Skane 299 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He was tired, incredibly so, his throat was almost raw and he had bled from the nose more than once and yet he'd not slept, not stopped and nothing anyone could say would make him do so. The loss of Walder preyed on his mind and yet he'd not even begun to grieve for the man, he simply couldn't afford to until he saw the Free Folk safe. So he'd called for Rhaenix and was relieved when she came and seemed to be suffering no ill effects from her wound, Jae telling her simply that they had work to do and they'd speak once it was.
Arthur, Loras, Oberyn, and Benjen all told him to rest and he could see their concerns for him and though he appreciated them, he simply didn't have the time for them right now. He took to the sky and flew to the ships, his voice hoarse when he told them to take the people to Skane and not to Eastwatch. They needed to be under cover and though the weather was mild for now, it would be cold tonight, and warmth and shelter wasn't something they could easily manage on the bridge. Once he was sure the ships would do as he wished, he had Rhaenix take him to Skane where he knew he'd face another problem, finding a place for the ships to dock.
There was little of the blood left in the jar and though he'd soaked up all that fell from his nose, he knew it wouldn't be enough for what he had to do, and so once again it seemed he would be cutting himself. It was an odd thought to get caught up on and to focus on but perhaps it was a good one, and so when he looked at the scar on his hand he began to laugh a little. It had been some time since he'd had to cut open that particular scar and it made him wonder if the blood from it would be different than the blood he stored. Something he'd find out soon enough he thought as he saw Skane come into view.
"Down there, Rhaenix." he said, his voice scratchy and he knew that alone worried his sister too, so he told her that despite it all, he was well.
The lands were empty, the first of the giants were somewhere ahead of those on the bridge and it would be a couple of days until they arrived he knew, and yet for them, he could do nothing. They'd prepared better, knowing they were to travel the bridge and how far they had to go they'd prepared and so they would be better equipped to handle the cold and being exposed to the sea, others would not. Rhaenix landed and Jae moved to the beach, closing his eyes, he knew what he needed to do and so he took the jar, cut his hand, and unsheathed Lightbringer.
It was painful to sing the song but sing it he did and he was amazed he was able to keep his focus given all that happened and the tiredness he felt, yet he was able to do so. It wasn't a true dock but it was a dock all the same and he believed it would work. He staggered back to his feet and put the sword back in its sheathe and looked around more at his surroundings. There were trees, caves, and though the animals that lived on the island were small, they were far more plentiful than he had seen from his last visit. Whether or not any would wish to stay here, or whether it would just be the giants, he couldn't be certain but it would be easier for the Free Folk to manage here than it would be on the bridge, that he knew.
"You need to rest, Jae." Rhaenix said when she saw him and he shook his head, telling her he'd do so only when he was sure they were all safe.
Climbing up onto her back, he flew back to the bridge, passing over the giants and seeing some of the ships that had already been loaded were heading to the island already. As they flew more over the bridge he saw just how far the Free Folk were from Skane. it would take them days to walk to it and he knew then he had been right to see them brought there by the ships instead. Though it would only cut down perhaps half the time, it gave them a far better chance and he only hoped the weather would hold off.
On that, it turned out he was lucky and he thanked the gods when after Rhaenix had taken him back to the others and night had fallen, it had been a mild one. Even the seas remained calm and allowed for the ships to be full by early the next morning and for them to head to Skane before most had even started their day. Jae didn't sleep, instead he was once again flying on Rhaenix's back and following the ships to Skane to make sure the docks he'd set up worked, and that those who landed were settled quickly and had food and shelter. Even after seeing to them and eating something himself, at Rhaenix's demand, he still refused to sleep and instead continued to organize things.
It took them four days to get most people to the island, though the last group was taken straight to Eastwatch and Jae knew it wouldn't be until they too reached there that he'd know exactly who and how many they had lost. Mother Mole and Tormund had gone with the ships to see their people settled south of the wall while Mance, Dalla, Val, and Benjen had come to Skane, to see to those who'd have to wait a little longer. It was his uncle's, both of them, Mance, his Kingsguard, and finally his sister who made him rest, each of them showing their concern and Jae finally giving in and taking refuge in one of the caves.
Around him men, women, and children rested, most looking to him as if he was some great hero who'd saved them and yet he felt anything but. His thoughts instead were on those he'd lost rather than those he'd saved and nothing any of them could say would make him think otherwise. Not even speaking to Margaery to let her know he was well and hearing his wife's voice could make him feel better than he did, and he knew it would be some time before he did so. Still, he slept after he spoke to her, slept, and thankfully did not dream.
Dorne 299 AC.
Tyrion.
Ruling was very different in Dorne and it was something he was beginning to enjoy very much, as were the Dornish feasts. There was a lack of the same formality as the ones in Westeros, people deferred to them both, Arianne more obviously naturally, but he too was treated with respect and deference. Some of that was down to his wife he knew, some to Bronn, and a whole lot down to Lygaron. The bronze dragon acted as a looming warning to any who thought him lesser than he should be.
Bronn despite now being a lord, spent a lot of time in Sunspear and allowed his castellan to run Skyreach. His wedding to Lady Jeyne Fowler had taken place in the Old Palace and if the rumors were to be believed, most spread by Bronn he had no doubt, his wedding bed had more than two occupants. Four in fact was what Tyrion had heard and he didn't disbelieve it given both the smiles and tired looks that Bronn shared with him the next morning when they broke their fast and the way that Jeyne, Jennelyn, and Nymeria all arrived at the same time looking just as worn out as he did.
It was funny to him, as at one point had anyone ever asked him what his dream night would be, then the thoughts of twins, another woman, and himself may have been high on the list. Now though it was just one woman, only Arianne that he dreamed about and he knew he'd never even consider anyone else to share their bed. That his wife felt the same was something he welcomed too, even if she teased him about it often. Tyrion smiling as he thought about the first time she had brought it up.
"You've ruined me." Arianne said, laughing as she drank down the wine.
"Have I?" he asked playfully as he turned to look at her, her chest rising as she gathered her breath and sipped on the wine beside him.
"You have, how am I supposed to seek another to share our bed when my husband wears me out so?" she asked, and he could see she was in just as playful a mood as he was.
"Is it not a husband's job to ensure his wife doesn't look elsewhere, my love?" he asked and she chuckled.
"It is my lion and you do your job so very well." she said kissing him, Tyrion almost feeling proud at that.
"Then why would my wife need another?" he asked, not seriously or even curiously, just to play along and keep up the good mood they were both in.
"I always imagined if I married that either I'd have need of many lovers because my husband would be so very very dull." Arianne said smiling at him "Or that we would seek our pleasure together and look for others to join us, just as Oberyn and Ellaria do."
"And now you don't?" he asked, slightly more worriedly than he'd expected, the thoughts of someone else with them were not ones he wished to entertain.
