[BRAAVOS – STREETS]
[ARYA creeps up on a pigeon in an alleyway and cuts its head off with Needle.]
Catelyn winced. She'd done that so smoothly…
[She walks down the street with the pigeon in a pouch and Needle dangling from her hip. Three men walk by, see Needle, and approach her.]
"Oh no," Robb muttered, instantly on guard. He swore if they even touched his sister…
[ARYA stops and turns around to face them.]
"What have you got there?"
[ARYA doesn't respond.]
"I said—"
"Turn around and go."
[She pulls out Needle.]
"Turn around and go."
"That's a nice little sword. Worth 100 pieces, a sword like that."
"Nothing's worth anything to dead men."
[The man draws his sword and approaches her with his sword, but then sees the Old Man from the House of Black and White walking towards the altercation and backs off.]
Oberyn frowned. Afraid of an attendant? There many like him tending to the House of Black and White… or so he thought…
[They flee. The man looks at ARYA and then begins walking away.]
[BRAAVOS - THE HOUSE OF BLACK AND WHITE]
[The Old Man leads ARYA back to the doorstep.]
"You lost this."
[He tosses ARYA her coin, then reaches to his face, pulls it off, and reveals the face of JAQEN H'GHAR]
"It was him all along" Arya inhaled sharply. So it was a test, to see if she was cut out for it or not…
"You said there was no Jaqen H'ghar here."
"There isn't. A man is not Jaqen H'ghar."
[He begins to head back inside the House of Black and White.]
"Well who are you then?"
"No one. And that is who a girl must become."
[JAQEN opens the door and waits for ARYA. After a moment, she follows him into the House of Black and White. The door closes behind them.]
[MEEREEN – PRISON]
[MOSSADOR is let into the Son of the Harpy's cell. The guards hold him up for Mossador. They speak in Valyrian.]
"She doesn't belong here. And no matter how many of your traitors call her "Mhysa", she will never be your mother."
Perhaps not, but Daenerys would be damned if she let them suffer still. It was something she was adamant about doing, helping the slaves find freedom…
[MEEREEN - STREET – DAY]
[The Harpy is displayed in the street with his mask on, but the eye holes are cut out. A knife is in his stomach and skull, and "Kill the Masters" is written in blood on the wall next to the body.]
"He killed the prisoner" Daenerys muttered softly. It was a good thing, a slavery sympathizer being dead… right? Why did it feel like it was not done right…
[MEEREEN – PALACE]
"Why?"
[MOSSADOR is kneeling and speaks Valyrian]
"For you, Mhysa. You wanted the Harpy dead, but your hands were tied. I set you free, as you did all of us."
"He was our prisoner, awaiting trial. You had no right."
"A man may be guilty, but he had every right to a trial," Lyanna said gently to the girl beside her. "You can't pick and choose who receives what right, you must make sure all the people receive all their rights."
Daenerys nods. She understood now why the killing felt so hollow. It was not justice.
"He would rather rip your city apart than see slaves lifted from the dirt."
"There are no more slaves. There are no more Masters."
"Then who lives in the Pyramids? Who wears gold masks and murders your children? When Grey Worm came to us, I was the first to take up the knife for you. I remember the look on my father's face as I struck down his Master, who had traded his infant son for a dog. My father died in the fighting. If we allow the Sons of the Harpy to return us to chains, he never lived."
"I understand what he says and why he did what he did" Daenerys whispered.
"But you also know it's wrong" Lyanna spoke.
The Princess nods.
"The Harpy's life was not yours to take. Once, the Masters were the law—"
"-and now you are the law!"
"The law is the law. Take him."
[Two Unsullieds carry MOSSADOR Out of the room.]
[MEEREEN – DAY]
[The Unsullied escort DAENERYS and her small council. A large crowd surrounds them. They settle in front of the courthouse, surrounded by both former Masters and former slaves. The Unsullied form a ring around her. HIZDAHR speaks to DAARIO]
"She should have cut off the traitor's head in the Great Pyramid and been done with it."
"A public execution would set an example…" Stannis murmured. But it was not the time, he felt.
