They sent ravens to every house of Westeros. Maya thought that everyone should know of what happened at the Wall. When Maya returned to Winterfell, people thought she was Daenerys, but she reminded them she was not her.

Maya fingered her white hair as she spoke with a blacksmith. "My lady?"

She shook her head. "Forgive me, my mind has gone elsewhere."

He nodded in understanding. "Already forgotten, my lady. It's starting to get colder."

"He will be here soon," she whispered. "Make sure to keep the fires going in your tower. They brought plenty of dragonglass for us to make into weapons. All it takes is one slice to kill them."

Maya walked away as she gave him a nod. She observed the courtyard as people rushed by to get things ready. Maester Wolkan walked beside her and told her everything that had been going on while she was gone.

"And what about my sisters?" Maya asked him. He looked hesitant to answer. "I am the Lady of Winterfell, remember?"

He bowed. "Of course, my lady. I witness them killing Lord Baelish for treason and conspiracy to murder. I wondered if I should step in, but...but-"

"Jaime is not that terrible if it makes you feel better, but Arya is quite frightening already so I suppose I don't blame you for being silent," she said. "If I were here then I would not have had him killed especially in front of the other houses."

"They said it was because he deserved it," he replied softly. "I wish I would've stepped in. Forgive me, my lady."

"If you were to step in, Maester Wolkan then you would have been branded a traitor and an innocent life would have been lost. You served the Boltons, yes?" He nodded in response, his eyes full of worry. "Yet you are still here because I command it so. You did as well as you could. I doubt anyone would be able to survive Ramsay if they did not do as he said. Maester Luwin did the same with the Greyjoys."

That name left a sour taste in her mouth as she spoke about them. She avoided Theon when he came to Dragonstone after abandoning his sister, Yara in battle with Euron. She could not face him and what he had done to their family. He was raised by their father and laughed with their family They treated him like he was a Stark. Yet he betrayed them and Maya couldn't look at him just yet.

Sansa had tried to convince her that they should forgive Theon since he was the one who saved her and brought her back to Jon. Maya had been looking over the maps of the North when she had told her this, but Maya would not hear of it. Theon had still taken their home and made them believe that he had killed Bran and Rickon. He still played a hand in their demise and it was only because he had been tortured in the worst ways possible that he felt regret and guilt for his part.

If those things had not happened and he had felt regret on his own then perhaps Maya could forgive him, but that did not happen. He was forced to come to terms with what he'd done to them. To his family.

"If I may speak frankly, my lady," Maester Wolkan began as they approached the Great Hall. "Theon Greyjoy had been Ramsay's pet. He called him, 'Reek' and convinced him that it was his name. He flayed him as he ripped his skin from his fingers and toes and tore his joints for days. He castrated him too. He would make Theon watch as he hunt people down and had his dogs rip them apart. This happened for years, my lady. It seemed like it was never going to end. He was there on Lady Sansa's wedding night and he made Theon watch. In my opinion, I think the gods have already punished Theon Greyjoy."

Maya gave a soft sigh and then nodded. "Perhaps you're right. Perhaps Theon has been punished. What should I do then?"

"Forgive," he said simply. "If we spend our entire lives with hate in our hearts then we will never be happy, my lady."

Maya smiled and responded, "Hate brings out the worst part of ourselves. I need you to keep an eye on my sisters while Daenerys is here. I love my sisters, but they aren't welcoming to outsiders."

He gave a bow to her. "Of course, my lady."

Maya left him to the preparations for the arrival tomorrow. She went up the steps and outside onto the balcony. Her brows knitted in confusion as she heard banging from the practice yard. Maya looked down as she saw Arya positioning Hope's arms and feet correctly as she held the dagger.

"You're going to need to protect yourself when the Night King comes," she told her and handed her the Valyrian dagger. "My sisters and your father want to hide what's happening from you, but you're going to be queen someday. You need to know what kind of horrors are out there."

Hope's hands shook as she took the dagger and almost dropped it. Arya put her hand on Hope's shoulder and reminded her, "Don't let them see you're scared. I am going to teach you how to fight. Now try to stab me. Go on."

