Chapter 5 Planning out

The warm sunlight came streaming in through the window as Daenerys Targaryen awoke with a smile gracing her face. She lied in bed, in the old Kings chambers of Winterfell, true the bed was a camp bed the actual Lords bed had been destroyed by the Boltons but that didn't matter. She wasn't alone lying beside her keeping her warm even in the Northern summer was her now betrothed Jon Stark. He had his arms wrapped around her from behind and she felt his breath on the back of her neck. She pulled away a bit before rolling over so that she could face her love. She barrier her head into the crick of Jon's neck as she breathed in his scent her whole body relaxed, one of her hand brushed over Jon's scars. She felt anger toward those Night's watch men who had attempted to take Jon away from her, she forced those thoughts from her mind as she felt sleep retake her. She woke up some time later to find that she had rolled back over, so that she once again had her back pressed into Jon's chest while he held her close. She lifted her head up and scanned the room, sunlight was coming in and Ghost lied somewhat in the sun sound asleep.

"Morning Dany…" said Jon as he leaned over and kissed her gently on the back of her neck causing a shiver to run down her spin. She moved her head to give him more neck to kiss.

"Is it morning already?" complained Dany

"Sadly yes, I am going to go…." Started Jon as he started to get out of bed only to have Dany's hand shoot out from the covered and grabbing him by the tunic pulling him closer before her hand moved up to his face pulling him to her and into a kiss. It was a soft gentle kiss which grew more passionate as Jon used one of his hands to hold himself up from falling on his love. When they parted there was a fire burning in her eyes and in his eyes as well. "I am not going anywhere…"

"Good, your Queen has…duties for you to perform." said Dany playfully "If you are up to it that is…my Lord."

She still wasn't sure if Jon had gotten over the idea that they were Aunt and nephew, she could see it in his eyes and this eyes where a window into the soul. He was over it but that was his soul, his mind may not be fully over it yet. Her worries where put to rest when she felt his hand slip under her small cloths and brush against her breast as he rolled over onto of her.

"As my love commands." whispered Jon into her ear as he kissed the side of her neck again.

In the late morning sun light, Ser Jorah Mormont walked down the battlements of Winter Fells outer gate, the Valerian Steal blade Heartsbane rested at his side. He knew it wasn't his family's sword, that sword was Long Claw and was currently in the Hands of Jon Stark. His heart and soul was breaking, he had loved Daenerys ever since she was a girl of 17 being married off by her brother for an army, he knew she would never be his deep down he knew that but to loss her still hurt. It had hurt every time his Daenerys had taken another lover, still he didn't see true love in her eyes when she looked at her lover, she saw that now when she looked at Jon. He saw that same look in Jon eyes, they both truly loved each other and since Jon was a real Targaryen then they were meant to be even if his heart did want her, they were the blood of the Dragon, he was a bear.

"Ah…Ser Jorah how are you today?" inquired Tyrion as Jorah entered the end tower of this section of the wall. Inside he found a round chamber with four doors, two lead out into different sections of the battlements while the other two where trap doors. One heading up to a higher part of the tower for defenders to use, the other downward to a storage area. The little lion wasn't alone, his brother Jaimie Lannister were sitting at a small table with two cups and a flagon between then.

"Morning my Lords." Greeted Jorah as he looked toward the two Lannister's before moving on out the other door.

"Not much of a talker is he." stated Jaime

"It's the Mormont way…and he is likely slightly board he doesn't really have much to do at the moment." explained Tyrion "Her Grace doesn't require his protection she is occupied at the moment."

"I see, I wouldn't be surprised if her Grace is with child soon since I have heard about how occupied she is been lately." noted Jamie as Tyrion chuckled a bit, his brother didn't know that possibly the only thing their Queen wanted more than the Throne itself was a child and now she had a chance to get that child.

"We have taken care of that, Jon and her grace will marry in the near future so an heir would be of great gain to us, we would have an heir to protect the line." answered Tyrion as his brother looked at him.

"I still have a hard time believing it, that the bastard of Winterfell was the true heir to the Iron Throne." admitted Jaime with a shake of the head. "I always thought it was odd that Lord Eddard would father a bastard but one doesn't look into natural born children. Men on the march facing death need a release, some take drink, other women. Raising the bastard as his own instead of shipping in off to be foisted in some distant castle away from Lady Stark fit with what Lord Stark would do if he did father a bastard. So no one questioned it."

"True, but now we know the truth." said Tyrion "Jon is not a bastard, he is in truth the true born son of Lynna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen."

"And Robert's rule is based on a lie." stated Jaimie he had known Rhaegar and had known him well. He had always liked the man, part of the reason why the Seven kingdoms didn't rebel sooner was because they knew how good of a King Rhaegar would be compared to his father the Mad King. It was only when Rhaegar kidnapped Lynna Stark, the betrothed of then Lord of Storm's End Robert Baratheon did the rebellion kick off. Even then if the Mad King hadn't burned the elder Stark and his father then the Rebellion would have died. If the news had gotten out that Rhaegar and Lynna had ran off together it would have brought shame on two major houses, the Baratheon and the Starks as well as shame on the Royal of house Targaryen but there would have been no rebellion, no blood loss and the Mad King could still be sitting on the throne to this day.

"One could say that." confirmed Tyrion "You knew Rhaegar do you see any of him in Jon?"

"Well Rhaegar was rather short for a man and so is Jon." pointed out Jaime with a chuckle, before he considered it more. "Highly skilled with his sword but never liked it, same with Jon, Rhaegar was skilled in the list as well and on the tourney field. I never have seen Jon a horse so I can't speak there. Rhaegar really loved to sulk, he would go to the remains of Summer hall all the time and just camp in the ruins with no one else besides Sir Arthur Dayne for protection. Above all things he loved to sing."

