Chapter 18 Revelations and Ultimations

It was approaching midnight as for the first time since the last Long Night a Three Eyed Raven was on the isle of Faces in the God's eye. The isle was full of smoke as piles of sage and other herbs where being burned in preparation for what was to come. Every soul on the Isle was gathering at its heart, that heart was the single largest weirwood tree on the island. It was truly a massive tree, being thicker than a wagon and taller than the highest walls of Winterfell it was the largest weirwood tree south of the wall. Surrounding in where 12 large weirwoods which would have been dwarf the weirwood tree in Winterfell on their own but next to the center one they were nothing but children. Each of the twelve trees had faces carved into them, however unlike the other weirwood trees in Westeros the faces where both male and female. Unlike the other weirwood trees on the island the center massive tree didn't have a face carved into its white trunk, instead a large throne was carved into its massive trunk.

The green men, all gathered in this grove their hoods raised as they held large bee wax candles which filled the night with a soft glow. In addition to the humans, and the two children of the forest gathered, the animals of the island had also gathered. Large elk moved to stand beside the humans which hunted them, shadow cats came out of the trees their padded feet stopping beside the elks, other smaller animals moved closer, snakes frogs and squirrels sat together around the tree waiting until the entire ground minus a walking path was filled with beasts. The trees themselves began to fill with countless birds of all kind, even birds who would normally be asleep at this time at night where awake for this moment. The ravens had the best view as they and only they were allowed to sit within the blood red leaves of the main weirwood tree as everyone waited, they had gathered to see an event which hadn't happened in thousands of years.

"You are ready for this?" inquired Leaf as she looked at Bran, they stood at the head of a small path leading to the throne. Bran sat in a makeshift wheelchair, it was rough wood and without any padding like the one he had in Winterfell but that didn't matter.

"No." admitted Bran as he looked at the throne with sadness in his eyes. "But it is what needs to be done."

"You are doing this for all of humanity and for everything with warm blood in this world." stated Cedar as the elderly child of the forest held tight to her walking stick.

"No…I am not." stated Bran with a sad smile. "I am doing this for the people I love not everyone else. I guess that makes me a little self-centered."

"Still what you are doing is for the greater good." stated Maple Reed as she stood behind a makeshift wheelchair made from fallen trees. It wasn't all that nice with rough wood and uneven wheels but it wouldn't be used for long.

"Lady Maple, I wish a favor from you." stated Bran as Lady Reed looked down at him, he pulled a small bundle of parchment from within his robes, the bundle was bound with small strands of rope. "Please give these to my friends and family."

"I will." promised Lady Reed as she took the letters and placed them within pouch she had over her own shoulder.

"We are ready." stated Maple as Bran nodded his head and the ceremony began. All eyes were on him as he was rolled forward toward the throne. He didn't open his eyes as he was pushed forward, however no tears fell from his eyes as he moved toward his fate. He did not have to go far and as he came to a stop, he waited for the next part. Normally he would have sat on the throne under his own power but he had no strength in his legs, so using their magic Leaf and Cedar caused now branches to come from the tree which would lifted him up and placed him on the throne. He pushed the branches back causing the two childern of the forest to look at him, worried that he had changed his mind.

"I will do it myself." Stated Bran as he pushed his muscles to their limit and straining against it his arms lifted him up from the wheelchair and with a great amount of effort he pulled himself into the throne, pulling his dead legs into position until he was sitting with his back to the tree, straight and tall on the throne. He closed his eyes and paused for a moment, taking in a deep breath before opening his eyes again he wanted to see the world with just human eyes one last time.

All around him new tiny branches where growing from the tree, they wrapped him up going around his arms, his legs, his chest but none touched his head or face.

"I am ready." confirmed Bran as Leaf and Maple held out their hands toward him palm facing out and as one they closed the hands into fists. That is when it happened, like thousands of snakes all striking at once or tiny hot needles all being pushed into the body the branches which had surrounding him all sent off shots into his body. He winced in pain as he felt the branches well roots now growing into him, going into his lungs, his stomach and his heart. Even from the throne itself as new branches grew into his body, they went into his palms, his arms, his chest brushing against his heart and even into his lungs. Multiple smaller roots shot into his spin as his body merged with the tree. The last one shot straight and true like a crossbow bolt and shot into the back of his head going into his skull and brain with vines going into multiple places in his brain and with that done he was gone.

His body may be in the tree but his mind he could see so much, he was no longer limited by Westeros or even seeing only a single place at any one time. He turned his gaze to the North where he saw Daenerys fast asleep in her tent her dreams filled with Jon and the family she never had as a child but one she wanted for their children. Beyond her, but not that far in the Vale Jon was taking a midnight walk among the tents the burden of command weighing on him even as his thoughts turned to his love. To the North he saw a mass of free Folk come into sight of the Wall hungry and tried but alive as horns blew announcing their arrival to the Black Brothers, the Free Folk and Vale Knights ordered there by Queen Deanarys. Beyond that was a large band of White Walkers and their undead killing everything in their path, be it a giant snow bear or even a tiny rabbit they were being killed and raised up to join the undead army.

He turned his gaze back to the south going back over the wall to see Sansa awake even at this hour unable to sleep as she stood on the walls of Winterfell with Brienne of Tarth beside her talking more like friends then Lady and Sworn Shield neither of them really talking about the fears in their hearts about what will come in the near future. His mother sleeping in a chair beside the sleeping form of his brother, her heart filled with sadness at the distance between her and her oldest daughter while haunted by her past mistakes. Down to his other brother asleep in a tent beside a river with his wife, their unborn child in her womb alive beyond the point which would been their death without them traveling back in time. Arya like Sansa was awake only she was drinking and playing dice with a group of soldiers and telling them stories about the battle of Winterfell. To the South in King's Landing almost everyone was asleep, however in a great building dedicated to another Faith a group of men sat in conference listening to those who were lying about something that is true. Then he turned his gaze to the east to Dragon Stone and the ships of the Narrow Sea, he saw Jaime sleeping in his bunk his dreams haunted by what he had done but comforted by a pair of warm blue eyes. He saw a nearby ship where a women he had never meet before but whom he knew to be the Princess of Dorne slept in her bed as they passed North of Dragon Stone heading toward Gulltown in the Vale.

