The rowdiness continues to increase, as the party spills out into the courtyard

A man said, "Hey!"

Another man said, "Pour another one."

Gendry searches for Arya. He enters a passageway away from the festivities. He is startled by an arrow that pierces the wall just in front of his face. He turns to see Arya holding the bow. He raises both hands in surrender, and enters.

Gendry said, "Don't shoot." Arya notches another bow.

Gendry said, "It's nighttime, it's freezing, and everyone's celebrating. You should be celebrating with them."

Arya said, "I am celebrating."

She launches the arrow at a makeshift target tacked to a barrel. She picks up another arrow.

Gendry said, "Yeah, I am too. I'm not going to be Gendry Rivers much longer. I'm going to be Gendry Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End. Your friend, Aldarra said, "She was going to get me instated as a full Baratheon and I have a cousin that's ten name days old she wants me to help run Storm's End."

Arya said, "Congratulations. If Aldarra said it, you can believe she will do it for you." Gendry grabs her quickly and kisses her.

Gendry said, "I don't know how to be lord of anything. I hardly know how to use a fork. All I know is that you're beautiful, and I love you, and none of it will be worth anything if you're not with me. So be with me." Gendry kneels before Arya.

Gendry said, "Be my wife. Be the Lady of Storm's End." Arya bends down and kisses Gendy. They stand together.

Arya said, "You'll be a wonderful lord, and any lady would be lucky to have you. But I'm not a lady. I never have been. That's not me." Arya readies another arrow, and lets it fly.

—--

In Brienne's chamber, she adds a log to the fire burning in the hearth. There is a knock on the door. Brienne walks over and opens it. Jamie stands in the door, leaning drunkenly against the wall.

Jamie said, "You didn't drink."

Jamie invites himself in. He places a pitcher on the table, and grabs the two glasses nestled in the elbow of his right arm. Brienne is a bit confused, but she closes the door and walks over.

Brienne asked, "I didn't drink?"

Jamie said, "In the game."

Brienne said, "I drank." Jamie picks up the pitcher to pour a glass of wine.

Jamie said, "In the game. This is Dornish."

Brienne said, "This is not the game. This is only drinking."

Jamie hands her a full glass.

Jamie said, "Suit yourself." Brienne drinks, a puzzled look on her face.

Jamie said, "You keep it warm enough in here."

Jamie slides off his jacket with a bit of difficulty and throws it down on the table.

Briene said, "It's the first thing I learnt when I came to the North. Keep your fire going. Every time you leave the room, put more wood on."

Jamie said, "That's very diligent. Very responsible.'

Brienne said, "Piss off."

Jamie said, "You know the first thing I learned in the North? I hate the fucking North."

Brienne said, "It grows on you."

Jamie said, "I don't want things growing on me." Jamie fills the other glass with a sloppy pour.

Jamie said, "How about Tormund Giantsbane? Has he grown on you? He was very sad when you left." Jamie drinks. Brienne's expression softens.

Brienne said almost whispering, "You sound quite jealous."

Jamie nods and said, "I do, don't I? It's bloody hot in here."

Jamie works to undo the lacing of his shirt, but struggles to do so one-handed. He chuckles in embarrassment at his ineptitude. He tries using his left hand and his teeth. Brienne realizes that this is a drunken seduction. She swats his hand away.

Brienne said, "Oh, move aside." Brienne undoes Jamie's shirt. He starts doing the same for her.

Brienne asked, "What are you doing?"

Jamie said, "I'm taking your shirt off."

They both pause and look at one another. Brienne undoes her own shirt as he watches. She helps Jamie pull his shirt over his head. She then peels off her own shirt.

Jamie said, "I've never slept with a knight before."

Brienne said, "I've never slept with anyone before."

Jamie said, "Then you have to drink. Those are the rules."

Brienne said, "I told you…"

Jamie cuts her short with a hungry kiss. She returns in kind.

Later on, in Brienne's chamber, They both lie in bed, naked. Brienne is fast asleep. Jamie looks at her, breathes deeply, then stares towards the ceiling.

—--

Jon sits on the edge of his bed, his head propped up on one fist, tired and drunk. Aldarra knocks, is told to enter and opens the door and enters.

Aldarra snickered, "Are you that drunk?" Jon looks at her for a beat, smiling.

Jon said, "No." Jon stands and stumbles a bit. He laughs at himself.

Jon said, "Only a little." Aldarra shuts the door and moves closer.

Jon said, "I didn't know Ser Jorah well but I know this. If he could have chosen a way to die, it would have been protecting you."

Aldarra said solemnly, "He was in love with me. He told me before the battle because he wanted me to know if something were to happen to him and it did. And I couldn't love him back because of my love for Tywin and my son. Not the way he wanted. It's more like the way I love you. You're my brother. I had no more no blood relations, until you for many years since I was ten and six names old until now at twenty and eight name days old. They were all murdered by the Mad King. I'm glad you're in my life because it was completely solitary." They embrace.

Aldarra put her head on his shoulder and asked, "Is that all right?"

Jon kissed Aldarra on the cheek, and said, "Of course, you're already like my most trusted best friend. I was starting to think of you differently but am glad you're my real family too."

Aldarra said, "You're my only real family except for my husband and son. I stand by you in being a king even if my husband opposed. You're the best man for the job and if it's the King of the North, I support that completely. I will try my best to keep this tension down. It was all because of Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish's doing." They release each other and she sits down in a chair.

Aldarra said, "I saw them gathered around you and was so very proud of you. I saw the way they looked at you. I know that look it's reverent. A few people have looked at me like that and if you're a decent type, you're humbled by it."

