What is this? Two chapters in one week?! That's almost unheard of for me! I wouldn't get used to it though... It may take me a while to complete the next two.
I hope you all enjoy this one. Thankfully it's longer than the last and closer to my normal target of 5,000.
I own nothing but Durran and the other OC's. Everyone and everything else belongs to either George or HBO.
Bran Stark's eyes turned from plain white back to their normal shade of blue in an instant, as the cripple gasped at the scene he had just seen North of the Wall.
"Ravens." He managed to get out. "We need to send ravens."
"What did you see?" Luwin asked, the elder man finally coming around to accept that Bran could have visions now.
"Him." Was all Bran could say, his voice portraying the deadly seriousness that his words heralded. "I saw him. He's coming to Eastwatch. Everyone needs to know."
"How long have we got?" Luwin asked.
Bran shook his head. "Not long enough."
The sense of haunting despair was lifted at the cries of the ten-year-old Rickon Stark, as the young boy came running into the Godswood with a huge grin on his face. "BRAN! BRAN SHE'S BACK!"
The Three Eyed Raven almost smiled, as he allowed Maester Luwin to take the back of his chair and wheel him towards the entrance of the Godswood where Rickon was waiting for someone. As he neared, he heard his younger brother say happily. "I told you Mother, I have a present for you!"
A woman entered the Godswood, her head covered by a shawl and a thick cloak around her shoulders, but her hands came shakily up to her shawl as she saw the wheelchair and its occupant. Freeing her hair, Cat's hand then went to her mouth. "You're alive." She barely whispered. "You're alive."
"Hello Mother." Bran said as Luwin stopped the chair just in front of Catelyn and Rickon. That did it, as Catelyn began weeping uncontrollably, throwing herself at her middle son. She sobbed into his shoulder for a time before reaching out and dragging Rickon into the hug as well, ignoring the younger boy's squirming.
"My sons. My boys." She whispered, repeating it over and over again until her voice was wearing out. "I thought you were gone."
"There were moments when it was close." Bran admitted sullenly.
Cat pulled away eventually and couldn't help her smile. "Never again. I will keep you safe, I swear it."
"What's for supper?" Rickon asked suddenly, his attention span limited. Catelyn laughed again, tears still falling.
"Shall we go and find out?" She asked him. Rickon nodded excitedly, taking Cat's hand as they walked towards the Great Hall. Bran was being pushed by Maester Luwin behind them, his eyes turning white as he found himself back in the past once again unbeknownst to his Mother.
When the King and Queen arrived back at King's Landing, they had barely been able to settle back in when a ship from White Harbour was announced to have entered the city. They both rushed off to get changed, Durran once again settling on a doublet of his house colours and a black cape of Lyseni silk, with Dany choosing a pale blue dress that Durran had made for her last nameday.
Sat on the Throne once again Durran was surprised to see Jon Snow walking in, a pair of Stark soldiers flanking him.
"Your Grace." Jon said, lowering himself to one knee.
"Rise, Lord Commander." Durran bid him, looking at Dany, confused as to why he was there, not noticing the shake of the head from Stannis towards the newcomer. "You're a long way from the Wall, and not in the colour I would expect of a member of the Night's Watch."
Jon got back to his feet and nodded nervously. "Aye, there's a story there that's best spoken while alone Your Grace."
Even more confused, Durran leant back into the Throne. "Why are you here then, Jon Snow?"
"With a request from myself, to be able to travel to Dragonstone and aid in the mining efforts, and gifts from my co… brother, Lord Stark, to Her Grace the Queen." Jon replied. "One is on my ship, the other on my hip." Jon undid his sword belt, placing the weapon in both hands, before kneeling again and offering it out to Durran.
Durran gestured to Ser Barristan to go and take the sword, and the elderly knight did as bid, stopping suddenly before he ran his hands along the scabbard.
"How did you come by this sword?" Barristan asked Jon impatiently.
"The story is a long one, Ser." Jon replied. "I would prefer it to be told in a more private setting."
Durran was confused, until Ser Barristan took the sword and brought it up to the Iron Throne. "I've only seen this blade once before, Your Grace." The old man whispered. "When I was knighted by King Aegon himself, he dubbed me with this sword and swore that I would be one of the greatest knights of the realm one day, and only a Valyrian Steel sword was fitting. That's Dark Sister."
His eyes widening in recognition, he took one look at a confused Daenerys up in the gallery before looking beside him at Stannis, who was also staring in awe at the sword. "Court is over for the day." He stated. "Jon, follow me."
