Shireen Baratheon
King's Tower a day after sentencing.
Shireen sat around the table, her betrothed beside her, Aemon Targaryen. He scanned the map, the forces they had, and what they were up against as they waited for their supporters to enter. Then the door creaked open, and slowly Howland Reed, Maege Mormont, Tormund Giantsbane, Sigorn Thenn with his wife Alys Karstark, the commander of the Night's Watch, Eddison Tollett, and the First Ranger, Ser Alliser Thorne, entered.
"Welcome. I hope you had a good night's rest after yesterday's events," Aemon said.
"I did, Your Grace, even if the screams of that witch still ring in my head," Howland said, and the others nodded.
Shireen saw Ser Alliser looking at Aemon as if he were searching for something. Perhaps his father. Aemon had told her during their evening meal that he suspected Ser Alliser knew something.
"Well, the witch deserved it," Aemon growled, then smiled at her. "To begin, we have the beginnings of an army. The Free Folk and the remaining men of Stannis, now Shireen's, will be the start. Yet, speaking of the Free Folk, how are they faring in the Gift?" Aemon asked, looking at the big red wildling.
"Val, King Crow. She has taken the lead and is coordinating with those in the Gift. The headquarters of the Free Folk is some inn they call Queen Aly's Inn. I also sent word that we have declared you our king, that you stepped out of the flames, and that you will soon speak to the Free Folk," Tormund replied.
"Hmm, all right. After everything is wrapped up at the Wall, I shall travel to speak with them. Yet, speaking of their numbers, what are they in total?" Aemon continued.
"Hmm, those who can fight? Around seven thousand, including thirty-three giants. The rest are women, children, and old people, a little more than that number," Tormund replied.
"Although we still have trouble with the Weeper. He still refuses terms to cross, and he currently has quite a following across the Gorge. Luckily, with the Free Folk who joined us, we were able to hold them and prevent them from crossing," Ser Alliser noted, to which Edd nodded.
"Okay, so it would be prudent to leave for the Gorge after I have spoken with the Free Folk in the Gift. I can either finish them off, make a pact with the Weeper, which seems unlikely, or perhaps challenge him to a one-on-one duel for his right to cross. If I win, they join me, and if I lose, they can cross without trouble. Tormund, Sigorn, do you both think he would accept such an agreement?"
"Ha, the Weeper would. Glory-hungry and prideful bastard. He would accept. He would wish to beat the crow who walked into our camp and fooled us," Tormund said with a smirk, and Sigorn grunted in agreement.
"Very well. Then I shall travel there afterward and hopefully end that conflict," Aemon stated with a sigh.
Shireen took his hand and squeezed it tightly. He gave her a smile, one she loved to see.
Then Aemon's gaze turned to the others, and he went on to ask the numbers of the rest. Soon, they had counted three hundred Thenns, one hundred Mormonts, two hundred and fifty trained archers still stationed in the Neck, and twenty here with Howland himself.
"Your father went against my advice to gather the mountain clans and left to join the Karstarks, led by Arnolf. They betrayed him, and they now stand firmly with the Boltons," Aemon stated, his gaze sweeping from her to Alys.
"Not this Karstark. My brother is still imprisoned in the south, as far as I know. Until he and I are dead, we are the leaders of the Karstarks. Your brother and my father both acted like fools. Gods, I loved my father, but he killed two boys for the crimes of another. I don't forgive that act, yet your brother killed him, a lord of the North, during the war. He broke the bonds of kinship. Yet you healed them when you saved me, and now I'm married to a good man. I stand beside you until the end," Alys proclaimed.
Aemon gave her a grateful nod.
"Well, I say we split our forces once the Weeper and the rest of the Free Folk are brought into the fold. One force will march to Last Hearth and capture it. Unfortunately, Hother leads them as regent in the absence of the Greatjon, who is still imprisoned at the Twins. Is it true Mors died in the battle for Winterfell? Am I correct?" Aemon asked, looking toward Howland and Maege for confirmation.
"Yes, Your Grace," Maege confirmed.
Aemon nodded. "The other force, under the leadership of Sigorn and Alys, will take Karhold. After it falls, they will rally the willing vassals there, and from there..."
A knock broke off Aemon's words.
Aemon sighed. "Come in."
Then Barret, the current keeper of the ravens, entered, holding a letter bearing the seal of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. Edd took it and gave the man a word of thanks before Barret hurried out the door.
"What is it?" Aemon asked.
"This says a group of twenty-five longships arrived. They are declaring for the man who rides a black shadow and walks in a white cloak."
Did they mean Aemon? He rode Nightwing and had told her he could warg into his wolf. Shireen wondered. Intrigued, she leaned forward.
"There is more. They also say that a boy calling himself..." Edd's eyes widened as he read the letter.
"What is it, Edd?" Aemon asked.
Instead of answering, Edd gave the letter to Aemon.
"I had lost hope of his survival," Aemon gasped, his voice thick with emotion.
"Aemon?" she said softly, laying her hand on his arm.
