[JON SNOW leaves the tunnel and walks out into the snow. Smoking dead bodies lie all around him. As he walks into the forest he becomes surrounded by Wildlings. He has entered the Wildling camp unarmed]
"Good luck killing him now" Robb muttered with a scowl. He knew this was a stupid idea.
"You're wearing a black cloak again."
"I've been sent to negotiate with you."
Robb's brows unfurrowed. Going with that logic, being without a weapon made sense. If they saw him unarmed, they'd let him get closer.
"Would the Wildlings even think about that?" Lyanna murmured in worry. These were Wildlings… would they negotiate?
[Mance and Jon enter Mance's tent and take a seat]
"It appears my trusting nature got the better of me. It's happened before. I was hoping your loyalty was real when you pledged yourself to us, Jon Snow, truly I was."
"He liked you," Rickard said unhelpfully.
"Hard not to like him, he's the best" Arya said with her chest puffed out.
Jon rolled his eyes at them both.
"He saw another one like him, someone who wanted freedom from the vows to be their own person. He didn't like me, he liked what he saw in me" Jon clarified softly.
It was the same thing to the deceased Lord of Winterfell, but he did not voice that part.
"The Halfhand ordered me to join your army and bring back whatever information I could to Castle Black. He made me kill him so you'd trust me. I was loyal, to him and to my Night's Watch vows."
"All of your vows? She wasn't enough to turn ya, eh? Were you enough to turn her?"
"She put three arrows in me when I escaped."
"Did you see her again at Castle Black?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"She's dead."
"Your doing?"
"No."
"We'll drink to her."
"So he was enough to turn her then" Tyrion muttered. Guess love, as fickle and mythical as it was, worked both ways. Which made him think of Tysha, his beautiful commoner wife who his father destroyed. Where was she now? How was she now?
[One of the Wildlings gets two cups and fills them with liquid. Jon looks at Mance]
"Of all the ways I'd kill you, poison would be the last."
[They pick up their cups and drink to YGRITTE. Jon begins to cough]
Lyanna tensed. Surely not…
"That's not wine."
The woman relaxed. Good…
"No, it's a proper Northern drink, Jon Snow. You did well. Fought hard. Killed some of our strongest men. One of our giants went into your tunnel and never came out again. Mag the Mighty."
"He's dead. He killed my friend Grenn."
"He was their king. Last of a bloodline that stretches back before the First Men."
"Can you imagine? A bloodline that comes from the First Men? And now they are nothing, gone in the wind. How easily such bloodlines are wiped away" Tyrion mused out loud. It made many think. Some didn't care, bloodline rose and fell all the time. But some also cared, some were saddened to lose such an old bloodline. A King's bloodline.
"He as a King… I thought the Wildlings did not have kings" Tommen asked.
They all turned to Brynden
"They don't" Brynden clarified. "But they have leaders, people they trust to lead their clans. Mag the Mighty was the chosen leader, as was his father and his father before him. A King, if you will, for his lineage and history."
They nodded in understanding.
"Grenn came from a farm."
"The noblest of farms, no doubt" Tyrion raised his cups for grenn. Truthfully, he only needed a reason to drink. Which was a lie in itself. Who would stop him?
[They lift their cups]
"Mag and Grenn."
"Grenn and Mag."
"Kullback, could I trouble you for something to eat? I don't imagine our guest has eaten anything in quite some time. So. You're here to strike a bargain?"
"Turn your army around and go home."
"You know I know you're low on arrows. You're low on oil. You're low on men. How many are left? 50?"
"I told Tormund and Orell. We have more than a thousand men."
"That won't work anymore. Mance knows it's a lie" Stannis muttered. No doubt he's received words by now. Or maybe a Warg has kept an eye and informed him.
"I showed you everything I had. The whole army, a hundred thousand strong, and what did you do? You fired on us with everything you had. It wasn't much. Soon as I saw that I sent four hundred men to climb the wall. An unmanned stretch five miles west of here. A lot of them will die climbing, but most of them will be over by the end of the day."
"Fuck" Brandon the Elder groaned. Even half of those men die, and that's a big if, two hundred men were more than enough to overwhelm the Watch as they are now.
"This is me being honest with you, Jon Snow, which is more than you've ever done for me. My people have bled enough. We're not here to conquer, we're here to hide behind your wall just like you. We need your tunnel. Now we both know that winter is coming and if my people aren't south of the wall when it comes in earnest, we'll all end up worse than dead. Wanna strike a bargain with me? Here's a bargain. You go back, you open the gates to us and I swear to you that no one else will die. Refuse and we'll kill every last man in Castle Black."
Ned thought for a moment. If this was what the Wildling planned, if this what these men and women followed with Mance at their helm… Ned could work with that. Perhaps… he had found a way to integrate the Wildlings to the North…
[Jon looks over towards the knife. The Wildlings get their weapons ready]
"Don't be an idiot!" Lyanna hissed. There was no way for him to get out without being cut down. He had what he needed, he needed to return, fast.