Standing, he strode through the doors to the Small Council room, followed by only Ser Barristan, Stannis, Daenerys and Jon. "What's going on?" Dany asked.
"Yes, I'd like to know that as well." Stannis said, taking off his eyepatch for comfort.
"How did you get this blade?" Barristan asked Jon.
Sighing, Jon sat down in a random chair and ran his hand through his hair. "It was in my Mother's tomb." He said quietly.
Durran grew even more confused. "Your Mother? I thought she was a wet nurse? How does a wet nurse have a tomb?"
"I've been lied to." Jon said, gritting his teeth in anger. "All my life."
Dany walked over and sat beside Jon, taking his hand in her own. "Take your time." She said gently.
Sighing, Jon began, detailing the story of how he had been betrayed by his brothers at the Night's Watch and executed for aiding the Wildling's. How he and his Wildling wife had fled the Wall for the safety of Winterfell and finished on how he had come to learn of the truth of his parentage. "I was never told who my Mother was. All my life I'd ask Lord Stark and he would just tell me that I was his blood and that was the end of the discussion. The last time I saw him, he told me that we would talk about her the next time we spoke. I realise now it was because I'd be at the Wall, unable to do anything with the knowledge."
"I don't understand why she is such a secret." Durran admitted, having barely recovered from the sight of the scars Jon showed as proof.
"Because Lord Eddard wasn't my Father." Jon told them, causing silence in the Small Council chamber as the news settled over them all.
Ser Barristan was the first to react, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he gently grasped Jon's face to look deeper into his eyes. "Your Mother… Ashara?" He asked softly.
Jon just shook his head, and Durran swore he saw Barristan sag his shoulders in disappointment. "No, my Mother was Lyanna Stark." Jon told them.
The cogs began to turn in Durran's head at that, but before he could work anything out Dany raised her hands to her mouth and gasped. "It was you!" She said, muffled. "She was pregnant with you?"
"What are you talking about?" Durran asked.
Dany looked up at him, nervous. "Do you remember when I was talking to your Mother and told you about my visions?" Durran nodded. "I saw one more. I saw my brother, Rhaegar, and Lyanna Stark talking. She was pregnant."
Durran didn't know what to think. He opened and closed his mouth a number of times before settling on. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because they were wed." Dany told him, and the implications of that became clear to everyone in the room.
"Then that means…" Durran said staring at Jon.
"It means that I am a trueborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen. They named me Aegon." He said bitterly, before standing once more and dropping to his knee again. "But I swear to you, Your Grace, I do not want this. All I want is to be the bastard son of Ned Stark, I swear to you on the Old Gods and the New that I will be no threat to you, I renounce my claim on the Throne here, before you."
Durran would be lying if he had said that hearing that wasn't a relief, and he bid Jon to rise. "I appreciate that. I know you would never have sought the Throne Jon… Aegon, sorry."
"Jon." The man in question corrected. "I am Jon, I've always been Jon and I will always be Jon."
"Forgive me for being the cynic, but how do we know this is all true?" Stannis asked. "I do not deny that your parents could well have been Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark but aren't we forgetting that the Prince was already wed? Are we to trust the visions of a deceitful God and the words of one man?"
"No." Jon shrugged. "But Lyanna's diary might help." He reached into his cloak and pulled out a tattered book, handing it to Stannis. "And my other gift for you, my Queen, is your brother's harp. Brought to Winterfell as proof in case this story ever came out."
Dany couldn't contain herself much longer and making sure she was careful of her baby bump, she reached in to hug her nephew. "Thank you, Aegon." She whispered.
Durran was still shocked at all the revelations and said slowly. "I think we should all reconvene in the morning. This news is heavy for us all."
The others agreed, and Stannis began to walk Jon back to his ship, the pair speaking in hushed tones. The King however just stood there, staring into space trying to process all that just happened.
Jon found himself waylaid as he made his way back to the ship, and for some reason walked from Aegon's High Hill over to the Hill of Rhaenys, where the empty ruins of the Dragonpit could be found.
He stopped by the entrance and just took in the scene in front of him. The jagged remains of the giant dome that Jon had only ever read about in the library of Winterfell stood out, closely followed however by the giant snoozing black dragon at the other end of the pit. His two guards backed off slightly, but Jon was only curious and crept forwards slowly.
"What are you doing?" One of the guards hissed informally, something that Jon had insisted on one day on the boat after his protection had stumbled over what title to call him.
