Chapter 11 The Dragon's Roar Part 2
Night was quickly approaching and from his look out on the edge of the woods, Ser Brynden Tully better known as the Blackfish looked at the remains of the Twins thanks to his Myrish eye. The Myrish eye was a small device which when lifted to his eye allowed him to see things at a much greater distance and it was highly expressive and one of his most prized positions. He scanned the burning remains of the Twins as best he could, the fires had been put out in good order having used water from the river itself to help put it out. The dead still littered the field and men moved among them helping any wounded they found which showed they had some honor however moving among the dead was also the dragon who was eating the dead. Maybe that wasn't fair, he so far hadn't seen it eat any fallen men, the horses where another matter and it was eating them left and right. Once the fires where put out he saw three banners rise up over the twins, two he knew well one was the banner of House Reed a black lizard lion on a green field and the other was the dark grey dire wolf of house stark on a white field, the one flying over them all was the most concerning the red three headed Dragon of House Targaryen.
"Uncle." Said a voice behind him as he turned around to see his niece Catelyn Stark riding up to move beside him.
"Little cat you shouldn't be up this far." scolded her Uncle in a playful tone.
"I may be safer up here then I am with the army." stated Catelyn "Robb has ordered no campfires, he doesn't want any smoke or light spotted by that dragon."
"A wise move." agreed Brynden "Not that it will matter, that dragon could burn us out of this woods, a Targaryen did that to a band of outlaws in the King's Wood…I forget which one it was…maybe Maegor the Cruel or another one of the early dragon kings."
"Uncle…there is a Dragon down there…I never thought I would see a Dragon outside some books." stated Catelyn with worry in her voice. She like her uncle had seen Harrenhal and knew what dragons could do.
"Dragons aren't immortal gods, they can and have been killed in the past." Reassured the Blackfish to his niece as well as to himself. Their talk ended when the dragon spread its wings and took flight, it flew around a few times as if it was looking for someone or something before landing on the far side of the green fork of the trident breathing fire on the ground before it landed. Then it moved around in a circle kind of like a cat on a pillow before it lowered his head curling up into a ball its wings spread over its body.
"I don't think we need to worry about Dragons tonight." said the Blackfish as he turned his horse and headed toward the woods followed by his niece. "It has a fully bully from all the dead and like any predator it will sleep for a while. We need to have a council of war to decide what we are going to do."
In the fading light Jon moved among the dead bodies of the Frey men who had made a charge across the field to slaughter his cousin and his army only to die in Dragon fire. The only good thing was that since they had died by dragon fire there wasn't much of them to burn. He moved among them torch in hand as men gathered up the dead and threw them into large piles to be burned. In the faith of the seven, burning a body wasn't supposed to happen it was an ad front to the faith. He didn't care, he would rather answer to the Seven themselves then see these fully armored knights rise as undead under the command of the Night King.
"Lord Stark, we are collecting any gold and the like from the dead, what do you want done with it." Inquired one of the chieftain who belonged to House Reed. Jon turned his gaze and saw that they where looting the bodies before they put them on the pile to be burned. Some pieces of good armor was being taken off as well as gold and more than a few rings. He saw a few of the House Reed man taking swords, coins or rings from the fallen men. While a few of them pocketed a ring or coin most collected them and followed his orders. In some ways he had no real power over these men, they hadn't bent the knee to Queen Daenerys and while he was a Stark, he was of a branch house to the main house and therefor had no real power over them.
"Collect them, we can give the gold to widows and orphans once the war ends." ordered Jon, he had real power to make the choice, he wasn't even on the Queen's council but he was promised to her and he didn't think Daenerys would mind this order. In fact she would likely approved of it, having the crown provide gold to the widows and orphans of those who died in wars, She would like that.
Rhaegal had feasted on the dead horses before flying up doing a check of the area for threats before he lied down to sleep. They had taken a more than a few prisoners and those who were able had been forced into putting out the fires or collecting the dead, most where in shock and didn't know what else to do. A few high-born prisoners where now in the lowest levels of Twin's, including Walder Frey's heir. Jon's shame a lot of the women of house Frey had burned in dragon fire during his attack.
"Help…help…" said a soft weak voice as Jon turned to see a boy, no older than 14 on the ground. He wore squire armor but his cloths where too burned to see what house he had belonged too. As the light from the torch reached him, Jon saw the damage of done to him, he was burned badly burned to the point that one of his arms was a roasted stump and the rest of his body didn't look much better. However his blue eyes looked up at Jon pleading, these where not the sparkling blue eyes of a wight just blue.
"Help…help." pleaded the boy as he lied curled up in a ball, like an animal knowing it is going to die but trying to protect itself from the end.
"I am sorry." said Jon as he got down on one knee and pulled his water-skin from his back and gave the boy a long drink of cool water. "There…everything will be alright."
The boy closed his eyes as he enjoyed the cool water on his now lipless face, he never saw the dagger Jon pulled with his free hand which ended the boy's pain in one quick movement into the back of his head. The boy seamed to relax the moment the blade entered his skull and maybe he was imagining it but he thought he boy was relieved that the pain was over, that he had been given mercy.
"Gods forgive me." Said Jon as he stood back up and looked around, he tried to tell himself these men would have killed his cousin if given a chance, but they were still men and he didn't like this one bit even if he understood why it had to be done.
