Castle Black 301 AC.
Jaime.
He sat in the common hall and though he ate, it was almost because it was expected of him rather than out of any sense of hunger or desire. Looking around the room he could see he wasn't the only one who had done so. It had been only a day or two since night had fallen, or so he believed as it was hard to judge the passing of days when the sun didn't rise. Already though the strain of living in darkness was beginning to be felt and it more than the fear of what lay in the darkness threatened to sap morale.
Jaime had done all he could to keep the men's morale up, in this he wasn't alone, Oberyn, Ned, Benjen, Mance, even Jeor Mormont, and Stannis had acted far more jovially than Jaime knew they truly felt. To see Stannis Baratheon make japes and wear a smile on his face was a sight he'd never expected, that it was a false one and his reasons for wearing it were what they were, well that at least allowed Jaime not to think the world was truly ending.
Tyrion and Aemon had both alternated with coming to the Wall as well. Lygaron or Sandorix would land just outside the gates and close enough so they could be seen and so that either Jae's granduncle or Tyrion could walk through them with Ser Jors at their back. The white cloak was a welcome sight in the darkness and for the men seeing they had a dragon close by helped them greatly he knew. As did the red priests and the words that Lady Melisandre, Thoros, and Moqorro would say. The night was dark and full of terrors, but the Prince that was Promised would Bring the Dawn, it was a comforting thought. One that he'd take far more comfort in himself if said prince was actually here with them. Taking a sip from his ale, he readied to rise only for Oberyn and Ned Stark to walk his way, Jaime knowing that he'd be staying up a little longer before he went to his bed now.
"Jaime." Ned Stark said as he took his seat, the man finally getting more comfortable with using his name and for the briefest moment it brought a smile to his face as he remembered how uncomfortable he once was with him. Something that Ned seemed to pick up on as he looked at him curiously.
"I was remembering the Greyjoy Rebellion." he said as Ned looked at him "My visit to Winterfell just after it." he added seeing the smile appear on Ned's face.
"Gods, of all the things." Ned said with a chuckle which soon turned into a fuller laugh when Jaime spoke more of what it was that he was thinking on.
"You saying my name, Ned, how uncomfortable you were and how you almost spat it out." he said and Oberyn decided to join in the japing.
"Was it like how I said it when I came to the Rock for the first time?" Oberyn asked with an even larger smirk on his face.
"Aye, the very same. Who'd have thought that we'd all speak each other's names as friends all these years later." Jaime said and saw the nods that both men gave at his words.
"My father used to say that we find our true friends on the battlefield and while I agree with that, he was wrong too. Or perhaps there is more than one type of battlefield. "Ned said with a chuckle "I hated all I thought you stood for, Jaime, thought you to be worst of men and for that I'm sorry."
"There is nothing to be sorry about, in a way I was and were it not for…" he said not needing to say Jae's name and so it was left o Oberyn to do so.
"Our nephew has a way of bringing people together. Who else could have gotten a Lion, Wolf, and a Viper to not only sit the same table but to wish to do so." Oberyn said and Jaime smiled at just how right he was.
Dorne, the North, the West, all three regions had hated each other for varying different reasons. Some of that was down to the men who ran them, some was history and some was perhaps jealousy too. Even were that not the case, the history of him, Ned and Oberyn would have precluded them from ever being friendly, and while he and Ned Stark were not the closest of friends, friends they were. As for Oberyn, he was someone that Jaime was happy to name a friend and someone whose company he welcomed greatly.
"To Jae and to friends." he said raising his mug.
"To Jae and to friends." Ned and then Oberyn said.
He made his way to his room after two more ales, feeling slightly light-headed and pleasantly rather than completely drunk. In a few hours, he'd be back on top of the Wall and so he welcomed the warmth of his room, the fire that was burning in the hearth, and the softness of the mattress when he stripped and fell into the bed. What he didn't like was the emptiness of it all, especially the empty space beside him and he both wished for his wife's presence and yet was grateful that she was far from this place. It was to thoughts of Dacey that he fell to sleep, thoughts of his wife and his children, all of them. Joanna, Jon, and Jae and he found he only wished to see one of them here. The one who had no choice but to be here. For his other children, it was just as it was with Dacey, he was glad they were far from this place.
"My Lord, My lord." he heard the Farlen shout as he shook him from side to side.
"What is it, are we under attack?" he said jumping from the bed.
"Lord Stark and Prince Oberyn request your presence, my lord, on top of the Wall, something is happening." Farlen said and Jaime nodded as he moved to his clothing and his armor.
The yard was full of men making ready for battle and he saw the red priests and members of the Company of the Rose were already in their positions as he walked through it and to the lift. Robb Stark, Cregan, The Smalljon, and Val all lining their men up in a far more true formation than they had been in since Jae had flown from Castle Black. It filled him with concern as the lift finally began its journey to the top of the Wall. Once he reached it those concerns only grew based on what he then saw.
Oberyn, Ned, Jeor Mormont and Stannis, Mance and Tormund Giantsbane, and the Lady Melisandre all stood with their men and he moved to the red priestess who was looking his way while the others looked out on the lands Beyond the Wall. She seemed to be almost waiting for him and when he reached her, she directed him to look to where the others were and it took him a moment to see it clearly. When he did, he wished he was blind or that his eyes hadn't become more attuned to the darkness. An army stood by the edge of the trees, an army larger than he had imagined one could be and amongst them, he saw the White Walkers themselves.
"The time has come, my lord." she said and he nodded as the army moved and the horns rang out.
Eastwatch 301 AC.
Dany.
The pain in her shoulder had faded and yet she felt it still, a dull throb that hurt if she moved it a certain way. Her wound had cleared up remarkably well and the Maester was pleased about her progress, Dany too as she moved and swung her sword from left to right while standing on the deck of The Dragon's Breath. Aurane watched her with worry in his eyes and yet for now she cared not. Her focus was on working on the strength in her arm and making sure it was where she wished it to be.
Once she was finished with the sword, it was on to the daggers and her movements with these were even more frantic. The sword would buy her time if needed, the daggers would bring her vengeance and justice and so she was sweating heavily by the time she was finished practicing with them. From them, it was to the bow and for the first few moments she simply drew the bowstring tight and then let it loose without an arrow in hand. Simply building up her strength before she then began to build up her accuracy by firing at the target she had placed at the bow of the ship.
