A/N:

BEEN A WHILE, HASN'T IT? I apologize, I was having exams.

A little promotion here: I started a new GOT fanfic called Lilac Eyes. It's a Jaimexfem!Jon fanfic! Go check it out and tell me what you guys think of it!

So lots of you liked Sansa stepping up, didn't you? I absolutely adored it as well! Thanks for all the love you've been giving this fanfic! You guys are the just the best! So I've decided to give you guys a long chapter this time (well... longer than I usually write) because that's really the only way I can repay you for all the love!

PS. I'm not a great strategist, so I'm just gonna work with what I have. :)

Jon starred out the window once more, the Freys were getting into battle formation having noticed the army of men the Blackfish had been able to muster. The Blackfish's forces were stationed on a hill, biding their time and waiting for Jon to give them the signal. They were to attack first, descend upon the Freys while the drawbridge of Riverrun was lowered giving Jon and his army enough time to cross. Jon turned to the army inside the castle gates and watched as they prepared themselves. The Freys had the numbers, about nine hundred more men but Jon's army had them surrounded. It was a good bet but a bet nonetheless.

Jon took one more glance at the would-be battlefield before he turned to prepare himself for it. His armor was laid on the bed along with Longclaw. The armor was way fancier than anything Jon had worn in his life. Lord Edmure and the rest had insisted that he dress like a king and eventually Jon conceded.

The armor was grey with accents of gold here and there with the three-headed dragon of House Targaryen engraved and painted red upon the breastplate. In tribute to his mother and her house and the house that raised him, a crown of roses was engraved upon the outlines of the shoulder plates with the direwolf of House Stark inscribed in the middle of each. It was fancy but at least Jon thought it did justice to the houses he belonged to.

He slowly put on his armor, piece by piece. He took his time, having his mind run over all the details of his plan. He tried to find any mistakes he could rectify. When he was finished adorning his armor, he grabbed Longclaw and stalked out the room. He had considered trying Dark Sister out but he was more familiar with the ancestral sword of House Mormont.

The courtyard was full with the soldiers all in formation waiting nervously for Jon to give the signal. Jon's eyes fell on Arya and Lady Catelyn as they talked to Edmure, standing at the far end of the yard. Jon hurried towards them, earning many stares in his new armor as made his way. Arya saw Jon and smiled, "You ready?"

Jon nodded, trying to keep his doubts to himself, "I'll never be more ready than this."

"The armor is not bad." Arya grinned approvingly as she eyed the direwolf on the shoulder plates before she looked back up at him.

"Don't do anything stupid."

"I'll try my best."

"Try better." Jon smiled at Arya and Jon inclined his head in Lady Catelyn's direction before he turned to Edmure. Catelyn looked nervous, perhaps sharing Jon's same doubts. She looked better than she had in weeks, Jon thought. She looked tired and sad but some of the fire had returned to her eyes.

Edmure surveyed his armor before meeting Jon's eyes, "Uncle Brynden seems to be waiting for our signal. His men are in formation."

"Good. It's time."

Edmure nodded as they both made their ways to their horses. Jon mounted his stallion and glanced at Ghost as he stood tall and threateningly at his side he then turned his gaze to the Hound who was a step behind him starring at the gate, expecting it to open anytime now. Arya had somehow convinced the Hound to fight for them.

Jon turned his head to look at the army behind him, they were ready and so were the Blackfish's forces. Jon took a deep breath before he glanced up at the tallest tower where a man was watching Jon expectantly. The man inclined his head in question and Jon nodded in response.

Raise the banner

Jon watched as the man disappeared into the tower and as the red and black Targaryen banner was slowly unfurled atop it. Jon held his breath, waiting for the noise to reach his ears and signify that the fighting had begun. A second passed and another two until he heard the loud noise of clashing steel and war cries. They waited a minute or two for the Freys to be engrossed in their conflict with the Blackfish until they started lowering the drawbridge. Jon unsheathed Longclaw and braced himself for the bloodshed that would follow. The instant the drawbridge landed, they charged.

Jon and his forces surrounded the Frey army that was already busy dealing with the Blackfish and his army. Jon ran his sword through an enemy soldier he could get, rage slowly fueling him as he remembered what had happened to Robb and Talisa. He yelled as he drove his sword through the chest of a Frey. He didn't have time to see what was happening around him. He parried a blow from a Frey and cut through the man's skull and blood splattered onto his face. He fought, blocked, slashed and killed.

