A/N: GRRM owns all, and my soul.

Chapter 31 Bran II

Bran

The morning dew left a nice crisp smell in the air, and the sun was coming over the horizon. Brandon Stark was sitting in his grandfather's solar, upon the balcony that he used to sit in when he was Lord of the Riverlands. The balcony was made of stone and jutted out to the side. It gave a nice view of the river and the light would shine upon them. Here the Lord of Winterfell would do most of his thinking, like he did every morning. Often, well more than often, he thought of Cella and his child. Bran wished to caress her face, kiss her, smell her hair, and hold his child for the first time. Yet his brother needed him and he swore an oath, Ned Stark would have said it was the honorable thing to do. Other thoughts that plauged him were how to get his Northern host back home, not to mention getting his brother's home safe to their wives and children. They didn't have to come - Bran told them over a-hundred times now, and a-hundred times over they denied his request to go with the women.

Bran looked over the horizon again, and down at the river. Below Bran saw a naked toddler running about the grounds. Hundreds of smallfolk had been admitted into the castle by Lord Edmure, and were allowed to erect crude shelters against the walls. Their children were everywhere underfoot, and the yard teemed with their chickens, cows, and sheep. When asked why they were allowed inside the walls Edmure only said, "Because my people were scared. And a lord always defends his people." He has a good heart, Bran thought then, much like my father did. Bran would have done the same for his people in Winterfell. He did not blame Edmure for showing this act of kindness. Already the Riverlands had been through enough war, and with Stannis's envoys coming…it could mean either more war or peace. Bran hoped for the latter.

He looked forward and saw his brother brooding in his chair, much like Bran was. James had a hand to his chin and was looking forward at the horizon. Thinking no doubt about leaving his wife and children for a few months. James looked tired, visibly drained of his every being. His beard was kept short now, whereas before it was unruly. His brown-black hair was shorter than it used to be. James preferred keeping it shoulder length, but now it was just below the ear. Bran saw a tiny scar on his face, and one over the forehead. He remembered James explaining that he received them in the battle for King's Landing.

James and Bran were early to rise, they always had been. James didn't like to sleep through the day either, unlike the rest of the Stark brother's. Jon enjoyed his sleep, as much as Gendry seemed to, but Bran didn't see the point in it. Since arriving at Riverrun they did this every morning while they awaited for the castle to wake itself. Bran and he would talk about whatever took their fancy, and usually shared a couple tankards of ale.

Playing at James's feet was his son Ned. The boy was preoccupying himself with the laces to his father's boots, and was studying them intricately. His children came with him this morning, they rarely ever did. James told him that his children were early risers, too, so unlike their mother. Rhaella was in Bran's lap at the moment, her fingers were tugging at his woolen breeches as Bran ran his fingers through her silver hair. Evening out the strands that ran down her back. His niece enjoyed it when he did that, and he couldn't say no to her. He hardly knew her, in truth, but Bran wanted to rectify that. He wanted to give her the love he hadn't been able to, and the love he couldn't give his son.

"Ale?" Bran offered his brother. He leaned over to the small desk on the balcony, and poured himself a tankard before pouring another for his brother. He extended the tankard to James.

"Along as you don't tell Daenerys," he jested with a smile. James reached over grabbed it, taking it to his lips and drinking.

Bran laughed. "When did that begin? Why doesn't she like you drinking ale nor wine?"

"When I had to execute Ros," James explained, swallowing the ale. "I used it to numb the pain, but it never worked. Even Arya said I had grown dependent, so I made a promise not to drink anymore. Sometimes, though, I do. It wasn't as bad as it used to be, and sometimes you cannot trust the water."

"I remember you telling me about that in a raven. I don't know how you forgave her…"

"Almost being killed will make any man re-think his mistakes or misgivings." James waived his hand. "I don't like to think about it anymore, but I hold nothing against her. Life is too short, Bran. Their is no point in it."

Bran nodded and took another drink of the ale. It was a bit too watered down for his taste and it made him miss the strong Northern ale even more. He just wanted to go home. If he truly wanted some he only need go to the Northern camp. He knew the Greatjon had a keg somewhere, and none of his men would deny him.

"How many days do we have left?" James asked.

Bran shrugged. "Two, maybe three. Once Tyrion arrives then we will have to start moving North. I cannot delay much longer."

He looked down and saw Rhaella take his free hand with hers. She placed his fingers in her hair and Bran laughed before stroking it again. The girl was quiet in the morning, she hand't said a word since James arrived with both of them. Usually she always had something to say. Ned was crawling up his father's legs now, and so James placed him on his lap.

"I understand," said James, Ned squirming on his knee. "I'll just have to relish these few moments I have left."

Bran sighed. "You don't have to go north with me! I told you this already, James."

"I want to go north with you, Bran. You might as well stop telling me not to, because I'm not changing my mind."

Bran laughed. "Still a stubborn bastard, I see."

Bran finished his tankard and began to pour himself another when Rhaella protested. "Uncle!" She yelled, turning around to grab for his hand once more.

"Rhaella, stop it!" James snapped. "Let him pour the ale first."

"It's quite alright, James," Bran urged. He poured himself another tankard and drank again after resuming stroking his niece's hair. "Where were we?"

James sighed. "What is the plan for moving North?"

"Same as it has always been. We wait until the women and children are safely into the sky on the backs of dragons, and then move out. First we move to Moat Cailin, leaving behind a force to hold the Neck incase Stannis or Asha decide something."

"And then what?"

"We move to the west - Torrhen's Square, Barrowton, Deepwood Motte. After we take those lands with ease, then we move to Winterfell and home."

"Will you disband your army or keep them close?"

"Keep them close," Bran said. "Only for a time, at least. Just a precaution to make sure that nobody decides to seek revenge."

"Who would want revenge?"

"Stannis, may."

James looked confused. "Bran, what did you do? Bran…"

"I didn't do anything, brother. Uncle Edmure sent a splinter force of Tully men to escort Tyrion to Riverrun."

"And why would Tyrion need escorting? Stannis sent a force with him…"

James now realized what Bran meant. "Why?! It was merely an envoy sent by Stannis to make sure we bend the knee!"

"He had to make sure it was only that," Bran told him. "If they were numerous in size, then we had to prepare."

Bran saw James wrap an arm around his son's waist. "Bran, I want to get my children out of Riverrun and towards Winterfell. If the Tully men were to massacre the peace envoy than it could mean war. Don't you want to go home?"

"Of course. This is just a precaution, James, that is all."

"Yet if they were to massacre them, than what? Bran, I think of the babies first more than anything! Arya, too, and she won't be happy when she hears this. My wife and her are both with child."

"It is just a precaution," Bran reassured. "Nothing may come of it."

"You better hope so. Because if not, winter is coming…"

Bran nodded and looked out at the horizon once more. He saw that the morning sun was all but up now, and his family would be up soon.

"How can they sleep the day away?" Bran asked.

"Daenerys and Arya both sleep more than children, and Jon is well…Jon."

"You should be with your wife," Bran advised. "We have but a few days left, maybe even less, and you should be with her. Don't take it for granted, James, we will be gone for quite a time."

"Dany deserves her rest, Bran. The children woke up early this morning."

Bran scoffed. "You know that Mother would be more than happy to take care of them."

"Let Mother have her rest, too. She's gone through quite enough."

"Be that as it may, you should spend time with Daenerys."

James sighed. "If she would care to see me, I would."

"What do you mean?"

He laughed. "Daenerys is angry with me, brother."

"Angry? Why?"

"Why do you think?"

"The ale? James, I don't-"

"-Not the ale, Brandon. It's about me going north."

"Ahh, I see. Does she refuse to speak with you?"

"No. She just cannot stand the thought of me not being by her side for so long. The longest she has been without me was a moons turn, and even then she said it was difficult. Now she is with child, and well…six months is quite a long time. I've been dreading the final goodbye."

"I remember when I said bye to Cella," said Bran. "She did not cry, which astounded me. Her belly was heavy by then, and all she did was give me one of the blue winter roses that grows in the Godswood. 'Just come back to me,' were her final words. I only nodded and rode off on my destrier, my guards and lords behind me. It's the way I imagined Father leaving Mother when he rode off to war."

