34

Chapter 34 – End of the Stag

Lannister Camp, border of the North and Riverlands…

The sea of red tents was large enough to be seen for miles as the forty thousand men of the Lannister force brought to the Riverlands to end the Frey Uprising rested their bones before the march North began. While the Freys and the Mad Lady Cersei had been eliminated their allies in the North, Stannis Baratheon and the Boltons were still a threat although with the Starks victory at the Rills and the retaking of White Harbour by his grace King Jon Targaryen they had certainly been forced onto the back foot.

Hadrian who was standing in his tent skinning a dear however did not intend to leave the matter to chance. As his knives began carving the dead animal up for supper tonight. Tomorrow he would move his army past the Neck and up into the North to find and kill Stannis Baratheon once and for all. That fool and his cult of fire loving madmen had been a threat to him and his family for too long and he did not intend to allow it to continue forever. His attempt to deal with Stannis Baratheon by other means had yet to bear fruit and if the men he had hired could not do the job, then he would have to do it himself Hadrian thought darkly. He did not relish killing, but it was necessary with men like Stannis and his crazies. They could not be bullied, bargained or negotiated with they would see the world burn just so they could rule its ashes.

Now however the rest of the rebel houses here in the Riverlands had either bent the knee or been destroyed he could deal with Stannis personally. Hadrian looked north and said quietly to himself.

"You escaped me twice before Stannis, but not three times."

-x-

Moat Cailin, the following morning…

The causeway that was the only real bridge to the North was narrow and the column of Lannister soldiers was so long that it stretched well back beyond what the eye could see on its own. The men of House Reed were alarmed at the colossal force that had entered their territory but even more so of the two enormous dragons that were circling overhead and were quick to send word to their lord who himself rushed to Moat Cailin to alert Brandon Stark.

Bran himself was enjoying breakfast with his younger brother Rickon, Lady Lyanna Mormont and Lady Wynafryd Manderly who had shown a slight improvement in her mood since the rescue of her sister from the clutches of Stannis Baratheon when a grim looking Ser Brynden Tully entered the hall alongside Lord Howland Reed. Bran turned to the two men and managed to keep his face straight while asking.

"Is there news of the war uncle?" Bran asked and the eyes of all four children now focused on him. Ser Brynden frowned as he wondered what he might advise his young great nephew to do in the face of this unexpected development but was quick however to ease the initial worry on their young faces.

"No Brandon, there is no further news of your father or older brother however Lord Reed has just discovered a large force of Lannister soldiers marching in this direction accompanied by two dragons." Ser Brynden said grimly while the faces of all the young people all turned to shock.

"Have you dispatched riders to discover their intentions Ser Brynden?" Lyanna Mormont asked him quickly, not missing a beat and Ser Brynden would never admit it but the strong and sharp gaze of Lyanna Mormont unsettled him more than some adults. Her quick wit and way with words was certainly nothing to scoff at either he acknowledged and his other great niece in law Wynafryd was no slough in that department as well Brynden thought wondering what they must be teaching Northern women to make them this formidable.

"Not yet Lady Mormont, we thought since the Lannisters are about to pass into Brandon's lands he should be the first to know." Eyes turned to Brandon who put down his knife and fork. He wiped his mouth clean with a napkin and said.

"Thank you Ser Brynden. Please dispatch the riders as soon as possible, given the current situation we need to know if we are dealing with a potential ally or a new enemy." Bran said knowing with near certainty that Lord Lannister was here for other reasons than to declare war on them.

-x-

An hour later they could see the enormous column of red and gold as the Lannister soldiers marched up along the causeway. Bran who had never really seen a professional army on this scale was wide-eyed as were his brother and their future wives. Bran however was more interested in the two great beasts that were flying overhead, despite all the magic that now influenced his life he had never dreamed he would see dragons with his own eyes.

However he had to look away as the trio of riders baring House Lannister's colour rode to gates of his castle and Ser Brynden came up to stand next to Bran. His great uncle's eyes were quickly absorbed in the sight of the two dragons before shaking himself and telling Bran.

"Lord Lannister will meet you in the godswood." Bran nodded and went to leave, Brynden went to follow him but Bran stopped and shook his head.

"No Ser Brynden I will speak with Lord Lannister alone."

That brought much alarm to Ser Brynden who wanted to protest but when he looked back to Rickon Bran had made his escape.

Bran arrived in the godswood moments later with his direwolf Summer at his side and saw Lord Hadrian standing at the foot of the Weirwood looking at its carved face. Bran had grown a lot in recent months but he was still nowhere near as tall as the Lord of the Westerlands but his smile disarmed any worries Bran might have had.

"Hello Bran, practising your magic I hope." Hadrian said with a smile at the Young Wolf that he had briefly had a hand in training. Bran's eyes darted around to see if anyone was around to hear them but Hadrian sensing his worries reassured him. "I have put up a temporary privacy ward, no one can see or hear us while we are in the godswood and if anyone does enter well Raga will send them packing." Hadrian said indicating the large lion that was sitting on the edge of the wood. Summer eyed the lion suspiciously but did nothing to the large cat that was even bigger than he was as long as Raga did not threaten Bran.

"My mother is dead, could you have saved her?" Bran asked Hadrian serious, bringing a pained look to Hadrian's face. Bran needed to know if the ones that had introduced him and his sister to the world of magic was responsible for the death of his mother by not saving her if he could have. Hadrian sighed before telling him with complete honesty.

"If I had been to the Dreadfort before, then yes I might have been able to save your mother." Hadrian said slowly taking a seat at the base of the tree, Bran sitting down across from him looking angry for a moment while Hadrian explained. "I can only transport to somewhere I know well, otherwise I could end up inside a wall or inside a hill or a mountain. I have never been to the Dreadfort or indeed any other Northern castle other than Winterfell and by the time I learned where your mother was being held she had already killed herself and the other hostages had taken their own lives to allow their families to act although this information only came my way in the last few days." Hadrian said with a mixture of irritation and sadness. "Our magic does not make us all seeing and all-knowing Bran, it merely grants us an advantage."

