[KING'S LANDING]
[BRIENNE and JAIME are looking at the history of the Kingsguard.]
"Ser Jaime Lannister. Knighted and was named to the Kingsguard in his 16th year. At the sack of King's Landing, murdered his king Aerys II. Pardoned by Robert Baratheon. Thereafter known as the Kingslayer."
"That can't be all that's written there surely" Tyrion sat a little straighter. "And you were knighted at fifteen for your role in the Kingswood Brotherhood when you saved Lord Crakehall's ass from Big Belly Ben and beat the Smiling Knight! You were knighted by the Sword of the Morning for fuck's sake!"
Jaime smiled faintly.
"Doesn't matter does it? People only remember what they want to remember."
It did matter to Tyrion, who knew his brother loved when his act was recognised as much as he did. He may not have forgiven Jaime for his part in Tysha's disrespect, but he still loved his brother and would make fucking certain that people acknowledged his accomplishments the right way.
Much like how the people here were acknowledging it, how the children stared at him with some awe, how the adults respected him with their gaze in a way Jaime had not been in a while. It was always the accomplishments that endeared a person to the people, as much as the failures that estranged them.
So yes, it did matter.
"It's the duty of the Lord Commander to fill those pages. And there's still room left on mine."
"Ser Barristan did quite some good in his tenure then," Joanna said dryly. Hearing Tyrion speak about Jaime's success, the ones the book did not contain, it angered Joanna greatly. No doubt the old Knight was biased against her son. Probably because of Aerys and his murder.
[JAIME picks up a displayed sword, weighs it, and then hands it to BRIENNE. She takes it and admires it.]
"Valyrian steel."
"It's yours."
"You're going to give away that sword?" Renly asked in shock. "It's Valyrian Steel!"
"I'm not sure why I'm doing it" Jaime shrugged. Except he did. He had an idea.
"It was reforged from Ned Stark's sword. You'll use it to defend Ned Stark's daughter. You swore an oath to return the Stark girls to their mother. Lady Stark's dead. Arya's probably dead, too, but there's still a chance to find Sansa and get her somewhere safe."
"And now? Do yuu approve?" Renly questioned with a smirk. He was half ready for the Kingslayer to call his future self an idiot. Without the shit that future Jaime had gone through, this Jaime was not half as his future self was. Meaning he was a selfish prick.
But when Jaime shrugged, Renly was sent into a spiral of thoughts. Did the man just insinuate that he would still do it?
Ned was observing the man as well and he was just as confused.
[CASTLE BLACK, DINING HALL]
[ALLISER THORNE and JANOS SLINT sit at the main table.]
"Your foray to Craster's Keep, I'll sanction it. But I won't order anyone to go with you. Volunteers only."
"Why are you going back out there?" Lyanna questioned with a frown.
"To bring the traitors back I suppose" Jon shrugged.
"Or kill them before they spill secrets" Robb added.
Jon nodded to that.
"I don't like it" Lyanna muttered.
Jon took his mother's hand and patted it gently.
[JON moves down to the main floor of the hall. GRENN knocks against the table to get their attention. The hall quiets.]
"I'm going beyond the Wall to Craster's Keep. I'm going to capture the mutineers holed up there or kill them. I'm asking for volunteers to come with me. There's 60 miles of wilderness between here and Craster's and Mance Rayder has an army bearing down on us, but we have to do this. Our survival may depend on us getting to these mutineers before Mance does. They know the Wall. They know our defenses. If Mance learns what they know, we're lost. But if that's not enough, then consider this. If the Night's Watch are truly brothers, then Lord Commander Mormont was our father. He lived and died for the Watch and he was betrayed by his own men. Stabbed in the back by cowards. He deserved far better. All we can give him now is justice. Who will join me?"
Rickard hummed in approval. Jon's speech was concise and to the point, no beating about it. That's how one gathered men, telling them the plan, telling them the risks, and letting them choose.
Both his grandsons had the makings of leaders in them.
[GRENN stands. JON Nods. DOLOROUS EDD stands. Three more join, and then LOCKE does.]
"I can't let a recruit come north of the Wall."
"Then let me say my vows. If it's a fight you're heading for, then you need men who know how."
