So like in the books, time is a bit jumbled at the moment, but for storytelling purposes it makes sense to not rush ahead with the Northern section of the story. The two battles in the previous chapters happened around a week apart, which is why before the Battle of Summerhall King's Landing got an update on the Wall situation. We are also in the final three weeks of the year 303 AC, with the King's Landing scenes happening two weeks before the end of the year.
I'm moving back home tomorrow, and as such I'll be working full time once more. Hopefully I'll be able to find a regular update schedule but I'm unsure at what that would be for the moment. I'm excited for the end of the story though so hopefully I'll be getting there sooner rather than later now I'm back in the mood for writing.
As always, I own nothing but Durran and my other OC's. Everything else either belongs to George RR Martin or HBO.
The morning after the battle at Castle Black, Robb was writing a letter to King's Landing, wishing to update Durran on the problems in the North. Scribbling his name on the bottom of the parchment, he rolled it up and sealed it with the Direwolf seal, before putting it away in his cloak and leaving the chambers he had been given by the Night's Watch.
He looked down to the courtyard and saw Northmen and Watchmen alike separating the dead into their respective factions. The Night's Watch were preparing to burn their dead, whereas Robb was sending the dead Northmen back to their homes to be buried, as was tradition.
He noticed Jon and Sam Tarly talking heatedly, and walked down to see them both.
"He won't just kill you!" Robb heard Sam say when he was within earshot. "They'll, boil you. They'll flay you! They'll make it last days!"
Jon turned, and without noticing Robb he looked at Sam sadly. "You're right." He admitted. "It's a bad plan. What's your plan?"
Robb interjected as he got closer. "Something a lot smarter than whatever it is you are trying to do." He said strongly. "What's going on."
"It's Night's Watch business, Lord Stark." Jon said, annoyed.
Robb narrowed his eyes. "I told you not to call me that. What's going on?" He repeated.
"Jon is going to kill Mance Rayder." Sam explained, shrugging at the look Jon gave him.
Robb just laughed. "You'll never get near him. You're a traitor to them remember."
Jon wasn't amused. "Well what do you recommend then!" He exclaimed.
Robb thought for a moment. "They are only fighting to get South of the Wall to run away from the Walkers you say are real, aye?"
Jon nodded. "Aye."
"Then it's simple. We meet with this Mance Rayder and suggest that it could be possible to make that happen without bloodshed." Robb said, not really believing the words coming out of his own mouth. "If we can agree to this amicably, then wonderful."
Sam was unsure. "They'll still never let any of you through to talk to them."
Robb nodded, and was trying to think of a way around it when Jon whispered. "Ygritte."
"What about her?" Robb asked.
"They'll talk to us if we gift her back." Jon said. "I'll bring her with me."
Robb nodded. "Sam, can you go and find Lady Mormont and have her bring me ten men willing to go North of the Wall and the prisoner. Give her this so she knows it's genuine." He handed her the Direwolf seal. Sam nodded, and waddled off at pace. Jon looked at Robb suspiciously. "What?"
"You're sending me with a guard." Jon said pointedly, unhappy.
"Not at all." Robb told him. "These are my men, they're coming with me when I join you." Jon looked to argue, but Robb cut him off. "You have no authority to offer them lands and peace in the Seven Kingdom's. I am Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, I have that authority but I don't know how to talk to them. Ygritte can get us through, you can get us talking to Mance Rayder."
It took time to convince Jon, and even more time to convince Ygritte, but eventually Robb won them over enough to get them agree and they made their way through the Wall and into the Haunted Forest. They were ambushed, but the presence of Ygritte kept them alive as they were led through the forest to Mance Rayder's tent.
A dark-haired man dressed in the same furs as all of his men came out of the tent and stopped before Ygritte and Jon. He looked Jon up and down. "You're wearing a black cloak again." He commented.
Jon didn't budge. "We've come to negotiate." He said, his voice gravelly.
The man Robb presumed was Mance Rayder turned to the red-head. "You were captured?"
"He knocked me out rather than kill me." Ygritte nodded her head at Robb. Mance turned towards Robb, and noticed the banner flying behind him.
"Lord Stark, I presume."
Robb nodded. "The King Beyond the Wall." He responded.
"I didn't know you were this far North." Mance admitted.
"It's a new development." Robb told him, returning the honesty. "We've come to talk."
