An Alternate Game of Thrones Ending
The council is about to name Bran as their new king. Tyrion finished his speech and asked Bran if he would accept.
A dragon's shriek pieces the silence. Drogon has returned. Unsure of where he is or what he will do, panic is seen on everyone's faces. They all look up into the sky. Then, they hear the sound of a building being torn, followed by the sound of dragon fire. After the battle, and seeing what Drogon can do, the sound is horrifying. It leaves a pit of dread in their stomachs. The only one sitting still is Bran. Sansa and Arya know where the dragon is at. They can feel it in their bones. He's returned for revenge. He's going after their brother John. With only a look at each other, they know. They know their brother is dead.
The three remaining Starks sit in silence.
Moments later Drogon is circling high over head. Everyone watching. Waiting. Anticipating what will happen next. They all know what he is capable of, but the question is, what will Drogon do next?
.....................................
John is sitting in his prison. Thinking about all that has happened. Everything that went wrong. Thinking of what he could have done differently. Did he do the right thing? He keeps going over what he would have done if he were king.
Yet he knows that his days are numbered. It's only a matter of time before he is brought to the council to face judgement.
He knows deep down that he did the right thing. He also knows the price he will pay. Yet he keeps thinking how different it would have been if he had taken control as the rightful heir.
Drogon's shriek brings him out of his prison. The prison of his own mind. John thinks that maybe he will have his judgement now. How fitting it would be to have Drogon consume him in fire. The wall bursts open, knocking John to the ground. Dust and debris are thick and heavy in the air. John is trying to get up and face his judgement head on, but the sun and dust are blinding. His hand is above his eyes to help him see his executioner.
The dragon's head snakes inside the tight space. The rest of his body is outside, clinging to the building. Drogon eyes the murderer of his mother and he wants his revenge. His mouth opens wide. John stands before him still. Time also seems to stand still. The fire can be seen in the back of his throat. John closes his eyes. His last thought is sadness. Sadness that things had to come to this. At the same time he is glad that it will be quickly over. Peace. Finally. Drogon's fire consumes John Snow.
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With a thud Drogon lands before the council of the seven kingdoms. Everyone is still. Some are standing . Others are sitting and waiting their fate. They all know one thing. There is nothing that they can do to stop it.
Arya is the first to see a rider coming off the dragon's back. It's John. She stands up to go hug him, but quickly stops as she realizes while blushing that he is completely naked. Her heart is racing. How did he survive? She averts her eyes.
Sansa sits and smiles. She is amazed and glad that he survived. She is also smiling a bit much at the sight of his nakedness. Her emotions are mixed. Now what ? Now that John Snow is not dead and he came in riding Drogon, now what?
Arya turns to her siblings. She notices Sansa smiling. A bit too much since their brother is naked. And Bran is sitting still as ever, but he is almost smiling. She hasn't seen him smile since before his fall. It is more of a grin and she wonders what is it that he knows that they do not.
Grey Worm has his spear at the ready to attack. Tyrion has better sense as he sees John Snow walking toward them all. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. Unless you want to kill us all, I suggest that you please put that away."
Grey Worm doesn't attack, but he doesn't put it down either.
John approaches the council and stands before them. "Please, sit." Drogon shrieks into the sky. All it takes for Drogon to sit is a stare from John. "No harm shall come to you. I promise. I have something to say before the council."
The Lords and Ladies of the seven kingdoms all sit down. Some are too embarrassed to look at John and others just stare in awe.
"May we please get you something to wear first John Snow? Incase you are unaware, you are Stark naked and this is quite awkward." Tyrion is right next to John trying not to look up at him.
With that being said, Grey Worm, in his language calls one of his own over and tells him to get a uniform.
It only takes a few minutes, but it's a few minutes turning into eternity. Drogon is still, but looks restless. John Snow is just standing there still and calm. Seemingly not caring that he is naked. The council is stirring and looking at one another as not to have to look at his naked body. No a single one of them says a word. Bran is as still as ever with his smirk.
Tyrion breaks the silence. "How exactly are you not dead? Also, why are you naked? And do we even want to know? I mean I'm not sure that I do."
"Tyrion." John looks down at him. "Enough."
It was at that moment that Tyrion noticed a change in him. Something different. He seemed bigger. Taller. Or was it that he was standing straighter? Tyrion couldn't quite put his finger on it. What he did see was the fire in his eyes. He seems to have this calm, powerful presence. He was standing there naked in front of everyone without a care. That is not the John Snow that he knew.
Fortunately, the soldier returns with an unsullied uniform for John to put on. No longer naked, he begins his speech.
