Alright here's the next chapter! Thanks to everyone who reviewed/faved/read.
*So apparently I never uploaded this! I was just about to do Chap 5 when I saw there was no 4. So sorry for messing up but here this is and the next one is very soon.
The hall was full of the heads of houses of all the Northern families. One notable absence was Lyanna. She would be sorely missed by all who knew her and benefited under her leadership. Her sacrifice would be sung about for generations. She would be a legend six thousand years to come, Jon would make sure of that.
"The battle is over but the war is far from won," Daenerys said.
She spoke with strength and conviction which had a calming effect on the others. Northerners were stubborn bastards at times, but the care and worry they showed and felt for their people was genuine. They'd just come out of the most terrifying battle of their lives and now they had to decide what to do next.
"The army of the dead have passed us by and marched south and with them, winter. The further south they march the more desolation they cause. We must rally our forces and meet them before they reach Moat Cailin and do anymore damage."
"How?" someone asked. "We barely survived this attack."
Daenerys nodded and only glanced down briefly. It was her only sign of weakness. "We may feel cut off from the rest of world right now, but that isn't true. The truth is that the Others are surrounded on both sides. They march south while forgetting that there is an army behind them and in front of them. Ser Jaime."
Jaime Lannister paused for a moment and then stood up and cleared his throat. "My sister has most likely gathered an army of her own. While we fought the dead, she has been preparing for whatever remains. Whether we like it or not, Cersei is our last hope. Someone needs to convince her to march her army north while we march south."
"And how do we do that?" Arya asked. It was for show. She'd been in on the meeting that had transpired before this one. She already knew the plan.
Jaime nodded toward her and then answered. "We send a group of riders, a small group, to ride hard and fast to King's Landing. There is time if we can bypass the Night King before he reaches the Neck. If we cut in front of him and get to Cersei first, we might have a chance."
"I have a better idea," Arya cut in, speaking out of turn. Sansa's gaze sharpened. "Why don't we send reports of our deaths. Of the North's demise. See what she does?"
Jaime grimaced. "Because I can't predict what she'll do. She might hear these reports and march North. And get slaughtered. Then where will we be? Or she could decide to flee Westeros altogether. Again, where will that leave us?"
Arya stared at him for a moment and then backed down. Nodding she said, "Alright. But who's going to volunteer to ride out on a suicide mission? Cersei will kill anyone of us who's shows our face in King's Landing."
Jaime nodded. "That's why I'll be the first to volunteer."
There was mumbling amongst the northmen but general agreement. He was an outsider. It was only right he risk his skin for this foolhardy mission. It was his sister, after all.
Dany swallowed hard and deliberately didn't look at Jon. "I'll be going as well."
That was pretty shocking and she was met with silence and gaping looks.
"What are you doing?" Jon hissed, but she ignored him.
"My dragon can outfly the Others. Alongside Jaime Lannister and one other person, we will get to King's Landing and convince Cersei to command her army to march north."
One man stood up. "I'd like to volunteer."
Dany smiled, privately thinking that she was sure no one would volunteer under her command. This was a nice contradiction. "Thank you, ser, for your bravery, but I have already chosen the third person. Arya Stark."
"You can't do that," Sansa cried, standing up to face the Dragon Queen. "That's my sister."
Dany eyed her calmly. "I know she's your sister. She's also my subject and I wish her to accompany me on the mission."
"It's suicide. Are you trying to kill off House Stark?"
Everyone was watching them and Dany lowered her voice. There was steel in it like Sansa had never heard before from her. "You need to back down. Now. I have a good reason for choosing Arya." Louder, she said, "And of course, Arya will be given the choice. This is a volunteer mission, after all."
Everyone quieted down and looked at the girl in question. She had an odd look on her face. Sansa swore it was akin to understanding. Arya stepped forward, toward Daenerys and the others, and then turned to face the heads of houses. "I believe I know why our queen wishes me to accompany her and I … agree. I will go."
Sansa stared at Arya, but had the sense not to have it out with her right there in front of everyone. She turned and walked away, to her bedchamber where she could think alone.