Jon took a moment to recollect himself and tried to get a glimpse at how his army was faring when he noticed a man charging at him with a spear. Jon had to roll off his horse to avoid the blow. Jon quickly got up and ran his sword through the man's side as the man tried to turn his horse in Jon's direction. Jon turned around just in time to duck out of a sword's way. The man attacked and Jon parried his blow but found himself on the defensive owing to the man's size, he almost stumbled on a body but a northerner on a horse came sweeping past them taking the man's head with him. Jon braced himself as another man with an ax, raised his arm but Ghost leaped out of nowhere and ripped the man's throat apart. Jon took one look at the bloody mess and stumbled towards his next targets.

Jon made sure that no Frey escaped the boundary his men had created. Jon ran his sword through a man's eye and stared at the man as he collapsed, blood oozing out of the spot where his eye had been. Breathing hard, Jon looked up at the battlefield and to his surprise saw that the numbers of Freys had dwindled. Clearly, Jon's strategy had worked. The battle was as good as won.

Slowly the fighting ceased. Jon was catching his breath when the Blackfish rode up to him. He was relatively unscathed, most probably having stayed out of the fray. He was a legendary warrior but age had caught up with him.

"We've won, your grace."

Jon smiled tiredly, "It would seem so, Ser Brynden." He looked around at the dead, but they had not won without cost. "Gather the Frey survivors and put them in cells."

The Blackfish dismounted his horse and took in Jon's state, "You are injured." Pointing to a gash on his cheek and at the reopened wound in his shoulder.

Jon shrugged, wincing in pain the movement caused to his shoulder. The Blackfish passed his horse's reins to Jon, "You get that looked at, my king. I can handle the situation here."

Jon mounted the horse, ignoring the pain in his shoulder as he rode back to Riverrun. He had gained his victory as King and hopefully, it would be the first of many.

Jon sat back in his chair, keeping his eyes shut as the Maester treated his wound. He began to think of what his next move would be in his conquest when the door flew open revealing Edmure, the Blackfish, and Arya.

"Did the Reeds storm the Twins?"

Edmure grinned, "Yes. Old Walder Frey lies in the cells with his treacherous sons."

Jon closed his eyes again and smiled as well. He considered this justice for his brother and his wife along with their unborn child. He had suspected that most of the Freys had been part of the siege and thus left the Twins vulnerable to attack. Howland Reed had used the paths known only to the crannogmen to cross the Neck to attack Walder Frey.

The Blackfish was the next one to speak, "I bring even better news. Joffrey is dead, poisoned at his own wedding."

Jon's eyes snapped open as whipped around his head to looked at the man. The maester scowled at his movement but Jon paid him no attention. Edmure and the Blackfish were grinning while Arya seemed disappointed that her vengeance was robbed from her but was happy all the same.

"Served him right." Jon muttered darkly, "What else?" He asked the Blackfish.

The Blackfish's smile disappeared in an instant and was replaced with a grave expression, "Sansa and Tyrion Lannister were accused of the murder. Sansa somehow managed to escape Kingslanding but no one has seen her since while the Imp has demanded a trial by combat from what I last had last heard."

Jon's face fell as he thought of Sansa all alone somewhere far away. The world was no place for girls like her to be alone, it wasn't even an ideal one when they weren't. He exchanged an uneasy glance with Arya. Jon cleared his throat, "We'll find her."

He decided to change the topic, dwelling over where Sansa could possibly be was making Jon worry more and more.

"And has Tywin Lannister reacted to my claim?"

Edmure was the one who answered, shaking his head, "He seems to want to keep it under wraps for now, your grace. He's already got too much on his hand."

A ghost of a smirk appeared on Jon's face, "Good, we'll get to tell everyone first before they get a chance to spin lies about me." Jon turned to the Blackfish, "Send ravens to all the high lords of Westeros, Ser Brynden. Tell them that House Targaryen has risen from the ashes."

Lady Olenna sat in the garden blocking out the useless chatter of her grandchildren. All they had to talk about was the trial by combat that would take place the next day that would determine Lord Tyrion's innocence. Even Olenna found it hard to be sure of who would the victor be, Prince Oberyn was not known as the Red Viper for no reason after all. She sat there brooding when she noticed Varys approaching her, making his through the bushes towards her.

Olenna spoke up, "Run along, ladies. I have business to attend to." The girls stopped their giggling and knew better than disobey their grandmother so they scurried away.

Olenna grinned at the eunuch as he came to stop in front of her. He bowed in greeting, "A pleasant morning is it not, my lady?"

"Yes, yes. Who cares?" Olenna dismissed. She was curious about what business Varys had with her, he only approached her when he needed anything of her. The last time being when he wished to keep Sansa Stark away from Petyr Baelish. "Now what do you want, Lord Varys?"

Varys feigned surprise, making Olenna scoff. "I want nothing, my lady. I simply bring news."