"It's ok." Jon said, with confidence he wasn't sure where it had come from. He carried on walking forwards, walking past the steps that went deep into the bowels of the hill, when suddenly a roar came, and another dragon, smaller but no less fearsome, flew above Jon in a circle before landing in front of him. Aelyx lowered his head towards the ground and shuffled forwards, growling at Jon. He stood his ground though, something within him compelling him to stay still. The dragon's face was soon inches away from Jon's, and after a bit of a sniff Aelyx seemed to relax slightly, giving off what Jon considered a scoff before the dragon turned away and flew up towards the section of the Dragonpit that he had claimed for his own.
"He senses your confusion." A soft voice came from behind Jon. He turned around and saw Queen Daenerys, flanked by Ser Perwyn. "He can tell that you don't know who you are."
"How am I supposed to?" Jon replied, with a hint of bitterness in his voice. "All my life I've been the bastard of Winterfell, shunned and ignored because of who I was, but now I've died and been brought back to life solely because of my blood, I'm apparently a legitimate member of House Targaryen, and everything I learned about my Mother was a lie."
"It's enough to drive anybody crazy." Dany admitted, as Rhaellar was seen in the air with Aelyx. "We don't have easy lives in our House. I was a prisoner for most of my life, kept in the underbelly of the Red Keep with only the spymaster for a companion until one day Durran came exploring and found me. Now I'm the Queen of a realm that despises my House, I've had to be a witness to my brother being executed and until my niece was born, I was alone."
"I don't know how to think, I don't know how to react." Jon admitted. "My Grandfather murdered my Grandfather."
"I only have the one." Dany admitted. "Our family doesn't make sense in Westerosi rules, but it won't be that way again. We have a chance, Jon, to take our name and go 'no, we aren't that family anymore.' We have a chance to be better."
"I don't know if I can do that. I've been Jon for so long I don't think I can be Aegon." Jon told her.
Dany smiled up at him, placing a hand on his cheek. "Then don't. You may have been named Aegon, but you are who you say you are, nobody else. Be Aegon Targaryen, be Jon Snow. Be Jon Targaryen it doesn't matter. What matters is that we beat back the Long Night and do everything we can to win." She turned to Ser Perwyn, who handed her a hand and a half sword, the hilt with a giant ruby in the middle. Dany turned back to Jon and handed him the sword. "Whether you consider yourself a Targaryen or not, the fact that Aelyx didn't burn you alive while alone shows me that you are my kin, and while I cannot wield this sword, you can."
Jon took the hilt in his right hand and withdrew it slightly. "Is this…" He began.
"Blackfyre. Recovered from Viserys after his defeat at Summerhall." Dany said. "Now that Dark Sister is back in the Red Keep it's only fitting that the sword of the Conqueror go to a man capable of wielding it in battle, and I shall fight the Long Night with the sword of our ancestor's sister, Visenya."
Jon quickly sheathed the sword again, handing it back. "I can't accept this."
"You can, and you will." Dany said firmly. "We need all the Valyrian Steel we can get, and you gave yours up, so Lord Stannis told me. Take it, and maybe that will help you decide one way or another who you are."
Daenerys left Jon standing there, staring at the sword that had such a fabled history and trying to keep the urge away of allowing himself to dream of joining those fabled heroes in the history books.
An emergency Small Council meeting had been called by Stannis the day after Jon had arrived. The entire Small Council was there, and an extra chair had been set aside for Jon and his wife, although Durran found it amusing when Jon said that Ygritte had politely refused because she 'knelt to no man'. There was a single raven scroll in the middle of the table, bearing the seal of House Stark.
"I thought Bran was dead." Jon told everyone.
"A cripple boy, surviving North of the Wall for all this time." Randyll Tarly said pompously, nodding his head in respect.
"Have care how you speak, My Lord." Jon said coldly. "In my experience at the Wall those deemed unworthy due to physical limitations are often ten times as brave as those in peak condition. Your son among them."
Lord Tarly looked like he wanted to argue back, but a stern look from Stannis stopped the Reachman in his tracks. The Baratheon then went on to reread the letter. "Are we to truly believe that the boy has visions given to him by a tree?"
"The Heart trees are more than just decoration, Lord Hand." Jon explained. "They're the eyes of the Gods. My brother had such a vision when he made a sacrifice of the traitor Ramsay Snow."
Durran noticed a couple of the Southerners bristle at that statement. "We must treat his words as fact in any case." He said. "We at this council know that visions and prophecy exist in one way or another. Training to be a Greenseer seems as good a reason as any for a boy that can't walk to survive closer to the Land of Always Winter than any of us here have ever been."
