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High Garden
Sansa smiled as the Highwing came into Old Town. She traveled the last couple weeks to meet back up with Margaery and Willas. She sat holding the letter from her father and brother. She really hoped that Joffrey was her chosen one, but he was horrid. She still screamed in her sleep from the nightmares that he had inflicted. She learned from Hadrian and others in the two weeks then she did in her entire time at Winterfell.
Flashback
Sansa walked the royal rooms looking for Daenerys to ask some advice. She knew that she would eventually be given to a lord as a lady, but her experience scarred her. She desperately wanted advice. As she turned the corner, she spotted Hadrian sneaking out of their room. "Hadrian!" Sansa yelled out as he came out shirtless.
"Shhh!" He tried to silence her. "They just got to sleep."
"What are you doing in there?" She questioned.
"What do men and women do in a bedroom?" He teased her.
"Oh." She blushed thinking about her cousin and the two women that she met.
"Yep, what can I do for you?" Hadrian asked as they walked out of the area.
"Well, I wanted to talk to Daenerys." Sansa said not looking at him.
"Are nightmares still bothering you?" He asked, concerned.
"Yes... How did someone I was promised to do that to me?" Sansa teared up before she felt arms wrap around her.
"It is ok. You went through a traumatic experience." Hadrian held her as she cried. "He never deserved you."
"How could I be so weak.." She cried out.
"You weren't. The monster had multiple armed men and was going to torture you." Hadrian soothed. "You did everything in your power to defy him."
"I never want to feel that way again." Sansa said after finally stopped crying.
"Then don't." She stared at him angrily. "What I mean is learn from it. Learn how to defend yourself. Daenerys and Missandei both know how to use the knives they have hidden on them. They know how to use a sword. They know how to use a spear. If you want to learn, we will teach you. For however long you are here."
"Please." She requested. "Teach me how to never feel weak and helpless again."
Hadrian smiled as he put his arm around his cousin's shoulder. "Then we will begin immediately. I can show you how to use a sword, but I will have others teach you how to use the others as my fighting style does not suit low muscle."
Sansa nodded as she was led to the training grounds of the castle.
Flashback end
That one week had been brutal for the young Northern lady. She never realized how weak she was until she started to use her muscles. Even now weeks later, she still had much to learn. She was thankful for all of their help. She walked the deck and smiled as she saw Torngil, one of the unsullied that trained her preparing her training gear. "Ah, Lady Sansa. Good, we will begin shortly." Torngil said, pulling out a dagger. "We will begin with a brush up on your dagger and stabbing skills."
"Ok." Sansa replied, grabbing the dagger.
"Begin." Torngil commanded as he stepped away from the straw dummy covered in standard armor.
Castle Black two weeks after Hadrian's fight with the Mountain
Benjen sat with Jeor as they began discussing what to do. "The boy keeps pestering us to join up." Jeor said as he grabbed his mead while taking a drink. "I am aware he will be with us as at least Avalon's ambassador but he is getting close to the other recruits."
Benjen sighed as he looked out into the training yard. There he saw his nephew helping the others in how to handle blades, aim their bows correctly, or how to shield against a stronger opponent. Benjen saw Jon's potential to fight and to lead and it scared him. Too long had they kept his secret and as much as it would benefit him, the price was too much for them to pay. Him and Ned honored their sister's dying wish.
Benjen sighed again as he turned away from the yard. Alliser's comments could be heard throughout the castle as he openly mocked the young men training. "He is really going at them today." Jeor commented as he pulled the paperwork he got from Aemon. "I am surprised we have so few deserters with how he is training them."
"They are used to tough love." Benjen said, pulling up the reports from the latest batch that had come in. "Fourteen new recruits. Three for picking a fight with a guard while drunk. Two thieves that were caught stealing food. Seven coming to survive from starvation. Two volunteers from Lord families."
"Aye, and that is only if you count your nephew." Jeor said as he pulled another out. "Well, if the reports from King's Landing are accurate then we should have had a Prince joining us. Damn sick fuck..."
Benjen just swallowed his mead as he tried not to think about what happened to his niece because the boy got upset he didn't get his way. Before Benjen could reply or the silence could get awkward, they heard yelling out in the field a single horse ran in holding his rider.
Jon halted the training as everyone looked at the horse clearly angry and fearful. Below the man was hanging by his ankle to the saddle. It looked like he was dragged hundreds of miles over rocks and stones. "By the gods, I think I am gonna be sick..." Jon heard one of his new friends, a portly young man, Samwell Tarly muttered.
"Keep it in." Jon muttered back to him as he saw the rest of his group pale and sickish. The only one who wasn't was Eddison or Edd. "My gods it is your first time seeing a body isn't it?" Edd questioned the small group around Jon.
"We didn't come from noble areas, Edd." Pyp spoke up. "We only saw someone dead after they were fresh or been there so long they weren't recognizable."
