Updated Jon Snow

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***

-...That way we can take Casterly Utes and knock Cersei off her feet,' Tyrion finished his plan as he strode around the huge table. - Casterly Rock has always been the bedrock of Lannister power, and its capture is vital to us.

- I support your plan, Lord Tyrion,' Daenerys nodded, glaring at her allies.

Lord Varys stood silently to the side, not interfering with what was happening. He knew little about military craft, so he kept his opinions to himself. Yara and Theon Greyjoy, for their part, looked at each other ravenously, already imagining the sacking of the castle and the glory it would bring them. Ellaria Sand's absence was an unpleasant but expected surprise. The Lords of Dorne, upon learning who had killed Prince Doran and his son, were furious. They seized Ellaria and her brood and took them to the town square, where they beat them to death with sticks to the roar of the crowd.

- I fear you are wishful thinking,' Olenna Tyrell said, her granddaughter standing beside her. - The Lannister gold mines have long since dried up, and so Casterly Rock is mostly worthless. All the gold your late father was so generous with came from the vaults of the Iron Bank of Braavos. Yes, Casterly Rock is a strategically important fortress, but don't you think that's exactly the kind of move you'll be expected to make?

- What are you saying, Lady Olenna? - Tyrion asked.

- If I were your mad sister, I would have a trap prepared for you,' the Queen of Spikes replied. - I don't know what kind, but it would certainly be painful and very unpleasant.

Tyrion thought for a moment, recognising with annoyance that Tyrell was probably right. With her own rather distorted views of her brother, Cersei might well have taken such a step, and Tyrion might well have fallen into that trap. And he was beginning to realise exactly what it might be. But there was something he needed to clarify first.

- Lady Yara,' he said to the Greyjoys. - Do you think your Uncle Euryon could be a threat to us?

- More than likely,' the ironborn said. - In fact, he's a threat in his own right.

- Euryon Greyjoy is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous captains in existence,' Theon backed his sister up. - He's very cruel and cunning, and you can expect anything from him.

- Including an alliance with Cersei? - Daenerys suggested.

- Quite,' the Greyjoys replied.

- So we can expect an Iron Fleet attack,' Lord Varys concluded.

- That's why I suggest we don't hesitate,' Yara said. - Let's hit the capital right now, with all our forces. We'll attack them from land and sea.

- We don't have enough siege weapons, and the Dothraki can't storm a city like King's Landing,' Tyrion argued. - What good are their cavalry against the walls of a city? None. And your fleet will be bombarded with every supply of wildfire the capital has to offer. Cersei has already shown she's not afraid to use it.

Margaery jerked as if from a blow, which did not escape the Imp's attention. Remembering that the girl had only miraculously survived the fire trap, he hastened to apologise:

- 'Please forgive me, Lady Margaery, if I have inadvertently offended you. I am merely stating the facts so that our allies will realise the reality of the problem.

- It is nothing, Lord Tyrion,' Margaery replied and raised her voice to the others. - The Lord Hand is right, Cersei has amply demonstrated to everyone that there are no holds barred to her. She will fight desperately and fiercely for her power. You must be clear that you're dealing with an absolutely brutal woman who will do anything.

- What do we do now? - Theon Greyjoy asked, but there was silence.

At that moment Daenerys realised how difficult it would be without an experienced warlord who could use her vast forces wisely. Lord Varys was no match for that role - he was a spy, not a warrior. The Greyjoys were also unsuitable, for raiding and leading a vast army are two different things. The Imp lacked experience. By his own admission, he had commanded the defences in only one battle, and that they almost lost. The Tyrells were out of the question, though the absence of their vassal, Randyll Tarly, worried Daenerys. As a fine warlord, he could fill the gap that now existed. But Lord Horn Hill was gone, and even Olenna Tyrell had no idea where he was.

- What's the matter? - Targaryen finally couldn't take it anymore. - I have the largest army in Westerosse, a sizable navy, and three adult dragons, but no one who can use it all properly?

Those present looked anywhere but at the Queen, and even Olenna Tyrell, master of the sharp tongue, was now modestly silent. She had nothing to offer the Mother of Dragons. Nor did Margaery, who had returned from her trip with nothing. Olenna, who had expected her granddaughter to return with a treaty of alliance with the North, was forced to listen to stories about how the Northerners never cared about the future of the southern kingdoms and didn't care who took the throne. That the King of the North, Jon Stark, who made an alliance with the Wildlings, has no desire to make the same alliance with the Tyrells. And that Sansa Stark will not be dealt with as before.

- Lord Varys, do you have something to report? - Daenerys turned to the Spider without waiting for a reply.

- Unfortunately, not much, Your Grace,' the eunuch replied. - My birds have flown to other hands, but those still loyal to me have brought some interesting tidings.

- Such as?

- Cersei Lannister has summoned the lords of the West and the Commonwealth to speak to them about the mad queen from across the Narrow Sea who loves to burn the common and honest folk.

- How charming,' Targaryen said coldly. - Anything else?

- Yes, if I may,' Varys shot his eyes in the direction of the Tyrells. - Randil Tarly was spotted among the Lords of the Vale, having a long conversation with Jaime Lannister.

Olenna turned slightly pale and tightened her lips at the news, while Margaery's face changed altogether. The news Varys had brought was hardly cheerful, and there was no telling how it might turn out for the Tyrells themselves. Especially considering that Daenerys Targaryen was already looking at Olenna and her granddaughter with a rather promising look.

