Surprise!
Another chapter so soon?
Oh no, the world is coming to an end!
Hahaha
Seriously though, don't get used to regular updates. I happen to have a bit of free time for the first time in ages and decided to crank out a couple of chapters. I will try to update sooner then I normally do though but no promises.
I don't normally answer reviews here but right now, its easier for me to do so.
anubis1650 – I hear ya mate and I know there are some truly cringe worthy moments in those earlier chapter's, but this is a Fix It fic, not a make it easy for em fic. Gotta make it hard sometimes yeah or why bother writing it at all?
Artimuos Sen - I understand where you coming from and I do agree with it. The Law of Supply and Demand, the more valyrian steel weapons available, the cheaper the price and it would affect the prices at the auction if not for one thing, it will take TIME to make that many valyrian steel weapons, possible years and my auction will take place in a matter of months. The demand is still there at this point in time. I'm also factoring in the Essosi greed factor and the one up-manship that the whole of Plantos seems to have. I asked someone else to crunch the numbers for me in regards to possible final amount in regards to the auction (my maths SUCKS BALLS!) and he came up with the numbers. He outright admitted to me that he padded it a little but eh, who doesn't like big numbers in a story? Lol
Guest 1 – A 7000+ word count chapter is SMALL for you? Damn skippy, either my previous chapter sizes have spoiled you or some other fic author has spoiled you for the rest of us. Well let it not be said I won't rise up to the challenge, this chapter is just over 10,500 words.
Long enough for ya?
Ok Party People. Hold onto your hats cause this shit is about to get real.
Keep those reviews coming. I do my best work when I know your happy with my work. I can't wait for your reactions!
Standard disclaimer: Game of Thrones is not mine. I'm just playing around with them.
Chapter 37 – The calm before the Storm King
A knock on the door disturbed the silence.
"Enter."
The door opened and Ned looked up to see the face of Ser Davos look around the side.
"Lord Stark, do you have a moment?" Davos asked.
Ned nodded and waved Davos into his solar.
"Of course Ser Davos. Please have a seat. I was planning on speaking to you later today but now works just as well" Ned told him.
Davos smiled as he sat down and looked at the younger man sitting in front of him. He looked tired, Davos decided. Very tired and very stressed. Eddard Stark was a younger man then Davos himself but he currently looked closer to Davos's age then his true age. The awesome burden he carried had prematurely aged him.
"My thanks my Lord, I hope I haven't come at a bad time."
Ned gave him a tired smile.
"It's fine Ser. Just a lot of things to do is all. I'll be fine. Now, what is it you wish to speak of?" Ned asked him.
Davos decided to get straight to the point.
"I wish to send a raven to Lord Stannis about what I've learned. Not about the boys mind you, that's a story he'd never believe in a thousand years, but he needs to know about the threat from the north, The Others. Lord Stannis is a fine military and naval commander you'll need him in the fight to come. Provided you can present proof of their existence" Davos explained.
"Oh I can prove it!" Ned muttered to himself.
He sighed.
"I had planned on telling Stannis and the other Lords of Westeros eventually, just not so soon. Things still need to be organised here, plans need to be made to fortify the North from both the Others and the rest of Westeros. I can't take the chance that some southern Lord might take advantage of our attention being elsewhere and attack. Take the Ironborn for instance. Can you see Balon Greyjoy and his lot not taking advantage of this?" Ned explained.
Davos nodded slowly in agreement.
"Aye my Lord, you have the right of it. This is the exact type of situation that Balon and his lot would take full advantage off. The entire coastline of Westeros itself would have to be fortified in order to discourage attacks not only from the Ironborn but outside Westeros itself. War is good business for slave traders, especially if the attention of the military might of a country is focused somewhere else. Getting in and out quickly during the chaos of war with a full load of potential slaves is their specialty."
Ned looked startled.
"I hadn't even considered the possibility of that. I always thought that since slavery had been long outlawed in Westeros that the slavers wouldn't want to take such a long voyage for no gain." Ned confessed.
Davos shrugged.
"Slavers go where the easiest pickings are. Westeros is not usually an easy mark because apart from the west coast of the North, the coastlines of Westeros are well populated and patrolled regularly. The slavers don't consider the North to be worth the effort, too far away from Essos, much too cold and not enough people to justify the expense. Nay my Lord, your biggest problems will come from the Ironborn as you already know. Balon hates you and the North, so you can be damned sure that he'll most likely come for you regardless if you are fighting against the Others or not." Davos paused for a moment.
He had some information he really should tell Stannis first as Stannis was his liege lord and the Master of Ships but Davos felt that given the current situation and what was still to come, Ned needed to know now.
"Lord Stark, I may have given up the smuggling life but I still have friends in that world who occasionally pass information my way. While we were restocking in Pentos, one of those friends found me and told me some information I believe you need to know. According to the talk, Balon Greyjoy is rebuilding the Iron Fleet. He already has over a dozen new ships already in the water with a dozen more still under construction with plans to build more." Davos told him.
Ned stared at Davos and started cursing up a storm.
Balon bloody Greyjoy was rebuilding the Iron Fleet.
Ned wanted to punch something.
He now wished he hadn't talked Robert out of killing the Lord Reaper after the Ironborn rebellion had been utterly crushed.
He felt like he should be surprised but he wasn't. Deep down, he'd always know that this would happen eventually, Ned had just hoped he was wrong about it. As he regained control of himself, he remembered something, or in this case, someone.
"Damn it. Does Balon not remember that I hold his son as hostage to his good behaviour? Does he not care for Theon at all?" Ned shook his head. His father's foolishness might doom the young man yet.
Poor Theon.
"I've heard something about that as well my Lord. Word is that Balon went out of his way to forget that the boy existed the second he left the Iron Islands. According to the gossip, Balon has been grooming his daughter, Theon's sister, Yara as his heir ever since." Davos explained.
"Damn it!" Ned cursed again, "Did your friend have any clue as to the location of Balon's shipyard?"
