Author's Note: Hello readers! It has been a busy week for me in my personal life. I decided to split my last chapter into two so that I could publish chapter 6 this week. Enjoy!
Chapter Summary: Things between the Starks and Karstarks come to a head. Tensions are high as the Karstark family pushes forward with their plans to trap Jon into marriage.
CHAPTER 6: Secrets Uncloaked
Biting her lip before nodding to agree with Tyrion's suggestion, Daenerys and Missandei stand to take their leave from the Great Hall. Saying polite goodbyes to Sir Jamie and Bronn before sliding out of the side door. The women walk quickly, Dany feeling the urge to scream and shout.
It is then that Daenerys runs directly into Lady Tila, almost knocking her over. As both women gasp and stagger to avoid falling, their eyes lock. Lady Tila is the first to recover, smiling pompously at the Dragon Queen.
Dany's eyes widen in horror, taking in the Northern beauty before her. The woman has changed into an intricate wedding dress! Daenerys is shocked to say the least, her mouth falling open in dismay.
Lady Tila is wearing a wedding dress with the expectation to marry Daenerys's very own husband!
Dany's mouth opens and shuts a couple of times, she is rendered speechless while still having so many things to say to this woman. Tila's smug smile is finally replaced by a confused look, noticing how off-center the Targaryen Queen is.
"Is everything alright, your grace? You seem frazzled," Tila says smoothly, her voice dripping with honey. If Daenerys didn't know what a conniving little witch this woman was, she would actually think that Lady Tila was concerned about her well being.
"She is fine, thank you for asking," Tyrion's voice rings out behind them.
Dany whirls around, startled that he has joined them. She had assumed he would remain in the Great Hall along with his brother.
The serious look on his face is warning enough to remind Dany that she must refrain from revealing the secret of her and Jon's marriage. Daenerys can just imagine this poor, pathetic maiden running back into the Great Hall with tears running down her face and then bemoaning that King Jon has married the Evil Mad Dragon Queen.
Tila raises her eyebrows, momentarily studying Tyrion before turning back to the two maidens that are helping her primp for her wedding. Tila laughs happily with her friends before smiling again at Daenerys.
"I know the circumstances of the coming war are grave, but I am glad to hear you are well, you grace," Tila says while looking down at her dress and gently pulling at the skirt to fluff it. She then looks at Dany with a smirk, it is obvious she is very pleased with herself and thinks she will be getting exactly what she wants today…which is Jon Snow.
"Do you like my wedding dress?" Tila questions arrogantly. "To think I will be a queen soon too."
Daenerys stares at her silently, wanting to summon Drogon and burn the bitch on the spot.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Tila turns back to her friends and raises her eyes dramatically over how quiet the queen is being.
Finally Dany can be silent no more. "For an innocent maiden that claims she was taken advantage of, interesting that you just happen to have a wedding dress in tow?"
Tila's mouth turns down, her eyes narrow as she studies Daenerys before responding.
"I don't know what my father said in the Great Hall before I arrived, but I have never once stated that my experience with King Snow was anything less than…completely pleasurable. Jon is an amazing lover." Tila says confidently, smiling smugly at the queen.
Blood rushing to Dany's cheeks, her eyes widen listening to this woman brag about Jon's love making skills. Dany doesn't even turn to acknowledge as Tyrion tries to get her to leave the room, he is rambling on about a fake meeting that they have to attend regarding her troops.
Tila then adding, "The king is a magnificent man and he utterly satisfied me."
Daenerys is furious, only able to maintain control because she know that this Northern beauty is manipulative liar. "Well, Lady Tila, you seem to be very sure of yourself in this awkward situation. Does it not bother you that Jon just publicly refused you in the Great Hall?" Dany asks calmly as she fights to mask her contempt for this woman.