Mance looked back to Ygritte, who nodded. Mance turned to Robb again. "Your men stay outside." Robb looked behind him and nodded briefly. His men eased up a little, and Mance moved aside. "After you, Jon Snow." Robb followed Ygritte into the tent, and was shown towards a seat at the table. Sitting down to Jon's left, he waited, and Mance spoke again. "It seems my trusting nature got the better of me. It's happened before. I was hoping your loyalty was real when you pledged yourself to us, Jon Snow, truly I was."
Jon shifted slightly. "The Halfhand ordered me to join your army and bring back whatever information I could to Castle Black." He began, telling again the story he had told Robb before the battle. "He made me kill him so you'd trust me. I was loyal, to him and to my Night's Watch vows."
"All your vows?" Mance asked knowingly, nodding his head to an angry Ygritte. "She wasn't enough to turn ya, eh? Were you enough to turn her?"
"He'd never turn me." She spat. "He's a traitor."
Jon looked hurt, and Robb spoke for him. "She put three arrows in him, and tried to kill me once I offered her clemency. She fights for your cause still."
Mance then turned to Robb. "It's a dangerous move, bringing your prisoner here."
Robb agreed. "But then it would be even more dangerous coming alone when we do not mean you harm."
"Did you mean my men harm when they attacked Castle Black?" Mance asked. "Or did ya slaughter them."
"We defended ourselves." Jon exclaimed.
Mance nodded. "Tormund? Orell?"
"Dead." Ygritte spat. "One by Snow's hand, Tormund by this one." She pointed to Robb. Robb guessed she meant the bearded fighter that had caused him some trouble.
Mance gathered himself for a moment. "Tormund was a good man."
"He was." Jon nodded.
"He fought bravely." Robb said, trying to appease the Wildlings.
"And died all the same." Mance told them. "We'll drink to him." One of the Wildlings placed cups in front of Mance, Jon and Robb, before giving another to Ygritte and filling them all up. Robb picked up his cup suspiciously, and Jon was equally as tentative. Mance shook his head. "Of all the ways I'd kill you both, poison would be the last." Jon picked up his cup then, and Mance said. "Tormund Giantsbane."
"Tormund." Jon and Ygritte both replied. Robb, not knowing him, just held his glass out and took a sip.
Jon spluttered, and Robb coughed slightly, not expecting the fiery taste of whatever drink it was. Collecting himself, he placed the cup down again.
"That's not wine." Jon gasped.
"We don't have your southern piss up here, Jon Snow." Ygritte rolled her eyes.
"What is it?" Robb asked.
"A proper Northern drink." Mance replied in disdain. "So, let's get to it. What do you want."
Robb sat straighter. "To understand. Jon tells me all you want is to go South of the Wall. South of the Wall is my country. Explain to me why I shouldn't just bring an entire army up here and wipe you all out."
Mance smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Jon Snow here can tell you that better than I can." He admitted. "He's seen them. He's seen what they can do."
Robb turned to Jon, who nodded. "We camped a few days North of here, at the hut of one of the Free Folk."
"He's not one of us." Ygritte spat."
"No." Jon nodded. "He marries his daughters, all of them." Robb felt a bit ill. "The girl, Gilly. She was one of his wives. Anyway, one of the others birthed a son. I saw him take the baby out to the woods and leave it there, and I saw a creature with bright blue eyes take the baby away. I saw a White Walker."
Robb felt chilled, and the faces in the tent all showed nothing but dread. "The White Walkers, they're myths. Legends." He claimed.
"They're real, boy." Mance shook his head. Robb felt himself grow slightly angry at being called boy, but calmed himself. "They come from even further North than we can possibly go. They take Craster's children as offerings, and they slaughter armies and reanimate them, adding to their own ranks."
"Reanimate the dead?" Robb chuckled.
"Over 200 men died at the Fist of the First Men." Jon replied, slightly angry. "200 of my brothers. When I got there, the men were all gone. No trace of them. When I was a steward under Jeor Mormont, two men died. They rose again and tried to kill him. I saw that."
Robb's eyes grew wider as Jon's words sunk in, and Mance continued. "You see, that's our fate if we don't go further South. That Wall is the only thing that can stop them."
Jon continued, looking towards Mance. "We want a truce, with you. We stop fighting, while an envoy of yours, mine and Lord Stark's travels down to the King. He is the only one with the power to call upon the men we need."