"Not that he was aware of unfortunately. He said he would keep his ear to the ground though. The Iron Fleet being rebuilt isn't good for anyone. The current generation of pirates, smugglers and others such shady people who ply their trade at sea, while they are generally a disputable lot, are fairly civilised for the most part surprisingly, with the exception of one or two. There are unwritten rules to be followed with the consequences being severe for breaking them and a mutual respect exists between factions. If the Ironborn start reaping and raiding again in force, well, let's just say, it's not only the innocent that will suffer them. They must be stopped my Lord."
Ned groaned aloud. More problems on top of what was already going on. Maybe it was a good thing Robert was almost here. He could dump this problem on Robert and Stannis. Robert would probably insist on dealing with it himself anyway, he was always up for a good fight.
"Thank you for telling me. I'll have to let King Robert know. Now we seemed to have strayed from why you came to see me. You wish to inform Stannis of what is happening, I have no problem with that but there is no need to send a raven. Stannis will be arriving tomorrow afternoon as a part of King Robert's party. If you wish, you can speak to him then." Ned informed him.
Now it was Davos's turn to look startled.
"Beg your pardon my Lord but did you say Stannis and King Robert were coming here together?" Davos asked for confirmation.
"Indeed Ser." Ned replied with an amused look. He knew what Davos was thinking because he had thought the same thing.
Davos slumped back into his chair.
"Now there's a situation I'd thought I'd never see. I wonder what happened in Kings Landing while I was gone?" he mused to himself.
"I thought the same thing myself Ser Davos." Ned chuckled. Then he remembered a question he had wanted to ask the man in front of him.
"Ser Davos, I wanted to ask you if you would be willing to lead another fleet back to Old Valyria again? We need all the steel and dragonglass we can get." Ned asked him.
Davos shook his head.
"I'm sorry my Lord, but even if Lord Stannis would be willing to let me go again, it's not possible." Davos told him.
"Why not? If it's a matter of Stannis, I'm sure I can persuade him to see reason…"Ned trailed off as Davos shook his head once again.
"It's not that, not really my Lord. Lord Stannis would let me go if there was reason too. It's not possible to go back because by now, Old Valyria is completely cut off from the outside world."
Ned frowned.
"What are you saying Ser? How is Valyria cut off from the outside world and how do you know?"
Davos considered the best way to explain.
"What do you know about the Smoking Sea?" He asked.
"Not much. It surrounds Valyria. People think it's cursed. I know that almost everyone who sails in there, doesn't come out again, current company excluded." Ned explained what he knew which was precious little.
"The Smoking Sea is a mess of hot water geysers randomly going off, large areas of boiling waters venting huge clouds of scalding hot steam and deadly razor sharp reefs that protect the coast of Valyria. The very air you breathe is deadly, the smoke so thick that you can't see the coming dangers." Davos started his explanation.
"Now the western side of the smoking sea is constantly active. It's violent and deadly to even try to get in that way. Apparently, it's where a majority of the lava was diverted to when the volcanoes collapsed after erupting. Now the eastern side is just as deadly as the western side but unlike the western side, it occasionally goes dormant for a short while so one is able to navigate safe passage through the reefs. We got very, very lucky my Lord. When we got there, the eastern side was in one of these dormant states so we were able to get in." Davos paused to see if Ned was keeping up with what he was saying.
Ned nodded that he was and waved for Davos to continue.
"Now, we were there for three weeks and by the end of the second week, I could see the signs that the eastern side was about to go into an active state shortly. By the time we left at the end of the third week, it was already starting. The smoke was getting thicker, the smell of sulfur stronger and I could see some areas where the sea was already starting to boil. It would have been fully active by time we reached Volantis. With the Smoking Sea fully active and the Stonemen and dense jungles cutting off access from the mainland, Old Valyria completely closed off. We can't go back. As to how I know this, I met an old scholar in my youth in Lys who studied volcanoes. The Fourteen Flames and the Smoking Sea of Valyria were an obsession of his." Davos finished explaining.
"And there's no chance it will settle down soon so we could go back?" Ned asked.
"No. While the western side is constantly active, the eastern side is more unpredictable. It can go from being dormant for months to active for years. There's just no way to predict when it will go dormant again." Davos gave Ned an apologetic look.
"What we got out of Valyria in those three week is all we have. We won't be able to get anymore."
"Well that is disappointing but there's nothing to be done I guess. I should be thanking the Old Gods and the New that we managed to get what we did instead of complaining but unfortunately, it's not enough. It's nowhere near enough." Ned was worried. There wasn't enough useable steel and dragonglass to outfit everyone who would have to fight the dead armies. Fire would work against the raised dead bodies but it would do exactly jack shit against a Walker. Other means would have to be found.
"From what that boy of yours told me my Lord, there's a mountain of dragonglass under Dragonstone. I'm sure Lord Stannis won't begrudge you that, even if you can't prove that the Others have return." Davos hoped to cheer Ned up a bit.
"Which boy? I seemed to have unknowingly and unwittingly adopted two more." Ned and Davos laughed.
"Aye, you do seem to have garnered their respect and affections my Lord. That can only be a good thing. In regards to your question, it was Jon. If I may say, my Lord, you've raised a mighty fine boy. I can easily see why I adopted him as a surrogate son in that other life. He's a remarkable man. He would make an exceptional king."
"I'm not sure I can take all the credit for that Ser Davos. All I did was keep him alive until he left Winterfell, that's pretty much it. Who he is now, that's all him. I cannot take any credit for it."
Ned smiled sadly.
"Aye, he would make an exceptional king indeed but it's not to be. Robert is king and while Jon doesn't like it, he won't contest Robert's claim with his own. He doesn't want the Iron Throne. He doesn't want to be king." Ned said.
Davos shared the same sad smile.
"Aye, he told me the same thing, but Robert won't live forever. What happens after he's gone? If things happen as they did before, then there will be civil war at a time when we need peace." He asked Ned.
"If that happens again, then Stannis is the heir. The North won't contest that. We will not bend the knee to Joffrey Waters but to the rightful heir."
"Which is Jon." Davos pointed out the obvious.
