POWER
PART 1. BRAN THE BUILDER
The Night King and his Wights had fled into the lands of Always Winter. Azor Ahai and King Brandon Stark stood atop the wall staring North as the Free Folk who would not bend the knee to anyone traveled beyond the wall. "A pity we could not find a place for them below the wall." Azor says. Prince Azor was from Volyria a country growing in power as the Lords of Volyria are Dragon Riders.
"A pity in deed...But should they ever wish to come back South, a way has been made for them." Brandon replies, referring to the tunnels beneath the wall. The two men are friends and had crossed the sea to Westeros together.
They go down the wall via a lift. When they get to the bottom the Giants are waiting. "I thank you for your service...You may go now." Bran says to them in their ancient language.
"You know you could have used them in your wars to conquer the North."
He looks at his White Haired friend. The two men are the same height, but Brandon has more muscle. "True. But, they are by nature gentle creatures. I do not want them to suffer the brutality of war."
The wall finished, the White Walkers defeated or driven away. It was a time to celebrate. A great feast is held in the Nightfort; the birthplace of the Night's Watch. "Hail the victorious dead!" Bran says.
"HAIL!"
Then Azor stands up, "Those of you I call brother stand with me now!" Azor wears black garments and so does the men who had volunteered to man the wall with him. There are two hundred men who stand up. These men are the first commanders of the Night's Watch.
They all say in unison, "Night gathers and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns, win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the Nights to come..."
The Watch currently is 10,000 strong. There are two castle under construction, Eastwatch by the Sea and Shadowtower.
Two days later Bran says his goodbyes and leaves for his home Winterfell. House dustin is the first to swear fealty to House Stark. The Cerwyns, , Mazins, Pools, Cassels, and Tallharts willing bend the knee. Through war Brandon forces the Glovers, Umbers, and Ryswells to bend the knee. House Bolton the greatest rivals of House Stark for rule of the North bent the knee to Brandon's son King Benjen Stark. House Manderly was once of the Reach and migrated North swearing fealty during the reign of King Jon Stark. House Karstark was a branch of House Stark through Brandon's second son Karlon Stark.
Brandon was a master of magic. In his latter years he began to worry about those who would follow in his bloodline. So one evening he visited the godswood. He placed his hand on the tree and gazed into the future. He saw his eldest son force the Bolton's to their knees, two years after his death. He saw his great grandchildren and all those who follow him on the throne of Winterfell. For five thousand years the Starks ruled unchallenged. Then the Targaryens built Dragonstone, but it was Aegon Targaryen who conquered Westeros.
Torrhen Stark became known as the King who bent the knee. Bran did not fault him for this because Torrhen did it to save his people from the fire storms the Dragons would unleash had he not. The Targaryens ruled through fear, most of the time. Some of the Kings were Tyrants then came the Dance of the Dragons when the Blackfyres, Targaryen bastards who had been legitimized waged war to usurp the Targaryens.
After that the power of the Targaryens dwindled to nothing. Many Dragons were hunted down and killed. And those that the Targaryens had did not survive pass two years. Then came the rule of the Mad King Aerys Targaryen. Bran wept as Rickon the Warden of the North was burned at the stake by the mad King. His son Brandon was forced to watch with a rope around his neck. Every time he tried to move and help his father the rope tightened.
Eddard Stark Rickon's second son became Lord of Winterfell. He allied through marriage with House Tully. Catelyn Tully was supposed to marry his brother Brandon. Led by House Baratheon, Houses Stark, Tully, and Arryn bought down the Targaryen dynasty. Bran hoped that Eddard would take the Iron Throne, but it was Robert of House Baratheon who became King over all of Westeros. By now the Night's Watch had fallen from its true path.
Seventeen years later Jon Arryn dies and Robert Baratheon asks his friend Eddard to be Hand of the King. Bran disapproves of Eddard's decision to allow his nephew to go to the wall. There was the incident on the King's rode, then all that befell Eddard Stark in King's Landing. His son calls his banners to war, after Eddard is arrested. Bran's chest swells with pride as Robb Stark wins five battles against the veteran Tywin Lannister. His pride turns to sadness as Eddard Stark is beheaded. Robb breaks his word and marries Talisa Maegyr. His mother Catelyn Stark betrays her son. Theon Greyjoy the Ward of Winterfell betrays Robb as well.
Then Lord Walder Frey of the Twins murders Catelyn, Robb, Talisa Stark and all Robb's men at what becomes known as the Red Wedding. Roose Bolton also participates in this betrayal. Sansa Stark is forced to marry Tyrion Lannister. Then Sansa escapes the Capital with help from Petyr Baelish the same man who betrayed her father. Meanwhile Arya Stark is captured by the brotherhood without banners. She escapes only to be caught by Sandor Clegane. He almost dies fighting Brienne of Tarth and Arya escapes to Braavos and trains as a faceless man. Eventually Arya returns home to avenge her family.
