Author's note: This was annoying as hell. So, because I don't like writing on notepad or Microsoft word pad, I use the copy and paste tool within this website. So, I decided I was going to take a short break since I went 3 straight hours while writing. So, obviously I'd hit the save button right? That way I could save it as a document. Unfortunately, it decided that was too easy, and told me I needed to be logged in to do that, even though I was already logged in. So I re-logged in, and all of it was gone.
Please for the love of god, someone tell the people who made this website not to log me out when I hit the save button. And this could happen to someone else who also writes the way I do :/
Anyway, I just felt like mentioning this to let you know how committed I am to this, since I rewrote everything back that I could. I couldn't remember everything, but I changed a couple scenes and added some better ones in the process of rewriting.
Okay, enough self-pity. Enjoy chapter 9
Davos
He woke up inside his cell. He had been told plenty of times by the guards of how he was a dead man, every time they came with his meals. As he watched, a man came to him with a torch. He looked to who it was, and someone opened the cell door. He stood up and hugged the wall, wondering if this was the man they'd sent to bring him to execution.
"Come with me, Ser Davos."
"Who are you? Why are you here?"
"Please, there is not much time, for Davos is a dead man."
It was unusual for a guard to have been telling him he was a dead man, to 'please' come with him. He decided to follow him, since he was marked for death anyway, and they walked through the darkness of the Wolf's den. The man lead them through a dark hallways, and secret passages hidden behind bricks, and furniture. They walked up some stairs until they came to a more well lit room. He saw Wyman Manderly waiting at the top and wondered why the man had brought him there.
"Ser Davos." The lord said.
"Why did this man bring me here?" He asked.
"That is Lord Robett, of House Glover." Wyman stated.
He was a little surprised. He had thought he was at his house, and Jon would try to get his fighting men. "Apologies for not formally addressing you, my lord." He told him.
Lord Glover just gave a weak smile.
"So what do you plan to do now? I don't suppose you went through all the trouble of bringing me here to execute me." He stated.
"Execute you? Just because I dine with Jared of House Frey, and I follow the rules made by the Lannisters, doesn't mean I've forgotten. The North remembers, Ser Davos, and the mummer's farce is almost done. I've been forced to answer to House Bolton after they killed Robb Stark, and murdered my sons."
"And you told them you'd have me killed so no one would suspect you of treason." He finished his sentence.
"Exactly. My true allegiance lay with House Stark, and so does Lord Glover's. Here's what I want in return, Ser Davos. I'll give you my galleys, and you take my men with you into the battle against Ramsay Bolton. My men will wear no shields, and carry no banners. This meeting, and the men I give you, never happened." Lord Wyman said.
"Lord Ramsay is a Traitorous bastard. We can never trust him to be our Warden of the North, not when he butchers our own northern people. I'll be traveling with you, we'll go to my House, get as many of my men as we can, and join your forces with Jon Snow." Lord Robbet said with confidence.
"As far as you know, this meeting never happened, and you're already dead. If you manage to succeed in taking Winterfell, do not send ravens or courier boys. We may only speak in secret. In person. Understand?" Wyman asked.
"Yes, I understand my lord. You seemed to have gotten this plan well thought out, I can only give you my gratitude, and I will assure you that we will succeed in taking Winterfell. And if we don't, Lord Bolton will never even know you took part." He appreciated his trust.
"Lord Robbet, take Ser Davos to the galleys, along with eight hundred men. Get Davos on first, then bring the rest in the daylight. Kill any of the Freys that suspect you of doing anything wrong, and bring their bodies on the galley, and then dump them when you sail across the Narrow sea north." Wyman said.
Lord Robbet nodded, and grabbed Davos by his arm and they went back down the steps they came.
Sansa
Jon was looking restless walking through his camp. They hadn't received a letter from Davos, and it had been quite a while since he should have arrived. They had only gotten the support of the Hornwoods, Masons and Mormonts. Lord Glover was no where to be found in his castle, but there was still House Cerwyn.
"Jon, You need to get some sleep. We have a few hours to spare." She told him.
"How can I?" Jon started. "We've gotten only the Hornwoods, the Masons, the Mormonts, and who else? Please tell me, because there's still the Cerwyns, the Manderlys, the Forresters, The Reeds, and the Glovers. All of them who either can't, or won't back us."
"I know! But it can wait, you can't think clearly when you're tired." She said.
"I can get a northern drink that'll knock 'em right out." Ygritte said.