His spy in the Dreadfort had fallen silent and only now that he had been replaced did Hadrian know what had occurred there. He would have probably rescued them had he known where they were, it would have brought enough support to the Starks that they would probably have been able to stop the Boltons and Stannis on their own. But he mused there was no use in thinking about how things could have been and you should focus on how things are.

Bran nodded understanding however much he hated it but there was no way he could see to argue against Hadrian's logic. He had wondered deeply on how he might have saved his mother but there were he was starting to realise things that you could not do even with magic. It was a bitter pill to swallow after all the excitement of learning to wield it but perhaps Bran realised that was part of the process, if magic was infallible then the Children of the Forest would have defeated the First Men or the Valyrian Freehold would now rule the entire world.

It was a lesson in humility.

Still Bran thought it was enough to make him reach out to the Raven again, he still had much to learn from the old man. Specifically how his supposed bastard brother had become a Targaryen king with a dragon that had returned to the North with an army to stop Stannis and the Boltons. He had heard that he was the child of his late aunt Lyanna and Rhaegar Targaryen but no one had fully explained it to him or the others yet. Personally he thought Jon would make a great king, few men were as steadfast in their duty and resolve as Jon and he would not do as Robert had done and waste resources on his own pleasure and never pull away from his responsibilities. He would be a great king Bran thought with pride on behalf of his cousin although it was strange to think of Jon as anything else than his big brother. Rickon he knew felt the same and their ladies were intrigued at Jon's story and after the war was over he intended to get the full story from his father.

And he would certainly allow the Lannister army passage north, Bran thought it was time to do what his ancestors should have done a long time ago and end the Boltons for good.

Stark Camp, the North…

Ned was nervously waiting on the edge of his camp rather than sitting or lying in bed as his son and Ashara would have wished as he waited for the meeting that had been due for years.

A column of soldiers approached through the snow, some on horseback and some on foot but the person Ned really wanted to see was nowhere in sight. He felt a very definite stab of disappointment only for a large shape to appear out of the clouds. Ned's eyes widened as he saw the shape of what could only be a dragon coming swooping down on the camp. Many of his men already had started to bolt at the sight of the enormous beast but Ned held his ground despite wanting to flee himself at the dragon which he had only heard about from maesters or old folk tales. His worries however were not founded at all as he caught sight of Jon on the dragon's back. Robb who had raced over to find the source of the chaos looked in awe at his cousin unable to find the words to greet him.

Ned's breath caught in his throat as Jon climbed down from his beast with Ghost looking rather glad to be back on land leaping off from a special harness on the dragon's back. Ranger who came up from behind looked imperiously down at Ghost and Greywind who just looked at him confused for a moment before sitting in front of him. Ned, Robb and Jon watched in surprise as the two younger direwolves bowed in respect to Ranger who then returned the nod of the head before nuzzling both wolves with his own head.

The three humans however amused they were by this event suddenly realised that they were together and none of them knew what to say. With Robb it was strangeness of the person he had grown up with as a brother was now revealed to be his cousin and the true king of Westeros and all of its territories. Ned meanwhile was faced with the man that his son/nephew had become, he had never imagined that Jon might actually ascend to the throne that was his birth right. Ned was still confused at the differences between the man in front of him that rode a dragon, had killed men with both fire and sword and now commanded millions of people around the world and the young boy that he had watched grow up at Winterfell solemn and degraded. His heart ached with all the boy had nothing to look forward to in his life except spending the rest of his days at the Wall when he should have been able to give Lyanna's son so much more. All his life, Ned thought mournfully had let his dear sister's son down.

Jon meanwhile was unsure of what his uncle and cousin were in turn thinking of him. So much had happened to him since he had last been in the North, so many twists and turns that it almost seemed like one of the legendary tales Old Nan would tell to children. But the hardest thing was seeing the man that he had thought his father after all this time. He had learned his moral code from Eddard Stark, the man that had jeopardised his relationship with his wife and the welfare of the entire North to keep him safe. He had seen the lives people less fortunate than he had in his travels and never had he been as grateful to his uncle as he was at that moment. What could his life have been if not for his uncle's love and kindness? It did not bare thinking about.

Both Robb and Ned suddenly remembered they were standing before their king and were about to kneel when Jon came forward and gave his uncle a manly hug. Ned feeling relieved that Jon did not think any less of him now than he had learned the truth, after releasing Ned it was Robb's turn after a brief claps of hands.

A long discussion was perhaps more due than the brief handshake and hug that was actually going to take place but time was crucial. With the taking of the Rills and the liberation of Deepwood Motte and White Harbour the Bolton/Baratheon army was spread thinly and unable to protect their own castles.

It was time to push their advantage by taking the Dreadfort itself.

-x-

The Dreadfort, the North…

The harsh mountains that frightened many with their vicious peaks and stabbing cold winds but that was not going to put off the Stark/Targaryen army today as they moved through the tight and narrow roads to get to the castle. Ned and Robb led the forces on the ground while Jon flew in the air above on Sunfyre, keeping an eye out for potential ambushes. Ghost had gratefully walked with his brother Greywind and what could well be his father Ranger, wanting to keep his four paws firmly on the ground.

The Dreadfort when it finally came into view was a disturbing sight indeed, although whether it was the unpleasant design of the castle or rather the history that surrounded it no one could say. It was however going to be a tough castle to breach. After all it was one of the largest and most fortified castles in the North, only Winterfell itself was bigger. The archers and ballistae on the walls made Ned frown as he considered how many men he was likely to lose taking the castle. That thought however only lasted until he saw Jon's dragon in action.

The great beast swooped down out of the sky towards what men were manning the walls and unleashed an almighty burst of flame down on the men manning the castle's defences. The sound of their screams was enough to nearly send a shiver through him had he not heard the sound of men dying so many times before. That made him sigh sadly, perhaps it was good that the sound still unsettled him as proof of his own compassion even to the enemy and that he had not become twisted by the horror of war. The cry that went up behind him of men cheering was something that brought a frown to his face, the bloodlust of the men making him worry but he remained calm and turned to Wun Wun who nodded while looking nervously at the dragon that was circling overhead. Ned watched the giant rushed with a large pole the size of a tree trunk towards the castle gates ready to smash them down. Ned had been uneasy around the giants at first but he had seen a friendlier side of the giants when it had been caring for their mammoth mounts and interacting with the few Freefolk that could speak their ancient language, happily drinking a whole barrel of ale with them in the evening as if it were a tankard.