James nodded. "I remember when Father left us to go defeat the Greyjoys. You weren't born yet, but Arya was a newborn babe. He walked up to me and told me that I was the Lord of Winterfell until he returned, I only laughed. Being Lord was fun, I remember. The servants did what I wanted, and well that was it. I didn't take it seriously."

"You joined the Night's Watch to get away from it, but in the end you became king. How does that happen?"

"You know how that happened. The same way Cella was supposed to be your ward, but she became much more."

Bran nodded. "Aye. Didn't think it would happen to neither of us, truth be told."

"Yet it did, and Daenerys is angry with me. Seeks to punish me for making this decision, but what can I do? I won't apologize."

Bran laughed. "Quit being such a stubborn bastard. Just go to her and grovel, she'll come around. One thing I notice about Dany is that she likes to hide behind a face of stone and strength, but underneath she is just as much of a woman as Sansa."

"She doesn't want to see me! And I can't force her." James laughed. "She says that I'm betraying her, like Ser Jorah did at a time. Dany is very worried about betrayals, frets about them all the time. Do you think I'm betraying her, Bran?"

Bran scoffed. "Myrcella said the same in her grief. 'That's what all men say when honor calls,' I once heard Mother tell Father. She'll get over it, don't worry so much. Now, I think we ought to go and break our fast."

"If our family ever decides to awake," said James. "What do we have to do before we move out?"

"Go over the provisions, make sure my men are doing well. I'll have to talk with the Greatjon-"

"-Mama!" Bran heard Ned yell. He looked to the entrance of the balcony and saw Daenerys standing there. She was wearing a dress of deep blue, red trimming outlining the bodice, and her hair was flowing down her shoulders. Some of it was flying in the wind with a few strands catching her in the face. The small bump could be seen through the dress, too. Bran realized why James said yes…he wondered if he would have been able to say no to her.

"Good morning, good-sister," Bran said to her with a dip of his head. Daenerys smiled and dipped her head in return.

She looked over at James and only nodded. Bran saw his brother roll his eyes deeply. Ned was extending his arms out to his mother, and so she walked over to pick him up. Daenerys sat down in the chair next to James and began to flatten her son's hair while he sat in her lap. Bran could sense the anger flowing from her - anger, he sensed, but also sadness was there as well.

James's resolve broke and he tried to lean over to kiss her, but she refused him, darting her head to the side so he could miss. He retreated back to his chair and grabbed the tankard, motioning for Bran to fill his cup. Bran sighed and stopped stroking his nieces hair to refill the tankard for his brother. He glanced over at Daenerys and saw her eyes were wide.

"Do you do this to anger me?" She questioned, "Or simply to torture me? Which one?"

James shrugged, taking the tankard to his lips. "I could ask the same question…"

Daenerys motioned to Bran. "Do you speak to Myrcella this way?"

Bran laughed. "Myrcella would have my head if I did."

"Maybe I ought to take his head."

"On what crime?" asked James. "Loyalty?"

"Treason," she spat. "You're betraying me and our children by leaving us - all of us."

"You act as if I am leaving forever, and not a few months."

"Let me come with you then," Daenerys proposed. "I can be of great help."

James laughed openly, Bran couldn't tell if he was mocking her. "And do what? Ride Drogon whilst you are nine months with child? I think not, Dany."

"Mayhaps, I should."

James grew stern. "I won't have you giving birth in the Wolfswood. You will deliver in Winterfell with my family around you. If you don't go with them, they cannot go to Winterfell. Arya is with child, just as much as you are. And she isn't treating Gendry with this ice-cold disdain."

"I'm not Arya," said Daenerys, "you better remember that." Now she reached over at her husband, and turned his face to look at her. Staring into his eyes she said, "Yet you won't be with me. Who besides you and our children are my family?"

And with that she stood up from the chair, clutching Ned's hand while she walked the length of the terrace towards the door. She motioned to her daughter. "Come, Rhaella. We're going to dress before we break our fast."

Rhaella looked back at Bran, who only urged her to go with a nod of his head. She jumped off his lap and ran over to her mother, taking her hand. Daenerys walked to the door and turned around saying, "They're all in the Great Hall waiting for you. Go to them."

"Is it Tyrion?" James asked, almost springing out of his chair.

Daenerys sighed. "No, stupid. I'm pretty sure we would have heard a horn blast if Tyrion had arrived."

Daenerys left them after that, hems of blue dress flapping behind her. The children's tiny steps could be heard as they walked away.

"She hates me," said James, his voice so small in a whisper. "I'm going to leave her for six months and she hates me."

Never had Bran seen him so vulnerable, so hurt and saddened by a woman's words. Yet Daenerys was his wife and she was by far an ordinary woman. She was more than that, "Aegon the Dragon with teats," Jon had jested to him in Winterfell when James visited with her. Bran was more than inclined to believe it. She was strong, confident, courageous, and kind…that above all. Bran could see how much James valued her, not only her beauty but her intelligence and personality. Bran saw himself and how he valued Cella, how his Father valued his Mother, how Gendry valued Arya, and maybe even how Jon valued Sansa, even though Sansa was more romantic than courageous.

"I'm dead without her," James said once more. He stood up now and walked over to Bran. "Want me to help you down to the Great Hall?"

"Sure."

James rolled him out of the solar on his chair, and they walked down towards the Great Hall. Along the way James did not say a word to him, only sighed and grunted. Dany's treatment of him visibly shook him and Bran could tell when his older brother was not happy. "She'll forgive you in time," Bran had tried to assure him. Yet James would not believe it until he saw it and he'd always been that way.

The Stark family was around the same table they had been since arriving at Riverrun. Edmure sat at the head of the table, as befitting the Lord of Riverrun, and Roslin was next to him. Their son was between them and next to Roslin was Catelyn with Robert in her lap. Next to Catelyn was Arya and Gendry beside her with Lyanna. Daenerys was next to Gendry with Ned in her lap, and James went down to sit next to her and again she refused his advances. Bran was sitting at the other end of the table, James on his left and Sansa on his right. Rhaella was in Sansa's lap but had sprung off to go and sit with Bran. "Rhaella, let him eat!" Dany had admonished. Bran only told her that he'd stroke her hair when he was finished, and with that she went back onto Sansa's lap. Jon was next to Sansa and was thinking to himself.

They spoke of many things at this fast, moving north was of course among them. Their was a sort of friction between the women and men, all because they decided to move north with Bran. Arya liked to blame Bran, per usual as befitting Arya's personality. "Tell them not to go!" She screamed at him on the same night Gendry had told her. "You're the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, tell them!" Bran had only sighed and told her to calm down, that it wasn't his choosing. The men were old enough to make their own decisions. Arya resented him for it, but Sansa was kind about it. "Just take care of them. Promise me, Bran." That's what Sansa had told him after Arya's scolding. Did Cella extract a promise from James when I was forced to leave her, heavy with child? She never had a choice. Bran would call them spoilt, selfish, greedy, at how they treated him. Myrcella never had a choice in the matter.

"You chose to be Lord of Winterfell," Sansa had reminded him one day when Bran voiced his displeasure after he had enough of their scolding. "James did not put a knife to your throat, he didn't hold Myrcella hostage. You chose the lordship, and that lordship comes with costs. Swearing fealty and going to war is one of them - Father never complained, and neither should you." Sansa did have a point in that one, Bran figured, Lord Eddard had never complained when it came to duty. Even when the duty killed him.

Bran found Jon Umber in his tent on the outsides of Riverrun, near the river. The Lord of Winterfell was greeted with hellos and cheers when he entered his camp, his guard following behind him. He went up to a few soldiers and asked how they were doing, most were willing to go home. The morale of his army was at a new high after taking Riverrun and Moat Cailin. Most of them just wanted to go home and Bran had promised them that much. "We need to kill a few more squids," Bran had jested to one of them. He only laughed and moved on.

