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ATP

Certain people in Westeros also think Dany should marry, we'll hear about that later on.

Dany herself, however, wouldn't hurry with marriage. (This time she didn't wed to Hizdahr either.) She still refuses the idea of making alliances.


Northerners of all kind

"Is it true what we heard at the Wall? About that eastern invader and that now there are living dragons on Dragonstone," Mance Rayder asks.

Robb's neck tenses, while he tries intently to avoid glancing towards Jon.

"True," he admits reluctantly. It is clear where the question leads to.

Although, Rayder does not continue immediately. Maybe he is considering how he should put it into words.

Grey Wind sits calmly beside the table but he fixes his glowing golden eyes on the man. Just like Ghost who lies on the floor at Jon's feet. He is not as restless as Storm who is roaming the wolf woods near Winterfell with his brother and sisters.

If Jon concentrates, he can feel the scent of the snow and wet litter, and frosty air bites into his skin for a heartbeat. And he is seized by the desire to run and hunt and taste the prey's blood in his mouth…

The logs snap loudly in the hearth and Mance Rayder finally starts speaking:

"Those dragons could be useful against the dead. Have you already thought of that? Lord Stark."

Listening to him, the war against the Others and their creatures seems real, unquestionable. Too close.

After he leaves, they can brush the feeling aside… but for how long?

"Daenerys Targaryen came for the iron throne," Robb points out. "She has no reason to be fond of the Starks. She will fight against us sooner than for our sake."

Rayder thinks about that for a while.

"Does she have to fight against you?"

"If she does, which side would you choose?" Robb retorts.

Mance Rayder smiles.

"Both of us knows the answers, Lord Stark. I believe yours, now try to believe mine."


After the solar's door is shut behind Mance Rayder, Jon speaks for the first time since Daenerys Targaryen was brought on:

"Even if we don't go to her, which I agree with, sooner or later…"

"She will come to us, I know." Robb leans back in his chair. In this moment Mance Rayder annoys him more than the Targeryen girl makes him concerned. He holds his hand out, and when he does, Grey Wind is already there. He presses his head to Robb's palm.

"What will we do then?"

"It depends on what her intentions are," Robb says, and after a moment he adds, „But we have to be prepared anyway."