Skagos 299 AC.
Sansa.
Her journey back to the North had been very different than the journey from it. There was no wheelhouse, no meals with the queen and no golden prince and Sansa thanked the gods of both her mother and her father for that. She didn't fight with her sister or get embarrassed when Arya said something that only she would, nor did she listen to a Septa who would tell her that her sister was no lady. Instead, she looked at Arya and felt she had been in the right of things and so she copied her as much as she could. True she could never be as wild or as free as Arya was but she could be a wolf too, a fierce wolf just as Jon had told her she was.
As for Jon, gods was her brother always like this, she believed not, he'd changed just as she had and at first she put it down to the war. She'd heard that wars changed people and though at the time she didn't understand it, she knew it to be true and so she'd thought that it had changed her quiet and at times sullen brother. Jon was no longer quiet and he was anything but sullen, he smiled, he laughed, when he was with Arya they japed and played and she had wondered if they always did so and she'd not known, or if it was something new. With her it certainly was and how he spoke to her, how he asked her if she was well or if she needed anything, filled her heart with a joy she'd never expected would have come from him.
She knew she'd loved her brother, yet there was a distance too, and be it because of how her mother felt and that Sansa wished to please her, or what the Septa had taught her about bastards, Sansa knew it was her that was the reason for that distance. It was gone almost completely now, he saw her only as he had ever seen her, a sister, and though she felt shame that at times she'd perhaps not saw him just as truly, she did now. He'd come for her when no one else had, it had been Jon who'd risked himself so and taken her from that terrible place and she loved him for it, completely, truly, and with all of her heart.
"Why didn't Robb come for me?" she asked him as they sailed, Arya had fallen asleep and Jon was sitting on the deck of the ship and Sansa had joined him and his guard.
"It's easier for a small group of men to do so than an army, Sansa and Robb leads an army." Jon said.
"Did he send you?"
"No, I came by my own will, for you and for Arya." Jon said with a soft smile on his face.
"Why?" she said and he looked at her strangely and she realized her question may have offended him "Why me, Jon? Arya, I understand but me….I…."
"You're my sister, Sansa, just as truly as Arya is." Jon said and she felt her chest tighten as hearing him name her as such was not something she'd expected.
"I'm sorry, for…" she began only for him to interrupt her.
He didn't speak, instead just took her in his arms and held her and she felt it once again, she was safe, she was with her family and she was safe.
When they'd reached White Harbor she'd felt it, even more, they were in the North and as Jon had said, these were their people. She'd been surprised at how Jon spoke to Lord Wyman, his confidence once again shining through and she found that she much preferred seeing her brother this way and she knew that Arya certainly did. Though her sister was a bit more worried than she was when Lord Wyman asked to speak to Jon alone which had confused her at first, they were safer here, weren't they?.
Lady Wynafred and Lady Wylla turned out to be far different than the ladies in King's Landing too and she enjoyed spending time with them. As she did the northern food and the feast that Lord Wyman held on their behalf. She and Arya even got to dance with Jon which surprised her and delighted her sister, even though Arya pretended it did not. Jon proving that he was an excellent dancer and making her laugh as they moved around the floor.
"Look at her, she pretends she doesn't wish to dance, and were anyone to ask her she'd tell them, no, but I know my sister, she may not wish to be a lady, Sansa, but Arya does wish to do some ladylike things." Jon said with a smile on his face as he directed her to where Arya was sitting.
"But dancing, Jon?" she asked her voice uncertain.
"Watch when I dance with her, tell me after if she didn't enjoy it." Jon said and she nodded, and on this, he was proven right.
A part of her had hoped to stay in White Harbor, to wait there for Robb, for her mother, or even to head to Winterfell and see Bran and Rickon again. Yet it was not to be as Jon had told both her and Arya that he had further to go and despite the comfort and protection that White Harbor offered, she felt safer with Jon than she did with anyone else. So when Lord Wyman had asked to speak to her and asked her if she wished to stay, Sansa had told him the truth.
"I wish to leave with my brother, my lord. Ever since father….ever since….I've not felt safe, not slept as truly and when I have I've dreamed the worst possible dreams. I still dream bad dreams on occasion, my lord, but no longer is it each night and I no longer find myself looking over my shoulder or having a need to think over each and every word I say. Skagos frightens me, I'll not lie, but I'm far more frightened of waking up and not seeing my family." she said.
"And this is what you truly wish, Lady Sansa?" Lord Wyman asked.
"It is, my lord." she said determinedly.
"Then I shall not stand in your way and I wish you good fortune until we meet again." Lord Wyman said, a large smile on his face which she returned.
"And I, you, my lord." she said.
They set sail the next day and she found she was eager and excited rather than scared and frightened, she was to see more of the North, the True North and she welcomed it as she had the stories and tales that Jon would speak of it as they traveled. She was a lady, she'd always be one, more so than Arya because that's just not who her sister was but she was not any longer and she never would be a southern lady. Sansa was of the North, she knew that now and so she wished to be a northern lady, just as her aunt had been according to Jon.
It was why she now carried a knife hidden in her skirts and had taken lessons from Thoros of Myr in how to defend herself. Had she done so before, then Joffrey would have felt her bite and Lady would still be with her. There was nothing she could do about that now though and so she promised herself instead that no one would ever make her feel weak and powerless again. She wasn't a little bird as the Hound had called her, she was a wolf, and wolves bite, they howl and when they're with their pack, they are formidable.
Skagos was nothing like she'd imagined, it was a land of cannibals and wild beasts according to what Septa Mordane had said and yet to her, it was simply the North. A wild, untamed, and surprisingly beautiful place once you turned your eyes to it instead of looking south. She'd not been afraid when the men came because Jon was not, Arya was not, and she was or would be as much of a wolf as them. When she'd seen the unicorn it had been incredible and it made her understand something she'd forgotten, so lost had she been in her dreams of the south that she'd not realized that the north had wonders too.
"Look Jon, a Unicorn."
She'd been filled with excitement and it had only grown once they reached the village they were taken to and met the Magnar. He was a man who dwarfed even the Hound and she wished they'd brought men like this south when they'd left, had they then the Lannisters would have suffered and not they. It had surprised her how they'd welcomed Jon, though she understood it had something to do with the Direwolves and Ghost in particular. As for her and Arya, they were welcomed just as warmly as they had been in White Harbor, though quite differently also.
They'd feasted, though it was not a southern or even northern feast as instead, they had eaten outdoors and under the stars, which she very much enjoyed. There had been music and singing but no songs of the south, these songs were even more northern in nature than some of those that had been sung in the Merman's Court. When Jon suggested she sing, she'd done so happily and had sung only the few northern songs she knew, finding herself almost embarrassed by the way she was looked at and cheered her on. All had gone well until Jon had told them he needed to go somewhere on his own and Arya had argued with him, while Sansa had felt that little bit of fear rise up once more.
"You're leaving me?" Arya, said angrily.
