The courtyard filled as two thousand men joined their army, their banners a mix of fish, suns and flowers. When the lords made their way through the gates, they found Jon stood at the front of the welcoming party with Sansa and Daenerys at his sides.
Jon was glad to see new faces among those familiar to him.
"Uncle, Granduncle," Sansa said with a smile to Edmure and Brynden Tully.
Edmure stared at her for a long moment, sorrow painting his face before he stepped forward to hug her. Sansa seemed surprised while Brynden rolled his eyes and shook his head as though annoyed at the display. Once Edmure stepped back he flashed an apologetic smile at Sansa, but she shook her head.
Turning to Jon, Edmure gave him a look and snorted, a smile tugging at his lips. "Your grace."
"I'm glad to see you safe, Lord Edmure."
"Thank you," Edmure nodded. "I've been a prisoner so long it feels a relief even to ride for war, especially one this important."
Once they moved aside, Jon turned to greet a short, buxom dornish woman who wore a coy smile as she looked him over. Beside him Sansa and Daenerys shared a look as the lady curtsied.
"It is an honor your grace," she said in a silky voice.
"It's mine, Princess Arianne," Jon assured with a welcoming smile. "I'm glad to see you make the trek safely."
"I may not be able to fight on the front lines but if we're to fight back death then I would stand with the others come to face it."
"It seems you're as brave as you are beautiful, my lady."
Arianne smirked, clicking her tongue. "Don't tease, your grace. I know you have two wives to be." She added with a laugh, "Unless you're looking to take a third?"
"Two's more than enough," Jon assured. "I know it's different in Dorne, more open for women, but should you like we've been training women as well. You're free to join them."
Arianne nodded. "I'll think on it."
Daemon at her side gave them a nod as he followed Arianne away, letting Garlan exchange a handshake with Jon.
"I'm glad to see the Reach still has men ready to fight."
"I only wish we were even half of what we had been," Garlan sighed.
"The Reach may be trampled, but when spring comes Highgarden will bloom," Jon assured.
Their guests seemed shocked to find a new batch of valyrian steel weapons had been made. They were also shocked to find that Jon planned to not only given northern lords the weapons but the southron lords as well.
The great hall was packed as they took supper using some of the supplies the southron houses had brought to bolster Winterfell's stock. Jon even made a round of the hall after he'd eaten, speaking with some of the lords gathered, sharing japes with them. By the time he returned to his chair Daenerys had left with Missandei.
Sansa squeezed his hand and got to her feet, leaning to his ear. "Come to my chamber."
Jon glanced up at her with a smile, turning to watch her leave before finishing off his mug of ale. If the days training and preparing for war hadn't exhausted him his nights did. It seemed like he'd gone back and forth each night between them. Some nights they took to bed, others they sat and talked. He hadn't woken in his own room in a week.
He felt a fool at times for feeling cursed to be so blessed.
Excusing himself, he departed and made his way to Sansa's chambers where he found Sansa sat at a small table by her hearth. Sat beside her Daenerys saw his surprise and asked, "Were you expecting something?"
"Ha," he said dryly, closing the door and making his way to take the vacant seat to Daenerys' left, opposite Sansa.
"Almost every important lord and lady in the seven kingdoms is here," Sansa said sitting back in her chair. "I think it's time we marry."
Looking between the two Jon nodded. "It won't be very grand. No fire jugglers or thirty course meals."
"I'm sure we'll survive," Sansa snickered.
"We have half of Westeros here," said Daenerys, "surely someone will be willing to juggle torches."
Sansa saw Jon nodded, his smile put on. Sitting forward she asked, "Would you rather something small?"
Jon blinked and shook his head. "No, it's fine. I'll need to deal with this stuff if we make it through this, might as well get used to it. Besides, we could use it to help boost morale."
Seeing Jon wasn't willing to say more than that, Sansa nodded. "I've started rearranging the rooms slightly. Once we choose a date I'm going to give Rickon the Lord's room and move us all to neighboring rooms."
