Jon Snow:

The wind howled, piling up snow in drifts, blinding the day with ice-white dust. Jon stood in silence, the biting cold chilled his fingers into clumsy numbness as he watched the fire consume Ygritte's lifeless body. Ghost lingered close to him watching the fire intensely through his dark red eyes. 'We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy', Maester Aemon once told him and the old man's words still haunt him.

He shouldn't have loved her in the first place and he shouldn't have left her. Now here he is, all alone at the edge of the world waiting to die alone. His father is dead, beheaded by the Lannisters as a traitor. His uncle lost beyond the wall, likely dead. Robb was betrayed and murdered in a wedding, Sansa still in Lannister clutches, married to the Imp. His little brothers, Bran and Rickon murdered by the turncloak Theon. And Arya, scrawny little thing, God only knows what happened to her.

He shut his eyes and tried to hold back his tears but couldn't. Tears left frozen track marks on his face. In another life, where he wasn't bounded by his vows, things may have gone differently. He would have marched with Robb and advised him not to trust Theon and may have even prevented him from marrying the Westerling girl, but Jon wasn't there. Instead, he has chosen the honour over his family, a bastard sort of honour. 'This isn't the time to grieve, there is still plenty of work to be done', he told himself and walked back to Castle Back with Ghost trailing behind him, sparing one last glance at his former love.

The cold damp air wrapped around him like a heavy coat of chain mail as he walked through the dark tunnel and entered the courtyard after a few minutes. The castle looked peaceful and Jon felt good to see it in this state after a brutal battle between the Wildlings and the Night's Watch. The battle lasted for seven days, the Night's Watch endured the fury of the whole north. The Wildling threw everything on the assault, in the end, lost thousands of men and forced to retreat.

Jon saw Satin, one of the new recruits, sprinting towards him. "Lord Commander requested your presence, Lord Snow", Satin breathed out.

Lord Commander Mormont was injured at the battle on the third day and it falls to Jon, to command the men for the next four days. He marched towards the chamber and saw several brothers greeting him in respect. When he came to the wall for the first time, these men called him 'Lord Snow' in mockery now they are using it to respect him.

He entered the chamber and found the old bear sitting on his chair. "My Lord, you should be resting", Jon said with a concern.

Commander Mormont cocked his eyebrow, "It will take more than just an arrow to keep me down, Snow".

Jon chuckled, "Is there anything else you need my Lord ?".

"As a matter of fact I do", Mormont said and took out a scroll. "A rider arrived a few hours before and gave me this".

Jon took the scroll and read the contents. It's from Lady Maege Mormont, Lord commander's sister requesting a meeting. The last time he heard of Lady Mormont was when she answered Robb's call for arms and marched South to fight the Lannisters. Jon heard that Dacey was killed during the Red Wedding beyond that there was no information of Lady Mormont.

"I'm really glad your sister is alive, My Lord", Jon said sincerely.

"She is. Mormont women are hard to kill", Mormont replied with a relieved face.

"I always admired her when I was little".

Mormont chuckled, "Everyone did. You would have done well on Bear Island. My sister would have moulded you into a great man".

Jon nodded, "Do you want me to escort her here?"

"No. I already sent Grenn and Edd to bring her here", Mormont replied. "Bring some food and ale for our guests, lad", he added later.

"Guests?", Jon questioned.

"The rider told me that Lord Galbart Glover riding with her as well", Mormont answered.

Jon wanted to ask so many questions instead he just nodded and went to the kitchens to fetch some bread, mutton stew, and warm ale. He put the food and ale in a tray and heard a horn sound from the southern gate, signalling Lady Mormont and Lord Glover's arrival. Jon took a peak from the kitchen and saw both of them for the first time in years as they rode in with Grenn and Edd. Lady Mormont is in her house's armour, her mace hanging at her hip and Lord Glover carrying a longsword at his hip and the leather armour. They were then escorted to Lord commander's chamber by Edd and Grenn. He quickly picked up the tray and marched towards the Mormont's chamber. He saw Edd and Grenn exit the chamber, leaving Lord Commander and the guests alone. Jon went near the door, knocked it a couple of times.

"You may enter", he heard the gruff voice of Lord Commander say from the other side of the door.

Jon opened entered the Lord's chamber and found the Mormont siblings embracing each other and Lord Glover turned his eyes towards Jon, staring at him and then at Ghost intensely. Didn't want to intrude them, Jon left the tray and decided to walk out of the chamber silently.

"Stay", he heard a Lord Commander say from behind as he went near the door.

Lady Mormont turned her head towards him and looked at him for a few seconds curiously. Her eyes widened at the sight of Ghost standing behind him. A reminiscent of sadness washed over her face. "You look just like your father", she breathed out with tears dripping down from her eyes. Jon stood still like a statue, unable to form any words.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Lady Mormont. Dacey always treated me kindly", Jon then managed to compose himself to offer his condolences.

"I don't need your condolences, Snow. I need justice.", Lady Mormont replied with a furious look. "Justice for my daughter, my king, and my people".

Jon looked at her, "So do I, Lady Mormont. So do I".

"Then what are you doing here?", she questioned with the same furious look.

