Prologue

It is said that strife is born from great sacrifice, no matter how noble or honourable the action may be, there would always be someone who suffers as a consequence of it allowing the blasted cycle to turn once more. The Children of the Forest lived and died for it, in their plight to save themselves from the first men, they created an even more powerful threat. One that cast the realm of men into darkness and ice. The Night King and the Others were born in the land of ever winter, they had a single mission, to return the world back to the long night.

Brynden Rivers had seen the birth of the Night King. Its power grew with every Wight he managed to create, he had seen it's return and how it would win. He was sure that the Night King had managed to foresee it as weel. Brynden didn't know how the Night King came to procure such an ability but it was not without consequence. The Others were finally beginning to make their move and he had foreseen the outcome.

"We must hurry." He heard one of the children speak to him.

Brynden sighed, "We cannot do this? It is not right." This couldn't be the way, to condemn someone to a similar fate wasn't just.

Leaf bristled at the Greenseer's disagreement, "It must be done. The Night King senses it's weakening presence. We will have no weapon against them when they come for us." She urged him to reconsider.

"The Green…"

"Is dying." Leaf angered, "Once it is dead, the children will be no more. You will lose your ability and the Night King will be able to roam free without any hindrance. I cannot allow that to happen." Though Leaf may have had the stature and features of a child, Brynden could feel the heaviness in her words as if she had been holding them for a millennium.

He stared at the withering roots of the god tree, there appeared nothing godly about the dying hunk of wood but the old raven could feel it's presence, even with its dwindling power in this frozen wasteland, he could feel it pulsing, trying to keep it's connection to nature. Perhaps they were right, perhaps in order to win the coming, it would be necessary to sacrifice a soul to the Green. "What would you have me do?"

Leaf said, "Don't worry. This is a matter for the Children." Her hands gripped the blade of dragonglass with pure rage. Too long have they been in the shadows, too long had the children been oppressed. Then the gods had brought someone here, a blessing on their shores, a child capable of housing the green.

A child of fire and ice.

It was time for those of the forest to rise again.

"We should make haste, my lord." Jory Cassel spoke. "These woods are dangerous at night." He couldn't help but supress the slightest of shivers from the ever-persistent howling of wolves, they echoed all throughout the forest, as if to permit some sort of warning.

Robb Stark replied, "Aye, let us depart before mother decides to bring half of Winterfell with her." It was said in jest, but Lady Stark had a tendency to be incredibly overprotective if not overbearing at times.

Jory gazed at the other two who were in his group, Jon Snow and Theon Greyjoy. Had Robb Stark not been here, he would have assumed that Lady Stark's intention was to get rid of them. Not many emerged from the Wolfwoods without any injury. The captain of the guard narrowed his eyes as he heard the snapping of twigs not far away from their position, his grip increased on his sword gently. "Ride." He ordered.

But it was too late.

Swish

An arrow spun from behind one of the trees and impacted straight into the torso of his horse. Jory was flung from his steed, as it jumped in pain. Robb Stark shouted, "Jory!"

Jory stood up, his shield readied, and his sword unsheathed. The Wolfwoods weren't just dangerous for their beasts but the number of bandits that called it their homes.

Swish

Another of volley of arrows began to rain down on the group. Jory roared, "Go!" Robb and Theon gave him a look of apprehension, the Greyjoy was more than happy to obey his command and ride his horse straight towards to Winterfell.

'Coward.' Jory thought.

Robb said, "I will not leave you?" He gripped the reigns of his horse, ready to ride and attack the bandits. He turned to his brother who remained silent still, "What say you brother?"

Jon said gently, "How many?"

"I count five." Jory replied. "But I cannot in good conscious allow for you to be here, my lord."

Jon and Robb gave their answer by riding towards the bandit's location, the two merely the age of ten and four brandished their swords and began to manoeuvre from the flanks of their enemies. Jory grimaced, if they even made it out alive, he was sure his Uncle would have his head for endangering the Stark children.

The bandit's laughter echoed around them, "Imagine our surprise when we find a Stark hunting in these woods without a proper party. I think you'll fetch a pretty handsome price for your heads."

Jory charged into the woods, deftly using his shield to cover himself from the volleys of arrows that were being rained down onto him. The bandits weren't particularly skilled archers, if they were, they'd have shot him down instead of his horse. He could barely make out the silhouette of two horses charging from behind the bandits. The bandits round around to the sound of horseback but found themselves ill-equipped to deal with such a threat. Three of them were cut down like butter.

Jory gripped his crossbow from the back of his armour, he aimed it carefully as each of the remaining bandits turned towards the two riders, ready to face a second incoming onslaught.

