AN: I knew many of you will disagree about Sansa in that chapter. Some of you pointed facts. Yeah, in one sense, in the first season, it's established she loves South and hates North. That is true. But what she experienced from the South made her want to go back to North. Perhaps its the sense of security she felt there. Jon telling her that she loves North is, y'know, Jon being Jon. lol. He speaks from what he believes in his heart and that line is needed. It made Sansa's trust and loyalty in his brother a little bit stronger.
I kind of want to develop her character in this story (something I believed the show lacked). She's not my favorite character, but I still believe she's one of the few characters who has more to improve. Her experiences made her want to protect and keep this family together because it will give her that sense of security. This will be a bit of challenge for me to write, but we'll see what I can make out of this.
And yes, she's on Jon's side. She's on her family's side. That's where her interactions with Dany will come to develop more. Their meeting/interactions is something I am looking forward to.
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"That frown." Sansa blinks for a moment to look at her younger sister, confusion evident in her eyes.
"What?"
"That frown of yours. It's as if I am looking at Mother." The memory of their mother brought a simple smile to Sansa's face. "A frown that she worries too much."
"I have several things to worry about." Her mind takes her back to her conversation with Jon. Then, she remembers who she is speaking to. "Arya, you and Jon have always been close. Perhaps he will listen to you. He's been making hasty decisions that could put his life at risk!"
"Risks are always part of the war, Sansa. You should know better."
"I know that! But can you believe what he wants to do? He will tell the North about his dragons." Sansa saw the dragons a few times that she knows they may be dangerous, but not dangerous enough. It won't take a hundred men to kill those dragons. Should the North decide to take the most drastic measures she can think of, it's not only the dragons that will die, so might Jon.
"He has his reasons why he must do this. Would you want him to announce his lineage and his daughters when they're big enough that can be used as weapons?" Arya takes the seat in front of Sansa. "It sounds like what a conqueror would do. People will fear him. They won't be loyal to a conqueror, Sansa. Jon is no conqueror."
Sansa can only sigh in exasperation. She dreads the night that will come when Jon tells the North of his lineage.
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Immediately, after speaking to Sansa of his decisions, Jon summons the Lords and Ladies of Northern houses. This includes Tormund and Ser Davos. Brienne of Tarth is also present, and so is Petyr Baelish.
The Stark children are sitting in their rightful places. Jon stands and walks into the center. He will be leaving tomorrow and now will be the best time to tell them what he decided on.
The presence of the King in the North silenced the murmurs and conversations from the people in the hall. All eyes are on him, keen to listen to what he's about to say.
"A few days ago, I received a letter from Cersei Lannister..." Growls are heard from the crowd, jests against the Mad Queen. "I do not intend to bend the knee to her." Jon earns approvals from the Northern Lords, and he continues. "A few days after that, I received a word from Citadel. Sam is my brother at the Night's Watch, and I trust him as much as I trust my family. He said that Dragonstone sits on a mountain of Dragon Glass. The resources we need to mine and use against the Night King."
Everyone is shocked by his revelation, but they seem to agree with Jon.
"After that, I received another letter." He surveys the people, meeting some of their gazes before he exhales the words from his mouth. "From Dragonstone. From Tyrion Lannister." As expected, the people growl in disapproval. Northerners hated the Lannisters, but Jon begs to differ. Tyrion is a different man. At least that's the impression he left on him.
"He invites me to Dragonstone for an audience to the Dragon Queen, Daenerys Targaryen. She commands a large army." He stops for a moment to drink the reactions of his people. Then, he continues. "And three Dragons."
Everyone's reaction is violent upon the mention of yet another enemy of the North as well as the creatures that reigned free in the Seven Kingdoms centuries ago.
Ever since he hatched the dragons, his senses have been enhanced far more than he ever imagined. He can hear the murmurs of curses coming from their mouths directed to the Targaryens.
Targaryens... It brings uncomfortable feelings to Jon how the Northerners treat Targaryens as enemies whereas he stands before them. He has no respect for the Mad King. It is why he will forever remind himself to keep his mind humane. He may be a Targaryen, but the honor of the Starks will prevent him from being like him.
