King's Landing 299 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
Seeing it as it came into view was a welcome sight and he knew he wasn't the only one to think so. Arthur, Loras, and Oberyn all wished to be back just as much as he, and some of that was down to their worry for him. He'd tried to reassure them that he was feeling better, though he wasn't truly, but they knew him too well for such a mummery to work. As they flew over the Red Keep he was surprised to see Rhaegal, Sandorix, and Ellagon take to the sky, though he really shouldn't have been. They were eager to make sure Rhaenix was truly unhurt, he knew that now and though he'd let Lygaron know she was well, he was actually surprised the Bronze Dragon hadn't flown here too.
After circling the Red Keep so they knew he had returned, he flew to the Dragonpit, and as they landed so did the other dragons. Jae almost fell off Rhaenix's back, his tiredness was really starting to affect him now that his mind was calmer than it had been. He hoped that he didn't fall prey to his exhaustion before he spoke to Margaery and let her know that he was simply tired and not that it was something more. As they waited for the horses to come, he began to think of what he needed to say and who he needed to say it to. There was the other Kingsguard of course, though Arthur and Loras could explain to them the details of what happened to their brother. Brienne would take it hard he knew and there were the twins that guarded Olenna, Erryk, and Arryk, who'd found out they were kin with Walder and who he'd seen spend time with him.
Sansa, his uncle Ned, those at Winterfell, and the realm at large, all needed to know that Walder had fallen and that without his sacrifice, it would have been the king and not the Kingsguard who had died. He felt his chest tighten, his eyes begin to water and when he saw the carriage and Ser Barristan and Ser Jors leading the way, he turned from them and wiped his eyes. Composing himself, he found he couldn't look at his Lord Commander and instead he turned to Arthur who gave him a nod. Jae instead moving to the carriage and not even allowing Margaery to leave it before he reached it and climbed inside.
"Jae?" she asked worriedly.
"Marge..I.." and the tears he'd tried to fight back, now began to fall.
She held him all the way back to the Red Keep and it was only when he reached it that he realized that he'd not even spoken to his sister before he left her in the Dragonpit. They'd spoken much the night before, but he felt he'd let her down a little and so he closed his eyes and reached out to her, glad when she told him that he had not. She and the other dragons were resting, soon they'd fly to Dragonstone but they were waiting for Dany to join them and he felt their need to be back on the island. It fuelled his own, driving his tiredness and some of his sadness from him.
"Is Dany here?" he asked, the first real words he'd spoken other than to tell her that he was well and that Walder had fallen.
"She is, we were all so worried, Jae, the dragons, Ghost, and Fang, they acted most strangely, though Ghost reassured me that you were unhurt." she said and he welcomed that his wolf had been there for her, that he had assuaged her own worries and fears when he himself could not.
"I need to speak to, Dany, to let her know I'm well and that she can go back to Dragonstone, the dragons wish to rest, all of them and Rhaenix needs to be on the island." he said and Margaery looked at him curiously.
"Why, Jae, why does she need to be there?" Margaery asked.
"She was hurt, Marge, she needs to rest and be at peace. I'll explain it all as soon as I speak to Dany, I promise." he said and she nodded, kissing his lips softly before he finally got out of the carriage.
Jaime, Ser Richard, Sansa, Joy, Dany, were all waiting for them and he looked to see that Aemon, Shiera, and Olenna were there too. It was too much, too many, Jae looking around and panicking almost when he saw Brienne and the two giant guards.
"He needs to rest, we'll speak later, Dany, can you help me with him." Margaery said and though he could see people looking at him with concern and a little confusion since it was Dany and no one else that Margaery had asked, he looked to his wife and thanked her with his eyes, seeing the small nod she gave him.
It pained him to not be able to speak to Joy, and so he smiled at her and at Sansa before looking to Jaime and given him a look that he hoped said what he wished it to. Dany took one of his arms and Margaery the other and they walked him to his and Margaery's room. Jae quickly looking around for Ghost once they got there and smiling when he saw the white wolf sitting by the fire waiting for him. Moving from his aunt and his wife, he knelt down and felt Ghost brush against him. Jae closing his eyes as he reached out to tell him he was well and laughing a little when he felt his face be licked.
"Jae has something he needs you to do, Dany." he heard Margaery say and he stood up and turned to face his wife and aunt.
"Rhaenix was hurt, Dany, she's recovering but she wishes to do so on Dragonstone and the other dragons wish to join her, to help her. I know you came here out of concern for me and there is much I need to speak to everyone on. I'm tired, Dany, I'm so very tired and I need to rest, but I can't do so until I know she's resting too. Can you go with them, see that they're all on the island. I'll have a raven sent to let you know what happened and I swear it to you…to you both, I'm well and unhurt, but…" he said, his voice trailing off.
"Of course, Jae, I'll leave right away." Dany said.
"Thank you, Dany, this helps me greatly, thank you." he said as she hugged him and then moved quickly to the door.
He moved to Margaery as soon as Dany had left, his need for his wife's arms around him was almost desperate and he was happy to feel them and for the tears not to come again as he held her. Who moved who to the bed he didn't know but he felt her take his clothes off and lay him down. His wife then laying down beside him and for once it was his head resting on her chest and not the other way round.
"You should sleep, Jae." she said softly.
"You need to know it all, I…he saved me, Marge, Walder he saved me, I don't wish to make you worry, nor anyone else, truly I don't. But he saved me, were it not for him, I'd not be here. People need to know that, they need to know that he died a hero, that he died….he died for me…." he said his voice trailing off as he swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Jae.."
"Rhaenix was hurt, I feared…I feared...and the people, I lost so many of them, so many….I…" he shuddered and she held him, his breathing soon relaxing as he stopped himself from breaking down again "I'm tired, I'm so very tired…"
"Sleep my love, sleep, please Jae, sleep for me." she said and he nodded.
King's Landing 299 AC.
Jaime.
He'd never seen Jae like this and he needed to know exactly what had happened. Looking to Arthur and Loras he could see they both looked exhausted, Oberyn though looked even worse and when he saw the prince head straight to Ellaria and his girls, he knew he'd be getting no answers there. Instead, it was to Arthur he looked and so after sending the rest of those who'd wished to speak to Jae away, he, Arthur and Ser Barristan, along with Ser Richard Lonmouth made their way to the Tower of the Hand while Loras went to speak to his brother and grandmother no doubt.
"Where's Walder?" he asked as soon as they were away from any who could hear.
"He fell." Arthur said sadly.
