King's Landing
Daeron smiled upon Sansa sprinting out of the main doors leading out to the courtyard and into the embrace of her sister and half-brother, he gestured for everyone else to continue on while the Starks reunite after so many years apart.
One would say the future Queen of Westeros was fearful of things when the King set off, going to the small praying Sept within the Red Keep a number of times before the messenger arrived to confirm that peace was made between the South and North.
Sansa shed more than a few tears, holding Arya and even Jon tighter as if they could disappear with the lightest of ease.
Not many families can get that measure of stability, or comfort.
The young King did notice Arya's scornful stare the entire way here from Castle Stokeworth, now, now she is bright with a big smile across her lips and the feeling of watching his back becoming ever quiet.
She's a scary girl, that one.
"Daeron." The quiet shuffle of Vary's sandals and equally quiet tone approached, he allowed the Master of Whispers to come up and whisper what news he has. "The resistance in the Golden Tooth has been quelled, Lord Tyrion and Commander Grey Worm are well on their way back with captives- " He shook his head, stopping the eunuch.
"No captives, send a rider to pardon the soldiers, demote the nobles to peasants and send them across the Narrow Sea." He said and Varys nodded to the plan, Daeron then turned back and smiled brightly before approaching the Starks.
"Jon, you and your sister are welcome to the finest rooms in the Red Keep. You can rest for the day and we shall meet later on for supper." He told the White Wolf and his She-Wolf sister, Sansa joined his side while promising to see Arya later.
Once the two found themselves somewhere quiet, his betrothed joyfully embraced and placed a passionate kiss upon his lips, one which he reciprocated. She parted a moment after, smiling from ear to ear.
"I've never been this happy, not since my father. Thank you, Daeron." She needn't have to, he cupped her right cheek and stroked it softly which made her blush.
"The constant fighting and bloodshed that's taken hold of the Seven Kingdoms these last few years had to end, for too long the rulers of the Realm's allowed pride to dull their senses." He sighed and looked left and out to an open area. "Your brother has a good head on his shoulder, with his help we can bring some honor back to the ruling body of the Westeros I want to build." She approved from the look in her eye, he smiled and kissed her once again.
The Lord of Winterfell still needs to find a wife, one to tie him to the Realm and he'll be spending the next several days pondering it.
Unless Jon finds it here, in the least likely of places.
The day was ending shortly and Jon Snow was walking with Davos toward the throne room where the King is holding the unification feast, many of the commanders in Daeron's service will be present along with the conquered who bent the knee or were defeated and allowed to rejoin the fold.
"He seems like a stable young man, a rare thing when it comes to Targaryen's." Jon chuckled slightly and shook his head, thinking about the man he bent the knee to.
Daeron Targaryen. The third of his name. King of Westeros.
He's seen strong and stable, Stannis was one and so was Jeor Mormont and even Mance Rayder.
Looking into the King's eyes, he saw years of stress and pain but some resolve. He can be trusted, but not underestimated if you become his enemy.
"Let's hope he has a long and prosperous reign, then. I would feel a fool if he has an unworthy heir or dies young without one." And with that unfortunate business, a collapse of an era of peace for everyone in Westeros.
Davos grimaced at the thought, and Jon took the sage's silence as agreement and continued walking in that silence until he spotted his sister alongside a woman, she was beautiful.
"Who is that?" He asked and Davos gave a look at Sansa and the woman who was with her, answering him a second after.
"I believe that is Margaery Tyrell, Lady Olenna's grandaughter, and Lord Garlan's half-sister." Davos saw him staring and the lass most certainly noticed him from how she stopped to eye him, then following Sansa inside of the throne room. "Careful Lord Snow, you look smitten. She's wed three Kings and survived them both." He shook his head at the man.
"I'm no King... And I'm not smitten." With that, he and Davos were escorted inside by the two guards standing at the entrance of the room.
Daeron looked fit for the Iron Throne, thinking back to each of the twenty rulers who sat upon it. The King smiled cheerfully and rose from his seat, extending an arm which held a goblet of wine.
"Gentlemen and Ladies, allow me to welcome Jon Snow, the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North!" He sheepishly accepted the welcoming toast and made his way towards the throne and knelt alongside Davos. "Please, there's no need for that, friends. Rise and join me, I have other announcements." He did so and seated himself beside Arya and Sansa.
Daeron noticed everyone was here, except for those that had gone home or were returning from the Golden Tooth.