"Well aside from singing and the lists Jon fits him well but Starks are know for their sulking nature. He looks like a Stark but that is just his mother's side showing." added Tyrion as he took a breath. "Jaime we are going to have a small council meeting once our Queen and her lord are ready. I would like you to attend."

"I am not on the council." countered Jaime

"True but you have a mind for war and that is what we will be planning." explained Tyrion "And I would like your voice added to the council on that part. So will you come."

"If her grace doesn't kick me out." said Jaime suddenly shoats filled the air.

"Rider at the gates!" yelled someone as Jaime and Tyrion walked out of their little meeting/hiding spot to find a man they both knew very well sitting on a horse looking up at all the crossbow men and archers along the wall.

"Seven hells, Ser Bronn of the Blackwater what brings you here?" yelled Tyrion

"Well your sister sent me north to kill you and that hand less fucker you call a brother and she calls a lover but then right as I was about to ride away from the hill top where I was watching you all get rapped by the dead I get engulfed in light and appear on the same hillside but no longer freezing my balls off." Stated Bronn "Thought I would watch you for a day to see what the fuck was going on and try to figure that out myself, then decided the best way forward is a headlong charge. So what the fuck is going on?"

"Well Ser Bronn that is a story for sure and a story that requires something to drink." said Tyrion as he looked at the nearest guard. "Open the gates."

Her boots crunched under some freshly fallen summer snow, snow so thin that the green grass still poked through as she moved into the Godswood and it would melt by the time the afternoon sun beat down on them. She had refused to enter this place, even when she had helped Lord Snow reclaim Winterfell after the Battle of the Bastards, not that she had much time in Winterfell before being banished from the North. Still the sight of that giant red tree with a face on it caused her warm blood to chill, that was a symbol of a false religion, one which stood against her own faith in the Lord of Light. These Old Gods and the Children of the Forest were the enemy of her God, the one true God of R'hllor. The old gods where a religion of Ice and snow, while hers was a religion of warmth and light. This was a symbol of her enemy, the great other yet the magic of those enemy gods who severed the Great other had saved her, had brought her back and was fighting against the ultimate weapon of the Great Other, the Night King. It made no sense.

"I have been expecting you." said a figure before the tree, he sat in a chair dressed in black. The thick furs where gone but a blanket still covered his useless legs. "Melony."

Melisandre froze in her tracks as she turned her gaze toward Bran Stark, the Three eyed Raven. If other members of her faith where here at the moment, they would have attempted to kill one of the greatest instruments that the enemy of R'hllor had. Yet he had stopped her with a name she only somewhat remembered.

"That is your name, your Westeros name that is." explained Brann "Your parents where from here and your mother named you Melony only when you were bought as a slave by the Red temple did they rename you…. I observed your birth in Kings Landing all those years ago, before your mother sailed East. I know who your father is if you want to know."

"I will not be tempted by you." countered Melisandre as she moved forward. "I follow the Lord of Light and will not be lured into the darkness by you."

"Very well." Said Bran as he turned around to face her, the face of the weirwood behind him as she stood before him. "You do not trust me, I know this. I know you see me as the instrument of your enemy but you are also confused about how I could be your enemy, yet I fight against the Night King who is the real enemy of all life and warmth."

"I must admit, I find it odd." admitted Melisandre as she folded her arms into her sleeves and looked at the weirwood tree behind Bran. It was the sign of a false faith, a faith which lead people to the great other and the enemy of light and warmth.

"You find it odd, because you see the world like a cvysse board one side black the other side white." stated Brann "There are more than just two players in the game and we both have a common enemy in the Night King. By ourselves we can't defeat him but together we stand a chance."

"How from what I have heard the Night King served a blast of Dragon fire." stated Melisandre

"And being hit with a Valerian Steal dagger." added Brann "There is so much I have yet to learn, I am not fully the Raven yet and the Night King has hidden his past well. If we are to defeat him, we must all work together or we shall die together. Only problem is that when we die we join his ranks."

"Others in my faith will not work with you. They will see you as their enemy, I see you as my enemy as well." Ssaid Melisandre as she moved to stand beside him, looking at the weirwood tree with its ancient face. "However, we may be enemies but maybe we share a common and larger threat in the Night King. What would you have of me?"

"I am searching the past with the help of the Raven from this time, in search for the Last Hero and to discover information about the Night King which had remained hidden and guarded." Explained Bran "We didn't do this before because of risk of discovery and destruction by the Nigh King however that is not an issue anymore. We need to know more about Azor Ahai to determine if they and the Last Hero are the same person when we find him. I do not need religious dogma, but historical documentation."

"Not much is known about him for sure outside of the Religious texts. Not even his name is certain, there are many names all tied with the hero Azor Ahai, Hyrkoon the Hero, Yin Tar, Neferion and Eldric Shadowcaster to name a few." stated Melisandre, all the information he had asked was common enough knowledge in the true faith, something every Priest or Priestess would know. If he had asked how to do some of their magic she would have refused to answer but this was common knowledge. "It is said he has a strong connection with the city of Asshai, look through your weirwood tree to see that city's past."

"Sadly we cannot, our sight is limited to Westeros, we can't see beyond its boarders." explained Brann "Eldric…that is a Westeros name."

"Yes," confirmed Melisandre "That is also among one of the oldest names but it comes from the lands of Yi Ti beyond the straights of Qarth on the shores of the Jade Sea."

