Beyond The Wall, the wind blows over the tundra. A dark cloud starts forming on the horizon, growing larger until it consumes everything. A white walker rides into view, accompanied by several other white walkers. The army of the dead files through the darkness. An undead giant walks into view.
—--
Outside Castle Black's exterior gate, Bran is lying in his sled. His eyes are pure white. They wash to their normal color. Meera is standing in front of him, holding the ropes to the sled. The gate rises. Dolorous Edd walks through the gate, accompanied by several members of the Night's Watch.
Dolorous Edd said, "You wildlings?"
Meera said, "I'm Meera Reed, daughter of Howland Reed. This is Brandon Stark, son of Ned Stark."
Dolorous Edd said, "How do I know that's true?" Bran raises his head and stares at Dolorous Edd.
Bran said, "You were at the Fist of the First Men. You were at Hardhome. You've seen the Army of the Dead. You've seen the Night King. He's coming for us. For all of us." Dolorous Edd pauses and looks down, then looks to his men.
Dolorous Edd said, "Okay, come on. Let's get them inside.
Two Night's Watch men sheath their swords, approach Bran's sled, grab the ropes, and pull him inside the gate. Meera follows. Dolorous Edd lingers and stares out into the wild, then turns on his heel and walks through the gate. The gate closes behind him.
—--
In Winterfell's main hall, Jon stands at the high table. Sansa, Rickon, Davos and Aldarra sit at his sides. Brienne, Podrick, Tormund, Baelish, Yohn Royce, Lyanna Mormont, Robett Glover, and the lords of the northern houses are in attendance.
Jon said, "I want every northern maester to scour their records for any mention of dragonglass. Dragonglass kills white walkers. It's more valuable to us now than gold. We need to find it, we need to mine it, we need to make weapons from it. Everyone aged 10 to 60 will drill daily with spears, pikes, bow and arrow."
Robett said, "It's about time we taught these boys of summer how to fight." The northern lords laugh.
Jon said, "Not just the boys." Brienne looks at Jon.
Jon said, "We can't defend the North if only half the population is fighting." Robett stands.
Robett asked, "You expect me to put a spear in my granddaughter's hand?" Lyanna stands.
Lyanna said, "I don't plan on knitting by the fire while men fight for me. I might be small, Lord Glover, and I might be a girl, but I am every bit as much a Northerner as you." Aldarra applauded her smiling. Lyanna smiled back at her.
Robett said, "Indeed you are, my lady. No one has questioned–"
Lyanna said, "And I don't need your permission to defend the North." Davos smiles. Lyanna turns to Jon.
Lyanna said, "We'll begin training every man, woman, boy, and girl on Bear Island." The men pound their tables and shout in agreement. Robett nods at Lyanna. Robett and Lyanna sit.
Jon said, "While we're preparing for attack, we need to shore up our defenses. The only thing standing between us and the Army of the Dead is the Wall and the Wall hasn't been properly manned in centuries. I'm not the king of the Free Folk." Jon looks at Tormund. Tormund turns and looks at Jon.
Jon said, "But if we're going to survive this winter together…" Tormund grunts and stands.
Tormund asks, "You want us to man the castles for you?" The men murmur.
Jon said, "Last time we saw the Night King was at Hardhome. The closest castle to Hardhome is Eastwatch-by-the-Sea."
Tormund said, "Then that's where I'll go. Looks like we're the Night's Watch now." Tormund sits.
Jon said, "If they breach the wall, the first two castles in their path are Last Hearth and Karhold." Yohn stands.
Yohn said, "The Umbers and the Karstarks betrayed the North. Their castles should be torn down with not a stone left standing."
Sansa said, "The castles committed no crimes. And we need every fortress we have for the war to come. We should give the Last Hearth and Karhold to new families, loyal families who supported us against Ramsay."
Everyone said, "Aye!" Yohn sits.
Jon said, "The Umbers and the Karstarks have fought beside the Starks for centuries. They've kept faith for generation after generation."
Sansa said, "And then they broke faith."
Jon said, "I'm not going to strip these families of their ancestral homes because of the crimes of a few reckless sons."
Sansa asked, "So there's no punishment for treason and no reward for loyalty?" The hall goes silent.
Jon said, "The punishment for treason is death. Smalljon Umber died on the field of battle. Harald Karstark died on the field of battle."
Sansa said, "They died fighting for Ramsay. Give the castles to the families of the men who died fighting for you." The men chatter and pound the tables.
Jon said, "When I was Lord Commander of the Night's Watch I executed men who betrayed me. I executed men who refused to follow orders. My father always said, 'The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword,' and I have tried to live by those words. But I will not punish a son for his father's sins, and I will not take a family home away from a family it has belonged to for centuries. That is my decision, and my decision is final." Jon stares at Sansa. Sansa looks away. Jon addresses the hall.
Jon said, "Ned Umber." Ned Umber, a boy, stands.
Jon said, "Alys Karstark." Alys Karstark, a young woman, stands. Ned and Alys approach the high table.
Jonsaid, "For centuries, our families fought side by side on the battlefield. I ask you to pledge your loyalty once again to House Stark, to serve as our bannermen and come to our aid whenever called upon." Ned and Alys unsheathed their swords and kneel.
Jon said, "Stand." Ned and Alys stand.
Jon said, "Yesterday's wars don't matter anymore. The North needs to band together, all the living north. Will you stand beside me, Ned and Alys, now and always?"
Ned and Alys said, "Now and always!" The men cheer and pound the tables.
—--
Jon walks briskly along the walkway. Sansa follows him.
Jon said, "You are my sister, but I am king now."
Sansa said, "Will you start wearing a crown?"
Jon said, "When you question my decisions in front of the other lords and ladies, you undermine me."
