~Dragonstone~

Jon led the boat towards the shores of Dragonstone, he could faintly see large birds flying over the castle. Dragons, Jon thought grimly. Direwolves exist, why can't dragons? He turned to Ser Davos and Malachi with a pensive look on his face.

"Find the dragonglass," Jon commanded Malachi. "We don't know if this meeting will go our way."

He nodded in agreement. "Ay. I'll make sure to bring some back with us in case this all goes south."

"You'll need to go with care," Davos reminded him. "You're dealing with men who don't sleep, don't hurt easily, and have a hunger for death."

Malachi had an annoyed expression on his face when Davos spoke to him, "I know, I'm not a child."

"You're a stranger to us," Davos responded curtly. "Lady Maya placed her trust in you and we trust her word. We don't truly know who you-"

"My sister was Robb Stark's wife," Malachi confessed, his eyes angry and yet full of sadness. There was a silence in the air. "We are of monarchy in Volantis. I left to seek vengeance, but Maya convinced me that the Lannisters are the ones to blame."

Jon studied him for a moment. "Was it you who killed the Freys?"

Malachi thought about it for a moment, he thought of Arya and whether or not he should reveal her true nature to her brother who still saw her as a little girl with a needle. "I did and I regret none of it. She was a healer, she wanted to save people. They murdered her. I would do it again and again and again."

Davos leaned forward and retorted, "We are not here for your thirst for vengeance. I know of your pain and wanting to make the person who caused it suffer, but today is not that day. We're here to defeat the dead."

Malachi nodded. "I know this. It's why I'm still here."

"What do you mean by that?" Jon inquired with a curious tone.

Malachi opened his mouth, but stopped from speaking as they rode onto the shore where they were greeted by a woman with light brown skin that looked soft to touch. Her face seemed soft as well, but her eyes were hard as she looked at them. He smirked at her, his eyes bright with mischief. The woman dressed in black curiously stared at him for a moment before recognition filled her features. He jumped off of the boat, sprinting towards her. He twirled her around in her arms as they laughed, not seeing both the Stark and Dothraki men have their weapons pointed at them.

"Look at you," he flirted, examining her when they pulled apart. "Beautiful as always, Missandei."

She rolled her eyes then her hand smacked his cheek. Malachi stumbled back, massaging his jaw as she glared at him. "What was that-tell me you're not still crossed with me? Our quarrel was so long ago."

Missandei crossed her arms over her chest. "You left me to the masters. I can never forgive you for that, Malachi."

"Talisa died," he told her, Missandei's eyes softened. "The Lannisters murdered her. She was with child. I had to leave. I killed the Freys who brought the knife on her, but not the ones behind it."

"You're with the Starks," she realized, looking behind him to Jon and Davos.

"Lady Maya actually," he corrected. "I follow women. Not the men I'm afraid, never went that way."

The Dothraki stepped forward to remove their weapons which caused every other man to lean towards their swords. Missandei informed, "Welcome to Dragonstone. Our queen knows it is a long journey. She appreciates the efforts you have made on her behalf. If you wouldn't mind handing over your weapons."

"Of course," Jon said politely after glancing around to his men. The Dothraki proceeded to take their weapons from every Stark man. Malachi did not move as he simply smiled at Missandei. She raised an eyebrow at him as he murmured, "You know me, Missandei and where I come from. We never give up our weapons. Too naive."

"I am Queen Daenerys' most trusted advisor," she began. "I will not be swayed easily. We are friends, this is true, but I obey my queen's commands. This is her command. You are a stranger to her and possibly on the enemy's side. You would do the same."

Malachi groaned softly and whispered, "You know how I feel about strong women."

She gave him a small smile. "It's your weakness."

"Like most men." Malachi started to unbuckle his belt with his sword. "If I wanted to kill her, I would've already."

"You would have to get past the three very large dragons first," she told him. "Malachi, she is my queen. Do not make me choose."

"And Jon Snow is my king."

They held each other's eyes before she said, "Please this way."

As they were walking, Tyrion Lannister approached them, saying, "I do apologize for my tardiness. There was a matter. Hello, bastard."

Jon gave him a nod. "Hello, dwarf."

Jon and Tyrion smiled at each other as Tyrion shook his hand. "I believe we last saw each other atop the Wall."

"You were pissing off the edge if I remember right," Jon recalled. He noticed the jagged scar across Tyrion's face. "Picked up some scars along the road."

"It's been a long road, but we're both still here." Tyrion glanced to the old man standing next to Jon. "I'm Tyrion Lannister."

He shook Davos' hand who said, "Davos Seaworth."

"Ah, the Onion Knight," Tyrion replied. "We fought on opposite sides at the Battle of Blackwater Bay."

"Unluckily for me."

Tyrion looked towards Malachi. "Gods, you're still alive. I'm surprised my dear brother has not killed you yet."

Malachi shrugged. "He's tried. He's only got one hand now. You're finally a Hand, Tyrion."

"Chosen to be."

