Chapter 21: First Arrivals

"Are those… Targaryen banners?" Meera asked sat in the back of a horse drawn sled beside Bran, nodding to the black and crimson banners hanging from Winterfell's walls.

Bran sat up, taking them in with a nod. "So it was true. He found out."

"How?" asked Meera with a glance to the other sleds holding crates the men said held wights they'd captured.

"I don't know," Bran said with the slightest hint of frustration. "We haven't stopped near a weirwood. I can't see properly."

Meera frowned as she looked to Bran, the same slate expression he'd worn for weeks plastered to his face. Hopefully meeting his family would break that. Bring back some of the boy she'd known.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

A small crowd had gathered around the training yard as their queen to be thrust a blunt training sword at Theon Greyjoy. When she managed to break past his defense and hit his chest, both broke away and Brienne stepped forward. "That was a good feint, my lady, but slower than it should have been. You hesitated on reacting after the fake."

"I know, I know," she sighed.

Brienne turned to Theon, who frowned. "Good dodging, but I think you fell into a pattern that left you open."

With a quick nod, Theon lowered his gaze. "Sorry."

Sansa shook her head. "Don't be sorry, Theon. I remember how good you were when we were growing up," she said, offering a kindly smile when he dared raise his eyes, "why do you think I asked you to help me?"

Because she needed Theon to be on their side. Because she wanted to show support for Jon's initiative to train women and children. Because she knew she'd never beat Brienne. Because she wanted to fight a man so couldn't ask the spearwives. Because she didn't want to embarrass herself against one of her male fireguard or Podrick.

Thankfully he didn't seem to think of those. To make sure he didn't, she continued, "It's why I asked you to help me with the bow yesterday as well. I remembered you were quite the marksman." There was truth in her words, just not the entirety.

Theon smiled sadly at the memories of who he had been. "Thank you, Sansa."

"Sansa!" Rickon called out as he rushed toward them, the crowd separating to let him past. He leapt over the railing keeping them out, stumbling as he landed and rushed toward her. He took a moment to catch his breath as he clutched her arm. "R-Riders. From the north. Bunch of them."

"Tormund," she whispered.

Brienne's eyes widened. "Alright, that's enough for today."

The crowd let out a few playful jeers as Sansa handed Brienne the training sword and pulled at her skirt to leave the yard. She did her best to move quickly while not quite breaking into an unladylike run.

She passed Wylla Manderly, who wore a teasing grin as she called to her. "Off to see your husband?"

"Not quite yet," Sansa answered with a laugh. "Riders from the north."

Wylla gasped. "They're back?!" She turned, rushing off to find her sister and grandfather.

Rushing through Winterfell Sansa didn't bother knocking when she arrived at Jon's door. She found him sat with a fist to his chin while the other tapped the desk, eyes looking over the letters that had arrived so far in response to what they sent out. Hearing the door open he turned and smiled once he saw her, sitting up and motioning to the letters.

"Seems we'll have many guests soon."

"We already do," Sansa said leaving the door open. "Rickon said there's riders from the north."

She followed Jon on his trek to the courtyard, Sansa smiling to herself as she realized Jon could have moved much quicker, but he walked so she could keep pace. She wondered if he even realized what he was doing.

The gates opened and Tormund lead the men in, quickly hopping off the horse, looking wary of it as he handed the reins to a stable boy. "Jon!" He called out, waving for the king as he made his way to one of the sleds. "We brought a friend."

That earned a few curious looked before Jon moved to the sled, his eyes widening. "Bran!?"

Sansa and Rickon shared a look, rushing to his side and spinning to see Bran look at them from the sled. A small smile played on his lips as Rickon climbed the sled to hug him, joined by Sansa a moment later. "Hello Rickon, Sansa."

Stepping off the sled Meera gasped as she looked into the crowd. "Father?!"

"Meera," Howland gasped, rushing forward to meet her for a hug. She was taller than him, yet still looked a girl in the arms of her father.

Tears flooded her eyes as she pulled away. "Jojen…"

"I know," he sighed. "He told me, before you left. Once I found you were gone… I knew."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he said with a nod. "I'm proud of you. Few could make it beyond the wall and back. And few could claim a better cause to do so."

Glancing back at where where Jon hesitantly joined the Starks' hug after Sansa waved him over, Meera said, "I take it you're the one who told him."

Howland arched his brow. "I am. How'd you know that?"

"Bran… He saw it. Jon's birth, his mother's death. You and his father fighting Arthur Dayne. He saw it all. He's…" She frowned. "He's the three-eyed raven now."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Jon, Rickon and Sansa watched Bran as he sat beside the weirwood tree, his eyes clouded until he blinked and looked to them.

"They were married," he said with a nod. "I guess you're not a Sand after all."

Jon nodded, gripping his knees. "How… How did they look?"

Bran's head shifted in a hint of confusion before answering. "Happy. In love. Like they never could have imagined what would come from it."

"Jon?" Rickon asked with a blink.

"The war," Sansa answered. "They didn't know doing that would cost so many lives."

Jon stared at the snow between his feet, taking a moment. Sansa wanted to reach out and hold him, she could see he was holding back, his mind a torrent of thoughts whenever he was forced to think on his parents.

Finally he looked to Bran. "How far back can you look?" When Bran gave a questioning look, Jon clarified, "Can you find out what the Night King is?"

"I already know," said Bran. "He's a man. The Children of the Forest put a shard of dragonglass into his heart to try and make a weapon to fight off the First Men. Instead they made him. They couldn't control it, so they worked with the First Men to stop it before."

"How?"

Bran frowned slightly. "I'm not sure. I still can't spend too long in there, and I don't know when it ended so I can't just go there to find out."