His gaze shot across the Narrow Sea, to the Free Cities, he saw the remains of the Valyria and the doom which happened when the 14 volcanos erupted all at once. He saw the looked down over the vase graveyard of dragons and people. If the Night King ever arrived there he would be unstoppable, lucky he was on the other side of a massive land mass. He moved on toward the ancient cities of Slaver's Bay most of all the burning and destroyed remains outside of Meereen. Where Ser Barristan Selmy Queen's Guard to Daenerys Targaryen stood outside of a tent watching powerless as the freed slaves of Yunkai with the Unsullied who didn't come back with them carry out a siege of the ancient slave city in the name of their "Lost Queen". The elder knight had his head bowed as he watched another former Slave Master being nailed to a post outside of the city to warn those still within of their fate. All the while the younger Dragon flew overhead but made no attempt to enter the city or attack it.

Bran's gaze went beyond Slaver's Bay to the ancient city of Qarth which guarded the Jade Gates which lead into the Jade Sea where some the greatest and ancient civilizations sat. As he flew over the waters of the Jade Gate he could see the southern end of the massive mountain range known as the Bones which ran all the way to the Silvering Sea in the distant North cutting Essos in two. He flew east to the cities of Yi Ti dynasty. There he saw palaces and temples which put anything in Westeros to shame and the massive cities crowed with strange people speaking in strange tongues. He stood on the balcony with their Jade Emperor and watched as they illuminated the night with explosions of light and sounds.

Then he lost control for a moment as stranger lands came into view in a rapid succession, the weirwood network reconnected when the Night King rebuilt the Northern land bridge between Westeros and Essos brought a flood of information. He saw thick jungles full of strange black apes with silver backs, a caravan of dark skin traders meeting with other even darker skin traders in the desert oasis. He saw women on horses riding down large fur covered oxen and taking them down with bows and arrows. He saw an battlefield where men with curved swords fought on the backs of elephants, then a similar looking man sitting under a tree teaching all who would listen to his words. The information came faster then, until it was an unending series of strange images and ideas so much so that he could not understand it all.

"Stop…" cried Bran as suddenly it did stop, he was no longer jumping from place to place, but he was not back in the God's Eyes either. It was cold, cold enough to see his breath, but snow did not cover the ground instead it was stony with little sign of life, a dead tree there a brown bush there. He wasn't in Westeros but he wasn't alone either. He turned to see a lone figure standing only a dozen steps away from him his back turned to him, his armor hadn't changed since the last time but he seemed different. Slowly he turned his head to look upon him, the deep unnaturally blue eyes of the Night King.

"Hello, Bran." said Bran to the Night King, using his old human name. The Night King showed no reaction to his old name but gazed upon Bran like a man would look upon an insect which had dared showed itself to him. "You will not win; we will stop you."

That earned Bran a small grin from the Night King as he turned back away from him but raised a hand beckoning him forward. Bran walked forward to the edge of the small cliff where the Night King stood looking down. At it came into view Bran's eyes widened as he looked down at the massive army of undead. They were all in horrifying states of decay, some nothing but bones with a little bit of meat holding them together, others perfectly preserved but with a missing arm or leg. They held ancient, rusted weapons and armor which was falling apart but the army before him was at least double the size of the one which had attacked Winterfell. They all looked up at him with those blue eyes, then as one they turned and started to walk away being led by a few of the White Walkers on undead horses. There were not just humans, but horses as well, even a few elephants and more wyrans some of which took to the air as they headed away. Bran knew where they were going, back to Westeros to be used against the living, an army bigger than the one they had faced before and there was already another army of undead in Westeros and the Night King had a third army with him as he hunted for dragons.

He almost jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned to see the Night King looking down at him. Even standing as he was the King was at least a foot and a half taller them him and the look on his face told Bran all he wanted to know. The Night King turn and began to walk away without a word because there was nothing to be said. He did not see the Three Eyed Raven as a threat and would do nothing to stop him, he would come for him and every living thing in time until then he would let them struggle. To the Night King, Bran and humanity in general where like a child holding a broken sword trying to fight an armored and armed knight, they were no threat to him.

Bran glared at the Night King as he moved toward a waiting undead horse and with skill and grace he mounted and headed off on his hunt to find a dead dragon. Once he found that dragon or dragons, he would be able to break the Wall to unleash his now larger army on the living.

Bran closed his eyes and thought about Eldric, that ancient man who was brother to Night King Bran. He had last seen him with a strange woman with deep red hair and light purple eyes on wyvern back. He focused on him and that unknown woman. When he opened them again, he was not standing on a hill side looking down anymore he was standing on the remains of a balcony looking down at the remains of a snow-covered city.

"What is this place?" inquired Bran as things began to move backwards at a rapid rate, the snow began to fall upwards as an army of dead arrived and the land bridge sunk below the waves again. It speeds up as he got flashes of a damaged ship with the name Sunchaser on its haul and the Targaryen banner on its mast which had been beached on the shoreline go back out to sea. Then the long line of ancient longships headed out as men rose from where they had fallen only to walk backwards and get back on their ships all of whom flew the banner of house Stark back out to sea. Then it speeds up again, he saw flashes of a battle and then the white snow changed to lush green grass, the city became alive with people living their lives in happiness. Finally, it came to a stop as two Wyvern landed on the balcony before him.

"What was that?" inquired one of the riders as he looked at the woman rider who had Eldric holding onto her tightly his eyes closed.

"I don't know." Answered the woman as she turned her head to look at the scared man behind her. "Let's hope this southern barbarian has an answer."

"Who are you." said the woman in a different language however Bran understood her with the same ease that he had understood her in her native tongue.