"He looks like one of the rangers my uncle sent out last week." Jon said as he approached the horse, getting it to relax. "Hey there boy. It is ok. You did good getting back here."
Jon turned as he saw his uncle running out. Turning the body over, Jon saw the body's stomach ripped open as if an animal tore through him. The intestines still inside as human bone fingers were lodged in the dried blood near the ribcage.
"By the gods. What could have done this..." Jon heard his uncle say as he continued to examine the remains.
"Whatever it is, it looks human-like." Jeor said as he moved into view of the man, Jon pulling the finger out. "Get him to the infirmary. We will have him examined then buried."
"What about the warning?" Jon heard his uncle whisper.
"We need to calm the men." Jeor replied but Jon no longer paid attention. His own thoughts went to his cousin's warning about what laid beyond the wall.
That night Jon was on guard duty. As a further 'duty and honor of serving' the Watch as Alliser put it. It shocked him how someone so arrogant could be in charge. Though he was good with a blade, even Jon had to admit that he was not good at teaching how to use such a blade. Jon sighed as he remembered how much he longed to be part of the brotherhood only for his uncle to prevent him from taking his vows. It made no sense. He was the Bastard of Winterfell. Why did his father and uncle decide to make him an important role before he left. Jon sighed as he looked towards Ghost. The wolf pup was no longer a pup as he moved in line with him. Jon smiles at the thought of the white wolf having been his closest companion until he met the others of the Night's Watch. His smile went away when Ghost started to snarl as a figure hobbled past them and into the Night Commander's chambers.
Jon panicked. He grabbed his blade as he rushed in to protect the commander, Ghost right by his side. Jon pulled his blade as the figure approached the commander asleep. His blade hit true as it pierced the heart of the figure from behind. "Lord Commander." Jon called out as he moved past the falling figure.
"What in the blazes?!" Jeor yelled out as he saw Jon and the figure with a blade through its chest.
Jeor's eyes widened in horror as the figure stood once again. Its eyes a piercing blue as its mouth hung open. Its hands flew to grab Jon in an attempt to throw him across the room. Only Ghost, using his speed and strength to snap his jaws on the arm of the figure, saved Jon. Ghost's maw tore the offending arm off as the figure roared revealing the man that had been brought in that afternoon.
What Ghost did, had done little to the man as he continued on his rampage. His good arm grabbed Jon by the throat in an attempt to kill him. Reaching for anything, Jon grabbed the nearest lantern. As soon as the flame reached the man he burst into flames killing it.
"What in seven Hells was that?!" Jeor asked leaving Jon with no explanation.
Beyond the Wall (Fist of the First Men) One week Later
Benjen sat up as morning light shone through the tent. Two weeks he and his men have been following the trail of the wildlings. They had come across burnt down settlements, piles of burnt corpses, and overall horrid things done that made him question what happened to these people. He of course knew of the dead army as Hadrian described, but it was another thing to see the dead moving again. He thought back to the night before they left when one of the other Ranger party's horses returned dragging his owner through the tunnels up to the castle. He had seen his nephew receive Longclaw, the Valyrian sword of House Mormont, as a thank you for saving the Night Commander's life.
Sitting up, he started to get ready for the day. In the biting cold beyond the wall, you had to ensure that you had your blood flowing constantly. He had seen his nephew multiple times swinging his sword to get his blood going. He knew that he would be doing the same thing this morning as he got out and moved to the brisk morning air. It was not until a short time later, that a commotion near the northern side of the camp grabbed his attention.
"Uncle," Jon started as he pulled a wildling girl by a rope. "I found this one spying on us, as I was coming back."
Jon pulled on the rope putting the woman forward. Benjen looked at the woman. She had a round face, crooked white teeth, small hands, and a slight pug nose. Her eyes was a blue-grey that complimented her fiery red hair. She wore heavy furs and a bow on her back. The interesting part was the missing daggers from the makeshift sheaths. "And why is she bound, Jon?" Benjen asked, feeling a headache brewing.
"She refused to meet us then attacked me." Jon said as he showed the slash marks in his cloak.
"Damn right crow. You bastards come into our land slaughtering us. If it wasn't for orders I would have peppered you all with arrows." The wildling woman said.
"Looks like Lord Snow is having trouble with a woman." One of his men called out, getting several to laugh.
"Enough of this. We are here to seek Mance Rayder. Do you know where we can find him?" Benjen asked before things got heated.
"I don't like this First Ranger." One of his men said as the woman walked around the camp.
"Aye, I know where he is." The woman replied after a short while.
"Can you take us?" Jon asked, still holding the rope.
"Well, that is a problem now isn't it crow." She replied as a scowl was visible on her face. "By law of the taken, I am now taken. If I return, with a crow no less. *she spits at Jon's feet.* Then I will be shamed. It is bad enough that one of your own laid claim by the right of the taken to Val."
