-Chapter 123-
-4th day of the 9th moon of the year 299 AC-
-3rd POV-
In the courtyard of Black Castle, 500 legionnaires in full black leather padded armor and red capes stood straight, stiff as poles.
"ATTENTION!" yelled the lieutenant in charge of this troop.
All the soldiers snapped to attention, and a huge noise ensued, caused by the simultaneous clapping of the lances of the 500 legionnaires.
Tristan Sunfyre, from the top of the balcony, shouted: "SOLDIERS, THE KING HAS ORDERED US TO DEFEND THE WALL AGAINST THE WILDLINGS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL, AND THAT IS WHAT WE SHALL DO. TODAY, YOU WILL BE SENT TO GREYGUARD FORTRESS. I HAVE TRAINED EACH ONE OF YOU, AND I KNOW NONE OF YOU WILL SURRENDER AS LONG AS A HEARTBEAT ECHOES IN YOUR CHEST."
"YES, COMMANDER!"
Tristan Sunfyre nodded and then gestured to the lieutenant, who immediately saluted his commander before turning to face the gates of Black Castle.
---
-POV Benjen Stark-
"What a fine speech you gave there," I said, watching the head of my nephew's 1st legion.
He nodded indifferently then said: "Thank you, it's my duty to rally the soldiers so they give their best and remember their mission."
I nodded, as I often faced this kind of problem with the convicts who came to atone for their sins at the wall.
"When will I be free to go see my nephew?"
"You won't need to go down south to see the king, he has decided to come up North to take over the extermination of House Bolton," he said, handing me a letter which I quickly read.
I sighed with relief, for I could not get along with Tristan Sunfyre, although I was Jon's uncle, the latter had me imprisoned as my nephew's orders were that all the Night's Watch guards must be kept captive.
"When will he arrive?"
"I don't know, but normally in two months, unless something changes," he said indifferently.
'Just two more months to wait,' I thought with relief, I was finally going to be able to get my brothers of the Night's Watch released.
---
-POV Sansa Stark-
I watched the soldiers of the Northern army return victorious against the traitors who had sworn allegiance to the Boltons and the latest Blackfyre pretender from the female line of Daemon Blackfyre, with my brother at their head.
I couldn't help but be moved when suddenly I felt a presence by my side. I turned to see that I was no longer alone on the balcony; my mother was beside me. I felt her hand grip mine, then she said, "We have sent a request to the king for the engagement with House Tyrell to be formalized."
A little hope remained inside me, for I had heard many good things about the Heir of Highgarden, it was better than being betrothed to Prince Viserys.
"...But he refused, he has plans, he is coming to the North... for you," my mother said, crushing me without stops.
I felt a knot form in my stomach at the thought of the king... my brother.
"He will never forgive me for what I did to him," I said, looking at my mother.
My mother smiled and then said, "Aegon is king now, he rules over an entire nation and must watch over millions of souls."
"Aegon, it's so strange to call him that way," I said with a small bitter smile.
Over time, I realized that I could never return to my old life, but honestly, I did not want to. No, really, I was naive, a little bird that understood nothing about the vast world around her.
It took time, but finally, I understood that I could not continue living like this, seeing and understanding that the world was not governed by true knights in shining armor deeply shocked me but it also allowed me to lift the veil that I had... that my mother and the septas had placed on me.
Understanding that evil was closer to us than one might think allowed me to understand that what I had done to Jon... Aegon was wrong, and that I owed it to my salvation and that of my family to ask for his forgiveness.
"Your father instilled the spirit of family in you, I am sure and certain he will be sensitive to it. I had trouble recognizing it, but the anger he feels towards us was justified. With the help of the Seven, I managed to understand his anger. I find it hard to accept, but I have no choice, the anger your brother feels is not eternal, especially when one wins. I am sure he will find the strength to forgive you," said my mother.
"He's not our brother, he's our cousin," I said, now knowing he was the son of our aunt Lyanna and not of our father.
"He is your brother. Your father raised him as his own son among his own children. It's an indestructible bond, and Arya is proof of that. As long as you open your heart to him, he will not reject you. Do not forget the teachings of the Faith. I am certain that the Mother Above will show him the way of forgiveness," she said.