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"But how did you end up serving Renly?"
[BRIENNE was silent for a few moments]
"When I was a girl, my father held a ball. I'm his only living child, so he wants to make a good match for me. He invited dozens of young lords to Tarth. I didn't want to go, but he dragged me to the ballroom. And it was wonderful. None of the boys noticed how mulish and tall I was. They shoved each other and threatened to duel if they thought it was their turn to dance. And whispered in my ear how they wanted to marry me and take me back to their castles. My father smiled at me and I smiled at him. I'd never been so happy.]
Renly remembered that ball, and he was not happy about how they all ganged up on a woman.
"Till I saw a few of the boys sniggering. And then they all started to laugh, they couldn't keep the game going any longer. They were toying with me. 'Brienne the Beauty', they called me. Great joke. And I realized I was the ugliest girl alive. A great lumbering beast."
"Boys can be so cruel" Margaery sighed. She never had to go through anything like that, but it didn't mean she didn't know how cruel boys could be. Loras used to be a boy once, and she remembered how cruel he could be about girls he did not approve of.
And Loras didn't approve of girls.
"I tried to run away, but Renly Baratheon took me in his arms. "Don't let them see your tears," he told me. "They're nasty little shits. The nasty little shits aren't worth crying over." He danced with me and none of the other boys could say a word. And he was the king's brother after all."
"You did good, Renly" Robert grunted. "It was not something I'd do... probably would have been with those boys" he added after a moment.
Renly shook his head. There was no 'probably'. Robert would have been one of them.
"He didn't love me, he didn't want me, he danced with me because he was kind and he wouldn't see me hurt. He saved me from being a joke. From that day until his last day. And I couldn't save him in return. Nothing's more hateful than failing to protect the one you love."
Ned agreed to that sentiment grimly. He had learned it the hard way, the hatred that built within at failing to protect his family.
"One day, I will avenge King Renly."
"But you said a shadow murdered him. How do you fight a shadow?"
"A shadow with the face of Stannis Baratheon. I know it was Stannis. I know it in my heart. Stannis is a man, not a shadow. And a man can be killed."
And he would deserve it too, Stannis agreed. When the time came... would his future self defend himself? He knew that eventually, Brienne would find him, and when that happened, would he fight back or allow her to take him?
[CASTLE BLACK; LORD COMMANDER'S ROOM]
[OLLY opens the door for STANNIS and DAVOS. JON sits at his desk.]
"It looks odd" Jon muttered.
"You look like you belong" Lyanna corrected, patting her son's hand gently.
[STANNIS to OLLY as he closes the door]
"I'd like to speak alone."
"Olly is my steward now, as I was Lord Commander Mormont's. I want him to attend my meetings, to learn from men with experience. One day, he might command."
Robb smirked. "Already grooming your replacement?"
"He Might need one soon with how things are..." Margaery stated
Robb's smirk fell.
"You will not need an heir already" Robb said with a soft growl.
"I am immortal Robb, don't worry about my death" Jon smiled at him hearing which Robb smiled back.
"Very well."
[They all sit down]
"Have you considered my offer?"
"I have. And I thank you for it. You do me great honour. All my life I wanted to be Jon Stark. But I have to refuse you. I'm Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. My place is here."
Ned smiled, a hint of pride in him. He was proud of Jon's maturity. He had come a long way.
"I'm giving you a chance to avenge your family. To take back the castle where you grew up. To rule the North."
"I wish I could fight beside you. Believe me, I do. But I swore a sacred vow at the Godswood. I pledged my life to the Night's Watch."
"You're as stubborn as your father. And as honourable."
"I can imagine no higher praise."
Ned's smile widened ever so slightly.
"I didn't mean it as praise. Honor got your father killed."
[He stands]
"But if your mind's made up, I won't try to persuade you."
"May I ask, Your Grace, how long you plan to stay at Castle Black?"
"Are you bored of us already?"
"You saved us from Mance Rayder's army. We will never forget that. But it's a question of survival. The Night's Watch can't continue to feed your men and the wildling prisoners indefinitely. Winter is coming."
