Several months later, Bran continues his training with the Three-Eyed Raven in the cave underneath the weirwood tree far north beyond the Wall. In his latest vision he stands beside the raven and is shown a scene from Winterfell’s past, watching his father Lord Eddard and uncle Benjen Stark training in the yard as young boys. He witnesses seeing younger versions of his aunt Lyanna Stark, Old Nan and Ser Rodrik Cassel. In addition, his visions show him a stableboy that he realizes is a young Hodor - and is surprised that in his youth he was not a lackwit but was intellectually normal and could talk. Hodor’s real name, which he has been unable to articulate for the majority of his life, is actually "Wylis". Though Bran wants to stay, he is dragged out of the vision by the Three-Eyed Raven, who warns him that it is dangerous to stay too long in such visions. This was something the deceased Jojen Reed had once told him as he began spending too much time warging into his direwolf Summer. Outside of the cave, Bran then finds Meera Reed, who still appears to be in grieving over her brother's death some months later. Though Meera questions the point of her presence during Bran's training, Leaf, the child of the forest, states that Bran will need her when his training finishes.

Some time later, Bran has a vision of the past again. He and the Three-Eyed Raven are at the Tower of Joy in Dorne, shortly after the end of Robert's Rebellion. The last two of the Targaryen Kingsguards block the way of a small party of Northmen led by Eddard Stark himself, a young adult during this point in history. The Raven identifies one of Ned's companions as Howland Reed,  Meera's father. Eddard informs the infamously-skilled Dornish knight, Ser Arthur Dayne, to stand down and asks where his sister Lyanna is, but Dayne simply wishes Stark the best in the wars to come. The two sides then clash, with Dayne quickly cutting down the number of Northmen. Eventually, Arthur Dayne duels Eddard one-on-one. Bran expresses his shock at Ser Arthur's skills as Dayne easily gains the upper hand but is unprepared for Howland Reed sneaking up from behind and stabbing him through the back of the neck. Eddard then runs towards the tower, having heard a woman's scream come from one of its windows as Bran runs to follow him, calling out. Ned looks back for a second, seemingly hearing Bran, but then runs into the Tower of Joy to find his sister Lyanna. Bran attempts to follow, but he is forced out of the past and back into the cave by the Raven. Bran is angry at this, but is told it was for his safety, and again sternly reminds him that the past cannot be changed. The Raven further states that he's waited a thousand years for Bran to arrive, and that Bran will not share the same destiny as himself. However, before Bran can leave the cave, he must learn everything.

Some weeks later, the Three-Eyed Raven shows another vision to Bran. As they walk together along a lush green valley they quickly come upon a heart tree amidst a spiral formation of standing stones. As Bran notices someone with a similar appearance to Leaf running towards the tree through the stones, he quickly follows. Bran and the Raven stop when they see a small group of Children of the Forest congregated together, including Leaf herself, who appears no different in age. As the Children talk amongst themselves, they then look eagerly at a captive bound to the heart tree. When Leaf starts approaching the captor gripping a shard of dragonglass, the Raven then realizes the vision they have stumbled upon. Leaf then forces the dragonglass into the captive's chest as he screams when it’s buried entirely inside of him. He does not die, however, instead his eyes turn icy blue and is turned into the very first White Walker, which dates back to some twelve-thousand years ago. Bran immediately comes out of his vision and confronts Leaf about her direct part in creating the White Walkers millenniums ago. Leaf explains that they were at war with the First Men and were desperate for protection.

Afterwards, Bran is the only one in the cave awake and is anxious to continue his training. He impatiently then wargs into the weirwood tree by himself, and he enters a new vision outside of the same heart tree where he witnessed the creation of the White Walkers, though this time there is a blizzard and the tree and sanding stones are covered in snow. Then in the distance he sees the army of the dead. He cautiously walks towards and then through the army of the dead. Though understanding of the fact that he cannot be harmed, there is a different feel to this vision in particular as he tries to avoid colliding with any of the wights. Bran then comes to a clearing that is occupied by four White Walkers, including their leader, the Night King.  As Bran becomes aware that the Night King and the dead are now able to see him somehow, the Night King grabs him by the arm. He suddenly breaks out of the vision with a scream, waking the others. The Three-Eyed Raven urges to him that the Night King is now able to locate Bran, who is now marked on his right forearm, and is also able to bypass the powerful magic keeping the White Walkers and the wights from entering the cave.  As a result, the Raven insists that they must leave immediately and Bran must "become" the Three-Eyed Raven. Bran asks whether he is ready, and the Raven says "No," at which point Bran's eyes whiten as he enters another vision.

