Another week closer to House of the Dragon and another chapter uploaded with a bit of a nod to that era… I don't have much else to say this week, I'm just super excited for the show and cannot wait for next Sunday, so instead of waffling on I'll get right into it.

Bold speech is High Valyrian.

I don't own any characters or locations that are the creation of George R R Martin or HBO.

The first full day of Jon Snow's tenure as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch was a boring one for the King of the Seven Kingdom's. The last Lord Commander, Jeor Mormont, had left Castle Black three years prior and whilst Ser Alliser had done a fine job as the Acting Lord, there were many internal issues and decisions that needed to be sorted before Jon could sit down with Luke and Robb. That afternoon he had requested that anyone that hadn't sword their vows steer clear of the mess hall as roles and commands were given out. Maester Aemon had taken a turn in health overnight however, and so Luke didn't mind using his own time to keep an eye on his aging kinsman whilst Sam Tarly, the Maester's usual steward, could attend the meeting.

So it was a surprise to Luke when he heard a bit of a commotion from outside, and after checking to see that Maester Aemon was sound asleep and still breathing he quietly left the room, leaning on the wooden railings that looked down into the courtyard to see a wooden block placed upon the raised ledge that led to the winch, and Janos Slynt being dragged out by his fellow brothers.

"Disgrace!" Slynt was complaining as he was hauled up the stairs to the block. "I have friends! Important friends in the capital! You'll see!"

Luke turned to Ser Barristan, his ever-faithful protector no more than a couple of steps away. "Remind me to check with Ser Daemon on the state of the Gold Cloaks." He said softly.

"I shall, Your Grace." Ser Barristan nodded. "Though I wouldn't worry, Ser Janos is all words."

"Words are wind." Luke stated bluntly, and he settled back down to watch the scene play out below him. Jon Snow was the last out of the hall, being handed Longclaw by his new steward as he made his way over to the now kneeling Janos Slynt, and Luke had worked out what was happening. Jon was evidently trying to be smart by splitting up the more powerful men that would oppose his every step, and Janos Slynt had clearly disrespected the new Lord Commander in such a way that warranted execution. Having heard enough about the corrupt former Gold Cloak, Luke was slightly too eager to see how it would play out.

Jon unsheathed Longclaw as he reached the executioners block and placed its tip on the wooden boards beneath his feet, leaning on the pommel. "If you have any last words, My Lord." He said to the kneeling bald man before him. "Now's the time."

All Luke could see was Janos Slynt's façade break, as the man began to tremble softly as he whimpered out. "I was wrong. You're the Lord Commander, we all serve you. I'm sorry, not only for this, for all I've done and said. I was wrong!" With a scowl, Jon went to raise Longclaw when Janos continued his pleas. "My Lord mercy! Mercy!" He was almost crying by this point. "I'll go I will! Please, I'm afraid. I've always been afraid."

And with that the former and unjust Lord of Harrenhal lowered his head, trembling tearfully as he awaited Jon Snow to make his decision. The Lord Commander had already done so however, and he swung fiercely, the Valyrian Steel slicing through Janos Slynt's head with ease. After a few breaths, Jon looked up to where Luke was standing, giving a look that Luke deciphered as a questioning one, as to whether he had done the right thing. Luke simply nodded. "Come, Ser Barristan. The Watch is safe in Snow's hands, we should not be seen as overseeing him." And the King turned around, re-entering the Maester's rooms.

Luke didn't see Jon again until the next day, when both he and Robb were gathered by the steward, a young boy named Olly, and taken to the Lord Commander's chambers. Together King and Warden of the North sat opposite Jon Snow, with the trueborn Stark the first to break the silence.

"Is that a new cloak? You look bigger." Robb said with a smirk.

"Shut up." Jon grinned back. "It's a sign of office."

"One that won't be challenged after yesterday." Luke input. "That was a wise choice, you've set the tone for your command and those that now follow you will understand the new order of things."

Jon grimaced. "I wonder if I should have shown him mercy when he asked for it though."