[The former slaves continue to yell to their Mhysa while the masters leer at her. DAENERYS addresses the crowd in Valyrian]
"You opened your gates to me because I promised you freedom and justice. One cannot exist without the other."
[MOSSADOR is carried into the scene by Unsullied and set before DAENERYS on his knees. MOSSADOR speaks in Valyrian]
"Mhysa, please! Forgive me!"
"She can't forgive him" Jon murmured. "It would set a precedent."
"She can't also murder him before all. He's loyal to her, what would it say to the other loyalists who would do the same thing to a slaver as he did? It would shake their confidence in Daenerys" Robb muttered back.
"A citizen of Meereen was awaiting trial and this man murdered him. The punishment is death."
[The Crowd chats for Mercy. MOSSADOR looks to Daenerys, pleading. She looks at Daario and nods. He takes out his arakh, walks to MOSSADOR, and puts it to his neck. The crowd starts protesting and the Masters look on uncertainly. MOSSADOR prays in Valyrian. The crowd begs and pleads for mercy. Daenerys stares out at the crowd, then nods to Daario, who swiftly decapitates Mossador.]
The hall waited with bated breath, not sure how things would break out now. On one hand, they could accept it, on another they might rebel.
[The crowd goes silent. Suddenly, they start hissing at DAENERYS.]
"They are pissed" Theon muttered, eyes fixed on the vision like all the rest.
[The Unsullied brace themselves. A former slave throws a rock at a former Master, and the Unsullied attempt to hold back the fight. SER BARRISTAN and GREY WORM escort MISSANDEI and DAENERYS away from the crowd. The Unsullied cover her with their shields. Former slaves and masters begin killing each other in the streets. Rocks are thrown at the Unsullied shields in attempts to hit DAENERYS.]
Daenerys clutched knees tightly. The people she freed… why did she feel like she failed them? Justice should be equal for all, Lyanna Stark was right in that manner, so why was she feeling so guilty about this? About killing the man who broke the law.
The man who picked up a knife for her cause first…
[MEEREEN - GREAT PYRAMID]
"I'll stand guard outside your door tonight, Your Grace."
"We all guard tonight."
"Leave me."
[BARRISTAN, DAARIO, MISSANDEI, and GREY WORM leave the room. DAENERYS hears a noise coming from outside and goes out on her balcony to investigate.]
"Don't! It could be a trap" Jon hissed.
Daenerys looked at the boy and then back at the vision.
[When she's out she hears a soft growl and turns to see DROGON, perched on the top of the pyramid and close to fully grown.]
"He's grown so much so fast" Daenerys said in awe. Suddenly she was no longer feeling guilty, was not feeling any of her insecurities. Her confidence was seeping back into her.
[He slowly climbs down to her balcony. DAENERYS extends her hand. DROGON sniffs it hesitantly, and then takes off into the night, soaring over Meereen.]
"You haven't lost him yet," Rhaegar said, loudly and kindly.
Daenerys smiled, her eyes glassy.
[PENTOS - COUNTRYSIDE – CARRIAGE]
"There's a bug."
"Yes, best be careful. You might accidentally consume some solid food."
"I don't think a bug can be considered 'food'" Tyrion muttered a little green.
"It's a delicacy in Essos" Varys smirked.
"Not like that I'm certain…
"When I agreed to come with you, did I misrepresent my intentions? Besides, what is there for me to do inside this fucking box?"
"That looks like a very fancy and large fucking box" Jaime countered.
"Yes, well I might be too drunk to appreciate it…"
"You don't like it?"
"I want to take a walk."
"You can't. Cersei has offered a lordship to the man who brings her your head."
"She ought to offer her cunt. Best part of her for the best part of me. Well, I suppose a box is as good a place for me as anywhere."
"Are we really going to spend the entire road to Volantis talking about the futility of everything?"
"Wait, didn't you say you were taking me to Meereen?"
"I believe so."
"Why Volantis then?"
Varys shrugged.
"You need to pass through Volantis to reach Meereen."
That was over the roads built during the Valyrian era, the longer way if Varys was honest. The shorter route was to go straight, passing close by Qohor. His future self must have a reason then… but what?
