Chapter 192: Bringing Sansa to Serendell
May 27
Jacob appeared in the capsule house at Moat Cailin.
Sansa and Arya were on the couch, watching How to Train Your Dragon on the television. Arya had her feet up on the coffee table. Sansa was curled under a blanket.
Jacob smiled. "I'm back."
They both turned toward him.
Sansa's face lit up. She jumped off the couch and threw herself into his arms. Jacob caught her, lifted her off the ground, and kissed her deeply.
"I missed you," she said against his lips.
"I missed you too." Jacob set her down and ruffled Arya's hair. The younger girl swatted his hand away but smiled.
They sat together on the couch. Jacob pulled Sansa onto his lap, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
"So," Sansa said, "did you get in trouble? For marrying me?"
Jacob shook his head. "No. Only Lydia caused a little trouble—like usual. They didn't care about me marrying you. But they were angry because I left them behind." He smiled. "They're excited to meet you."
Sansa's hand tightened on his arm. "Is it really okay to meet them? Will they hate me?"
Jacob shook his head. "No. They won't. You'll be fine."
Arya poked his arm. "Can I come? To your magic island? I want to see this Serendell place."
Jacob smiled. "Yeah. You can come."
Arya grinned.
---
They talked for a while longer—about his wives, about Serendell. Then Jacob stood.
"I'll be right back. I need to say hello to Brienne and Podrick. And check on my pets."
He walked outside.
Brienne and Podrick were sitting on rocks near the capsule house, keeping watch. They stood when they saw him.
"Your Grace," Brienne said with a salute.
Jacob returned the salute. "Brienne. Podrick. Good to see you both."
He looked toward the swamps. His three lizard-lions were back—and they hadn't come alone.
Behind them, twenty female lizard-lions lounged on the muddy bank. They were smaller than the males—twelve to fifteen feet long instead of twenty to thirty —but they still looked terrifying.
He turned back to Brienne and Podrick. "I'll be taking Sansa and Arya to my home now. I'll come back for you two later."
Brienne nodded. "As you wish, Your Grace."
Bowser, Leatherhead, and Wally Gator spotted Jacob and lumbered toward him. They stopped a few feet away, stood on their hind legs, and raised their front legs near their heads in a salute.
Jacob saluted back. "Good boys."
He opened a portal to Serendell—a shimmering doorway in the air. Then he wrapped the three males and twenty females in his telekinesis and lifted them through the portal.
On the other side, he teleported them directly to a swamp he had created months ago, using his connection to Serendell to shape the land. The water was dark and warm. The trees hung with moss. Schools of fish darted through the shallows.
Bowser sniffed the air, then turned to Jacob.
Jacob said, "This is your new home. There is fish in the water." He pointed toward the treeline. "Deer and bison in the forest nearby. Don't fight each other. I'll visit when I can."
Bowser rumbled happily and waddled into the swamp. The others followed.
Jacob contacted Lydia telepathically.
[Lydia. Can I bring Sansa now?]
Her voice answered immediately, warm and eager. [Yes. We're ready.]
Jacob teleported back to the capsule house. Sansa was adjusting her dress—a dark blue Westerosi gown with Jacob's sigil embroidered over her heart. Arya wore the dark Westerosi outfit he had given her, with her sword Needle at her hip.
"Are you girls ready?" Jacob asked.
Sansa took a deep breath. "Yes."
Arya nodded.
Jacob opened a portal to Serendell—a swirling gateway of blue and silver light.
"Let's go."
---
They stepped through the portal and emerged high above the island.
Sansa floated in the air using her own telekinesis. Jacob used his to keep Arya afloat beside her.
Sansa gasped.
Below them sprawled a breathtaking island—a paradise suspended in an endless, starry void.
A massive white palace dominated the center, its spires reaching toward the sky, its walls gleaming like polished marble. Vast gardens surrounded it—roses, lilies, orchids, flowers Sansa had never seen before, arranged in patterns that looked like living art. Two massive lakes in front of the palace, their waters so clear and still they reflected the clouds like mirrors.
Beyond the palace, orchards stretched into the distance, heavy with fruit. Fields of vibrant vegetables swayed in the breeze. Wide open grasslands led to dense, ancient forests, and majestic mountains framed the horizon. On one side, snow-capped peaks rose above a frozen lake that glittered like diamonds.
Arya took a deep breath. "The air," she said, her voice awed. "It feels like... like the first time I've ever really breathed."
Sansa inhaled. The air was fresh and clean and sweet, like flowers and rain and something else—something magical she couldn't name.
"This is Serendell?" Sansa whispered. "You told me it was beautiful, but I never thought it would be this beautiful."
Jacob smiled. "From now on, this is your home." He looked at both of them. "Welcome home, Sansa. Welcome home, Arya."
Both girls smiled.
Arya pointed toward the lake in front of the palace. "Is that a ship?"
Jacob followed her gaze. The Obsidian Phantom—his luxury superyacht—was anchored near the shore.
"Yes. It's called a yacht. Her name is Obsidian Phantom. We can go see it later."
A loud roar echoed across the sky.
Sansa and Arya turned.
A blue dragon was flying toward them—massive, beautiful, her sapphire scales glittering in the sunlight. Her wings spanned the horizon. Her eyes were deep and ancient and kind.
Arya's eyes sparkled. "Who is that?"
"That's Saphira," Sansa said, remembering. "Jacob told me about her."
Arya looked at Jacob. "Is she your wife?"
Jacob chuckled. "Not yet. I'm waiting for her to take human form. Then we'll marry."
Arya's eyebrows rose. "Dragons can turn human?" She paused. "Wait, I forgot you're a dragon who can turn human. Or a human who can turn dragon." She waved a hand. "Anyway. Is she stronger than the dragons in Westeros?"
Jacob nodded. "Way stronger. She has sixty percent of my strength. And she'll keep growing stronger as I do."
Saphira arrived in front of them. Her deep blue eyes studied Sansa and Arya.
[Good morning, Jay,] Saphira said telepathically.
Jacob smiled. "Good morning, Saphira."
Saphira turned her attention to Sansa. [Welcome to the family, Sansa.]
Sansa heard the mature woman's voice in her head and startled—but recovered quickly. She gave a polite, nervous smile. "Thank you. You're beautiful."
Saphira's eyes crinkled with amusement. [You are kind. And you're beautiful too.] She turned back to Jacob. [I'm going to hunt. I haven't had breakfast yet.]
Jacob nodded. "See you later. And don't hunt the giant crocodiles I just brought home."
Saphira's mental voice carried a note of exasperation. [I only eat deer, bison, and fish. I don't eat creatures that look like me.]
Jacob shrugged. "Just reminding you."
Saphira rolled her eyes—a surprisingly human gesture—and flew away, her wingbeats stirring the air.
Arya watched her go, then turned to Jacob. "Did you and Sansa just talk to her? Why couldn't I hear her?"
Jacob explained, "She can only talk in our heads. And right now, she can only talk to me and my wives." He wrapped Sansa and Arya in his telekinesis. "Alright. Time to meet my wives."
He teleported them inside the palace.
---
They appeared just outside the royal residence—a private wing of the palace reserved for Jacob and his family.
Jacob led them inside.
The living room was spacious and warm, with large windows overlooking the gardens. Soft couches surrounded a low table. A massive television on one wall. Paintings hung on the walls—landscapes, portraits, a few abstract pieces.
Four women and a cat were waiting for them.
