They weren't leaving as soon as Jon hoped they would. He wanted to leave for Winterfell as quickly as they could. Sansa convinced him however that they needed to plan before they did so. Jon didn't want to plan. He wanted to go to Winterfell and stick his sword in Ramsay's belly for what he's done. He wanted to get to her. But he knew he could be putting her life at risk if they acted too quickly.
So they sat in the dining hall around a table, calling together a war council.
"We need men, men that we don't have" Jon stated from his seat at the head of the table.
"What about the Wildlings? They'll stand with you won't they?" Sansa asked.
"Aye, they will. But it's not enough, we need an army" Jon replied.
"And we're going to get one," Sansa said determinedly.
"Or you could just let me go in alone. Let me sneak in and get Rhaella and Rickon and then we can talk strategy" Jon suggests.
"We can't! You can't! He'll catch you, Jon, he'll catch you and kill you. He'll kill you and Rickon and Rhaella" Sansa states firmly. Trying to make him see, Ramsay didn't play by rules. Jon stayed silent. He didn't want to snap at her, here in front of the others. But he had to make her understand that she would die there if they didn't get to her quickly.
He knew the dream he had the other night was of the present version of her. But how could he tell his sister that a dream told him he had to save her?
"The minor houses will rise up with us. Lord Brynden has already retaken Riverrun and I'm sure he'll join up with us"
"Where did you hear that?" Jon asked. Brienne gave Sansa a hard look before she answered.
"I saw it in one of the scrolls Ramsay was sent. But it doesn't matter. What matters is that the North Remembers, and they'll join us you'll see" Sansa urged.
"I'm sorry we can't help you. But the Men of the Night's Watch need to be here. We'll have a hard enough time fighting off the White Walkers by ourselves" Ed said.
"After we retake Winterfell we'll send more men here. However many we can, I promise" Jon told his friend.
"So when do we leave?" Tormound asks.
"As soon as we can. We'll make for the other houses and rally them to our side" Jon says with a sign. The meeting ends with that and everyone gets up to pack their things.
"Jon? Can we speak a moment?" Sansa asks, keeping her seat at the table. Brienne falters for a moment but Sansa tells her to go as Jon takes a seat across from her.
"You don't have to tell me about Ramsay and what happened if you don't want to" Jon begins.
"No, it isn't that" Sansa mumbles, picking at her fingernails, trying to urge the words to her lips.
"The last time I saw Rhaella...I betrayed her. She told me she was going to leave King's Landing and try to go to Robb before the baby was due. She kept going on about how the father needed to be there and how she had to leave. I didn't know at the time that she was talking about you" Sansa says. Jon could feel his heart skip in his chest. She had tried to come. She tried to leave.
"But, as soon as she told me, I left her chambers and told the Queen. I was scared at the time that she would get hurt on the road or kidnapped because she was going to travel alone. I knew that she couldn't handle the cold and I was afraid that they'd both die trying to make it. It's my fault she didn't escape in time" Sansa explain with a shaky breath, tears in her eyes. That day had haunted her for years. She blamed herself for Rhaella and the child's death. Even though she was, in fact, alive, Sansa blamed herself for her capture at Winterfell. She should have been there.
"It's not your fault. If anything you might have saved her life. If she went with Robb...she'd be dead too" Jon said slowly.
"But she wouldn't have gone to Robb, we both know that"
"If she came here, she would have died. From the journey or the cold. Besides, at that time I was beyond the wall. I wouldn't have been able to help her" Jon pressed.
"You're right. But I'm not sure she'll be wanting to see me after what I did to her"
Jon moved his hand out to place it over his sister's hand.
"She loves you, Sansa. You're a sister to her. I'm sure she doesn't hold that day against you" Jon told her, giving her a soft smile.
Jon stood up and left the chambers with Sansa, each leaving to go pack their things for the ride ahead of them. Jon didn't know how he would do this. Or how he would do it quickly. How could he ask these people to fight for him because of love? To risk their lives for that? He entered his chambers with his mind full of worry, trying to figure out how to deal with this mess.
He closed his chamber door and walked towards his things on the bed, the wolves were sleeping next to the fire. He turned to grab something when he felt his head go all fuzzy. He had a massive headache and the room was starting to spin. He fainted and hit the floor with a thud.