He sighed, and then a couple of footsteps started walking outside, and some voices were talking. She turned toward the tent entrance, looking in the direction where it came from, and then looked back to Jon. Jon got up, and Ygritte followed him. She came out quickly after and there were a few Wildlings gathered around some people. Once they got there, they saw Brienne and Podrick with her uncle Brynden. She was quite surprised, given the letter that said she'd failed.
"Uncle Brynden." She said.
She walked up and hugged him. He hugged her lightly back and said "I thought you'd died, Brienne sent me a raven saying she'd failed."
"We both failed..." He said morbidly.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"The army I had taken was forced to surrender to the Lannisters when my nephew, Edmure came and took the castle as his own. And now I'm the damn coward running from every damn battle ever fought."
She fell a bit more quiet and looked to Jon.
"How many men did you have...?" She asked Brynden.
"It doesn't matter... it wouldn't have been enough to make a difference anyway."
"Well, you can help us plan at the very least." Jon said.
"Is that your brother?"
Sansa nodded and he said "You should quit now while you still can. If you're lucky, you can get to a castle and hold it down for as long as you can."
"We can't just go back and let him trap us in a castle, that's exactly what he wants." Jon told him.
"You want your home back, I understand, but I just lost my home to the goddamn Lannisters. It's time you consider leaving it." Brynden said.
"Ramsay Bolton has Rickon, our brother! We can't just leave him." Jon told him.
The Blackfish went quiet for a moment, and then said "Fine, if you're so serous about this, I'll help out however I can. Is there somewhere we can discuss these plans of yours?"
They lead him back into their tent with the battle plans. Jon said "We have the Masons, the Hornwoods and the Mormonts. The Boltons have the Umbers and the Karstarks."
"So why don't you get House Manderly?" He asked.
"Ser Davos is working on acquiring them for us, but we can't get the Glovers since their lord went missing weeks ago." Jon replied.
"So how many men have you gotten in all?" Brynden asked.
"Two thousand." Jon answered.
"And how many do the Boltons have?"
"...Five thousand."
"You need to wait boy, you're going to all get slaughtered if you go."
"We can't wait. If we don't go now, Ramsay Bolton will try something, I know he will. Melisandre had said that he camp into this camp during the night and set the tents on fire! We can't risk that happening twice."
"Do you need me to tell you what happened to your brother when he sent two thousand men up against an army stronger than his own?"
Jon paused, and Brynden said "He sent two thousand men to raid a Lannister camp all on their own, and the Lannisters slaughtered every one of them. And what was it all for? Jaime Lannister. And what did my niece do in the end? Let go the only valuable prisoner they had. And then they all died. Don't make the same mistake poor Robb did."
"...We won't." Sansa added.
Jon
He rode horses with the other lords who had joined him into the middle of the battle grounds. It was time to meet Ramsay Bolton. Once he got there, he saw Ramsay coming over the top of a small hill. He had Smalljon Umber, and Harald Karstark with him. And he had brought Lyanna Mormont, Tormund, Brynden, Ygritte, and Sansa.
As Ramsay was approaching, he whispered to Sansa "You know, you don't have to do this."
She then told him "Yes I do."
Once Ramsay rode up to them, he said "My beloved wife, I've missed you terribly. Thank you for returning Lady Bolton safely. Now, dismount and kneel before me. Surrender your army, and proclaim me the true lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. I will pardon you for deserting the Night's Watch, I will pardon these treasonous lords for betraying my house."
Everyone stayed silent, and Ramsay spoke again saying "Come, bastard. You don't have the men, you don't have the horses, and you don't have Winterfell. Why lead those poor souls into slaughter? There's no need for a battle. Get off your horse, and kneel. I am a man of mercy."
He paused, and eventually said "You're right, there's no need for a battle. Thousands of men don't need to die, only one of us. Lets end this the old way, you, against me."
Ramsay paused, and then laughed a bit. "I keep hearing stories about you, bastard. the way people in the north talk about you, you're the greatest swordsman who ever walked. Maybe you are that good, maybe not. I don't know if I'd beat you, but I do know that my army will beat yours. I have six thousand men, you have... what? Half that? Not even?"
"Aye, you have the numbers. Will your men want to fight for you when they hear you wouldn't fight for them?" He asked.
Ramsay paused in silence for a moment, and then gave a small laugh. He pointed his finger at him and said "He's good, very good. Tell me, will you let your little brother die because you're too proud to surrender?"
"How do we know you have Rickon?" Sansa asked.