"No, my lion, I'll not allow another to take my husband's attention, not even for the briefest of moments." she said and he laughed when she reached out and took his manhood in her hands "This is mine and mine alone, no one else gets to see it, let alone touch it and they will never get to enjoy it inside of them, never."
"Never." he said and he could see Arianne breathe a small sigh of relief at that.
Tyrion was lost in this daydream when his wife and her mother walked into his solar, Arianne looking at him curiously and he in turn looking to Satin and to Mellario. He was about to ask his squire to fetch refreshments when his wife sent him from the room and he wondered if something had happened, only to be surprised and delighted by what his wife said to him. Why she had wished her mother there he didn't find out until later, not until they had taken a dragon ride so they could be far from any distractions or from prying eyes and ears.
"I worried, you'd not be pleased." she said softly, as they stood together in the cool desert air, Lygaron acting as their warmth and their guard.
"Ari, my love?" he asked reaching out to take her hand and bringing her closer to him "Why would you think that?"
"I...I did not always look as I do now. When I was younger I was…people may not have said it to my face but I was ugly, I know I was ugly. My body had no curves, my face splotchy and…and…when a woman is with child, her body changes…I.." she said her voice cracking.
He took her into his arms, holding her tightly, and while she didn't cry or shed a tear, he could feel how she shook against him. Nerves, upset, worry, whatever it was and perhaps it was some combination of them all, he knew he needed to reassure her, he wanted to reassure her.
"Nothing could make me not wish to be with you, Ari, nothing." he said softly.
"Even were I to get fat?" she asked, worriedly.
"Nothing." he said firmly.
"And my face splotchy?" she asked, Tyrion glad to see she was relaxing more as she spoke.
"Nothing." he said even more firmly "My days, my nights, my life will be spent showing my wife just how true this is, how much I love her, want her, wish to be with her and her alone." he said kissing her as he did so.
They sat down, Tyrion with his back against Lygaron and Arianne sitting between his legs, his arms around her and his fingers touching her stomach. He could feel no true difference and yet there was a difference there too, one that he felt without feeling, one that he knew. They were to have a babe, he was to be a father and she a mother and he swore to himself that he'd be a better one than both those that he had named as his own.
"You are pleased about the babe?" she asked nervously.
"More than pleased, our babe, Ari, a little snake." he said making her laugh.
"Or a lion."
"Or a dragon." he said feeling her lean even closer to him.
Over the next few weeks, they flew more together, Tyrion not sure if he was doing so in some effort to have Lygaron bond with his babe or if it was seeking the peacefulness that they would find together in the desert at night. He found being away from Sunspear when it was just the two of them and Lygaron to be something he enjoyed, and they'd stand in the desert and look out over it. His hands would be drawn to her belly as he felt it begin to swell, and it was a feeling he'd come to appreciate greatly. Arianne did too and he looked forward as did she to sharing the news with their families.
When they were not together, which annoyingly was even more often than he had expected since they married, they both worked on different aspects of seeing Dorne ready for whatever came its way. His wife charmed the new lords she'd named and won over their loyalty simply by her charm and force of will, and though it was never said openly, he knew the threat of Lygaron was always present. He worked on trade, on making opportunities so the new lords prospered and if he gave Bronn a little more than he deserved, then where was the harm in that.
The only one of those who'd come with him to Dorne who wasn't happy was unsurprisingly Satin and though the boy had some encounters with other boys, Tyrion knew he missed one in particular. What he didn't know was what to do about it, and so for now it was left unresolved. He wished there was more he could do for the boy, but other than keep him busy and be there for him if he needed him, there wasn't really anything that his words or deeds could fix.
His relationship with his goodmother was an interesting one, Mellario liked him, he knew that, and yet she too was at times sadder than she should be. He knew that was down to the son she had lost to the Wall and though she didn't blame Jae and by association, him, he knew that at times she found it hard to look at him because of it. Though the news about the babe had been something that seemed to have had a positive effect on her and she spent as much time with Trystane and Arianne as she could. Today while all three of them were spending time together, Tyrion finished up his work early and called for Lygaron, the bronze dragon coming quickly.
"Aye, I missed you too." he said as he leaned against the dragon's head and spoke softly to him.
It was a sight he knew those in Sunspear had come to enjoy, watching him speak to the dragon before they took to the sky. Lygaron then showing off and it made him wonder did Dany's, Aemon's or Shiera's dragons do so when they were alone too, he knew that Rhaenix did. Yet for today there was something not quite right and whatever it was, Lygaron wasn't sharing it with him. He felt it on the ride and when they landed, then later that night, he and Sunspear were all awakened by the pained sounds that came from the dragon as it flew erratically in the sky.
"Tyrion, what is it?" Arianne said waking up, Tyrion already up and out of their bed.
"Lygaron, I must go to him." he said dressing hurriedly.
"Are we in danger?" Arianne asked worriedly.
"No, he'd come straight to here if we were." he said and she too dressed as Areo knocked loudly and hen entered to make sure they were both unharmed.
By the time he got to where Lygaron could come and land, Bronn, Satin, Mellario, Trystane, and others were awake too. Tyrion not paying too much attention to the fact that both Jeyne and Nymeria moved with Bronn, as his attention was fully focussed on the bronze dragon. In the sky, Lygaron flew almost in circles and occasionally bursts of flames came from his mouth as if he was fighting an invisible enemy or threatening one. It took him some time to get the dragon to calm and come to him, Tyrion telling everyone to stay back while he moved to it and Arianne reaching out to stop him.
"He won't harm me, I've nothing to fear from him, Ari." he said softly and was glad when she removed her hand from his chest.
He knew that was true, the bond between them was far too strong for anything to come between it and as he reached Lygaron and leaned against him, he felt him calm somewhat. It took him some time to have any idea what it was that was bothering the dragon, each question he asked it getting him there by a process of elimination. In the end, all he could be sure of was that it was Rhaenix and Jae that Lygaron was worried about and that no, he didn't wish to go to them. Tyrion took some comfort in that and told the others that he'd stay with Lygaron for now, Arianne nodding to him and seeming to understand.
"They'll return, Lygaron, they'll both return." he said and though it seemed his dragon took comfort in that thought, Tyrion wasn't certain it was something he believed or something the dragon hoped.
The North 299 AC.
Cregan.
He split his time between Sea Dragon Point and Winterfell, though he had also accepted invitations to other keeps too. Cregan had gone Deepwood Motte where he found a friend in young Larence Snow and suggested that there may be a position in his keep to his foster father Lord Galbart if the lad should he wish it. He traveled to Barrowtown and stayed with Lady Dustin. Barbrey was more than happy to have him in her halls and the lady even gifted him one of her father's stallions, a horse that was almost as white as the name he had given him, Snow.