They were not so unlike them Ned thought to himself, a comfort in the face of war. Maybe the North could adapt to having them amongst its people. But he shelved those thoughts as he and the men at his back charged forward when Wun Wun broke down the gate, allowing them entry.

The giant burst through the gates first, swinging the ramp like a club sending men flying over twenty feet before slamming hard into the wall. Most Bolton men were petrified at the sight of the giant or the dragon that was flying above them and did not react quickly enough as Ned and his warriors rode or ran into the courtyard through the open gate. Ned from the back of his horse swung his sword Ice, decapitating a man before he slide off the saddle and began to just slaughter the men standing there with Robb and the rest of their men. Ned had never enjoyed killing people, but killing the men that had brought so much pain and misery to his lands gave him a slight pleasure that he would not admit to anyone. But as soon as he turned to look for more enemy soldiers but the skeleton force that Roose Bolton had left to defend his castle was retreating deeper into the castle or throwing down their weapons in surrender. Ned did feel briefly cheated but he pushed it aside and went to the dudgeons in the hope of finding the hostages that made the Boltons powerful enough to challenge their liege lord rather than chase the Boltons soldiers as Robb was doing. He had admittedly not memorised the layout of the castle but it was a First Man stronghold like many castles in the North and predictable in its design. It did not take him long to find the chambers under the castle but as he got there a horrible smell filled the corridors. It was a terrible scent of rotten flesh and meat, Ned wanted to stop but he had to see what was there and when he did the sight that greeted him was more terrible than anything he could have imagined.

The entrails and torn flesh were spread all across the floor of the room with dried blood staining virtually all of the stone floor. The smell was terrible and Ned had to put his hand to his mouth to try and hold off the horrible odour and then just as he turned away he caught sight of a face that he recognised, one that he had hoped against reality might not be here in this scene of carnage. Despite the fact one of her eyes had been torn from its socket and the head had been ripped from its torso there was no mistaking the red hair of his wife.

The sight brought a hard lump to his throat as his fears and the predictions of Ashara were confirmed. He heard a sound of someone coming down the steps behind him and he quickly turned around to see Robb and some of their men dragging a man with the chain of a maester down the stairs. Ned instantly moved to block Robb's path, his son might be a grown man now with a wife and child of his own but Ned still did not want his very last image of his mother to be the disfigured corpse back in that dank room.

"Who is this?" Ned asked bringing Robb and his men to a halt as they held the man firmly in their grip. Robb not knowing the horror only feet away although he could smell it answered his father.

"Maester Wolkan." Robb said and Ned nodded grimly as a plan sprang into his mind, glad that they had managed to capture the castle's maester who would be very useful to him.

"Maester Wolkan you will write messages to all of the lords that still serve the Boltons and tell them what has transpired here. What the Boltons did to their hostages, if it comes from you the maester of their house then it is more likely to be believed than if I wrote it." Ned said a crestfallen look crossing Robb's face as he realised what that meant. Ned shared a brief look with his eldest son before herding them towards the upper levels. He would bring men down here himself later to recover what was left of the hostages and return them to their families, not a duty he wanted but one that had to be done.

-x-

Widow's Watch, the North…Three days later

The effect of the letters that were sent from the Dreadfort was immediate, what houses that had served the Boltons out of fear for their loved ones were horrified at the desecration that had occurred at the Bolton castle at the hands of Ramsay Snow. Joining with the soldiers of House Hornwood; the Cerwyns, the Longs and the Condons all defected immediately to the side of the Starks and attacked Widow's Watch, the home of House Flint and one of the strongest of the Bolton vassals. With the sea on one side and the army of the new Stark forces on the other the Flints had nowhere to go and no chance of surrender such was the hatred of the houses that had lost people to the Boltons. With most of their army away at the side of Stannis Baratheon there was no real chance of holding the castle against a determined assault, the Flint line was extinguished.

-x-

Bolton camp…

Roose however was unable to deal with any of this as he was currently sitting over the makeshift privy with blood flowing from his behind, an ailment that had been plaguing him for days. If only he thought to himself that he been strong enough to yell he would have yelled for his men to kill the smirking bastard standing over him. Wising not for the first time that he had never raped that miller's wife.

Ramsay palmed a knife and stuck it deep in his father's guts while he sneered.

"Like father like son." Ramsay said with that insanity dancing in his eyes, enjoying this as much as he had killing Domeric.

Baratheon Camp, the North…

Adjacent to the camp of House Bolton, Stannis was feeling increasingly trapped as the wolves both metaphorical and literal closed in on his army. With the landing of the Targaryen army and that blasted dragon, the Starks were taking any castles he had and the Lannister army coming up the Kings Road his enemies had encircled him and left him with no way out.

Not for the first time in his life he honestly thought about surrender only to know that in his heart he could never do it. It was his nature, like iron he would break before he bent only that posed the question of just what was he going to do now he thought looking down at the map of the North. He looked at the way that the Stark army was spread out and realised that the answer to his dilemma. Winterfell was now only guarded by a small force of men, if he could take it then he might be able to hold on until the cold vanquished his enemies for him. He wished however as he turned to give orders that Ser Davos was still with him, the calm man's counsel was sourly missed but he could not fault the man for protecting the daughter that his wife and the red priests had so stupidly left behind. The fact still aggravated him that his only heir had been left behind for the Lannisters to capture and marry off…and that she was now apparently healed of her scars and beautiful.

Another lost advantage he thought sadly.

As he turned to his current steward only a lifetime of training saved him from the knife that was being thrust in his direction, he could only most feel it as the knife slipped narrowly passed his armour. Selyse behind him screamed as she charged at the steward with the bowl of thin broth in hand which had been their sole meal today, the first weapon within reach. Stannis however knew it was a foolish move as the steward turned assassin did not miss a beat before slicing her throat open but her momentary distraction was enough for Stannis to draw Lightbringer and thrust it cleanly through the steward.