"Thank you." said Bran as he thought for a moment. "I may need your help, if it comes to that will you help us?"

"If it helps defeat the real enemy, then yes." Confirmed Melisandre as Bran nodded as she turned and left the Godswood.

Elsewhere within Winterfell people where hard at work, buildings where being repaired, the fallen stones cleared and new wooden roofs added.

Samwell Tarly was busy as well, he wasn't the type of man who could wield a hammer with any grace and he knew little about war, his skills lied in quills, ink and books. Like the horses, dragons and even farm animals which had been transported back the Ravens which where key to communication with the rest of Westeros had been transported back and had to be taken care of.

"Well the ravens are feed." Said Sam as he looked at Maester Wolkan who was busy putting books back on the shelves, they had loaded up some of the rarer books onto wagons which would head south when they evacuated south. Those books now had returned to the past however library was still in a sad state.

"Good job Sam." Said Maester Wolkan "So you found the documents which prove that Lord Stark is actually the son on Lyanna Stark and the Crowned Prince?"

"Aye…I was assigned to translate and catalog a series of books and one of them was the journal of the High Septon during the time of the rebellion." explained Sam

"I remember those days." chuckled Maester Wolkan "I had to file books for months, lucky I was not born high to a high lord my father was only a household knight. Those sons of high lords where generally given the worse jobs by the higher ups to humble them."

"Aye." Confirmed Sam remember all the chamber pots he had to clean. "If it wasn't for Gilly I wouldn't have gotten through it."

"Gilly?" inquired Maester Wolkan as he rubbed his chin. "A Wildling women correct?"

"Yes? Why do you know her?" inquired Sam, Gilly wasn't a common name but it wasn't unheard of for a commoner to be named after a flower.

"She came to me before the battle, I confirmed that she is with child." said Maester Wolkan as Sam froze, his heart stopped in his chest. He knew what it meant but he couldn't bring himself to say it. "She wouldn't tell me who the father is…I assume now that it is you?"

"Aye." confirmed Sam

"Pity." said Maester Wolkan as Sam's head snapped to him. "It will be a shame that you can no longer forge a Maester's chain."

"What?" inquired Sam

"Part of being a Maester is having no children, to serve the realm first and forth most. Like your Nights Watch vows, vows you have broken it seams and you didn't die like Lord Stark did." explained Maester Wolkan "Before you can become a Maester, any Maester who knows of an issue can raise an objection with the Arch Maesters or the Grand Maester. Fathering a child, they will expel you the moment they are informed, and I must do so."

"I see." said Sam sadly

"Sam, may I give you some advice?" inquired Maester Wolkan

"Certain sir." said Sam

"Right now, who is protecting you?" inquired Maester Wolkan "You have our future King Concert as a powerful friend and by extent our Queen but there are laws that even the Queen must obey. The independence of the Night's Watch is one such law. They will not be able to defend you once you return to the wall, if you stay in the Watch you could be killed for having broken your vows, not likely I admit but it is possible and either way you will not be able to stay with her."

"And without Jon, Sir Allister Thorne or Janos Slynt will be the most likely man to be Lord Commander and either one of them may do that." admitted Sam fear building in his heart, he hadn't considered who would be Lord Commander of the Watch now that Jon was free of the Vows.

"Do you love this woman, her baby within her and the son she already has?" inquired Wolkan "Not sure if he is also yours or not."

"He is mine." answered Sam even if little Sam wasn't his son by blood he was in his heart.

"Then I recommend you go to Lord Stark and her Grace and see if they can get you out of the Night's Watch." stated Wolkan as Sam's eyes widened a bit. "Royal proclamations have a habit of making new laws and this whole-time travel issues would be good grounds to say you are free from the Watch."

"My father would never allow that, he said he would kill me if…." started Sam as he paused, would he really not be a father to his child, children really because he was afraid of his own father. A man whom he had already stood up to by steal Heartsbane. "Thank you Maester."

"Not a problem Sam, and even if you are not a Maester there are many of Lords who are more of a quill then of the sword." stated Wolkan as Sam moved out of the chamber and stumbled a bit as he bumped into a Vale man-at-arms chatting it up with a Free Folk Spearwife. He then began his search for Jon, he found his best friend and her Grace outside the old keep both of whom looked as if they had just left the castle even though it was just past midday.

"My Lord, My Queen with your permission I would like to send my men back to Ironrath we can secure it from the Iron Born and use it to take Deepwood Matte back." advised Lord Rodrik Forester as he stood before the King and Queen.

"That is one of the ideas we have and we will decide when we have our meeting." said Jon "Believe me, taking back Deepwood Matte helped get the loyalty of some of the North to the Boltons in our past, doing the same will help us a lot now."

"Thank you my Lord, we do not have a lot of…" said Rodrik as Jon noticed Sam and the look on his face.

"One moment, my Lord." interrupted Jon "Sam what is wrong?"

Sam knew he should have stayed back; he should have allowed Jon to finish his job but Sam instead walked up.

"Well…excuses me my lord but…Jon I just found out that Gilly is with child." said Sam as a smile crossed Jon's face and even Daenerys smiled, there was tension between the two and both knew this but both knew how much the other meant to Jon. Jon only smiled and pulled Sam into a hug.

"Congratulations Sam." said Jon with a smile.

"Great news my Lord." said Rodrik

"Wonderful news." added Daenerys with a smile of her own.

"Yes…well the thing is according to Maester Wolkan I can't be a Maester anymore because I fathered a child and…well with the watch what if Sir Allister Thorne or Janos Slynt becomes Lord Commander. They will kill me and will not let me be a father to my children." explained Sam as he watched Jon's eyes narrow as well, he clearly hadn't thought of that either.