His own keep was coming along nicely and though he slept in the village, it wouldn't be too long until he slept in his own halls. With the coin that Jae and his uncle had given him to build it and with the larger population in Wintertown to help see it built, it would be only a year or more when it was completely finished and but a few moons when the main keep itself was, rather than the years it would normally take. Cregan finding himself more than keen for that to be the case, as he wished to be able to invite people to come and visit him, rather than it always be the other way around. Not that it being the other way around didn't have its benefits too, as this particular visit he was on now was one that he most looked forward to.
They had stopped off in Last Hearth, he, Larence, Eddard Karstark, and his and their guards and they were now finally on Karstark lands. Karhold was still a day or so away but the weather had held and the traveling wasn't hard. Dusk had probably enjoyed their travels even more than he, his wolf loved seeing more of the North, hunting and sleeping out in the open, though Dusk did like his creature comforts too and wasn't averse to sleeping by a warm fire indoors. Still, whether it was his own excitement, Eddard's at traveling home, Larence's at being on a bit of an adventure, or Dusk's, it had made for a fun journey from Sea Dragon Point.
"Never thought I'd be jealous of a wolf." Eddard said as they sat around by their fire that night.
"And why is that?" Larence asked eagerly, the young man always looking to pick up any pieces of wisdom or learning that he could and he particularly liked these moments and the spars Cregan would have with him in the mornings.
"Look at that rabbit, Larence, tell me if you'd rather be eating that or this?" Eddard said holding up his own piece of dried meat.
"We could have gone hunting." Larence said and Eddard laughed and Cregan knew that the jape that came would be at his expense.
"But that would have delayed us, had us out here under the night sky for another day or so and some of us are more eager to be in a certain keep than others." Eddard said, laughing when Larence looked his way.
"I'm a man who likes his comforts, Eddard." he said and for once Eddard didn't make mention of the true reason for his eagerness to be in the aforementioned certain keep.
It had been strange and unexpected and a very quick thing, a dance, some walks, some talks, and then before he knew it, she'd taken his heart completely. He knew that it had been her father's intent for them to get along so well and that a match may be suggested. Alys telling him so on their very first walk and though she made it clear she was following her father's request reluctantly, he got the impression that she'd be pleased if it led to the outcome Lord Karstark wished for. The more time they spent together he began to believe that it wasn't just her father and perhaps his uncle who'd like to see them matched, as both he and Alys too would be most pleased if it were so.
"Look at him, Larence, big moon eyes, lost in silence, the poor fool's in love." he heard Eddard say, and though he heard them both laugh at him, he cared not, the truth was that he loved her completely.
It was why he'd welcomed the invitation and why he'd resolved that he'd ask for her hand once he got there. So bidding them all a good night, he took to his bed, and as always he dreamed of brown hair and blue-grey eyes, and as he slept he held the handkerchief she'd made him close to his heart. Cregan woke early the next morning and it didn't take them but half the day to reach Karhold.
Karhold was actually two keeps on two separated large hills with a bridge that ran from one to the other. The valley beneath the bridge was narrow and it was there their horses rode first, Cregan looking up to see the bridge itself high above them. Once they'd reached the other side of the valley, Eddard brought them to the path that led to the largest of the keeps, telling them that while they could enter the smaller keep from the other side, his father, brother, and sister would be waiting for them in the larger one.
As for the keeps themselves, they were built from stone, and though smaller than Winterfell or Casterly Rock, they looked just as formidable. Cregan finally understanding now why both Eddard and Torrhen had asked him about his own and why Lord Karstark had come to visit and look over Sea Dragon point with his uncle. They weren't welcomed formally, though Lord Karstark, Lord Harrion, and Alys all awaited them in the courtyard. Cregan smiling broadly when she saw Alys kneeling down and rubbing her hands through Dusk's fur.
"Welcome to Karhold, Lord Stark." Cregan heard Lord Karstark say, his words taking his eyes away from Alys and Dusk.
"It's good to be here, my lord, truly." he said and saw the half-smile on the older man's face, one that he very rarely wore according to both Eddard and Alys.
Unfortunately for him, it wasn't Alys who escorted him to his room and he didn't get the chance to actually speak to her until later that night. Lord Karstark throwing them while not a feast, a large welcome dinner that was almost one all the same. When he did get to speak to her, Cregan was pleased to find that she was just as keen to see him as he had been her. The two of them speaking of inconsequential things while her father and brothers looked on and made sure they didn't cross any lines of propriety. It was only when he got to dance with her that he was able to speak to her more about his reasons for coming, and he was more than happy that she was as pleased as he was for those.
One moon later.
He stood beside her, both of them looking out over the sea, their new keep rising behind them while they spoke on the future. They were to be wed, Alys's father had agreed almost the moment he brought it up and had even allowed her to accompany him back to Sea Dragon Point to visit it and Winterfell when he returned. Her brothers too were both as pleased as they were by the match, and his uncle and cousin had welcomed it keenly. Cregan quickly sending the ravens to both King's Landing and Castamere with the news.
Each night since they'd arrived at Sea Dragon Point they'd followed the same routine, they'd spend some time looking out over the sea and the docks beneath them. They'd take note of the ships that were soon to be part of the Western Fleet of which he was to be in charge. He, Alys, and Dusk would come here and spend some time alone, her chaperone standing a little off in the distance and allowing them some privacy, if not leaving them completely alone. Eventually, they'd had back to the village, the tavern they stayed in soon to be a thing of the past, as when next Alys came they'd have the beginnings of their keep practically ready for them.
Their wedding was set for a few moons from now, Cregan looking forward to his family coming to meet her and see his new lands before they'd see him wed. As they stood there he reached out and took her hand in his, the one piece of contact that he was allowed with her chaperone present, though when she was not and they snuck away for moments alone together, they had kissed more than once. Turning to her, he saw the smile on her face and welcomed it as he always did on these occasions, he was just about to say something to her when Dusk howled loudly.
"Cregan?" she asked worriedly and he looked around and when he could see no danger, he closed his eyes, feeling the wolf's worry and its concern for a member of the pack.
Dragonstone 299 AC.
Dany.
When he had asked her, she had not known what to say and so had gone to speak to Margaery since Jae wasn't in King's Landing. Her first instinct had been to say yes, that of course she'd accept Ser Bonifer into her service but he had sworn to her nephew. Both he and the hundred were to act as the Royal Guard and while Bonifer said it was just he that wished to join her own, she still wasn't sure if she could agree to it without speaking to the king or queen. Margaery though had said it was both what the knight himself had wished for, Bonifer had already come to ask her if he had her blessing to make the offer, and that it was what Jae himself would want too.
"Ser Bonifer's connection was to your mother, Dany, to Jae's grandmother, and as much as he may wish to serve Jae, in his heart, it's you that he truly wishes to swear his oath to." Margaery said.
"I just…" she said softly.
"I believe that Jae would wish this for you, truly. Is it what you want?" Margaery asked.