Jon Snow joins the watch. Then later he kills a brother of the watch to become a spy and gain favor with Mance Rayder. He returns to the Watch after his lover tries to kill him. She dies in his arms during the attack on the wall and Castle Black by the Wildlings. Later he is made Lord Commander of the watch, only to be betrayed by his own brothers for doing the right thing. They stab him to death, but he is bought back to life by a Priestess of the Lord of light. Reunited with his half sister or rather cousin they take back Winterfell from the Boltons...When Jon Snow is made King in the North Bran returns to his body and the present.
For many days he thinks about the things he had seen that could happen. He starts creating spells that will allow his soul upon his death to travel forward in time. "Two years before Jon Arryn dies..." He says to himself in his secret labratory, "...That should be enough time to change a few things. But with whom shall I bind my soul with?" He considers Eddard First, but Ned as everyone calls him is too honorable. "He will not have the strength to wield my magic or do what must be done to save our family..."
Bran considers Catelyn Stark next, but she is not a true Stark. "Robb Stark." He whispers to himself. The boy did break his word to Walder Frey. And when it came to strategy in war, Robb Stark was unconventional. Next he considered, Sansa, but she was too naive. The fact that people would underestimate her gave her a great advantage. "Maybe." He whispered. Arya was one to consider, but she was too young. The girl did have what it would take to save the family. "Bran...No the boy is destined to become the new Blood-Raven. He already has untapped power...And Rickon is too young." So that left him with Robb, Sansa, and Arya to choose from.
For many days Bran considered the pros and cons of giving them his power and uniting his soul with theirs. Finally he made his choice and settled it in his mind. Another three years would pass before Bran lay on his death bed. He said a heart felt goodbye to his children and their children before casting the spell that would send his soul and power into the future.
PART 2. SANSA
She looked into his eyes and she finally knew what he had known all along. The Lady Victoria loved him with all her heart. "Yes…Yes I love you too…" She finally confessed. All her fears had been buried and now she looks toward the future with hopeful eyes…
Sansa sighs imagining herself to be Lady Victoria. Pursued by the man who loves her. A man who fought through hell to protect and earn her love. Sansa Stark is the eldest daughter and second child to Lord Eddard Stark and Lady Catelyn Stark nee' Tully. A romantic at heart who prays for love and to be taken away by a great Knight or Prince. She is in the library, her lessons with Septa Modane are over and she spends her free time reading.
Sansa is Eleven names days old. With her long red hair and stunning looks. A prize for the son of any great Lord. But Sansa has her heart set on being Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. After her last Name Day celebration she received a letter from Prince Joffrey. He told her of how their fathers' are friends and that one day they would meet and marry.
As she is leaving the library, her younger sister Arya pulls her hair and runs. "Arya!" The two did not get along and were different as night and day. They were always arguing about something or another. Sansa strived to be a Lady of a great House or Queen which she preferred, but Arya was wild and often compared to her dead Aunt Lyanna Stark.
Lyanna Stark, she had been kidnapped and raped by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen during the reign of Aerys Targaryen, the Mad King. The last Targaryen King to sit the Iron Throne. She would find a way to get back at Arya latter. She meets up with her friend Jeyne Poole. Jeyne and Sansa are like sisters having the same interests and sometimes Jeyne helps Sansa in her ongoing war with Arya.
That night Sansa tries to sleep, but cannot. When she opens her eyes she stares dumbfounded at the Ghost standing at the edge of her bed. "Do not scream Sansa Stark…I will not harm you."
She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out, "Whoooo…" She finally says finding her voice, "Who…are you?"
"I am your ancestor…The founder of House Stark…Bran the Builder."
"What do you want?"
"To protect you and my family from the evils to come…"
"Protect us from what?"
"Before I died I had a vision of the future…I saw many terrible things befall my family. So I sent my spirit and magic into the future. I have chosen to bond with you Sansa Stark…"
"What does that mean?"
"I'm going to merge my spirit with yours, granting you my magic. Then you will use that magic to save this family."
"Why me?"
"Why not you?"
"Wouldn't my father be best suited for this? Or Robb even."
"I chose you because people will underestimate you…They will overlook you…That is why? Do you accept child?"
Sansa remained quiet thinking about it. Magic! She would possess magic to do what she wanted. It was too much of an offer to pass by. But how would people look at her if they knew she could use magic. Still it was a chance to protect her family something that would happen. "Yes…I will do it."
"Good now lie down."
"Will this hurt?" She nervously asks.
He laughs, "No my dear sweet child it will not hurt."
As she sleeps Sansa sees all the things that could happen to her family. Jon Arryn dies and Robert Baratheon asks his friend Eddard to be Hand of the King. Eddard decides to allow his son, no nephew to go to the wall. There was the incident on the King's road, then all that befell Eddard Stark in King's Landing. His son calls his banners to war, after Eddard is arrested. Sansa watches as Robb Stark wins five battles against the veteran Tywin Lannister. Then Eddard Stark her father is beheaded. Robb breaks his word and marries Talisa Maegyr. His mother Catelyn Stark betrays her son. Theon Greyjoy the Ward of Winterfell betrays Robb as well.
