My Kingdom Awaits Chapter 6
Jon stood naked by the window and gazed into the darkness. He knew what he had to and preparations for the mission to the Twins had begun immediately after receiving the head of Lyanna Mormont's older sister. Jon had sent off ravens calling all houses to send men towards King's Landing to march to The Riverlands or to meet him there to surround the Twins. Sansa had not asked to go with him, but he knew she did not want to be left in the capitol, and he honestly did not feel safe leaving her, even with two dragons and a Direwolf to supplement her guard while he was gone. He turned his eyes back to the bed where she slept and made up his mind. He would honor his promise of never leaving her alone in the King's Landing, a promise that had been made long before she ever conceived. He walked over and scribbled out a few orders on a parchment before slipping it under the door to whoever was guarding.
"Take care that is ready for when we leave in the morning." Jon said through the door before making his way back to the window. Spring was fully in bloom, only a few piles of snow remained South of the Neck. According to Bran's last letter, there was still a foot or so of snow covering everything back home, but the great melt had started. Fresh water would be barreled and sold to ships all along White Harbor bringing more needed gold to the North for its rebuild. He heard movement to his left and turned with a look of concern. "Sansa? Did I wake you?"
"It's fine. I was chilled without you warming our bed." She teased as she ignored his protests and joined him in gazing out into the night. "What keeps you from sleep? You have a long journey coming up and need to be well rested. Have you already forgotten how uncomfortable living in tents can be?" She asked draping an arm across his middle and resting against his side. Jon kissed the side of her head. "You said the one benefit of marrying me, aside from our love of course, was sleeping in my wheelhouse with me on the way to White Harbor. I agree of course. I was so thrilled that wheelhouse had survived the fires at Winterfell and The Boltons."
"I was glad for it." Jon said pointing to the harbor. Sure enough a flash a fire filled the sky. "Drogon is fishing." Jon and Sansa had been relieved to learn that that the Dragons seemed to prefer giant marine animals. They still would bring down great elks and stags in the woods, but they had not had a report of them eating any livestock or worse citizen yet. Jon was not foolish enough to believe that they obeyed his commands completely; they were still ferocious beasts, but as long as they had the woods and the bay they were as well behaved as could be expected.
"His brothers join him." Sansa said trailing her fingers through the sparse hair on his chest and abdomen. "Please come back and lie down Your Grace. I worry about you. It's been two weeks and you have not slept soundly yet. Not more than an hour or two a night followed by long days."
"Decisions to make and things to do." Jon said walking them over to the bed. "More thinking than I ever thought possible."
"Worrying too." Sansa said knowingly. "Please leave some of the worrying for Tyrion. He can handle the trial without you."
"And he will." Jon said crawling into bed beside her and pulling her against him so she rested her head on his shoulder and could continue to run her fingers lightly over his chest. "I've decided you are to accompany me to The Twins." Sansa looked up at him. "I just cannot risk having to come back and retake King's Landing with you inside it. I promised never to leave you here and I meant it." Sansa kissed his cheek. "You will stay back in your wheelhouse. Ghost will be inside with you and you will be flanked by your guards and four members of the King's Guard. Rhaegal will fly over you protecting you, and every night we camp Drogon and Rhaegal will curl around the wheelhouse to sleep."
"Of course." Sansa agreed. "I'll bring my sewing to occupy me and I'll have Brienne to talk to."
"Gilly and Sam will ride with you. Little Sam too." Jon said. "I've begun preparations to have you ready to leave in the morning. Be sure to pack a few blankets and furs and small clothes. Only one or two extra dresses." Sansa smiled.
"I've only finished 3 dresses that will expand easily as I grow." She admitted. "I need to make some for the warmer weather that is coming. I've just been so busy making clothes and diapers for the babe. That's all I ever want to make now."
"I've been working on a few things for the babe too." Jon admitted. "Well not recently, but I had been making cradle. The Targaryen ones pulled from storage looked terrifying, like the child was being eaten by The Black Dread." Jon said laughing. "I promise to have it finished before the babe comes. Grenn is helping me."
"I look forward to seeing it." Sansa said as she yawned against him. Jon smoothed her hair back and kissed her cheek, settling on his back and gazing at the ceiling as she drifted off. "I am glad that I am going with you. I was dreading being apart." Sansa sighed out as sleep took her. Jon closed his eyes and tried to focus on sleeping, a long journey waited for them in the morning.