"It is, Margaery." she said determinedly.
So it had been agreed that Ser Bonifer would serve her though not as her knight or as Captain of her guard, she had Grey Worm, Sandor, Strong Belwas to cover those positions, instead, she'd asked and he agreed to be her castellan. He knew more about Westeros than she did and though Missandei was more than capable of running the keep in her absence, or even her presence she thought with a grin, it was for the best that it was left to Ser Bonifer. Besides she had other plans in regards to Missandei, plans that would help Dragonstone even more in the long run.
After seeing what Sarella was doing with her school for girls, Dany had decided that the smallfolk of Dragonstone needed to be educated also and there was no better person to put in charge of that education than the smartest person she knew. So after some cajoling on her part and after much reassurance that this was just a job for Missandei to do and not Dany seeking to send her from her service. The young girl had agreed to begin setting up a place where the children and any of the adults that wished to could come to learn how to read, write, do their sums, and any other lesson that she deemed practical.
Grey Worm had taken charge of her keeps defenses, while both Sandor and Strong had begun training her own standing army. Though not as large as Jae's would be, she had taken his words to heart, and just like him, she would ensure their family never needed to rely on others as they had in the past. As for the people on the island themselves, they'd taken great comfort in both having her as their liege, as serving her family is what they truly wished for, and in having the dragons back on the island once again. Though it was the extra opportunities that having the Targaryens back in charge that she knew they most welcomed.
Be it helping to mine the Dragonglass or seeing it shipped, the chance to be educated, work as members of her household, her guards or in the standing army, or even work with her new navy, they had never had it so good when it came to coin. Dany had spent some but not a great amount of the coin she'd been given in tribute by the magisters, most of it still lay in the vaults at Dragonstone though and thanks to Tyrion, Jae, Wyman, Willas, and Aurane, Dragonstone was now earning more coin too. Not that it meant she'd take it easy on Aurane today, he had challenged her to a spar and she'd put him on the ground for being such a cocky fucker, she thought smirking as she made her way to the sparring yard with Missandei, Jhiqhi, and Irri.
"Do you intend to hurt him, my princess?" Jhiqhi asked.
"Only his pride." she said making the girls laugh.
"He is a fool for challenging you so." Irri said, and Dany couldn't help but agree, he truly was, though she quite enjoyed it when he was being foolish.
Reaching the yard she looked around at those present, almost the entire household was looking on and Dany smiled when she saw the look on Sandor's face. A part of her wondering if he put Aurane up to it or suggested it at least, it would be something the sneaky fucker would do to amuse himself. She looked to Belwas who was acting as a second for Aurane and she could see the fat man roll his eyes and chuckle as he looked at her, knowing no doubt that she was about to teach Aurane a lesson. As for Aurane, she had to give it to him, he looked good and the smile he wore was a true one, perhaps it was his own idea, after all, she thought before Bonifer handed her the tourney sword.
It didn't take them long to get into a rhythm and she knew that Sandor would berate her a little later over not ending it sooner. But she was having fun, the swords were flying in the air and though she could perhaps have won sooner, it was far more enjoyable to move and parry rather than to try and win. When she saw Aurane grow a little tired and she felt her own breathing become heavy, only then did she end it. Her sword soon at Aurane's neck as she took the day and the smile he wore showed that he accepted his loss gracefully.
"Three cheers for the princess." Belwas shouted and Aurane shot him a look that named him a traitor, something that made her chuckle.
Their dinner that night was a pleasant one, as was standing on the balcony after it and looking over the island with Aurane by her side. He'd finally shaken off his reluctance to be with her, Jae's words and her own both combining to let him know that he was not considered beneath her by those who mattered. Even Aemon, Shiera, and Tyrion before he had left for Dorne had made it clear and it had led to a much more true relationship between them. Though they'd still not gone further than kissing and some touching, as of yet.
She was sure now that she loved him and he, her, and the thoughts of being his wife were ones that would come to her at the most inopportune times. When they did she'd get this look on her face that if Sandor was around to see her face then he'd name her a dreamy fucker, and at times she'd swear that Aurane would have that same look too. Tonight it seemed they both wore it and she wondered if it was to be tonight that they finally spoke the words, it wasn't much to her disappointment though she did welcome the kisses and she went to her bed content.
A few days later, Shiera arrived, her aunt now spending as much time on the island since she moved to it properly as she did in the city itself. Her uncle would visit too but not as frequently, though she knew that was because he was busy and not because he didn't wish to. She more than welcomed having Shiera here and they would fly on their dragons together when she came. Dany noticing very quickly that though her children rested on Dragonstone when not with their riders, they far preferred it when they were with them to when they were not.
Today though was not to be as pleasant a visit as she had expected, as no sooner had her aunt arrived than all three of the dragons began to act strangely. Sandorix even flying off in the direction of King's Landing and the sounds of the dragons' worry and concern was loud enough to be heard all across the island. She mounted her silver and rode fast to the cliffs where she found her aunt leaning against Rhaegal, Ellagon was flying in the air and landed as soon as she saw her.
"What is it, is it Aemon, Tyrion, Jae?" she asked her aunt who shook her head, not sure herself why the dragons sounded so pained.
"I don't know, I woke this morning and knew I wished to fly and Rhaegal came to me, it was odd, I knew I wished to fly and even went to Aemon to ask him to fly with me, and yet he said he could not. Sandorix flew not long after I arrived, Dany, something's happened but I don't believe it's Aemon, or Tyrion." Shiera said.
"Jae?" she asked worriedly and though her aunt didn't reply, she felt she agreed.
She leaned her head against Ellagon's, calming her down somewhat, and yet it was to be sometime later that she truly calmed. When she did, she joined her aunt and they made her way to King's Landing, if there was something wrong, if something had happened, then it was there they'd get the answers, or at least she hoped they would.
King's Landing 299 AC.
Margaery.
The days she spoke to him were the ones she most enjoyed, she knew that Jaime spoke to him too and did so while speaking on the realm and on matters that he may need to know. Though she suspected knowing her husband that he also spoke more on Joanna and Jon and Jaime himself than he did on trade or lords or things of that nature. He had pretty much told her this when she brought something up about one of the lords, Jae saying that he was sure that she and Jaime between them could deal with it and that he had faith in them to do so. It had taken her a while to understand it, to truly understand why he cared not for such things and it was her grandmother as always who offered her the clarity that sometimes she found she didn't have.
"It's not just that he asked you and Lord Jaime to see to the realm, Marge, it's that he wishes your time together to be about you both, only about you both." her grandmother said.
"So I should not speak to him on such things?" she asked.
"Do you wish to?" her grandmother asked her back and she found that she very much did not.