Selyse's scream had alerted the guards who quickly surged into the tent looking for the danger followed by one of the Red Priests. But as the steward's body fell to the ground the strangest thing happened, it was like cloth falling from his body as the face of his steward fell away and revealed another underneath, one of man he had never seen.

Faceless men he thought with anger, another soldier lost to his cause and what made it worse was that he knew that the order would just keep sending more until he was dead. That or the one who had ordered it died instead and of all of his enemies the only ones that might hire a faceless man was the Lannisters. Only they had the gold and the deviousness to do such a thing. He did not let his mind dwell on facts he could not change however and gave orders to the soldiers around him.

"Ready the men, we ride for Winterfell."

He did not notice the small squire that had been hanging around his camp slip away towards the tent where the ravens were kept to report to his masters of what he planned to do. Nor did Stannis see Melisandre with a black cloak over her red robes slip out of the camp on the back of one of their precious horses.

Lannister Camp, the North…

The raven flew into the Lannister camp very early the next morning. The Lannister army was still rising from their tents and eating the breakfast rations while shivering in the cold, only the men that were old enough did not complain remembering full well the last winter and how much worst it could get.

The message was rushed to their lord's tent which lay at the centre of the camp with the two sleeping dragons nestled nearby as they tucked into cow meat. Their lord was already awake and dressed while his lady, the Princess Shaena was still getting dressed behind a screen. Her naked torso could just be made out from behind it and instantly drew the eye of the man that entered the tent with the message. When Hadrian cleared his throat the man went white and quickly handed him the message before fleeing the tent as if Raga was after him. The great lion was just looking on the scene with amusement nice and warm thanks to the runic collar Hadrian had made for him, a look he shared with his human while Hedwig barked with laughter from her perch. The smile did not vanish off Hadrian's face completely as he read the note from his spy detailing the events that had occurred in the Baratheon/Bolton camp. The fact that his Faceless Man had failed to kill Stannis was a source of minor irritation but the other information contained in the short missive was enough to keep the smile on his face.

In fact his smile only changed to become more calculating like the look in his eyes. He turned to Shaena who was pulling her leather breeches on in a very distracting pose. If he had been less in control of himself he might have stopped to admire the view but he had enjoyed her legs being wrapped around him last night and the memory was enough to stop him staring like a fool…however pleasant the image was.

"Roose Bolton has died and Stannis marches on Winterfell with the Bolton Bastard. He must truly be desperate to attack such a large and fortified castle with only ten thousand men. But it may prove useful to us." He said to Shaena who emerged from behind the screen as she fastened her leather outfit firmly into place. Her smile was just as calculating as his as she fastened Dark Sister firmly to her waist.

"Can our army get there in time to trap him between the walls and our swords?" She asked while she looked at the map. Hadrian stood next to her and with a quick glance made a decision.

"Our horses and your dragons can." He said gesturing at the lion and dragon wood carvings on the map before turning to the Direwolf and other dragon figures. "The Starks and your nephew's army will be even quicker than us if they are warned in time. I will send our infantry home, they will only slow us down on the march. The Starks can provide whatever infantry we need for the battle even though we will have Stannis outnumbered five to one." Hadrian said with certainty, the war was drawing to a close he could feel it. Shaena nodded looking rather excited at the prospect and said as she walked to the tent's opening with her tight ass swaying almost hypnotically.

"My dragons will be faster than any raven, I will pass the message to Lord Stark and my nephew and then reunite with you in the woods near Winterfell. Have a nice ride." She said with a smirk that promised fun later if all went to plan.

Hadrian could only smile back, glad to not only have that to look forward to but also to finally have Stannis pinned down where he could finish him.

-x-

Stark Camp, the North…

Hours later the sight of two dragons approaching their camp was easy to see against the surprising clear sky. Many were still nervous at the single dragon that was in their own camp without two more joining them. The differences between the dragons however interested those who were more courageous around the dragons, like Jon himself who was stunned by the crimson scales of Terrax and the brown scales of Sheepstealer. The green scales of Sunfyre was an interesting contrast and the dragon herself looked at Terrax with curiosity, never having known this dragon before.

Jon stepped forward as the two strange dragons landed at the edge of the camp so he might speak to the woman that was climbing off the back of the crimson scaled dragon, the perimeter guard looked terrified as the great beasts which were even bigger than Sunfyre who sat so close by. Jon did not show any fear however as he walked closer. The two larger dragons looked at him with curiosity but did not interfere as he came closer while a true beauty of Valyria slid to her feet from the harness on the dragon's back. She had a more curved figure than Daenerys or Margaery and while Jon would never stray from his wife he could see why the eyes of many men were drawn to this woman's stunning beauty. Whatever he might have said however was cut off by the woman coming up and pulling him into a surprisingly strong hug.

"Nephew!" She said with eyes bright, a near mad smile on her face. "I am your aunt Shaena, sorry I cannot stop long but we just learnt that Stannis is marching on Winterfell with all the forces he has left. I and your uncle to be Hadrian are marching to ambush him when he tries to attack the walls, you and Ned over there might want to do the same. See you there!" Shaena said with eagerness and kissed him on the cheek before skipping back to Terrax and getting on his back with the skill of an experienced rider. The two dragons followed their mistress's commands and returned to their natural habitat the sky leaving Jon baffled but at least with some idea of what to do next.

It was time to end this war.

Winterfell, the North…

Stannis was too stern in his discipline to smile at the sight before him because he knew of the difficulty of attacking a castle's walls. He had defended Storm's End against just such an assault for over a year but this time it was his turn to be the attacker and he had to admire the high walls and formidable defences of the ancient stronghold that according to legend had been designed by the same man that had constructed his own ancestral castle, it was certainly going to be a challenge he thought and one that would task his military expertise to their limits.

He led his remaining soldiers out onto the plains in front of the castle and saw that the men in the castle had clearly taken no chances as the gates were barred and the walls manned although not fully as they would be normally. He could Stannis thought attack a more lightly defended section of the wall but he would have to do it with ladders as he had no trebuchets and that was a daunting thing given the outer wall was eighty feet high. The only other option was to try and break through the main gates which would cost more men but was far more viable than trying to scale such high walls.

