Hey everyone, Paradigm of Writing here with a brand new chapter of Phantoms of Ice and Fire... and the last chapter of Phantoms of Ice and Fire. It has taken me awhile to realize that I would never, ever be able to finish this story for how I wanted Season 8 to go, cause obviously there was a way that things did happen, and it was a bit scary how some of the things I did - not all, but some - were somewhat similar. This is going to be a plot summary of Chapter 10, which would have been the end of Arc 1, and all the way to Chapter 43, the end of Arc 4. I'll have the main points each chapter had been for, some of the character journeys, who dies - there is plenty of that, 27 characters in fact - and the chapter title I had planned... if I don't do this the story will never be complete, unfortunately, but a piece of this scope was just something impossible for me, unfortunately. So, enjoy Chapter #10: Phantoms of Ice and Fire, hence the title, as the original Chapter 10 was a different title. I hope you'd have enjoyed the journey I would've had done for the story; please, enjoy.
As a previous plot mention, up until this point, at Chapter 9, Tormund and Beric witnessed the Wall fall at the hands of the Night King on Viserion. In Meereen, red priestess Kinvarra sees a vision of a dead Daenerys Targaryen, relegating it to Daario Naharis. Jaime and Bronn make their way up to Moat Cailin to join the Northern cause, captured by Meera Reed and a few forces of House Reed. Theon rescues Yara from Dragonstone, meanwhile Euron ferries Harry Strickland and the Golden Company to King's Landing. On their voyage to White Harbor, Tyrion learns of Jaime's capture, and Jon wishes to keep he and Daenerys's relationship quiet. Ellaria Sand is executed by Cersei Lannister on the steps of the ruined Great Sept of Baelor. Theon and Yara with the remnants of the Greyjoy fleet join at White Harbor, but are told by Jon and Daenerys that they'll stay behind, the Ironborn were not wanted at Winterfell. Where the journey last left off, Tormund, Dolorous Edd, and Beric were making their way through the Last Hearth, fighting off a White Walker sentry, and Viserion's cry haunted the winter night sky.
This is the remainder of the journey for Phantoms of Ice and Fire.
Chapter 10: Cold Homecoming, Arc 1: Carrion Carry Foul Words
Daenerys and Jon arrive at Winterfell with the army entourage of the Dothraki screamers and the Unsullied; Jon's homecoming is not the warmest of encounters, Daenerys not the most welcome to the Northern capital. Arya takes an immediate liking to the Dragon Queen, while Tyrion is sneered at by other northerners. A meeting is convened in the Great Hall of Winterfell, where Bran's sight is explained at large of seeing movement of the Night King, but a few of the glimpses are foggy. Tyrion announces the Lannister army arrival, but at that moment, Jaime and Bronn arrive with Meera's entourage, and a severe lack of the Lannister forces.
Chapter 11: Judgment Day, Arc 2: Where Winter Fell
Cersei welcomes the Golden Company to King's Landing, where Captain Harry Strickland has talked of seeing dead men float in the water and of the world burning in blue fire, but she does not believe the charges of a presumable dead army, to Euron's complete lack of understanding. Eventually, in private, he finally manages to steal the Queen's favor, he sleeping with Cersei Lannister for him pushing, pushing, pushing. Jaime, back at Winterfell, is put on trial for accusations against House Stark and House Targaryen, and at Brienne's behest, she tells of the story of him saving King's Landing by killing Aerys Targaryen and the story of wildfire, causing gears to turn in Tyrion's head. Jaime is forced, however, to remain in close proximity to the castle grounds, with a guard on watch, for he has not earned, and perhaps will never earn Daenerys's trust.