This was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. The grassy landscape wasn't as clear as it once was. The sun was hidden behind some clouds, and it was cold. Colder than it has ever been before, even when they spoke in the snow. He felt a little disoriented but he turned around and saw her. She was sitting in the snow, with her legs buried underneath. He could see some of the red peeking out from the top. She turned to look at him, fear in her eyes.
He ran over to her and fell to his knees beside her, trying to dig her out with his hands. But the snow was frozen solid underneath his fingertips. He couldn't save her. She smiled at him sadly.
"I'm sorry, to drag you away from whatever it is your doing out there. Wherever you are. But I needed to see you" she said, tears in her eyes. He looked at her confused.
"What's wrong?" he asks, moving his hand to gently brush against her cheek. She closes her eyes and smiles, leaning into his touch. He could feel the tears wet his hand.
"I can't keep my promise anymore...I'm not going to survive this...I know Robb told me I'd be okay but I'm not. I can't fight anymore" she cried and he was terrified. She was broken. She thought she was going to die, and he believed her. Taking in her state, how he has ripped away from reality into their dream bubble.
"No...no you can't. You have to hold on" he begged, her eyes opening so he could see the dark violet. But he also saw her pain.
"I can't...I can't do this anymore, please don't make me" she cried, staring into his eyes.
"You have to. You have to keep fighting. I'll be with you every step, I promise. But you can't give up. You can't give in" he pleaded. The snow began to move up her body, her cheek was getting cold. She was dying right in front of him.
"Rhaella, please. It's not your time, not yet" he whispered, feeling tears in his own eyes. He had to save her. But she had to save herself first. He had no control and it was killing him. She closed her eyes and took in a shaky breath. Slowly the snow began to recede. But then it stopped.
"I can't...I'm too weak" she cried, her voice cracking on her words. He took her hands into his, not sure if this would work.
"Let me be your strength" he replied, holding her frail hands tightly. They locked eyes and he could feel some of his energy and strength drain out of him, and into her. He felt a bit sick and his head felt like it was about to split. But, eventually, the Snow disappeared enough so her legs were freed.
After the ordeal was over, he pulled her into a kiss. Her lips were cold to the touch and felt a bit ghostly. She wasn't really here, and neither was he. They broke away and rested their foreheads against one another's. He cupped her cheeks in his hands, and they were as cold as ice.
"You should have let me die" she whispered, tears falling out of her eyes.
"Don't say that. Don't you ever say that" he whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead and moving back a bit so he could look at her. She looked down and he looked too. They could see a little layer of snow was already reaching out for her legs.
"I don't know how much time you've bought me. But it doesn't matter. I'll see you and our daughter soon enough" she said looking at him with a teary-eyed smile.
"I love you. But you have to hold on" he whispered.
"I'll try"
Jon woke up and sat up slowly. He felt weaker and his head was killing him. He felt sick. But if it meant saving her life, he would gladly pay that price. He finished his packing and calmly walked down the stairs to the courtyard where everyone was waiting. The wolves trailed after him, keeping close to one another.
"Took long enough," Tormund said with a teasing smile. Jon smiled back and walked to his horse. Sansa walked over to him with a black cloak in hand.
"I made this for you. It's like father's, at least what I can remember of it" she said handing it to him. He looked at the dire wolf sewn on the left side.
"Thank you," he told her, pulling it on. They all climbed onto their horses and set off to start building their army.
Daneary's watched as Jorah rode off. She couldn't believe he came back, three times after she banished him. Now that she wanted him to stay, he had to go to find a cure. They began their ride back to Meereen, but Dany had a lot on her mind.
"How is my sister doing, ruling in my place?" she asked Daario. He didn't answer her.
"Has something happened to her?" Dany asked, starting to feel a bit of panic rise up in her chest.
"She left my Queen...the night you did" he replied.
"What?" she asked in her queenly voice.
"Why didn't you stop her? Why didn't anyone stop her?" she presses.
"She left in a frenzy. The only things she said were that she had to save him. She also told us to tell you that she was sorry but she had to. She mentioned something about Castle Black in Westeros and that she would send word when she arrived when she was safe. Her and Visenya left after that" he explains to her.
"And was their word, when you left?"
"No, nothing. But I'm sure there will be once we return" he says, turning to her with a hopeful smile.
