Those two northmen return to discuss recent events. And why their Queen is so much happier now.


Epilogue - Promised Prince

"What did I tell ya?" Aberdale Strongbeard looked as smug as ever, finishing a cup of ale.

"About what?" Del Reid asked, feigning ignorance. He was tired of having the same conversation for the past few months.

Abe huffed. "You know damn well what I mean. The Queen's pregnant."

"Aye, and nobody knows who's the father." Del avoided his eyes, taking a gulp of his own. "But at least the North should get an heir soon."

"Everyone knows who's the father, Del." Strongbeard poured another pint of ale in his mug. "The man shows up out of nowhere, then a few weeks later the Queen's pregnant. You'd have to be blind not to see it."

Reid didn't have patience for this. "So why don't they come out and say it?"

"I reckon she's waiting for word from the South." Abe supplied, frowning. "I mean, the man was exiled by the Broken King. She's being careful."

Del barked a laugh. "A bit too late for that, if you ask me. I guess they couldn't resist each other."

"Still, it's nice to see the Queen so happy." Abe grinned, twitching the sides of his shaggy beard. "It seems almost every time I see her these days, she's laughing at something or other."

"Aye, on that we can agree." Reid nodded, taking another sip of ale. "Back then, I remember her smiles seemed a bit forced. I guess she doesn't have to fake it now."

Strongbeard nodded back. "He seems happy too. Especially now that most of the wildlings came down to follow him. Did you see that loud ginger roaming the castle?"

Del scratched his chin, trying to remember the name. "Tormund." That was it. "I'm not sure they'll bend the knee to the Queen, though."

"As long as they follow Jon Snow, there should be no problem." Abe offered, shrugging. "She made him Lord Commander of the armies of the North, so I doubt they'd have a problem with that."

"I suppose it won't come to battle, but there's still bad blood." Reid was old enough to remember a time when wildlings were the greatest threat beyond the Wall.

"Aye, but there's also a lot of good land without enough people to farm it." Strongbeard had seen some of that for himself. "The Queen does what she can, but the North is still recovering from the war. A lot of people died, and some families were gone altogether." He took a swig of ale. "We need more men, or we'll never be able to defend ourselves."

Del shook his head. "I don't think we should have to worry about more wars anytime soon. Did you hear the King Bran is coming to Winterfell?"

Abe nodded. "I heard he's coming for the wedding."

"What wedding?" Reid hadn't heard anything about that.

"The Queen's wedding, of course." Strongbeard spoke like it was the most obvious thing. "Some friends who work at the castle said the King is coming over to pardon the Queenslayer, then they'll have a wedding on the same day to celebrate. That's why they invited so many other lords and ladies too."

Del couldn't hold his laughter. "You just don't give up, do you?"

Abe joined in and barked a laugh of his own. "I'm just telling you what I heard, Del. You don't have to believe me." He emptied his mug and offered his hand. "Let's bet on it. If the Queen marries her cousin, we'll meet here again and you'll buy me a roasted chicken."

Reid shook the man's hand. "Fine. But if they don't marry, you'll buy me two chickens."

Strongbeard grinned. "If they don't marry, I'll get you every chicken in this place."

"Deal."


And we're done. I won't add anymore chapters to this.

I've considered bringing Dany back from the dead, but that would just ruin this happy ending. Though it would add a ton of conflict…

No, no, I won't do it. This is it.