"Never little sister, I must do this, but I will be gone no more than a few hours, I swear it on the old gods and the new. You'll both be safe here, I'd not leave for even a moment if I thought either of you was in even the slightest bit of danger." Jon said.
"Your promise? You promise me you'll be back in a few hours?" Arya said her voice shaky.
"I promise, little sister." he said to hugging Arya tightly before he came over to her "Sansa, Arthur will guard you with his life, he took down the Mountain, he, Thoros, and the others, all of them will protect you as if it were me. As for the Magnar and his people, they are Northmen through and through and I trust them completely. I'll return as quickly as I am able to."
She hugged him, told him that she was unafraid which was only partly true, and then she, Arya, and the others watched as Jon headed off towards the mountains. That Ghost picked that time to come to her and allow her to hold him and that she saw Arya do the same to Nymeria only made her feel even more sure that he would keep to his word. He'd come for them both once already, he'd come back to them both and so she felt herself relax somewhat.
Now she was anything but, they'd all seen it, the Black Dragon flying over their heads and only that Arya had said that Jon was on its back, Sansa would have feared for him even more than she now did. As she looked up to the air and saw how high they now flew, she feared for him though, and that more than anything was why it took her so long to ask herself the question. It was why she never considered it odd that Jon was on a dragon's back until the dragon landed a short distance away from the village. Then only when she saw Jon walk back into the village did she think of it, and when she saw Arya run to her brother it was that question that stopped her from doing likewise.
"How can Jon ride a dragon?" she asked softly as he and Arya walked towards her.
The Westerlands 299 AC.
Robb Stark.
They had marched from the Crag and were heading south along the coast when the riders caught up with them. Robb was almost glad for the reason the stop, as though he had a plan, he wasn't sure if it was the right one. He'd been angry, incredibly so and perhaps it was not for the best to make battle plans with a not-so-cool head. So stopping the march and having the tents set up was a welcome respite though it was the words he read in the letter that more than anything had made him eager to speak to his lords rather than battle planning.
He'd done it, Jon had rescued their sister and had gone to rescue Sansa now too and the relief and joy he felt was palpable, especially after the news he'd gotten from Winterfell. There was some shame too though, as now more than ever he knew that Jon had been right and that this and not what he was doing was what a true brother would seek to do. Still, he put that away for now and waited for his lords to join him, smiling at his uncle when he entered the tent and then as The Great and Smalljon's and Lord Karstark and some of the Riverlords finally arrived.
"I've received a raven from my mother at Riverrun, my lords. One that bears very good news. My brother Jon Snow has rescued our sister Arya and has set off to see that our other sister is returned to us also." he said, feeling so much pride for what Jon had managed to do, despite how he felt about not being a part of it.
"How?"
"Where?"
"Your grace, how was that accomplished?" The Smalljon asked and Robb felt even more pride for Jon and for Arya as he readied to speak.
"Arya escaped from King's Landing, my lords, though she was then taken prisoner by The Mountain and his men." he said and saw the way each of the lords looked at him and then each other, the worry and concern on their faces one that he would have shared had he heard this news before now "Jon, along with some men sworn to him attacked the Mountain and his men and rescued her, she is unharmed my lords."
He could see how much this pleased them and how whatever they may have thought of Jon beforehand they did not now. Robb though knew what he said next would make his brother some truer friends here and as he looked to his uncle and the lords, he readied to tell them just exactly what Jon had accomplished.
"The Mountain is dead my lords, he and his men were put the sword by my brother and his own." he said to shocked gasps.
"For true, the Mountain that rides has fallen?" his uncle asked and Robb nodded.
"And it was your brother and his men that saw it done?" The Greatjon asked.
"It was my lord, I say that we raise our mugs this night and do so in Jon's honor, what say you all?"
"Aye."
"Aye, I'll drink to that."
He waited until they had all gone and bid his uncle stay, Brynden looking at him as he took his seat and whether he could see the relief on his face or not, he could certainly see the smile he wore. After bidding him sit, he told him that his mother had reported that Stannis now controlled the Stormlands and that she wished to speak to him about something very important. Yet it was the rescue and the fact that Jon had gone on to King's Landing with Arya rather than to Riverrun or to him, that Brynden wished to speak on.
"Your Grace, I know not your brother other than what your mother has told me of him, I know you feel him true but I am most worried that he's taken your sister to King's Landing. Are you sure of his loyalty, nephew?" The Blackfish asked and were they with others and not alone then there would have been words spoken between them, angry words, as it was though Robb's mood was too good to be angered so.
"My brother is true, uncle. Were my mother here with you now she'd tell you of Jon and Arya, they were, they are. two peas from the same pod as my father was wont to say." Robb said with a chuckle as he thought of some of the things Jon and Arya would do together "A few years ago when we were in Winterfell, Jon hid in the crypts covered in flour so as to play a prank on Sansa. Arya and I brought our sister down to see the statues and he came out from the shadows acting as a ghost."
He laughed as he looked to see the smile on his uncle's face, Robb closing his eyes and remembering it as if it had happened the day before and not years earlier.
"He did that for Arya, to amuse her, to make her smile after a day in which she had not. He sparred with her when I would not, uncle, listened when I would not. No matter how busy Jon was he'd take time out of his day for Arya, for the little sister he loved so. So Aye, uncle, my brother is loyal, even were he not to me, I've no doubt of it when it concerns our sister." Robb said.
"And Sansa?" Brynden asked and for a moment he wondered if he was asking if Jon thought less of her, he knew compared to Arya in some ways that was true, yet looking at his uncle's face he realized that was not what he was asking.
"He rescued Arya from the Mountain, uncle, and saw the man dead, do you think the Lannisters will be able to stop him getting Sansa from them?" he asked.
"No, perhaps not, this is good news, Robb, you're right, let's drink to the lad and welcome it as that." his uncle said rising to his feet.
"Stannis, mother?" he asked.
"Tomorrow, tonight we drink."
Drink they did and in the end, it was a good thing as it delayed their march and so they were not as far into the West as they may have been when the ravens kept coming and the news got even better. Winterfell was back in their hands and his brothers lived. It had been a mummery, a falsehood, a lie, his brothers lived and the North had seen to the end of the squids that dared to sully it with their presence. No sooner had that one came than the one came showing that just as he had known he would, Jon had rescued their other sister too and Robb spent the day riding on his horse with a smile that not even the rain that fell could wipe from it.
He'd snuck into the lion's den and showed them all what a wolf could do, more than that, his sisters weren't just safe, they were back in the North. So happy was he by this news that he ignored Wyman's cryptic message that words needed to be spoken and barely paid attention to the fact that his sisters hadn't stayed in White Harbor. Robb found he cared not, they were with Jon and they were safe, and what else mattered other than that.