"The right of the taken?" Benjen questioned as everyone seemed confused.
"Of course you crows do not know anything about us." The woman snarled as she glared. "You come to our lands, slaughter our people, and yet know nothing."
"Do what we must to protect our families." Benjen heard one of the rangers cry out.
"Aye, and when I put an arrow through your eye I will be doing the same." The woman smiled sadistically.
"Enough, what is this right?" Benjen commanded silencing everyone.
"A woman stolen from her home, stolen from her family, forced to the man's family, beaten in combat, bestest in cunning. Those are the laws of my people. Those are bindings that we all accept as true. Once taken, you can never be returned. You are bound to that man or woman. You and I are bound together, Jon Snow. I am your woman, and you are my man." The woman said with a wild look in her eyes that scared Jon.
She ignored the others as she turned towards Jon and walked closer to him until she could whisper. "And if you betray me and seek another. Well, I will cut your balls off and feed them to you."
Jon nodded quickly before feeling a warm pair of lips crash into his own. Many were disgruntled as the wildling woman grabbed Jon pulling him close. Benjen smirked before regaining his composure. "This Val woman, you said she was taken by another man from beyond the wall?" Benjen asked, ignoring the aroused look the woman had eyes.
"Aye, a giant flying fire-breathing monster tamer. He had sent a message with her of safety. Of course, no one truly believed her until the scouts came back and said they spotted the Blue creature and the fire that seemed to keep going even after being doused in snow." The woman replied. "After that no one is willing to touch the woman as she is what the old ways call, donna intoccabile, protetta dal fuoco."
"Woman protected by fire." Benjen muttered as he had heard the old tongue from his father, a tradition for each Stark to learn it. "We must speak with your leaders. We have a proposal for all."
The rangers and Jon watched as Benjen pulled out letters from the Lord Commander and Winterfell. He knew not every lord of the North was happy about Ned's decision but to protect the people against whatever had occurred at Castle Black.
"Come, I will lead you to them. Do not expect a warm welcome Crow. You and your men are infamous for the death of many good men and women." The woman said, pulling on the rope. "You can remove these bonds Jon Snow, though if you enjoy tying up a lover then I suppose I can learn to enjoy it as well."
Jon stood shocked as he felt the blade he had nearby slide out of its sheath. With a quick motion, the woman cut the bonds freeing herself. "We will be pushing until close to nightfall. I suppose you need to hurry up with breaking down camp." Benjen said as the woman moved off to the side.
Benjen watched as Jon walked towards his tent, the woman following right behind him as he awkwardly avoids eye contact.
Red Keep
Joffrey smiled as the crown was placed on his head. The throne room filled with supporters to the rightful heir to the throne. Now, it was time to clean up and remove thorns in his side. "Thank you all," He started, a smile gracing his face. "I am proud and honored to wear this crown. I swear to be righteous and honorable. And as such, for my first act."
He waited for a dramatic pause. "I declare that Lord Eddard Stark, Loras Tyrell, and my uncles Stannis and Renly Baratheon have created an act of treason! The wish to usurp the crown! I will not stand for this! I wish to place a bounty on Lord Eddard Stark, Renly Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, any who support their cause, and Hadrian Stark. As king, I demand their immediate surrender and I demand their oath of loyalty. We will no longer let villainous acts go unpunished. As such, we shall no longer do business with the evil land of Avalon. They have been cheating us of our livelihoods. But no longer. As King's of old, I wish to invoke the right of King's Blood!"
Many in the room gasped as the High Septon stared at the man. "No one has dared to claim this since the founding of the Seven Kingdoms, are you sure you wish this your grace?" The High Septon questioned.
"Of course I do. The Seven Kingdoms will send out Ladies to be my wives. This will unite the Kingdoms!" Joffrey rang out.
Just as his mother stated they would, everyone cheered his name. He was king, and his word was law. "Send out the messages, the women I wish from each Kingdom are as follows, Sansa Stark, my betrothed, Margaery Tyrell and Arianne Martell. The rest of the Kingdoms may bless us with their own choosing."
The throne erupted in cheers as Joffrey smiled at their praise. His words rang out throughout the Kingdoms that day. His words angered many and ruined plans for others and Cersei scowled at the words her son just said.
Between Casterly Rock and King's Landing
Tywin stood at his table with maps in hand. "Of course the fool would shake up the entire hornets nest." He muttered to himself as he read the King's new decrees.
The loss of supplies would hurt him eventually as he made sure he kingdom had enough saved to cover ten years of winter. Of course that was if they ate sparingly. With what he predicted to be true, a war was brewing and those supplies will be shortened. His men were already ready. His camp was ten thousand strong and thirty thousand waiting on his command. He would mark his dynasty here and now as the rulers of the Seven Kingdoms. It was time for the Seven Kingdoms to feel the might of the Lion.