Sansa was delivered safely.

Brynhildr offered her a warm hug as she entered the walls of Winterfell again, the girl looking around wildly as if she couldn't believe it. Clearly, it brought her much emotion.

"Thank you," said Sansa quietly, walking with her to the great hall. "Does Jon know?"

"Yes," said Brynhildr. "I've had him informed. These Valkyries will remain with you as your personal guard, and I've asked other Northern houses to send men to defend you. We even have a surprise for you."

As they turned the corner, Sansa's eyes widened, and she dropped to her knees as Rickon Stark ran to her, throwing his arms around her and crying out, "Sansa, you're home!"

Behind him stood Osha, who'd brought him down from Last Hearth with an Umber escort. The wildling woman was a good fighter, someone trusted that could be another armed hand to keep Sansa safe from harm. Brynhildr had already offered for Osha to join the Valkyries once this was over– she said she'd consider it.

The first day was filled with work and words. She explained repairs being made in Winterfell, the loyalty that could be expected from Northern houses. They planned out creating a new supply of ravens and replenishing their supplies for the winter to come. Servants had to be questioned and shuffled around, with others hopefully about to arrive from other houses. Brynhildr had sent Valkyries to speak personally with Lords Karstark and Glover, who felt they'd been betrayed and abandoned by the Starks at any point. Perhaps, they'd slowly urge them into peace.

Sansa brought news from Storm's End. Tyrion had arrived safe and agreed to form part of Daenerys's council. In the rest of the realm, Cersei was openly hunting dwarves, wanting Tyrion's head for what he'd done. As far as they knew, Cersei was advising Tommen and the Tyrells were still allied with them, for there was talk that Margaery had wed Tommen.

To keep firm her own claim, Sansa stated that Rickon would be her heir. As little as she liked it, she considered the prospect of marriage to bring in a firm ally. Gently, Brynhildr had said that perhaps in the future, they'd wed her to Aegon. It needn't happen anytime soon; Sansa was sure to have a ready ally in them regardless of marriage. It brought her some comfort, but only little. Brynhildr imagined that if it were up to Sansa, she'd never marry, and Brynhildr did not blame her.

Something Brynhildr hadn't anticipated was that Reek was actually Theon Greyjoy, having been broken mentally by Ramsay Snow's torture. Sansa had had a confused and angry look on her face– Theon had betrayed her family and supposedly killed her brothers, yet Rickon had come back and Bran was supposedly beyond-the-Wall looking for some 'Three-Eyed Raven.'

She'd calmed quickly enough with Brynhildr's intervention. Theon did not truly feel he was Theon anymore. He cowered away and was led aside by Valkyries who'd been tending to him for the past weeks, trying to steadily ease him back into reality and make him feel he was finally safe. It might take time for Sansa to fully warm up to Theon, but Brynhildr hoped that in this case, bygones could soon be bygones, for she worried for the both of them if their emotions progressed in a worse direction.

Jon replied from the Wall with his thanks and well wishes for Sansa. He would be remaining a member of the Night's Watch, not a man to desert his post, and had recently been named Lord Commander. He'd be leading an expedition to Hardhome to bring into the Gift some wildlings led by a man named Tormund Giantsbane, who had been captured at their battle. The other men of the Night's Watch, save Jon's friends and especially including the ire of Ser Alliser, were upset.

Sansa was quick to send a raven to House Umber to speak of how they might keep the peace and ensure that the North became responsible for the wildlings, if possible to remove the weight from Jon. If he believed these wildlings wouldn't cause trouble, why doubt him? It was up to them to convince the North and the Night's Watch now.

A few weeks after Sansa's arrival, there came calling two figures. One, Lady Brienne of Tarth, once accused of King Renly's murder and now arrived after being armed and armored by Jaime Lannister himself to see Catelyn's daughters returned home safely. Brienne had been charged with taking him to King's Landing as ransom for the girls, before the Red Wedding. The Kingslayer had given her a Valyrian steel sword to use, one called Oathkeeper.

