"You're the one they call the dragon of Zakuul." Thomas jumped slightly at the sudden voice. Turning from his spot on the battlements he found the girl he saw in the town upon their arrival. Looking her over he noticed the Bravosi sword and a very intricate dagger on her hips. Her eyes were hardened as they assessed him. She was dangerous.
"Aye. People call me that." He nodded his head. "I'm afraid I don't know what they call you though."
The girl smirked before turning to look out over the snow-covered field. Men and women were working tirelessly to build fortifications and dig trenches. Thomas looked out as well. In the distance he saw his two girls flying together and he couldn't stop his smile.
"Arya Stark." Thomas flinched in surprise before looking down at her. "My name is Arya Stark."
Thomas smiled. "So, you're the infamous Arya Stark." Arya arched her eyebrow. "Your brother Jon told me all about you on our trip beyond the wall. It's an honor to meet the king's favorite sister." Arya gave him a small smile.
"And you're the infamous Dragon of Zakuul." Arya turned to him. "Now that we have officially met, I have a question." Thomas nodded his assent. "What were they like? The dead. What was it like to fight them?"
Thomas froze and looked out towards the horizon. His mind conjured up the images of the monsters from the north. "They are the single most terrifying thing I have ever seen. Death itself seems preferable to that living hell." He turned to stare Arya in the eye. "You will look death in the face and you will be afraid."
Arya shook her head. "I won't be. I have seen many faces of death. This one shouldn't be too different." Thomas scoffed at her bravado but he did detect a hint of concern.
"You will be." He stated again. "You will be."
Both fell into silence after that. Both contemplating the coming threat.
*With Sam*
"Jon, we need to talk." Sam grunted as he hurried after Jon. Both were in the courtyard of Winterfell and Jon stopped to turn to Sam.
Jon smirked. "All this time I thought you were avoiding me." Sam brushed it off with a shake of his head. "I'm sorry about your Father and brother Sam."
Sam frowned but nodded. "I need to tell you something important." Jon looked at him expectantly. "Alone. Preferably in the crypts. I know it isn't my place but this is important."
Jon looked worried but nodded and proceeded to guide his oldest friend to the Crypts. They were silent the entire way down. Sam remained silent until they stood before the tomb of Lyanna Stark.
"What are your thoughts on the dragon queen?" Sam asked out of the blue. Jon looked startled and confused.
"What is this all about?"
Sam looked more determined than any time before and Jon stood just a little more upright. "She isn't fit for the throne." Jon shook his head but Sam pushed on. "Her or the butcher she hangs off of are no fit rulers for any kingdom."
"I have no power outside the North Sam! There isn't anything I could do to them." Jon cut him off. "We need their dragons and their armies. Both are good people. Even if they have made mistakes."
"You're wrong." Sam stated. Jon looked at him incredulously. "She doesn't even have a claim to the iron throne. Not while a child of Rhaegar Targaryen lives."
Jon shook his head. "Aegon and Rhaenys are dead, Sam. Murdered in the sack of King's Landing."
"I'm not talking about them." Sam smiled. "I'm talking about his child with Lyanna Stark. They were married in secret while his marriage with Ellia was annulled. I confirmed it with your brother Bran. They had a son named Jaehaerys. A son that Ned stark claimed as his bastard." Sam was quiet for a few moments staring at Jon's startled face. "You are that Child Jon. You are the heir to the Iron Throne."
Jon took a step back, his breathing heavy. Shaking his head, he tried to form words but he couldn't. Sam clutched his arm. "You are the prince that was promised, the King we need. You can truly unite the North and the South. You must press your claim." Sam continued on but it seemed to have fallen on deaf ears and Jon stared at the Statue of what he thought was his aunt but really his mother.
"I need to see Bran." Jon choked out before rushing past Sam.
Sam tried to follow but when he got out of the crypts Jon was gone. In his place stood his sister Sansa, who looked at him with concern.
"What did you tell my brother?"
Sam looked at her and remembered her own eyes as she beheld the dragon queen. He gave himself a small smirk before motioning her into the crypts.
*With Thomas later that day*
After his talk with Arya he had decided to help the soldiers with the preparations for the upcoming battle. Of course, his peaceful day of labor was interrupted when a runner found him and told him that Daenerys had requested his presence in the great hall.
