chapt. 40

                                    

                                          

The next day, all of the lords and wildings gathered in the dining hall again.
The front table order had been Ser Davos, Alesia, Jon, and Sansa.
"I want every northern maester to scour their records for any mention of dragon glass. Dragon glass kills the white walkers, it's more valuable than gold. We need to find a way to mine it and make weapons from it. Everyone age 10 to 60 will drill daily with spears, piles, bows, and arrows."
Instructed Jon.
"It's 'bout time we taught these boys of summer how to fight." Lord Mandeley said before the men started laughing at his joke.
"Not just the boys." 
Alesia asserted. The men went quiet. Lady Brienne turned her head to the queen.
"We need everyone we have to defend the north. Especially if only half of the population is fighting."
Lord Mormont stands up.
"You expect me to put a spear in my granddaughters hand?"
And so does Lady Lyanna.
"I don't plan on knitting by the fire while men fight for me. I might be small, and I might be a girl, but I am every bit as much of a northerner as you."
"Indeed you are my lady." Her grandfather said.
"And I don't need your permission to defend the north."
Lady Lyanna looked away from Lord Mormont and faced Alesia.
"We will begin training every man, woman, boy, and girl on bear island."
"Very well." Said Alesia. The crowd in the room murmured.
"To prepare for attack we must shore up our defenses. The only thing standing between us and the army of dead is the wall, and the wall hasn't been properly manned in centuries. I'm not the king of the free folk."
Jon reminded looking at Tormund as he turned his head.
"But if we're going to survive this winter together"
"Ah," Tormund stands up. "You want us man the castles for you."
"The last time we saw the night king was at hard home, the closest castle to hard home is East Watch by the sea."
"And that's where I'll go." Tormund declared as the lords at his side.
"Looks like we're the nights watch now."
"If they breach the wall, the two castles in their path are Last Hearth and Karhold."
One lord stood up from his seat.
"The Umbers and the Karstarks betrayed the north. The castle should be torn down and not a stone left standing."
"The castles committed no crimes, and we need every Fortress we have for the war to come. We should give them to families who supported us against Ramsay." Sansa added on.
The men chanted slightly.
"Both house have fought beside us for centuries." Jon said.
"And then they broke faith." Proclaimed Sansa.
"I'm not going to strip these families of their ancestral homes because of the crimes of a few reckless sons."
"So there's no punishment for treason and no reward for loyalty?" Sansa had questioned her brother.
The room had gone quiet for a quick moment, until Jon spoke.
"The punishment for treason is death. John Umber died on the field of battle. Harold Karstark died on the field of battle."
"They died fighting for Ramsay. Give the castles to the families who died fighting for you." Sansa had voiced.
The men had murmured once again.
"Both inputs have valid points."
Alesia furthered looking at both Jon and Sansa.
"Yes, the betrayal of both houses had a great impact. Lady Sansa you and I both witnessed it you can't deny. The field was absolutely horrid, but the field of the Great War will be worse if we don't have established estates because those castles will be the night kings first targets. And why ever shame the kins just because of their father's sins? They are the heir to their house now. Let them take this as a lesson to never betray House Stark again."
Alesia looked at the crowd.
"And if they do betray us once again?" Sansa asked."
Alesia turned her head back at Sansa.
"They won't get the chance to."
Most of the men had chanted at Alesia pounding the tables. Sansa scoffed shaking her head. Alesia looked at her again scrunching her eyebrows.
"I agree, with Queen Alesia. And that will be our final decision." Jon raised his voice looking at Sansa.
"Ned Umber." He called. "Alys Karstark."
Jon had given them the opportunity to spare allegiance to House Stark once again. The room chanted and Jon put a smile on his face. Sansa had left the front table. 
Jon looked to his side and took a step to begin following her, but Alesia grabbed his arm before he could.
"I'll talk to her."
Jon nodded at her and put his attention back on the men.
Alesia had caught Sansa fast-walking through the halls.
"Sansa, wait!"
"Sansa!"
Alesia had been ignored.
"Sansa stop it this instant!"
Alesia had raised her voice. Sansa stood still, then turning around.
"Hmph.." 
Sansa breathed out nodding her head.
"Really nice work you've done back there."
"Sansa I am just trying to do right. I wasn't even attempting to disrespect you." Alesia pleaded.
"I don't feel disrespected, personally. You've only been queen for less than a week and you're already making the big decisions. You don't even have any knowledge my houses history."
Alesia derided walking towards Sansa.
"Sansa, do you want me to just sit back in my chamber and knit by the fire all damn day? This war is nothing to pause on. I was not just going to let you and your brother bicker. A choice needed to be finalized, and it was."
Sansa was silent.
"I know I am an outsider. I know that I didn't have any books to read about any houses, I had to learn through the gossip of the men that abused and used me for my body."
Alesia held both of Sansa's hands.
"Please know that I am doing the best I can. I am trying to do what is best for the north."
"I understand. And I am sorry. It's just being gone from my home for so long after everything I've endured.. I felt unheard." Sansa apologized and explained.
"Your voice is not unheard. You have every right to have a say. I cannot control that nor can Jon."
Both were silent for a moment then smiled at each other.
"Apologies, your grace."
Alesia nodded her head at Sansa, she wrapped her arm around Sansa and walked back into the dining hall.