Leading his men towards the castle he was careful to stay out of range of arrow fire as they lined up to charge the gate, he did not feel comfortable. He tried to ignore the feeling but there was a sound in the distance that made him look up. It was small at first but was steadily getting louder and louder as it grew into a low rumble. Looking around he could not find the source of the sound but it was certainly getting louder, his men likewise were looking but like him could not find the source of the disturbance. A growing cold feeling that had nothing to do with the air around him settled in the pit of Stannis' gut as the sound grew loud enough for him to recognise it and his face tightened in anxiety.

Finally they found the source of the noise when dark shapes appeared over the hill, tiny at first but they kept coming and coming as if there was an enormous wave coming over the hill straight at them. The banners of the Direwolf and the Lion were prominent as they got close enough to be seen and Stannis felt a weary resignation come over him. He had no chance of escape, the approaching army had trapped him against the castle walls but he thought drawing his sword there was no way he was going to surrender and be anyone's prisoner. Some of his men followed suit realising that the game was up while some looked ready to try and bolt only to see any way out blocked and as if things could not get any worst three enormous dragons appeared flying over the approaching Stark and Lannister army. Stannis and his men ducked as they flew overhead and emitted quick fiery blasts at him and his men before flying off to circle above the field and ensure that neither Stannis nor any of his men could escape.

Then just as the Baratheon/Bolton army was still in panic and confusion from the quick dragon attack, the Lannister/Stark army slammed into them on horseback with the force of a tidal wave.

-x-

The screams of men filled the air as spears and swords struck home and killed them with deadly efficiency, Ramsay was however enjoying the bloodletting even if it was being unleashed on his own men. He was not very skilled at swordplay and far better at archery but had no dogs to defend him so he picked off any man he could see. He caught sight of Lord Stark and a vicious grin came to his face.

He was lined up his shot at Lord Stark, about to fire his deadly projectile with his mouth salivating only for him to feel the back of his leg being pulled on hard with a harsh stabbing pain like he had stepped in a bear trap. With a yell of pain he looked down and saw a black direwolf tugging so fiercely on his leg that it was near impossible for Ramsay to stay on his feet. He fumed with anger and went for his knife to stab the beast in the head only for his arm to be trapped by another wolf, this one with dark grey fur which started tugging hard on his arm. He cried out in pain as the two direwolves used him as a toy in their tug of war, he could feel his arm and leg being pulled from their sockets, blood sprouted from his mouth and he looked around only to see his men were too distracted to help him.

Then finally with a great tug Greywind ripped Ramsay's arm off causing blood to splatter onto the ground while Ranger crushed Ramsay's knee and delighted in winning the game with his pup. Both eagerly continued to 'play' with Ramsay who could only scream as the two enormous wolves pulled him to pieces. His death was not quick and the wolves seemed to avoid places where biting him might kill quickly.

-x-

Hadrian had dismounted from his horse and was fully immersed in the slaughter that they called a battle. With Crimson Night firmly in hand he cut down men left and right, many were cheap sellswords, pirates or slavers of little skill and therefore no challenge. As he proved when a Tyroshi slaver tried to cut him down with a sickle sword only for Hadrian to sidestep and sever his arm from his shoulder followed closely by his head. Hadrian was however glad as he could honestly say it was good to finally have pinned down Stannis and end the trouble he caused for good.

He smiled inside his lion head helm as he spotted Stannis, standing there with sword in hand fighting furiously against the men that surrounded him.

"STANNIS!" Hadrian yelled out, catching the attention of the man who had dreamt he might seize the throne. The man snarled at the sight of him and the two men walked towards each other oblivious to everything that was going on around them. When finally they were close enough their swords met with a loud clang.

Stannis was fixated on killing the man that had thwarted him at every turn, if he did nothing else that would at least be an achievement. He swung his sword with all the fury that his house was known for and the experience of many years only to be frustrated when the blasted Lannister matched him strike for strike.

Hadrian meanwhile was focused completely on the fight before him, easily deflecting or parrying every move that Stannis made. He was honestly disappointed as although Stannis had finally put his own fury into his attacks which were focused and precise, it was as if he was following a textbook. The standard moves and nothing more, no ingenuity in his attacks and no imagination. Hadrian had hoped for a more inventive opponent, one that might offer him a challenge but Stannis was so rigid in everything even how he fought that he could anticipate his every move.

Hadrian conserved his energy as he remained on the defensive, easily keeping ahead of his opponent before deciding to counterattack. Catching Stannis in a blade lock the two men pressed their considerable strength against each other, glaring straight into each other's eyes when Hadrian suddenly released his hold and stepped slightly to the side. Stannis caught off guard stumbled forward and was helpless as Hadrian thrust his sword into Stannis' back. The Stag king cried out in pain as the steel sliced straight into him but he did not hang there for long as Hadrian pulled the sword out and decapitated Stannis.

The head of the last trueborn Baratheon man rolled across the ground, his face caught in one final cry of anger. Hardly any of the men noticed the death of their king and Hadrian felt a great relief come over him, at last he had finally eliminated the danger to the realm's stability. But he thought as the enemy soldiers showed no sign of giving up the fight was still going on so with his sword dripping with the blood of Stannis he went straight back into the fray.

-x-

The slaughter of Winterfell as it would later become known took over an hour to finally come to an end. The once pristine white snow that surrounded the castle was now red with blood and entrails from the men of Stannis Baratheon, men that had fought to the death rather than surrender. Some Bolton men and other rebel Northerners had been clapped in irons and a thousand men were now being marched up the road towards the Wall where they would serve in the Night's Watch for the rest of their days. The heads of Stannis Baratheon and Ramsay Snow now were impaled on pikes on the walls of Winterfell while large pyres burned the bodies of the dead. It was a gruesome sight but one that finally meant that peace had at last been restored to the North and the rebuilding work and preparations for winter could continue once the dust had settled.

However not all of men that were captured alive had been sent to the Wall. In the forest nearby a group of men were working to end the cult of the Red God once and for all by killing the last known priests and priestesses of the religion. It was not pleasant work but no one wanted to hear about the 'Lord of Light' ever again in Westeros. Heads were forced onto stumps while swordsmen decapitated the followers of the Red God, Hadrian himself did most of it wanting to end their practice personally but he had an ulterior motive to being there as the executions continued.