Chapter 12: New Beginnings, Arc 2: Where Winter Fell
Arya takes a moment off of training new swordsmen to find Gendry working and smelting dragonglass in the forges, in which the two catch up quickly on time's past, although she leaves out most of her Faceless Men training and contains the conversation specifically to him. Sansa, in a surveying of the yard's defenses, finds The Hound, Sandor Clegane, off by himself taking a break, she approaching him to see how he is faring from her travels, mentioning Arya and how he had been left for dead. He apologizes for not trying harder to convince her to leave with him when he fled the Blackwater, apologizing for her past, which Sansa appreciates. Back at White Harbor, due to the knowing that the Lannister forces would not be joining them for the fight against the Night King, a letter is sent to Theon and Yara's forces to join the fight at Winterfell. Late in the night, Daenerys comes across Sam in the dining hall, learning of his heritage, to say, without much preamble, but not much detail, that he is now the Lord of Horn Hill, and Sam mentions he has no use for Heartsbane.
Chapter 13: Blood of the Dragon, Arc 2: Where Winter Fell
Bronn is given free reign of the castle grounds, finding Tyrion drinking in a corner on one of the ramparts. The two reconvene their differences, on how Bronn decided fighting for Cersei Lannister and the hapless punk from the Iron Islands is not in his interest of being paid, but due to details by Jaime, it extends beyond simply being paid. Jorah is introduced to his cousin Lyanna Mormont, the new Lady of Bear Island, and he is told that after the war that he is not allowed back at Bear Island due to his crimes, though he is happy to have met her. At a moment in privacy between Daenerys and Jon, she approaches him one last time on the strangeness of his distance from her, which he tries to explain once more, but at a calling of Drogon, Daenerys flies with him. Rhaegal seems to want Jon to hop on and learn how to fly, and so it becomes that Jon Snow learns how to ride a dragon, which causes Daenerys to consider something that she never thought of.
Chapter 14: Harsh Climates, Arc 2: Where Winter Fell
Theon and Yara arrive in Winterfell, not met with a warm welcome either, but Sansa manages to have the unrest be civilized, the two Ironborn caught up to speed on the current situation on hand; Theon notices that during this conversation, Podrick, who is training with a swordsman off in the corner, would not stop looking over at him. Arya, on pure happenstance, comes across The Hound, although there is not any lost love between the two of them, with her leaving him for dead, but she thanks him for taking care of Sansa in King's Landing, not having believed him before, all those years ago. Cersei, at night, in King's Landing, hallucinates Jaime coming to her in a vision, killing their unborn child, she panicking and freaking out. Daenerys and Sansa, in a moment of privacy, after dinner, have their first cordial conversation, but it turns south rather quickly on mentions of independence, and Daenerys wondering why Theon is given preferential treatment and not her, despite being the one coming to help them. Sansa reminds Daenerys potentially what is at stake, the Dragon Queen realizes she is in the wrong.
Chapter 15: Game of Lies, Arc 2: Where Winter Fell
Arya forces Jaime to play the game of faces, knowing that not everything can be stated in a trial just in front and full of the open court, as she has been keeping her eye on him. Jaime promises he is not the man he used to be, for trauma changes a man, but Arya is unconvinced fully. In the first encounter since King's Landing, Jaime approaches Brienne and asks that he joins her legion of fighters, as he is not the swordsman he used to be, and perhaps could learn a thing or two from her, although he'd never readily admit it. Grey Worm is tasked to train a group of Northern boys alongside Jon, but the boys would only want to learn from Jon on how to fight, he experiencing at firsthand the North's distrust; they'd only trust Jon to teach them fighting. Bran decides, with Sam, that there is no better time to tell anyone, for it is something that needs to be known before they are all killed, about Jon's true heritage... but that it shouldn't simply be told to just Jon. Bran calls for a council in the Great Hall.