It was a routine, one that those around her had gotten used to, and no words from any of them that she should rest or that she was pushing herself too hard would register. She cared not if she pushed herself too hard as not only did she need to be ready, but it took her mind to a place where it could function. A place where it could concentrate on things and where it didn't dwell on what she feared it would. Yet no matter how hard she pushed herself eventually her thoughts would turn to Belwas and to Sandor, and as they had since she'd been told the truth, her tears would fall.
"Thank the gods, you're well." Aurane said as he kissed her lips softly, Dany looking to see Grey Worm and Bonifer looking just as relieved as her husband was.
"Ellagon, Jae?" she asked and Aurane told her that both were well and it was only then she realized who was not in the room "Sandor, where's Sandor, Belwas, he and Sandor, I must go to them." she said trying to rise from the bed only for Aurane to reach out to stop her from doing so.
"Dany, you must rest." Aurane said his worried voice carrying something else in it and though she had no wish to worry him more, it was that she concentrated on and not alleviating his worries for now.
"Sandor, where is he?" she asked determinedly, Aurane looking to Grey Worm and Bonifer rather than to her "Aurane, tell me where he is." she said her voice rising as she did likewise.
"He…Belwas, they didn't make it." Aurane said and Dany looked from her husband to Grey Worm and then to Bonifer to see the truth in the words.
"No…he couldn't, Sandor was…he couldn't. I must go to him, I….he couldn't…Please…" she said her words hurried and when she felt her husband's arms around her, she broke down and began to sob.
She couldn't believe it, the thoughts of him not being there were just too hard for her to take and though she thought about Belwas too, it was Sandor who caused her tears to fall and her heart to break. He was her family, her protector, had it not been for him then the gods only knew what her life would have been like. A scared and meek little girl that's what she'd been when he found her and it was because of him that she'd become the dragon that she was mean to be.
Her dragons were only hers because of Sandor, her aunt, nephew, and brother only in her life because of Sandor. The air she breathed was because of him as had he not come to her when he had then the chances are that just like Viserys, she too would have ended up dead. He couldn't be gone, there had to be some mistake, no one was as fierce or as strong as him and she knew he'd not leave her alone. She had to go to him, to see him for herself and so she asked Aurane to take her to him only to find that he could not.
"He fell Dany, he and Belwas fell after you did, and were it not for them both…I'm sorry Dany, I'm so sorry." Aurane said trying to offer her comfort that she could not for now at least feel.
"He…is he one of them?" she asked, her words almost a whisper and her lips trembling and she breathed deeply when Aurane shook his head.
"Jae and Rhaenix they…" her husband said and Dany nodded.
He hated the flames, feared them greatly, and yet perhaps in the end he'd have welcomed them she felt. Though she said nothing of this as she allowed Aurane to hold her. It hurt her to then send her husband, Bonifer and Grey Worm away, she didn't wish to be alone, and yet she needed to be. Dany wished to mourn the man who meant so much to her and to do so privately as she felt he deserved for her attention to be on him and him alone. Belwas too she would mourn, but not today. Today was for the man who'd thought her a little sister and who had been until she met her husband, the most important man in her life.
After they left she cried against the pillow and eventually she cried herself to sleep. Her dreams that night were of nights around the fire talking to Sandor as they traveled through Essos. Dreams of lessons where he thought her to swing a sword, use a dagger, and wield a bow and where he spoke to her on the way of the world and how it was full of cunts. Not all were cunts he'd told her, but she needed to know which ones are, and by the time they'd come to Westeros she felt she did thanks to him.
"I miss you big brother, I pray you found your peace and I thank you for all you've done for me." she had said as she woke the next morning before she vowed that she'd see the Night King pay for taking him from her.
In the few days that had passed since then, she'd doubled her efforts in her training and made sure that she was ready for whatever came their way. She and Ellagon had flown only once and though she'd walked the distance from the Dragon's Breath to where her dragon would land so that she could spend time with her, it was not enough. From today it would be different she swore as she put the bow down and made her way to her rooms, Aurane walking behind her as she did so. Once she reached them she made her way to her armor and her husband looked worriedly at her before he then moved to help her put it on.
"You're going flying?" he asked softly as he helped her dress.
"I need to be more ready, we've been lucky thus far but that luck won't hold out for long." she said and he nodded which earned him a kiss from her "Thank you." she said offering him a smile as he tied the last of her armor onto her.
After she'd made sure that armor was tight, Aurane joined her as she walked from the room and down the gangplank, Grey Worm and Bonifer walking with them as she made her way to Ellagon. Her dragon was as eager for this as her, Ellagon was keen to fly and fly for true and so as she climbed up her back it was to the sound of a dragon's trill that she took her place in the saddle. She wore her daggers, her sword was strapped to her side and the bow and quiver were on her back. Dany making sure that she'd be prepared should the need arise and with a last look to Aurane, Bonifer, and Grey Worm, she and Ellagon took to the sky.
They flew over what had been the Free Folk encampment and beyond it to where the Northerners had originally made their own camp in case they needed to be evacuated, Dany happy to see that both were empty and the people were long gone. Her nephew had ordered them to be evacuated for true and had done the same with those on the other side of the North. It meant that half the lands were now empty of any but fighting men and women and she was relieved at that. Sandor and Belwas had fallen and if the Night King and the Army of the Dead could take them, then those who couldn't fight were not safe here.
After she had ensured there were no stragglers for miles around, she then flew back to the camp and towards the Wall itself. Ellagon flying low as Dany wished for their men to see her and the dragon and to know that both of them were ready should the need arise. It would, she could feel that it would and that was not all she could feel. The closer she go to the Wall, the more the wound in her shoulder seemed to throb and as she flew by it and out to sea, she began to feel something odd. Turning to look over her shoulder she swore that she felt herself been drawn west and though Ellagon was reluctant she did as Dany bid and flew that way.
It was the sight of Rhaegal flying alone in the air that stopped her from flying to where she had wished to, the sounds her son was making were pained and ones of sadness, and Dany felt her chest tighten as she and Ellagon flew towards him. They flew alongside him and as they did she bid him join them on the ground, the green dragon doing so most reluctantly. Once she'd landed she climbed down of Ellagon's back and moved to him and the look in his eyes soon brought tears to her own.
"What is it, my son? What troubles you so?" she asked and for a moment she thought that perhaps he felt her own losses and so she tried to reassure him that she was well "I miss him, miss them both, but I'm doing what I must and I will avenger Sandor and Belwas." she said, yet it was soon clear that it wasn't her concerns that worried Rhaegal.