"That is part of the Night's Watch vows." stated Rodrik as he turned and looked toward the southern wall, there a single man stood in all black, the only other member of the watch still alive within Winterfell. "One of my own friends was forced to join the watch to spare Ironraith the anger of the Boltons after the Red Wedding. He is a good boy well man now who put our house before everything else, even he isn't of our house."

"Who is he?" inquired Jon

"Gared Tuttle." Answered Rodrik

"I know him, told me he survived the red wedding and then told me about how the Boltons and Freys betrayed Robb." Said Jon as his fist tightened in anger, Daenerys placed a hand on his arm and he relaxed. "Well that hasn't happened yet."

"And neither has Gared's crimes…should he be tied to an oath for a crime that hasn't even happened and never will?" inquired Rodrik as he lowered his head. "Sorry, my Lord, my Queen I shouldn't have spoken if we aren't worth our words then what are we? Truth be told I must admit part of the reasons I bring this up is for my sister's heart, she may not admit it out load but I believe she loves Gared and his vows keep them apart."

"No, your words have weight." said Daenerys as she looked at Jon

"I got out of the watch because I died only be brought back. Should we hold someone to that oath for a crime they didn't commit?" added Jon

"No." answered Daenerys as she looked at Sam considering. "I still owe you a favor Lord Tarly for saving Jorah from the Greyscale. If you wish, I could through royal decree free you from your oath to the Night's Watch."

"I would like that very much, your grace." Stated Sam before an issue came to mind. "But I swore before the Old Gods…"

"Then speak to Bran, he will be your answer on if the old Gods care about it or not." advised Jon "They didn't care when I left the watch, I don't think they will concern themselves with you as long as you help defend the realms of man by finding a way to defeat the Night King."

"Thank you Jon." answered Sam "I will do that."

"Then it is done, Lord Samuel Tarly I hereby free you from your oath to the Night's Watch all your claims to land and titles are returned to you." stated Daenerys as Sam's eyes widened a bit he hadn't even considered that if he was free from the watch he would be the heir to Horn Hill.

"Thank you your grace." said Sam

"It is the least I can do." said Daenerys as she turned to the other Northern Lord. "Lord Rodrik will you go fetch this Gared Tuttle. It is a shame that a man should pay for crimes which he hasn't even done yet. Same with any other Night's Watch member who hasn't committed their crime yet."

"Yes, your grace." said Rodrik with a smile as he moved off and within minutes came back with Gared Tuttle. Of the men of the watch who had come down to Winterfell from Castle Black and East Watch, only Gared and Sam lived through the battle. There were of course other members of the watch mostly from the Shadow Tower which didn't make it down to the battle and therefor never came back to the past. Sam for his part didn't stay around instead he walked off toward the kitchen, area. There he found Gilly helping feed little Sam who was all smiles. Sam smiled as Gilly raised her head and looked at him with a smile.

"Sam, how is everything?" inquired Gilly

"Good, very good…ah…I know." Said Sam as Gilly looked at him slightly confused before Sam looked down at her stomach. "Maester Wolkan told me about you coming to him."

"Ah…I am sorry Sam I know the vows to the watch…" started Gilly as Sam took her hands into his.

"I am not in the Watch anymore, Queen Daenerys freed me of those vows." explained Sam as Gilly's eyes widened at the news. "I can be a father a true father to both our children and if you will have me, I can be a husband to you."

"Sam…nothing would make me happier, but I am a free folk not some southern lady, I…" started Gilly

"I don't care about that." said Sam

"Are you going to marry Daddy Mommy?" inquired little Sam as both Gilly and Sam turned and looked at the little boy. Both smiled before Gilly turned back to Sam.

"Yes…I am." confirmed Gilly before kissing Sam.

The forge was a hotbed of activity as multiple different smiths worked on many different projects. Several where busy just making nails and other building supplies while others worked on making other items like horseshoes and putting them on.

Gendry had been given a special task, he had awoken to find Arya had already left only after getting dressed and leaving did he find Lord Tyrion and Lord Bran Stark waiting for him in the hall. They handed him a piece of parchment and gave him a task which was now hard at work on. His was a special project and everyone knew it and while he wasn't trying to upset some of the older man it was clear they didn't like some "kid" getting a special project from the Hand of the Queen. It didn't seem to matter that he was better than them, he had to be because he had an apprentice to one of the best weapon makers in the Street of Steel in Kings Landing. He had made some of the finest arms and armor in Westeros where they had worked forges in small villages making shovels, wood axes, horseshoes, nails and some weapons. He was the best here and he had a special task to do, given by one of the highest lords in the realm.

He looked up from the forge which he had taken over and from his location he could see Arya practicing with Needle in the nearby yard, he paused for a moment watching her move the blade around like a strange dance. Then with a quick thrust she sent the tip deep into a straw target. She gave off this hard personal, like a woman who take on the whole world alone and win without breaking a sweat, yet she always had a much gentler side. The women who was now putting holes in a dumbing hitting where vitals spots with speed and grace was also the women who would place her head on his chest and peacefully sleep the night away.

"Why did she pick me?" inquired Gendry to himself as he turned toward the Kiln and using some tongs he pulled out a thick piece of metal and began to work on it with a heavy hammer. Bending the hot metal into a shape he needed before dunking it into water. By the time that was done the next piece of steel was ready to be hammered and he went back to work. Even as his eyes kept moving up to his she wolf who was practicing in the yard.