The good news was not to last though and when he heard what Edmure had done he was wroth. It changed his plans entirely and so it was with anger in his heart that he turned and began marching back to the Riverlands rather than with the joy he had hoped it would be. It was at the Golden Tooth that he found the raven waiting for him, this one from his mother and once again telling him of the need to speak to him in person and so they marched onward leaving the West behind them
When he finally reached Riverrun after almost five moons since he last had seen it he felt as if he'd lost the war rather than won some battles. He felt a failure rather than the conquering hero he was welcomed back as. Though he was happy to see his mother's smiling face and while not as pleased to see his uncle, he greeted him warmly too.
"Riverrun is yours, your grace." Edmure said and Robb noticed how his mother looked to his uncle oddly when he did so.
"I thank you, uncle. Mother, it's good to see you again." he said as she embraced him, and as she both she and Edmure then welcomed back the Blackfish and the rest of the lords.
"We must speak, Robb, about Jon." his mother said as they walked into the keep, Robb surprised to hear her name his brother so.
"Is he hurt, has anything happened?" he asked worriedly.
"No, he's not hurt, Robb, it's something else." his mother said cryptically and as he looked at her, he found himself wondering why her face was as pensive as it was.
Astapor 299 AC.
Dany.
She had done it, she had actually flown on the back of a dragon and it was like nothing she could ever have imagined. Rhaegal and Viserion had flown beside her and yet it was Drogon that had enjoyed it as much as she had. Dany able to feel his joy as they soared through the air and his reluctance to land, which brought a smile to her face when they did so. After thanking him profusely and promising it was but the first time they'd share the skies with each other, she walked over to her other children and spoke to them too before then heading to where Barristan, Jorah, Grey Worm, and Missandei waited for her.
She knew that her knights had been worried for her, Grey Worm too though he had remained stoic as always, and as for Missandei, the little girl seemed the most relieved of any that she'd returned to the ground safely. Moving to them she made it clear that she had been in no danger and that she had taken to it as easily as she had riding on a horse, though it was a poor comparison to make if she was being honest. She loved her silver, but riding was not flying and she knew she'd be doing far more of one than the other in the future.
"All is well, my queen?" Barristan asked and it warmed her heart that he showed his concern, as it did with the others.
"All is well, Ser Barristan." she said her smile beaming as they turned to walk back to the pyramid.
Missandei spoke to her and asked what it had felt like and would she be doing it more in the future, while both Barristan and Jorah listened while trying not to seem as if they were doing so. Dany could see that both men were nervous about her answers but for different reasons, Jorah was more worried about her, while Barristan while worried also, was thinking as a Kingsguard too no doubt. Riding on a horse allowed him to do his duty and keep her protected, riding on a dragon would very much not. Not that she would need protection on Drogon's back though as up in the air there was no one who could ever threaten her.
It was to thoughts of her next flight and of the night to come that she found herself lost in when she reached the pyramid. That it was still early in the day was her only true regret as the one person she more than any wished to share this with would not come to her until night fell at the earliest. She found herself hoping that he did come tonight, that they would speak and she could tell him how it felt to fly on the back of a dragon and to ask had he reached his own as of yet. Rhaegar would know what it felt like, of all those in the world he would know and this was something she truly wished to share with him.
The day seemed to crawl and was almost never-ending and there were various times during it when she almost wished to just say she was tired and head to her bed early. She knew of course she could not, she had much to do and her time here was drawing ever closer to its end. The ships were on their way, she'd soon meet men who were loyal to her house and finally, she'd be going home. It was something which excited her more than worried her now, knowing that once she got there she'd no longer be alone, she'd have family, someone who understood, someone who she longed to see in the flesh.
"I'll bid you all a goodnight." she said after they'd finished their meal and she'd laid out plans for the next day, plans that included another dragon ride much to Barristan and Jorah's concern.
"Good night, my queen." Missandei said and she hugged the younger girl and then watched as each of them left her alone.
She made her way to the balcony and looked out over the sea and the sky. Her children were hunting she knew and out there somewhere ships were heading towards her, Dany closed her eyes and felt the breeze on her face before turning and heading to her bed-chamber. As she lay down to sleep she found she didn't have to wait too long for him to come to her. No sooner had her eyes closed than he was there and she almost ran and jumped into his arms such was her joy at seeing him.
"Happy to see me?" he asked with a smile and she nodded eagerly.
"I've flown, Rhaegar, I've flown on Drogon's back." she said proudly.
"As have I on Lightbringer's." he said catching her by surprise.
"You have?" she asked looking into his dark eyes.
"I have, who knows perhaps we did so at the same time?" he said, and for some reason that pleased her greatly.
The idea that despite being so far away from each other they had done something that no one had in more than a hundred years as the other was doing the very same thing one which she clung to happily.
"It was unlike anything I could have ever imagined, Rhaegar, was it the same for you?" she asked as he took her hand and they walked over to the pillar nearest them, Rhaegar sitting down with it against his back and Dany sitting in front of him, happy when she felt his arms go around her.
"Aye, it's almost impossible to describe, everything seems so small, so insignificant from so high above it all. The world is beautiful from up there and feeling yourself connected to something as powerful and unique as a dragon is a gift, a gift from the gods." he said and she nodded thinking he did a decent enough job of describing it.
"It is, it truly is." she said and she shivered when he rested his head on her shoulder, his words spoken softly before he began to softly bite on her ear.
"Though I prefer this to that." he said his voice almost husky and she found she agreed with him once more, Dany quickly turning her head to feel his lips on hers.
They kissed for some time, both of them lost in how it felt and neither wishing to be the one to end it. Which of them did she couldn't tell but she could see in Rhaegar's eyes that he felt the loss just as much as she did. Oddly she found herself drifting off to sleep as she leaned back even closer against him, his arms holding her tight, and soon he was whispering words that she barely heard. Rhaegar telling her that they'd see each other soon and they'd be together from then on, that he'd never leave her alone, and that he'd also take her to see more of their family.
When she woke it was with the strangest feeling, as if he'd actually been in the bed beside her and held her while she slept. It made her annoyance about sleeping when she was with him fade away, and when she rose she felt far more refreshed than she had in a long time. Even later that day, and the next when she flew on Drogon's back and got more used to just what could be done while flying, it was to the same thought over and over. Would his arms feel that good when he held her for true? Would she sleep that peacefully when he was with her? Would she see him as soon as she hoped?.
The last of those seemed to be something that was about to receive an answer. Dany seeing the ships below her as she flew high above them and quickly turning to head back to the city once she did so. The silver seahorse on the sails had told her all she needed to know and as she landed she told Drogon to ready his brothers and that she'd call them all when she needed them.
"My queen?" Barristan asked seeing her excited state and wondering why she had shortened her flight.
"The ships Ser Barristan, House Velaryon, and the Lords of the Narrow Sea, I saw them, they'll be here by day's end." she said almost breathlessly.
"How many your grace?" Jorah asked.
"Many." she replied happily.
