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Wright [chapter 52]: Ghost will be perfectly fine, the direwolves are like my babies as well as the Starks'. Yeah, the decision to finally kill off a character as major as Theon was not made lightly. I had different versions of chapter 52 written out but alas, someone has to die. It was his destiny to kill the man who killed his father, regardless of his relationship with Balon but he didn't kill Euron and ended up not proving to be strong enough to kill the man. Euron got too cocky though and was killed by Tormund. In this chapter, the repercussions of what happened are seen at Winterfell and we return to Ashara but first, we'll return to the Starks and the day after they find out what happened. Hope you enjoy the next chapter.

This might end in two chapters, thanks for coming along the ride so far!

*The Bear Island Scene takes place shortly after the Winterfell Wildfire Attack. The second Stark siblings scene takes place months after when they arrive at King's Landing.*

*I've reworked the Bloody Gate a little. I've made it the home of some friends of Sansa's whom we will be introduced to in this chapter. House Loveden (I thought about the irony since they have 'love' in their name yet their House lives in the Bloody Gate which has a lot of history). House Loveden is sworn to the Arryns and serve as vassals for them. Donnel Waynwood is the Knight of the Gate as in the books and show and also protects House Loveden's forces. Also, these characters were made by one of you!*


The next morn, the members of the Small Council, Bran and Lord Reed met with the Kings in the tent they were in last night. It had been a hard night, most of all for the Starks.

Arya had visited Jon after Robb had left to sleep and she'd held him as he cried.

"Ygritte's a fighter," she had said. She also stated that "I've never seen you cry so much, Jon. When all of this is over, the only tears you'd let fall will be happy ones, I swear."

"Thank you, Arya," he had replied. "I'm sure Gendry wishes for the warmth of his wife."

Arya nodded, giving him one last tight hug before she headed back out the tent and into her own shared with Gendry. That night, she didn't sleep herself.

Robb cleared his throat as everyone sat down. "Yara Greyjoy, once she gets our raven, she will learn that she is our new Mistress of Ships and Lady Commander of the Iron Fleet. And when she has sent a raven that she has taken down his ships, she will join us in King's Landing," he said quietly. "We must move on."

"The time for mourning isn't now," Brienne began just as quiet as the Young Wolf. "As long as Cersei Lannister remains on that throne, no one is safe."

"And she could have assassins crawling all over the realms," Tyrion added. "We have to move quickly if we are to prevent anyone from being harmed," he paused. "Who hasn't already been harmed."

"By now, she would have learnt that Euron Greyjoy was killed," Jon said. "We can use his death as an advantage because she would have lost her ships."

"Now, time to strategise our next plans..." Robb said, everyone's eyes lowering down to look at the maps before them. "It's time to cause a great amount of damage against Cersei. She burnt our castle, so we'll burn hers."

...

Serene.

Everything was serene.

The last clump of sand had been swept up and disposed of in the dungeons for safe-keeping in case of another wildfire attack. Everyone hoped to their gods that another one would not happen.

Unsure of what to do regarding their fallen men, Ygritte had requested that the body of Ser Warrick be burnt and a prayer said. For Theon... She'd have to keep him in his chambers until the Starks returned to properly bury him.

"Your Grace?" Davos called out to her.

She turned to him and gave him a small smile. "Yes?"

"Do you wish to see King Jon's direwolf?" He asked, gesturing to the door. "The poor beast's been crying for his master. Mayhaps, you can soothe him?"

"He isn't my beast," Ygritte said.

Davos gave her a look and she responded in kind before relenting to his request. She had to visit Ghost sometime.

"After I've seen him, have him brought to my chambers. Jon would want his direwolf to be comfortable here," she said, standing up and heading over to the bed where a thin veil laid on. "What do the Lords and Ladies say?"

"They'd pledge men to help rebuild the destroyed Wings, my Queen," Davos replied. "Some are personally coming to do the work themselves. Mayhaps, an inspiring speech may help them relax after what happened."

Attaching the veil over her head, Ygritte shook her head with a frown. "I don't want to be seen by anyone. Just speak on my behalf."

"You are one of their queens-"

"Yet, they have made it very clear where I stand regarding how North I am. Speak on my behalf, Ser Davos - do not make me ask again," she said, opening the door and leaving.