Melissa wore a elegant black dress that hugged her curves. Lydia wore a flowing green gown that matched her eyes. Allison wore a striking red dress. And Malia wore a tailored gray suit—jacket, vest, slacks—with a white shirt and no tie. Kitty lounged on the back of the couch, watching the door with lazy eyes.
They all stood when Jacob and the two girls entered.
Jacob took Sansa's hand—she was trembling slightly—and walked toward them. Arya followed.
"Everyone," Jacob said, "this is Sansa."
He began introducing them. "The one in the green dress is Lydia. The one in red is Allison. The one in black is Melissa." He pointed to the cat. "Her name is Kitty." He gestured to Malia. "And the one dressing like a man is Malia."
Malia smirked. "Don't you like me wearing a suit?"
Jacob smiled. "I like it very much."
Malia winked. "Then how about we go to my room and do some roleplay?"
Lydia cleared her throat. "Ahem. Now is not the time. We have to welcome our new sister."
Malia glanced at Lydia. "You're just jealous." Then she turned to Sansa and took a step forward.
"Hey. I'm Malia. Welcome to the family." She held up two fingers. "As long as you don't steal food from my plate or try to get between me and Jay, we won't have a problem." She smiled. "Also, I like to fight. So if you want to spar, you can always find me."
Sansa was still processing when Malia grabbed her hand, shook it firmly, then latched onto Jacob's arm.
"Let's go to my room," Malia said.
Jacob hesitated. "Maybe another time. I still need to—"
Lydia waved a dismissive hand. "Go, go. We don't need you here." She took Sansa's hand and pulled her toward the couch. "Don't be nervous. Come sit with us. There's a lot we need to talk about."
She called out, "Cogman! Bring some snacks!"
Jacob stood there awkwardly, not sure whether to leave or stay.
Allison smiled at him. "You'll probably just fall asleep during our talk anyway. And Malia hates talking. Just go."
Jacob sighed. "Oh. Okay."
He looked at Arya. "See you later. If you get bored with girl talk, ask Kitty to teach you how to fight. She's an exceptionally skilled swordswoman. She uses a rapier, just like you. She can teach you some new tricks."
Arya looked at Kitty, who was still lounging on the couch, watching her lazily.
"You can't be serious," Arya said. "She's just a cat. She looks lazy. What can she teach me?"
Kitty moved.
Arya didn't even see it. One moment Kitty was on the couch. The next, she was on Arya's back, her small but razor-sharp claws pressed against Arya's neck.
A mature woman's voice spoke in Arya's ear. "The question isn't what I can teach you, little girl. It's how you'll convince me to teach you."
Arya's eyes went wide. "You're... so fast. And you can talk."
Jacob ruffled Arya's hair, then pulled the Hulk serum from his pocket dimension and handed it to her. "Drink this. You'll become much stronger. Then you can figure out how to convince Kitty to teach you."
He turned to Allison and the others. "Alright. See you later."
Then he teleported away with Malia.
---
The moment Jacob and Malia disappeared, Cogman appeared with a tray of snacks—finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, cheese, and pastries. He set them on the table and bowed slightly to Sansa.
"Welcome to the family, Lady Sansa. I am Cogman, the butler." He smiled pleasantly. "If you need anything—from food to driving you around to killing or torturing people for you—I am at your service."
His eyes glazed over slightly as he continued, a creepy smile spreading across his face. "I am particularly skilled at gouging eyes, breaking bones, ripping off limbs, tearing out fingernails, crushing windpipes, and—"
"That's enough, Cogman," Allison interrupted. "Go bring us some drinks and prepare a feast for lunch to welcome Sansa and her sister."
Cogman's creepy smile vanished, replaced by a polite one. "Right away, my lady."
He teleported away.
Lydia leaned toward Sansa. "Don't worry about him. He's family. He'll only torture and kill our enemies." She paused. "He also listens to us more than he listens to Jay."
Sansa blinked. "Okay."
She looked at the three women—Allison, Lydia, Melissa—and took a deep breath.
"It's nice to meet you all," she said. "But I have to admit... I thought you would hate me. Or at least be angry with me for marrying Jacob."
Allison smiled warmly. "We know Jay will get more wives. We've accepted that." Her smile turned knowing. "And you'd better accept it too—because you're definitely not the last one he'll add to the family."
Lydia clapped her hands. "Alright. Let's forget about that pervert for now. Tell us everything about you."
Sansa nodded and began to talk—about Winterfell, about her family, about King's Landing, about Joffrey and Cersei and Littlefinger.
The women listened, their expressions shifting from curiosity to sympathy to cold fury.
Arya listened for a while, then drank the Hulk serum. Forty-five minutes later, her body absorbed it, and she felt strength surge through her veins.
She looked at Kitty and bowed—a proper, respectful bow. "Please. Teach me."
Kitty studied her for a moment, then hopped off the couch. "Follow me, let's see if you're worth my time."
They left the palace together.
---
A Few Hours Later
Jacob and Malia returned to the living room.
Sansa was sitting between Lydia and Allison, laughing at something Melissa had just said. Her nervousness was gone. They had already become close, and she looked happy.
Jacob smiled and sat in his recliner. Malia curled up in his lap, satisfied and sleepy.
Melissa looked at him. "We heard you want to go after someone called the Mother of Dragons."
Jacob's smile faltered. "Who told you that?"
Sansa raised her hand sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I thought you had told them."
Jacob looked at her. "I didn't even tell you. How did you know?"
Sansa said, "Arya told me. When she met you in Braavos, you told her you wanted to meet Daenerys Targaryen."
Jacob sighed. "I see. But I just want to meet her for now. I'm not planning anything."
Lydia snorted. "Yeah, right. We'd believe you if we didn't know you." She gestured to Sansa. "Besides, Sansa said Daenerys is a princess—a queen now. And we all know how much your kind likes to kidnap princesses."
Jacob said, "That's a lie. Slander made by someone who hates dragons."
Lydia smirked. "Didn't you kidnap Malia? And basically told Allison—who could be considered a princess of a hunter family—that if she didn't marry you, you would stalk her and kill any man who got close to her?" She continued counting on her fingers. "You told Melissa that if she didn't marry you, you would hurt her son. And Sansa—a proper princess—just told us that you said you would kidnap her if she refused to marry you." She raised an eyebrow. "Do you deny everything I just said?"
Jacob said, "I strongly deny it."
He looked at Melissa. "I don't remember threatening you to marry me. I only played along and did what you asked me to do."
Melissa smiled sweetly. "Really? That's not what I remember. I remember you turning into a dragon, then turning back to human and standing in front of me naked with glowing red eyes." She paused. "You told me that if I didn't marry you, you would harm my son. Or even kill him."
Jacob threw his hands up. "Because you told me to act like that!"
Melissa tilted her head. "I don't remember that part."
Jacob shook his head with a smile. "Anyway, I didn't kidnap Sansa. I saved her."
Sansa smiled. "But I remember you telling me you would kidnap me if I refused to marry you."
Jacob waved a hand. "I was joking. Didn't I give you a choice? Didn't I say you could leave with the Knights of the Vale?"
Sansa admitted, "You did. But to be honest, I didn't believe you would let me go. I saw you appear out of nowhere, freeze twelve knights and their horses with a wave of your hand, and turn my hair back to its natural color with another wave." She met his eyes. "I knew there was no escaping you. Even after you promised to let me go, I thought you were lying. I only trusted you a little—after I saw Arya."