"Eldric of tribe Stark." stated Eldric "Who…who are you?"

"I am Nissa of Irrodus." introduced the women

"Irrodus?" inquired Eldric as the women let out a sigh and moved her hand to force him to look at the strange city around him.

"This is Irrodus, our city." stated Nissa

"What is a city?" inquired Eldric confused as Nissa rolled her eyes in clear annoyance.

"Ancestors please help me with this uncultured barbarian." prayed Nissa in her native language before going back to the tongue which Eldric could understand. "It is a large gathering of multiple tribes of people…now come with me."

"Just lock him up for now, we need to report to the Council of Kings." said the second rider as Nissa paused for a moment before nodding her head in agreement.

"Right…" said Nissa as she turned and looked at two more guards who were walking up, one was a man while the other was also a women dressed in bronzed scale with an opening front helm with a plum of dark red feathers running down the center and back of the helm. "Take him to one of the secure waiting rooms, treat him kindly we don't want to make asking him questions any harder than it has to be."

"Right." answered the female guard as Nissa turned back to Eldric and switching to his language.

"Go with these people, they will make sure you are feed and we will talk soon." stated Nissa as Eldric nodded his head and without a fight but with fear and wonder in his eyes he went peacefully with the guards.

"This is going to take a while, but I am the right path." said Bran as he moved to follow Nissa into the castle behind them.

Back on the Isle of Faces the ceremony was over as one by one or in small groups the animals which had come to see the enthronement of a new Three Eyed Raven on the Weirwood throne.

"I don't want to be the one to tell Lord Stark or the others what we just did." said Lady Maple Reed as she looked at Cedar and Leaf the two full blooded Children of the Forest seamed slightly sadden by the actions they had done but also glad they wouldn't have to tell the full blooded humans what had happened to Bran.

"They will understand that it was his choice." reassured Cedar as she looked toward Bran, he sat on the throne with multiple branches now going through his body. Everyone knew that he would never be leaving that chair again, he was now part of the tree and the greater network beyond that.

"As long as the living beat the Night King who cares." stated Leaf as she looked at Bran, like the Raven she had just left to die in the North and every other three eyed raven she had ever meet he was now part of the network. "The way he is now he can search for answers all day and all night and we need that."

"I just hope his family understands that." stated Cedar

"If it was my child who had to do this…I know I would want to lash out." stated Lady Maple "And I don't have armies and dragons at my back."

The sun was beginning to rise over King's Landing unknown to all but the most senior members of the Faith of the Seven a decision which would forever shape the Seven Kingdoms had been made. At an emergency meeting of the High Septon and the senior members of most Devout, multiple people had come to give testimony. Besides the original seven which had arrived in the middle of the night, for more people had arrived to give testimony to what they have seen or heard within the walls of the Red Keep. Those men seven brave men and five noble women were granted the protection of the High Septon and the Faith until their words could be proven true or false. With that done they had left the High Septon's private sept which sat below the main hall of the Great Sept of Baelor. With the decision made the messages where sent out, seven rode at once to leave the city, each would leave by a different gate, one even taking ship. They had messages with the seals of the High Septon and the most devout gathered this night. The Sept had its own small rookery tended by a Maester who took the messages and attached them to the ravens and before the sun had fully risen, seven ravens had taken flight. All of them where bound to Old Town, with seven in the air the chances of every raven being taken down by a wild beast was low. They had to make sure this message got out before the city was possibly put on lock down.

With that all done, the Great Sept of Baelor began what looked on the outside to be a normal looking day however those with sharp eyes noticed that the number of guards had increased and all of them had donned heavy plate armor. Just after the morning prayer to the Seven, where a blessing was given a middle age men dressed in a strange mix of cloth of Gold and fine black silk headed out of the Sept and with two guards and a septa swinging a ceremonial incept burner headed toward the Red Keep.

The passing commoners and city watch knew who this man was by the strange mix of fabrics of his cloths. He wore the normal blacks of a common Septon, but the cloth of Gold belonged only to the High Septon, wearing both meant he was only one person. He was the official aid to the High Septon himself. He took the High Septon letters and provided everything he needed and delivered his messages to those of great importance. He spoke with the voice of the High Septon and he was heading toward the Red Keep. That was not uncommon so most gave the man a half bow as a sign of respect to his office and waited for him to pass. Once done they went on with their day unaware of what was about to happen in the Red Keep.

Once at the gates to the Red Keep he was let in at once and he requested an audience with the King and the small council. Few could order a King around and in truth this message couldn't order King Joffrey to do anything however another small council meeting was already in session and his position as the voice of the High Septon gave him quick entry to the council chambers.

The chambers had changed a lot since the day before where Lord Tywin had been Hand of the King, instead of the elder Lord sitting at the head of the table. King Joffrey sat on a seat with extra padding to make sure the young King was taller than his seated Lords and Ladies. His new Hand of the King Lord Mace Tyrell sat to his right while the newest member of the council Lord Roose Bolton sat to his left. His mother and his grandfather sat in the middle seats of the long table, while Lord Petyr Baelish and Grand Measter Pycelle sat at the far end of the table.

"My King, a message from his high holiness." stated a Kings Guard as Joffrey looked up from the map before him with some annoyance.

"More wedding nonsense." Stated Joffrey as he looked at this man dressed in black and gold. "You should be talking to Lady Olenna and my future Queen, they are the ones handling this."

"While the news I carry does have an effect on the wedding I bring far graver news." Stated the man as Joffrey eyed him.

"Is his high holiness unwell?" inquired Lord Mace

"He is burdened with a difficult choice and is praying to the Crone for wisdom even as we speak." announced the Septon as he prepared himself. "Last night seven souls arrived at the Great Sept with a horrifying news, they claim they have direct or indirect knowledge that the Queen mother has been in a relationship with her own brother."

Joffrey fist began to ball as everyone gaze either looked toward the King or Queen Cersei.