Tormund followed behind her and they silently made their way outside, disregarding the charred hallways leading to the East Wing.

Outside, they went to the direwolves' cage where Grey Wind laid protectively in front of his brother.

He regarded the Wildlings warily, giving Ghost a whine to which he replied with a whine of his own.

"Oh, Ghost," Ygritte muttered, kneeling down to stroke his fur. She didn't care that she was getting her white cotton breeches dirty. This direwolf was just as much hers as he was Jon's.

Slowly, Ghost's eyes began to brighten and Ygritte let out a relieved sob.

"Hello," she whispered into the direwolf's ear. "I'm fine, Jon. I promise you and Ghost is fine too. We're all... fine."

It was lies. She wasn't fine, Ghost was getting there and Theon was dead along with many other loyal men who died protecting the castle and her.

Ghost began to sniff at her veil and she sighed heavily, scratching the direwolf's neck.

"People wouldn't like to see what that Greyjoy Cunt did to me but I am fine. Now go back and be a king," she snapped.

With one last whine, Ghost's eyes dimmed and returned to normal as Ygritte continued to pet the direwolf, even giving Grey Wind some attention.

She spent hours there, in the dirt with the direwolves. No one dared disturb her, not even to ask if she'd wanted to eat. It was until she had to have a message written for Bear Island that she got up and left the cage with one last scratch behind both direwolves' ears.

Just before she entered the castle, Ned stopped her and she immediately knew what the man wanted.

"Can you at least wait until I've sent my babes a message from their mother?" She hissed impatiently.

"Yes, fine," Ned said, backing away with his hands raised. She may have carried fewer knives but he was still wary. "I will be waiting in the cells."

"I'll be there," she replied shortly, heading inside.

Everything was quiet, and Ygritte knew the reason why. They were in mourning, people were starting to be wary but that didn't stop anyone from moving on and going about their day. As if no one had died nor the castle had burnt down in the West and East Wings.

Arriving at Lorin's chambers, she asked the Grand Maester to help her write messages to the Stark siblings and Bear Island. She had to be quick because something told her that Ned was reaching his limit regarding the woman she had imprisoned in a cell.

She hoped he wouldn't give in and send a raven confessing all to Jon. Now, that would make her delay questioning the septa in pure pettiness.

"...And let Jon know, I'm fine," she said, releasing a deep breath. "I'm fine," she said to herself. "I'm fine."

...

Weeks and days went by and Arya lost count of them. Not that they would matter anyway. The days would mean something once the Lannister dynasty was over and speaking of the Lannister dynasty, they were nearing King's Landing.

It was within their sights, a once beautiful city now nearly ghosted by the remnants of the damage the wildfire caused when the Great Sept of Baelor was burnt down.

"We'll make camp here, we are close enough," Robb said, slowing his horse down.

Jon's horse followed his and they got down from their horses by a tree.

"Do you expect us to walk this far?" Arya asked with a slight frown as she got down from her horse and made her way over to the Kings, a stableboy leading the three horses away. "We may be able to see it with our eyes but that doesn't mean we can take one step and be there."

"Acting like a princess now?" Jon teased his sister, receiving a deathly scowl in reply. "We are making camp here to remain undetected. Who knows what forces Cersei has hidden? We can't take any chances, Arya."

The Night Wolf pursed her lips in agreement, turning around and heading towards Sansa who was stroking Spring and speaking to Tyrion. She had noticed the two of them getting closer over the days and of course, it would have had something to do with that wine they stole from their brothers.

She didn't mind, the dwarf was the better Lannister out of all of them but she couldn't resist giving Jaime deathly glares whenever he passed by. The only thing she had against him was that he pushed Bran and made him a cripple.

But Bran was walking now and in becoming a cripple, he had found himself a prophecy no matter how short-lived it was. Now, as he walked, he still kept his Greensight abilities and was getting wedded.

Speaking of getting wedded, an uncomfortable feeling sunk in Arya's stomach as she finally reached Sansa and Tyrion. Both of them had a slight blush on their cheeks when she arrived before them.

"I'll leave you two alone, my Princesses," Tyrion said, a slight bow for Arya as he walked off to find Jaime and Brienne.