"You're right. No point."
[TYRION realising their location.]
"The road to Volantis? You said we were going to Meereen. What's in Volantis?"
"The road to Meereen."
Varys hummed. It didn't sound like his future self had a reason…
"And what do you hope to find at the end of the road to Meereen?"
"I told you. A ruler."
"We've already got a ruler. Everywhere has already got a ruler. Every pile of shit on the side of every road has someone's banner hanging from it."
"You were quite good, you know. At ruling. During your brief tenure as Hand."
"I didn't rule. I was a servant."
"The second strongest man? You were a servant to one man, while the real was at your beck and call, or at least as many of the realm that bent the knee to Joffrey. You were a ruler, a decent one at that" Joanna said.
"I doubt that" Tyrion muttered. He was interim hand and had to tip-toe around to not step on someone's tail. Not that he had done a good job at the latter.
"Still, a man of talent."
"Managed to kill a lot of people."
"War would demand that of you," Jaime said kindly. "You saved people, focus on that more than on what you had to do to save them."
"Is that what you said to yourself when you put a sword through the Mad King's back?" Jon questioned, not unkindly. It was a simple question, born from curiosity.
Jaime understood that. Years of having heard the scorn in the words, he knew when he was being cursed. This was not one of those times.
"I tried, but hard to do when everyone rubs it in your face" Jaime answered with a smile, not a taunting one but a genuine one.
Jon nodded, looking away.
"Yes, but showed great promise in other areas as well."
"She wanted me to leave King's Landing. She begged me. I wouldn't go."
"Why?"
"Cause I liked it. Power. Even as a servant."
"What servant has power?" Robb muttered softly.
"I don't think he means servants as the ones that work for us" Jon reasoned. "If you think about it, those who serve us are our servants. And we serve the King, so we are his servants."
"That makes more sense" Robb nods.
"People follow leaders. And they will never follow us. They find us repulsive."
"I find us repulsive" Tyrion muttered.
"I find us repulsive."
Jaime snorted.
"And we find them repulsive, which is why we surround ourselves with large, comfortable boxes to keep them away. And yet, no matter what we do, people like you and me are never really satisfied inside the box. Not for long."
"You're right. Let's go for a walk."
"No."
"How many dwarves are there in the world? Is Cersei going to kill them all?"
[KING'S LANDING - QYBURN'S ROOM]
[A dwarf head is placed on her desk.]
"Well, that answers that question" Tyrion snorted
[KING'S LANDING - RED KEEP]
[CERSEI and QYBURN enter the room, taking the open seats on the small council.]
"Uncle Kevan's on the council" Jaime smiled.
"Our sister has some brain then. Him as a member of the council after the years he's served father is a good decision" Tyrion nods.
[CERSEI sits at the head of the table.]
"Of course she takes that seat" Tyrion snorted.
"You're the Hand of the King?"
"No, Uncle. Clearly, it would not be appropriate for a woman to assume that role."
"Must have killed her saying those words" Renly said dryly.
"I'm merely advising my son until he comes of age and chooses a Hand for himself."
"Your Grace, I would be willing to serve provisionally as the King's Hand until he becomes old enough—"
"You're a good man, Lord Tyrell,"
"Must be killing her to say those words and not gag or glare" Margaery smirked.
"But I don't imagine you'll have the time. In addition to being Master of Ships, the king has appointed you Master of Coin."
"Has anyone ever handled two positions at the same time?" Daenerys questioned.
"There have been men who held multiple offices, but not at the same time" Jon Arryn answered.
"There was a brief moment where Ser Tyland Lannister held the office of Master of Coin and Master of Ships" Brynden added after Jo nArryn had spoken. "It was during the dance. Aegon II had asked Dalton Greyjoy to sit on the council as Master of Ships and bring the Iron Islands to the Greens' side. But he chose to not heed the call and later attacked Lannisport."
"Our ancestor was called to sit on the council?" Theon whispered to Yara, who shrugged. Neither knew the history that well, even if they knew Dalton Greyjoy and his role in the Dance.