"More lies from Stannis and our other enemies, the Dragon Whore and the boy Stark." stated Cersei keeping her cool even as anger built up within her.

"That is possible your grace, however the number of claims both of these people and the public claims put forward by Ser Jaime Lannister himself has thrown your loyalty to King Robert and King Joffrey's parentage into question." stated the Septon as Joffrey's anger began to boil over again. Before the King could verbally exploded the Septa went on turning to look at the mad king. "Because of these questions the High Septon has no choice but to revoke his blessing of your rule and will not be joining you and Lady Margaery Tyrell in Holy Marriage until such claims are cleared up."

"WHO ARE YOU TO DEMAND ANYTHING OF ME! I AM THE KING!" yelled Joffrey as he slammed his fist on the table. "YOU WILL OBEY YOUR KING OR YOU WILL DIE!"

"I am the servant of the High Septon, whom is the voice of the Seven on Earth, I obey only them." explained the Septon as he tensed up a bit, he knew he was on thin ice and it could mean the end of him.

"Arrest him!" yelled Joffrey as two guards began to move forward and grabbing the Septon.

"Your grace…he is the voice of the High Septon." countered Lord Tyrell "To arrest him is to go to war against the faith."

"So…some Targaryen did that in the past and that was when they had actual fighting force, not now." Stated Joffrey with an evil grin. "Now they have no fighting force."

"Still your grace…no reason to start a war on another front when surely, we can come to some arrangement." advised Little Finger as he looked at Joffrey, this was the make or break moment of his plan. He knew was dancing on the edge of a blade and he had to be careful and pray that he had read this mad boy correctly.

"What kind of arrangement." stated Joffrey as Little Finger bowed his head a bit and turned back to the Septon.

"The High Septon requires proof of the falsehoods placed forward by these men and women correct?" inquired Little Finger already knowing the answer because he had contacts within the Faith.

"Correct." Stated the Septon nodding his head. "We will however not allow torture to happen on them, these souls have come to us and asked for our protection and they have gotten it, until they are proven false. If they are proven false then they will be punished of course but not before."

"I wouldn't think of it, torcher isn't a good way to get to the truth in my personal view." Stated Little Finger with a chuckle. "No…I was thinking, would his High Holiness except the falsehoods of this sickening lie if King Joffrey was to defeat our enemies in the field?"

The Septon looked at the Master of Coin, considering the offer.

"It would be similar to a trial by battle or a trail of seven." offered up Grand Maester Pycelle as he noted two ways the faith had traditional let people settle disputes.

"I will speak to the High Septon but I believe he would accept that." stated the Septon "The Warrior and the Seven above will prove the truth or falsehoods of this."

"The falsehood for sure." reassured Little Finger as he turned and looked at King Joffrey who was still as angry as a trapped bull during mating season. "Is that an acceptable deal your grace?"

"So I kill my enemies and this whole sick joke of a tale is put to the side for all times?" inquired Joffrey as he confirmed what had already been said.

"It will your grace." confirmed the Septon

"Very well." stated Joffrey as he looked at the hand of the King and his future father-in-law. "Lady Margaery will just have to wait to become Queen until after I have slaughtered my enemies."

"Well this means we could possibly march sooner." added Roose Bolton as he looked at King Joffrey.

"We are already pushing to get our forces ready to move, we were already pushing it to march in 10 days I don't think we could leave sooner then what we already have planned." explained Hand of the King Lord Tyrell only to get a glare from his king. "Well…perhaps we could leave a day or two earlier but not much more than that."

"Better than nothing." stated Joffrey as he crossed his arms over his chest and turned back to the Septon. He clearly didn't like his hand being forced but it was also something he wanted, he could now march to battle sooner then he thought. "Tell his High Holiness that once I bring the heads of the wolf boy and the dragon whore, I expect him to announce before Gods and Men that these are baseless lies and they are never to be spoken again."

"I will, your grace." said the Septon as he bowed his head and headed out of the chamber, happy that he was still free and happier to still be alive.

Far away from the Red Keep, the wooden gates of Castle Black rose up as Tormund Gaintsbane along with a few other Free Folk and a handful of Knights of the Vale rode out toward the approaching mass of humanity which had come within sight of the wall. Beside them rode a dozen members of the Nights Watch with acting Lord Commander Allister Thorne. There weren't many horses beyond the wall, most people walked or if they were lucky they used dog sleds in winter. The snow-covered ground wasn't deep enough to make sleds an effective way to travel, the only group which was mounted where the Giants who used Mammoths.

The approaching knights got glares from the free folk as they rode forth approaching a small gathering of figures at the edge of the tree line. Behind the tree line the bulk of the free folk where gathered, they were tired, hungry people who had just abounded everything they had ever known and was at the door of their enemy seeking protection from a greater enemy.

"Ah…Mance…" bellowed Tormund as he looked at Mance Rayder in the center of group of warrior and spear wives. "Last time I saw you, you were burning alive in Castle Black before an arrow to the heart killed you that is."

"Well…from what I have heard you are from the future?" stated Mance Rayder

"I am…" confirmed Tormund "A future where we got our asses kicked by a Southern King named Stannis, then slaughtered by the Dead at Hardhome and then fucked by them at Winterfell. But none of that matters now, now we have a chance to put the dead back in the ground, but it will require something none of us wanted to do until it was too late."

"What is that?" inquired Mance

"We need to forgive those whom we have killing for generations." stated Tormund as he looked at Allister Thorne "Both sides will because the Long Night is coming and we need to work together because none of us can beat these fuckers by ourselves but together we can give them a fight. We have to have the courage to make peace with men we have been killing for generations."

"If the choice is between joining the dead or bending the knee to a Dragon Queen then I will accept that." said Mance as the other free folk looked at him with some hate but Mance had earned the leadership role and they would follow him, even if they didn't like it.

"You will not have to bend the knee if you don't want to." stated Tormund "All that Jon and the Dragon Queen demand for your entry is three things."