Malachi shared a smile with Tyrion before Davos questioned in a curious frustration, "How many of them do you know exactly?"

Malachi smirked in response and kept on walking. "I get along well with others."

Davos sighed out in frustration and Jon looked to Malachi whose expression turned to impassive as he began to plan his escape to find the dragonglass in his head. He managed to slip past the Dothraki guards when they turned a corner, he caused their distraction by throwing a rock that exploded into various noises when thrown away from him. They sprung into action, shouting in Dothraki at one another. Malachi slipped into the shadows of the walls of Dragonstone as he made his way back to the shore. He looked up in fear when he heard the screeching of the three very large dragons that were flying above him. Malachi wondered if they saw him, would they breathe fire down on him?

He took out a page he'd torn from a book which had the tunnels of every castle. He followed the pathways down a series of stairways. He opened a door and sighed when he found darkness. He glanced around before walking into the darkness.

They better pay me greatly for this…

Maya stiffened a little as they arrived to Casterly Rock. They did not cheer for her nor did they seem angered by her presence there. She wondered how they felt about her being there. She wondered if they cared at all. Maya once heard that the people couldn't care less about who sat in their castle as long as they were prosperous, they didn't care.

The place was just as beautiful as she remembered it. The glittering waters of the Sunset Sea still sparkled as she looked at them.

Maya stood up straighter as they rode through the familiar gates of Casterly Rock. Bronn gruffly said to her, "So are they going to kill us already and get it over with?"

Maya smiled. "They can't. I'm their lady. I may not have been born here, but I am still married to their liege lord. They have to obey me."

"What are we gonna do when those men without cocks get here?"

"We're going to talk and let them in, she needs to know that she will not have any problems with us," Maya said. "She wants to kill Jaime and if she decides to then I'm afraid that I will have to return the favor."

"Remember when you used to be forgiving," Bronn jested. "I miss those times. You were nice back then."

Maya rolled her eyes as they jumped down from their horses. "I was never like that."

Bronn pointed at her and said, "That's not true and you know it. So what do we do now? Wait?"

"Yes, we wait and have guards waiting for them as well in case someone lied to us."

As Bronn ordered her men around, Maya walked around the familiar castle.

When she planned to walk to her chambers, she noticed a white door she never knew was there before. She glanced around the corridor and saw that not a soul was there. The entire corridor was as empty and silent as a crypt. She almost didn't push the door open. Maya wanted to cry then at the dusty nursery room made for their dead daughter. Maya held onto the door and walked slowly inside as her eyes took in every detail.

The cradle was carved into the shape of a lion and there were furs covers, dressed in webs. There were banners of their houses on each side of the room, the room had Bran the Builder and Lann the Clever painted onto the walls as they were the legendary heroes from the both of their houses. Tears pricked her eyes as she saw two dolls who looked like her and Jaime. Their stitched smiles stared back at her as they held hands.

Maya picked up the one of her and her fingers traced the smile and eyes. As she set it down, she saw a wolf doll as well. Her hands held on tight onto it, not wanting to let it go as she left the room.

It is better to not dwell on the past. Hope is dead, I cannot bring back my daughter just as I cannot bring back my father or my brothers.

Jamie held his son in his arms as they watched the gray land of the North. Winter laid on the snow, rolling around in it as Leonardo giggles and clapped his hands. He stood under the weirwood tree as Leonardo fingered the gold sigil clasp on his father's cloak. Jaime put his son down on the log near the frozen pond, he stared up at the tree. He wondered how many people had come here for guidance.

Did the tree speak to them? How did they know what to do?

Jaime has been avoiding the others in Winterfell. He didn't know how to approach people who have despised him their entire lives. The one thing he appreciated was that they held no quarrel with his son, they saw him as one of their own.

He wanted to help, but he knew that they wouldn't listen to a word he said and would call him "kingslayer" behind his back like always.

Jaime convinces himself to at least try to be around them for his son's sake and that is all.

Jaime stood up and whispered, "This did not help me in the slightest bit."

Jaime picked up his son and then thought of what the Stark boy said of his dead daughter. Jaime would've lived and died for that girl. Jaime looked up at the tree and snarled at it, "You should've chosen me. Take my life, not my children's."

No parent should outlive their children, he thought bitterly then Joffrey and Tommen came into his mind. He thought of the many children he'd lost over the years. Although he never was to act like their father, he still cared for them.

Winter nuzzled her nose into his hip, nudging him forward the next moment when he did not move.

Jaime smiled down at her and petted her head, nodding. "Okay, girl. I'm going."

As they walked back into the castle, the eyes of the Northerners were trained on them. He paid them no mind and continued to move forward. Jaime kissed the top of his son's head as he readjusted him on his hip.

Leonardo started to struggle in his arms, whining a little bit as well as he pushed his little hands on his father's chest. When he wasn't let down, Leonardo started to bang his fists on Jaime's chest, preparing to cry.