Around the same time, Jaime commented to a snorting Tyrion how the Iron Islands were stupid even back then, thinking that the outcome was the same as when Victarion Greyjoy attacked Lannisport. Tyrion reminded him that Dalton Greyjoy was a bigger problem for the Lannisters then than Victarion Greyjoy had been for them.
Daenerys though nodded her thanks to both men.
"He called your experience and wisdom in financial matters unparalleled."
"I don't think I said that" Tommen whispered.
"Mother probably said you did so it made you look better" Myrcella whispered back.
"But why? It's a lie. We shouldn't lie."
Their whole life was a lie, but Myrcella would not remind her baby brother of that cruelty…
"It's something Kings have to do sometimes" she smiled.
Tommen did not look like he was happy with that. Why must a king lie at all?
"He said he would be honoured to have you represent the crown's interests in the same."
"The honour is all mine, Your Grace."
"Your Grace, in the past on several occasions, a Grand Maester has served as the King's Hand."
"Septons have, Grand Maesters, possibly not" Jon Arryn frowned. He looked at Brynden who shrugged. So neither of them had an idea.
"Cersei isn't stupid enough to name him the Hand" Tyrion snorted. One thing he and his sister shared was their mutual dislike of Pyccelle, even if Cersei used him unlike he did.
"The King has named Qyburn the new Master of Whisperers."
"Your Grace, him? This man? This embarrassment to the Citadel?"
"The Citadel has nothing to do with any position other than that of the Grand Maester. His outrage will do no good" Rhaegar scoffed. Not that he liked Qyburn either. He didn't know the man, but there was something about him that left a bad taste in Rhaegar's mouth.
"Your Grace, what qualifications can he possibly have for this post?
"The qualification of loyalty, Grand Maester. That's far more than the eunuch ever had. Far more than many ever have."
"I must say I cannot see—"
[CERSEI cuts him off]
"Uncle Kevan, in light of your position as commander of the Lannister armies, it would please the king if you would serve as his Master of War. No man living better deserves the title."
"Does such a title even exist?" Jon frowned. He had heard none of it…
"Not that I know" Ned frowned. He turned to Jon Arryn, who was equally frowning.
"That is kind of you to say. I would like to hear it from the king himself."
"The king is very busy at this moment."
"He should be here, learning what it means to rule."
"He is learning."
"Shouldn't I be there if I am to learn?" Tommen asked, a little panicked. "How can I learn if I'm not there!?"
Myrcella held his hand gently. She knew what their mother was doing, gathering power under her skirt. She did not care that Tommen was King, she only wanted the power for herself…
"This time, I will make sure you learn how to be a good Lord. We'll both learn together" Tyrion said with a smile.
Tommen turned to him. He did not want to be a Lord, he wanted to be the King! If Joffrey couldn't be King then it should be him! He was a Baratheon too!
The poor boy, still young, was aware but did not understand the implication of what Jaime being his father meant. To him, his mother was married to the King, which meant that she was Queen and he as her son was Prince.
"I returned to the capital to pay my respects to my brother. And to you. And to serve the king. I did not return to the capital to serve as your puppet. To watch you stack the small council with sycophants. Sending your own brother away so he wouldn't be—"
"My brother has left the capital to lead a sensitive diplomatic mission."
"What mission?"
"That is not your concern as Master of War."
"I do not recognize your authority to dictate what is and is not my concern. You are the Queen Mother. Nothing more."
[KEVAN gets up from his seat.]
"Good old Uncle Kevan. Cersei will not find him as amiable" Tyrion smirked. He'd spent a lot of time with his uncle and knew well enough that his father loved this brother of his best because he was another Tywin, less cruel and borderline evil, but equally prideful and if necessary, ruthless. His nature was not as highlighted because of his elder brother and the shadow he cast.
But now, now they will all see what kind of a man he is.
"You would abandon your king in his time of need?"
"If he wants to send for me, I will be waiting for him. At Casterly Rock."
[He exits the room and closes the door.]
Joanna smiled fondly at her good brother. The years had not changed him like it had his brother.
