Ned and his bannermen did not stay on Bear Island for long. They set out to depart a day later since it would be hard on the island to feed their entire armies for any extended time.
As Ra made his preparations to leave, he saw Jeor and Maege Mormont approaching.
"Thank you for all you have done for us, Ra. With the minimal casualties and the steel and ships we acquired, this raid that should have brought us suffering has turned into a boon. I cannot thank you enough," Maege said with sincerity and a genuine smile.
Ra accepted the thanks with a nod. They could not see his smile beneath the helmet.
"You should remove that helmet now and then," Maege said, getting a chuckle from Ra.
Ra leaned toward her. "If I do that, your daughters will follow me back to Winterfell. I think Dacey is already planning a stealthy escape tonight. Keep an eye on her." His teasing tone made Maege huff to hide her laugh. She swatted his shoulder while Jeor stepped forward and clasped Ra's hand.
"I swear House Mormont will always have a seat for you and yours at our table," Jeor said.
Ra nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Lord. I wish your lands and family prosperity."
He saw Ned signaling that they were ready to depart. Jeor and Maege stepped back and nodded before turning to Ned and bowing.
Before leaving, Ra paused and looked at Maege. "There is a Nightshade merchant that passes through here from time to time, right?"
"Nightshade?" Maege asked.
Ra sighed. "Goldmere merchant."
Maege nodded. Ra took a folded piece of paper from his belt and handed it to her. "Give this to him when you meet. Consider it a gift from me." He left then, leaving behind a grateful Mormont family.
They had one last matter to deal with, the four hundred Ironborn bound before them.
"What will you do with them?" Ra asked.
Ned looked up at him. "What would you do?"
"Execution or the Wall. Either is more than they deserve, considering their motives for coming here," Ra said with a shrug.
Ned nodded. "Let us get on with it, then. The younger brother of Lord Saltcliffe is among them. He should fetch a good ransom."
The Mormonts joined Ned to see what he would decide.
"You all came here to pillage, rape, and enslave. It would not burden my conscience to behead you all right here. It would only hurt my shoulders," Ned said, earning approving chuckles from Ra and Maege.
"I will give you two choices. The first is death. The second is to take the black and seek redemption in the eyes of the gods and the king," Ned said and stepped back.
Ra muttered, just loud enough to be heard, "I just realized that if they choose execution, you will have to behead all of them yourself. A part of me hopes you sprain your shoulder doing it."
That earned laughter from those nearby.
"I should leave such ill-wishers behind," Ned replied with a small smile before walking to each man and hearing his answer.
"I wish to take the black," said Saltcliffe.
Ned frowned. "Why is he here? Take him away. He will be ransomed."
The guards moved him aside. Surprisingly, most of the Ironborn chose the Wall. Ned raised an eyebrow as man after man agreed to take the black.
He would not have expected Ironborn to choose such a fate, for most would see it as a disgrace.
He glanced at Ra. 'It seems he broke their spirits and made them question life,' Ned thought, and shrugged. It would at least save his shoulders.
After executing the few who chose death, Ned approached Ra.
"Will the Watch even be able to take in this many men?" Ra asked loud enough for the others to hear.
One of the Ironborn spoke up. "I am a blacksmith. If they do not have weapons for us, I can help make some."
Others joined in, revealing skills as smiths and soldiers.
Ra raised an eyebrow under his helmet and looked at them. He nodded slowly. "It is good to see you eager to make yourselves useful. But if any of you desert or use your numbers to take over the Night's Watch, I will hunt every one of you down."
The threat made them all nod quickly.
"I thought Ironborn would be much different," Ra muttered later as they sailed back toward Winterfell.
One of the soldiers nearby heard him. "I was guarding them last night. It seems they think they must have a purpose if they fought you and lived," the guard said, then shrugged. "I would think the same, to be honest."
Ra chuckled and patted the man's shoulder.
They took the same route back that they had used to arrive. Twelve long days of travel that felt endless to Ra, who only wished to see his future wife again.
When the army finally reached Winterfell, the crowd erupted in cheers. Soldiers reunited with their families. Ra dismounted and barely had time to react before Rhaenys came running toward him with a wide smile and no intention of stopping.
He caught her easily, lifting her into his arms. His armor had been removed earlier, and he kissed her forehead.
"You did not pester your mother and Lady Catelyn while I was gone, did you?" Ra asked.
Rhaenys shook her head with a mischievous smile.
Ra pinched her nose gently. "You don't know how to lie yet, little one." He chuckled.
Beside him, Catelyn hugged Ned and overheard the exchange. "She was like a storm when you were gone," she said, smiling as she pinched the girl's cheek.
Aegon toddled up and raised his arms toward Ra, wanting to be picked up too. Ra lifted the boy and kissed his forehead as well.
The soldiers around them watched quietly, as if wanting to remember Ra not as a golden monster, but as a man.
When Ra entered the castle, Elia was there waiting. She hugged him tightly, only letting go with reluctance.
Later that night, after the feast and celebration, Elia entered his room. She clung to him like her life depended on it, lying on top of him, kissing him, her fingers brushing through his hair. Ra pulled out a letter and handed it to her.
Elia read it, and her eyes filled with tears. Ra cupped her cheeks and kissed her.
"Will you marry me?" he asked.
Elia answered with a passionate kiss.
"When do we leave?" she whispered.
Ra shrugged. "We were supposed to stay here five years. I reckon Lord Stark will not object to us leaving early, now that I have won a war for him." He held her close.
And he was right. They were allowed to leave with Stark men guarding them, their departure marked by tearful goodbyes. Catelyn had grown fond of Elia and her children.
Ned and Ra shook hands, each promising aid if ever the other should need it.
They were escorted to White Harbor by Stark men, where they took a ship to the Stormlands, and from there to Sunspear. They were given the best lodging and service throughout the journey.
Their treatment only improved after Ra single-handedly docked an approaching pirate ship, sold it in the Stormlands, and even increased recruits for the Night's Watch.
As Sunspear came into view, Elia stood at the edge of the ship, staring toward the horizon.
Ra came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, his massive frame engulfing her.
Elia smiled and looked up at him. "You are the best thing that ever happened to me… after my children, sometimes."
Ra chuckled and looked ahead at the golden cliffs of Dorne. They had reached Sunspear.
When the ship docked, they were greeted by the sight of the Martell family waiting at the pier.
Oberyn and Doran stood at the front, their children and the women of their house gathered behind them.
As soon as Elia stepped ashore, Oberyn rushed forward and hugged her with all his strength, tears shining in his eyes. Doran followed, slower but no less warm, and embraced his sister as well.
Oberyn knelt to hug Elia's children, kissing their foreheads. "I am your uncle Oberyn," he said proudly. "And that grumpy man there is your older uncle Doran. I am much better compared to him."
Doran scoffed, earning laughter from the children.
Ra stepped forward and stood beside Oberyn, dressed in casual clothes.
"Holy shit. I thought you would be older by now," Oberyn muttered, earning a sharp smack to the head from Elia for swearing in front of the children.
A/n: I rushed the end of this chapter because we only have one chapter left before we go back to HP world.
Thank you to everyone who gave power stones and every who was stuck with me for the 100 chapters.