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This story deserves to be available for readers to read. This Story was removed, it deserved to be available, Original Author is Blackwolf2019 as i don't own this story or its work.
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Chapter 24: A Fallen Star
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A Fallen Star
Val
25,000 men had marched to the wall, two moons after her wedding to Jon when news came of his brother being found. Half of the army of the North would be fighting at the Wall. She would have gone with them if Jon hadn't won that bet at the wedding feast.Fuck you Tormund, you had to pass out before Maege did from the drink.The Northern forces left behind would either be guarding the women and children; brought South to Winterfell and The Dreadfort. Or they were guarding the North from the South at Moat Cailin.And I'm charge of everyone not fighting at the wall.That was her job as the Queen in the North and the last defence in case it all went wrong. Something she wasn't prepared for. Val could listen to problems and deal with feuds, something she had seen Mance do and had done herself when getting Tormund to treat with Jon. Val could even deal with the young Prince of Winterfell. But having to prepare food stocks, armies and run a castle.I have no clue.Those were things Val never expected to have to do in her life.He better live so I can slap him for making me his Queen.Val thought with a smirk as she walked the halls.
Her husband had been kind enough to make Jonelle Cerwyn, Jorelle Mormont, Wyman Manderly and Brandon Norrey as advisors for her among the Lords and Ladies that would be with her. Jonelle Cerwyn was meant to be the head of her kneeler house until her father had a son, making her handy for managing the food stocks. And Manderly had a penchant for the numbers whilst Mormont and Norrey were best suited for the armies. They were all things she was having to learn as she did the duties with them.It might not matter if we lose.Val thought darkly as she practiced reading through the stores book with Alys Karstark.
"Why do you kneelers do this to yourselves?" She asked in exasperated tone.
Alys laughed lightly at her frustration. "Sigorn has been the same while we were at Karhold. He was gladder than my brother was about no longer having to be Lord of Karhold."
Val snorted and smirked. "Good. I'd have thought a Thenn would have had an easier job. They always loved to say how they had laws unlike the rest of us. Nice to know he's suffering as much as me."
Alys smiled. "You're doing a fair job of it so far."
Val smiled in appreciation. "Maybe. But I still prefer fighting for my own meals instead of managing everyone else's."
"Would you rather be fighting the Others?" Alys asked.
"I would. Much simpler. Either we win or we die. I'd rather be fighting." Val said simply.
Alys looked at her with approving eyes. "A true Queen in the North then."
"Jon best remember that when he comes back. I plan on letting him know he's leaving me alone with all the shit again." Val said with mirth.
The two began to laugh until she was summoned to the Hall to deal with petitioners. She sat in Jon's seat with Rickon by her side for the day. Neither of them was particularly pleased having to do it, though they both needed to learn.I don't like this but I can do it, I'm Queen now so best get used to it.Luckily for them both there weren't many. And it was mainly to do with the influx of small folk and free folk families coming to Winterfell. Not too big a problem due to Winterfell apparently built for situations like this. It was mainly a few fights between families or an accusation of theft. Nothing too serious. The only real issue came from where to settle the giant clan whilst they were here instead of the gift. Two thousand Giant women and Children was a bit more of a challenge.
"Wintertown isn't suited for the giants. The Streets aren't large enough and we're running out of space with the new longhouses being built." Old Lord Locke said.
"Same for the moors around Winterfell. Our encampments and cattle will be disrupted by the mammoths." Lord Manderly added.
"They helped take back Winterfell. There will be a place for them." Rickon said with as much authority and strength a child could muster.He's listening though. Jon will be happy with that.
"Are there any places near Winterfell where we can have them?" Val asked the Lords present.
Eddara Tallhart, Lady of Torrhen's Square spoke up loudly. "The giants could encamp around Torrhen's Square My Queen. We have large flat ground for the Mammoths despite the snows and they can settle outside and within my walls for the time being."
Val smiled at the Lady of Torrhen's Square. The woman still looked slender and meek after her time with the Squids but her voice was louder and bolder than it had been when Jon had found her.I wonder if she's doing this a thank you. Or if she wants them there in case any Squids come back.The thought of Jon's threat to the Squids still made her smile.A King of Winter indeed.