Later on, as Meera and Hodor are preparing to leave they notice the air is so cold that their  breath is visible, indicating the arrival of the White Walkers.  Outside of the cave, the remaining Children of the Forest try using magic projectiles to fend off the army of the dead, but they are quickly overwhelmed. The Children then light a fire around the entrance which prevents the  wights from entering, however, the White Walkers extinguish a pathway and walk through.  The wights end up climbing over the weirwood and dropping through roots at the top of the cave. Inside, Meera desperately tries to bring Bran out of the vision as she also attempts to get the terrified Hodor to carry Bran away, to no avail. Using a dragonglass spear, Meera kills the first White Walker that enters, and fights alongside the Children of the Forest to try to fend off the wights until Bran wakes up. Scores of wights begin to swarm the cave, killing every Child of the Forest except for Leaf, as Meera starts yelling at Bran to warg into Hodor. Meanwhile, inside his vision, Bran is at Winterfell again with the Raven, this time watching his father Eddard converse with his own father, Rickard Stark. While still in the vision, Bran eventually hears Meera's cries begging him to warg into Hodor while the Raven urges Bran to listen to her. Bran then accidentally wargs into both the present-day Hodor in the cave as well as Wylis, the young version of Hodor in his vision. Present-day Hodor puts Bran's body on a sled and starts hauling him down a tunnel leading out of the cave with Leaf as Bran's direwolf Summer is killed attacking the wights. As the wights close in on them, Leaf sacrifices herself, using magic to cause a huge explosion, buying the other three enough time to get to the end of the tunnel. Inside the vision, the Night King then appears and kills the Three-Eyed Raven, who blows away as ashes. Meanwhile, Hodor pushes the door of the cave open and pulls Bran through, coming back to help Meera close the door just as the horde of wights approach. Meera grabs Bran's sled and tells Hodor to bar the exit, shouting: "Hold the door!" Inside Bran's vision, Wylis notices Bran, who links the present Hodor to the past Wylis. Wylis then begins to seize when he enters the mind of his future self. As Meera continues to yell "Hold the door!" to present-day Hodor, within Bran's vision Wylis falls to the ground convulsing and starts repeating this same sentence in the midst of his seizure. Eventually, "hold the door" slurs into "Hodor," as Wylis’ condition deteriorates and it becomes apparent this is the moment Hodor lost the ability to say any other words, and his destiny was fixed. Present-day Hodor braces himself against the door long enough for Meera to disappear into the night with Bran's unconscious body on the sled.  Inevitably, the wights break through some of the door and begin tearing Hodor apart. 

After escaping, an exhausted Meera continues to pull Bran through the snow as he remains in his vision-state. Bran experiences a rush of visions all at once: the “Mad King” Aerys Targaryen shouting "Burn them all!" during Robert’s Rebellion as well as flashes of the Red Wedding at the Twins where his brother Robb and mother Catelyn were brutally murdered. Bran also sees scores of wights in a fishing village beyond the Wall named Hardhome that had been demolished by the army of the dead some months ago. Quick flashes of wildfire, dragons, Ser Jaime Lannister and the Iron Throne appear to him as well. Meanwhile, the wights from the cave that are still in pursuit of Bran and Meera are also seen in his vision. Meanwhile, Meera cannot go on any further and tries to wake Bran, who finally comes out of his vision to urgently inform her that: "They've found us." Meera can hear wights approaching through the trees, but without any energy left to pull Bran, and barely enough to draw her sword, she apologises to Bran for failing him, as the wights come into sight. Just as all appears hopeless, a mysterious rider suddenly appears and attacks the wights with a sickle and a flaming flail. Once the wights in the immediate vicinity have been killed off, the hooded man urges Meera and Bran to come with him because "the dead don't rest." The pair then escape with the man on horseback.

Afterwards, once they’ve reached relative safety and a far distance from the cave, the hooded rider prepares a meal by the fire. As the man drains the blood from the hunted rabbit in preparation of skinning it, Bran is fast asleep while a distrusting Meera asks the mysterious savior why he helped them. The rider reveals that he was sent by the Three-Eyed Raven, but Meera notes to him that he had just perished. However, the rider then insists that the Three-Eyed Raven "lives again." Just as the man says this aloud, Bran suddenly wakes up. The rider then reveals himself as a disfigured Benjen Stark, Bran's uncle who went missing beyond the Wall several years ago. Much to Bran’s amazement and confusion, Benjen then explains that he was stabbed in the gut by a White Walker and left to die, but the Children of the Forest rescued him, stopping the magic that would have resurrected him as a wight. He explains that Bran must now be the Three-eyed Raven, and when the White Walkers come to the realms of men, Bran will be waiting for them.

