BRAN

He dreamed of a cave. It was dark, deep and covered with snow. Icicles sharp as canines hung from the mouth of the cave. They looked like its teeth.

He peered at it with suspicion. Whatever was in there, it was meant for him. He inched his way towards the cave and slipped in the snow.

Bran woke up with a start. A tall shape loomed over him.

"Where's my brother?" Bran Stark asked.

"At the small council meeting," Meera Reed replied. "He asked me to bring him to you once you had woken up."

Two men entered the room and hoisted Bran into a chair. Using all their strength, they carried him to the small council chamber.

He entered the room to find a serious discussion going on. The members stop talking the second he entered.

"Is he supposed to…" Glover questioned.

Jon Snow smiled and nodded. "Welcome the newest member of our small council. When I die, he will be Lord of Winterfell. I want him to attend as many meetings as possible."

The others grunted in approval.

"So we were talking about the Whitewalkers, right?" Manderly asked. "What special plans do you have for them?"

"One is Valyrian Steel," Jon replied.

"As if there's enough in the country."

"The Iron Throne's made of it," Davos added.

"Cersei might form an alliance with us but she'll never let us touch her precious throne," Glover said.

"It's not just Valyrian Steel," Jon stated. "Dragonglass is the other option."

"Is there any specific place where can find it?" Mormont asked. "Because it is a pretty rare artifact."

"I know a place where you can find Dragonglass in abundance," Davos stated. All the eyes in the room turned to him.

"Dragonstone," he said finally.

"Are you sure?"

The Onion Knight nodded. "Stannis told me that it is buried deep beneath the dragonpits, a place where no one can find it."

"And why should we take the word of a dead man?" Wyman Manderly questioned.

"Stannis might be dead, but he was no liar." He turned to Jon. "This might be our chance. Allow me to go to Dragonstone. I have lived there for years. I know that place inside out."

"There's no point in sitting idle," Jon admitted. "Does anyone have anything against it?"

"This better be true, ser!" Glover scoffed. No one else argued.

"Take fifty good northmen," Jon commanded. "And make for White Harbour right now."

Davos stood up. "I will not fail you." He marched out of the hall.

Bran found himself in the weirwoods at night with Meera Reed. As the heart tree's bleeding eyes gazed at him, he felt nostalgic. He touched the scraped bark gently and warged into it.

A youthful Eddard Stark stood alone dressed in Stark wear. He was polishing his sword, looking at it as a father looked down at his firstborn son. Next to him, a river flowed gently, occasionally sprinkling a drop or two of the crystal green water on the crisp grass.

A tall man wearing the Targaryen armour came into sight. He walked towards Bran's father slowly.

Ned Stark stopped polishing his sword and looked up. The eerie figure moved closer. Eddard cast him a cold stare. "You're late, Rhaegar Targaryen."

The man pulled removed his helm. He had long white hair that reached down to his soldiers and beady purple eyes.

"A regular armour was all that I needed to sneak out," Rhaegar said, completely ignoring Ned. "No one even raised an eyebrow." His voice was tough with a touch of tenderness hidden beneath.

Ned fixed him with a reptile stare. "You've always been good at hiding things. Where is Lyanna?"

Rhaegar looked as calm as the Trident. "Put away your sword and I will tell you."

Ned frowned and tossed Ice away. "We haven't got much time. The battle commences tomorrow morning!"

The Targaryen prince smiled mysteriously. "If there is a battle."

Ned looked at him uncertainly.

"That's the reason I called you here, at this hour of the night. There will be no battle."

Eddard continued to glare at him. "And you will return my sister?"

Rhaegar chortled. "If the world was that simple, wars and bloodshed wouldn't have taken place. Lyanna Stark will return with me to King's Landing and rule by my side."

Eddard gritted his teeth. "And what of your wife? I'm not sure Elia will be pleased."

"I will cast her aside for your sister."

Ned didn't look pleased. "So you cast aside your own wife for someone you met weeks ago. I feel that you'll do the same with Lyanna."

Rhaegar shook his head sadly. "Lyanna and me were meant to be together, Ned. Has it ever occurred to you to take Lyanna's choice into consideration? "

"What do you mean?"

"I never abducted Lyanna. She came to me herself before we rode off from the tourney of Harrenhall. Ned, I love her."

Pain reflected on Eddard's face. "Then why did she hide it from me?"

"The same reason," Rhaegar told him. "Your blind love for Robert Baratheon. She feared you would not pay heed to her choices and let me marry her."

Ned cringed. "What?"

Rhaegar nodded solemnly. "Yes. The time has come to end it, brother. Lay down your swords and come to King's Landing with me to celebrate your sister's wedding."

Ned looked back with a blank expression.

"Don't think too much," Rhaegar said softly. "If you love your sister, cast aside Robert and come join us."

Ned stared at him icily. "So that the Mad King can have my head and burn Robert just like he did Brandon and my father?"

"I can convince my father."

Eddard laughed bitterly. "Others might fall prey to your japes but I'm not one of them. I know a liar when I see one."

Rhaegar looked shocked. "I am not a liar."

"You're not a wise person either. Do you know how many had to die just because you stole my sister? Do you undersstand the seriousness? You've been pampered too much.

That brought a bitter twist to Rhaegar's mouth.

"You think you are the only one who can play this game?" Ned blazed. "You think you can get away with anything just because you're a prince? We'll prove you wrong in the battlefield tomorrow."

Rhaegar put on his helm and sighed dolefully. "I thought you were more sensible than that," he said sadly. "When we win tomorrow, I'll write Lyanna a song. A song of ice and fire."