"Oh no, I am not at all worried. I know that I am young and healthy, and fertile…I can tell from my passionate time with the king yesterday…well, let me just say that he is a virile man," Tila says confidently. "I predict I am already with his child. I will bear the king a strong Northern babe."
Daenerys winces painfully, of all the things for this woman to say to her. The thought of Lady Tila pregnant with Jon's child is enough to sicken her. Daenerys knows that this woman would be able to give Jon the one thing she cannot. A child of his own, his flesh and blood.
"This is awkward," Tyrion mumbles to Missandei before trying once again to lure his queen away from the situation.
It is then that Jon enters the room, his eyes widening at seeing Daenerys and Lady Tila facing off. The tension in the room is palpable.
Hearing his entrance, Daenerys turns to stare coldly at Jon. Her eyes flashing with hurt and anger. It is obvious to Jon that she is very upset. Jon locks eyes with his wife, desperately trying to gage what is happening. It is because of that that Jon doesn't even notice that Lady Tila has approached him.
"Your Grace, I am so pleased to see you. Thank you for coming to find me," she purrs sweetly while placing her hands on Jon's chest, over his armor. "As your wife, I promise to make you very happy…in every way."
Jon takes a step back, again stealing a glance at a furious looking Daenerys, who is watching the exchange intently.
Finally Dany turns to Tyrion and Missandei, "Let's go, I have wasted enough of my time on this matter." She begins to head towards the door, expecting them to follow her as she leaves the room. Daenerys's cold demeanor is enough to snap Jon out of his daze.
"This is getting out of hand, Lady Tila. Enough with your twisted games, I am giving you a last opportunity to drop this facade...you know damn well that nothing happened between us!" Jon growls at the woman.
Tila ignores Jon's warning. "Jon, I am a woman of the North…I could make you very happy if you just let me."
Daenerys scowls as she opens the door to walk out, she needs to get the hell away from them. Before Dany is able to step out, Arya enters and summons them all back into the Great Hall.
"You need to tell Jon, and soon," Dany says calmly to Arya. On top of all of her stress with the Karstarks, the secret she is protecting has also been causing her strain.
"I have been a little busy," Arya says softly. She understands the queen is on edge, but also can't worry about her secret relationship with Gendry right now.
Daenerys huffs and walks out of the room first, she can only imagine what ridiculous display the Karstarks have planned next.
Jon frowns, he was able to hear Dany and Arya's exchange. He wonders what is going on between them, also noting that Dany did not look in his direction even once before finally leaving the room. Suddenly Tila links her arm in Jon's, while moving closer to him. She presses her body into his side. Arya's eyes widen at how brazen this woman is.
Jon recoils immediately, furious at the situation this wretched woman is putting him in.
Scowling at her while roughly pulling his arm away, Jon finally snaps at her. "As I told you yesterday, I do not want you. I believe my exact words were that 'you needed to cover yourself up and leave'!"
Jon is moments away from reaching his breaking point with this Northern maiden and the Karstark family. Even if he was completely single, he does not appreciate the games they are playing. He knows that their plotting is not only smearing his name through the mud, but even worse….hurting the woman that he loves.
"Do not touch me again," Jon spits while storming off to walk ahead of her.
Tila looks sad as she continues to walk towards the Great Hall. If Arya didn't know better...she would think that Tila genuinely seems hurt by his cold rejection.
Jon enters the hall and walks towards the front table, Sansa and Bran are already seated. Jon hasn't seen his brother since the day before. Jon purposely walks past the side table where Daenerys is getting situated with her small group of advisors. Jon notes that she looks both furious and hurt at the same time. Jon tries to get her attention, but she is staring intently at the table as Tyrion tries to talk to her. Daenerys will not even look in Jon's direction.
As Jon stands at the head table to scowl at the grumbling Northerners he watches as Arya takes her place next to Bran. She is poised and cold faced as she stares at the Karstarks. It is then that he notices that Dany seems to stumble while standing at their table, her small frame wavering as Tyrion and Jorah rush to steady her.