"Is it? Is it really? He was born to a House that lost its right to rule through conquest of arms and had lost the faith and trust of the people. Not to mention, no one would have followed Rhaegar after what happened with my sister. Even if he won the day at the Trident, even if Lyanna hadn't died birthing Jon, the story of Rhaegar kidnapping Lyanna and raping her had already done its damage to his reputation. His words wouldn't be believed; he'd be seen as untrustworthy and honourless. There would always be those who would suspect that Lyanna being happily married to Rhaegar would be just an act she was forced to put on in order to try and defuse the lies and stories about the Prince and there is no chance Dorne would have accepted it at all. They would have seen it as the gravest and deepest of insults to Ellia's and Dorne's honour. They would have rebelled and plotted to put either Rhaenys or Aegon on the throne." Ned argued.
"That's a fair point Lord Stark and I agree with you in regards to Dorne, but that was then, this is now. After many years of peace, the realm isn't ready to fight a war and while King Robert may wish to fight in this war, let us brutally honest, the man is no longer what he once was. The Demon of the Trident only exists in songs and stories now. What happens if he dies? If Stannis and Renly die? All that will be left of House Baratheon will be a girl with greyscale scars who no one will want to marry and no one will follow as Queen." Davos made his argument.
"I will concede your point about Shireen, while she is a lovely girl by all accounts, the greyscale scars and the fact she is female does indeed work against her, but she would not be all that is left of House Baratheon. Robert has bastards. We currently have his oldest son in residence and there is a noble born bastard in Storms End if I remember correctly. One or even both of them could be legitimized as a Baratheon. There are ways to protect the House Ser Davos." Ned countered.
"True, but a bastard legitimized as a lord is one thing, a legitimized bastard on the throne as King is quite another. A bastard born Lord, the other Lords might accept. A bastard born King, never."
"The Seven Kingdoms see Jon as a bastard, my bastard. They won't accept him as king either."
"Ah, but there is proof that he's not or so I'm told. The Septon that granted the annulment and officiated over the marriage of Jon's parents kept a journal and Jon told me you have sworn documents of the marriage and his legitimacy. From what Jon told me, they had the agreement and blessing of Ellia Martell, why he doesn't know but apparently, she presided over the wedding for the Old Gods and the Septon did the same for the Seven. They were married in the eyes of both faiths. That makes it impossible for Jon to be bastard born in any context my Lord." Davos countered Ned's argument once again.
Ned narrowed his eyes at Davos.
"Why are you pushing this? You speak of treason against Robert."
"Am I? Am I speaking of treason? I don't think so my Lord. Since when is speculation treason against the crown?"
Davos sighed.
"Jon doesn't need to be King, that, I agree with but he does need to lead. I may lack the learning of a noble or a Maester but I'm not entirely lacking intelligence. I can read between the lines as well as any man and while neither Tyrion nor Jon explicitly said so, Jon is the key to winning this war. He needs to be able to hold his own with men decades older than him. He needs to win their respect and loyalty on his own merits because I'm fairly positive that Jon will the one to lead this fight. The Lords and their men need to know they can trust him to have their back, that he will do everything in his power to bring them back home alive and end this war once and for all. Now maybe the truth of his true parentage will come out at some point or maybe not but if it happens, it can be dealt with after the war is won. By that time, I can predict that the Lords will accept no one else as King of Westeros." Davos explained why he had pushed Ned so hard over Jon's birth status.
Ned stared at Davos in consternation.
"You've given this a lot of thought Ser. I must admit I never even thought about it. I just assumed that Jon would fight under me as he is my son, not lead the entire army. Are you sure it must be Jon who leads this fight?" Ned asked him.
"Sure as I can be given the information I have. I didn't come back like they have so I'm acting on second hand information but given what they have and haven't said, I believe it's very likely that Jon has no choice in this. It has to be him. He's has to be the one to kill the Night King because he's the only one who can do it."
Ned fell back into his chair, feeling defeated.
He had failed to keep the promise he had sworn to his sister.
"Ice and Fire." Ned felt tired.
So very, very tired.
"Fire and Ice." Davos quietly agreed.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
"So Sam, Lord Tarley? How did that happen?" Tyrion asked Sam.
After finding out that the King and Lord Tywin were on their way to Winterfell, Ned had dismissed them. As none of them had any current duties to attend too, they decided to take a walk along the outer wall battlements and talk. They decided to start at the south east corner of the wall and then make a circuit. It would be the safest place for them to talk at this time of day. They had just reached the top and started walking towards the main gate when Tyrion asked the question.
Sam explained to them what had happened after he died. Jon, Robb and Tyrion laughed at Sam's description of making a pest of himself to the heavenly beings, were awed that he stood up to R'hllor and very impressed with everything he had accomplished since he had come back. But it was when he told them that Lady Oleanna also knew about the Time Before that Tyrion starting berating him for being careless with their secret.
Sam just snorted at Tyrion in disagreement.
"Your one to talk about being careless! Why didn't you come back sooner? I mean I came back early so I could get started on preparing the Reach AND myself for this war. I deposed my father and Axel Florent so I could become Head of House Tarley in order to garner the full trust of the Tyrells and the rest of the Reach. I convinced Mace Tyrell to stockpile food. I convinced Garlen Tyrell to start training companies of small folk as reserve units to the main army. I forced Loras Tyrell squire for his brother instead of Renly. I convinced Lord Leyton Hightower to send undercover investigators into the Citadel to investigate them for corruption and abuse of their Office. I also convinced Lord Paxter Redwyne to start building more ships to improve the Redwyne fleet. I arranged for the betrothal of Robb and Margaery all so we could secure the Reach in our favour. Apart from making smart ass remarks, what have you done?" Sam asked Tyrion angrily.
Sam was angry that Tyrion had the audacity to question him over whom he told. As far as Sam was concerned, it was a brilliant move on his part, even if it had been an accident. His partnership with Oleanna Tyrell had borne unexpected fruits and had only made House Tyrell and House Tarley stronger and closer allies than ever. Sam came up with most of the plans and lady Oleanna threw the full might of her authority and influence behind them. The Reach had only benefited from their partnership and as a result, the North wouldn't suffer from food shortages during either the winter, war or after.