He held in his palm one of the red jewels that the followers of the Red God wore around their necks and confirmed his suspicions. The jewels were indeed magical and as he had suspected of Valyrian origin, collectors of energy that could absorb and store energy and then be focused into useful power. And now he thought looking down the pouch in his other hand he had twenty six of them. With some alchemy he could cleanse them of the dark magic the Red Priests and find a useful purpose for them.

But for now he had something else to do, something that he should have done a long time again.

-x-

The torches lit the godswood of Winterfell in the dark of night, casting a long shadow over the white ground. Northern lords stood around the area with Westerlands knights while Hadrian stood next to the large Weirwood tree with Lord Stark and Raphael Daniels. Robb stood off to the side with Jon while Shaena on the arm of Ser Arthur Dayne approached wearing her normal leather outfit rather than a dress which made a few people raise an eyebrow but no one dared say a word given the woman had two dragons that were not very far away.

Hadrian smiled at her approach and she at him, many had never seen the Great Lion of Casterly Rock smile. When she finally got to the tree where Hadrian and Lord Stark stood waiting for her. The words of the ceremony did not matter as they repeated them, neither cared to even remember as they looked into each other's eyes.

When at last the drawn out words ended Shaena thrust herself forward and wrapped her arms around Hadrian's neck before snogging him hard, everyone was taken aback by her forcefulness but Hadrian did not let him daunt him at all and trapped her against his body by wrapping his arms around her slim waist and kissing back with equal intensity. Many cheered but it was only when the pair finally needed air that they ended the kiss and joined everyone else in the halls of Winterfell.

-x-

There was an atmosphere of celebration in the halls of Winterfell as the men toasted and enjoyed a small feast to rejoice in their triumph and for the wedding of Hadrian Lannister and Shaena Targaryen. But away from the great hall two people were meeting for the first time in decades. Once they had been so close that a day had no gone by without them spending at least a moment or two in each other's company, swimming in the river or running around the halls of the castle were they had been raised.

Arthur and Ashara Dayne, the best swordsman in the world and a woman that had become legendary for her beauty. They stood in a small room with a burning fire and the silence stretched out as they stared at each other, neither knowing what to say or too fearful to make the first move.

Ashara had been left in such a dark place after her beloved brother had died and he likewise had been devastated when he had learned of her death. But now they were here again in each other's presence again and had no idea of what to say or do. But Arthur with a tear in his eye finally could take no more of the tense atmosphere and lunged forward and pulled her into a tight hug. Ashara did not resist and wrapped her arms around him held on tight as both cried into each other's shoulder, years of pain and misery finally escaped their tight bonds. No words were necessary as they just held each other and took comfort that at last they were together again for however long.

-x-

Back in the great hall Hadrian was sitting at the main table with Shaena perched on his lap while Lord Stark, his son Robb and Jon the king enjoyed the festivities. Lord Stark stood and gave his speech to all assembled.

"My friends, it has been a truly unsettling time for the North, entire families wiped out and so many good people taken from us before the rightful time." His eyes slipping to Lady Glover who sat in the Hall with the Foresters while her daughter slept before he continued. "But from the ashes of this war, new houses have risen in the place of those that have fallen. I speak of House Rayder, ruler of the Barrowton." Ned gestured to Mance Rayder who raised a cup of mead to him.

"House Greyjoy of Goldengrass." Yara Greyjoy gave him a smirk and casual salute to her new liege lord. The sight brought many looks of amusement from the spearwives around her.

"House Stark of Wolf's Den." Referring of course to his own son Rickon who would rule that ancient seat and White Harbour when he was old enough. The boy was still at Moat Cailin with Wynafryd Manderly while her sister Wylla was brought here to heal from the ordeal she had suffered at the hands of Stannis Baratheon.

"House Karstark of the Rills." Torrhen Karstark still not quite able to believe he was now the ruler of one of the greatest seats in the North bowed slightly to his liege lord and distant kin while his brothers and new wife Beth Cassel laughed, he glared at them and while the scene nearly made chuckle Ned carried on.

"House Cassel of Long Lake." He said looking to Rodrik who smiled with the rest of his family.

"House Condon of Widow's Watch." He looked to the now Lord Kyle Condon who looked far better than the ruin of a man that he had been reduced to during captivity. Ned did grieve for House Flint that had ruled the castle but they had not believed the letter about the death of the hostages and all had fought to the death over people already passed. It saddened him but he could only accept the reality he was faced with. A brief smile came to his face again as he saw Kyle's only child Elaena Condon sitting closely with Larence Snow her now betrothed. The Hornwoods looked pleased with the match while Daryn Hornwood gave his half-brother a firm thumbs up which made nearly everyone laugh. The boy himself was due to marry Mira Forrester when she returned to the North.

"House BlackUmber." He said looking to Hoarfrost Umber, the younger son of the GreatJon who would now rule the small lake side lands of castle Blackpool. The man was already deep into his cups and struggled to his feet to give a bow only to stumble and fall over causing much laughter in the hall including from his father and brother.

"House Glenmore of Ironsmith." He looked to Arthur Glenmore, one of the best archers and hunters in the North who gave a deep bow in gratitude at the boon that he and his family had been given. The town of Ironsmith was not a large town but it was walled and famed across the north for having more forges and smiths than any other with a large iron mine close by.

Ned then turned to the final person who would be awarded a castle tonight and with pride said to the gathered people of the North and Westerlands.

"Lyra Mormont of Bear Island, your family has stood steadfast with mine for centuries and it is past time that we reward that loyalty. Lady Lyra Mormont, I name you the new ruler of the Dreadfort and hope you will bring it a better name and reputation in the future." Lyra, her mother and sister Dacey all looked at Lord Stark in complete shock while a cheer went up across the room and Dacey had to slap her sister on the back so Lyra would remember to breathe while Maege gave her daughter a proud smile. The room quickly began to fill with the sound of laughter and joyful voices as the announcement finished and Lord Stark sat back down before he finally decided to confront Lord Lannister about something that had been bothering him for some time.