After about an hour, Arya slipped in and sat down in the chair opposite her by the hearth. "You're angry."
"Of course, I'm angry. You're going off to die. For her."
Arya clasped her hands and looked much like a mother who was putting up with a child's tantrum. "Thanks for your vote of confidence in my abilities."
"You know what I mean."
"Listen, there are things I'm alright with that you aren't. That few people are. If Cersei doesn't do what we want…"
"Then what? What could you do about it?" Sansa snapped.
Arya looked her dead in the eye. "I've got some things up my sleeve."
Sansa shook her head and glared at the fire.
"What do you think Daenerys is going to do if Cersei doesn't help us?" At Sansa's silence, she continued. "She's going to kill her. But what if Jaime Lannister can't let that happen? Who do you think she'll need then?"
Sansa still didn't answer.
"And what if something … horrific … has to happen to make this all go away? Do you think Jaime, he of newly found principles and morals, would be fine with that?"
Sansa finally looked at her. "We belong to the North."
"There will be no North if the Night King has his way."
"If you leave… we'll never see each other again." Sansa swallowed the lump that rose swiftly in her throat.
Arya smiled. "Of course we will. One way or another. What is that the Ironborn say? Nothing dead ever dies?"
"What is dead may never die," Sansa corrected with a slight smile.
Suddenly both sisters fell grim, looking at each other. Arya spoke first. "I guess that saying takes on a whole new meaning now."
"That's for certain," Sansa mumbled.
"You remember what Father used to say to us? That we were more than just ourselves. We belonged to our people. What we wanted had to take second place to what our house and the north needed."
Sansa grimaced. "Yes."
"It's the same as now. I'm the only one who can do what needs to be done in this instance. You need to see that."
"I'm afraid," Sansa admitted, swallowing hard.
Arya covered her sister's hand with her own. "I'm not."
She got up and walked out of the room.
XXXXX
It was freezing. Her teeth chattered and her whole body felt it had been doused with ice water. The Night King was here, she knew it. Surrounded on all sides but one by his undead army, her path forward was clear.
He sat on a throne of ice, surveying everything, especially her. She stopped a ways away from him, wrapping her arms around herself to try and keep warm.
Come.
She didn't want to.
A white walker with long white hair moved forward, hand on sword, and she nervously inched toward the throne. "Why am I here?" She sounded much braver than she felt.
He knew it too. A quick smirk told her so. He slowly extended a hand toward her. Then curved his fingers in a beckoning motion.
"I'm not coming closer."
She blinked and he was in front of her. Her knees almost gave out. His icy stare was unrelenting and she couldn't meet it.
A slow trickle of ice ran down the side of her face and she realized he was touching her again, this time with just one finger. She closed her eyes. Tears leaked out and down her cheeks. Something sharp, (a fingernail perhaps?) dug under her chin, forcing her head up. She trembled on that finger for what seemed like eternity.
Then fear overcame her and something snapped. She slapped a hand around the Night King's wrist and tightened her grip. It was a small defiance, but one that was important to her.
His brow lifted the slightest of fractions.
Then he released her. Very slowly.
Her anger rose just as slowly, but it was there. "Why won't you tell me what you want?"
He just stayed the way he was for several long seconds and then his mouth slowly opened. A voice like cracking ice filled the space around her. It sounded like it hadn't been used in centuries. "In time."
"We will kill you. Somehow."
He suddenly locked both of his hands onto her upper arms. She was flooded with … everything. Feelings, words, images. It left her gasping for air and on her knees when he released her.
I cannot be destroyed.
And then she was back in her bed, still gasping for air and terrified by what he'd shown her.
XXXXX
As Sansa came back to her senses, the Three-eyed Raven opened his eyes as well. They were filled with sorrow and fear.
He spoke aloud to no one. "One night, he'll take her for good."
One thing I thought was stupid was the whole Night King being killed with dragonglass plot point. I mean, really? He already had dragonglass in his heart. Why would stabbing him in the heart with dragonglass kill him? I would think that by taking it out somehow would make him human again and thus killable.
If anyone knows the answer or wants to reason it out, I'm all ears.