Sansa pulled back the curtain to her wheelhouse and watched as she was led out of King's Landing. Viserion cried as he brothers left, waiting for the call to follow. He had been left behind to help Tyrion if he was needed. Ghost laid his head in her lap and panted. "I'll let you out to run later on." Sansa said as she scratched his ears. She couldn't see where Jon led the army from Drogon's back, but she could hear the mumblings of the younger soldiers around here, that he was Aegon The Conqueror reborn. Sansa sighed, these boys still relished in the tales of knights and war, Sansa knew that was because they had never actually been in a war or battle. Jon was ahead clearing the way should there be any Frey resistance or traps. Drogon would burn them to ash before they knew what was coming. Sansa was relieved when by mid afternoon when they were joined with soldiers from The Westerlands on the King's Road. Sansa was surprised to see Jaime Lannister leading them. She wasn't sure how much he could be trusted. His love for Cersei had killed so many, had cost the Realm so much and Cersei know faced her certain death. What if he chose to attack? She trusted Tyrion though and he trusted his brother.
"My Lady you should be resting." Brienne said as she trotted up beside the window. "We've been on the road for 10 hours and awake since just after the hour of the wolf. His Grace was explicit in you being kept comfortable."
"I am comfortable Brienne. We will be stopping at dusk to set up camp. I will rest and refresh myself once we are all settled." Sansa promised as she picked up the tiny doublet she was making that matched one of Jon's. She had gowns made incase she had a daughter, britches and tunics for a son, more britches and tunics and now doublets to add to the collection. She was sure she was carrying a son; surely the Gods would bless her with an unquestionable heir right away.
"Listen to The Beauty Little Bird." Sandor said from somewhere behind the wheelhouse. "We are going to try to make it to The Twins in three days instead of the usual five. You know you should be resting."
Sansa closed the curtain but continued to sew. Jon was waiting till they were safely back in The Red Keep before announcing the impending arrival of their baby. He didn't want anyone on the journey to try and take advantage of Sansa being pregnant. Sandor knew and this King's Guard he trusted knew, but no one else was privy to this information. Ghost looked up at her and she smiled down at him in return. "I can't spend all of my time rubbing your ears." Sansa said placing her sewing down and lying down around the wolf.
Jon scouted ahead, occasionally guiding Drogon lower when he thought he saw something suspicious. So far they only saw a few people outside of their keeps. The ground was still too wet work but the animals still needed to be tended too. A few children gazed up at the sky in wonder as he flew by. Drogon snarled a few times but Jon did not notice anything and encouraged him to keep the path. He was looking for a space to stop. Everywhere looked like an obvious spot, a vulnerable spot. He finally settled on flying on, to the first fork of The Trident. Hopefully they would be able to fish there for supper. He wanted to have most of their supplies for the journey home, he knew the Northern Lords they hoped, no they would rescue would, would be hungry. He doubted Lord Frey was feeding them more than what was required to keep them alive. Along the Trident fields were being prepared, their workers looking on in awe at the progression the followed the dragon. Jon spied a larger keep sending off ravens, he was sure to alert their liege lords of his presence. He didn't bother signaling to the archers to take down the birds or have Drogon insure the messages were stopped. Let them know, let them all know he was coming. He swooped down in a large clearing and signaled for the troops the fan out for camp. He took no chances. An attack in the night could come and he was not willing to lose a single life to neglect. Drogon turned his head across the river and walked over to the bank and let out a stream of fire. Jon watched as a slew of men emerged, jumping into the river to try and quell the flames. A few more men thought to run.
"Tell Lord Frey the fires of hell are coming for him and his house." Jon yelled, signaling for Drogon to rest. "Good work, we must keep our queen safe." Jon said running a hand of the warm scales. Jon smiled as Sam guided the royal wheelhouse to rest under an elm tree and he started his walk over, waving to Gilly and Little Sam.
"Your Lady Wife rests." Sam said quietly. "Gilly wanted to see more of your kingdom and Sam would not quiet down. Poor Ghost has a few bald spots from him playing." Sam added sheepishly.
"I'm glad he's to be acclimatized to children." Jon said signaling Sansa's guard over for a report and sending out hunters and soldiers to fish. "Did you talk to any small folk?"
"We stopped for a bathroom break or two. Lord Frey has been calling his banners. Not many are replying." Sam admitted. "Of course any that thought to oppose you changed their minds when Drogon Rhaegal flew by." Jon turned his head when he heard whimpering from the wheelhouse.
"Sansa?" He said loudly.
"She still asleep, milord." Gilly said peeking through the curtain. Jon walked forward and opened the door, peering in on his wife. Ghost was looking at her with his head tilted in concentration.
"Sansa." Jon said again softly stroking at her ankle. She kicked out at him and let out a small scream. "It's alright, you're dreaming." Jon said sliding in and pulling her into his lap.