Jacob shrugged. "Fine. Since you all think I'm a princess kidnapper..." He smirked. "Then I will kidnap Daenerys."
Lydia smiled triumphantly. "So you admit you're a creepy pervert who likes to kidnap girls."
Jacob looked at her. "Alright. I admit it." He leaned back. "But I definitely didn't kidnap you. You came to my house on your own and started molesting me the day Allison was teaching me archery." He pointed at her. "So you're the last person who gets to call me a pervert. You bitch."
Lydia threw a pillow at him. "Hey! That was uncalled for!"
Jacob caught the pillow with his telekinesis, tucked it behind his head, and made himself comfortable. He winked at her.
Lydia snorted and looked away.
Jacob's voice softened. "Don't be mad. I love you just the way you are." He grinned. "You're my bitch."
Lydia laughed. "That doesn't sound good." She blew him a kiss. "But I'll take it. I love you too, my perverted dragon."
Allison cleared her throat. "We were thinking of traveling to Europe—visit Venice, Paris, and Zurich. Then go to Japan." She looked at Sansa. "Now that Sansa is here, it's a good opportunity to show her our world." She looked at Jacob. "What do you think?"
Jacob nodded. "Alright. But I'm not going. I need to go back to Sansa's world to save her brothers and play some kingdom building."
Allison's expression fell. "Then we're not going either. I don't want to be away from you again."
Jacob smiled. "You can go. I'll come back to Serendell every night. And I'll give you permission to use the World Travel Room—so you can go to Sansa's world to find me if you want." He paused. "You'll also be able to contact me telepathically, even if we're in different worlds."
Malia sat up. "I'm not going to Europe. I doubt any place in our world is more beautiful than Serendell." She looked at Jacob. "I'm going with Jay to Sansa's world."
Lydia tapped her chin. "How about this? We all go on vacation to Europe and Japan for two weeks. Then we all go to Sansa's world together." She looked at Jacob. "Please?"
Jacob sighed. "Fine."
He looked at Sansa. "Don't worry about your brothers. They're safe for now."
Sansa nodded. "Okay."
---
They had a feast to welcome Sansa and Arya—roasted meats, fresh vegetables, exotic fruits, and enough desserts to feed an army.
After the meal, Jacob gave Sansa and Arya the mark that would allow them to enter and leave Serendell freely.
Then he took everyone, including Cogman, Arya, and Kitty, to the World Travel Room.
Jacob explained how the room worked—how the doors would appear once he visited new worlds, how his wives could travel between worlds with his permission, how they could teleport directly between Serendell and whichever world they were in.
After he finished explaining, he said, "The one that says 'First World' is our world. The one that says 'Fire and Ice' is Sansa's."
Then he added permission for everyone to use the room.
---
Beacon Hills
Jacob took Sansa on a date.
He drove her through Beacon Hills in his black Charger, the engine rumbling beneath them. Sansa's eyes went wide at everything—the buildings, the streetlights, the people walking their dogs, the cars rushing past.
He took her to an amusement park. They rode the Ferris wheel, ate cotton candy, played carnival games. Jacob won her a giant stuffed wolf.
Sansa hugged it to her chest and smiled. "I've never had so much fun in my life."
They stayed until evening, watching the sunset from the top of the Ferris wheel.
When they returned to the mansion, the girls had just come back from taking Arya on a tour of Beacon Hills. She was grinning from ear to ear, holding a bag of fast food.
"This world is insane," Arya said. "And I love it."
---
The Next Day
Jacob went back to the Game of Thrones world and brought Brienne and Podrick to Beacon Hills.
He didn't give them the mark to enter Serendell. He didn't even take them to Serendell. He opened a portal directly from Moat Cailin to the front lawn of his mansion.
Brienne stepped through, her hand on her sword. Podrick followed close behind, looking pale.
"This is... another world?" Brienne asked, staring at the sky.
"Yes," Jacob said. "And you're going to need better clothes."
Lydia took charge. She asked Cogman to buy Brienne and Podrick suitable outfits. Cogman returned an hour later with tailored suits, casual wear, and a collection of sunglasses.
Brienne looked at herself in the mirror—dark jeans, a leather jacket, boots. "This is... strange."
"You look cool," Arya said.
Podrick tugged at his collar. "I feel like I'm pretending to be someone else."
"You are," Lydia said. "Now stop complaining."
---
The Vacation
They spent a week in Europe.
They visited Venice, gliding through the canals on gondolas. Lydia dragged everyone to designer boutiques in Paris. They ate fondue in Zurich and rode trains through the Swiss Alps.
Sansa, Arya, Brienne, and Podrick fell in love with smartphones, believing they were magic. They took pictures of everything.
Arya tried espresso and made a face. "It's bitter."
"You're fourteen," Lydia said. "You're not supposed to like it."
They spent a week in Japan.
They visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. They ate ramen, sushi, and takoyaki.
Arya and Brienne each bought a katana.
"This world is... impossible," Sansa said one night, lying in Jacob's arms in their hotel room. "And beautiful."
Jacob kissed her forehead. "It's your world now too.
Chapter 193: Wyverns Hatched
New
2 days ago
After the vacation, Jacob took Brienne and Podrick back to Moat Cailin.
The ancient fortress was quiet, the morning mist clinging to the crumbling towers.
Jacob pulled food from his pocket dimension—enough bread, meat, snacks, and fruit to last them three days—and handed it to Brienne.
"Stay here," Jacob said. "I'll come back in a day or two."
Brienne saluted. "Yes, Your Grace."
Podrick said, "Thank you for the trip, Your Grace. I never thought I would see... any of that."
Jacob smiled. "You're welcome."
Then he returned to Serendell.
---
Serendell
Jacob found Malia and Arya standing in front of the palace.
"I'm going to give her the bite," Malia said.
Jacob looked at Arya. "Are you sure?"
Arya nodded excitedly. "Yes. I want to become like Malia."
Jacob shook his head. "You won't become like her. Malia is a chimera—Thunderbird and Werecoyote. You'll only become a werewolf—or some other kind of shifter."
Arya shrugged. "I know. I want to become a werewolf."
Jacob looked at Malia. "You'll have to teach her control."
Malia nodded. "I will."
Jacob went inside the palace.
Malia's eyes glowed red. Her fangs extended.
"Alright," she said. "Give me your arm."
Arya extended her arm. Malia grabbed it and bit down hard.
Arya gasped—but she didn't scream. Her jaw clenched. Her free hand balled into a fist. She endured.
Malia released her. "Alright. Let's go eat, and you should sleep. The transformation will take a few hours."
They walked inside and joined the others for dinner.
---
The Next Morning — Dining Room
Everyone gathered for breakfast.
Jacob sat at the head of the table. Allison, Lydia, Malia, Melissa, and Sansa sat on either side. Kitty was in a high chair, sipping milk from a small mug. Cogman moved between them, refilling plates and pouring coffee.
Arya was the last to join.
Malia looked up from her plate. Her eyes narrowed. She sniffed the air.
"Oh," Malia said. "You're a wolf."
Arya's eyes widened. "Really? I tried to shift, but I couldn't."
Malia set down her fork. "Let me help you with that."
Her eyes glowed red. She opened her mouth and roared—a deep, guttural sound that vibrated through the room.