"And they are?" inquired the Lord of Bones only to get a glare from Mance even though he was going to ask the same thing.

"1st, when South of the Wall you will follow Guest Rights, even though you will not be within a home you will treat it as if it was. You will not carry out any raiding in return you will be given the Gift and the New Gift to settle." stated Tormund "2nd our people will man the wall, minus the Shadow Tower, Grey Water Watch and Castle Black. 3rd that we will fight together as a single force when those dead fuckers come for us all."

"That is it, we don't have to bend the knee, we don't have to kneel to this Dragon Queen?" inquired another Free Folk chieftain. "We don't have to become slaves."

"Since she has freed slaves in the past, I don't think she would allow slaves to be in her view." Stated Tormund "And Jon has spent a lot of time with us, he understands us and he will explain things to her and the other Southerners. Don't expect a totally warm welcome but once we beat the Walkers we can go back home and carry on as we please or stay. If we stay, we will have to bend the knee but other than that we will not have to bend the knee."

"I see…if that is the case then I will accept those terms." stated Mance extending his hand which Tormund took.

"Good because if you didn't then we would have wasted all that food we prepared for you once we saw you coming." Stated Tormund "Come let's get South of the Wall."

It took a while but soon the gates to Castle Black opened to show the tunnel leading through the wall to the South. It was clear to everyone that the Black Brothers where not pleased to see their enemies coming through the Wall and it was even harder to get the mammoths through. The first one had to be pulled by a giant while two more pushed.

"This will take a while." stated Mance as the sun began to reach midday.

"Still we are getting it done." countered Tormund as he looked toward the North. In the distance he could see dark storm clouds over the haunted forest. He had seen those clouds before; it was the same storm which seemed to follow the Walkers wherever they went. It was still far off but his blood turned to ice as he looked at it, he knew that any unlucky soul there would soon be among the dead. "We need to get this done by nightfall…I don't think it will be safe beyond the Wall after this day."

Screams filled the air as small bands of free folk women tried to make a run for it but they knew in their hearts that they didn't stand a chance of making it out alive. They had come during the day; they never did that before and now they did not care about their offering of their own sons to them. They came to kill and raise them as members of their army. The wives of Craster most of whom were also his daughters ran as the traitors to the Watch who had taken over the little wooden homestead attempted to fight the dead. They were not doing well, and worse of all the Walkers where with them.

"RUN!" yelled an older woman before a spear took her in the back, as she fell the 14-year-old girl whom she had been protecting tripped and fell into the soft snow. She spun around and looked behind her as the spear was pulled from her mother/sister. The creature pulling the spear was dressed in black armor with impossible bluish white skin and worse of all it rode not a horse or another beast she had seen before but a large spider with blue white fur and jaws with dripping fangs.

The creature had deep blue eyes and moved at impossible speed toward her, the creature raised one of its eight legs each one tipped with a long bone like claw. The claw went straight through her rib cage causing a fountain of warm dark red blood upward. Some of the blood splash up on the walker who seemed annoyed as it whipped away the blood and moved off to kill anything else still alive.

Far from the blood bath of beyond the Wall, more screams filled the air and calls of alarm as a large black dragon flew circles around the Bloody Gate. The Gateway to the Vale had been the unbreakable door leading into the Vale of Arryn but the tiny mountain pass with cliffs on either side which was only reachable from the other side of the Blood Gate couldn't go high enough to keep out Dragons. The guards who flew the banner of House Arryn looked on in confusion at the dragon and then the army of their fellow Vale men all of whom had the banner of House Targaryen as well as the moon and falcon of house Arryn and their own houses.

The guards were confused not sure what to do but in the end the blood gates opened and the three headed banner of House Targaryen rose up.

Daenerys smiled as she looked down at the army which was snaking its way through the pass heading into the Vale. She could see in tallest mountain in Westeros the Giant's Lance rising in the distance. With luck the leading edge of her forces should arrive at the base of the mountain where the Castle the Gates of the Moon sat. Her eyes moved up the mountain side going up from the Gates of the Moon was another smaller gatehouse/fort which if she remembered her history correctly was call Stone and her eyes moved up an ever narrowing path past two more gatehouses/forts until finally her eyes fell upon the seven white marble stone towers and small gathering of buildings around white marble walls. It was a breathtaking beautiful castle.

"The Eyrie." said Daenerys as she looked the seat of House Arryn, the castle was without question tiny compared to other seats she had seen. Even the Twins was larger she would guess but it was located on the mountain side of the tallest mountain in Westeros. With only a tiny goat track leading up to it. It had almost perfect defense aside from those who could fly like she could.

She flew closer to the snow toped mountain only to smile even wider as she spotted a second dragon already resting in the tiny yard of the Eyrie. It was tight but Drogon landed in the yard, she dismounted to find Jon waiting for her. The rest of the household left behind by Lysa Arryn behind him, none of them seemed to be guards all maids and servants. It would seem that Lysa Arryn had taken all the guards with her to protect her son. Those before her where maids and servants, none of whom would dare challenge a dragon. There was only seven of them total and three of them where elderly who had be nearing their 70th name day the others had to be younger than either her or Jon.

"My Queen." greeted Jon with a warm smile as he bent the knee as well as she approached. She had to laugh a little at that, she did not want Jon to bend the knee to her but knew he had to or else some would question her position as Queen.

"My love." said Daenerys as she raised him up with a smile on her face, raising him up was part of the show they had to put on but it was minor show. "You seem to have won our little race."

"Not really your grace, my forces are still a few hours ride to the east and yours looks to be a few hours to the west. So we don't know who will get here first." Stated Jon "Let me show you something."

"Of course." said Daenerys as she followed Jon into the castle, the servants heading off to stay as far away as possible from the dragons and the two dragon riders. Jon led her into a large room with a weirwood throne, she looked at it for a moment before heading up one of the flight of stairs which flanked either side of the throne and up into the chambers of the Lords. He opened the door to show a large bedroom with a fourposter bed and a large balcony.

