video; un: littlebird

[toivory]

Hello everyone and- Merry Chris-mass! [She pronounces it wrong, still trying to get a hang of the new words and holidays. But she was told that's what you say, so she's going to say it, and smile.]

I wanted to let everyone know that my older brother is here! If you see a handsome, brooding man, chin-length black hair, bit of a beard, dressed in all black, that's likely Jon Snow. He can be a bit of an idiot, but he's my brother all the same- a true Stark. [One of two brothers she had left.]

If you see him, reach out. He could use the break afforded to us here, in a manner of speaking.

[It's hard, being the true heir to the Iron Throne, she imagines.] It's good to have him here.

Comments

[toivory]

You had to.

It was... not my idea, but the Unsullied refused to let it go otherwise. They wanted to see you pay for your crime.

[king_inthenorth]

My what?

[toivory]

Crime.

[She pats his hand again and leans forward, her blue eyes finding his dark eyes.]

You do the right thing, Jon. She would have killed you, in an instant, if she thought you would take the throne from her.

[king_inthenorth]

[He doesn't like the sound of this.]

What did I do?

Will I do.

[toivory]

You do what you had to.

You kill her.

[king_inthenorth]

No, that's...

[That doesn't sound like it can be right.]

That shouldn't have to be the answer.

[toivory]

Perhaps it wouldn't have had to be.

But she willfully ignores King's Landing's surrender, massacring the citizens, reducing the city to rubble. And if you hadn't stopped her, she would have turned her dragon Northward.

[king_inthenorth]

She killed innocent people?

[toivory]

Thousands.

[king_inthenorth]

She probably wouldn't have stopped there then.

[Someone who killed thousands would have no problem killing thousands more.]

[toivory]

Exactly.

[king_inthenorth]

I suppose it is what I have to do then.

[That doesn't mean he likes it.]

[toivory]

There truly was no other way to protect the kingdoms.

We all got together, the last of the great houses- Stark, Baratheon, Tully, Arryn, Martell, Tarly, Lannister and the like. [miscellaneous unnamed extras] to discuss who would take the throne. Bran, who has seen all sides of this war, who can see things the rest of us cannot, and who is likely to live for hundreds of years if what he says of the Three-Eyed Raven is true- is the only logical choice for a king, with Tyrion as his Hand.

The North remains an Independent Kingdom.

[king_inthenorth]

Of course it does. Everyone should know by now not to mess with the Starks.

[It does kind of seem like they saved everyone.

Does he want to know...? She hasn't said anything definitive.]

What happens to me?

[toivory]

Precisely. Bran wouldn’t let them wage war on his eldest sister, after all.

[Seriously. Don’t mess.]

You... you rejoin the watch, I assume once more as Lord Commander.

[king_inthenorth]

And he won't do it himself. [Which is how most wars get started, after all.]

It could have turned out worse.

[toivory]

It could have.

And you are welcome in Winterfell whenever, brother. It is your home as much as it is mine.

[king_inthenorth]

After I helped you get it back I'd better be welcome there.

I'll visit every chance I can.

[toivory]

Good! I’d hate never to see you again. We’re not too far, all things considered.

We’ll keep your room for you.

[king_inthenorth]

Besides, someone will have to keep your husband in line. Whoever he turns out to be.

[toivory]

In truth, Jon... I don’t believe I will ever marry.

[king_inthenorth]

[He doesn't blame her there.]

What about there being a Stark in Winterfell?

[toivory]

Do I not count? [she teases him to lighten the mood. She’d told Theon a few weeks ago she would marry him if she could. His rebuke, made for what she knew he thought were the right reasons, stung deep.]

I can legitimize any bastards I bear. But I am sure no man exists that would wish to marry a Queen if he cannot be King.

[king_inthenorth]

Of course you count. [She counts more than he does, or ever would even if he hadn't renounced all family ties. There's no legitimizing him now.]

That might depend on the queen.

[toivory]

And who is there to marry? We’re not exactly teeming with eligible bachelors.

I believe I’ll stick with my consorts, for now.