As it turned out it was very late in the night when the ships finally arrived, Dany sending Grey Worm, and a group of the Unsullied to escort the lords to the great pyramid. She had wished to meet them on the docks but Barristan had told her that she was a queen, and it was for them to come to her and not the other way round. So she had sat and waited and now finally they were here, Dany hearing the gasp from Barristan when one of the men looked to her.
"Ser Richard Lonmouth, my queen, your brother's former squire." Barristan whispered when she bid him closer to find out who it was he recognized.
He pointed out the others, Lord Monford Velaryon and his bastard brother Aurane Waters, Lord Guncer Sunglass, and the aged Lord Adrian Celtigar and a younger man who Barristan said was a Bar Emmon. Yet it was the man who had been her brother's squire that she found her eyes drawn to and who was the first to move forward to speak, though Missandei beat him to it. Dany was happy that she used the words she had told her to with these men and not the words that she may have, had she not known of the truth of her nephew.
"You are in the presence of Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, Princess of the Seven Kingdoms, The Mother of Dragons, The Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, The Unburnt, The Breaker of Chains" Missandei said, her voice booming which caught the men a bit by surprise given her age and size, Dany looked on as Ser Richard then stepped forward.
"Princess Daenerys, my name is Richard Lonmouth and the men with me are the Lords of the Narrow Sea and houses sworn to your own and to his grace's. May I present Lord Monford Velaryon and his brother Lord Aurane Waters, Lord Adrian Celtigar, Lord Guncer Sunglass, and Lord Duram Bar Emmon." Ser Richard said and Dany nodded and smiled at the men.
"I welcome you to Astapor Ser Richard, and you, my Lords of the Narrow Sea." she said and though she wished to speak to them of Rhaegar, she had agreed with Barristan and Jorah that they needed to bring him up to her first.
"My princess, we've been sent here by our king to bring you home." Richard began and she found she couldn't wait for him to speak further, she needed to hear him say the words out loud.
"And who is your king, Ser Richard?" she asked and noticed how both Jorah and Barristan looked at the man, they as eager as she was to hear the words.
"Your nephew, my princess. King Rhaegar Targaryen, the first of his name, trueborn son of Prince Rhaegar and Princess Lyanna Targaryen." Ser Richard said and Dany knew the smile she wore was beaming, the look on Ser Richard's face and the faces of the other men telling her so.
She resisted the urge to look to Barristan and Jorah and tell them she had told them so, that she had been right and that once more her dreams were coming true. While they'd not outright said she was wrong, she knew they had doubted her and had she looked at their faces she knew that doubt was now gone, so there was no need for her to gloat. Instead, she looked to Ser Richard and to the Lords of the Narrow Sea, and then she rose from the throne she sat.
"Ser Richard, my lords, I'd ask you all to join with me as we eat tonight and perhaps you can tell me more of my nephew." she said and she saw that Ser Richard look a bit relieved as if he doubted she would be welcoming of this news.
He had much to learn, not just of her and her dragons but of what she knew of Rhaegar too and if he doubted she welcomed this news, then he would soon know that she did anything but.
King's Landing 299 AC.
Tyrion.
They had lost her, of all the things they could do they had gone and lost Sansa bloody Stark and these fools cared not. The king almost laughing at the thoughts that she'd been raped and murdered and left somewhere to rot while Cersei ranted and raved about the audacity of people rioting and attacking them. As if the poor wretches had no reason to do so, that their lives were so good that they should be grateful from the scraps from their table. He was surrounded by fools and idiots and they would be the death of him or would be if Stannis Baratheon didn't see to his death first.
When he'd realized Sansa was missing he'd sent the Hound to find her, or to be more accurate he'd demanded someone find her and the Hound had gone to do so, coming back later having found no sight nor sound of her. Varys too was remarkably quiet on Sansa Stark's fate and were it not for Bronn then he'd not have heard anything of it at all.
"She was seen being grabbed by a man, Tyrion, dragged away over a man's shoulder." Bronn said.
"So she was raped then?" he asked, feeling far more upset over it than he may normally have had she been someone else.
"I don't think so, I think she was rescued." Bronn said catching him by surprise.
"What?" he asked incredulously.
"There were some gold cloaks gutted near the docks, five of them and the men who did so were trained, Tyrion, I'd stake my cock on it." Bronn said with a laugh.
"Did any ships sail north?" he asked worriedly.
"No, one sailed but just it's normal route from what I can gather." Bronn said and he took some relief from that, though not much.
Whether it was that he had found out so much on his own, or because the day was drawing ever closer when the city may fall, he couldn't be certain. Whatever the reason, Varys eventually came to him with the news of where Sansa Stark was and it was news that he had almost expected by then.
"She was seen in the company of some men heading towards Maidenpool, along with two wolves, a grey one and a white one." Varys said and Tyrion looked at him wondering how long he'd known this before he'd brought it to him.
"Is Jon Snow still at the Wall?" he asked.
"Apparently the young man didn't swear his oath and departed not long after his brother called the banners." Varys said.
In some ways, he respected the boy for doing what he now believed he had done. He'd come into their city unknown and he'd taken her from right under their noses, in others though it worried him greatly. One wolf was already causing them enough problems as it was, he feared what the other would do and what they may together and if Jon Snow could do something this audacious, then what would he do next?. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to reflect upon this question for long, the news had come about the departure of Stannis's fleet and the battle was soon to be upon them, which quickly took up all his attention.
For three days and nights, he spent more time on the battlements than he did in his bed, every waking hour making sure that preparations were made and that they were ready for what they would face. When the actual attack came he was still caught by surprise and so he was late to it. Tyrion then having to listen to his idiot nephew tell all and sundry what he was going to do to Stannis Baratheon and were it another time he'd wish the two did actually meet on the field. Tonight though he found he wished anything but, because if Stannis actually faced Joffrey then it would mean they had lost. His nephew wouldn't be anywhere near the battle when it finally took place, cowards never were.
The green flames lit up the sky and he watched as both men and ships burned and the flames cared not for which they found first. Still, it wasn't enough, ships landed and the battle was upon them and as he expected, his nephew proved his lack of bravery at the first opportunity he could. That it came at the cost of the men's spirit and courage was not what he expected and it left him needing to rally the men to fight. More so when he met up with the Hound and saw that his fight was done too.
"What do you mean you're leaving, what about the city, the king?" he shouted at the much larger man.
"Fuck the City, Fuck the King." The Hound said as he walked away from them.
The king may have broken the men's spirit and courage, but it was Clegane who broke their will to fight and Tyrion knew that he had to do something to restore it.
"Those men out there come to your city, to take your homes. It'll be your wives and children who suffer should they break through those gates. We must stop them, you, the man next to you, and I, we must stop them. I may only be half a man but my ax is good and my will is strong, will you fight with me? There are men out there who are in dire need of killing, will you kill them with me? I am only a half-man but the gods are on my side this night and when I stick my ax up someone's arse it'll matter not that I'm not a full one. Will you fight with me, men, for our city, for our families, for those we love, we fight or we die." he said his words getting louder all the while.