"Go look outside." advised Jon as he bared the door in case the servants tried anything, he didn't think they would but better safe than sorry. Daenerys moved forward, her black and red armor clinking a bit as she stepped out onto the balcony and had her breath taken from her. The view was breathtaking, it was possibly the best view one could get without being on dragon back. She looked down at the green fields below and toward the snow topped mountains in the distance. To the left a waterfall created by melted snow dropped toward the ground below, however it was too great of a distance and none of the water reached the ground.

"This is beautiful." Said Daenerys as Jon opened his mouth to speak. "And Jon please don't say I am beautiful when I mean this, I have heard that before."

Jon chuckled as Dany joined him in laughing at the little joke. They where alone so they could drop the whole, Lord and your grace speech and talk like normal people.

"Well the truth is the truth Dany." said Jon with a laugh as he moved to stand beside her and look at the view. "So how is everything…"

He didn't get to finished as her finger moved up to his lips stopping him from speaking.

"Jon…until the armies arrive, we are not going to talk about the war or anything else." ordered Daenerys as she pulled him close, their armor clinking as they hit each other. "I am not a Queen at the moment and you are not a future King Consort, I am the women you love and you are the man I love and right now we have time to ourselves and a bed calling both of us."

"As you wish Dany." said Jon as he kissed her lips, he had missed the taste of her lips so much and the warmth of her touch. Soon both where in the bedchamber removing their armor and getting into bed.

The longship pitched upwards as it broke through a rather large wave, the storm was making sailing hard but not the worse that Yara Greyjoy stood at the helm of the ship barking out orders to the crew as they neared home. In the distance she could see the outline of Castle Pike and the island which bore the same name behind it.

"The Storm Lord is angry this day." said a younger crewman as he tied down the sail.

"Nah…that cunt is just throwing a fit nothing more." laughed Yara as she looked up at the storm, she could already see the other side of it. "Besides, we have the drowned God on our side and the Storm Lords power is nothing compared to him."

"Still Captain what are we going to tell the King about the Dragon army." stated the young boy

"That is my job, yours is to make sure the ship is fixed and then go get drunk." stated Yara as she wondered how she would explain what she had been told by that foreigner Grey Worm. He had known too much about her, there was some things that she tried to keep a little secret. Some men where not pleased to learn that a woman could love another woman, he had also told her about a "future" raid she had only started to plan to save her brother from the Boltons. She had only started to plan it, but he went into details including a plan to carry her Longships across land into one of the small rivers of the neck to get to the other side of Westeros. The story of her uncle Euron returning to Westeros to take the driftwood crown was alarming in multiple ways.

She did not know how she would explain everything she had been told, how could see explain the White Walkers, the army of the Dead, Dragons returning and time travel. She had no idea how she would do this, yet she had to do it. She didn't believe it herself fully and yet there was too many odd things going on for her not to fully discount it either. A few days before the army had suddenly arrived she had heard reports that some farmers had disappeared turned dust, she had assumed the men had sulk off to a whore house but then she heard the story from Grey Worm.

"Either way…I need to tell my father." stated Yara

Cersei Lannister's skirts where a mess by the time she arrived in the garden, she had spent all day so far dealing with the fall out. Apparently the High Septon had announced the claims against Joffrey and the deal which was made and now the whole city and in time everyone in the seven kingdoms and beyond would know of this shame. She knew the claims where true, but she also knew that the Seven above was not likely going to do anything, they did not do anything to the Targaryen's when they wed brother to sister for generations. Why was her love for Jaimie wrong and theirs right? Just because they flew dragons did not make them better than her or anyone else. Little did she know that Daenerys and Jon would have agreed with her on that point. She had just finished dealing with all that when the Queen of Thorns had requested her for an afternoon drink.

She arrived to find a small table with wine and cheese set up under the canopy overlook of Black Water bay, three chairs sat there waiting. To her amazement sitting there along with the Queen of Thornes Olenna Tyrell was Little Finger, both of them had wine in hand.

"Ah…Queen Cersei I thank you for coming." greeted Olenna as she remained seated even as the Queen Mother entered the area. That was an insult by itself, little finger at least stood up and bowed his head a bit as she entered however the old hag could just argue she was elderly and so she couldn't stand up easily.

"What do you want." said Cersei

"To talk." explained Little Finger "And to maybe make plan a way to save all our skins."

"What." stated Cersei

"Please…let's not do this." stated Olenna showing no respect for the Queen Mother. "We all know you fucked your brother, and he is the father of your children all three of them."

Cersei eyes widened in rage as she turned and prepared to leave.

"Just like I and our little Finger here planned to poison your mad son and replace him with a much better King in Tommen." stated Olenna as Cersei's eyes became the size of dinner plates and her mouth opened in horror. "Which means the letters from the future and those who claim to be from the future is telling the truth."

"And unless we all want to be killed, we need to set our issues aside and work together." stated Little Finger as Cersei eyed Olenna.

"If I remember correctly there was nothing in those letters which threatened you?" inquired Cersei "They said you would poison my son but you were not threatened personally."

"And if House Lannister falls then House Tyrell falls as well." countered Olenna "My houses power for the next generation is tied to marrying the King and if this Queen Daenerys sits the Iron Throne and married to this Jon Stark then how does that help House Tyrell? It does not. Like it or not my houses power is tied to yours, we sink or swim together."

"And the letter wants me dead, banished or on the Wall." added Little Finger "None of those options are accepting to me. I play to win and the only way to win is for all of us to work together."

"What do you recommend." inquired Cersei

"Him." answered Little Finger as a man in Lannister Armor with his helmet tucked under his arm walked into the meeting. He looked like a normal looking man aside from a strip of white hair among his brown hair. Cersei looked confused as the man spoke.

"You wanted to hire a man for a job, a man whom serves him of many faces." announced the man which caused Cersei's eyebrow to raise as he wondered if this man was simple minded.