Shaking his head, Luke continued. "He would have thought you weak, and after further insubordination he would continue to test you. You did well."

Jon nodded, but he looked at the numerous papers in front of him. "I'm looking to repair Greyguard and Rimegate with men of the Night's Watch." He explained. "If you're set on the Wildling's inhabiting the castles of the Wall, those and the Nightfort are off limits."

"Why the Nightfort if you aren't placing men there?" Luke asked.

Jon grimaced. "The Nightfort is our most ancient castle, Your Grace. There are secrets there… we might be allies for now but my job is to look out for the Night's Watch's interests, and allowing the Wildlings free access to our greatest secrets is something I cannot allow."

"That's still twelve spare castles." Robb added.

"Twelve ruins." Jon scoffed. "But aye, myself and the commanders agree that the rest can be used for the Wildlings." That was something at least, Luke thought. "Though the point was raised that we should gain something in return. We cannot afford to feed them, nor you for much longer."

"Coin and supplies shall be sent, along with the shipments of Obsidian." Luke insisted. "I shall have a missive sent to Lys too. The Rogare's don't like me much, but they will help out with loans for the Watch if it means looking after my daughter. That way you aren't reliant on us."

Jon looked pleased. "Thank you, it means we don't have to go stealing what little wealth they have."

"And about our borders?" Robb asked. "I spoke with Lord Celtigar, he has barely 2,000 men willing to stay and peace keep. That won't be enough."

"You have men yourself." Luke put his foot down there. "As Warden of the North, that is your job to protect the Northern borders. You will have the resources you need, but the manpower should come from the North."

Stark bristled at that, but he nodded all the same. "We'll have plenty of volunteers, though I worry that they would cause more problems."

"Then it is down to their commanders to ensure that it doesn't happen." Luke said firmly. "The warriors will be housed in the castles anyway; it would be the women and children mainly that settle further south."

"As you say." A disbelieving Robb shrugged. "Other than that, we are in agreement."

"Aye." Jon nodded. "A temporary measure, to combat the threat."

Luke sighed in relief. "This is a lot, I understand that. This is unpopular and I'm sure the Northern Lords are already whispering about independence once again, but this is the way forwards. My ancestors let the Watch fall into a sorry state, but that is not the legacy I want to leave behind. I want to build a world without the threat of ice demons and dead men. This is the way to achieve that." He stood up and shook both Stark's hand. "I will prepare the demands to send to Rayder. With any luck, we can all put down our weapons for the time being by sundown."

A few hours after the meeting, Edric Dayne, Ser Frankyln Flowers and Ser Rolly Duckfield had all travelled Northwards and returned again, citing sunrise the next day as the time when those in agreement would travel beneath the Wall. Once the buzz around that had died down, Jon knew that there were some other people that needed to know, so he made his way down to the Ice Cells, opening the door to Ygritte's first. He had visited her regularly since her capture, and as per usual the red-head was curled up in the corner of her cell glaring daggers at him. As Jon placed a plate of food down, he looked at her. "You'll be free to go tomorrow."

That perked her up, as her glare dropped. "Oh?"

"Mance has agreed to our terms." Jon explained. "At sunrise tomorrow those that agree to keep the peace will be allowed through Castle Black, to settle in the Gift or in castles along the Wall. You can go with them."

Ygritte scoffed. "Most will agree to all that just to run from the cold and go back to their old ways of raiding."

"Then it's up to people like you to persuade them otherwise, or you'll be slaughtered." Jon told her bluntly.

Ygritte scoffed. "Some peace."

"Ygritte, please." Jon sighed, sitting down beside her. "This is important. For the first time since the Wall was built, we're allies. Mance wants this to last for the sake of all of you. I want this to last because I don't want to fight you." He emphasised. "I know my vows, but nothing has stopped me loving you. Not you shooting me, not the threats from the King asking for your execution because you shot his dragon, not the distain of every one of my brothers for lying with you. I regret none of it, because I love you."