Tyrion blinked, taken aback at the anger Sam had aimed at him. He was about to retort with a sarcastic comment when he stopped. He realised that Sam was right. He hadn't really done that much in the time since they came back. Sure, he made the arrangements with the Iron Bank and the arrangements with Jorah Mormont. He had even been the official mediator between the Northern Lords and the Free Folk in brokering what was now known as the Winter Alliance Pact, due to the fact that he was the only one with no stake in what happened the north that both sides were willing to trust, but that was all. Sam was right, had they come back sooner, they could have accomplished so much more.
"Your right Sam, I offer you my unconditional and heartfelt apology. I should not have said what I did and now that I think about it, it was a genius move on your part. I don't know why I thought a year and half would be enough time for us to get everything organised. I guess I was still working on a war footing. You remember what it was like Sam, speed was essential and having time to make plans was a luxury we didn't have." Tyrion apologised for his thoughtless comments.
Sam glared at him a little longer and then relented. He could see Tyrion's reasoning and even understand it but it didn't give him the right to make such comments. Especially to Sam who had already done a majority share of the heavy lifting. It was time for Tyrion to pick up the slack.
They reached the battlements at the other end of the part of the wall they had been walking on and turned the corner onto the west wall, walking in a northerly direction continuing their walk. Robb, who was feeling a little uncomfortable with the tension between Tyrion and Sam, decided to break the mood.
"Tell me something good that happened before. I know it was a pretty shit life from what you've all told me but it couldn't be all bad. Tell be something good about, hmm, Arya." From the instant frowns on the other thee faces, Robb realised he'd picked the wrong person to start with.
"That good huh?"
"Arya's journey was a hard, long one. We almost lost her a number of times before we even knew she was still alive. She had already taken a life before she even flowered into a woman Robb. She became a Faceless man, we almost lost her completely to them…but there was one good thing I can think of." Jon said with a smile forming on his face. The smirks on Sam's and Tyrion's faces let Robb know whatever was said next, it would be good!
"Arya for all her protests about being a lady and not wanting to marry actually fell in love and married!" Jon told Robb with glee.
She had married Gendry once she had returned from her journey west of Westeros. Gendry, who was Lord Baratheon and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands by this point, had turned down any and all offers of betrothal. It had been clear to all who Gendry had chosen to be his Lady but he was willing to wait for her to be ready to come home to him.
Robb's jaw dropped in disbelief. Arya married? His little sister who preferred to fight with a sword and play in the mud, who would protest to anyone who would listen that she was not now and never would be a lady, got married? As Robb wrapped his mind around what Jon was saying, a grin starting forming on his face and he started laughing so hard that he had to sit down for a moment, lest he loose his balance and fall over. Jon, Tyrion and Sam smiled in fond remembrance.
The sexual tension between the two of them had led to some truly epic and highly amusing arguments that everyone in the surrounding area had enjoyed watching.
"You know she fucked him right? It happened just before the battle that night." Tyrion said.
Jon rolled his eyes.
"Oh yes I knew. I don't think there was anyone Winterfell at that point that didn't know. Arya may have pretty much mastered the blank face look, but that night, it was ALL over her face, both their faces." Jon laughed. Robb got his laughter under control but was breathing hard.
"What was his name?" He asked as he gasped for air.
"Well Robb, you know him and even at this age, it's so obvious they're destined to be together." Sam said. Robb thought for a minute then it hit him.
"Gendry? She married Gendry?!"
"She most certainly did." Tyrion replied
Robb shook his head in awe.
"He has to be one of the bravest men I know of." he commented as they turned on to the north wall.
They walked in silence for a spell while Robb considered the problems that Arya and Gendry would have this time round. Even he could see the attraction between them at this age although neither of them recognised it for what it was yet. He was also certain that his parents could see it too.
For his father, it was a bittersweet look at what could have been.
For his mother, it was a constant source of contention between her and Arya.
"Poor Arya and Gendry. Mother is not going to let this happen without a hella of a fight. While her attitude may have softened towards you Jon, you're actually a trueborn hiding as a bastard for your own protection. Gendry is a true bastard. Mother's opinions and feelings about bastards haven't gone away you know. It's just no longer aimed at you." Robb told them.
Tyrion jumped in.
"That is true, however, one thing I do now about your mother is that she loves all of you very much and while she may have to be mindful of the politics, all she wants is for her children to be happy and Gendry makes Arya happy, or he will when she stops fighting her feelings for him. He truly loved her and was probably the only man who would never try to change her. Not to mention, most men were terrified of her. Being a Faceless Man did her no favours in that regard, especially when word got around about what she did to House Frey. Personally, I think your mother may not fight it as hard as you think. This war, what's coming for us, it will change everything. Who can say what will happen in the future? We can't, not anymore. Not with any certainty anyway."
Jon while still listening to Robb and Tyrion's discussion was looking at something that caught his eye. Sam noticed Jon's attention was elsewhere and looked to see what had caught Jon's attention.
"What is it?" he asked Jon.
Jon was staring north, towards the closet edge of the Wolfwoods. They was an old logging trail leading into the woods that was no longer used so Jon had been surprised to see a small group of men go into the woods, without axes, saws picks and other such tools. He got Robb's attention.
"Do you know what's going on there?" He asked him.
Robb shook his head.
"Not a clue brother. I do know it's something father ordered done though, and that those who do know what's going on, aren't talking. You'll have to ask father if you want to know more. He wouldn't tell me anything but maybe now your home, he might tell both of us if we ask him together." He replied.
"It could have been a hunting party. They did have bows with them." Tyrion interjected. Once again Robb shook his head.
"No. If it was a hunting party, they wouldn't enter the woods here. The most of the local game left the area over the centuries as Winterfell grew and the surrounding areas became more populated. When the wildlings came, what was left of it fled from the noise and numbers. If they were going hunting, they needed to go further east or west of here, away from the more populated areas before entering the woods."