He walked the campgrounds with the Greatjon at his side, swiftly following him. Bran liked to mount his destrier when walking the campground, he felt embarrassed when seen rolling around in his chair. The Greatjon was at a height with his horse, so their was no need for him to crane his neck up to look at him. Most of the tents had begun to be taken down by now in preparation for moving North. The donkeys, oxen, chickens, and cattle were being rounded up to carry the supplies while the horses were being groomed by the calvary. And so he went over how his army was doing with Jon Umber, he said the morale was high and the men were happy. "As long as they have ale and merriment they'll be happy, my lord." Umber told him. "I suggest we move North and take care of the squids while it is on our side. I don't know how much longer we can wait for the dwarf." Bran agreed with that much.

Now he found himself in James's chambers, awaiting his good-sister and brother. James had bid him to come in the afternoon with Catelyn and only Catelyn, Bran thought this sounded serious. He said that he wanted to tell them something, something that had been brooding in his and Dany's thoughts for awhile now. Catelyn and Bran took a seat facing the bed, awaiting them both. Bran did not know what they could want to talk about, and neither did his mother. "Perhaps they've decided to take the Iron Throne," Catelyn mused, but Bran thought that was folly. "James would have said so in the first place," Bran explained to her. He knew that wasn't it.

James and Daenerys arrived a few moments later, both of them taking a seat at the foot of their bed. Bran had studied James since he was boy and could read the man like a book, he was nervous. James's gaze was looking elsewhere, he couldn't look at Bran or their mother. Daenerys was different, she kept her gaze stern and firm.

James clutched his wife's hand and sighed, Dany did not refuse him for it seemed to be bothering her, too. "This has been on our thoughts for awhile now," he began. Bran saw him squeeze Dany's white hand tighter. "And we made this decision as man and wife. This may or may not happen, just a warning."

He took a deep breath and explained to them what was happening. James told them about how he and Daenerys may take their children across the Narrow Sea when this was all over, and it was for the good of the family. Bran couldn't believe it, he couldn't believe the words that were coming out of his - their mouthes. Daenerys was unnerving in her decision with him, they both stood firm as one, like a boulder. Bran had a better chance of breaking a Valyrian steel sword with his bare hands then getting through to his brother. When he finished explaining, Bran was speechless. He kept his gaze on the floor, kept it on the ceiling, kept it anywhere but his brother's face nor his good-sister's. Part of Bran told him that Dany put him up to this, that she made him do this.

Nobody was so shocked as Catelyn. "Have the Gods taken your wits? Essos? Is this some jest that I do not find humorous?"

"It is not a jest, Mother," James affirmed. "We're serious about this."

Catelyn laughed, mockingly. "And what do you gain from going to the Free Cities, warm weather?"

"No, Mother. We-"

"-Why do you want to go?" Bran asked. "Is this because you're not going to be the Lord of Winterfell? James, I told you-"

"-It's yours!" He yelled. "Brandon, I've told you that it is yours! I do not care that I am ten years your elder! It is yours."

"Yet if that was true, why feel the need?"

"It is what we are considering," said Daenerys, calmly. "This may or may not happen, Bran. We just thought you should know."

Catelyn was not so convinced. "It seems you already made your choice, James. Go to Volantis, take my babies from me."

"Mother, I-"

"-I don't want to hear your excuses!" Catelyn snapped at him. "You've disappointed me right now, and I won't listen to this folly." Catelyn stood up from her chair now. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to spend time with the two grandchildren who I have not seen for a year."

And with that Catelyn Stark marched out of the room, her head held up high and the light blue hems of her dress flipping around her. Now it was Bran with James and Daenerys, alone. The tension was high in the room, Bran didn't know what to say as much as he wanted to. He figured he should give James his counsel.

"I understand that I am twenty-and-one," said Bran. "I know that I am still young, but you're both making a mistake."

"What mistake could we be making?!" Daenerys snapped at him.

James held his wife's hand and said, "Daenerys, don't yell at him…Bran doesn't deserve it."

"No!" She screamed in despair, "He does not understand."

"Understand?" Bran questioned. "Understand, what, being afraid? Daenerys, I've been in battle, I know what it means to be afraid."

"We are not afraid," Daenerys urged, calmly. "We just do not want to be fearing for our lives anymore. Go somewhere where my children cannot be harmed, as Rhaella was…"

"What happened to Rhaella was not because of Stannis!"

"What would you know?" Dany asked of him. She seemed on the verge of tears, and Bran knew that when she spoke of Rhaella's incident, it always pained her. Bran could remember James telling him about how their mother had cried when he had fallen from the First Keep. It was a mother's grief. "You weren't there when she laid dying in front of my eyes." Bran saw her eyes glisten. "You weren't there when she was void of all life, lying still."

"Daenerys, stop…" James urged her. "Bran has done more than enough. He's loved and lost like the rest of us. He's never even met his son, yet. He doesn't have the use of his legs, I was there when he was void of all life like Rhaella. Please, don't…"

Daenerys gave a heavy sigh and looked at Bran now, abashed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have scolded you or yelled at you. You've done more for our family than I've thanked you for."

Bran only nodded and looked at his brother, who nodded back. "Are you serious about this? James, would you do that to Mother?"

He sighed. "I feel bad for what I am doing to her, truly, I do. I-"

"-She loves your children very much, they're her grandchildren. You must realize how special they are to her. Nobody thought that Daenerys could conceive, you must remember that."

Daenerys smiled. "I understand that. We know that Rhaella and Ned are our special babies, ones we thought we couldn't have." She clutched her belly. "And now we have another on the way."

"All the more reason not to leave," Bran pointed out. "Let them live in Winterfell like we did, let them grow up with their family. Don't take them across to a place that is not the North. Too long have we been gone from it."

"It is our decision at the end!" Dany bellowed before she stormed out of the room, visibly upset at Bran for the first time since he met her. She turned to him. "Gods you're as insufferable as your brother!"

He looked at James when she slammed the door behind her. "How long will she be upset with me?"

James shrugged. "A fortnight, a moons turn, a year, who knows?" He laughed. "Dany isn't mad at you, Bran. I'll talk to her."

Bran went to the godswood in Riverrun to pray later that day. It was getting late, time for supper soon, but he just wanted to pray to his father's gods for help. He wanted to pray for the men who had died, for the men who he was leading to battle, for Cella and his family, and for his brother's who were joining him. The godswood in Riverrun is a bright and airy garden, with redwoods, flowers, nesting birds, and streams. Like all Southern godswoods, its weirwood was cut down over a thousand years ago when the Andals invaded and drove off the children of the forest and the First Men.

It was there he found Arya praying with Jon, both of them in eternal quiet. They were praying in front of a oak that appeared like a Heart Tree. Jon was on his knees, hands folded while he prayed, and Arya was with him. Bran did not know Arya was devout, well maybe she was only to their father's gods.

Arya snapped her head around when she heard Bran coming toward them. His chair always made the loudest creaking noises and the leaves were crunching under him. She gave him a solemn smile and waved him over. Jon noticed him, too, and also smiled.

"Come to pray?" Jon asked him.

Bran nodded. "Pray for forgiveness, my family and the men that follow me."

"Good things to pray for," said Jon.

He rolled up his chair between the both of them, and sat there in silence with them. Bran felt Arya take his hand. "You've done good, Bran," she whispered. "I'm sorry for yelling at you this past while."

Bran snickered with his eyes closed. "You're not the only one who has been yelling at me, not to worry."

"What do you mean?" Jon asked.

Bran opened his eyes and sighed, taking a look at the faux Heart Tree in front of him. No face was carved into it, nothing at all. The real one had been destroyed thousands of years ago. Now he felt like he was praying to a tree and not the Heart Tree like in Winterfell. This gave him no comfort, yet being with his siblings did.

"James told me about his stupid plan."

"What plan?" asked Arya.

Bran scoffed. "The Free Cities. A bunch of stupidity."

"He is still going on about that!" Jon exclaimed with a laugh. "I thought he gave that ridiculous notion up."

Arya scoffed. "Apparently not. The fool takes us for granted, and I swear Daenerys is putting him up to it."

Bran looked at her and nodded in agreement.

"Daenerys does have some hold on him," Jon agreed. "But they are both at fault, it isn't only her. It was James's idea."

"She seemed pretty adamant about it when she told me," Bran explained. "And she grew angry at me when I told her it was foolish. A true Targaryen."

