Winterfell took up arms as riders under a Lannister banner approached. It might have been eight men but the guards all stood ready to react the moment anything happened.
The gate opened and the Starks gathered to welcome Jaime Lannister back to Winterfell.
He dismounted and handed his reins off to one of his men while Ser Bronn of the Blackwater moved to Jaime's side. He scanned both Stark girls somberly before a smile flickered across his lips at the sight of Brienne. That smile died when he looked at Bran, who stared at him.
"I never imagined she'd send you," said Sansa. "Though I suppose Cersei has few she can trust these days."
Jaime maintained his frown as he looked to her. "How much of your letter is true?"
"All of it," said Sansa. "The Night King marches on the Wall and Jon Snow is a lie my father told us all."
"And there's proof of this?" he asked resting his false hand on the pommel of Widow's Wail.
Sansa nodded. "Unless you're in a rush I'd prefer to wait for Jon's return to settle that. He should be back in a sennight or so, but as for the wights we can show you them now if you'd like."
Bronn and Jaime shared a look. "You have one?"
"Three," Sansa corrected. "Jon took our other one."
"You keep 'em in the pantry?" Bronn asked with a laugh.
"Something like that," Sansa nodded. "Theon, could you bring one to the great hall?"
"Of course, Sansa," Theon bowed his head and hurried off with a few others.
"Where is the king?" Jaime asked as he followed Sansa and Brienne toward the great hall while Arya, Rickon and a pack of guards followed.
"Meeting with lords," she lied easily. "The Manderlys think they've found a dragonglass cave, so Jon went to check on it."
"Dragonglass?" asked Jaime.
"White Walkers can only be killed by valyrian steel and dragonglass, and wights can only be destroyed by those or fire. Wights keep fighting even when run through with swords and everything shatters the moment it touches a White Walker or his weapons."
Jaime and Bronn looked to each other and the men he brought. "And you know this how?"
"Jon's killed wights and White Walkers," she answered simply. "So has the free folk's leader, Tormund. Most of the free folk were there to see the wights slaughter thousands when Jon went to bring them through the Wall. They saw Jon shatter a White Walker. There are still some here, feel free to ask them if they don't sing about it tonight."
The hall tables were cleared out, leaving plenty of space for Theon and two others to bring out a rotting corpse struggling against the chains and ropes binding it. The Lannister men stared at the corpse as it screeched at them, struggling to break away from the guards to attack them.
"Theon," Sansa said, and with that Theon drew his sword and stabbed the wight through the chest.
"Mother's tits," Bronn said watching the creature swipe at Theon, who took his hand from the hilt, leaving the blade sticking through its torso.
Jaime stared at it. "And the only things that can hurt it are fire, dragonglass and valyrian steel?"
"I think Wun Wun might have crushed some, but he's special."
"Wun Wun?" asked Bronn.
"The giant," said Brienne. "He big enough he can step on them and crush their bones, but that's not an option for us, so it's fire, dragonglass and valyrian steel."
Bronn looked between the others as Theon pulled his sword from the wight, letting the guards take it away. "You northerners are fuckin' weird."
Once Daenerys' party prepared to leave Jon's did as well, and while Daenerys' ship neared the horizon Jon's group thanked the Flints and departed for Winterfell. As much as he wanted to push late into the nights to get there sooner, they kept a reasonable pace. It was still six days before Winterfell came into view.
The courtyard had filled with people come to greet him, but his eyes instantly locked on the short dark-haired girl stood beside Sansa. Jon practically leapt off the horse, taking a few steps before coming to a stop and let out a laugh.
"Arya."
Tears prickled her eyes before she ran at him, leaping into his open arms just as she did years ago when she named Needle.
"I missed you, big brother," she whispered.
Jon glanced at her, squeezing her tighter. "Whoever I am, you're my sister. Always."
Arya nodded into him. "Always."
He ignored the onlookers as he set her down and smirked. "You've barely grown."
Arya punched his arm. "Shut up."
"I could have your hand for that," he warned with a laugh. Looking her over his smile fell to a frown. "I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me."
"You were," she assured, tapping Needle's hilt.
With a kiss to Arya's forehead he pet Ghost and walked to Sansa. She greeted him with a warm smile. "Winterfell is yours, my king."
