Hi guys !
I would like to thank Marvelmyra for all the reviews, that's super nice ! Thanks for correcting me, English is not my first language and I appreciate all reviews. To answer some of your questions, yes, Arya did go to Braavos in my story. As for Sansa, she indeed did not marry ramsay in my storyline, but I imagined Joffrey making her live a hell in King's Landing (none of Cersei's children is dead in my storyline). I know she would not leave Winterfell but, well, she has duties, and Rickon is alive so he is the rightful heir of Winterfell. It may sound cruel, but Bran, as a cripple, would never find someone to marry him, in this world. Well, that's what I think anyways. Now, new chapter, hope you all enjoy and don't hesitate leaving reviews!
« 100,000 men, you say ? »
Baelish is watching the young queen, standing in front of him, calm and quiet. She narrows her eyes as she looks back at him. From the moment he stepped in Mereen, he has immediately felt she did not like him. She had every reason too, he had admitted. When he was in King's Landing, he was one of those who wanted to see her dead, who had sent Mormont spy on her. He has immediately noticed he was not at the court. Baelish did not really mind: he was probably dead. He would not risk asking where he was: it was risky enough to be here, with Daenerys Targaryen, when he had promised to ally with the Lannisters. But Baelish needed those two armies to get what he wanted. He was thinking about Sansa all the time. He wondered what she looked like now. Probably like a woman, and not like a little girl. She should look like Cat even more, he thought. He swallowed hard at this thought.
"Yes, Ser Barristan", he answered the old man, staring speechless at him. "100,000 men. And don't forget the Lannisters. They will defend their throne fiercely."
"This is not their thrones, Lord Baelish. It is mine", the young Queen retorts.
He observes her: she is beautiful, and looks like a real Queen. But there is something about her, he does not know if it is what she has been through or something else, which makes her look way older than she really is. He nods slightly and she half smiles, though asking:
"So, you propose me an alliance?"
"Indeed", he nods again and slightly bows. "The soldiers of the Vale are some of the best soldiers in Westeros."
"I already have the best soldiers. Unsullied are better than any Westeros's soldier", she retorts.
"We join you and Stannis will be outnumbered. It is always better to have more soldiers than the opposite side", Baelish argues.
"Indeed", the Queen agrees, walking to him. He stares at her, at her purple eyes, so characteristic of the Targaryens. She stands in front of him, and whispers, as if she did not want Ser Barristan to hear her:
"I do not trust you, Lord Baelish. I know I need your men, but I do not trust you. Betray me, and I will give you to my dragons."
She stares again at him, her look clearly asking him if he had understood the warning. He nods slightly and she clears her throat:
"And what do you want? I may not have been raised in Westeros, but I understand how wars work. You do not offer us an army freely."
Baelish slightly smiles:
"I wish to marry Sansa Stark", he says.
Barristan and Daenerys look surprised:
"She is very young, isn't she?" the queen asks Barristan.
"Yes, your Grace", he nods approving. "Very young", he emphasizes.
Baelish holds back a snort: who is he to judge him? He would treat Sansa better than any other man in Westeros and Essos. He would love her better. Though, he remains calm as ever:
"I know she is. But I know I can make her happy. Lady Tyrell is also very young and she is married to a man who is more than the double of her age."
Daenerys stares at him for a moment and turns her back at him suddenly:
"Leave. We will let you know our answer."
"Your Grace, I would rather wait here. I do not mind waiting", Petyr insists.
"I ordered you to leave", she insists.
He obeys, furious. He does not like to wait, he wants an answer now. But he cannot show them how hurry he is, how impatient he is that this war ends. None of the ones he pretends to serve know about his real intentions.
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In Winterfell, Stannis and the war counsel are getting ready for the battles. The king has thought about a new type of weapon, a chariot with very thin blades fixed on the wheels of the chariot. Hence, if someone is too close, he will be cut by the blades. The King intends to use it to injure the most soldiers possible during the charge. They all think it is a very good, though cruel, idea. But Stannis does not care how many men he will have to kill. And knowing they fight for the Lannisters, he could not care less. He also talks to Margaery and they both agree that, when they will be ready to leave Winterfell, she will go back to Highgarden. She hardly holds back her tears; she does not want to leave her husband, especially before a battle where he could die. But, deep inside, she knows it is the best solution. She will be safe in Highgarden, and, if the battle turns out bad, she could still find a way to leave Westeros with their children.
