Hello everyone! I am SO sorry about making you all wait but it wasn't by choice. Unfortunately, work took a turn for the crazy and for the last 7 months, I have been working 6 day a week and working that much does not help the creative juices flow so I am sorry if this is not up to my usual standards.

I know you have all be despretly waiting for Old Valyria and I promise you that it is to be the next chapter I'm working on. I had this chapter partly written before things got crazy as I wanted to set up some plot hooks for later in the story so as I have now finished this chapter, I shall start working on the next one.

I promise I won't leave you all hanging this long again!

WW

Chapter 28 – Meanwhile Else Where…

Greywater Watch

Bran was having…strange….dreams.

They had started shortly after he arrived at Greywater Watch.

When Bran had first arrived at Greywater Watch, he found the concept of a "floating castle" a bit strange but very cool. He liked Lord Reed, the Lord of Greywater Watch. Lord Reed had been kind to him and happily answered any questions Bran had about living in the Neck. He thought that Jojon was a bit odd but liked him all the same. Jojon Reed was a little bit older then him but they still had lots of fun playing together and climbing things they shouldn't. Jojon also had been teaching Bran the secrets of the swamps. They were often out in the waterways and swamps of the Neck, showing Bran how to navigate the channels, showing him what was safe to eat and what was poisons, how to make fish traps and other things that helps one survive the deadly swamplands.

On these journeys into the Neck, they were often accompanied by Jojon's sister, Meera.

Bran found Meera confusing. On one hand, she was a Lady, with ladies' perfect manners and knew how to dance, sing and play the harp, but, on the other hand, she was like Arya. A wild free spirit, she knew how to fight and hunt. She wore pants and a tunic, not ladies dresses and had wild black curls that refused to be tamed.

But dear gods, she knew a lot.

She taught Bran the lore of the Neck and how to hunt with a net and trident. Bran had at first, refused lean what she was trying to teach him because he didn't want to learn hunting from a girl, but after she had demonstrated just how good she was with her chosen weapons, Bran changed his mind and starting learning what she had to teach.

As the days progressed and Bran settled in, he started having strange dreams at night when he was sleeping.

At first, he saw images of a great Weirwood tree, one that was much bigger than the one in Winterfell's godswood, located on top of a small hill, with what looked to be like a cave opening in the side of the hill. Another image he saw regularly was what looked like a mountain of ice from a distance, stretching as far as the eye could see and taller than anything Bran had ever seen before. The image of a huge fort built into the mountain of ice, slowly falling into ruin. Images of a three eyed raven and of wolves as big as horses. Of children that weren't children, of white beings that resembled men with ice blue eyes and of a man who was no longer a man with a crown of black rocks on his head and eyes bluer then the deep ice.

It went on and on until one night, Bran had seen himself in his dreams. He had looked older in this dream and appeared to be sitting in a wheeled chair, staring into a fireplace that looked like the one in his room in Winterfell.

Bran was wondering why his older self was sitting in a chair with wheels attached to it when "dream Bran" turned his head and looked at him and spoke.

"You will not suffer my fate, but our destiny remains the same."

Bran's eyes snapped open and he was breathing hard. He was now officially creeped out. Bran had had lots of dreams in his young life but never before had his dreams spoken to him! Bran shuddered as the words that "dream Bran" had spoken his head again.

"You will not suffer my fate, but our destiny remains the same."

What in seven hells did THAT mean?

Bran thought about it for a while but couldn't come up with an answer. He decided to speak to Jojon about these strange dreams. Jojon had told Bran that he had what he called Greendreams. These dreams could predict the future to a certain point but, the meaning of such dreams were not always clear. Bran wasn't sure if he believed in such things but with him having his own strange and disturbing dreams, he figured it couldn't hurt to ask an expert in strange dreams but that could wait until morning.

With that settled, Bran rolled over and went back to sleep, hoping that he would have a "normal" dream for once.

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Casterly Rock

Tywin Lannister stared out the window of his solar in deep thought. His "informants" in the North, had reported to him with some interesting information about major happenings in the North.

He had precious few spies in the North, but those he did have were very well placed, although he had none in Winterfell itself. The information they brought him had shocked him to his core.

Eddard Stark had made an alliance with the Wildlings.

Eddard Stark had allowed the Wildlings to cross the Wall and settle on the Gift.