The crowd thinned and Sansa led Jon, Davos, Melisandre, Arya, Rickon, Bran and Brienne toward his solar where Maester Wolkan had prepared all the letters from the days he'd been gone. Once Wolkan left Jon walked toward his desk looking through the letters, giving each a quick read before setting it on the desk and moving to the next.
"We have guests," Sansa told him once she pushed Bran into place near the hearth.
"Who came?" Jon asked, glancing at her briefly as he set down a letter and moved to the next.
"Our aunt Lysa came with her son and her husband."
Jon looked up, frowning as he remembered what Sansa had told her of all three. "Are they causing trouble?"
"Not yet," said Sansa.
"Robin's…" Rickon couldn't think of what to say without being mean. He'd wait until Sansa wasn't around this time. That would be lordly enough, surely.
"Lysa's always glaring at Sansa," Arya said crossing her arms.
Shaking his head, Jon looked back to the letters. "Anyone else?"
"Jaime Lannister came with a small escort. He seemed interested in meeting you."
Jon chuckled. "He met me years ago. Thanked me for my service at the Wall before I left. As if it's much different from the Kingsguard."
"After that we received a Daemon Sand from Dorne on behalf of Princess Arianne Martell and Garlan Tyrell from the Reach." She watched Jon's head snap up to look at Davos, whose brow rose. "What?"
Davos seemed to have a silent exchange with Jon before looking to Sansa. "Daenerys' war effort has had some trouble. They took Casterly Rock but lost the ships that took them there and found it mostly empty. The Lannisters had left to sack Highgarden."
"And they lost most of their Ironborn and the Dornish they were carrying," Jon said setting the letters down and turning to them, crossing his arms as he leaned against the desk. "She thought she'd lost Dorne and the Reach. We might be able to salvage that."
"We have the Lannister as well," Davos suggested, sounding unenthused. "We could hold him. Use him."
"No." Jon shook his head. "He came here in good faith based on our letter. We can at least guarantee his safety here." With a sigh he asked, "How much have they seen?"
"They've all seen the wight, but I've held off on your parentage until your return."
"Give me time to read through the rest of these and I'll meet them all." After a moment he clarified. "One at a time. Best to keep Tyrell from Lannister for now. Let them leave separately as well."
"That's probably for the best," Sansa nodded. "They had some words when Ser Garlan arrived, but nothing after that."
"We'll tell him about Highgarden, but make sure Lannister's safe." With a look to Davos he told him, "Send Theon first. I'll tell him about Yara." Once the others started to leave Sansa lingered, walking to the desk. "You read these all, right?"
"They were marked for you," she said innocently. He glanced at her and she smiled. "I have."
"Then they can wait," he said tossing them down before turning to pull her into a kiss.
Relief flooded her as she sank into his kiss, clutching his jerkin. When the kiss ended she rested her head against his. "I missed you."
"I left the moment I could."
After a moment to catch their breaths she backed away. "How did it go?"
Jon looked apologetic as he told her, "It ended up as you said it would."
She nodded. "I knew she'd want you the moment she saw you."
Jon laughed while she smirked. "I don't think it was that. And nothing's decided. I told her I wouldn't without all of us talking."
Her hands rested on her stomach as she exhaled. "Thank you."
"Did you think I'd just marry her there?" He shook his head. "You forget it was a Stark he married in secret."
"And second," she noted with a teasing pout. "Still, thank you." Her hand found his, interlacing their fingers. "How was she? What's she like?"
"She seems like a good person. She had moments where she seems all fire and blood but then we'd talk and she just seemed… alone."
Sansa frowned. "She must have spent years thinking she was the last of her family."
Jon knew that had been important to Sansa, the idea of getting to him keeping her going during her trek north. "She reminded me of you in a way," Jon said brushing a hand through her hair.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm sure everyone thinks her some hardened dragon queen but I kept seeing this woman who wanted a place in the world, a soft heart hardened by her life." He met her eyes with a smile. "Everyone looks at you and sees a lady, even in armor on a battlefield you remained a lady, yet all I see is a survivor. A brave woman with a kind heart… a wolf's heart that's endured more pain than it ever deserved."
Stepping forward Sansa pressed her lips to his cheek. After gazing into his eyes and stroking his beard she smiled. "Come. Let's go make allies."