Several weeks later, Benjen Stark drops Bran and Meera off at a grove with a weirwood tree in sight of the Wall, as he can travel no farther. When Bran asks why, Benjen informs his nephew that the magic of the Wall prevents the dead from crossing, such as himself. However, Benjen notes that he plans to do what he can to prepare for the coming war, as he still fights for the living. After thanking his uncle, who rides off on horseback, Bran then turns his attention to the weirwood tree. Meera expresses doubts about his readiness, but Bran insists that he must be the Three-Eyed Raven now and places his hand on the face carved into the tree. He then has another vision of the events he saw in Dorne, right where he had left off before the former  Raven interrupted him. Having learned his lesson, Bran does not call after his father Eddard this time, but instead follows him inside the Tower of Joy. It is there where Bran sees Eddard’s discovery of his sister Lyanna Stark lying in her birthing bed with blood-stained sheets. One of the handmaidens places a newborn baby into Eddard’s arms, as a dying Lyanna whispers into his ear, though Bran isn’t able to hear what she has said. Then aloud, Lyanna begs Ned to promise that he will keep her child safe. As Eddard looks at his newborn nephew, the child's eyes open up to reveal the same dark-colored eyes of Jon Snow. Suddenly, Bran then realizes that Jon is not his half-brother at all, but his cousin. For whatever unknown importance yet to be discovered, this was a secret that Bran’s father took to his grave.

Beyond the Wall, a column of White Walkers riding undead horses lead a horde of wights  through a snowstorm. Their numbers now include at least three undead giants as they continue their march towards the Wall in their attempt to breach into the Seven Kingdoms. Meanwhile,  Bran, who comes out of a vision, and an exhausted Meera Reed reach the gate beneath Castle Black, home of the Night’s Watch. They are greeted by the acting Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, Eddison Tollett, and several armed Black Brothers. Eddison asks if they are wildlings, but Meera introduces herself and Bran to him. When Eddison asks them to verify their identities, Bran responds by recognizing Edd from his visions that showed him the conflicts at the Fist of the First Men as well as the massacre that took place at the village of Hardhome, observing that he has encountered the army of the dead. Eddison decides to bring the pair inside, glancing nervously at the increasingly hostile lands beyond the Wall.

Some weeks after arriving to Castle Black, Bran and Meera continue onwards and after several years away from home, he finally has returned to Winterfell. His eldest sister Sansa Stark, now the Lady of Winterfell, is conversing with her advisor Lord Petyr Baelish when she is interrupted by a guard informing her of a visitor. As Sansa enters the courtyard to find the visitor in question, she is reunited with her brother Bran. After a few moments of disbelief, she rushes over to him and tearfully embraces him. As his journey in becoming the Three-Eyed Raven has left him detached from his previous life, the emotional reunion is largely displayed only through Sansa’s reaction. Afterwards, the two siblings then retreat to the godswood, where Sansa tells Bran how she wishes Jon was there with them at Winterfell. Bran agrees, noting that he needs to speak to him since his discovery of his true parentage, though does not inform Sansa of this news. When Sansa points out that Bran is the rightful Lord of Winterfell since he is the last remaining true-born son of Eddard Stark, he refuses the position, stating that he is the Three-Eyed Raven now and thus can't be any sort of lord. Sansa begs for Bran to explain what that means, as Bran then demonstrates his power of greensight to a skeptical Sansa by recalling details from the horrific night of her marriage to the now-deceased Ramsay Bolton. some years ago. Startled, Sansa walks away in shock and tears.

Some time later at Winterfell, Sansa’s advisor, Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish, meets with Bran. Apparently hoping to exploit disunity among the Stark children for his own personal gain, he tries to ingratiate himself with Bran. Littlefinger gives Bran a gift, the very same Valyrian steel dagger that a cutthroat once tried to kill him with while he was in a coma right after he was pushed from the tower at Winterfell by Jaime Lannister. Bran is still emotionally detached, from all of his visions, however, and is generally uninterested. He only absentmindedly asks Littlefinger who the dagger belonged to. With a wry look, Littlefinger responds that, in a way, this is the question which started the entire War of the Five Kings. Bran's mother Lady Catelyn took the dagger south with her to King's Landing in an attempt to ascertain who it belonged to, as she was convinced the Lannisters sent the cutthroat to kill Bran. She left the dagger in the capital with Eddard, from whom Littlefinger recovered it. Baelish then tries to manipulate Bran by remarking on how much chaos he must have lived through to get back to Winterfell. In response, Bran looks at Littlefinger and says, "Chaos is a ladder," something Littlefinger once said to a king’s advisor by the name of Lord Varys in King's Landing years before. Something which Bran couldn't possibly have been physically present to hear. Visibly unnerved, Lord Baelish is then startled by Meera Reed, who enters Bran’s chambers. He takes his leave of Bran, calling him "Lord Stark", though again Bran insists that he's not a lord.

After Littlefinger exits, Meera notices Bran's new wheelchair. He explains that Maester Wolkan  built it for him. She informs him that she has come to say farewell, explaining that she promised to keep him safe, and now that he's back in Winterfell surrounded by his Stark forces, he's as safe as anyone will be before the coming war. Meera asserts that when the White Walkers arrive, she wants to be with her family, so she is heading back to the Neck to assist her people, the  Crannogmen. When Meera declares that he doesn't need her in Winterfell anymore, Bran agrees with her, sporting a blank and emotionless face. He simply thanks her for her help. Meera then becomes irate that this is all he has to say after everything they went through, when Hodor, Summer and even her own brother Jojen died for Bran. Bran responds that he isn't really "Bran Stark" anymore, but the Three-Eyed Raven. He "remembers" the events of Bran Stark's life, but now "remembers" vast amounts of other accumulated memories from centuries upon centuries. Everything that once affected "Bran Stark" now seems distant and trivial to him. Meera cries that Bran died in the Raven’s cave and then solemnly departs from Winterfell.