Jon appreciated that. "With your leave I'd like to go to Dragonstone and ensure that the Dragonglass is being mined at a greater pace."
Durran nodded. "We need all that we can get. Take as many men as you need to aid you."
"Thank you, Your Grace." Jon bowed his head.
"We also need to start thinking of the defence of the North." Tarly told them all.
"Robb has called his banners. Those in the South will gather at Winterfell while Lords Umber and Karstark will amass at Eastwatch to aid the Night's Watch." Jon explained. "That was the plan before I left at least."
Durran was happy with that. "We can have the Vale and Riverlords start gathering and training now, but I want all those in the South at King's Landing now." He commanded, turning to Pycelle who had began to snore. "Pycelle!" Durran roared, startling the old man as a faint smell of urine appeared.
"Uh... Your… Your Grace." The old man stammered.
"Were you even listening?" Durran asked, annoyed. Pycelle just stared at him blankly. "Call the Banners. Dorne, the Stormlands and the Reach. I want every single man above the age of 14 marching to King's Landing in order to protect the realm. Any woman that wishes to fight, will be allowed but I shall not force them. The time has come to gather."
Pycelle nodded and began to gather his papers slowly. "Your Grace." He said feebly, limping out of the room slowly.
"I swear if I die I'm going to haunt him until his heart gives out." Durran said through clenched teeth, before calming himself. "Lord Randyll, you shall drill the armies and be my second in command."
"Your Grace." Randyll bowed, as Durran turned to Stannis.
"I would give you the choice Uncle. Rule in my stead in King's Landing or lead the Stormlands as is your title."
Stannis thought for a second. "I've seen the Night's Watch, they need all the help they can get. I would have Stefan in King's Landing in my stead though. If you allow it, he can rule as Hand in my stead."
Durran shook his head. "I need as many abled warriors as I can, and Stefan is certainly able."
"We will still need someone here to rule." Varys said.
"And we shall have it." Durran nodded. "Someone write this down." Ser Barristan was the first one to act. "I want a council of regents while I am away, and if I should fall these shall continue to rule as regents until Duncan comes of age. Myrcella. Willas Tyrell. Lady Anya Waynwood. Varys, and the Queen Mother."
"Your Grace honours me." Varys said, bowing his head.
"I better be able to trust you." Durran warned the eunuch. He then turned to Daenerys. "I presume you're not staying?"
"You'll need the Dragons." Was her response. "You'll need me."
"I will." Durran admitted, before turning back to the Council. "Ser Barristan, break it gently to Ser Balon, but he is to stay and protect the Prince. He can choose however many more of the Gold Cloaks that stay behind to aid him."
"Your Grace." Ser Barristan bowed his head. "I presume the rest of us are going to be at your side?"
"Naturally." Durran nodded, before finally looking towards the Master of Ships. "Is the fleet ready?"
"At your command, Your Grace." Davos Seaworth said.
"How many men can you carry?" Durran asked.
Davos thought for a brief moment. "We have 72 ships ready to sail, so around 7,000."
Durran turned to Stannis. "Will you be my first response Uncle? Sail to White Harbour with the majority of the Crownlands?"
"As you command." Stannis nodded approvingly.
Sighing, Durran felt like everything had been said. "Gentlemen, My Queen." He said. "Whatever happens from this day, know that I was proud to rule with you at my side. For winter will soon be upon us."
The ravens flew, and the Stark ship had sailed. Before it got dark however Dany had persuaded Durran to join her in the Red Keep's tiltyard. Armed in his Baratheon leathers, he led Ser Barristan and Ser Arys down, where Dany was already stood waiting, getting some pointers from Ser Perwyn Frey.
"My Queen." Durran said, admiring her fierce beauty. Her black chainmail made it look exactly like she was covered in dragon scales and it fit her body perfectly, and a proud red three headed dragon in between her bosom and the sharp red cape flowing from her shoulders made it clear that she fancied herself as a warrior queen of the likes of Visenya.
"I can add some plate here and there." She said, showing off her new armour. "But I think Tobho Mott has done a fine job."
"That he has." Durran admitted, turning to Ser Arys. "See to it that he gets paid again for his efforts."
"I want to learn from the best." Dany admitted, walking up to Durran. "And you're training with Ser Barristan."
"I'm sure we can add another to our group." Durran smirked. "Shall we see what you already know?"
"Not a lot. But I'm learning." Dany grinned, withdrawing Dark Sister from her hip as Durran took out Fury. Understanding one another, Durran waited for Dany to move first as she slowly and slightly clumsily made her first swing at Durran.