Maya watched with curious eyes as Hope darted her hand with the dagger at Arya's chest. Arya's forearm came up from her side and knocked the dagger from her hand. When the dagger fell into Arya's hand, she smiled at Hope.

"You're too slow and predictable," Arya told her.

Hope rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. Arya handed her the dagger and said, "Try again. Different this time."

Hope took the dagger from her, frustrated that she failed. She aimed again for the chest, but when Arya was going to block her with same move from before, Hope used her other hand to grab the dagger. Hope used the dagger to pretend to stab Arya in the throat. Arya smiled and pulled away.

"Good. I was going easy on you, but now I see I can go at a more difficult level," Arya mused before her back went straighter and a blank look passed over her face. She moved forward and twirled around Hope who tried to slice her. Arya tripped Hope who fell to the ground with a grunt as Arya quickly used Needle and pointed the end at her throat. "Now you're dead. Get up."

Maya stood there for an hour and watched as her daughter and sister continued to spar with each other. Jaime came beside her and said, "I thought we were going to wait until she was older."

"She wanted this I suppose," Maya whispered. "Arya was about the same age when she learned how to fight as was I."

Maya smiled brightly as she heard a child's laughter from behind her. She turned and saw her son running towards her. Maya quickly held him up and hugged him as tightly as she could.

"My little lion," she chuckled. "You're so grown."

"Mama," he said happily. "I missed you."

Maya moved his curls from his face and kissed his cheek. "I missed you more."

"Where is sister?"

"Practicing," Jaime answered. "Would you like to do that someday?"

Leonardo bit his lip and shook his head. "Not really."

Maya laughed and nuzzled her nose into his golden hair. She smiled at him and asked, "What do you want to do then?"

"Go play," Leonardo responded and squirmed to get out of her arms. Maya let him down and watched as he ran down the stairs and went towards Hope who ruffled his hair. Leonardo looked to Arya and shrugged when she asked him something. He inspected Needle and then turned away as Winter came forward, nudging him towards a corner for safety.

Arya lined up the arrow on her bow and aimed for the target.

. . .

Jaime waited beside Maya, Sansa, and Bran as they watched Daenerys and Jon arrive to Winterfell. Maya came forward when the horses stopped and smiled at Daenerys who walked towards her.

"You left," Daenerys stated. "You took my dragon."

"I returned him," she replied. "Also, I needed to go home. My daughter was alive. I'm glad I came home when I did. They needed me."

"I did too."

"Your Hand sent me away."

Daenerys looked to Tyrion who was stepping out of the carriage along with Varys. "I already had words with him about that. It doesn't matter because no one will treat you like that ever again. The world knows that you are my sister, the Queen's sister."

"Yes, I am," Maya said. She saw Daenerys's eyes lock onto Jaime who didn't look away from her. Maya stepped between them immediately, not wanting her sister and husband to kill each other. "Daenerys, we don't have time for this. He's my husband."

"He killed our father and his father tore our family apart. They took you away from your true family," she seethed. "I always wonder why life would have been like if you were with Viserys and I, Visenya."

Maya shook her head. "You are my sister, but my name is still Maya Lannister. I am the wife of Jaime Lannister and Lady of Casterly Rock and Lady of Winterfell."

"You are Princess Visenya Targaryen, Second of Her Name, Dragon-Wolf of the North, Of the Andals and the First Men, Warden of the North and West, heir to the Iron Throne."

Maya's eyes widened as Daenerys smiled at her. "What are you saying?"

"When I die, I want you to be my successor," she told her and held her hands tightly. "There is no one else I think would be perfect for it. You have your head on your shoulders, you care about the people, you're not naive, and it helps that you're a Targaryen. I only have one request. Maya Lannister is no more. Once you become the queen, you shall be Visenya Targaryen forever. He will no longer be your husband."

Maya eyed her suspiciously. "Why?"

"Jaime Lannister and his children can never be on the Iron Throne," Daenerys explained to her, her voice sharp. "His children can never be in the Red Keep as well. It can only be a Targaryen."

"They're your niece and nephew, Dany. Would you really treat them like bastards?" Maya shook her head, pulling her hands away from Daenerys. "Is it because he killed Aerys or because he's a Lannister?"

"Both," Daenerys answered and stepped around her. "Those are my terms. Accept them and become the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Visenya. This was what we were born to do. We were born to rule."