His eyes were on her, running up and down her body as she worked the blade with the skill of a master, he was so focused that he never noticed both of them come up behind him. It wasn't until he felt hot breath on his back did he turn around and come face to face and eye to eye with the giant white dire wolf, standing behind that beast and a little to the side was Jon. He was relaxed but a his hand did rest on his sword.

"Gendry a word if you will." inquired Jon as Gendry gulped even as he looked over his shoulder to see Arya had stopped her training to look at him and her brother.

"Yes, my Lord." Said Gendry as he put down his tools and followed Jon out of a side entrees into the yard and then out of the castle all together. They began to walk around the castle walls, Jon on one side and the dire wolf moving like a white shadow on the other side of him.

"So…you and Arya." whispered Jon as Gendry tensed up like a deer who just heard the snap of a twig in the woods. "Do you love her?"

"Yes…my Lord." answered Gendry in a voice which was firm but with passion in it. Jon studied him for a while as they kept walking before speaking again.

"Arya is a wild wolf, who is known to rebel and to make rash mistakes." started Jon as they moved around the castle's outer walls. The walls casting shadows over the three of them as they moved down along the wall.

"My Lord, I will no…"

"I don't think she is making one here." finished Jon as Gendry looked at him. "You are a good man, a strong man, a kind man and that is all things Arya deserves. I would be proud to call you my brother by marriage someday."

"Aye…she deserves that and more." said Gendry "Truth be told I ask myself why she picked me, I am not worthy of her."

"I ask myself that same question about Daenerys and one I believe Daenerys asks herself about me, or one can hope." confirmed Jon as they kept moving along the wall. "I am sure my sister thinks she is not worthy of you, which is good for a relationship."

"I am a bastard, she is a noble lady, I am not…." started Gendry

"Stop." ordered Jon with force which caused Gendry to look at him. "Stop putting yourself down, I am going to give you some advice that helped me since I got it. Never forget what you are wear it like armor and it will never be used to hurt you. You are a good loyal man, remember that, I have seen dishonorable man who claim noble blood and they are not your equal."

"It isn't myself I am worried about hurting, I know no matter how much Arya and I may want to be together once her brother and her mother arrive they will force her to marry some lord and I am not that." admitted Gendry "Someone worthy of her station as the daughter of a high lord."

"Arya would rebel in a moment and…" started Jon, only it was his turn to be interrupted by Gendry.

"And I would let her go." answered Gendry as Jon studied the man. "I love her, I love her more than anything but I will not break up her family, I will not let her throw away her pack just for me."

"You are a better man then I thought you were. Which is saying something considering I already thought you were a good man." Said Jon with a smile as they neared the corner of the wall "Don't worry about Robb or Lady Stark, Sansa and I will handle the two of them when the time comes. More Sansa then me I must confess, she is better on that front then I would ever hope to be. I only require you to remember two thing."

"And that is?" inquired Gendry as they neared a corner in the wall.

"If the two of you end up getting her with child, you two will be married." stated Jon as Gendry blinked, he had been wondering why Ayra would pick him that he never even considered what their child would be like. "You grew up without a mother or father and every Child deserves their parents and a name. So keep that in mind."

"I will, however I am a follower of the faith of the seven." admitted Gendry, he actually wore a small hammer for the smith on a necklace. Now it was Jon's turn to think, the people would expect Deanarys to be married by a Septon since the faith of the Seven was the major religion, he was a follower of the Old Gods not the Seven.

"A septon in front of a heart tree then." added Jon "The point stands, get her with child both of you will be married."

"Aye, what was the second thing?" inquired Gendry as they turned the corner and there within arm's reach was a pair of glowing eyes, rows of sharp teeth and the growl of a dragon. Gendry stopped dead in his tracks he had never been this close to the dragons before and now it was within inches of him. He could feel the hot breath of the dragon on his face and the smoke was blowing into his eyes. The smoke was somehow even hotter then the smoke around a forge.

"Don't hurt her." answered Jon as he touched the green scales of the beast. "Because, I would hate to see her hurt and believe me if she didn't get you…well."

"I…will not do that." said Gendry scared out his mind.

"Good." said Jon as the Dragon turned away from the two of them to rest his head down on the ground again. "Then we have an understanding."

"Yes." confirmed Gendry as Jon smiled

It was shortly after the noon meal as the Small council along gathered in one of the chambers of Winterfell. As the senior most member of the free Folk, Tormund Giantsbane was granted entry, Jaimie Lannister as one of the most senior military members was also in the room along with Brienne of Tarth was also in the room to serve as guard to Sansa. Carpenters had been at work and a newly made table and chairs filled the room. Four large maps of the North, Vale, Riverlands and Crownlands stacked on top of each other to show one huge map was lied out.

"Who is this man?" inquired Deanarys as she looked at her Hand.

"Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, he is no knight truth be told and is maybe a half step above a sell sword but he has severed me loyally in the past for gold and promises and my brother has worked with him as well." explained Tryion "He can be very useful to use."

"I know him as well, your grace briefly in the Vale." Explained Royce without adding anymore.

"What sort of Promises?" inquired Sansa

"Well he wants a Castle and a Lordship, my brother and I will take of that, we owe him that." explained Tryion "I wouldn't be surprised if there are some open castles and lordships once this is all over, some houses will fight to the end but the other is he wants a certain woman, if she will have him that is."

"Who is she?" inquired Deanarys

"One of the Sand Snakes, Tyenna Sand he got a thing for her while we in Dorne together." admitted Jaime "My sister had her killed in, but she is still alive now."

"A recent raised Lord and a bastard of one of the major houses, not an unheard off match." stated Sansa "Maybe it will help win over house Martell with a match to a favored lord of the Hand of the Queen depending on what castle we give him."

