A/N: Ah! I messed up, I missed a little bit of content, so here is an updated version of the chapter. Glad I caught it though! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own HBO, A Song of Ice and Fire Series, or anything that resembles content from the book or show.
Song verses used in this chapter are I Will Always Return by Bryan Adams and Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird a' Chuain by Julie Fowlis
"Our journey was fruitful, as my Aunt had pledged her armies, and dragons. Dornish forces should be reaching the Neck as we speak, joining the Lannister forces, and hopefully not killing anyone as they do," Jon said, sending a chuckle through our war party meeting.
"The Dothraki and Unsullied are commanded by Queen Daenerys, so please refrain from giving them orders, unless you happen to know Dothraki and Valaryian," I added, "Or you might be in danger of losing your intestines."
"I have no quarrel with the North, and my commanders will delegate orders from King Aegon.. Jon," Dany said.
"For ceremonial purposes, I will be Aegon, but I still respond to Jon. Don't worry Aunt Daenerys," Jon smirked.
"What of Cersei Lannister? And how do we know we can trust the Lannisters?" Lord Royce sneered, as all eyes turned to Jaime in the corner.
"My King, if I may," Jaime said, looking to Jon, who nodded.
"You all know me as Kingslayer. You don't trust me or the name of Lannister, and for good reason. My father and sister-" Jamie said before a voice interrupted, "Your lover!"
"Yes. It's true," He sighed, "Cersei was the mother of my children, my natural children. None of them had a true claim to the Throne. I murdered King Aerys, because he was about to burn down King's Landing with Wildfire, to protect the capital, but not for power. Not for my father."
"My father orchestrated the murder of Robb Stark, his wife and unborn child, mother and your northern lords. My sister could not control our son Joffrey, who had Ned Stark beheaded on false accusations of treason."
"But no more. I was lead to believe that she loved me, but she loves power more. She needs to be stopped, even if I have to kill her myself," Jaime said, looking to Jon and I, "My allegiance is to King Aegon, and Queen Destiny, for they opened my eyes."
"But, I have to right a wrong," He said, moving to kneel. I closed my eyes, knowing what was about to happen.
"I am guilty of the attempted murder of Brandon Stark," He said, causing the Lords around the Hall to fall silent for once.
"What?" Arya said, outraged. Sansa sat quietly, glancing at her crippled brother and then back at Jaime.
"My only defense for my action was that Cersei had me under her spell. He had climbed the East Tower, seeing us," He said, pausing, "And she ordered me to kill him. I hesitated, before knowing he could tell someone, and then Cersei, our children and I would be put to death by Robert."
"Ser Jaime, enough," I said, "The King and I know, as well as Brandon himself."
"And you didn't have me put to death the minute you captured us in the Reach?" He asked, confused.
"No," Jon said, standing, "Because we have decided to forgive your past crimes against the Crown, against the Starks. You are not the same man."
"From henceforth, you and the male heirs of your body, will serve as Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West, swearing fealty to the Crown. You are Kingslayer no more," Jon said, asking for Jaime to rise.
"Your Grace, I am honored," Jaime said, unsure of why he wasn't being executed for his crimes, "But I could not accept without forgiveness from Brandon Stark."
Bran looked over at Jaime, eyes soft, "You set me on the path to be who I am today. Because of the fall, I may not be able to walk, but I realized my full potential, aiding my cousin in this war against the Night King. You do not need my forgiveness, Ser Jaime. You have my gratitude."
"Bran, he crippled you? How can you be okay with that?" Arya said, sending a glare at Jaime.
"Because our Queen knew that no matter what, I would be a cripple. Because I serve the realm with a greater honor than that of Lord of Winterfell," Bran said to his sister, "I am the Three Eyed Raven, and without that, we could not know where our enemy is."
"Well said Bran," I smiled down the table.
"Now, for something that excites me greatly," I said, looking over at Sam.
"Lord Tarly," Jon said, making Sam get up from his bench and come to kneel in front of the Head Table.
"Your Grace," He replied, head bowed.
"Lift your head Samwell," I smiled. He did as asked, as Jon spoke, "As a reward for service in Oldtown, and for the discovery of the location and uses of dragonglass against the Walkers, I name you, Samwell Tarly, Lord of Highgarden, Warden of the South."
Sam just about fell over in shock and I would not blame him.
"Not Horn Hill? Your Grace?" Sam asked, clearly not understanding.