Ygritte's anger rescinded. "Come with us." She whispered. "Leave this place and all their rules. Be free, with me. You stole me, Jon Snow. By my reckoning that means we're wed, you and I." She moved off of the uncomfortable bed and was kneeling on the floor, her hands touching Jon's thighs. "Fuck anyone who gets in our way."

All Jon wanted to do was to grab her by the head and kiss her, but he closed his eyes and sighed frustratedly. "I can't, Ygritte. I swore vows…"

"Three weeks ago those people wanted you dead!" She cried out frustratedly. "Fuck your oaths! You think your brother would have you killed? He won't. You can stay with us, with me. It can be like that cave." She looked at him pleadingly, though as much as Jon wanted to just say fuck it and join her, he knew he couldn't. Ygritte just huffed, pushing on him to rise to her feet and step away. "This place will kill you, Jon Snow."

"I serve until my death." Jon grimaced.

"You'll serve, but you won't live." Ygritte told him. She paused for a moment. "I'll go South, but don't expect me to be yours until I'm an old crone, Jon Snow." And with that she closed the gap between them and attacked his lips with her own, kissing him passionately until she wasn't, and she faced the ice wall of her cell.

Jon got to his feet, his mind in a mess as he tried to register what had just happened. No words came to mind however, and the Lord Commander exited the cell silently, locking the door behind him as he tried to compose himself to talk to the rest of the Free Folk in his custody.

The news of the battles, eventual truce and of the newly elected Lord Commander of the Night's Watch was met by the Small Council with a nervy relief, Margaery thought, as Grand Maester Gormon read out a letter from Luke detailing it all out. The entire room seemed to quickly realise that the wars were at an end, and two years after House Targaryen had retaken the Iron Throne the entire realm would be at peace. That relief was ended abruptly however, when the Grand Maester gulped and looked over at Oberyn, the Dornishman understanding that something else had gone wrong.

"What is it?" The Prince of Dorne said sharply.

Gulping again, the chained former Tyrell read. "However, I regret to inform the Council that during the battle Prince Trystane was killed by a giant. Ser Archibald Yronwood eventually struck the killing blow on the beast, but it was too late to save Prince Trystane."

A shocked silence settled over the Small Council table, until a few moments later the scraping of a chair was heard from the direction of Oberyn. "Forgive me, I must write to my brother to tell him that he has lost another child." He muttered quietly before departing the room without another sound.

"What happens now?" Mace Tyrell was the one to ask.

Jon Connington sighed as he leant back in his chair informally. "This is awful news. Prince Trystane was the future of Dorne…"

"He was a sweet boy." Daenerys said, her face was pale from the shock and her eyes never left a fixed point on the table in front of her. "During my time at the Water Gardens he was so nervous but so polite with me, and was excellent with the Princess…"

The reminder of Daenerys' betrothal was like a shock to the system of the Queen, and her mind began to spin with all the future trouble an unmarried Daenerys could cause her.

"We will have to discuss the future when the King gets back." Jon sighed, resigned. "For now though Princess, yourself and Prince Oberyn must mourn."

"The Prince is now heir of Dorne, is he not?" Mace Tyrell asked.

Grand Maester Gormon nodded. "With the death of Princess Arianne a few years back and today's dreadful news, along with Princess Elia and her children being brutally murdered… Oberyn is the next in line."

"Prince Doran will not take a new wife." Varys input. "Nor would Oberyn be willing to marry and have trueborn children."

"Could he not be persuaded?" Margaery asked. "This is a matter for the King, but if the Princess…"

Daenerys shot a glare at Margaery. "I will not be married off by this council. The only person that has any right to do so is my brother, the King." She snapped. "And to suggest it so soon after we find out this news? It is an awful thing…"

"My apologies, Princess." Margaery began to backtrack. "I was merely thinking aloud, The Dornish succession and their alliance with my husband is a worry."

"We will not get into talks of new betrothals until the King is back." Jon stated bluntly. "For now, we mourn the death of a Prince of Dorne." He rubbed his temples. "Is there any other news before we leave for the day?"

Varys nodded. "Whispers from the Eyrie, Lord Hand. Lysa Arryn is dead."