"I disagree, while it will not hurt a greater aid would be to warn Prince Doren that his eldest child and heir, Princess Arianne not to sail on the Desert Wind back from Volantis after her time with her mother in Norvos." Explained Varys with a shake of his head. "That poor Princess died when her ship sank in a storm off Lys, it would have on the lips of everyone of Westeros but Cersei's walk of shame happened in King's Landing which took up all the gossips, a Queen's walk of Shame is more interesting than a Princess dying in a storm."

"Make sure to warn him in the letter we will send him." advised Tryion

"I don't think we should send ravens out yet, we need to gain the march on our possible threats." Offered Royce "We have the advantage because none of the other Kings know about the fact that an army and two full dragons are now in the center of the North."

"We can't hide forever; we need to prepare ravens to fly to the rest of the realm to give them a chance to bend the knee." offered Varys "Once people see the Dragons word will spread. We can't hide it."

"And we need to warn Robb about the Red Wedding." added Jon

"No offense, but how are we going to explain magical time travel in a letter?" inquired Sansa "This is something that can't be explained easily by Raven."

"We must make the attempt." offered Jon

"I agree, but we they simply will not believe us outright." confirmed Sansa as Tyrion nodded his head in agreement.

"Maybe a middle ground is required, we need to gain the march on our enemies so we hold off on sending the ravens until our forces have marched because once Dragons begin to fly across the North and down south people are going to take note." explained Tyrion "As for making people believe that will be hard but we can begin to build the foundation, letters written in your hand Lady Sansa to your mother and a letter to Robb in Jon's would help. I will write a letter to my father and we will also send a more general decree out to the lords great and small."

"Alright, have Samwell and Maester Wolkan begin writing at once the letters will be released after the armies begin moving." decreed Daenerys

"Which means we need to decide where the armies are going." offered Jon

"We need to focus getting my people on this side of the wall." grumbled Tormund.

"And we will, it will be a month before Mance Rayder reaches the Wall. We have contact with the Children of the Forest North of the Wall, they are going to warn Mance that the Undead are now chasing him. They will inform him that the gates through the wall will be open to his people." Said Jon as he ran his hand over multiple castle north of Winterfell "And aside from Last Hearth, every castle North of us and a lot of the hill tribes are now loyal to our Queen. Same to our South, around White Harbor. It is our East and West which are not with our Queen."

"A detachment of Northsman and Vale knights can be sent out at once to make sure the orders are known to open the gates to the Wildlings." offered Manderly "I must admit it may not look the best, but we all know a lot of the forces which beat us where undead wildlings. So removing them from the Night's King army only helps us."

"Agreed, I believe if we offer the Free Folk a deal where while they are South of the Wall they will not raid and that they will fight against the dead with us." offered Jon

"Chieftain Tormund do you think your King will go for this?" inquired Daenerys as she looked at the map.

"Aye, I will have to go to convince him and most of all the team already south of the wall. They would be nearing that village near Queens crown." Stated Tormund as he looked at Jon. "Maybe you should go with me up to that point, it will make it easier if she hears it from you."

"Yrgitte I assume?" inquired Dany

"Aye." admitted Jon as Daenerys nodded in understanding, part of her was concerned about having Jon's former lover now back among the living but then she saw the look in his eyes and all worry left her. She trusted Jon and he had given her no reasons to worry about his love for her. "She died in the battle at Castle Black. I burned her, I moved past her…"

"Took you forever but I have to say you found yourself a good one crow." added Tormund as Jon eyed him for speaking like that to a Queen.

"I am not looking forward to tearing open this old wound." said Jon

"My little band is near that village as well." added Bran "Including Rickon and our dire wolves."

"Getting Rickon back home is important." Added Sansa as everyone around the table nodded in agreement.

"They are not moving at the moment, I can guild you in. In truth they don't know what happened to me, when I disappeared and are heading away from danger of the Boltons." Explained Bran before looking at Jon. "We were actually in the tower during that storm, not that either of us knew that at the time."

"Alright, then we will meet them there." said Jon as he looked at Daenerys who nodded. "We go get Rickon or drop of some protectors and then talk to the raiders before going to the wall to make sure they know to open the gates."

"Good, maybe a dragon visiting Bear Island, Barrowton and other places around the North and Vale will help convince people." added Tyrion as he saw Jorah tense at the mention of Bear island, his home. "Also a dragon showing up at the wall will help convince Sir Allister, also Jon you may want to be there to see his face."

"What? what for?" inquired Jon, he had no wish to see Sir Allister, he had been nothing but horrible to him and had been one of the men who had stabbed him.

"Well, Sir Allister was sent to the wall because he wouldn't bend the knee after the battle of the Trident, he fought for your brother my grace, Jon's father." Explained Tyrion "I personally would like to see his face when he realized how he treated the son of the Prince he went to the wall for."

"And Maester Aemon is there as well." advised Varys "We still need a Grand Maester and he would be the best to fill that position."

Daenerys rubbed her chin, seeing another Targaryen would be nice most of all from what she had heard the blind man was one of the wises man in Westeros if not the world. He was her own grandfather's brother and would know more about her…their family then almost anyone.

"If you are going to the wall why not fly us to my raiding party and then go see Mance." Advised Tormund "Your dragons can hold the weight."

"Not a bad idea, not totally." said Jon as he looked at Daenerys "I don't think we should fly North of the Wall, we can't put the Dragons at in that risk but we could send a rider up to Mance with terms. If we are heading North, we can meet the wildling party and Rickon."

