Flashforward
His corspe was gently thrown into the river. Poor man, thought the archer, even his luck ran out.
"Tom" he called, "Can you sing a song for him."
The singer obliged and played the day they hung Black Robin.
He saw his friend drifting down the river, and lit the arrow he was holding with his half drawn bow.
The shot was fired without hesitation, and made its mark. Although the corpse did not catch fire, he had shown his friend proper respect, as there were no boats to waste.
Jaime
The morning sun was shining on the snow in a way that the hard powdery snow seemed to shimmer.
Once again, Jaime approached Riverrun.
It seemed that every time Jamie was in the Riverlands, he lost a hand. First, the Brave Companions took his sword hand, now the Brotherhood without banners took his golden hand. Brienne had led him straight into the outlaw brotherhood.
Once long ago, Jaime thought he could trust Cersei, afterwards he formed a special bond of trust with Brienne.
Both had disappointed Jaime, but at least Jaime understood Brienne's intentions. In a trial by battle, Jaime somehow managed to best his challenger Lem Pisscloak, with Oathkeeper, which Brienne had returned him out of guilt.
The thing that was once Catelyn Stark was less than interested in honoring the results of his trial by combat. "And she once thought I had shit for honor," Jaime heard himself say to no one in particular.
The results of the trial ended up of dividing much of the brotherhood. Many of Beric Dondarrion's old supporters threatened to leave if his victory was not honored. Lady Stoneheart as they called her now, relented reluctantly.
Afterwards, Brienne took the helm which was once Sandor Clegane's, to hide her disfigured face. They went their separate ways.
If either of them found Catelyn Stark's daugthers, they would see them to safety without telling the other where they would go. However, the chance of meeting either of them seemed to lessen with the turn of every moon.
The drawbridge to Riverrun came down; he rode Honor through the gates of Riverrun and its sandstone walls crowned with snow.
A guardsman wearing the sigil of Frey at Riverrun recognized him. He disliked the sight of the Twin towers of Frey aside the Lion of Lannister.
"Ser Jaime?"
"Where in seven hells is Lord Daven?" Jaime asked with some impatience. He needed a hot meal right now.
"He just got back yesterday from Golden Tooth," guard replied nervously.
"Can you get him for me?" The man hurried to obey his command; it felt good to be in the midst of Westermen once more.
He dismounted and gave his horse to a squire who wore a Lefford doublet.
Moments later Daven Lannister Appeared. We look alike, now that my beard has grown out, Jaime mused.
"Did you come for the wedding, cousin?" asked Devan.
"When are you getting married?"
"Tomorrow."
Suddenly a score of men at arms surrounded him.
"What's going on," an exasperated Jaime growled, as a pair of Lannister guardsmen disarmed him. One of them removed Oathkeeper from his side.
"Forgive me Ser Jaime, but the queen has ordered your arrest for desertion.
Samwell
He woke up with a start, and found that he was back in his chambers on the Island of Ravens. What happened? The last thing he remembered was the sound of hooves as he blacked out from the pain.
His right hand moved for his left shoulder, he had been shot. Sam could feel his eyes blur as he turned to look at the wound. The wound had been properly treated, but it still stung.
He stared at the ceiling for some time as he thought about the battle and what had happened afterwards. The thunder of hooves could only have meant reinforcements, where from Sam had no idea.
Samwell heard the door to his chambers open, it was Alleras. "You're awake," he drawled, "It took you long enough."
"How long has it been?" Samwell's voice was hoarse from disuse.
"Three days now."
"Did we win?" Sam asked sheepishly.
Alleras laughed, "Gods slayer, do you think the Squids would haul your fat corpse all the way back here if they won."
"I mean what happened?"
"Aegon Targaryen came all the way from Storm's End."
"Targaryens here, is he really a Targaryen?" Samwell had heard about a Targaryen returning from exile in the Stormlands. Last he heard, Dorne had declared for him.
"Well there are some doubts as to his identity; many find it strange that he landed in Westeros with the Golden Company."
"What do you think?" He rasped.
"Does it really matter? The Lannisters held the throne for a few years after King Robert died; despite rumors that his sucessors were born of incest. Unlike Kings Joffrey and Tommen, Aegon actually looks like who he says he is.
Samwell pondered the statement for a moment.
"Who does house Tarly fight for?"
"As of yesterday, your father bent the knee for Aegon"
Samwell paled at the mention of his father. "Is he … here?"