So instead they spoke of how she was feeling, of how the babe was coming along, and how she was managing. Margaery talking about small discomforts and how at times her feet would hurt and Jae telling her that he wished he was there to rub them for her. She wished he was with her too, though not so he could rub her feet, she missed him in her bed, both for the things they did together and because she slept far better with him in her arms than not.
On the days they were not to speak, she focussed far more on her work. They had begun the work on the sewers in earnest and she swore she could already smell a difference. There was a long way to go, but in time she felt that the city would not be known for its smell and according to both Aemon and Gormon, this would be better for the health of those who lived there too. She had visited Sarella's school which had taken in its first class, Margaery sitting in with them and disappointed that it was the daughters or ladies and not those of the smallfolk but understanding why that was. In a short amount of time, it would be open to all, but it needed to be seen to be a place where lords and ladies would send their girls, then and only then would it be accepted by one and all.
Today she made her way to a Small Council meeting, something they held twice a week instead of the once. Though at times they'd not have much to report on and both Sansa and her grandmother had suggested she was doing it only because she missed her husband, she'd found that it worked far better this way than the other. Ser Barristan and Ser Jors walked behind her and as she entered the room she saw her grandmother sitting with Willas and Lord Wyman. Jaime was sitting beside Ser Richard and Lord Monford and Gormon sat on his own. Taking her seat, she looked to Jaime and waited for the meeting to begin.
"Ser Richard?" Jaime said to the Master of Whisperers.
"Little to report, Lord Hand, my lips bring me little news though I have heard a kiss from the Vale." Ser Richard said.
"What's he said now?" she asked annoyed.
"More of the same, your grace, though ravens have been sent to the Lady Shireen and Lord Renly." Ser Richard said upbringing them all.
"And the contents of these messages?" her grandmother asked.
"Ostensibly to discuss trade and to arrange for some meetings." Ser Richard said and yet she knew there was more just by how he looked at them.
"Yet there is far more to it, is there not?" she asked and Richard nodded.
"I believe our winged friend seeks a marriage, your grace, both for what it does to his own position and because he still bears a grudge against the crown." Ser Richard said and she smirked as she drummed her fingers on the table, something she knew she'd picked up from Jae.
"Then perhaps it's time we spoke to the Lady Shireen." she said and Richard nodded.
"Lord Monford?" Jaime asked.
The rest of the meeting was far more dull and uninteresting and when it was over, she asked, Jaime, Ser Richard, and her grandmother to stay. Willas both looking put out and not when she looked to her grandmother who nodded, letting him know that he'd be told later what was discussed. Once they'd left, she poured herself a glass of water and then turned to Ser Richard.
"I want Lord Arryn to have his meetings, Ser, to speak up on his treasonous intents. It's time we clipped the falcon's wings for good." she said.
"Your grace?" her grandmother asked and she knew that it wasn't that she disagreed with her or didn't know her mind, but more that she wanted her to take a chance to consider it more clearly, something she had already done.
"Jae knew that Hardyng would never stick to his word, it's why he never picked a location in the Vale for House Targaryen, he knew he'd not need to and that in the end a place would be picked for him.." she said looking to Jaime and to Ser Richard who seemed to have expected this also "The Lady Shireen is good and true and word can be sent to her about him and about her uncle. So we'll let the falcon speak his words, the Wall needs poor men as well as good."
She rose to her feet and told them she'd speak to them later, Jaime would come by once he'd eaten she knew and her grandmother would find her way to her before the day ended to speak some more. Ser Richard would immediately set about seeing what she wished done, no more words needing to be spoken than the ones she already had. It made her wish to speak to Jae though, to let him know or to have Jaime do so but in the end, it turned out not to be an option for either of them. The Glass Candle's didn't burn that night or the next and were that not enough to make her worry, the behavior of Ghost, Fang Balerion, and then Sandorix certainly was.
Margery was sitting in her room speaking to Sansa, Mira, Tyene, and Joy when the howling was heard, Ghost suddenly rising to his feet and though as always the white wolf made no sound, it was clear that he was agitated. The scratching at the window and at the door, and how Ser Barristan and Ser Robar followed Fang in and Joy ran to the allow Balerion to do likewise, soon had them worrying greatly. Hearing the roar of Sandorix, as he flew over the Red Keep only more so.
"Your grace, you are unharmed?" Ser Barristan asked as Sansa tried to calm Fang down and Joy did the same to Balerion, while Ghost for once didn't come to her to reassure her and she quickly felt herself almost on the verge of panic.
"Jae." she said her voice almost breaking.
Jaime, her grandmother, Ser Robar, Ser Jors, and Ser Richard Horpe. Soon enough even Ser Richard Lonmouth, Aemon, Willas, and others all made their way to her rooms and she was grateful when Jaime sent most of them away. Fang had calmed some and Aemon had said he would go to Sandorix, Balerion too had seemed to calm but Ghost, Ghost seemed on full alert, the white wolf was not moving and almost looked as if he was there but not there.
She barely heard the voices, Ellaria she knew had come by and in time Jaime had Dacey do likewise, both women taking Sansa and Joy and the others with them and leaving her, Jaime, and her grandmother in her room. Her heart beat faster and didn't stop, not truly until Ghost came and licked her hand. Margaery kneeling down so she could look the white wolf in the eye and ask him if Jae was safe.
"Jae, is he safe, is he hurt?" she asked her voice little more than a whisper, the feel of Ghost's tongue on her face one that she welcomed and calming her more than anything other than hearing her husband's voice or seeing him at that exact moment would do.
"Thank the gods." Jaime said and Margaery just hugged the white wolf.
Later when they'd left her alone, she had felt that there was something else going on with the white wolf, that while Jae wasn't hurt, he was hurting somewhat. Looking into Ghost's eyes she could see that there was a hint of great sadness in them, it made her ask him once again and she was relieved when once again he licked her hand. The wait until Jae himself contacted them with the Glass Candles was a long and agonizing one and she heard it in his voice, though he refused to speak to her on what it was that had hurt him so.
"I'll return as soon as I can, Marge, we'll speak them, I'm unhurt, truly." he said and for now that would have to be enough.
Skane 299 AC.
Benjen.
Each time he closed his eyes he saw the bright blue ones, he saw dead men cut down living and men and women fall. There were faces amongst those who fell who though he didn't see them fall that he knew now were gone. Good men and women, people he called friends and those he did not and though they had saved far more than they had lost, it was the losses that he and everyone else dwelled upon. None of them doing so more than his nephew and nothing that he, Oberyn, Arthur, or Loras could say could make Jae feel any better.
They'd forced him to sleep, browbeaten him down so he'd do so and he'd slept a full day, yet from the moment he'd woken he'd been just as manic, just as focussed, as he had ever since the bridge. He worked himself far too hard, be it in catching food for those on the island, or in flying to see that the ships were on the way. He'd flown to Eastwatch and according to Arthur back to Hardhome, but he refused to speak on Walder or to listen when he was told that without him far more would have fallen.