"Did he tell Mother?" Arya asked him.

Bran nodded, still sitting between them. "Mother was furious, as to be expected. She said that he was taking her babies away from her."

"I told him that is what would happen," said Arya. "I hope he changes his mind before you men return to Winterfell."

"I'll make sure he does," Jon told them. "Six months will be quite a while, and I can make sure to do so."

"I'm sorry you have to give birth alone, Arya," Bran apologized, he didn't know why. The words came out like a river, and he couldn't help himself. The guilt had been building up for a while.

"I'm sorry Cella had to give birth alone," Arya apologized.

Bran smiled. "You're the first to tell me that."

"James has always felt guilty about that, believe it Bran." Jon told him. "He has since he made you march south."

"I know he has," Bran said. "James has a heavy heart, he always has." Bran sighed. "It was my duty to respond to his call to arms, and I knew that when I accepted the lordship. Sansa told me as much."

Arya stood up now, and Bran slipped an arm under the crook of hers to help. Her belly had grown heavier and she needed help. Arya only nodded at him and smiled. "Father would be proud, Bran. Just bring the men back to us."

And with that Arya walked out of the godswood, leaves crunching as she walked away. Jon stood up too and clenched his shoulder before leaving. The sun had begun to set now, and Bran just wanted to move up North.

Three more days past now, and still the halfman had not shown up. The Starks grew more agitated with each day, the women even more so. They did not want their men to leave, and prolonging it each day was like torture. Daenerys was the most adamant about it, Bran could hear her yelling at night when her and James would argue. "Just leave already!" Bran heard her scream once. "Why must we women wait for Tyrion, he is just going north with you!" And the yelling did get annoying. Bran figured that pregnancy made her that way. Dany could be sweet once second and cold the other, he didn't know why. When he first met Daenerys she was very sweet and kind, but she was a queen than and had to show that she was not mad like her ancestors. One morning she had come up to Bran and apologized for her outburst, even pressed a kiss to his brow. It was very sweet and reminded him of the Dany of old.

Catelyn was not happy either, she did not speak to James since he told her about the Free Cities. All she did was spend time with his children, often being seen coddling Ned or Rhaella, sometimes both at once. "I might as well spend time with them until they're taken from me," she had spat at James once. Their mother could be unnerving when she was angry with someone, and she could be unrelenting too. James took it as best as he could, yet he did not like it when people were angry with him. And it seemed the whole family was not on great terms with James. Daenerys resented him for going north, and the women did not like him moving to the Free Cities. The men were the only ones who broke words with him, and not even Sansa wanted too either. Bran felt bad for him in a way.

On the night of the third day, Bran was preparing to sup with his family in the Great Hall. He'd just come back from inspecting the Northern camp outside the walls of Riverrun with the Greatjon. Still, no word from Tommen or Tyrion Lannister, not even any word from the splinter force that Edmure sent to scurry the Riverlands in search of them. Bran feared the worst had happened. Yet they needed to move North and tomorrow was the day it was to happen. This was the last supper that they were to share as a family until the men were going to return to Winterfell in gods knew how long. It left the family with a certain sense of sadness and….well sadness. The women were just upset, the children understood to a certain extent, but the men were excited in a way. Jon, James and Gendry expressed their excitement in finally moving north. "I'll feel like I am alive again," said James. "But at the expense of not seeing my child born." Yet it was his choice, and Bran did not force him.

Bran dressed in his finest lords clothes. Nice leather breeches with a fine Stark tunic with a silver direwolf brooch. The same brooch that he wore when Theon took Winterfell, all those years ago. He kept it by him through all the bad times he went through beyond the Wall, to remind himself that he was still a Stark and to remind himself of where he came from. Bran sat himself in his chair and rolled out of the room where he found Sansa walking the halls towards his chambers. Sansa was dressed in a nice light blue dress, fishes outlining the hems in red rubies and she looked nice.

She smiled when she saw Bran. "Hello, Bran."

"Hello, Sansa."

Sansa came up behind his chair. "Here, let me help you down to the Great Hall."

"I'm no child, Sansa, I can help myself."

"Hush now," Sansa said sharply, her brow buried. "You may be the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, but you're still my baby brother. Let me help."

And so Bran did. Sansa pushed him down the halls towards the Great Hall. The chair creaked with each push, but Bran had gotten used to the obnoxious noise. He just hoped Sansa did not find it as annoying.

"How are you fairing?" Bran asked her. "I mean-"

"-I know what you mean," she said with a sigh. "I'm managing, as I can. Arya and Dany will need my help - more Daenerys than Arya."

"Dany still won't talk to our brother?"

Sansa sighed. "I'm not sure."

"James hasn't spoken to you about it? He tells you everything, Sansa."

"He has, a little. James has been spending a lot of time with his children lately."

"Don't blame him. He won't see them for awhile."

"Yet it is his choice, Bran."

"That is what I tell him."

"He is stubborn like Father, and won't relent." Sansa laughed. "None of them will relent. I know you have tried to convince them, but they want to help you. Even Gendry has been stubborn about it, but at least Arya has forgiven him by now."

Bran sighed. "Daenerys will forgive James in the end. She is as much of a romantic as you Sansa, she just masks it better."

Sansa slapped his shoulder. "I am not a romantic!"

Bran laughed. "Yes. Yes you are, Sansa. You always have been, but I wouldn't change it for the world."

She kept pushing him down the hall, but he knew she was smiling behind him. Sansa had always been that way.

"How are you and Jon?" Bran asked.

"Fairing well. Jon keeps assuring that he won't fight, but I know he is lying. After James left him out of the battle at King's Landing, I know he will. Jon doesn't like to feel like a craven."

"Jon isn't a craven. The man fought the Others."

"As did you," Sansa pointed out. "As did James and Dany, too."

"I can still remember that battle. The way the dragons melted fire down upon the White Walkers. The way they scaled the Wall on their ice spiders." Bran felt a shiver go down his spine.

Now they arrived at the Great Hall, where the Stark family was already around the supper table. Catelyn had gone to the Sept, and she wasn't there. James told them that she took Ned and Rhaella with her. "The Seven are my gods," Dany explained, "But James follows the Old Gods." And so did Bran, and all the brothers. No Starks he knew followed the Seven, truly. Except maybe Rickon, but…no he didn't either. Sansa did because she liked the statues, thought they were beautiful.

Dinner was a solemn affair, nobody said anything. Everyone knew what tomorrow would bring, and so they did not want to talk about it. Bran didn't blame them. Myrcella did not speak of it the night before he had left Winterfelll for the first time. She only stayed silent and it wasn't until the final goodbye that she said something. Edmure had tried to liven James's spirit, but Bran's brother wouldn't have it. Daenerys was doing more harm than good by treating him with the ice-cold demeanor.

In the distance Bran saw his mother finally enter the Great Hall, both James's children were clutching each hand. She was talking to one of them and smiling before making her way to the table. Catelyn took her seat at the table, Ned on her lap, and Rhaella went over to Bran. She ran over to him with a wide smile that only a three year old could muster, and jumped into his lap.

"Rhaella, let him eat!" Dany admonished when the girl demanded her hair be stroked by Bran.

Bran took his free hand and stroked the bottom of her hair. "It's okay, Daenerys. I'm happy to oblige the little girl."

Daenerys nodded and returned to eating her food.

"How was the Sept?" Daenerys asked, Catelyn.

"Good," Catelyn answered. "The children enjoyed the statues, and I tried to explain to them to Seven-pointed star. Rhaella likes the statue of the Mother."

"Is that true, Rhaella?" Dany asked her daughter.

The girl nodded in Bran's lap. "Yes, mama. I liked the diamonds."

Bran noticed James stirring his food, and the man seemed bothered by something. Bran needed to find out.

"James, what is wrong?"

Startled, he looked up at him. "Where is Tyrion? It's been more than enough time since we received the raven scroll."

"Our scouts report nothing," Edmure explained, ripping into a piece of bread. "We haven't heard from any of the-"

Suddenly the doors to the Great Hall shoved open and five Tully guards came marching through. Edmure shot up in his chair, as did all the other men. The women and children became alarmed, but Bran saw them calm down when their men placed a hand on their shoulder. Bran knew what news these men were going to bring.

