[Winterfell]

Jon and his envoy made the long trek back to Winterfell, where they would be forced to tell their allies that their quest to gather more support had failed.

They approached the main gate, which was opened by their guards, trotting in to the courtyard.

Looking around at those gathered, he quickly realized someone was missing. Arya.

He looked at Sansa who shook her head.

Sighing, he dismounted his horse and greeted everyone.

"If you would all make your way to the Great Hall, I have some news to share. But first, I must speak with my brother and sister."

He watched as, slowly but surely, people began making their way inside.

Satisfied everyone was inside, he led Sansa and Bran to his chambers.

[Jon's Chambers]

Closing the door behind them, he turned to look at his cousins/siblings.

"Daenerys has backed out of our alliance."

"We know," Sansa said. "Bran warged into a raven and flew to Dragonstone. Princess Aelinor had a dream about what would happen beyond the wall, and how it would affect the alliance."

"And she didn't say anything?"

"The relationship between her and Daenerys is strained, which I'm sure you noticed. Daenerys does not listen to her."

"So she didn't try?"

"She knew you wouldn't die, so she assumed it was best to let it play itself out. Interfering with certain events can have dire consequences."

"Fine. We have bigger issues at hand. Cersei has denied the truce and that is why Daenerys backed out. I showed her the true threat, but she is more concerned with beating Cersei and 'freeing' the people of King's Landing. As far as she knows, the dead are not that close and her main goal is to ensure the end of suffering under Cersei's rule."

"There will be no one to rule if we don't defeat the dead." Sansa said.

"I know, and I have told her this. But, she returned to Westeros to 'break the wheel'. An army of dead men is not as much of a concern as the Throne. One she views as her right to sit."

"So, what? We must now go out there and tell these Lords and Ladies that we're on our own?"

"Not quite. I have a plan."

[Great Hall]

The Lords and Ladies and some of the Free Folk had gathered in the great hall, awaiting the announcement of their warden. Davos and Sam were there as well.

The door opened and in came Jon and Sansa who was pushing Bran.

"I'm sorry for the wait," Jon said. He sighed. "It is with great displeasure, I announce that Daenerys Targaryen has decided to withdraw her support."

Angry murmurs filled the hall.

"I know, I know. I am angry as well. We have showed them the threat to their lives, but they are too busy fighting over who will sit the Iron Throne, to acknowledge the true enemy; the dead. But, I have a question." Everyone sat straighter. "What was the only Kingdom that managed to withstand Aegon and his dragons?"

"Dorne," a few lords muttered, confused looks on their faces.

"Exactly." He agreed. "I suggest we lure the Dragon Queen North and force her to aid us."

"How do you intend to do that?" Lyanna asked.

"By revealing one thing she won't be able to ignore; someone with a better claim to the Throne." He looked at Sam, who nodded, showing him a book. "I am not the bastard son of Ned Stark."

Confused murmurs began.

"I am Jaeharys Targaryen, Third Of My Name. Son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark."

Those confused murmurs quickly turned into gasps.

"My uncle made a promise to my mother as she lay dying. He would protect me. From Robert and anyone who would want to harm me. He forsook his honour and named me his bastard, drawing the ire of his wife. No one could know."

"You're the true heir to the Iron Throne," one of the lords stated.

"Yes, I am. My father annulled his marriage to Princess Elia Martell and married my mother. I intend to claim this birthright, and force her to acknowledge the true imminent danger."

"She has dragons, What's to stop her from burning you?"

"She does not wish to be viewed as the daughter of the Mad King. But, it's all those who don't know her see her as; her father."

"So, wwe lure her here by announcing your true parentage?" Lyanna asked, to which Jon nodded. "And, what are we supposed to do when she arrives?"

"We will not be here."

"You mean to flee?"

"No. This is how the Dornish resisted Aegon. They made sure they were no there when he arrived on Dragonback. Unlike the other kingdoms, they did not hide in their castles which could easily be burned, like Harrenhal. They did not engage in direct conflict. Instead, they used their home field advantage, and the cover of night, to attack camps and supply lines before fleeing."

"They also had Scorpions, which we do not."