Arya's body shifted on its own. Her eyes glowed yellow. Her canines lengthened. Claws sprouted from her fingers. Her breathing turned ragged, and she let out a guttural snarl.
Then she lunged at Lydia.
Lydia didn't move. She didn't even flinch.
Malia stepped between them.
She let out a thunderous roar—a sound so deep and primal that the windows rattled. The crystal chandelier swayed.
Arya froze.
Her fangs receded. The claws withdrew. Her yellow eyes faded back to their natural color. She looked around, confused and frightened.
"What... what happened?" she asked.
Malia crossed her arms. "You lost control. It happens to new wolves." She smirked. "But don't worry. I'll beat your ass until you learn to control yourself."
Arya's fear faded. She smirked back. "Okay."
---
After breakfast, Jacob reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out seven vials of glowing liquid—the Enhanced Luke Cage Serum.
Each vial shimmered with a faint silver light.
He handed one to Allison, one to Lydia, one to Malia, one to Melissa, one to Sansa, one to Kitty, and one to Arya.
Kitty sniffed her vial. "What is it?"
Jacob explained. "Enhanced Luke Cage Serum. It grants complete immunity to fire at any temperature—from any source, magical or mundane. Your skin, muscle, and bones become as strong as titanium steel. Conventional weapons can't penetrate." He held up a finger. "But enchanted bullets and enchanted blades can still hurt you. So don't get cocky."
They all drank the serum.
Their skin flushed. Their muscles tensed. After half an hour, the transformation settled. Their skin, muscle, and bones had become as strong as titanium steel.
They all thanked him.
Jacob nodded. "You're welcome. And remember—you're not invincible. Just harder to kill."
Arya grinned. "I'm going to train."
She ran out of the dining room.
Jacob looked at Kitty. "Go keep an eye on her. I don't want her losing control and killing all the animals she can find."
Kitty nodded and followed Arya at a leisurely pace, her tail swishing.
---
Jacob and his wives moved to the living room.
He reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out six Wyvern Eggs.
Each egg was the size of a honeydew melon, with dark scales that shimmered in rainbow colors. They pulsed with warmth, as if hearts beat inside them.
Allison, Lydia, Malia, Melissa, and Sansa gathered around him, their eyes wide.
Sansa reached out and touched one of the eggs. "What are these?"
Jacob held one up. "Wyvern Eggs." He smiled. "They'll hatch wyverns loyal to us. It's best if each of us hatches our own—drop blood on the egg, and the wyvern will gain some of your powers."
He distributed the eggs—one to each wife, and one for himself.
They each pricked their fingers and let a drop of blood fall onto their eggs.
The eggs absorbed the blood instantly. Cracks spread across the shells. Glowing light leaked through the fissures.
One by one, the eggs hatched.
Tiny wyverns emerged—no larger than puppies, with damp wings folded against their backs. Their scales were soft, their eyes wide and curious. They blinked up at their new parents and chirped softly.
Jacob's wyvern was male—black as coal, with red eyes that glowed like embers. The others were all female.
He scratched the little black wyvern's head. "I'll call you Alex. Short for Alexander—my last name." He smiled. "From now on, you'll be called Alex the Dreadful."
The wyvern chirped and nuzzled his finger.
Lydia cradled her red wyvern, scratching under its chin. The wyvern purred like a cat. "I'll call you, Scarlet."
Malia held her gray wyvern up to her face. The wyvern licked her nose. "I'll call you, Storm."
Melissa cooed at her green wyvern. The wyvern sneezed, and a small cloud of green mist puffed from its nostrils. Melissa's eyes widened.
"I can feel it," she said. "She inherited my plant control. And she has poison breath—along with fire." She smiled and stroked the wyvern's head. "I'll call you Belladonna. After the deadly nightshade."
Sansa looked at her amber wyvern, her expression soft. The wyvern chirped and nuzzled against her palm.
"I want to name you Lady," Sansa said quietly. "Like my direwolf. But Lady didn't end well." She stroked the wyvern's head. "I'll call you Amber."
The wyvern chirped happily.
Allison's white wyvern nuzzled against her cheek. Frost formed on Allison's fingers where the wyvern touched her.
"Mine inherited my ice powers," Allison said, smiling. She looked at the wyvern. "I'll call you, Rukia."
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "You're watching Bleach now?"
Allison nodded. "Yes. It's fun." She looked at him. "Do you think your Nexus Stone could give you Rukia's Zanpakutō someday? I would love to have it."
Jacob shrugged. "No idea. But if I get it, it's yours."
He stood and handed his black wyvern to Malia. "Alright. Take these little ones to Saphira. She can look after them."
He turned to Sansa. "Come with me."
Lydia frowned. "Where are you going?"
Jacob's expression turned serious. "I'm going to test Erica."
Lydia's frown deepened. "Test her for what?"
"You girls like her, right?" Jacob crossed his arms. "So it's time to see if she's worth bringing to Serendell. If she passes my test, I'll bring her here, give her the Hulk serum, and she can be part of our family."
Allison asked, "What's your test?"
Jacob looked at Sansa. "Sansa will be the one testing her. If I show up, Erica will recognize my scent." He turned back to the others. "Sansa will attack Stiles. We'll see if Erica runs away—or if she tries to help him, even knowing she might die."
The room went quiet.
The girls exchanged glances. They didn't like it—but they understood. Not everyone could be brought to Serendell. Loyalty had to be proven.
Sansa handed Amber to Lydia and stood next to Jacob.
Jacob looked at the others. "Don't interfere. And if Stiles or Erica call you, don't answer." His voice hardened. "This has to be real."
He and Sansa walked to the kitchen.
Cogman was polishing the silverware.
Jacob asked, "Cogman, check where Stiles is. I asked him four days ago to come back to Beacon Hills. He said he'd be back today."
Cogman checked Stiles's phone location. "Stiles and Erica are back in Beacon Hills. They're on the road near the Beacon Hills Preserve." He sent Jacob the location. "I've sent you the location."
Jacob nodded. "Alright."
He teleported out of Serendell with Sansa.
---
Beacon Hills
Jacob pulled out his phone and checked Stiles's location. Then he and Sansa flew with their telekinesis, following the map until they hovered above the main road near the preserve.
A familiar blue jeep was cruising down the empty road.
"There they are," Jacob said. "Go. Stop them." He paused. "But don't break Stiles's car. He loves that thing."
Sansa looked at him. "What should I do?"
Jacob said, "Don't hurt Erica too much—she's weak. Tell her she can leave—that you're only there for Stiles." His smile turned evil. "As for Stiles... you can beat his ass without worry."
Sansa hesitated. "Is that... necessary? Isn't he your family?"
Jacob's expression softened for just a moment. "Stiles will forgive me after I tell him why I did it. He'll even be happy—if Erica passes the test and can come to Serendell."
Sansa took a deep breath. "Okay."
She teleported.
---
The jeep was cruising down the empty road, the windows down, music playing softly from the speakers. Stiles was drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, nodding along to the beat. Erica was in the passenger seat, her feet on the dashboard, her head tilted back, eyes closed.
Sansa appeared in the middle of the road, twenty meters ahead of them.
Stiles slammed on the brakes.
The jeep screeched to a halt.
Stiles's eyes darted around, scanning the trees. His hand went to his phone.
He dialed Jacob. No answer.
He dialed Lydia. No answer.
He dialed Allison. No answer.
"Shit," he muttered.
He shoved the phone in his pocket and got out.