She stroked his snout softly, her fingers brushing over the parts that she knew made Ellagon trill, and yet for her son they did nothing which worried her even more. Where the thought came from she couldn't tell, but when it did it was all she could think about. Dany feeling her breath grow shallow and her heart began to race, in her panic, she moved from the green dragon and felt Ellagon move closer to her. She needed to know though and so with fear and trepidation, she moved back to Rhaegal and asked the question and prayed she was wrong in doing so.
"Shiera, is she hurt?" she asked and Rhaegal let out a long wail, a pained scream almost and Dany fell to her knees as she screamed with him.
The Nightfort 301 AC.
Aemon.
He had welcomed being able to see again, the ability to look upon his kin and see them with his own two eyes. Nights reading books that he had never gotten around to finishing and newer more interesting ones that he'd not even known had existed. Being able to see the world from atop Sandorix as he flew through the air and looking on as those who served his family and showed him their truths each and every day. Seeing the way the people reacted when they looked at him, at Dany, and especially at Jae and Elia, all of it he had welcomed.
Yet he'd have happily remained blind if it had meant he'd not live to see the Long Night fall for true. To wake up in darkness wasn't anything new for him, he'd done it for years after all. For others, it was draining both physically and more importantly mentally. It bore down on your very soul and though he and Tyrion tried their best to keep the men's spirits up and Sandorix and Lygaron helped in this regard, it did little truly. Only seeing Jae wielding Lightbringer seemed to have any true effect, but his nephew had others that needed his attention and so each day he was not at Castle Black, the men's morale suffered.
Knowing that it was being raised somewhere else was all well and good, but Aemon felt it was here that his nephew was needed most of all. So when the bird began to chirp loudly and flew to land on his shoulder and when Sandorix began to grow impatient for Aemon to fly with him, Aemon was only too happy to do so. Little did he know when he had set off that it was to here that he'd be flying to. The Nightfort was not a place he had ever liked or spent any time at and as he looked down and saw the signs of battle, it was not truly a place he wished to be now either. Sandorix though was happy to land next to Rhaenix and Aemon did welcome seeing his nephew and Ser Arthur waiting to greet him. Even if his nephew wore a look on his face that was hard for him to identify.
"You got my message." Jae said with a smile on his face, forced though it seemed to be.
"Aye, I take it this is where you wished me to be?" he asked curiously and Jae nodded.
"We must speak uncle, walk with me." Jae said and Aemon nodded as he moved to his nephew's side.
He looked at the two dragons who were having their own reunion and it took him a moment to remember there should be another one here. Where was Rhaegal? Where was Shiera? Turning to look at his nephew he could see his expression more clearly now, even in the moonless sky. Jae was drawn, pale, and looked as if he'd not gotten enough sleep and yet it was the worried crease in his forehead that drew Aemon's attention. It was a worry that he'd soon be sharing he felt and once they'd walked a little bit away from the dragons and Ser Arthur had moved to see they weren't disturbed, Jae turned to him.
"Shiera, uncle, he has Shiera." Jae said and Aemon looked at his nephew with disbelief, surely he couldn't be saying what he thought he was.
"The Night King?" he asked and though he felt it was a stupid question, it was one he needed an answer to, his nephew's nod doing just that "How?" he asked shaking his head.
Jae proceeded to tell him what had happened here, how Ser Garlan and his men along with Shiera had felt the Nightfort not to be a place they could stay in and so had camped outside. How Randyll Tarly and Mathis Rowan along with their men had thought them fools and had not and how over time the magic's that the Nightfort was full of had taken their toll. He listened as Jae told him that he'd arrived to find his men fighting amongst themselves, Garlan's men attacked by Randyll's and Mathis's and how had he not arrived when he did then he'd have lost them all.
"Shiera, Jae?" Aemon asked bringing his nephew to the one thing he actually wished to know.
"Tarly took her Beyond the Wall, uncle, he took her to him." Jae said his worry overriding his sadness for now.
"Why?" he asked and though Jae answered and it cleared things up, it was not that question he had asked that he was given the answer to.
"The Nightfort I believe is open to him, not so much that he can just walk through it, otherwise he would have done so by now. More the magic's there and his own work more easily together. He used their fears against them, Mathis Rowan believed he was back during the aftermath of the rebellion and surrounded by traitors. His guilt over my father's death and the losses of Elia, Aegon, and Rhaenys forced him to see the Tyrell's as traitors, and had there been Lannister men here too then he'd have seen to their ends. As for Randyll, I know not what he saw." Jae said and Aemon reached out to place his hand on Jae's shoulder.
"Shiera, Jae. Why would he wish Shiera brought to him." Aemon said clarifying the question that he'd asked him.
"What..oh…I believe he seeks a queen, uncle, a Corpse Queen." Jae said and Aemon shuddered.
"You have a plan for her, for our kin?" he asked almost angrily.
"I do, which is why I need you here, uncle. I need you with these men, for they'll have need a dragon should he come." Jae said and Aemon nodded before he remembered Rhaegal.
"Where's Rhaegal, Jae?" he asked and as Jae was telling him that he sent the dragon away and was in the midst of explaining why that was, something made him look to the sky and he saw them before Jae did "Dany." he said softly as his nephew frowned upon seeing Ellagon and Rhaegal flying towards them.
They moved back to where the other two dragons were now looking to the sky too, Sandorix seeming far happier than Rhaenix did to welcome his siblings and mother to the ground. When they landed, Dany almost jumped off Ellagon's back and practically ran to them, his niece looking her nephew in the eye and then unleashing upon him, her words angered and pained at the same time.
"Where is she? Why are you not with her? Where is my aunt?" Dany asked as she pushed against Jae who tried to take her into his arms, finally succeeding as Dany all but collapsed against him.
Aemon helped as Jae moved Dany to his tent, his niece looking tired and though she fought with them when Jae bid her rest, in the end she agreed and mere moments after laying down she was resting. Jae looked at him and bid him join him outside, though he himself stayed in the tent for another few moments and when he did come out he had left the tent open so that he could see his niece still.
"I've warged into the birds near Aurane's ship and hope they got the message that Dany is safe and here with us." Jae said and Aemon nodded. "She shouldn't be here, her wound." his nephew said and Aemon looked at him shocked, what had happened to them all while he was safe and well with Tyrion.
"She was hurt?" he asked, though he wished to say more.