"When Lord Lannister will you send Arya back to Winterfell with your son as part of our deal? I have heard virtually nothing from my youngest daughter since she went to Casterly Rock and I want to know why?" Lord Stark demanded with anger and a frown crossed Hadrian's face but before he could say a word in his own defence Shaena interrupted with an almost dreamy tone but a strange knowingness in her eyes.

"It is obvious Lord Stark, she does not want to come back here right now." Shaena said as she fed her new husband a morsel of food who looked at her with slight irritation that she had spoken over him but knew she would never do it without good reason and never when he was dealing with something truly important. Shaena caught all of the men within earshot by surprise and sighed before explaining further wondering if these men had a brain cell between them.

"She is afraid she would have to be a 'proper' lady again; stitch clothes for men, sing and dance and all the other things she hates. At Casterly Rock she can dress how she likes, spar with weapons and alongside the rest of the Lannister children learn how to rule. It is not that my husband is keeping her a prisoner but that she is enjoying herself too much and wants to have her freedom. If you reassured her that she would be able to enjoy that here then she would at least come for a visit." Shaena said and both she and Hadrian left to consummate their marriage leaving a thoughtful Lord Stark and family behind.

-x-

As the evening passed Ned and Ashara finally retired from the great hall and without really knowing how they got there they found themselves alone in his chambers. Awkwardness spread between them as they felt like they had been reduced suddenly to the teenagers they had once been here. Surprisingly it was Ned who made the first move, he gently put his hand on her's and said.

"I am sorry that I failed you all those years ago. There is no excuse for all that I did to you." Ned said his eyes full of remorse and regret for all the pain and broken promises that he had inflicted upon her. He had never wanted to hurt her, not in a million years! But he had never imagined he was going to become Lord of the North and have to wed a Tully to gain her father's army and kill Ashara's brother in such a dishonourable fashion. News of her death had stabbed at his heart abut now she was here standing in front of him and he was unsure of what to say or do.

Ashara however much she was tormented by the convoluted path that they had started unwillingly on did not hesitate and pressed her lips against his. All the bottled up emotions inside both of them coming out as Ned kissed her back with all the passion that he held so deep inside. Instinctively pulling at each other's clothes they stumbled towards the bed. Neither thought about consequences or kingdoms, only that for once…tonight they were going to be selfish and do something for themselves.

-x-

Nearby Hadrian and Shaena had wrapped themselves in blankets on their bed to stay warm after a passionate celebration of their new marriage. Both had exhausted themselves and now slept to regain their strength for the long trip back to the Westerlands. Hadrian as he dreamed that night was seeing a long and glorious summer with Shaena and his children in the gardens of Casterly Rock. He saw them happy and safe, even Arya Stark and the rest of his children's future partners were there and looking joyous. It brought a feeling of pride and joy to his heart, but a slight gasp of surprise gripped him as he looked at Shaena and saw a babe in her arms with her silver hair and his emerald eyes.

Before he could say or do anything the world changed around him and he found himself in a cave with Shaena looking just as confused and unsettled as he.

"Greetings once again, sorry to interrupt such pleasant drams but it was necessary. The coming of the Walkers is so close now that I must speak with you." An ancient voice said and they turned to see the Three Eyed Raven lying in the mast of roots.

"You do not have a great sense of timing do you?" Hadrian said with annoyance, tonight he had hoped to just be about him and Shaena without the worry of the world and matters of state…just for one night but it seems to both his irritation and Shaena's the Raven had something to tell them.

"I have an armour design for the dragons, it should protect them from the weapons of the Night King." He told them and a vision of the Night King impaling a dragon with one of his ice weapon and then bringing it back to life. The sight brought a look of horror to their faces as they saw the Night King gain a near unstoppable weapon of mass destruction and the details of the armour needed to protect them entered their minds.

Shaena would have been irritated if he had interrupted their dream for no reason but she could not help but see Terrax and Sheepstealer suffering that same fate and her heart constricted. She loved both her dragons and would do anything to protect them, seeing a dragon such a magnificent creature being reduced to a corpse slaved to the Night King was a sight that brought tears to her eyes. She would ensure that all five current living dragons received this armour, it could very well make the difference between life and death.

Hadrian nodded in understanding and decided to make similar armour for Raga, but first when he woke he would send a message to Castamere and have Qyburn accelerate the development of all weapon projects, if the Walkers were indeed coming they might not have much time left and they would need every single weapon that they could muster.

-x-

The morning after the feast Lady Glover was still comforting her infant daughter, the poor little one she knew did not like all the moving around of the last few weeks before finally she fell asleep and she could put her down in her crib. Something that she could well understand as the ache in her heart struck again, a timely reminder that her husband and young son had both been taken away from her, well before their time. Already she could feel the vultures circling as her claim on Deepwood Motte was challenged, people wanting to 'remove the burden of caring for her daughter and ruling the castle alone'. She took a deep breath as she tried to calm her nerves, she was going to speak to Lord Stark who she hoped would agree to an idea that she had about the future of her castle and her daughter. One that would make them secure and would be a great deal easier to arrange if she had his blessing.

A gentle but firm knock could be heard at her door and she got up from her chair and straightened her dress, took another deep breath and went to the door. She smiled when she saw Lord Stark standing there looking as cool and strong as the direwolf at his side, the beast that the Starks had chosen as their banner did scare her a bit but the wolf was well behaved and sat like a sentinel at his master's side.

"You wished to see me Lady Glover?" Lord Stark said with his normal calm voice, his eyes only briefly going over to her daughter who was still asleep before swinging back to her. Solid as a rock she thought, like nothing could throw him. She curtsied and said to Lord Stark.

"Yes my lord, I was hoping that you might be willing to support a proposal of mine." She said with all the grace and dignity she could muster and with his complete attention she outlined what she wanted to do. "As you are aware my husband and my son were murdered by the Boltons which leaves only my daughter to inherit Deepwood Motte, lords and others are already 'offering' to rule the castle until she is of age and I know that they would take my daughter's birth right from her the first moment they are able. I was hoping that you might endorse the betrothal of my daughter Erena to the son of Rodrick Forrester and your own namesake Eddard."