"What happened?" Ser Barristan asked.
"He saved the king, Barristan, were it not for him…" Arthur said and Jaime felt his worries grow, the thoughts that it had almost happened again, that he had almost died again, almost making him rush to Jae and Margaery's room just to make sure he was actually unharmed.
He quickened his steps and soon enough they were heading up the stairs and into his solar, Arthur welcoming the drink when it was offered and that alone was something that only added to his worries.
"What happened, Arthur? All of it." he asked and Arthur began to tell them a tale that had he not already seen what Jae could do, then he'd have thought the man had lost his senses.
Spears made from ice, singing a keep and then a bridge into being, Rhaenix being hurt and a dead army attacking the living. All of it was fantastical and even though Jae had spoken of the army of the dead and shown them the drawings he'd made, Jaime only now was actually finding himself truly believing it. Hearing that the spear would have hit Jae if Walder hadn't got in its way both terrified him and filled him with a sense of undeniable gratitude. That he'd saved Jae's life, just as he had in the Riverlands, this time at the cost of his own. Jaime could only feel thankful that he'd left Winterfell with them all those years earlier.
His gratitude to the man was tempered both by the fact that Jae had almost died and knowing how badly he'd no doubt take this loss. Something that Arthur was letting them both know now as he spoke more on what had happened. It explained why Jae needed to rest so desperately and why he'd not spoken much himself but Jaime knew that sleep would only be a temporary respite. When he woke, Jae would feel even worse, his blaming of himself could get out of hand if it wasn't brought to a stop quickly and he needed to speak to Margaery before then.
"He saved so many, Jaime. Without him there those people would have died, all of them. Seeing him lead, watching him take charge and how even after Rhaenix was injured he led from the front, that was..." Arthur said and Jaime could sense the pride in Arthur's voice.
"How was she injured?" Barristan asked worriedly.
"I didn't see it and Jae barely spoke of it, I think it was one of those spears though. He sent her away, she was bleeding and then he did something with his sword and she was not and afterward, he sent her away but she returned to help and then she left. After it, when Walder had fallen and he'd destroyed a section of the bridge, he wouldn't rest, nothing any of us could say or do would make him listen. Not until they were all safe did he even close his eyes, and then only briefly." Arthur said.
"He'll blame himself for this, just as he did with Alyrs and Viserys." Richard Lonmouth said and Jaime could see that both Barristan and Arthur agreed.
"I'll speak to Margaery and to Jae himself when he wakes. This army Arthur, what can you tell us of them?" he asked.
Arthur went into as much detail as he was able to, Jaime, Barristan, and Richard listening, and Jaime feeling a shudder go down his spine. The thoughts of not just dead men attacking but of men who died rising again once they had fallen, were almost too hard to wrap his mind around. So much so that it was Barristan and not he that asked the question which soon had him reaching for the jug of wine and pouring himself a glass.
"Walder, did he rise, Arthur?" Barristan asked.
"Not that I saw. When he fell we were on the bridge more than a hundred feet from the shore. His body slipped into the water before any of us could react and his armor…no I don't think so, but I can't be sure." Arthur said.
"The wildings, Arthur?" Richard asked while Jaime swallowed down his wine.
"He saved them, Richard, almost all of them, we lost less than a fourth, yet to Jae." Arthur said shaking his head "It...Me, Benjen, Oberyn, Mance…none of us could get him to see it, not then." Arthur said.
"Where are they now?" Jaime asked.
"We brought them to Eastwatch and Jae organized some of the men from the ships to march with them and see them settled on the lands in the Gift, Benjen is to take over Queenscrown and Mance and some of the others are to settle in the village there, others will find which of the lands work best for them." Arthur said.
"You should get some rest, Arthur, Loras too, I'll see to the king and send for you if anything comes up but you look out on your feet." Barristan said and Arthur nodded.
Jaime watched as Arthur stood up, looking more tired than he'd ever seen him before as he moved to the door and then stopped before turning back to face them all.
"Brienne, Barristan, her, and the two twins that guard Olenna, Walder was close to them, you need to tell them what happened and to make it clear that he was a hero. He was Duncan the Tall's kin, Barristan, and just like Duncan he saved us all." Arthur said and Jaime saw Barristan nod.
Arthur left a moment later and Jaime poured himself another glass of wine, looking to Richard who nodded, and to Barristan who shook his head. The three of them sat quietly for a moment, Jaime sure that none of them knew what to say and he was not surprised it was Richard that spoke first.
"I'll speak to Wyman and to Willas, organize supplies to be sent to the wildings, food, blankets, weapons, and anything else they may need. Jae will seek it done when he wakes, we should do all we can to be ready before then." Richard said.
"I'll talk to Brienne and Erryk and Arryk and go to see Loras, I'll take over at the King's door and write in the White Book." Barristan said and Richard looked at him.
"Is that needed?" Richard asked.
"He'll want it done, Richard, knowing Jae, it'll be one of the first things he'll want done." Jaime said and Richard nodded.
The two men left a few moments later and Jaime sat at his desk only for a few moments more before rising to his feet and making his way to his rooms. He sent a note to organize a Small Council meeting to let those who didn't know what had happened and to see that the preparations that Richard had said were needed were carried out. For now, though he wished to speak to his own family, to Dacey, to Joanna, and to Jon. He wished to speak to Jae too but his son needed his rest and all he could do was his duty and to make sure he was there for him when he woke.
King's Landing 299 AC.
Margaery.
She lay in the bed beside him and she could see that though he looked to be sleeping peacefully, he was anything but. He wore a frown, his brow was furrowed and every so often he'd shake and shudder. Margaery reached out each time she did so and talked softly to him to calm him down. Then for what seemed to be longer and longer each time, he would calm and sleep and she could relax. What he'd gone through she could barely imagine, but she knew it was the losses that he'd concentrate on first before the successes.
Each of them would bear heavily on his soul and none more so than Walder, Margaery almost finding it hard to believe that anything could take the giant guard away from them. That he had saved her husband, given his life so that Jae could live, she didn't even know how she could express how grateful she was for him. Knowing her husband as well as she did though, she knew he'd think himself unworthy of the man's sacrifice. Hearing a knock at the door, she looked to Ghost who moved from the end of the bed and lay down beside Jae, the white wolf would do her job for her until she sent whoever it was away. She walked to the door and opened it to find Joy standing there, Balerion was by her side and she smiled at the girl.
"Your grace, I.." Ser Richard Horpe said and Margaery nodded at him and Ser Robar.