The bolt hit one of them in the back, his armour gave no resistance to it as the arrow was embedded deep into his spine. He fell to the ground, unconscious and likely in a great deal of pain. The last bandit routed, he looked as if he was running without any direction. Robb charged after him.

Jory shouted, "No, my lord." He cursed himself as he ran towards their direction, he was sure the last bandit was running back to his camp, back where there were probably a dozen more heavily armoured men waiting to kill anyone who lurked in their territory.

A scream ripped through the air and Jory felt dread enter his body for the first time. As he bound the last few trees, he entered a small clearing in the forest, in the middle of the clearing were five other bandits and Robb Stark on the ground, his horse had crossbow bolted embedded into its skull.

They grinned. "You wear the banner of Stark, mayhaps you be one of his children." The leader said. He was a giant of a man, balding and appearing as old as his uncle, Jory felt slight fear at having to fight such a man.

"Perhaps we can come to a deal." Jory tried to placate them.

"I don't see a wagon filled with gold." The man sneered. "I count two of you and five of us."

"Make that three." Jory corrected. The galloping of another horse quickly drew the attention of the group, Jon emerged from the south and used his blade to behead one of them.

"Kill that horse." The leader ordered. But Jon quickly maneuverer back into the thick of the trees to begin another charge towards them. The mayhem allowed for Jory to grab Robb from the ground, he noted the wince that came from the young teens mouth and gazed at his leg. It was a mangled mess, a deep cut spread across his thigh.

Without him, there was no chance to win this battle.

They heard Jon's horse ride towards them, the bandits readied themselves but found no rider. Jory grimaced, thinking that Jon had been attacked by another group of bandits. Two whistles could be heard from the distance and two arrows struck two bandits down.

Jon emerged from the trees and continued to fire his arrows. He shouted, "Take the horse and take Robb."

Jory frowned. He couldn't leave the boy behind to fight two grown men but if he stayed here any longer there was no doubt that Robb would bleed out and die. With that his decision was made, he lived to serve House Stark and he'd do his duty to them.

Even if one man had to die. After all, a bastard wasn't as important as the heir to Winterfell. That was what Jon had meant as he stood alone in front of the two bandits. But Jory couldn't get rid of his apprehension, this wasn't right.

"GO!" Jon roared, charging against the two men. They could hear the faint rushing of more horses, he doubted that Theon had reached Winterfell in time to call reinforcement. With some great grief, he heaved Robb onto the horse and mounted it himself.

"After them." The leader ordered angrily but it was too late, by the time they reached him, he had already kicked off and began to ride off towards Winterfell.

He saw Jon stumble from a punch from the heavy man, he knew then that his faint optimism had been all for naught. There was no way that Jon would emerge victorious from this bout. He had just sentenced a boy to death. That was the only thought that kept spinning in his mind like a broken record, he couldn't help but gaze at the kneeling boy as he rode his horse away. There was no honour in this, no victory to be gained.

Some would celebrate, he was sure, but he would ensure that the bastard of Winterfell was remembered as a hero. "Jon…" He heard Robb whisper.

"Your brother will be fine, my lord. He is strong." He couldn't stop the waiver in his voice, only grateful that Robb was far too weak to keep track of what was being said. "Sleep, you'll be home soon."

"You've been abandoned." The burly leader grinned. "Or did you think that you could beat us all on your lonesome."

Jon fell onto the ground, bleeding heavily from two gashes in his both of his shoulders. Jon laughed at the irony, he had always thought that he'd amount to something better but nay, it appeared all of his life had been centred around sacrifice. His father sacrificed his honour to bring him home, he was born a bastard, hated by everyone except for maybe his siblings. Lady Stark did always say that he would be nothing, inferior to his brother. And now, it appeared he'd show her true, as

"What are you laughing at boy?"

Jon grunted in slight pain, his gaze lowered towards the ground, "I've always been told that I'd amount to nothing, guess they were right." He murmured to himself.

"You think I care?"

"Nay, why would a bandit care about the life of another." Jon replied.

"Let me kill him master." The other man hissed, hoisting his battle axe on his shoulders. "I want to bash his skull in two." The Leader stared into the boy's eyes and saw the wildness in them, he couldn't stop his man from swinging his axe from above to cut Jon's head off.

It was a mistake that was repaid with blood, by swinging his axe from above, the bandit had exposed his entire midsection to attack. Jon took advantage of that by plunging his sword straight into his chest and ripping his insides out. "If I'm going to fight, I'd rather die by your hands." Jon stressed; his stance deepened as he raised his short sword with his only functioning arm.

The leader laughed, his laughter was loud and deep with amusement. "I haven't been this entertained for a long time, boy. Most men just accept their fate but you, you keep fighting. Tell me, what is your name?"

"What is yours?" Jon challenged.