"You're a Faceless Men?" inquired Olenna as Cersei's eyes widened as the man nodded his head a bit.

"Now…you wish you make a deal with him of many faces, tell me and a man will determine the price to be paid for this task." stated the Faceless men.

"Tell us, what price would you take to kill Queen Daenerys Targaryen?" inquired Olenna

"Wait…" ordered Cersei as she remembered one of the last times she talked to her husband before he died, before looking at Little Finger. "Robert wanted to hire one of these men years ago and you convinced him that it would cost more than the entire treasury right now that price would be…"

"Even higher…yes." confirmed Little Finger "But between the three of us, we can make the price however your price may not be in Gold."

"What does that mean?" inquired Cersei

"The faceless men will take more than just coin for a job; they will take servants or other items." explained Little Finger

"Including lives." added Olenna "We want you to place Joffrey's life on the table, a King's life for a Queen's life."

Cersei's eyes widened in shock and horror at the very idea of her little boy dying on her orders.

"It is either his life or all your children's lives. King Joffrey is a fool and going up against dragons, he will die and then we will all die and so will your other children." stated Little Finger as the Faceless men looked back and forth between the group. "One child death or three children, your choice."

Cersei just looked at the ground, the idea of losing her son, the son which looked so much like the love of her life, Jaime was something she could not think about it. She had already lost one son, her first and only son with Robert, his black hair told whom his father was and he had died within a fortnight in his crib, that had broken her for a long time. It also caused Robert to increase his visits to the countless whores which in turn caused her to go back to Jaime. Within a few weeks of going back to her brother she learned that the gods had gifted her with another child, a golden hair boy and he was strong unlike her son with Robert. Could she let him die, if she did not, she could lose her little girl and her little boy and with Joffrey going into battle how would he stand against a Dragon yet alone two dragons.

"There is no need for her to decide." announced the faceless men as he looked first at little finger, then Olenna and finally at Cersei. "She doesn't have to make that choice…this man knows of the dangers of the White Walkers, those who would take the right of death from him of many faces and this man knows that Daenerys Targaryen and the others who are required to defeat the Night King. She will not be touched by this man or any other of this order."

"What…" stuttered Baelish, he had never heard of a faceless man flat out refusing to take an job. There where multiple stories about how the Faceless men would refuse a job based on the price offered for it to take place, he understood that but to flat out refuse without even considering a price was unheard of.

"You have heard, no Faceless Men shall touch Daenerys Targaryen or her party, they are needed for the struggle to come." stated the Faceless men, he then turned and began to walk away.

"Well…now what?" inquired Olenna as everyone looked at each other not sure what to do.

Far to the North smoke was rising outside of Winterfell, the smell of burning flesh made the air smell but it was the only way to make sure the dead didn't rise again was to burn the bodies of the dead. Sansa watched the massive bond fire burn the dead bodies taken from the graveyards around Winterfell. The crypts of Winterfell were still being fully dug out with bodies so ancient that it was possible that even the Night King could not raise them. A few of the graves had only dust and a few pieces of bone but each body was treated with dignity. Sansa made sure to express to the men doing the gruesome task of removing the dead from their resting place and burning them. That they were to treat commons the same as they would lords and ladies helped but only a little. It was hard to do your job when a mother tried to stop some of the men from removing the grave of her 1st born child who had died last year from a fever.

"Lady Stark how are we doing this day?" inquired Tyrion as he walked up to Sansa.

"I am doing well." said Sansa as she watched the massive fires burn.

"You know you don't have to watch them do this?" whispered Tyrion as Sansa grinned.

"I do, that is the difference between the North and the South, here a Lord can't just sit behind his walls and expect people to follow him and as a women I have to be seen by the people even more then I would be if I was a man." countered Sansa as Tyrion nodded his head, considering the point.

"Well we will be leaving for the South soon." added Tyrion

"I know." stated Sansa "I will hold the North for our Queen while you all are gone."

"Are you sure, you do not wish to head south with us? Maybe to White Harbor?" inquired Tyrion as Sansa shock her head but with a sad smile.

"No…Winterfell is the heart of the North; a Stark must remain in Winterfell." explained Sansa as Tyrion nodded in understanding.

"You Starks are stubborn people…at least come and say goodbye." advised Tyrion as he looked at the burning pile of bodies. "I am sure the people will understand you going away for a few moments."

"True." admitted Sansa, she had to admit she was getting sick of the smell of burning flesh. She turned her back on the burning bodies and walking side by side with Tyrion with a tail of two guards walked back into Winterfell. The yard was busy as multiple carts where being prepared but it was in the process of slowing down as men and women mounted up and prepared to leave.

"Lady Stark." said Brienne as she came up to Sansa's side. "I wish you would let me stay here with you; I am your sworn shield."

"You are, but right now I need you to protect my brother on his way to White Harbor and to be my voice on the council, I trust you to be my voice." stated Sansa as Brienne let out a sigh and nodded.

"Very well." Said Brienne as she moved forward to help a struggling man load a container full of food onto a wagon.

"Lady Stark." said a new voice as Gilly and Missandei walked up, they made a strange pair, a woman from the across the narrow sea and another who was born north of the Wall walking side by side. "We where hoping to say goodbye before we left."

"I wouldn't have let you leave without saying goodbye." said Sansa with a warm smile. "I wish you would stay Gilly, but I understand your soon to be husband is heading south to help tend to Master Aemon and you Missandei you have done wonders for the children."

"I have done what I could." stated Missandei as two children ran by with happy cries in their voices, cries which would have been sad only a few days ago. "However Queen Daenerys needs me in the South."

"I know, we all have duties which need to be done." said Sansa as she pulled Missandei into a hug. "Be safe."

"I will try." Said Messandia as Sansa pulled Gilly into a hug as well, wishing her a safe trip as well.