"It's quite alright, Ser Richard, Joy has the right of it." she said and opened the door further to let the girl and the black cat inside.
She looked at the young girl as she closed the door, worry, concern, determination, and some relief all clear in Joy's expression. Margaery thinking that no doubt she expected to be sent away and not be allowed to see Jae, but Margaery had learned her lesson from last time and though this was different, Jae would appreciate knowing she had come to see him when he awoke.
"Only for a few moments, Joy, he's resting and he needs to sleep." she said and Joy nodded.
"I just wanted to…" Joy said softly.
"Aye, I know. A few moments and then you can come by tomorrow also." she said and Joy looked at her worriedly, Margaery not understanding why for a moment before she realized that Joy was thinking that Jae wouldn't wake "I'm sure he'll be up and about then." she said and was glad when the girl looked reassured.
They walked into her and Jae's bed-chamber, Margaery nodding to Joy when she looked at her for permission to move to the bed and smiling when once she reached it, Joy climbed up and lay down beside Jae. Ghost moved out of her way to allow her to do so. She stood at the door, listening and watching as Joy told Jae tales of what she'd been doing since he'd gone North. The young girl speaking to Jae excitedly about how it was almost time for Joanna to ride with them. Margaery tried not to laugh as Joy told him that Joanna was so excited for her first true ride. After far more time than she'd intended to allow Joy to stay for, Margaery looked to the little girl and nodded.
"I'll see you on the morrow, Jon, Ni Ni." Joy said kissing his cheek before she got up from the bed.
It surprised her when she ran to her and when she hugged her tightly, and as she looked down at Joy's face she almost expected to see tears falling, though there was none. The girl was growing and reaching that age when she didn't wish to show others how she was feeling if she could help it. Margaery knowing that she'd shed them instead once she was in the privacy of her own room. Again she did her best to reassure her and she was glad when it seemed to work, Margaery telling her that he was just tired and that it wasn't like before. She led her to the door and then asked Ser Robar to send for Sansa, knowing that she too would be worried and that it was for the best if she spoke to her friend and let her see Jae for herself as well.
It turned out that she wasn't the only one who wished to see her husband, Jaime arriving not long after Sansa had left with Dacey, Jon, and Joanna. Again her husband was graced with a little girl's kiss on his cheek and told to have the sweetest of dreams, something that almost brought a tear to Margaery's eye when she heard Joanna say it. Her words so soft and true that she knew even the gods would seek to grant her request. Jaime stayed when Dacey left, speaking to her about what Arthur had said and Margaery filled in the gaps with what Jae had told her.
"He'll blame himself, Margaery, we both know this, it's up to us to ensure he doesn't do so far too much." Jaime said and she nodded.
"I know, Jaime, all we can do is be there for him, which we will be." she said determinedly.
"I'll see to your duties, see that you're not needed anywhere but where you wish to be." Jaime said and she smiled at him as she looked to the bed.
"If there is a need for you, I'll send for you, Jaime. If there's something I need you to know, then one of the Kingsguard will go to you, and I'll let you know the moment he's ready to speak to you all." she said and Jaime looked to her before moving to the bed.
Margaery watched as he stood over Jae before bending down to place a kiss on his forehead and then giving her a nod and walking from the room. Her grandmother was her last visitor of the night, Loras too was incredibly tired and had been sent to his bed, Margaery not needing to look too deeply into her grandmother's eyes to see her own concern.
"They'll be better when they wake, grandmother." she said and felt her grandmother's embrace more than saw it, as she was looking more to the bed than to her.
"Anything you need of me, Margaery, both of you." her grandmother said and she smiled at her, though she was glad when she was finally left alone with Jae once more.
She undressed and climbed into bed beside him, wrapping her arms around him as she ran her fingers through his hair and spoke softly to him. At what point she drifted off she wasn't sure, only that when she woke he was still asleep. Margaery spent the rest of the next day barely dressed and only left his side in order to use the privy or to send for food. Joy came by again as night fell and once again she lay beside him, speaking to him softly and kissing his cheek before bidding him goodnight.
Later that night she woke with a start, the bed was empty and she sat up and called out for him before she saw the white fur of Ghost and followed the wolf out onto the balcony. Jae was standing there looking out at the city below, at the stars in the sky, or just staring out at the darkness, she knew not which. She moved to him and was glad to see his hand reach out to take hers, as she had been slightly worried that he wasn't aware she was there or perhaps even that he was. He pulled her gently to his side and then wrapped his arms around her, Margaery now standing with her back to the balcony's edge and Jae still looking out at whatever it was he'd been watching.
"Jae?" she asked softly to no reply though she felt his arms grip her a little more tightly and he kissed her cheek.
They stood like that for a short while before she felt his arms loosen and he moved a little away from her. Seeing the smile on his face was something she welcomed and when he reached out to take her hand and lead her back into their room, she was relieved. As she was when once inside he asked for food to be sent for. Margaery called out to the Kingsguard and Ser Barristan stepped into the room, his own relief clear when he saw her standing there with Jae.
"His grace is hungry, Ser Barristan, can you have someone sent to the kitchen to bring him some food." she said and the knight nodded and moved to see it done quickly.
She felt the loss of his hand when he moved from her, though it was only temporary as once he had rubbed Ghost's fur he then reached out for her once more and led her to the couch. The servant arrived a little after they'd sat down and though she wasn't hungry herself, the girl had brought food for them both and so she ate a little while Jae practically devoured his own meal. Her husband then looking to her for permission to eat hers too and she was only too happy to give it to him. Seeing him eat, watching him as he did so, was something that she had no idea how much she had needed to do. It relaxed her more than anything, other than the words he spoke once he'd finished.
"Thank you, for Joy, Sansa, and the others, for being with me." Jae said softly and she moved to lean against him, feeling his lips kiss her forehead and then her cheek once more and wishing for them to kiss her for true.
"Come to bed, Jae." she said softly and he nodded, Margaery leading him back to their bed and Jae following her eagerly.
King's Landing 299 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He woke up feeling refreshed, his tiredness having been dealt with if nothing else. No, that wasn't exactly true, it wasn't just his physical tiredness that had been helped by sleeping in his own bed. His heart felt lighter, even if not completely and he knew that over the next few days there would be moments where he'd revert and be as lost as he had been. Looking at his wife as she slept beside him, he knew that she was the reason for that lightness. She'd given him almost everything he had needed, a willing ear, a warm embrace, and answers to questions that he dared not ask anyone else.