Margaery grimaced once again as that settled. "Dead? We said for her to be brought to us?"

"The Lady took her own life, Your Grace." Varys explained. "Jumped, through the Moon Door, with countless witnesses."

"Are these witnesses believable, or are they spinning Lord Royce's tales?" Jon asked, suspicious.

"I believe them, Lord Hand." Varys explained.

"The Vale will be reeling from this." Daenerys said, happy to have changed the subject. "Perhaps it isn't a good idea for them to travel to King's Landing."

"They need to bend the knee, Princess." The Grand Maester countered.

"And they will." Daenerys smiled back falsely. "But we can do so in the Vale. Have Luke stop at Gulltown on his journey back and have the Vale Lords meet him there."

It was a sound plan, Margaery thought. "It will settle the realm quicker than having a ceremony here." She stated her agreement, eager to calm the tensions rising between Princess and Queen.

"I shall write to the King myself about it." Jon Connington said. "Along with the matter of Dorne's succession. With any luck he will soon be back and will stay to rule from the Iron Throne." Nodding at his decision, Jon finalised the meeting. "Very well, that will be all for today, thank you everyone."

Margaery was the first out of the room, spotting the white cloaks of Ser Raymund and Ser Taron along with Jorah Mormont stood outside. "Ser Taron." She called out without breaking her stride as her thoughts lingered on the broken betrothal and the after effect that it would have on them all, and she came to one simple conclusion. "I wish to see my son."

It was strange for Luke to think that only 12,000 Wildling's refused his demands, but given the sheer number of Mance Rayder's followers, that was how he thought of those that slunk away into the Haunted Forest, cursing the very man that had managed to gather them all into one force. The King stood atop the Wall staring out into the lands to the North of his realm, out over the blackened and burnt trees and tall mountain ranges. It was beautiful, if only it wasn't so deadly.

He had been up there for half an hour in peace, before Ser Rolly walked over towards him. "Samwell Tarly to see you, Your Grace." He announced.

Nodding, Luke waited for the Reachman to join him at the viewing point, his hair, now long enough to tie up in the half up half down look that the North favoured, whipping around in the high winds. He looked over his shoulder to see the Reachman there. "Tarly." He greeted.

"Your Grace." Sam bowed his head. "I've come to ask something of you."

Taking one last long look Beyond the Wall, Luke took a deep breath before he turned, wrapping one arm around the plump man's shoulders and guiding him away. "Come, we can speak on the trip back down." They entered the winch cage with Ser Rolly close behind, and Luke waited until they were descending until he spoke again. "What is it?"

Sam gulped. "Well, two things really…"

"I won't harm you for asking a question, Samwell." Luke smirked. "What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering… firstly if you had space for three people on the ships back to King's Landing." Sam began. "You see, Jon… the Lord Commander… has asked me to travel to Oldtown to become a Maester and joining you would speed my trip up considerably."

"Of course." Luke stated quickly. "You and your Wildling love are more than welcome." At Sam's surprised look Luke laughed. "I would have to be a fool not to see it. Though I wouldn't test your vows just because you have an ally in the Lord Commander."

"No… I… I wouldn't." Sam stammered, but took a deep breath before continuing. "The second is to do with Maester Aemon…"

Luke smiled. "He can come too if he likes."

Sam sighed. "He doesn't, I don't think he wants to go back to his old home unable to see it back in Targaryen hands." He said honestly. "I… I don't think he has long, Your Grace."

They were halfway down the Wall by now, but Luke felt like the entire world had stopped moving. "What do you mean?"

"He's old, Your Grace. He will turn 106 this year if he lasts until his nameday." Sam explained. "I was just wondering, before he leaves us, could he fly? I looked into it and dragons allow second riders…"

Luke felt terrible, but he shook his head. "Perhaps if he were on his own, Aemon doesn't weigh a great deal after all. My sister is a rider, but she also weighs a lot less than I do… Valaxes isn't ready for me yet."

Sam understood. "But Valaxes wouldn't accept Aemon on his own."