Jaime sighed as his son continued his assault on him when they walked up the stairs. Jaime went into the Great Hall and then sent his son down.

Leonardo huffed and started to walk away from his father. Jaime wondered when his son would talk fully. He just been able to form only a couple of words which included mama, wolf, lion, and pap. Pap was what he called Jaime which he had no qualms about himself. Leonardo started to push off his cloak.

Jaime came forward and started to stop him. "No. It's cold."

"No, pap," he muttered with a mad face.

"I say that you keep it on," he retorted. Leonardo pushed him away. "Leonardo Lannister, you will keep this cloak on yourself."

He heard the sound of footsteps on the stones. He looked up and saw Sansa walking towards him.

"Is he being difficult?" Sansa asked curiously before bending down and running her hand through his son's curls. She gave him a soft smile and tapped his chin. "Do you want to hear a story? A woman we called Old Nan used to tell us many of them."

Leonardo nodded and smiled brightly. Sansa returned the smile and responded, "Good, it's a scary story though, but knowing who you came from...I don't think you'll be scared. I'll tell you the one about the Long Night. No one was safe from this. Everyone across the lands were not safe, the world was left in darkness and the cold was very cruel. Mothers killed their children to save them from the Long Night. People fed on each other because there was no food left. No sun, no food for anyone to eat. Hunger and the cold were not the only things to be afraid of...no, it was the blue eyes in the darkness that scared everyone. As the winds of winter blew, there in the darkness were the white walkers. They were the dead, bones peaking out-their skin rotten and bloody. They hungered for people. They like little boys who don't wear their cloaks. They like the cold. They say another long night is coming and it might be even longer than the last which lasted for generations. Winter is coming, Leonardo...do you want them to come for you?"

Leonardo shook his head, trembling in fear as he stopped trying to push his cloak off. He buried himself into the warmth of the cloak as he looked at his aunt with fear. "Will they eat me?"

"Not if you're in the warmth, boy, fire kills them," Tormund stated as he walked into the hall.

"I don't appreciate you scaring him," Jaime murmured. "He's too young to know this yet."

"Winter is here," Sana said. "He needs to know. He's a Stark."

"He's my son."

"Unless he's taken by the Others," Tormund reminded him as he shrugged. "We already had one close encounter with 'em."

Jaime wanted to hold his son tight into his chest where he wouldn't get hurt. He wondered why they were after a boy who could barely speak. He wondered if he should've told Maya about her birthright and where she actually came from.

Jaime wondered if he should've listened to Bran when he told him about his dead daughter.

Is she alive-no! Maya buried her body!

Jaime looked to Sansa and said, "We need to talk. In private."

Tormund raised an eyebrow at him and opened his mouth to say something, but Jaime said first, "You tried to kill me because you fancy Brienne. I am not taking any chances with you."

He shrugged. "I'll still be trying to kill you."

Sansa and Jaime ignored him as they took his son into her arms and started to walk away. Sansa looked curiously at him. "What do you want, Kingslayer?"

Jaime didn't answer her until they were safely hidden away in between walls. "Your brother told me something very disturbing the other day,"

"What did he say?"

"He said that my dead daughter, the stillborn has been alive this entire time," he explained. Sansa scoffed in disgust. "I know how it sounds. I don't want to believe it, but he's special isn't he? He can see things. Maybe he saw her and we just have to find her. She's been all alone this entire time, she doesn't know where she's come from-who she really is-"

"She's dead," Sansa snapped angrily at him, her face turning inwards. "How dare you bring this up-"

"You didn't lose a daughter you didn't even get to hold or have a chance to love yet...I know you may despise me for what I've done to people, but I'm allowed to grieve and I'm allowed to have hope that she is alive. I will not apologize for feeling the way I do. I just wanted you to know in case something were to happen."

"Where will you go then? You can't leave your living son here, he can't be by himself and you can't take him on the road with you either."

"I can do with my son as I see fit."

"Careful, my lord, you're in the North still," Sansa warned him. "You're not in familiar territory anymore."

"I don't care for your threats, my lady, I will do what is right by my son. Leonardo is everything to me now, your sister and I agreed that we both would put him first before either one of us. It's what your parents did for you, is it not?"

Sansa sighed heavily. "You cannot put blame on me for acting the way I do towards you especially after everything you've done to my family."

"So we agree then to do whatever it takes for my children?"

"Child," Sansa correctly coldly. "You search for your dead daughter on your own. You can't tell anyone, not even my sister must know. We can't bare another heartbreak."

Jaime nodded. "Although I don't care for your requests, I happen to agree with what you are saying. I'll leave right this moment."

"Where will you go?"

"I need to speak to your brother. He'll give me a place to start."

TBC…

THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS, FOLLOWS, AND FAVORITES! As I promised, I updated this story. It would've been yesterday, but I kept on adding some content to this chapter and there was more, but I scraped it and added it to the next chapter. I hoped you guys liked this chapter.

REVIEW. FOLLOW. FAVORITE. Until next time...