Chapter 16: Rhaegar's Legacy, Arc 2: Where Winter Fell
Captain Strickland, back in King's Landing, reveals to Cersei that he holds a Valyrian steel sword, the lost sword of Aegon I Targaryen, held until Aegon IV who gave it to his bastard, Daemon, who had risen in rebellion against the Targaryens, lost to the years... it is in now in the Golden Company's hands, the sword Blackfyre. At the Great Hall in Winterfell, a collected group of Jon, Daenerys, Bran, Arya, Sansa, Sam, Jorah, Davos, and Tyrion, at Bran and Sam's behest, have them all join hands to see the vision of Lyanna Stark marrying Rhaegar Targaryen in a secret ceremony, forwarding until Lyanna gives Ned baby Jon, with the name Aegon Targaryen, so there is no doubt in the claim. Jarring immediately out of the vision, Jon claims that he did not know that, and that he is not fighting for the throne against Daenerys. There is simply no way about it; Daenerys is lost for words.
Chapter 17: For the Realm, Arc 2: Where Winter Fell
Before things can get to hectic however, in the middle of the night, Tormund, Beric, Edd, and the last remnants of the Night's Watch make it to Winterfell, the Army of the Dead seeming to have lagged behind, but Bran is confused, as this is something he had not been able to foresee. Sansa and Arya, in the main chamber, discuss the newly known knowledge of Jon's legacy, that he is their cousin and not their brother, but they both decide it does not matter, they stand for him no matter the decision, and that he is still family, still a brother. Jon and Daenerys, however, in her chambers, argue over the reveal. She feels lied to, he swears he did not know of his legacy, that he believed Ned Stark to be his father and some unknown woman to be his mother... not Lyanna and Rhaegar, but he swears on everything he can think of that she is his queen, and she's the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and will be once the Night King is defeated and Cersei defeated as well. Although Tyrion knows he is sworn to secrecy, Varys finds out regardless, due to a little bird, about Jon's true heritage, although he had his suspicions, and Tyrion confirms them.
Chapter 18: Winter is Here, Arc 2: Where Winter Fell
Bran, in the Godswood with Maester Wolkan, sees that the Army of the Dead is simply a few hours away, six at the earliest, ten at the most, but then there is a snow covering that blinds him from the army; he calls a council immediately. With an entire group of Jon, Daenerys, Sansa, Arya, Bran himself, Meera, Theon, Yara, Grey Worm, Tyrion, Jaime, Brienne, Davos, Bronn, Jorah, Varys, Missandei, Tormund, Edd, Sam, Lyanna Mormont, Alys Karstark, and others, that the army of the dead is arriving at Winterfell, but it is not all of the forces... as if the army of the dead had been cut in half, and the Night King riding Viserion seems nowhere to be found. Battle preparations immediately begin.
Chapter 19: The Long Night, Arc 2: Where Winter Fell
The force that split off from the main group attacks Winterfell in the pitch black darkness of the night, against a force of the Northerners, the Vale, and Daenerys's forces. In the initial charge Edd, Lord Yohn Royce, Qhono, and Tormund are killed in the first swarm of wights despite artillery bombardment alongside Jon and Daenerys riding their respective dragons initiating hellfire from above. A White Walker general surge, of about sixty, causes the forces to retreat, for not every Valyrian steel sword fighter had been on the front lines. A group of wights break into the crypts where Sam is ready with Heartsbane, but he dies defending Sansa, Tyrion, Missandei, Gilly, and Varys to the last breath. The dead break through the main gate of Winterfell, Lyanna Mormont and Alys Karstark being overrun by the forces of evil. Daenerys is downed after Drogon nearly collides with against one of Winterfell's towers while dodging an ice spear being thrown by a few of the White Walker generals, and Jorah defends her until he is overrun, dying in the battle. Although the battle is won, Winterfell is in a ruin, and the position cannot be held, the forces collectively made to retreat, Beric holding off the forces with brave soldiers that stay behind, though he does not survive the encounter. They beat the force that had come to attack them, though they only manage to survive on a crucible.