Jon frowned, eyes narrow. There was something about this that felt…off to him but what it was, he couldn't tell. He decided to put the feeling aside for now and focus on other things.
"So Robb, where's Theon? I didn't see him in the courtyard when we returned." Jon asked him.
While they had been away on their mission, Jon had done a lot of thinking. He realised that if he could make peace with the fact that the Alistair Thorne in this life was not the one who stabbed him, then he could also make peace with his feelings over Theon.
Theon had done some terrible things in the Time Before but he had suffered greatly for what he had done at the hands of Ramsey before he and Sansa managed to escape the sadistic bastard. He had then gone onto redeem himself further before he died defending Bran. Jon had decided to truly embrace this second chance at life and that now included making sure Theon stayed with his family here in the North.
"I don't know. He has been acting strange of late. He's been disappearing from time to time but not to the brothel in Wintertown or any of the inn's and ale houses that have been popping up since the Free Folk's arrival. I ran into Roz the other day in the market place and she asked me if Theon was feeling better. Apparently, Theon told her that he was sick and wouldn't be able to see her for a while. Which is odd considering that despite his current off behaviour, he's physically healthy. I dragged him to Maester Lewin yesterday to make sure he was fine." Robb was worried about his other "brother". Theon didn't seem all there right now and he wouldn't confide in Robb as to what was bothering him.
Tyrion and Jon looked at Sam.
"You've been here for a while and you knew Theon after everything had happened. What do you think? Do you think he's come back as well?" Tyrion asked him.
Sam gave it some thought the shook his head.
"No I don't think he came back as well. He is acting more like his future self but it's not the same. I've seen him sometimes, wondering around the halls late at night when I'm on my way back to my room from the library. He's usually talking to himself, saying things like 'Why did he do that?' and 'that wasn't/isn't me' and a couple of times I've seen him suddenly grab at his cock as if to make sure he still had one. Something is definitely going on but as to what it is, I have no clue." Sam gave them his opinion.
Jon and Tyrion's frowns deepened. They hoped that whatever was going on with Theon would, he would get over it soon. Theon would soon be faced with the hardest decision he would ever have to make and they wanted Theon to make the right choice.
A distracted and unfocused Theon was more dangerous than an arrogant and boastful one.
"Which reminds me Jon, you did tell your father about Balon Greyjoy rebuilding the Iron Fleet right?" Sam asked him.
Jon groaned.
"No I didn't. I forgot about that part of it. We told him about Balon taking advantage of the War of Five Kings to declare himself King of the Iron Islands. We told father about how he had managed to turn Theon against us by preying on his conflicted loyalties and what happened after. We did tell him about Euron Greyjoy returning and what happen after that but the actual building of the Iron Fleet? No." Jon was kicking himself.
"I thought you said you had told father everything Jon. How could you have not told him something this important? You know what will happen to Theon because of this!" Robb asked him, angry that his brother seemed to be withholding vital information from his father.
Jon suddenly felt very angry.
"Give me a break Robb. Remember, for us, that happened over ten years ago! And we had more important things to worry about later then the Iron Fleet which by the time the dead had come through the Wall was almost non-existent. I'm human, I'm not perfect, I'm going to forget things and even get things dead wrong because I wasn't there to witness them personally. I wasn't there to protect my family. Why? Because I was stuck at the Wall. I was exiled from my home because your mother couldn't stand the sight of me. Because your father wanted me there. Your father thought I'd be safe there from Robert. What a load of complete and utter shit. Your father didn't want to be forced to choose between his loyalty and friendship to Robert and his duty to his family, but he did make his choice. He chose Robert. He chose his friend over his blood, over his family, over me! and I was packed off to the Wall to rot away while that fat bastard sat on my family's throne! The one he walked over the bodies of innocent dead children for! MY BROTHER AND SISTER! So please excuse me if I forget things every now and then!" Jon's anger was as colder than the Wall.
"Jon…" Tyrion reached out a hesitant hand toward Jon.
"Leave me alone Tyrion." Jon snarled as he stalked to the nearest staircase and headed back towards the main keep, Tyrion, Robb and Sam staring after him in concern.
"Tell me something good about Jon." Robb begged.
The silence was overwhelming in its intensity.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
Jon walked away from his brother and friends feeling angry, frustrated and a little confused as to where that outburst had come from. He thought he'd made peace with his past. That Jon was dead and this Jon had a whole new life to live.
IF he survived the Long Night.
He didn't want to be around crowds of people at the moment but finding a quiet place to sit and think was currently impossible. Everyone was rushing around, preparing for the King's arrival tomorrow and Lord Tywin's arrival the day after. He could hear lady Cat giving various servants instructions while inquiring about the food stores. Jon who didn't want to speak to her so soon after his little outburst, changed direction and headed to the Godswood, the only place that he should be able to find what he so desperately longed for, peace and quiet.
But alas, it wasn't to be.
"Theon? What are you doing here of all places?" Jon asked a startled Theon as he came out of the surrounding woods and into the clearing that housed Winterfell's Heart Tree. Jon was surprised to see Theon here. This would be the last place he would look for him normally. Theon was proud of his Ironborn heritage even if he didn't truly understand what that meant. He prayed to the Drowned God, not the Old Gods.
Theon hadn't heard Jon approaching until he spoke. When he heard Jon's voice, he almost jumped out of his skin, so on edge was he.
Jon eyed Theon curiously. When he first spoke, he saw how badly Theon had flinched and had nearly bolted. He was skittish and timid as a hare being hunted. He reminded Jon of how he had reacted when he had first returned and was unable to sleep for fear of dreaming. Suddenly, Jon looked at Theon closely. Could that be it? Could Theon be having dreams of a future that no longer existed?
"Theon," Jon gently called, approaching Theon slowly as if he was approaching a nervous and twitchy animal. Jon waited until Theon looked at him before he spoke again and slowly started walking towards Theon again, hands in plain sight next to his body, well away from the sword he wore.