"Arya, look at the sight before us," Sansa said, gesturing to King's Landing and the Red Keep where their enemy, Cersei Lannister sat on that bloody throne. "Very soon, all of that would be gone. With the Winter Throne, it will be rebuilt under a new identity, one which people do not fear."

"What are you talking about, gone?" Arya asked. "I thought we were killing Cersei and being done with it?"

Sansa smirked. "I've spoken to the Kings," she said under her breath. "And they've spoken to Lady Daenerys."

"And?"

"The dragons will burn it all down. We will obviously have the innocent people taken to safety and anyone who wants to burn with King's Landing may do so," Sansa replied nonchalantly.

Arya was surprised. That was one way to make sure a dynasty stayed defeated. But King's Landing was peoples' homes. Gendry was raised in the slums there.

Thinking about Gendry, Arya changed the subject. "Can we take a walk, sister?"

They walked away from the men setting up the camp, giving polite smiles to the workers as they raised tents and tended to the trees to get wood for fires.

Nymeria stalked behind the Princesses silently, making sure to stay close to her master. She was not going to let anything happen to the Assassin Princess.

"What do you want to talk about?" Sansa asked once they were out of earshot.

Halting in her tracks, Arya blurted, "My moonblood was supposed to come but it hasn't."

"It may come tomorrow, don't worry," Sansa replied, waving her hand. "It happens. Sometimes, it's late."

Arya nodded but she wasn't convinced. "It's been weeks since Gendry and I first had intimacy... after our wedding. My moonblood no matter what happened always was on time. It was supposed to come last week, Sansa. What am I going to do? I can't be a-"

"Be quiet, Arya," Sansa cut her off. "Of course, you can be a mother."

"But I told you, Robb and Jon, that I wasn't ready to be one. I can't look after myself let alone a babe, Sansa," Arya shakily said.

"Well, hope it's a false alarm," Sansa said sadly. "I'm sure you would make a good mother though."

Arya scowled and shook her head. She couldn't believe Sansa. Trying to push being a parent on her - she was an assassin, she had enemies everywhere. How could she be a mother when she was fighting all of her life. At least, not too soon.

But the more she thought about it, she remembered how her siblings spoke of their children. Robb had said that when she was ready, she'd be filled with nothing but joy.

She placed a tentative hand over her womb and looked at Sansa with wide eyes. "What if they don't love me for who I am?" She whispered.

Sansa tutted, bringing the younger woman in for a tight hug. "They're your children, they'll love you despite your flaws just as Gendry loves you despite you killing people in cold blood."

"Hmm!" Arya frowned, earning a chuckle from her sister. "Thank you. Don't tell-"

"My lips are sealed until you know for certain. By then, you'd tell Gendry first then our older brothers," Sansa replied.

"Oh gods, I haven't even thought of Robb and Jon...!" Arya cried out.

"They will be happy but mayhaps, you should tell them after everything if it's true."

Arya nodded. "Yes. Right now, we have a false queen to kill. Are you ready now that we've arrived?"

Sansa smiled. "I've been ready since Lady Olenna left me her poison ring, Arya. It's time to end this and defeat another threat to our family. It's our time, our dynasty and no one will take that from us."

"Or else we'll kill them," Arya said.

"I know Jon and Robb may not want blood on their hands - a peaceful rule but we all know that with great power, blood is spilt," Sansa told her sister. "Our enemies are inevitable and we can't always show mercy. I'm thirsty for blood."

"Unsurprisingly, so am I," Arya replied. "Are we doing this? Making a deal?"

Sansa licked her bottom lip before replying with, "Yes. If we have an enemy as formidable as Cersei Lannister, we won't offer them mercy - we will kill them. You and me, we will kill them."

"You're right, Sansa. With every throne, blood will always be spilt. We can't ensure a peaceful rule. It's time for you and me to make a few rules."

Their hands met in a firm handshake before the younger woman hugged her sister again.

"Thank you for seeing me as the woman I am, the potential in me," she said against the redhead's chest.

"You're welcome, Arya. Now, let's return before they send out a search party."

...

"I'm here," Ygritte said, joining Ned in front of Lemore's cell. "Let her out and take her to the Great Hall."

"Yes, Your Grace," the guard said.

