After hearing the news that Theon was present in the Great Hall, Visenya practically ran down the stairs, taking two at a time, to get there to see him as fast as she could. No sooner she entered the Great Hall she came face to face with Sansa, Maester Wolkan, Daenerys, a few soldiers from the Iron Islands, and Theon.
Aegon was right. Theon looked horrible.
The Gods haven't been good to him.
No sooner he laid his eyes on Visenya, he walked towards her and knelt down before her.
"My Queen." He sighed, bowing his head.
Visenya looked down in disbelief before she noticed Daenerys's angry gaze on her. She was angry that he was bending the knee to Visenya instead of her. Visenya gestured of the man to rise, which he did, and once he did, he walked back to his place next to Maester Wolkan.
"Where is your sister?" Daenerys asked.
"Captured by Queen Cersei and my Uncle." Theon explained.
"Why are you here?" Daenerys asked. "I asked her to take the Iron Islands in my name."
Visenya frowned at her sister, before turning to look at Theon, who had the look of exhaustion on his face.
"I want to fight for Winterfell, Lady Sansa, Queen Visenya, if you'll have me." Theon explained with slight hesitance in his voice.
Sansa and Visenya looked to each other, before walking up to the man, and engulfing him into a tight hug. Based upon this initial interaction, she could tell that Theon changed. He was different than the boy who used to torment her when the two grew up in Winterfell. In his place was a man who had been through so much, and even if Visenya never learned what occurred to him, she could tell he had been through enough.
Just as Sansa and Visenya were about to venturre back to their studies, Jon came into the Great Hall and announced to everyone gathered that they were coming tonight.
The White Walkers were coming.
No sooner Jon made that announcement, everyone gathered in Jon's study and stood around a large table.
"They're coming. We have Dragonglass and Valyrian steel, but there are too many of them...far too many. Our enemy doesn't tire. Doesn't stop. Doesn't feel." Jon explained to every single important commander, soldier, and political person gathered. "We can't beat them in a straight fight."
"So what can we do?" Jaime asked as he crossed his arms.
"The Night King made them all. They follow his command. If he falls, getting to him may be our best chance." Jon explained.
"If that's true, he'll never expose himself." Jaime countered.
"Yes, he will." Bran interjected from his spot, sitting behind Jon.
Everyone in the room turned to look at Bran in confusion.
"He'll come for me." Bran explained. "He's tried before, many times, with many Three-Eyed Ravens."
"Why?" Samwell asked in confusion. "What does he want?"
"An endless night." Bran responded with his monotoned voice. "He wants to erase this world, and I am its memory."
"That's what death is, isn't it? Forgetting. Being forgotten. If we forget where we've been and what we've done, we're not men anymore." Samwell sighed. "Just animals. Your memories don't come from books. Your stories aren't just stories. If I wanted to erase the world of men, I'd start with you."
Tyrion frowned. "How will he find you?"
"His mark is on me." Bran explained as he lifted the cuff of his right arm, revealing a bright red mark in the shape of a hand. "He always knows where I am."
Jon nodded. "We'll put you in the crypt, where it's safest."
"No." Bran protested. "We need to lure him into the open before his army destroys us all. I'll wait for him in the Godswood."
Visenya then looked to the map of Winterfell, her eyes landing on the Godswood.
"You want us to use you as bait?" Sansa asked in disbelief.
"We're not leaving you alone out there." Arya countered.
"At least let one of us be there with you." Rickon sighed.
"He won't be. I'll stay with him. With the Ironborn." Theon interjected before turning to Bran. "I took this castle from you. Let me defend you now."
Davos sighed. "We'll hold off the rest of them for as long as we can."
Tyrion nodded. "When the time comes, Ser Davos and I will be on the walls, to give you the signal to light the trench."
"Ser Davos is perfectly capable of waving a torch on his own." Daenerys countered. "You'll be in the crypt."
"Your Grace, I have fought before, I can do it again." Tyrion said in disbelief. "Alongside the men and women risking their lives."
"There are thousands of them and only one of you. You can't fight as well as they can, but you can think better than any of them." Daenerys countered. "You're here because of your mind. If we survive, I'll need it."
Tyrion nodded but Olenna rolled her eyes in response.
"In that case then, I shall be in the crypts as well." Olenna responded with sarcasm as she turned to Visenya. "Your Grace, if it pleases you, I wish to preserve my mind."
Daenerys frowned at the older woman's sarcasm and watched as the slightest smiles came over Visenya's face.
"The dragons should give us an edge in the field." Davos explained.
"If they're in the field, they're not protecting Bran. We need to be near him." Jon countered. "Not too near, or the Night King won't come. But close enough to pursue him when he does."
"Dragonfire will stop him?" Arya asked with a frown.
"I don't know. No one's ever tried." Bran explained.
"Arya and a small group of fighters should be in the crypts." Visenya interjected. "Those taking shelter should not be left defenseless."
Arya frowned in disbelief. "You seriously want me down there doing nothing while everyone else is getting slaughtered on the front lines? I want to fight them."