"We'll have them at Torrhen's Square then since it pleases The Tallhart. Thank you for the offer." Val said in
Eddara bowed her head slightly before taking her seat with her two cousins. Val looked around the hall.
"Is there any other business that needs sorting?" Val asked the group.
The Lords, free-folk and small folk either shook their heads or remained silent.
"Then the petitions are over for the day" Val said simply.
She heard a few my Queens as the group bowed and slowly walked out of the room.
"That was long." Rickon said with a yawn.
Val nodded in agreement. "I wish I could disagree with you Little Prince."
"Jon says we have to do it though." Rickon said sadly as he stroked Shaggy's head, clearly missing his brother.
"And why is that?" Val asked, prompting the young Stark to remember what Jon had said to them.
"Because we're Starks of Winterfell and we have to do what's best for the North, even when he's gone. Which is what Jon and Arya are doing too!" Rickon said with pride.
"Aye, very good. It also means you have your lessons next." Val reminded him.
Rickon scowled instantly, his wolf starting to growl.
Val smirked.I know what will make you want to go."Sorry Little Prince. But if you want to steal the Baratheon and Mormont girls one day, you're going to have to do more than just fight well with a sword and your wolf."
Rickon went red for a moment before nodding and running off with the giant Direwolf, joining with Brandon and Beron Tallhart as they left. Val laughed quietly to herself at the thought of her good brother attempting to steal the two women.He'll be in for a challenge.Val thought happily as she left to go walk the walls. To feel the cool air after being stuck with the petitioners. The snows of the North fell almost constantly these days.I love it though, seeing us all continue living in spite of it being the Long Night come again.She could see that now as she watched work being done around Winterfell and Wintertown and different banners of the North covering the encampments. That was another thing she was learning, all the different sigils of the North. Val had done well so far, learning them as she marched to take back Winterfell and when the Lords convened. Though there were still some she had yet to commit to memory.Fucking Flints all having different banners because they're all over the North.Val thought as she watched another banner that she didn't recognise ride towards Winterfell's gates with a Manderly escort.Purple background, pale sword and a falling star.
"That's not a branch of the Karstarks is it?" Val asked Hallis Mollen, captain of the guard.
Hallis looked confused as he looked at the banners. "It isn't a Northern Banner My Queen. It is House Dayne's of Dorne. I haven't seen that banner since the Trident."
Val froze at the name.That's Jon's mother's family banner.
The two were sitting in the warmest rooms of Winterfell. Some of the Northern Lords were also present. The Dornish Woman sitting before her had never been North and was shivering upon her arrival.A poor time to come North in Winter.But these were odd times and the woman before her was Ashara Dayne.The Mother to my husband.Her greeting to the North had been an unsure one, with Rickon and his wolf looking weary, as were the Northmen. Very few had contact with House Dayne outside of Robert's Rebellion, when they were on opposing sides. And anything else had been rumours, turned to truth about Jon's mother. The woman in question had also been unsure.She was expecting to see her son, not his wife.
The two women were sitting silently, both staring at each other. Val was surprised more than anything as she looked at Ashara Dayne. Val expected there may have been more similarities to her son. But the woman before her hadn't left much of herself in Jon. Her long hair, haunting violet eyes, sun kissed skin and heart shaped face were nothing like Jon. The only similarities were the curls and slightly leaner frame. Other than that, she could see nothing.
"You don't look like him." Val stated bluntly.
Ashara smiled sadly. "He didn't when he was born. A Stark through and through. I'm hoping I might see something of my brother in my son when I see him."
"Why are you here?" Val asked.Why waste time?
"To see my son." Ashara responded quickly.
"And?" Val asked forcefully.I'm the Queen in the North. I need to know if she's a problem.
Ashara sighed. "I'm here for protection from House Targaryen. I was once in their service until they found out about being Jon's mother. Barristan Selmy and my nephew rescued me."
My Jon might have made peace with what Howland told him but he won't be happy about this.
And the Northern Lords here weren't happy with that either. Lord Manderly, Alys Karstark, Jorelle Mormont and Jonelle Cerwyn were all frowning at the woman.
"Not a good sign for the dragons if the most honourable knight of the South saw fit to disobey them." Manderly muttered.
Norrey made his displeasure much more bluntly as he spat at her accusingly.
"You worked for the dragons when you knew your own blood would be against them!"