"Ah! Oh, that's why you're here. I reckon you could do it before any of them could stop ya. They'd kill you, of course, they'd kill ya slow, but ya knew that when you came in here. Are you capable of that, Jon Snow? Killing a man in his own tent when he's just offered ya peace? Is that what the Night's Watch is? Is that what you are?"
"Offered you his ale… would that count as bread and salt?" Bran asked.
"It's eating and drinking the food and drinks the host offers him. So yes, that should count as well" Ned murmured in reply.
Jon wouldn't do it. He knew his son well enough to know that he would not do it.
[A horn blows in the distance. Everyone scrambles, MANCE draws a knife to JON'S neck]
Brandon and Ned sat up, surprised.
"Reinforcements?" Brandon the Elder questioned.
"From where?" Ned asked.
"You attacking us?"
"No, it's like you said, we don't have the men."
[The Wildlings run around frantically. Men on horseback ride toward them. The horsemen continue toward the Wildlings, killing all in their path. The Wildlings fight back, clearly outnumbered]
"Stand down! I said my people have bled enough and I meant it."
[STANNIS BARATHEON and DAVOS SEAWORTH ride up toward MANCE RAYDER.]
"Thank you," Lyanna said with full earnestness. "Thank you for coming to my son's rescue."
"I- no doubt the red witch had a hand in this" Stannis said awkwardly. Truth be told, it felt good to be appreciated for something he did, to be thanked for doing his duty.
Lyanna smiled still before looking away.
"You did good, brother" Robert patted him on the shoulder.
Stannis knew well enough that the gratitude from Robert was for making Lyanna Stark smile, not because of any other reason. That he did not care for.
[They get off their horses. MANCE disarms himself]
"You're the king beyond the wall?"
[MANCEnods]
"You know who I am?"
"Never had the pleasure."
"This is Stannis Baratheon, the one true king of the seven kingdoms."
"We're not in the seven kingdoms and you're not dressed for this weather."
"You really are not" Robb commented on the armour and tunic Stannis wore. HE'll freeze in the weather of the North in that.
"It is customary to kneel when surrendering to a king."
"We do not kneel."
"I'll have thousands of your men in chains by nightfall, I'll have nowhere to put them and nothing to feed them. I'm not here to slaughter dogs. Their fate depends on their king."
"All the same, we do not kneel."
"Arrogant" Renly clicked his tongue.
"You say arrogant, I say principled" Robert replied. "They made him their King for this purpose, the stubbornness to hold on to their beliefs no matter what."
"At the expense of his men's lives?' Renly frowned.
"Especially that. They made the man who was the best of them their King, to lead them out of the terror that is the White walkers."
Renly's frown did not leave him. He saw no reason in what Robert said.
"What are men of the Night's Watch doing in a Wildling camp?"
"I was sent to discuss terms with the king beyond the wall."
"You're speaking to the one true king boy. You'll address him as your grace."
"I know he's the king. My father died for him. My name is Jon Snow, your grace. I'm Ned Stark's son."
"Your father was an honourable man. What do you think he'd have done with him?"
"I was this man's prisoner once. He could've tortured me, he could've killed me, but he spared my life. I think my father would've taken him prisoner, listened to what he had to say."
Ned nodded. He would have done exactly that.
"Very well."
[STANNIS turns to DAVOS]
"Take him."
"Your grace. If my father'd seen the things that I've seen, he'd also tell you to burn the dead before nightfall. All of them."
"No doubt the witch has told Stannis to do much and the same" Brandon the Elder muttered. This was why she was there, right? The fight against the Great Other.
[KING'S LANDING]
[QYBURN is seen closely analyzing GREGOR'S body. He's in PYCELLE'S lab with CERSEI]
"I would suggest milk of the poppy to ease his pain but he is completely insensate."
"Bloody Martells."
"The cause appears to be manticore venom. I've read a good deal about it. It's a horrible poison, usually Mantari in origin. Oh! Yes, yes. There's nothing to be done."
Oberyn smiled smugly. Good, that monster was going to suffer before his death. It was as much as he deserved.
Elia spat in disgust. She was glad that Gregor was going to die and would suffer as he did so, but it was not worth the cost of losing her brother. She was already dead and no amount of vengeance would bring her or her children back. She'd rather Oberyn went on to die of natural causes than leave his family over something as meaningless as vengeance.
"Yes, there is."
"No…" Oberyn whispered horrified.
"May I ask what you think you're doing?"
"Saving him."
"Your grace. I wish it were otherwise, but Ser Gregor is beyond saving. Well, well beyond. This man is not even a Maester, let alone Grand Maester."
"That's for the best. No Maester knows how to save him."
