ALLIANCES

PART 1. THE FREE FOLK

MANCE

He is the chosen King beyond the wall for the Free Folk. For the past fifteen years, he had been traveling across the lands of always winter, trying to convince the clans and Giants to unite before the long night comes. Before Mance Raydar was King, he was a man of the Watch. As a baby Mance was raised in Mows Town and when he came of age he joined the Watch out of gratitude for they had done for him.

For many years Mance served the Watch grudgingly with all their rules. Eventually he achieved the Rank of Ranger. While Ranging he was wounded and taken care of by Wildling woman named Dalla and her sister Val. Mance and Dalla fell in love and married. That day Mance turned his back on the Watch.

The Free Folk gathered in the Forst Fangs to march on Castle Black. Mance is King but no one bows to him. The Free Folk bow to no one. Second in command is Val, then Tormund Giant's Bane, Rattleshirt, Karsi, Magnar of the Thenn Clan, Dim Dalba, and a Giant known as Mag the Mighty. "It is time…" Mance says, "Sound the Horn!" From the Frost Fangs deep in the North the Free Folk numbering a hundred thousand strong, not including children not old enough to fight and the old. Both men and women fight; children who have proven themselves capable of handling a weapon are allowed to fight or children who have hunted and killed animals or men of the Watch. The youngest is fourteen.

DARIUS

He arrives at Castle Clack with seventy thousand men. Of that number Darius sends ten to Shadow Tower. "Looks like we lost." Benjen Stark says to the Lord Commander.

"Aye." Darius rides into the main courtyard with the Royal Guard and his wife. The men of the Watch bow, "Welcome to Night's Watch Your Grace…I am Lord Commander Mormont…Castle Black is yours."

"Lord Commander…After my wife and I are settled I wish to speak with you and the high council of the Watch."

"Of course your Grace."

Three hours later Darius meets with them in the main hall. The Main table is removed to the lower floor and a chair is set for Darius. "Gentlemen…Robert Baratheon is dead…Those who supported him have bent the knee. I already know about the Free Folk…and the history of the Night's Watch…I am wondering why this broken order should be allowed to continue."

"Your Grace…We protect the Realm from that which lies beyond the wall."

"The Legendary White Walkers…Unless someone can prove to me that they exist…I see no reason to allow this order to continue."

"Do you know about the Wildling army marching on the wall?" Benjen asks, "One hundred thousand strong…"

"Yes I am aware of the rumors…I intend to offer the Free Folk peace."

"The Wildlings will never bend the knee to you."

Darius smiles, "I can be very persuasive…At any rate if they accept my offer…I will allow them to settle the gift." After the meeting Mormont and Benjen take him to the dungeons.

"We caught this lot trying to cross the wall." Mormont says. "The big red man is Tormund Giant's Bane…The woman is Ygritte, that one is Magnar of the Thenns…Cannibals the whole lot of them. The rest we killed."

"Tormund…Do you speak for the others."

"I speak for myself!" Magnar says.

"Shut up ya bald fuck."

"Who are you supposed to be?"

"Darius Palidyn…Prince of the East…King of the Seven Provinces of Westeros…Lord of all the sun touches."

"Am I supposed to kiss ya arse?"
Darius smiles, "Believe me when I say that if I wished it…You would. I want you to deliver a message to your King beyond the Wall."

MANCE

The Free Folk are camped in between the Fist of the First Men and Craster's Keep. "What the fuck are you doing back here?" Mance asks to Tormund.

"We were caught crossing the wall."

"Damned Crows got men spread across the top." Ygritte says.

"What about Orell didn't he spot them?"
"We didn't think the Crows would be patrolling that section of the wall, so far from Castle Black."

"Why did they let you go?" Karsi asks.

They all listen as Tormund explains his meeting with the new King of Westeros. "I say fuck'em…I say we attack!" Ratthleshirt says.

"They got sixty thousand armored men at the wall you stupid shit!" Karsi says, "We'd get slaughtered."

"I'd rather die fighting! Than to be stabbed in the back by those southern twats!"

Mance shakes his head, "You forget I served with the Watch for many years…Kings…The good ones keep their word." He looks at Ygritte, "Tell me Ygritte…Does this man seem like a good King?"

She looks at Tormund and sighs, "Aye…I think we can trust him."

"Think! You better know lass or we are all fucked." Val says.

"I say meet with him, then Mance you can judge him for yourself…We keep the army here for now."

"Right…Val you're in charge until I return. Tormund, Rattleshirt, Karsi, Magnar, Dim…" He looks at the Leader of the Giants, "Mag…will come with me."

PART 2. FACE TO FACE

EDDARD

It had been a while since he had come to Castle Black. Eddard visited long ago after the war. The castle is filled with soldiers of House Palidyn, some inside the castle and the rest camped outside the castle. To his surprise these eastern soldiers adapted well to the cold and few got cold sickness. As soon as he rode through the gate he is greeted by Darius' Squire. "Lord Stark welcome…The King has heard of your arrival and asks that you attend him as soon as you are settled in.

He was hoping to speak with Jon first and see his brother, but it would have to wait. "Your Grace Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell…" The Squire says announcing him.

"That will be all Vince."

"My King."

Daenarys is there as well, "Lord Stark how was your journey?"

"Uneventful your Grace. Thank you for asking."

He looks at Daenarys, "We wanted to talk to you about my nephew." Daenarys says.