Chapter 20: Harrowing Sorrows, Arc 2: Where Winter Fell
Due to Winterfell being a burned, collapsed ruin, with a good little bit less than half of the forces either exhausted beyond belief, wounded, or dead, they are forced to retreat to Dragonstone, though the journey and travel could be potentially slow going. Bran searches for the Night King and the other remainder of the Army of the Dead but his search does not provide anything fruitful; he must not be in Westeros, if somehow at all possible out of the reach of the 3-Eyed-Raven. Cersei wakes up in the middle of the night out of a nightmare, screaming, suddenly in pain, discovering that she has had a miscarriage.
Chapter 21: Mending the Bridge, Arc 3: Rains of House Targaryen
Jon and Daenerys reconcile through the loss of Jorah and Sam, they forgiving one another of the things they said to each other before the battle; if they're not a single minded front against the Night King, they'll all be killed. Podrick, during a stop, goes into Theon's tent to help nurse his wounds, as Theon remembers Podrick helping nurse wounds and frostbite and whatnot when they were travelling together up to Castle Black. Captain Strickland and Euron survey the defenses of King's Landing, a talk spurring about fighting styles and brutishness, Euron about to get into a fight with the Captain until a messenger comes, talking about the fall of Winterfell. Sansa and Daenerys, back on the journey to Dragonstone, reconcile over the loss of Jorah, Sansa relating to when she saw her father beheaded and the news of Robb and Catelyn being killed at the Red Wedding, the two leaders realizing they need each other.
Chapter 22: Black and Blue, Arc 3: Rains of House Targaryen
The survivors reach Moat Cailin with a small supplicant host to meet them, envoys of House Reed not taken by Meera up to Winterfell, and there are rumors of hearing a dragon, a not normal sounding beast darting through the clouds, but nothing more known than that. Melisandre, having left Dragonstone months ago, reaches Volantis and the Temple of the Fiery Hand, for counsel and the possibility of reinforcements, having seen in the flames a wonderful battle in the snow, but not in Winterfell... in King's Landing. Cersei is relayed the information of Daenerys's travel south by a little bird of some kind, although she does not know who sent the messenger, believing that the dead have been defeated at Winterfell, that the Long Night really was nothing major.
Chapter 23: Oaths of Valor, Arc 3: Rains of House Targaryen
During a shorter, much more low-key meal in Moat Cailin, due to his valiant efforts on the battlefield, and some suppliant information from Jon, Daenerys legitimizes Gendry as Lord Gendry of House Baratheon, the new Lord of Storm's End and titles and holdings. Jaime, in a moment of privacy, draws Jon aside, wanting to give back Widow's Wail, as it had been a part of Ice, to Jon's family, to the Starks, but he refuses, as the sword is now Jaime's, and Jaime has defended Winterfell, the North, and all of Westeros with the weapon; it is his to keep. Missandei, in Daenerys's quarters, while unbraiding her hair after the ceremonies, asks about the King in the North, their history, and the fledglings of romance, placing in her head the idea of marriage, of being a ruling family once Cersei is unseated. The Hound, once again, remains outside during the feast and after the party celebrations, Sansa taking Sandor Clegane a drink, she sharing a horn of ale with him, simply because she could.
Chapter 24: Weeping Lands, Arc 3: Rains of House Targaryen
The envoys and ships have reached Moat Cailin, and a shore spot, the party getting on the ships to sail to Dragonstone, Bran still incapable of finding the Night King, doing some spying on Cersei and the madness that has consumed her. On the ride, Podrick and Theon share tales of their journey since they've separated, and Theon, having overheard a brothel story, but Podrick refuses to talk about the situation. Meera takes a moment to speak to Bran, who is starting to get more lively and comfortable, and she talks about her father and the ever moving spot of Greywater Watch. Arya, in her own quarters, has a dream of Nymeria, she roaming the Riverlands, getting a fresh kill, and haunting, haunting blue eyes shining in the dark.