Ramsay smirked, and then looked to Smalljon. Smalljon pulled out a satchel and pulled Shaggy dog's head out of it, and then threw it to the ground in between them. Ramsay then said "Now, if you-"
Only to be interrupted by Sansa, saying "You're going to die tomorrow Lord Bolton, sleep well."
She then turned her horse and began riding back to camp.
"She's a fine woman, your sister. I look forward to having her back into my bed." Ramsay said.
"And you're all fine looking men. My dogs are desperate to meet you, I haven't fed them for seven days, they're ravenous! I wonder which parts they'll try first. Your eyes? Your balls!? We'll find out soon enough. In the morning then, bastard."
He stared at him tensely, seeing how evil he was. And he was able to feel how awful his presence felt to be around. Thankfully, he didn't have to be there long, and Ramsay turned his horse and rode away. He turned his own horse, and began riding back to camp with the others he'd brought. And Ygritte said "Damn I want to kill him."
Once he got back to camp, he saw hundreds of men and hundreds of horses all parked in their camp. He quickly sped up his horse as soon as he noticed, and as he was getting closer, he saw Davos and someone else at the head of them.
"Ser Davos!" He called out as he rode up to him.
"Apologies for being late. I've brought one thousand horses, and one thousand men to ride them. Including, Lord Robbet Glover." Davos said.
He looked at the man next to him, and it was Robbet Glover. "How did you find him? We went to the castle and he wasn't there."
"I believe, he found me, if I recall it correctly."
"Thank you, both of you."
Lord Robbet nodded with a light smile, and Davos asked "So, what've I missed?"
Davos
As he looked over the plans, he thought about his allies. Even though they were outnumbered, the horses and army he'd brought could win it if used carefully.
"He knows the north is watching. If the other northern houses since weakness on his part, they'll stop fearing him. He can't have that, fear is his power."
"It's also his weakness." Jon said. "His men don't want to fight for him, they're forced to fight for him. If they feel the tide turning..."
"It's not his men that worry me, it's his horses. I know what mounted knights can do to us, you and Stannis cut through us like piss through snow." Tormund said.
"We can dig in trenches along our flanks, and they wont be able to hit us the way Stannis hit you." Jon suggested.
"That is of course if you want to die." The Blackfish said.
Everyone turned and looked at him and said "Your trenches may stop horses, but I saw a hill while we were talking to Ramsay Bolton, his arrows will hit you from above, and you'll all be done for. What you need to do, is take that army Ser Davos just brought, and ride them through the right side of the forest here."
The Blackfish pointed out an area to the right of the battlefield that had trees still.
"Then, you wait for Ramsay Bolton to charge you right here."
He pointed at the middle of their army.
"Your Wildlings will hold spears and throw them at the horses once they're close enough, if they can aim worth a stream of piss. Yes, men will still probably die, but you'll have his army trapped between your own, and the horses that emerge from the forces, and fuck them up from behind. Lord Robbet will decide when to move in with the army in the trees, and I will command your archers." The Blackfish finished.
"This... could actually work." He said. "If we keep our patience, Lord Bolton will ride right into our trap."
"Ramsay doesn't fall into traps, he lays them." Sansa said.
"Oh really? Then what would you have us do? Ride right into his?" The Blackfish said with some hostility.
"No, no, of course not. It's just that-"
"This is the only plan that works. I tried to tell you all to wait, I said to wait but you got yourselves into a mess that I'm trying to get you out of."
"Brynden!" Jon shouted.
The Blackfish sighed and said "Fine. What do you want to do?"
"His plan was a good one, we'll work with it, but we can't be fighting among ourselves, that's probably what Ramsay wants. This is what we'll go with. In the meantime, you should all get some rest. If something changes, I'll come get you." Jon said.
"Sleep as best you can, Jon Snow. We'll need you at your best tomorrow." Tormund said, and walked out.
Ygritte gave him a kiss on his cheek and left him to think, and he went out along with the Blackfish and Tormund.
He asked Tormund "You think there's hope?"
"I've never seen these Bolton fuckers fight, and they've never seen the free folk fight. So yes, there's hope." He answered.
"You want to avenge your king, don't you?" Tormund asked.
"It wasn't the Boltons that defeated Stannis, it was Stannis himself. I loved the man, he lifted me up and made me something, but he had demons in his skull whispering foul things." He said.
"You saw these demons?" Tormund asked.
"What?" He asked.
Tormund looked at him seriously, and The Blackfish said "It's metaphorical."