Rising carefully from the bed so as not to wake her, he found he was not as stealthy as he thought he was. Jae tripping over his feet and falling loudly to the floor and as he lay there and Margaery woke and looked at him worriedly, he began to laugh. For more than a few moments, he lay on the floor looking up at his worried wife and laughing as fully as he had in gods knew how long.
"Jae?" Margaery asked confusedly.
"Marge…I…I…..Fell." he said laughing still.
He saw the worried and confused look on her face change to one of amusement and heard her laugh with him as she got up from the bed and helped him back to his feet. As silly and stupid as it was, it only made him laugh even more fully. He found he needed it more than he knew and so the moment he was steady on his feet, he grabbed his wife in his arms and began spinning her around. Both of them fell to the bed and he was glad to hear her laugh as fully as he had been, happy to see her smiling face as he looked down on it and brushed his fingers over her cheek.
"I..we should go riding today, all of us, Joy, Martyn, Tommen, Sansa, my cousins, Oberyn and Ellaria, Jaime, Dacey Joanna, and Jon." he said and she looked at him before nodding her head.
"I'll send word to the others." she said as he bent down to kiss her, a soft kiss that was more a thank you than a promise of anything more.
Margaery called for her cousins and to have their meals ready to break their fast while Jae dressed, his clothes far more casual than any he'd worn in some time. When she saw what he was wearing she looked at him and her eyebrow rose in a question that she didn't ask. He moved to her and kissed her cheek and then went for a stroll to give her time to get dressed, Ghost following with him when he left the room. Ser Barristan and Ser Robar were on guard and Jae almost asked them both to join him in the sparring yard. Instead, though he asked Ser Robar to join him and told Ser Barristan that he'd speak to him later as he left him there to guard his wife.
He'd no particular destination in mind and was just moving through the hallways and letting it take him wherever it did. In the end, he wasn't sure if it was him or Ghost that had led the way, though he wasn't surprised where he ended up. Jae knocked at the door and then had to knock a little more loudly to wake her up and Joy answered it almost grumpily until she saw him. Once she did it was as if someone had thrown water on her face, Joy was immediately alert and awake and as soon as Jae bent down he was enveloped in her arms.
"We're going riding, Yoy, all of us, want to get dressed and join me and Margy when we break our fast?" he asked and she nodded eagerly "I'll be back in a few moments to collect you." he said.
"I'll be ready, Yon." she said, and hearing her say that name was exactly what he needed, he felt like Yon today, he wanted to be Yon today, he needed to.
By the time he made it back to Joy's room, he'd met up with Tommen and Martyn, gone to Oberyn and Ellaria's room, and asked for his four youngest cousins to join him and had met Sansa as she was heading to the start her day with Margaery. Jae telling her that today she was off duty and that she was to come riding with them after she had joined them all in breaking their fast. He had sent a servant to the Tower of the Hand to speak to Jaime and so when they returned to his rooms to break their fast, Joanna was already there. Jae finding himself laughing once again at the look on his wife's face when she saw how many of the children he'd brought back with him.
"Really?" she said to him as she shook her head and tried not to laugh.
"We're all hungry, aren't we Yoy?" he said winking at the little girl.
"So So hungry...Margy." Joy said and Jae saw the grin on his wife's face as she turned from them to allow them into the room.
While they broke their fast, he organized to have the horses made up and though he barely ate, it was one of the best mornings he could remember. The sounds of the children having fun and speaking excitedly about the ride filled the room, something he enjoyed greatly. Once they were finished they made their way down to the courtyard, Jaime. Oberyn, Dacey, and Ellaria already waiting for them once they reached it. Jae smiled at his uncle and greeted Dacey and Ellaria with a kiss to each of their cheeks before walking over to Jaime and telling him that they'd speak later and then smirking when he turned to Joanna.
"Joanna do you want to ride with me and Winter?" he asked and he saw Joy move to the younger girl and whisper in her ear.
"Can we race in the Jaewood?" Joanna asked and Jae looked to Jaime who both shook his head and nodded at the same time.
"Hmmm, hands up who wants a race?" he said and was unsurprised when all of the children raised their hands, Jaime looking to him and Oberyn smirking when Jae then moved to Joanna "A race it is."
They rode hard and fast, though not as hard as he could and Joy ended up taking the day. He didn't exactly let her win, but as a concession to Jaime and Dacey's worried looks, he didn't give it his all either. They set up their picnic near the smaller of the big streams that ran through the hills outside the city. Jae taking time to speak to his aunt and his uncle and to find out that Oberyn was in a much better mood than he had feared.
"I've sent word to Sunspear, Richard had a letter delivered that spoke of Quentyn's fall, I named him a hero, nephew. Told tale more of what he did for those women than anything else." Oberyn said as they spoke quietly.
"He was a hero, uncle. His past misdeeds matter not, there are women and children alive today because of him. It was him and his girl that got word to the giants and had them cross the bridge. So their lives too are partly owed to him." he said and saw Oberyn nod.
"You are doing well, my niece is well?" Oberyn asked.
"We needed time, uncle, both of us, time with our families. Time to rest up and ready for what comes next." he said and Oberyn didn't ask him what that was. Instead, his uncle just patted him softly on the shoulder and turned to look at Dorea and Loreza as they, Joy and Joanna chased each other around one of the trees.
He spoke even more briefly to Jaime, once again telling him that they'd speak for true when they returned to the city. Something they did far too soon to his mind, even if they had spent most of the day just lazing around by the stream and doing very little. Joy challenged him to a true race on their return and since Joanna was being held by her father this time rather than by him, he gave it to her. The race ended practically in a draw and he could see how she looked at him curiously, Jae shaking his head and watching the beaming smile that appeared on her face.
Once they were back in the Red Keep and in his rooms, he changed his clothes, the boy was now forgotten once more, and the king he needed to be was back again. He called for a Small Council meeting and while he waited for it to be time to head to it, he sat down at his desk and began to write. There was much work that needed to be done and he finally felt ready to get to it. Jae feeling his mind had calmed and his heart though not fully back to what it was, that would take even more time, was far closer to it than it had been. Margaery took his hand and they walked to the Small Council chambers, Jae glad to see Arthur and Loras had joined their escort as they did so.
"I need to speak to you both, later." he said and he could see they both wished to speak to him too, though for now, they were perhaps just happy he was up and about once more.
