DANCING WITH DRAGONS. | D. Targaryen

XXXII.

DANCING WITH DRAGONS | XXXII.
"YOU CAN'T FORCE A CROWN ON MY HEAD"
( 'THE REALM' )

There were many reunions when they arrived in the Vale. The remaining Northern forces were reunited with their families and there was also heartbreak as people searched for family members that had been lost. Sansa rushed over to her siblings eagerly, relieved to see them, that she almost didn't notice that Bran was missing. And when she did notices, her smile disappeared.

"Bran," she said, "I thought if the Night King got Bran, then we would all cease to exist?"

"The Night King never got to Bran," Alysanne told her, "He went back in time and by doing so, he ended up becoming the Night King. He told me that it was the only way."

Sansa doesn't cry, instead, she nods slowly.

"He's going to be buried in the crypts. With Father and Rickon," Arya tells her.

"The last of the Starks," Sansa said softly, "The very last of the Starks."

She was right, with Bran being dead, their house couldn't continue. Jon was a Targaryen, and she Arya and Sansa couldn't pass on the Stark name, not unless one of her sister's married and allowed a matriname passing of the Stark name and claim. The only time that had been done in history was when Nymeria married Mors Martell, and even then, the Nymeros in the name was forgotten in place of Martell.

"That doesn't have to be true," Alysanne points out, "The Stark name can continue, through you two."

Arya laughed at the idea, "Us? What about you?"

Alysanne laughs at that, "You think I'm going to marry?"

"You think I'm going to marry?" Arya repeats back to her, "Let's be honest. Sansa is the only one who could potentially continue the Stark name. And Jon if he were legitimized."

Jon and Alysanne shared an uneasy look that didn't go unnoticed by Sansa and Arya. They looked in between them and as Sansa was going to speak, their cousin Robin Arryn made his way over to them, a polite smile on his face.

"Alysanne. Arya. It's great to see you both," he told them. Alysanne was surprised at the sight before her. She had seen Robin Arryn when he was no older than three when she traveled South with her mother. He had been a sickly boy, Sansa had described him as a brat, but he looked older now, more dignified.

"It's great to see you as well," Alysanne responded, "I had hoped it would be under better conditions."

"This condition is better than the end of the world," Robin told them with a smile, "That is why we should celebrate this evening. A feast to be held in honor of those that so bravely gave their lives."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Sansa tells him, offering him a polite smile. Robin grins proudly at the praise.

"I'm glad you agree. I will oversee preparations, please relax and enjoy all that the Eyrie has to offer."