Chapter 25: Return of Valyria, Arc 3: Rains of House Targaryen
Arriving on Dragonstone, seeing the wonderful beauty of the island castle and the open skies, Daenerys and Jon take Drogon and Rhaegal for a flight, warming him back up, but he does falter some in the sky. In a moment egged on by Sansa, Tyrion, Yara, and a few others, a friendly sparring match between Arya, Brienne, Jaime, The Hound, and Bronn fight, The Hound coming out on top, but an idea sparks in his head as he manages to beat Arya by a hair, of their shared fighting styles. Yara, during a feast, sits at Theon's table, he trading glances across the way at Podrick, she bemusedly asking about their relationship, in which Theon sputters that there is not one. Bran discovers that the Iron Fleet and Euron are on their way to Dragonstone at Cersei's behest, although they will not reach the shores for about a day.
Chapter 26: Flickering Passion, Arc 3: Rains of House Targaryen
Gendry and Arya, in a shared moment drink, she teaching Gendry her slight-of-hand knife trick, kiss in a moment of passion, she undoing her top, and that there is nothing to be afraid of with her, she's not the Red Woman. Podrick arrives at Theon's door in the middle of the night, shyly asking if he wanted to know about the prostitute story in Littlefinger's brothel, but rather than tell him, he shows him, and the ninety-five things he can do with his tongue. Bran admits that he has always wanted to be with Meera, grateful for all the things she has done for him and the sacrifices that have happened along the way, but his injury has left him incapable of being anything more than the 3-Eyed-Raven, but Meera says that doesn't matter for them to be together. Sansa allows The Hound to see her scars entirely, he gently wondering if the little bird had shed all of her previous feathers. Jaime swallows his pride, realizing he had made a mistake beforehand, not having done so when the Army of the Dead were upon them, heading to Brienne's room, to willingly ask for her favor in a kiss.
Chapter 27: The Kraken's Wrath, Arc 3: Rains of House Targaryen
In the early hours of the morning, the defenders either sleeping or having finished laying together, are caught off guard when Euron's Iron Fleet arrives and begins to bombard the castle, they awoken by the shuddering of Dragonstone, as Drogon and Rhaegal take to the sky without Daenerys and Jon to start burning the fleet down. A brutal battle on the beach occurs when a few of the ships have landed on the shore, met by a landing party of Theon, Brienne, Jaime, Podrick, Bronn, Arya, Grey Worm, and the Hound, fighting with the legionaries on the shore. A few Ironborn sneak into the castle, bursting into a hidden room, Arya following them as she's the fastest, but she is too late to save Missandei, who is killed as the scouts raze the corridors of the castle. Jon stays on the ground to fight, Drogon landing to have Daenerys direct them in the sky, but Rhaegal, without Jon helping, is shot down several ballistae shots into the sea. In the throes of the battle, Euron lands on the shore, killing Grey Worm in a bloodied duel. Seeing this, Yara and Theon together manage to bring down the Kraken, killing the Crow's Eye, and any of the other soldiers not on the Silence are forced into their cause.
Chapter 28: Rains of House Targaryen, Arc 3: Rains of House Targaryen
The fallen are all mourned and burned, and there is also a mourning for those lost at the battle in Winterfell, for there hadn't been any time to really grieve. Daenerys takes off on Drogon to fly, Tyrion and Varys afraid of what rash actions she might do, but she does only fly around the near vicinity, to have her own way of grieving. Cersei receives the news of Euron's demise, and the loss of the Iron Fleet, in her rage she decides to use wildfire and burn the Tower of the Hand, which sets off a separate cache in the Dragonpit as well. Melisandre disembarks from Volantis with some red priests from the Fiery Order, embarking for Westeros.
Chapter 29: Setting the Chessboard, Arc 3: Rains of House Targaryen
Jon has a dream similar to Arya through Ghost's eyes, something he's never experienced before, although he hadn't been warging. He sees a battle in the snow, littered with casualties, smolders of wildfire burning through the snow, and a wall of blue eyes shining in the distance. Bran receives a shocked vision of the Night King with a force that had been stronger than the one that had split off to attack Winterfell, somewhere in the North, but not necessarily doing or causing any damage. Varys talks to Tyrion in his chambers, concerned on Daenerys's mindset with legitimizing Gendry and Jon's true heritage being known; Tyrion says that he is possibly abetting treason if this path continues.