"What news?" Edmure asked of his men.

A man came up to the table, panting. "My lord, our splinter force have returned from the Riverlands with two captives. Two men among them."

"Well more like one-and-a-half," another snickered.

"Who are the captives?" James asked, he knew the answer. Bran could see it on his face.

"Tommen and Tyrion Lannister. The Imp."

And with that everyones faces dropped. Murmurs and whispers were spreading around the table now. Bran needed to know what happened to the envoy that Stannis sent along with them. If they were killed that well…all they could hope was that Stannis did not seek retribution, for if he did…Bran hoped his men enjoyed dragon fire.

"And of the envoys that accompanied them?" asked Bran.

"Slaughtered, upon the Kingsroad."

Just as I feared. Bran felt his heart sink when he heard those words, that wasn't supposed to happen - he promised his family that would not happen. It was like a dagger to the heart and it could mean further war.

Nobody was angry as Edmure. "You were supposed to escort them to Riverrun, not slaughter them! They were envoys!"

"My lord-" the first began, but Edmure would have none of it.

"No! You defied my orders, leave my sight. I'll deal with you later!"

The second one came up beside him. "My lord, the envoys fired upon us and wounded twelve of our men. We outnumbered them and so we killed them. Stannis won't know it was us."

Edmure sighed deeply, Bran could sense the anger. "Where have you taken the captives?"

"Where you told us to, milord. They're both in your solar, awaiting you. The dwarf asks whether or not James Stark is with you. If he is, he says to ask whether or not, 'his skin still smells of lavender oil?'" The man shrugged. "Don't know what that means, milord."

Bran saw James rear his head back and laugh hysterically, before Jon and Gendry joined him. It left Bran confused. Sansa was laughing, too, and was covering her mouth like a lady. Even Arya was snickering and Daenerys was giggling as well. Soon the children followed suit at watching all the laughter, and Bran couldn't help but join in.

Catelyn was smiling. "Did I miss some jest?"

James waived his hand, his laughter subsiding. "Nothing you need hear, Mother."

"Trust me, Mother, you don't want to know what that means," said Sansa.

"I think I understand," said Bran with a grin, glancing both at James and Daenerys. James only laughed and hugged his wife at the sight of her blushing like a pretty maiden. It was so great to see them enjoy a warming moment again.

Catelyn did now, too, by the looks of it. "Oh, gods, you can't be serious? James…"

James laughed. "I said it once in jest to Gendry, Mother. Only Tyrion would know about it." He stood up in his seat. "I'm convinced you have him. Take us to him."

And so the whole family made their way from the Great Hall to Edmure's solar. Everyone decided to attend this. From Arya to Catelyn, even Bran wanted to go. He did not know Tyrion, in truth. James and the rest of his family were close to the dwarf, and Bran could see how much he meant to them. When they climbed the stairs and waited outside the solar, everyone was nervous with apprehension. James and Dany were standing outside the door - everyone behind them - but nobody was as excited as Arya. "I cannot wait for him to call me Lady Baratheon," she said with a smile when they made their way towards the solar.

They found Tyrion Lannister sitting at the side of the table, an equally Lannister looking boy beside him. That must be Tommen, Bran thought to himself when he saw him. He looks so much like Jaime Lannister. He was sipping on a cup of wine while his nephew was just looking off in the distance. Bran wheeled himself into the solar while he watched his family reunite with their beloved dwarf.

The reunion was filled with tears of joy and laughter. Tyrion sat in his chair and watched as James squatted down in front of him and mused his hair. The dwarf only laughed and swiped his hand away before James shook his hand so hard that Bran thought he was going to rip it off. Gendry and Jon shook his hand as well, but the women were different. Daenerys hugged him and showered his head with kisses that Tyrion began to complain. "I'm a dwarf, Daenerys, not some newborn babe!" He had yelled when it went too far. Tyrion even pointed out the tiny bump on Dany's belly and jested that another dragon was coming. Sansa hugged him, too, much to Bran's surprise. Nobody's reunion with Tyrion was as great as Arya's. Tyrion dipped his head at her and said, "Lady Baratheon." To which Arya smiled and replied with, "Lord Tyrion." Both broke out into laughter and again to Bran's surprise Arya hugged him. And apparently Tyrion as well because he was taken aback. He only said, "You're only hugging me because of the child in your belly." To which Arya said, "Shut up, Tyrion." Bran and Catelyn and Edmure and Roslin only formerly greeted him, none of them being close with the dwarf.

Nobody said anything to Tommen and soon took their seats around the table. The children had been taken to bed by the servant girls leaving only the adults. Tyrion passed around the flagon and everyone was sipping on some wine, except James. Daenerys had forbid him from drinking after the feast they had, but Bran knew their was to be one more tomorrow night before they moved north. He knew that Tyrion would need at least a day to rest before joining them. Soon everyone had their wine and was waiting for Tyrion to explain what happened.

"I want to begin by saying I hold nothing against you all," Tyrion began. "I understand why you had to leave, for I would have done the same for my own children, if the gods ever granted me any."

"And we are truly sorry we did, Tyrion," Dany apologized.

Tyrion waived his hands. "It is okay, Daenerys." He smiled. "You're all my family and I love you all." Bran saw him look somewhat embarrassed when he said that.

Dany smiled. "We are happy to have you with us again, Tyrion."

Tyrion only nodded and smiled. He said, "I will miss arguing with Arya upon the small council."

Arya smiled and said, "And I will miss being correct all the time, Tyrion."

"If only that could be proven," said Tyrion.

Arya crossed her arms. "That could so! I was right all the time, and you know it! I told you the wildfire was a bad idea, didn't I?"

"Yet, you agreed to having it built," Tyrion pointed out.

"But you had it-"

"Enough!" James yelled, a smile across his face. "We don't want to hear this again, do we? Enough banter for a lifetime..."

Bran saw everyone laugh at that, and figured it was a jest that they had between each other when James was king. Sometimes Bran wished he could have seen his brother be the ruler, he only heard stories from his mother and sister's. They all said that James tried his best, but was not meant to rule. He never had been a lord or commander, just a ranger. But he was the First Ranger, Bran reminded himself. Sansa had explained that the ruling left James very stressed, leaving him to fists of anger and anxiety. Sometimes he would leave Jon some of the responsibility, and Bran couldn't blame him. Being lord was stressful enough, he couldn't imagine being king.

"Tommen…" James announced, his voice stern. It brought Bran out of his thoughts. "It's been quite a while since I've seen you, lad. The Stormlands, if I recall."

Tommen nodded. "Yes, Your-I mean, my lord."

James laughed, mockingly. "Why, don't you know, I'm not the king anymore. Your beloved Stannis took that from me," he motioned to his wife, clutching her hand, "and my family."

The Lannister boy looked abashed. Bran could see a few cuts on his face, and some dried blood under his nose. "I'm sorry for that, my lord. I didn't - Stannis, forced me to…you-you must understand that."

"I don't care for your excuses," Dany spat at him. "You betrayed your family and betrayed Myrcella."

Tommen hung his head down and flashed a glance at Bran before looking away. Bran remembered that the boy was his good-brother, and Cella had cared for him deeply. I wonder what she would think of him now.

"I didn't mean to betray, Cella," said Tommen, throwing his hands up in despair. "She is my sister and I love her." He looked to Bran now, his emerald eyes burnt through him. He even looks like Myrcella. "I didn't mean to betray your wife, Bran, you must believe that. I wanted to go to your wedding in Winterfell, but Stannis did not let me, nor did he allow me to write you in congratulations. I wish to see my nephew. I'm sorry, Bran." He hung his head down again. "I'm sorry."

Bran felt sorry for him. "Then come north with us," he blurted. "Leave Stannis behind and come live in Winterfell with us."

"Bran!" Arya yelled in protest, "He is a traitor and does not deserve to live in Winterfell!" She looked at him angrily. "We ought to be taking that pretty Lannister head off his shoulders."

Bran dismissed the notion with a waive of his hand. "We won't be doing such a thing, Arya." He looked at Tommen, who met his gaze. "Cella would have wanted to me to bring you back, I know it. She may be angry with you now, but still loves you at the end of the day. Come north with us, Tommen."

