((Enjoy! Song is "All Things Big and Small" by Sara Swenson))

"He did what?!" Sansa cried, her blue eyes flooding with panic, as she shook her head and then walked away from Ser Davos and sat down on the edge of her bed, her initial panic giving away to shock, "No…" she whispered

"Apparently, some of the Lords and banner men that witnessed his departure immediately went after him on horseback, My Lady…" Ser Davos replied, then sighed and sad down on the bed next to Sansa, "But a horse cannot run as fast as a dragon can fly. He may be at the gates of Castle Black already."

Sansa closed her eyes, "I suppose we'll just have to trust that he knows what he's doing…", though the crack in her voice betrayed her confidence and reflected her worry for her husband.

"Well," Davos said, trying to reassure her, "Though I wasn't thrilled with the prospect of him going to Castle Black at all in the first place, I've got to admire his unfathomable courage in doing so…it may just save us all in the end."

Sansa opened her eyes and turned toward Ser Davos, giving him a small smile

"His heart is a well that never seems to run dry, isn't it?" Ser Davos asked, cocking an eyebrow

Sansa shook her head, the smile growing a little bigger

"Well, we know that he at least has three things in his favor," Davos said, taking in a steadying breath and holding up a gloved hand as he listed them off one by one with his fingers, "He was invited by Night's King himself, he holds a sword of forged Valyrian steel, and…I can't believe I'm saying this," he chuckled, "He has a dragon."

"That's still so surreal…." Sansa whispered, "And it just makes the Targaryen part of him real, now…"

"Well, Varys seemed quite pleased," Davos replied with a raised brow, lowering his hand, "I think he takes this as an excellent sign that Jon might actually embrace his Targaryen legacy."

Sansa closed her eyes again, but said nothing on the subject.

In her mind she could hear her mother's words "There must always be a Stark in Winterfell."

Davos immediately steered the conversation away from the prospect of the Iron Throne, "My Lady, with your permission, the interrogations of the Knights of the Vale left behind from Lord Baelish's coup has borne fruit. We know where Lord Baelish is heading…I've already sent men to block off his escape route."

Sansa opened her eyes and took in a breath as she waited for Davos to ask the question she almost dreaded and relished at the same time.

"If—when we find Lord Baelish, My Lady, what action would you like us to take against him?" Davos finally asked

"Why do you ask this of me?" Sansa asked, lifting her eyes

"You're the Lady of Winterfell…" Davos replied then took in a breath, "And, though I know what my King's order would be, I defer to you My Lady in this matter, out of respect…" he gave Sansa a sideways glance, "I know your relationship with Lord Baelish is a complicated one."

"Do we know why he turned?" Sansa whispered, looking ahead, trying to keep her face stoic

"Why does any man turn, My Lady?" Davos smirked sadly, then looked down to his hands, "Lord Varys was right. One of the knights under Lord Baelish's command told us that the original plan was to stay at Winterfell, until such time as you decided you no longer needed them. But, for Baelish, learning of Daenerys Taragaryen's death changed everything—it was an opportunity he couldn't refuse. Baelish knew the Lords and banner men under your husband's command wouldn't be fit to resist after the night's celebrations and there would be minimal guard. He sent five men to kill Jon…" Davos continued, "The others he used to hold off anyone who might suspect something and become 'troublesome'. His men were told to capture, but not harm you. He intended on taking you with him when he left the North."

"I already know that, Ser Davos…" Sansa whispered after a moment's pause, nervously rubbing the lower part of her forearm where Lord Baelish had tried to grab for her, then straightened and said, "I need some time to consider this matter. I will send word to you as soon as I decide."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and then it slowly opened to reveal Arya, dressed in fresh clothes with Lady Brianne towering behind her.

Davos took that as his signal to remove himself.

He immediately stood and bowed to Sansa, "Of course, My Lady."

Then nodding to Brianne and Arya moved past them through the threshold.

After he left, Arya's eyes immediately turned on Sansa, worried, "What's happening? Where is Jon?"

# # # # # # # #

Jon patiently waited outside Castle Black, his breath frosting in the air as a light snow began to fall.

Jon smirked as he held out his hand and watched the small bits of ice melt on his palm.

After death, he had learned one thing….

Never to take such small moments for granted.

Suddenly, there was a commotion on the ramparts and Jon lowered his hand as he watched the three White Walker commanders who had been watching him since he first arrived, part and the Night's King appeared.

Jon straightened and waited for him to make the first move.

After a few moments, when the Night's King didn't take the initiative, Jon took in a shallow breath and turned to Rhaegal and nodded.

Rhaegal let out a roar toward Castle Black, then brought up a whirlwind of snow with his wings as he lifted off the ground and flew away.