"As all Tyrell forces and heirs have been wiped out, this is a proper gift to the man that has stood by Jon's side for years, and enabled us to learn more about our enemy, by using what he knew best. The pursuit of knowledge by reading and research has been our leg up on our enemy, and we have you to thank. Arise," Jon said, as Sam swayed slightly.
"You honor me Your Grace. I humbly accept the position as Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the South," Sam said, standing up straight.
"We have our Wardens once more," Jon said, "To the North, Lady Protector until Lord Rickon is of age, Lady Sansa. Warden of the West, Lord Jaime. Lord Protector of the East, Lord Royce. And Warden of the South, Lord Samwell."
"Well done Sam," I said, as he blushed. Jaime and Samwell retreated back to their original places in the Hall, as we got the battle planning table brought in. Pieces had been carved to resemble the Night King, and I watched as Jon placed it at Eastwatch.
"We know Eastwatch is the weakest point of the Wall, and this is where He will strike. We know not with what, but we know how they march. Wights are their first line, followed by his generals the Walkers. He has 12 generals, we know from Bran's visions, and the Walkers and Night King are impervious to fire."
"Our armies will surrounding the battlefields edge to ensure we bottleneck the Army of the Dead. We can't let them get any further past."
"Once we have them in our sights, dragonglass arrows will be used by archers to take out the first wave. Once the Wights are gone, the Walkers can only be killed by dragonglass or Valariyan steel. Those with swords will follow me, taking down the Walkers, as well as archers moving up from the rear. Unsullied and Dornish will hold back as a secondary line, with dragonglass spears."
"I believe we should still evacuate the Gift, and everything past Last Hearth to Winterfell. There is no need to have innocents caught in the crossfire," I added, and Jon nodded. It was the last thing he wanted.
"Last Hearth shall serve as base camp," Jon said, before he was cut off.
"We have a month," Bran said suddenly, making my stomach drop to my feet.
"A month until they breach the wall?" Jon said, making Bran nod once.
Well, game on.
My first order of business, post-Jamie getting reinstated as Lord Lannister, was to talk to the potential candidates. Jon and I both agreed that Jamie needed an heir, lest he fall in battle. I wasn't sure about how to go about it, as there were only three potential candidates, and one of them was the daughter of the King he murdered.
That was more for shits and giggles, because I knew how freaked out he would be to have Dany as a choice. One, she couldn't' reproduce and two, she still wanted him dead. So the only others were Sansa and Brienne. Brienne nodded, but said straight out that she would be no good as a wife to a Lord. She was a warrior, not a broodmare. I couldn't agree more. Which is why I hesitantly asked Sansa what she thought.
"We aren't forcing you. While it would be a good union for Westeros, we would never ask something like this of you without having you support with the idea. You can say no," I said, as she was stunned into silence. I went to leave her, to think about it, when she said with a smirk, "Imagine the rage in Cersei's eyes when she finds out."
"She'll be fuming with rage and jealousy," She said, before laughing a little.
"She would. But don't do it because of her. Or us. Choose for yourself, because you never know how long you would have to put up with him. He may die trying to take King's Landing for us. He may die in 50 years. Don't tie yourself to him if you don't think your marriage could be cordial."
She was quiet again for a moment, before she said, "I would only accept, if it could take place here. I want to re-write the last ceremony I was married in."
"It would be our wish too. His house, his name, everything about his has faded, as so shall that memory, with a new one in its place."
Jon and I spoke to Jamie and his eyes bugged out of his head when we said Dany's name. Dany had given a quick laugh at my reasoning earlier, and said she would fake it until he made a decision. Obviously, it would be Sansa. Which, the decision was made for him, because Brienne withdrew her name earlier. She would better serve Sansa as part of her guard, even if she would be at Casterly Rock.
When then brought Sansa in, who laid her cards out on the table. She would give him children, and if more grew from their marriage, so be it. She knew that he wanted to release her back in King's Landing, but she was already ensnared by his family in a plot to keep Winterfell. Brienne had told her as much, and Jaime's own explanation of how his family manipulated them both.
She stunned us all by openly saying, "I forgive you. You are not guilty for the crimes of your family."
