Northern Conqueror

Chapter 22: Compromise

Chapter 22: Compromise

"You think it's really Tyrion?" Sansa asked looking up from the letter Tyrion had sent them. "It could be someone trying to lure you into a trap."

Jon was stood near the railing looking out on the yard where Theon helped some of the children train in archery. "Read the last bit."

"All dwarfs are bastards in their father's eyes," she read. "What does that mean?"

"It's something he said to me the first night we met." Jon tapped the railing before turning to her. "You know him better than any of us, what do you think?"

She stared at him a moment, surprised he would bring up her first marriage, sham that it was. With a glance to the letter she shook her head. "Tyrion's not like the other Lannisters. He was always kind to me... but it's too great a risk." Looking back down to the letter she read, "The seven kingdoms will bleed as long as Cersei sits on the Iron Throne. Let us unite. Together we can end her tyranny."

Davos reached for it, taking the chance to look it over again. "Sounds like a charmer. Of course the casual mention of a Dothraki horde, a legion of Unsullied and three dragons... a bit less charming." He paused, brow rising slightly.

"What?" asked Jon.

Davos looked to him. "Fire kills wights, you told me. What breaths fire?"

Jon turned back to the yard while Sansa looked to Davos. "You're not suggesting Jon meet with her?"

"No," Davos said quickly. "Too dangerous."

"But?" Jon said, and Sansa couldn't help but smile thinking back on their conversation about everything before but being bullshit.

"What if the army of the undead makes it past the Wall. Do we have enough men to fight them?"

Looking to the yard he saw Theon helping a boy keep his grip steady, hitting the second ring from the bullseye and cheering. When the boy thanked Theon, he saw the broken man smile and bow his head as he moved to the next boy.

"I can't leave," Jon said turning to them. "I need to be here for when all the riders arrive... but I can't let her come here."

Sansa frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I can't go there and end up stuck on an island when I'm expected to be here to prove our cause and I can't have her come here and risk her dragons burning us all." Jon crossed his arms. "There's got to be some compromise. Somewhere for us to meet in the middle."

"White Harbor?" Davos offered.

"Too many people," Jon said quickly. "It'll need to be somewhere out of the way but not some field where we have to camp."

Sansa closed her eyes, picturing a map of Westeros. "Widow's Watch," she said looking to Jon. "It's far east of White Harbor, less populated but still an impressive castle. It's right on the peninsula between the Shivering Sea and the Bite. She could sail there from Dragonstone and you wouldn't be trapped on an island, but she could always flee if you tried something."

Davos thought on it, his northern geography not as quick as Sansa's. "Should be a fair spot. A travel for both of you."

They looked to Jon as he thought it over. "Write to the Flints at Widow's Watch," he told Davos. "We'll leave in three days. If we ride hard we could arrive within a week or so. When could they arrive from Dragonstone?"

"By the time they get the raven?" Davos took a moment to think. "Around the same time as you, depending on winds."

Turning to Sansa he asked, "Could you occupy anyone who arrives until I'm back?"