Darkness had fully fallen over the neck as a group of Iron Born stood at one of the watchtowers of the ancient forests of Moat Calinin. The moat sat on a small rise overlooking the only road which connected the North and the Riverlands. To either side was nothing but bogs and swamps which would kill a traveler if they stepped in the wrong area that was if the snakes, spiders and giant lizard lions didn't get you before that. Moat Calinin had never been taken from the South and even taking it from the North would be extremely hard but the Iron Born had done that. They had came down on the lightly held forests with sword and ax killing the 200 bows which the King in the North left to hold the castle with ease.
"Damn this fucking swamp." Cursed the watchmen as he wished he was back at sea with the salt in the air. He took a deep breath imagining the sweat smell of the salt sea and the feeling of the waves against the side of a long ship and the wind in the sail. For a second he thought he could hear the wind when he opened his eyes he saw a wall of flames coming right at him. He didn't even get a chance to scream as flames engulfed him, few others got more than that as a massive black dragon swooped down and breathed a jet of red fire into the highest tower of the mostly wooden castle.
Drogon hovered as best he could over the castle as Daenerys looked down at it for a brief moment.
"Dracarys!" she yelled as Drogon let loss a massive blast of flames which shot down the now open tower top into the castle as a whole before exploding outwards engulfing the castle as a whole. She heard some screams, but they died quickly as the sounds of trumpets filled the air. She looked back over her shoulder as Drogon flew up and around and saw the torches of her army, a large force of Vale Knights and members of the Green order from White Harbor coming down the hillside road which lead onto the road which the now burning Moat Calinin sat upon. If anyone was left alive in that castle it was for the grace of the seven and they would be foolish to put up any fight. True the now burning castle would slow down the march south but it would have taken much longer to storm it and cost many more lives. If all went well, even with the short rest once they planned once they cleared the bogs and swamps and entered the Riverlands. They should reach the Twins around sundown. She could be their in a few hours herself but she wasn't about to abound the fast moving army and she had no idea where her Dothraki screamers where on the march. Besides she enjoyed flying.
As Drogon flew over the swamps she took in the sights, the cool crisp hair, the low clouds and the ability to look down upon the world like few people had. It was breathtaking beautiful, she recalled stories that one of her ancestors had said the only thing better then flying happened in the bed chamber and couldn't be spoken about in mix company. The idea of sex caused her to subconsciously touch her stomach, even with the chainmail armor she wore she wondered if even know she was wish child, she had Jon had certainly tried since they found out the curse on her womb was lifted but it was far too early to tell. Part of her even admitted she hoped she wasn't so that she would marry Jon and then get pregnant so any child would be seen as 100% ligament. Some of the more hard lined Septons said if a child was conceived out of wedlock it was a bastard no matter what. Either way, she would let the Gods decide that as she circled around again watching her army advance southwards.
For Theon Greyjoy it was a confusing time, he had been captured by Ramsay Snow, he now only had three of this finger on one hand and two on another. They had been skinned before his eyes before being cut off after he had begged for days. Then he was warned that Ramsay was going for a hunt and when he came back to do the same thing he did with his fingers to his manhood. Theon would never be called a man every again, as he placed an ice-cold blade against his manhood. He had lived in constant fear looking at the blade which sat in front of him on a table as he was tied nude to a giant wooden X. He didn't know how long he had been like that before the doors opened however instead of Ramsay a man dressed in dark grey armor walked in. He looked at him for a moment before picking up the knife and cut him down.
He fell to his knees before looking up at the man, it took him a moment but he remembered him. He was older, much older than he should have been but this was the man who was the second through the breach when the walls of his father's castle of Pyke was breached.
"Ser Mormont?" inquired Theon as he looked up at the man.
"Lord Theon, good to see you again." said Ser Jorah Mormont as walked over and picked up some cloths which had been thrown against a wall. "And most of all when Ramsay hadn't cut off your manhood."
"How did you know about that threat?" inquired Theon
"Because in our time it happened." Said Mormont which only confused Theon as the Bear Knight handed him some cloths. "Come, Lady Arya and the Hound will take you back to Winterfell."
"Arya and the Hound?" inquired Theon even more confused
"Magic Lord Theon…magic of the children of the forest brought an entire army back through time to give us a second chance. An army in which you fought in and died in to defend Winterfell from the armies of the Dead." stated Mormont "Come…"
It took a moment for Theon to get dressed as he walked up into the sunlight to see the banners of house Bolton being taken down and to his amazement the banners of House Stark and House Targaryen flew over the walls of the Dreadfort. There where Northern foot soldiers as well as to his amazement Dothaki Screamers moving around, the garrison of the castle seamed unharmed but they where put to work throwing the banners of the house they served into the pile.
"Lady Arya." Said Mormont as Theon eyes widened as he looked at a woman who was of age with him, she wore pants and had a sword at her belt but it was clearly Arya.
"Theon." said Arya with a smile as she pulled him into a hug which confused him.
"What is happening?" inquired Theon
"I'll explain while we ride, I want to get to Winterfell before Rickon returns." Explained Arya "Can you ride or do you want a cart?"
"I can ride." Confirmed Theon as Arya led him to a massive tall man with a burnt face, the Hound.