It was a small ceremony in the Godswood, with Jon performing the ceremony. Bran gave Sansa away, with Rickon and Arya behind her. She was surrounding by family as she and Jaime were wed. She had told me in secret that she was worried about laying with the man that fathered Joffery, and if he would be cruel to her. Obviously Joffrey got his cruelty from his mother, so I tried to ease her mind.
She had hardened her exterior so much since her father died, that it was hard to remember she was still just a young girl. A girl that had suffered years of physical, emotional and mental abuse at the hands of the Lannisters, and she was expected to marry one a second time.
I explained Sansa's fears to Jaime in secret, and he looked scandalized that I should be talking the way I was. I wasn't a blushing maiden, as growing up in my world opened my eyes quickly. He had taken the entrusted information to heart, and would speak to her before their first night as man and wife. Lo and behold the next morning, Sansa and Jaime came into the hall, glowing as if they had been released of burdens of their past. I caught Sansa later that day and she had gushed quietly at how wonderful it had been, and how Jaime had quelled her fears about abusing her.
As the battle drew near, Jon requested I stay behind in Winterfell, lest he fall in battle. Our child was the heir to the Iron Throne, no matter its gender. I of course nixed that idea. I would stay on the back lines, directing the trebuchet's like during the Battle of Winterfell. Ser Davos would be with me, directing, and if need be would take me and ride hard for Winterfell.
Jaime, Brienne, the Hound, Arya, Baric Dondarian, Thoros of Myr and a few Unsullied were sent to infiltrate King's Landing, and subdue Cersei. I thought maybe she should stand trial for her crimes, but I knew she was already going to suffer when Jaime got his hands on her.
Tyrion had returned in time, with 6,000 more men then he left with. The Golden Company had come to our aid.
"Lord Tyrion, I hear we have been wiped clean of our debt," I smiled to him as he strode into the hall of Last Hearth.
"You heard correctly, Your Grace. The Iron Bank has been paid in full. And they are very eager to do business with the Targaryen's again. I personally inquired about funds for Mereen while I was there. And then after a quick talk with the Golden Company, we were sailing back the next day," He said, "I can have their leader brought to you."
"That would be most welcome Lord Tyrion," Jon said, "Thank you for being our envoy."
"On the contrary, thank you. I was not ready to face my brother, but the time away from Westeros reminded me that family is important. It gave me a chance to clear my head. And I had a moment to speak to my good sister in Winterfell. I am glad she and my brother are happy, after the sham of our marriage, and all she suffered at the hands of the Bolton's. I only ever wanted her to be safe and happy."
"You words are a comfort Lord Tyrion, as I feel the same way about my cousin. I am glad you have decided to give your brother another chance."
"Well, now I am truly free. And once the Long Night is over, I will be returning to Mereen with Queen Daenerys."
"A wise notion, as there are none more fit to help her lead as her Hand," I said, smiling at him.
"Lord Tyrion," Dany said as she and Missandei walked into the Great Hall.
"My Queen, I have good news from the Iron Bank on our behalf"
"There was also a letter from the Company of the Rose, sent by Lady Sansa be her fastest rider," He said, handing it to me.
"Thank you Lord Tyrion. I am sure you and Queen Daenerys have much to discuss, so we will not keep you," I said, "But please send in the Golden's Company's leader."
"Of course Your Grace." Dany left with Tyrion, to have their own discussion about Mereen, while Jon and I studied the battlefield, where we added pieces of the Golden Company to our numbers.
"King Aegon," Their leader, Harry Strickland, bowed to Jon as he approached our table, "I have brought my forces to aid you in the fight for the Dawn."
"Rise Sir Harry," Jon spoke, "You've journeyed far."
"Yes, but the blisters on my feet are for a good reason. My great-grandsire fought for Daemon Blackfyre, supporting whom he believed should be King. No matter his upbringing, I believe that a Targaryen should be on the Throne. Your mother's Northern blood gives you honor, and for those reasons I gathered what forces I could. Some of ours were 'leant' out for a contract."
"We have sell swords in our numbers already Sir Harry. This does not surprise us," I smiled.
"Forgive me, your Grace," Harry said, bowing to me as well, "I believe I was struck dumb by your beauty that I have forgotten my courtesies."
"Rise Sir Harry," I said softly, "No one will take your head for forgetting something like that after a long journey."
"Thank you Your Grace, for your mercy," He said, rising.
"No mercy necessary. We might all forget our heads if they weren't attached to us, at some points," I teased.