Maya was left stunned as Jaime walked to her, his hand on her arm. "Jaime."

"What is it?" Jaime asked. "Shall I begin to kiss my family goodbye?"

"I am to become Queen Of the Seven Kingdoms," she whispered hurriedly, a frown on her face. "She wants me to give up my name. I would no longer be Maya Lannister or a Stark. I would only be Visenya Targaryen, the Second, daughter to King Aerys Targaryen, the Second and Queen Rhaella Targaryen. I would no longer be your wife and our children and yourself are never allowed in the Red Keep and can never be on the Iron Throne. Those are her terms."

Jaime rubbed his face and turned away, staring at their children who stood in the shadows. "I had to be im secret once before and I could never love my children properly as well. They had to be kept a secret. I can't…Maya, I can't do that again. I won't hide our family."

"I know," Maya said. "I could never live without any of you. Hope has now just returned to us. Our family is complete and everything is perfect. I will decline."

Jaime held her hand and pecked her lips. "You can't say no to the queen, Maya. Your father tried that on the king and look what happened, he still went to the Capital."

"No," she said defiantly. "I won't do it. What is the point of ruling if there is no one to share it all with? I won't lose my family again."

"Maya, I don't want to lose you, but you don't have a choice. You're a Targaryen and not just any one, you're the eldest. By law, you are the rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and Daenerys knows that," Jaime reminded her, he gave her a sad smile that hurt her even more than telling him she had to go.

"Jaime," she began. "I'm with child."

Before Jaime could respond, Jon came by her side and started to pull her away.

"We must prepare for the dead," was all he said. "You saw how many there were out there. We don't have enough men."

Maya nodded. "I agree. Did Cersei say she was coming?"

"No. She wanted me to pledge myself to her and Daenerys, but I couldn't. I gave myself to Daenerys," he told her and Maya examined him closely.

"Did you fuck her," she questioned, her voice soft. "

"Don't be crude," he scolded. "We laid together, yes and I love her."

"You've barely just met her."

"It doesn't matter. We have better things to worry about."

"Did you give up being king, Jon?" Maya asked him, and saw him frown. "Our people won't like that. They refuse to see her as their ruler. She is an outsider."

"She is your sister," Jon said. Maya looked away then, forgetting that detail. "So it's true. You're a Targaryen...not a Stark."

"Your lover wants me to give up my name as a Stark and Lannister and give up my children and husband so that I will be Queen Visenya," Maya told him, anger in her voice. "I can't do it, Jon. I can't give up my family for a throne I never wanted."

Jon nodded in understanding. "I wouldn't if I were you. You love Jaime and he loves you. You have two beautiful children especially after everything. Don't give that up for power. Power is fleeting. Family isn't. It lasts forever. I need to meet my niece by the way. How is she?"

Maya smiled brightly. "Too much like myself. She doesn't speak, Jon and she may never speak. She says that it's because she felt no one would listen to her. The Gods only know what happened to her when she was in service to the river lord."

"She was in the Riverlands," Jon inquired, his eyes wide. "She was so close to us. How did we miss her?"

"We thought she was dead and I'm sure he kept her away."

"He was obsessed with her," Bran told them. He was calmer than ever. "He was going to marry her. He used to beat her whenever he got jealous. He did it out of love for her. The things we do for love."

Maya eyed her brother curiously and nodded. "Yes, we all do crazy things for love, don't we? Jon, you gave up being king for her. That's about as crazy as it gets."

"It doesn't matter. None of it matters if we're all dead."

"The Wall fell," Bran said. "He has her dragon. Maya's dragon. He rides south."

"How many days?" Daenerys asked as she came over to them.

"Until next dawn."

Maya's eyes immediately searched for her children who she knew were in the crowd. She let out a heavy sigh when she found them trying to hide from her. They followed her eyesight and saw Hope pushing Leonardo behind a pillar.

Daenerys's eyes widened as she saw Hope and noticed the color of her hair. She didn't take her eyes off of her as she beckoned her forward with her hand. Daenerys gave her a smile as Hope walked towards her with Leonardo holding onto her sleeve.