"Dany…" Jon mumbles as he moves to rush over to his wife.
"Jon, she is fine...you need to handle the issue at hand!" Sansa hisses quietly. "Let her be, she is okay now. Look, she is now telling those around her that it was nothing. She probably is just stressed."
Jon watches carefully as Daenerys smiles meekly and waves off the concern of her advisors.
"Jon, would you like me to go and check on her," Sam asks quietly. "I can be discreet."
"Aye, please Sam," Jon answers quickly.
He is relieved to see that his best friend secures a seat next to her in order to just talk to her, Jon can only guess Sam is asking her some questions. Jon tries to rack his brain, with all of the excitement this his orning, he himself has not even taken a moment to eat anything. Dany probably hasn't either.
"Everyone, please have a seat. It is time to resolve the issue Edmund Karstark brought before us today," Arya says firmly.
Sansa and Arya exchange glances as the room mumbles but does as told. Many of these people were present when Arya executed Little Finger in the very same room. Jon trusts his sister, he trusts that she has best interests at heart.
Sam returns to the front of the room, nodding calmly to Jon to let him know that all is fine with Daenerys. Jon releases a slow breath, now that he knows she is okay he can concentrate on the issue at hand.
"I am going to tell you a story, and then I imagine that you will have many questions," Bran says robotically to the group. "This story is about the Karstark family. Specifically Edmund Kartark, brother of Richard Karstark, and his vendetta against the Stark family."
The room erupts into loud chatter. Edmund yelling out to the Northerners, "I see this is how the Starks handle Northerners that dare to defy their injustice! False, baseless, accusations!"
Someone else yells out, "Some King of the North that we have!"
Jon's eyes narrow, "I have not spoken with Bran since yesterday, I have nothing to do with what he is prepared to share with us. But I do trust Brandon Stark and I also know that the Karstarks are lying. I never touched that woman!"
As the grumbling continues loudly, stopping Bran from continuing. Jon finally stands tall. "You will show my brother respect and quiet down. You can stay and shut your mouths, or leave. I will have guards escort you out. The choice is yours to make." Jon finishes coldly.
Jon was careful not to specify which guards, as numerous of the Unsullied and Dothraki stand along the wall. Jon knows that with one word from Daenerys, they will enforce his command. The Northerners receive Jon's message loud and clear as they rush to sit down. There isn't a person in the room that wants to miss out on watching the drama unfold.
Jon nods for Bran to continue as he takes a seat in between Sam and Sansa.
"I am the Three-Eyed-Raven. I have the ability to see anything I choose to see from the past. And I am willing to prove it today, as I will also prove King Snow's innocence," Bran says calmly. He looks around the room as though deciding where to begin. "But first I will explain Sir Edmund's motivation."
Edmund opens his mouth to speak, but it is Lady Lyanna Mormont that snaps at him to sit down and be quiet. Reminding him he will get his turn, but they don't have all day to sit here and listen to him repeat himself again and again. Edmund scowls at her before shutting his mouth.
"It was during the war of the Five Kings that the Karstark family stood proudly next to the Starks in battle. But as time went by, unrest arose. We all know the history between Rickard Karstark and King Robb Stark. But what we don't know is how Edmund Karstark was traveling abroad with his young family when he got word that his older brother had been executed by order and hand of the king."
Bran tells the room specifics, how furious Edmund was with the Stark family. It only became worse when Jon had chosen to forgive the Karstarks and then Edmund's niece, Alys, was made the head of their house. Edmund and his family had previously returned to the North, he wanted to exact his revenge on the Starks. But then he saw that Jon was young, single and a king. Edmund's vendetta against the Starks was all the justification he needed to entrap Jon with his oldest daughter, in a loveless marriage.
"Enough! I will not sit here while this boy insults my daughter. She is the victim here!" Edmund shouts, furiously. "You have no proof!"