"That is exactly the sort of arrogance that had him expelled from the citadel, your grace. His curiosity was deemed dangerous and unnatural. Rightly so in my opinion."
"You're dismissed, Grand Maester."
"Your grace. This is my laboratory!"
"Not anymore."
"Serves you right, your grey rat bastard" Tyrion spat venemously. All his boot-licking and ass-eating would do him no good now.
[PYCELLE leaves the laboratory angrily as QYBURN tries to save GREGOR'S body]
"You can save him?"
"Difficult to say, your grace, but if my past work is any guide. We stand a chance."
"Do everything you can. Come to me with anything you need."
"Thank you, your grace. You should know, the process may change him, somewhat."
"Will it weaken him?"
"Oh no."
"Very well then."
[CERSEI leaves as QYBURN drains GREGOR'S blood.]
"No... no… NO!" Oberyn stood outraged, angry eyes staring at the vision. "I killed hiM! I made him suffer! You can't bring him back! Not after all I sacrificed!"
"Your vengeance is hollow" Doran said softly and Oberyn turned his angry eyes at his brother.
"I did something! I did something while you plotted and waited! I made Elia's killer suffer!"
"Load of good that did" Doran snorted. "You died, widowed our paramore, orphaned your girls, and the great lump would stand once more while you'd rot in the soul" Doran glared at his brother." You have always been impatient, hot-blooded and quick to action. Look at what it has done to you now. I have implored and begged for you to sit, think and then strike when the time is right. But your arrogance and immaturity have led to this. Gregor Clegane will live, a shadow of himself maybe but he will live and you will have died a fruitless death!"
Oberyn fell back as his brother's words hit him. His vengeance… was for naught. He'd died for nothing…
"What plan?" Elia whispered to Doran once he had calmed himself.
Doran eyed his sister then the rest. They were all looking at him, curious every last one of them. Damn Oberyn…
"If it does not get revealed here, I'll tell you," the Prince of Dorne said instead.
Elia nodded softly, unsure of what to make of it. Doran was unlike Obryn as the sun was unlike to the moon. Doran plotted and waited, like a predator waiting, and when the time was right he pounced.
Something that Elia found bothersome. Doran waited too long, took too much time, and when his chosen pawns fell he reset the board. Which meant he hardly if ever sprang to action.
That was why Elia was curious. Had the initial board somehow made it or did Doran have to redo his board?
[MEREEN]
[DAENERYS is sitting on her throne listening to her people's problems. MISSANDEI translates for the people]
"You stand before Daenerys Stormborn, the Unburnt, Queen of Mereen, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men. Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons."
"Thank you for seeing me, your grace. My name is Fennesz. I can speak the common tongue if you wish."
"Oh, that is a surprise" Varys smirked, "you don't have those often."
"Before you freed me, I belonged to Master Mighdal. I was a tutor to his children. I taught them languages and history. They know a great deal about your family because of me. Little Calla is only seven, but she admires you very much."
Daenerys smiled softly.
"When you took the city, the children begged me not to leave the house. But Master Mighdal and I agreed that I must. So I lost my home. Now I live on the streets."
"I have outfitted mess halls to feed all former slaves and barracks to shelter them."
"I do not mean to offend, your grace. I went to one of these places. The young prey on the old. Take what they want and beat us if we resist."
"The greedy will always take when the opportunity for it rises" Jon Arryn frowned.
"Or be spurred by people wishing the ruler's downfall" Rhaegar added. "These young slaves could easily be men working for the masters, trying to stir up chaos and cause unrest amongst the people."
"Could be" Jon nodded. "Daenerys will have her work cut out for her at this rate…"
Daenerys bit her lip nervously. Nothing in life was easy, she knew it better than many of the people here.
"My Unsullied will make them safe again in short order my friend, this I promise you."
"Even if they are safe, who would I be there? What purpose would I serve? With my master, I was a teacher. I had the respect and love of these children."
"What is it that you want from me?"
"Your grace, I ask you to let me sell myself back to Master Mighdal."
"He wishes to be a slave again?" Daenerys asked in shock.
"It's the only thing he knows" Jon reasoned. "He's old and from the sounds of it, his master treated him like a human, respected and probably even loved him. He was a teacher to his children. That is his safe space, as wrong as the relationship is, it's all he knows."
"Are you saying I should allow the Masters to reclaim their slaves then?" Daenerys questioned.
"No, slavery is bad and nothing will change that" Jon answered. "Perhaps introduce jobs, so his former master may hire him, pay him for his work and not treat him like he's a slave."
"I suppose…" the Princess frowned.
"The young may rejoice in the new world you've built for them. But for those of us too old to change there is only fear and squalor. I am not alone. There are many outside waiting to beg the same-"
"I did not take this city to preside over the injustice I fought to destroy. I took it to bring people freedom. But freedom means making your own choices. I will allow you to sign a contract with your former master. It may not cover a period lasting longer than a year."