Tyrion Lannister shifted in his chair, confused and wanting to know of what he was speaking of. "North? What in the seven hells are you speaking of?"

"We are moving the Northern army back to Winterfell starting on the morrow, Tyrion," James explained. He smiled. "All the men are going while the women and children go back on the backs of dragons-"

"-So it is true!" Tyrion yelled. "You did relieve Riverrun with the help of dragons, how?"

"Warging," Jon answered. "Dany and I warged into them."

Tyrion laughed. "If only you had warged into them sooner, Jon Snow. I would have not needed to play dead for Stannis."

Everyone laughed at that, and when it subsided Dany said, "Live in Winterfell with us, Tyrion. Everyone wants you to."

"But he is the Lord of Casterly Rock," Gendry corrected. "His place is there as befitting the lord of it."

Tyrion sighed heavily. "I am no longer the Lord of Casterly Rock, it would seem. Stannis took that from me."

Everyone gasped and James asked, "Who else would he give it to? Tywin's corpse?"

That made Tyrion bark out a stifled laughed. "No, James. But the new lord is in this very room…"

Bran's eyes fell to Tommen when Tyrion said that, and it was affirmed when Tommen could not meet their gaze.

"Tommen?!" Catelyn Stark questioned. "He is only a boy. Does Stannis mean to give Winterfell to my grandson Ned, too?"

Tyrion laughed again. "No, Lady Stark, Winterfell will remain in Lord Bran's hands. Provided he swears an oath of fealty, of course. Although with the work the Tully men did upon the River Road, I think that may prove difficult."

Edmure slammed a fist on the table. "I told them not to kill the envoys upon the road, unless attacked. Yet my men tell me that they were…"

"It's the truth," said Tommen. "I ordered them not to, but they did anyway. Your men have the right of it."

This does not change a thing. "We are still moving north!" Bran yelled, dispelling any notion of re-taking the Iron Throne.

"I will write to Stannis about swearing an oath of fealty," said Edmure. "And about accepting the position of Master of Laws."

Everyone smiled and offered congratulations for Edmure and Roslin. "You will like the capitol, Roslin." Dany said. "I know you will."

"I've always wanted to see King's Landing," Roslin admitted. "And I know Hoster will like it, too."

"He will enjoy the Red Keep," said Sansa. "It has a beauty to it, and I enjoyed my time down there…well the times when one of my family members wasn't risked of being killed."

The Starks and Tullys nodded.

"But about moving north?" Catelyn asked.

"I'll have to push it back another day," Bran told her. "Tyrion needs another day of rest."

The dwarf smiled. "Why thank you, my lord."

"So does this mean you're coming with us?" Jon asked him.

"Where else do I have to go?" Tyrion said with a shrug. "I loved Winterfell when I first went, and I look forward to living there until I die."

Bran looked around and everyone seemed happy about that. Daenerys walked over and kissed the dwarfs forehead, while the men drank more wine. James did not partake, however.

"Still not allowed the nectar of the gods, it seems," said Tyrion when Dany reached the flagon out of James's grasp.

James sighed. "My dragon wife still deems me to be a child."

"Your dragon wife deems for you not to abuse it," Dany said with a snarl, her back was stern and she looked at James with a cold gaze. "You may drink on the morrow at the feast, James Stark, but no longer."

"I will drink when I move up north…" Bran heard him say under his breath. James was to his left and Dany next to him.

"What was that?" Dany asked him, angry once again. "Repeat what you just said, James."

"I said I love you," he lied, flashing her a smile. "And that you are the most pretty thing in this world."

"Liar!" Arya yelled. "You said you were going to drink again when moving up north!"

"Shut up, Arya!" James barked at her.

Dany crossed her arms. "Is this true, James? Would you do such a thing to me?"

He sighed. "No, I wouldn't. I swear not to drink when moving up north."

"Do you swear me this oath?" Dany asked, giggling.

James laughed and got down on one knee. Everyone was laughing as he did this. "I swear, your radiance. I swear fealty to not follow the Lord of ale, but the god of water. I promise, Dany."

Dany placed a hand on his head. "Then rise, my knight, and keep this oath."

Jon laughed and said, "That was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen."

"That was actually really funny," said Sansa as James sat back in his chair.

"Tell them uncle!" Tommen yelled all of a sudden. Tyrion looked to his nephew, and cocked his head at him, but Tommen said, "You know of what I speak. Tell them about Aegon, they have a right to know."

"Aegon?!" Everyone said at once.

Tyrion took a deep breath. "Aegon Targaryen is no longer with us, it seems. He succumbed to his wounds upon the Blackwater."

Bran looked around and saw everyone grow quiet at that. But James was the first to speak. "Justice is finally done. The man attempted to kill me and my daughter."

"Good riddance, I say," said Bran's sister Arya. Her voice dripped with anger. "I should have done the deed myself."

Nobody replied to her and Bran looked around to see Jon was looked somewhat sad. He didn't know why. "What is wrong, Jon?" Bran asked.

Jon shrugged. "I know I shouldn't feel anything, but I can't help to. Aegon was my half-brother and I grieve for him."

"Why do you grieve for him?" Arya asked, her voice rising. She motioned to James. "He tried to kill James and Rhaella. Rhaella! A little girl who wouldn't harm a fly!" Arya sniffled, Bran was surprised. "Do you remember how she looked when she laid upon that bed, Jon? Void of all life except the rise of her chest…do you remember?"

"Of course, I remember, Arya," Jon said softly, "but Aegon was still my half-brother. I grieve for the boy he was, and not the man he grew to be."

"Don't waste your grief," said Catelyn. "A man like him does not deserve it. To harm my son is one thing, but my granddaughter…I cannot help but feel glad."

"You did not know him, Lady Stark," Jon pointed out to her. "I knew Aegon before he was imprisoned on Dragonstone. I first met him at the Wall, when we were all but lost against the White Walkers and he greeted me like he knew me. I liked him…"

"As did I," added Daenerys, "but that does not excuse what he did to my family." She slid her arm around the crook of James's arm. "To our family."

"Yet you had him imprisoned," Tommen said now. "Why?"

"Because he wanted to take what was mine!" Dany yelled at him.

"But he was Rhaegar's son," Tommen corrected. "He was Elia's, too, and had a better claim than-"

"-Do you know what I have gone through to take it?!" Dany snapped at him. "Do you? I had to go through hell and back to take the Iron Throne, and I would be damned if some green boy like Aegon would take it solely because of who fathered him. I took what was mine with fire and blood, Tommen, I took it." She stared him down. "A turncloak should not be chastising me!"

Tommen shot from his chair and pointed at Dany, yelling, "I'm not turncloak! I've been through just as much as you, Daenerys Targaryen!"

James shot up from his chair and said, "Point at my wife like that again, and I'll break the finger."

Dany only looked up at him and put a hand on her husbands, "Don't do anything rash, James." He looked back down at her and nodded. Bran could see that she liked when he defended her. Wolfsblood, Bran mused.

"Calm down, Tommen," Tyrion urged. He laughed, looking nervously at Bran's brother. "No need to be breaking fingers, James." He looked back at Tommen, who had sat back down with James. "You are to be wed to Margaery Tyrell, Tommen, settle down."

"You're marrying Margaery?" James asked the Lannister once the wolfsblood finished coursing through him.

Tommen nodded and sat down. "Sorry for the outburst," he apologized. "But, yes, I am to be wed to Margaery again...or reunited, I believe we were still wed, I'm not sure, but she is to be Lady of the Rock, it seems."

James drank some water, and said, "Good luck with that. Margaery is...well, deadly. Just ask the four scars on my stomach."

"I'd ring her neck if I ever saw her again," said Dany. "I'd wrap my hands around that pretty white throat."

"Didn't know she was so hated," said Tommen.

"Well, when she tries to seduce me and kill me. Leaves little room for love," James told him.

"So it is true," Tommen replied.

James explained how Margaery tried to use his strife with Daenerys to seduce him, and when he refused two members of the Kingsguard tried to have him assasinated. He told him how Margaery paid off Ros to come after him, and how he had to execute her because of it. Then he explained the strife that existed between him and Dany.