Chapter 30: Wars to Come, Arc 3: Rains of House Targaryen
Bran reveals that the Night King has a sudden new amassed force of wights in the Army of the Dead, Daenerys wanting to go and scorch the legions dead, but Jon, Davos, and Tyrion talk her out of the idea. Captain Strickland oversees and tests, alongside Qyburn, a wildfire catapult on a suspected rebel housing sector in King's Landing on Cersei's demand, and he trains with his Valyrian sword, Blackfyre. A decision is immediately made after Bran's decision that they do not have time to wait to assault the Night King again, they'll bring the fight to the traitorous Cersei, to rip her out root and stem.
Chapter 31: The Deadly Alliance, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
At Sansa's behest, she writes a letter to her uncle Edmure in the Riverlands, who has been sitting out on the battles, gathering a small, yet durable force at Riverrun, that he should join their group. Cersei believes, after one of Qyburn's examinations, that she may be pregnant again, so soon after losing her other baby, losing Jaime's child, that it must be Euron's, and that alights her spirits. Davos and Tyrion wonder in private, in their chambers, on a marriage alliance between Jon and Daenerys, as Tyrion readily admits that she is in love with him, he sees it in her.
Chapter 32: Greenseer, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
The armies of the North, the Vale, Edmure's Riverland force, the remnants of the Dothraki and Ironborn, and Drogon make it to land, just outside King's Landing to wage war against Cersei, sent an envoy, that before they can even make a statement, is devoured by Drogon. Arya has another dream, placed in Nymeria's eyes, of her locked in singular combat against some sort of monster that hides in the sky. Daenerys has a similar nightmare about her on Drogon fighting Viserion, and being scorched by Viserion's fire, that Daenerys Targaryen wouldn't be the full proof of a full-blooded dragon.
Chapter 33: Frost and Fire, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
Podrick asks Yara about possibly having Theon's favor, her favor, rather, for him to court her brother, which is an unknown concept, but he is smitten by him, which she accepts, as long as Theon is happy. The Hound brings up to Arya, in a passing moment, somewhat harmless conversation, that his brother, The Mountain, Ser Gregor Clegane is his kill, as it has always been, Arya mentioning once more her list and that there are three names that need to be crossed off of it: Cersei, The Mountain, and the Red Woman. Before the sight of gods and men, Jon and Daenerys are married in the middle of the woods, there is no sept nearby for their camp, nor a weirwood tree, and Jon uncertain of Daenerys's religious beliefs, but they are wed and would rule King's Landing together as king and queen, though she would still be the 'rightful' monarch, for not everyone knows of Jon's true identity.
Chapter 34: Steel of a Bear, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
Gilly, who has been holding in safe keeping Heartsbane after Sam's demise back in Winterfell, no longer wants the sword nor does she have any use of it anymore. She confides in Jon about who the weapon should go to, he unsure of who would need the Valyrian steel weapon, and he asks Sansa. Sansa, at a spur of the moment decision, wants to know if it would be okay to have Theon carry Heartsbane in Sam's honor; Theon Greyjoy now carries Heartsbane. Arya decides that when the madness of it is all over, she tries getting Gendry to want to join her to sail west, to see what is west of Westeros; he says he cannot go on every voyage with her, but he would be delighted to see what there is. The army nears King's Landing, Daenerys noticing that Drogon is starting to get restless... perhaps there is a presence making him worried.
Chapter 35: Prosperity of the People, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
Cersei and Captain Strickland make last minute battle preparations for the siege, and although Cersei would not be doing any fighting, she is taught quickly by Harry on how to wield a weapon in case, just in case. In secrecy, Jaime and Tyrion have been trying to bring terms to maybe having Cersei be allowed to live if she surrenders to Daenerys, on the conventionality of saving the child, though neither one knows that Cersei has had a miscarriage; he tells Brienne of this plan, and in an odd turn, she refuses the idea, as Jaime couldn't save her. Davos, Tyrion, and Varys discuss the new marriage alliance; Tyrion can sense that Varys is holding back his true opinions on the Dragon Queen, as if it is impossible for the two of them to literally share a rule.