When he got there, he was shocked to see Jaimie Lannister standing in front of the high table. A quick glance showed a concerned Tyrion and a very angry Daenerys. When she noticed him, she tried to smile but it failed.
Turning her attention back to the king slayer she snarled. "When I was a little girl my brother would tell me stories. Of a man who murdered our father and stabbed our family in the back. A man who broke his oath and helped destroy my family. You know your sister promised to send her armies North and yet all I see is one man with one hand." Dany scoffed. "Did your sister lie to me?"
"She did your grace." Jaime looked down. "She lied to both of us. She never had any intention of sending her army North. Instead she had Euron Greyjoy ferry over the Golden company." He looked right at Thomas. "They are apparently very eager to kill you. So eager in fact that they are rushing North to destroy your army before it reaches Winterfell."
Thomas paled. The caravan wouldn't be moving fast enough. And since they weren't expecting any attacks, the golden company would wipe them out.
"Even if we defeat the dead, she shall have more than enough to destroy the survivors."
"We?" Jon asked.
"I promised to fight for the living and I intend to keep that promise." Jaime stated.
Tyrion stepped forward and once again Thomas admired him for once again approaching the dragon queen while she was furious.
"Your grace, I know my brother." He stated and she snapped at him in an instant. Thomas noted her hand grasping her belly protectively.
"Just like you knew your sister." she hissed out.
Tyrion flinched but continued on. Thomas tuned him out however as he noticed Sansa's gaze on Dany. It was cold and calculating. Measuring her and judging the best course of action to take. Those blue eyes soon trailed to Dany's council. Thomas looked away before her gaze landed on his own but he had seen enough.
Tuning back in he noticed Brianne of Tarth had jumped to the king slayers defense, calling him an honorable man true to his word. He laughed. Loud and hard.
When everyone was looking at him, he stared at Brianne. "Tell me my lady, what are the oaths of the kings guard?"
Jaime looked down but the lady seemed confused. "Let me tell you. They are sworn to protect the king from harm, no matter what. We can all agree however that the mad king got what he deserved. But by right of succession the title of king went to Rhaegar's son, Aegon Targaryen. A babe." Jaime refused to look up, keeping his head down. "Tell me lady Brianne. What happened to that baby?"
Brianne looked away for a moment. "He was killed."
Thomas nodded. "Bashed against a wall by the mountain, who then proceeded to rape and murder his mother. Both innocent to the crimes of the mad king and of Rhaegar's. That happened while your precious Lannister sat on a throne doing nothing. DO you want to know something else? Rhaenys Targaryen, a girl of 3 was ripped from under her bed and stabbed half a hundred times by Lannister men. A girl of 3, a babe and their mother murdered while Jaime Lannister sat on the throne waiting for dear old dad." Thomas spat at Jaime. "No, he has no honor, no trust. Not unless he can give me a good answer."
"Answer to what question?" Brianne asked.
Thomas looked right at Jaime who glanced up. Some fire in his eyes. "What did Rhaenys and Aegon due to deserve your neglect?"
The hall was silent. Everyone glaring at the disgraced knight. Tyrion was the only one who wasn't having heard the story from Jaime in the past.
When Jaime went to answer he was cut off however.
"There is no answer he can give that would wash away those sins." Dany growled. "Unless the King in the North has any objections, take Ser Jaime outside." Jon sat in silence, refusing to look at Dany but nodded his consent.
Grey Worm stepped forward with two other guards but Brianne stood in their way. "My lady I can't allow this." She pleaded to Sansa who looked conflicted.
Tyrion once again stepped forward. "Your grace he had to stop the mad kings' men from setting caches of wildfire ablaze!"
Thomas shook his head. "No, he didn't. Ser Barristan told us what happened. The mad king ordered his hand to set those caches ablaze. Ser Jaime slew the hand right in front of the king before turning his blade on him. He never left the throne room." Tyrion looked to Jaime who kept his head bowed. Brianne was at a loss for words and let the unsullied take him away.
Dany turned to Jon. "Shall you be joining us for his execution?" Jon nodded and stood. Thomas rushed to help Dany as she waddled outside.