"Rickon is alive. He has been hiding on Skagos all this time. The Skagosi sheltered him, and they rallied behind him and me. They brought over fifteen hundred men to Eastwatch. A group of them is currently heading here," Aemon exclaimed helplessly.
Cheers erupted from those gathered, and Aemon pulled her half from her seat, embraced her, and kissed her.
Then a fake cough from Howland broke them out of their happiness. After she and Aemon broke apart, the group chuckled.
"It seems, Your Grace, you and the princess have made a decision," Howland said.
"Yes, we have. The princess and I will be married soon, here at the Wall, before we depart," Aemon replied happily, pulling her close.
"Congratulations, as well as on the return of Rickon Stark," Howland said, smiling.
"A good match, Your Grace, and also a chance to heal the wounds of the past," Maege said.
"Thank you all, and it seems the North has its Lord of Winterfell back. Unless Bran returns, then he will be the Lord of Winterfell. If he does, we will need a lord of the Dreadfort after all," Aemon added, grinning.
That earned happy smirks from the rest.
"Also, one more thing, and Shireen, I have no doubt you and Devan will enjoy this news. Davos Seaworth is still alive. He is traveling with Rickon," Aemon added, grinning.
"Truly?" she asked, her mouth gaping.
"Yes, he is coming here with Rickon. How or why he went to Skagos, I do not know, yet I'm sure it will be an interesting tale," Aemon explained.
Shireen hugged him, and she felt warmth and happiness at the news. Davos had been like family, and his death had been a painful memory. Now it all seemed like a mummery.
Howland and Maege frowned.
"Damn you, Wyman," Maege said with a scowl.
"Lady Mormont?" Shireen asked.
"The man pretended to be loyal to the Boltons and the damn Lannisters. As you know, Wendel, Wyman's son, like my own Dacey, died at the Red Wedding. Wylis, Wyman's eldest, was captured. He played a farce to make sure the Boltons, Freys, and Lannisters believed he was on their side so he could save his son from captivity."
"Yet, all the while, he has been loyal to the Starks," Aemon said with a laugh, then turned to her. "As I remember, you said your father received word of Davos's death and the Manderlys' defection."
"He did, but it seems Lord Manderly sent him to Skagos to find your brother," she replied, smiling.
Aemon nodded, and his gaze returned to the rest.
"Well, before we received the news of the return of a son of Winterfell and Ser Davos, I was speaking of what we should do after Karhold falls. Considering we now have around fifteen hundred Skagosi, I say a smaller part of the Free Folk will join Sigorn and Alys, and together with the Skagosi, take Karhold. After Karhold falls, you will rally the willing vassals and besiege and take the Dreadfort. Perhaps, with the help of the Manderly forces, the difficulty decreases. Although I don't know where Lord Wyman is. They can't help if he is in Winterfell," Aemon commanded.
"As you say, Your Grace. Yet the Dreadfort is a formidable bastion. It will be a difficult siege," Alys replied.
"I think that's true, but I suspect the Dreadfort is lightly manned. Most of Roose's men are in Winterfell. Also, I have no doubt the threat of death isn't an unhelpful motivator for them to surrender. Or perhaps it will sway them to bend the knee, to free them from Bolton rule. I doubt the Boltons have inspired much loyalty over the years," Aemon explained.
Why not use the dragons to inspire fear? she wondered.
"Aemon, why don't you use the dragons?" she asked, and she saw the rest wondering the same thing.
"I have wondered the same, Your Grace," Maege added.
"Indeed, Your Grace. Dragons conquered the realm. Surely they can unite it as well," Ser Alliser noted.
"The dragons are powerful, to be sure, and they will help in the wars to come. Yet they don't inspire loyalty. I don't want men to flock to me out of fear or because they think this is a sure thing. I want men to rally out of duty and fight against the tyranny of the Boltons. With the fall of Karhold and Last Hearth, we will inspire others to believe that we are a cause worth rallying around. Then, when the battle against the Boltons begins, I will announce their presence and use them where I can, but not before. So, once more, tell your men that no word is to be spread about the dragons," Aemon explained.
"Very well," Howland said.
"As you say, King Crow," Tormund added.
"Well, after Last Hearth has fallen and we negotiate the terms with them, I will march toward the mountain clans, and I will rally them. They are one force, and the Skagosi were not truly rallied when my brother marched south. After I have done so, I will march to Ironrath and free House Forrester from the Whitehills. From there, I shall travel to Deepwood Motte. I will rally the men of Lord Galbart. From there, I will march to the Rills and the Barrowlands. As of now, the situation over there is unknown. Either we will have to fight some battles, or perhaps they will remember their old loyalties. The Ryswells and Lady Dustin have been icy with my kin ever since Lord Eddard returned without Lord Willam Dustin's body, and there are rumors that Brandon Stark and Barbrey had an affair before her marriage," Aemon explained, his hand moving over the map.
"Where will we go after that, Your Grace?" Howland asked.
"Hmm, Castle Cerwyn, and from there to Winterfell. A section of the men will slip away and take Moat Cailin. Howland, I have no doubt you can take it together with your men. We must take it because it is the main entrance into the North. If we control it, the Boltons will also be unable to call on reinforcements from the Freys and the Lannisters," Aemon explained, then looked to Howland.