Luke shook his head. "The history of the Riot back in the Dance tell us all we need to know about Targaryen blood stealing another's dragon. It never ends well. I am truly sorry Sam." He then had a thought however. "Is he well enough to walk?"

"For the moment." Sam nodded.

They were closer to the ground now. "In a couple of hours bring my uncle to the camp, he may not be able to fly, but perhaps there is something I can do before we depart tomorrow…"

And so less than two hours later the old Maester had been escorted out of Castle Black towards the main camp, where a small crowd had gathered around a docile Valaxes after he had been overfed for the day, and the black and red scaled dragon was lying down on the ground. Luke suddenly had a thought that the dragon might be large enough to ride, but something in the King's mind screamed at him to not try it with another man at the same time.

"I can feel his warmth." Aemon grinned, as Luke took over from Sam in guiding the man over towards the dragon, carefully guiding the man in lifting his legs over Valaxes' neck and settling Aemon down, sitting in what would be a riding position.

"Calm, Valaxes." Luke stated firmly as he could feel the agitation. "You will not fly, Aemon is family."

Aemon was grinning as he felt out for spikes to grip on to. "I mean no harm, Valaxes. I am an old man living his childhood dream."

Not changing from Valyrian, Luke was oblivious to the questioning looks coming from the growing crowd. "You dreamed of dragons?"

"I did. I dreamed of my egg hatching with Egg." The Maester explained. "Mine was a silver thing, speckled with black. An apt egg for my life, now I think. I can see it here, now, more real than you or I."

"What happened to it?" Luke asked.

"It burned at Summerhall." Aemon told him. "But we used to dream of riding our dragons, Egg and I. When we learned our histories, of Aegon the Elder and Rhaenyra causing the deaths of so many majestic creatures… I wept the first time I was told the story. The end of our power as Targaryen's." He held his hand out towards Luke, who stepped forwards and took it, surprised at the strength shown by the old man. "You have brought them back, my boy. You will be remembered long after your death as the King who brought back magic to the world."

Luke didn't know what to say to that, but he squeezed back gently, letting Aemon smile and laugh as he pretended he was in flight, until it was time for a meal. Carefully helping Aemon back off of Valaxes, Luke was pulled into a tight hug by the Maester. "Thank you, my child." Aemon whispered. "Thank you, My King."

It was those words that stuck in Luke's mind the next morning as he mounted his horse to leave Castle Black, and after saying goodbye to Jon Snow and Robb Stark his last looks were up to the Maester's tower, where Luke knew that he wouldn't be seeing his kinsman again.

When the gnawing feeling of worry hadn't subsided within the Queen after a couple of days since the news from the North had arrived, Margaery had decided that she needed to speak with the Princess that had vexed her so much since she had arrived in King's Landing. Her usual façade broken, she waited in the Princess' chambers for Daenerys to arrive, the Targaryen unsurprised to see her.

"I wondered why Ser Taron was stood outside." Daenerys was the first to speak as she removed her black cloak. "This is strangely informal for you, Your Grace."

Margaery didn't react. "Sometimes one needs to be informal." She said simply. "But I need to be blunt with you, Princess, for the sake of my son."

Daenerys finally showed some surprise. "Your son? What worry could you possibly have over my nephew."

Margaery walked over to the window, where the candles and lanterns of the city were illuminating it in the dark night's sky. "I will always worry over him. Will he have the chance to grow up, who will he become when he is grown, what sort of a man would he be, what sort of King… or if he will be usurped by someone that he considers to be family."

"Are you feeling well?" Daenerys asked with fake concern. "I can fetch your great uncle…"

"I am fine." Margaery stated in annoyance.

Daenerys scoffed. "And yet you genuinely believe that I would harm my own nephew, a boy I love very much indeed…"

"You fuck his father; I do not know what I am supposed to believe." Margaery bit back, spinning around to see the Targaryen Princess recoil in shock.

"I don't know what you mean…" Daenerys said quietly.