"Eat." Val said handing him the bowl, Benjen looking up from the fire as she took a seat beside him.
"Whale?" he asked.
"Rabbit." she said and he nodded, he'd grown tired of whale very quickly.
Jae had taken Rhaenix hunting and they'd dragged back two whales a few days before, while it was food and it filled the emptiness of their stomachs, days of eating nothing but whale was too much for any man let alone one like he who hated the smell and taste of it.
"Where is he?" he asked.
"On the hill, looking out over the sea with Arthur, Obeyrn, and Loras at his back." Val said.
He sighed at that, each night it was the same thing, his nephew would sit and look out at the sea and wait there until Rhaenix arrived back. Then he'd sleep beside the dragon or he would if he slept and then the day would begin again and he'd try and do far too much as if he was making up for something. What it was could only guess at but it was only Jae that blamed himself for it. He'd managed to get most of them here and in the week and a half that they'd been here they'd sent most of their people south. Now it was only a few thousand left to travel, and the giants who'd decided to stay here.
Soon the ships would arrive and the last of the Free Folk would be journeying south beyond the Wall, yet what should be something to be proud of, had turned to something his nephew wore like a stain. Benjen ate the rabbit stew and looked to Val once he'd done so, he nodded at her and handed her the bowl before he rose. There was no need to tell her where he was going and he knew she'd join him soon enough. It didn't take him long to reach the hill and he saw it wasn't only Arthur, Loras, and Oberyn who were standing vigil. Mance too stood looking at his nephew who as had become far too much his routine, sat silently a little way ahead of them.
"How long?" he asked as he reached Mance and the others.
"A few hours." Loras said.
"Has he eaten?"
"Aye, Dalla brought him some herself, only that she had the babe with her, I don't think he would have." Mance said concernedly.
"He needs to be in Eastwach, the children, he needs to see and hear the children, we were wrong sending them all south." he said and both Oberyn and Arthur nodded.
"It wasn't us that decided it Benjen." Mance said and he nodded at him before moving past the four men and walking to take a seat beside his nephew.
Jae had circles under his eyes showing his lack of sleep, he looked pale and his shoulders were slumped. The energy that he showed during the day when he was moving people or making sure the boats and ships were loaded and when he was making sure everyone had enough food, was all now gone. Instead, it was almost an apathy that he sat with.
"You can't blame yourself, Jae." he said, something he'd done more than once, yet to no avail.
"And yet I do." Jae said softly.
"You saved so many, families, children, you saved so many Jae." he said placing his hand on his nephew's shoulder, and feeling how Jae shied away from his touch.
"I lost too many." his nephew said resignedly and he knew that once again it was beyond him to make him think any differently.
Rhaenix arrived not long after and he watched as his nephew made his way to her side before laying down beside her and Benjen prayed to the old gods to make him rest this night. He and the others made their way to the camp and he met Val and Frost on the way, letting him know that he'd spent far less time with his nephew than he had thought.
The ships arrived the next morning, and by mid-afternoon, they were sailing south. Skane was now empty other than the giants and the mammoths who now called it home. In the air, Rhaenix flew with Jae, Arthur, Oberyn, and Loras on her back and he knew that the dragon's injury was partly what Jae blamed himself for. Not even the fact that she'd completely recovered seeming to bring him comfort. It was Walder though, deep down he knew it was Walder that Jae mourned, and the only thing that would make him feel better, would be time.
Skane/Eastwatch 299 AC.
Arthur.
He knew nothing that anyone could say to Jae would make him feel better, yet he allowed each of them to try and he played his own part. Though his was far different than the others and was something he had picked up from Jaime. Each morning he'd spar with the king, Dawn against Blackfyre which Jae had taken back from Loras once they'd reached Skane. They didn't speak, instead, Arthur would allow Jae to take out his anger and frustration in a way that at least calmed him and made him forget about the troubles in his mind and heart, for it was both that were pained.
They'd flown both to Hardhome and to Eastwatch, Jae making sure the Free Folk had arrived safely and that the Night's Watch based there didn't interfere with them. Arthur himself still feeling a little shiver run down his spine at how Jae spoke to the commander at Eastwatch when they arrived and the man had dared suggest that these people were the enemy.
"THE ENEMY, THE ENEMY." Jae shouted before calming somewhat "Trust me, Commander Pyke, you've not seen the true enemy and when you do it'll be shit coming out of your arse and not your mouth that we'll all have to suffer. The Free Folk are under my protection, and I swear it on the Old Gods and the New, if even one of your men raises as much as a hand to any of them then I'll see your entire order burns, do I make myself clear?"
"Your grace.."
"Do I make myself clear?" Jae said looking at the man with a look that Arthur had never seen him wear before.
"You do, your grace."
They had spoken to Tormund and to Mother Mole, Jae explaining that the lands from the sea they sailed on to the next one they came to if they walked west were under his control. Five and twenty miles from where they stood and to the south were for the Free Folk to settle on. He spoke to them of Deep Lake, of the rivers nearby that had fresh water and good fishing in them. Then he told them of the woods with the best game and said if they wished to settle here or move on to Queenscrown it was to be their choice.
It was the only true time that he seemed almost to be himself, when he was planning, speaking of things, and being active. When he was not, he was as much like his father as he had ever been, something that even Oberyn commented on and something that neither of them liked to see. He knew he blamed himself for the losses they had suffered and that he hadn't yet considered the success of what they did, but he also knew it was Walder, that was what weighed heaviest on his heart. Both he and Loras felt that loss keenly too, but Jae felt responsible, and nothing any of them could say would make him feel differently.
It was why he welcomed the ships arriving and them heading to Eastwatch for true, Arthur more than eager to be away from Skane, though he knew that Jae would return here too to see the giants were truly settled. As they took to the air, he bid the place good riddance and he hoped never to see the island again. Not because he didn't like it or the giants who now settled it, but he knew that each time Jae saw this island, he'd be his father's son once more.
The North 299 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
She had recovered completely and even the scar had begun to heal over, the scales growing over it to cover where she'd been hit. He'd spoken to her and she'd told him that it had made her feel tired, drained, and only that she felt him in danger she'd have gone and rested as he bid her. Instead, she'd turned back and saved him and she said she wished she could have saved Walder too, his sister knowing instinctively what it was that was causing him the most pain.
He had heard the words that Benjen, Oberyn, Mance, Arthur, and Loras had said, he knew they'd saved far more than they had lost, yet it was the losses hurt and Walder's especially. Four he had lost, four men who'd given their lives for him, four men that he'd never truly gotten to tell just how much they meant to him. Two before he was even born, one before the truth of him was known to him and now Walder and it was that one that truly hurt the most.