"She was, she lost Sandor and Strong Belwas too, and now this with Shiera...I need to speak to the dragons, uncle, can you watch over her for me." Jae said and Aemon nodded, smiling when a few moments later men wearing the Tyrell's sigil took up their places near the tent as he went back inside and took a seat beside his niece.
It was an hour or so later that Jae came back and he brought food with him, the smell of which was enough to wake Dany up, and though she asked for Shiera once more, Jae bid them both to eat and so for now she listened.
"I need you to send Rhaegal back to Dragonstone, Dany, I thought he'd listened to me, but he can't be here. I can't have him here, can you do it? Will you?" Jae pleaded.
"Shiera, Jae where is she?" Dany asked not listening to his request for now and Aemon sat and watched his niece grow worried and then angry when Jae told her what had happened.
"I'm going to her, Dany, I'll not let him…I'll...but I need your help. Rhaegal can't be riderless, we can't risk a dragon falling to him and I fear he'll try to get to his rider no matter what." Jae said.
"You think he'll cross the Wall?" Aemon asked, not sure if his nephew was in the right of this.
"No, but I do fear the Wall may not hold, uncle. If the Night King makes it to this side then I believe Rhaegal will forgo all sense and fly to Shiera and unless I have her with me, I can't allow it." Jae said and Dany looked at him with concern.
"You don't believe you'll save her, do you?" Dany asked accusingly.
"What I believe and what will happen are not up to me, Dany. I believe I'll save her, that I'll bring her back, but should I not be able to then I needs must be prepared and if he gets a dragon then we're going to lose even more men than we already have. I lost more than 3,000 at Castle Black in one night, almost 7,000 here and I've not even had time to find out the numbers at Eastwatch." Jae said and Aemon saw how Dany almost closed in on herself, her thoughts on two specific losses and not the numbers of them.
"I'll send him away." Dany said and Jae reached out to take her hand in his.
"I'll find her and if I can I'll bring her back, I swear it." Jae said and Dany nodded.
"Uncle I need you here." Jae said and he nodded "Dany, you need to go back to Eastwatch." he added and reluctantly his niece nodded too "The night is darkest before the dawn, Dany, but the dawn is coming." Jae said as he rose to his feet and walked from the tent.
Aemon offered his niece whatever comfort she'd find in his words and told her how sorry he was about Sandor and Belwas. By the time they left the tent and made their way to the dragons, Jae was standing there with Arthur and Ser Garlan and his nephew told him to speak to the Tyrell knight and make plans for where he would stay. He then watched as first Jae and then Dany spoke to Rhaegal before Rhaenix and Sandorix seemed to do the same and then Dany said her goodbyes to him and to his nephew before climbing up on Ellagon's back. Jae wasn't too far behind her and with a nod to him and Ser Garlan, his nephew and Ser Arthur climbed up onto Rhaenix, and then in the blink of an eye four dragons became one. Aemon looking on as Jae flew towards the Wall while Dany headed East and Rhaegal south.
"May the gods be on our side." he said softly as he turned to walk with Ser Garlan back to the camp.
Beyond the Wall 301 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He fought through the tiredness and though Rhaenix worried about him, his sister knew that he'd rested all he could. The men needed to see him and so they'd seen him, he and Lightbringer doing their best to raise the morale after all that had happened. Mathis Rowan had come back almost completely to himself, Jae finding the magic of the sword to work as if it was a bucket of cold water poured over a drunken man. The Lord of Goldengrove had been shamed by his actions and had begged his forgiveness, for true this time and not for his perceived failings.
"I should lose my head, your grace, I would welcome it." Mathis said and Jae shook his own.
"If anyone is at fault, my lord it's me. I should have realized the power in that place, I did not. So I'll ask you to keep your head and to be who I need you to be, what happened here is a darkness that is not down to you and I know my words won't assuage your guilt. I need you, my lord. Ser Garlan needs you and your men, honor those who've passed by being there for those who breathe still." he said and Mathis nodded.
Both Arthur and Garlan had questioned him if he was wise to place his faith in Mathis after what had happened and Jae had reassured them that he was. He'd then spent time with each of the men who'd stayed in the Nightfort and together he and Lightbringer had, he believed, seen them back into the light. They would be sorely needed as would Aemon and so he was happy to see his uncle arrive, though not so much at what he would need to tell him about their aunt. When his other aunt arrived he had felt this even more keenly and it had been hard to tell her what had occurred. Dany had already suffered losses that were almost too much for her to bear, so he hoped his words were enough and that he could see them through.
When they took to the sky and flew over the Wall it was with no true sense where they were going. North was all he had in mind, she was North, the Night King was North and so North is where he would go. Flying over Whitetree he felt the need to land and so land they did. Rhaenix was not keen on being on the ground and it was a feeling shared by Arthur too. Yet for Jae, he felt there was something here and as they walked through the village he saw what it was that had made him land, the large Weirwood was almost calling to him and he moved to it eagerly. Its mouth was larger than any he'd seen before, the shape cut into it was jagged and large enough to fit an animal and as he looked into that mouth he could see burned bones inside.
"Jae, we should…" Arthur said and Jae shook his head, his hand moving to his knife as he cut the old scar and let the blood drip into the mouth and over the bones. Almost as soon as he did so, he was no longer there and it was the Isle of Faces that he found himself on.
"I worried you would not come." Malora said and Jae looked at her and felt she looked different to him, something his expression must have shown her "I am who I'm meant to be now, my prince, and there is much you must see." she said and Jae moved closer to her as she reached out her hand.
She led him into the glade where he'd first met the god he'd killed, the Weirwoods almost looking like guardians to him and he was surprised to see Leaf and all the children were there. Each of them stood by one of the trees and though he couldn't see them, he swore that behind them stood someone else. Shadows of beings he knew all too well and it seemed the Old Gods had come to speak to him as well. Though none of them did and it was left to Malora to be their voice and to impart their wisdom and their orders.
"You are on a fool's errand, my prince. You cannot save your kin, not how you wish to do so. Further and further you'll be drawn away from where you're meant to be and you'll not find that which you seek" Malora said and Jae responded with anger.
"You ask me to give up more of my family, I will not. We've given you enough blood for countless lifetimes. You've taken more from us than from any and yet still you seek more." he almost shouted.
"It is not us who seek it, my prince. We don't control all, much though you may believe we do. Shiera is lost to you, you'll not find her and not save her if you continue on your path." Malora said.