When he was finished Tommen said, "I'm sorry. Aegon was desperate for the Throne, it seemed."

James grumbled and nodded before sipping on his water some more.

Bran said, "I can see why Stannis brokered this agreement between Highgarden and Casterly Rock. It will bring the Reach to your side."

Tommen nodded. "That is the idea, my lord."

At the end of the Bran saw Tyrion fumble into his pockets at the end of the table and pull out a parchment. "Before I forget," he said, sliding the message to James. "It is a message from your beloved Arianne Martell. I managed to sup with her once more before Stannis sent me to Riverrun. She told me to put it in your hands upon arrival." He glanced at Daenerys. "And it is for your eyes only, James."

Bran's older brother took the message in hand and looked at the seal saying, "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken." He snapped the orange seal with his hands and began to read the message. Bran eyed everyone in the room and saw Daenerys beaming with not only anger, but curiosity. She wanted to know what Arianne could have wanted to speak with him about. Bran glanced at Jon and saw that he was perhaps a bit distraught at the mentioning of her name. Bran could see the guilt he felt from putting Arianne through what he did. Sansa was indifferent and Bran could tell she was clenching his hand under the table.

Bran glanced back at James and saw he was reading when Tyrion said, "Ahh, Arianne did tell me to give you something, Jon Snow."

That peaked Bran's interest, and Jon's. He sat up in his seat. "What could Arianne want to tell me? The women probably wants my head on a spike in Sunspear."

Tyrion laughed. "No, no. She told me she wishes nothing but happiness for you and Sansa. And, of course, one more thing..."

"What?" Jon asked.

Tyrion jumped out of his chair and waddled over to him. "Lower," he instructed Jon. "Lower."

Jon brought his face down to Tyrion's and Bran saw the dwarf slap him across the face. Everyone was in shock and Jon flew back, rubbing his cheek. "That is from, Arianne, I suppose," he said, rubbing his cheek some more. Bran could see how pink it had become. Sansa buried her brow in anger and rubbed his cheek before kissing it. Bran didn't know what to make of that. I just have to get used to it, he assured himself.

Tyrion nodded. "Her exact words were, 'Tell Jon that I wish him nothing but happiness with Sansa. Then you can slap him for me.'"

Jon nodded and Tyrion waddled back to his chair, smiling while he resumed drinking his wine.

Everyone's attention was brought back to James when he cleared his throat loudly. "I finally finished the message from Arianne," he announced.

Bran saw Dany look across at it. "May I read it?"

James shook his head. "For the last time, Daenerys, I do not love Arianne. The message merely stated a few things."

"What did she write?" Sansa asked.

"Who cares," grumbled Arya.

James sighed. "Do you want to hear, or no? There are a few things you might want to hear from her."

Everyone nodded and James said, "Arianne bids how I am doing, and hopes that my family got out of King's Landing unscathed. She wishes to know how my children are doing, and that she misses them. Arianne enjoyed Ned and Rhaella's company when she was still courting Jon." He cleared his throat. "She wishes nothing but the best for all of us. Tells me that she is excited because Stannis will finally let her go home."

"Anything else?" Jon asked.

"Yes. She is to be betrothed to Willas Tyrell, the future Lord of Highgarden."

"Willas Tyrell?!" Jon and Sansa screamed at the same time. Bran couldn't help but stifle a laugh, knowing that Sansa had history with the heir to Highgarden.

"Yes, Willas Tyrell," said James. "Is that a problem with either of you?"

Jon shook his head. "No, I don't think. I am happy for her. Gods know she deserves it."

"She tried to have us killed!" Arya reminded them with a yell, "Or did you forget about that?"

"The Sand Snakes and Trystane tried to have us killed," James corrected. "Arianne had naught to do with it. She was pressured into agreeing with that plan. She loved my children, if you didn't notice, and loved yours too, Arya. Arianne is a good person."

"Sounds like you love her..." Arya grumbled, causing James to roll his eyes.

"I told you!" Dany screamed at James. "You do love her!"

"I do not, Daenerys!" James reaffirmed for what sounded like he had said it before.

Bran nudged Jon, who was to his right. "Did something happen between James and Arianne?" He asked his cousin in a whisper so James nor Daenerys would hear.

Jon leaned in and whispered, "No. Daenerys is just the jealous type, if you haven't noticed."

Bran nodded and returned to listening when James yelled, "Envy is not befitting you, Dany. Will you stop being jealous!"

"Is there anything else in the letter, my son?" Catelyn asked him, bringing the topic of conversation back to the letter.

James shrugged. "Not really. The last thing Arianne bids me is to write her in Highgarden, where she will be staying to court Willas. That is all."

"That will not be happening, James!" Dany bellowed. "I forbade you from writing her!"

"Why, Daenerys?" James asked. "No, seriously, why?"

Daenerys stuttered. "Because...I don't know...I just forbid it!"

"The answer was jealousy," said James one last time, before folding up the message again. He sighed. "Dany, just let me write her. Arianne was a good friend to me in King's Landing."

"Why did you feel the need to talk to her?" Catelyn asked, intrigued.

"I was feeling lonely, and a bit sorry for her after I had her imprisoned," James explained. "I don't know, Mother, I just felt bad for her. It was nice to talk to her...have someone to talk to, I guess."

"Have someone to talk to?!" Dany echoed in despair. "James, you could always talk to me! About anything, I don't care. Talk about the wind and I would listen." Dany pouted, angrily. "Sometimes, I don't understand you."

Bran had enough. "Enough of this talk, both of you. We have things to do before we can finally move up north."

James nodded as he kissed his wife in the forehead, whispering things of love and apology. He motioned to Bran. "I'm sorry, Bran, explain if you will."

"I have to inspect the Northern army on the morrow, one last time. I want the men to join me."

"Of course," said Gendry. "We need to learn the in-and-outs of the army."

"We also need to talk about what your roles will be," Bran told them.

"Such as?" Jon asked.

Bran motioned to James. "James. I want you as my second-in-command; you were First Ranger of the Night's Watch and king, you have lead men into battle." James nodded while Bran looked to Jon. "Jon. I want you to be my left-hand, so to speak. James will be my second-in-command, but I want you to share the command with me, Gendry, too. You will all lead men into battle with my lords and represent me on the field with James and Gendry. I will tell my lords that an order from you in battle will be equivalent as if it came from me. You have lead men, as has James and Gendry, so I will depend on you all to make the right decisions in the heat of battle." Jon turned to Gendry. "I will ask the same of you, good-brother. You will be in command, as well." Bran looked at the women now, all of them. "I know you harbor some resentment from me for not discouraging your husbands to not come with me up north, but it is still their decision at the end of it. I promise to bring them back to Winterfell safely and unscathed. I promise to let them write to you when we can afford to send an envoy. Again, I am deeply sorry for this, but I did not wish it. I'm sorry."

James reached over and clenched Bran's hand. "No need to be sorry, little brother, it was our decision. Nobody here harbors anything towards you."

"We aren't mad at you, Bran," Arya reaffirmed. "None of us are."

Bran saw Sansa and Dany nodding too, Daenerys then said, "We love you, Brandon. Just bring them home to us."

"I have one more thing to request," said Jon.

"What is it?"

He cleared his throat and looked at Dany. "Daenerys, here me out. I think I can make this go easier for us if you allow me to take Rhaegal north with me. I will warg into him when you escort the women and children, and will take him north with me. The squids will bend easier knowing that we have a dragon."

Daenerys nodded in agreement. "I agree, Jon, having a dragon will make things easier. That is, if it is okay with Bran?"

The Lord of Winterfell nodded when Tommen asked, "What will become of me, Lord Edmure?"

Edmure looked at him. "I will send you back to King's Landing, on the morrow. I can personally send an escort of my men with news of my acceptance as Master of Laws."

Tommen nodded. "Thank you, my lord." The boy cleared his throat. "I know you all think of me as a turncloak and traitor, so be it. I am truly sorry for any grievance I committed against all of you." He looked at Daenerys. "Lady Targaryen, will you give Cella a message for me, please?"