"I can take the Moat for you, Your Grace," Howland replied.
"Well, these are the plans to retake the North. Rally your men. Explain the plan. I want us to move within a week," Aemon ended.
He received nods of approval from those gathered.
"Lord Commander, Ser Alliser, did it work?" Aemon then asked, looking toward the Watchmen.
"It did. They all turned. They have been put into crates. Let's say it wasn't easy," Edd replied dryly.
Ser Alliser just shook his head in disgust. "At least in death, the traitors are worth something."
She then looked at him expectantly, wondering if he would show her the wights.
"Good. We have our proof. Two of the wights will travel with each army as it marches. It will be an extra motivator to rally around," Aemon added, then gave her a look. "You will all see it soon enough, but I wouldn't take them out of the crates if I don't have to."
"I agree. I haven't seen them, Your Grace, but you came back from the dead too, so I will wait until the time is right," Maege added, receiving nods of approval from the rest.
"That's all for today. I wish you all a good night's rest," Aemon said, dismissing the gathering.
Ser Alliser stayed for a moment. "I know, and if possible, I wish to speak with you."
She and Aemon looked at the man with wide eyes.
"Very well, and when did you find out?"
"I suppose when you walked out of the flames with dragons and white hair. I saw through it then. I only didn't see the likeness of your father in you before because of my hatred for the usurper and his friends. Although now I know Lord Stark played the mighty Tywin and Robert for fools," Ser Alliser replied with a chuckle.
"So know this. Until my end, I will stand with you, here at the Wall or wherever else you might have me. A shame Rykker is gone. He would have loved to hear this," Alliser added with a chuckle.
"Thank you. I suppose we shall have to see where we go from here," Aemon said and smiled.
"Goodnight, Your Grace," Ser Alliser said with a bow, then left them alone in the room.
"Well, I suspected it, and I'm sure he believed in the White Walkers, but he never believed in me. Yet now he does. What a bloodline can do, eh?" Aemon said with a chuckle.
"Yes, you saw it in his eyes. It is similar to what I saw with some of the followers of the Lord of Light and my father. It is good, but blind loyalty isn't always good," she noted.
"True. Just look at the damn Kingsguard of Aerys and what they let happen. Yet for now, having Ser Alliser loyal is a good thing. Especially now that the plan, the beginning of reclaiming the North, has formed, and the first step toward setting this broken world to rights," Aemon said with a sigh, sinking into a chair.
"I don't know much about battles," Shireen began softly, "but you seem confident. You have the respect of the men around you. They'll follow you and trust your choices."
She reached out, resting her hand gently on his.
Aemon smiled, his gaze softening. "How is the maiden's cloak coming along?"
Shireen returned his smile. "Better than I expected. I'm using one of my father's old banners to make it. Though I'm removing the flaming heart. I want nothing to do with the Lord of Light ever again, if I can help it."
"Good," Aemon said with a nod. "Your father may have been a skilled military leader, but as a king, he made one of his gravest mistakes by accepting the Lord of Light as his god. It alienated many of his people. That decision is likely to bring challenges for me as well, but I follow the Old Gods. They've watched over these lands since long before the Andals arrived. Even the followers of the Seven, odd as they may find it, respect that."
"You're not wrong," Shireen said, her voice tinged with bitterness. "That god only brought out the worst in my father."
"True," Aemon agreed. "Power is always dangerous. It draws out our darkest impulses and corrupts even the best of us. Since I gained power, I've done things both good and ill. I know there are more choices ahead that will seem cruel. The worst thing I've ever done, though, was not long after I became Lord Commander."
Shireen looked at him curiously. "What did you do?"
"Do you remember Gilly?"
"I do."
Aemon exhaled heavily. "I separated her from her child. The boy here at the Wall isn't Mance's son. I switched them. I had a feeling your father would burn Mance's child alive, believing he had kingsblood. And... I think that's why your father burned you, Shireen, because the boy here wasn't Mance's. I'm sorry."
He held her hand tightly, his expression pained.
Shireen's voice trembled, but her resolve was steady. "Aemon, what happened to me wasn't your fault. It was the witch and my parents. What you did may have been cruel, but it was a necessary evil."
He studied her face, then nodded slowly. "Thank you. I just didn't want that secret hanging over us."
Leaning forward, he kissed her gently.
After a moment, he broke the silence. "You know, I found something while going through Maester Aemon's chambers. Your father's men ransacked the place, but I managed to recover an old Targaryen cloak. It's a bit faded, but it'll serve for the ceremony. I also found more letters between my father and Aemon. They wrote about the prophecy, the Song of Ice and Fire. Aemon even spoke of my mother and how he found the ice for his fire. He wrote that he loved her and Elia, too. It gives me peace to know they loved each other despite the mistakes they made along the way."
Shireen kissed him then, her lips warm and soft against his.
"I'm happy for you," she whispered.
"Thank you," Aemon murmured, a smile spreading across his face. "And you've made me very happy. Soon, even happier."
He leaned in again, closing the distance, and kissed her once more.
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