Chapter Text
Val knew it was going to be a good day when Snow woke her up by slapping her on the arse and flipping her over to have his way with her. Val had been stolen and stolen others a few times, but Snow is the first one who could actually keep up pace with what the Wildling Princess wanted. Granted, it was only because of the time he spent in his Direwolf and sometimes it took a little more to get him there but still; he could keep up with her.
That’s not to say she did not like him outside of their coupling. He had the distinction that many other men could not say applied to them. He was a good man. She would always appreciate what he did for Mance. Also, she knew that no other southern leader would have allowed her people south of the wall. He made conditions but he would have been a fool not to. Especially since they were working smoothly. The Freefolk and southerners were actually getting along.
The freefolk had actually been assimilating to the south far better than anyone could imagine. Most of the “north’s” mountain clans were not so different than the freefolk so that helped the other “Northern” people adapt to their presence. But nothing helped more than Jon Snow. He led by example when he treated the freefolk no different than his other subjects, so all the other southerners just did the same. Granted they mostly went through clan chiefs but that is no different than how they went through their lords so that was just how they did things down here.
His relationship with Val also helped relations down south. A dozen or so of these southern men had stolen freefolk women and a few spearwives had stolen southern men. The fact that so many couples started out despite their differences could only be attributed to Jon and Val. The secret came out when his Little Lady Sister walked into his solar while he was bending Val over his desk. Both Starks were mortified; Val thought it to be funny though.
Snow, as intense as he could get during their coupling, was always the perfect gentleman. He always made sure that he had finished her off before he finished himself off inside of her. Since he got embarrassed when she was loud enough for the entire castle to hear her, she made sure she finished quietly, but not to quietly. She reminded herself to get more ingredients for moon tea as he gently pulled out and laid back on the bed’s headboard.
“That was nice, Snow.” She said, looking back at him still on all fours as her body calmed itself down. “Are you sure you don’t want to declare your undying love for me to get me into one of those kneeler ceremonies again?”
Jon rolled his eyes and gave her another slap on the rump in response to her cheek. She let out an undignified squeak but only because she wasn’t expecting it. He grabbed her by the hips and maneuvered her backwards and onto his lap.
“I told you, I would not ask again.” Jon said, kissing at her neck.
It did not take long after his Little Lady Sister found them for the entire castle to know that Snow had stolen her. She claimed she did not tell anyone but by the end of the day more than enough people were giving her funny looks when she walked the halls that there was no way that it was not common knowledge. Actually, that was not fair to the sister. In truth, it was all Sigorn and his big mouth’s fault!
The last meeting of all the Lords Snow called his marriage was brought up once again. She liked seeing Snow’s frustration every time that it was brought up. Finally, that fellow in the Bronze armor stood up.
“Your Grace, the rumors about you and the Wildling Princess…-” He asked, giving Val aside glances all the while. She knew the hoity toity lords would not like that Snow was sleeping with her outside of their silly ceremonies. None more so than those with the weird accents that came with the Little Lady Sister.
Before either Jon or Val could say anything, the little Prince spoke up. “My brother stole her. They are married. Leave’em alone!”
“What does that even mean?” A voice asked from the back of the room.
Numerous lords and ladies were vocalizing their discontent when Sigorn stood up. “If I may?” He asked, all nice and proper like a kneeler. His common tongue had been coming along nicely despite the fact that he was mostly using it on Alys, opposed to trying the new language. “King Crow stole Val. Means she is his and he is hers. I married Alys, in same manner as southern lords do. It was the better for both peoples.”
“Like how Daeron II brought Dorne into the Seven Kingdoms!” Jon’s Little Lady Sister piped up. Despite the deliberate changing in events to make it sound like this was a political plan. numerous lords started nodding their heads in acceptance, abet reluctantly.
The man in the Bronze Armor grumbled, saying “I guess she is a princess…”
After that day no one gave the two of them a weird look whenever they were together (‘cept his Little Lady sister for obvious reasons). They all accepted her as their queen now. Because she was fucking Snow. That’s it! Gods kneelers were weird! The upside was that she and Jon were now able to spend more time together publicly.
She did not like it when the kneelers were calling her “Princess” now they’re calling her “Your Grace”! It was horrible. They were bowing to her in the halls and immediately stopping conversations when she walked in the area. They were being weird when she went hunting, when she was fighting, and when she was in a room with another man by herself.
She nearly hit her limit a few days prior. Val had run out of ingredients for her moon tea and needed to resupply. She had purchased them from this woman plenty of times before using the coins that the kneelers used that were given to her by Snow. Once the woman recognized the fact that she was Snow’s she refused to sell to her! Something about not wanting to ruin the line of succession. As if Snow’s… Had it not been for Alys defusing the situation and demanding the ingredients Val may have hurt the woman. She needed to find another supplier.
