[BEYOND THE WALL]
[HODOR drags BRAN through the snow followed by JOJEN and MEERA REED]
"How long have they been travelling for?" Catelyn asked in worry. None of the four looked well-rested there.
"We can stop, we can rest."
"We'll rest with the three-eyed raven."
[JOJEN falls to the ground]
So they've been on the road for a long time… and without proper rest… Jojen Reed was not earning any favours from Catelyn Stark.
"We're not going to make it."
"We're already here."
[The group stands at the edge of a cliff. A large tree is seen not too far off in the distance. They head toward it. As they walk a skeleton hand reaches up and drags JOJEN to the ground. It starts pulling him backwards as MEERA runs towards him]
"And they don't have any weapons that work of these things" Brandon the Elder grunted in displeasure. Wait… didn't Sam give them Dragonglass?
He shook out of his thoughts when his brother nudged him. Ned motioned to Catelyn, who was panicking. Brandon rolled his eyes but made no comments more.
[Skeletons emerge from the ground and attack JOJEN, MEERA and HODOR. A brawl ensues. One of them attacks BRAN until his direwolf, SUMMER, fights it off. BRAN then wargs into Hodor and starts fighting back.]
"They will not be able to beat them all" Jon muttered under his breath, fear gripping him. What if this was the end for Bran?
[MEERA defeats a skeleton, only to see another repeatedly stabbing JOJEN]
Ned sighed deeply and lowered his head for the fallen son of his friend and bannerman. There was no way for the boy to stand from that attack… unless he was brought back as an undead slave for the White Walkers.
[Just as two skeletons close in on the warging BRAN, they're destroyed by two fireballs, apparently controlled by a young girl.]
"Pyromancers? That far North?" Varys muttered in confusion. He'd only run into those when he was young, but he knew for a fact that those things usually did not live in cold places. The heat empowered them, lack of it weakened them. Yet… why was there one beyond the Wall?
"He is lost. Come with me, or die with him."
"Poor Jojen" Lyanna murmured.
Bran watched with almost tears in his eyes. Jojen was there because of him, Jojen died because of him…
"Do you think he knew?" Sansa asked. "He was a Greenseer, do you think he knew he was going to die and still came along?"
"Maybe" Ned answered with a frown. "The Reeds have always been dutiful… perhaps Jojen saw this as another duty to fulfil…"
Bran grabbed Sansa's hand and squeezed. Sansa did not know how her question had helped Bran with his guilt, little as that was.
[The girl throws some more fireballs and the group move into a cave. When the skeletons try to follow, they explode.]
"They cannot follow us. The power that moves them is powerless here."
"The Three Eyed Raven can thwart the influence of the White Walkers?" Rickard asked in shock.
"Wards" Brynden explained. "There are certain wards from the time of the First Men that are able to do just that."
Rickard's brows furrowed. How did that man know? Unless…
"Who are you?"
"The First Men called us The Children, but we were born long before them."
"They are still alive?" Rickard asked with shock and wonder. By now, there was no question about whether the Children of The Forest existed or not, if the White Walkers did so did the Children. But to know that they still lived.
"They don't look that old" Bran commented with a frown. He could understand why they were called Children of the Forest now. They looked like children!
[They enter a room filled with tree roots. An old man is seated on a Weirwood throne in the centre. Weirwood roots surround the man and grow through his body. He is a pale, skeletal man in rotted, black clothing. His skin is white, aside from a red blotch on his neck and cheek. He has fine, white hair long enough to reach the earthen floor. He is missing one eye, while the other is red.]
Rhaegar inhaled sharply.
"It's you" Rickard turned to look at Brynden. And with him turned the rest. They each took in the silent man, the colour of his skin, the blotch on his cheek and neck, the missing eye. They were all similar… yet he looked nothing like the skeletal man in the vision.
"It is" Brynden nods.
"But.. you look normal" Bran muttered, pointing out the obvious that Brynden was not some skeletal man with roots growing out of him.
"I am assuming it has to do with this hall's ability to heal," Brynden said, though he was unsure. But it made the most sense. Doran's gout seemed healed. And he had heard about Ned Stark killing Jaime Lannister and the man was sitting pretty now.