Mance stood, and paced his tent. "You realise that this looks like a trap." He said. "Make us stop fighting while the Army of the North comes and slaughters us all."
"We don't have a full army, we have 5,000 men." Robb shook his head, being honest. The words of Jon had chilled him to his core, and he almost believed them. "I wouldn't be here if I wanted to trick you. I give you my word."
"Your word!" Mance cried. "I don't know you, I know him." He pointed at Jon. "I know him for a liar."
"They want to help, Mance." Ygritte sighed. "Believe me, not them."
Mance paced some more before he came to a conclusion. "I want proof. I want your Lord Commander to come down to my face and ask for the same. Without that, I can't just go on your word alone. Bring me the Lord Commander to ask for this truce, and I'll agree and we can talk about going to talk to your King."
"We have none currently. It may take time." Jon told him.
Robb had an idea. "We'll give you Ygritte back for two weeks truce to give those at Eastwatch and the Shadow Tower a chance to get to Castle Black. If you've not heard from us in one week, then consider these talks finished and we shall be at war once more."
Mance Rayder nodded. "I can agree to that. You have one week."
Nodding, Robb and Jon both stood, the Stark Lord nodding at Mance before leaving the tent. Jon hung back for a moment to steal a glance at Ygritte, before following him.
"Why did you suggest that?" Jon asked once they were clear of the camp.
Robb replied. "I'm trusting you and believing you. That was my way of offering him something to get him to trust me slightly. She was of no use to us in the hands of Thorne, she's safer with Mance and this way he may stick to his word."
As Durran rode through the River Gate behind the wheeled cage marked by a torn Targaryen banner that housed Viserys Targaryen inside, he was proud to see the people of the city greeting him in their thousands. Either side of the street were the locals cheering him, booing Viserys and pelting rotten fruit through the bars. They made their way down The Hook, and soon found themselves rising Aegon's Hill and inside the Red Keep. He dismounted as Stannis rode next to him, the Hand of the King having ridden down a number of the Golden Company generals and being instrumental in their capture. Only a handful of the enemy had made it through to Dorne, which was again being besieged by land at the Marcher Castles.
"See that the prisoners are thrown into the Black Cells." Durran called to the steward, who had come to greet them. The man nodded, and Durran felt he could finally relax slightly. "Lord Stannis, do you mind seeing to the Council? I need to see the Queen and Princess."
Stannis nodded. "Go, I'll take Stefan with me."
"Take Lord Dayne and Ser Daven too." Durran said, and Stannis bowed, before Durran dismissed his Kingsguard to get some proper rest, and he waited for his brother to catch up to him before the pair made their way up to his rooms, meeting Ser Perwyn on the way.
He opened the door slightly, and was pleased that everybody was inside. Cersei had tears in her eyes as she rushed towards Tommen, gripping him in a tight hug and spinning him around. Dany ran over to Durran, and he picked her up easily in his arms and kissed her fiercely. Durran noticed Jaime smiling too in the corner.
"You're back. You're back." Cersei kept saying over and over, ignoring the squirming Tommen's complaints.
Durran set Dany down, and let Cersei crush him in a hug too. "I'm ok Mother, barely a scratch on me." He chuckled.
"I was so worried, about both of you." She said, gripping Tommen again.
"Durran was amazing." Tommen said. "He got all the squires to like me."
Durran smiled. "You did that yourself, Lord Lannister." He noticed Elaenor then, amazed at his daughter squealing with delight as she flapped her arms around. He made his way over to her, and his heart melted as she held her arms out to be carried. He obliged happily, and held his daughter up. "Haven't you grown my precious Princess." He cooed.
"She's trying to sit up on her own now." Dany smiled, walking over to them and placing an arm on his back.
"I've missed so much." He sighed, before kissing Elaenor firmly on the cheek and laughing at her delighted squeals.
"We'll leave you to it for tonight." Cersei said. Durran looked around and noticed the sky was turning a faint orange.
"We shall all meet for breakfast tomorrow. Here." Durran said. "Let Myrcella know."
Cersei nodded, walking over and kissing Durran on the cheek, having to tiptoe now. "I'm so glad your safe." She smiled. "Come Tommen! Tell me all about it."
She began to leave, and Jaime followed her at Durran's behest, shaking his hand before closing the door behind him. Durran sat on the bed, letting Elaenor bounce on his knee.