"And you will get your chance when they come to life." Visenya countered coldly.
"They?" Arya frowned.
"You told me what happened at Hardhome. What the Night King did after his army cut down all those Free Folk that couldn't escape. How he raised his hands and all the dead Free Folk stood back up." Visenya began turning to Jon. "When he sees us cut down or burn away enough of his numbers, he's going to do that again to replenish his losses. Since it's so close to Winterfell, it won't be just those that died on the field. I fear it will also be those that were laid to rest down there in the crypt over the centuries."
"The dead Starks?" Jon asked with a frown.
"When that happens we won't be able to help them and they won't be able to defend themselves. It will be a slaughter pit...and my daughter will be among them as well." She continued before she turned to Arya. "Which is why I would like you and a small number of fighting men to be down there to protect your sister, your brother. and my child along with those taking shelter, when your ancestors start clawing their way out of their resting place."
Arya let out a sigh of frustration before giving Visenya a small nod, seeing how stern the woman became.
"We're all going to die." Tormund said with a sigh as he looked to Brienne, who frowned in disgust. "But at least we die together."
Within the hour, people who were not going to be placed on the front lines began to go down into the crypts, and just as Visenya had said, Arya, and a couple Unsullied ventured down into them as well, to protect the people.
"Do you both have everything you need?" Jaime asked Myrcella and Tristane as they were getting ready to head down into the crypts.
Mycella nodded. "I believe so."
Visenya handed each of them a dragonglass dagger. "If they make it down there, use these to defend yourselves...normal steel won't kill them. Take care of yourselves, and each other."
Myrcella then gave a hug to Visenya, and then to Jaime before the two of them ventured down into the crypts.
"Do you have everything?" Visenya asked as she walked toward Mira, who was holding Helaena.
Mira nodded. "I have two daggers made of dragonglass with me in case something goes south."
Visenya solemnly nodded. "Take care of yourself, and her down there."
"I will guard her with my life, Your Grace." Mira confirmed with a nod.
Visenya tearfully nodded as she pulled Mira into a tight hug, not wanting to let the woman go. The two of them had become so close over the years, and had never been apart...till now. Once they pulled out of the hug, Visenya placed a kiss on Helaena's cheek, almost as if she was telling her goodbye, before she watched them enter the crypts.
"I don't want to say goodbye to her." Jaime said as he walked to Visenya.
"Why?" She asked, still not taking her eyes off Helaena.
"Because we will see her after all this is over." He sighed, making her glance at him sadly.
"I'll see you all on the other side!" Bronn exclaimed as he walked past the two of them and started heading towards the crypts.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jaime asked in disbelief.
"To the crypts!" He immediately replied. "They need protection too...plus there's a high survival rate!"
Visenya's eyes narrowed and Jaime shook his head in disbelief.
"You two better not fucking die!" Bronn practically snapped at the two of them. "You two, and your stupid fucking brother owe me a castle if we survive this!"
As they watched Bronn head down into the crypts, they both let out a consecutive sigh.
"Is Aegon going there as well?" Jaime asked as they turned around and began to walk into the Great Hall, where they would await for the signal.
"No, he wants to be on the front lines." Visenya explained. "Even though I want to protect him the best I can."
"It'll be alright, now the watch begins." He said with a sigh.
Eventually, after getting Maegor from her study, she ventured down to the Great Hall where she found Tyrion and Jaime sitting by the lit fire.
"If it isn't my favorite Targaryen!" Tyrion exclaimed. "Come, join us."
"I thought my sister was promoted to your favorite Targaryen?" She asked as she took her seat next to Jaime, dressed in the overcoat Sansa made her for flying, with Dark Sister and Dawn, ready.
"I am not on the best terms with your sister as of right now." He explained, pouring her a cup of wine. "But then again, neither are you."
"When have I ever been on good terms with my sister?" She countered with a small smile accepting the cup.
Silence fell over the three of them as they looked into the fire, before Tyrion broke it.
"I wish father was here." He said out of the blue, making Visenya and Jaime look to him in shock. "I would love to see the look on his face when he realizes his two sons are about to die defending Winterfell."
Jaime let out a laugh. "That would be something to see."
"I remember the first time we were here, the first time I saw this hall." Tyrion began.
"Mm." Jaime mused.
"You were a golden lion. I was a drunken whore-monger. It was all so simple." Tyrion continued.
"It wasn't so simple. I was sleeping with my sister and you had one friend in the world who was sleeping with his sister." Jaime countered.
"I didn't have one friend." Tyrion countered as he looked to Visenya. "I had her."
Visenya shook her head. "I hated the both of you so much."
"You were kind to me." Tyrion countered. "I remember the day I found you practically screaming in the Godswood, when you found out you had to marry my brother."
"You did that?" Jaime asked turning to look at Visenya in disbelief.
"I did." She said with a nod.
"I'm surprised they didn't hear your screams in Essos...I thought you were dying." Tyrion continued.
"So did I." She admitted. "The day you two came to Winterfell, was the day I started planning on how I could murder Robert Baratheon..though the plan never took place."