The second was her squire, Ser Podrick Payne, distant cousin to the King's Justice Ser Ilyn Payne. An awkward boy, shy and rather quiet, without much going on for him in the realm of swords. He didn't seem the sort who could cook or hunt or do much protecting, really, but Brienne was kind enough to say that Podrick had faithfully accompanied her from King's Landing.

Brienne bent the knee in front of Sansa, pledging her service. She apologized for not being there to protect Lady Catelyn at the Twins, and she admitted softly that she'd found Arya traveling with the Hound, but had been unable to convince her to come along. The Hound had mistrusted Brienne from the moment he saw the Lannister gold on her sword. Brienne had dueled the Hound and left him to die, while Arya slipped away and hadn't been seen since.

Sansa took her hand, and though the girl herself looked ready to shed a tear because of what she'd said, she asked Brienne to rise and accepted her as her sworn sword. Brienne was a tall woman, standing three inches taller than Brynhildr and nearly as blonde as her children. Were it not for her dark head of hair and the obvious age difference, someone might've thought them sisters.

Brynhildr chose to stick around, if only to keep a close watch on Brienne and otherwise protect Sansa; everyone on Storm's End would be alright without her for a bit longer. The latest word spoke of a 'Sparrow' in King's Landing becoming involved with the Crown– Varys didn't think it would bode well, Tommen far weaker than Joffrey and now lacking the seasoned counsel of his grandfather.

It was surprising for her to receive a raven shortly before she did plan to leave, stating that Jon Snow was coming to Winterfell with the wildlings, who would act as part of Sansa's new guard. His letter was brief; he said he'd explain the rest upon arrival.

The explanation came paired with Melisandre, who rode at his side and gave a nod to Brynhildr as they arrived, saying eerily, "Winter has come." Surely, she'd found whatever she'd meant to on the Wall.

Sansa held her breath and Rickon's shoulder as Jon rode in, accompanied by a massive red-haired wildling, who must be Tormund. Jon slid off his horse quickly, running to his siblings. In his arms, he took both Sansa and Rickon into a hug, one so tight that Brynhildr was sure none of them could breathe right. It didn't matter; their family was slowly becoming whole again.

She felt eyes in her direction, and looked up at the horses to see Tormund was eyeing her (or Brienne, perhaps, who stood beside her) with great interest, mouth agape as if he'd never seen anyone like them. Brienne made a face and looked down in discomfort, while Brynhildr turned back on Tormund with a blank stare, real expression still hidden by the war paint she donned while on guard duty.

Jon knelt in front of Rickon, holding the back of his head. "You're all grown up now," he told his sweet little brother, kissing his forehead. "A Prince, I hear, Sansa's heir."

"Yes!" said Rickon brightly. "She's Queen in the North, which makes me Prince of Winterfell."

"And there was never a better prince," agreed Jon with a smile. He stood and embraced Sansa once more.

"Come in," she said, mouth quivering as she tried not to cry. Even though she'd been living in Winterfell, Brynhildr didn't think she'd felt so at home until now. "You must be hungry and I want to hear about what happened out there."

Jon turned back to introduce the wildlings first. "Tormund Giantsbane and the surviving wildlings from Hardhome. Fighting men and women, children as well."

Sansa smiled warmly and nodded to Brynhildr, who ordered the Valkyries to get them settled in; they'd try to keep families close to each other and place the children in rooms first, then the women, and if need be, the men would stay in tents in the yard. "My sworn sword, Lady Brienne of Tarth," introduced Sansa. "Her squire, Ser Podrick Payne. Our gods-sent savior, Commander Brynhildr Ragnarsdottir of the Valkyries. Some of the women she brought here are of the blood of the First Men, born from lines of wildlings and Northerners alike who left before, after, and during the time King Torrhen bent the knee to Aegon Targaryen."