"Yes, they used this contraption to kill Queen Rhaenys and her dragon, Meraxes. But, we can use these same tactics. Other than Jorah Mormont, Daenerys nor her men or her dragons have any experience with the North. That is our advantage. Knowing the North better than they do. If we attack enough, Daenerys will be forced to sit down and listen to us, and ultimately aid us in the fight against the dead. It's either that or risk starvation. She burned the food from the Reach, instead of claiming it for her own. She has a large army, but is low on resources to keep them. If she can't, then she can't win a war for the Throne."

"Do you think we could beat her this way?" Wyman Manderly asked.

"I do," he nodded. "She wished for me to bend the knee if I wanted to return home-"

"And you did?"

"Only so I could return. If I had been stuck on that island, there would no one here to prepare you for what's coming."

"You surrendered the North's independence?" Lyanna asked.

"No, not truly. I know what you all must be thinking. It is not honourable. But, I did what I had to do to return to all of you."

"Jon is right," Sansa interjected. "If I had been in his position, I would have done the same. Our ancestor, Torrhen Stark, bent the knee to King Aegon. If he hadn't, none of us would be here. Our families would have gone extinct like the Gardeners, the last Kings of the Reach."

"Sansa is right," Jon agreed. "Winter is coming. I have seen the army of the dead. It is too large for us to fight alone. Cersei is too busy being Queen after blowing up the Sept, ending House Tyrell, outside of her grandson. Daenerys has gained a reputation for freeing slaves. Which means, at the least, she is better than Cersei. Our only problem, these two women are so caught up in their power struggle over who will sit the Iron Throne, they are willfully turning a blind eye to the imminent threat."

"Is fighting necessary?" Robett Glover asked. "You're a Targaryen. Couldn't you claim one of her dragons?"

This caused excited murmurs.

"Aye, I am a Targaryen. But, I'm also half Stark. There are no guarantees I would survive an attempt at bonding with one of her dragons."

"Princess Aelinor has a dragon, and she is a Baratheon. Her great grandmother was a Targaryen, while your father was one. You have more Targaryen blood. If she and her son can bond with dragons, why can't you?"

The excited murmurs continued.

"There is another option," Davos spoke, causing heads to turn in his direction. "Dorne entered the Seven Kingdoms through marriage. Between Princess Daenerys Targaryen and Prince Maron Martell. If you were to secure a marriage alliance with Daenerys, you could both get what you want. She would still be Queen, and you would have allies in this Great War for our survival."

The lords and ladies chorused in agreement.

Jon turned to Bran and Sansa. "If we do this, I don't think either of you should be here when she arrives. She could take you as hostages."

"I've survived worse," Sansa told him. "I survived King's Landing and Joffrey. I survived here in Winterfell, under Ramsay. I'm not as fragile as you might think."

"Yes, that is true. But, Daenerys is arguably more dangerous than any of them. She has dragons. There's no guarantee she won't try to use you two against me. She saw how much family means to me, as I did to her."

"Which is why I should come with you." Bran suggested. "I can keep and eye out for her dragons, and let you know when to attack, and when to flee."

"You told me, 'There must alwys be a Stark in Winterfell'. Look at what happened the last time there wasn't. Our brother, your cousin murdered at a wedding. Bran and Rickon forced to flee. Robb's murderer's stealing our family's home, and murdering Rickon." Sansa sighed. "As far as anyone knows, I've alwys treated you poorly because I believed you were my father's bastard. Holding me hostage serves her no purpose, if she believes I care little for you."

"Be that as it may, I spent some time with Tyrion at the Wall when you went to King's Landing. He knows that family is important to me."

"Yes, and I was married to him. Nevr did we discuss the nature of our relationship. As far as he knows, you might care for me, but it is unrequited on my end. When Daenerys eventually arrives, I will bend the knee, leaving her with the impression you kept your word. Gaining her trust will be crucial, and then I can plant the seed of an alliance."

Jon tuned to Bran who nodded. "Well then," he said. "I guess it has been decided." He turned back to Sansa. "You've changed."

"I grew up. It's the one good thing that has happened to me."

"Yes, it is."

"As much as you fought it, you really are the King In The North." Sansa told him.

This caused the lords and ladies to rise, drawing their swords.

"King In The North! King In The North! King In The North!" They began chanting.