"My name is Beron." Jon noted the lack of surname which meant that he was either belonged to the common folk or had chosen to abandon it.

"Jon Snow."

Beron laughed once more, "Ah so I see the irony now, a bastard, they abandoned a bastard to save their precious Stark." He frowned deeply for a moment, settling into a train of thought, "But it was you who gave up your horse, it was you who sacrificed himself." He raised his giant longsword and swung it towards Jon. "Then I'll give you your wish, you may die at the hands of Beron The Great." Jon couldn't help but roll his eyes at the corny title. Who calls themselves 'The Great'.

"Couldn't you come up with a better name for yourself."

"Shut up." The giant of a man rushed forth with surprising agility and speed, Jon was injured and bleeding, he could barely roll away to avoid the powerful strike. Jon shivered at the sheer power of the man's strikes; he had never seen anyone capable of shifting the very around him with that much power.

This continued for an entire minute, Jon ran circles around the man but both men were becoming tired from it. "Come boy, don't tell me that is all they taught you."

"I'll kill you." Jon promised.

"Oh, I very much doubt that." Beron retorted, his gaze settled on Jon's bloodied leather armour, he knew that the boy would begin to feel the effects of his wounds sooner rather than later. As if on cue, he struck, Jon couldn't react as lethargy and fatigue began to build up. Jon was launched several metres by the pommel of Beron's sword and landed with a sickening crunch. He couldn't feel his back; his arms and legs had gone limp from the impact.

He stared, wide eyed as Beron approached. "Are you ready to die?"

"Plaevse…" Jon tried to beg but blood had found itself curdling into his mouth.

Beron shook his head as if to say that he was disappointed, "Perhaps had you been healthy, you might have proved to be a better fighter, but it seemed that god's have shined upon me tonight. Die with as much honour as you deserve, bastard." He plunged his sword downwards, and Jon closed his eyes in acceptance.

At least, he died protecting Robb. It sounded dignified in his mind, but he couldn't stop the bitterness from seeping through. What had he surmounted to? Nothing.

No!

He wouldn't fall without payment; he wouldn't die without repaying this man in kind. As the sword came down onto him, he summoned his last strength to grab the axe that lay next to him and flung it towards the man.

If he had been a second early, he may have been able to survive but as the axe impacted into the man's chest, Jon felt the same courtesy befall him. Both combatants stared at each other with wide eyes, Beron gurgled, his lips twitched with the ghost of smile.

'Why was this man smiling?' Jon thought. He didn't deserve such a mercy, it wasn't fair. Jon cursed the world, he cursed himself for being so selfless as he felt his body become heavier and heavier with each breath.

"You surprised me; I should have seen that coming." Beron said as he stared at the teenager. "At least, I'll get to see my family." He said mirthlessly. Jon understood then that Beron had wanted to die, he was just prideful to ask for it. "Hey kid, do you have anyone waiting for you on the other side?" Beron asked.

His mother.

He had often heard rumours that his father had said that he brought him to Winterfell because she had died.

"My mother." Jon gurgled out.

"I'm sure she'd be proud of you." Beron let out as he drew his last breath.

Jon looked to the sky once more, his vision begging to blur and darken. The last thing he saw was Snow. 'How fitting.' He thought to himself. Perhaps he might find peace in death, no more judgemental looks, no more whispers, no more titles or sadness.

"Your time here isn't over yet, young one." He heard a raspy whisper come from his surroundings. He felt something pierce his chest once more, a sharp pain erupted from every vein in his body.

"What are you?"

"We." The voice urged. Jon felt himself dizzy, his body was being ripped apart by what ever had been inserted into him before he felt it reassemble itself atom by atom. Death would have been a blessing, a respite from the suffering being wrought onto him. Then as if he his spirit had been lifted from his body by the Stranger, he began to feel everything, the energy that dwelled with in everything the forest, every leaf that rustled, every animal in the forest and every life that had dwelled beyond.

"We are the Green." The voice roared from everywhere and nowhere. Jon's vision began to spin, his mind blanked out in a flash of searing white pain.

Then he awoke.

Gold eyes peered into gold and green. The being in front of him spoke, "Welcome back."

A/N: I've always been interested by the Children of the Forest. GRRM doesn't talk about where they come from or how they managed to use magic. Obviously, this is due to the soft magic system that he uses, he tends to like things to be 'mysterious'. Anyway, this is slightly AU, Jon dies on a routine hunt when they get ambushed by some bandits. Leaf plays a pivotal role in this story, since she was the one who created the Night King, she finds that it has to be her who corrects her sins. Jon becomes the embodiment of the Green and as you probably guessed it, the Children slowly return to their power.

Bonus points to anyone who can guess what that is.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Anyway, Thank You all for reading and I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

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PS: Don't worry Jon won't be OP.