Jon hands me the scrap of paper with a trembling hand. Both he and I thought Arya and Bran had been killed. Our sister disappeared shortly before our father's execution. I never doubted her ability to survive, so I am not surprised to learn she made it through on her own. Unlike Bran.
Crippled, he survived the fall of Winterfell only with the help of Hodor and a wildling woman named Osha, as Rickon explained to us. Their paths separated years ago now, however. That he has survived this long is nothing short of a miracle.
"We must return to Winterfell," I tell Jon, folding the piece of paper back up.
"That sounds like good news," Daenerys interjects. "Why do you not rejoice?"
"Bran saw the Night King and his army marching towards Eastwatch," my brother explains. "If they manage to cross the Wall..."
"The Wall has held them back for thousands of years," Varys cuts in. "It is unlikely that..."
"I must return to Winterfell."
"You said you did not have enough men."
It seems the Queen has no desire for Jon to leave Dragonstone. This budding romance could be good news. If Daenerys cares for Jon that much, she will surely agree to lend us a hand. However, in any war, within any council, during any reign, feelings and power never mix well.
"We will go into battle with the men we have, that is all. Unless you join us..."
"And give the country to Cersei? We will barely be gone before she marches in here."
"Perhaps not," Tyrion throws out, to everyone's surprise.
I can only agree with Daenerys. Cersei will jump at the very first opportunity, no matter the consequences. She has nothing left to lose. I fail to see, therefore, what fanciful plan Tyrion could have concocted.
"Cersei thinks the army of the dead is nothing more than a fairy tale. What if we prove her wrong?"
"By taking Cersei to the North?" I scoff.
"Or by bringing the North to her."
I am left speechless. Is he seriously suggesting that we capture one of those creatures to bring it back to the capital? A city home to nearly a million commoners? No one will listen to him...
Oh, wait. Everyone will. All these lords who boast of advising the future great queen and liberator of Westeros are, in fact, nothing but children and idealists. It is crazy that after so many years, they still manage to surprise me.
"Out of the question," I step in.
All eyes turn to me. I have forgotten once again that I have no say in the matter. Unfortunately, I cannot help myself; I tend to have a low tolerance for this kind of nonsense.
"I do not intend to watch men get slaughtered on the other side of the Wall without batting an eyelid."
"Let us assume they succeed," Tyrion stops me.
"We are talking about a dozen men against an entire army here. You must excuse me, but I prefer not to mistake my wishes for reality."
Somewhat desperate, I move closer to Daenerys. Perhaps she will understand me.
"There is another way to persuade Cersei, a way that does not involve collective suicide."
"I am listening," the Queen tells me.
YOU ARE READING
Hear me Roar - English version
FanficA few days ago, Diana Stark was the future Governor of the North. She imagined herself marrying a vassal of her father or, in all honesty, staying single forever. But when Jon Arryn died, her fate changed. Now engaged to Prince Joffrey, she heads to...
