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Be With Me, Forest Love

Chapter 3: Epilogue

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

It is said that the young Bull and untamable Wolf were married quickly and quietly in a private ceremony that consisted of the pair trading vows under a weirwood heart tree without any witnesses to spoil the intimate occasion. The next morning, a note was found in the lord’s chambers, likely penned by his lady love, as the legitimized lord was considered illiterate save for signing his name to it. The letter stated that Lord Gendry Baratheon had forsaken his title, naming his loyal advisor Ser Davos Seaworth as successor to the Stormlands, and naming himself Stark after his lady wife.

Though the pair have not been formally spotted since, sightings of a newly reformed Brotherhood Without Banners were reported mere weeks after their abscondment. It is said that the group is now lead by an enigmatic figure capable of changing their appearance at will, who some speculate to be the Stranger incarnate. However, no matter what face leads the brothers into battle, the same woman always leads them out after victory. She is described as short and slender with brown hair and grey eyes as sharp as the weapons she carries, sometimes seen astride a scarred wolf the size of a steed. At her side is a tall, muscular man with blue eyes and black hair, often wearing a bull's head helm and wielding a large war hammer in combat.

Like the former Brotherhood, this group fights outside the laws of regional kings and queens to protect the smallfolk across Westeros regardless of affiliation, station, or creed. They never steal or ask anything in return for their services, but humbly accept what is offered to them. And though many throughout the continent remain wary of the mysterious outlaw assembly, it is known that the rulers of the North, the Stormlands, and even the Westerlands secretly welcome their presence. It is also rumored that since Bran the Razer—who vanished years past, leaving behind only a mutant white-eyed raven seated in his chair—demolished the remainder of the Wall using the Horn of Winter, members of the Brotherhood are the only southerners besides the Free King Jon Snow allowed to cross the border to and from the Freelands with impunity and without consequence.

Whenever questioned about the legality of the renegade Brotherhood, Queen Sansa Stark of the North is quick to reassure that the group is not a threat to anyone, common or noble. “That’s not them,” she states with a fond smile, though she refuses to divulge any further information that might lead to their definitive identification or capture.

In more recent years, the stories have changed to include that the leader rides with children in a sling under her armor until they are old enough to hold reigns and weapons on their own. First a girl, then two, then a boy, all black haired and grey eyed and with just as much ferocity as their parents before them.

And although the fugitive warriors remain elusive, it is said that if you listen closely in the woods, you may hear the lovers serenading one another in gentle tones with lyrics of featherbeds and forest love. 

Notes:

Davos deserves his own kingdom after putting up with all of Stannis, Jon, and Gendry’s shit over the years.

Also, the line about the Gendrya babies being carried in a sling under Arya’s armor is borrowed from Maxine Hong Kingston’s retelling of Fa Mu Lan in the second chapter of her memoir “The Woman Warrior.”

Notes:

IMHO, GOT has joined Dexter, Lost, The X-Files, VLD, and HIMYM in the pantheon of terrible series finales. Just wanted to marginally fix it, especially for my favorite character, who deserved so much more than that formulaic lone wolf bc “strong female character” ending the canon gave her. I know a lot of people liked Arya’s ending, but winding up alone a world away from everyone she loves is such a sucky conclusion for a character that fought like hell to get home and reconnect with her family. At least Gendry is possibly stowed away on board her ship.