"Guess you had the same idea" Lyanna smiled at the girl.
Daenerys smiled back.
[FENNESZ leaves slowly, thanking DAENERYS all the way]
"The masters will take advantage of this situation. The men serving them will be slaves in all but name."
"But if you are not letting them choose, then is it truly freedom?" Robb murmured.
"It is, but not the kind of freedom one would have wanted" Jon argued gently.
"Odd how freedom can mean different things for different people" Robb muttered.
Jon nodded.
[Another man enters the hall. He speaks in low Valyrian while crying. MISSANDEI translates]
"I have brought you. He came from the sky. The black one. The winged shadow. He came from the sky and..."
[The man kneels on the ground sobbing, laying a pile of burnt bones on the ground]
"No," Daenerys said in horror. Sheep were one thing… but children?
"Unsurprising" Rhaegar muttered, his tone gentle and understanding. "Dragons are… violent…"
"You're okay with this?" Daenerys asked in disgust.
"No. I am not. But I also know that Dragons are not pets, that they are great beasts who go through certain periods of viciousness as they grow. At Dragonstone they were bound to the Dragonmont and the Dragontamers knew how to handle them. Letting them have free reign as they have with you would always be disastrous."
"So what? Hatching the dragons was a mistake?" Jon asked.
"No. The mistake was not training them properly. Dragonriders in the past worked with their dragons from a young age, taught them commands to follow, and punished them when they acted out. A dragon is an intelligent beast, but they are beasts in the end. Some dragon riders used whips to control their dragons and whipped them if they stepped a toe out of line from what their riders wanted. You're seeing this now and know what will happen if you do not discipline them. You will not make the same mistakes your future self is making."
Daenerys stared at her brother for a moment, a little taken aback by the confidence in his last words. Could she do it? Could she tame these dragons enough to teach them between right and wrong? Drogon is vicious and violent, would she be able to reign in his tendencies? Or perhaps redirect them in some other way?
So much to think about…
[The entrance to the catacombs is rolled open. DAENERYS' dragons enter followed by DAENERYS. Inside there is food for them. They chomp at the food as DAENERYS puts chains collar around their necks. She walks away crying as they screech at her. She turns around as the catacombs close with tears in her eyes.]
"I wonder how that'll affect them," Rhaegar thought to himself, while Daenerys watched with sadness. Would the dragons listen to her now? Or will they feel betrayed and kill her the next time she goes to see them?
[CASTLE BLACK]
[MAESTER AEMON and the rest of the Night's Watch burn the bodies of their fallen comrades]
"They came to us from White Harbor and Barrowton, from Fairmarket and King's Landing, from north and south, from east and west. They died protecting men, women, and children who will never know their names. It is for us to remember them. Our brothers, we shall never see their like again."
[All chorus]
"And now their watch is ended."
[Aemon passes the torch around as each member of the Night's Watch helps burn the bodies. Stannis watches from above.]
The people lowered their heads out of respect for the deceased. They died fighting, protecting the lands and making sure no man, woman or child would need to face the horror. Like those that had.
[JON approached TORMUND. The wildling looks up and grunts.]
"Your old blind man patched me up. Why?"
"He's sworn to treat all wounded men, friend or foe."
"You want me alive so you can torture me?"
"You can only expect the things that you do to others" Jon said.
"Or perhaps like you, they too were told stories when they were young of how the Night's Watch tortured the captured" Daenerys pointed out.
"Could be" Jon nods.
"No one's going to torture you."
"So how do we die? Hanging? Beheading? Drop us from the top of the wall?"
"I don't know what happens to the prisoners."
"Who decides?"
"I suppose Stannis does."
"He your king now?"
"I don't have a king."
"You spent too much time with us, Jon Snow. You can never be a kneeler again."
"We're gonna burn the bodies of your dead. Do you want to say any words over them?"
"Words? What kind of words?"
"Don't they say something for the dead?" Tommen asked.
"No. They don't believe in that custom. What is dead is dead, they do not need words" Brynden explained.
"Funeral words. I don't know how the Free Folk do it."
"Do what?"
"Say farewell."
"The dead can't hear us, boy."
Tommen nodded. It matched with what Brynden said.
[JON walks away]
"Snow. Did you love her? She loved you."
"She told you?"
"No. All she ever talked about was killing you. That's how I know."
Jon frowned. Again… he did not know how to feel about this.
"She belongs in the North. The real North. You understand me?"
[JON leaves and takes YGRITTE'S body out past The Wall. He burns her body in a pile of logs.]
"Good" Lyanna nodded. It was what she deserved. Try as she might, she couldn't be angry at the girl. Perhaps it had to do with how she showed devotion to her son in a way nobody else showed. Even if the start of that relationship was her egging him along until he gave in.