"So… you're Lord Bloodraven then" Rhaegar spoke.
Incredulous looks were thrown at him. Everyone here knew who Lord Bloodraven was, either by reputation or by song. He was dead, long exiled to the Wall.
But then Brynden agreed and they all stared dumbfounded.
"I was terribly injured during a ranging. The Children found me, healed by and sat me on that throne of Weirwood. As I healed, the roots grew around me. And as I died, they invaded me and kept me alive. I am a mere shadow of myself once I am out of this hall, but here I am more myself."
"And you called for Bran… why?" Catelyn questioned, fear now gripping her. What did the sorcerer want with her boy?
"I have not done it yet, but I can assume that I have chosen him as my successor."
"You want him to sit that thing after you?!"
"Maybe. Or perhaps I have other plans. I am, at the moment, unsure. But I am sure we'll find out soon enough."
Seeing the reason behind the man's words, they all turned, except Catelyn who was glaring at the man. However, she was not the only one wanting. Perhaps after this, they would flock to him and demand answers.
[THE RIVERLANDS]
[ARYA STARK practising her river-dancing. She spots BRIENNE.]
"Morning!"
"Morning."
"Good" Catelyn released a sigh of relief. Brienne was there, she'd protect her girls.
"I like your sword. Are we getting close to the bloody gate?"
"About ten more miles."
"Did you hear that Podrick? Only about ten more miles to the Bloody Gate."
"Are you a knight?"
"No."
"But you know how to use that sword."
"I do."
"Does it have a name?"
"Oathkeeper."
"Mine's Needle. Who taught you how to fight?"
"My father."
"Mine never wanted to. Said fighting was for boys."
Ned had not changed from such a stance… but he was more open to his girls learning to at least defend themselves somewhat.
"Mine said the same. But I kept fighting the boys anyway. Kept losing. Finally, my father said, If you're going to do it, you might as well do it right."
[SANDOR "THE HOUND" CLEGANE emerges.]
"That's Sandor Clegane- the Hound."
"You're Arya Stark."
"Well, at least she recognised them" Sansa muttered.
"Hotpie told them that I was with The Hound, and the Hound's well known for his burned face" Arya pointed out.
"And Podrick probably has seen the hound before" Robb added.
"I swore to your mother I would bring you home to her."
"My mother's dead."
"I know. I wish I could've been there to protect her."
"You're not a northerner."
"I know, but I swore a sacred vow to protect her."
"Why didn't you?"
"She commanded me to bring Jaime Lannister back to King's Landing."
"Wrong thing to say," Jaime said in a sing-song voice. Both those people hated the Lannister. Neither would trust someone who had helped him, Jaime Lannister, return home.
"You're paid by the Lannisters. You're here for the bounty on me."
"I'm not paid by the Lannisters."
"No? Fancy sword you've got there. Where'd you get it? I've been looking at Lannister Gold all my life. Go on, Brienne of fucking Tarth, tell me that's not Lannister gold."
'Jaime Lannister gave me this sword."
"Pretty much sealed it there" Olenna muttered. As stupid as any man this one was.
"The Bloody Gate's ten miles."
"I swore to your mother by the Old Gods and the New-"
"I don't care what you swore!"
"You heard the girl! She's not coming with you."
"She is."
[BRIENNE and THE HOUND both draw their swords.]
"You're not a good listener. Valyrian steel- I've always wanted some Valyrian steel."
"Come with me, Arya. I'll take you to safety."
"Safety?! Where the fuck's that? Her aunt in the Eyrie's dead. Her mother's dead, her father's dead, her brother's dead. Winterfell's a pile of rubble. There's no safety, you dumb bitch. If you don't know that by now, you're the wrong one to watch over her."
"She is a bit of an optimist" Catelyn conceded. Which was not a bad thing. In times like this, a bit of optimism and a good heart went a long way in assuring people. She'd experienced that during the Rebellion when she feared her father and husband were both dead in battle.
