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Chapter 194 - Chapter 194: Last Hearth

The next morning, after breakfast in the large dining room, Jacob reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out Westerosi-style clothes for everyone—dresses and outfits embroidered with his sigil: the black dragon's head with burning red eyes on a crimson field.

After choosing their outfits, everyone teleported to their rooms to change, leaving only Jacob, Sansa, Kitty, and Arya in the dining room.

Soon, everyone returned.

Lydia and Melissa wore the same style of dress as Sansa—a Westerosi-style gown with golden accents along the seams and edges, paired with a flowing cloak. Lydia's gown was crimson red. Melissa's gown was forest green.

Allison and Malia wore the same style of outfit as Jacob—a noble, close-fitting Westerosi ensemble made of scaled leather resembling dragon hide.

Allison chose the color cyan. Her cloak was cyan as well, and she had her katana, Shusui, on her waist. The blade's dark scabbard stood out against the bright fabric.

Malia chose the color gray. Her cloak was also gray, and she wore no weapons—she didn't need them.

Stiles and Cogman also wore the same outfit as Jacob, but without cloaks. Stiles chose beige, looking like a medieval scholar who had accidentally wandered into a battlefield. Cogman chose black, his sharp features and precise movements making him look like an assassin from a dark fairy tale.

Erica wore a medieval court gown in the color purple.

Jacob looked at his wives with admiration, his gaze traveling from Allison's confident stance to Lydia's poised elegance to Melissa's warm smile to Malia's fierce beauty to Sansa's regal grace.

Then he turned to Erica and started staring absently. His eyes didn't blink.

Lydia, who had been talking with Allison, noticed. She nudged Allison's arm.

"Look at that pervert," Lydia whispered. "He's drooling over Erica."

Allison glanced at Erica, who was chatting with Stiles, then at Jacob, who was staring at her unblinkingly.

Allison shrugged. "Let Stiles worry about that."

Lydia smirked and called out, "Hey, Stiles!"

Stiles turned. "What?"

Lydia's smile widened. "I think Erica is in danger."

Erica and Stiles both frowned.

"What do you mean?" Stiles asked.

Lydia nodded toward Jacob. "Look."

Stiles turned.

Jacob was still staring at Erica.

Erica stood there awkwardly, not knowing how to react.

Stiles panicked. He ran to Jacob and grabbed him by the collar.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Stiles shook him. 

Jacob finally stopped staring at Erica. He tried to speak, but a trickle of drool slipped from his lips. He wiped it with the back of his hand.

"What do you think you're doing, Stiles?"

Stiles's grip tightened. "No. What do you think you're doing?"

Jacob looked genuinely innocent. "Me? Nothing. I was just admiring the girls' outfits."

Stiles released him. "No. You were staring at my Erica."

Jacob raised his hands in surrender. "Don't worry. I'm not interested in her."

Stiles said, "I don't believe you. You were drooling while staring at her."

Jacob sighed. "I said don't worry. Although Erica is hot, she's in a relationship with you. I would never go after her or break you two up." He paused. "I was just thinking about having my own blonde girl. I got lost in thought thinking about hot blonde girls from movies and comics."

Stiles narrowed his eyes. "I'll keep my eye on you."

Jacob shrugged and started walking out of the dining room. "Alright. Time to go."

Everyone followed him to the World Travel Room and walked through the door leading to the Game of Thrones world.

---

Moat Cailin — Morning

They appeared in the courtyard of the ruined fortress.

Rain fell in steady sheets, drumming against crumbling stone and pooling in the muddy ruts of ancient paths. The air was cold and damp, carrying the scent of wet earth and rotting reeds from the surrounding swamps.

The capsule house was already stored in Jacob's pocket dimension. Brienne and Podrick were in two tents he had left for them.

Jacob called out, "Brienne! We're back!"

Brienne and Podrick emerged from their tents, pulling on cloaks against the rain.

Brienne saluted. "Your Grace."

Podrick waved awkwardly.

Lydia looked around at the broken towers and overgrown stones. Water dripped from collapsed archways. Moss clung to the walls like green fur.

"So," she said, "what are we going to do?"

Jacob pointed north. "I'm heading to find Sansa's brothers and try to conquer the Free Folk. There's nothing fun to do up there." He looked at the group. "You girls can go south if you want to experience this world."