Chapter 36: The Valonqar, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
In the dead of the morning, as Daenerys and Jon have planned an inner-assassin route, Jaime, Arya, The Hound, Bronn, and Tyrion sneak into King's Landing through a sewer route. To distract attention, Bronn breaks off of the group to 'lead' a squadron of soldiers, but Cersei knows he is back in the city, and Ser Gregor arrives and kills the sellsword before any further damage can be done; at that moment, Daenerys and Jon lead the siege. A ruthless battle begins in the streets of King's Landing, in which Podrick receives an injury to his sword hand, Brienne receives a minor concussion, and the carnage is brutal as Daenerys tries to keep Drogon from unleashing his rage on the city, which causes minor pockets of wildfire to burst occasionally. In the throne room, Tyrion and Jaime beg Cersei to surrender, but are fighting a losing battle with this as she is planning on going down with the ship. Arya and The Hound combat The Mountain, as they sneak into the other side of the room, and Tyrion shoots Qyburn dead, as he is about go and light the wildfire without Cersei's command. Arya and The Hound manage to burn The Mountain to death. Captain Strickland sneaks into the Stark camp as the city turns into a failing battle, but with Jon and Daenerys out in the field, he sees it as an opportunity to kill the North: Bran, Sansa, and others, but he is surprised by Meera, and in a melee, he is killed. Jaime chokes Cersei to death after kissing her, for she had been trying to reach Qyburn's torch; he is the Valonqar with her choked tears, overthrown by a more beautiful woman and queen.
Chapter 37: Rightful Queen, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
Daenerys is crowned the rightful queen of Westeros, and Jon is her king, but is not the ruler, before gods and men in a burnt out King's Landing throne room. Jaime, not in the coronation, mourns Cersei's death and the loss of their child, realizing that the Night King is not dead, so his journey is not finished yet. Melisandre arrives, later than never, with the forces of Volantis, a measly group, but a force strong enough, she having seen a terrible fight in the flames. Bran awakens from a vision, startling Melisandre, as he has discovered the Night King and his forces at the God's Eye, not far from King's Landing at all, and he is heading their way after a force has fought three devastating battles.
Chapter 38: Her House of Cards, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
Daenerys is approached by Tyrion that Varys has lost faith in her cause, that he feels Jon should be the rightful monarch, and the rightful monarch only. Theon and Podrick share another night together, and there is the reverse of Theon taking care of Podrick after being wounded in a fight. Jon and Daenerys decide that Harry's Valyrian steel sword, Blackfyre, should be given to another fighter with the Night King up close, and it is awarded to Gendry. Daenerys decides, openly, to have Varys executed by dragon fire, done so in front of all the key players and characters. Shortly after, when the remains are discarded, a light snow begins to fall, the temperature drops, and Viserion's roar can be heard on the sky. The Night King arrived in King's Landing for a final confrontation; a million people in the city could be people to his army.
