's great hall for the woman to brought to the king sitting upon the large seat. The same seat Jon's father sat since he was a child and the seat he dreamed of since he was a boy. To his left his sister sat in her large cloak wrapped around herself and to his left sat Ser Davos. Behind him both the red woman and many lords and knights stood close all of them stood straight as they waited for the gift. To the sides of the hall ladies and lords stood with their hands on their weapons all with gruff looks upon their faces. The light of the sun glimpsed across the floor as the torches gave the room warmth. The footsteps came down the hall echoing and around the hall came the many men of house glover in their mail caring a woman with a thin tunic and leather trousers with a hood above her head, as two men carried her and few surrounded. They stood before them a smile upon lord Robett face, As a man kicked the hooded woman in the knee to the ground.
"I come to my grace with a gift. A woman who is been nothing but a parasite to the north. Her men came whenever to pillage and kill and never stopped. A parasite leeching to the north and never stopping her onslaught. I give you a gift, the Asha of house Greyjoy." He pulled the hood up over her head the light blinding her. blinking several times the sights became clear as she saw several men and women of different sizes all standing gazing at her as she heard some men and women mutter something to each to other. Looking at the table she found the man sitting behind the table. He was handsome and younger than her and she knew he was the bastard.
Jon saw her at first thought she was in need of food the dark circles under her eyes bespoke exhaustion but the eyes themselves were alert and ready for what he thought could be a number of instances. He had never once met her as many he knew did from the south yet he knew this woman from his lord Robett how she held Deepwood for the iron islands. Jon had a hatred for this house for Theon especially.
"You have done well my lord. You have my thanks." Robett smiled grateful, as he nodded nothing brought a smile more to his face.
"Asha Greyjoy the daughter of Balon Greyjoy." Jon asked. Asha raised her head staring at the young king, Jon snow.
"You are a king. I thought you just a boy at first glance." She stated with a cheeky smile. No sooner did Robett hit across the head as he had done before the bruises still aching.
"Keep your mouth shut if I hear that again you will lose more than your tongue." robett spoke with malice.
"There is no need for that." Jon said quickly responded as Robett stood back.
"Asha Greyjoy, we have never met and there is much I need to know… They say there is another king of the iron islands." He asked.
"The king is dead." silence fell over the hall as she smiled. "I killed the usurper with my own axe."
"Who is the king of the iron then?" He asked.
"There is no king. Only a queen. Queen Asha Greyjoy." She stated as the many lords and ladies chuckled.
"You can't be a queen if you're our prisoner." Ser Bartuimus stated with a laugh. Asha stared at the large one legged man a short beard running to his broad chest.
"You'll be dead, if it weren't for these shackles." She said as she struggled to stand but Robett hit her across the head falling back to her knees.
"Enough." Jon commanded his voice ringing throughout the hall louder than he had spoken ever. Robett stood back again asJjon sat back in his chair.
"If it please. I say we kill her and send her to the sea they so love. Balon would have sunk all the north to the sea if had the choice." Ser batuimus said.
"I am not my father…" Asha stated mockingly.
"Aye, you are not. Yet your brother captured Winterfell. He butchered Ser Rodrick, while my brother thought him a friend." Jon stated.
"Am I my brother. Did a cock sprout from between my legs… He was a cunt. I told him so in winterfell. He was too far from our sea and our long ships we could never hold it. Do not put my family's treasons on me. If you mean to kill me then do it." Asha declared.
"That is what you wish." Jon stated as Asha watched as a large wold came from behind the king its paws prodding the floor until he stopped before her seeing his bare teeth. Never had she seen a beast and felt the sweat run down her face. Many men laughed at this as it turned to the table.
"Even so. You will not be sent to death today." Jon declared as a shock to the queen. Lord Robett stood forward to the king outraged.
"She held Deepwood Motte. She should die with the rest of her Ironborn scum." Barked Robett in an irritated tone. The room was silent as at once many knights stood in front of the lord their hands on their hilts, the hall in silence.
"You would have me kill her for holding your castle. She is better use to us alive" Jon retorted. Asha felt the hatred from the Glover as the men raised her and dragged her as her eyes fell on Sansa.
"She will be given bath, clothes and fed and no harm is to come to her." a man of blue and with silver mail as another in dark purple grabbed her by the shoulder lifting her as she watched the king as they pulled her from the room. All the many lords and ladies left the hall only lord Glover. Lord Robett anger was palpable as the Greyjoy was brought from the hall. Once everyone left Jon leaned over to ser davos.
"Davos. Have your best men guard her, and have another man to guard them." Jon stated as the knight nodded without left. Until only he and the red woman remained in the once crowded hall, he left as the woman followed close, right beside him right beside him as she always desired to.
"She can be of use for you my grace." She stated as jon stopped beside her.
"Her. how." He asked her king asked and she was all to happy to explain as a smile curved her lips.