Olenna raised an eyebrow in disbelief but played along, "And what news is that?"

Varys leaned forward, "I'm sure you've heard of Jon Snow, Lyanna and Rheagar's son?"

Of course, she had heard. Not only had her spies reported the news to her but Tywin had told her as well and was adamant to push forward Tommen's and Margaery's wedding to tie the Tyrells to the crown. The wedding was to take place two days after the trial.

"What about him?" Olenna questioned impatiently. Speaking plainly the identity of Ned Stark's bastard had shocked her. The fact that the honorable Ned Stark had been hiding the boy right under the nose of his best friend had been almost funny. Olenna had never thought the Starks had a clever bone in them.

"He has broken the siege outside Riverrun and has taken the Twins."

"And Walder Frey?"

"In chains." Varys answered, "Jon Snow is growing more powerful by the day. I believe his next target will be to reclaim the North. Soon he will command the entirety of the North, the Riverlands, and the Vale."

Olenna jerked in surprise, "The Vale?"

"They march to join him at Riverrun as we speak."

"Littlefinger declared for the boy?" Olenna asked incredulously.

Varys shook his head, "My little birds report he is unhappy with the development." Varys' lips quirked up into a sly smile, "I hear whispers that it was Sansa Stark who mobilized the Vale through her cousin."

Olenna was taken aback, perhaps there was more to the girl after all. "The Starks seem to be full of surprises lately."

"Who would've thought?" Varys chuckled before he continued, "It'll not be long before Jon Snow reaches out to his aunt across the Narrow Sea."

"She wants the throne for herself." Olenna pointed out.

"He has a bigger claim. Maybe he'll make her his queen."

"Maybe." Olenna muttered thoughtfully, "They are Targaryens after all."

"If he does indeed get Daenerys Targaryen to side with him, then he will have three of the seven kingdoms, an army of unsullied and three dragons backing him."

Olenna studied Varys quietly. It was true if the boy did get his aunt to back him, there would almost be no question of who would win the Iron Throne. Other than that the Tyrells themselves, the Lannisters had no other allies. Dorne would surely not side with them but it was possible they would not side with the Targaryens either, the Stormlands, on the other hand, were still with Stannis.

"A formidable force to be reckoned with." Olenna leaned over to look more closely at Varys, "So why are you telling me this, my lord?"

Varys held her gaze, "You want the best for House Tyrell. You are willing to go to great extents to keep your family safe. You would be a fool to believe they are safe with the Lannisters. Your son is not safe, neither is Ser Loras nor Lady Margaery... Even with Joffrey gone."

Olenna's eyes narrowed at the Spider for a fraction of a second as he looked at her meaningfully. She reprimanded herself for being surprised that he knew about her role in Joffrey's death. The man had a talent for getting information, no matter how much you tried to hide it. It was humorous the only one who managed to outsmart him was honorable and good old Ned Stark.

"And do tell me, Lord Varys. What is it that you want?" Olenna asked sharply.

Varys smiled, "I simply want what's best for the realm."

Jon walked tiredly to his quarters, it had been a long meeting with the Riverland and Northern lords. They had spent hours discussing war strategy, preparing themselves for their campaign north. He was going over his plans in his head when he felt someone watching him and he sighed.

He didn't need to look around to know it was Arya. She had been tailing him everywhere for the last few days and whenever Jon tried to confront her about it she would feign ignorance. But he wasn't going to let her get away with it this time, he had to figure some much these days and he wanted to strike Arya's peculiar behavior off the list.

He turned around lazily to find Arya coming to an abrupt stop, "Why are you following me everywhere?"

Arya looked innocently back at him, "I'm not following you."

Jon raised an eyebrow, "Arya." He reprimanded her sternly.

Arya squirmed under his gaze, "Well the Kingsguard protect the king and I need to be around you to protect you."

Jon eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "I don't have a Kingsguard yet."

"You're going to."

"I might as well just name Ghost to it." Jon shrugged.

Arya rolled her eyes, "You're going to need people in the Kingsguard."

"And those people are going to be you?" Jon asked dubiously. He never minded Arya's aversion to being a lady but joining the Kingsguard was a whole different thing. She would be swearing off marriage, children, and inheritance. Kings were often targets for assassination and often the Kingsguard were the ones who took the blows for them. Jon did not like the idea of Arya dying to protect him.

"Well not just me."

"You're Lady of Winterfell, Arya." Jon pointed out.

"Acting Lady of Winterfell. There's a chance Bran or Rickon or Sansa are alive." Arya countered hopefully.

"Just because they would rule the North does not mean you're not a lady."

"You know that I don't want to one." Arya exclaimed in exasperation, "I don't want to marry some high lord and have his children."