Ashara seemed to flare with anger at that. "I did no such thing! I was avenging Elia and her daughter, not waging war with the Starks, let alone my own blood!"
"It sounds like the Targaryens want war with us my Queen. They want the North to bend." Manderly pointed out.
Lady Ashara turned to the fat Lord of White Harbour, speaking defensively. "But not with blood at least. Aegon would have done it much more peacefully if his wife and advisors wanted otherwise."
"You don't sound sure of that." Lady Cerwyn noted.
Val could see it too. She looked uncomfortable at the mention of Aegon Targaryen, looking into her glass.He clearly betrayed you too.
"It also sounds like you still want them to win." Jorelle Mormont added.
Ashara looked at the woman angrily. "I want peace and my son not to burn by two dragons. And I don't think the North would want to burn either."
Val raised her eyebrow. "Jon told me there were three."
"One was killed before Daenerys met with Aegon." Ashara said warily.
They can die then.
"Then we can kill two. Dorne killed a dragon once if I remember rightly. We can do this same if they enter the North. Especially in Winter." Brandon Norrey said confidently.
Ashara looked dumbfounded. "Meraxes killed thousands before it was felled! And in my lessons, I was taught Torrhen bent the knee out of knowledge of the field of fire. Have you all forgotten that?!"
Lord Manderly was the one to answer, speaking darkly instead of his usual jovial tone. "The North does remember Lady Dayne. Torrhen was wise then but we've had 300 years to know the folly of a Dragon ruling us in the South. Only one Dragon ever provided for us during winter and he died of the same madness that was a part of most Targaryen monarchs. We haven't forgotten what Aerys and Rhaegar did to House Stark twenty years ago. And we haven't forgotten that dragons have been extinct once, by the hands of man and their own kin. It is because we remember that we will not bend."
The North Remembers. Words said on both sides of the wall.Val thought as she nodded in agreement with Manderly like everyone else in the room. Ashara sighed in defeat.
"Guests rights have been given. You're welcome to stay." Val said simply.
Ashara nodded thankfully as the other Lords left, leaving the two alone.
Val watched the Lady drink from her tankard as she looked at Val more appraisingly.Another southerner judging a woman of the North.
"I never expected to meet my son's wife before him. I hadn't known he was wed." Ashara said lightly.
"I never expected to meet you at all." Val replied.
Ashara smiled. "Blunt. The last Northerner I spoke with was Eddard Stark. He was much the same. And so was Jon's Father. Charming but blunt. You Northmen don't play the game."
Val shook her head. "No, we don't. The last people who played the Game in the North were slaughtered outside of these walls and gutted in front of the Heart Tree."
Ashara frowned. "It is true then? My son did gut Roose Bolton and his bastard like that and tell the South of it in their blood?"
Val nodded, "His brother was betrayed and killed. His sister was supposedly in the hands of a madman who had sacked his home and scattered his family to the winds. It was the way of the First men. Wouldn't you do the same?"
Ashara began to frown more deeply at her question. "I suppose intended something similar after I left Jon with Ned. Withfire and blood."
"But not by your own hand." Val replied judgingly.
Ashara spoke quietly, almost to herself."I did help raise him. I would say with my own hand."
Then the woman went silent.The woman can brood like Jon when he's thinking, maybe that's something they share. At least he isn't over his regrets anymore like she clearly is.
Val stood from her chair.I have nothing to say to the woman. She's said enough about why she's here and I have things to do for the North."This room is yours for the time being."
Ashara spoke softly. "Tell me of my son."
Val stopped at the door and turned. "He's a wolf of the North and mine. He won't dance to whatever tune you play over the dragons. You best remember that."
Val walked out of the room.Just another kneeler.
Hope you all enjoyed it! Wanted tae show how Val is managing as the Queen. If anyone wants tae know whether she can read aye she can. In this she was taught by Mance like his wife.
Ashara in this is conflicted. Angry at the betrayal by aegon but still hopeful fir peace because she raised him. Makes her more defensive over him. Val sees that and just sees her as a kneeler. Val doesn't really have an opinion of the woman. She doesnae care.
Next chapter will be Jon at the Wall meeting Bran and Benjen. After that is Daenerys. Then we have the fight wae the others at the wall!
Any questions feel free tae ask!