"That's right slayer. He defied Mace Tyrell and pledged Horn Hill to the Targaryen banner."
"Does he know that I'm here?"
"He'll know soon enough, even if he hasn't met your … bastard."
Sam instinctively tried to rise. He would rather not have his father meet him in the sick bed. It was more difficult than he thought it would be, but he still managed.
He felt his stomach growl. Gods he was hungry. He limped his way to the commons which was mostly empty at this hour. There he broke his fast on a bowl of porridge and a slice of ham.
Afterwards, he made his way to the weirwood tree in the courtyard, to pray. Had he not been surrounded by Marwyn's pupils, Sam would have been mocked for that too. Even in Oldtown the power of the weirwoods could still be felt to those who followed the old gods.
He thought he heard a whisper in the wind.
Brother
He had heard that voice before, but he could not place where.
Jon
It was then that Samwell noticed the face in the Weirwood. It had to be Bran Stark, that little brother of Jon.
"Where are you?"
North
The voice in wind was fading.
Night, coming
He could no longer hear the wind.
"Slayer," Lazy Leo called out in the distance. He broke from his reverie and turned to face the half-breed Dornishmen.
"Lord Tarly wants to see you.
"King" he could hear a raven call.
The Greenseer
The wind was fierce and the air was cold, but under the hill, Bran Stark was warm.
On his greenseer throne, Bran had visons, not just those of from the the godswood of Winterfell. Now he could see through any heart tree, even ones south of the neck.
Through the Weirwoods in the neck, he could see another army marching down the neck, this time; he could see Jon at its head.
You're going the wrong way, Bran wanted to say, but Jon surely knew that. Bran had seen Jon in Winterfell. At first, he was sullen as usual, but later in his stay Bran could taste the fury that from came from Jon.
Bran had eyes all over the North, "a thousand eyes and one", the three-eyed crow called it.
These days Bran was finding eyes south of the neck. So far he had found a large grove of weirwoods on an island somewhere in the Riverlands. He could see through many heart trees within many castles, but few houses south of the neck kept the old gods.
Bran found the heart tree in King's Landing, the place a whole Bran was supposed to go. Through its eyes he could see Sansa praying for a chance to go home, he saw father praying to the tree as well.
Most recently, he found eyes in an old Castle as far south as he had ever seen. Through its heart tree he saw a man of the Night's Watch praying. He remembered this particular man, the one who came to the Nightfort with Coldhands.
Getting a message through the Weirwoods was difficult. You had to will a certain word to be heard by anyone in front of the heart tree, and each word seemed to take a lot of energy.
This time, he managed to get out five words.
The ravens he warged were scarcely easier when you had to warg them through a weirwood.
The man of the night's watch suddenly turned from the tree.
Samwell
Sam could feel his insides turning to jelly, he no longer felt like Sam the Slayer.
Randyll Tarly entered the courtyard several retainers in tow. His father was somewhat older than he remembered, but was no less terrifying. Lord Tarly was clearly displeased at the sight of him.
Samwell Tarly could recognize at least two of his father's guards. He saw a concerned Alleras looking out of the white tower, and a smirking Leo Tyrell on the steps leading to the battlements.
Jon had commanded Samwell Tarly to hide his fear. He was still a craven, but he would not give Lazy Leo any satisfaction by cowering in fear.
Before he could say anything, his father spoke first.
"You're still fat."
He nodded timidly, "Lord Tarly"
"Son, what in seven hells are you doing in the Citadel? I told you that no Tarly of Horn Hill will ever wear a maester's chain. Did the Night's Watch send you here because you couldn't take the wall?"
As scarred as he was of his father, it was more than he could take. "I am no Tarly of Horn Hill; I am a man of the Night's Watch." Sam stammered with as much heat as he could muster.
"I didn't think you even had the courage to defy your father." Randyll Tarly spoke with some disbelief.
" I have no father, only brothers." Samwell Tarly replied.
His fellow acolytes were stunned at what he said; even Lazy Leo could not hold back a grin. It felt good.
Much to Sam's surprise, Lord Tarly actually laughed. It was a dry sound lacking in humor or even mirth. "Are you still a craven?"
"No," he lied, "I killed an Other, with a dagger of dragonglass."
"Other" a raven called from its perch on the Weirwood.
note: I'm not sure who to put next as a POV (other than Jaime who will be featured next chapter), suggestions under reviews would be nice.