Which brings her back to why she would need the tansy in the first place. “What brought this on Snow?” She asked, as his fingers started wiggling their way to places way to slow.
“What makes you think something brought this on?” Jon asked pulling his fingers out.
“Most times I have to provoke you into this.” Val said. Snow was still being weird about fucking her while they haven’t said any vows. She did not care but the way they act south of the wall those vows were important. Then she realized what it was, and she asked with a growl of her own, “It’s those damned dreams again, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” He said, sighing into her neck.
“Well? I’m waiting?” Val said. If he was going to be all touch feely then he could at least tell her what is bothering him.
“I’m pretty sure it was the death of the last Targaryen King.” Jon said, “He murdered my Uncle and Grandfather.”
“Tar-Gar-Yen…” Val said, “Why does that name sound familiar?”
“His daughter sent the letter the night before last.” Jon said, and Val nodded in realization.
Snow received the letter two nights past. Some Dragon Queen wanted him to go south and kneel. The Little Lady sister, Alys and the Shorthand all were not very happy, the crannogman most of all. She had a huge army of savages, but “savages” was objective. To these southerners the Freefolk were savages so she would have to take their words with a grain of salt. She would have thought that the Crannogman would be more understanding considering how the other Southerners treat them.
“Forget about it Snow.” Val said, standing up and stretching. She made sure he got a good view of her arse before starting to get dressed. “They are just dreams.”
“Doesn’t feel like it.” Jon said, and Val sighed. “Did you talk to the crannogman yet?”
“Not yet.” Jon said.
“Then stop bitching until you do.” Val said, finishing up getting dressed. “Now I have to go train your sister. She’s about as good in a fight as the Little Monster.”
Snow’s sister was probably the worst person that Val had ever trained. Some people were just natural fighters, his sister was decidedly not good at fighting. Whatsoever. They both have been trying to convince Snow of that, but it has been doing them no good. They’ve been wearing him down but not fast enough. It does not help that Val did not think that she liked her very much.
“I’ll see you at the meeting?” Jon asked.
“Yeah, Yeah.” She groaned.
~~~
After Val washed up from training, she made her way to the meeting in the big hall they used only for meetings. She rolled her eyes as all the southerners seemed to slightly bow to her as she passed them to sit down near the front of the room. As she sat down a girl with green hair leaned close to her.
“You aren’t going to sit at the head table, Your Grace?” she asked, quietly but it was obvious the rest of the room was wondering the same.
“No why would I?” She asked, eyebrow cocked.
“Well that is where the King’s family sits.” She said, awkwardness in her voice.
“And?” She said.
“Did are you and his grace not… did he not… Are you and his grace not together?” She said, fiddling with her fingers.
Val rolled her eyes once more as she saw the other lords and ladies glaring at her. She knew most of them were jealous that their own families were not chosen to be his queen. She did not want to be their queen. She was with Snow; she did not know they were going to elect him King. This was already exhausting.
She sighed as she made her way up to the high table as Alys called the room to attention. Jon gave her a weary look as the room sat back down with him. He was not looking good. He looked fatigued and had dark bags under his eyes.
“There is nothing I need to declare so does anyone have anything.” Jon asked, looking down at his table.
“Your Grace?” The shorthand said, standing up. “The Stormlands and Storm’s end still does not have a paramount.”
Jon and Alys exchanged looks while his little sister looked very happy, about what Val did not know. She knew that Snow and Alys had been talking about this a few nights past. There were no clear candidates that Jon could realistically appoint that would not piss off the other Lords.
They needed to think of a solution soon or the lords would become cross and maybe start quarreling amongst themselves. It also did not help that they said they still only have about half of these Stormland lords, even if the number was increasing.
“My Lords,” The Little Lady sister shouted from Jon’s other side. “If I may provide a solution?”
She waited until the undivided attention of the room before speaking up. “My lords, how would you think of a child of Robert Baratheon taking the position?”
The dark haired girl that was one of the only kneeler women who had actually been able to keep up with Val in the sparring yard jumped in her seat wear she was sitting next to the buxom girl (who she was pretty sure Snow’s sister wanted to steal) and she looked at the high table in a panic.
“Robert Baratheon does not have any children?” A southerner said, “We went to war over it or do you not remember?”
“Watch your tone, My Lord.” Snow said, standing up which cowed the man a little.
“He has no true born children,” A different man wearing bronze said, “but he does have bastard children. One of which was he had raised within my household.”
A few of them looked ready to argue but none were given. Val knew that while the other regions of Westeros weren’t as loyal as the “northerners” were to the Starks, they did have a sort of loyalty to their chosen leaders. These “Storm Lords” seemed to hold this Robert Baratheon in high esteem.