[CASTLE BLACK – LIBRARY]
[SHIREEN runs her finger over the letter "S" in her book. She is GILLY how to read. SAM is reading in a different aisle in the library.]
"I expected Sam to teach her" Lyanna frowned. The boy loved him sure enough, that was why she expected it.
"Did you know that the youngest Lord Commander in history, Osric Stark, was elected at the age of 10?"
[GILLY and SHIREEN look at him and then back at their book.]
"You'll learn, I promise. I taught Ser Davos, and old people are terrible at learning new things."
"He wouldn't like that comment" Renly snickered.
"It's Shireen, he is fond of her like a daughter" Stannis reasoned. "Even if what you said was not kind…"
"I am sorry Father" Shireen lowered her head.
"Well, you're a wonderful teacher. Very patient!"
"I only said that the more time you spend practising, the faster you'll be able to read."
"He expected her to run before she learned to walk" Lyanna snorted. Now it made sense.
"That's alright. We're doing just fine. I'm sure you and Ostrich Stark have a lot to talk about."
Arya snickered.
[GILLY to SHIREEN]
"How old were you when you learned to read?"
"Three."
"That's young" Jon Arryn blinked in surprise. He had seen the child around the capital In her formative years until the Greyscale had her isolating, even after she'd recovered. But he didn't know this.
"My daughter is something of a prodigy when it comes to the written words," Stannis said proudly, a hand on his blushing daughter's head.
Jon Arryn smiled. Stannis Baratheon was not an expressive man… unless it came to his daughter. That man loved his daughter dearly.
[SAM interjects]
"Three?! Who taught you, your mother?"
"No. Old Maester Cressen did."
Stannis frowned from guilt and sadness. The man was a father to him… and what had become of him because of the choices Stannis made…
"I had a lot of time to practice. My mother kept me inside because..."
"What do you call it in the South, what happened to your face?"
"At least she was gentle" Daenerys murmured softly. No doubt the poor girl was ostracized for her face…
"Greyscale. What do you call it north of the Wall?"
"I don't know. But two of my sisters had it. They both died. How did they cure you?"
"I don't remember. I was a baby. Lots of people came and tried, I think. Whatever they did, it went away."
"How did they cure me?" Shireen asked her father.
"A healer from Essos" Stannis answered but added no more.
"What happened to your sisters?"
"My father made them move out of the keep into the huts outside. None of us were allowed to go near them. But we heard them. Especially at night. They started to sound... not like themselves."
"Did you ever see them?"
"Only once at the end. They were covered with it. Their faces, their arms. They acted like animals."
"They were terminal then" Oberyn frowned softly. "It is a surprise to see Greyscale so far North when the origin is usually Essosi."
"Must have contracted it from some Night's Watch Ranger" Brandon the Elder reasoned. That was the only way it could touch them.
"My father had to drag them out to the woods on a rope.
"What did he do to them in the woods?"
[GILLY is afraid to answer. SELYSE enters the room before she can.]
"He killed them didn't he…"
"At that stage, it is a mercy to do so," Stannis said to his daughter
"Would you have killed me too if I got that bad?"
"Mayhaps" there was no use lying.
Shireen nodded. That was expected if she acted like an animal and started attacking people…
[CASTLE BLACK - STANNIS'S ROOM]
"I ordered Mance Rayder burnt at the stake. You prevented that order from being carried out. You showed mercy to Mance Rayder. A king's word is law. Perhaps you should ask Ser Davos how much mercy I show to lawbreakers."
"Not at the Wall," Rickard said with displeasure. "No Kings have true power thee, only a courtesy shown by the men there and nothing more. And it is something you should all remember, considering the things you all would need to do, the Watch needs to be consulted."
Evidently, that was something none of them had considered, judging from the various faces.
"Show too much kindness, people won't fear you. If people don't fear you, they don't follow you."
"With respect, Your Grace, the free folk will never follow you, no matter what you do. You're the man who burned their king alive."
"Who then? You?"
"No. Only one of their own."
"Do you know this wretched girl Lyanna Mormont?"
"The Lord Commander's niece."
"Lady of Bear Island, and a child of 10. I asked her to commit her house to my cause, that's her response."