Eddard Stark believed that White Walkers and the Dead walked once more.

Eddard Stark now had a huge Dire Wolf to protect him.

Eddard Stark had legitimized his bastard.

Eddard Stark had named Tyrion as a Friend of the North

Eddard Stark actually LIKED his youngest son!

That last one alone was enough to send him into shock.

The alliance with the Wildlings would send major political shockwaves all over Westeros. While he had initially scoffed at the notion of walking corpses, the informant had sworn on his life, the Gods and the Seven Hells that it was true. He had been at the peace talks and had seen the walking dead for himself. Like a majority of the representatives, he had also shit himself at the sight of a legend come to life.

The man had spoked so fervently and with such sincerity about what he had witnessed, that it convinced Tywin that there might just be some truth to what the man was saying and if it was true, Westeros and the rest of the world were in very deep trouble and if it wasn't true…well then, it should be an interesting power play to watch…and take advantage of any number of situations that may arise.

In regards to the alliance between the Wildlings and the north, if what he was told was reliable and Tywin suspected it might be, the terms of the alliance sounded something like a joint military action in return for safety behind the Wall, but it wasn't against the rest of Westeros.

The wildling would repair the forts along the Wall and they would then man them. They would work alongside the Nights Watch and the people of the North to secure Wall and guard the Realms of Men against the Night King and his armies of the Dead.

His informant's repot stated that proof that been presented, proof that the dead walked had been given to all the Northern Lords. The report also stated that according to the Wildling leaders, this was the first signs that the Long Night would soon be here. They had also stated that given that they live north of the Wall, they would be the first target for the Night King and his army. This was the reason why they asked for an alliance with the North in exchange for sanctuary in the North behind the Wall when winter comes.

Tywin read that part of the report again and thought about it while he poured himself a rarely indulged glass of wine. Ned Stark was a smart man, but, his honour wouldn't allow him to be devious and cunning. His honour would not allow him to lie so blatantly, so if he had seen proof that the dead walked, then the dead walked.

Tywin took a sip of his wine and moved onto another part of the report that interested him on a personal level. It seemed that Tyrion had asked for and received permission to buy a plot of land in the North. What Tyrion would do with this land, he didn't know but he had told his informant to find out and report it as soon as possible. Tywin wished he could ask Tyrion himself but he wasn't able to.

Tyrion had disappeared.

Tyrion and Jon Stark had disappeared from Winterfell.

And no one seemed to know where they went.

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Kings Landing

Cersei

Cersei smiled and stretched in the late afternoon sunlight. Things were good in the Red Keep at this moment. Robert had gone on yet another hunting trip to the Kingswood and had once again left Jamie behind to guard her and the children. This pleased Cersei as it meant that Jamie could once again grace her bed with his presence.

She smiled again. Robert, as usual, was completely clueless as to what would transpire between the siblings while he was absent and the fact that no one else seemed to realise what was happening was a bonus and while Cersei had no trouble in blackmailing, threatening or even killing someone to keep silent, it was always a risk to do so.

Cersei looked down into the training yard when she heard Joffrey yelling. It seemed that once again, he had failed to penetrate Ser Barristan's defences and had been disarmed. Joffrey was yelling at both Ser Barristan and Jamie that it was their fault, that they weren't training him properly and that as heir the throne, they had no choice but to do as he told them or they would suffer some unnamed consequences for whatever wrong that Joffrey thought they had transgressed against him.

Cersei frowned. Joffrey was her darling boy and the heir the Iron Throne but even she had to admit that he had a temper and could be impulsive to the point of stupidity sometimes but he was still young and she was sure that she could train him out of his bad habits. The gods knew that his "step-father" would never do so. Robert had very little to do with the children and ignored Joffrey in particular.

Her eyes traveled across the yard and her frown deepened when she saw that once again, Jon Arryn was watching Joffrey intensely.

This had been happening more and more recently and it wasn't just Joffrey that he had been watching. Tommen too, had suffered under the man's intense stares. Tommen though had noticed and was starting to become scared of the Hand of the King. Cersei snorted. Tommen was a weak child, more interesting in cats then in thrones and swords.

No, it was a blessing that Tommen would never be king as the realms would suffer under one as weak willed as him. Her precious Joffrey on the other hand would make a fine strong king who would listen to his mother's wisdom.