While to others he may look as if he was sitting and stewing over that loss, and in a way he was, it was more that he couldn't understand it. Why was he allowed to save him from Bloodraven and to give him another life only for that life to be taken from him? Was this what Nan wished for him? To have him fall for him? And if so did she know? It was to thoughts like this, to thoughts about those who cared for him who'd need to be told he was with them no more and to knowing that while he succeeded, he had failed too. He'd been unprepared, thought himself and Rhaenix invincible, and had found out they were anything but and the thoughts that he could have lost his sister too terrified him.
So he'd thrown himself into getting the Free Folk to Skane and then to Eastwatch and onto his lands. He'd made sure they had all he could give them and he'd spent his time thinking about what was to come, the battles that were to be fought, and the war that he needed to win. Jae had thought about protection for the dragons, knowing now they could be harmed, he'd thought about how to actually fight the dead, and while to others it may look like he was lost in despair, he was anything but. Instead just as he had when he had resolved to plan the war against Robert after he had lost his uncle, his mind was doing the very same thing now.
"We will beat him, little brother." Rhaenix said in his head.
"We will, Rhae." he replied.
They landed at Eastwatch ahead of the ships to find Tormund and Mother Mole still there along with most of the Free Folk. Jae climbing down quickly off Rhaenix's back and walking with Oberyn, Arthur, and Loras to where they and some others were waiting for him.
"Mance and the others are on their way, they should be here on the morrow." he said and Tormund nodded.
"Some of our people found a glade nearby, it's got fresh water, good trees to build homes with and the hunting is good, they'll make a home for themselves there, my prince" Mother Mole said.
"How many?" he asked curiously.
"A thousand, maybe two." she replied.
"Do we know how many were lost?" he asked and he saw Tormund look to Mother Mole who shook her head.
"We'll now when Mance gets here, my prince." she said a moment later.
"You're sure Styr, Harma, and The Lord of Bones aren't with them, Jae?" Tormund asked.
"Aye, I am."
"Ygritte?" Tormund asked and Oberyn shook his head.
He saw the sad look on both men's faces, Oberyn mourning his nephew too and Tormund the redhead, he knew that Val and Mance had felt that loss also. The Lord of Bones was not someone he'd met but according to Tormund the man was a cunt, Styr though was a big loss as was Harma, both clans now needing new leaders, though Sigorn, Styr's son was a capable man. As normal he slept with Rhaenix that night, then welcomed the ships on when they were spotted the next morning. Jae relieved to see that all the ships had arrived back without incident and that Mance, Dalla, and their babe were safe as were Val and his uncle.
They held a feast of sorts that night, Mance drinking to the fallen and Jae trying not to shudder when he realized they'd lost almost 20,000 at Hardhome. It was as he was walking to sleep beside his sister that Mother Mole sought him out, Arthur allowing the woman to come to him for some reason.
"It's not your fault, my prince, the blame you put on yourself, none would seek it there. Had you not been at Hardhome then all would have fallen, all, not some. You've given us a chance, a future that were it not for you, none would have known." she said.
"Yet I failed." he said and she laughed catching him by surprise.
"Good, now go fail again." she said and he looked at her not understanding "If this was a failure, then go fail again, you saved my people, my prince, only you could do so. When the fight comes men will fall, women will fall, even the children will fall, but we will not, not all of us, not everyone, thanks to you." she said smiling as she rose to her feet and walked away.
The next morning he spoke to Mance and he, Tormund, Benjen, Val, and Arthur took to the sky, Jae noticing how the Free Folk looked at the King Beyond the Walla and the Tall Talker as they climbed up onto Rhaenix's back. He flew to Queenscrown, arriving there just before nightfall, and then showed them around the village and the tower.
"This is where I'd see most of your people settle Mance, this tower is to be home to one of my children or their children one day. I've asked Benjen to take it up as it's Castellan, so it would be as if they're already here which means that should anyone take issue with your people on my land, should they attack them, then it would be the same as an attack on my own house." he said as Mance looked at him in shock.
"You would fight against your own people for doing so?" Mance asked.
"If they did so, aye." he said and saw Val smile.
"And if we should not wish to stay here, Jae?" Tormund asked.
"As I said to you back in Eastwatch, from sea to sea and five and twenty miles from the Wall, this is the limit of my lands, go any further and I can't offer you my protection, but while on them, I can. There is good hunting here, Tormund, the lake is full of fish, the water is good. You've seen the village, once the roofs are done the buildings will offer good protection from the cold. Look around, you can see there are good trees nearby and with Benjen in the Tower, it's the same as if it were me here."
"Aye, we can settle many here, Jae, some will seek to travel, to scatter, but the lands are good, I thank you." Mance said.
"I'll see my men march with you and that supplies are sent to help you, furs, food, and weapons. For now, I need to go back to my home and my wife, I need to prepare." Jae said and Mance nodded.
"You'll return?" Tormund asked.
"On that, you can be certain." he said and saw the large smile on the man's face.
They flew back to Eastwatch and he said his goodbyes, promising Mother Mole that he would return and help them ready themselves and he'd not be idle while he was gone. That night he spoke to Margaery to let her know he was on his way back and he felt her own relief at that and while he couldn't wait to see her again, he knew that once he did he'd feel Walder's death even more keenly.
He sent the night looking out on the sea, watching the waves rolling in and out, Arthur, Oberyn, and Loras behind him. When the dawn broke that morning he watched the sunrise and felt it warm his heart and yet he moved to the water's edge and let out a loud and angered shout, he roared, and let it out and felt his strength and resolve truly return as he did so.
"I Will Bring the Dawn. I will sing my song and I will see the Night King fall. Thank you, my friend, thank you for giving me another chance and for guarding my back." he said as he looked down at the Valyrian Steel ax he held in his hands.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed and for your kind words. Up next, Jae heads back to King's Landing and breaks the bad news about Walder's death. Margaery and Joy help him heal his wounded heart and he tells Joy a tale about giants before beginning work to ready the realm for the Night King and sending word to Essos to bring back the Company of the Rose.
Anarchichmind: Well I did say the War for the Dawn would raise the stakes and it's almost right upon us.
Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it.
Undeath: The thing is that in the War for the Throne, Jae's numbers were everything, he had the numbers and the dragons and was pretty OP against the odds he faced, not to mention he had the element of surprise because of the dragons and the allies, here, it's far more even.
Dama Layla . Não, ele não quer, embora ele possa descansar agora.
Biohazard: Really glad you enjoyed it.
VfSnake: Very much so.
Celexys: With Walder, it was unfortunately that reason that made him the most likely to fall.
The Spynx: Thanks for your thoughts and as always your poem, my friend.
Remi: Thanks so much. Walder's not a wight, he fell into the sea and with the armor, he had on, pretty much sank to the bottom, Ygritte, Quentyn, and others though are. They lost about 20,000 but at least half were warriors, so a disaster but not a complete one.