Erica grabbed his arm. "Stiles—"
"Stay in the car," he repeated. "I'll handle this."
He walked toward Sansa.
She stood perfectly still, her blue eyes locked on him. Her face was cold, expressionless. The morning light caught her red hair, making it look like fire.
Stiles stopped a few meters away. "Who are you? What do you want?"
Sansa's voice was flat. "It doesn't matter who I am." She paused. "As for what I want..."
She vanished.
Stiles spun around.
She was behind him.
"...I want your life."
She kicked him hard in the back.
Stiles flew through the air like a ragdoll, crashing through trees, snapping branches, until he finally slammed into an oak and fell to the ground.
He groaned. His ribs ached. But the pain was already fading.
He pushed himself up and ran back toward the road, worried about Erica.
He burst out of the treeline and found Sansa waiting for him.
He threw a punch.
She caught it.
Stiles's eyes widened. He had drunk the Hulk serum. He was confident in his strength. But the girl in front of him caught his punch like it was nothing.
Sansa punched him in the chest.
He flew backward again, rolling across the asphalt, and came to a stop on his back.
He stood up. Raised his hand. A Lightning Weasel shot from his palm.
Sansa raised an energy shield. The lightning splashed against it harmlessly.
She waved her hand, and a bird made of pure fire shot toward him—wings spread, beak open.
Stiles tried to dodge, but Sansa froze him in place with telekinesis.
The fire bird hit him.
The explosion sent him tumbling across the road. His clothes were burned. His skin was red and blistered.
He stood up again, ignoring the pain as his wounds healed.
Sansa waved her hand again.
Stiles shot into the sky—then she brought him down.
He crashed into the forest floor like a meteor, creating a crater four meters wide. Dirt and leaves exploded outward.
Sansa sent another fire bird toward him. It exploded when it hit him.
When the fire extinguished, Stiles lay there, broken, bleeding, burning.
Sansa followed him into the woods. She looked down at him—at his injuries, at his pain—and felt a pang of guilt.
But he was already healing.
She waited.
---
Erica couldn't stay in the car anymore.
She ran into the woods and found Stiles in a crater, smoke rising from his body, blood on his lips.
Her eyes glowed yellow. Fur sprouted along her jaw. Claws extended from her fingers.
She roared and charged at Sansa.
Sansa waved her hand. Erica froze mid-leap, hanging in the air like a puppet on strings.
"This has nothing to do with you," Sansa said coldly. "I'm only here for him. Leave, and I will spare your life."
She flicked her wrist, and Erica flew backward, tumbling across the forest floor.
Erica scrambled to her feet and charged again.
Stiles stood up, his body still healing. "Erica, stop! Just leave! Let me handle this!"
Erica ignored him. She attacked again.
Sansa sent her flying again.
Erica got up again.
Stiles attacked—Lightning Weasels, punches, kicks, everything he had. But Sansa was stronger, faster, better. She teleported behind him, kicked his legs out from under him, slammed him into a tree, burned him with her fire.
And every time Erica charged, Sansa threw her back.
Erica was terrified. Her heart pounded. Her instincts screamed at her to run.
But she didn't run. She only thought about helping Stiles. And she kept fighting.
Stiles caught her in his arms after one of her charges, held her tight, and hit her in the neck hard enough to knock her unconscious.
She slumped in his arms.
He laid her gently on the ground and turned to Sansa.
"Please," he said, breathing hard. "Leave her out of this."
Sansa's cold expression cracked.
She looked at Stiles's worried and exhausted face and felt terrible.
"I'm sorry," she said. "My husband made me attack you."
Stiles blinked. "What? Who is your husband?"
Sansa pointed behind him.
Stiles turned.
Jacob stood at the edge of the clearing, leaning against a tree, smirking.
Stiles walked toward him—fast, angry. He grabbed Jacob by the collar.
"I'm going to kill you," Stiles said.
Jacob didn't flinch. "You should thank me."
Stiles's grip tightened. "Thank you? For what?"
Jacob punched him in the chest—not hard, just enough to make him let go. "Let's wake Erica first. Then we'll talk."
He walked to Erica, knelt beside her, and cast a healing spell. White light enveloped her. Her eyes fluttered open.
"Jacob?" She sat up quickly, looking around. "Help Stiles! He's in danger!"
Jacob pointed behind him. "He's fine."
Stiles walked over. "Yeah. I'm fine."
Erica stood and checked him over—his face, his arms, his chest. She sighed in relief when she found him whole.
Then she saw Sansa standing behind Jacob.
Her eyes glowed yellow. She growled.
Sansa stepped forward. "I'm sorry." She pointed at Jacob. "He made me do it."
Erica turned to Jacob. "Why?"
Jacob said, "I wanted to attack Stiles myself. But you would have caught my scent and known it was me."
Erica frowned. "Why attack Stiles at all? Did he do something to you?"
"No. I attacked him because I wanted to test you."
"Test me?"
Jacob's expression turned serious. "I wanted to see if you would run away and leave Stiles alone to die. Or if you would stay with him." He smiled. "You didn't disappoint me."
Stiles finally relaxed. "Alright. What was all of this about?"
Jacob said, "I wanted to see if Erica is worth bringing to Serendell. To be part of our family." He nodded at Erica. "She passed the test."
Stiles grinned. "Great."
Erica looked between them. "Great? I thought you were going to die!"
Stiles smiled. "Believe me, the beating I just took, and the fear we both felt... it was worth it. Serendell isn't just a magical place. It gives you an extra life, basically. You're going to love it there."
Jacob reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out a vial of Hulk serum. He handed it to Erica.
"This is my apology gift."
Erica took the vial, turning it over in her hands. "What is it?"
"It'll make you as strong as Stiles." Jacob paused. "Well, since you're a werewolf, you'll be stronger than him after you drink it."
Stiles's eyes lit up. He knew what it was. "Thanks, man." He lunged at Jacob. "I'm going to kiss you!"
Jacob punched him in the face and sent him flying into a tree. "Disgusting."
Erica finally relaxed and smiled.
Sansa smiled too and walked to Erica. "I'm sorry again."
Erica waved a hand. "Don't worry about it." She tilted her head. "But who exactly are you?"
Sansa pointed at Jacob. "I'm his wife."
Erica raised an eyebrow. "A new wife? But I've never seen you in town. Where did he find you?"
Jacob said, "I found her in another world. I'll tell you and Stiles about it later. Now, let's go to Serendell."
Stiles looked back. "Can you get my jeep?"
Jacob nodded. "Sure."
They walked back to the road. Jacob stored the jeep in his pocket dimension and opened a portal to Serendell.
They stepped through.
---
Serendell
They appeared in front of the palace.
Erica's jaw dropped.
The white stone walls gleamed in the sunlight. Crystal spires rose toward a perfect blue sky. Gardens stretched in every direction, bursting with flowers she had never seen before. In the distance, two mirror-calm lakes reflected the clouds above.
"This is..." Erica breathed. "This place feels... surreal."
Allison, Lydia, Malia, and Melissa felt Jacob's return and teleported to the palace entrance.
Allison smiled warmly. "Erica. Welcome."
Lydia stepped forward and hugged her. "We're so glad you're here."
Erica hugged her back, still stunned.
Jacob held out his hand. "Give me your hand."
Erica extended her hand. Jacob pressed his palm against the back of her hand. A flash of golden light emanated from their joined hands, and when it faded, a faint dragon head mark appeared on the back of Erica's hand before shimmering and disappearing beneath her skin.