Lord Stark regarded her in silence for a moment which made Lady Glover nervous as his grey eyes searched her face before saying just three words.

"Why the Forresters?" He wanted to know why she would trust them with her daughter's future. She was not surprised and she knew full well how loyal the Forresters were to the Starks and how much the Starks appreciated that loyalty. So she explained her reasoning.

"They are the most steadfast and honourable family that I know, your own not including my lord." She quickly added. "Their castles are in the area and they gave us safe haven when the Boltons took Deepwood Motte before taking it back for us. Who else can I trust more than them?" She asked, sweating slightly despite the cold as Lord Stark stared at her. He was thinking on her proposal she thought, she could nearly see the concentration as he considered it before finally he said.

"I will speak to Gregor and Rodrick Forrester on your behalf. I will not allow even just a part of the north to fall into chaos and find security for you and your daughter." Lord Stark said firmly and Lady Glover nearly breathed an audible sigh of relief. She knew by doing this she was effectively killing the Glover name but her house would live on as part of House Forrester. The better choice than leaving it to fate and few would take better care of her family than the Forresters.

-x-

Jon meanwhile was meeting his 'good sister' Alys for the first time as well as setting eyes of his 'nephew'. Alys was wide-eyed as Jon walked in the room, nothing she thought like the king she had imagined but she could not deny that he was one of the most handsome men she had ever seen. She would never stray from Robb of course but she could not help but admire his Northern ruggedness and powerful grey eyes but was never one to forget her manners and curtsied before the King of the Seven Kingdoms and the Emperor of the Westerosi Empire feeling suddenly very self-conscious of her appearance, wondering suddenly if she should have put on her best dress before deciding it was not worth worrying about.

Jon was as solemn as ever as he met Robb's wife for the first time, he took her hand and gently put a kiss on it.

"Lady Stark, it is a pleasure." Jon said politely as he released her hand and Robb despite being in the presence of his king said with pride and warmth.

"Alys, meet my brother and the King on the Iron Throne, Jon Targaryen." Robb said never having felt prouder of the young man that he had grown up alongside than he did right now. From a bastard son to the ruler of the largest empire in recorded history. He was proud to consider to Jon his brother.

Jon himself was touched at Robb's calling him his brother, despite knowing that they were only cousins both of them had been raised by Eddard Stark as brothers. No matter what Lady Catelyn had said about it over and over again trying to convince either Ned or Robb to keep their distance from him, neither of them had listened. One day Jon hoped, he and Robb would fight side by side. There were only a few he would trust to have his back truly and Robb was one of them. He gave Robb a manly hug which caught Robb by surprise but he quickly returned it. While they were doing this however, Alys went over to the bassinet and pulled out a babe wrapped in warm blankets before coming back over to her husband and his 'brother'.

Robb noticed first and smiled as Alys held their son, gently turning Jon to see. Jon himself was gripped by a strange feeling of protectiveness that came deep from his core, the more wild parts of him that all Starks carried. The boy had deep red hair but also the warm grey eyes of a northerner, Jon could clearly see Robb in the boy's cheek bones and chin while the nose was that of his mother. Robb carefully took the babe and said gently to his son.

"Benjen, this is your uncle Jon. He is king of all of Westeros and he has been waiting to meet you my son." Robb said with the warm eyes that only a proud parent could have. Jon meanwhile was touched by the introduction that Robb had given and treated the boy as if he was made of the most delicate crystal when Robb handed young Benjen to him. Jon had held Arya, Bran and Rickon when they were born but it was different somehow this time. This tiny young life was a part of his extended 'pack' as it were, the future of their house and the North in general perhaps. It was humbling and as he carefully supported the babe's head and held him securely in his arms Jon could not help but think on what his and Margaery's children might look like when they finally had some. He could well see a boy with his dark curls and her eyes or a girl with her lovely warm brown hair and his grey eyes. It brought a lump to his throat and he was struck by longing to see his wife again, missing her presence now they were apart after spending so much time together.

But for the moment he smiled at the babe who gently wrapped a surprisingly strong but tiny hand around his finger, giggling as Jon tickled his chin which made all three young adults in the room smile and laugh.

-x-

The following morning after the feast, both Jon and Hadrian led their forces home. For Jon it was a trek to White Harbour so they could take ships home to the Crownlands while Hadrian's fleet would meet his army at the Rills and sail home that way rather than march his exhausted troops any further than they had to. Shaena's dragons flew joyfully overhead as she went with her new husband to the Westerlands, eager to see her future home and get to know her stepchildren a little better. There was also the matter of the all the land that they had claimed between them but both Hadrian and Shaena were contend to leave such matters for now.

The Red Keep, Kings Landing…

Jon despite being many thousands of miles away had in a strange way never been closer to Margaery as he was at this moment. As she was being sick into a bowl many of her maids began to suspect that the queen might well be with child but kept their suspicions to themselves, knowing it was still too early for such things to be said aloud. Margaery herself had come to the same conclusion but was too nervous to seek out the maester or Samwell to confirm the cause of her being sick so much although in her heart she knew that she now was carrying Jon's child in her belly.

Brightwater Keep, the Reach…

While not as cold as the North it was still cooling in the Reach as winter descended on Westeros. Sansa and Loras had been ensuring that they had enough food stored away to see them through the difficult times ahead, although that was down to Sansa's insistence. Coming from the cold North she would never take winter lightly.

Brienne of Tarth who had followed her back to the Reach along with Tormund and continued to act as her protector was currently throwing up into a bowl too as she was faced with a reality she had never imagined.

She was pregnant, with Tormund's child. She hung her head in shame as she realised the full consequences of her actions, after the first time in the gardens of the Eyrie she had not been able to stop herself. Every time they fought they ended up having sex, the chemistry between them completely mystified her but she could not deny the reality in front of her and more importantly answer the question of what she was going to do now.

The Wall, the North…

The wind was both fiercely strong and bitterly cold at the Wall that night, the Watch did not go up to the top of the wall that night for fear they might be blown clear off it.

As such no one was up there when the smallest of cracks began to form in the wall on the northern side.