The two Valyrian Steel swords clashed, and as Dany was about to withdraw for another swing, a small snowflake landed on her nose. Bringing her free hand up to wipe it away, another landed on her hand. Durran too began to notice the snowfall as he looked up to the sky.
"Snow." Dany muttered, having never seen the stuff before.
Durran nodded grimly. "The Stark's are always right in the end." He said. "Winter has come."
Far north of the Wall a lone woman had finally come upon her destination, as she stood atop a hill watching the heavy stream of dead men slowly amble towards the Wall. Inside she was absolutely terrified, knowing that while what was about to happen had to take place, the not knowing exactly what was going to happen shook her to her bones.
Melisandre soon spotted the mounted creatures in the distance and her legs began to move towards them. Somehow the dead just ignored her, moving past her as if she just wasn't there as she got closer and closer to the thing they called the Night King.
It could have been minutes, or it could have been an hour until she was stood in front of the now dismounted Night King. They stared at one another for a while, the Night King cocking his head slightly to the side. Melisandre began to chant to R'hllor under her breath, but the Night King held his hand out to stop her.
He said nothing, he made no noise whatsoever, but even so Melisandre understood him. 'Your God can't reach you here.' He was saying.
And he was right. Melisandre tried to defend herself by summoning some of the Red God's fire from within her, but the magic fizzled out on her fingertips, leaving only a tiny cloud of smoke. The Night King took one step closer, holding his hand out to caress her face. His hands were like ice on her skin, and she could tell that he wasn't overly comfortable with the heat either. So much so that in one swift movement he grabbed her by the throat, lifting her in the air.
Gasping for air, she kicked her legs out while trying to punch his arm away, but the Night King held strong. Chanting to R'hllor to protect her, she could only watch as the Night King brought his spare hand to cup her breast, placing his index finger on her heart.
Her breath left her then, as the coldness spread through her body. As her eyes began to fail her, she saw her hair turn a cold Purple colour. She struggled one last time, but soon enough she fell limp.
The Night King put his new prize down on the floor and let her get used to the new magic running through her body. When she looked up at him with the same blue eyes that he had himself, he turned back to his horse, helping his new bride up as he climbed on behind her and continued the march forwards.
As the greatest cop in the NYPD Detective Jake Peralta would say. Chills. Literal chills. Melisandre is the new Night Queen, and the power of the Night King here is so great that he's changed her appearance to be a more shocking, cold purple and blue.
Otherwise, Cat reunites with her favourite son who isn't really her son anymore and Jon explains his parentage to his only remaining adult family and gets Blackfyre! Remember he left Longclaw at the Wall so while he's still not sure who he really is, he knows that the sword will come in handy.
The scene with Aelyx went exactly as Dany said it did. The dragon could sense his Valyrian blood, but also sensed the confusion within Jon and basically laughed at that. Those two will reunite eventually though!
If you didn't guess this chapter brings us to the end of Season 7, and the next two will be this stories version of Season 8. Expect a bit of a time jump again, but I can't really write a chapter on troop movements, mining Dragonglass and training.
Please let me know what you thought, and if you've read this far and fancy doing a sort of 'dead pool' then be my guest! Who do you think will die, and who do you think is safe?
Reviews:
Many Faced Mage: The final battle will prove to be one of the bloodiest I've ever written judging by the outline, and that's still prone to changes here and there as I get closer, so I may kill off more people than I originally plan to!
Supremus85: So would I, but this is Game of Thrones and I couldn't bring myself to write a happy ending for him when he was basically Season 5 Reek being sent to Season 7 Euron. The crow's eye would have torn him apart.
Hail King Cerion: Chapter 45, unless I decide to split it, is looking like it's going to be about 3 or 4 times my normal chapter lengths because I want to have the entire battle in one go. That could change depending on how long it takes to write or how long the wordcount is, but we'll see. Anything could happen, and anyone can die in the final battle… I'm not ruling out anything.
Lightningscar: I've never seen HTTYD so I didn't realise the similarity haha! I chose it because the Targaryen's had plenty of 'fyres' as dragon names, and Stormfyre sounds like the perfect Baratheon/Targaryen mix. Yeah this is a Tommen brought up properly to rule outside the whims of Cersei, so he is a lot more competent as proven by the scene with Jaime's death. Dany's 'conquest' of the Ironborn did take a few days so it's not as easy as perhaps my writing, or lack of in this case, makes out. But I just thought 3 dragons with a slightly unprepared Euron at a time of day that he's likely asleep that she'd catch him just unaware and then obviously she destroyed 3 of the 4 sections of the castle too.