"Let me assure you all, I don't particularly care who Jon marries. The world as we know it is going to change, the danger is great. These issues are trivial," Bran says coldly. "I only speak the truth. And I am willing to prove my abilities. I will start with House Mormont."
A quiet murmur runs through the room as Lyanna Mormont stands proud to face Bran. "And how do you plan to prove what you say you are?"
"Bran will prove to all of you what he can see. Just listen," Arya snaps, her patience is wearing thin. She has always hated how fickle the Northerners act.
"During the final battle with Ramsey and Jon, in the Battle of the Bastards...Jon used a shield bearing the sigil of House Mormont to finally bring down Ramsey," Bran shares.
"Anyone who was there could have told Bran this!" another Karstark cousin snaps. "This is ridiculous! King Snow needs to do right by Lady Tila."
"I am not done," Bran says before turning to look at Lyanna Mormont. "I believe we can all agree that Lady Mormont is an honest person."
The crowd confirms his declaration regarding Lyanna's honor, as Bran continues.
"Lady Lyanna felt great pride, and that same shield now hangs proudly in her ancestral home on Bear Island, in her private study," Bran finishes.
Lyanna gasps loudly, Bran continues to describe her office and even the last thing she was working at while sitting at her desk before leaving for Winterfell.
Lyanna announces to the hall that she is convinced. "Bran Stark is able to do as he says, I believe him."
Lyanna directly faces Edmund, "More importantly, I believe Bran's truth. Our King would never take advantage of a Northern lady and then just toss her aside like garbage. I believe our King is innocent in this spiteful accusation!"
The crowd talks amongst themselves as Jon and Lyanna nod at each other in understanding.
Lyanna Mormont's support is important to Jon. Although he knows she didn't initially support his journey to Dragonstone- as the Undead swiftly approach it is the Dragonglass he secured that gives the North any hope at all to be able to fight.
After a couple of more examples of his abilities, Bran picks another great Northern family, House Glover for the final time.
"Lord Robett Glover, there was a private conversation between you and your wife, Sybelle, right before Jon's final ruling that the Karstark and Umber family would be forgiven for their father's betrayals against the North," Bran begins as some still grumble that anyone would know the information.
Jon does note that the naysayers are being less vocal than they were earlier.
"What only I saw, was how Robett Glover had initially been very against the idea of mercy being shown for those houses. He discussed it in great length with Lady Glover before leaving for Winterfell," Bran pauses, noting that Robett is now watching him with curiosity. "It was after Lord Glover returned to Deepwood Motte and had a private conversation with his wife where he admitted he had changed his mind and was pleased with Jon's decision. They were sharing honeycakes and wine after the rest of the family had turned in for the night."
Lord Glover's eyes widen, realizing that his wife would never have told anyone specifics about that night. He nods for Bran to continue.
Bran reveals specifics of what was discussed, "And I will add that Lady Glover never once noticed the drinks you were sneaking as you would distract her by pointing out décor at the other side of the room."
The room breaks into loud laughter. The thought of a powerful lord sneaking drink behind his wife's back entertaining them.
"I also believe Bran and his claims, but I do have one question," Lord Glover asks, his cheeks flushing red. "After the late night dessert my wife and I shared….how much longer did you continue to watch us?"
In a monotone voice, "I can assure you, I didn't continue to watch after you and your wife went upstairs to your bed chambers."
The entire room bursts into laughter and Lord Glover shakes his head, he is quite relieved to hear it.
It is then that Bran asks if any other families would need more proof that he is able to see the past, and share information. With no one left to discredit him, the Karstark family looks around nervously.
"Edmund Karstark has a very strong bond with his children and cousins, many were in on this plot against Jon. Lady Tila, was well aware of what she was doing. It had originally been her goal to seduce Jon shortly after he became King, but his trip to Dragonstone was unexpected and happened quickly," Bran says matter-of-factly, staring directly at Lady Tila. People grumble and scowl at Edmund and the other Karstarks standing with him.