"John Snow is dead. I am Aegon Targaryen. Rightful heir to the throne. Born of ice and fire. While I was in prison I had nothing but time to think about what I had done. What I could have done and what I would have done." Aegon is pacing around. Looking at each of the Lords and Ladies.
"I wondered if I had done the right thing. It was Tyrion that helped me realize what had to be done." As Aegon said that, Grey Worm thrust his spear to pierce the dwarf.
"No!" Aegon quickly grabbed the spear an inch before Tyrion's head. Tyrion was visibly shaken. Sweating. "Haven't we had enough blood shed? Don't you see? Where has all of the blood shed led us? Daenerys did exactly what our fathers did before us and their fathers before them. It has to stop." Aegon let go of the spear. Grey Worm had a murderer's look in his, but he held his spear at bay.
"I will help end all of that. I will continue to do what Daeny started. I will break the wheel. Together we will break the wheel. With your support I will rule with strength and mercy. Justice and compassion. Not fear and anger. Hatred and bloodshed. Thousands of years we have ruled that way. Haven't the people had enough? Don't they deserve peace? Don't we all deserve it?"
Aegon has their attention. You can feel the change. Minutes past and they were ready to elect Bran as their king, but Tyrion could feel it. The tide was turning, but where would it lead too? Another tyrant? Perhaps Aegon was different. Tyrion had hoped so.
Aegon turned to face Grey Worm. "Together we can rebuild this city. Together we can help free Essos. Free them from the bonds of slavery. This time will be different. This time we will stay and appoint Lords and Ladies such as yourselves to rule and to keep the peace. We will set up a council, much like this. But I cannot do it without an army. Grey Worm, will you command my army? Wil you obey my commands and show compassion when our enemies surrender to you? Will you help me build a world with justice and peace?"
All eyes were on the two men. Everything that Aegon had said made sense, but what would happen next will change everything.
Grey Worm was silent. His eyes staring into Aegon's. He could see the fire in them too. He could see the change in him. He knew that Aegon was the best choice to free the slaves even though he did kill his queen. What other choice did he have? Was he going to serve a cripple? Serving only Westeros?
He kneeled before Aegon. "I will serve my king."
"Please stand Commander. There is no need to kneel." Grey Worm giving his support will make it quite hard for the others to refuse and Aegon knew it. He knew that Grey Worm, in order to free Essos, was his best and only option. He knew that with his army now with him, that it would be that much more difficult to say no without starting another war.
Aegon turned to the council and addressed Ser Brienne of Tarth. "Ser Brienne. I want you to be the Lord Commander of Kingsguard. In all of the lands, there is no other more loyal and strong. What say you?"
With all the pride she had, Brienne kneeled before Aegon, "Yes my king. It will be my honor to be by your side." Aegon knew how to play to her pride.
Aegon with a Commander and a Kingsguard, he turned his attention to Bran. "Bran, I cannot think of anyone wiser than the three eyed Raven. Will you be my hand?"
Sansa and Arya look at one another and back at Bran. The rest of them watch. This is the breaking point. He was just asked to be king and now he is being asked to be the hand. Aegon had missed that part. If he says yes, then the rest will be hard pressed to say no. Bran has that smirk on his face as he answers. "What do you think I've come all this way for?" Aegon knew that Bran was never one to want to be king. He had hoped as much and it paid off.
Three with him now, he turns to Samwell Tarly. "Sam. I need a Grand Maester and I cannot think of anyone more capable than you. You've always been there for me Sam and I'm counting on you again. I know it is a lot to ask. I don't ask lightly." Once again Aegon knew which strings to pull to get his way.
Sam stands up and awkwardly tries a hug and stops himself just short. Not sure if it's appropriate to hug a king. "It's ok Sam. Come. Just cause I'm king doesn't mean that you're not my friend anymore."
"Of course John....I mean Aegon. Sorry. Of course I'll be your Grand Maester." The two friends part. Sam awkwardly sits back down.
"What say the rest of the council? Will you join me and create a better world? Will you help me rebuild what we have destroyed? We have all made mistakes. We cannot undue that which has been done, but together we can move forward. Together we can create a better Westeros and a better, free Essos. Together we will rebuild this world in our image."
Each member of the council looked around and wondered who would be first. First Sam. Then another and another until all were standing except the Starks. Arya looked at Sansa to see what she would do. She would follow her. They already knew what their brother Bran thought.
Sansa sat still in her chair. She wasn't mad at Bran for what he did. She was ok with it. But she knew one thing. "What of the north lady Sansa?" Aegon asked her.