Jon turned back toward the castle and, after taking in another reassuring breath to steel himself, took Longclaw by the hilt and unsheathed it.

Then, in one, long slow deliberate movement, he held it out for the Night's King to see, before laying it at his feet and taking a step back.

Jon lifted his eyes to the ramparts again, trying to keep his face emotionless and stoic.

He didn't have to wait long for a response.

Jon soon watched in awe as the Night's King immediately walked forward and leaped down from the rampart, effortlessly landing on the ground below, light on his feet, like a predator.

Jon blinked, and within seconds, the Night's King was standing in front of him, his ice blue eyes meeting Jon's brown.

The Night's King looked down to the sword, then up at Jon and his eyes narrowed.

Suddenly, Jon heard a voice inside his head.

"So...we finally meet again…."

Jon closed his eyes as he felt a buzzing noise suddenly overwhelm his senses.

He turned his head, trying to get his bearings and finally when the buzzing stopped and he opened his eyes again, Jon no longer saw the Night's King before him, but, a tall man with short red hair and bright blue eyes, dressed in leather day armor.

Taryn Stark—just as Sansa had described him from her dream.

The location had changed too and Jon gasped as he looked around, realizing it was the Wolfswood, outside of Winterfell.

Jon turned on his heel and his eyes widened when he saw the half-built castle that would later become the family home in the distance.

Jon smirked when he realized he was in a different time all together...the building of Winterfell.

It would have been the last years Taryn would have been human.

"This-this is your creation…." Jon whispered as he turned back to the man who was now casually leaning against one of the wierwood trees, "You're doing this?"

"I cannot speak to you in the form I now possess…" Taryn said, "A curse of my kind. This is the only way, I'm afraid."

"What are you?" Jon suddenly whispered, taken aback, "Even if you're the first of your kind…no White Walker can do what you can do."

Taryn smirked, "It's true. Before I was reborn, I was different. I was a powerful warlock and a warg..."

"I found your brother's journals in the crypts at Winterfell…." Jon said softly, "I read about your fate."

"Did you?" Taryn replied, the smirk disappearing as he stepped away from the tree and Jon watched him walked forward and sit down on a boulder near the pond.

Taryn was silent for a long time before he said, "Is your brother, Bran safe?"

Jon was taken aback.

"I—I don't know…" Jon answered honestly

"I pray he is. He escaped our attack, but killing him was never my intention."

Taryn looked at Jon for a long moment, then explained, "When he lost his legs, Bran gained his sight… He's a warg—it can skip generations…." then he smirked, "Strong, stubborn boy…and very protective of his family. So much so, that it's been hard to break through to you. He interceded in my trying to contact Sansa. Still, I owe him a debt. His weakness allowed me to achieve my personal vengeance and kill what was left of the Children of the Forrest and the Three Eyed Raven—"

"The Three Eyed Raven?" Jon scoffed, "I thought that was a Northern myth."

Taryn shook his head, "My father thought so too…never even knew that the man who was to become the Three Eyed Raven was standing at his side for years, working with the enemy against him…."

"Goefred, the White Crow," Jon whispered, remembering the story from Brandon Stark's journal

"Do you know why he was called 'The White Crow'?" Taryn asked

Jon shook his head slightly

"He was a Targaryen," Taryn replied, "A soldier from old Valyria. He, too, was powerful. He lost an eye in a great battle and was said to have gained gift of foresight because of it. In Valyria, it was said crows were able to see the future...and he was blonde like his kinsman...therefore, he got his name."

Jon gasped, "Gods…"

"The night that he turned on me, betrayed my family, and handed me over to the Children of the Forest, he received the reward he was promised—more power—the power to see everything…the present, the past and the future…all of it. But, nature always demands balance—thus, there was a price for such power and the Three Eyed Raven was bound to a living tree, sacred to the earth, and shielded from my sight, sworn to help mankind against the very thing he helped to create."

There was a long silence before Taryn said, "Your brother is the Three Eyed Raven now….Gods help him."

"What?" Jon whispered, narrowing his eyes

"The old fool had to give the sight to someone," Taryn replied, picking blades of grass sharply from the ground, "If he didn't, the scales—the balance of nature—would tip. No doubt, he probably thought it an act of redemption to give it to a Stark. But, I think it's rather ironic…and of course, he had no idea that that same boy would be his downfall…"

"So Bran now has the gift of sight?"

Taryn took in a breath and nodded, throwing the blades of grass in the pond, continuing, "After Bran's accident, his powers were awakened. I sensed them and used the blood link between his power and mine to first try to reach your father, Eddard Stark in his dreams, months before his death. But, he didn't heed my words…he only thought it a nightmare…."