But she was worried. Her little sister told her everything, or so she thought. But she never did tell Dany who the father of her child was. She didn't say much about him or the life she once had. She mentioned some things but obviously not everything. Dany should have pushed her more. She should have known about these things. How could she protect her if she didn't know?
Tyrion was pacing in the meeting chamber. Varys, Monell, Myra, Missandei, and Greyworm were with him.
"We need to go after her" Monell urged.
"We should wait for Danearys to return. She's the queen she should decide what we do" Missandei countered.
"We don't know if they found her or when she'll return. We know where Rhaella is, we can go after her" Myra said.
"But is it wise? We are already searching for one Queen and then to start searching for another? The people could rebel" Varys offered.
"Danearys told me to protect her sister. At all costs. We could not stop her from leaving. But we should wait and see what will happen" Greyworm says.
"What if she's injured? Kidnapped or hurt? What if she needs our help and all we're doing is talking about waiting!" Monell snapped from his seat. Myra laid a hand on his arm, trying to get him to relax.
"But where would we even start to look for her? We don't know where Castle Black is, or how long it will take to get there. None of us have ever been before, we'd have no idea what we would be up against" Missandei says.
"I have been there...and trust me it is not a pleasant place. But I'm sure she'll be fine there. I know that there is someone there who would look after her" Tyrion says, moving to take a seat back at the table.
"And who is that? She was a fugitive when she left, what makes you think they wouldn't turn her into the Queen?" Monell asks.
"Tyrion is right. There is someone there who'll protect her." Myra says with a heavy sigh. She didn't like to think about the time they escaped together. How she forced her to come to her sister instead of going North.
"Will someone please tell me what in the seven hells you are talking about?! Who would protect her?!" Monell shouted. Myra and Tyrion exchanged a look.
"I don't believe it is in our right to say," Tyrion says, picking up his cup of wine and taking a long drink.
"Damn you and your right. I deserve to know. I have been by her side for almost six years" Monell snaps, trying his best to keep calm.
"And yet she hasn't told you. If she didn't tell you by now than you have no right to know do you?" Tyrion quipped. Monell fell silent.
"It's alright. We all know you love her. We all do. But we have to be smart about this. The people can't know that their Queen and Princess are missing. They'll rise up. Others could attack us if word got out" Tyrion reasoned.
"Then word will not get out" Missandei stated. Everyone but Monell mumbled in agreement. The meeting adjourned while Tyrion and Varys made their way to the throne room. Tyrion had asked to meet with a red priestess. He and Varys had heard them speaking in the Queen's favor and he was hoping to increase those good words.
They didn't have to wait in the throne room for long before the red woman walked in.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Tyrion, hand of the Queen and this is my friend Varys" Tyrion says with a smile.
"My name is Kinvara, it's nice to meet you both" she answers with a polite nod of her head.
"Kinvara, what a wonderful name. I was hoping you could help us rally the people to our Queen's side" he says with a hopeful smile.
"Of course. I will do whatever I can to support our Queen. But there are whispers among our other priestesses. Whispers that the Princess is the one destined to rule us. That she is the prince who was promised" Kinvara admits. Tyrion falters for a moment.
"Why the princess and not the queen?" Varys asks the red woman.
"The Queen is the unburnt and mother of dragons. But the Princess is the Dragon Queen. We have seen her power. How she can hold a flame in the palm of her hand and how her skin can be burning hot to the touch. Some believe the Lord of Light chose her, not her sister" she explains. Tyrion knew they were in more trouble than they initially thought.
"Nevertheless, helping the Queen helps the Princess as she is the rightful heir," Tyrion tells her. She nods.
"Of course my lord. I will do what I can to help, me and all of the other priestesses" she says with a small bow before exiting the room.
"We have a problem" Varys mumbles to Tyrion.
"A very big problem. The people aren't flocking to the Queen as I thought. They are flocking to her sister. A sister who isn't here for the people to rally behind" Tyrion huffs as Myra bursts into the room.
"We have a problem," she says panting.
"Wonderful! I was just telling Varys how we didn't have enough problems to solve" Tyrion says with a groan. Myra just stands there.
"Well, what is it?" Tyrion asks with a heavy sigh. Was it the Harpys again? Perhaps the slavers had gone back on their word and were attacking them.