"Well nice to see you when you still have your dick." Laughed the hound "Though I you had more balls once you lost your balls, lets see if you are the man you became."
"What is going on?" inquired Theon
"We will explain while we ride." Explained Arya as they headed out of the Dreadfort and headed toward Winterfell.
While they rode, they told a story which was almost impossible to believe, a story of betrayal, of torcher and of magic. Dragons flying the skies of Westeros again, his Uncle Euron Greyjoy rising to become King Reaper of Pyke, of the army of the undead and of his death defending Bran long enough to give him a chance to send everyone else back in time. It was all too much for him to believe yet Arya who was five years his junior was now only a half a year younger than him. Seeing her made it hard not to believe the words.
It was well past midnight when the three of them reached the gates of Winterfell, it took a few minutes to get in as guards had to make sure it was them before allowing them to enter. Here as before the banner of House Stark flew below the Banner of House Targaryen.
"Where are the Dothraki?" inquired Arya to one of the guards.
"They are heading South, Lord Robb didn't believe the warmings so Queen Daenerys sent them South to try to stop the red Wedding." Explained the guard "Lord Stark headed South as well while Queen Daenerys headed to White Harbor."
"I see, and my sister is still here? Did my brother arrive yet?" inquired Arya as the guard shook his head.
"No my Lady." said the guard not noticing how being called Lady upset her. "Do you want us to wake Lady Stark?"
"No…let her sleep until morning." Ordered Arya "Show Theon to a chamber and make sure he is made conformable."
"Yes, my Lady." Stated the guard
"Are you fucking blind or just that stupid, don't call her Lady unless you want to loss your manhood." Stated the Hound as Ayra glared at the guard who finally got the hint.
"OPEN THE GATES!" yelled a new voice as they turned to see the gates once again open as a cart along with a half dozen riders come through the gate as well as two dire wolves.
"Rickon?" inquired Arya as she turned to the guards. "Get Sansa now."
The guards didn't have to be told a second time as they rushed off.
"Ser Brienne." Said Arya as she looked up at the large women who was dismounting her horse.
"We rode through the night to get here but everyone is here." said Brienne as Arya walked to the back end of the cart, only to find Rickon, looking only a little bit older than she remembered laying sound asleep in the cart. He would be six now instead of the 3-year-old he had been when she left Winterfell when she was only 11, which was 8 years for her and only 3 years for everyone else. People would expect to see a 14-year-old girl not an 18 almost 19-year-old woman. Along with two kids she didn't know, a woman who was unknown to her as well and Hodor who while awake seamed confused by what was happening around him.
"Glade to have him back." Said Arya as she looked at her sleeping brother only to have two dire wolves brush up against her. "Glade to see you two as well."
Suddenly the Dire wolves had other things to get their attention as a much larger fully-grown dire wolf came padding into the yard. Theon pulled back at the sight of the massive wolf, the pure white wolf with red eyes had to be ghost but it was nearly double the size of the other two wolves. Then rushing behind the wolf, dressed in only a sleeping gown and a robe over it came Sansa. His eyes widened, Sansa while only being three years his junior he always considered to be a little girl, she wasn't a little girl anymore. Her figure had fully come in and her red auburn hair flowed gracefully from her head and over her shoulders. She looked at him for a moment and smiled, she had to be older than him now thanks to this crazy time travel business.
"Sansa…" said Arya as Sansa moved past him and to her sister, both stopped and looked at their sleeping brother. Sansa had tears in her eyes as she gently reached out and picked up the sleeping six almost seven-year-old, struggling a bit with his size but carrying him like a mother would. The boy opened his eyes a bit from the movement.
"Mother…?" asked the boy sleepily
"No Rickon, it's Sansa…your sister." reassured Sansa in a quiet tone. "Both your sisters are here, welcome home little brother."
"Thank you." Said Sansa with tears in her eyes she turned and looked a Brienne.
"Not a problem, my Lady." stated Brienne "Now, if you excuse me I could use some sleep myself."
"Good, I need to get him to bed." said Sansa as the others in the cart began to wake up to see that they were back in Winterfell.
"Where is Bran?" inquired the girl
"He is still sleeping, spent too much time connecting to the weir wood network." explained Sansa
"Not fully true." Said a new voice as Bran being pushed in his wheelchair by Measter Walken came up. "I have been up for a little while."
"If I didn't see you now, I wouldn't have believed the time travel story." Stated Meera
"I still don't." confirmed Osha as Summer moved up to Bran who reached out and scratched his ear.
"Good, to see you…all of you. I have missed you." Said Bran in a monotone like voice which took her friend aback. "I will speak more later, but I need to eat and get to work if we are to make it through the Long Night."
"I understand, but Bran do not push yourself like you did last time." Ordered Sansa still holding the sleeping Rickon in her arms.
"I will try." Said Bran as he lifted his head toward Walken. "To the Great Hall please."
"Of course, my lord." Confirmed Walken as he was pushed acrossed the yard, summer padding along beside him.