Lydia nodded. "Okay. We'll go south. We'll meet tonight in Serendell."

Jacob smiled. "Alright."

Lydia turned to Sansa. "Where's the best place to visit in Westeros? Somewhere we can do some shopping?"

Sansa thought for a moment. "Oldtown, in the Reach. It's the oldest city in Westeros. The Citadel is there—where maesters are trained. But more importantly..." A small smile crossed her lips. "The merchants there trade with every corner of the known world. Silk from Qarth, spices from Leng, gemstones from the Shadow Lands. If you want a civilized, luxury shopping experience, that is where you go."

Lydia's eyes sparkled. "Oldtown it is."

Jacob reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out the Map of the Game of Thrones World. He handed it to Lydia.

"This is an enchanted map. It works like a GPS. Just think of where you want to go, and it will guide you there."

Lydia took the map and studied it. A blue line appeared under her gaze, showing the fastest route from Moat Cailin to Oldtown.

Jacob then pulled out the Flying Carpet.

"This is a Flying Carpet. It can be controlled mentally by one of you girls. It can grow or shrink to hold one passenger or many."

Allison stepped forward and sat on the carpet. She focused, and the carpet lifted off the ground. It flew a smooth circle around them, then stopped, hovering in the air.

Allison smiled. "I'll be the one controlling it."

Jacob then took two heavy leather bags from his pocket dimension—clinking with coins—and handed them to Melissa.

"Two thousand Gold Dragons and two thousand Silver Stags," he said. "Ask Sansa to explain the value of a Gold Dragon and a Silver Stag."

Sansa, Arya, Brienne, and Podrick's eyes went wide.

Sansa said, "Jay, that is too much coin."

Jacob shrugged. "Nothing is too much for you girls. And it's not like you have to spend all of it."

Lydia looked at the bags. "What if we need more?"

Jacob shook his head with a smile and said to Sansa, "See? She already wants more."

Sansa looked at Lydia and said, "Believe me, we won't need more."

Jacob said, "A thousand Gold Dragons is roughly equivalent to one million dollars in our world."

Lydia's jaw dropped. "Really?"

Jacob nodded. "Really."

Lydia grinned and clapped her hands. "Alright, girls. Let's go shopping."

Jacob looked around the group. "Besides Malia and Kitty, who's coming with me? And who wants to go shopping?"

Arya stepped forward. "I'm coming with you."

Stiles raised a hand. "I'm coming with you too." He looked at Erica. "You go with Allison and the others. Have fun. Buy whatever you want. They'll pay for it."

Erica nodded. "Okay."

Jacob looked at Podrick. "Podrick, you come with me too." He turned to Brienne. "Brienne, you go with the girls. Cogman, you go with them as well."

Cogman bowed. "As you wish, sir. Shall I gouge the eyes of any man who looks at them?"

Jacob nodded. "Yes. And crush their balls too."

Cogman's smile was unsettling. "It would be my pleasure, sir."

Melissa said, "No. You will do no such thing. Or don't come with us."

Cogman's eyes widened. "But what if they try to harass you? What if they attack you?"

Allison said, "Then you can teach them a lesson. But don't go too far."

Cogman's smile returned. "Yes. I will deal with them accordingly."

Allison made the carpet grow until it was large enough to seat all of them comfortably. "Alright. Let's go."

Lydia, Melissa, Sansa, Erica, Cogman, and Brienne climbed onto the Flying Carpet.

"We'll meet you in Serendell tonight," Allison said.

Jacob nodded. "Have fun."

The carpet lifted off and shot south, disappearing into the grey sky.

Jacob turned to the remaining group: Malia, Kitty, Arya, Stiles, and Podrick.

"Alright," he said. "Let's go too." He looked at Arya. "Do you want to look for your wolf Nymeria first, or get your brothers first?"

Arya shook her head. "I'll look for Nymeria later by myself. Let's get my brothers first. I'm worried about them."

Jacob nodded. "Okay."

He wrapped everyone in his telekinesis. They lifted off the ground and shot north, leaving Moat Cailin behind.

The ruins grew smaller and smaller until they vanished below the clouds.

They flew over swamps, then forests, then hills. The rain stopped as they traveled north, replaced by grey clouds and biting wind.