Then Lord Walder Frey of the Twins murders Catelyn, Robb, Talisa Stark and all Robb's men at what becomes known as the Red Wedding. Roose Bolton also participates in this betrayal. Sansa Stark is forced to marry Tyrion Lannister. Then Sansa escapes the Capital with help from Petyr Baelish the same man who betrayed her father. Meanwhile Arya Stark is captured by the brotherhood without banners. She escapes only to be caught by Sandor Clegane. He almost dies fighting Brienne of Tarth and Arya escapes to Braavos and trains as a faceless man. Eventually Arya returns home to avenge her family.
Jon Snow joins the watch. Then later he kills a brother of the watch to become a spy and gain favor with Mance Rayder. He returns to the Watch after his lover tries to kill him. She dies in his arms during the attack on the wall and Castle Black by the Wildlings. Later he is made Lord Commander of the watch, only to be betrayed by his own brothers for doing the right thing. They stab him to death, but he is bought back to life by a Priestess of the Lord of light. Reunited with his half-sister or rather cousin they take back Winterfell from the Boltons...When Jon Snow is made King in the North Sansa awakens.
She sits up crying, "Do not cry for I have given you the power to stop these things from happening." She screams at the sound of her ancestor's voice. "Calm down child. It is I…"
"Don't do that." She replies angrily.
"I am sorry I should have told you…reply to me with your mind."
She opens her mouth, but turns her words inward, "Okay only speak to me when we are alone."
"Of course…In time my voice will fade…My knowledge is yours and I will only speak if I feel you need my guidance…The first thing we must do is deal with the Free Folk…"
"How?"
"Ah I have a plan, but lets see if you can come up with one on your own…This will be part of your training solving problems…There will come a time when I will not be able to offer advice."
"And these powers you gave me?"
"Yours to discover on your own."
"Lady Sansa its time to get up." Her handmaiden says from behind the door.
"Alright I will be ready in a moment." She replies. She closes her eyes and goes through all the new information in her mind. Several words pop into her head, telepathy, warging, telekinesis, cryo-kinesis. Spells, old speech and seer. Some of the words she knew the meaning of, others she asked Maester Luwin about in private. He gives her books on kinesis, old speech and telepathy. "Giants…I can talk to Giants."
"Hey Sansa."
"Hi Jeyne…"
"You left after our session with Septa Modane. Where did you go?"
"To the speak with Maester Luwin." As they talk Sansa tries to read her friend's mind.
"Do you want to go riding later?"
"Sure." Eddard Stark, Sansa's father allows them to go riding with an escort of six men.
When they stop for lunch, Sansa tries to Warg into her horse. But nothing happens. All day she attempts to perform several feats of magic and is unsuccessful. "Hello…Are you there?"
"I am here child."
"I felt like a fool. All day I was trying to do these things and nothing happened."
"Did you think you would master it in one day? Did you master needle point in one day?"
"No I didn't."
"The magic is there keep practicing…Now do you have a plan to unite to make peace with the Free Folk?"
She sighs, "No…Not yet."
Before leaving her room Sansa tries to move something with her mind. Again nothing happens. She joins her family to break her fast and as she eats, Sansa tries reading minds again. After her lessons with Septa Modane Sansa goes to see her father. "Father…"
"Yes Sansa what is it?"
"Um…If you wanted to get two factions of people who hated one another to make peace. What would you do? How would you get them to make peace?"
He smiles, "Well…I would get the leaders to sit down and talk…Find out why both sides are fighting…Then find out what they want and try to get them to agree."
"But how would you get them to sit down and talk?"
"Why are you asking these questions?"
"Curiosity…I read something in a book once." She leaves her father's solar as plan forms. That night alone in her room she comes up with a plan.
"I like it…That is what we shall do. Well done child."
Sansa frowns, "What was your plan?"
"The same…"
"Did you know I would come to the same conclusion?"
"No, but I hoped…"
The next morning as Sansa sits beside Arya, she hears voices, "Seven help me with this hellion…" It is Septa Modane's voice in her head. She looks at the older woman.
"Sansa is something wrong child?"
"No…"
Then she hears Arya's voice in her mind, "I wish this was over already…By the gods I hate this." After her lessons with Septa Modane Sansa finds her mother in the Sept tending the statues of the Seven. In the North they followed the old gods, but Catelyn Stark nee' Tully was from below the neck. A southern woman who faithfully followed the faith of the Seven.
"Sansa…This is a pleasant surprise."
"Hi mother…Can I speak with you?"
"Of course."
"You care about our happiness don't you?"
"Yes of course."
"So why do you make Arya do things she hates to do?"
She watches her mother take on several facial expressions before answering, "In life we sometimes have do the things we hate to do. Arya is the daughter of a great lord and certain things are expected of her."
"Even if she doesn't like them? Arya likes to ride horses and spend time shooting arrows and learning the sword…It makes her happy…Sitting with Septa Modane for lessons, is something she hates."
"I am raising a lady not an animal."
"So your love for Arya has restrictions?"
"Sansa where is this coming from?"
"From my observations of Arya and you…If you love her…Let her do what makes her happy."
As Sansa walks away Bran speaks to her, "I am impressed…And I didn't even have to push you in that direction."