"What happened to Bran, he seems…" started Meera
"Distant…becoming the Three Eyed raven changed him Meera." Explained Sansa as she smiled at her at all of them. "I am afraid outside of Meera and Hodor I don't know you all, only the stories Bran told us about how you all got him North of the Wall and to the Three Eyed Raven only to sadly die there aside from Meera. On behalf of house Stark, Queen Daenerys and the realm in general I thank you for that. Captain…"
"Yes." said one of the guards
"Make sure they get feed and a chamber to sleep in." ordered Sansa "Same for Theon and the Hound."
"I could use an ale or two before getting some fucking sleep." stated the Hound
"Then you shall have it." stated Sansa "I am going to go put this little man to bed. Goodnight."
"I'll see you all in the morning." confirmed Arya as she headed toward her and Gendry's bedchamber. She opened the door as quiet as possible, even in the dark she moved with grace as she undressed and got into a simple night shirt, placing needle on her side of the bed she climbed in. Within moments a pair of strong arms came around and wrapped her up from behind before she turned to face Gendry who was still mostly asleep.
"Welcome back, my lady." Said Gendry as he rested his forehead against hers as Arya smiled, she liked being called lady by him and only him. She nuzzled into his chest and let sleep take her with a smile on her face.
Another man burning the late-night candles was Lord Petyr Baelish as he sat in his chambers in the Red Keep. He had multiple brothels in which he could have lived in, or he could have bought a private home with ease all of whom would have had better living conditions then his chambers in the red keep. Given his station he was entitled to a set of chambers within the Red Keep and that was a sign of power and he liked that power. He just wished he could have be in a better mood.
"That dumb love sick women." Cursed Baelish outload as he reread the message from Lady Lysa Arryn declaring that she and her son Robin Lord of the Vale of Arryn were going to the board swiftest ship from Gull Town and be in King's Landing in a five days and it was dated two days ago. She was only three days out likely she was somewhere near Driftmark or maybe Dragonstone. That was concerning enough because she would pass near Stannis who still sat on Dragon Stone and capturing the Lord of the Vale would make a great prize, however Stannis was the least of his concerns. Stannis was broken with almost no power and no supporters left. The real issue is that Lysa in her love sick foolishness had left the Vale in the middle of a panic. If half the reports he got from his spies and contacts within the Vale of which he had a very good amount considering he had been harbor master of Gulltown then almost 1/3rd of the Lords or their heirs had disappeared at once. Then there where the fighting men, both knights, men-at-arms and archers all disappeared at the same time. An entire army worth of people all gone and people where panicking and Lyssa had taken their lord and run back to King's Landing for a wedding.
"Two weddings." Cursed Baelish because Lysa had stated her wish to have the High Seapton marry little Finger and herself and had even gone as far as to say maybe a joint wedding with the King and his new Queen. That would never happen for sure, if Tywin or any of the other council even got wind of it Lysa would look even more the fool she was. He would have to talk her down from that, maybe a simple ceremonial with the King and other high lords in attendance and Lord Robin bending the knee to the King. That would make King and Court Happy and knowing Joffrey he would order the Knights of the Vale to ride against Robb Stark but over a 1/3rd of the fighting force of the Vale was gone and no one knew where they had gone to and worse with Lord Robin Ayrnn out of the Vale would anyone in the Vale really follow him. Or worse would they do what they had wanted to do since the war of the five kings started Ride for the Riverlands and Join house Stark in fighting the crown.
"Something is happening in the North." Stated Baelish as he looked at a map of the Riverlands, Vale and North. "I need to know what is going on."
Sunrise found Jon looking out over the ramparts of the Twins looking toward the South West, toward a large woods. He knew that Robb had to be in those woods, likely he would have scouts out and every so often he thought he could see people moving along the edge of the woods but it was too far away for him to see clearly without a Myrish Eye and he didn't have one. Few people did, he made a mental note maybe he should get one, being on dragon back having one would make finding stuff easier. Still that was something in the future, if he knew Robb like he thought he did, he would have formed his forces up in the woods and ordered them not to make camp fires out of fear that smoke would bring down dragon fire upon his army. He would have waited until morning for a council of war, he would have first placed his forces, gathered more information and gotten as much rest as he could.
"So Robb, what are you going to do?" inquired Jon to herself, he had half a mind to ride out and go into the woods to talk to Robb face to face but he knew that would be a mistake. If he knew Lady Stark like he believed he did, then she would not believe a word he said and would attempt to have him killed as a deserter of the Night's Watch and walking in there alone wasn't something he was going to do. Besides Robb needed time to process what he saw the day before, better to wait for Robb to come to him.
Jon wasn't wrong at that moment a council of war was being held under a large oak tree, the trees where too dense for the large tents to be set up so high lords had slept in smaller tents and so had their King. Robb once again had placed the Iron and jeweled crown of the King of the North and Rivers on his head, his Auburn curls coming out over the sides of the crown a bit. His Queen stood behind him to his right and his mother stood in a matching spot to his left. Neither of them had any real experience in war, his Queen knew some of it having been a healer helping the wounded after battle and she had done so even after becoming Queen and his mother was his mother and a trusted at least by him advisor.
"We have the men spread out in three lines under the trees." Reported Lord Blackwood "However even with the tree cover, we can't defend against a Dragon."
"Dragons are not unbeatable, the Dornish brought down one of Aegon's the Conquer Dragons almost 300 years ago." stated Lord Umber
"They had ballista and even then, it took a hit to the eye to bring down that dragon." Stated Lord Bracken "We have none of that, we don't even have siege engines to take the remains of the Twins."