"Thank you, brothers."
"He's earned loyalty in the ranks" Brandon the Elder noted with a smile. "Maybe they'll name him the next Lord Commander."
It was meant as a jest, but both Ned and Rickard hummed in thought.
[CRASTER'S KEEP, MORNING]
[BRAN, MEERA, JOJEN and JODOR watch the bustle of the keep.]
"They're Night's Watch. Look. Jon might be here."
"If Jon was here, why would they put his wolf in a cage?"
Jon's eyes narrowed dangerously at the vision. How dare they treat his wolf like that. He hoped they were all killed in the coming struggle. But moe than that he hoped Ghost could be saved from them before they do to him what was done to Grey Wind.
"They might have been Night's Watch once, not anymore. We're not safe here. We need to go."
"No."
"Stupid boy!" Catelyn snapped.
The Bran of the future might not have heard her, but the Bran in the Hall had and he flinched.
"I'm not leaving without Summer."
[MEERA and JOJEN exchange a silent look.]
"Can you remember where the cage was?"
"The east side of the keep."
"If I'm not back soon, we'll meet..."
[A Ranger smashes MEERA in the face, and she falls. BRAN and JOJEN react. HODOR stands. They are surrounded by Night's Watch traitors.]
"It was foolish to even go out. Summer's caught and now so are the rest" Ned frowned, not minding his voice.
Bran heard him as clear as the rest and guilt churned inside him. This was his fault. Whatever happened next was on him.
[INSIDE THE KEEP]
[The traitors yell and prod at HODOR, who is chained around his neck. HODOR tries to undo his bonds. A traitor stabs him in the leg, and he groans, falling back. BRAN, MEERA and JOJEN are brought into the keep. BRAN falls to the ground when released. A traitor sits him up. TANNER comes over to BRAN, and fondles his furs.]
"This is nice. Fine leather. You're no wildling. Important. Highborn. Who are you?"
[BRAN does not answer. TANNER rises and slaps him.]
Bran flinched.
"You see, where I come from, a commoner like me slaps a little lord like you, I'd lose my right hand."
"You may yet lose it" Robb muttered in fury. He would get his hands on this man and he would kill him. He didn't care that the man had not done any of this shit yet, he was a criminal and should have been dead.
"But we're a long way from home, aren't we? And the two of you, fancy-looking folks north of the Wall creeping through the woods. Isn't that a bit odd?"
[TANNER strokes MEERA's hair and face.]
"I like your curly hair. My mom had curls like that. Beautiful brown curls."
Bran gripped his knees tightly from fear and nerves. If they did anything to Meera…
"Why'd you drag a crippled boy all the way up here?"
[TANNER releases MEERA. JOJEN starts to spasm. He falls to the ground. TANNER grabs MEERA by the hair and pulls her away from JOJEN. He puts a knife to her throat.]
"Who are you?"
"I'm Brandon Stark! I'm Brandon Stark of Winterfell."
"It's Jon Snow's brother."
[TANNER releases MEERA and walks over. MEERA runs to JOJEN.]
Bran calmed slightly, only just. They were still in danger, but at least he was not handling Meera anymore.
It was stupid of him to think that he could do this easily, that he could make it to the Three Eyed Raven without facing any dangers. Or maybe he knew the dangers and thought he'd get away with it all. HE was stupid, and now he'd probably doomed his friends who were trying to help him!
[NORTH OF THE WALL, UNKNOWN LOCATION]
[A snowstorm howls. A lone horseman appears. It is a WHITE WALKER, riding a dead horse. He holds CRASTER'S BABY. The horse walks across a frozen lake, towards an ominous landscape.]
"Where is this place?" Brandon the Elder questioned. He did not remember studying about a place like this being in the North growing up.
"The land of always winter" Brynden answered silently. This was the only place he'd not been able to see, not been able to fly to. Now he would see what's there, learn their secrets.
[Ice cracks as the WHITE WALKER brings the baby to a stone circle with an altar in the middle. He places CRASTER'S BABY there. The NIGHT KING approaches from a line of white walkers. The NIGHT KING picks up the baby and pierces his cheek with a long fingernail. The baby's eyes turn blue.]
"What the fuck is that?!"