Dany glanced at Bran who only nodded that he could. "Of course, Tommen," Dany answered. Bran saw a flicker of happiness spread across Tommen's face.

"Let us enjoy this last day together," Gendry said now.

And with that everyone went to sleep after that, everyone was tired and drained from the day. Bran slept easily that night and again had dreams of Myrcella and their son Jaime. Bran imagined the first time seeing his wife again, kissing her again, and holding Jaime on his knee for the first time. He knew that by the time he saw him, Jaime may already be a year old. Bran dreamed of how his son would look, and it grieved him to know that he will look upon Bran as a stranger. He imagined his son with his features and hair, but with Myrcella's beauty and eyes. Bran knew he would be handsome like his uncle's.

The next morning Bran awoke and put on his finest lord's clothes. He wore black woolen breeches with a grey tunic, silver direwolf brooch pined upon it. Bran shook out his long, brown-auburn hair and hopped into his chair before James rolled him down to break their fast. James was dressed in his finest, too, it seemed. He was wearing a white tunic with brown leather breeches, a silver direwolf sowed upon his left breast. James's beard was freshly trimmed, as was his hair. On the way down to the Great Hall, Bran asked him how he was doing and how Daenerys was feeling on the last day. "Dany is angry, but sad," James explained. "Do not tell anyone, Bran, but she was crying this morning. I hate to admit it, but seeing her cry made me happy. It showed she cared for me." Bran felt happy for him when he said that. Bran also asked how his kids were feeling, and James told him that they knew he was leaving. He also told him that they cried when he told them. "Ned understands, but Rhaella is somewhat confused. Sometimes I see so much of you in my son, Bran. The child is too smart for his age." Bran only laughed and said, "That must be why Mother prefers him so much over the rest of her grandchildren. Mother always liked me best out of all our siblings." James only laughed at that and agreed with him. Bran had always been Lady Catelyn's favorite child.

Breaking their fast flew by, leaving all the women sad. All of them hid behind stone faces, but Bran could see it in their eyes. The way they ate, the way they looked, everything they did told him they were sad and angry. Sansa did not say anything as she ate, and could not speak with Jon. Dany, neither, and Arya, too. After breaking his fast Bran spent a lot of time reading in his chambers, he enjoyed reading sometimes. The kids were all smiles, but tomorrow would be a different story. Tyrion and Tommen seemed solemn, but Bran knew that Tyrion was happy to be with them once more.

After lunch the men joined him outside the walls of Riverrun to inspect the Northern camp one last time, while the children napped. The women joined them, seeing as it was the final day and none of them were going to be separated from them. Bran showed the men the layouts of the camp, from the Northern cavalry to the men-at-arms that would be within the camp. He taught them how to navigate it, and where they would be staying. "You three will be sharing a single tent," Bran told his brothers and good-brother. None of them complained and they carried on. Bran explained how the camp worked, and told them where to use the privy and where to eat. The women - especially Daenrerys - asked a lot of questions, and Bran could see she was intrigued. Surely, Daenerys knew how an army worked, but she was still interested in the soldiers that Bran commanded. "Any Northmen is worth five Southerners, my lady," The Greatjon told her. Bran also explained that the Northern calvary were worth the equivalent of a Southron knight.

Once they were finished with the camp it was time for the feast. Bran and his brother's got truly drunk that night, and it would be awhile until they could again. The Northern and Riverlords drank kegs of ale and ate freshly roasted meat. Their was music and merriment as well, and Bran watched as his brother's danced with their wives. Arya could not dance due to the size of her belly, but Daenerys was happy to with James. Her and James looked as if they were gliding across the floor, and James lifted her and twirled her once or twice. Dany only laughed and Bran had never seen her so happy. Usually Daenerys was so serious, except around her husband. Sansa danced with Jon, but Bran could dance with no one. I will never get to dance with my Cella. Never... He spent most of the night with Tyrion Lannister, trading stories of battle with the dwarf. Tyrion got drunk off wine, and did not prefer the strong northern ale. The dwarf told him about the battle, the men he killed, and about how he admired Bran's family. In his cups he admitted to thinking of them as such, and considered Arya to be a good friend. Bran got so drunk with his brothers that night, that by the next morning he could not remember how he even got to his chambers. Yet, he knew that the women were leaving this morning, while the men stayed behind to move North. He did, however, remember hearing screaming in the night. The kind of screaming...well he knew it was coming from Dany and James's room and that he didn't need a Maester to tell him what it came from.

The Stark goodbye was a sad affair. Bran sat back in his chair - Tyrion standing next to him- and watched while the men said goodbye to the women and their three dragons arrived outside of Riverrun the next morning, the creatures still took Bran's breath away and were so eerily beautiful. The family was outside of the castle's gates and out on in front of the Red Fork that faced North. Drogon and Viserion and Rhaegal loomed in front of the women, while they said goodbye with the men. All of the women and children had already said goodbye to Bran and Tyrion, and Edmure and Hoster and Roslin, so now it was just their husbands they needed to bid farewell. Bran made sure to give a message for Cella to Catelyn.

Sansa and Jon held each other so tight, Bran thought neither of them could breath. Bran saw that Sansa was wailing into his shoulder, and sighed at the romantic she was. Arya was made of sterner stuff, it seemed. She only held Gendry just as tight, a hand on her swollen belly, and whispered something into his ear. Daenerys was of a different nature. She at first was angry with James, resentful even, but her resolve broke. James approached her and held her while she beat into his chest with tiny fists and finally wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him with fervor and held it for what seemed like a fortnight before letting go. Bran's older brother put a hand on her tiny bump one last time, and even bent down to kiss it before he said goodbye to their mother and his children. James got down on both knees to hold both his children at once, both of them were wailing into his shoulder, begging for him not to go. James only kissed their foreheads and held them close while he promised to return soon. "Take care of mama, Ned," he told his son. Ned only nodded and cried some more. Arya's children were also saying goodbye to Gendry, and were crying as well, even little Robert's resolve had been broken. Bran could not help but feel sad for them. Jon gave his final goodbyes to his sister, aunt's, and his nieces and nephews before laying down on a cot next to Bran to warg into Rhaegal. James and Gendry soon said goodbye to the rest of the ladies and their nieces and nephews when they finally mounted the dragons.

The children were still crying while the mounted Drogon and Rhaegal. Dany was astride Drogon, black scales glittering in the sunlight, with her children behind her and Sansa behind them. Arya was ontop of Rhaegal - which Bran remembered Jon was warged into - and she told the dragon that he better not drop them, or that she'd kill Jon. Rhaegal only emitted a huff of smoke from his nostrils. Behind Arya was her children and Catelyn. The women and children looked back at the men one last time, as the sound of dragon cries and children's wailing filled the air. Bran watched as they flew into the air and became nothing but distant specs in the sky, disappearing into the sun.

Once they were gone, the men said nothing. Bran saw James watching in disbelief for a few moments before he returned to Bran and the rest of the men. Jon awoke from warging a few hours later, and had told them that he saw Rickon and Cella through the eyes of Rhaegal. "Jaime looks so much like you, Bran!" He exclaimed with excitement. It made Bran happy. He told them that the women and children arrived safely, and that Rickon looked a lot like Robb now, even had his bulky build. Rhaegal returned a few moments later. That night they supped together one last time and the Northern army was prepared to move back north. The camp's tents were all but gone, and the fires were stamped out. Tommen had left that night with a detachment of Tully men.

The next morning Bran rode to the head of the column, his brother's, good-brother, and Tyrion beside him. He broke his fast with the Lord's of the North one last time. Bran rode past the army of men, wagons, and horses one last time. Rhaegal was soaring above them, letting out shrieks and roars that sent chills up Bran's spine.

"TO THE NORTH!" Bran shouted to his men one last time. "AND HOME!" His men cheered in hapiness and agreement, when Bran reeled his horse back to the front of the column of fifteen-thousand Northmen. He gave a nod to his brother's and walked his horse forward and across the Red Fork.

Home, thought Bran, I can finally head home.

A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update, but Thanksgiving was the reason behind it. I'm afraid that my finals are coming up, so it may take just as long as the next update, maybe. I already began writing part of the next chapter, though. Anyway thanks for reading and leave a review if you feel inclined.