"This mark lets you enter and leave Serendell," Jacob explained. "You're family now."
Erica stared at the palace, then at the women smiling at her.
She smiled back.
Jacob said, "Drink the serum I gave you. Then you can spar with Stiles or Malia to help you control your new strength."
Erica uncorked the vial and drank.
The serum burned going down, spreading through her body like liquid fire. Her skin flushed. Her muscles tensed. She clenched her fists and rode out the transformation.
Jacob and the others entered the palace, leaving only Stiles with her.
"Cogman," Jacob called. "Prepare a feast. We're welcoming Erica to the family."
Cogman appeared beside him. "Right away, sir." He paused. "Shall I prepare the torture chamber as well? In case she betrays us? We could torture Stiles as well while we're at it."
Jacob sighed. "No, you psycho. Just the feast. Erica will not betray us. As for Stiles... you can beat him if you want. He tried to kiss me again."
Cogman's eyes lit up. "I will teach him a lesson for you after the feast."
He teleported away.
Stiles, who had been watching over Erica, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
"Why do I feel like I'm in danger?" he muttered.
Chapter 194: Last Hearth
New
8 hours ago
The next morning, after breakfast in the large dining room, Jacob reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out Westerosi-style clothes for everyone—dresses and outfits embroidered with his sigil: the black dragon's head with burning red eyes on a crimson field.
After choosing their outfits, everyone teleported to their rooms to change, leaving only Jacob, Sansa, Kitty, and Arya in the dining room.
Soon, everyone returned.
Lydia and Melissa wore the same style of dress as Sansa—a Westerosi-style gown with golden accents along the seams and edges, paired with a flowing cloak. Lydia's gown was crimson red. Melissa's gown was forest green.
Allison and Malia wore the same style of outfit as Jacob—a noble, close-fitting Westerosi ensemble made of scaled leather resembling dragon hide.
Allison chose the color cyan. Her cloak was cyan as well, and she had her katana, Shusui, on her waist. The blade's dark scabbard stood out against the bright fabric.
Malia chose the color gray. Her cloak was also gray, and she wore no weapons—she didn't need them.
Stiles and Cogman also wore the same outfit as Jacob, but without cloaks. Stiles chose beige, looking like a medieval scholar. Cogman chose black, his sharp features and precise movements making him look like an assassin from a dark fairy tale.
Erica wore a medieval court gown in the color purple.
Jacob looked at his wives with admiration, his gaze traveling from Allison's confident stance to Lydia's poised elegance to Melissa's warm smile to Malia's fierce beauty to Sansa's regal grace.
Then he turned to Erica and started staring absently. His eyes didn't blink.
Lydia, who had been talking with Allison, noticed. She nudged Allison's arm.
"Look at that pervert," Lydia whispered. "He's drooling over Erica."
Allison glanced at Erica, who was chatting with Stiles, then at Jacob, who was staring at her unblinkingly.
Allison shrugged. "Let Stiles worry about that."
Lydia smirked and called out, "Hey, Stiles!"
Stiles turned. "What?"
Lydia's smile widened. "I think Erica is in danger."
Erica and Stiles both frowned.
"What do you mean?" Stiles asked.
Lydia nodded toward Jacob. "Look."
Stiles turned.
Jacob was still staring at Erica.
Erica stood there awkwardly, not knowing how to react.
Stiles panicked. He ran to Jacob and grabbed him by the collar.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Stiles shook him.
Jacob finally stopped staring at Erica. He tried to speak, but a trickle of drool slipped from his lips. He wiped it with the back of his hand.
"What do you think you're doing, Stiles?"
Stiles's grip tightened. "No. What do you think you're doing?"
Jacob looked genuinely innocent. "Me? Nothing. I was just admiring the girls' outfits."
Stiles released him. "No. You were staring at my Erica."
Jacob raised his hands in surrender. "Don't worry. I'm not interested in her."
Stiles said, "I don't believe you. You were drooling while staring at her."
Jacob sighed. "I said don't worry. Although Erica is hot, she's in a relationship with you. I would never go after her or break you two up." He paused. "I was just thinking about having my own blonde girl. I got lost in thought thinking about hot blonde girls from movies and comics."
Stiles narrowed his eyes. "I'll keep my eye on you."
Jacob shrugged and started walking out of the dining room. "Alright. Time to go."
Everyone followed him to the World Travel Room and walked through the door leading to the Game of Thrones world.
---
Moat Cailin — Morning
They appeared in the courtyard of the ruined fortress.
Rain fell in steady sheets, drumming against crumbling stone and pooling in the muddy ruts of ancient paths. The air was cold and damp, carrying the scent of wet earth and rotting reeds from the surrounding swamps.
The capsule house was already stored in Jacob's pocket dimension. Brienne and Podrick were in two tents he had left for them.
Jacob called out, "Brienne! We're back!"
Brienne and Podrick emerged from their tents, pulling on cloaks against the rain.
Brienne saluted. "Your Grace."
Podrick waved awkwardly.
Lydia looked around at the broken towers and overgrown stones. Water dripped from collapsed archways. Moss clung to the walls like green fur.
"So," she said, "what are we going to do?"
Jacob pointed north. "I'm heading to find Sansa's brothers and try to conquer the Free Folk. There's nothing fun to do up there." He looked at the group. "You girls can go south if you want to experience this world."
Lydia nodded. "Okay. We'll go south. We'll meet tonight in Serendell."
Jacob smiled. "Alright."
Lydia turned to Sansa. "Where's the best place to visit in Westeros? Somewhere we can do some shopping?"
Sansa thought for a moment. "Oldtown, in the Reach. It's the oldest city in Westeros. The Citadel is there—where maesters are trained. But more importantly..." A small smile crossed her lips. "The merchants there trade with every corner of the known world. Silk from Qarth, spices from Leng, gemstones from the Shadow Lands. If you want a civilized, luxury shopping experience, that is where you go."
Lydia's eyes sparkled. "Oldtown it is."
Jacob reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out the Map of the Game of Thrones World. He handed it to Lydia.
"This is an enchanted map. It works like a GPS. Just think of where you want to go, and it will guide you there."
Lydia took the map and studied it. A blue line appeared under her gaze, showing the fastest route from Moat Cailin to Oldtown.
Jacob then pulled out the Flying Carpet.
"This is a Flying Carpet. It can be controlled mentally by one of you girls. It can grow or shrink to hold one passenger or many."
Allison stepped forward and sat on the carpet. She focused, and the carpet lifted off the ground. It flew a smooth circle around them, then stopped, hovering in the air.
Allison smiled. "I'll be the one controlling it."
Jacob then took two heavy leather bags from his pocket dimension—clinking with coins—and handed them to Melissa.
"Two thousand Gold Dragons and two thousand Silver Stags," he said. "Ask Sansa to explain the value of a Gold Dragon and a Silver Stag."
Sansa, Arya, Brienne, and Podrick's eyes went wide.
Sansa said, "Jay, that is too much coin."
Jacob shrugged. "Nothing is too much for you girls. And it's not like you have to spend all of it."
Lydia looked at the bags. "What if we need more?"
Jacob shook his head with a smile and said to Sansa, "See? She already wants more."
Sansa looked at Lydia and said, "Believe me, we won't need more."
Jacob said, "A thousand Gold Dragons is roughly equivalent to one million dollars in our world."