Garlan held his head in his hands, taking a breath before looking to Jon. "They'll be dead the moment they reach King's Landing."
"I cannot give you back your home or restore your dead to life," Jon began somberly, "but I can give you justice once I take the throne, and Cersei's head with it. I'd ask Highgarden's last rose to return and gather those you can, bring them north and when we march let us end the Night King and reclaim Westeros together."
Garlan met Jon's gaze and nodded, standing tall, looking a true knight and lord. "The Last Rose of Highgarden," he nodded mournfully. "I'll gather who I can to support the one true king of Westeros."
Once Garlan and his men left the hall Daemon Sand followed, his brow rising when he was told of Ellaria and Tyene's capture along with Nymeria and Obara's deaths. Where Garlan mourned his loses Daemon smirked.
"My princess will be disappointed she could not find her own vengeance," Daemon said with a shrug. "I'll speak to her on your behalf. Arianne will prefer to forge her own rather than keep to alliances made by murderers. Those who remain will surely support the princess, and her you."
Jaime stood in silence as he looked over the documents they presented, occasionally looking at Jon for a few seconds before looking back to them. Handing them to Davos, he turned his attention to Jon. "I'll ride back at once and tell Cersei you're as honest as your uncle."
Jon answered his smirk with a nod. "Thank you." He bit back a desire to make a snarky comment, knowing he had plenty from others while he was away.
Turning to Bronn and the men behind him, Jaime ordered, "Ready the horses. Best we leave before Tyrell so we don't run into him on the road."
"I could send someone with you to Moat Cailin," Jon offered.
Jaime shook his head while his men hurried off. "We'll be fine so long as we don't give him the chance to have us come across him and his men laying in wait."
With a glance to the others Jaime considered asking to have a moment alone with Jon, but knew they wouldn't trust him. He'd have to do this with them around. Oh well.
Jaime's eyes met Jon's once his men left the room, all humor having left his face. "I regret it every day."
Brienne went wide eyed at Jaime's admission while Sansa, Davos, Arya, Rickon, Theon, and Melisandre shared curious looks and Bran tilted his head. Jon held Jaime's mournful gaze, keeping his face even. "Regret what?"
"Not killing Aerys sooner," said Jaime. "I watched him burn people alive, and then that night he would go to his wife and take her. She would scream, but they told me it was our job to guard the king and his family from others, not each other. I hated every night I had to stand outside the door with them listening to her screams and sobs.
"I liked your father, thought him blessed compared to the monster I guarded. People always call me Kingslayer, as if I care about betraying a madman who wanted to burn King's Landing to the ground… I care that I betrayed Rhaegar by not putting my sword through Aerys while he held Elia and her children prisoner. Even if they hadn't died during the raid, I know Aerys would have killed them. He was certain Rhaegar was preparing to betray him and take his crown.
"For the rest of my days I'll regret not being there for Rhaegar's children when they needed me," Jaime said staring into Jon's eyes, "but I would be there for his last son if he asked."
The room fell silent, the pledge leaving them shocked. Even Brienne, who always hoped for the best in Jaime, gaped at him.
Looking into the man's eyes Jon saw nothing to doubt.
Whatever his relationship with Cersei, Jaime had been a knight once. He had cared for his duty, and though he'd disliked Aerys he'd grown fond of Rhaella, Rhaegar and his family if not Viserys. Their deaths weighed on him but were cast aside and hidden in some pit at the core of his soul until he stood here before Rhaegar's son.
"If you'll have me, I'll go to Cersei and do my best to make her believe this all. Whether she does or not I'll return with as many as I can without losing my head."
"You'd turn against your sister?" asked Jon.
Jaime frowned thinking of his return to King's Landing to find a pillar of smoke where the sept had stood, and while he mourned the death of his son Cersei celebrated her ascent to the throne. "I'd rather keep another last son alive where I failed my own."
Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Jon nodded. "If it would help, I'll give you one of the wights."
That earned him a few looks from the others who matched Jaime's surprise. After a moment the former kingsguard seemed to realize it was a show of trust as much as an attempt to aide his convincing Cersei.
Watching the Lannister party leave with one of their crated wights, Sansa looked to Jon. "You believe him?"
"Enough to give him a chance," said Jon. "They all deserve a chance."