"Where is he?" Dany asked, sitting next to him.
Durran sighed. "In the Black Cells for now. I promise, you can see him soon."
Dany nodded. "I don't know how I should feel." She admitted.
Durran looked at her sadly. "I have to execute him, you know that right? He refused the offer and thousands died because of that choice. I have to be strong."
"I know." Dany nodded. "I just… I've never met him, and he is family."
Durran kissed her on her head and held her close. "Give me tomorrow to sort out the court and to bestow everything out. Then I'll let you see him."
Dany smiled weakly, before smiling. "You have a lot to catch up on. Robb Stark has been busy."
"He has?" Durran raised an eyebrow before shaking his head. "Tomorrow. Right now, I want to catch up with my wife and daughter."
Dany nodded, grinning as she kissed him again.
The next day, after a joyful breakfast where Durran managed to catch up with his entire family, and a tough Small Council meeting, where Durran had had to apologise severely to Mace Tyrell and set out the final plans to pacify Dorne with his Small Council, sending messengers off to the armies now approaching the Marches and to Davos Seaworth, Dany had dragged Durran to the castle armoury. She stopped as she reached a sword rack, which only had the one sword on it, covered in a Baratheon banner.
"What is this?" Durran asked.
"A present." Dany said. "You left Lady Forlorn here, and it was such a boring sword with a silly name, I asked Tobho Mott to do something for me while you were away." Durran looked at her amusedly, before gently tugging the black stag on yellow off of the weapon. On the rack was a beautiful black leather scabbard, with thin golden stags dancing along the material. The hilt had been changed too, with a black stag's head with tiny yellow gems for eyes being the pommel, and the cross guard being beautifully designed antlers. "The gems are yellow sapphires, Varys had them sent from Pentos, they're extremely rare." She told him.
"It's magnificent." Durran said in awe. He picked the weapon up by the scabbard, before unsheathing the blade. Admiring the Valyrian Steel and how light it felt in his hand, he turned to Dany. "This… this is incredible. I love you, my Queen."
Dany smiled sweetly back. "And I love you too. I figured that although it's not a greatsword, a King should have a Valyrian Steel blade."
Durran nodded, turning to Ser Arys, who was guarding them at the moment. "What do you think Arys?"
The Kingsguard nodded. "A fine blade Your Grace. A true Baratheon sword."
Dany nodded. "I haven't named it, I thought I'd leave that to you."
Durran kissed her on the cheek, before staring at the hilt again. "A Baratheon blade should have a Baratheon name, and nothing says Baratheon like the fury of the Stormlands. This blade is Fury." He sheathed it in the scabbard and handed it to Ser Arys, before undoing his sword belt. Dany looked at him, amusedly outraged.
"Last night was fun and I missed you, but I'm not fucking you in an armoury in front of Ser Arys!" She cried.
Durran burst into laughter. "As fun as that would be, my intentions are pure." He insisted. He took the sword belt off and handed the blade to Dany. "By right, this sword belongs to you."
Dany looked confused. "It does?"
"It does." Durran confirmed. "It was once the blade of Aegon the Conqueror, passed down generation to generation until Aegon the Fourth of his name bestowed it to the wrong son."
Dany's eyes widened. "Blackfyre…"
Durran nodded. "It's a bit big for you I guess, but it is yours by rights, and I figured it would be a good gift to give the future Prince of Dragonstone, when we get around to making him."
Dany agreed, her eyes growing damp. "This… I can't express how much this means, thank you." She whispered. Durran just bent down to capture her lips with his own.
They broke apart quickly, and Durran said. "Come, let us go and get court over with."
The throne room was packed. Lords and Ladies and Knights filled it to the brim, and Durran looked down at them all from the Iron Throne. He had just finished knighting around 70 people for their valour on the battlefield, including Martyn, Willem and Tyrek Lannister, and finally his cousin Stefan Baratheon. It was now time for the handing out of titles, as Mace Tyrell was called forwards. The fat flower knelt before the Throne, and Durran bid him to rise.
"Lord Tyrell. Brightwater keep was briefly owned by your nephew, Lord Garlan Tyrell, who so tragically fell in the Battle of Summerhall. As his widow, the Lady Leonette Fossoway, is currently pregnant with his babe, I hereby name the child as the new Lord or Lady of Brightwater Keep. Until such a time as the child reaches maturity, I grant regency to your eldest nephew and heir, Willas Tyrell." Durran proclaimed. "In the event of miscarriage, the castle shall fall to the head of House Tyrell."