"So I should just what? Forget about her? Accept her as a causality of war? I will not, I can not." he said his voice softer now, though the anger was there still.
"We ask no more of you than you can give, my prince. We cannot force you to do our will, only tell you that which must be done." Malora said and Jae sighed, a choice that was not a choice was soon to be given to him once more.
"What is it you wish of me?" he asked and he felt Malora come close to him, her hand touching his head and bringing him to the ground.
The images were fast and fleeting, Jae's worries increasing as he looked at each of them. By the time it was over he was already on his feet and not even Malora's words were heard to him as he sought his way from the Isle of Faces and back to Whitetree. Yet once more it was not where he was that he found himself as he strolled down the beach of Dragonstone and saw Daenys walking towards him with purpose in her steps.
"Why have you not done what you must?" she asked angrily and Jae looked at her with confusion.
"Done what I must?" he asked.
"Have you not read my Journal, have you not understood? Is all I did for nothing?" she said and Jae felt her despair.
"I was lost, I…had so much to do." he said and she reached out to touch him, her fingers brushing against his cheek and he almost leaned into the touch so comforted was he by it.
"Then do what you must, Jaehaerys, for the time is at hand." she said and he was surprised when she kissed his cheek and at the smile on her face when she moved from him "I placed my faith in you, don't let it be for nothing." she said and Jae nodded.
The snow felt cool on his face and the sounds of Rhaenix's voice and Arthur's were both loud as he was shaken and shouted at. Though these were shouts of worry and concern, as he opened his eyes and spoke they soon faded away.
"Where were you? You left me?" Rhaenys asked, worried more than sad he was glad to see.
"Not by choice, big sister. There is much I must do." he said and she for now left it at that.
Arthur handed him a cloth and he wiped the blood from his nose, the knight looking at him both concernedly and with relief as Jae sat up and then rose to his feet with no issue.
"The gods wished to speak to me, Arthur, this was their magic and not mine own." he said as he wiped the blood and let it soak into the cloth.
"You were here, then you were gone, Jae. Thankfully for only a few moments." Arthur said and Jae nodded.
"We need to be on the other side of the Wall, Arthur, come, it's time we were away from here." he said and Arthur seemed just as happy by this as Rhaenix was.
"Shiera?" Arthur asked and Jae looked at him and smiled.
"Not Today." he said softly.
The Battle of the Wall 301 AC.
The Nightfort.
Garlan.
Despite not wishing anything to do with this terrible place, the simple truth was that they were still here to hold the Wall and so he stood with others on top of it and looked out on the wide expanse below. No one slept in the Nightfort itself and though they ate there, it was only the men on guard who did so. Jae had spoken to him about the magic of the place and Garlan while not understanding any of it, had accepted what his goodbrother had said. There was no one who knew more about magic than Jae to his mind, something that Aemon after Jae had left and Shiera before she'd been taken, had both told him.
He reached down to touch the ruby that he wore around his neck, the ruby she'd given him and had by all accounts saved his life. Were it for that alone he'd have wished to go Beyond the Wall to bring her back, yet he knew he could not. A warrior he may be, but in that battle he was out of his depth and so he left it to the one man who was equipped to fight it to see her home safely. Garlan hoped he'd be successful, he prayed he would be and cursed Randyll Tarly despite Jae saying that in the end it wasn't the man's fault.
"Ser." a voice called out and Garlan tried to clear his mind as he moved to where the man was standing "Out there, Ser." the man said pointing out to the blackness.
Garlan looked out and could see nothing and yet as he did so he felt a chill run down his spine. Perhaps that was the reason he ordered the arrows to be set ablaze and fired and what he then saw as they flew through the air would live with him for the rest of his life. Moving towards the Wall was a mass of dead men, or what he assumed was dead men since he couldn't truly see them as more than just shapes. Hearing one of the men scream loudly as he was pulled from the Wall forced him and the others to look down to see dead men climbing up it. How they'd managed to do it so quietly was beyond him, but it mattered not.
"Stones, drop the stones." he shouted as he moved down the line and he was relieved to see no one was waiting for a second order.
Looking down he watched as dead men fell into the dark void below, the night welcoming them as they lost their grip on the Wall and fell gods only knew how far and into what. The thought came to him almost as if it was put there by someone else and so he ordered the pitch to be lit and dropped, Garlan looking on as the dead who'd massed at the base of the Wall burned and he took some satisfaction in that. A fall no matter from whatever height couldn't kill something that was already dead and he and all those brought to the Wall knew the only things that did. Fire, Dragonglass, and Dragonsteel, for now it was just the first of them and as they dropped more rocks and balls of burning pitch he hoped it would be enough.
Where the bird came from he knew not, and at first he had almost taken it from the sky with his sword. If someone was to ask him later why he had not, then he'd not be able to tell them, nor why it landed on his shoulder and began to chirp loudly. It was only when he saw the whiteness of its eyes that he knew it was Jae who had sent it to him and as around him they began to run out of stone and pitch, Garlan found himself taking his own orders from a bird.
Eastwatch.
Aurane.
She was in no condition to fly and yet fly she had and each moment she was gone felt like an eternity to him. That he was not the only one who felt so was no true comfort. Bonifer and Grey Worm both doing as he was and while all three of them kept to their tasks, their eyes were continually drawn to the sky as they waited for a sight of Ellagon and Dany. When the horn blew it caught him so by surprise that he stood almost paralyzed until Grey Worm came to move him along.
Of all the times for an attack to take place it would be when they had no dragon to call upon. Though for him it wasn't Ellagon's fire that he wished for right then, instead, it was to see his wife and see she was well after all she'd lost and learned. Had he his way then he'd not have told her about Sandor and Belwas for a few more days. He'd have waited until she was fully recovered before hurting her with the news that the man she saw as an almost father figure had fallen. His wife was stubborn and determined though and so he'd done as she bid and told her the truth. It had as he expected hurt her greatly though it had filled her with a determination that she'd always shown. Aurane just hoped that determination hadn't led her to do something foolish and as he, Grey Worm, and Bonifer moved into position, he hoped that she'd return soon.
"You must take the ships to sea, my lord." Bonifer said and Aurane shook his head.
"Dany...I need to wait for Dany." he said, his worry and desperation clear.
"The princess will return and just like your own, her worry will be about her love. There are people on the ship that need to be elsewhere, the other ships need to be elsewhere. Go my lord and go now." Bonifer said as he turned to head to where the fighting was taking place.
