Margaery and her army rode back with to Winterfell after seeing Ser Barristan Selmy and Daenery's ailing army of Unsullied sail south to supposedly the Stormlands or the Crownlands. It changed from day to day. She had dispatched a letter to her lord father warning him to be prepared. From far away, Winterfell looked grim and desolate surrounded by the glittering snow. At least there are still a few hours of light each day. Margaery was happy to see Eddard, Elora, Rickon and Arya. But she desperately wanted to go to Castle Black. Especially, since she had received a raven from Robb stating that he had returned wounded but was on the mend. She wanted to see Robb, to hug him, to kiss his bearded face and hear his voice.
"Are you troubled?" asked Arya, her grey eyes scrutinizing Margaery's face.
"No, I was just thinking of Robb that's all." She kissed her little daughter's face, and smoothed Elora's little embroidered bonnet.
"Hopefully, those dragons kill all the Others, so they can all come home." Margaery nodded in agreement. "Is it true, that Lord Mormont laid with the Mother of Dragons?" Margaery scowled. Literally or figuratively. Perhaps both.
"It seems the furs I had offered weren't adequate enough to keep her bed warm." What did Jorah tell Daenerys about Robb and I? How did he get past the guards I posted outside his tent? She was not pleased at all. Arya misinterpreted Margaery's frowns.
"Robb loves you, he wouldn't dishonor you," soothed Arya with conviction. Margaery smiled. The thoughts of Daenerys finding Robb attractive or Robb betraying his vows to her for the Dragon Queen hadn't crossed Margaery's mind.
"I know he does and I trust him."
"What did the dragons look like? Are they bigger than Shaggydog?" asked Rickon as he burst into the nursery with Eddard and Shaggydog at his heels. She smiled at her son and her good brother.
"Much bigger. There are three. Two of them, the green one and the cream and gold are smaller than the black and red one called Drogon." Eddard tugged on Rickon wanting his attention. "I don't trust her ability to control Drogon," she stated to Arya without thinking. They claimed Drogon was Balerion reborn, which made Margaery shudder at the thought. She had only seen three dragons from a safe distance, both admiring the beauty of their scales and nervously thinking about what on earth would they feast on at the Wall? A farmer claimed that the dark dragon had burnt his thatched roof. Margaery had compensated the man's loss. Thankfully no man or animal was killed.
"Do you think she would recognize Gendry?" asked Arya slowly. Daenerys never seen Robert Baratheon. Maybe she heard about Robert from others but how would she know Gendry was the Usurper's bastard? Tyrion would likely see the resemblance but would he say anything about it?
"He's safe. He is just a blacksmith and knight of Winterfell. Not a threat to her. Robb won't let her harm Gendry," promised Margaery wrapping her free arm around Arya's shoulders. Arya rested her head on Margaery's shoulder gently. She let out a sound of frustration.
"I'm sick of sitting here waiting for scraps of news of what's going on up there. I want them all to come home. I want to do something. How can you stand waiting not knowing if they are going to come home alive or not? My sister is all alone again. Gendry is likely freezing his arse with Robb and Jon at Castle Black. Where is Bran? What if Uncle Ben became a wight and tries to kill Robb or Jon?"
Margaery almost remarked at how Arya sounded much like Lady Catelyn had at Riverrun lamenting her worries for her five children's safety and the painful separation from her daughters and youngest sons. Margaery herself had a taste of what Lady Stark felt whilst she had been away to meet Daenerys. With her husband at the Wall, her children, Arya, and Rickon at Winterfell, widowed Sansa and her precious twins, her lord father and Garlan in King's Landing, and the rest of her kin at Highgarden. She wonders how far and how long her heart will be stretched. There's a heavy ache in her that's growing like the amount of snow on the ground outside. The pressure to not make a mistake in dealing with Daenerys had been high. If I get thrown into the fire, they all will.
"You have done an excellent job in my absence, Arya. I think we are all frustrated with worry over the unknown fates of our loved ones." Rickon was old enough to notice and understand his sister and Margaery's angst. Though his playtime with Eddard, allowed him to escape the painful memories of the disruption of his family. She partially envied the innocence and worry free faces of her son and daughter. I pray they never know any different.
Daenerys made it to the grim dark castle known as Castle Black. Daenerys had seen many wondrously structured buildings in Essos, but the Wall was a sight to behold. She spoke to Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal in High Valyrian ordering them to stay. Most men of the Night's Watch came from dubious backgrounds and committed crimes but they had been absolved from it by joining the Night's Watch. She hoped the few ill and wounded horses the black brothers gave would satiate their hunger. The memory of the charred corpse of the little girl still haunted Daenerys.
"Doesn't appear to have changed much since my last visit," exclaimed Tyrion staring up at the Wall. Daenerys looked around at the men clad in all black, and the others with sigils on their armour. But her gaze rested upon a tall, stocky young bearded man who bore a bronze and iron crown on his dark red curls. King Robb Stark. He was a handsome man with bright blue eyes. They make a pretty pair, he and Margaery are like out of a song of romance. He was flanked by an older grey haired man with the same blue eyes and by the largest dog she had ever seen. A wolf, she corrected, a direwolf. It was smoky grey with large yellow eyes. It sniffed the air as she approached. On the other side of direwolf stood a black curly haired young man with a pretty face dressed in black.