"You certainly look like a Targaryen, don't you?" Daenerys stated, her voice in awe. "You have your mother's hair. It reminds me of a white dragon. Have you ever seen a dragon?"

Hope shook her head. Daenerys gave her a bright smile. "Would you like to see one, Hope?"

Hope looked to her mother who gave her a quick nod. "Be back before supper please. Keep an eye on your brother."

Hope smiled widely and held her brother's hand. Daenerys's eyes caught hers and said, "I only want you to come. You're a Targaryen. He looks like his father."

Hope frowned and stared down at her brother. She held him closer to her and lifted her chin up in defiance. She then wrote on her parchment for her brother to say.

"She says that he's as much of a Targaryen as I am. He may not have the hair for it, but he's got dragon's blood in his veins. Aunt Sansa looks more like a Tully than a Stark, but it doesn't make her any less of a Stark," Leonardo said proudly. "My sister and I don't split up. All we have is each other. I'm her way of speaking. I know you hate our father, but mother always told me that you shouldn't judge a person by the actions of their parents."

Daenerys stared down at him for a moment before she laughed. "Forgive me, my lord. You're right."

"It's just Leonardo or Leo, Your Grace," he told her then smiled. He grabbed Daenerys's hand and looked around. "Where are your dragons? I would like to see them."

"You can talk now," Tyrion mused as he came towards them with Varys beside him.

"Uncle Tyrion!" Leonardo yelled out in excitement as he ran forward and hugged him. "I don't remember much about you, but mother and father talk of you often."

"Good things I hope."

Leonardo sighed. "They try."

Varys bowed to Maya and greeted, "It is good to see you again, my lady. Your hair is quite lovely."

"This entire time you knew," Maya scoffed and eyed him in amazement. "Who I was and who my family were. You knew. Why didn't you send me to them?"

"Lord Stark had found you before I could reunite you with your mother," Varys explained. "I thought about it and figured that the safest place for you would be with the Starks. From what Her Grace has told me about her life, the gods would not have been kind to you."

Maya shook her head. "But I still would've been with my family."

"And now you have more family. I do not regret my decisions," Varys told her, his hands folded in front of him. "I do what's right for the people. You were meant to be a Stark, never a Targaryen. You are more wolf than dragon."

Maya held her children closer to her before she bent down and said, "Take care of each other. Promise me you won't let one another out of your sight."

Both of them nodded and she saw as they held hands. She gave them a proud smile and told them, "When the snow falls and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies-"

"But the pack survives," Leonardo finished. "We won't leave each other, mother."

Maya kisses the tops of their heads and held onto them tightly. "Go on now. We have some things to discuss."

She watched as they ran off with each other with Winter and Ghost trotting behind them.

"He's coming and he will be here soon," Bran I formed them.

"I don't know what to do," Maya admitted to them. "I don't know how to protect them from someone who's that powerful. He can raise people from the dead and now he has a dragon. The Walk is gone and so are other people who were closer to the Wall. More to add to his army."

"We will defeat him," Jon promised her. "This is one fight we can't lose. You'd be surprised by the strength of men when all the odds are against them."

"I hope you're right," Maya said. "Jon, if we do survive than what about Cersei?"

"We can't worry about her," he said.

"But she's still there. Why hasn't she sent her men? Where are her men?" Maya questioned in frustration. "She's not sending them, Jon. I know it. She has too much to lose by sending them here."

"My sister understands what is coming for us all if she doesn't," Tyrion told her which only made Maya scoff.

"Maya," Jaime called out to her. "Go rest. We will take care of everything."

"Don't," she snapped angrily at him. "How can I rest when he wants our child? Our son. I can't sit there and rest my feet while I know what I know. I know that Cersei is not sending her men and most likely told you all that to make you go away. If she were to refuse you then Daenerys would burn her to the ground and I would help her. She gave you a false promise. Cersei is good at lying, Tyrion and just as good at manipulation. You all were fools to trust her words."

Maya shook her head and walked away, leaving Jaime behind.

Jaime let out a soft sigh as they looked at him in confusion. "She's with child. She's scared."

"We all are, but we can't have her be irrational," Daenerys said.

"We can put her with the ones who can't fight down in the crypts," Jon added. "My sister won't like it, but it's for the best."

TBC…

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