"Theon, it's ok, I'm not here to hurt you. I won't hurt you, I swear on my honour. Calm down…whoa…alright I won't come any closer. Come on Theon, you know me, have I ever lied to your or broken my word once I've given it?...Theon, concentrate on the sound of my voice, listen only to my voice alright? Good. That's it, breath, that's it, deep breaths, in…out…in and out, that it, listen to my breathing, match my breathing…That's it, good, you're doing real good Theon, that's it, just keep breathing…" Jon trailed off, watching as Theon breathed and slowly calm down.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly and silently. This wasn't the first time he had talked someone through a panic attack but never in a hundred years would he have guessed that he would talk Theon through one. Jon sat there, watching Theon calm down and just listened to the sounds of the Godswoods around him.
Theon could feel himself calming down. Yet another panic attack, he was grateful this one hadn't happened in public. The last one he had, he managed to delay the onset long enough to get to his room but he couldn't stop it from happening. He felt weak and afraid but he didn't know what to do though. He just wanted the dreams to stop but he had no idea how to make them stop.
When the dreams first started, he put it down to drinking too much, but then they wouldn't stop.
This other "Theon" had apparently turned traitor to Robb and had paid a horrific price for it before being killed by dead people.
He couldn't bring himself to believe it. He would never betray Robb, never!
Would he?
Theon shook his head, trying to disperse the last of the foggy feeling from his mind while he realised that this time, the attack wasn't as bad as usual or as long in duration. He lifted his head and looked around. Sitting on an exposed Weirwood root was Jon, whose dark grey eyes watched him with a great deal of concern and compassion in them. Jon then smiled at him.
"Hey there, back with us I see. How are you feeling? Panic attacks are horrible at the best of times, I should know." Jon asked him, the same gentle tone in place.
Theon blinked at him as he considered Jon's question.
How was he feeling?
Calmer. Calmer then he'd been for a while if the truth be told.
"Better. Thank you." He said politely. He was about to get up and leave when a Jon's voice stopped him.
"When I first saw you after I had returned to the past, I wanted to beat the living shit out of you for what you did, for everything you did before you and Sansa escaped Ramsey you know. I had to constantly remind myself in those early days that you aren't him."
Theon's head snapped towards Jon's so fast that Jon could hear an audible crack.
"I'm not him. I don't want to be him. I'll NEVER be him!." He spat in disgust.
"You're right. You are NOT him. I should know."
"How did you know something was wrong with me?" He asked Jon.
Jon chuckled.
"Remember how you told me that I looked like a sweaty, albino, turd once? Well you looked like that." Jon quietly laughed at the offended look on Theon's face.
Theon felt offended but then laughed. He supposed he owed Jon that one. Suddenly he asked a Jon the question he had be dying to know the answer to.
"Why did he do it?"
Jon gave him a sour smile.
"You don't ask the easy questions do you? To be honest Theon, I don't know. I don't even think he really knew why he did what he did. I do know that he felt a driving need to be accepted by his father, who took advantage of that. It had been so long since my Theon had seen his father and he was so young when he was given to my father as his hostage, that he had forgotten what his father was really like and what it truly meant to be Ironborn. The Iron Price isn't what you think it is Theon."
Theon nodded as he settled more comfortable on the grass.
"I understand that. That need for a fathers approval. Guess I'll never get it from Balon now." He said quietly.
Jon rolled his eyes.
"What both of you boneheads had failed to realise, was that you already have a father who approves of you, you idiot. My father may not be your father by blood but he's always treated like one of his own you moron. You're pack Theon. You've always been pack, so your sorry ass better be in the family room tonight after dinner brother or I will hunt you down and drag you there myself or worse, I'll send Arya to find you. Understood?" Jon grinned at Theon, as he stood up and offered his hand to Theon.
Theon grabbed Jon's hand and let Jon help him up of the ground. In a surprise move, Theon grabbed Jon in a strong, tight hug.
"Understood, brother." He replied with a grin as he let go.
Jon, smile still firmly in place, looked up at the sky to see it starting to get dark. He turned to Theon.
"We should get going. It'd getting dark and we should wash up before dinner or Lady Cat will kick our asses." He said with a laugh.
They turned together as one and started back towards the entry of the Godswood. They walked in silence until they reached the gate. Just before they went their separate ways, Theon turned to Jon and stopped him for a moment.
"Thank you."
And then walked away without waiting for Jon's reply.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
In the fireplace, the fire happily cracked and popped as it consumed the wood it fed on.
Dinner had been a somewhat quiet affair with his father seeming occupied by something and Lady Cat looked exhausted from running around trying to organise an appropriate visit for an unexpected monarch who would be arriving tomorrow.
Jon smiled as he entered the room and indicated where he wanted the crate and two chests the servants were carrying behind him. He was looking forward to this time with his family. He had gifts to give them. Of course in this case, family also meant Theon, Sam and Tyrion. Jon took note that his father still hadn't arrived from the great hall but that was fine with Jon for at this moment, his full attention was required to deal with his excited and curious siblings.
"Jon, what's in the chests?"
"Did you bring us presents?"
"Did you see any pirates? I wanna be a pirate when I get bigger!"
"I missed you Jon. You must tell me some stories! I want to hear all about it!"
"Yeah Jon, what ya bring us?"
"Rickon! Speak properly young man!" Cat scolded her youngest son.
"And all of you, leave him be. Your father will be here shortly and then we can ALL hear about Jon's adventure and see what he brought back."
"Yes mother." Was the chorus of slightly shamed filled voices that made Tyrion and Sam smile.
Jon chuckled as he studied the room.
This room was reserved for the exclusive use of the Stark's and whoever they invited to join them. It was a fairly large room with plenty of space for everyone to be able to move around in easily. This room was void of the usual trophies of past victories one would expect to see in such a room but it was, despite its size, cosy and comfortable. There were furs and wool rugs scattered on the floor, the furniture, while old, was well cared for and extremely comfortable. Tapestries that depicted scenes like forests and mountains. The children of the Forrest featured in their own tapestry and the proud Stark direwolf sigil resided above the large fireplace that kept the room warm. This room was used most often in winter but the family also used it for gatherings such as this.