“Are they…” Jon started, before the red head tapped him and directed his attention to the dark-haired girl from earlier. “My lady?”
The normally fearless girl was trembling as she stood up. “Yes, your Grace?”
“Would you be willing to take this responsibility?” He asked.
“Yes, your grace.” She said nodding and looking down.
“Is there anyone who would like to put their own claim for Storm’s End?” Jon asked louder. He sighed in relief as no one spoke up. Val knew these kneelers had issues with women in power and it was a testament that no one was challenging Jon’s idea to put a woman in charge.
“Well Lady…”
“Mya, your grace.”
“Well Lady Mya, I hereby officially appoint you Lady of Storm’s End.” He said, this time there was no cheering but at least there was no complaints either. “Princess Sansa and Lady Royce will make sure that you will be learned on how to manage a household.”
Val tried not to roll her eyes at the last part. She knew how kneelers worked. More than likely she would be married off to some other kneeler lord and be pushed back just to carry his babies; regardless of level of competence.
“Your Grace.” A man with a weirwood tree on his chest stood up. “I have received word from both Seagard and my kin at Raventree hall. They started besieging the Twins…”
“Good, Lady Manderly’s and Lord Reed’s forces should be there as well, no?” Jon asked and the man shook his head.
“Here’s the thing, Your Grace.” He said, “Once they got there the garrison let them in. Over half the Frey’s were wiped out without are men’s interference. We did not have to take it.”
“I don’t…” Jon said exchanging looks with his little sister. “How?”
“There seems to have been a sickness or a poison?” The Lord said, unsure. “What we do know is that over half the Freys are dead and their bodies decayed queerly… the other half are sick and defenseless. But only the Freys. All the servants and guards were fine.”
“I want answers as soon as feasibly possible.” Jon said a somewhat panicked look on his face.
She could not blame him. An entire settlement like that just randomly dying out of no where like that was very strange. It had happened North of the Wall before so the Freefolk were used to it but with them now manning the various castles and forts on the wall, the situation was more uncommon to the majority of those in the room.
“Your Grace.” A lady said, standing up. (She thinks that she may need to swallow her pride and ask Snow or Alys for a tutorial on who’s who.) “Will you be joining our troops in the Riverlands?”
Val knew that there was a little bit of debate amongst everyone whether Snow would be going North to help support the wall or South to aid the taking of those who broke guest right. Right now, Snow has insisted that he was needed in Winterfell, but Val knew him. He wanted to be in the thick of things, not because he loved fighting though. No, he wanted to be there because he wanted to be there for his men.
“No.” Jon said, standing up and walking around the table. “Last night, I received a letter from Daenerys Targaryen demanding my presence.”
Val expected an outcry of anger but got only terror in response. She knew these Targaryens were the old kings and that were disposed by Snow’s pa. From what she remembered they were hated by the southerners. Most of these lords may not be the most martial of men and women, but they posture like it. She did not expect for them to openly react in fear.
“Is it true that she has dragons, Your Grace.” A Lady asked.
“That is what we have heard, yes.” Jon said, and Val know understood the concern. Even north of the wall Dragons were to be feared. These southerners refer to themselves as whatever they deem represents their families. Stag King, Raven Lord, Lion Queen, and other than the Starks the comparisons were just a backless boast. Until now…
“And can she control these Dragons? The same way you control your wolves?” Sverolf asked, about his Warging.
“From what we understand? Yes.” Jon admitted looking more upset than when he found out Rickon “stole” the Blackwood girl and they started playing “maester”. “The letter demanded that I go down and bend the knee to the rightful ruler of the seven kingdoms.”
He said the last part disdainfully, so everyone knew that he thought it to be full of shit, but it alleviated no fears. That is, until a voice sounded from the back.
“But is she the rightful Queen?” A woman with skin darker than Val had ever seen walked from a larger group and up through the hall to the front. Another woman about the same age with dark hair and purple eyes walked with her. “After all you do have four of the kingdoms sworn to you.”
“We have five Kingdoms, Lady…” Snow said, leading her on to introduce herself to find out who the hell this woman.
“Well three and two halves. I was never great at math, but I believe that means four?” She said, and Val could not help but like this woman despite her flirting with Snow. “Although it could be five if you play your cards right.”
“And you can offer me a kingdom, Lady…” Jon said, skeptically.
“Princess.” The woman insisted and Val was glad that someone proudly used the title seeing how Val hated it and Snow’s sister blushed fiercely every time it was used on her. “Princess Arianne Nymeros Martell. Rightful Heir to Sunspear and Dorne. And my companion Lady Ashara Dayne.”