"Who cares about that." snapped Lord Edmure Tully
"Remember, dear brother the Iron Born still hold the North, we need to get up there." countered Lady Stark to her brother.
"Sorry but a Dragon is at the Twins, that is far more important then the Iron born on the Stony Shore." countered Edmure
"I agree." said a soft voice as everyone turned to look at the single man in chains, he wore the armor of house Frey, so far he was the highest member of house Frey found among the living having fled the woods. Waldon Frey, the eldest great grandson of the Lord Walder Frey and was the heir after his father because of the death of his grandfather the heir to the Twins. He was little bit younger then Robb about 15 and had been promised to Arya as the price of getting the Freys on their side when they rose up after Lord Eddard Stark was imprisoned. Now the would be kin by marriage of the King was in irons and only stood before them to answer questions.
"You where not asked to speak traitor." Snapped Edmure
"You betrayed your King and sided with House Lannister and the Bastard King Joffrey." stated Lady Mormont "You should be sent to the wall like every man of house Frey and the Twins given to a trustworthy person."
"The Twins has belonged to house Frey for 600 years; you have no right to do that." snapped Waldon
"I am King, I can do as I please." Stated Robb "Now tell us why did you do it?"
"Lord Walder, made a deal with Lord Tywin Lannister. We would lure you in with a wedding and then when the time was right we would cut you down." Explained Waldon
"You would break guest right?" spat Great John Umber spitting at the Frey's feet.
"Yes." admitted Walden Frey "Then we got a letter saying that you where warned of our plans and so we where waiting for you to arrive and attack you head on."
"A letter from whom?" inquired Robb
"I don't know, my great grandfather was the only one who took part in that." explained Walden
"Did anyone else betray us and where working with you?" inquired Robb
"House Bolton." answered Walden "They where promised the Wardenship of the North and we would be given Riverrun and some other holdings in the Riverland."
"Bolton." Spat Robb as he looked around at his other Lords. Roose Bolton was at the rear of the army and had some forces holding Harrenhal. If he was with the Lannisters he could either attack them in the rear or run to King's Landing and reinforce the Lannisters making them even stronger. "What proof do you have of house Bolton's betrayal?"
"My word." answered Walden
"Which is worth less then mud." stated Edume "Let Bolton explain himself but we have no other proof besides the word of a traitor."
"We have the letters." Stated a voice as everyone turned to look at Talia who had normally remained silient in these meetings. "The letters from Lady Sansa Stark and this Jon…Snow who both claimed that the Boltons and Freys would betray us and murder all of us at the wedding. Which was the plan was it not."
"My Queen, we know those letters are a Lannister trick nothing more." stated Lord Bracken "In fact it is more likely then ever that is was a Lannister trick, they warn us of the trap and then change the method of attack so even if it fails we turn against Bolton who is commanding the Southern most forces and could be made into a turn cloak."
"Then explain the Dragon and the banners of House Targaryen flying over the Twins, my Lord." added Catelyn "I don't want to believe it, I actually don't believe it but unless you think the Lannisters made a deal with the Targaryen girl as well then had her destroy the Twins then is happening down there?"
"I do not know." admitted Lord Bracken
"An neither does anyone else." stated Robb as he looked at his Lords. "We will keep gathering our forces the foot is still on the march and will not arrive until late tonight, we will get them into place when they arrive. At the same time we will try to rally any Frey men we find, while doing so we will watch the forces holding the Twins to discover what is going on. On the morrow we will send someone down there under a peace banner. And Lord Frey."
"Yes, my King." Said Waldon
"If it comes to battle, I will give you a chance to save your life maybe even a chance to earn your freedom and return of the Twins." Stated Robb
That caused Waldon's eyes to widened a bit and he stood a little taller.
"We are still gathering up those men of house Frey who fled from the Dragon and they will be reformed and if it comes to battle you will lead them in the front ranks." Stated Robb as Waldon's swallowed, front rank charge against a Dragon was asking for death and everyone knew it. "If you do that, then you will earn your life."
The entire day passed slowly for Robb as he waited for his foot to arrive, down at the Twins he could see people hard at work clearing the battlefield and repairing the main gate on either side of the bridge. The Dragon had taken off a few times over the day, every time heading South west over his own position before rounding back to the North East and coming back down. After one such time then they saw men setting up large tents on the other side of the river and a food being prepared.
King Robb Stark rode up to the top of a small hill where he could look down at the remains of the twins, beside him rode most of his Lords and Ladies.
"So my King who do you plan to go down there under a peace banner?" inquired the Blackfish before he could answer the green dragon who had been feasting on the remains of the dead horses even as the men where burned in large funeral piles let out a roar. That caused their horses to get a little jumpy but the calmed down quickly enough. Then they heard the sound of trumpets as from the top of a distant rise on the opposite side of the river the first riders appeared out of the North.
"Reinforcements?" inquired Great Jon Umber as the riders kept coming over the hill.
"Who are they?" inquired Robb as the blackfish pulled out his Myrish Eye to get a better view, he didn't even get a chance to say who before a roar filled the air and from the cloud cover appeared a massive black dragon, it wasn't double the size of the green but it was clearly bigger. The Dragon swooped over the advancing columns as it came ever closer to the twins.