Bran repeats word for word, action for action what happened between Jon and Tila in his study the evening before. Lady Tila's face pales as people begin to frown at her, especially when Bran gets to the part where she tried and failed to seduce Jon by baring her nude figure in an attempt to entice him.
As Bran speaks, Jon and Dany lock eyes from across the room.
Dany listens carefully as Bran supports what she already knew in her heart. She would never have married Jon, or welcomed him into her bed had she doubted his honesty in this matter. The situation has been painful for her because of this woman pinpointing her inadequacies. Dany has not been feeling well all day, she just wants this nightmare to end.
"Once my sister, Sansa, left after escorting Lady Tila back to her family…there the Karstarks hatched this morning's plan to publically pressure Jon into marriage. Edmund's original expectation was that Jon would have taken Tila's maidenhood in his study, he was quite disappointed that Jon had resisted his daughter," Bran discloses.
"That is shameful, what kind of man and father are you?" Lady Mormont hisses loudly. Others joining her in their criticisms, many shocked that Lord Edmund would play these games at such a crucial time.
It is then that Lady Alys reveals herself, she had been quietly observing the exchange from the back of the room. Edmund is shocked to see his niece, head of his house, has been listening quietly.
Arya invites Lady Alys to step forward. Bran had known that Lady Alys would be arriving today, so they intercepted her and filled her in on what her family had been doing.
"Your grace, I am saddened and disappointed in what my house and family has done in my absence. It is a disgrace, they have brought dishonor to my House. As head of House Karstark, I support any justice you rule shall be punishment," Alys says loudly, while frowning at the members of her family Bran had listed as being part of the scheming.
It is then that Lady Tila begins crying softly, she approaches Jon and tries again. "Your Grace, I promise that I will be a good wife to you." She attempts to slide her arms around his neck, Jon catches her wrists and holds her still as he steps away from her. He looks furious.
"Lady Tila, I already warned you earlier, you are not to touch me! I actually detest you, you will be punished for this treason!" Jon snaps harshly while releasing her. This woman has infuriated him to no end. He is starting to hate her.
"I will make you happy…in every way!" she cries desperately, her eyes now red and puffy from crying.
"I do not need you to make me happy, I am already a happily married man!" Jon shouts angrily.
The room falls silent.
Sansa sharply inhales, processing what Jon had just admitted to a room full of his bannerman. Dany and Jon lock eyes, concern etched on her face. The shocked tension radiating off of Tyrion enough to cause her concern as well.
Jon smiles at his beautiful wife, he no longer gives a fuck what anyone thinks.
"It is true, Queen Daenerys Targaryen and I have solidified our union. We were married in front of the Weirwood tree, and our marriage has been consummated. She is your queen, just as I am your king." Jon says firmly before moving to stand next to his wife.
Dany and Jon smile at each other, joining hands.
"Let me remind you, she has brought much more than I could possibly bring to her through our union. The dragonglass was mined and transported here by her men, as well as her armies and her dragons," Jon reminds them. "We have a fighting chance because of your queen."
"Aye! The Queen of the North!" Lyanna Mormont is the first to yell. Immediately others in the room join, as eventually the shouts become, 'The King and Queen of the North'!
Jon and Dany share a small smile, relieved their large secret is out in the open. Bran and Arya again identify each and every Karstark that was part of plot, they are gathered in order to be led to the dungeon.
"Jon, I will walk with the guards to make sure each and every Karstark makes it into their cell," Arya announces. Jon notices that her eyes quickly move past him. He turns and sees Gendry is the only person over his left shoulder, and he is staring back at Arya just as intently.
Before Jon can answer, Bran loudly interrupts. Bran looks between Arya and Gendry, "Do you two have something to tell Jon? Or myself…or even Daenerys can do it?"
++o+ Chapter End +o++