Jacob pulled out Jack Sparrow's compass from his pocket dimension. The needle spun lazily, then pointed steadily northeast.

"Last Hearth is that way," he said.

---

They flew over Winterfell.

From above, the castle looked like a grey stone scar on the white landscape. Bolton banners hung from the battlements—the flayed man, red and black, flapping in the cold wind.

Arya stared down at her childhood home. Her jaw tightened. Her hands curled into fists.

"We'll take it back," Jacob said quietly. "Soon."

Arya nodded. She didn't look away until Winterfell was lost behind the clouds.

They flew on.

---

The Last Hearth — Three Hours Later

The land changed as they traveled north.

The hills flattened into rolling plains, then into sparse forest, then into open tundra. Snow covered everything—deep drifts that buried fallen logs, white blankets that smoothed the contours of the land. The wind howled across the empty expanse, carrying ice crystals that sparkled in the pale afternoon light.

Last Hearth sat on a rocky rise at the edge of a frozen river.

The castle was ancient, built by the First Men thousands of years ago to guard the northernmost reaches of the North. Its walls were made of grey granite blocks, thick and weathered, covered in frost. The towers were squat and square, designed for defense rather than beauty.

The entire fortress looked like something carved from a mountain and left to freeze.

Jacob landed the group on a ridge overlooking the castle. Snow crunched under their boots.

"This is Last Hearth," Jacob said. "Home of House Umber."

Stiles shivered. "It's freezing. How do people live here?"

"They don't have a choice," Arya said quietly.

She stared at the castle. "Rickon is in there?"

Jacob nodded. "According to what I know, yes. He's been hiding there with his wolf, Shaggydog, and a woman named Osha." He looked at Arya. "Do you remember her?"

Arya frowned. "The wildling woman?"

Jacob nodded. "Yes."

Arya said, "I remember her, but I don't know her that well. She was captured by Robb and was working in the kitchen." Her voice tightened. "Is Rickon really safe with her?"

Jacob said, "Yes. She's actually like a mother to him. She's been taking care of him since he escaped from Winterfell. In fact, she and Hodor were the ones who helped Rickon and Bran escape."

Stiles said, "Remind me again how you know about the past of this world."

Jacob thought, 'Because I watched the Game of Thrones show in the world I grew up in—but let's say it was the Nexus Stone.' Aloud, he said, "Remember the Nexus Stone I told you about?"

Stiles said, "How can I forget? I still can't believe that you were actually born in the Marvel universe and that you have all six Infinity Stones inside your body."

Jacob shrugged. "I still can't believe it myself. But anyway, it was the Nexus stone that told me about the history of this world after it brought me here."

Just then, a system window appeared in front of Jacob's eyes.

[System Notification]

[Quest Sign-In Available: Greatjon Umber is dead, and his son Smalljon Umber is already planning to ally with the Boltons—even though Jon Snow hasn't yet let the Free Folk south of the Wall. Host can sign in after taking Rickon Stark, Osha, and the direwolf Shaggydog away from Last Hearth.]

Jacob read the quest and thought, 'I see. So even if I take Arya there, Smalljon Umber will try to attack us. He will definitely not surrender to me. And I don't want him to. A traitor like him deserves to die. But it's not time yet.'

Arya said, "Let's go get Rickon."

Jacob shook his head. "I'll go alone. Greatjon Umber is dead, and his son Smalljon is the Lord of Last Hearth and head of House Umber now. He can't be trusted, and he will definitely not swear allegiance to me. He'll try to attack us." He paused. "But it's not time to kill him yet. If I kill him, the Umber warriors will attack us, and we'll have to kill some of them. I don't want to kill people unless it's necessary. I mean, it's okay to kill in war or if they're bad people, but I don't feel like butchering them in their own home." He looked at Arya. "So for now, I'll get your brother quietly. After we conquer the Free Folk, we'll deal with Smalljon."

Arya nodded. "Okay."

Jacob said, "Alright. You guys stay here. I'll be back soon."

He teleported.

---

Jacob appeared above the roof of one of the towers of Last Hearth. Snow covered the slate tiles, and the wind howled around him.

He activated his X-ray vision and scanned the castle.