Ned and Ygritte walked on as the guards tended to Lemore, taking her out of the cell with respect - she was still a woman of faith. Although, Ned doubted she'd have the time to learn how to be one of those septas that she claimed to be.

"What will you do with her?" Ned asked.

"I can't do anything - she's Jon's mother. We just need to get what we can from her and keep her in the cells," Ygritte replied.

Once they got to the Great Hall, they sat at the High Table, Ned feeling uncomfortable about the whole situation. He'd made his decision and he would stick with it. He didn't have the heart to trust traitors.

Septa Lemore was led in by two guards. They allowed her to walk without chains and kept their distance.

When she stood in front of the High Table, she gave Ned a soft smile. She wanted to hold him but she knew the Wildling sat beside him would probably cut her hand off.

"Ned... it's good to see you, cousin," she said, dropping her false identity. "I'm sorry for the lies but it was too dangerous."

"You're accused of selling Cersei Lannister vital intel from the Winter Throne," Ned snapped. "I highly doubt you should be saying pleasantries when you've stabbed your own son in his back."

"Does he know?" Ashara asked nervously. "I never meant to hurt him - I wanted to hurt Eddard-"

"The man is dead, move on!" Ned cried out. "Just as we believed you to be... Why do this? What does Cersei have that you want? What would you want that you'd hurt Jon?"

Ashara sighed, tears slipping down her cheeks. "After Jon was taken from my chambers and I went to throw myself from the Palestine Sword, I wanted to never wake up. But the Stranger saved my life, I was granted another chance to leave behind the pain of my past."

"To leave me, Ria and Jon behind?" Ned asked tersely. "Your son, sister and cousin? That was selfish of you."

Ygritte looked between both of them and she decided to stay quiet. She wasn't her family any way even though Ashara was her goodmother. She highly doubted Jon would forgive the woman for her deception.

"It was," Ashara admitted. "But Eddard was selfish to steal my babe and let another woman raise him."

"Catelyn Stark never raised Jon," Ned stated. "But he did have a loving father, half-brothers and half-sisters."

"Whom you want dead," Ygritte interjected. "Because they are the legitimate children of the man who took your son. You want him to hurt but how can you hurt a man already dead?"

Ned slowly nodded at his goodcousin's words. Ygritte and he made sense, how could Ashara want revenge on a man long since gone? Vengeance seriously made people go mad.

"Nothing good will come out of this. Jon will be reunited with you only to learn that you wanted the siblings he loves dead. He will never forgive you and Ashara, I can tell you this now - I won't either," Ned told the older woman.

Her violet eyes, dimmed with years of sadness, widened at his words. His own sparkled with unshed tears but he didn't let them fall. He gave her a bitter smile.

"Shame he doesn't have your eyes," Ned said gently. "They used to be beautiful from what I remember as a child. Revenge doesn't get anyone anywhere."

"Say that to the Stark girls going to murder Cersei," Ashara hissed. "Didn't her family have their parents killed? Oh, let's not forget Princess Arya's husband's half-siblings who no longer breathe. This whole marching to the South is one revenge party."

"But it is for the greater good," Ygritte replied. "Once this Iron Throne is no more-"

"The Winter Throne prevails!" Ashara cut her off. "Will it be any better? It's just another reason for another House to believe they are better than the rest of us. Peaceful rule? Ruling with the people?" She began to laugh. "It's all delusional! People will eventually see what's really underneath their so-called Kings of Winter. Nothing but darkness and bloodthirst. When that happens, the first thing they'll do is send for all of your heads."

"Now you don't care about saving your son?" Ygritte asked, eyebrows raised. "The spy - whom we have locked up and will deal with later - promised that Cersei will keep Jon alive and have the rest of his siblings killed. Now, you're fully turning against him."

Ashara faltered. "He stopped being my son years ago when his father stole him from me."

"I'm beginning to see why, you're mad," Ned cried out. "As mad as the queen who sits on the Iron Throne. As all the Targaryens in the past!"

"Watch yourself, little cousin - we still share the same blood!"

"Unfortunately-"

"Enough!" Ygritte screamed, both Daynes turning to her in shock and slight embarrassment. "Tell us everything you reported to the Lannister spy. Miss anything out, I'll kill you here and now, I promise you."