"Now we have two dragons." Stated Robb as the green dragon took flight and flew beside the second larger one a few times before coming in for a landing.
Jon for his part walked out of the Twins and toward Drogon who had landed outside the Twins with a smile on his face. He had spotted them coming on one of his patrols and had ordered the tents which sat in the cellars of the twins brought out and set up and the large amount of food which was going to be used in the red wedding prepared for the coming men.
"My Queen." Said Jon as he went down on one knee as Daenerys got off her Dragon.
"My love." Said Daenerys back with a warm smile as Jon stood back up taking her hand kissing it. "It's been too long for my liking too many lonely nights."
"Agreed." laughed Jon, it had been three nights and he had missed her beside him every moment of it. "I already have food being prepared and a feast for the men as they come in."
Daenerys looked at him slightly confused.
"The Freys where going to have a wedding so they are stocked to the brim with food, ale and wine after such a long ride a good meal is needed." explained Jon as Daenerys nodded in understanding.
"Go easy on the wine and ale, we are still in enemy land." stated Deanarys as the two of them walked to the river's edge and looked to the West and the forest where the Northern and Riverland army had to be.
"Agreed." Confirmed Jon, it was time for business, and he could see man of house reed looking at the two of them so he couldn't take her into his arms and she couldn't do the same to him. They had to play the part of a Queen and a high Lord, and so they did. "What news of the North?"
"White Harbor is ours, I would expect the Dreadfort, Deepwood Motte and maybe the entire stony shore is back in our hands." Explained Daenerys as she looked out over the battlefield, she knew how she had to act out here. "Any contact with your cousin?"
"Seen a few scouts at a distance but I haven't approached them." explained Jon as he stood beside her.
"Why not?" inquired Daenerys confused.
"Well I have been all alone down here." explained Jon as Daenerys looked at the Chronic men around. "They haven't bent the knee to you, not yet they will not betray House Stark as they put it but they will not fight against us and they added us in taking the twines. Once Robb bends the knee so will they and knowing Robb it is better if he comes to you."
"I see." explained Daenerys as she looked to the west, she thought she could see some riders on a small hill in the distance. There was a banner as well, she wasn't sure because of the distance but she thought it was House Stark. Then she looked at Jon and gave him a playful smile. "Now all we have to do is get a King in the North to bend the knee. That shouldn't be an issue."
"I also have made contact with the Green men on the Isle of Faces in the God's eye." Explained Jon as Daenerys looked at him slightly confused, she had never heard of them. Another example of her not knowing all she should know about the lands and people she would rule. Jon must have seen her confusion and went on. "They are an holy order of men, well mostly men who have protected the island in the God's eye since the signing of the pack between the children of the forest and the 1st men. In truth, they are that but more."
"More?" inquired Daenerys
"A tribe of First Men and Children of the forest living together as one." said a new voice as an older man, with a black lizard lion badge on his armor walked forward, he bowed his head but didn't go down on one knee, a sign of respect but not submission. "Queen Daenerys."
"Lord Howland Reed I assume." Said Daenerys as the older man nodded his head in confirmation "I understand you have not bent the knee to me yet but I still thank you for all you have done either way."
"It is an honor and I hope to bend the knee to you soon, however my oath to house Stark forbids it for the moment." explained Howland as Daenerys nodded her head.
"So please go on about the order of the Green Men." requested Daenerys
"The order is a tribe of children and men who over generations have intermarried have become basically a new race, my wife Lady Maple is from there. Every so often some of their members marry into our house and we do the same. My own great grand aunt married into the order of the Green Men" explained Howland "And they know things long forgotten by any men."
"They want Bran." added Jon as Daenerys looked at him. "They say, that will give us the best chance against the real enemy."
Daenerys paused and looked at Jon, Bran was a key advisor not just about the White Walkers but he could see things that even her master of whispers couldn't. He was a prime source of information and could be used against them but if the Green men where right then having him go there would be their best chance to beat the real enemy.
"Did you trust them?" inquired Daenerys
"Not fully." admitted Jon as he looked at Lord Howland. "Sorry my Lord but they have kept their secrets for thousands of years and the other Three eyed raven was North of the Wall. So why was that? I do not know, and Bran isn't just some powerful magic user he is my cousin by blood and brother by heart. I don't like the idea of just handing him over to them."
"No offense taken, Lord Stark and you are right, they are good at keeping their secrets." admitted Howland "However you should trust them."
"I am not saying that, I told them I would let Bran decide. If he wants to go I will not stop him." explained Jon as Daenerys nodded her head. "This war between the living is second or real enemy is the walkers and the dead."
"I agree, you will head back to Winterfell and inform Bran about this and ask him to start making his way down here if he should wish it." explained Daenerys as she looked at the Dragons. "I don't think Bran would be safe on Dragon back, he has no strength in his legs to help him and we can't have him fall off the dragon. Besides we will need Sansa down here to help convince your cousin and Aunt of the truth, so see if she will come down with you instead."
"Sansa would never get on the back of a Dragon." stated Jon as Daenerys thought about it and had to admit Jon was right.
"Then Lady Arya." stated Daenerys before grinning. "It will be harder to get her off the Dragon once you land then getting her on the dragon."