"It's Visenya, she's returned," Myra says.
"Well, that's good news! We need the Princess, now more than ever" Tyrion said with a relieved smile.
"No, you don't understand. Visenya has returned without Rhaella"
I woke up coughing and gasping on the cold stone floor. Why wasn't I dead? Jon. Of course, he would swoop in and save me. But I wanted to die. I wanted to join him and our daughter, wherever they are. But the gods weren't having it I suppose. I slowly sat myself up, the room still spinning around me. I was cold and starving. Exactly how Ramsay wanted me.
My thoughts were interrupted when the door slowly opened. But I smiled when I saw who it was. It was the little girl who started to visit me a week ago. She had golden white hair that curled a bit towards the ends. Her eyes were a dark brown with what seemed like a hint of purple around the edges. She was pale with dimples in her cheeks. She couldn't be more than six-year-olds. But she was beautiful.
I grinned as she quickly walked over to me in a pale grey dress that swished around her ankles. Her feet were bare like they always were. She smiled at me too as she walked over to me. I held open my arms for her to come to sit in my lap like she always does.
"Hello sweetling, what are you doing here?" I ask, moving her hair to the side as she leaned against me.
"I'm makin sure you're okay" she answered. I could feel tears in my eyes at her words.
"I'm okay sweetling. But how are you? How was your day today? What did you do and what did you see?" I ask, resting my chin on the top of her head. She giggled as I wrapped my arms around her waist.
"I just walked around the woods. It's nice there" she answered.
"That does sound really nice" I mumble as I held her.
"You really shouldn't keep coming back here, sweetling. Ramsay will be mad if he found out and what would your mother say if she knew you were sneaking up here?" I ask.
"She likes it when I come" she answered simply.
"I don't know about that sweetling. Does she even know you come here?" I ask.
"She does. But she likes it when I'm here. It makes her happy. She likes for me to sit in her lap and to tell her stories" she answers. I freeze, chills running down my spine. She couldn't be. Could she?
"What's your name sweetling?" I ask softly.
"Hope," she says turning to look at me with a smile. Gods, how could I have not seen it? She had Jon's eyes, his curls, and his smile. But she had Dany's golden white hair.
"Why are you here?" I ask.
"I wanted to see you. You're sad all the time and I wanted to make you happy. I'm sorry mommy should I not have come?" she asks, a bit of worry in her eyes. I hug her tightly and hold her against my chest.
"No, I love seeing you, sweetling. I just didn't think I'd see you until much later" I mumble, closing my eyes, letting the tears freely fall.
"I know. But you just seemed so sad. I can feel how much you miss me, and how much you miss father" she says, her little arms wrapping around my waist.
"I do. I miss you both very much"
"I still remember those stories you told me. The ones about you and father. How you danced together sometimes" she says with a laugh, pulling away so she could talk to me. I opened my eyes and smiled.
"You were listening?"
"Yes, mother. I heard everything. I am a very good listener. Uncle Robb says I only listen to the things I want to hear though" she says scrunching up her nose.
"Uncle Robb is with you?" I ask, the words trembling off my lips.
"Yup. Him, aunt Talisha, Uncle Rhaegar, and grandfather Ned and grandmother Caitlyn and my cousin Ed" she says, counting them off on her fingers. She smiled as she got to the end, proud of herself for remembering them all.
"And they're taking good care of you?" I ask. She laughs.
"Of course they are Mother. Uncle Robb said you'd be very upset if they didn't. I think he's scared of you" she giggles.
"Well, he should be" I reply, making her laugh more. She laughed as her father did.
"And your father? Is he taking good care of you too?" I ask, but she looks at me confused.
"He's not there," she says as if I should know this. How could he not be there? She rises from my lap and turns to face me.
"I have to go now. They don't like it when I stay too long" she says with a sad smile. I raise myself to my knees and hug her tightly, placing a quick kiss on her soft cheek.
"Be good for your Uncles and aunt. I love you and I miss you" I whisper. She hugs me back, gently around my neck.
"I love you too Mother" she whispers back before pulling away and turning to leave the room. I watch as she opens the door and leaves and I feel my heart break all the more.
My daughter was here. I held her and spoke to her. Only a week earlier I was talking to Robb. Was I going mad like my father? Or was I slowly dying? Skirting on the edge of reality and oblivion.