Margaery shook her head. "Do not think me a fool, Daenerys. I know the feelings you have for my husband, as I know the feelings that he has for you. I know the night you shared together before my wedding day."

"You know nothing about my relationship with my brother, clearly." Daenerys retorted. "We had one, drunken fumble to get it out of our system before we settled down elsewhere for the benefit of our family, because that is what matters to us. Family."

"You are siblings." Margaery snapped.

"Targaryen's." Daenerys shrugged nonchalantly. "We are above you and we always have been. The Faith recognises that and they have done for 250 years."

Margaery shook her head. "The world is a different place now, Princess. Gone are the days of Targaryen exceptionalism. Gone are the days where even you can fuck your brother and get away with it based on the propaganda of a smart, boy King. Do you really think the Faith will accept this? After the Lannister scandal, any whisper of this will spread like wildfire until the Faith use it as a weapon against my husband, and perhaps even my son. I cannot allow that."

"Why now?" Daenerys asked, her head cocked and a sly smile on her lips. "Nothing has happened in over 18 moons since you have been wed. Why are you bringing this up now?" But Margaery didn't need to answer as Daenerys laughed. "It's because of Trystane, isn't it? I'm no longer being sent away to Dorne to leave you in peace here, so you are worried that now I'm free I will have designs on my brother." She shook her head. "You needn't fear, Your Grace. Luke and I have come to an understanding and no doubt I'll soon be betrothed elsewhere for the good of House Targaryen. Your marriage bed has remained unblemished, no matter the feelings you believe we have for one another."

Margaery didn't react to that again, not wanting to admit the Princess was right. "Just, be careful." Margaery explained as she went to leave the room. "Consider this friendly advice from sister to sister, you do not know the fury of the Faith as I do, nor the fury of the people when they are fed lies that they wish to believe."

"My Family have dealt with the Faith and their mobs in the past, Your Grace." Daenerys said to Margaery's back as the Queen opened the door. "What makes you so certain that they are the danger, instead of us?"

I wasn't originally going to include Slynt's execution, but as I've pushed up Jon's election and that was basically the next thing that happened, it seemed right while writing. The next scene up at Castle Black was a really fun one, with Robb, Luke and Jon all coming up with their plans.

Afterwards, Jon finally found time to go and see Ygritte once again. She's one of my favourite characters to write in the entire series, so expect more of her now she's survived longer than she did in the show…

Small Council scenes are usually exposition heavy, but today we learn more about the impact of Trystane's death and Margaery's thought process around that news.

The Luke and Aemon scene is a bit of an ode to the upcoming show. Lots of Valyrian talk, which we'll be getting. A mention of the conflict that we will be seeing, and just a wholesome moment between two Targaryen's, which we probably won't be seeing too much of. I had a lot of fun writing this scene, it's a lovely one in my opinion that ends on a sad note given Aemon's fate in the near future.

The final scene is the one that inspired the title… an open conversation between the aforementioned Princess and the Queen about the Dany/Luke parts of the story. Margaery's statement about knowing the Faith is a brief hint as to her maternal family being House Hightower. If anybody knows about the internal thoughts of the Faith, it will be them.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

Next Time: The Tyrell's worry over Daenerys, while the Gold Cloaks capture a Sparrow…

Reviews:

RHatch89: Thank you, I wasn't sure if the Lysa thing came off as I wanted it to so I'm glad you thought it worked. Jon has more powerful allies sure, but they also can't stay at the Wall.

C.E.W: There's certainly more Margaery and Daenerys stuff to come… Yeah, the Vale under Yohn Royce for a few years will be a much better place. As for the Daemon/Rhea OC, so far it's mainly Vale and Crownlands based with his main 'friend' being Rhaenyra.

Darbiboi: I think there's only a couple of 'one note' villains (with Aegon supposedly one of them) and even characters like Aemond are looking like they'll have a lot more depth to them to make them more sympathetic. The trailers are very pro black because until episode 7 or 8 most of the Greens won't even be born. It's a smart move for the trailers to be hyping up that it'll be Rhaenyra v Daemon to subvert it for when the actual tension and fighting comes.