"Aye…" laughed Jon "Arya with a dragon, that would cause anyone to run in fear."
"True." laughed Daenerys as she thought about it some more. For a dragon going up to Winterfell and back down to the twins was very doable, she had forced her Dragons all the way from Dragon Stone to North of the wall then into a fight before going back to the wall. She would never forgive herself for that mistake, her dragons where slow in that battle, tired and that had helped the Night King kill one of her children. "They didn't believe or letters, maybe solid evidence is required…"
"What are you thinking?" inquired Jon
"Bring down Jaimie Lannister and Gendry as well." ordered Daenerys, Rhaegal was smaller than Drogon but he would be able to carry Jon, Arya, Gendry and Jaime with ease. "Gendry will want to come if Arya is and I have an idea for Jaimie."
"Alright." said Jon as he thought about it Drogon carried everyone but him back to the wall after their trip North and they would have weight a lot more then Arya, Gendry, Jaime and himself.
"Good." said Daenerys as she thought about it and decided which was best overall but not for her personally, she didn't want another lonely night. "You should leave at once and overnight in Winterfell before coming back tomorrow to give Rhaegal some rest in Winterfell. If your cousin is like you, he will not come down to parlay until tomorrow because we arrived. He will want to observe us and it would be better if someone other then yourself is here to explain things to them."
"True." said Jon with a heavy sigh, he was looking forward to having a night with his love, but he knew she was right. "Lady Stark will not believe us if it is just me, Lord Royce and Lord Howland will help but that isn't enough. She will believe one of her children above all of us."
"I understand your pain." Said Lord Howland he could see that the young couple wanted to be together. "Being apart from those you love is always hard, but that is part of leadership."
"Alright, I'll leave at once." Said Jon
Within the half hour, when the vanguard of the Vale and White Harbor army had arrived and the main body was within half a mile march Jon and Rhaegal took to the sky flying out over the army as he headed North. As he passed by the rear of the Vale forces, he saw the Vanguard of the Dothraki which had left Winterfell when they did which had someone gained days on the march and once again proved that they where unquestionable the best horsemen in the world.
The sun had set for Theon Greyjoy the entire day had been nothing but confusing, he had expected nothing but hate from the Northern but he got nothing but respect for something he did and yet didn't do. He heard stories about how he saved Sansa from Ramsay who was hated more the Joffrey among these people and how he laid down his life to protect Bran and give them a second chance to defeat the dead. He had seen Sansa a few times at a distance, but she was Lady of Winterfell and Winterfell was still in the process of being rebuilt. Buildings torn down by the Bolton men were being raised again and some new ones where going up as well. A rather large stone covering was being built out from the Southern walls and for the life of him he didn't know why.
"They are for Queen Daenerys and Lord Stark." answered the one worker he asked, he treated it like such a stupid question that he didn't press for more information. The information he had about what his fait would have been under Ramsay was bad enough and he couldn't help but be thankful for his manhood still being attached to his body.
Sansa had ordered a feast prepared for Rickon's return and as a thank you for all the hard work of the people of Winterfell. High born knights all from the Vale and minor lords from the North who had stayed to help protect Winterfell all came into the great hall but so did the common worker and their families to enjoy the feast.
He wasn't about to turn down food, so he found himself in one of the long tables, near the middle of the front. He hadn't wanted to push that he was the heir to the Iron Island and would be King on day, he didn't know how they would react. He did however have a good view of the large frontal table which had three large dire wolves resting at the front, Sansa sat in the Lords chair with Rickon to her right and Bran to her left. Arya sat beside Rickon as well as a man he didn't know but Arya seemed to be showing him a lot of attention.
"Isn't she promised to a Frey." Whispered Theon to himself, as he looked around the table. The heir to the Vale Ser Harold Hardyng sat beside Bran and talked a lot with Sansa while two young children a boy and a girl sat beside each other near Rickon. Rickon seemed confused and more then once he called Sansa mother but that was understandable, Lady Stark had left when the boy was young, and Sansa did look like Lady Stark.
The meal was good but he didn't feel like he belonged in this hall so he slowly stood up and left the great hall, he walked out and toward the southern gate. No one attempted to stop him or ask what he was doing, then he heard it the sound of flapping wings like a bird or maybe a bat but loader much loader. He looked toward the source which came from the south and then coming over the wall came a dark shape, it's long neck and scaled covered body would have been scary enough but instead of arms it had a bat like wings and a long tail. His eyes widened and he fell backwards onto his ass as the beast flew overhead before turning around and dropping lower.
"Open the gates!" yelled a voice as the gates began to open. Theon wanted to yell at them, tell them that was suicide and that they needed to get ready to fight. He stumbled to his feet and looked toward the gate just in time to see it fully open as the Dragon landed. For a moment the Dragon just shook his head as a figure slide from it's back. Then two figures much braver than any normal man would be moved forward and seamed to lead the Dragon toward the newly built structure on the wall. Then it hit him, it was a stable but instead of horses it was a dragon. The figure shouted out some orders before it started to walk toward him. Theon froze as the figure came out of the darkness, he was armored in white chainmail with black steal and leather over it and a white direwolf on the breast plate. That was what gave him the 1st idea of who was approaching him. The figure came closer into the light as his eyes widened as Jon appeared out of the darkness. He was older as well, battle scared and had a long sword hanging from his belt, a sword with a white wolf head pummel.