Cersei looked at Jon Arryn again. His eyes were narrowed as he watched Jamie instruct Joffrey in the proper counter to Ser Barristan's attack. Cersei could see the resemblance Joffrey had in regards to Jamie.

Joffrey did look a lot like his true father and Tommen even more so.

Could he know the truth? Cersei didn't think so but this intense scrutiny of her children seemed to indicate that something had caught the Hand's interest. Cersei decided that the old man didn't know anything but also decided to tell Jamie not to be seen around Joffrey so much from now on. Things would go VERY badly for her if the truth was found out but for now, she would keep an eye on the old man and if he did find any proof, well, he was old and accidents happen to old people all the time.

Cersei turned around and returned to the Red Keep determined not to worry. It was a beautiful day and would be an even better night.

She smiled. She did so love it when Robert was away.

Littlefinger

Lord Petyr Baelish opened his eyes and shuddered. Speaking with his "master" was never a pleasant experience and once again, he berated himself for getting into this position in the first place. Admittedly, he had been young, injured, weak, full of hate and vengeance and at the time but that was no excuse for getting involved with a supernatural power.

He sighed. Things would have been so different if Brandon Stark had just died when he challenged him to that stupid duel for Cat's hand but love was a sickness that make the smartest of men do stupid things.

He shook himself again and concentrated on what his "master" wanted of him now. His orders were to create as much chaos and distractions possible in order to destabilize Westeros so his "master" and his minions could take advantage of said distraction to mobilize without interference. If Petyr managed to successes in doing this, then he would be ruling Westeros in the aftermath of his '"masters" war against those who had defeated him the last time he came, which meant the Starks of Winterfell would be his primary target with the rest of the North being secondary targets. Petyr had agreed to become one of his "masters agents" on two conditions.

One, Westeros below the Neck would remain a living mortal kingdom with those not killed to be ruled over by Petyr. The dead were welcome to the North and the rest of the World.

If Jon and Tyrion had known about this condition, they would have howled with mocking laughter.

Two, Sansa Stark would be spared and given to Petyr as a reward for his hard work.

After all, every King needs a Queen.

And Sansa would grow to be more beautiful than her mother…also more pliable and easily molded.

He did like them young.

That countless innocents would die during his "masters" war didn't bother him one bit. The small folk were there for the highborn to use and abuse as they pleased and thus were of little consequence in the long run.

The highborn however…

Petyr had many, many grudges against the good and great families of Westeros. He had many plans for revenge for a multitude of insults and slights said and done to him since he was a child. The Starks being the worst of the lot in Petyr's mind. As far as he was concerned, it had been the Starks that were the cause of most of his problems, starting with Brandon Stark becoming betrothed to Cat and Eddard Stark for marring his beloved Cat and taking her away from him and to a place he couldn't easily see her after Brandon was dead. That Cat or Ned didn't really have a choice in the matter was immaterial.

Oh yes, the Starks would pay.

He had already started his revenge against them in the form of letters to young Sansa. His agents in the North had informed him that the child was already a great beauty and resembled her mother very much. Through harmless flattery and manipulation he was already starting to turn Sansa against her family by getting her to think of herself as a future Queen of Westeros, married to the handsome prince Joffrey who would be king. That Joffrey had no idea that the girl even existed didn't matter one bit.

Another thing his "master" instructed him to do was to kill the Stark bastard. While his "master" had not said why he wanted the bastard dead, Petyr decided to try to manipulate someone else into doing it…someone like his beloved Cat. So he started writing to her shortly after Ned returned from Dorne and started to poison her against the boy, turning any chance for loving and accepting the boy into hatred and disgust for his intrusion into her "perfect" little world. While she didn't have the guts to up and dispose of the child, he had managed to drive a wedge of hatred and distrust between them that he could and did use to his advantage

While Cat was a strong and smart woman, she was blinded where he was concerned. She would only forever see him as a friend and while he loved her, he also resented her for it. He resented her for not being able to see that he was the better man for her. Better than the dull and insipid honor bound Ned Stark.

Although he was curious as to why his "master" wanted the Stark bastard dead.

Luckily, he had about three or four years by his reasoning to put some plans into motion. As long as there was trouble and turmoil within the realm by the fall, his "master" would be pleased and he would be one step closer to becoming King in his own right.

It was time to get to work.