"For the Half Man." Shagga shouted.
"For the Half Man." others shouted even more loudly.
Leaving through the Mud Gate he soon felt that perhaps Joffrey had the right of it. Tyrion quickly finding himself in a world of chaos and trouble and his ax finding the belly of a man far sooner than he would have wished. Stannis had managed to get far more men landed than he had expected and he knew then that they would lose, yet still, his ax swung and the men around him swung their own blades just as fiercely. When the pain came he was stunned to see who it was that had struck the blow and were he not in so much agony then he'd have laughed at the fact she'd managed to get to him in the end.
Ser Mandon didn't get the chance to finish him off though as Tyrion heard the splash and looked up to see Podrick standing where Mandon had only just been. His squire's words were lost to him as the darkness came upon him but he could hear other shouts that did register more. Shouts of Renly and House Tyrell and of the Old Lion and he knew then his father had managed to make it to King's Landing, the day was not lost, after all, only him he thought as his eyes closed and he drifted into unconsciousness.
Skagos 299 AC.
Jon Snow.
Flying with the dragon was incredible and he knew that it should be what he most thought about and yet it was not. Instead, it was just being with him, feeling him in his head, his thoughts, worries, concerns, and his joy in the fact that they were finally together. That he felt them all as keenly as Lightbringer did only deepened the experience. After taking to the air and flying over the island, they'd then flown back to the cave and he'd spoken with the dragon. He'd promised him that they would not only fly again soon but that from now on they'd fly together often.
When he had gone to leave, Lightbringer had been angered, Jon taking time to tell him that he needed to speak to those he came here with, that he had to let them know he was unharmed. He felt Lightbringer snort at that, both the thoughts that he would ever harm his rider or that his rider would ever be harmed again were somehow clear to him. In the end, he'd compromised, he'd promised the dragon he'd sleep by his side once he'd spoken to his sisters and to Arthur. That Lightbringer had then insisted he flew back to the village with him and waited for him, was something he welcomed, Jon leaning against his head to speak softly to him and offer up reassurance.
"I've only just found you, my friend, we are one and nothing will ever change that, I swear it to you, I swear it on Fire and Blood." he said.
"Fire and Blood." he heard Lightbringer repeat and then he climbed onto the dragon's back.
He was nervous flying to the village, both for the worry that seeing the dragon may cause and knowing that he'd need to speak to Sansa about his truth. Arya had taken it well, but their bond was special and while he and Sansa were getting closer he worried that this may push them back further apart. There was also Robb and her mother to think about, he knew Sansa would understand what this meant in relation to them more than Arya had. His little sister was smart and clever but she cared not for politics or such things, Sansa however did, and so she'd know what it meant that he was a Targaryen and a Dragonrider, while Arya would always just focus far more on the latter.
After he had landed and had once again promised the dragon that he'd sleep by his side, Lightbringer then refusing to leave until he left with him, Jon walked the short distance to the village. Unsurprisingly he wouldn't get to enter it fully alone. Arya, Arthur, and Sansa along with Thoros and the others, the Magnar and his men, and of course moving far more swiftly than all of them, Ghost, all rushed to meet him. Jon kneeling down to rub the white wolf's neck as soon as he reached him.
"Aye, I'm good, we have a new friend, Ghost, I'll introduce you two later." he said softly.
"Jon, Jon, where is it, where's the dragon?" he heard Arya say excitedly as she ran ahead of the others and into his arms.
"I'll take you to him on the morrow, little sister" he said and he knew by her look that she'd make sure he kept his word on that "Arthur." he said with a nod upon seeing the knight and then he looked to Sansa and the others.
He knew there was a multitude of questions to be answered, the Magnar looked behind him and though Lightbringer was out of their line of sight, he wasn't very far away. Jon let the dragon know that he was safe and well and then he told the Magnar and the others that they had nothing to fear from the black dragon.
"Lightbringer means you no harm, The Magnar, you or your people. Though I'd ask them not to get too close unless I'm with them." he said looking to the large man.
"As you say, The Jon." the Magnar said and Jon watched as he then spoke to those with him.
"I know you've all got questions and I'll answer them all once we're back at the village." he said and he saw that Sansa was looking at him worriedly and so he smiled at her and was glad to see her smile back at him.
Arya peppered him with questions as they walked and he knew he wouldn't have had it any other way. To see her as she was supposed to be and not as the scared little girl he'd rescued was something that he welcomed happily. It had taken her time to shake off all she'd gone through and now other than what happened to her father, she almost barely remembered it all. Both he and Arthur had kept her busy with sparring and she had told him that she was now his squire, whether he wanted one or not. While she still snuggled up close to him some nights, she slept alone far more often and yet it was the excited way that she asked about things that truly proved her back to herself.
"Will you take me flying on the dragon?"
"Why is he called Lightbringer?"
"How did you know that there was a dragon here, Jon?"
"Was it him that you were to meet?"
"Is it him?"
He chuckled and mussed her hair as they walked, while looking to Arthur and trying to tell him without words that he was unhurt and that what they had come here for was far more true than either of them had expected. By the time they were in the village and he was sitting facing them all, he knew he'd only barely managed the first of those things. So he began to lay out the second of them as much as he could.
"The dragon is called Ōñosmaghare" he began.
"Lightbringer." Thoros said reverently.
"Aye, Lightbringer. To many he was known under another name though it wasn't true, Cannibal." he said and saw Arthur's and some of the men's eyes widen "He was waiting for me, he's always been waiting for me." he said almost proudly.
"Why?" Sansa asked.
"Because I'm his rider, we're bonded him and I." he said and he didn't need to close his eyes to feel Lightbringer's pleasure upon hearing him say it "I've promised him that I'd sleep by his side tonight, there's nothing for any of you to fear from him, not when it comes to me or those I care about." he said looking to Arthur and then his sister's to let them know that he and they would be safe around the dragon.
"And those you don't?" Gendry asked.
"Them, they should fear us both." he said seeing Arya's smile.
"What are we to do now, Jon?" Thoros asked and he was glad he'd not called him, your grace, though he knew that it was only for Sansa's benefit that he had not.
"I need some time to get used to flying on the dragon before we leave, to understand him more, once I do then we can set sail." he said and he watched as they all looked at him eagerly, though it was Arthur who asked the question.
"For where?" Arthur asked.
"Dragonstone." he said hearing Arya's excited gasp and seeing Sansa's worried look.
He asked them to give him a moment with Sansa, Arya doing so reluctantly but after he whispered in her ear that he needed to tell her the truth, she nodded and then walked away with Arthur and the others. His little sister looking over her shoulder and offering him a reassuring smile as she did so. Looking to his other sister he could see that she was confused, worried, and upset and he wasn't entirely sure which emotion was the one she was feeling the most or what the true reason for any of them was. All he knew was he needed to tell her the truth about himself and he hoped she took it well.