The great hall was empty. The kitchens were cold. The barracks held sleeping soldiers, their breaths fogging in the chill air.

Then he found them.

In a small room on the second floor of the eastern tower, a boy lay on a bed, covered in furs. A woman sat in a chair by the window, watching the door. And curled at the foot of the bed, larger than any wolf had a right to be, was a massive black direwolf.

Jacob teleported directly inside the room.

Shaggydog noticed him immediately.

The direwolf sprang to his feet, hackles raised, and stood in front of Rickon and Osha. His lips peeled back, revealing teeth the size of daggers. A deep, rumbling growl filled the room.

Jacob looked at the black wolf admiringly. "You're way bigger than I thought."

He released a tiny fraction of his dragon aura.

Shaggydog's growl cut off mid-throat. His ears flattened. His tail tucked between his legs. He backed away, whimpering—but he still stood in front of Rickon, protecting him.

Jacob smiled. "Your wolf is brave and loyal. Even though he's terrified of me right now, he's still trying to protect you."

Osha shoved Rickon behind her and pulled a dagger from her belt. "Who are you? And how did you appear out of nowhere?"

Jacob raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture. "I'm Jacob. Rickon's brother-in-law."

Rickon peeked from behind Osha. "Brother-in-law?"

Jacob nodded. "I'm Sansa's husband."

Rickon's eyes went wide. "Really? Is she okay?"

Jacob smiled. "She's fine. She's happy. You'll see her tonight."

He restrained his aura completely. Shaggydog stopped whimpering and sniffed the air cautiously.

Jacob walked to the direwolf and extended his hand. "Relax. I mean Rickon no harm."

Shaggydog sniffed his fingers. Then his tail wagged and he licked Jacob's palm.

Jacob laughed and rubbed the wolf's massive head. "Good boy." He reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out three kilos of Sker Buffalo meat. "Here. Eat this. It's your reward for being brave."

Shaggydog sniffed the meat, took a tentative bite, then inhaled the rest. He rubbed his head against Jacob happily.

Jacob looked at Rickon and Osha. "Alright, Rickon. Osha. Is there anything you want to take with you? If not, let's go."

Osha still didn't trust him. Her dagger was still in her hand. "How do we know you are who you say you are?"

Jacob was about to pull out his phone to show them a picture of him and Sansa when Rickon spoke.

"Shaggydog trusts him," the boy said. "So I trust him too." He looked at Osha. "Let's go with him." He turned to Jacob. "We don't have anything to take."

Osha stared at Jacob for a moment. "I still don't think we should go with him."

Jacob didn't say anything more. He wrapped the three of them in his telekinesis and teleported back to Arya and the others.

---

Rickon and Osha fell onto the snow-covered ground. They scrambled to their feet, looking around in confusion.

Osha's eyes darted to the trees, to the sky, to the strangers standing nearby. "How... how did we get here?"

Rickon saw Arya.

He froze.

Arya smiled. "Hello, little brother."

Rickon's lips trembled. "Ar... Arya? Is that really you?"

Arya nodded. "Yes. It's really me."

Rickon launched himself at her. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her shoulder, sobbing.

Arya held him tight, crying too.

---

Stiles stared at Osha, who was watching Rickon and Arya with wide eyes. He walked next to Jacob.

"Jacob," Stiles whispered, "that woman looks exactly like Nymphadora Tonks from Harry Potter."

Jacob nodded. "Yeah. She looks exactly like the actress who played Tonks." He paused. "Maybe we'll find your doppelganger in this world. Or another world."

Stiles grinned. "Oh, that would be fun. I wonder what my doppelganger would be doing."

Jacob smirked. "Considering you like to lie? A thief. Or a crooked merchant. Or a quack doctor."

Stiles crossed his arms. "And what would your doppelganger be doing? Working in a brothel?"

Jacob shrugged. "No. I'm sure I don't have a doppelganger. I'm unique." He flipped his hair dramatically.

Stiles ignored him and walked to Podrick. "So, Podrick. What do you guys do for fun in this world?"

Podrick thought for a moment. "Tourneys and jousting. Hunting. Drinking and singing." He lowered his voice. "And... visiting brothels."

Stiles's eyebrows rose. "Only tourneys and jousting sound interesting. Tell me more."