"Bear Island knows no king but the King in the North, whose name is Stark."
The Starks all smiled at that. House Mormont have always been loyal, the smallest yet the most loyal of their bannermen who had ancient seats of their own. To know the loyalty has passed on to a ten-year-old, who insists on holding it, it was something that gladened them all.
"Down South they would have jumped without even being told to" Robert muttered, his brothers nodding.
"I apologize, Your Grace. Northerners can be a bit like the free folk. Loyal to their own."
"I know. My brother Robert went on often and loudly about how difficult it was to control them - even with your father's help."
Ned shifted uncomfortably.
Rickard frowned.
"The North isn't like the rest. They are loyal to those they deem worthy and love one of their own. They won't be 'tamed' like the South. That should be common knowledge" Brandon the Elder spoke.
"I know" Robert grunted. "I said that but did not mean that Ned did not have control over them."
Stannis shifted in discomfort.
"Plus, they clearly love him. They all marched to free him when Joffrey took him prisoner" Lyanna added.
Rickard nodded. That was a good point.
"Tonight, the Night's Watch elect a new Lord Commander. Ser Alliser Thorne is going to win."
Most of the hall groaned.
"Unpleasant man. He thinks you're a traitor. What's your life going to be like on the Wall with Thorne in command?"
"Unpleasant, I expect."
"Your bravery made him look weak."
"If he had only listened, things would have gone better!" Lyanna said scathingly. There was no blame on her son, who had reached out to help!
"He'll punish you for it. I don't punish men for bravery. I reward them."
"Sadly he is not one of your men" Robb muttered darkly. Jon's life would have been better had he remained at Winterfell and not gone and taken the black.
He should have pushed him to stay. He would push him to stay this time.
"I don't doubt it, Your Grace. But I'm a brother of the Night's Watch. I've pledged them my life, my honour, my sword. I don't know what I have left to give you."
"You can give me the North."
"I can't. Even if I wanted to, I'm a bastard. A Snow."
"A Stark is a Stark. Men loyal to the Direwolf of Winterfell will rally behind you purely because you're a Stark of Winterfell by blood" Ned said softly and with a smile. "you are a Stark of Winterfell, Jon. You are my blood."
Jon nods, swallowing the choked-up emotions.
"Kneel before me. Lay your sword at my feet. Pledge me your service and you'll rise again as Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell."
[JON stares at STANNIS deeply without saying a word.]
None of the Starks were stupid. They all knew this was what Jon ever wanted, to be a Stark in name as well, to be part of the family truly.
Had the parentage of Jon not been known, Catelyn would rave and rant, telling Stannis he had no right to do that. But she knew now, she knew her nephew had every right to the name as her children. Yet the small voice ranting and raving remained, muffled and almost silent but still there.
[CASTLE BLACK - DINING HALL]
[JON and SAM converse as the men gather for the elections.]
"He'll make you a Stark with the stroke of a pen?"
"It's the first thing I ever remember wanting. I'd daydream that my father would ask the king, and just like that I would never be the bastard of Winterfell again."
Ned fidgeted from guilt. He could have done that. Just a raven and Robert would have agreed to it. Why would he say no? Ned was his friend and he didn't know about Jon.
Ned had instead taken the easy route. Use the bastard status to hide Jon better. It was easier on him and Catelyn, he knew because Catelyn would not like it if he did that. Ned didn't want to hurt his wife more than he already had.
He'll write to Robert once they return, or tell him now and remind him just before they leave.
"I'm going to refuse him."
[SAM is confused]
"But you'd be Lord of Winterfell."
"I swore a vow to the Night's Watch. If I don't take my own word seriously, what sort of Lord of Winterfell would I be?"
"I know it was not easy" Lyanna whispered, kissing her son's hand. "I'm so proud of you."
Jon smiled shyly.
The woman then leaned back and gave his brother a look.
Jon better be a Stark, the look said.
[MAESTER AEMON rises slowly from the table at the front.]
" Does anyone wish to speak for candidates before we cast our tokens for the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch?"
[JANOS SLYNT stands up.]
"Fuck me" Tyrion groaned.