Ashara sighed. "Your plans to march South. Who remained at the castle. Princess Arya's daily routine. Where to find the chambers of the babes."

"You'd have your grandchildren killed?" Ygritte asked in disbelief. "Innocent little babes killed for what? To make you feel better?"

"You're not hurting Eddard Stark, you're hurting yourself," Ned told his cousin. "I've never been so horrified in my life. About someone who shares my blood no less! When Jon decides what to do with you, I won't help you. You deserve everything coming to you, Ashara."

"You would never understand how it feels to lose a child," Ashara began to say under her breath. "How it feels to see the life leave their body and have their twin snatched from under your nose. I hope you never do."

Ygritte's eyes watered and for a moment, she understood where the woman was coming from. She had to do whatever it took to return to her child. She too was separated from Baby Benjen and Lydia and she was counting the days until they'd be reunited with Jon as a family.

"Take her to the cells. We are done here," Ygritte told the guards.

The guards escorted Ashara out and Ned turned to Ygritte, a sigh escaping his lips.

"She's right but it doesn't excuse what she did," Ned said. "What do we do now?"

"We wait. Protect the North and wait," Ygritte replied. "I am sorry about your cousin."

Ned smiled bitterly. "She was a lost cause the moment we lost Arthur. Things were never the same after his death."

"Wine?"

"Please."

...

"Can you imagine living here, at Bear Island?" Lyanna asked Rickon as they walked through the hallways of Bear Island with Jorah walking behind them protectively. They were looking after Little Cat to give Mya, Talisa and the wetnurses some time to recover and focus on the twins.

Rickon nodded, giving her a smile. "It's smaller than Winterfell," he said. "But that will make getting to know it better. Mayhaps, we can make a Peace Garden here too."

His eyes cast down to Little Cat who had tripped over and he quickly was on his knees, bringing the girl back to her feet before she could wail. He didn't want her loud cries to scream down the castle as she did when they first arrived.

Lyanna beamed happily, watching as he tended to his niece. "We will have all the Peace Gardens here!" She assured him. "I'm sorry about Winterfell."

"It was going to happen regardless if we were strong enough to stop it," Rickon admitted sadly. "We suffer losses but we still have each other."

The couple were disrupted by some commotion heading their way in the form of Ser Poderick, Bear Island's maester and Queen Talisa. The heavily pregnant Queen was not amused by the men following her.

"Your Grace, what is the matter?" Rickon asked, leaving Lyanna and Little Cat's sides to join the Queen in walking away from the people behind her.

"They are trying to force me into bed rest. I cannot rest whilst our goodsister suffers at Winterfell alone and our husbands are out to war," Talisa replied. "Oh, Little Lord, don't you worry - everything will be over soon." She cradled his cheek.

"So they say," Rickon said with a sigh. "But if you are unwell, the babe will be too. Please, listen to the maester."

Lyanna joined the Queen on her other side. "Maester Nock is one of the best, I assure you, my Queen. He means well," she said, glaring at the flustered maester. "Treat your Queen with the respect she deserves, Maester Nock."

Maester Nock nodded. "Of course, my Lady and my Prince. Please, my Queen, you must be in bed. The babe will be distressed."

"Please, sister," Rickon said into her ear. "Robb will be upset should you lose another babe. We must do everything to prevent him from blaming himself again."

The Volantian Queen finally relented and halted, placing a hand on her bump. She then reached down and carried Little Cat, the child resting her head against her aunt's chest. Turning to Nock, she gave him a nod and allowed Pod to help her back down the hallway, the maester sighing in relief as he went after them.

"I understand where she is coming from," Rickon said, turning to Lyanna. "I'm too much of a coward to truly be a knight - to protect the home I was born and raised in."

Lyanna placed a comforting hand on his forearm. "You are brave, Rickon. But the Kings sent you here to protect you-"

"I don't need protection. I am a man now! The youngest Kingsguard appointed. I am certain that Ser Jaime was never stopped from fighting for his King when he was first appointed. I'm not a child, and they still treat me as one," he said sadly.

"Then what will you do?" Lyanna asked him. "Run in, head first and get yourself killed?"