"Ser Bonifer, you can't. Grey Worm…" he said as the unsullied moved with a group of men.
"The fight is upon us, my lord. Should the Seven will it then I shall see you and my princess again, if it's my time to fall then I'll see my love once more. Go, my lord, be safe and worry not about an old knight." Bonifer said as he moved further away from him.
"Grey Worm?" he asked and the Unsullied shook his head.
"I fight for Princess Daenerys Stormborn." Grey Worm said and with that Aurane was left alone but for a few of his own men.
He looked around at the men on the deck of the Dragon's Breath and all of them looked worriedly at him and at the fires in the distance. Though he couldn't hear the battle that was taking place, it was clear that one was happening and as he stood there unmoving he heard the bird begin to call out loudly. The eagle had been resting on the mast for days. Aurane almost welcoming seeing it when he would stroll the deck when he woke or just before he'd go to sleep, in all that time it had been silent, now it was anything but.
"Listen to the damn birds, all of you." Jae said.
He remembered how insistent his goodnephew had been about that, how he'd told them all that when they had sailed to here. Aurane had thought he meant the bird in the cage that was in Dany and his room and not this eagle, now he wondered if Jae had left more than one near them both.
"Make ready, we sail to open water, give the orders to the other ships." he said and as he moved to his position, he saw the arrow being fired into the air, the flame was clear, and in less than an hour, The Dragons Breath and the rest of the ships were at sea.
In the distance, he saw the flames being laid down and he knew that either Jae or Dany herself had returned and so he sent for his Myrish Eye and was relieved and worried at the same time to see it was his wife. Ellagon was laying down her fire and on top of her, Dany looked even more majestic than he had always found her to be. Aurane offered up a small thanks to the gods and then a prayer to see her back to him sooner rather than later.
Eastwatch.
Loras.
The chill came from out of nowhere, the cold almost seeping right into his bones and he knew, somehow he knew what it meant. As he raced through the camp he called men to his side and by the time he reached the water's edge he'd gathered more than a hundred. He saw Garin standing there with the Water Wizards and looked past his love for once as the ice began to form on the water. It was different than before and he saw Garin smile a little, though that smile soon wiped from his love's face when the dead finally came into view.
"There are more of them." Garin said his shock clear, not at the fact that the dead had returned, as they all knew they would, but at the sheer number of them which now made the last attack look like a simple skirmish.
"To Arms, To Arms." he called out and the horn soon rang out, once, twice, and then the third time, this one long and loud and leaving people in no doubt the fight was upon them once more.
Loras watched as Nesila and the other Water Wizards chanted and the water began to almost bubble as their magic began to take a hold of it. He looked to see that the last of the ships had started to sail away and he was happy to see them go. Unlike the last time he'd seen the Water Wizards do their thing this time it seemed truer, fuller and he and others looked on in awe as a huge wave began to form up. It must have been more than fifty feet high and he'd not dare to guess how long and as one the Water Wizards moved and turned and the wave then began to move also.
It swept over the edge of the ice and over anything in its path before it turned back towards the sea. Though he couldn't see it all clearly in the dark, he could see bodies beneath the wave and there were far more than he could even begin to count. As the wave fell back into the sea from whence it came, Loras looked to see Nesila and the other Water Wizards almost fall to the ground. Garin calling for men and horses to take them to rest.
"Ride to the other camp, stay with them and make ready should you need to ride further. The boats are or should be where we left them, make sure they're ready to leave if needed." Garin said and then he turned to him "Their fight is done for the day, the rest is up to us." Garin said and Loras nodded before looking back to the ice and sighing.
It mattered not how many the wave had taken with it or that those it had were now no longer in the fight. The Army of the Dead it seemed had more than enough bodies to replace them with and where it had been empty just a moment ago, the ice was now full once more. Raising his hand in the air, Loras gave the order for the arrows to fly, and fly they did. Their burning tips soon hitting home and yet not making a dent in their numbers. He watched as more ice began to form and the gap between them and the army they were to face began to narrow and then he and others cheered as the dragon roared when it flew over their heads.
"The king?" he asked hopefully as he struggled to make out which dragon was in the sky.
"The princess." Garin said as he pointed Ellagon out to him.
"A dragon all the same." he said with a smile that he hoped covered up his disappointment that it was Dany and not Jae who was here.
For how long Ellagon let loose her flames he couldn't tell, neither the dragon nor the princess seemed to be tiring, and as he and the men stood and watched he couldn't help but be impressed. Eventually, though even dragons grow tired and the spears and arrows that had been fired at Ellagon and Dany started to come just that little bit closer to them both. Loras found himself almost shouting at them both to fly away, to get away from the danger they were putting them in, though his words would not have been heard given the distance. What was heard was the bird chirping and Loras looked as it flew to him and landed in his outstretched hand. Its white eyes telling him all he needed to know and despite the situation they were in, he smiled brightly at it.
Castle Black.
Mance.
The rider had come to tell him that she'd left on one of the ships and he breathed a huge sigh of relief over that. Knowing that Dalla and his son were save was perhaps a selfish thing given how much danger he and the rest of the Free Folk were in, but as he told Tormund about his girls and youngest sons and others about those they cared about, he knew he'd not be the only one who was selfish today. It made the meal that night, or day, or whatever it was they now lived under a little more palatable. Not that the food wasn't good and plentiful for those who manned the Wall, but he and so many others had found no real appetite since they'd gotten here.
They'd been treated well enough and barring one or two crows who still took issue with him and his people, no one, not even the Lord Commander himself had spoken ill of him or those with him. Perhaps it was as Jae had said and we do indeed find our true friends on the battlefield. Considering the truth of the battle they all faced here, after this it would then be proved or disproved truest of all.
The Northern Lords had taken well to his people, the Greatjon was half a giant and had struck up an odd friendship with Tormund. While he and Ned Stark had shared more than one ale together, Mance taking great amusement in naming the Lord of Winterfell as kin since Benjen was now wed to his goodsister. Their greatest champions though, other than Benjen Stark were the Dornishmen and Prince Oberyn in particular. The man had bled with them and fought by their side and had told him that he admired his people, something very few would admit to. Mance had enjoyed standing the Wall with Prince Oberyn as he always seemed to bring humor to any situation and never seemed downbeat or worried. Though he knew that just like him, the prince worried at times too, now being one of them.
"There is no word from the king?" he asked and Oberyn shook his head.