"I intend to accept the invitation to Dragonstone. Tomorrow, Ser Davos and I will be riding south." Murmurs of disagreement fill the hall. Sansa, Arya, and Bran keep their silence as they are already aware of this, as do Ser Davos and Tormund.
Arya's eyes constantly travel to Littlefinger, trying to see what clever schemes he is plotting. True, he's scheming again, thinking that the board has many pieces he can use. She hates it, but for now, she will not do anything. Not yet.
"With all due respect, Your Grace. Targaryens cannot be trusted, and so as the Lannisters. I suggest against the idea of you riding south." One lord speaks, and the other one follows.
"Your Grace, we hailed your brother - Robb the young wolf - as King in the North, until he rode South and lost his kingdom." Jon is reminded again of the bitter memories.
"The North needs their King in the North." Lady Lyanna of the Bear Island shouts with conviction. Jon is aware that Lyanna was the first one to call Jon a King, and he will never forget that. She pledged her loyalty to him, but this is not the time for him to cower.
"The North will be left in good hands. Sansa, with the help of Arya, and Bran will rule the North in my absence." Jon stated.
"Your Grace... Leaving is dangerous for you. She is the Mad King's daughter. She will burn you alive like the madwoman that she is. Do not go to Dragonstone." Another lord speaks, and everyone agrees. Jon looks at Ser Davos who nodded at him, encouraging him to speak his mind. He glances at his siblings who all nod at him.
Exhaling a cold breath, he gathers his courage. Now is the time for all of them to know who he is.
"It is risky, I know. But you need to know that what we desperately need lies in Dragonstone. None of you saw what the Night King is like, what the dead army is like. I did."
It still haunts Jon whenever he closes his eyes, he can still remember the cold eyes of the enemies that are marching to wipe them all out.
"We need to mine Dragonglass and turn it into weapons. Above all else, we need allies that will fight with us when the war begins. Daenerys has a large army and three dragons. We need her help."
One after another, the Northerners voiced their concerns. They suggested Jon should not go himself, but to send an emissary. They asked him to remain here and not risk his life for the Dragon Queen might burn him alive.
"It is dangerous, but I am not afraid that she will burn me alive."
"We witnessed your bravery in the battle against the Boltons. We saw what a great warrior you are, but bravery will be nothing in front of a fire, Your Grace." Lady Lyanna said.
"I was born a bastard of Winterfell. Bastard of Ned Stark. We all believed in that even up to this day. I wore my surname-like armor. I never imagined I would be able to say this, but I am proud to be his bastard... but I am not. My father is not Ned Stark and my mother is not some Southern slut." Everyone is silent, confused at what Jon is telling them and why he's telling them about his birth.
"It is best for all of you to know this from me. More than a month ago, I stumbled upon documents, letters, and the truth late Lord Ned Stark kept for years. We thought Lyanna Stark was kidnapped and raped by Rhaegar, but the letters and documents I found said otherwise. They eloped, they loved each other and the fruit of their love is right here standing in front of all of you."
"Impossible... How can this be? This is a serious matter, Your Grace." One lord speaks, disbelief in his eyes as he stares at Jon.
"This is a serious matter and I am speaking of the truth. And the reason why the Dragon Queen cannot burn me is because of this..." Deep in Jon's mind, he called for Ghost.
Ghost, come to me...
And he also calls his daughters.
Daena... Rhaea... Vaera...
Everyone is silent until they heard screeching sounds. They are alarmed to hear such foreign screeches coming from who knows what creatures. The screeching cries grow louder until everyone sees the three winged creatures flying above them.
"Seven Hells!" The curses echo in the hall with people trembling upon the sight and most of the men draw their swords.
Ghost stands next to Jon. The three winged creatures are still flying above them, surveying the area.
"Rhaea, Daena, Vaera!" Jon calls to them and the three immediately fly to their father. Daena and Vaera are on his shoulders while Rhaea is on his arm.
Silence is deafening and the only sound everyone can hear are the screeches from the dragons as well as their heavy breathing.
"Monstrosity!" One lord speaks in fear as if he is staring at the demon spawn.