"I didn't even see you that day." Jaime admitted. "Where did they have you? Locked away in your quarters?"
She shook her head. "I was towards the back...and when everyone bowed to Robert...a part of me refused...I was angry...then I found out I had to marry you."
"You were so cold to me those first few years." Jaime began with a sigh. "You truly did hate me."
"I did." She nodded with a small smile, before letting out a laugh. "I plotted with Arya on the ways I could stab you death."
All three of them let out a consecutive laugh.
"You really did hate him." Tyrion sighed. "And now look at the both of you. Married with a child...though I don't know why you would marry my idiot brother."
"Some days I don't understand my reasoning either." Visenya sighed taking a sip of her wine, smirking at the glare Jaime was giving her.
"Do you miss any of it?" Jaime asked, looking to Tyrion, referencing who they were all those years ago.
"Of course I miss it." Tyrion replied.
"Well, my golden lion days are done, but whore-mongering is still an option for you." Jaime began making Tyrion sigh.
"It's not. Things would be easier if it were." Tyrion began raising his cup, allowing for Visenya and Jaime to raise theirs. "The perils of self-betterment."
All three of them took a drink from their cups as Brienne walked in with Podrick.
"Lady Brienne, come join us." Visenya smiled from her seat.
"Oh, we didn't mean to interrupt. We were just looking for somewhere warm to-" Brienne began.
"To contemplate your imminent death. You've come to the right place." Tyrion began before gesturing to his cup. "You want some of this piss? It's not bad. It's not good either."
"The good ale comes from the cellar...they only use it on special occasions." Visenya explained as Tyrion walked over to where the wine was kept, with Podrick following him.
"Thank you, milord." Podrick said with a nod.
"I don't think that's wise." Brienne sighed making Podrick turn back to her in question. "The battle might start at any moment...half cup."
"And you?" Tyrion asked as he continued to pour Podrick's drink until the cup overflowed with wine.
Brienne shook her head. "No, thank you. I should try and get some sleep."
"You really think any of us are going to sleep tonight?" Jaime asked in disbelief.
"Yes." Visenya urged, getting up from her seat and pulling up another chair next to her for Brienne, before taking her seat on Jaime's left. "Join us."
"All right." Brienne hesitantly nodded, accepting the drink from Tyrion as she sat down. "Just a bit."
Podrick pulled up a chair as well, and sat down with his own cup, and began to look into the fire, as Jaime interlaced his left hand with Visenya's right. That's when they all heard the Hall door open again, and in walked Davos and Tormund.
"Well, what do we have here?" Davos asked with some playful snark.
"Ser Davos, please join us." Visenya said with a smile,
"No, not for me, thank you, Your Grace." The older man responded as he stood in front of the fire. "Came here for this.I figured I could wait to die freezing my balls off out there or wait to die nice and warm in here."
"I don't blame you." Tyrion said with a nod.
Tormund walked up to Brienne and Visenya and stood in front of them.
"It could be our last night in this world, you know." He began.
Visenya frowned in confusion, before glancing to Jaime, who shook his head in disbelief.
"Yes, well, I'm glad you're here...fighting with us. Glad you survived Eastwatch." Brienne sighed.
"Would you like a drink?" Tyrion asked and in response Tormund turned around and raised his drinking horn.
"Brought my own." The man countered.
"Where is Princess Helaena, Your Grace?" Podrick asked Visenya in curiosity.
"In the crypts." Visenya said with a sigh.
"Is that another one of you silver-haired Targaryen siblings?" Tormund asked.
Visenya shook her head. "It's my daughter."
He then looked to Visenya, then Jaime, then back to Visenya again.
"You had a child with 'King Killer'?" He asked in disbelief. "No wonder your sister hates you."
"That's a new one." Jaime said with a nod. "I like it better than Kingslayer."
"They don't call you King Killer?" Tormund asked.
Jaime shrugged. "I'm sure someone does."
"They call me 'Giantsbane.'" Tormund began. "Want to know why?"
Visenya looked to Brienne, who shook her head in annoyance, as Jaime looked over his shoulder to see Tyrion who was standing off to the side of the room with his wine. Tormund grabbed a chair, and placed it so that his back was facing the fire, but he was physically facing Visenya, Jaime, and Brienne.
"I killed a giant when I was ten. Then I climbed right into bed with his wife." Tormund began, making Davos turn around in disbelief, shocked at the words coming out of the man's mouth. "When she woke up, you know what she did? Suckled me at her teat for three months. Thought I was her baby. That's how I got so strong. Giant's milk."
He then raised his horn to his mouth and started to drink from it, gulping noisily, as most of the drink spilled out of the horn.
"Maybe I will have that drink." Davos thought aloud.
"I don't blame Bronn for going into those crypts." Jaime murmured.
Visenya put her head in her hands. "I'm going to die, surrounded by the biggest idiots in the entire world."
A/N:
Shoutout to Ian09121995 for the help
As always, let me know if you have any questions, comments, ideas, or concerns.