Jon nodded, already knowing her, while Tormund continued to stare as if entranced. Brynhildr paid him no mind and followed Sansa to the great hall, where a feast was being set out. The wildlings trickled in little by little, some preferring to set their things down before they ate. Tormund and Jon sat with the other Starks and the main guard at the high table. Though some of the Valkyries joined them, Tormund still kept glancing between Brienne and Brynhildr, the tallest present.

It was with a heavy heart that Jon told them what'd happened at Hardhome. They'd tried to rescue the wildlings, having gone by ship from Eastwatch, but the elders had opposed them at first– it took too long to try and convince more than five-thousand of them to join them. A snowstorm had come from nowhere, and with it came the Others, these White Walkers and their wildlings. They were forced to fight like madmen to get to the ships, against beings who wouldn't die.

Jon had managed to kill a White Walker with Longclaw; apparently Valyrian steel was the other sort of weapon that could kill them. But the main White Walker, a leader Jon styled 'The Night King,' had left his mark even after the last of the boats had made for the open sea, the wights unable to swim. All the fallen wildlings, he'd resurrected simply by lifting his hands. Except, now they were mangled corpses, eyes bright blue. Soldiers in his ranks. Jon swore there were tens of thousands of them, the biggest army in the world.

Even worse, the Night's Watch hadn't taken this well at all. His friend Samwell had made for the Citadel by then, following Maester Aemon's death, to try and find a way to kill all the Others. It left Jon much more alone, and so Ser Alliser Thorne led a mutiny where he was stabbed to death, butchered, really. A brave friend of his, Edd, had run to get the wildlings from the Gift while his other friends kept guard.

It was Melisandre who somehow saw in the flames that he was important, and with it, the Lord of Light gave her the power to bring him back. Edd was Lord Commander now; Jon's watch had ended with his death, with that wretched betrayal.

"Oh, Jon," said Sansa quietly, placing her hand on his arm in comfort. Even Rickon looked like he might cry; one of the boys who'd helped Ser Alliser couldn't have been much older than him. Brynhildr had met him the day they fought. Olly, who'd come with a message for the Night's Watch after wildlings raided his village.

"I couldn't stay there," finished Jon. "My duty there is done. I'm going to remain here and protect you both. Help you do something to rally the North for this Last War, because we have no other choice."

"When my daughter is crowned," said Brynhildr, "assuming that will happen before the Others reach the Wall, we will make this our top priority. We believe you, Jon. My daughter can help you with three dragons and I know my Valkyries will fight hard against this threat. We have Dorne and the Stormlands at our back. Soon, we hope to free the Riverlands– Varys told me that Brynden the Blackfish still lives and is gathering a force to retake Riverrun."

They seemed pleased to hear this. "However," she added, "the rest of the Realm might need more convincing. We may need proof to sway them."

Jon hesitated, running a hand over his chin, "We can attempt to retrieve it. Capture a wight and present it to the high lords. But that cannot happen until we've a safe place to meet, together with all those who will bend the knee to Queen Daenerys. Only then will we even be capable of having them listen. Lord Commander Mormont sent many a raven in his time, begging for aid, and none gave it. Ser Alliser took a wight hand to King's Landing when I first arrived at the Wall, and even then our plea was not answered."

"Only Dany can make them see," agreed Brynhildr, though she glanced sideways at Melisandre, who sat in the corner of her own table, pensive and staring into a candle before her. She wondered what Melisandre thought about this. "Well, at any rate, I am glad you are here, Jon. I will leave soon, and it pleases me to know Winterfell will be so well defended. It's time I return to my children."

Sansa cleared her throat. "What we spoke about regarding Theon, is that still–?"

"Theon?" asked Jon.

"I'll explain later," said Sansa. "Commander, do you still believe we can secure an alliance with the Iron Islands using him?"

"Perhaps," said Brynhildr. "We had word not long ago of a great storm on Pyke; Varys has reason to believe Balon died, for there has been little news in that area. My Valkyries captured Euron Greyjoy some time ago, and my son beheaded him. I don't think Aeron Greyjoy will aim for the Seastone Chair, for he is a priest of the Drowned God and I've heard he's never been the same since the Greyjoy Rebellion when he nearly died. On top of this, my Valkyries learned that Euron used to abuse Aeron and their other younger brother, Urrigon. However, we learned that he is not entirely supportive of Balon's daughter, Yara, as a successor.