Tormund still looked confused, and he told him "Not literal demons."
"Ah... well you loved that cunt Stannis, and I loved the man he burned. Mance didn't have demons in his skull. He didn't torture people, or listen to some red witch. I believed in him, I thought he was the man to lead us through the long night. But I was wrong, just like you." Tormund said.
"And there I was when Catelyn came to me... we'd just burned her father's body and she wept to me, wishing her husband was back, her children, and I told her she had to be strong for Robb. I believed in Robb too..." Brynden said.
"Maybe that was our mistake, Believing in kings." He told them.
"Jon Snow's not a king." Tormund mentioned.
"No he's not." He nodded with a light smile.
They paused for a moment, and then Tormund said "I need a good drink to help me sleep before a fight. You want some? I have a jug of sour goat's milk, stronger than any of that grape water you southern twats like sucking on."
"Well-"
"Point me in the direction immediately. I've been sober for far too long." Brynden said.
Tormund laughed a little, and he told them "That does sound delicious, but I'd better keep a clear head. I can never sleep the night before a battle."
"So what do you do all night?" Tormund asked.
"I walk. Think and walk. Think and walk until I'm far enough away from camp that no one can hear me shitting my guts out." He answered.
Tormund laughed a little, and the Blackfish went with him. Most likely to get piss drunk. He started walking around the edges of the camp. He thought about what Sansa said. Ramsay doesn't fall into traps, he lays them. It was a possibility that he might not take the bait. If not, they would have to change the plan fast. Eventually after walking, he stumbled upon some old burnt logs, likely to have kept the food warm under a pot. It was likely from Stannis. He still sort of missed him, in his own way. If it weren't for him, he wouldn't be where he is now.
He kicked the log a little and saw something fall out from in between the logs. He noticed it wasn't a fragment of wood, and bent down to look at it. It was a burnt wooden stag he had made for Shireen.
Bran
This time, he was in some desert, and he had no clue where he was. However he saw plenty of men and women lying on the ground. And three of them were walking toward something that had been burned, and was smoking. Once they got there, he noticed a woman was sitting down in the burnt remains. He was confused as to what happened before he got there. But then, he saw the naked woman have a baby dragon crawl on to her shoulder. This made him extremely curious as to when this was, since all the dragons were killed off many years ago.
One of the men bent down and said "Blood of my blood."
He then started seeing the sun rise up, and then go back down rapidly. Abnormally. He was beginning to lose control on the vision he was seeing. He tried to stop it, but then he was somewhere else. He saw men fighting in a small arena. The woman from earlier was on a small podium watching it. As they were killing each other, one man came out and knocked them out one by one. The lady seemed pleased by it, and then the person removed their helm, and it was the same man he saw in the first vision, who had said 'Blood of my blood.'
She suddenly looked angry and said "Get him out of my sight."
The man begged "Khaleesi, please, I just need a moment of your time."
Two men grabbed him, and tried dragging him away, and he shouted "I brought you a gift!"
Another voice said "It's true! He has."
He turned to where it came from, and saw a dwarf, with a face he couldn't forget.
Khaleesi asked "Who are you?"
"Tyrion..." He whispered.
Tyrion Lannister went up to Khaleesi and said "I am the gift. It is a pleasure to meet you, your grace. I am Tyrion Lannister."
Things then started getting strange, as everyone in time suddenly stopped moving. Everything suddenly went dark, and he thought he was going to wake up. But he was sure his eyes were open, and he still felt himself standing.
"Meera?" He called out.
Things started getting brighter, and he could tell there was a torch hanging from a pillar. He stepped toward it and heard a low rumbling. He suddenly stopped and felt his heart racing.
"Hello...?" He called out.
He then saw a pair of glowing eyes in the darkness, and a fully grown dragon screeched at him. He jumped back suddenly. It blew fire directly at him and he screamed loudly just before he woke up. Meera jumped quickly, looking back at him and asked "What!? What is it!?"
He took a deep breath and said "I saw... dragons... a girl called Khaleesi had them."
"The dragons have been dead a long time ago..." Benjen said.
"Not anymore they're not." He told him.
"How do you know?" Meera asked.
"Tyrion Lannister, a man who came to me once soon after I couldn't use my legs anymore, he made me a saddle so I could still ride horses. He was there, he met the girl." He told them.
Benjen said "If the dragons are back... we could use them against the White Walkers."
"I don't know where to find them though... I was in a dark place, and then they came out of nowhere. They saw me standing there, and tried to kill me."