[The two cross blades. THE HOUND seems to have the upper hand but BRIENNE defends well and floors him. THE HOUND grabs BRIENNE'S blade with his palms, shoves it to one side and punches her. They fight bare-handed, Brienne bites off THE HOUND'S ear, then THE HOUND draws a knife, and BRIENNE grabs a rock. She pushes THE HOUND down a steep cliff.]
"She's a scrapper too" Jaime smirked. The woman was one surprise after the other.
"Arya! Arya! ARYA! Where is she?"
"She was just here..."
"Oh my gods" Catelyn muttered.
"Why weren't you watching her?"
"I was watching you I thought you might need some help…"
"To be fair to Pod, he is a bit of a simpleton and needs to be told what to do" Tyrion defended with a chuckle. He was definitely bringing this boy into his service and at any cost. Loyalty like his was rare.
[ARYA is hiding just above BRIENNE. She walks down to THE HOUND.]
"So much for protecting her" Robb snorted.
"You're still here? Big bitch saved you."
"I don't need saving."
"No, not you. You're a real killer. With your water dancing, and your needle."
"You're gonna die?"
"Unless there's a Maester hiding behind that rock, aye, I'm done. I'd skin you alive for wine."
[ARYA offers water.]
"Fuck water! Killed by a woman. I bet you liked that."
"It wasn't unpleasant" Arya mumbled. It was rare for a woman to fight, let alone beat a man.
"Go on, go after her. She'll help you. Going out alone, you won't last a day out there."
"I'll last longer than you."
"You remember where the heart is? Fuck it. I'm ready. Go on, girl. Another name off your list. You kept promising me. I cut down your butcher's boy, the ginger. He was begging for mercy. Please sir, please don't kill me, please, please. Bled all over my horse. Saddle stunk of butcher's boy for weeks. And your sister, your pretty sister. I should've taken her. That night the Blackwater burned, I should've fucked her bloody. At least I'd have one happy memory! Do I have to beg you? Do it. Do it."
"He's egging you on," Jon said with a frown. "He's desperate for it to end."
"Well, maybe he deserves the death" Arya muttered. But she couldn't even bring herself to agree.
[ARYA stands up, takes THE HOUND'S coin purse, and walks away. Alone, she rides her horse to a small port.]
"I want to see the captain. I want to go north, to the wall."
"It might be safer for her now" Jon reasoned with himself. With Stannis there and Mance Rayder a captive, the Wall was safe once more. She'd be protected, he'd make sure of it.
"No, you don't."
"I can pay."
"There is nothing in the north but ice and war and pirates."
"The Ironborn haven't left yet then" Robb muttered angrily.
The Ironborn… Jon had forgotten about them.
"I wouldn't need a cabin. Please, I could work, scrubbing the floors, or…"
"I'm not going north, child, we're going home. The Free City of Braavos."
"Wait, I have something else."
"More silver won't make a difference."
"It's not silver, it's iron."
"The coin!" Arya suddenly shouted.
Ned and Catelyn were instantly on guard. IF Arya showed the man the coin…
[ARYA hands over the token she was given by JAQEN H'GHAR.]
"Valar morghulis."
"How did you… Valar Dohaeris. Of course, you shall have a cabin."
"Ned…"
"It won't happen this time" Ned whispered to his wife, though it was more for himself. What would happen to his girl on the other side of the Narrow Sea? What is she going to go through there? All alone and with no one to help if she were in danger?
Ned could not allow this.
He would not allow this.
[KING'S LANDING, TYRION'S CELL]
"What're you doing?"
"What do you think I'm doing? The galley's waiting in the bay bound for the Free Cities."
"I knew I could always count on you, brother," Tyrion said with a smirk.
"Yes, next time don't so you don't dig yourself into a hole you can't come out of alone" Jaime rolled his eyes.
"Who's helping you?"
"Varys."
Tyrion raised a brow at Varys, who hid a smile behind his sleeve. Varys had once said that he would always choose the realm over a monarch, was that it? Had he lost hope for the Lannisters and now is siding with the Targaryens? And does he intend to take him with? Tyrion was intrigued.
[They reach the end of the underground tunnel.]
"There's a locked door at the top of the stairs. Knock on it twice, and then twice again. Varys will open."