The door opened and Ned walked in. He paused for a moment as he regarded his gathered family with pride. They were growing into strong, capable people who would be able to handle the constant struggle to survive that was life in Westeros. He was so proud of them, Jon most of all.
"Father, you're here finally! Now can we have our presents Jon, please?" Arya begged him while Jon laughed at her. She may have settled down some under Lady Maege, but she still hadn't mastered patience.
Jon went over to the crate. It was roughly six feet long by four feet deep. He reached for the lid that the servants had already loosened and raised it off the top. He put it down and motioned for Tyrion to join him. Once Tyrion was standing next to him, Jon reached in and picked up the first gift.
"For you father."
Ned gasped. In Jon's hands sat a valyrian steel bastard sword.
"I know you have Ice, but Ice is too big and can't be worn on a daily basis with ease. Things are coming, things that are immune to normal steel. I want you protected; I want you to be able to protect our family from what is coming." Jon told him as he handed over the blade.
Ned accepted the sword with hands that trembled. He looked at the hilt. It had a grey handle with a silver guard in the shape of a strange looking bird. The pommel caught I his eye. It was a round yellow crystal that had somehow been infused with silver in the shape of a five pointed star over a crescent moon lying on its back, in the very centre of the solid ball shaped crystal! Ned looked carefully at the rounded crystal but could see no place for the silver to have entered into the crystal itself. He then grasped the sheath of the sword and pulled.
The blade sung with a steely ring as it exited the sheath. The first thing he noticed about it was the metal. It had a pale blue colour rippled through the blade. Ned gave it a careful swing to test it. It was lighter then Ice and the balance was incredible. It was a fine blade. He returned it to the sheath then gave Jon a hug of thanks once he set the blade down.
Tyrion handed Robb a bastard sworn the same as Jon had given his father except that the blade was rippled a light/dark grey and the pommel was a blue stone with an animal carved into it that Tyrion identified as a valyrian tiger. They, like most valyrian animals were now extinct.
For Sansa, he had a beautiful matched pair valyrian steel daggers and even Lady Cat was given a thin stiletto knife that could be strapped to an arm or leg.
Ned has sat Sansa and Arya down and had informed them of what was coming. Sansa had been horrified but calm while Arya had instantly offered to fight them with her father. Ned didn't want his daughters anywhere near this fight and was seriously thinking sending them south before the war started.
Jon reached into the crate again, this time pulling a covered package from the depths and walked over to Theon.
"This is for you, brother." He said with a smile as he gave Theon his gift. Jon was very much looking forward to seeing the look on Theon's face. Theon rapidly unwrapped his gift.
"Wha…what?...Jon…you didn't…my gods!" Theon's incoherent speech made Jon start laughing.
Theon stared at his gift in awe.
He was holding in his hands a Dragon bone Bow. One of the rarest bows in the world. Only Goldenwood and Weirwood bows being rarer.
Theon may not be the best swordsman out there but the self-proclaimed title of Best Bowman in the North was well earned. Jon had seen hundreds of people who could shoot a bow over the years and he could honestly say none of them came even close to Theon in talent, except for Ygritte, no one in Westeros was better than her.
Jon also had a valyrian steel sworn for Brianne stashed away in the crate. He would give it to her at a later date.
Arya, who had been sitting there impatiently, waiting for her gift, was getting more and more disappointed as others received their gifts while she just sat there. Finally, she could take it no more.
"Jon, what about me?" She cried, on the verge of tears. Jon felt bad for not giving Arya her gift sooner. He smiled at her.
"I couldn't forget you little wolf. I have something special for you." He told her as he grabbed a short thin package from behind the crate where he had hid it. Arya grabbed the gift and like Theon tore the wrapping off and was speechless.
Jon had given her Needle.
He had sent instructions to Master Mott when the ships that were heading north left. He had Needle remade but this time he used valyrian steel as the blade. Arya who had been admiring the sword, put it down and quickly jumped on Jon and hugged him for all she was worth.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
"You know, all the best swords have names little sister."
Arya opened her mouth to answer.
"Think about it. Take your time. You have to find the right name." He told her.
"And what did you name your new sword Jon? And where is it? I think I saw you wearing it earlier." Ned asked him, remembering that Tyrion had said something about before they had left. Jon excused himself for a moment to fetch the sword and it accompany dagger from his room.
"This is Northern Queen." He told them, showing them the orangey/red rippled steel. This one he'd named after his Sansa.
"And this is No-one." He showed then the sharp long dagger that he often wielded in his off hand. This one he had named after Arya although only Tyrion and Sam knew that.
There were other gifts too.
Bolts of cloth and perfumes for Lady Cat and Sansa. Children's books with colourful pictures for Rickon along with a variety of exotic toys that Rickon just loved. Glass nick knacks from Myr, exotic foods and drinks. Jon had kept some the best of the jewels they had found to give his sisters and Lady Cat. He would give some to Robb so he could present it to Margaery when she arrived as a betrothal gift and he would keep some for himself to give to Dany when they eventually met.
And one more thing.
"We also found these."
Jon and Tyrion both opened a chest each.
Nine dragon eggs glittered in the firelight.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
"Jon, Jon, wake up. I need to talk to you. Jon!"
The voice wouldn't go away.
"Jon!"
Smack
"Ow! Alright, alright, I'm awake!" Jon opened his eyes and looked around his room. It was still dark; the only light was in the fireplace where the fire he'd banked for the night still glowed. His eyes widened when he spotted the intruder in his room.
"Bran? What are you doing here? Actually, answer this first, how are you here? You can't walk Bran." Jon was surprised to find his Bran sitting on the end of his bed, swinging what seemed to be perfectly functional legs.
Bran just shrugged and smiled at his brother.
"I'm not actually in your room. You're dreaming. You're actually asleep in your room but I need to speak with you and inserting myself into your dreams in the easiest way." Bran's face was now serious.
"We have a problem."