"And if I commanded you to?" Jon asked quietly.

Arya glared at him, "I made you king, is that how you would return the favor?"

Jon chuckled as he ran his hand through his hair, he wasn't sure if he should thank her for that or not, "Your mother would have my head." It was very likely when Jon came to think about it.

"That would be high treason."

"And you think that would stop her?" Jon scoffed.

"I'll talk to her." Arya offered.

Jon crossed his arms, "You don't even know how to fight yet." He exclaimed.

"I'm learning." She said defiantly.

"Learning?" Jon repeated dubiously, "How?"

"The Hound's teaching me," Arya said quietly.

"The Hound?" Jon asked incredulously.

"Yes." Arya answered irritably, "If you annoy him long enough he gives in eventually."

Jon chuckled lightly, Arya could be very persistent when she wanted to be. Like she was right now.

"So if my mother were to allow it?" Arya asked hopefully.

When Jon thought about it more, he realized it wouldn't be all that bad because if he didn't allow Arya into his Kingsguard she would most probably find other ways to avoid the fate of being a lady. Ways that would be much more dangerous than tailing Jon around every day. At least if she was in the Kingsguard he could protect her.

"I'll think about." Jon sighed, rubbing his face tiredly and Arya's face broke into a big grin. Jon shook his head at his sister's techniques before turning around and continued down the way to his room. He came to an abrupt stop when he realized that Arya was still following him.

He turned around again, "I said I'll think about it. Why are you following now?"

Arya smiled sheepishly, "I'd need to know what I'm going to do when I take my vows."

"If." Jon reminded her.

"When."

Jon had been going over a map as he so often did in his spare time and otherwise when the Blackfish came barging into his room. Jon looked up alarmingly, "What is it, Ser?"

"Scouts have sighted the Knights of the Vale approaching the castle, your grace." The Blackfish informed urgently.

Jon's eyes widened, "Are they preparing to attack?"

"Hard to say, your grace."

Jon pinched the bridge of his nose, they had just broken the siege. "Littlefinger rules the Vale now, doesn't he?"

Ser Brynden nodded, "He's never been up to much good."

Jon straightened up and made his way out the room, "Have the men prepared."

Jon and Arya looked on from the ramparts at the assembled army of the Vale. Forty thousand men they were and if they indeed intended to attack, Jon's reign would end before it even started. He watched as two people escorted by a troop of guards approached the drawbridge and he squinted to get a closer look. One was a man dress in black whom Jon believed to be Lord Baelish and the other had fiery long red hair, someone he couldn't make out from where he was.

He heard Arya gasped beside and he turned around to take a look at her. Her eyes were wide in disbelief.

"What is it?"

"That's.. That's Sansa," Arya said slowly.

Jon quickly looked back to the red-haired girl and now that Arya mentioned it, he could see that it was Sansa too. He felt hope well up inside of him when he thought of sister alive and here. He turned to the Captain of the guard, "Lower the drawbridge."

The captain bowed his head and shouted, "Lower the drawbridge."

Jon and Arya hurried down to the courtyard, just in time to see Sansa and Littlefinger ride inside. Jon saw Catelyn enter the courtyard from the direction of the sept, he could see her eyes welling up with happiness from here. Sansa and Littlefinger dismounted their horse and walked in his direction.

Littlefinger approached him first as he fell into a deep bow before him. "King Aegon, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Lord Robin Arryn sends his regards. He insists on aiding his kin." He said gesturing towards Riverrun.

Jon had heard much of the man to know that he should never even think of trusting him but he was king and he had a job to do, "Lord Baelish. To be frank I was not expecting the Vale. It's a surprise but a most welcome one to be sure."

Littlefinger grinned at him, "Lady Sansa was the one who convinced Lord Arryn to send help."

Jon turned to Sansa who was looking at Jon and Riverrun curiously, occasionally stealing emotional glances at her mother and Arya. Even after years of captivity and being away from her family, she kept up her part of being a lady.

"Sansa." He smiled softly.

Sansa dipped into a low curtsy, "Your grace."

Jon chuckled uncomfortably as he stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace, one she returned with surprise.

"None of that from you, Sansa. We're still family." Jon said as pulled away. Sansa smiled brightly at him through her tears.

"It's good to have you back, Sansa." Jon said softly as he glanced at the army that was assembled outside the gates and back at Sansa with a half amused and half impressed smile, "And nice of you to bring the Vale with you."

A/N: And the Vale has joined the fold! Writing battles and the Queen of Thorns is hard. Hope you liked the chapter and if you did, don't forget to tell me in the reviews section! See y'all next time and subscribe and review in the meanwhile.