The way she said it and the way that everyone, and Val meant everyone, in the room gasped. The entire room looked between Snow and the Dayne lady despite her clearly being subordinate to the Princess. The Little Lady sister dumped the Direwolf from her lap to the floor.
“Don’t let her get close to Jon.” The wargling whispered to her companion. The Direwolf trotted to Jon and made sure the Purpled eyed woman could not get close to Snow.
“I can have Dorne swear fealty to you. We can also help you secure the Stormlands.” She said, giving him a dazzling smile. Val was proud that she stopped herself from blushing when this gorgeous woman’s flirting seemed to have no effect on Snow.
“I appreciate that, Your Majesty…” He said, somewhat panicked. He looked at his sister to make sure that he used the right term, but she also shrugged. “But until we can verify your Identity…”
“I- I can vouch for her!” A voice from the group the Princess came in with sounded.
The Starks all looked to the back and three sets of jaws dropped.
“Margaery?”
“Arya?”
“Mother!” Rickon yelled and started skipping to the back. A woman with darker hair cut down to her shoulders scooped him up tears in her eyes.
A girl next to her, whom Val assumed was the sister that Jon spoke so much of considering how similar they looked, incredulously asked, “Rickon?”
“Oi! That’s enough!” Alys yelled, trying to get prying eyes away. “Anyone not part of the royal family out!”
As the court slowly filtered out through the front, the Princess leaned over to Jon and said, “I found this lot on my way up.”
“Th- Thank you Princess.” Jon said, “Our steward will make sure you and your companions will be given a place to stay in Winterfell. We can speak on details to an alliance at a later time this afternoon?”
“Oh yes.” She said, in a drawn-out drawl as she walked away with the purple eyed woman. “I am looking forward to it.”
Jon smiled as he turned almost to be tackled by a blur of dark hair.
“Little Sister!” He said, picking the girl up looking happier than Val had ever seen him.
“Do I have to call you ‘Your Grace’ now?” The girl asked through tears of her own.
“Of course. Else you’ll be flogged.” He said, grin rippling over his face.
“Shut up, Stupid.” She said, punching his ribs and he fainted hurt. “Is that really…”
“Rickon?” Jon said ruffling her hair. “Yes. Sansa couldn’t believe it either. Had you seen him when we first reunited, you’d have understood. Maybe you can convince him to get a damned haircut!”
“If you have Rickon, does that mean Bran…”
“We don’t know where Bran is, but we have people looking for him.” He said, ruffling her hair causing her to giggle.
As they started small talk Val looked to the Red headed sister who had become stiff as a board. She was glaring at the woman who originally spoke, and Val could tell; this is the one Sansa wanted to steal.
“S- Sansa?” The girl with chestnut hair said, walking over slowly. “I- I know that we…”
The girl stopped as Jon’s Perfect, Poised, Ladylike sister turned to her and punched her right in her face. “I hate you, Margaery Tyrell! The world was better off with you dead!”
With that she turned around, grabbed her mother’s hand and stormed away, Black Aly yipping at her heels. Everyone who knew the Stark girl’s eyes widened and Jon quickly went over to help the lady up. Val was just glad she now knew that the girl could finally hit something when she wanted to.
“Apologies, My Lady.” He said, “My Steward will get you settled. Winterfell is getting tight so maybe you would not mind sharing with some of your companions?”
“No, it is fine, Your Grace.” The girl said, holding a handkerchief to her bleeding nose. “Would we be able to commandeer a raven, however? My cousin and I would like to let our familied know we are alive.”
“Uh, we shall talk about that later?” Jon said, as he directed them to the Shorthand.
“Who are you?” Arya asked her. “Only royal family should be in here.”
“This is Val of the Freefolk.” Rickon said to his sister. “Jon stole her!”
“Stole? What does… Oh!” The girl said, in realization and a blust spread across her checks. “Um… Glad to have you as part of the family?”
“Yes, thank you.” Val said, reminding Val very much of the time she met Mance after he had stolen Dalla. “Come on, Snow. Let’s go meet your mother.”
“That woman is not my mother!” He spit and a jolt of fear shot through Val’s body. As happy as he was to see his sister, he was that much angrier at the mention of this woman. She had never seen Snow like this, not even with the flayer bastard.
“A-Alright…” She said, eyes wide.
“Come!” Arya said, taking his hand. He eyes were wide as well and Val could tell his snap shocked her too. “I want to see Sansa and you can tell me how you took back the castle. I am also looking forward to meeting your…”
The girl trailed off unsure what to call her and Val sighed. “Wife…” She said, rolling her eyes. She guessed if they were going to treat her like a kneeler queen she might as well give them something.