"Thank you, you honour us, Your Grace." Mace spoke loudly, bowing his head towards the Throne before walking back to his spot.
"Lord Stannis Baratheon." Durran called, and Stannis made the short walk from the front of the procession to the steps of the Iron Throne, kneeling briefly. "I hereby grant your second son, Lord Davos Baratheon, Wendwater Castle and all its land. You may pick your own regent until he reaches maturity."
"I thank you, Your Grace." Stannis replied, before taking his place back next to Stefan.
"Ser Rolland Storm!" Durran called. The pox scarred knight walked through the crowd and knelt before the throne. "Ser Rolland. Your brother Lord Bryce Caron was the last legitimate son of your late father, and died without issue. As a result, I hereby grant you legitimisation, naming you Ser Rolland Caron, and bestow the title of Lord of Nightsong upon you."
The new Lord nodded his thanks, bowing once more before shrinking off to escape the attention, and it was time for Durran to start his more radical announcements.
"Ser Anguy." Durran called. The newly anointed knight and a hero of the war stepped forwards from the back of the room, and knelt before the Throne. Durran stood this time. "Your skills were truly important in the past conflict. From the battle of Blackhaven where you dented the manpower and struck at a number of their war beasts, to the Battle of Summerhall where you led men and took down more beasts, before managing to save the life of Ser Barristan Selmy. I hereby name you Hero of the Realm." Durran began applauding, and the entire room erupted into applause for a brief moment before Durran held his arm up and the noise died down. "As most of you in this room are aware, the traitor Viserys Targaryen brutally murdered House Selmy, leaving Ser Barristan its only member. As a gesture of gratitude and with Ser Barristan's blessing, I hereby raise you to landed knighthood, and grant you the seat of Harvest Hall."
Murmurs flew throughout the room, as the realisation that Durran had just raised a commoner to landed knight in a matter of moments gripped them all. The man in question was in shock. "Tha… thank you, Your Grace." He stammered.
"You have proven that the circumstance of one's birth does not make a hero, and you deserve your rewards for your service." Durran responded, dismissing him, before calling for silence once again. "House Martell has proven that they cannot be trusted with this latest treachery. Prince Doran sided against my Father in the war to justly overthrow the Mad King, he ignored my Father's calls for unity of the realm and preferred to bide his time in the deserts waiting for a moment to strike at House Baratheon. As a result of his treachery, I have to ensure that the consequences are severe. By my right as the Protector of the Realm, I hereby strip House Martell of the Paramountcy of Dorne!" Durran had to begin shouting to be overheard by the shocked room. "I denounce House Martell and demand they turn themselves in for their treachery! They shall suffer the consequences of the war they helped bring!"
The reaction was loud, as the room was split. Durran let them have their moment before raising an arm and letting the noise die out. "As a result, Dorne is in need of new leadership. Lord Edric Dayne." The silver-haired teenager stepped forwards, kneeling before the Throne. "Your House stood firm in House Martell's betrayal and suffered deeply for it. Your loyalty has been of great importance to me, and I pronounce House Dayne of Starfall to hereby be Lord Paramount of Dorne, from this day until the end of days. To show your new title, a bride worthy of the Lord Paramount shall be needed, and with your agreement, I shall grant you the hand of my sister, Princess Myrcella Baratheon."
Whispers ran through the room, as Edric Dayne looked up at the Throne. "I can think of no higher honours Your Grace. I promise you Dorne shall once again become a staunch and strong supporter of the Crown. I should gladly wed the Princess Myrcella, so long as she agrees herself. I would not wish to give the Princess an unhappy union." He called.
This had been practised beforehand, and Durran looked up to the gallery where Myrcella stood in between Cersei and Daenerys looking beautiful in a slender golden dress. She looked over at Durran, who nodded briefly, before turning to look at Edric. "Your valour and honour are known to me, Lord Dayne. I would gladly wed a man such as yourself."
Applause rang through the room, though Durran noted a few unhappy glances throughout, as was to be expected when such radical change occurred. Edric returned to his space, and Durran held up his hand once more. Nodding to Jaime, the Kingslayer walked down the centre of the room and out of the doors quickly, and Durran spoke again.