They need a lot of time to get ready, several weeks. They prepare siege machines, the famous chariots and they train the men. They had news from Dorne, and decide of the moment they will leave to arrive at the same time than Prince Doran's fleet at King's Landing.
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"Hodor!"
The large and tall man, holding a young boy on his back, turns to him with a grin. But the boy is asleep. He turns to the direwolf trotting by their side, and the two young people, a boy and a girl, who smile at him. Hidden by the trees, they stare at the walls standing in front of them, maybe a mile or two away. Hodor frowns watching the banners: there are the Stark ones, of course, but other ones he has never seen. Summer looks impatient and suddenly rushes running to the castle. Hodor yelps with surprise and fear and runs after him "Hodor! Hodor!" The wolf doesn't listen and runs as fast as he can to the castle. Halfway through it, he stops, sits on the snow and howls.
Everybody stops eating when they hear the howl: there are many wolves in the forest around Winterfell, they know that, but this howl stands out in a crowd. Shaggydog and Ghost rush on the door and scratch it violently. Arya and Jon exchange a look and rush out, followed by the wolves. In the castle, looking by the window, Stannis watches the scene, his jaw clenched as always. The kids yell with joy, the wolves shout too, biting each other gently. He feels Margaery's hands around his waist and her lips kiss his shoulder through his clothes. He wonders why he does not feel anything as he keeps watching the Starks being reunited at least.
"You did this…" the warm and sweet voice of his wife whispers in his ear. Still, he does not feel joy, or relief, or anything. He gently squeezes her hands and walks away.
"I am not staying."
Arya, Sansa and Jon gets pale when Bran tells them. Rickon starts to cry. Brandon gives him a sorry look and the youngest Stark goes and hugs him.
"Your place is here, Bran", Jon says.
Bran slightly smiles and shakes his head:
"My place is not here anymore. But before I leave I have to tell you two things. First, I remember what happened to me…"
The children get closer from their brother:
"It was the queen's brother."
"Jaime Lannister", groans Jon.
"He pushed me from the tower because… because I saw him and…his sister… They were…" Bran stops and blushes intently.
"We know what they were doing", Arya mumbles.
Bran gives her a surprised look:
"The rumour had always spread that those two were more insane than what we thought. Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen are not Robert's children. They're the Kingslayer's", Sansa explains.
Bran nods and Jon smiles at him:
"What is the second thing?"
Bran locks his eyes in his brother's ones and slowly says:
"I… I have visions. It would be too complicated to explain…"
He glances at Jojen Reed who nods slightly.
"I can sort of travel in the past. I cannot change what happened, but I can see things… I have seen you, Jon. I have seen you when you were a baby, when you were born…"
Jon's face both pales and enlightens with hope:
"You have seen my mother?"
Bran nods slowly, a serious look on his face.
"What is it?" Sansa asks.
"Father lied to us", Bran says again.
"What do you mean?" Arya asks, frowning.
Bran turns to her:
"Jon is not a Stark. Not really."
Jon stands up slowly, paler than ever:
"I don't understand…"
"Father was not your father. You are born from Lyanna Stark. You are our cousin."
The words ring in Jon's ears but he does not react. He stares at his family, the only family he's left with, and feels like he is going to break down crying. He's been lied to. His whole life. Arya stands up too and hugs him tight:
"You'll always be my brother, Jon"
He hugs her back and closes her eyes.
"Have you seen my father?" he though asks.
Bran shakes his head:
"I know who he is: Rhaegar Targaryen."
They all turn to Jon with big eyes while Bran explains:
"You all know what happened between Lyanna and Rhaegar. That it led to the war between Robert and him. Well, Lyanna had a baby with Rhaegar. So, somehow, you are a Stark, Jon. But also a Targaryen."
They all remain speechless until Sansa sighs loudly:
"How is Stannis gonna react to that?..."
"React to what?"
They swiftly turn to the door: Stannis is here, Davos standing behind him, and he stares at each and every one of them.