"Victarion was a bit more formidable in combat, but supposedly stupid and dull. In our brief conversations with Theon, who struggles very much to discern reality from dreams, there seemed to be some implication that Victarion was captain of the men at Moat Cailin. Ramsay Snow used Theon to open the gates and launched an attack– we've not heard of anything about Victarion since, and so we assume he is dead. If Balon truly is dead, there is only Aeron and Yara to face... and Yara supposedly launched a rescue mission on Theon even against her father's wishes. She, I think we can convince to join us, though we've no need of their fleet."

"And the Vale?" asked Sansa.

"Once we are through with the liberation of the Riverlands, we intend to turn the dragons on the Eyrie and have Lysa Arryn submit the same way Sharra Arryn did to Visenya for the sake of her son Ronnel. Daenerys has been riding Fafnir over the top of Storm's End, and the other dragons are ready to soon accept their riders."

Jon seemed intrigued. "You have a rider for the third dragon?"

"I do," she said carefully. "We were in Essos for a very long time; there are many there with Valyrian blood. It is not hard to come by such people, and a careful choice was made between them to determine who was worthy of the task."

They left it at that. Tormund finally chose to say, "Have you ever been north of the Wall, Commander?"

"Not truly," she said. "I've yet to feel interest."

"Perhaps when your daughter sits on the Iron Chair," said Tormund. "Is she tall like you?"

"No," said Brynhildr. "She's not my blood, so I couldn't give her my height."

"Why are you tall? They call you a 'Viking.' Is that why?"

"Somewhat. Almost everyone I knew was my height or taller. I'm as tall as my father and brothers were. My mother, only one inch shorter. My adoptive father, he was four inches taller than me. Now, my son stands as tall as me, one of my partners is taller by an inch and another shorter by an inch. My daughter, ten whole inches smaller. But don't think her weak; she is the Mother of Dragons and I am Grandmother of Dragons."

Tormund smiled wide. "Your people must have been like wildlings. They call me Giantsbane. Do you want to know why?"

She shrugged, "I imagine you're going to tell me regardless."

"I killed a giant when I was ten," he said proudly. "Then I climbed right into bed with his wife. When she woke up, you know what she did? Suckled me at her teat... for three months, thought I was her baby. That's how I got so strong. Giant's milk."

She wasn't entirely impressed. "So, otherwise, you'd be like any other man? I'm afraid I'm neither impressed nor intimidated by that, Giantsbane. I suckled at no giant's teat and I look the same height as you... I imagine I'm about as strong, too. I killed men bigger than you when I fought in the fighting pits."

His smirk widened, accepting the challenge. "That so?" He gestured to Brienne. "I want to see it. I want you to fight her."

Brynhildr leaned back in her chair, flicking her hand towards Brienne to motion her not to get frustrated. Brynhildr eyed Tormund steadily, "And what then, Giants-babe? What will you gain?"

"You and I could make babies together. Great big monsters that would conquer the world."

The others at the table looked ready to hurl or rush off in second-hand embarrassment, but Brynhildr simply pursed her lips, unimpressed. "So many reasons that doesn't appeal to me," she said. "One, I have children who are conquering the world as we speak. They are monsters with weapons in their hands and even if they aren't all that big, their size won't matter when they give their dragons the command to burn men where they stand. You can't give me anything I don't already have. You're not my type, Giants-babe."

"And why not?" asked Tormund. He gestured to his hair. "Look, I am kissed by fire."

"So were the men my grandchildren ate," she replied.

"I look like I could be a Viking. Like I am of your people."

She hummed. "I do prefer those who have the look of Vikings." He looked excited, and she added, "When they are women. Otherwise, I like southern and Essosi men. My Oberyn and my Daario are lean and tan and dark-haired, they've killed men as viciously as I have. Taught me everything I know about poisons and survival in this strange land. My heart belongs to them and no one will change my mind."