"I'm not the son of Ned Stark, Sansa, my father was Rhaegar Targaryen and my mother was his wife Lyanna Targaryen." he said feeling it best to come right out with it and he was surprised when just like Arya the reaction was the same.
"Jon….you're not my brother?" Sansa said her voice showing her hurt at that thought and though he felt for her, he welcomed it a little too.
"I am your brother, I've always been your brother and I will always be your brother if that's what you wish me to be." he said moving close to her and he was relieved when she didn't move away "We share blood Sansa but that's not what makes you my sister, it's what's in here." he said touching his hand to his heart "In here you're my sister, you, Arya, Robb, Bran, Rickon, all of you are my brothers and sisters."
"You're my brother, Jon, I want you to be my brother." she said and he took her in his arms, hugging her tightly to his chest and feeling her hug him back just as tightly.
They stayed like that for some time, before he felt her relax and he let her go, Sansa, looking at him, and just as he expected she got to the politics far quicker than Arya had.
"You're going for the throne aren't you, that's why we came here, it was so you could get your dragon and go for the throne, wasn't it?" she asked.
"I am my father's heir, Sansa, I could tell you that the throne is mine by right of blood but who cares for such things, certainly not the Lannisters and so I need to take it back from them which means I need help to do so. I've sent for that help, my aunt is in exile in Essos and has spent her life running from men who wish her dead, now she will run no more. There are Leal houses that will come to my side too, but aye, the dragons are what will take it back for me." he said.
"Dragons?" she asked looking at him.
"Mine and my aunt's." he said with a soft smile on his face.
"Robb? What of Robb?" she asked almost panicked and he reached out to take her hand in his.
"Robb took a crown because he had no other choice, he wasn't aware of me and I believe once he is he'd not seek to usurp me any more than I would have him. The North can't survive without the South, it may think it can but it can't and so I'll speak to Robb and the to the Lords of the North and try and get them to see that." he said and he saw Sansa nod and was glad that she didn't bring up what may happen if they did not.
"What of us, Jon, of me and Arya?" she asked and he looked at her confused.
"Sansa?"
"Are we hostages, prisoners?" she asked worriedly.
"You think I would do such a thing? I told you, you're my sister, Sansa, you and Arya both. I wish you with me because I believe I can keep you both safe, safer than any in the realm, but I'd never force you to be by my side. If you wish I can bring you back to White Harbor, or see you to Riverrun when I make for Dragonstone, or you can if you wish to come with me, but it's your choice, Sansa, yours and Arya's and whatever you chose I'll accept." he said looking into her eyes as he spoke.
"You wish us with you?" she asked, her voice soft and sounding far younger than she was.
"Always." he said smiling.
"I want to see my mother again, Jon, see Robb, Bran, and Rickon but I'm…I'm not ready yet, I feel safe with you, with all of you, and now that you have a dragon." she said with a giggle.
"Safer still." he said and she nodded.
"I'd like to come to Dragonstone with you, I know Arya will want nothing other than that and so that's what I want." she said determinedly and he leaned forward to kiss her cheek, one of the very few times he'd ever done so and she seemed to welcome it.
"Then that's what we'll do, Sansa." he said and she smiled as she hugged him again, Jon then helping her to her feet and the two of them walking back to the others.
When they caught up with them, Arya looked at him concernedly until he smiled at her, and then he asked Arthur to join him while he spoke to the Magnar. The knight walking beside him as they made their way to the hall that served as the keep.
"The Dragon, Rhaegar, is it truly the Cannibal?" Arthur asked as they walked.
"Not anymore, Arthur, not truly ever but certainly not anymore. There is no danger from him, not to me, I swear it to you. The only people who need to fear the dragon are the Lannsiters." he said and Arthur nodded.
"We are truly heading to Dragonstone?" Arthur asked a not of excitement in his voice.
"Aye, I'm to meet Dany there and her men, Ser Richard and the Lord of the Narrow Sea too and from there we can plan our next steps." he said and Arthur nodded before smirking.
"Your father would be jealous, a dragon, he always believed that you'd wake them from stone." Arthur said and Jon laughed loudly catching the knight by surprise.
"Skagos, Arthur, it means stone in the old tongue," he said and Arthur looked at him before he too began to laugh.
"We'll need to announce you, Rhaegar, to let the realm know the truth of you, that you exist and that you're here to take your throne back." Arthur said a few moments later.
"Dragonstone has ravens does it not? A Maester?" he asked and Arthur nodded.
"Then once we reach it, we'll send out word from there, we'll soon find out who is on our side, and who is not." he said and Arthur stopped to look at him.
"And those who are not?"
"Fire and Blood, Arthur, they'll kneel or we'll show them Fire and Blood." he said seeing the proud look on Arthur's face.
After speaking to the Magnar and letting him know a little more about the dragon, and then after spending some time with Arya to talk to her about Sansa and to ensure that she wished to come to Dragonstone with him, something she said she did before he ever got the chance to ask her. Jon then made his way back to Lightbringer and they flew to the cave, the dragon trilling happily when he lay down beside him and they both slept side by side. His dreams were of Dany that night, finding out that she had flown too and that they were moving ever closer to seeing each other and he felt far more complete than he had ever done before.
Skagos 299 AC.
Cregan Magnar, The Magnar.
When the ship had landed and word had come to him that the white wolf was here, Cregan hadn't believed it at first. Then when the men had come and he'd seen the large wolves he felt his heart beat that much faster. Once he'd seen the white wolf and how the boy had touched it, how it was clearly his and his alone, he'd rejoiced and welcomed them into his halls. His people had celebrated and yet for Cregan, he'd simply wished the boy to see the images and to prove them true.
So he'd taken the boy to the walls and shown him and then he watched as the boy had then left his men and walked to the caves by himself as a true man should. What was in those caves he knew not, only it was large and dark and he and his people feared it truly. When he saw it in the air though he could barely believe it, just as he couldn't believe the boy that sat on its back. Were he not sure he was the white wolf already, that would have certainly proved him so and as he listened to him tell them they had nothing to fear from the dragon and that it was his mount, he knew he needed to send for the others.
House Crowl arrived first followed by House Stane and seeing Torrhen and Brandon again under such circumstances was something he welcomed. While never truly allies or truly enemies, each house had its own rules, laws and at times they would cross steel with each other. That would end this night and he smiled when they looked at the girl and her grey wolf. Cregan almost searching for the other girl and the white one and when it came, he saw how they looked at it and at him. He bid them sit with him in the hall and after they'd taken guest right and he'd sent for ale, the three of them took their place by the fire.
"Where is the boy, The Magnar?" Brandon asked, the Stane looking at him eagerly.
"If I told you, you'd not believe me, The Stane, but he'll be here a little later and you'll see it for yourself." he said smiling.
"He truly is the White Wolf?" Torrhen asked, The Crowl looking at him just as eagerly as The Stane had.
"He is, Aye." he said.
"And he'll fulfill the prophecy?" Brandon asked.