"I'd hoped he'd have returned by now." Oberyn said.
"The other dragon, the one who left, you think he went because the king called?" he asked and Oberyn nodded as Mance saw Benjen move their way "Because he was in danger?" he asked worriedly and Oberyn smirked before he placed a hand on his shoulder.
"My nephew is always in danger, Mance. I had thought that I lived a life full of adventure once. In my youth I traveled east and fought for coin, I sought that adventure and placed myself in danger just to feel the beating of my heart. Jae never seeks it out and yet no man has found it more so than he. So aye, I believe he's in danger and I worry for him. I just don't doubt his return." Oberyn said and Mance took comfort in that.
The comfort was not to last long as no sooner had Benjen reached them than the horn rang out and Mance, Oberyn, and the others looked out to see the army that was lit up by the wave of flaming arrows that flew in the sky from where Jaime Lannister stood. He moved to Tormund and the others and almost slipped in the ice as he looked not at the lands Beyond the Wall and the Army of the Dead, but to the sky. There was no sign of the king or his dragon and without it he feared that they would not be enough to hold even for a short night, never mind a long one.
Castle Black.
Jaime.
It was the bird that warned him, its chirps and how it flew in front of him and then out over the side of the Wall and back. The message was one that he received loud and clear and it brought him great relief to know that Jae was there with him, even if it was not how he wished him to be. He ordered the arrows to be lit and fired his own first, watching it carefully as it illuminated the dead men that moved their way. With a raise of his hand, the rest of them were loosed and the horn was blown. The dead men beneath them soon covered in flames and along the top of the Wall others were then firing their own arrows soon enough.
Jaime looked to see Ned Stark, Benjen, Oberyn, Mance, and Tormund. Further down he could see Stannis and Jeor Mormont and all of them were shouting their orders at the men. Arrows flew, rocks fell, pitch was dropped. The dead had begun to climb the second wall and soon it would be Dragonglass and Dragonsteel they'd face and Jaime closed his eyes and offered a prayer that it would be Dragonfire as well. It seemed to take an age for the first of the dead to reach the top of the Wall, the men who guarded it were ready for them and far more prepared this time.
The few days respite they'd had since the last attack had allowed them not only to rest but to change their tactics too. Men now formed up in lines three deep and after facing dead men for a few moments they would rotate far more quickly. Some of the larger men carried long poles that they would use to push the dead from the Wall to the ground far below and those who'd fought them already had learned the lesson in how to fight them for true. For moons they'd been practicing to fight a certain way, training to face the enemy they now faced, but training and practicing only prepare you for so much. Nothing beats seeing and now that they'd seen them and faced them, the lessons had hit home. One-shot, one kill, move your spear, hit home, and then pull it back as quickly as you could, and as Jaime watched it being done by one and all, he was impressed greatly.
"Fire, fire." he shouted when some men went to take a rest as all of them needed to be in step for this to work, and the archers who'd dallied now moved and did as he bid.
A few moments later he hoped that he'd given enough orders for them to be followed without him needing to shout them out. The dead were here and it was time for him to face them himself and so words for now would not be spoken and instead, Blackfyre was to be swung. One, two, three, four, five, six, the count went on and on and the dead kept coming. When the light came he and others turned from it so bright was it and then he looked down to see the second Wall was empty and the dead had moved back to the trees only for them then to move forward once more.
Jaime looked to the sky and was not alone in doing so, wondering where Jae was and yet not seeing sight of him nor Rhaenix. What he did see was birds and more than one of them. Him, Oberyn, Ned Stark, Benjen all of them looking to birds that seemed to hang in the air no more than inches from their faces, and as one the birds began to chirp and fly back over the Wall and down to the courtyard below before turning back and repeating the process. Jaime looked to the others and he could see that they took the same meaning as he and closing his eyes for the briefest of moments he steeled himself for the order he was about to give.
"Retreat, Retreat." he shouted and was not the only one to do so, as Oberyn and Ned and Benjen Stark said the same thing, as a moment later so did Mance, Tormund, Stannis, and Jeor Mormont.
Castle Black 301 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
More than anything he had wished to go to Castle Black and to be with his family again, but after what he'd seen through the Weirwood he had found the need to know what it all meant was just too strong. He needed to be alone and away from distractions and at Castle Black not only would there be questions, but reunions too. So they landed a little distance from it and while Rhaenix ate and he and Arthur did likewise, he held the bloody cloth that he'd wiped his nose with in one hand and took Daenys's Journal from his pack and sat down and began to read.
He was stunned by some of the things that were said and by what Daenys suggested he was to do, so much so that while Arthur ate, he did not. Instead, he just sat there with the food in his hand and looked off into the distance. His mind tried to grasp just what kind of a mind Daenys had and how she'd known all she'd known and why he'd not read this all before now. A small thought coming to him that had he tried to he'd not have been able to, that timing was key and had always been so. His life was all about timing after all was it not? All paths leading to him and only being possible because of timing.
Plots and plans of gods and monsters leading him to this point in time and a plot of one of his ancestors playing out almost parallel to it. Valyria was to be reborn always according to what Daenys Journal said, that had always been something that he would see come to pass, but his family, his family was to be lost in time and never to return. They were not part of what the gods had wished for him, they were simply the cost required to make him who he was. It was a cost that he'd never have wanted to pay and one that Daenys was never willing to and he smiled at that despite his confusion over what the journal said.
"Jae?" Arthur asked worriedly and Jae turned to look at the knight and nodded, eating the food for Arthur's sake rather than his own.
Once he was done he walked back to place the journal back in his pack and leaned close to speak to Rhaenix.
"You saw?" he asked.
"How could she know, Jae?" Rhaenix asked.
"She was far smarter than me, Rhae. She looked beyond the lines and saw what they didn't wish her to, I simply accepted things as being how they are." he said a little annoyed with himself.
"I'm ready, Jae." Rhaenix said and he stroked her snout as he took out the dagger and made a small cut inside her mouth.
He waited until she was ready and then once she was he removed Dark Sister and laid it on the ground. Arthur looking to him and to Rhaenix in confusion as his sister coughed and spat the blood out so it covered the sword. As it soaked into the blade, he cut his hand and let his own blood drip over it too, watching as the light dimmed before it began to shine brightly and then dimmed once more. Then once he was sure it was time, he closed his eyes and picked up the sword, warging then into the birds he had left with those he cared about.
