WILOW-Ch.401: Another Sibling Reunion
Near the Golden Tooth, Westerlands
POV of Robb Stark
Two days later.
"What do you think happened here?" Jon, or King Aegon Targaryen, as everyone was calling him, asked as they rode toward the Golden Tooth.
Well.. Everyone also addressed him as Prince Robb and his father as King Eddard. Therefore, everyone was being addressed in ways they weren't used to.
"If what the Lannister men we captured said was true, then a massacre," Robb said as he looked at the large piles of corpses being gathered and burnt by the Bolton soldiers.
"It is still hard to believe that Domeric managed to defeat three whole Lannister armies on his own," Jon said, his voice filled with awe that probably everyone in the Northern army was feeling.
"Hmm…" he nodded, "He defeated the army of the entire Westerlands on his own. And considering that the Westerlands have the second biggest army in the whole of Westeros, that is a huge achievement."
"I'm still not happy about him selling me off to the Tyrells," Jon grumbled.
He rolled his eyes. "Oh yes. Now, instead of going to the Wall and freezing your balls for the rest of your life, you get to sit on the Iron Throne and marry a beautiful lady from the richest House in Westeros. How could anyone suffer such a terrible fate?"
Jon blushed at his words, "I… If Domeric took all the gold of House Lannister. Then shouldn't his house be the richest in Westeros right now?"
He knew that Jon was changing the topic, but he allowed him to get away with it this time.
"Probably." He said, "But considering how he plans to use most of that gold to support the war against the White Walkers, I'm not sure how long he'll remain in that place."
Jon nodded, "I suppose being rich won't be of much help to anyone if the White Walkers break through the Wall."
"Suppose not." He said.
They rode in silence for the next few minutes as they passed by large pyres filled with corpses from the Lannister army, before he finally spoke, "You think the rumors about Sansa being here are true?"
Jon looked at him, probably noticing the desperation in his voice, and then lowered his head.
"I… Hope so. If anyone can rescue Sansa and keep her safe, then it would be Domeric."
"But how would he even rescue her when she has been in King's Landing all this time?" he asked.
Jon thought about his words for a moment, "From what I'd heard. The wyverns are pretty fast and fly for a long time without tiring. And there are also all kinds of rumors about Domeric having his own spies in King's Landing."
He stayed silent for a moment, digesting those words.
Jon's argument seemed weak, but he just hoped that his sister was well and alive.
"What do you think happened to Lord Tywin?" he asked.
Jon noticed his quick change of subject and shrugged, "Either dead or captured by Domeric. It's doubtful that someone as competent as Domeric would allow him to escape."
He nodded. That made sense.
"What do you think would happen to Lord Tywin if he were captured?" Jon asked him after a moment.
He thought about it for a moment and then frowned, "Well… he did have the Mountain and Amory Lorch kill your half-brother and half-sister. The rape and murder of Elia Martell is also at his head. I guess since you're the King of Irone, you can request to be the one deciding on this matter."
Jon opened his mouth and closed it a few times before he asked, "If Domeric captured him, then shouldn't he be the one who decides what to do with his captives?"
"Probably." He nodded, "But you're the King of these lands now. So, I suppose you could demand from him the captives."
"And worsen the relation with the man who destroyed the Lannisters on his own and made me the King in the first place?" Jon asked, looking at him in disbelief.
He opened his mouth before closing it. "Yeah. Now that you put it like that, that idea seems pretty dumb."
Any further conversation stopped as the gates of Golden Tooth flung open and Domeric, along with his entourage, came out to greet them, along with the large army following behind them.
But it was neither Domeric nor anyone else in his entourage that caught his eye.
But the red-haired girl followed beside Lord Bolton on her own horse.
"Sansa." He said, a warm smile breaking across his face, as he galloped forward to greet his sister as quickly as possible.
They both climbed down from their horses, and he caught her in a tight hug as tears threatened to fall down his cheeks.
"I'm so glad you're alright." He said as Jon, as well as the other Lords from the North and Vale, came from behind him.
Both parties stopped a slight distance from each other, and he looked up and noticed Domeric smiling at them.
But suddenly, Sansa said in a pained voice, "Ouch... Robb, please don't hug me so tightly."
He immediately let go of Sansa and asked anxiously, "Sansa, what happened? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. It's just that some of my wounds haven't healed yet," Sansa said, which worried him even more.
He was about to open his mouth to speak when Sansa spoke first. "Let's talk later, Robb. This isn't the right place."
Seeing all eyes were on them, he realized it really wasn't appropriate to be there and nodded his head.
Then, Sansa did something he never expected.
She walked towards Jon, stood in front of him, looked at his face for a few seconds, and then hugged him tightly.
Jon was left standing there, stunned, not knowing what was happening or what to do, and was waving his hands around aimlessly.
"During this time I've been away from home, I've realized how truly valuable family is. I'm sorry for mistreating you in the past, Jon," Sansa said.
Jon was now completely frozen. Most likely, he couldn't believe what Sansa was saying. Even Robb found it hard to believe.
It seemed that her time at King's Landing had changed Sansa considerably.
Sansa let go of Jon, took a step back, and looked him in the eyes, saying, "I learned about your real parents from Domeric. But you should know this. Jon or Aegon. Half-sibling, sibling, or cousin. It doesn't matter. You are family, Jon, and you always will be. I hope you can forgive me for the mistakes I made in the past."
Although Robb found it hard to believe his ears, he could see that Sansa was sincere.
Sansa's change meant she had experienced difficult things in King's Landing. And the mere thought of it was enough to make him boil.
Meanwhile, Jon began to regain his composure. And a smile he hadn't seen in a long time appeared on his face. "Thanks, Sansa. You can't imagine how much those words mean to me. And there's nothing to forgive between us. After all, a little bickering between siblings is perfectly normal, isn't it?"
In response, Sansa giggled, covering her mouth with her hand, and then said, "You've changed since we last met, Jon. You seem so much more mature than before. Both of you seem more mature. Let's go inside. Oh, Robb, there's someone I want to introduce you to."
Meanwhile, Domeric, watching the sibling reunion with a smile on his face, stepped forward and said.
"King Aegon Jon Targaryen, Prince Robb Stark. Welcome to Golden Tooth. The gates of the castle are wide open to you."
After Domeric's greeting, Robb suddenly realized what they were supposed to do and quickly knelt.
Jon immediately imitated him, and then the Lords from the North and the Vale knelt as well.
"Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty."
He and Jon said quickly.
"All of you. Stand up." Domeric said without making them wait on their knees.
"Your Majesty, forgive us for being so late in applying etiquette," Robb said immediately.
But Domeric looked at him and Jon with a frown and said, "Robb, Jon, you two are my friends. I understand your strict adherence to etiquette in formal situations. But in other situations, this behavior feels cold. So please call me Domeric. Otherwise, everyone will think I'm giving Sansa special treatment."
"Domeric."
"Domeric."
Both, though a little hesitant, complied with Domeric's request.
"That's better," Domeric said with a smile. "Let's go inside. You must be tired from not having had much chance to rest on the way from the Trident."
Then he and Jon, with Sansa by their side and the Lords behind them, entered the Golden Tooth.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.402: Victory Feast
Ch.403: Coming to Ask for Permission
Ch.404: I Want to See Goods