Meanwhile, Bran’s youngest sister Arya arrives at Winterfell on horseback, as she too finally returns home after several years away and many traumas of her own. Once Arya reunites with Sansa in the family crypts, Bran is brought to the godswood to greet her return as well. Still somewhat detached, even at the sight of Arya, Bran insists that he isn't surprised she's alive because he “saw” her at the Crossroads Inn not long ago. Arya is confused, but Sansa explains that Bran is having visions now. Bran informs that he thought Arya was going to King's Landing, and when Sansa asks why she would head there of all places, he again startles them both by saying it's because Queen Cersei is on her kill list, which he can't possibly be aware of through normal means. They then remark on the Valyrian steel dagger in his lap, and he explains that Littlefinger gave it to him. Arya is confused as to why a common cutthroat would have a rare blade of Valyrian steel. Bran then matter-of-factly says that someone very wealthy wanted him dead, and gave it to the assassin those many years ago. Sansa acknowledges she doesn't actually trust Littlefinger and he'd never give anyone anything unless expecting something in return. Bran asserts that it doesn't matter because he doesn't want it. Instead, Bran hands it to Arya, insisting that the dagger would be "wasted on a cripple." Arya slowly takes the dagger and looks at it. Sansa, Bran and Arya - the three remaining trueborn Stark children - then proceed back to Winterfell's castle courtyard together, with Arya pushing Bran in his wheelchair.

Some time later, in the godswood of Winterfell, Bran sits alone by the weirwood tress and wargs into a flock of ravens in order to inspect the whereabouts of the army of the dead. Through the ravens, Bran eventually comes upon the undead army, led by the White Walkers and the Night King, as they travel south towards Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, one of the only three castles along the Wall that remain guarded by the Night’s Watch. Bran’s reconnaissance continues until the Night King sees the soaring ravens, at which Bran then severs the connection. He urgently commands  Maester Wolkan that they need to send out messenger-ravens at once.

Some weeks later, tension has grown between the Stark sisters, as Baelish continues to turn them against each other. Sansa discusses the potential threat of her sister  with Littlefinger. Overcome with horror at the thought that Arya would want to take her place as Lady of Winterfell, it seems that Sansa decides to do something about it. She then orders Arya be brought to the Great Hall, where she and Bran are seated at the great table. Arya is brought in and asks Sansa if she "really wants to do this?" Sansa replies that it's not about what she wants, it's about justice. She proceeds to rattle off a list of crimes perpetrated against House Stark... and then suddenly turns to Baelish and asks how he intends to answer the charges. At this, all eyes turn towards Petyr. Thrown by the turn of events, he tries to figure out what is going on. Sansa then reveals his murder of their aunt Lysa Arryn and his use of Lysa to murder King Robert’s former Hand, Jon Arryn. She also accuses him of orchestrating the entire conflict between the Starks and Lannisters that has engulfed Westeros for the better part of the last decade, including the betrayal and death of their father Eddard. Baelish tries to deny this, but Bran uses his greensight to recall the exact words Baelish used as he held a knife to Ned's throat before his arrest. Swiftly realizing that he has lost control of the situation and the trial is just a rouse, a desperate Littlefinger falls to his knees and pleads for his life, insisting how much he loved their mother and now loves Sansa. However, Sansa, unswayed by him, sentences Baelish to death and promises that she will never forget all the lessons he taught her, sharing a look with Arya. As Baelish tries to speak, Arya walks up and slits his throat with the same Valyrian steel dagger that lay at the heart of his plots. Littlefinger bleeds out and slumps dead to the floor as, at long last, the War of the Five Kings is ended with justice being met to the one responsible for it all.

Later on, Samwell Tarly and Gilly arrive at Winterfell. Upon hearing that Bran has returned, Samwell meets with him. Amidst their discussion, Bran is unable to keep Jon’s secret any longer, revealing the truth of his parentage: he was born to his aunt Lyanna and the also-deceased Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, and is not a Snow at all, but a Sand, the surname for all bastards born in Dorne. Sam realizes that this isn't true either, recalling an entry from a septon’s private journal he stumbled upon about annulling Rhaegar's marriage to Elia Martell. Bran expressed his doubts, but Sam encourages Bran to use greensight to confirm it. To his own surprise, Bran easily finds the memory of their secret wedding, where he witnesses Lyanna marrying Rhaegar. Then warging forward to the Tower of Joy, Bran finally hears his aunt's dying words after birthing Jon. Now piecing the truth together, Bran declares that Rhaegar never kidnapped and raped Lyanna from Robert Baratheon. She loved Rhaegar and bore him a son: Aegon Targaryen. Bran’s voice breaks a little as he realizes that Robert's Rebellion was all built on a lie, and Jon who was raised as his illegitimate brother is, and always has been, the true heir to the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, in the Narrow Sea, Jon is sailing towards Winterfell with his powerful new ally, the dragon queen Daenerys Targaryen, whom he has fallen in love with, and is unaware of their blood relation or his rightful claim to the throne. Afterwards, Bran wargs into ravens that fly to Eastwatch in time to see the army of the dead tear down and march through the Wall.