"I suppose this is goodbye, then."
"Farewell, little brother."
[They hug.]
"Jaime, thank you. For my life."
"Quickly now."
[TYRION takes a torch and uses a trap door to enter a room. He passes by a room, where a woman is sleeping on a double bed, and we see the brooch of the Hand of the King.]
Tyrion raised a brow.
"Tywin… my lion..."
"That hypocrite" Tyrion sneered. "And he was giving me grief over whoring!"
Joanna just stared in silence. She knew men had their needs and more often than not would welcome or force women into their beds to sate it. She witnessed it when she served as a lady waiting for Queen Rhaella Targaryen. But she'd thought Tywin was different… that such things were below him.
She was… hurt.
A gentle hand on her shoulder shook her out of her thoughts.
"Are you alright?" Jaime asked.
"I'll be fine" Joanna assured him with a smile. She was not fine, not really.
Jaime knew that, but he did not have the words to comfort her. So he took her hand and held it firmly.
[We see that the woman is SHAE. She grabs a knife, and she and TYRION struggle. TYRION eventually strangles her with the bedclothes, weeping.]
"Deserved it" Tyrion muttered around his cup of wine. He was not in love like his future self was, so his vicious anger did not shy from touching this whore.
[TYRION takes a crossbow from the wall and walks in on TYWIN on the privy.]
"Tyrion! Put down the crossbow. Who released you? Ah, your brother, I expect. He always had a soft spot for you."
"He's so calm about all of this" Jon frowned.
"He probably expected Jaime to do something like this after he failed to secure Tyrion's passage to the Wall" Daenerys reasoned.
"Or he's playing it calm to not give Tyrion the satisfaction of seeing him panic" Lyanna added.
"Could probably be both" Jon muttered, both girls nodding.
"Come, we'll go and talk in my chambers. Is this how you want to speak to me? Shaming your father has always given you pleasure…"
"All my life, you've wanted me dead."
"Yes. But you refused to die. I respect that, even admire it. You fight for what's yours. I'd never let them execute you; is that what you fear? I'd never let Illyn Payne take your head. You're a Lannister. You're my son."
Tyrion snorted. As if that was going to stop Tywin from pulling some bullshit so Tyrion died in some 'tragic' way. All of House Lannister no doubt.
"I loved her."
"Who?"
"Shae. I murdered her. With my own hands."
"You have a bad record with the women you fall in love with" Myrcella commented, unaware of the talk between Jaime and Tyrion.
"I do, don't I" Tyrion chuckled, his grip on his chalice tight.
"It doesn't matter."
"It doesn't matter?"
"She was a whore!"
"Say that word again."
"And what? You'll kill your own father in the privy? No. You're my son. Enough of this nonsense…"
"I am your son, and you sentenced me to die. You knew I didn't poison Joffrey, but you sentenced me all the same. Why?"
"Enough. We'll go back to my chambers and speak with some dignity."
"I can't go back there. She's in there."
"What, are you afraid of a dead whore?"
[TYRION fires the crossbow at TYWIN.]
"You… actually shot him," Jaime said with surprise.
"I did" Tyrion replied with equal shock.
"You shot me. You're no son of mine."
"I am your son. I have always been your son."
[TYRION fires again.]
Tyrion inhaled sharply. He'd killed his father. In his wildest dreams, he'd seen himself do it, though he was taller than the Mountain in those dreams and he'd slice his father in half and taunt him about being the half-man now and enjoy him crying. But that was no dream. His future self had shot not once but twice, the second one through the heart and killing him. He was… glad to be rid of him… yet at the same time…
"Good riddance" Joanna's scathing tone snapped Tyrion out of his thoughts.
She was angry, with hard lines around her eyes. But she was not angry at Tyrion, she was furious at Tywin. "The gods shamed him as he deserved" she added equally scathing.
But it was no divine retribution. Tyrion killed his father, he was a kinslayer. Yet his mother did not seem to think anything of it. Then again, it was she who made it clear that Tywin Lannister had to die so House Lannister could move forward in the right way.
Tyrion did not expect rebuke from her, yet the lack of it still surprised him