Winterfell
It's been two day's since Deanarys arrived at Winterfell. The majority of the northerners still held her in contempt. She could feel them stare at her at every council meeting, every court session and even when she walked the grounds with Jon Snow. They clearly did not like her. The fact that her army had not arrived did not help. They felt that she had come to claim their lands not to save them. But other's didn't want her army as they felt that they are nothing more than foreign savages come to destroy their land. No matter what she did she would never be accepted bt all of the northerners.
Jon had also reunited with Sam and Bran during this time. He couldn't figure it out but something felt off with the pair of them. Bran was different too. No longer was he the energetic younger brother Jon remembered. He said he was the three-eyed raven. Jon was sad to see how his brother had changed to being almost void of any emotion. But he said it was his purpose now and Jon accepted this but he still didn't like it. But what was almost as bad as this was his falling out with Sansa. The pair of them had hardly spoken in two days. Partially due to gis anger and annoyance at how she confronted him. But also due to Sansa being right. He loved Deanarys. He loved her silver hair, her smile, her laugh. Everything about her, he loved. But did she feel the same? Probably not he thought. She was probably using him to "Satisfy" herself. He heard Jorah and Barristan mention a Darrio Naharris who from what he gathered was in a similar position to him. But, he couldn't think about that now. He needed to focus on the upcoming war council meeting.
Jon entered the great hall. He recognized the faces of the most powerful lord's of the North and Vale. Lord Umber, lady Karstark, Sansa, Lord Royce, lady Mormont, Lord Cerwyn, Lord Manderly. But one lord that Jon wasn't expecting to see was lord Glover. He stepped forward as Jon approached, he bends his knee to Jon. "Your Grace, I apologize for not coming right away. I was wrong not to obey your command. I hope you can forgive me so that we may fight side by side against the dead." Lord Glover looks up at Jon pleadingly, knowing that it is the second time he has wronged Jon.
Jon holds his hand out in front of lord Glover. "You're forgiven, lord Glover." Glover grasps Jon's hand and he pulls him up. They sit at the table with Jon at the head.
Lord Manderly is the first to speak "Your grace I believe it wise to..."
"Hold yourself, my lord. We are still waiting for the queen." Jon interrupts.
"Your grace is sure that's wise?"
What does she know about fighting a battle?" Lord Cerwyn asks?
Jon looks down the hall to the door and smiles. "You can ask her yourself, lord Cerwyn." Jon rises out of his seat.
The lord's turn to see Deanarys striding through the room towards them. The lords rise to greet the queen. She walks around the table eyeing all of the lords. Her eyes linger on lord Cerwyn the longest clearly indicating that she heard him question her ability. She walks next to Jon to take an empty seat.
"Your grace, this is Robett Glover. Lord of Deepwood Motte. He arrived today to fight beside us." Jon explains.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, your grace." Lord Glover bows as he says this.
"Likewise, Lord Glover. I've heard many good things about the bravery and loyalty of house Glover."
"Thank you, your grace. I hope we live up to your expectations."
"As do I lord Glover." Deanarys, Jon and the other lord's sit. Her attention turns to lord Cerwyn. "My lord, my apologies for interrupting you. Please continue." She gives lord Cerwyn a sweet but obviously sarcastic smile. Cerwyn looks down, gulps and looks back at Deanarys.
"Your grace, with all due respect I don't think you should sit on this council. We have fought for Robb Stark, we've fought the Ironborn and we have fought the Boltons. We know how to fight. We know our men, their strengths and their weaknesses. We don't know you and you don't know us. You don't know our land's or our men and you haven't led men in battle." Cerwyn stares at Deanarys, she smiles at him.
"My lord do you know of Randyll Tarly?" She asks.
"Aye, your grace."
"Yes, the only man who defeated Robert Baratheon in battle. Do you know where Randyll Tarly is now?"
"No idea, your grace."