"Welcome to Castle Black, Queen Daenerys," greeted King Robb courteously. He addressed Tyrion stiffly, "Tyrion Lannister." She smiled at his use of her title.
"It is nice to finally meet you, King Robb. I have heard much about the Young Wolf, the wolf that cannot be killed." Introductions were made of the Lord Commander's steward Satin, King Robb's great uncle Ser Brynden Tully, and other lords. She requested that she'd be taken to see her own great uncle, the maester of Castle Black at once. Tyrion had told her Maester Aemon Targaryen was blind and was possibly the oldest man in Westeros at over a hundred years old. She wept as she saw him after entering the cluttered chambers of the Maester's Tower.
"Daenerys Stormborn. Egg's great granddaughter," cried Maester Aemon sofly as he brushed his papery thin fingers over her face. "I never thought I would hear the sounds of dragons. Or meet you."
"It is lovely to know there is another dragon in this world. Even one dressed like a crow with a maester's chain." She kissed his baldhead. They spoke of her dragons, and their family history. He mentioned the Others, and his belief in her. She thought of her dream of riding a dragon and bathing an army armored by ice with dragonfire.
"Alas, I am too old to be a dragon rider alongside you. It must be you and Jon to defeat save us from the Others and winter. Rhaegar's son with Lady Lyanna Stark." The bastard son. My claim to the Iron Throne is greater. He spoke of Jon Snow with respect and fondness. Jorah's late father had made Snow his steward and given him the Mormont ancestral sword. She remembered Jorah's scratchy beard and lips against her skin. How warm he had made her as they made love. She had once swore she would never allow Jorah in her sight or alone with her again. The woman in me makes me weak that's all. Jorah's yellow shirt made her forget the anger and hurt over his betrayal temporarily or perhaps it was the time and distance apart. It reminded her of the all the good memories of their relationship. It might have been the desolate cold and unfamiliar surroundings of the North that made her want her bear back. It is nothing. It annoyed her that her defenses were broken down over sentimentality. Dany shook away the thoughts of Jorah Mormont from her mind. Save that for another day.
The more pressing thought was, Where is Lord Commander Jon Snow? Robb Stark told her that Lord Commander Snow was still beyond the Wall with a lord named Howland Reed. They sat next to each other in the dining hall at the high table. Dany looked from her wooden bowl of stew and noticed someone staring at her. A small young woman of seventeen or eighteen with short dark brown hair and green eyes stared at Dany's eyes wistfully in a mournful manner.
"Who is that lady again?" asked Dany glancing back at Robb Stark.
"Her name is Lady Meera Reed. She is Lord Howland Reed's daughter and heiress of Greywater Watch. Lord Howland Reed was a close friend of my lord father's and my Aunt Lyanna." She nodded and smiled at the lady, which Lady Meera smiled weakly back. But why is she staring at me so sadly? Daenerys' attention was diverted by the entrance of a woman clad in red with scarlet red hair.
"I thought you said women were not allowed at the Wall." Lady Meera appeared to be a warrior despite her height but this stranger dressed in a gown did not appear to be a member of King Robb's army. Certainly not of the Night's Watch unless she is actually a man. She glanced the Imp who sat on the other side of her.
"Ah Stannis' red woman," exclaimed Tyrion with mild surprise. "Am I correct, Your Grace? Though I was under the impression she served Stannis Baratheon unless he is hiding as wildling or with Lord Commader Snow." King Robb casted a disparaging glance at the lady in red. Daenerys was inflamed that King Robb's wife had not mentioned the presence of the Usurper's brother and his army at Castle Black before Daenerys had took off with her dragons and Tyrion Lannister.
King Robb clarified, "Stannis Baratheon and his army have gone to Eastwatch-By-the Sea after helping in getting the wildlings set up in the Gift and after his wife Lady Selyse died. Cotter Pyke sent a raven that Stannis has sailed south to retake control of the Stormlands and—" My rightful throne. He halted from continuing and took a long sip from his cup of ale. They were wrong. I was right to believe that a dog is a dog, that there is no difference in their treachery.
"Lady Melisandre, a priestess of Asshai. She follows a god called Rh'ollar and believes in a savior named Azor Azhai that has been reborn to save us from darkness. She believed Stannis Baratheon was Azor Azhai for a long time," explained King Robb. She thought of the masked priestess she had met. Perhaps this Melisandre can explain the words of her fellow priestess.
"I wish to speak to the priestess," requested Dany. King Robb nodded and waved Melisandre to the high table. Lady Melisandre dipped into a curtsey. Daenerys noticed the red stone choker seemed to flicker, or perhaps it was merely a trick of the light. Before Daenerys could utter a word, the sound of a horn went off. She watched everyone stop and stare. King Robb, Satin, and many men stand up out their seats. A few moments later, a young boy bursts into the hall letting in gusts of ice-cold wind. What is happening?