"Are you sure?" asked Jon.
"Once we marry, once we leave, Rickon will become Lord of Winterfell."
Sitting back Jon laughed. "I keep forgetting we'll be in King's Landing one day. Are you okay with that?"
"It will be different," Daenerys assured, taking Sansa's hand and offering a smile. "You'll be in charge."
Sansa nodded. "It'll be different."
"So when will it be?" asked Jon.
"I can have everything ready in a few days," said Sansa. "A fortnight at the latest."
Once she'd worked out all they could spare for a small feast Sansa found out when Gendry would be done with the next batch of valyrian steel weapons and set it the day after.
She found herself noticing Jon looking more solemn than usual whenever people spoke of the wedding. She might have been worried if she wasn't so sure they all cared for one another, so found herself wondering what was tainting it for him.
Her answer came in a horse drawn cart two days before they walked to the heart tree.
She was walking with Arya when she spotted Jon speaking with Davos on a walkway overlooking the yard when the cart pulled up. He looked up, briefly smiling at Sansa before his eyes found the cart and widened, moving away from Davos.
"Sam?" He called out, making Sansa go wide eyed, turning to look at the cart where Samwell Tarly was helping Gilly and Little Sam down.
With a grin Sam watched Jon hurry down the stairs, the yard turning to watch, curious who could get such a reaction from their seemingly sullen king. He made his way across the yard and without hesitation wrapped his arms around the fat man in a warm embrace.
"You look well," Jon said looking from him to Gilly, reaching over to ruffle Little Sam's hair.
Gilly looked nervous as she did a half curtsy. "Your grace."
"None of that, Gilly," Jon laughed. "Not for friends."
She smiled, looking a bit relieved as Sam grinned. "You look like you're doing alright. Heard lots about you."
"Mostly wrong, I'm sure," Jon laughed. "Come on, get warm and tell me about Oldtown."
Seeing the relief painting Jon's smile as he spoke with Sam for most of the afternoon she realized he'd wanted Sam there for their wedding but thought it impossible. After that he only seemed to brighten at mentions of their wedding.
They were gathered for supper when Jon rose and the room quieted. "With all that is happening I find myself willing to overlook certain lesser evils for greater goods, and with that in mind, I, King Aegon Targaryen, release Samwell Tarly from his maester and Night's Watch oaths to serve the realm as regent of the North for Rickon Stark once Sansa and Arya Stark march to meet the Night King and regent of the seven kingdoms should Rickon Stark be left as sole heir."
The declaration, something Jon had never really done, shocked everyone, including Samwell. None questioned it as Jon sat down except for Sam who leaned over to look at Jon, "Are you sure that's wise?"
"Every king has some acts of nepotism," Jon said with a smirk, "let this be mine."
Daenerys kept her distance from Sam, feeling a flicker of guilt whenever she looked at him and thought of the men she'd burned in the scorched fields outside King's Landing. She wasn't even sure if he knew, but then as they were in the training yard Samwell approached her.
"Your grace?" She looked at him and steeled herself, but cracked when he said, "Jon told me about my father and brother."
For a split second she wanted to ring Jon's head, but frowned to Samwell. "I'm sorry, Lord Tarly. I didn't know at the time."
Samwell shook his head somberly. "I understand. My father…" Samwell sighed. "I don't know why he would ever side with that woman. If he truly wanted to follow her then so be it. I just… I wish my brother hadn't been fool enough to follow him. Is it cruel to wish he was as craven as I?"
Daenerys shook her head. "I don't think it's cruel to wish he would live."
"Either way," Sam said looking to her, "they made their choices and I understand your reasons. In truth I find myself feeling worse for my mother and sister than I do them."
Seeing them speaking to one another, Jon flashed her a quick smile before returning to the others. She couldn't make it up to Sam, but she would do what she could. She wouldn't let it affect Jon and Sam's time together, not when it was so clear Jon cared for the man who may as well be another of Jon's brothers.