"You were wrong." She whispered in his ear. "You're never wrong." Thomas winced.
"She is pregnant. I thought the life of her babe would be more precious to her than the throne." Thomas whispered back. "I'm sorry."
Dany sighed. "It was bound to happen eventually I suppose. I just hope it won't cost our lives."
Thomas grunted. "I suppose we shall find out once the dead get here." They stopped talking as they made it outside.
Everyone in the courtyard stopped what they were doing when Jaime Lannister was dragged out. The lords of the North soon formed a ring around him and waited. Tyrion however wasn't done yet.
"Please your grace. Don't burn my brother. He has made mistakes I know, Horrible mistakes but please don't kill him." Tyrion begged. Dany looked down at him, cold eyes locking with his.
"He will not burn lord Tyrion." Dany stated and the Dwarf sagged in relief. "The North practices the old way yes?" Dany asked Jon and Tyrion's face shot up.
Jon nodded. "The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword."
"Well I can't swing a sword in my condition so Thomas will have to do." She nodded to the unsullied who forced Jaime to his knees. Thomas moved to stand behind him and drew his sword. Blackfyre hummed as it touched Ser Jaime's neck. Tyrion still pleaded for his brother's life. He had to be held back by unsullied before he ran forward. "Jaime Lannister, I Daenerys of house Targaryen first of my name, Breaker of chains and mother of dragons, sentence you to die." She looked to Thomas and nodded.
Jaime closed his eyes and waited for death. His life flashed through his eyes. All the joys he had as a child, all the pain as a young man and all the regret as a man grown. All these flashed before him but those with Cersei stood out among the rest. Those moments they were together and truly happy filled his mind as he heard the sword sing through the air. Then all was blank.
The courtyard was silent as Ser Jaime's headless body fell to the floor. His head rolling a few feet away. Blackfyre had blood dripping down it's blade before Thomas wiped it away with a rag. Soon the quiet castle was filled with the wails of a younger brother as Tyrion cried out in agony as the only family, he had ever truly known laid dead before him.
The unsullied let him go as he slowly moved to Jaime's body. Weeping as he fell to his knees before it. Jon and a few others turned away out of respect but Both Thomas and Dany looked on, both regretting the pain Tyrion was going through but feeling fulfilled, now that an enemy was gone from this world.
Soon the courtyard emptied and everyone went about their day, the only one who didn't move was Tyrion who sat by his brother's side until some north men had erected a funeral pyre and burned Jaime's body.
*Elsewhere after execution*
Dany had taken Thomas, Grey worm and Jorah into a secluded room to discuss this new development regarding the Lannister's and Golden company. Dany now sat, hand rubbing her growing belly at the desk while Thomas, Jorah and Grey worm stood before her.
"What are we going to do about these new developments?" Dany looked at them expectantly.
Thomas spoke first. "I'm sending my daughters to protect the Horde. Without them and the food they bring, we will not be able to stay here for long." Thomas sighed. "I can't leave them to face the golden company alone."
Dany sighed and closed her eyes. Jorah however argued. "We will need those dragons here for when the dead come."
"We will need the food for when we kill these dead men." Grey Worm argued back.
Dany raised a hand and silence filled the room. "Arguing this point is for naught. Thomas, see to it that your people are safe. These Northmen have no right to complain if our dragons leave. The hypocrisy in the north is great." She scoffed angrily. "They come to us for help then treat us like we are the enemy and force exile on you Thomas, for fighting a war." Dany glared out a window. "I can't wait to leave this place."
Jorah sighed sadly. He knew his homeland was stubborn but he hadn't suspected them to treat those who came to their aid with this level of distrust and anger. "I have no excuses my queen." Jorah bowed his head. Dany looked to him confused.
"This is not your fault Jorah. This is on their heads." Dany stated. "When this is all over, and I have my throne, we shall see how long they last."
"What do you mean, your grace?" Jorah asked.
Dany gave him a conspiratal smirk. "The North doesn't have the resources to last on its own. Especially after all the recent wars. All the young men are either dead or soon will be. All around us are old men and young children thrust into positions of power. I can simply make the price of food and other such necessities so high they will be forced to beg me for help. They will be brought into the fold eventually."