It had only been a few days since they'd returned to King's Landing, no more than four he believed, and yet it felt as if he'd been out of things far longer. He knew he had been distant while he had dealt with the Free Folk and readied them to move, as he'd dealt with the bridge and had spoken to the giants, getting their word they'd come when called. Dealing with the loss of Walder, had as losses he found were wont to do, sent him deep inside of himself and though he felt it was right for him to take them so hard, he knew that he could not.
Jae didn't have the luxury to mourn them how he had, he'd have even less time to do so in the future as it had become clear to him that losses happened, no matter how well you prepared. All he could truly do was prepare as well as he could and not let them break him should they happen, not let them distract him until he had the time and space to be distracted. They entered the room to find the Small Council all waiting, he nodded to Richard and Willas, gave Olenna a small smile, and looked to Wyman, Monford, and Jaime as he took his seat.
"I'm not certain how much all of you know of what happened when we went North, I'm sure that my uncle, Arthur, and Loras have told you some, I'll tell it from my own perspective and I ask that no one interrupts until I'm done." Jae said.
Looking around the table he saw that Jaime, Olenna, and Willas knew more than the others, Wyman and Monford knew the basics and nothing more, as for Richard, he doubted that even he knew as much as his Master of Whisperers did.
"We made an agreement with the Free Folk to bring them south of the Wall as you know, The ships were sent for and when we arrived Mance Raydar and I formalized that agreement. The first ships left without incident as did the larger second group of them, but the Free Folks have giants, giants who ride mammoths and even the Pinnacle ships couldn't move them. At one point there had been a bridge between Hardhome and Skane, a stone causeway that joined the two together. This bridge though no longer able to be used was still there, but was sunk beneath the sea and so I sang it back to the surface." Jae said.
He could see those who didn't know about this look to those who did, some of whom still had a look of disbelief in their eyes, Jae looked to Oberyn who spoke the words so he didn't have to.
"I was there, me, Ser Arthur and Ser Loras, I know not how my nephew does what he does, but when he finished his song there was a bridge that stretched across the sea, a bridge large enough for the giants and mammoths to walk across it." Oberyn said Jae continued on before questions could be asked.
"Magic such as that takes energy, blood, and though the more I use it the less it takes out of me, the more magic I use the more I need to rest, so it was with this." he reached over and took Margaery's hand in his giving it a squeeze to let her know once again he was well "As I was resting, he came, something I'm now starting to think that he planned in advance."
Jae saw how Oberyn looked at him, his uncle's eyes showing a look of realization and he knew there would be many questions for him to answer, he just hoped that not all would be today.
"It forced us to move even more quickly, we needed to bring everyone across the bridge and not just the giants. To do so we would need to cover their retreat and to hold back the Night King and his army. Rhaenix and I took to the skies and flew to do some scouting, we'd no intent on doing anything more than this, but…seeing them we knew we had no choice. We attacked and were attacked back, the Night King using spears as large as scorpion bolts, spears made of ice which gave both Rhaenix and I pause and so we flew higher, out of range or so we thought."
He reached over and took the jug of water and poured himself a mug of it, draining it down before pouring himself another. The image and sound of his sister as she had been struck was clear in his mind and so it wasn't until he had removed them both that he began to speak once more.
"Thankfully the wound was not as serious as it could be, though Rhaenix was hurt and I had to use Lightbringer to stop her bleeding. I sent her away, not willing to risk her against the Night King and so I, Arthur, Loras, Oberyn, and Walder joined the Free Folk in trying to hold the army back and to give as many people as possible a chance to get across the bridge. Eventually, we needed to retreat and we made it to the bridge, the Night King and his army of dead men chasing us all the way. Once we were far enough across, I knelt down to sing a part of the bridge away, so focussed was I on that, I…I... never saw it coming and were it not for Ser Walder, I'd have fallen." Jae said, his throat drying up and his words almost choking him.
Taking a few moments to compose himself and relieved that no one spoke while he did so, Jae nodded to Margaery and then began to speak again.
"We lost almost a quarter of the Free Folk and some of their very best men, we lost some clan leaders and a man I've known all my life, a man I owe my life to more than once over. After some time we managed to get the Free Folk to the lands of the Gift where they will settle under my protection. My uncle Benjen is serving as my castellan in Queenscrown and as the representative of the crown to the Free Folk. They'll need supplies, the North will need to be informed both that they're there and that I intend for them to live at peace for as long as peace is allowed to us all." Jae said determinedly.
"I've sent the ravens to your uncle, your grace. We've seen that supplies are sent to the Free Folk and that the Night's Watch and the lords nearest to the Gift are informed that they are under your protection." Jaime said and Jae smiled at him and at Ser Richard when Jaime motioned to him.
"I thank you, Lord Hand. My lords, I've seen the true enemy now and it marches our way, some may think the Wall will hold them back, I tell you now I don't believe it will. It may delay them, it may give us some time, and perhaps the Night King may need to find a way to pass it. But in time we'll have no choice but to face him and we must be ready to do so." Jae said.
"What would you ask of us, your grace?" Monford asked.
"I wish for ships to be sent to bring the Company of the Rose back to Westeros, Lord Monford, Give this letter to Torrhen Snow and tell him the white wolf howls." Jae said handing Monford the letter.
"I'll set sail at once, your grace." Monford said.
"Lord Wyman, Lord Willas, I want us to begin preparations for Winter, to gather as much food stocks throughout each of the Seven Kingdoms as possible and to begin to store it. I'd seek the army that needs to face the Night King's own is fully supplied and that the rest of the Realm doesn't suffer because of it. Lord Wyman even if this cuts into our trade with Essos, this is to be done."
"It will your grace." Wyman said firmly.
"Ser Richard, I'll have ravens sent to them but I want you to have your lips speak to the Lords on this list, they're to prepare their very best men. To put them to the training specified here, only this training Ser Richard, nothing else and none of them are to divert from the path I set them on, none. See that your lips keep their eyes upon them." Jae said handing Richard the list. "I need to speak to Gendry Waters and to Tobho Mott, the dragons must be armored or we've already lost. I've drawn up plans for what they need to make, but all of them, all five must be armored even more so than the weapons need to be forged." Jae said to Jaime who nodded.
"I'll send for them both at once, your grace. I'm not sure if Gendry has gone back to the West yet or not, Richard?" Jaime asked.
"No, he's still here, Lord Hand."
"There is much we must do, my lords, I'm afraid to say though I'm here, I'll be mostly absent from matters relating to the realm for quite some time. I'll not attend another Small Council meeting unless it's to discuss preparations for the war to come. So any of you who need to speak on such things will have to forbear my wife." Jae said smirking when Margaery made to hit him on the shoulder.