Jon was quiet for a moment, his brow sinking as he thought over his question. "Can you go back… Four hundred years?"

Sansa tilted her head. "That's specific."

"The Doom of Valyria," Jon said keeping his eyes on Bran. "Could you find out how they made Valyrian Steel?"

Bran's head shifted downward in thought. "It should be possible."

"Look in Valyria. Find a smith. Would it help you if I gave you Longclaw? Help you trace it or something?"

Bran shook his head. "No, it shouldn't be necessary. Give me time. I'll tell you once I've found something."

"Thank you, brother."

Bran's head rose to Jon, his lips quirking in a small smile. "Of course."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

"You think they'll last?" Davos asked looking at the quartet of crates housing dead men stored in the cells of Winterfell.

Jon looked to him. "I don't think they've been ripe for a long time."

Davos chuckled. "I meant do you think they'll survive. Or whatever you'd call it."

"I think they will. Unless something kills whichever White Walker they're tied to. We'll keep guards on them and leave the cell locked. I don't want any-"

The door opened as a guard quickly scanned the room, stopping when he saw Jon. "Your grace, rider from the south. He's alone."

Davos arched his brow, following them up to the courtyard for the second time that day where they found fewer onlookers than before. Sansa made her way to Jon's side, ready to greet all who came to Winterfell as it's Lady.

The gate opened and they watched the rider dismount his horse and throw back his hood, looking as if he saw a ghost when his eyes fell on Sansa. She seemed to recognize him, but was clearly unsure who he was.

"Welcome to Winterfell, Ser…"

The man let out a snort as he stepped toward her. "Brynden Tully."

Sansa's eyes widened. "Uncle?"

"Granduncle," he said with a gruff nod.

Sansa smiled nervously, surprised when he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her in a brief hug. After a moment he stepped back and gave her a look over with a nod. "I've no doubt your mother would be stunned to see you."

Her lips flickered in a conflicted smile. "Thank you." Once the Blackfish stepped back she motioned to Jon, stood off to the side. "This is Jon-" She winced slightly, correcting herself. "King Aegon Targaryen."

"Jon," he said with a nod, extending his hand to the old knight.

Brynden gave him an examining look before shaking his hand. "Hm."

"We'd heard Riverrun's siege was broken," Sansa said with a frown. "We feared you and Uncle Edmure died."

"Edmure," Brynden scoffed. "Little shit gave Riverrun to the Lannisters. I managed to sneak out on the last boat."

Jon crossed his arms. "Could you retake it?"

Brynden turned to him with narrowed eyes. "What do you mean?"

"The Freys are dead, the Riverlands are open. If we sent some men with you, could you retake it? Get them in however you got out?"

Brynden's lips pulled into a sly smirk. "Could be done."

Jon turned to Davos. "Manderlys would be best, right? They'll know how to work boats."

Davos wore a pleased smile as he nodded. "I'd imagine so, your grace."

Jon thought back, looking to Brynden. "Do you know Tytos Blackwood?"

"Rode with Robb. Held Raventree against a siege from Jonos Bracken until the Lannisters broke it for 'em and they surrendered."

"He said he'd stand with us when we moved south. Do you think he's being honest?" asked Jon. "He could draw eyes away from wherever you'd get in. Leave more of our men to slip inside instead of splitting them."

Brynden looked at Jon for a long moment before laughing. A second later he nodded. "It could work."

"Rest and relax as long as you need," Jon said with a nod. "We'll gather some men and I'll write to Tytos once you're ready."

Brynden nodded. "Thank you."

Davos noticed the man eyeing Jon, as if looking for him to be slighted by the lack of formality or honorifics. Instead Jon smiled, turning to Davos. "Now to find Manderly and ask Wolkan for more ink."

Brynden watched the men leave before turning to Sansa. "I'll show you to your chambers, Uncle."

With a nod he followed her inside, eyeing her with a somber smile. She reminded him of Catelyn, but only just. She held herself with a confidence Catelyn had always lacked, smiled easier than her mother had. Her eyes held a strength different from her mother's. She wasn't frayed like her mother, Sansa was steel coated in ivory.

"He seems good." Seeing her look back questioningly, he clarified, "Your betrothed."

Sansa's cheek flushed slightly as she nodded. "He is. Supposedly there's even a song about Good King Jon, though I've yet to hear it. My fireguard have said there's even a bawdy version."

"Fireguard?"

"When we rode for Winterfell I wanted to be on the field, so Jon assigned me a personal guard. It was made up of my sworn sword, her squire and some of the free folk," she explained. "They say people with red hair are kissed by fire, so they ended up being called my fireguard and it stuck."

Brynden watched her speak, smiling ruefully. "You love him?"

Sansa glanced back, nodding as they turned a corner. "I do. I… I know it must seem odd since he was raised as my half-brother, but… I was the only one who took after Mother and kept my distance from him. I was never as close as the others. I guess that left room for things to develop as they did."

Brynden nodded. "Suppose a Targaryen wouldn't mind either way."

Sansa smirked and shook her head as they came to his room. "You're as far from the first to say that as you are the last."

Notes:

Sansa training isn't going to end with her fighting off a battalion of wights alone or anything ridiculous but I think it fits here and gives me some stuff to play with.

Also a little pointless factoid. Story was originally called To the Wall and Back, and that's what the folder holding the chapters and outline is called, but I didn't like it and went with Northern Conqueror since To the Wall and Back only fit the season six section.

Bran looking into valyrian steel has two purposes, so I hope people don't mind it or find it too bog standard. First is the basic "We making valyrian steel now!" moment to come, but also it keeps him busy. Generally if he isn't in a scene he's under a weirwood or wherever training and searching through Valyria.