Upon arrival in the North, Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen and their combined forces march through the small village of Winter Town on their way to Winterfell. The townspeople provide an unenthusiastic welcome, however, as many of them cast Daenerys suspicious looks over her horde of Unsullied and Dothraki soldiers. Jon reminds her that Northerners have a long-established distrust of outsiders. Immediately following this exchange, Daenery’s dragons fly overhead, startling the townspeople and causing Daenerys to smile proudly. Sansa warily watches from Winterfell's battlements as Drogon and Rhaegal circle above. Once inside the walls of the castle, Jon reunites with Bran, whom he last saw in a coma several years ago. Bran reacts warmly to seeing Jon again, but does not meet their reunion with the same level of emotion. Jon then embraces his sister Sansa, who keeps a wary eye on his queen. Sansa and Daenerys are then introduced to one another. Sansa formally, yet begrudgingly, welcomes Daenerys as the dragon queen thanks her, remarking that Jon told her about the beauty of the North and Sansa herself. Bran curtly interrupts that there is no time for pleasantries, informing Jon and Daenerys that the Night King has resurrected her deceased dragon, Viserion, who has now become part of their undead army that has now breached the Wall and is marching south.

Afterwards, Bran sits in the Great Hall as Jon tries to organize the defense against the undead. Young House Mormont leader, Lyanna Mormont, voices the anger that many lords and ladies have toward Jon bending the knee to Daenerys since they named him their King in the North. She presses that “you left Winterfell a King and came back a-- I’m not sure what you are now.” Jon gravely answers that he said he would protect the North, and the only way they could do that is with allies.  Amidst their uproar, Tyrion Lannister, brother to Ser Jaime and Queen Cersei and Hand of the Queen to Daenerys, insists that they'd all be dead already without Jon, who has brought dragons and a large army back with him. Tyrion then adds that the Lannister army his sister Cersei has promised will soon arrive to reinforce their numbers as well. The lords and ladies then resume their objections. Tyrion insists that although House Lannister are their enemies, they must work together now in the face of the coming war. Sansa then asks how they are meant to feed Daenerys' army and two full-sized dragons. She scoffs, "What do dragons eat, anyway?" to which Daenerys snarkily quips, "Whatever they want.” Sansa and Daenerys cast a side-gaze towards one another, knowing that they’re disagreements have only just begun.

After the meeting, Tyrion Lannister finds Sansa above the courtyard and they have share a conversation as they once were in an arranged marriage years ago in King’s Landing after Lord Eddard’s death. Once she leaves, Tyrion looks down at the courtyard and notices Bran. They have a peculiar stare-off at one another, as Tyrion recognises the change in Bran since meeting him as a boy when he first visited Winterfell. Later that evening, as Bran still sits alone in the courtyard, a tearful Samwell Tarly enters after an emotional conversation with Daenerys where she informed him of the execution of his father and brother when they would not bend the knee for her. He stumbles into Bran, who is waiting in the courtyard "for an old friend." Bran urges that Sam must tell Jon of his real parentage and with this advice, Samwell meets with a shocked Jon and informs him of the truth. The next morning, a hooded stranger rides into the Winterfell courtyard - revealed to be none other than Ser Jaime Lannister. After dismounting from his horse, Ser Jaime looks around the courtyard and is then surprised to see Bran waiting for him - the boy he shoved out a window and crippled in this very castle years ago. Bran knowingly stares at the “old friend” he was waiting for, as his visions at some point had shown him the memory of his crippling fall, as well as the perpetrator responsible.

Afterwards, Ser Jaime is escorted to the Great Hall to meet with Queen Daenerys. Bran sits at the great table while Daenerys idly threatens the man who murdered her father during Robert’s Rebellion. Daenerys then informs Jaime that his sister Cersei had pledged to send her army north, and as he came alone it appears she has lied. Ser Jaime makes it clear that Cersei lied to him as well, never having any intention of sending her army. He then informs that Cersei has  Euron Greyjoy's fleet and twenty-thousand fresh troops, adding that even if they defeat the army of the dead, Cersei will have plenty of men left to kill the survivors. Jaime asserts that he promised to fight for the living and he intends to keep that promise. Sansa then insists that they can't trust him, that Jaime attacked her father in the streets, attempting to destroy her house and family, the same as he did with House Targaryen. Jaime asserts that they were at war, and that everything he did was for his house and his family and would do it all again. Brienne of Tarth steps forward on Jaime's behalf and insists that he is a man of honor and adds that without him, she wouldn't be alive to protect Sansa. Sansa eventually agrees that they should let Jaime stay. Daenerys then asks Jon his advice on the matter, who informs her they need every man they can get. Daenerys eventually acquiesces, as Lord Tyrion sighs in relief. 