Clearing his throat, he began. "The many years of war have left the land and its people scarred and burned, I am sorry to have taken part in that to end the conflicts. I promise to show you all and the smallfolk we protect, that I mean to keep Westeros peaceful and prosperous." He paused so the crowd would calm from cheering and laughing merrily. "I have no right to ask this... But our war is not over, not yet." A great many seemed confused, Lord Buckwell rose from his seat to speak.
"No more enemies remain, your Grace. What do you mean?" He looked at his Small Council and Jon before explaining himself.
"Far North, an army marches with haste to conquer us all... An army of dead men." He noticed some chuckling or were doubtful, he quickly continued as a way to keep their attention. "I have been informed by this man, Samwell Tarly and further provided with truth by Jon Snow and some of his companions. This threat is real, and I mean to stop it before it reaches the Wall." The room was quiet, many surprised that he didn't command but ask these Lords for further use of their fighting men.
The heads of the many families- Nearly forty in total approached the Iron Throne, unsheathing their swords and laying them at their feet. Randyll spoke for these men, rising with his two sons that sat at his right and left.
"A few might try to weasel out of their oaths, King Daeron... But not us, expect every man in Westeros to stop this threat." Such pride swelled inside of Daeron that he needed to take several moments to form what to say, shaking a bit.
"I promise, after these final months we can all lay down our swords." He paused again, looking at Sansa who nodded for him to go ahead. "As a parting feast before we march, I would also ensure the legacy of my house... Through marriage, with my future Queen, Sansa Stark of Winterfell." It was both a shock and surprise to many in the hall who didn't know, especially those that had come with Jon Snow.
Yet, a thunderous cheer echoed through the throne room and Daeron felt himself relax.
As the King sat down, Sansa felt a pinch on her arm and yelped before turning to narrow her eyes at Arya. Her sister gestured for them to find somewhere quiet to talk so followed the She-Wolf towards the nearby council room with Jon following behind as well.
"I wanted to believe what you said in your letter was a joke, it wasn't, right?" Sansa never thought she'd see so much emotion in Arya, especially when they were first reunited, her sister seemed so cold and distant.
Standing her ground, Sansa nodded with not an inch of hesitation. "I am. He isn't Joffrey, nor is he his brother or father." He's a gentle soul, one who shared a longing for home in foreign places as she had. "He saved me from Baelish's leash and helped me get over the trauma of how many times I believed I was going to die when I was Cersei's prisoner, he's a good man, with a good heart." She told them and Jon remained silent, Arya seemed to want to argue several times before leaving the room and out of the throne room.
Unnoticed, the Lord of Storm's End left his newly betrothed side to give chase after the She-Wolf.
Jon sighed heavily and Sansa took a deep breath, forcing the tears that threatened to break free back inside. "Sansa, if Daeron is everything you say he is... Then I wish you both all the happiness in the world." He uttered and in a surprising action, she ran to Jon's arms and cried happily into his chest.
With the runaway Baratheon, Gendry called out and put a hand on Arya's shoulder only for her to grab him and throw him over her shoulder and on the stone floor.
"Gendry, leave me alone!" He can't, he always hated it when she looked upset and today was no different.
Getting up, he sighed and looked at Arya. "I'm sorry I never reached out, one moment I was being sacrificed, and the next I was coming ashore at King's Landing. I was more thankful for being alive than worrying about anyone... But I still thought about you, and Hot Pie." She narrowed her eyes with a long silence, yet he waited for her to respond.
"I mourned you. I put Beric, Thoros, and the rest of them on my list because I thought you were dead. Now... Here you are, the legitimized son of Robert Baratheon, set up to marry your cousin." She said with her cheeks reddening with anger and emotion.
"... I don't want to. It's my King's command, I owe him everything, Arya." He tried to explain and she turned away slightly. "You once said you could be my family, I want that as well." His confession might be sudden but it's what he's been feeling since the day the Brotherhood surrendered him to Melisandre.
Arya might be stubborn as a boar but since meeting her, he could only smile. Arya opened her mouth once or twice, trying to find her voice which only made her more adorable.
She huffed and shoved him when he began to laugh, her face beet red, he hit a wall and took her arm when she tried to distance herself and she stopped as if some force froze her.
"Come to Storm's End with me, stay at my side... I would like that." He offered with the lightest of tone in his voice, the She-Wolf looked pensive as if to consider it until she reached up and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek before gently pulling away from him. "It isn't you. Is it?" He repeated her words to her and she smiled while wiping away a tear.
"No... That isn't me."