He frowns, "Your nephew?"
Darius starts speaking again, "House Palidyn has had spies in Westeros since before my father was born. We know who Jon Snow really is."

"Family is very important to me." Daenarys says speaking up again, "I want to meet my kin…I wanted to approach Aegon as soon as we got here. My husband wisely advised, that we should speak with you first."

Eddard sighs, "Jon already knows about his Targaryen heritage. I wanted to tell him face to face, but I wasn't sure if I would survive the war. I would like to speak with him in private first."

"Of course."

Ned leaves the King and Queen to go speak with the Lord Commander. Jon is Jeor's Steward. When Jon arrives Eddard is waiting for him alone in Mormont's solar. "Jon."

"Don't you mean Aegon?"
"Are you angry with me?"

"I was…For a good while. All that time you were my Uncle…All that time I was not a bastard. And you! You the man who taught me to be honorable…Lied!"

"I'm…No…there isn't a word to convey my regret for what I did to you. Or for what you had to endure from my wife."

"Does she know?"

"I told her before I left. She is not happy with me."

Jon walks up to him, "I am not happy with you either. But you did what did to protect me. I am grateful and family forgives."

They stand silently for a few seconds, then they hug. "Listen…The Queen wishes to speak with you. She is your Aunt after all."

JON

He nervously heads for the King's Tower. The guards let him in as they had been expecting him. When Jon is announced Queen Daenarys is waiting for him with Maester Aemon. He bows, "Your Grace."

"You need not bow to me. My brother Viserys wanted to be here, but his wife is with child and the gods themselves couldn't pry him from her side for a second."

"Jon Snow…Imagine it. All this time you were my Great Nephew and I had no idea. The gods can be cruel sometimes and others they can be kind. Your father came to me before the war you, know."

"Yes…My father or rather Uncle explained it too me in a letter he wrote." The three Targaryens spent hours talking about the history of their family, like, dislikes, and interests.

"Jon…Do you wish to remain with the Watch, if my husband doesn't disband the order. I hate the idea of you not being able to find love, marry, and have a family."

"I swore an oath…Dany."

"And if the Watcg is disbanded?"

"I don't know…" He sighs, his heart in turmoil, "All my life I wanted to know and I know…My mother named me Aegon…It may take a while, but I guess that is the name I wish to be known by from now on. As for the rest. It will take a lot of thought."

DARIUS

"My King the arrow has flown the Free Folk are here." Vincent says to Darius.

"Right." The Northern Lords had arrived and all bent the knee to Darius and House Palidyn. Now they ride out of the wall to the heart tree to meet with Mance Rayder and the Elders. As they approach on horseback, Darius spots the Giant Mag the Mighty. He does not react to his presence. Besides the Northern Lords Darius has a ten men of the Royal Guard. Not that he needed him with his voice power. "You must be Mance Rayder, an honor to meet you."

"And you as well. Tormund tells me that you wish to talks of peace."

"Yes…But first let us observe guest rights…May the old gods bare witness before the heart tree. As I Darius Palidyn Heir to the Empire offer salt and bread…I shall do not harm or speak untruths so long as you are in my company." The oath and gesture were well received and offered in return. Mance and the Elders were very impressed. They were shocked even more when Darius addresses Mag in the old tongue. "Welcome to you child of the old blood…I seek peace with you and thine kin."

"You know our tongue?" Mag asks.

"I do Mag the Mighty." Mance starts off with why his people wish to cross the wall. Some of the Lords make comments every now and then about past wrongs. "Lord Glover…If we bring up every past offence done by either side we will never come to terms. It is my goal to help the Free Folk."

"You mean bend the knee." Magnar says.

Darius looks at him and as he does his eyes turn from blue to green, "Stand up!" Unable to resist Magnar obeys, "Now sit down!"

As Magnar obeys the Elders and Lords of the North look at him in confusion, "Magnar…What the fuck are you doing." Val asks.

"What I command, him to do…Stand again, spin around three times and sit."

"You son of bitch!" Magnar says when he is finished.

"See Lord Magnar…If I wanted you to bend the knee you would. I know of your customs and culture…Neither I or anyone who follows me on the throne will ever try to make you bend the knee…You have my word."

Mance looks at Tormund who nods, "Show them."

Some men come to the tree carrying a wooden crate. They open it and out pops a Wight. "This is what is coming for all of us…" Mance says.

A deal is made after three hours of negogiating, all parties agreeing to peace. As soon as Darius returns to Castle Black he asks Lord Stark to host his wife at Winterfell. Daenarys is not pleased, but she agrees after a long, heated argument. After she is safely on her way with a thousand men. Darius writes his father a letter. "Vincent…Go to East Watch…Board our fastest ship and sail to Lorath with all speed. Then send this letter by Hawk to my father the Emperor."

"I shall leave now My King…"

"Wait!" He sighs, "Take a knee."

He smiles obeying, "My King?" He says as Darius takes out his sword.

""Do you vow to take the Knight's Oath and live by it?"

"I swear my King."

"Then I Darius of House Palidyn, charge thee to protect the innocent, the weak, and those who cannot fend for themselves. Seek justice and uphold the peace of the Empire and its provinces…Now rise Vincent mo Raz…Arise a Knight of the Empire." They hug, Now go and stay in Lorath until I send for you."

"My King I should be at your side."

"Not for this Ser Vincent."