Northern Conqueror

Chapter 38: Nine Pieces

Chapter 38: Nine Pieces

King Jon was a rare sight for nearly a week. It seemed the only time Daenerys, Sansa or anyone else could meet him without feeling rushed was in the early morning. After he woke he would leave Winterfell to have Rhaegal light a torch he carried back to the forge he and Gendry worked at all day, adding it to the embers.

Daenerys had taken to using that time, speaking with Jon as they walked to meet with the dragons. Though Jon had yet to take Daenerys to bed, they'd shared many a kiss when they had moments alone, often under the eyes of their dragons. She'd invited Sansa a few times, even managed to get her to pet Viserion, the most docile of the dragons.

After that he would spend his mornings in the forge, even when Gendry broke fast with Arya in the great hall. Daenerys and Sansa had taken to breaking fast together. Since their first time together when Sansa told him she wouldn't be hurt by his missing supper he often skipped meals or arrived late. He'd apologized to Daenerys, but by then Sansa had explained her understanding of the situation. Most nights would end with the three of them speaking one of their solars. Again Sansa had taken to excusing herself or finding ways to politely usher them off whenever she saw Jon struggling to stay awake.

It might have been frustrating if they didn't trust Jon had a reason to push himself as hard as he was. Sansa hoped to find him walking into the great hall one evening to present a sword so splendid it put every other to shame. Instead it was just past mid day when Sansa saw one of the maids returning from Jon's room with a bucket. Seeing her questioning look the maid informed her, "King Jon asked for a bath prepared in his room."

Instantly she knew whatever he'd been working on was done, otherwise he wouldn't have stopped. Sansa felt anxious as she made her way to his door and knocked. "Jon?"

"Don't enter!" That surprised her as she'd already been reaching for the handle. "If you can, give me about fifteen minutes and then call Davos, Gendry, Melisandre, Arya, Bran, Rickon, Lyanna Mormont, Brienne, Jaime Lannister, Daenerys and her advisers to the great hall. And have Tormund and Theon bring one of the wights."

Though a bit confused by the guests he asked for, Sansa nodded. "I will."

Leaving him to bathe and change into clean clothes she made her way through the castle informing all Jon had asked for. She found Arya stood against the wall outside Gendry's room with her arms crossed.

"Jon's called you and Gendry to the great hall in ten minutes."

"He's run in to go wash up," Arya said nodding toward Gendry's door. "This means they're done, right? Do you know what it is? I tried to peak after they left but Jon must have taken it with him."

"I think it's a new sword for Jon," Sansa said quietly. "He tried to give Longclaw back to Jorah, and now he's asked me to call on Lyanna. I think he means to give House Mormont back their family sword."

"You think he'd give up Longclaw?" Arya asked surprised.

"I think he'd feel he has to," Sansa said sadly, knowing how much Jon cared for the blade. It was gifted to him by a man he looked up to and had saved him time and time again against not only men that wanted to kill him but wights and White Walkers.

Arya frowned. "He is stupid enough to think that."

"Be there, okay?" Sansa asked, hurrying off as Arya nodded.

They all gathered in the great hall except for Jon and Gendry while Theon, Tormund and the dothraki Dirgo helped bringing in the wight. When Jon and Gendry arrived they brought a large bundle of cloth they set on the high table.