Chapter 39: The Dance of Darkness, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
The final clash between the living and the dead takes place out in the fields before King's Landing, for the fighting in the streets would be way too crowded. Melisandre's priests ignite a sector of the battlefield, but it is not enough to even hold the first wave, and the vanguard is overwhelmed, Podrick dying in the fight. In the heat of the battle, Daenerys on Drogon and the Night King on Viserion, it is a fire storm. Arya is cornered by a band of wights, and out of the blue, to The Hound watching all these events, Nymeria's wolf pack bounds in to save her, but Arya watches as her Direwolf goes down in the brawl. Arya, with a newfound sense of urgency, with Gendry and Theon side by side, they take on a few White Walker generals, but Arya is outnumbered, Gendry and Theon too far away to save her, and she is stabbed in the gut. Meera protects Bran, Sansa, Gilly, and a few others against a White Walker general taking a few forces into the city. Daenerys and the Night King clash in the sky, the Night King getting a good shot with his spear, hitting Daenerys straight in the chest and off of Drogon, she falling to her death; Drogon knocks the Night King off with his tail. Witnessing this, Jon is enraged as Daenerys lays dying, and alongside Jaime, the two square off with the Night King, Jaime stabbing the Night King in the heart, Jon stabbing him in the back. Viserion is roasted alive by dragon fire, and Melisandre, witnessing the end of the fight, as not all of the wights are defeated, and enraged, using a spell that consumes her soul, unleashes a blaze that incinerates the rest of the Army of the Dead, and all that is left behind is her ruby pendant.
Chapter 40: Their Watches Have Ended, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
The dead are mourned and burned, Theon mourning Podrick, The Hound/Gendry/Bran/Sansa/Jon mourning Arya, Jon/Tyrion mourning Daenerys with Drogon crying out in the night sky, and Davos throws Melisandre's necklace into the ocean.
Chapter 41: Ours is the Fury, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
There is an impasse, however, with Daenerys dead... who does the throne abdicate to? Jon refuses the throne, as it has been something he's never wanted; he is content with staying in the North and helping rule alongside Sansa, as he was not made to be king of an entire continent, let alone a nation, but he has been learning bit by bit. With a full conventional vote by Jon, Davos, Sansa, Bran, Tyrion, and other high lords and ladies, it is decreed that Gendry of House Baratheon shall be the next king of Westeros, with the faint hint of Targaryen blood shared in the line, among other things. Davos volunteers to be Gendry's Hand of the King, Jaime allowed to still be in the Kingsguard based on his valor in the four fights and all of his acts of service in his lifetime. Bran, in a private moment, admits his love to Meera, and abdicates fully his position as ever possibly being Warden of the North.
Chapter 42: A Dream of Spring, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
Jon is allowed to rule the North as Warden with Sansa ultimately being the Lady of Winterfell, but higher than his position for it is her specialty and area of expertise. Tyrion is named, finally, Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West. Brienne is named, by Gendry, for her valor and valence as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, The Hound switching spots with her as Sansa's sworn sword. Yara is named the official queen of the Iron Islands, Theon not contesting any sort of claim. Jon, on a journey back up to the North, has a dream of Daenerys and Drogon, for Drogon has vanished off into Essos, in the land of old Valyria, flying and passing into the Doom.
Chapter 43: Phantoms of Westeros, Arc 4: Phantoms of Westeros
It is nineteen years in the future now, King Gendry Baratheon of the Seven Kingdoms, married to Sansa Stark nee Baratheon in a marriage alliance of the North and South. Tyrion and Bran have begun writing a chronicle, using Bran's memories and 3-Eyed-Raven powers to write about the War of the Five Kings, the defense of Winterfell and the Long Night, and Gendry/Daenerys campaign and conquest for Cersei's throne. Gendry and Jon visit Arya's grave in the crypts of a rebuilt Winterfell, and it has all been brought full circle.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, this was going to be the plot that I was going to do for my version of Season 8 of Game of Thrones, Phantoms of Ice and Fire would end with Gendry as king, Jon ruling in the North, and other spots filled out to be the way. A good chunk, practically most of Arc 3 and Arc 4 has diverged off the path of what Season 8 actually entailed, and some things seemed to have had happened... a lot of characters would've been lost on the way, arcs fulfilled, and some things not done as easy as they would've been in the series.
Were there any parts that were your favorite, that you liked as diverging from the Season 8 story? Anything you'd be disappointed about in my planning of events? I believe that what I wanted to do would be canon-compliant to these characters, in reason, but I am happy with the storyline of what I thought would happen, which obviously I was extremely wrong with, haha. Thank you all so much! Have a good day! Bye!
~ Paradigm