Jon said, "I'm not used to it."

Aldarra said, "You didn't ask to be King in the North. It's not your choice but theirs. You're my brother. I'll help you all I can. Just know that sometimes you must realize we are not perfect and sometimes trying to do the right thing will have to be done with sacrifices. You'll then do just fine." Jon kneels before her and lays his head in her lap because she was his big sister. She patted his head and petted his hair.

Jon said, "You are the first person to have actually told me the honest truth to help me do what needs to be done." Aldarra takes Jon's face in her hands and looks him straight in the eye.

She said, "Never tell them who you really are but the most trusted of family. Swear Samwell Tarly to secrecy, and tell no one else. I told Tywin and Varys only about myself other than Sansa and Bran telling me. With you, it will take on a life of its own and you won't be able to control it or what it does to people. No matter what you swear or say will change it. I'll always be your sister though, even if everyone outside of the family thinks it's metaphorical to them. We know the truth in the family and in our hearts. I'm just honored it was you." Jon sat up and put his hands in hers looking in her eyes.

Jon said, "I have to tell Sansa, Rickon and Arya. Will you be there with me so we can share the news all together, just family? I owe them the truth."

Aldarra said, caressing his hands with her thumbs, "There's no place in the world I'd rather be than with you, my dear brother. I think this is a good thing for us all."

Jon said fondly, "I love you, Aldarra." She had tears in her eyes.

Aldarra said, "That's all I'll ever want from you Jon. I love you too." Jon cups her cheeks and wipes away the tears with his thumbs. He hugged her again, closing his eyes. He couldn't believe they were so closely related after finding out that he was only cousins to the siblings he grew up with. He was happy for the first time to know he was not isolated like he was in his childhood feeling alone because of Catelyn Stark treating him like an outsider. With Aldarra he knew they had each other and shared the same father's blood for sure this time. He would share his family with her. She was the most worthy person to bring into his family. He knew they would be welcoming to such a great lady who had proven herself so many times to them.

—--

The room contains a map of Westeros with stone pieces representing the forces at Winterfell and King's Landing. The war council consists of Varys, Tyrion, Jon, Aldarra, Arya, Sansa, Rickon, Sam, Bran, Maester Wolkan, Davos, and Brienne. The mood is somber and tense.

Davos picks up a handful of Winterfell markers

Davos said, "Half are gone."

Jon said, "The Northmen as well."

Jon slides off some other markers. Maester Wolkan slides away some more. Varys places additional markers in Dorne.

Varys said, "And the Golden Company has arrived in Sunspear, courtesy of Euron Greyjoy's fleet. The balance has grown distressingly even."

Sansa said, "When the people find out what we have done for them, that we saved them…"

Aldarra said, "Obyren will make sure they don't believe it. We will hit him hard. We will rip him out root and stem."

Tyrion said, "The objective here is to remove Oberyn and Doran Martell without destroying the entire city of Sunspear."

Varys said, "Thankfully, he's losing allies by the day. Yara Greyjoy has retaken the Iron Islands. The ruling Prince of Dorne, Doran, pledged his support and his reputation is suffering because of it."

Aldarra said, "No matter how many lords turn against them, as long as he sits in the Water Gardens Palace, they think they can take over the Seven Kingdoms Iron Throne. I told him I would burn the palace to the ground and I'll be damned if I don't."

Tyrion said, "I watched the people of King's Landing rebel against their king when they were hungry, and that was before winter began. Give them the opportunity and they will cast the leader aside.

Jon said, "We'll surround the city. If the Iron Fleet tries to ferry in more food, then Drogon can destroy them. If the Dornish and Golden Company attack, we'll defeat them in the field.

Tyrion said, "Once the people see that Martells are our only enemy, their reign is over."

Sansa said, "The men we have left are exhausted. Many of them are wounded. They'll fight better if they have time to rest and recuperate."

Aldarra asked, "How long do you suggest?"

Sansa said, "I can't say for certain, not without talking to the officers. It's not just our people. It's Lannisters and Tyrells too. You don't want to throw them into a war they're not ready to fight."

Aldarra said, "That's true, Sansa. We need to keep eyes on Euron and Dorne to make sure we have as much time as we can get to mend, so we are more prepared to take on their forces. We need the ports watched at King's Landing's Blackwater Bay and the backdoor by way of Storms End and the Roseroad from Dorne watched. Jamie Lannister needs to be informed of this so he can get word and take his able men to King's Landing.

Jon said to Sansa and Arya, "The Northern forces will honor their promises." Jon turns to face Aldarra.

Jon asked, "What do you want to do about all of this, Aldarra?" Arya and Sansa exchange a glance.

Aldarra said, "I need to speak to Tywin and tell him what we found out. This is all fallout from one war to cause another war and it's not between the north and south. It's between Dorne seizing control of the Seven Kingdoms and the throne."

Tyrion said, "So if all are in agreement Jon, Jamie and Ser Davos will ride down the Kingsroad with the Northern troops and the bulk of the remaining Lannister and Tyrell troops. I'll go inform my brother."

Jon moves the corresponding markers on the map.

Tyrion said, "A smaller group of us will ride to White Harbor, and sail from there to Dragonstone. Aldarra can notify us on what my father says. Then she can watch over us as we sail to King's Landing."

Davos moves those markers into position.

Aldarra said, "We have won the Great War. Now we will win the Last War, hopefully."

Everyone leaves, except for the Stark children. Arya intercepts Jon as he begins to leave. Sansa moves to stand beside Bran.

Arya said, "We need a word."