He bid them leave and asked for Jaime, to stay, Jae nodding to Margaery and to Olenna and whispering to his wife that he'd join her later. Waiting until he was alone with Jaime seemed to take far longer than he had hoped, or perhaps it was all in his head and it really did not. Eventually, though they were alone and Jae turned to his father by choice.
"I…Walder, I never saw it coming, Jaime, I..one moment I was singing and the next he was falling into the sea. I'm scared to look in the Glass Candles, scared what I may see there if I seek his body out." Jae said as Jaime looked at him.
"Why?"
"Did Oberyn not speak about Quentyn?" he asked confused.
"Aye, he said he fell, he and some girl he was with." Jaime said.
"He rose, Jaime, after I broke the bridge and after Walder had fallen, the Night King simply walked to the water's edge, raised his hand and they rose, they all rose." Jae said shakily.
"Who?" Jaime asked.
"Those who'd fallen, I saw Quentyn, Ygritte, and others who I'd seen fall as we fought them off. I saw them lay dead on the ground and then rise again. How do we beat someone who can make our fallen rise again?" he asked his voice almost breaking.
"We find a way, Jae, you'll find a way." Jaime said and he nodded, though he wasn't sure he believed it.
After he'd reassured Jaime that he was well, he made his way from the Small Council chambers and back to his room, stopping off at Joy's along the way so he could speak to her. She was already in bed with Balerion beside her and yet she welcomed his visit, smiling at him when he took a seat beside the bed and looked at her as she lay down.
"Do you want a story, Joy?" he asked softly.
"I do." she said with a grin.
"Let me tell you about the giants that live beyond the Wall and of a man whose heart was larger than the world, a man who I was happy to name a friend." Jae said as he began to tell her of Mag the Mighty, of Wun Wun, and of Walder Ayrs, a true giant amongst men.
King's Landing 299 AC.
Olenna.
Hearing it from Loras or from Margaery was one thing, hearing it from Jae himself was another. Her grandson had been broken by it a little, by what he'd seen beyond the Wall and by the loss of Ser Walder. Margaery had been more worried about her husband than anything else, her thoughts always more on Jae than on what it was they'd seen or gone through. Jae though was both broken and focussed at the same time and it made Olenna think about what Loras had said about how he'd acted when Ser Walder had fallen.
"I've never seen him like that, Grandmother, he wouldn't sleep, wouldn't stop, for days on end all he cared about was the Free Folk. Getting them settled, making sure they had food and shelter, and moving them to his lands. Even when he got them there, he barely rested."
"He's determined, Loras." she said and saw her grandson shake his head.
"It's more than that, grandmother, it's almost an obsession."
As she had listened to Jae speak in the Small Council meeting, she hadn't seen him as obsessed, more determined, and focussed. So as she was walking back to her granddaughter's rooms with Margaery, she resolved to ask her about it once she got there. She was happy to see Margaery was showing far less worry than she had been, though perhaps the ride they'd gone on today had a lot to do with that.
"Did you enjoy the ride, your grace?" she asked as they reached her granddaughter's and Jae's rooms.
"It was much needed, grandmother." Margaery said and Olenna sensed that she didn't wish to speak too much outside and she hoped that she would once they were away from any who may overhear.
Margaery she was very pleased to find out very much did wish to speak to her and so once they entered the rooms and had taken a seat, her granddaughter spoke at length, putting Olenna's mind at rest very quickly.
"He was much better when he woke this morning, almost back to himself." Margaery said with a chuckle "After bringing what I'm sure was every single child he could find to break their fast with us, we rode and had a picnic and I could see it then. Each moment he spent with us all was like a boon to his spirit, he's not over it, grandmother, that will take time, but he's dealing with it." Margaery said.
"The things he said." she said and saw Margaery frown which confused her before she realized that her granddaughter may think she doubted them "They scare even me, your grace. I believe his grace is in the right of it, to deal with it how he is, to let you rule while he prepares for this."
"As do I." Margaery said and Olenna saw the frown leave her face "We must do all we can to keep things from him, grandmother, the minor things, the distractions, things of import I'll speak to him on but most I'll not."
"I believe that's a good idea, your grace. How are you feeling, the babe?" she asked softly, the Queen of Thorns now gone and the grandmother the only one left in the room with her granddaughter.
"I feel well, tired, but well. Gormon says there are no issues, that all is well, but.."
"Margaery?" she asked worriedly.
"It's nothing, grandmother." Margaery said.
"Tell me." she asked reaching her hand to Margaery's.
"I dream of eggs." Margaery said and she was about to ask her more only for Jae to arrive back.
After speaking to Jae briefly, she bid them both goodnight and made her way back to her rooms. Erryk and Arryk had asked for some time to themselves, time to mourn Ser Walder, and were this another time then she'd not have allowed it. Had this been a few years earlier then even the thought of it would have brought her thorns out fully. Now though she had not only given them some time, she'd told them to take all they needed. In their place, it was men of the Hundred that guarded her and she felt odd walking with them. This was perhaps another reason she was glad when she found Loras waiting for her a little bit away from Jae and Margaery's rooms.
"Grandmother, can we speak?" her grandson asked and she smiled at him and offered him her arm, Loras taking it as they walked to her room.
"What's on your mind, Loras?" she asked.
"I want to speak to you about, Arryk."
"What about him?"
"I want you to release him from your service, grandmother." Loras said and she stopped to look at him, not understanding what had prompted this.
"Has he done something to you, said something he should not?" she asked angrily.
"No, no, it's not that. We were speaking grandmother, about Ser Walder, you know they were kin?" Loras asked and she nodded, the two of them starting to walk towards her room again.
"Something about Duncan the Tall." she said and Loras smiled when she said the name.
"Aye, Erryk, Arryk, Brienne, and Walder, all of them are kin to Ser Duncan, grandmother. Walder told me that his grandmother, or great grandmother, it doesn't matter." Loras said and she chuckled.
"You wound me, grandson." she said pretending to be annoyed.
"What, I…grandmother." Loras said reproachfully when he realized she was japing with him.
They reached her door and she bid him join her inside, Olenna pointing to the wine and watching as he poured her a glass before she took a seat by the fire, Loras joining her a moment later.
"Where was I, Aye. Walder's grandmother told him that it was his destiny to guard Jae's back, that just like Duncan he too was always meant to be a Kingsguard. When Prince Aemon told them the truth of their connection to each other, each of them felt that bond, that call grandmother. Now that Walder has fallen, now that we lost him." Loras said sadly "We need another and there is no one better for it than a kinsman of Duncan the Tall, of Walder Alyrs." Loras said determinedly.