"So the dragon riders are heading north for at least a day." Said Royce

"Now you have three big threats at the moment." stated Jaimie as he looked at the map. "The Boltons around the Dreadfort along with the house not loyal to our Queen which is to the East and South east, the Iron Born at Moat Cailin and another Iron Born force along the stony shore. The barrowlands and still held by Robb's forces but lightly and if it wasn't for the limited Iron born they might of taken Barrowton. The biggest threat is the Boltons, remove them and the North is all but yours."

"I am not sure that is the best move." said Lord Manderly as he looked at his Queen. "The Glovers sided with the Boltons at least enough not to help the Starks in the battle of bastards because the Boltons helped retake their home. You should do the same."

"Have some Dorthraki or Unsuillied liberate the Glovers home and drive the Iron Born from the Stony Shore and it will win you the love of the North." added Royce

"We can make that march with ease." stated Grey Worm as the Dorthraki Orhosis spoke in his native tongue before changing to the common tongue. He spoke broken words, but he got his message clear.

"Woods as thick as that not well for horses." stated Orhosis

"True, the wolf woods aren't the best place for mounted warriors." admitted Jon as he studied the map again. "More so if the riders don't know the woods well."

"How many mounted Norths man are left?" inquired Jaimie

"2,500." admitted Jon "With another 6,000 foot."

"Send the Northern Horse with the Unsullied force to Ironraith and from there strike out and retake Deepwood Motte and down the length of the Stony Shore." Advised Jon moving his one hand over pushed a marker for the Dortholtic toward the Dreadfort. Jaimie was nodding his head in agreement and so was Lord Royce. "Have the Northern foot and Dortholtic horse go against the Boltons."

"The land is less wooded there." stated Lord Royce as Orhosis who had followed the movement nodded in agreement. There were of course woods to their east but they where not as thick or a large as the wolfswood which was to the North West of Winterfell.

"It would show a good sign of unity but what of the Vale forces." stated Tyrion, the Vale knights where a powerful force in their heavy armor and they had come through with the least amount of causalities, with only around a 40% lost.

"We should send forces to the Vale to secure it and make sure it stays with us." Stated Royce as he looked at his Queen. "A dragon flying to the top of the Erie and the Giant's Lance worked in securing the Vale for your house almost 300 years ago, it may do so again."

"Robert Aryan does like to say he will send people flying." admitted Tyrion "However ridding from the Vale will take a while and we would have to pass by Lord Robb Stark on his way to the Twins and that is after we take Moat Cailin."

"We need Moat Cailin but riding from there all the way down to bloody gate will take a long time." Stated Jon as a Question came to mind as he turned to Royce "When you came up from the Battle of the Bastards how did you do it so fast and without alerting the Boltons about your force when it passed by Moat Cailin."

"Well we actually came by sea, launched from Coldwater in the fingers and then landed south of Rams Gate in the North. Rode the rest of the way to get to Winterfell." Explained Royce wondering why no one asked them that before.

"Well then we will do basically the same thing in reverse." Stated Jon as he pointed to the Map. "Lord Manderly will White Harbor have enough ships to land a force of Vale knights on of the Fingers?"

"Easily." Said Manderly

"Good, Lord Royce will command the Vale forces to White Harbor where Jon and I will join them after our trip north." said Daenerys "Once there Jon with some Manderly and Vale Forces will take Moat Cailin and make contact with his cousin Robb. While myself, with Lord Royce and a force of Vale Knights land on one of the fingers and take the vale as peacefully as possible. I am not an fool I know we will have to cause some death to win this war but we need to limit that if possible, everyone who lives is another person to aid us in the fight against the dead."

"A fine plan, it will mean stretching a forces a bit but besides the forces south of the Neck we are the largest force in the North." stated Royce "Once we retake the Neck we are in a great defensive position from attack from the South and no enemy has ever taken the bloody gate to the Vale."

"White Harbor will welcome our Queen and her future husband with warm arms, feast and tournaments to be held in your honor." said Manderly

"I am sure they will." said Daenerys with a smile to her master of coin. "But we have work to do, so we can hold off on the tournaments, your knights will be able to demonstrate their skills on the battlefield not the list."

"Of course your grace." said Lord Manderly taking the slight repos with grace, because he knew she was right. A tournament would take days to set up and hold and that time would be better. "Can I at least offer White Harbor provide some gifts to our Queen and her soon to be King Consort?"

"What do you mean?" inquired Jon confused as Manderly seamed taken aback not sure how to say what needed to be said.

"You need some courtly cloths Jon." stated Sansa, she didn't call him Lord the family relationship showing. "I talked with Lord Manderly, Lord Royce and Tyrion during the feast, most of your cloths are fine left over from your time as Lord Commander of the Watch, not fit for a King Concert. Also your new sigil, a white Dire wolf not grey on a black field."

"She is right." added Daenerys as Jon let out a defeated sigh, he couldn't win a two front war not against Sansa and Dany.

"Alright, but no silks and like I am not that type of man and keep it simple, no jewels and the like either." Stated Jon

"Of course, and we will give our Queen a proper Westeros made dress as well." Stated Manderly as Daenerys nodded her consent, that was normal enough. "We have tailors here from the Winter town who can measure both of you before we head out and once I am in White Harbor I will have them commissioned at once."

"Good, the crown will pay for the cloths do not make them gifts." Said Daenerys as Manderly was about to raise an objection. "If you want to make a gift to the crown, I personally would rather the gold spent on helping the poor, orphans most of all."

"Very well." Said Manderly, it wasn't as if they lacked for coin, when they were transported back they had the royal treasury of Daenerys along with all the coin from Winterfell and every castle North of it come back with them. They were swimming in gold and silver.