Shortly afterwards, in the godswood, Bran is in his wheelchair out in the snow, just beneath the red leaves of the heart tree as Jaime Lannister slowly approaches. The first thing Jaime says is that he is sorry for what he did to him. Bran replies, "You weren't sorry then,” however, he then adds his understanding that Jaime was only protecting his family, as at the time news of his incestuous relationship could have resulted in the deaths of the three children he and Cersei passed off as King Robert’s. Jaime insists that he isn't that person anymore as Bran then states that Jaime still would be if he hadn't pushed him out of that window, and that he himself would still be Brandon Stark. Curious, Jaime simply asks, "You're not?" as Bran informs that he isn't, and that he is something else now. Jaime is curious why Bran isn't angry at him. Bran assures that he isn't angry at anyone. Jaime then asks why he didn't tell anyone the truth as Bran asserts that Jaime wouldn't have been able to help them in this war if they had been able to murder him first. When Jaime asks about “afterwards,” Bran says, "how do you know there is an afterwards?"

When night falls, the defenders gather for a war council as the army of the dead are mere hours away from arrival. Jon notes that the dead outnumber the living too heavily for them to have a chance at winning a conventional battle. When Ser Jaime asks what they can do, Jon suggests they make the Night King their primary target; given that he raised every monster in the army of the dead, if they can kill him, his army should die with him. Jaime predicts that the Night King, knowing this weakness, will never risk himself on the battlefield, but Bran interjects that the Night King will come for him, as he's tried to kill the Three-Eyed Raven many times before. Jon states they will place Bran in the crypts for his safety, but Bran refuses, declaring he'll wait in the godswood to lure the Night King out. Sansa and Arya balk at the prospect of Bran using himself as bait, but Theon Greyjoy, who has returned to fight for House Stark, declares he and his men will defend Bran, as atonement for his previous capture of Winterfell. When Tyrion questions how the Night King will know where to find him, Bran reveals the claw marks the Night King left on him that allows the creature to track him wherever he is. Jon notes that when their enemy makes his move for Bran, he and Daenerys will strike on dragonback. Arya then asks if dragonfire will stop the Night King, to which Bran can only reply that he has no idea, as no one in history has ever tried it before. After everyone leaves the meeting, Lord Tyrion pulls up a chair next to Bran, curious of his journey in becoming the raven.

Late night, as the united armies await battle, a horn is blown indicating the arrival of the undead. In the courtyard, Lord Tyrion watches Bran as he is wheeled towards the godswood to wait as bait, accompanied by Theon and his men. As the battle quickly commences, thousands of wights are incinerated by the dragons: for a short time this stems their tide, but more keep coming. In the godswood, Theon can also hear the approach of the undead. He begins to apologize to Bran for his past actions, but Bran politely cuts Theon off, saying that everything he did led him to where he is now. Theon is moved, as Bran then wargs into a flock of ravens to see the Night King on the dead dragon, Viserion, closing in on the castle. As the battle rages on in and around Winterfell, a horde of wights eventually advance through the godswood, and are picked off by Theon's archers. However, one by one each of the defenders is killed until only Theon is left standing, as he then runs out of arrows. Suddenly the wights stop, however, and form a ring around the weirwood tree - making a path for the Night King the other White Walkers. With the dragons nowhere in sight, Bran turns to Theon and says "You are a good man. Thank you." Finding redemption for his past crimes against Bran and Winterfell, and no longer afraid of dying, Theon grabs a spear and courageously charges forward at the Night King. It is not enough, however, as the Night King easily blocks the blow, snaps the spear in half, and uses a splintered piece to impale Theon, who slowly bleeds out on the ground to his death. With no one left to defend Bran, the Night King walks towards him at the base of the tree. Bran looks up at his foe with pity, as a triumphant Night King stares down at his age old nemesis: the Three Eyed Raven. As the Night King draws the sword sheathed on his back for the killing blow, a stealthy Arya suddenly leaps at him from behind, with her Valyrian steel dagger drawn. The Night King instantly reacts, spinning around to catch her by the throat in one hand, and her left wrist in the other. However, she swiftly drops the dagger out of her left hand and catches it with her free hand. Shen then drives the blade into the center of his chest. The Valyrian steel makes contact with the ancient dragonglass shard that has empowered the Night King for centuries, and he shatters to ice. With the Night King destroyed, the other White Walkers shatter as well, and in turn, every wight falls. All around Winterfell, the few surviving defenders witness the wights suddenly drop and fall apart, the magic animating their dead flesh and sinews departing. With this, the Long Night has ended and Bran exchanges a thankful look towards his sister Arya, who has just saved the Seven Kingdoms from an unimaginable fate.