"I will have you hold your tongue, My Lord! The man who stands before you is the rightful King of the Iron Throne, born to Rhaegar and Lyanna Targaryen. This man is Jaehaerys Targaryen of House Stark and House Targaryen, King in the North, the White Wolf, the son of Ice and Fire, Father of Dragons, the Unburnt, the Resurrected and the Dragonwolf of Winterfell." Ser Davos glares at everyone who will go against Jon. Everyone was silently staring at Jon.
The silence is broken when one Lord speaks, pointing his sword at the three dragons in Jon's body.
"You are housing monsters in this land! Dragons are monsters! They must be killed!" The man speaks loudly but no one follows him when he pointed his sword at Rhaea, the golden dragon.
Ghost growls and steps forwards, scaring the man who dared point his sword at his sister. The man stumbles on his feet, staring at the large direwolf.
Rhaea screeches loudly at the man. Vaera, the blue dragon, flies towards Ghost's back and extended her wings as she roars threateningly at the man.
Everyone falls into a deadly silence once again. The sight is not what they had expected.
"Wolves are also territorial. It would be best for you to remember not to provoke it when it is protecting something of importance." Arya, for the first time when the gathering started, had spoken. The words she spoke are not only for the Lords and Ladies of the North but to Littlefinger as well. A fair warning that he must take seriously.
"My children, my daughters were born by Fire and Blood. I asked for blood from my direwolf, Ghost, mixed with my own and bath these dragons with it. A strange thing to see. Baby dragons at the back of a direwolf." Jon can still remember that day as if it happened yesterday.
Everyone stares at Ghost and the dragons at his back. Disbelief is still written on their faces but that is the least of Jon's worries.
"I was raised as a wolf, and up to this day, I remained as one. One day, I was faced with the truth I have to face and accept. I did, and I became a dragon. I cannot choose one from the other. I am both. You may fear that because I have dragon blood in me, I will turn mad like the Mad King and start burning people alive. I also feared the possibility. This is why should that day happen when my mind is as savage as a beast, when I forget who I am, when I start burning innocent people to the ground, I will ask all of you, to point your swords and kill me."
No one speaks for long. Everyone is moved from what they heard from Jon. The sincerity in his voice touched the cold hearts of the North. Each one of them exchanges glances. Jon never looks down. He holds his head high, showing them the bareness of his intentions.
The silence stretches until Lady Lyanna Mormont decided to stand up and speak.
"You are right." Jon takes his time to look her in the eye. "We all see you as the bastard of Ned Stark, but despite that, I was the first one to call you King in the North. I call you my King because I believed in you."
Nervousness creeps in Jon's heart upon hearing her words. He does not want to see the North falling out starting from the Mormonts. He knows this is possible. It might happen, but this does not mean he wants to see it. He almost resigned to the conclusion of seeing the unity of the North in shambles.
But Lyanna speaks again.
"And I will keep believing in you no matter who your father was. Today, my House and I will be the first to call you as King, not only in the North but in all Seven Kingdoms!" Jon gasped upon hearing the declaration. "Our faith will continue, but if the day comes when we see nothing but a mad man in you, then, House Mormont will be the first to draw their swords and point it against you." Her dedication is outstanding - a worthy quality of a Northern leader.
"Your Grace, House Karstark betrayed House Stark by siding with the Boltons and I will never forget that shame till my last breath. I will also never forget how you never judged us by the sins of our fathers, for that, we thank you. A thousand gratitude will not be enough as a payment for what you did. House Karstark pledged loyalty to House Stark, but please do not forget, that we also pledged our service to you. Now and Always." Lady Karstark looked at Jon, unwavering. She is a young woman, but Jon sees the quality of a Northern ruler in her.
"House Umber also thinks the same, Your Grace. We will live by our word." Ned Umber, a very young boy forced to take the lead for his house stands before Jon with dedication and sincerity. This boy was named after Ned Stark, and Jon sees the boy's honesty. Seeing them standing up for him proves that pardoning them had been one of the best decisions he did.
What they said is a reminder to all Northerners. That Jon is still their King, the one they pledged their loyalty to. Many may have doubts but once they see the sincerity in Jon's eyes, they wavered. Time and time again, they are reminded of what he did for the North and what he's doing now is for them, for their home.
No sooner, the bannermen of all houses agreed and pledged the same. This is the first time that all houses of the North pledged their loyalties to a Targaryen.