"A problem for sure" Rickard muttered. "Perhaps we can find some way to help them increase their yield of crops."
By we, he meant Ned. And Ned knew that.
"I am already considering possibilities, father" Ned answered, looking stoic as ever when he is thoughtful.
Rickard nods.
"I know it. We march on Winterfell within the fortnight. Before the snows trap us here."
"And the wildlings?"
"They'd rather burn than fight for me, so be it. I leave their fate to you. You could execute them, that's the safest course."
"Would be the best route" Lyanna muttered. With how many hate the Wildlings and how many think her son is a Wildling sympathizer, it would go a long way in him keeping himself safe.
[STANNIS pauses a moment]
"Or you could see if this Tormund fellow is more willing to compromise than Mance ever was."
"Unlikely" Robb muttered.
"I assume the brothers of the Night's Watch would rather see the wildlings dead.''
"Most of the brothers, yes. There's little love for the free folk here."
"You're the Lord Commander. Your decision."
"A commander can't do whatever he wishes," Robert said. "He will have to decide considering all things, understanding what his people want and working in a way that even if the decision goes against them, they would not step up for rebellion. And sometimes the decision could end up being the wrong way. Leadership is never easy, no matter how it may look so from the perspective of those who do not lead."
Robb looked at Jon, pursed his lips and for a moment thought about it. Killing the Wildlings would not be the worst idea, but at the same time could Jon kill them all for fighting for survival? For wanting to live another day and not turn into an undead killing machine for the White Walkers?
"This is why you need to have people around you who you know will not counsel you wrong. Unbiased people who will tell you the truth no matter how harsh or how hard" Ned added. "You have enemies in the Watch, but there are men amongst them who will tell you things that you need to do, advise you even. Perhaps that would help bridge gaps between the factions."
Not the worst idea... but would Ser Alliser (who really was the only viable option) advise Jon? Robb had to wait and see what the other Jon would do now.
[STANNIS begins to leave. OLLY opens the door.]
"You have many enemies in Castle Black. Have you considered sending Alliser Thorne elsewhere? Give him command of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea."
"I heard it was best to keep your enemies close.:
"Whoever said that didn't have many enemies."
"Some enemies like that Slynt are best thrown over the wall" Tyrion huffed. "While enemies like Ser Alliser would make a valuable ally once you two start seeing eye to eye. You both are servants of the Wall, regardless of the positions. He is an enemy you can choose to keep close."
[STANNIS leaves. DAVOS begins to leave, but turns to JON]
"He sees something in you. Might not be apparent from his tone, but it's the truth. He believes in you."
"I'm sorry I disappointed him."
[DAVOS walks forward and takes a seat. OLLY closes the door again.]
"The king is a complicated man. But he wants what's right for the Seven Kingdoms."
"As long as he's ruling them."
"He's the one true king. He has the blood right to that throne."
"I've sworn to stay clear of the politics of the Seven Kingdoms."
"Have you now? Olly, that is your name? Yes. How does the Night's Watch vow go again? I bet you've got it memorized since you got here."
[OLLY looks to JON. Jon looks at him, crosses his arms, and nods.]
"Night gathers and now my watch begins-"
"Not that bit, the bit at the end."
"I'm the sword in the darkness, the watcher on the walls, the shield that guards the realm of men. I pledge my life-"
"Wait, that's enough. "The shield that guards the realm of men."
"That's what you swore to be. Now I'm not a learned man, but the best way of helping the most people might not be sitting in a frozen castle at the edge of the world. It just might mean wading in the muck, getting your boots dirty, and doing what needs to be doing."
"The vows are for the Wildlings... which turns out to be for the White Walkers. Not the conflict for the Iron Throne. The Wall is older than the Iron Throne and existed far before half the lands had Kings, to begin with," Rickard grunted. He knew what that man was doing, and he did not like it one bit.
"As long as the Boltons rule the North, (Stands up), the North will suffer. Just one man's opinion."
"You chose a good man for your hand, winning you one support after the next. It's a shame you rely more on the Witch than on him."
Stannis grunted at Robert's words. But he would not deny that his brother was correct.