"You want Arryk to be a Kingsguard?" she asked disbelievingly.
"I wish to recommend him to Ser Barristan and Arryk wishes it, grandmother, he wishes your permission but I feel he'll do it without it should it not be forthcoming." Loras said.
Again there was a time when such a thing would have filled her with the need to deny it just for the sake of it, just to be contrary. Now though she could see the benefit of it, the knowledge that Arryk would stand by her granddaughter's side, by Jae's side, and by their babe's side. It made her think this was perhaps an idea she should have come up with herself. That her grandson had done so pleased her greatly, Olenna knowing that while Loras was sentimental, he wasn't a fool when it came to martial skills and Arryk was very skilled as was his brother.
"If Ser Barristan and the King agrees, then he has my blessing." she said seeing Loras smile broadly.
"Thank you, grandmother." Loras said.
"You, you're well?" she asked and saw him nod.
"I'm getting there, grandmother, I'm getting there."
King's Landing 299 AC.
Gendry.
Working with his mentor was as much fun as it had ever been, though their dynamic was now very different. Gendry was his own boss now, and though Tobho gained some coin from his smith in the West, it was Gendry's smith. That he had the king's favor somewhat had helped him to gain a large customer base too, as had being in the West itself. Still, it was working on Valyrian Steel that intrigued him, excited him, and so when the word had come about the king's armor needing to be redone, Gendry had been who had been given the job and not Tobho.
It was the same when the piercing in it had needed to be fixed and Gendry still wondered what it was that had caused that piercing. Not long after he had finished that work, he'd readied to go back to the West, eager to get back to his own shop, and yet he had once again been distracted by Valyrian Steel. Tobho was melting down some items the king had given him and making spear tips, pike heads, and small daggers from them. Nothing big but it was interesting work all the same and so he'd stayed until it was done rather than leave.
The work with the Dragonglass was a different thing, it was interesting, and yet it didn't hold the same allure to him. So once the Valyrian Steel had run out, Gendry had then made preparations to sail back to the West and once again he'd found a distraction. Though a request from the king for both he and Tobho to make their way to the Red Keep wasn't so much a distraction as an order. Still, he found his excitement rising as they were taken to a large room and asked to wait until the king was ready for them. That there was wine and ale along with ice laid out for them, not to mention some food that looked very appetizing, only made the wait more bearable.
"Master Gendry, Master Mott, forgive my tardiness." the king said as he, two of his Kingsguard and his uncle, and some Maester's walked into the room.
"There is nothing to forgive, your grace." Gendry said as Tobho did likewise.
"Your kind to say so, Gendry, have you eaten, drank?" the king asked and they both nodded, the king looking to the Maesters who were with him and Gendry watching as they both poured themselves a mug of ale and ice.
"His grace asked you both here because he has a special project he wishes you to work on, one that will require both of your very best work." Prince Aemon said.
"I need you to create armor fit for dragons." the king said and Gendry looked to Tobho almost about to laugh until he saw the king's face and that he was serious and not japing with them.
"Your grace?" he asked and then watched as the king took some papers and bid him and Tobho to move to him, both of them rising from their seats and looking down at the drawings.
What he saw amazed him, it wasn't armor that the king wished them to make, it was mail, chain mail of a type he'd not even imagined let alone seen before. The king showed them more drawings too, the sheer scope of it something that he couldn't even begin to comprehend. Each of the dragons was large, with the king's own being the largest of them all. They'd need measurement's and as he looked at the drawing's he felt his heart race as a thought came to him.
"You wish to use Valyrian Steel, don't you, your grace?" he asked, Tohbo looking to him and the king incredulously.
"It must be Valyrian Steel, for five dragons, Gendry, all of them must be armored so." the king said.
"Your grace, we'd don't have enough Valyrian Steel to do so, we've used up all that we were given on the weapons that you requested." Tobho said apologetically.
"About that." Prince Aemon said with a smirk and Gendry listened on in stunned silence as the king began to speak again.
Leaving the Red Keep he knew that he'd not be heading back to the West for some time, perhaps for more than a year or so. It should annoy him, worry him, and yet he felt only excitement, he was to forge Valyrian Steel, not just melt it, though that would be part of things too, he was to forge it. For the first time in an age, Valyrian Steel was to be made again and he, a bastard smith born in Flea Bottom was to play a key role in seeing it done, that, that was worth not going home for a long time for.
Beyond the Wall 299 AC.
The Night King.
He had lost many thousands here but it had been worth it, even the loss of those who he could have taken for his own had been worth it. Losing the living wasn't a problem, numbers weren't an issue and he'd have many more to join him when the true battles came. Looking around at the bodies of those who'd not rise again he felt a little annoyance though, that should not be the way, those who fell belonged to him, and yet they'd been stolen from him, as had the magic.
It was his by right of conquest, his from the moment he had shown those weaker than he what true strength, true magic was like and yet he'd not gained from his work. He had expended much magic to see Valyria destroyed and yet he'd not gained the powers he'd expected. It had vexed him while he recovered, confused him as to why he'd not received the bounty he deserved. While he'd rested he'd considered why that was and over time, he'd seen the reason for it.
A spark at first, a power uncontrolled and unknown and so it had barely registered with him until it had. Each moment the boy had used his power had shined in the darkness of the night. At first like a candle, then a fire, then an inferno, and now, now it shined like the very sun itself. He wanted it, deserved it, had worked for it and yet it lay in the hands of someone who barely understood it. Was he strong enough to wield it? Perhaps, he'd shown at times that he could, was he strong enough to stop him? That was the question he had asked himself, the reason for this test and he knew now that he was not.
He had feared he'd rested too long, then that he'd not rested long enough, even now when he exerted himself he felt the weariness and he required rest. Just as the boy felt it too, yet he would recover quickly and where the boy still struggled and knew not the true extent of what he could do, he did not. The dragons would fall, the boy would fall and he would see the world in darkness, see it removed of its sparks of light. Each and every living thing would become shells of what they once were, just like the dead who followed him. The living were magical too, barely sparks from a flame but each one that fell strengthened him, and yet, and yet.