Lydia's jaw dropped. "Really?"
Jacob nodded. "Really."
Lydia grinned and clapped her hands. "Alright, girls. Let's go shopping."
Jacob looked around the group. "Besides Malia and Kitty, who's coming with me? And who wants to go shopping?"
Arya stepped forward. "I'm coming with you."
Stiles raised a hand. "I'm coming with you too." He looked at Erica. "You go with Allison and the others. Have fun. Buy whatever you want. They'll pay for it."
Erica nodded. "Okay."
Jacob looked at Podrick. "Podrick, you come with me too." He turned to Brienne. "Brienne, you go with the girls. Cogman, you go with them as well."
Cogman bowed. "As you wish, sir. Shall I gouge the eyes of any man who looks at them?"
Jacob nodded. "Yes. And crush their balls too."
Cogman's smile was unsettling. "It would be my pleasure, sir."
Melissa said, "No. You will do no such thing. Or don't come with us."
Cogman's eyes widened. "But what if they try to harass you? What if they attack you?"
Allison said, "Then you can teach them a lesson. But don't go too far."
Cogman's smile returned. "Yes. I will deal with them accordingly."
Allison made the carpet grow until it was large enough to seat all of them comfortably. "Alright. Let's go."
Lydia, Melissa, Sansa, Erica, Cogman, and Brienne climbed onto the Flying Carpet.
"We'll meet you in Serendell tonight," Allison said.
Jacob nodded. "Have fun."
The carpet lifted off and shot south, disappearing into the grey sky.
Jacob turned to the remaining group: Malia, Kitty, Arya, Stiles, and Podrick.
"Alright," he said. "Let's go too." He looked at Arya. "Do you want to look for your wolf Nymeria first, or get your brothers first?"
Arya shook her head. "I'll look for Nymeria later by myself. Let's get my brothers first. I'm worried about them."
Jacob nodded. "Okay."
He wrapped everyone in his telekinesis. They lifted off the ground and shot north, leaving Moat Cailin behind.
The ruins grew smaller and smaller until they vanished below the clouds.
They flew over swamps, then forests, then hills. The rain stopped as they traveled north, replaced by grey clouds and biting wind.
Jacob pulled out Jack Sparrow's compass from his pocket dimension. The needle spun lazily, then pointed steadily northeast.
"Last Hearth is that way," he said.
---
They flew over Winterfell.
From above, the castle looked like a grey stone scar on the white landscape. Bolton banners hung from the battlements—the flayed man, red and black, flapping in the cold wind.
Arya stared down at her childhood home. Her jaw tightened. Her hands curled into fists.
"We'll take it back," Jacob said quietly. "Soon."
Arya nodded. She didn't look away until Winterfell was lost behind the clouds.
They flew on.
---
The Last Hearth — Three Hours Later
The land changed as they traveled north.
The hills flattened into rolling plains, then into sparse forest, then into open tundra. Snow covered everything—deep drifts that buried fallen logs, white blankets that smoothed the contours of the land. The wind howled across the empty expanse, carrying ice crystals that sparkled in the pale afternoon light.
Last Hearth sat on a rocky rise at the edge of a frozen river.
The castle was ancient, built by the First Men thousands of years ago to guard the northernmost reaches of the North. Its walls were made of grey granite blocks, thick and weathered, covered in frost. The towers were squat and square, designed for defense rather than beauty. The entire fortress looked like something carved from a mountain and left to freeze.
Jacob landed the group on a ridge overlooking the castle. Snow crunched under their boots.
"This is Last Hearth," Jacob said. "Home of House Umber."
Stiles shivered. "It's freezing. How do people live here?"
"They don't have a choice," Arya said quietly.
She stared at the castle. "Rickon is in there?"
Jacob nodded. "According to what I know, yes. He's been hiding there with his wolf, Shaggydog, and a woman named Osha." He looked at Arya. "Do you remember her?"
Arya frowned. "The wildling woman?"
Jacob nodded. "Yes."
Arya said, "I remember her, but I don't know her that well. She was captured by Robb and was working in the kitchen." Her voice tightened. "Is Rickon really safe with her?"
Jacob said, "Yes. She's actually like a mother to him. She's been taking care of him since he escaped from Winterfell. In fact, she and Hodor were the ones who helped Rickon and Bran escape."
Stiles said, "Remind me again how you know about the past of this world."
Jacob thought, 'Because I watched the Game of Thrones show in the world I grew up in—but let's say it was the Nexus Stone.' Aloud, he said, "Remember the Nexus Stone I told you about?"
Stiles said, "How can I forget? I still can't believe that you were actually born in the Marvel universe and that you have all six Infinity Stones inside your body."
Jacob shrugged. "I still can't believe it myself. But anyway, it was the Nexus stone that told me about the history of this world after it brought me here."
Just then, a system window appeared in front of Jacob's eyes.
[System Notification]
[Quest Sign-In Available: Greatjon Umber is dead, and his son Smalljon Umber is already planning to ally with the Boltons—even though Jon Snow hasn't yet let the Free Folk south of the Wall. Host can sign in after taking Rickon Stark, Osha, and the direwolf Shaggydog away from Last Hearth.]
---
Jacob read the quest and thought, 'I see. So even if I take Arya there, Smalljon Umber will try to attack us. He will definitely not surrender to me. And I don't want him to. A traitor like him deserves to die. But it's not time yet.'
Arya said, "Let's go get Rickon."
Jacob shook his head. "I'll go alone. Greatjon Umber is dead, and his son Smalljon is the Lord of Last Hearth and head of House Umber now. He can't be trusted, and he will definitely not swear allegiance to me. He'll try to attack us." He paused. "But it's not time to kill him yet. If I kill him, the Umber warriors will attack us, and we'll have to kill some of them. I don't want to kill people unless it's necessary. I mean, it's okay to kill in war or if they're bad people, but I don't feel like butchering them in their own home." He looked at Arya. "So for now, I'll get your brother quietly. After we take over Castle Black and conquer the Free Folk, we'll deal with Smalljon."
Arya nodded. "Okay."
Jacob said, "Alright. You guys stay here. I'll be back soon."
He teleported.
---
Jacob appeared above the roof of one of the towers of Last Hearth. Snow covered the slate tiles, and the wind howled around him.
He activated his X-ray vision and scanned the castle.
The great hall was empty. The kitchens were cold. The barracks held sleeping soldiers, their breaths fogging in the chill air.
Then he found them.
In a small room on the second floor of the eastern tower, a boy lay on a bed, covered in furs. A woman sat in a chair by the window, watching the door. And curled at the foot of the bed, larger than any wolf had a right to be, was a massive black direwolf.
Jacob teleported directly inside the room.
Shaggydog noticed him immediately.
The direwolf sprang to his feet, hackles raised, and stood in front of Rickon and Osha. His lips peeled back, revealing teeth the size of daggers. A deep, rumbling growl filled the room.
Jacob looked at the black wolf admiringly. "You're way bigger than I thought."
He released a tiny fraction of his dragon aura.
Shaggydog's growl cut off mid-throat. His ears flattened. His tail tucked between his legs. He backed away, whimpering—but he still stood in front of Rickon, protecting him.
Jacob smiled. "Your wolf is brave and loyal. Even though he's terrified of me right now, he's still trying to protect you."
Osha shoved Rickon behind her and pulled a dagger from her belt. "Who are you? And how did you appear out of nowhere?"