"This is where Joffrey attacked Arya. Nymeria saved her and then he had his mother command for Lady to be killed." Sansa said. "I recognize that keep." Sansa said pulling the curtain back, shocked to see they were further down the river, she must have slept longer than she thought.
"The last keep, we passed the last of their lands a few yards ago." Jon said smoothing a hand down her back. "Drogon found a few spies hiding. I sent the survivors home with a message."
"I wonder if they will make it there before we do." Sansa said softly as she rested her head against Jon's shoulder.
"If they have a raft or a boat they may sail there through the night." Jon said. Yells could be heard through there camp and Jon felt Sansa stiffen. He eased her from his lap and exited the wheelhouse, pulling her after him.
"Your Grace there is a march coming this way." A scout said making his way to them.
"Who's banners do they fly?" Jon asked looking worried. A loud howl filled the air and soon more joined in. Ghost lifted his head and joined Sansa at Jon's side.
"Yours." The scout spat out. "They are a pack of wolves with them!" Jon looked to his wife and noticed a small smile on her lips.
"Sansa?" Jon asked.
"Listen to them sing Jon." Sansa said softly.
"We don't know who is coming." Jon said whistling for the dragons. "We need to be prepared for an ambush. If I was going to try and attack us, I would come under the guise of allies. It smells of the Freys."
"The wolves, Jon, it has to be Arya." Sansa said.
"There is no way she would bet us here, she would have had to march past the Freys to make it."
"Not if she sailed from White Harbor as we did." Sansa said, sure that it was even more Northern reinforcements. Jon kissed her hand before climbing back on Drogon's back.
"You will flee if this turns out to be a battle." Jon said before taking off to meet the march. Sansa nodded but kept her eyes on the horizon, listening to the wind in the trees, wishing there was a heart tree she could go to, she was desperate to talk to Bran.
"My Lady I would feel better if you would get in the wheelhouse." Brienne said as she watched with Sansa as Jon and Drogon got smaller and smaller as they flew away.
"I need to stretch and have some air." Sansa answered with out turning to address her guards. "We need to start preparing food. We will have more to feed that we anticipated. Loras go find out how the hunting and fishing is going."
"I believe they have already stopped." Loras said.
"Send then out again." Sansa said. Loras left with an unsure look on his face.
"Jon will have reached them by now." Sam said after a few more moments in silence.
"Add I do not see any smoke rising." Sansa said.
"That could mean that Drogon didn't have a chance…"
"Do you really believe that Jon would be taken do without so much as a fight?" Sansa interrupted. "Jon will be back shortly with more troops and we will march on The Twins and we will end House Frey." Sansa said accepting a water skin when Sandor came to stand with her while Brienne gave direction to Pod and another squire to build a cooking fire.
"Little Bird if we don't hear word soon from The King you and I are going to start riding back to King's Landing." Sandor said. "You won't have me help you disobey The King will you?"
"It would not be the first time." Sansa replied handing back the water. "Look, in the distance. Jon is flying again."
"The dragon is flying again." Sandor said tossing the skin aside and watching as the small dot in the sky progressively got closer and larger. "If only the dragon returns…"
"You will ride out and find my husband." Sansa answered. Sandor gave her a look. "He is your King. You pledge to obey me, if Jon is not on Drogon you will take 30 of the best men we have here and you will bring him back. It is no different then when Barriston the Bold rescued the Mad King or from when you saved the false King from the riot and then went back out for me." Sansa said. The howling wolves got louder and Sansa stood taller. "My sister's wolf was let loose her, you never found her. Arya used to dream of her roaming the Riverlands, building a pack. She'd dream of her killing Freys and those that betrayed our Family."
"A pretty story." Jaime said as he walked up to Sansa and her faithful Hound. "When I had to take back Riverun for those idiot Freys, there was a certain serving girl that reminded me of you and your brother. She was almost like a combination of the two of you. Tell me, the time your sister spent across the sea was it studying a certain art?" Jaime asked.
"What Arya did while she was away to survive is not something we discuss. She finds it hard to talk about her struggles, just like I find it hard to open up about the horrors your sister and son put me through." Sansa said smiling when she could make out a figure on Drogon's back. "Your King returns." Sansa said motioning with her head towards the sky. "I'm sure before our mission is over you will have time to talk to my sister."
"Your sister is more insolent then my brother." Jaime said. "For what it's worth I am sorry for what happened at the hands of Joffrey. Perhaps he needed more discipline, but his father was unwilling to give it and Cersei forbad anyone else from stepping in."
"Robert Baratheon was a conqueror, not a father, not a husband. Once he had avenged his lost love and defeated that Targaryens his life was complete. Bad marriage can break Households. Your father should have known that he had a daughter that did not actually know how to do her duty."
