King's Landing:
The next day:
Jon was amazed how much the capital had change in barely three years, totally rebuild, it even allowed itself to upgrade the harbor, far away from the small pontoon he departed from last time he was there. Jon, Tormund and Harry left the big boat that Lord Manderly provided for them, leaving ghost on the ship, and jumped into a smaller dingy, accompanied by three northerners and Manderly's son, here to follow and protect the one their lord considered the prince since his sister was Queen.
"This place really smells like horse shit" said Tormund with a disgusted look.
"I must agree with him Lord Commander, and the heat is unbearable with this black cloak" added Harry, "Am I allowed to remove it ?"
"Wait until we meet the king. After that give it to one of the Manderly men to put it back on the ship." Answered Jon, wanting to make the Night's watch look decent and respectable at their arrival.
Harry couldn't believe what he heard "the King your said ?! I'm going to meet the King ?!"
"Of course you are going meet the damn king" answered Tormund laughing at the facial expression of the steward, "why do you think he would summon his brother if not to see him himself hahaha idiot southerner"
"Enough" interrupted Jon, "we are here". Getting out of the small launch, the lord Commander and his men were welcomed by a familiar face, "Sir Davos, master of ships, I'm happy to see you again!" Jon opened his arms as did the onion knight whom he didn't see since a long time.
"Indeed, it's been a long time and I'm happy to see you again." Smiled Davos "And you too Tormund" he added, earning a weird smile from the redheaded wildling. "Now if you wouldn't mind following me, the king is waiting for you."
"Let's not make my brother wait then" said Jon walking next to his former advisor, "you guys did a good job rebuilding the city, I'm impressed"
"Not an easy one I must say, lord Tyrion and I had different priorities ... that weren't the ones of Sir Bronn, our master of coin" he said, raising his eyebrows.
Walking in the maize that was the red Keep, they finally arrived in front of the door of the throne room. 'And now it begins' though Jon, as the walked in the crowed hall, and were announced by Sir Davos.
"My lords and ladies, this is Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the night's Watch, accompanied by Tormund Giantsbane leader of the free folk, his steward and by Lord Wylis Manderly"
As they walked in, the hall became silent, everyone was looking at them and especially at Jon, the one that killed the Mad Queen, some said he was a Targaryen himself. He, on the other hand was focused on Bran, sitting in his new wheelchair at the top of the stairs, overlooking at everyone. Jon wondered for a second if he should bend the knees or rush and hug his brother, choosing the first option as the better one, all kneeled except Tormund (as usual). Jon's lips curved into a smile as he realized how much Harry was shaking from stress.
"Rise brother, no need for you to bend the need in front of me." Said Bran "welcome back."
Standing up as the talking of the court started again, Jon waited as Bran was carried by his king's guard down the stairs to him. "I got your letter your Grace, I'm happy to see you, a bit less about the circumstances".
"Me too, come with me now we don't have much time..." Bran responded. "Tormund may come"
"Harry, lord Manderly, I'll see you later." Jon said "and you can take the cloak off". Him and Tormund followed his brother in the room behind the throne room while the others were escorted by the Gold Cloaks to the visitor's wing of the castle. In the room they entered, the small council in it's entirety was there, bar the Martell prince were present as well as Ser Podrick and "Sansa !". It has been years since he didn't see those ginger auburn hair and he was relieved to finally see the only person in the world that cared enough to send him letters.
"Jon !" Opening both their arms she rushed into his and felt relief, seeing him after so much time. "It's been too long brother" she said breaking their hug.
"Indeed, my queen" he said bending the knee and smiling at her. "You've changed"
"Stand up you idiot" she said a grin on her face. She did change, but he, was unrecognizable, his beard longer than last time and his hair as well, tied back in a ball, his eyes were dark and full of pain and he bearded on his face the scars of a lost man. For the first time, she truly realized how broken he was and what the wall did to him. "You too, you look ... wiser"
Jon smiled before turning to the others, all greeting him warmly as well. It was a happy reunion especially when Tormund went to say 'hi' to Brienne.
"We should begin now" said Tyrion in a determined voice. "Everyone here if aware of the sad new that will likely become widely known and will spread faster than we can even imagine in a few weeks. Luckily, we know before everyone else, thanks to our king, that Daenerys Targaryen has returned for at least six mouths now."