Zeon: Thank you. That was in some ways the reason for it being Walder, he's been there since the start, it's got a bigger impact than some others and shows the stakes are raised.
Guest: Thanks for your kind words.
Scarila: Thank you. I came very close to not killing off Quentyn but I had reasons that we'll see later on.
Tfranco: Thanks so much for your words. I can assuage your fears on him coming back, he fell into the sea and so he's at rest at the bottom of it, no chains to drag him up from it either.
HKt29: One of the things with the Night King is unlike those he's fought earlier, he has his own powers and they're almost of a match with Jae, so the stakes are raised in the fight, more would have fallen had the Night King wished them too. I have someone in mind to replace Walder, but you're right he got to fulfill what Nan wished for him and to die protecting the king, that for a Kingsguard is the biggest honor.
Emerdalduke: Thank you my frend. That's one of the things, to die for the king is a big thing and for Walder the perfect end if he had to go. Without him, Jae would have been dead twice over.
Jaimerey: O que torna Dawn especial é que ela é a única. Veremos muitas armas de aço valiriano sendo usadas, mas é muito estranho quando você pensa em quantas estão faltando, faz você se perguntar por quê ?
Guest: Walder/Brienne is a much different type of relationship. But it does raise the stakes very much, I hope.
Adgedless: Glad you liked it, we'll see a bigger reaction to Quentyn's death in a little bit.
Ceelee: Thanks so much. That was it really with Walder, he made the supreme sacrifice and went out how he would have wished to.
Spartan1007: The Giants will fight yes, Wun Wun especially, we'll see some talk of that next chapter. I wasn't sure if any caught a lot of the foreshadowing with Walder, it's there pretty much from Nan's conversation with him right way way back.
Basal: Thanks so very much for your kind words, I can say that it was never meant to be this long but I'm glad it is, really glad you find that it kept your interest too.
Keb: I'm glad you thought so, also a much more important one, had he not held the door then Bran would have died, and well, things would have been so much different considering Bran was pretty unimportant in terms of winning the war, Jae, on the other hand, is vital to it. The Faceless Men are on Jae's side, the Night King poses a threat to them too, they will fight in the War for the Dawn.
Xen Merrick: Thank you, my friend. I wanted to show as quickly and as clearly as possible that this is a different fight than the one for the throne, Jae is up against a much more dangerous opponent.
Guest: Here right from the start it's been far more about Jon in that I've really taken the PTWP and SOIAF to be related directly to him. Dany's role is lesser, far lesser because of that but she'll play her part in the War for the Dawn, but mainly she's more to see House Targaryen rise again, a bit like Tyrion in that regard.
Silverglow: Thanks, my friend. I was watching the throw he did on Viserion once again and damn that was impressive, but yes he put far more into it here, Jae really thought they were safe. The Night King even threw some to give him that impression, deliberately underthrew. Walder has pretty much saved Jae's life twice now, this one costing him his life but yes it means the NK must find another way through the Wall.
Victoria: Thank you, my dear friend. There will still be some happiness too, we've to see the birth of Jae's babe and a couple more marriages, though only one really big one. But there will be more battles and unfortunately more losses. Rhaenix getting injured is actually a good thing in that it focuses Jae's mind on knowing now the dragons are vulnerable so he'll seek a way to protect them, which will be fun. You stay safe and well.
Lady Octarina: One of the key things with the NK, is that in some ways he and Jae are equal so the battle is different because of that. In the War for the Throne, Jae had all the cards, the surprise all on his side and here he kinda faced the flip side of that, and though he won, he lost too. Walder, you're right it had to be him out of all of them, unfortunately. I tried to make it that none of them were really a redshirt though. Walder fell into the sea and his armor took him to the bottom so he won't come back, Quentyn/Ygritte however will as will some of the others who fell. On Jae, he pretty much refused to collapse, the force of will, magic, etc, and he only took down a smaller portion of the bridge this time, even if he expended more magic.
Thanks for your words, taken the few days helped as much as it could but it's true what they say, only time truly heals.
Seananagan: No worries my friend, and I'm glad you reviewed how you did, it's honest and a true review and not clouded by the emotion of my loss, but by the emotion of how the chapter felt, that's much appreciated.
So I'll give you my thought process, you can then decide if it's a right or wrong one. The War for the Throne was in some ways a setup to this, the stakes for this were always going to be raised because in the War for the Throne, Jae held all the cards, he had surprise on his side, he knew his enemies when they didn't truly know him, he'd been planning it forever, even if the actual timing of it wasn't his choice and he in some ways is very OP, certainly compared to Robert/Jon A and others.
The War for the Dawn is a flip the switch moment, but it was always meant to be because for the first time Jae is dealing with an enemy that has some of the same types of powers as he has, who too is Op, and too has been planning a war for the longest time. To that end, the losses that Jae didn't suffer in the first war are far more likely to occur in the second.
Walder's death, you say that Jae knew of the spears and that he put himself in a position where it could be used without any preparation but he kinda had to. He needed to break the bridge, to sing the song to stop the NK and the dead coming, that was his entire focus, not that he may get hit with a spear, or even that he could. The NK literally waited until he was singing before firing, there is no real way for Jae to prepare for that. As for Walder's death feeling a bit meaningless because it wasn't in battle, it was, a battle, the end of one, and he died doing what every KG is supposed to be willing to do. Way back in the WF chapters, Nan pretty much tells him his job, his life is to protect Jae, he does so even though he should die in the Rl, that time Jae was able to reach out and save him by bringing the animals to bear, here Jae was singing a song to save others and so wasn't able to.
For a KG dying to save a king is the most important sacrifice one can make, with Walder even more so. Remember Walder is Duncan's great-great grandson and how did Duncan die, he walked back into a burning building to try and save a king, after he had saved Rhaella which in turn leads to Rhaegar and to Jae. There has been foreshadowing with Walder, some picked up on it, some did not but it's been there. But the story was always supposed to take this turn once we reached the War for the Dawn, Jae's journey and his powers have been to prepare him for it because without them he and the world is screwed, without them, they can't win. Right from the start, I've planned this out very clearly to have a certain tone, it's light, Jae wins, his losses are emotional and in the past rather than physical and in the present. This has been the reason for that, it's not a reaction to anyone else or me trying to make the story conform to GRRM, it won't, but there are losses to come, that's been the point of the journey, to make characters relatable so we care for them and if they fall we react emotionally to their fall.
Irish Hermit: Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm glad you thought so, I wanted to make it have an emotional impact. I thought long and hard about Quentyn/Ygritte, went back and forth with them on both living, one surviving and in the end, felt it for the best for this to be their end. Jae and others will feel Walder's, Oberyn and others Quentyn's and The Free Folk, Ygritte's which we'll see with Tormund in a while. Walder won't come back, he's in the water, and in the water, he'll stay, Quentyn/Ygritte however will. Very fortunate, especially here.