"Thank you, Your Grace. Some of our men did not believe I was right in the head for Westeros after so many generations of being gone, but I believe this to be the noblest of reasons to return home. Even if only to aid the true King in protecting Westeros."
"Thank you for your men. Please reassure them that they will be paid for their services."
"My King, I beg you to keep your gold. Those who are here, know it is for a noble cause we fight. And for some of them, it is the first noble thing they have done in their lives."
"We will not insult their pride by insisting," I added, before Jon could insist. He nodded, before asking to help get his men settled in. As Sir Harry left, I opened a scroll that Tyrion delivered earlier, scowling at the writing.
"What's wrong?"
"The Company of the Rose refuses to fight, stating they are no longer considered Westerosi. I knew they had more time to go native in Essos, but it basically implies they do not care about Westeros or its people. Whatever, their numbers weren't' significant. I already suspect we will outnumber the Dead. And our protective measures will wipe out their first few waves of wights."
"I know. It's a battle we will win," He smiled, leaning in to kiss me softly. I smiled as he pulled back and I said, "You know, there is one thing I want you to do for me."
"Anything, my Queen," He said, seriously.
"I want you to come home," I said seriously.
"Destiny, we talked about this. If I have to die, if I truly am the one to end the Long Night, I cannot promise you that. The Night King could wound me, kill me or leave me a vegetable. At which point, you rule the Seven Kingdoms as Queen Regent until this babe is old enough."
"I don't even want to think about that possibility," I said, shaking my head.
"But it is a possibility," He said, holding my shoulders gently, "Not one I am striving for, believe me."
"Jon, I know you. You are too much of a martyr to not leave that battlefield without being grievously wounded or dead. Even then you might still try to kill Wight's if He brought you back as one," I teased lightly. He laughed, "You are probably right. But you know my wish, if the third line breaks, you and Ser Davos are heading straight for Winterfell, and leaving me behind."
"I'm to take Dany as well, serenading the dragons to follow me if she won't come willingly."
"Destiny, I do not wish to be parted from you, even for a minute, but I will not put you in further danger than I've already be coerced," He said, cradling my head in his hands.
"I know. And even in death, I am yours," I said softly, "But you do everything you can to win and come home to me. To us."
"You know I will. I just want you prepared for something that could happen," He responded, holding me close. I turned in his arms, so he had his hands resting on my belly as we stared at the fire. He sighed in content, kissing my temple as I hummed.
I can't stand the distance
I can't dream alone
I can't wait to see you
Yes, I'm on my way home
Now I know it's true
My every road leads to you
And in the hour of darkness
Your light gets me through
You run like the river
You shine like the sun
You fly like an eagle
Yeah, you are the one
I've seen every sunset
And with all that I've learned
It's to you I will always, always return, He sang softly, an unspoken promise that he would come back.
Bha a cridh' le gaol gu sgàineadh
nuair a ghlac me fhèin air làimh i.
"Siab o dheòir, do ghaol tha sàbhailt,
thill mi slàn bhàrr àird a'chuain", I responded by singing in Gaelic.
"It's so unfair that you use languages of your world. What was that?"
"The last part of a song called, My Love is On the High Seas. Her heart was breaking with love, when I took her by the hand. "Be away from tears, your love is saved,
I came safely across the high seas"," I recited, pressing his hands back against my belly.
"Has the Maester said anything?" He asked, referencing the Bolton's old Maester that we had borrowed from Winterfell.
"I actually wanted to mentioned that to you. I saw him this morning while you were training, and…"
"The babe, is well?" He asked worried.
"The pregnancy is perfect," I said, turning to face him.
"Well, there is something else though," I said, biting back a smile.
"What is it?"
"It's babies," I said softly.
"What?" Jon said barely above a whisper.
"The Maester and I wondered why I was so large for being not very far along. At first I thought it was because I'm smaller, buthen I used the prtable Ultrasound machine."
"What?" He asked again.
"It's something I brought back from my world. It shows you the babies while they are still in the womb. This was not something I thought I would need it for, but I'm glad I thought of it. It was a last minute purchase, and finding one was nearly impossible. Plus I had to take a crash course on how to use it, which hurt my brain."
"Twins?" He asked, and I nodded my head smiling.
"Twins, four hands, four feet," I said, watching Jon turn white, "Jon?"
And my fearless husband, King Aegon Targaryen, the Resurrected, fainted like a girl at the sight of blood.