There where only two people whom Sansa had to say goodbye to before they left and they would be the hardest of all. She moved past Jojen and Meera Reed who were getting onto a cart, past Sam who was helping Maester Aemon into a covered wagon and putting multiple layers of furs over the old man to make sure he was warm. Tyrion also got into the same cart; she did not want to imagine what the three of them would be talking about on the ride south. Near the center of the gathering was a small wheelhouse where Rickon, her mother and Lady Manderley would be staying along with the dire wolf Shaggy dog.

"Are you excited to go?" inquired Sansa as she walked up to Rickon who sat outside the wheelhouse petting the large black dire wolf

"Do I have to leave?" inquired Rickon as Sansa smiled and got down to his level, she knew in her heart this was the best move. Rickon had been hanging on her skirts and still called her mom even after Lady Catelyn had returned, added to that he kept having nightmares about how he "died" in the northern fields and he had been caught multiple times just looking out at the field where he would die.

"I am afraid so, but White Harbor is a huge city and with many places to explore and new stuff to try." Said Sansa

"And new friends." Added Lady Manderly who would be fostering Rickon "My daughters for one and we Manderlys have a large family and dozens of high born squires will be more then happy to befriend you and even show you how to become a Knight."

"If I become a Knight, I may not die." said Rickon

"We can hope." reassured Sansa as she leaned forward and kissed her brother on the forehead. "Now be brave and be the best man you can be."

"Alright." said Rickon as he got into the Wheelhouse along with Lady Manderly followed moments later by Shaggy dog who would be Rickon's protector. That went better then she thought it would but now it was time to face the hard part. She turned around and came face to face with her mother Lady Catelyn Stark.

"Mother." said Sansa, a little colder than she wanted to, she knew she should forgive her mother for how she treated Jon and how she had pulled her into following her example. She would never fully forgive herself for how she treated Jon and she didn't know how Jon could forgive her like he had and Catelyn had treated him worse than anyone.

"I wish we had more time." admitted Catelyn

"We have already gotten more time then we had earlier." stated Sansa before giving a sad smile. "By now you where dead in my past but I understand your point."

"Well hopeful we will see each other soon." said Catelyn

"One can hope." said Sansa as she remembered being up on the walls of Winterfell, the cold wind blowing out of the North as the horns announcing the arrival of the army of the dead filling the air. She would never forget that night and everything that had been lost then and the chance they had been given. "However, nothing is certain in life most of all with the enemies we face."

"The Lannister's." answered Catelyn

"The Walkers, next to them the Lannister's are nothing." Countered Sansa in an almost scolding voice, her mother was still blind to the threat of the Walkers.

"Daughter…can I be blunt?" said Catelyn as she remembered her manners, Sansa was a women grown now and if she wanted to she could order her own mother arrested as a traitor.

"This is the North, blunt and to the point is in our nature." stated Sansa with a small grin, yes the north was blunt but it was mostly the men who were like that. She was not as blunt in during her time in King's Landing and she learned how to play the game under Little Finger and as much as she hated to admit it Cersei Lannister.

"What did I do wrong?" inquired Catelyn "You seem so distant; how can I fix this? How can I get my girl back?"

"You can't get her back Mother." answered Sansa as Catelyn's eyes widened before she looked at the ground, trying to hide her tears.

"Last we meet in this yard before I headed to King's Landing, I was a foolish little girl who believed what you told me. I am not that little girl anymore and I am not as blind as you." stated Sansa as Catelyn looked back up at her, "Most of all I find it hard to forgive you for what you filled my head with."

"Jon…I am sorry about that." said Catelyn

"Then apologize to him." countered Sansa forcefully before she looked toward Gilly. "But it is more than that, that women, Gilly born beyond the wall into a horrible situation even by the standards of the Free folk yet I would have to say she is likely kinder and more caring then most of the Lords or Ladies I meet in King's Landing when I was down there with father. Same goes for the former Slave Messandei who has been through untold horrors is similar, now she is best friends with our Queen and while I don't know how they feel about me, but I like to consider them both my friends. That is something you would never allow to happen because they were of lower classes then me just because I was born a Stark of Winterfell. While I understand why you did that, I don't accept it anymore, I have grown out of that, you look down on people and you need to change that and if you think I am bad you don't want to deal with Arya. You would never allow her to be with Gendry who she loves with all her heart and him her, but together they are happy, and I am happy for them. That is why I have high hopes for Queen Daenerys and Jon, both of them have lived horrible lives among those who you would consider lower class and it makes them all the better, they are whom we need at this moment. There is still time for you to change your ways and while our relationship will never be as it once was, maybe a new one can be formed, we have that chance now that you are alive after all."

"I…I see." stated Catelyn as Sansa gave her a smile before giving her mother a hug.

"Safe journey mother and think about all I have said." stated Sansa as she turned and headed toward Tyrion, Sam, Gilly, Messandei and Ser Brienne. Catelyn watched with sadness in her heart as her daughter gave "truther heart fill farewell" to these strangers to her but to her it was as if they were strangers.

"Time to go!" yelled Ser Brienne as she mounted her horse and along with Ser Jorah Mormont dressed with a white cloak of the King's Guard over his shoulders did they head out of Winterfell. Running in the front was Ghost, he was leaving Winterfell to rejoin Jon in the south. Standing watching the wagons head south Sansa could not help but feel slightly concerned, Ghost was heading south but Summer Bran's Dire wolf was now sitting beside her and not heading south he had refused to move, made her wonder what happened to Bran.

Her eyes moved to the south watching them pass under the southern gate before turning south on the King's Road. Then her eyes turned back to the North where the real threat was.

"We need to finish our issues in the south if we are ever to be ready in time to deal with the real enemy." Whispered Sansa

"What was that, my Lady?" inquired Podrick as he stood to her right ready to defend her.

"Nothing." Countered Sansa as she turned and headed out of the yard, there was much to do and winter was coming.

Well I hope you like this chapter, sorry for the long delay but life has been interesting to say the least as it has been for everyone in 2020. Still I hope you enjoy this chapter and until next time please keep reading. Thanks Wilkins75.