Thomas nodded his head. "That is actually a good idea. No dragons or armies needed for this conquest. I like it."
"I'm glad you approve, my love." Dany smiled at him. "Now all of you, leave and attend to your duties. Thomas, make sure your men are safe and triple my guard. I don't need any of these northerners trying to kill me."
"Of course, Khaleesi." Thomas bent down and gave her a quick kiss before leaving the room with the others.
As Thomas walked outside towards the front gate, he noticed Sansa Stark talking quietly with a distraught Tyrion. As if sensing his presence both people looked up at him. Sansa's gaze was full of carefully guarded disdain. Tyrion had undisguised hate as he glared at him. Apparently, any peace they had made between them was now truly gone. Thomas watched them for a moment before whistling loudly and stepping outside the gates.
Soon Saphira and Cinder landed before him and crooned softly as he caressed their large jaws. "I have a very important job for you two that you wont like." Thomas sighed as he looked into their eyes. Both so full of emotion and intelligence that they continuously took his breath away. "I need you to find my men and make sure they get here unmolested. Burn any who would hinder their progress."
Both dragons growled their disapproval. Cinder lifted her head and roared her defiance. Saphira nudged him harder than before and growled. I'm sorry my loves but if you don't do this, we will all perish here. I promise I will be safe. Trust in your brothers to keep me safe." The dragon's whined and shuffled nervously before slowly turning around. With a final look back, they took to the skies and headed south.
Thomas let one tear fall as he watched his two girls fly off. Turning back, he saw Tyrion and Sansa watching him. Both looked confused and curious about what had happened.
"My lord, where are they going?" Sansa asked.
Thomas looked her over before mentally shrugging. "I sent them to make sure my food shipments make it to Winterfell. The golden company is apparently hot on their heels. Those two should keep them at bay."
"Is it wise to send two of our most powerful weapons away before the dead get here?" Tyrion asked. Voice laced with emotions.
"Should we win, we will need that food. If we die, then at least they have a fighting chance." Thomas stated. He would have said more but a commotion took their attention behind him.
Turning he was greeted to a group of Iron born led by Theon Greyjoy. The young man quickly scanned their small group before his eyes settled on Sansa. Thomas blinked at the emotion his eyes held as they laid on Sansa.
"Last I heard you were going to free your sister." Thomas stated as the Iron Born stepped forward. Theon still hadn't taken his eyes off Sansa.
"I have saved her. She is taking what few ships she ahs and retaking the Iron Islands in our queens name." Theon responds, giving him only a slight glance. "I have come to fight for Winterfell, lady Sansa, if you will have me."
Sansa, with tears building in her eyes nodded and embraced the Greyjoy. "You are always welcome here Theon."
Thomas watched on and saw Tyrion's calculated gaze upon Theon and an uneasy feeling started growing in his gut. They had discussed something important and now Tyrion was thinking. Even with all his mistakes, Thomas knew that Tyrion was smart. He just hoped Tyrion still believed in their queen. Gods help them if he truly tried to undermine them now.
Long delay. I know and I am sorry. But this was originally much longer. I have split it into two parts. So, the second part will conclude the long night. Then we go into some things I have planned that the show didn't do. Also, my time was taken for a while on a project. Another story. Something new I tried. Give it a look if you enjoyed The Mummy (2017). I think that was the year. Too lazy to look it up lol. As for Jaime's death, I had no more use for him in this story. And While I did come to love his character in the show, I could never really get over the deaths of Ellia and her children. Especially when he decided to sit and wait for dear old dad after killing the mad king. I just find it wrong that he wasn't really punished for it except for a few names. (kingslayer, man without honor, ect.). Honestly, I'm probably going to lose plenty of readers over it and piss a lot of people off but he was never going to survive. As for major character deaths. I am rethinking many of them. But all are still optional. Except Daenerys. She will forever live. Whether she stays in one piece however…. Let you all sweat on that a bit lol. Anyway, pop a review ad let me know what you think. I am open to changing chapters if the argument is strong enough. So please let me know. Just don't flame, honestly its pretty pointless and a waste of time. Never understood why people did that.