"He betrayed house Tyrell and sided with Cersei. He sacked Highgarden, killed Olenna Tyrell. For that, he paid with his life. I met him on the field with a fraction of my Dothraki and a single dragon. I did what Robert Baratheon couldn't and defeated Randyll Tarly in battle. Is that enough to allow me to sit on this council or do I need to go on my lord ?" Cerwyn begrudgingly admits that Daenerys has proven herself. The war council meeting begins. First, they discuss Winterfell's food store's. Sansa tells the council that usually they would have a good amount of food stored however with a hundred thousand men coming to Winterfell that could change very quickly. There was also the question of the dragons. Deanarys and Jon regularly went out to them so that Rhaegal could familiarize himself with Jon. But many small folks from Winter town came to Sansa scared that the dragons could harm them. Deanarys reassured her that they would not, especially when being ridden. Lord Glover and lord Manderly tried to get them to start planning the defence of Winterfell, the other lords including Sansa agreed. But Jon and Daenerys said they should wait for the Unsullied and Dothraki to arrive.
"Your grace, you said the dead are destroyed by fire as well as dragon glass." Lord Royce asks.
"Aye, if we burn them they won't get back up," Jon replies.
"I suggest we dig a trench around Winterfell. About six feet deep and fill it with pitch. If our men can't hold them outside the castle then the fire will slow them down."
"Aye. See that it is done, lord Royce." Lord Royce nods to Jon. Jon glances out the window, the sun has not even reached midday yet they still had some issues to discuss.
The next topic of discussion was dragon glass. "We need more of it and more smiths to turn it into weapons. Otherwise, our men will be going into battle with regular steel weapons." Lady Mormont states.
"I'll send a raven to Dragonstone to tell them to increase mining," Daenerys replies. Lord Manderly opens his mouth but gets interrupted by a Stark soldier running into the hall.
"My lords!" He runs up to the table. He bows to Jon and Daenerys. "Your grace, your grace. The Unsullied are almost here. They should reach Winterfell in a few minutes." Daenerys breaks into a smile. Jon thanks the soldier. Daenerys eagerly gets out of her seat.
"We'll continue this meeting later." The lords and ladies nod in agreement. Jon follows Daenerys out of the room. Sansa goes to follow but she stops, deciding that it is not the right time to try to talk to Jon.
Jon and Daenerys head out to Winterfell's courtyard to greet the Unsullied. Small folk rush around, many going to catch a glimpse of an army they have never seen before. They stand in the courtyard awaiting the Unsullied's arrival as the sound of marching gets increasingly louder. "I wonder how lady Mormont will rest to ser Jorah being on the war council."
Surprised at this Daenerys replies "You'd let him sit on the council?"
"Aye. He's one of your closest advisors. Him, Ser Barristan, Greyworm and maybe even Missandei if you wish. Are welcome on the council. Plus he's one of the most experienced fighters in the north."
"Thank you. I assume Ser Davos will be on the council as well?"
"Aye. For all he says he knows nothing of fighting, he's managed to fight at Blackwater bay and against Ramsey."
"He seems a good man."
"Yes, without him Stannis would have lost sooner and I would not be here."
"Perhaps I should thank him for saving you." Daenerys smiles at Jon. They share a short giggle until a shout comes from the wall. They turn back to the opening gate. Daenerys smiles eagerly awaiting the arrival of her friends and advisors. After what feels like an eternity the gate opens. Ser Barristan is the first through the gate, looking just as grand as he did when he entered Winterfell all those years ago. He is followed by Tyrion, Varys and Ser Davos. The Unsullied follow them in. Daenerys notices that their armour and shields are covered in ash. Tyrion and Varys' clothing is almost completely blackened. Daenerys' smile quickly fades. She rushes from Jon's side towards Ser Barristan. Concerned at the sight she hurriedly asks"What happened?"
Ser Barristan dismounts his horse and quickly bows. "Your grace, it was Night King, he... He rode Viserion." Jon now catches up with Daenerys. An Unsullied walks out of their ranks. He drops his spear and shield to the ground, he removes his helmet to reveal that he is Greyworm. Daenerys notices that two of her advisors are missing.
"Where are Jorah and Missandei?" She asks starting to panic.
"After the attack, I sent Jorah to find the Dothraki and lead them here faster." Ser Barristan replies.
"And Missandei?"
"Missandei was in the first carriage." Greyworm answers.
Daenerys notices that Greyworms eyes are misted as if he has been crying. Suddenly it dawns on Daenerys.