"No one questions you. You were a child when you became Lady Mormont. You are my age yet, everyone sees you for who you are and does not question you or stop you from doing anything. Even your advisors are scared of you but no one fears me for who I am. They fear me because of my brothers. I'm just Prince Rickon Stark, rarely Ser Rickon Stark, Wintersguard."

Lyanna sighed. "Fine," she said, kissing his cheek. "What do you want to do, my Prince?"

"I want to fight. To give my brothers a reason to trust me. I'm going to King's Landing."

"When?"

"Today," Rickon said. "And I'm going alone."

Lyanna rolled her eyes. "At least take Ser Poderick with you."

"If you are to leave Bear Island without complaint, I'd listen to your betrothed," Jorah teased.

"Fine. I will go alone... but with Ser Poderick," he reiterated. "And then I can join my family in letting King's Landing burn and the ice take over." He set his face.

...

Ygritte sipped slowly on her wine, watching Ned drink his in resignment. The man wasn't happy and she could tell that things plagued his mind.

"Tell me about your family," she said.

"The lack thereof?" Ned retorted, a small smile playing on his lips but it was a sad smile.

She nodded. "Aye. The lack of."

"It's Jon and me," Ned replied, knowing that his answer would frustrate her. He knew that wasn't what she meant. "Just the last two with real Dayne blood and not traitorous one."

The Wildling Queen sighed heavily, rubbing her finger over her scar softly. It itched a little and she hated how it looked. She wasn't ashamed of it but she feared that she'd scare the little children with how gnarly it looked.

She thought of her other scars and then Jon's. He had scars all over his face and she thought he was still one of the most handsome men in the realms. They didn't judge each other, their scars told a story for every line drawn but the one across her cheek from her eye to her chin made her shiver.

Theon died protecting her, died to avenge his father but he was too weak for the sick cunt he called 'uncle'. She'd failed as a wife, as a queen and as a mother.

How she failed as a wife was that she didn't protect the castle her husband called home, that he along with Sansa and Robb fought to reclaim from Ramsay Bolton.

She failed as a queen because she avoided her marital family's people. She didn't save their home, protect them enough. All she cared about was the Starks.

And as a mother, because as Euron Greyjoy had her pinned down to the ground, she didn't fight back enough to remain unharmed. Now, she was miles away from her babes. Mayhaps, she'd even miss their first nameday.

A knock on the door distracted her from her thoughts and Tormund and Davos entered. They took seats around the table and she gave them both small smiles, offering wine.

"None of that shit for me, Ygritte," Tormund said gruffly, handing his goblet to Davos instead.

"The more for us," Ned joked, pouring himself more. "You were saying, my Queen?"

Ygritte tutted. "Tell me about your family. From your cadet branch, Ashara's branch."

"So, it is true?" Davos asked. "Septa Lemore really is the lost mother of King Jon?"

"She is," Ned said tersely. "That bitch was never fit to be a mother."

"Prince Ned," Davos addressed the young man gently. "She is still of your blood."

Ned's eyes flashed with anger. "She was quick to turn on him - her own son just for revenge on a man long dead. What did Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon ever do to her except give her son loving siblings? Ned Stark was right in taking Jon, she wouldn't have coped but somehow I think otherwise. Mayhaps, my father would have been more bearable and Allyria would be alive."

"I've heard many stories about Dorian Dayne," Davos admitted. "Some say the man had a short temper due to grief."

"We lost my sister, mother, uncle and cousin within a close time. Then Ashara's false suicide and Allyria slitting her own throat... Life was unbearable, my Lord," Ned replied. "The Daynes were falling one by one. I was raised by handmaidens and the Martells' offer to foster me as the new future Lord Dayne had been taken back. Then we remained cut off from the Kingdoms. My father died and I joined the Brotherhood, hoping to numb the pain I felt."

"I can't imagine what you went through," Ygritte said softly. "Whenever Jon speaks about him and his siblings being separated for all those years, it breaks my heart. To see siblings who love each other fiercely be apart."

Ned nodded. "But I had no siblings to go back to. Meeting Arya Stark is probably one of the best things to happen to me in a long time because then, I wouldn't be here reunited with Jon. My cousin - a king! King Jon, a blood relation to a House everyone only speaks of when referring to Cousin Arthur's excellent swordsmanship and valiancy or Ashara's taking of her own life which we all know now that is false."