Following the victorious battle against the White Walkers, Winterfell has been cleared of the thousands of corpses in and around it. The fallen are gathered into funeral pyres outside the castle walls and Bran is present when the bodies of those who fell during the battle are set to be cremated. Jon then gives a eulogy that it is the duty of those who survived to keep them alive in memory for generations to come. He notes to the survivors in his eulogy: “Our fellow men and women, who set aside their differences to fight together, and die together, so that others might live. Everyone in this world owes them a debt that can never be repaid.” He also quotes the funeral speech used for members of the Night's Watch, he announces that they were the shields that guarded the realms of men, and they will never see their like again: “now their watch is ended.” The assembled leaders go forward with torches to light the pyres: Sansa weeps over Theon Greyjoy's body, taking a pin with the Stark direwolf sigil off of her own gown and adding it to his chest, to show that he was a Greyjoy and had redeemed himself as a Stark. A devastated Daenerys then lights the pyre for her advisor Ser Jorah Mormont, as Jon lights Lyanna Mormont's pyre. Meanwhile, Arya lights the pyre for Ser Beric Dondarrion, as Samwell Tarly lights the pyre of his Night’s Watch comrade Eddison Tollett.

Later that evening, in the subsequent celebrations, the survivors hold a victory feast in the Great Hall of Winterfell, though so many have perished that the mood is somber at first. However, the mood is lightened and the hall becomes more celebratory, as everyone starts drinking heavily and boasting about their deeds in the battle. Lord Tyrion then speaks to Bran, pointing out that as Eddard Stark's last trueborn son he should be the lawful heir to Winterfell as well as the North - but Bran insists that he won't ever be a lord now, as he is the magical Three-Eyed Raven  and removed from human affairs. Tyrion asserts that he envies Bran for his gifts, but Bran assures him that he shouldn't, as he mostly just lives in memories of the past now.

The following morning, Bran attends the discussions regarding Queen Daenerys resuming her conquest of Westeros and taking the Iron Throne from Cersei Lannister. Lord Tyrion warns her, however, that a direct assault on King's Landing would result in so many civilian casualties that it would make the smallfolk hate her. When Daenerys then asserts that capital must be taken as soon as possible, Sansa counters that their men are still exhausted from war and need rest. Daenerys tells her, "I came north to fight alongside you at great cost to my armies and myself. Now that the time has come to reciprocate, you want to postpone?," but Sansa pointedly reminds her that this is the same for both the Northern army and Daenerys' as well. Jon reaffirms his loyalty to Daenerys' cause and states that the North will march to the capital, much to Sansa and Arya’s displeasure. Once Daenerys and her advisors leave, Arya asks Jon for a word in private. Bran and his siblings then head with Jon to the godswood, where Arya and Sansa express their distrust towards Daenerys. Sansa insists that she won't forget Daenerys’ assistance in the war but it doesn't mean that she wants to bend the knee to her. Arya concedes that Jon did the right thing when he bent the knee, as they needed Daenerys' forces, but adds that they still do not trust her. Jon protests that Arya doesn't know Daenerys yet, but Arya insists that "She's not one of us,” then stresses that they are the “last of the Starks,” the last of Eddard's children, and they must remain loyal to each other. Weighed down by the recent discovery of his true parentage, Jon responds that he's not a Stark. Unable to bear the lie any longer, Jon pointedly looks over at Bran, who only quietly says that it's Jon's choice to tell them. Jon then urgently makes both girls swear before the weirwood tree that they will never tell anyone his secret. Sansa and Arya swear, and then, at a loss for words, Jon gives Bran permission to tell them that he is a Targaryen heir.

Some time later, after Jon and Daenerys’ united armies sail south, Sansa receives a messenger-raven informing Winterfell of an attack on Daenerys' fleet which results in the death of one of her dragons as well as the capture of her advisor Missandei. As Bran remains at Winterfell, Jon and Daenerys lead their armies to King’s Landing for battle. Lord Tyrion’s final attempt to coerce Cersei to surrender is denied and instead she has Daenerys’ advisor executed. An all-out war then commences as Daenerys, in complete rage, brutally scorches the entire city along with its innocent civilians. The fall of the Red Keep castle results in the deaths of Cersei and Jaime Lannister, who traveled back to the capital in a failed attempt to rescue his sister. A grieving Tyrion then quits his position as Hand and after Daenerys has him arrested, Tyrion urges Jon to assassinate her for the greater good, as she is spiralling into tyranny. As having witnessed the massacre for himself, Jon understands that not only is he and his family in danger of Daenerys, but the rest of Westeros is as well under her new vision as a ruler. In the demolished throne room of King’s Landing, Daenerys is blinded by her quest for power and illustrates to Jon that she cannot be trusted to lead, and in anguish he stabs her in the stomach after a final kiss. An enraged Drogon, her last remaining dragon, roars in grief. However, Drogon does not kill Jon and instead focuses his rage towards the Iron Throne and melts it down. He then proceeds to pick up his mother's body and flies away in the gloomy sky, still bellowing in despair.