Sansa said, "So I can't question your decisions anymore?"
Jon said, "Of course you can, but–"
Sansa said, "Joffrey never let anyone question his authority. You think he was a good king?" Jon stops walking. Sansa walks past him, then stops and turns to face him.
Jon said, "Do you think I'm Joffrey?"
Sansa said, "You're as far from Joffrey as anyone I've ever met."
Jon said, "Thank you." Jon stares out at the yard below.
Sansa said, "You're good at this, you know."
Jon said, "At what?"
Sansa said, "At ruling." Jon sighs.
Jon, "No."
Sansa said, "You are. You are. They respect you, they really do, but you have to…" Jon chuckles.
Sansa said, "Why are you laughing?" Jon continues walking. Sansa follows.
Jon said smiling, "What did father used to say? Everything before the word "but" is horse shit."
Sansa said, "He never said that to me."
Jon said, "No. No, he never cursed in front of his girls."
Sansa said, "Because he was trying to protect us. He never wanted us to see how dirty the world really is, but Father couldn't protect me and neither can you. Stop trying. Aldarra has taught me that there is another way to be a woman. She once told me in Essos to stand for what's right, be strong or nobody will take you seriously if you're a woman."
Jon said, "She's an incredible woman. All right, I'll stop trying to protect you and you stop trying to undermine me."
Sansa said frustrated, "I'm not trying to undermine you." Sansa grabs Jon's arm and spins him to face her.
Sansa said emphatically, "You have to be smarter than Father. You need to be smarter than Robb. I loved them, I miss them, but they made stupid mistakes, and they both lost their heads for it."
Jon said, "And how should I be smarter? By listening to you?"
Sansa said, "Would that be so terrible?" Maester Wolkan approaches.
Maester Wolkan said, "A raven from King's Landing, Your Grace."
Maester Wolkan hands a bound note to Jon, then bows and leaves. Jon unravels the note.
Jon said, "King Tommen of House Lannister, First of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms--"
Sansa said, "What does he want?"
Jon said, "Come to King's Landing. Bend the knee or suffer the fate of all traitors. That includes my Uncle Lord Tyrion Lannister, my grandfather's wife Lady Aldarra Lannister and my grandfather's baby son."
Sansa said, "We've been so consumed with the enemy to the north, we've forgotten about the one to the south. Baelish said news would travel fast. I bet he even sent the raven telling him."
Jon said, "I'm consumed with the Night King because I've seen him. And believe me, you'd think of little else if you had, too."
Sansa said, "We still have a wall between us and the Night King. There's nothing between us and Tywin Lannister or King Tommen. We should talk to Aldarra."
Jon said, "There's a thousand miles between us and them. Winter is here. The Lannisters are a southern army. They've never ranged this far north."
Sansa said, "You're the military man, but I know them. If you're their enemy, he'll never stop until he's destroyed you. Everyone who's ever crossed him, he's found a way to murder all his enemies. Besides, what makes you think he wouldn't be coming here for his heir here and wife now that he knows."
Jon said, "You almost sound as if you admire him."
Sansa said, "I learned a great deal from them down there. Why did you think we all ran so willingly with Aldarra? We need to speak to her. She's the smartest woman I know." Jon nodded.
They went to Aldarra's room and she was leaving out of the room with the septa inside watching over her son as he was sleeping.
She looked up at them both looking serious and said, "Damn, now what's happened?"
Sansa said , "Let's go to your study Jon?" He nodded and they went there and closed the door. Aldarra sat down and read the message.
Aldarra said, "He knows I'm here and the baby. This smells of Petyr Baelish playing his loyalty games. Tywin will get desperate now that he knows the baby is here. I'm a liability to your new leadership."
Jon said, "You are always welcome here. We are family, right?" Aldarra smiled at him and Sansa as she nodded her head.
Aldarra said, "We will bide our time, but if I become a threat to your safety I'll go maybe back to Essos." They both said ok.
—--
In Winterfell's courtyard, Brienne and Podrick are sparring. Podrick missteps and Brienne hits him on the back with her sword. He grunts.
Brienne said, "Nope."
They reset. Podrick advances and they exchange several sword blows but Podrick missteps again and Brienne tags him on the behind. Podrick grunts.
Brienne said, "Nope."
Tormund approaches and stares at Brienne. Brienne looks at him. Podrick catches her off guard and tags her shoulder with his blade. She punches him in his gut and tosses him in the snow. Tormund looks at Podrick.
Tormund said, "You're a lucky man."
Baelish and Sansa stand on a walkway above the courtyard, watching Brienne and Podrick.
Baelish said, "I've heard she beat the Hound in single combat. She's a very impressive woman."
Sansa asked, "What do you want, Lord Baelish?"
Baelish said, "I want you to be happy. I want you to be safe."
Sansa said, "I am safe. I'm at home, surrounded by friends. I have Brienne and Aldarra to protect me from anyone who would harm me."
Baelish said, "What about happy? Why aren't you happy? What do you want that you do not have?"
Sansa said annoyed, "At the moment, peace and quiet." Brienne walks up the stairs. Baelish motions to speak.
Sansa said, "No need to seize the last word, Lord Baelish. I'll assume it was something clever." Baelish looks at Brienne.
Baelish said, "My lady." Baelish looks at Sansa.
Baelish said, "My lady." Baelish walks down the steps and into the courtyard.
Brienne asked, "Why is he still here?" Sansa sighs.
Sansa said, "We need his men. Without the Vale, the war would be won but took longer to wrap up. Littlefinger helped us in his numbers to end it, and now for protection." Brienne nods and watches Baelish walk across the courtyard.
Brienne said, "He wants something."
Sansa said, "I know exactly what he wants. He won't get it either."