Fafnir gathered Tohru and Shouta at the Weirwood.

"Why are we here?" Tohru asked. "And what's with this creepy tree?"

"This is Jon Snow's god," said Fafnir. "Jon and I took our oaths to the Night's Watch together under one of these things."

Shouta examined it. "Hm. I'm actually sensing some deep magic." He touched it with his cursed hand, and he jumped away as if it had shocked him. "And it does not like me!"

"Friends, I have gathered you here under the cover of night to discuss a matter of great importance," said Fafnir. "We are, as you know, privy to a great secret. A secret that if we choose to divulge it to our friends, has the potential to blow up this entire operation. Tohru, Shouta, I believe we should meet occasionally and purposefully to keep on the same page."

"Yes, Ser Fafnir," Tohru said with a giggle.

"Earlier today, an event occurred that shook my faith in Dany," said Fafnir.

"Oh?" asked Tohru.

"Oh, you don't know about it?" Fafnir said, cocking his head. "That is very interesting. It makes me wonder what else we all might not know. So I was having a conversation with Lady Sansa. She had, of course, reservations about Dany. And I attempted to alleviate her of some of these concerns. I told her that Dany was just, and that her heart was in the right place." Tohru and Shouta nodded in agreement. They waited for Fafnir to continue. Fafnir drew in a breath. The nights at Winterfell were bitingly cold, and he felt the air go all the way down to his lungs. "Then I ran into my old friend Samwell Tarly."

"Ohhh," Tohru grumbled.

"So you do know!" Fafnir said.

"Yeah," said Tohru. "Kanna was upset."

"I don't know," said Shouta. "Fill me in."

"Remember when Dany and the Dothraki went to raid that Lannister caravan? None of us went with her. Just Tyrion," said Tohru.

"Oh yeah," said Shouta. "What happened?"

"There were two lords, well, a lord and his son, I guess. They were Sam's family. Dany wanted them to bend the knee, and they didn't, so...she ordered Drogon to burn them alive," explained Tohru.

"Metal!" Shouta exclaimed.

"This isn't good, Shouta!" Fafnir exclaimed. "She can't burn everyone she doesn't like! She won't have anyone left to rule!"

"Tyrion advised her against it," said Tohru. "He said she'd made up her mind."

"Did you talk to her about it? What did she say?" Fafnir asked.

"She said she didn't see another option. That she couldn't appear weak in front of the Lannisters. She needed to send a message," said Tohru.

"Who were these people? Were they that important?" asked Shouta.

"No. Not in the slightest," said Fafnir. "It was senseless violence, unnecessarily brutal for the situation."

Shouta shrugged. "Maybe. But people know they can't mess with us at least."

"People are pissed," said Fafnir. "She's lost Sam's trust. We can't afford to be hurting our allies."

"She didn't know," said Tohru. "It won't happen again, Fafnir. We'll make sure of it."

"Under Jon, this wouldn't happen at all," said Fafnir darkly.

"Now hold on," said Tohru. "This is no time for a coup!"

"No, it's not," said Fafnir. "But if we don't curtail these impulses..."

"Sometimes, Fafnir, I think you want her to mess up. So you can put your pet human up instead," said Tohru. "I wouldn't put it past you to make up a story about him being Targaryen!"

"What? I outlined the whole thing to you. You said it made sense. And the Red Woman-!"

"The one Shireen banished? The same one who told you about Azor Ahai?" Tohru said, raising her eyebrow. "You think you're so important, Fafnir, since Shireen knighted you. Well, I'm a knight too. And I will protect Dany at all costs." She drew a sword on him.

"Woah, hold on," said Shouta. "This is crazy. This person, that person, what does it matter who sits on the throne? And why is it our responsibility to decide the fate of this world for these people? We're not even from here!"

"Fafnir could have fooled me," said Tohru.

"Me? You're the one who came looking for a new human, and just went with the first one you came across!" said Fafnir.

"Dany was a child when we met," said Tohru. "And I helped her become a dragon."

"Well you need to be more careful about what kind of dragon you turn her into!" Fafnir snarled.

They clanked swords. Shouta screamed and ran out of the godswood, the sounds of the dragon fight raging behind him. He stumbled over a root, and when he looked up, Bran was looking down on him from his wheelchair.

"The dragons," Shouta gasped. "Tohru and Fafnir. They're fighting."

"I know," said Bran. "That is why I have come."

"WHAT?" came a voice behind him. Shouta pushed himself up, and he saw that Sam was driving the wheelchair. "Bran, if the dragons are fighting, we don't want to-"

"Keep going, Sam," said Bran. The kid had a deathwish, Shouta thought, but Sam pushed him forward, and Shouta followed them. When they entered the godswood, the dragons had put away their swords and were fighting with energy bombs.