"Ser Alliser Thorne is not just a knight, he's a man of true nobility. He was acting commander when the Wall came under attack, and led us to victory against the wildlings. He's a veteran of 100 battles and has been a defender of the Watch and the Wall almost all of his life. He's the only true choice."
[ALLISER smiles. Men cheer and beat on the tables.]
"He's going to win" Robb sighed. Jon's life was gonna get harder now…
"Is there anyone else?"
[A SHADOW TOWER BROTHER stands]
"Ser Denys Mallister joined the Watch as a boy and has served loyally longer than any other ranger. Through 10 winters he served. As commander of the Shadow Tower, he kept the wildlings away. We could do no better."
[Men, including JON, bang their cups on the table, but the reaction is much weaker.]
"If there's no one else, we will begin the voting. The triangular tokens count for Ser Alliser Thorne. The square tokens for Ser Denys Mallister. Each brother will—"
"Maester Aemon."
[Every Brother, including JON, looks to Sam at the back of the room in shock.]
"Oh no," Jon muttered. He had an idea of what was about to happen…
[JANOS SLYNT calls SAM by his title of 'Sam the Slayer'. The whole room laughs.]
"Another wildling lover just like his friend Jon Snow. How's your lady love Slayer?"
[More laughs.]
"Her name is Gilly. Brother Slynt knows her quite well. They cowered together in the larder during the battle for the Wall."
"Good" Tyrion smirked viciously.
[The men start laughing at JANOS now.]
"Lies!"
"A wildling girl, a baby, and Lord Janos. I found him there when the battle was over in a puddle of his own making."
"Good Sam!" Robb hollered, joining in the laugh with the people in the vision. A few others join as well, none louder than those in the vision though.
[Stronger laughter. MAESTER AEMON cracks a smile.]
"Whilst Lord Janos was hiding with the women and children, Jon Snow was leading."
[The men go quiet.]
"Ser Alliser fought bravely, it is true. And when he was wounded, it was Jon who saved us. He took charge of the wall's defence. He killed the Magnar of the Thenns. He went North to deal with Mance Rayder, knowing it almost certainly meant his own death. Before that, he led the mission to avenge Lord Commander Mormont. Mormont himself chose Jon to be his steward. He saw something in Jon, and now we've all seen it, too. He may be young, but he's the commander we turned to when the night was darkest."
[The men give JON a strong cheer.]
"Oh no" Jon groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"You should be happy that your friend supports you this well," Lyanna said gently.
"He's doing it because he knows I won't send Gilly away" Jon muttered against his palm.
"I'm sure that's not true" Lyanna tried to reason.
"Ser Alliser would send all Wildlings to their deaths, Sam knows this. Most of his conviction comes from knowing I wouldn't do it. He may believe in me, but he believes in me for all the wrong reasons with the right proofs" Jon explained.
Lyanna was not sure how to respond to that.
[SER ALLISER stands]
"I can't argue with any of that. But who does Jon Snow want to command? Night's Watch or the Wildlings? Everyone knows he loved a wildling girl and spoke with Mance Rayder many times. What would have happened in that tent between those two old friends if Stannis's army hadn't come along? We all saw him put the King-beyond-the-Wall out of his misery. Do you want to choose a man who has fought the wildlings all his life or a man who makes love to them?"
[JON doesn't respond. MAESTER AEMON rises again.]
"It is time."
[Brothers of the Night's Watch walk to the front of the room, placing their tokens into a jar. A brother breaks the jar and counts the tokens. Alliser and Jon have the same amount of tokens.]
"It appears to be a tie, Maester."
"Guess Sam's words were enough to sway many of the men" Ned hummed softly. It was an honour to serve as the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.
[MAESTER AEMON rises once more, feels each stack of tokens to determine which is which, and casts his own vote for JON. The men near ALLISER look angry. The men grouped around MALLISTER are content. Everyone else cheers.]
"Congratulations are in order, brother" Robb grinned, gripping Jon firmly by the shoulder. Lyanna and Daenerys joined in and soon so did the rest. Ned had joined as well, but the thought still remained, was Jon ready for this honour?