Jacob raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture. "I'm Jacob. Rickon's brother-in-law."
Rickon peeked from behind Osha. "Brother-in-law?"
Jacob nodded. "I'm Sansa's husband."
Rickon's eyes went wide. "Really? Is she okay?"
Jacob smiled. "She's fine. She's happy. You'll see her tonight."
He restrained his aura completely. Shaggydog stopped whimpering and sniffed the air cautiously.
Jacob walked to the direwolf and extended his hand. "Relax. I mean Rickon no harm."
Shaggydog sniffed his fingers. Then his tail wagged once—just once—and he licked Jacob's palm.
Jacob laughed and rubbed the wolf's massive head. "Good boy." He reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out three kilos of Sker Buffalo meat. "Here. Eat this. It's your reward for being brave."
Shaggydog sniffed the meat, took a tentative bite, then inhaled the rest. He rubbed his head against Jacob happily.
Jacob looked at Rickon and Osha. "Alright, Rickon. Osha. Is there anything you want to take with you? If not, let's go."
Osha still didn't trust him. Her dagger was still in her hand. "How do we know you are who you say you are?"
Jacob was about to pull out his phone to show them a picture of him and Sansa when Rickon spoke.
"Shaggydog trusts him," the boy said. "So I trust him too." He looked at Osha. "Let's go with him." He turned to Jacob. "We don't have anything to take."
Osha stared at Jacob for a moment. "I still don't think we should go with him."
Jacob didn't say anything more. He wrapped the three of them in his telekinesis and teleported back to Arya and the others.
---
Rickon and Osha fell onto the snow-covered ground. They scrambled to their feet, looking around in confusion.
Osha's eyes darted to the trees, to the sky, to the strangers standing nearby. "How... how did we get here?"
Rickon saw Arya.
He froze.
Arya smiled. "Hello, little brother."
Rickon's lips trembled. "Ar... Arya? Is that really you?"
Arya nodded. Tears streamed down her face. "Yes. It's really me."
Rickon launched himself at her. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her shoulder, sobbing.
Arya held him tight, crying too.
---
Stiles stared at Osha, who was watching Rickon and Arya with wide eyes. He walked next to Jacob.
"Jacob," Stiles whispered, "that woman looks exactly like Nymphadora Tonks from Harry Potter."
Jacob nodded. "Yeah. She looks exactly like the actress who played Tonks." He paused. "Maybe we'll find your doppelganger in this world. Or another world."
Stiles grinned. "Oh, that would be fun. I wonder what my doppelganger would be doing."
Jacob smirked. "Considering you like to lie? A thief. Or an unscrupulous merchant. Or a spy. Or a quack doctor."
Stiles crossed his arms. "And what would your doppelganger be doing? Working in a brothel?"
Jacob shrugged. "No. I'm sure I don't have a doppelganger. I'm unique." He flipped his hair dramatically. "I'm so handsome even cameras can't capture my true beauty. I look better than my own reflection."
Stiles ignored him and walked to Podrick. "So, Podrick. What do you guys do for fun in this world?"
Podrick thought for a moment. "Tourneys and jousting. Hunting. Drinking and singing." He lowered his voice. "And... visiting brothels."
Stiles's eyebrows rose. "Only tourneys and jousting sound interesting. Tell me more."
Podrick launched into an explanation of medieval tournaments—the lances, the horses, the prizes.
---
Malia walked to Jacob. "Where are we going next?"
Jacob said, "We'll head to Castle Black."
A system window appeared in front of his eyes.
[You have completed the quest successfully. You may sign in now, Host.]
Jacob thought, 'Not now. Leave it until tonight.'
[As you wish, Host.]
---
Arya and Rickon broke their hug. She held him at arm's length and looked him over.
"Look at you," she said. "You're the same height as me."
Rickon grinned. "I've grown."
Arya ruffled his hair. "Did you learn how to wield a sword?"
Rickon looked sheepish. "A little."
Arya smiled. "You can ask Jon to teach you when we meet him."
Rickon's eyes lit up. "Are we going to Castle Black?"
Arya nodded. "Yes."
She turned to Osha and said sincerely, "Thank you. For saving Rickon and Bran from Theon. For taking care of Rickon."
Osha just nodded. She didn't say anything.
Jacob clapped his hands. "Alright. Let's head to Castle Black."
He wrapped everyone in his telekinesis.
They lifted off the ground. Rickon, Osha, and Shaggydog screamed in fear at first—the direwolf whimpered and tucked his tail—but soon they forgot their fear and started enjoying the flight.
Rickon whooped. Osha stared at the clouds in wonder. Shaggydog's tongue lolled out of his mouth as the wind rushed past his ears.
They flew north.
---
Two hours later, they saw the Wall.
It rose from the earth like a mountain range made of ice—seven hundred feet tall, three hundred miles long, a colossal fortification of solid ice and stone that stretched across the northern border of Westeros, separating the Seven Kingdoms from the wild lands beyond.
Even from a distance, it was breathtaking.
Jacob landed everyone in a forest three miles away from the Wall. The trees were thick here—pines and firs, their branches heavy with snow.
"Let's spend the night here," Jacob said. "We'll go to Castle Black tomorrow."
He pulled a tent from his pocket dimension for Podrick. Then he took the small capsule and threw it to the ground.
The capsule expanded with a soft whump, transforming into the two-story round house.
Stiles's jaw dropped. "That's... that's the Capsule House from Dragon Ball!"
Jacob nodded. "Yes."
They made a fire and sat around it. Jacob pulled food from his pocket dimension—roasted chicken, fresh bread, fruit, and bottles of water. They ate while talking.
Rickon asked Arya about her adventures and listened with wide eyes.
---
That night, Lydia contacted Jacob telepathically.
[Jay, we're back in Serendell.]
Jacob didn't answer. He teleported to Serendell.
He appeared in the living room of the palace. Allison, Lydia, Melissa, Sansa, and Erica were sitting on the couches. Cogman stood by the door, holding a tray of drinks.
Jacob kissed each of his wives. Then he told Sansa about Rickon.
Sansa's hands flew to her mouth. "He's safe? He's really safe?"
Jacob nodded. "He's waiting at a camp near the Wall. I'll take you to him."
Sansa said, "Go get Brienne first. Take her to where you camped. I teleported her back to Moat Cailin. Then come and take me too."
Jacob teleported to Moat Cailin, found Brienne there, and teleported her to the camp near the Wall.
Then he went back to Serendell and brought Sansa—since she couldn't teleport from Serendell to a place she had never been.
---
Sansa appeared in the forest. The firelight flickered over the snow. Arya was sitting on a log, and beside her—
"Rickon," Sansa whispered.
Rickon looked up. His face crumpled.
"Sansa!"
He ran to her. She caught him and held him tight, sobbing into his hair.
"I thought you were dead," she cried.
Rickon clung to her. "I'm okay."
They stayed like that for a long time.
Jacob watched for a moment, then said softly, "I'll go back to Serendell and leave you to spend the night with Rickon and Arya. I'll be back tomorrow."
Sansa looked at him, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you," she said. "Thank you for finding him."
Jacob kissed her forehead. "You're welcome."
Then he, Malia, Kitty, and Stiles returned to Serendell.
Sansa, Arya, Rickon, and Osha went inside the capsule house.
Brienne, Podrick, and Shaggydog stayed outside to keep watch.
Shaggydog curled up by the door, his massive head resting on his paws, and closed his eyes.