- 'I would point out, Your Grace,' Varys reminded himself, 'that Lord Tyrion and I have warned you of the possibility of such behaviour among the lords of Westeros. After all, your allies do not, shall we say, inspire their confidence.

- What are you implying, Spider? - Yara was instantly enraged.

- Lord Varys is not implying, but saying quite plainly,' Tyrion interjected, 'that the Lords of Westeros do not have the slightest confidence in the Ironborn, let alone the Dothraki. Your reputation speaks for itself.

- But we made a pact that the Ironborn would cease their pirate activities,' Daenerys reminded her.

- Yes, we did,' the Imp agreed, 'but who else knows that but us? Especially since the king of the Ironborn is Euron Greyjoy? Your Grace, the problem is that the islanders have a bad reputation, and you can't get rid of it that easily. Your alliance with the Greyjoys raised immediate concerns. And I'm not talking about the Dothraki. Even children know that they are brutal savages, used to taking whatever they want, whenever they want.

- Simply put,' Olenna explained, 'your own army, or rather its reputation, is playing against you.

- That's what the Starks told me,' Margaery said. - They warned me that with pirates and savages as allies, you should not count on the support of other Houses. In their eyes, Your Grace, you're nothing more than an invader.

- What are you offering me? - Targaryen was outraged. - Disband the horde? Break the treaty with the Greyjoys? What am I supposed to do?

- You need allies everyone knows,' Tyrion replied. - The Tyrells are only the first step. Unfortunately, we failed with Dorne, but that's not our fault, it's Ellaria Sand's. Then we must look further.

- But who? - Varys asked. - The Baratheons are gone, the Riverlands are ruled by the Lannisters and the Freys. The North is silent and we don't even know if they've received our message, and according to Lady Margaery, the North is no longer willing to deal with anyone south of Cailin's Moat. Only the Vale has agreed to meet, but even there it's mixed, according to my birds.

- What's happened to them?

- Petyr Baelish, Lord Protector of the Vale, is dead,' Varys replied. - Murdered by Lord Royce for his crimes against House Arryn. Technically, Robert Arryn rules the Vale now, but we don't know who really holds the power. It's quite possible that Lord Royce himself has it.

Daenerys listened to her advisors, feeling a growing irritation. She had returned to Westeros to take back what was rightfully hers, and instead she had to sit on a stone island and do nothing. She wanted to bring peace to these war-torn lands, but it turned out that the only way to plant it was with more war, which was the height of idiocy in the face of the onset of winter.

She could throw the Dothraki and the Unsullied into the fray. Her dragons could incinerate all her enemies, leaving behind only ash and ruins. But what's next? Daenerys did not want to become Queen of Ashes, but she saw no other way to reclaim her birthright throne. And then what? How do you keep power in your own hands? Rule by fear, threatening the unruly with dragon flames? How long before the people hate her and fervently wish the Mad King's daughter dead?

- Lord Tyrion, are you sure we need an alliance with the North? - Daenerys asked her Hand.

- Yes, I am sure,' the Imp replied, glancing at Margaery with a sidelong glance. The former queen snorted but said nothing. - The Starks hate my sister more than any of us, and all the Freys as well.

- And the Greyjoys, too,' Varys murmured, staring at the ceiling.

- Perhaps after Theon Greyjoy rescued my ex-wife,' Tyrion said, 'their hatred may have subsided.

- Only for him,' Varys nodded at Theon, 'not for all Ironborn.

- Be that as it may, the North is a strong enough ally, albeit a somewhat troubled one,' Tyrion finished his thought.

- You forget,' Yara interjected, 'that the Northmen no longer wish to obey the Iron Throne. This is the second time they have declared their independence.

- So have the Iron Islands,' Olenna parried. - You've also been called traitors to the crown. So it is not for you to judge.

- Enough,' Daenerys raised her voice, 'I heard you. Lord Tyrion, let's be honest. By declaring himself King of the North, Jon Stark has effectively become a traitor, a direct violation of Torrhen Stark's oaths. I am the rightful Queen of Westeros, and if this White Wolf does not bend the knee to me, he will suffer the fate of all other traitors.

The door opened suddenly, and Missandei entered the Painted Hall, clutching a letter in her hands. As she approached her queen, she whispered something in her ear and handed her the scroll. Daenerys listened to her, then broke the seal and read the contents of the letter. Those present watched with curiosity as the queen's eyebrows rose, then she handed the scroll to Tyrion with a question:

- Well, what's the meaning of this?

Taking the letter in his hands, the Imp first glanced at the broken seal, which bore the image of a Stark direwolf. Unrolling the scroll, he read:

In light of the fact that an army of the dead is advancing on the Wall and Jon Stark, King of the North and Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, has travelled to Castle Black, a meeting is impossible.

Sansa Stark, Lady of Winterfell.

***

The horns blew again, making Mournful Edd wince.

- Tell them to stop blaring,' he said in a broken voice. - Everyone knows what they're doing.

Edd watched the huge army emerge from behind the trees, marching silently, without shouts or battle songs. Men, beasts, giants - everyone was here. The dead army, not slowing down for a second, was moving towards the Wall. It would not be long before the first warriors of the White Walkers would start climbing up.

- Bring dragon-glass arrows and spears! Get the archers into position! - Lord Amber, who had personally arrived at the Wall with his men, was giving out orders. - Send a messenger to the King of the North at once. Tell him to tell Jon Stark the dead are here!

The soldiers and sentries rushed to carry out their orders, while the dead came closer and closer, and more and more of them came out of the forest. Watching what was happening, Edd whispered:

- Hurry, John.