Author'snotes

This is a very AU universe.

Rob Stark is the lord of the north, and Eddard Stark died of natural causes. All of Eddard's children never left winterfell.

No mad king, the current queen of westeros is Daenerys Targaryen.

There hasn't been a war in westeros since the Aegon I conquered and unified the seven kingdoms.

Robert Baratheon is hand of the king.

Now to the story.

The lord commander checked again the list of new recruits. It was strange to see so many "volunteers" from noble houses.

They couldn't have come in a better time, especially now with the strange rumors coming from the other side of the wall. Jeor Mormont knew he needed capable leaders to help him face whatever threat would come from the north.

As he watched them train, He knew Jon Snow would be a great asset. The other two, Sandor Cleagne and Tyrion Lannister possessed skills the other lacked.

Sandor was obviously a great warrior, but he was not a leader. He had been a member of the kingsguard and his training would come in handy.

In the case of Tyrion, his quick mind was also beginning to show. Normally the night watch would have rejected him, but he decided to make an exception with him as he was the son Tywin Lannister, who was perhaps the most powerful and richest man in Westeros, and it was by his request that his son be sent there.

Months later, when finally the new recruits had taken their oaths, the lord commander summoned those three to his presence.

"I am going to be frank with you" the lord commander said

"The world is a cruel place and you are here because you couldn't find a place in the world or were rejected by your own families"

He looked at each of them in the face and added.

"Your new family is here with your brothers of the watch; Noble born or peasant, rich or poor, bastard or a legit son. Those things may have a meaning where you came from, but it means nothing here"

His words filled them with a sense of belonging, that they were finally accepted among equals.

"I am going to need your help" were his final words. He looked beyond the wall, towards the frozen lands.

10 years later in Winterfell.

The wedding of Myrcella Baratheon and Bran Stark was the social event of the year. All the noble houses had been invited and even representatives from the free cities had come.

"The north is so beautiful" the queen said as she admired the landscape from the balcony.

Robert Stark answered "If your majesty desires, tomorrow I could show you the land in more detail"

She sighed and looked to the north

"I Have always wanted to see the wall" she noticed a sad look came upon Robert at the mention of it

"Your half brother" she asked "He was in the night watch service when they all disappeared 10 years ago"

"Yes, he was" he answered "The wall has been deserted since then. No one wants to go there as people believe it's cursed or haunted"

The queen changed the subject

"We should go back to the celebrations" she said with a smile

The entrance of winterfell was guarded by both the royalguards and also Rob's men. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened so far and the men were getting bored.

"How can you stand the cold?" the captain of the Royal guard asked one of Rob's men.

Arya smiled as she listened to the soldier's conversations from her hiding spot. She left the celebration early as she didn't like how people stared at her in fear for her condition

She always loved an adventure, and five years ago she had taken a long journey to the shadows lands in Essos, but she returned changed; neither dead nor alive, eternally frozen at 15, and with the nasty habit of needing blood. They feared even thought she only took animal blood, never human.

"Captain, a group of riders are approaching" One soldier announced.

Arya stared and saw 4 riders coming. Despite her excellent night vision, she could not see their faces as they all wore hoods over their faces and they were still far away

"Who could it be?" she wondered, but then he heard a familiar voice.

"Arya, what are you doing up there so alone?"

Her youngest brother called said.

She jumped from the tree where she was hiding and landed right in front of her brother.

He smirked at her

"I knew I would found you here. Come inside, Robert wishes to speak with you".

Arya fallowed his brother, but she still wondered who the riders were.

20 minutes later, Arya sat with all his siblings and the guests, looking bored. Politics didn't interest her and apparently it was the only theme. She exchanged a few words with Jaime Lannister, who was one of the few people that didn't fear her and was interested to learn more of her condition, but right now was talking with his sister Cersei"

She barely noticed as a soldier entered the hall and approached Rob.

"My lord, there is a group of travellers that are here to see you. They say it's a matter of urgency"

"Send them in" he ordered.

"Why are we here?" Sandor asked with a little discomfort.

"It has always been a costume that the new lord commander pays a visit to the lord of winterfell. They are our southern neighbours and closest allies"

Tyrion asked "Allies? Did we ever receive help during all these years of war and imprisonment? Surely they must have noticed our absence"

Samwell added

"I doubt we have come at the right time. We should wait until the celebration is over"

Tyrion, who had seen the banners of his family, wasn't happy at the prospect of seeing them. Jon knew what was on his mind and said

"They have probably forgotten about us. We all meant little to our families that I would be surprised if they did remember…But even if they did, their insults mean nothing after all we have been through"

Sandor was about to say something but the door opened and a soldier told them to come inside.