He looked crestfallen, but then flickered his gaze to Brienne and smiled, as if he stood a chance elsewhere. Brienne turned to look at Brynhildr with the most desperate please-help-me look that she'd ever seen, and in a second, the two of them burst into laughter, clapping each other's shoulders and practically cackling from the absurdity of it all. Tormund took it like a champion (in all honesty, Brynhildr wasn't sure if he knew they were laughing about him).

Even when Brynhildr clarified that neither of them were interested, he didn't complain. He said perhaps one day they'd change their minds, and that he still wished to see them in battle. If they could not fuck, they could still fight in unison and drink together, be friends of sorts. This, Brynhildr gladly agreed to.

Before her departure, she held another tournament between the wildlings and the Valkyries. Jon was still too weak to participate, but she'd heard enough about his skill with a sword to assume he might've earned Earldom and perhaps even become 'King' of the tournament. It was a special treat for the Valkyries to see Brynhildr participate, for it had been so long that she hadn't.

Her Valkyries fought as well as the wildlings, some perhaps better, though the wildlings had an advantage of being so well-adjusted to the climate that they'd endure longer in the fighting pit. Still, several of her captains rose to Earls, as did Tormund and Brienne.

Brynhildr and Brienne were drawn to fight together in the penultimate round, and though Brienne had a few inches of height over Brynhildr, her armor weighed her down enough that Brynhildr zipped around and blooded her on her leg without much effort. In a real battle, Brienne's armor might've afforded her enough protection to beat Brynhildr.

It left Brynhildr to fight against Tormund, who laughed and announced to all that she fought with the strength of a wildling. He wasn't anywhere near being stronger than someone like Floki or Ragnar, not even Ivar. Brynhildr managed to press her sword under his chin, nicking blood beneath his beard. This only amused him more, and he yelled loud for his wildlings to hear that she was Queen of the tournament.

With a smile on her face, pleased with her new friends, she sailed back to Storm's End accompanied by a still-pensive Melisandre, their armies already preparing for the attack on the Twins upon news that the Blackfish had seized Riverrun with the help of the Mallisters, Blackwoods, and the Brotherhood Without Banners. He would hold it, having secured provisions for two years– and it would surely not take this long to beat down House Frey.

"Mother!" Daenerys threw her arms around Brynhildr, who kissed her daughter's cheeks and hugged her tight. "I am glad you're finally home."

"As am I, little one," said Brynhildr, kept pressed to her as Viserys joined them all in a hug. "My boy, is it true you've nearly readied yourself for a flight on Viserion?"

"Better," said Viserys. "I've done it. Aegon and I flew yestermorn, low for now, but both Rhaegal and Viserion did well carrying us. We're ready to attack the Twins and the Vale."

"How have things been with all the new company?" asked Brynhildr, struggling to walk up to the castle as they kept hanging onto her, giddy with her return.

Viserys said, "Tyrion is clever. We've already been working on modifying your plan for Casterly Rock. You had the right idea about the sewers– he designed them, and he knows how to get us in. If we are able to secure the Ironborn, we'll be free to take Lannisport and the Rock without resistance. And the best news of all comes from the capital– Cersei, Margaery, Ser Loras, all imprisoned by the High Sparrow and set to face trial for their crimes! The faith militant has done us a great favor. If this continues, we'll be able to take the capital in a matter of weeks."

Brynhildr grinned, patting them both on their shoulders. "Then, in a matter of weeks, my loves, I will get you home. And I will crown the both of you, Queen of Westeros and Prince of Dragonstone."

_

A/N: Happy 400 pages! This story is steadily coming to an end. Though I intended to go into HotD fics right after this, I actually started reading the GoT books and as such have the motivation to write one more Game of Thrones fic. I made an OC paired with Jon Snow and wrote a one-shot for her, but this time, she will get a full fic! So stay tuned for that. Comment for more :)