"You can restore your House's reputation," Davos told him. "Mayhaps marriage may be in your future - you will need an heir."

"Indeed, I'm young but not that young," the blonde replied. "I don't want the Sword of the Morning to end with me. The line of Daynes must continue."

"You like Sansa, don't you?" Ygritte asked. "I'm sure if you'd ask for her hand in marriage, you'd get it-"

"No, no and no," Ned quickly said. "I have nothing against her, don't get my words wrong but I do not like her like that. I just helped her recover from her abusive marriage."

Tormund grinned. "Is that right, boy? Or do you just want to avoid getting your head cut off for saying you want your cousin's sister?"

Ned glared at him. "I do not want my cousin's sister. Not now, not ever. There is nothing between us and I wish everyone would stop saying so. Someone else has caught my eye..."

They all turned to him, expecting his answer but he smiled to them, not quite revealing his secret just yet.

"Well, who is up for more wine?" He asked. "I had some sent from Dorne. Speaking of Dorne, I should return home someday."

"Aye, I'm sure your servants miss yer," Tormund said, a slight grin on his face. "You Southern piece of-"

"Now, you aren't getting any of my wine." Ned frowned.

"Who'd want your shit?" Tormund asked. "I've got my own good ale."

Davos laughed. "I'd prefer the wine over your ale, Ser Tormund but everyone to their own vices, eh? Now, let's stop feeling sorry for ourselves and start ruling a castle for our Kings. We have work to do!"

...

The tent opened and Brienne stepped in, her eyes falling upon the Kings, their conversations with their younger siblings dying. "Your Graces, a House and their bannermen - a vassal of House Arryn have arrived."

"Vassals of House Arryn? Which House?" Robb asked. "The Waynwoods, Royces, Redforts?"

"Neither, Your Graces," Brienne replied.

Then it dawned on Sansa. "House Loveden?" She asked quietly. "Lord Lewys Loveden, he's here?"

Brienne nodded. "Along with his older sister and younger brother, Princess Sansa."

"Malina and Jaspyr," she told her siblings. "They helped me after I escaped King's Landing. Their parents had died and they continued to live at the Bloody Gate under Donnel Waynwood's protection."

"How did they die?" Arya asked out of curiosity.

Sansa sighed. "Yohn Loveden and his wife, Serynne died at the hands of Aunt Lysa shortly after Lord Arryn's death - I cannot go into it, all I know is that they don't hold any of us for her actions."

"If they are here with their bannermen, I assume that they wish to provide their forces to our cause," Bran said.

"Well, we won't turn away any help we get," Jon replied. "Let them in."

Brienne bowed and exited the tend, going to retrieve the Loveden family. Excusing herself, Sansa left behind her, following until she reached the entrance of the camps.

"My Lords and Lady," Brienne addressed the young family. "The Kings have granted you access."

Malina was the first to get off her horse, her eyes meeting Sansa's as she let out a warm, mischievous smile.

"Jonquil," she called out. "Or shall I say, Princess Sansa?"

"I never meant to lie to you," Sansa told the three siblings. "I had to protect myself - I was accused of murder."

"We understand, Princess Sansa," Lewys said. "Did you? Kill the Lannister Brat?"

Sansa shook her head. "And neither did my husband at the time. I can't say for sure but it seemed that it was orchestrated by Lord Petyr Baelish," she lied. It wasn't technically a lie. The man was conspicuous as shit, he could have had a hand in Joffrey's death as well as the Tyrells.

"As we are a vassal House to your cousin, Lord Robin Arryn, he called upon us to serve our bannermen to the cause. We are disgusted by Lord Baelish's actions and we are glad that the Vale is once again in safe control," Malina said. "You'd be surprised to know that we all, not just Lewys, can fight."

The brunette woman lifted her skirts to reveal two safely concealed swords attached to her legs.

"I just have to not sit down," she teased. "I learnt the hard way."

"I'm glad," Sansa told the siblings. "Come, let me introduce you to my family and of course, the Kings. Lady Brienne, if you'd lead?"

Brienne complied, leading Sansa and her friends back towards the royal tent. They passed Jaime and Tyrion, sharing a few goblets of ale by their tent. Both gave the Tully coloured Princess and Lady Comannder a firm nod of acknowledgement.