"Then I think we are about done." stated Daenerys as she was about to end the meeting.

"If I may add one thing." said Jon as Daenerys nodded her consent. "On dragon her grace and I can move a lot faster than any force on foot or horse."

"This is so." Said Tyrion

"Let's use that, I can fly to Greywater watch, Lord Reed knows who I really am. If he bends the knee we can add his forces to our own." Stated Jon. "We can also send some minor lords and ladies to their keeps and secure them."

"We have already started that; a young lord rode for Castle Cerywn." reported Davos as Jon nodded his head, Castle Cerywn was a half day ride away from Winterfell and they had always been close allies to the Stark. "He took a few men and planned to raise the dragon banner once again."

"Good." Confirmed Sansa "If I may we could use Ayra and the Hound somewhere important."

"Where would you send them?" inquired Varys

"Send Arya to the Dreadfort, if we kill Ramsey the Bolton man will fold and Theon is still alive." Stated Sansa, "He may be hated now, but we know what he did for us. He needs to be saved."

"Agreed with killing Ramsey, but Arya in the Dreadfort?" inquired Varys "A great risk, what if she is taken captive?"

"Lord Varys do you know where Ayra was for all those years she disappeared from Westeros?" inquired Sansa as Varys looked at her for a moment.

"I must admit she escaped my little birds." admitted Varys, he didn't like not knowing things.

"The House of Black and White in Braavos." answered Sansa as Varys stiffened and Tyrion's mouth dropped opened.

"She is a faceless man?" inquired Tyrion

"What?" inquired Jon, as everyone looked at Sansa.

"I saw it, her faces and she said she had been to Bravoos to train to be a faceless man…after she killed Little Finger she told me about how she left their order as an acolyte but still learned their secrets." Explained Sansa

"The faceless man do not allow their secrets out." countered Tyrion "They didn't become the best assassins in the world by doing that."

"You are correct, she said she killed the Faceless man who came after her and as such she earned her freedom. They treat it almost like a trail by battle, since she won she was able to keep the knowledge she had but she can never pass it on without another Faceless Man coming for her." explained Sansa as she remembered the talk they had on the walls of Winterfell before Jon returned North. "As long as she keeps her knowledge to herself, she will not become their target but if she does share it they will come after her and her family and friends, so their secrets are safe. She killed every Frey male at a feast by poison she can handle herself and the Hound will protect and aid her as well."

"So we have a master assassin." Stated Daenerys as she turned to her Master of Whispers. "Lord Varys, may I recommend you talk to her and see how she can aid us in wars to come."

"I will at once, my Queen." confirmed Varys as he began to think of what all could be done with a Faceless man working for the Queen, true Arya wasn't a fully trained faceless man but even so her skills would be most valuable.

"If we are to stand a chance of winning, we need to get the rest of the Northern army with us." stated Sansa

"With their manpower, we will not be stretched so thin." stated Royce

"And it would bring our pack back together." added Sansa

"That means on top of taking back Moat Cailin, we will have to take the Twins." stated Lord Royce "It is the only crossing of the green fork above the Ruby ford, Robbs army is on the West side of the River and we are on the East side."

"After we take Moat Cailin we can move on the twins." stated Jon as he ran the movement in his head, to ride from Winterfell to White Harbor would be seven days, three days in white harbor to rest and gather the forces there. Explaining everything would take a day within itself. From White Harbor to the twins would be another five days and that was without the battle it would take to drive the Iron Born out of Moat Cailin. Even if that only took a day it would take 16 days to reach the Twins and if the date was correct they were now only 14 days from the Red Wedding. "We will have to push it hard, extremely hard and we will not have much time in White Harbor to gather forces."

"We have more time then you think Jon." stated Bran "Robb stopped his army to search for the missing Lords and men. He is currently 17 days away from the twins at their normal rate."

"Still we don't have much time." stated Jaime "I would recommend an attack by Dragons, it would show the realm that dragons are back, they have already betrayed the North."

"And truth be told, no one really likes the Freys." added Tyrion

"True, but dragons can't hold the crossing. Only men can do that, once white harbor is ours we can send their Knights down to hold the crossing" countered Jon "Lord Manderly, Lord Royce how long for your men to be ready to move?"

"We can head out by dawn." answered Manderly as Rocye nodded his head.

"Alright, Lord Royce leave a strong force here to aid in the defense of the North, the rest will head to White Harbor. The Northern Horse and Unsullied under Grey Worm will head to Iron Wraith and then take back Deepwood Motte and the stony shore." Reported Jon "A Northern foot with Dothraki horse will head toward the Dreadfort to take it."

"Hopefully Arya will do their work for them." added Sansa

"At the same time, a small force of Vale, Free Folk and Northern riders will head North to the wall to make sure it is open for Mance and to get Rickon Stark." Offered Tyrion as Jon nodded. "You and our Queen will take your dragons North as well, find Rickon leave him with a guardian I assume until the second force arrives and then head to the wall to make yourselves known before heading South to White Harbor to meet with the Manderly and Vale forces to carry out the southern part of our campaign?"

"That seems to be our plan." stated Daenerys as everyone nodded around the table. "Very well, we leave at first light tomorrow."

Well I hope you liked this chapter, it was a lot of laying out their plans and some key interactions, I am trying to bring in some book characters who I feel where left out like the Princess of Dorne but in a logical way and others will be coming as well. Now I am going on vacation in a few days so don't expect any updates until I get back from Vacation around mid of September. So until then, please keep reading. Thanks Wilkins75.