"I believe so." he said seeing how both men looked at each other and then swallowed their ale enjoying it far more he felt.
He waited until they were done with the first mug and then bid them join him outside, the three men walking with their guards outside the village and then he saw it then in the sky. Though he wished to, he didn't laugh when he heard the surprised gasps that both men made, he knew he'd done the same thing when he'd seen the black dragon for the first time. By the time it landed they both truly believed and seeing the boy walk their way with his guard, his sisters and the white wolf by his side only reinforced that belief.
"The Jon, this is The Stane and The Crowl, they'd like to speak to you." Cregan said and Jon nodded at them before telling his sisters that they'd speak in a little while.
"Of course, The Magnar." Jon said before turning to follow them back in the hall.
The guard that shadowed his movements whenever he could and the white wolf both joined them and Cregan looked to see how both Brandon and Torrhen looked at both the boy and the wolf. He smiled to himself when he saw Jon reach down to rub the wolf's head, seeing how the two men watched them both eagerly. When they sat he offered the boy some ale and was glad when he took it, it had not been something he'd gotten him to do very often and his guard, never, but whether it was because of his guests or because the boy was thirsty, he welcomed it all the same.
"The Jon, the things we've spoken of, both The Stane and The Crowl wish to speak of them with you too." he said once everyone was comfortable, Jon nodding to both of the men to let them speak first.
"The white wolf, The Jon, he is yours?" The Stane asked.
"Ghost is his own, The Stane, he follows me and is my friend and protector but he's owned by no one."
"And the Dragon?" The Crowl asked.
"The same, we are bonded, The Crowl, just as Ghost and I are bonded." The Jon said with a warm smile.
"You saw the walls, The Jon?" The Stane asked.
"I did, and I've spoken to the Magnar about them. The North is at war and my brother leads its armies and wears a crown, yet he'll not do so for long. As you can see I'm not just a wolf, The Stane, I'm not just a dragon either, The Crowl. I am both and the crown is mine by right of blood, though it'll take a war to see it on my head. I believe my brother will kneel willingly, others won't and perhaps my belief is false and my brother won't either. It matters not, in the end, they'll all kneel, those who do so by their own choice will gain my favor though." The Jon said and he saw the guard nod approvingly.
"And were we to kneel?" he asked, as both Cregan and Brandon looked to him and nodded.
"Then I'll give you leave to build your ships once more, I'll even see you given some to start you off. I'll not accept reaving or raiding though, not here, not in the North or the South, instead, I'll see you allowed to trade, to deliver trade or to offer protection for that trade, I'll see your people rise, just as the drawings on the wall have shown." The Jon said and he saw the smiles on Brandon and Torrhen's faces, both men joining him and rising to their feet.
He bid The Jon do likewise and once he had, all three of them then took to their knees to swear to the boy, eager and happy to do so.
"You have my oath, The Jon, I name you my king, here on this day and you have mine and my people's oath that we will fight by your side." he said looking to the boy's face and seeing he looked pleased by his words.
"As you have mine, The Jon." Brandon said.
"And mine, my king." Torrhen said.
"Then I bid you rise my lords, rise and be welcomed and I swear to you that all promises I make here today I'll see come to pass or I'll die trying to bring about. I'll give you back your ships and welcome you as the good and true men you are. I'll allow none to speak down to you, to threaten you or to attack you without knowing that they risk the ire of the White Wolf and the Black Dragon, I swear it to you, my lords, on Fire and Blood." The Jon said and as he rose to his feet he welcomed the words that he and others had been waiting to hear for more than a hundred years.
Skagos 299 AC.
Ōñosmaghare: The Bringer of Light.
It was all he'd wished for and more, the feeling of completeness something he'd never known and one that he knew that now he could not live without. Flying with his rider on his back was very different than when he flew alone and the more they did so the more their bond grew. He could feel his rider's worries, his happiness, his joy, and his fear, and he shared his own emotions with him just as freely.
After the first flight when his rider had wished to go back to the village he had refused, thinking wrongly that he was leaving him, only to be told that he was not. Still, he'd flown with him to make sure, to be certain, and when he'd come back and lay down beside him, he had slept and dreamt of his mother, something his rider told him that he too had dreamt off. Both of them sharing dreams of the one who had brought them into this world and of their loss. He felt his rider's pain at not knowing his mother and shared with him the memories of his own, happy to see it comforted his rider that he at least had time with his mother, where his rider had not.
They shared other dreams too, his rider showing him the girl with the silver hair and her own dragons, those like him but not truly the same as him. He listened as his rider told him of the girl, of their own connection and that she looked for him as he had looked for him, that she was coming his way and bringing her dragons with her. It scared him, worried him, and he was glad both when his rider told him that no matter what their bond was unbreakable, that only death would take either of them from the other and he had no plans to die anytime soon.
"You've waited more than a lifetime for me and I intend for us to share a lifetime together." his rider said and he had wished for nothing more.
That they were to go back to the island filled him with concern as did seeing more of his kind once more, but his rider told him that what he had done had been necessary and that from now on he was all the magic he needed. It was something he felt as keenly as his rider did, their bond wasn't just the bond of friendship or longing for completeness, it was the bond of magic too and both his and his rider's magic was growing stronger because of each other.
His flames were even more powerful now, the first time he'd asked his rider to set them loose he'd been surprised by their ferocity. He was faster, more nimble and after the first few times they flew and he realized he was not going to lose his rider from his back, they had then played in the air, doing things he'd not done before. That his rider was able to easily stay on his back was something they both put down to magic, their bond, and to the gods themselves. His rider telling him that he trusted him and never felt unsecured or capable of falling when they flew together. It pleased him greatly, to know that he was trusted, as it did to be praised by his rider after each and every one of their flights.
What pleased him less was knowing there would be those who wished to harm his rider, to hurt him, to even try and take him from him and to those he would gladly bring the flames. That his rider had asked him and didn't order him to do so only showing that they were as one.
"I must take back my family's throne, Ōñosmaghare, see that my family is safe, that Dany is safe. This means I must go to war, I want you with me when I do so, but I understand if you have no wish to fight, whatever you chose I'll accept, and it'll change nothing between us. I am your rider and you are my dragon, war or not, we are as one and always will be." his rider said and he had rejoiced to hear him speak so.
He'd bring the fire to his rider's enemies, to all of his enemies, he'd see them burn and see his rider where he was meant to be. Dragon's had no equal, not in the sky or the sea and not on land and his rider was a dragon as much as he.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed.A small note on Skagos, we have no names of characters from there, other than they use the term The when referencing someone, such as The Jon, The Stane, etc.
I decided not to dwell too much on the Battle of Blackwater, as we all know what happens and so I just gave it a brief look through Tyrion's eyes. We'll see more of how people reacted to it, to Sansa's rescue, and to Jon's truth all kind of combined in a way. Which I think works better and pretty much from this point on, canon is dead. The Battle of Blackwater bay happened as it did in canon and Jon/Dany pretty much change the game from this chapter onwards.