She was staring at Aegon. It was still hard to think of him as that and not John. She couldn't help but feel his strength now. He has changed. Different. But in a good way. Seeing him fully nude didn't hurt either. Even though it was John, but not John. It made it different somehow. She shouldn't have stared at him like that she knew. He was her half brother or that is how they saw him. In reality he wasn't. He was perfect. Beautiful even. Even so, Sansa knew one thing for certain. Even it meant death.
"The north will not bend the knee. I... Will not bend the knee. We shall remain independent as we have for a thousand years." Sansa sat calm. Determined.
Whatever happens next, happens. But no matter what, the north would not bend the knee. "Even if that means death." At that Arya stood next to her sister. Determined to be with her even to the end.
A pause that was thick with anticipation filled the space. Everyone felt it. Aegon was king. All that stood between that was the north. "I'm not asking you or the north to bend the knee Lady Sansa. I know you better than that. A king needs a queen." Aegon kneels in front of her. "I'm asking for you to be my queen. There is no other better suited to be my queen. None wiser or more beautiful than you."
Arya whispers in her ear. After a few moments Sansa answers, "I have a few conditions king Aegon. One. The north will remain independent. Two. That I am your equal and have equal say in our kingdom. Third and final. The north will need a queen or king to lead it."
"Don't look at me." Arya protests. "I'm no lady."
"Of course my queen. I do have a certain large red headed man in mind. Tordmund Giantsbane." Aegon stands tall.
"The north will never follow a wilding." Sansa exclaims.
"They will when their queen tells them. Think about it. Who knows the north better? Who has been more loyal? We can send a Raven right away as soon as you decide. My queen." Aegon knows how to get what he wants.
Arya once again whispers in Sansa's ear.
"Very well. But I will send the Raven. The letter will be in my own hand and then I will travel there to see to it that it goes well."
"Of course my queen." Aegon lifts her hand and kisses it. She blushes. "Arya, will you be my eyes and ears? I know of no other with your.... particular skills. I've heard tales."
"John. You know that I cannot stay in one place like that. I will have to decline."
"You know I'm King Aegon now right?"
"Yes I know. John." Arya smiles at him. The playful way they used to.
Aegon sighs. "Arya. I wouldn't have expected anything else. I'm not asking you to stay. I'm asking you to be my eyes and ears out there, no matter where you may be. All that I ask is that you report to me only. Whether by Raven or in person. There is no other I trust more with this." Aegon uses his leverage to get her to follow.
"I'll think about it." Arya gives Aegon a big hug. "I always knew you'd make a great king. Aegon." Only he heard her. He kissed her on the top of her head.
"Lord Tyrion. I have not forgotten about you. No other knows what I will need to fill the rest of my council more than you. Will you help Bran and don't forget to have your own place on my council?"
Tyrion looks to be chewing on the idea. "I am not certain that I know any more than a pile of dirty unsullied uniforms. I've made many a terrible mistake. Are you sure that you'd have me on your council? I'm not sure that I would be of much help."
"Tyrion. You're smarter and wiser than you know. The fact that you admit your mistakes is more than enough reason for me." Aegon has a way with each person. He knows just how to work them. Earlier in the day he was ready to face death. Now he was telling him that he was the new king. Bending them to his will. His new found charisma was irresistible.
"A cripple and a dwarf. Now there is a story. At least Bran sees eye to eye with me. And he cannot simply leave during one of my rather amusing tales. Alright. I'm game. But. Can we please do something about these chains?"
"Someone please remove Lord Tyrion's chains." Commanded Aegon.
With his chains removed, Lord Tyrion proclaims,"To King Aegon, ruler of the six kingdoms, born of ice and fire. And to our Queen Sansa of Winterfell."
The rest join in and repeat it.
Aegon grabs his new queen and kisses her boldly.
"Would my queen like to ride a dragon?" He escorts her to Drogon. "Drogon. This is your new queen. The queen of ice and fire." Drogon licks Queen Sansa as a sign of his love. "Lord Bran, will you be joining us? The way that only you can?" He then turns to Drogon. "Bran will join your mind. He will do no harm. Let him see how it feels to fly."
"Before that, may I have a word with you?" Aegon walks towards Bran, leaving Sansa behind. Tyrion and Arya are by his side. "As my first service, I must tell you that the eggs that hatched Drogon are not the last. Drogon is not the last of his kind."
The three of them are the only ones that heard. "Arya." Aegon looks at Arya.
"I'm on it John."
"Tyrion. No word of this gets out. Or else." Aegon doesn't hold back the threat. Tyrion knows what that means already.
"Yes my king. Nobody else will know. I know what threat you make."
"It's not a threat Lord Tyrion. If anyone else finds out.... then we will all be in grave danger."