Podrick launched into an explanation of medieval tournaments—the lances, the horses, the prizes.

---

Malia walked to Jacob. "Where are we going next?"

Jacob said, "We'll head to Castle Black."

A system window appeared in front of his eyes.

[You have completed the quest successfully. You may sign in now, Host.]

Jacob thought, 'Not now. Leave it until tonight.'

[As you wish, Host.]

---

Arya and Rickon broke their hug. She held him at arm's length and looked him over.

"Look at you," she said. "You're the same height as me."

Rickon grinned. "I've grown."

Arya ruffled his hair. "Did you learn how to wield a sword?"

Rickon looked sheepish. "A little."

Arya smiled. "You can ask Jon to teach you when we meet him."

Rickon's eyes lit up. "Are we going to Castle Black?"

Arya nodded. "Yes."

She turned to Osha and said sincerely, "Thank you. For saving Rickon and Bran from Theon. For taking care of Rickon."

Osha just nodded. She didn't say anything.

Jacob clapped his hands. "Alright. Let's head to Castle Black."

He wrapped everyone in his telekinesis.

They lifted off the ground. Rickon, Osha, and Shaggydog screamed in fear at first—the direwolf whimpered and tucked his tail—but soon they forgot their fear and started enjoying the flight.

Rickon whooped. Osha stared at the clouds in wonder. Shaggydog's tongue lolled out of his mouth as the wind rushed past his ears.

They flew north.

---

Two hours later, they saw the Wall.

It rose from the earth like a mountain range made of ice—seven hundred feet tall, three hundred miles long, a colossal fortification of solid ice and stone that stretched across the northern border of Westeros, separating the Seven Kingdoms from the wild lands beyond.

Even from a distance, it was breathtaking.

Jacob landed everyone in a forest three miles away from the Wall. The trees were thick here—pines and firs, their branches heavy with snow.

"Let's spend the night here," Jacob said. "We'll go to Castle Black tomorrow."

He pulled a tent from his pocket dimension for Podrick. Then he took the small capsule and threw it to the ground.

The capsule expanded and transformed into the two-story round house.

Stiles's jaw dropped. "That's... that's the Capsule House from Dragon Ball!"

Jacob nodded. "Yes."

They made a fire and sat around it. Jacob pulled food from his pocket dimension—roasted chicken, fresh bread, fruit, and bottles of water. They ate while talking.

Rickon asked Arya about her adventures and listened with wide eyes.

---

That night, Lydia contacted Jacob telepathically.

[Jay, we're back in Serendell.]

Jacob didn't answer. He teleported to Serendell.

He appeared in the living room of the palace. Allison, Lydia, Melissa, Sansa, and Erica were sitting on the couches. Cogman stood by the door, holding a tray of drinks.

Jacob kissed each of his wives. Then he told Sansa about Rickon.

Sansa's hands flew to her mouth. "He's safe? He's really safe?"

Jacob nodded. "He's waiting at a camp near the Wall. I'll take you to him."

Sansa said, "Go get Brienne first. Take her to where you camped. I teleported her back to Moat Cailin. Then come and take me too."

Jacob teleported to Moat Cailin, found Brienne there, and teleported her to the camp near the Wall.

Then he went back to Serendell and brought Sansa—since she couldn't teleport from Serendell to a place she had never been.

---

Sansa appeared in the forest. The firelight flickered over the snow. Arya was sitting on a log, and Rickon was sitting beside her.

"Rickon," Sansa whispered.

Rickon looked up. His face crumpled.

"Sansa!"

He ran to her. She caught him and held him tight, sobbing into his hair.

"I thought you were dead," she cried.

Rickon clung to her. "I'm okay."

They stayed like that for a long time.

Jacob watched for a moment, then said softly, "I'll go back to Serendell and leave you to spend the night with Rickon and Arya. I'll be back tomorrow."

Sansa looked at him, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you," she said. "Thank you for finding him."

Jacob kissed her forehead. "You're welcome."

Then he, Malia, Kitty, and Stiles returned to Serendell.

Sansa, Arya, Rickon, and Osha went inside the capsule house.

Brienne, Podrick, and Shaggydog stayed outside to keep watch.

Shaggydog curled up by the door, his massive head resting on his paws, and closed his eyes.

To be continued... 😊

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