Up next At Riverrun, Robb learns the truth about his brother and struggles with a decision while we take a look at events in Winterfell. Jon, his sisters, Arthur, and the others leave Skagos and head for Dragonstone while Dany says goodbye to Astapor. The realm learns the truth about Jon Snow and Jon and Dany meet in person for the first time.
Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it.
Guest: I've still not decided exactly what's to happen with Cat here, but she's not as against Jon as she was in canon.
Suppes1: Hope you enjoy it.
Keb: That was a one off or perhaps a portent of things to come if I can get my schedule in order.
Perses: Once Jon/Dany are together we'll see that as the WOTFK gets a new one and this one brings both a queen and dragons.
Maropolo: Hope you liked it.
Jessicanightmarewolf: I did kinda think a little on that myself, it's something I'm not sure if Viserys actually said to her or has become something in fics where he basically says that to her over and over, but yeah, another time and it would have been her and Rhaegar most probably. No you're remembering it right with Lightbringer, I thought it was an interesting take to do it with Cannibal, also the whole him being on Skagos and it being called Stone in the old tongue plays into the same line a bit. With Dragons enemies are so screwed, it's why they pretty much have to set up contrived ways to make Cersei a challenge for Dany and then they show it in the end that she's really not.
Yamajji: Jon is both seeing things in a different light in relation to Robb and also growing more into the role that he has to take as a king, so while there's still love between them, when it comes to what Robb has done, will do, Jon is not so forgiving. My own biggest issue with Robb is that he makes a big deal about not being selfish in regards to giving Jaime for his sisters and it's a logical step and reason, but he then throws it all out the window for his own benefit. Yes I know it's honor he says but he loves Jeyne/Talisa and he's not that much of a moron that he doesn't understand the problems it causes, yet when it comes to Sansa/Arya he's all about the problems giving Jaime would cause.
Imagination: So glad you liked it, Dorne will be interesting because though they're allies against the Targs, they still have unresolved issues with Jon/Dany.
Jaimerey: El problema es que no tendría motivos para considerarlo. Jon no sabe de la Gente Libre aquí aparte de lo que sabía yendo al Muro, solo se entera de ellos yendo más allá, lo que no es así, así que por ahora al menos no lo estará.
Manliac: I like Cannibal but I wanted to more with him and to give him a unique back-story.
Victoria: Thank you my friend. I've always wanted to have a Jon that spoke to Robb about Arya/Sansa, that didn't get why Robb was doing what he was and called him out on it. He does love Robb here, but both that side of things and the fact that he knows he has to take the throne and was lied to, is going to cause some problems between them. With Arya/Sansa, my original plan was for only Arya to stay with Jon, to leave Sansa in White Harbor and have him bring Arya with him to Skagos and beyond, but it felt wrong somehow, plus I want to show more of Sansa growing as she will with Jon and to have her and Dany interact too. On the dragon, I wanted to play into the prophecy and so came up with the idea of Cannibal having a personality and a back-story that plays into that. One of the things is that Skagos means Stone, so the waking dragons from stone plays it's part too as does the Lightbringer part. I will one day do a Sansa/Jon, the only thing for me with that ship is that it doesn't work in canon imo, for me Jon raised in WF would never be with a girl he thinks of as his sister, even though he and Sansa aren't close. So it needs a different setup, which I may have some ideas on.
Webercode: Your wish is my command.
Lady Octarina: Lightbringer just felt like an interesting way to go, I've seen it done with it being a dragon before, and it being a sword or even Jon himself, which is perhaps what it'll end up being. But I wanted to do it and to have it literally be the dragon's name felt like something that would be fun. I agree completely about Ghost, surely someone would make that comparison, right, that's what you think and yet no one truly does. I kinda expected it to be what brought the Free Folk to his side if I'm being honest, in canon I mean. So anyway, it will be remarked upon here and it's the ice breaker for Skagos. I came so close to showing a fuller Sansa pov here, but held off on her thoughts of the dragon for a little bit, we will see it when they reach Dragonstone.
With Wyman it's kind of fun because he's so smart and so able to figure things out, we'll see him more on steady ground later. I always wonder how it makes sense that Oberyn didn't just march and join Robb in canon, here Jon has given him the chance and I can't see him not taking it, you're right there are many issues to resolved between Dorne and Jon, so that's to come, same with Robb. On Cat, well she won't see them for some time. It'll be even longer for Alliser so he'll know it by then.
Celexys: So glad you liked it, the real takes on Jon is to come next as he announces himself and Robb finds out the truth, we'll see more with Dorne when they march and I'm glad you liked the Skagos bit, we'll get a bit more of their lore when Jon meets Dany.
Guest: The prophecy plays up on some canon truths, Skagos was banned from owning ships when the Starks conquered it. Hope you like this little bit more of the bonding, we'll see it even more clearly when Dany and her dragons arrives as the differences are shown between her bonding and his.
Dunk: So glad you liked the first meeting, I'm trying to make the dragon his own unique character and we'll see him reflect on events too. With the reactions, I wanted to do the battle of Blackwater Bay, Jon's truth and the realisation about Sansa almost all at once. It's why here we got such an almost non look at the Battle, because we know what happens and there's no real need to just do it again. We will see it with the next look, people reacting to Stannis being defeated, Sansa's rescue, who rescued her and then the truth of who that is. I feel it'll work better that way, so hope to hear your thoughts on it. The war is coming pretty quickly, They won't stay long on Dragonstone. I'd say, chapter 9/10 for when they march. It wouldn't make sense for Wyman to kneel, as you say he'd need to wait and see, as for Robb, it's a difficult choice, what he wants, what others want and how Jon will react should he not, all to be taken into account.
Reikson: Thanks I prefer the word I used, it's more fitting somewhat but I appreciate your suggestion.
Bigshotsx: It's what I intend, I think DSSS will be finished sooner though.
Xand007: Thank you my friend. With Sansa it's funny because originally I intended to not do too much with her, then the more I thought about it the more it made sense that it's not just that she may wish to change, she needs to be with someone who'd encourage her to do so also. Like if she was just brought back to Cat, she'd probably just go back to being well Sansa, here she has a chance to change and be a different Sansa, plus I really wanted to have Sansa/Dany meet early too. Dorne's march will have big ramifications, glad you liked the dragon's name. You too, stay well my friend, it's a cruel world we live in, all we can do is wake up each day and put a smile on our faces.
Svenion: So glad you like it, it gives more room to do something and to create a personality for the dragon too.
Blondali: So glad you liked it, Robb's going to learn about Jon next and the prophecy is to for lack of a better way of putting it, make Skagos great again lol.
Waiting4you: Doran will be different here, still political but more not so much a bad guy.
Abadon: So glad you liked it.
Warchicken: Are they multipluing? Electrifying even lol.
Bullshit123: Muchas gracias, espero que les guste este capítulo.