"With Theon remembering? Yes I noticed. How could he remember a future that no longer exists?" Jon asked him.
"That's the thing Jon, it does still exist."
"What are you talking about Bran? How can it still exist if we've been sent back to change the future?"
Bran wondered how to explain it. Even he couldn't fully follow the explanation that Brynden Rivers had given him.
"Brynden Rivers told me that Theon dreaming of that other future is a consequence of your being sent back in time. You didn't change that future Jon. It still exists. What happened when you came back is that time…split is the best way I can describe it. There is the original timeline, the one you came from and there is now this new timeline that runs parallel to the original one." Bran explained.
"Wait, I don't understand. How does this relate to Theon's dreams?" Confusion was evident in Jon's voice.
Bran smiled at him sadly.
"Consequences Jon. There are always consequences for everything we do. Even if it's for the greater good of all."
"Wait, you're saying that Theon's dreams are a consequence of us coming back in time?"
"Yes. It's a bleed through effect from original timeline. You see, Time flows in one direction in a solid stream. Think of it like a river. All the water flows in the same direction, sometimes it takes a turn in a bend or sometimes it had to make its own path around an object but it generally flows in the same direction. Now sometimes, a new branch of the river is carved away from the original direction of the river. Sometimes it doesn't affect anything and sometimes it causes major problems. Time is like the river except it doesn't like it when parts of it get diverted away from the main river of time. When that happens, the time river fights like crazy to re-absorb the divergent flow." Bran hopped Jon had followed his explanation. It was the best he could do.
"So if I understand you correctly, this other timeline, the one you call the original timeline is the river and us coming back has created a new arm of the river? A new timeline?" Jon hesitantly asked.
Bran beamed at his brother. He understood!
"Yes! That right."
"And Theon's dreams are Time's way of trying to "re-absorb" this timeline back into the original one?"
"Close enough."
"Ah fuck."
"And this is why I needed to talk to you."
Jon was angry. After everything they've done to try and save as many people as they could, it wouldn't matter if certain people started dreaming of the original timeline.
"How many people are dreaming? Do you know?"
"I don't know Jon and that's the problem. Not to mention, they're may be other consequences we don't know about."
Jon suddenly had a terrifying thought.
"Does HE know anything? Does the Night King remember? I'm not sure if he's capable of dreaming" Jon's eyes were wild with fear that the Night King remembered something.
The look on Bran's face did not reassure Jon at all.
"No. He doesn't remember or dream, I know that, but there is something." He said as he raised his suddenly bare right arm into Jon's direct view.
Jon's face went white as the blood drained out of it.
"No…" He whispered in horror.
"Yes" Bran smiled sadly at his brother's horror. He wasn't happy about it either.
The Night King's mark.
"You don't have a body Bran. How do you still bare his mark?"
"It's not just a physical mark Jon. There's a supernatural aspect to it as well. The physical mark itself told the Night King where by body was, hence where I was. As for the supernatural aspect…Well, you know what that entails." Bran hung his head is a mixture of sadness, anger and guilt.
"It wasn't your fault Bran. You couldn't have known. None of us could have known!" Jon begged Bran to forgive himself.
"I am the Three Eyed Raven! I SHOULD have known!" Bran protested.
"How Bran? How could you have known? It had never happened before! So tell me brother, how could you have known that the Night King could take possession of your mind and body through his mark?!"
Really, no one could have foreseen that.
The Night King had been smarter and more cunning than anyone had ever given him credit for. As Bran had told them once the Night King had left his body, The Night King had been a greenseer when he was a mortal and hadn't lost the ability when he had been turned. Apparently, he had foreseen his "death" centuries ago and had taken steps in order to cheat it.
The mark he had left on Bran had not only told the Night King where Bran was, it also marked him as the Night King's new host body. When they had confronted each other in the Godswoods, the Night King had known Arya was in the tree, making her way towards him in order to try and kill him in a surprise attack.
To the outside world, what looked like a staring completion between the Night King and Bran was actually the cover for a titanic battle between the minds of the two most powerful beings in the known world. Bran had fought the Night King's intrusion into his mind as hard as he could but due to him not being fully trained and still trying to cope and control the massive amount of power he had inherited from Bloodraven, Bran wasn't able to keep the Night King out of his mind. By the time Arya was in position to attack, the battle was already over and the Night King finally had control over his biggest nemesis.
Arya destroyed an empty shell and the Night King sacrificed all the Walkers and dead he had brought with him south of the Broken Wall to reinforce the idea that it was over.
It was far from over.
"He doesn't know about me specifically but he knows something's not right. He knows that he has a permanent link to someone who isn't one of his "sons" Jon and I can't watch over him because the second I do, he'll feel me and know what I represent. He might start figuring things out at that point."
Jon cursed loud and long.
"How does this affect you? I mean younger you? How does this affect his destiny? He has to come to you right? Can you…can Bloodraven and the Children keep him safe? Can the Night King get into the cave?"
Bran looked away.
"Then he doesn't go."
"Jon!"
"No Bran! We can't risk it. We can't risk sending him! He already marked you Bran, what happens if he marks young Bran as well huh? Did you think of that? We'd be completely fucked if that happened!"
"He has to come here Jon. We have to teach him how to control his visions or he will end up marked like me regardless!"
"No. Find another way. I won't risk either one of you."
"Jon…"
"NO Bran! Find another way!I order you!"
"Is that a command your Grace?...Ow! What did you do that for?"
"Huh, I didn't know I could punch someone in my dreams. Good to know. You deserved that Bran and you know it." Jon was fuming at his kid brother.
"Sorry Jon. I didn't mean it but you have to understand, he needs training!" Bran cried, frustrated that Jon didn't seem to understand how important this was.
"I know Bran, I heard you the first time but unless you can guarantee young Bran's safety, then he stays south of the Wall and that's final. Now, I don't know what time it is but I'm still tired. Good night little brother. Come and speak to me when you've figured out a plan and well talk about it."
Bran slumped in defeat.
"Goodnight Jon." He said and disappeared.
Jon shook his head.
"Why me?"