"If it's been that long why isn't she here already," asked Jon "and why did you not know it before Bran"
"And why two years and a half after her... death" added Sansa, concerned not to revive difficult memories to Jon
"My powers are limited, indeed I do not have powers inside the Temples of R'hllor, neither on people resurrected by the God of light like Jon and Daenerys, it was nothing but luck when she was outside the temple and that I spotted her. I cannot see what happened to her since her death because technically she was dead" pausing for a few seconds, Bran left time for everyone to process what he just told them. "The only thing I know is that for six months she was hiding and now, she reappeared, also I spotted Grey Worm and Yara Greyjoy sailing to Volantis."
"Those ironborn never learn" said Tyrion. "Davos, how many shIps do we have, do we stand a chance ?"
"Not enough to hold both the fleet and her dragon and I wouldn't advise trying..."
As they were talking, a guard quietly entered and gave a little paper to Samwell Tarly before leaving. Reading it he then interrupted ser Davos "Excuse me my lords but I just received a raven and I think it's worth me reading it" he said before continuing with a more assured voice, all eyes on him "it's from the Dragon Queen"
"King Bran the Broken first of his name
I'm writing to you to prove you my good faith. I have no intention in coming back to Westeros, it isn't my home and it never was, but Meereen is and I will now retake slaver's bay from that stronghold.
I will never be able to pay back for the innocent lives I've taken, but I wish to try my best at finding a compromise as well as discussing terms of peace between our two nations.
I know it's hard to believe it, but death opened my eyes and I have no more intentions to burn you alive, all of you were right and my sick ambition masked my vision.
You can tell lord Tyrion that as I was reborn the coin was tossed again, he will understand.
I'm inviting you to come and talk with me in Meereen, no harm shall be done to you."
"It's signed 'Daenerys Targaryen Queen of Meereen'" said Sam, passing the parchment to Tyrion.
After a long silence, Jon spoke up in a grave tone "so what do we do now ?"
"It's a trap, no one should go" said Sansa immediately.
"Maybe, maybe not" said Tyrion. "Her second last sentence, she heard it first from Ser Barristan Selmy, one of her advisors before me and she deeply respected him. He gave his life for her and...this make me feel like she could mean what she wrote, at least a bit..." he looked at Bran "don't go yourself it's too dangerous, but send an emissary, and you too Sansa, to show that you are allies and that she would have to face two enemies not one.
"Who would be stupid enough to go there anyway, not me to say the fuckin least" said Bronn trying to be clever as always.
"I'll go" everyone turned to Jon with eyes wide open in shock, "I'm lord commander of the Night's Watch so I can represent both of you"
"Jon, you killed her, I don't think she'll welcome you with arms wide open" said Sansa sarcastically. "And I am not going to let you go die at the other end of the world at her hands"
"She also loved me, and I am the only one willing to go so I think you will have to get used to it Sansa" Jon replied with a sorry look.
"You'll go representing the north" said Bran "the south will be represented by someone else"
"Why not both" asked Jon not understanding the meaning of it.
"By going back to a potential enemy, Grey worm is braking the treaty as he considers the option of invading again Westeros, this mean that you aren't exiled anymore Jon" Mouth wide open, Jon couldn't believe what he just heard. Smiling Bran continued "You'll go representing the north as the Lord of Winterfell since you are by right"
"I'm a bastard, or a Targaryen, none of those title is giving me the right to have Winterfell"
"You are Aegon Targaryen, son of Lyanna Stark, this makes you the Lord of Winterfell as the only living male of your family, apart from me but I am king."
"That's amazing" said Sansa smiling, "Jon you are free"
"I'm ... free ?" for the fist time in years Jon felt happy, he was coming back home.
"I'll go with him to represent the south, she might listen to me" said Tyrion, "hopefully we won't die, but if we do, you won't have to deal with the dwarf of Casterly Rock or with the bastard of Winterfell" he added smiling.
"Then it is settled, in the meantime our armies will prepare for war in case the negotiations cut short" said Bran the Broken turning toward Sam "send a raven saying we are accepting the meeting Grand Maester, and may the gods be with us."
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Seems like we are going to get an interesting reunion in the coming chapters. Thanks for reading this guys and don't forget to leave a review on what you think !