"Snow…" greeted Theon
"Greyjoy." greeted Jon raising an eyebrow at being called Snow. "It's Stark now…didn't they tell you?"
"They said you where now a Stark but I didn't want to press…everyone seams to know everything and…." Explained Theon
"And you didn't want to seam the fool." Stated Jon with a sigh. "Same as always Theon, but I guess it can't be helped you aren't the man I knew…not yet. Well the answer is rather simple, I am Lord Jon Stark trueborn son of Lyanna Stark and Prince Rhaegar of House Targaryen who ran off together got married and started Robert's Rebellion."
Theon's eyes widened at the news.
"But that means you would be heir to the Iron Throne." stated Theon as he recalled all the times he had insulted Jon while growing up, he would never have done that if he had known the Jon was heir to the Iron Throne.
"I was born Aegon, but that name isn't me. I wanted to be a Wolf not a Dragon just like you always wanted to be a wolf not a kraken." Stated Jon as Theon's eyes widened, how did he know his darkest secret. Jon placed a hand on his shoulder before giving him a smile. "You told me that on Dragon Stone before you went off to save your sister from your Uncle but that hasn't happened and hopefully will not. We have already stopped a lot of things from happening but there is some things I hope do happen, I hope you are able to grow into the man I knew during the battle with the dead. I pray that can happen, because that man was a good man, a brave man and a true wolf. Now we have more to do, if you excuse me, I need to see my cousins."
It took a few minutes but soon, Jon, Varys, Bran, Sansa, Messandei and Arya all found themselves in a side chamber having excused themselves from the welcoming feast. Jon quickly brought them up to speed about events in the South, about the Twins and the Green Men on the Isle of Faces.
"So they want me to go to the Isle of Faces." Stated Bran in a semi monotone voice as he looked toward the fire. "I am not sure about it."
"Neither was I." admitted Jon
"I don't like the idea of leaving you alone with all those people we don't know." Added Sansa "And one protected by magic strong enough to force Dragons away, because if I recall my history any Targaryen who had tried to land on the isle before was forced back somehow."
"For the most part, there was talk that Prince Damon Targaryen visited the isle during the dance of the Dragons but that could be a singers tale." admitted Varys "I don't like it either, we know nothing about these green men."
"I will look in on that." Stated Bran "If I do go south, I am in no condition to ride a dragon so I will have to take a cart south."
"So will Lord Tyrion when he returns from the wall hopeful with Measter Aemon and myself." Stated Varys "No offense but Winterfell doesn't give me the best access to my spy network I am of little aid here."
"I should head south as well." Stated Missandei "I should be with her grace."
"Do we know where Greyworm is?" inquired Jon
"Got a raven from him, he is in Torren Square and is sending the bulk of the Unsullided South but the Northern Horse under Lord Roddick Forester are clearing up the Stoney Shore or on their way back here." Said Sansa as Jon turned back to Missandei.
"I can't order you, but I recommend you wait for Tyrion and his team to arrive back in Winterfell. I have a feeling he will be needed in the South as well and might as well come down together under escort." Advised Jon as Missandei nodded her head in agreement.
"Now all we have to do is wait for Robb to bend the knee." Said Jon
"And if they don't?" inquired Missandei "Forgive me, I do not know your cousin and brother but what if he is as stubborn as you where and he doesn't bend the knee."
"Then…" said Jon sadly not wanting to think about fighting Robb but as he thought of the current map. "We are in a good defensive position at the moment and we can't keep pushing our men like we have. Once we talk to Robb and reclaim the Vale we should rest those men we have."
"Agreed." stated Varys "We also need time for some of my little birds to do their work. Also to bring Queen Daenerys forces in slaver bay over to us."
"We need to focus on convince Mother and Robb who we are." stated Sansa as she looked at Arya. "Arya, I hope you aren't afraid of heights."
"You know I am not." said Arya rolling her eyes at her sister, then she understood. "Wait…you want me to go south with Jon to talk to Lady Stark."
"To talk with Mother, Aye." stated Sansa
"That thing in the south isn't mother or Robb, they died at the twins they are ghosts." countered Arya
"Then talk to ghosts if that is how you feel." rebutted Sansa "However I need to stay here, someone needs to organize the North and truth be told you couldn't get me on one of those dragons to save my life."
"Also Rickon needs you here." added Jon as Sansa nodded her head. "Besides Dany…sorry Queen Daenerys wants you up here to organize as you said, she wants Arya, Gendry and Jaime Lannister to head south with me in the morning."
"Why Gendry and Jaime Lannister?" inquired Sansa
"Well Gendry because I don't think we could separate those two." said Jon as he pointed toward Arya "As for Jaime I have no idea; she has an idea and requires him."
"Alright, I'll inform them." stated Varys as he looked at the room full of mostly Starks. "Why don't you all enjoy the time as a family…or as you Starks like to call it a pack. It will be very busy tomorrow."
First to my American readers I hope you had a good thanksgiving and that you all lived through black Friday. I know some of you may be disappointed because Jon and Robb didn't meet up yet, but now Daenerys has arrived and Ayra is on her way as well. Now until next time please keep reading, thanks Wilkins75