"We shouldn't be here," said Shouta.

Bran cleared his throat. "Hey," he said.

Surprisingly, the dragons stopped. They froze and turned to the strange visitors. "Umm," said Tohru, "Hey. Sorry about this."

"I know why you are fighting," said Bran.

Tohru, Fafnir, and Shouta exchanged nervous glances. "We're sorry," Fafnir repeated. "It won't happen again."

"It will," said Bran. He turned to Sam and nodded. Cautiously, Sam pushed Bran forward. Shouta stood numbly behind them. "You were fighting because of Jon," said Bran.

"Uhhh," said Fafnir.

"It's true," said Bran. "Jon is a Targaryen. He is the true heir to the Iron Throne."

Tohru scowled, and Fafnir put his hand on her shoulder to steady her. "Who else knows?" Fafnir asked.

"Me, and Sam," said Bran. "There are others who suspect."

"And I suppose you both want to usurp Dany?" Tohru asked.

Sam did, but he was afraid to say so to Dany's frightening handmaid. Bran was silent for an uncomfortable period of time. Finally, he said, "Jon is loyal to Dany. He will not want this knowledge. Still, the time will come when he must know, and cannot avoid his destiny." Tohru huffed. Bran stared at her. "Tohru," he said. "Do not despair. You are the most important person to Dany's success."

The statement calmed Tohru. "So what do we do now?" Shouta asked.

"We must decide when the time is right for Jon to know," said Bran. "And consequently, Dany."


They gathered in the Great Hall to receive Jamie Lannister. He was the only Lannister to arrive from King's Landing, and apparently, against Cersei's wishes. Dany wanted nothing to do with him.

"The Lannisters have betrayed us. Now Cersei thinks us so foolish, she sends us a spy in plain sight. Lock him up. He cannot return to King's Landing. We'll decide what to do with him," said Dany.

"I must say, I agree," said Sansa, slightly surprised that she was on the same wavelength as Dany.

Jon was silent, searching Jamie's face and finding nothing to sway him one way or another. Fafnir and Tohru stepped forward to apprehend him, and Tohru took his sword. Then, Brienne of Tarth stepped forward.

"Do not treat him poorly," said Brienne. "He may be a Lannister, but he has been a good friend to me. Please don't judge him so harshly."

"Brienne?" Sansa asked. "We're talking about someone who has actively worked against my family from the beginning."

"And mine," said Dany. "You are the Kingslayer, the greatest of all traitors to the Targaryen family. Tohru, Fafnir, take him away."

"No!" Brienne said.

"Wait," said Jon.

"Jon?" the girls snapped on him.

"If he is speaking the truth, then turning him away, or worse, is the last thing we can afford," said Jon. "We need everybody possible against the Night King."

Sansa softened. "Brienne," she said, "can you explain further your relationship with this man?"

"He has saved my life on multiple occasions," said Brienne, "and it cost him his hand, for starters. I know the circumstances are suspicious, but I will gladly trust this man with my life again. Besides, we have already admitted one Lannister into our court, have we not?"

She looked over to Tyrion, and Sansa's eyes followed. "Tyrion, what do you think?"

"I think we will keep many good eyes on him," said Tyrion, "but I, too, owe him my life."

Sansa nodded to Jon. Dany sighed. "Okay. Give him his sword back, Tohru."

Tohru glared at Jamie as she followed the order. She and Fafnir unhanded him. "Well," said Jamie, "this is some hospitality you have here."

"Tohru, please prepare a chamber for Ser Jamie," said Dany. Tohru bowed and flitted off to do her maid duties, leaving Jamie confused as to who the blonde-haired woman was.


Later, the Greyjoys arrived from Eastwatch, bringing with them news that the army of the dead has not only breached the Wall, they will be at Winterfell within a day.

Tohru was busily preparing chambers. She had put Jamie in Tyrion's chamber. She set up the second bed, and she made sure Tyrion's minibar was doubly stocked. She was making Jamie's bed when the Kingslayer entered with his things. "You are a strange one," he said.

She turned around, startled. "So are you, it seems. Nobody can seem to agree on whether you're a friend or enemy."

"You believe I'm an enemy," said Jamie.

Tohru cleared her throat. "My duty is to protect the Queen. If you pose a threat to the Queen, then I pose a threat to you."

Jamie smiled. Her loyalty reminded him of Brienne. "And doing maid's work, this is protecting the Queen?"

She smiled politely. "Having a clean and comfortable living quarters may seem like small work to someone who bears the name Kingslayer, but it brings me joy to serve those I love. And I believe that it helps so much. A disorganized space leads to stress, and we don't need any more of that, do we?"