Entering the tent, Sansa was surprised to see that Bran was no longer there. Arya was pacing, swinging Needle around absentmindedly and the Kings, well, they stopped talking and looked up at their new guests.

"Your Graces, sister; may I introduce you to the Lovedens?" Sansa said, leading the three towards her brothers. "Lords Lewys and Jaspyr and their elder sister, Lady Malina. All very skilled fighters may I add?"

"Welcome, I wish we were being introduced on better terms but there is always a war or a battle to be fought," Robb said. "Not that we mind-"

"We enjoy the sport," Arya said, putting Needle away. She used her new swords, after newly naming them Blood Night and Blood Wolf. She kept with the blood theme, deciding her bloodthirst should be saved for her swords for now.

The Lovedens bowed. Lewys the first to stand when their bows and curtsies were dismissed.

"Honour to meet you," Lewys said. "As the Loveden heir, I speak on the behalf of my siblings when we say that we will serve you."

"You have shown us a better dynasty, we will be happy to do anything to ensure that it happens," Malina added.

Jon gave them a smile. "Well, we're glad that you came just in time."

In Bran's tent, he laid down on his bed and closed his eyes. It had been a while since he had a vision and he felt one coming on. He could predict them now, even though they weren't as regular as he'd wanted but he remembered speaking to Jojen about this many years ago.

Meera was by the fire, cleaning weapons. He didn't know whose weapons they were, mayhaps, her father's and her own but it kept her busy.

She offered him a warm smile, her eyes brightening when his own eyes laid on her.

"Are you alright, my love?" She asked. "You seem troubled."

"Pardon me, I'm just thinking. Nothing troubling, I promise," he replied. "Just... Give me some time, I may have a vision-"

His eyes whitened and he was transported into the Great Hall of the Red Keep. Turning around, he saw all of the Stark children facing Cersei who sat on the Iron Throne.

The Lannister Queen's eyes were wide with madness as she spat words at the six Starks, her words muted for Bran to hear. But he could see her face reddening as she screamed and shouted at the siblings who seemed to be taking it all without caring about what she was saying.

Then Cersei silenced herself and she looked through the Starks at Lady Daenerys stalking into the Great Hall, her heels echoing on the floor.

Cersei smirked, saying something - again muted - to the Dragon Mother which shocked the Targaryen to the core. The young woman began to scream, the sound making Bran flinch as she ran towards Cersei, opening her mouth wide to breathe fire upon the woman.

It felt like forever when Daenerys finally closed her mouth to see the damage she'd inflicted but Cersei remained intact, smiling widely as she turned to look out of the window.

"Burn them all," Cersei said. "Let the wildfire eat and swallow them whole with nothing, not even their screams, left."

That was when the Starks began to react when Cersei kept screaming that it was over, that she'd won and they'd all burn together in the beautiful green flames.

Just before he awoke, Bran saw the faces of his likeness and his siblings disappear with the green flames.

He gasped.

"Bran!" Meera cried out, rushing to his side. "Bran, what did you see?"

Bran swallowed deeply. "I don't think Cersei cares if she lives or dies. She's already lost everything, she has nothing left. If we go, she'll burn us all."


Notes for this chapter:

(1) Arya comforts Jon.

(2) Princess Yara Greyjoy is the new Mistress of Ships and Lady Commander of the Iron Fleet as appointed by the Kings and Robb threatens to burn down Cersei's castle as she did the Starks' Winterfell.

(3) Ygritte spends time with Ghost before she and Ned question Ashara with hostility between the Dayne cousins.

(4) Arya is scared when she realises that her moonblood as not come yet and tells Sansa who assures her that she could be a good mother if she is pregnant. The sisters make a pact to destroy their enemies should any come after Cersei is gone. Arya also notices that Sansa and Tyrion have become close.

(5) At Bear Island, Talisa is at unrest as she is now in her third trimester of pregnancy. Rickon manages to convince her to rest and he tells Lyanna that he must go to King's Landing to be with his older siblings.

(6) Ygritte, Ned, Davos and Tormund share some home truths and get to know each other and Ned's background is revealed.

(7) Allies of Sansa's arrive at the Stark camps.

(8) Bran has a vision.