"Perhaps when you're down south, you can ask about that name... Khaleesi." Benjen suggested.
It made him very curious. He knew there were definitely dragons, Tyrion being up close to one had to have proved they were back. He recalled the first time he met the three eyed raven, he'd told him 'You will never walk again, but you will fly.' He questioned if he would have warged into a dragon, or even been able to ride one.
Tyrion
It was strange seeing him again. Theon Greyjoy, the hostage raised by the Starks. Ned Stark treated him like one of his own sons, even if he had been a hostage. And here he was, adressing Daenerys.
"The last time I saw you was at Winterfell, yes? You were making jokes about my height if I remember correctly. Everyone who makes a joke about a dwarf's height, thinks he's the only person ever to make a joke about a dwarf's height. The height of nobility, a man of your stature, someone to look up to. You're all making the same five or six jokes." He mentioned.
Perhaps he was being a little tough on him, but it was only fair since he was the same.
"It was a long time ago." Theon said.
"It was. And how have things been going for you since then? Not so well I gather. Can't imagine you would have murdered the Stark boys had things been going well." He said.
Daenerys gave a bitter look and said "When I freed the slaves, I swore to punish every man and woman who ever hurt a child. To bring justice upon those who have done wrong. From what my adviser tells me, you murdered two little boys. So? Why should I not have you executed."
"I didn't murder the Stark boys... I did something just as bad." Theon said.
"And he paid for it." Yara added.
"Doesn't seem like it. He's still alive." He mentioned.
"Perhaps, if you say so. You brought us a hundred ships from the iron fleet, with men to sail them. In return I expect you want me to support your claim to the throne of the Iron Islands?" Daenerys asked.
"Not my claim, hers." Theon said, intending Yara to rule.
"Hmm, what's wrong with you?" She asked.
"I'm not fit to rule."
"We can agree upon that at least." He said.
"Has the Iron Islands ever had a queen before?" She asked.
"No more than Westeros." Yara answered.
Theon said "Our uncle Euron returned home after a long absence. He murdered our father, and took the salt throne from Yara. He would have murdered us if we'd stayed."
"Lord Tyrion tells me your father was a terrible king."
"You and I have that in common." Yara said.
"We do. And both murdered by a usurper as well. Will their ships be enough?" Daenerys asked him.
He thought about the slave ships they captured. "With the former master's fleet? Possibly, barely. There are more than a hundred ships in the iron fleet."
"There are. And Euron is building more, and he is going to offer them to you." Theon said.
"So why shouldn't I wait for him?" She asked.
"The Iron fleet isn't all he's bringing. He also wants to give you-"
"His big cock, I think he said." Yara spoke. "Euron's offer is also an offer of marriage. You see, you wont get one without the other."
"And I imagine your offer is free of any marriage demands?" She asked.
"I never demand, but I'm up for anything really." Yara said.
Daenerys smirked at her, and for a moment, he could have sworn he'd taken one too many sips of wine. Surely she didn't just hit on the queen during the very deal they were making. He thought as a joke, perhaps he should leave before they begin taking their clothes off.
"He murdered our father, and he would've murdered us. He'll murder you as soon as he has what he wants." Theon said.
"The seven kingdoms..." He said.
"All of them." Theon added.
"And you don't want the seven kingdoms?" Daenerys asked.
"Your ancestors defeated ours, and took the Iron Islands. We ask you to give them back." Theon said.
"And that's all?"
"We'd like you to help us murder an uncle or two who doesn't think a woman's fit to rule." Yara added.
"I agree with you, but don't think I'll help you 'murder' anyone who doesn't absolutely deserve it." Daenerys said.|
"What if everyone starts declaring their independence?" He asked.
"She's not demanding, she's asking. The others are free to ask as well." Daenerys corrected. She got up from her seat, and walked down toward Yara saying"Our fathers were evil men, all of us here. They left the world worse than we found it. Were not going to do that, Were going to leave the world better than we found it. You will support my claim as queen of the seven kingdoms. And respect the integrity of the seven kingdoms. No more reaving, roving, raiding, or raping."
"That's our way of life..." Yara said.
"No more." Daenerys demanded.
Yara looked to Theon for a moment, and then looked back at Daenerys and said "No more." She took her hand out to shake it.
Daenerys paused and looked back at him for confirmation. He lifted his hands up a little, letting her decide. He wasn't there to give orders, but to instead guide her. They grabbed on to each other's arms, and sealed their deal.
Bastard bowl in 7 days or less.