"No, I suppose we do not," said Jamie. "Although I'm not sure how much it matters at a time like this. They say the Night King will be here within a day."

"A day?!" Tohru gasped, dropping her duster. "Who says?"

"The Greyjoys," said Jamie. "They have come to die with us."

Tohru had grown so distrustful, she almost didn't believe Jamie, but she remembered he had no reason to fool her on this. She gave a small bow. "Then I believe I have more work to do," she whispered, and she excused herself from his chamber.

Tohru rushed down the hall, and she smacked into Shouta. "Tohru!" he cried. "Fafnir and Sam! They're going to tell Jon!"

"What?! No! I thought we were going to wait!" Tohru replied.

"The Night King is coming," said Shouta. "Everyone's in a panic. All bets are off. Also, everyone is stupid horny. Which reminds me. The maids are awaiting my services."

"Ugh," she said. "Shouta, you need to be with the Queen."

"Oh," said Shouta. "Oh, right, of course. The alliance. Hey, why can't you...?"

"Too busy! Beds to make!" she cried as she flew down the steps. Shouta groaned, but he knew Tohru was right. He slinked back down to find Dany. A war council was scheduled for the evening, and he hoped Jon had enough sense to keep quiet until after that, at the least.

Tohru met Theon Greyjoy in Winterfell's courtyard. She scanned the Ironborn around him, and they were all male. She gulped, and she grabbed the wide-eyed kid. "Theon," she said.

"H-hey," he said. He was very afraid of Dany's Queensguard, and Tohru was easily the most formidable.

"Welcome to Winterfell," she said.

"Yeah, been here, yeah, thanks," said Theon.

"So, how many are with you? I'm making sure we have quarters for everyone," said Tohru.

"Ummm, a couple hundred, not a lot, sorry," said Theon.

"Every little bit helps," said Tohru. "Of course, you'll get your own chamber in the castle. And your sister?"

Theon shook his head, and Tohru hung hers. "She stayed at the Iron Islands," he said. "We took them back since Euron is gone, and..."

Tohru looked up, smiling wide and tears welling up in her eyes. "Oh, that is wonderful news!" she exclaimed, hugging him.

"Yeah? Yeah! It is!" Theon said. "She's finally got what she deserves. Maybe there's hope for us."

"I'm so happy for you guys!" Tohru squealed.

"Thanks!" Theon said, blushing. "Wow. I didn't realize anyone cared that much about us. That's good to hear, Tohru. Thanks."

Tohru waved goodbye to him and scampered off to prepare for the war council.


Tohru glared at Fafnir as she entered the room and took her place beside Kanna. Jon looked more pale than usual and wasn't making much eye contact with anyone. He must still be digesting the news, she thought. He seemed pretty miserable, as they predicted. She hoped he could keep his mouth shut until after the impending battle. Perhaps it wouldn't even matter in the end.

"Well," said Tyrion, "That's everyone, then. Let's get started."

"We have equipped the castle with dragonglass spikes and given many of our high ranking soldiers dragonglass equipment," said Jon.

"Very good," said Tyrion. "And what of our formations?"

"Jon and I will ride Drogon and Rhaegal," said Dany.

"Rhaegal?" Tyrion asked. "Not Fafnir?"

"We decided we needed our dragon-people on the front lines," said Jon. "They can, of course, freely change as necessary."

"And where will be they be?" Tyrion asked.

"Fafnir will man the walls with the Valkyries," said Jon.

"Kanna will be with my Dothraki and Unsullied on the ground," said Dany. "Tohru is going to guard the women and children within, and Lucoa will be with Bran and the Ironborn in the Weirwood grove."

"We have placed our trump cards at each of our most important locations," said Jon.

"Wait, I don't understand," said Lucoa. "No offense, but why is Bran so important?"

"Bran has been marked by the Night King," said Jon. "The Night King is drawn to him. He will go towards Bran, so we need you at that spot."

"Got it," said Lucoa.

"Our plan," Jon continued, "is to create a ring of fire around Winterfell and hopefully prevent them from even getting to the castle, or the Weirwoods. But if it fails, then we are ready to fight to the death."

"Thank you for that image, Jon," said Tyrion. Tyrion looked around, and his gaze landed on Shouta. "Where will he be?"

"I'm going to stay with Lucoa," said Shouta.

Lucoa looked at Shouta in alarm. "Shouta-baby? No, stay with Tyrion in the crypts! You can't fight!"

"What do you mean I can't fight? I'm a mage!" Shouta exclaimed.

"But that's not the same thing as a soldier," said Lucoa. "You're-"

"Fireball," Shouta interrupted.

"What?"

"Just fireball. Nothing but fireball," Shouta continued. "I can do that, and that's how you win against these guys, right?" He leaned back in his chair. "We've got this."