"It's Lord Commander Snow, his wolf, and the crannogman lord, Your Grace," gasped the boy out of breath. King Robb's direwolf called Grey Wind let out a long howl.
"Are they alone?" asked King Robb as he stared at his wolf. The wolf made low growls as it sniffed the air. But whatever the young boy replied was drowned out by another blast of the horn. Once, twice, thrice.
"Three blasts. Oh Gods, the Others at the Wall," choked Satin the personal steward of the absent Lord Commander. There was silence in the dimly lit hall. King Robb's voice boomed with commands and other words that led to cheers, and vigorous nods. But she could not hear over the pounding of her beating heart. It's time. Time to deliver the land of my birth from these monsters. Her lilac eyes met bright blue eyes.
"Burn them before we are overrun by them." It was not said in a commanding way but in an urgent manner that matched how she felt. Daenerys nodded. She and the King in the North ran out of the dining hall, their paths diverging as she ran to her dragons and he with his direwolf to likely find Jon Snow and fight on foot. She heard a female voice call after them.
"Nissa Nissa! Nissa Nissa!" But she kept on running. She found her children as she left them sulking in the snow with charred bones of the horses littered around them. Rhaegal shrieked at her approach. All three looked up at her with interest and excitement to see her. She dug for her small bag buried in the snow that carried her crop. Once, she found it she clamored onto Drogon's back. Daenerys Targaryen commanded them in High Valyrian to fly and smiled as Drogon's large wings flapped like the sound of thunder.
Robb ran through the tunnel with Grey Wind. They had to have made it through the gate by now. He shouted Jon's name several times.
"Jon! Lord Howland!" he yelled his voice echoing. He saw a figure enter the outer gate. Robb could hear the roar of the dragons.
"Your Grace," answered Lord Reed. "Jon has turned back to fight the Others as the dragonfire is killing them in great numbers."
"Will the Wall hold?" asked Robb nervously. Less than six hundred men of the Night's Watch from Shadow Tower to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, Robb's own army was not at its full numbers. There were still quite a number of wildling men and women who could fight. Lord Howland Reed stared at the ice walls.
"We shall see how strong the magic wards are." Robb took note of giant bag made up of cloaks that Lord Howland carried.
"Daggers and arrows of dragonglass," explained Reed. The gate made a loud clang as it began to lower. Robb without thinking ran out the gate before it closed on him with Grey Wind growling ahead. Robb climbed on to Grey Wind. He looked up to see the three dragons soaring above, swooping down to let out a burning inferno on the Others. He spotted Daenerys riding the great black and red one. He turned his attention back to the ground. Jon was battling one that the dragonfire had missed. Robb spotted two Others heading for Jon and spurred Grey Wind faster. He cut off one head and stabbed one in the back.
"You made it back," shouted both Jon and Robb with smiles on their faces over the loud roars of the dragons, and the high-pitched squeals of dying Others.
"I see Daenerys Targaryen has made it to Westeros," noted Jon. Robb nodded. Robb had questions on the tip of his tongue but inhuman speed of the approaching Others had to be dealt with first. He could hear battle cries and shouts of men behind them. They likely came out to fight with the dragonglass Lord Howland Reed had brought. Ghost was snarling and snapping as he watched Jon's back. He coughed from smell the smoke of burning trees. As he killed three Others, he saw a flying burning log or something land on half a dozen Others. His seconds long distraction kept him from preparing for Grey Wind's sudden lurching jump.
'Covered in blood you shall drown
In a land of snow with Ice'
Why those words popped into his mind as he was thrown off the back of Grey Wind, he did not know. He scrambled up to his feet with Ice still in his hand looking around for any Others coming his way. Grey Wind growled at him and tugged at his leather boot. A murder of crows flew over head. So many that made the already dark ice cold evening seem like the hour of the ghosts. Grey Wind continued to growl. Robb took this as a sign to retreat back to the Wall. Before he could run the green dragon shrieked and descended a few feet away from Robb. Robb couldn't move as the wind from the flapping wings sent flying snow in his eyes. The scaled beast shot flames of orange-yellow flecked with green fire at the woods and in the air. Robb turned away from the heat, and ran away from the dragon.
"Look out Robb!" he heard Jon's deep voice call out. The large dark green scaled tail was coming at him. Robb tried to duck in time but he was hit and flown back twenty feet away. Ice fell out of his hand as he landed hard on his back in 'remains' of the Others and blood. Wincing in sharp pain Robb slowly sat up. He saw the dead body that was front down on the ground.
No head. Robb screamed and scrambled away backwards to his sword, when he realized whose blood he had laid in.
A/N: Okay. I don't know if dragonglass daggers are single use weapons. I can't remember if the dagger Sam used shattered after he used it cause I don't have my books with me. All I remember is that he drops it in the show.
I apologize if it wasn't action-ny enough. I tried my best even though I wanted to skip it and go straight to the aftermath and just summarize. Anyways, I appreciate all of you guys' interest in my story!
As always leave a comment/review!