"The last three years have been devastating to the Seven Kingdoms. War has barely ceased during that time, and thousands upon thousands of lives have been lost. With the end of the Targaryen Uprising, we can finally bring about a period of lengthy peace throughout the lands. The end of the war though, will not come with the symbol of the traitorous rebellion left alive." Durran told them all. "My Father was known for his lenience and his ability to turn enemies into friends, and while that was a tactic that served well in the last war, this war sees me finding a need for a new approach, the approach of the other House I belong to. House Martell shall feel my full Lannister wrath, as House Florent and House Rowan already have." With that the doors opened again, and a dirty, ragged Viserys Targaryen was dragged in chains by a number of guards, who brought him before the throne before Jaime kicked out at his legs, forcing the Targaryen to kneel. Durran saw him look up at Dany, and clenched his teeth, before standing up and looking down at the Targaryen male. "Viserys Targaryen. I once offered you generous terms to end your uprising. I offered you the ancestral seat of Dragonstone and you refused my offer. You've destroyed Houses that had been around for thousands of years, been responsible for the deaths of thousands. As a result, I have no choice but for one course of action. I, Durran of the House Baratheon. King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, do hereby sentence you to die by beheading on the final day of the 303rd year since Aegon's Landing."
The crowd erupted in cheers as the sentence was passed, and Viserys just glared into Durran's eyes. The Baratheon nodded to Jaime to take the Targaryen away, as he sat on the Iron Throne and let the atmosphere die out naturally.
So, if you didn't guess, the title is in response to Durran's sentencing. It will be harsh, House Martell are in for some truly horrific times ahead, but that's what they get for rebelling!
Parts of the talk with Mance was taken from Season 4 Episode 10.
Another criticism coming my way may well be with Robb believing Mance too quickly. My take on it is that he believes Jon, and the reaction of the room told him that even if he is sceptical, he needs to act on it anyway because of those reactions.
I'm interested to see what you're thinking of Robb now. Up till Chapter 16 the unanimous view was that of begging for him to die, so please leave a review of if you're warming to him now he's been humbled a bit, or if you still hate him? He's got a fun part to play in the chapters to come, as well as a child on the way remember!
Next chapter will be the anticipated personal meeting between Dany and Viserys.
Thank you to all those that have reviewed again. Please leave another one for this chapter, I love reading all your feedback it really drives me on.
Reviews:
Dipsyy: Thank you for saying that. These types of chapters are the hardest to write as you don't want to be repetitive.
The Three Stoogies: Someone had to, a battle of that scale with all the casualties on one side is just unrealistic.
Northern Snow/Jon: RLJ is in effect, but it won't be known for some time.
Boramir: The battle was over and Viserys had stopped paying attention and had turned his back. Killing him in that manner would have made Durran seem weaker in my eyes. This way he gets to parade him around King's Landing and execute him for an audience.
Lightningscar: It's what happens when you have nothing else to really do! I figured that Cersei doesn't really have the opportunity to scheme as much as she is effectively without power. Durran doesn't fully trust her still, so she is limited in what she can do and I think in seeing her son act capably, she is accepting it for his sake. As for Dorne, he knows that fighting them on their turf is impossible, hence the full blockade and the encouragement for the Dornish to turn on themselves. Edric Dayne is an important part of that due to the respect his House has throughout the realm. It was Tormund sorry! He only surrendered and helped Jon because he was captured in the battle, with Robb being there and not having any reason to know him, a battle to the death was always likely. He only spared Ygritte because of Jon, the rest to him were expendable. They were convenient yes, but without the dragons it felt wrong not to give the King with all his resources an advantage, especially when they were in the Kingswood and had a few weeks to prepare. Yi Ti is past Qarth yes. With the mangonels, I thought of it more like aim in the general direction and hope for maximum damage. Blackfyre will be important in the future yes, but I'd be lying if I said that breaking Stormbreaker was anything more than to just show off the true damage potential of Valyrian Steel v normal steel when going full pelt at one another, Stormbreaker just chipped and weakened until the point it snapped. I get that people are disappointed it was short, but I've had almost 20 chapters of war, and in such a do or die situation as this battle was, it made sense to me to have it go this way. The war technically isn't over however as Dorne is still sort of in play, and then yes, we will move more on to preparing for the Night King invasion, although right now not many outside of Castle Black know about it, let alone believe it.
Guest (war): I get that as I mentioned in the last review response.