"That's why you tried Sansa..." Jon suddenly said, "But, why could you reach out to her and not me?"

"Targaryen blood is strong in you. There was no connection. With Sansa, it was easier. But, as I said before, Bran is growing in power. He sensed the connection I was trying to make and he broke it off and woke her up before I could tell her my purpose—"

"And what is your 'purpose' exactly?" Jon scoffed, his eyes on fire, "I'd really like to hear the answer to that."

Taryn cocked his head, then said, "You have many questions, Jon Stark of Winterfell. Unfortunately, we don't have much time. I don't like questions, but as you are my kin, you may ask three directly."

Jon took in a deep breath and gathered his thoughts quickly

"How did you and the other White Walkers make it past the ancient shield runes carved into the Wall?"

"The runes are a myth," Taryn replied dismissively

"Why, after a thousand years under the ice, have your armies suddenly risen up, grown in number, and now march on the realm of men?"

Taryn's eyes narrowed and he smirked when he answered, "Aerys Targaryen,"

"What?" Jon asked, taken aback, not expecting the words he heard, "The Mad King?"

"Aerys Targaryen awoke me from the ice…." Taryn said, "After I fell at the hand of my nephew a thousand years ago, there was nothing….. only…. darkness. Then, I heard his words in the dark and they commanded me to rise and so I rose, to march south and take vengeance on the world of men."

"How?" Jon asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his mind reeling

"That I cannot tell you, but, though he died, his command still holds. And for two decades, I have obeyed his command. I am bound to. We grow in number every year and we continue to march south to destroy the realms of men as we were originally bid to do so."

"Seven Hells…." Jon said, stunned at the revelation

"Your third question?" Taryn prompted, now standing from the rock

Jon blinked then closed his eyes for a moment, trying to get his bearings, and when he opened them, he looked directly at Taryn and asked, "Why—why have you been trying to reach out to Starks?"

"Because, I need help," Taryn admitted, his face softening, "And I hoped that by revealing myself as a Stark, a Stark might help me."

"Help you do...what, exactly?" Jon asked

"End the war," Taryn replied, starting to close the distance between them

Jon's face fell in shock and he opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't find the words to respond

In the silence between them, Taryn stepped closer, his face crumbling slightly, "I want to be at peace, Jon Stark of Winterfell. I want to rest forever beside my family. I want to be free...."

Jon's eyes softened as Taryn continued, "Therefore, I want you to listen very carefully to my words, I want you heed them…and then, I want you use the knowledge I give you to break this curse on the Seven Kingdoms….and kill me."

Hush now,
Don't break the silence….

Jon took a step closer and, trying to keep his own face from crumbling, nodded, "I'm listening."

# # # # # # # # # #

Hold these seconds,
Near your heart like a locket…

Peter Baelish, smirked, uncertainly as the Winterfell banner man unlocked the chains that had been around his wrists and ankles for only a few hours.

"You may go, Lord Baelish," another soldier said bitterly as he handed Littlefinger a sealed envelope with the Stark seal marking the back.

All is right,
Well and good….

Baelish's eyes softened as he broke the seal and opened the envelope.

He smirked as he pulled a hand written note from Sansa out of the envelope, it's only words scrawled in her elegant hand– "And the game continues..."

All things big and small….

Then, feeling something else in the bottom of the envelope, Baelish turned it over and the insignia ring he had given Sansa the night they had spoken in her chambers fell out onto his palm.

Remain just as they should….

Lord Baelish's face fell and he closed his eyes in reverence, closing his fist around the ring.

Hush now….

# # # # # # # #

Jon took in a deep breath as a force seemed to pull him back to reality and he suddenly found himself in the snow covered tundra outside Castle Black once more, face to face with the Night's King.

Hush now,
Don't break the silence…

After a few long seconds, the Night's King leaned forward and picked up Longclaw from the ground and turned it toward Jon, handing it to him hilt first.

Hold these seconds
Near your heart like a locket….

His mind still reeling from their conversation inside his head, when the Night's King spoke to him through his inner self—Taryn Stark, Jon was slow to take the sword.

All is right,
Well and good….

But, when he did, the Night's King nodded to him, his face placid and unreadable.

All things big and small,

Remain just as they should….

Then, he abruptly turned on his heel and stealthily walked back toward Castle Black, leaving Jon standing the now heavier falling snow.

All things big and small,

Remain just as they should….

Jon smirked as he sheathed Longclaw and blinked through the snowflakes on his eyelashes as he watched the Night's King disappear.

All things big and small,

Remain just as they should….

Hush now.