"Some Ladies don't." Jaime said before walking away. Sansa walked forward so there would be space enough for Drogon to land and waited for Jon.
"Your Grace what did you find?" Sansa asked before Drogon had even crouched down to let Jon from his perch.
"As you thought. Arya left Bran in Winterfell and sailed down to meet us with Gendry and an army. A pack of wolves waited for her at the Ruby Ford." Jon said reaching for her and cupping her cheek. "They were joined by our Northern Lords, released by Lord Frey and making their way to King's Landing with weapons they had fashioned from the woods. He sent them off without protection or supplies."
"He supplements our army even more on our mission then." Sansa said taking his arm and leading him to the cook fires.
"Arya bring supplies from Lord Manderly. We will not be short on provisions. Bring a wagon of clothing and swords proved prudent. We will clothe and arm them and continue our march in the morning." Jon said.
"You are keeping something from me." Sansa said quietly as Jon sat astride the bench that had been set up by the table and pulled her down to sit with him.
"Leave us. I have things to discuss with My Queen." Jon said turning and looking at Sansa she leaned closer so he could whisper. "Arya arrived as our Northern Lords hung the two Freys that were leading them to us like cattle. They had them roped together and were dragging them by their mounts. The Great Jon waited till he was sure no other Freys were following before he simply pulled them both down and beat them into submission. They were still twitching when I arrived."
"So the world is two Freys less, what's the problem?" Sansa asked.
"The look in our sister's eyes watching them swing troubles me." Jon said. "Her thirst for vengeance has always been strong. Bran says she still mumbles names to the heart tree before bed each night."
"Some names will be removed from her list now." Sansa said. "Jon Arya was at the Twins when they slaughtered Robb and our mother. Sandor had taken her captive, hoping for a reward to get him out of Westeros or to join Robb's cause. He says she didn't see anything but them go up to the kennels and shoot Grey Wind. I know she heard the screams and that Lannister song being played. She saw our banners set a flame. We will give the same back to Lord Frey."
"If that is all she is living for what happens when her list runs out?" Jon asked. "You and I have each other and a babe on the way, what does Arya have? Will she just become blood thirsty?"
"She will run Winterfell and warden the North for her King. Should she rule with a firm hand will be her choice." Sansa added. "Jon please don't worry about her. She is happy to be home, happy to have Gendry even though she protests that they are simply friends."
"Time will tell if you are right." Jon said watching as the spoils of the hunt were spitted and set to roast. Sansa stood and smiled as Arya led in a small troop.
"Hello Your Grace." Arya teased as she leaped from her horse. "Are you surprised to see me or did Jon blabbed? He swooped in with that black beast and left rolling his eyes.
"You did not have to come this far. You were supposed to approach the Twins from the rear. With no one coming the Freys could scatter North."
"And come head to head with a force led by Gendry and half my forces." Arya said whistling. A wolf almost as large as Ghost broke from the pack and came to her side. "Look Sansa, it's Nymeria."
"You found her?" Sansa asked not really believing it herself. "Why did you come without letting us know?"
"Because that way the Freys did not know." Arya said rolling her eyes. It was just luck that I arrived in time to see the little weasels pulled from their horses." Jon rolled his eyes.
"Come my Queen, we must greet our newly freed Lords." Jon said leading Sansa to the group that strolled into camp.
"Mother!" Lady Lyanna cried out, finally showing a tiny glimpse of the little girl she was as she rushed forth and into her mother's waiting arms. "I did what I knew you would do and supported the Starks against The Bolton Bastard." Lyanna babbled on about every decision he had made. "I bent the knee on behalf of our house."
"The Mormonts have always only known one King in the North. It is a great honor to serve a Stark on Iron Throne." And just like his coronation in the North, The Bears were the first of the newly freed Lords to bend knee again along the Trident.
"My Lords we have promised to free you and send you back to help my brother Brandon Stark and Sister Arya rule the North, but before we can return to King's Landing the insolence of the Freys must be punished. We will not give them time to gather their wits or another stay of execution." Sansa said motioning with her arm. Sandor rode up with a wagon full of weapons, provisions and battle clothing.
"I would march on to the Freys to avenge the King I thought was my brother and I would want to do it with his most trusted men." Jon said pulling the tarp off. "The North rules all Seven Kingdoms, but only True Northerners can help us seek the justice we need for King Robb and Lady Catelyn, for your sons and daughters that fell during the foul Red Wedding, will you join us in extinguishing their line and wiping their names from our history?" Jon asked in a roaring battle cry.