Loras stood and watched as the bird chirped, Aurane made ready to sail and Dany almost looked stunned to see it land on Ellagon's neck. Aemon, Garlan, Tyrion, Robb, Cregan, Ned, Benjen, Oberyn, and Jaime, he warged into the birds and sent them to them all to each of them and was relieved to see his message was received. His birds chirped on Bear Island, Winterfell, Casterly Rock, White Harbor, and Riverrun. Jae looking as Arya, Elle, Gerion, Genna, Martyn, and Bran all took his messages to heart. Then he was in King's Landing and he looked through Ghost's eyes as Margaery held Elia and sat with Joy and Sansa, with Dacey, Joanna, and Jon, Ellaria, Sarella and Tyene. The white wolf rising to his feet and moving to his wife and daughter to lick each of their hands and let them know that he was safe and well as would be the rest of their family.
"It's time." he said when he opened his eyes and he moved his hands to the cloth that covered the crown on his head.
"Your grace?" Arthur asked.
"Close your eyes, Arthur, I don't know how bright this is going to be." he said as he knelt and began to speak, the sword and the crown both shining brightly, and yet it was not here he was bringing the light to.
When he felt it dim he told Arthur to open his eyes and once he did they moved to climb onto Rhaenix's back. They flew and flew fast and he closed his eyes once more, looking on as at Eastwatch, the Nightfort, and Castle Black his armies retreated. He looked to the Bay of Ice to see the ships had long since left and to Winterfell to see that preparation had begun to do likewise and as he saw Castle Black come into view it was over the Wall he flew and one word that he spoke.
"Dracarys." he said as they burned away any dead thing he saw, as they cleared the second wall and after a few passes left to fly to the other side.
The castle itself was deserted, the men had moved out and the top of the Wall was now unmanned and so he brought Rhaenix in to land where his army and his uncles now awaited. He smiled at Tyrion and Jaime as he climbed down off Rhaenix's back and was happy to see all those he cared about had done as he'd bid. Oberyn, Benjen, Ned, and Mance moving towards him with Val and Tormund not far behind.
"Retreat, your grace?" Jaiime asked as he looked to the Wall in the distance and Jae nodded as he walked to him.
"The Battle for the Wall is over, Jaime. The War for the Dawn is about to begin." he said.
Less than an hour later he sat on Rhaenix's back, Tyrion was on Lygaron who stood beside him and Rhaenix. Just outside the Nightfort Aemon sat alone as did Dany at Eastwatch while behind them the armies moved south. Four dragons ready to bring the fire and soon enough he'd bring the light too. The war would not be won today, but what they'd do would ensure it couldn't be lost.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. Up Next more of Daenys's plans are revealed as Jae and the dragons bring the fight to the Night King. We also see how his messages were received as the North evacuates and the armies march south.
Daryl Dixon: Ruh Roh indeed lol.
Celexys: I'm glad you feel that way, it was what I wanted to give that bit of breathing room and while the battles are interesting, they can become repetitive if you're reading the same events almost happening over and over, so it's nice to take a breath.
Vfsnake: I wanted so much to show just how important Marge is in this and Walder I just wished to give a fitting death to lol.
The Sphynx: Time waits for no man, even the Late Walder Frey lol.
Jstinson: So glad you liked it, I think we sometimes forget that others play their own part in war and morale is just as important off the battlefield than on it, Jae needs Marge and this is just another example of why.
Anarchichmind: He really does deserve a bad death doesn't he, I think Arya was actually too nice to him in the end lol. I wanted to take a breath from the events at the Wall and show that life was happening and that events were affecting them too, so glad you liked it.
Spyroit: I thank you so much for your kind words.
Ruptide: Hope you got my message, it should finish next month all things being equal, a rush of chapters to show the war.
Sibeal: One of the best things is there is just so much scope within the lore, like other than the Lightbringer stuff which is an unknown at this point, the rest is almost all there, I mean the magic available in ASOIAF is truly outstanding and yet we got so very little of it in the show because two idiots couldn't be arsed to research it. So very glad you liked Marge's speech, she's so important to Jae in particular and I really wanted to give her a moment to show just another reason why.
Guest; Things are a bit better, thanks for asking. Really glad you enjoyed the speech, I think we forget when there is a way that others play their part like the realm still needs to function otherwise what are you trying to save and without Marge, Jae can't do all he does. The look around the realm also serves as a breather as while the war chapters may interest some, they can be resistive and overbearing too, so we kind of need a moment to reflect I think.
Lady Octarina: It's taken so long to get to this point and so the faith is kind of earned, but even from early on with the wind wheels or with the tourney winnings being used how they were, this is pretty much to set it up so that when you get here it makes sense why they would have such faith. I think I'd be the same as Anya too, please let him just be a little mad lol.
So glad you like Walder's fate, I felt Joyeuse deserved to be the one who ended him.
Hkt29: My plans with Lancel changed so much over time, at one point I was going to have him be much closer to Jae and Lora, but I felt it worked better with Martyn, but I also didn't want to go show Lancel either. I kind of like the idea that over time he found his place and given that Kevan has something to pass on, I think he'd be more involved in his life, make sure he never took a stupid path. I think with Walder it's a bit like LF, you worry the longer he stays alive the more he can mess things up and for Joyeuse the danger is that he's weak now and may not be later, so better be done with him. Joy I think has to be the heir, it's such a weird legal system they have, but for her, it'll be more getting a sibling than anything.
Vwchick: Thanks so much, that really means a lot, truly. I really wanted Marge to have her big moment, in terms of the things she can bring to the dance so to speak.
Xand007: Thank you, my friend. It is hard, I'm comforted by the fact that it was simply a natural thing, hard though it is to take, had it been an accident, or this damn virus or something like that I think it would be much harder to accept, and so while I'm still getting over it, I think it's easier to get over because of that. I do agree, just got my second jab and I've no doubt it won't be the last, we're going to be getting these for some time to come. I do honestly think the writers had a thing against Kit and disliked him, seriously there is no way on earth you can after that build-up, not only not have him face the NK one on one, but not be the one that ends him, all to subvert expectations, it's just mind-blowing. There is a school of thought amongst some of the writers/directors nowadays that they are far more clever than they think they are. They seem to forget there is a reason the Hero's Journey has weathered the storm of time and is one of the most prevalent narratives out there. To try and mess with that is dumb and far cleverer people than them have realized this.
Anyway, Stay safe, well, and keep smiling my friend.