Some weeks later, Bran, Sansa, Arya and the other leaders of the Great Houses meet in King’s Landing to discuss Jon and Tyrion’s punishment for their treason against the assassinated dragon queen. Jon is not in attendance, though Tyrion has been escorted to the trial. When Sansa asks where Jon is, Daenerys’ Master of War, Grey Worm, asserts that he decides what to do with their prisoners as the capital now belongs to the Targaryen forces. Sansa explains that there are thousands of Northmen outside the city gates and, as result, harming Jon wouldn't be in Grey Worm's best interest. However, Grey Worm informs that there are also thousands of Unsullied soldiers as well. Theon’s sister, Yara Greyjoy, sides with Grey Worm as the Ironborn agreed to follow Daenerys, and wants Jon executed. However, Arya warns her not to say another word about killing Jon or she'll cut her throat. Grey Worm insists his army needs justice for Daenerys's assassination and insists Jon cannot go free. Tyrion reminds him that he does not get to decide that as the power rests with their new king or queen. When it's pointed out there currently isn't one, Tyrion insists that as the most powerful lords and ladies gathered, they can elect one of themselves. Grey Worm eventually relents and tells the assembly to decide their new ruler. After some discussion, Tyrion is told that perhaps he wants the crown himself, though Tyrion disagrees as he is hated by half the people for serving Daenerys and the other half for betraying her. When asked his opinion, Tyrion responds that “stories” is what unites people. Proposing an elective monarchy, he concludes, “There's nothing in the world more powerful than a good story… And who has a better story than Bran the Broken? A crippled boy who crossed the wall and became the Three-Eyed Raven. He's all our memory. Who better to lead us into the future?" Sansa, however, expresses concern by mentioning the fact that Bran cannot father any children. Tyrion asserts that this is good since sons of kings are often cruel. He then asks Bran whether he will accept the crown, as Bran replies, "Why do you think I came all this way?" Tyrion waits for the reactions of the other leaders, as they all slowly start saying "aye" one by one. Representing the North, however, Sansa is still hesitant about this. She states her belief that Bran will be a good king, but asserts that the North will once again be an independent kingdom. Her brother gives his assent to her demand, as he understands the importance of the region’s independence that Jon and their late brother Robb had fought for over the years.

As the Master of War is still unsatisfied with the lack of punishment on Jon specifically, King Bran decides to exile Jon to the Night’s Watch to live out the rest of his days in atonement. This is accepted by Jon, as he understands this sentencing will prevent a new war from starting against the Targaryen army. Some time later, Sansa, Arya and King Bran meet Jon before his departure from the capital. Sansa asks for Jon's forgiveness. Jon hesitates before informing her that "the North is free, thanks to you." When Sansa replies, "But they lost their king," Jon insists that "Ned Stark's daughter will speak for them. She's the best they could ask for." They share an emotional hug as Jon then turns to Arya, telling her that she can come and visit him at Castle Black. However, Arya gives him a sad smile as she informs him that she's not coming back North. Sansa asks her sister where she's going, as Arya then reveals her plans to travel west. "What's west of Westeros?," she asks her family, as Jon states that he doesn’t know. Arya asserts that "No one knows. It's where all the maps stop. That's where I'm going." This echoes the conversation Arya once had with Lady Crane in Braavos. This exploration west is what she’s envisioned for her future. Jon asks, "You have your Needle?" Arya tells him she has it right here and begins to cry. Jon wipes away her tears and they share a long hug. Jon then turns to Bran and kneels, "Your Grace, I'm sorry I wasn't there where you needed me." However, Bran responds, "You were exactly where you needed to be,” as Jon then walks away, potentially never seeing his family again. With King Bran remaining in King’s Landing to rule under a new monarchy, Sansa and Arya also eventually depart from the capital to journey towards their new lives- Arya on her travels outside of Westeros and Sansa as the Queen in the North ruling under an independent kingdom.

Some time later, the new Hand of the King, Tyrion Lannister, awaits the rest of the newly-formed council to arrive for their first meeting under King Bran’s reign. The council arrives, which includes Samwell Tarly and Brienne of Tarth, among others. When King Bran is then brought into the council room, Tyrion and the rest formally greet him. Once all seated, Bran then enlists his advisors to find new Masters of Whisperers, War and Law. He states that in the meantime, he himself will search for the dragon, Drogon, through his greensight, who was last spotted flying east of Westeros. Upon his exit, Tyrion recites “We serve at your pleasure, Bran the Broken. Ruler of the Six Kingdoms and protector of the realm. Long may he reign.” King Bran then exits to continue his solitary work towards reformation in the dawn of a new era.