Jon sighed closing his eyes, "I'm a brother of the Night's Watch. My place is here".

It was then she took out a scroll and handed it over to the Lord Commander, who was watching the whole ordeal with a grim face. Commander Mormont opened the scroll and read the content with a shocking look. He then went out of the chamber. Jon heard him ordering one of the guards to fetch Maester Aemon. He returned a few seconds later and took his seat, looking troubled.

Jon had no idea what's in that scroll and all four of them stayed still in an uncomfortable silence. The door opened after a few minutes and Master Aemon walked in with Sam. Maester Aemon took his seat alongside the Lord Commander and Jon saw the Commander Mormont whisper something in Maester Aemon's ears, and then bid Sam to take care of the Ravens.

"This is indeed a complicated situation", Maester Aemon said knitting his brows.

"What is the complication ?", Lord Glover opened his mouth for the first time.

"I think it's better if Lord Snow made aware of the situation", Maester Aemon replied calmly.

Lord Commander turned his head towards Jon, "Your brother Robb Stark, on his authority as the King in the North, legitimized you as Jon Stark".

Jon felt the breath leave his lungs. Growing up he always wanted to be a Stark. For many nights he dreamed that his lord father will write to the King and legitimize Jon as a Stark but it was just a dream.

"He also released you from your Night's Watch vows and named you as his heir before his death at that God-forsaken wedding", Commander Mormont added later.

Jon took the scroll and read what it says completely, Robb legitimized him and released him from his Night's Watch vows. He also named Jon as his heir over Sansa until a son is born to him. Robb is dead and there was no information about a child, which means he is the King in the North at the moment.

'This is wrong', he said to himself.

"I can't accept it", Jon said shaking his head.

"Why not?", Lady Mormont questioned furiously.

"Sansa is the Stark of Winterfell. She should be the heir", he announced.

"Your sister is now a Lannister of Casterly Rock. Your brother knew it and that's precisely why he made you as his heir over her", Lord Glover replied towering over Jon. He backed after hearing Ghost growl at him.

Jon knew this but still, it felt wrong. He never wanted to inherit Winterfell over the blood of his siblings.

Lady Mormont sensed Jon's conflict, "Only a Stark can rule the North. As long as the traitor's reign over this land, the North will suffer"

"I'm not a Stark".

"Stark blood runs through your vein"

Jon still stood his ground, feeling conflict over the issue. He wondered what his father would say if he saw him right now. Jon met her eyes, "Even if I wanted to, I can't. I swore a sacred vow at the Godswood".

"Ser Barristan Selmy was released from his Kingsguard vows on the orders of the King Joffrey", Lord Commander said suddenly. He then stood up and walked towards Jon, "Kingsguard vows and Night's Watch vows are more or less the same, Lord Snow. If a bastard king can release one of the greatest Kingsguards ever lived from his vows, I'm sure the King in the North can release his bastard brother".

Jon looked at his commander with confusion wondering why the old bear supporting the claim. "You are not the only one wronged by the Lannisters. My niece is dead. I want to avenge her as well", Jeor responded noticing Jon.

"Commander this feels wrong!". His mind still a surging perplexity.

"Everything in this world lad", it was Maester Aemon who replied this time. "When the Lannisters killed my family, I was an old man, unable to do anything.", he continued, tracing the table with his withered hand. "If I had stayed with my family, I could have prevented their destruction. Instead, I chose this life and I still feel the pain and regret of not doing something". He continued in his trembling voice. "But you have the chance to avenge your family and bring justice. Don't do the same mistake as I did and live out rest of your days in misery"

"What your father and brother would say if you let their people suffer and die", Lady Mormont quickly voiced her thoughts. Jon wondered the same thing, but both his father and brother are dead.

Lord Commander sighed, "You already did your duty for the watch when you took the command of the wall and made the Wildlings run for their lives. You already saved the North from the Wildlings, there is no better man to rule her".

Maester Aemon then stood and marched towards Jon with a little help from the Lord Commander, "Allow me to give my lord one last piece of counsel," the old man said, "the same counsel I once gave my brother when we parted for the last time. He was three-and-thirty when the Great Council chose him to mount the Iron Throne. A man grown with sons of his own, yet in some ways still a boy. Egg had an innocence to him, a sweetness we all loved. Kill the boy within you, I told him the day I took ship for the Wall. It takes a man to rule. An Aegon, not an Egg. Kill the boy and let the man be born." The old man felt Jon's face. "You are half the age that Egg was, and your own burden is crueler one, I fear. You will have little joy of your command, but I think you have the strength in you to do the things that must be done. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy and let the man be born."

Jon was overwhelmed with emotion and could sense everyone's eyes are on him. He suddenly felt a nudge behind him, turned around to see Ghost staring at him with his Red Orbs.

"You said you are not a Stark but your wolf says otherwise", Jon heard Lady Mormont say behind him. Jon ignored her and continued to stare at his Wolf. Jon closed his eyes for a few seconds, begged forgiveness from his father for what he is about to do.

He stood up, turned around to face the other occupants in the room and gave a stern nod. A loud howl from his ever-silent companion filled the room and the entire castle as Lady Mormont and Lord Glover took a knee and buried their weapons on the floor with a brutal force.