"King in the North!" The Great Jon yelled out kneeling. The other Lords fell in line with him, yelling out war cries. The Dragon's circled overhead and the wolves howled.
"We feast and march straight to Twins at first light. We burn it to ground, smash it brick from brick and piss on the rubble." Arya screamed out. Sansa gazed at her in horror. "Well we at least burn it to the ground." Jon smiled and ruffled her hair has he led the troops back to camp.
"Break out a barrel of wine and cask of ale." He said as he handed out horns and bowls for the roasting meat. He pulled Sansa closer and whispered in her ear. She nodded and blushed. "We are toasting immanent arrival of the next heir to the Seven Kingdoms and Prince or Princess of the North, first grand child to Eddard Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen." Jon said as the soldiers around him roared in cheer.
"You Northerners are a lively bunch." Loras said as he escorted Sansa and Jon to the wheelhouse after a feast more lively then the finest he had ever attended in High Garden or King's Landing. Even parties Renly had thrown had ever reached the amount of pure joy that had been celebrated with fowl and cheap ale along the trident amongst pavilions, crude shelters and soldiers pissing with their backs to the wind.
"We only celebrate when the even calls for it." Sansa said. "A name day or anniversary is not worth exhausting supplies and to celebrate every moon diminishes truly important events." Jon smiled drunkenly at his Queen, one of the few truly sober people remaining. The Vanguard had remained sober in case of an attack and Jon had stopped the flow of alcohol and had them set out pitchers of water. Even Arya was still dancing around with the wolves, tossing them bones she had gathered from the tables.
"Gather your brothers Ser Loras. Rest is needed to insure we make it to Twins before nightfall tomorrow." Jon said as he stumbled into wheelhouse. He held a hand out and Sansa rolled her eyes before nodding to Loras to be on his way. She accepted his hand and kneeled before him.
"You are drunk." Sansa whispered as Jon immediately tugged at the laces on the side of her gown. Jon sucked on her neck till she pushed him away and started loosening her gown on her own. "You I could not pack as Queen needs, I can't have you rip my dress." She added as he helped her slide it off her body. Sansa sat back against her pillow in her shift. Jon laid back and undid the laces to his britches. Sansa knew that he would not undress in case he was needed.
"Sweet girl come here." Jon said reaching for her hand again. Sansa let him guide so she straddled his waist and sat down on his lap. Jon reached up and pulled the shift down her arms so her teats were free.
"Jon someone could look in and see me." Sansa said leaning down to kiss him. Jon sat up and leaned down to suckle at her teats as she moved against him.
"They would know their Queen forgoes small clothes and has the loveliest breasts in The Realms of Men." He said lifting the shift clean off her and cupping her ass, rocking her bit harder. "And they would be promptly without eyes for spying on their liege." He added sitting up and guiding her back so he was on top of her. Sansa smiled and kissed him softly, pulling him against her tightly. "I'll crush you and the babe." Jon said lifting himself and kissing down her body.
"No you won't. I pull you on top of me because it's a comforting weight." She said as he lifted one leg over his shoulder. Sansa lifted her hand to his face and brushed back his hair.
"Leave your hand and guide my mouth." Jon said before sinking down and placing kisses against where she was warm and wet. Sansa arched against his mouth and dragged his lips to the top of her slit. "There?" Jon asked as he circled her clit."
"Yes!" Sansa whined tugging him closer. Jon laughed against her and sucked on her nub until her sweetness began to soak his beard. He started lapping at her firmly and sliding his fingers into her gently. "Jon, I want you to take me now." Sansa said as she moved against his mouth. Jon laughed at how she was failing at whispering. "You on top." She whined when he stretched out beside her to pull himself from his britches and remove the doublet he wore. Sansa slapped at his stomach and pulled him back on top of her. Jon moved to his knees between her legs and Sansa slapped his hand away when he reached for her cunt, sitting up and stroking him firmly as she glared at him. "I am more than ready, I am still smeared across your lips." She said tugging him by the cock as she moved back among her pillows and furs. Jon growled as she guided him to her warmth. "Oh Gods you feel good." She whispered as she teased herself with the tip against her folds, running him up and down. Jon removed her hold on him and sheathed himself inside of her.
"That's my girl." Jon said as she immediately started to flutter against him and meet his movements. In no time at all she was pressing her lips to his shoulder to hold back her moans, something Jon did not even bother trying to disguise. He spilled inside of her muttering with his mouth closed over her nipple as she peaked still around his softening cock.
"We will celebrate frivolously every name day once Little Tormand arrives." Sansa slapped at Jon's chest and curled against him. "I told you I had to promise him the right to name my firstborn for the loyalty of the Free Folk."