Looking at his own fallen, he had a terrible thought, one that he found hard to shake and one that he carried with him as he and his army marched south. If they living strengthened him when they fell, did the dead do the same for the boy? And if so then perhaps, just perhaps, he hadn't won as much here as he thought he had.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed and for your kind words. Up Next we move through a longer period of time. A new Kingsguard is named, we check in on Brienne and find out about her last conversation with Walder and her conversation with Jae upon his return. We spend some time with Joy and hear a tale of giants before she celebrates a Nameday. We check on how the Night's Watch and the Free Folk are finding their new arrangements and Dany and Aurane have news to share as Jae and Margaery make ready to welcome a new arrival and Jae spends time with his sister. Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it. The Sphynx: Truly wonderful, loved it, my friend. Biohazard: So glad you enjoyed it. Undeath, it was yes, thanks so much for pointing that out, I changed it when I saw your review, it's much appreciated. This war is to be different, we'll see more fall because unlike the last, the Night King is equal to Jae in some aspects. So the stakes needed to be raised just to show that, for me a character's death needs to mean something also, to those around that character, to the plot and not just simply be a shock, or just to make it seem as if you're willing to kill people. Emerald Duke: Some of it is written beforehand, or large sections of it are already written and just need to be proofed, polished, the last chapter for example was mainly done long before my loss, though in the polishing I perhaps worked out some of it too. I'm really glad you liked it. Hkt29: It's funny in some ways there is a disconnect between the War for the Dawn and the lives of others, so I wanted to show that a little. Oh, Tyrion will most definitely worry about both those things. Celexys: Thanks for saying that, I feel they need to, there needs to be an impact on the people around them, otherwise it's simply killing someone for shock factor and that can get dull. Hmmm: Bran certainly was in this, I believe it's mentioned at some point, we know Dragonstone was built by stone singers and dragons, and it's suggested Bran played a part in a lot of the biggest keeps being built. VfSnake: They very much would. Jae needs a certain disconnect, Joy, Marge and the children allow him that and so that's why they are so important to him. Tfranco: I couldn't bring Walder back, it's why I specifically had him die near the sea so it would never be a thing. The bonds between the dragons, wolves is a special thing, it's funny the wolves feel it, they feel the loss of their brother and sisters, or their pain so it makes sense that the dragons should too. On Aemon, we'll see. Jaimerey: El mayor problema con el acero valyrio es que no es abundante. Hay prioridades, como blindar a los dragones. Con el tiempo, sí, pero por ahora, las espadas están un poco fuera de discusión. Remi: Exactly, he's a worthy foe and has some of the same gifts that Jae has, in some ways they're almost dark mirror opposites. Dealing with loss is a big issue for him, we see him here, trying to come to terms not just with the loss but the knowledge there will be more, he can't lose himself, he's too important and so he needs to be more detached, the problem is he is who he is, him being detached is a weakness too. As you see here, he's sending word to the lords to make ready, but not fully what that means, we'll see that next week in an around the world chapter, weird messages that Ser Richard will deliver to certain lords. VDWade, Far more suited to be a lord of a large but not too large house in Dorne than bloody HG and Lord of the Reach, perhaps the single dumbest thing that dumb and dumber did in the show was that, oh and naming him Master of Coin too, idiots. One of the things which may not come across how I mean it is things like Tyrion/Arianne and them being happy, being parents, it's not just simply me paring people up for funzies (ok I'll admit there is some of that lol) but it plays into the larger narrative too, which by the end I hope to explain. Jae needed to come home, it's where he can truly get over things. Glad you liked Dany/Aurane. Ah, Hardyng, we'll see his arc play out very soon. Cravenst: Thanks so very much for your very kind words, really glad you enjoyed it. Guest: In some ways that's what all of them are for, there are losses and you need to deal with them, a lot of what Jae goes through is preparation, there is a reason why it could be only him, not just the magical aspect but an emotional one too. Here we see him realize a little of what you're saying, it's a step, a small one, but a step. They will yes, some will always take the chance for a better life but Jae/Marge will keep far more than they lose, simply because of them being in KL. The reason for the girl's school is simple, we already have a male-only one and so the imbalance is there, Dany is only able to do as she does because Sarella has already taken care of that imbalance. In time there will be a school for both in KL too, but right now there are opportunities for boys that girls don't have there, so you redress the first imbalance before the second. Lady Octarina: They lost about 20 percent. That's one of the biggest things with a KG, or a guard, or simply someone willing to give themselves for you and you not thinking the loss is worth it. I think Jae would feel that for anyone, not just a KG, but the key thing is it's how it's meant to be. On him being his father's son, I really wanted to show that at times like this, that's the reason they worry so, at other times he's so not that way, so when he is, they dislike it. I think the magical animals having some sort of a link or bond is a given, or should be so I'm glad you liked it, and Cregan/Alys. The Citadel and the Faith will raise their annoying heads a little later. WhitedragonWarrior: Like I've gone mad lol. No, Seriously, it's mind-blowing to me in the fact that I had no idea this would turn out this way, I knew it would be long, but not that long. I'm just glad people have read it, are still reading it, and enjoying the journey. Keb: My mistake, it's funny I was just speaking to someone else about a potential story along those lines. Basically, Jon is with Nymeria Sand as the main paring in it, he is trained as a FM and Nymeria is kinda doing the Oberyn thing where he went to the Citadel and forged a couple of links, anyway she too is training but has no intent in being a FM just as he father never wished to be a Maester. While there, the HOBW is attacked and all who are in it, other than Jon/Nymeria are killed, meanwhile in Westeros, the WOTFK, and Canon is going down. Jon/Nym return to Westeros in the middle of that and well, Jon is practically fully trained at that point, and on so it begins. Jman: He was yes, he needed to use the magic to see the bridge destroyed, and well he hadn't got the energy to use it after that. On the Giant's I thought of it, but in the end, if a giant fell it would be a big problem, so it was better to not use them here, they will play their part though. Walder, Quentyn, Ygritte, we'll see the impact from those deaths play out even more over time. Sorry about your laptop my friend. Spartan 1007: Not here no, anything beyond the Wall belongs to the NK now, I think once you take the Children south, it makes no sense that anywhere else is protected. You will get somewhat your wish regarding Wun Wun later. I held Joy back a bit here, to keep it for the next chapter, it felt wrong tonally. Anja: So very glad you liked it. Irish Hermit: Exactly, that's been something that Jae, Jaime, and others had tried to get through to him too. It does with Jae, very much so. Those around him are family, the longer they're with him, the closer they are, the more it is that way. Walder is someone he knew all his life, while not someone he was close to until he joined them, since then he's been a part of his extended family, just as Alyrs Was. The love thing is a theme, all this coupling it's not by accident and even their happiness is part of it in a way.