"I'm sorry, your grace," Barristan says sincerely.
Tears start to form in her eyes. Jon reaches an arm around her "Dany" but she pushes his arm back. "Not now." She replies.
"I'll go tell the others what happened," Jon says.
"No, I'll do it," Daenerys replies.
"Are you sure?"
"They'll never respect me if I don't tell them personally about subjects like this one."
Jon relents and turns to Ser Barristan and Greyworm. "You are both welcome on the war council, although I understand if you don't wish to attend," Jon says.
"No. I... I shall do my duty." Greyworm replies.
"I follow the queen." Ser Barristan says.
"Then let's go," Daenerys says as she turns and quickly heads back towards the great hall. Jon turns to Ser Davos. "Can see that the Unsullied can find room to camp? Then get some rest yourself."
"Yes, my lo... Your grace." Ser Davos turns to organise the encampment of the Unsullied, Tyrion and Varys follow him too.
Daenerys and Jon returned to the council meeting with Ser Barristan and Greyworm behind her. Daenerys was obviously still shaken after learning of Missandei's death. Greyworm was too but he was better at hiding it. Jon notices this. "Dany, we don't have to do this now."
"I agree, your grace. You can always call for a council meeting tomorrow." Ser Barristan says.
"No," Daenerys says with determination. " I need to earn their respect and I can't do that if I spend a day mourning." After this, they continue towards the great hall.
As they entire the hall, the lords and lady's are abuzz with whispers. Mostly about Ser Barristan Selmy walking beside Daenerys Targaryen after being the lord commander of Robert Baratheon's kingsguard. But also of the dark-skinned man the other side of her. Daenerys and Jon returned to their previous seats, Greyworm and See Barristan take seats as well. "My lords, this is... Ser Barristan Selmy, my queen's guard and Greyworm, the commander of the Unsullied." Daenerys gestures to them both as she says this.
"Greyworm? That's an unusual name." Lord Manderly states.
"In Astapor, the masters give Unsullied new name each day to remind us that we are vermin. Greyworm is the name I had when Daenerys Stormborn freed us." Greyworm responds.
"You're not really free if you are here," Sansa says. Jon glares at her for this.
"Queen Daenerys gave us all a choice. Leave Unsullied and choose our own lives or serve her."
"And you, See Barristan. Last we heard Cersei dismissed from Joffrey's kingsguard and most thought you were dead and yet here you stand." Lord Glover asks.
"Yet here I stand and Joffrey lies dead."
"How does the lord commander of Robert Baratheon's Kingsguard end up being queens guard to the daughter of the mad king?" Lyanna Mormont questions.
"Because for most of my life I've fought for a mad man and a drunken fool and for once I want to fight for someone I truly believe in." The northerners relent, not quite satisfied with their answers but just enough to stop their questioning of the old knight and former slave.
Lord Cerwyn curiously looks at Ser Barristan and Greyworm's armour. "What happened to you? You're covered in... Is that ash?"
Ser Barristan takes a moment to prepare himself then looks up at the northerners. "We were attacked on the road by the night king and his dragon. He set fire to almost all of our carriages and... Many Unsullied."
"How many men did you lose?" Lord Glover asks.
"Over a thousand. Hundreds more are burned" Greyworm answers. The northern slump over, displaying varying emotions. Some appear saddened at the loss of so many men others view at as merely a strategic loss of soldiers but they do not the personal cost to Daenerys and Greyworm. However, unlike the other lords, Jon knows this. He also knows that Daenerys will never excuse herself from the meeting as she seeks to gain the northerners respect, so he would have to do it for her.
"My lords, I feel this meeting would be better held when the Dothraki arrive."
"How long will that be?" Lord Glover asks.
"A day. Two at the most depending on how hard Jorah has them riding." Ser Barristan answer.
"Very well, your grace." Lord Glover stands and begins to leave the room the other lords follow suit.
Daenerys mutters a quiet "Thank you." That Jon barely heard. She hastily leaves the hall with Ser Barristan and Greyworm behind her. Jon also stands to follow her but notices that Sansa is still sat.
"Jon, can we talk? Please?"
"Aye. I think I've avoided you long enough."