"Take a seat, Jon Snow." Stannis instructed Jon.
Jon took a seat in a nearby stool. The red woman was starting a fire, Stannis was looking out a window, and the other man was looking at him with his hands behind his back.
"Jon Snow, let me introduce Ser Davos Seaworth, my hand and Lady Melissandre."
Jon made a small curtsy to them and turned his attention to Stannis, who was still staring out the window.
"The Boltons are ruling the north. With the death of your rebel brother and loss of most if not all of your family, they have become the wardens of the north. Everybody in the Seven Kingdoms believe that the proud House Stark has fallen. Erased from existence…" Stannis started out.
Jon looked down and swallowed hard as he remembered of his family. How Bran and Rickon were put to the torch. How Arya is nowhere to be found and is presumably dead. How Sansa was being held hostage in King's Landing living with their father's killer. And worst of all, how his brother Robb was betrayed by the ones he trusted and was killed and his body desecrated. Stannis then turned to look at Jon.
"But the Starks aren't dead. Not completely dead. You still live. You, Jon Snow, son of Eddard Stark… within you there's Stark blood. You are entitled to rule the north as the surviving son of Eddard Stark. You and I will take the north and you shall rule it as Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North with me as your king."
Jon looked up at him aghast when he heard Stannis' words. He couldn't believe what he just heard.
"M… me? Lord of Winterfell? I- I cant… I'm not a Stark. I'm a bastard. A bastard who made an oath to the Night's Watch." Jon stammered.
"King Stannis has thought of a solution for that my boy." Ser Davos stated.
"I will give an order to have you honorably relieved of your vows and I will have you legitimized as Jon Stark."
Jon's head was buzzing.
"Once we take all of the north, you and I will first take care of the attack of the dead and once that is dealt with I, with your assistance, will finally take back the kingdom that is rightfully mine."
"How did you know of the wh-" Jon started to ask in shock before being interrupted by the red lady.
"The Lord of Light sees all Jon Snow. He knows of many things."
"We should take care of the dead. We shall take the North back and with our combined forces we shall save the realm and you will claim back your father's seat as Lord of Winterfell. If you accept my deal." Stannis stated.
"But… my vows… what of my honor? I'm a man of the Night's Watch. I can't just leave, even if you can make me a Stark."
"Being dismissed by your king isn't breaking your vows. You will not lose your honor for it. In fact, you will become even more honorable by standing in service of your king and helping him with saving the realm for damnation." Davos added.
"And it's not the only reason why you should honor you king's deal…" Melissandre added.
Everybody turned to look at the red woman staring unblinking at the flames.
"I see you've broken your vows before. A woman with hair as red as flames have claimed your heart. But instead of listening to your heart and your desire to go with her, you stay here. Honor and duty are quite important to you Jon Snow… But I see things that are yet to happen…"
"What?" Jon asked her.
"You know nothing Jon Snow…" She stated.
Jon internally laughed to himself. This was officially the second red head that has told him he knows nothing. But he quickly returned to the serious situation in front of him.
"There are many things you do not know… Even with the evidence right in front of you and you do not know. Your woman, she is carrying your child…"
Jon's eyes widened in realization. When he was with her she didn't get her moon's blood that he remembered. Did she miss it again? Was the red woman right? Was Ygritte really with child? His child?
"A son born amidst snow and a battle of a wolf who will reclaim his home…"
Jon blanked out and heard none of her words.
"But Jon Snow…" She called out to snap him out of his trance.
"If you do not accept the King's offer, this will never happen. The woman will be hanged by the men of the Night's Watch and your son will never live to see the world and the legacy of the proud Stark family will die here on the wall with you and your unborn son."
Jon's face became pale with horror as he pictured Ygritte hanging by the neck from the wall and their child dying along with her. She couldn't be with child. Could she? Everything was so muddled in his head. What did this red woman knew? And if she was right how could she have known? There was only one way to figure it out.
"May I be excused? I need to think this over Your Grace." Jon said as he stood up and bowed his head.
Stannis clenched his jaw and permitted him to leave. Jon turned on his heals and left the King's Tower, but not before hearing the red woman give him a final word advising him to make his decision quick. Jon paid no mind to her and left to go back to Hardin's Tower. He was walking at a quick pace, practically running through the tunnels. Jon arrived at the tower and to his luck there was no guard keeping watch of her cell. He checked his belt to try and find the keys of her cell he had before. As he walked closer to her cell with keys now in hand he could hear a strange sound coming from her cell. He approached her cell door and quickly unlocked it and threw the door open only to find Ygritte on her knees bent over a bucket vomiting with chains still restraining her hands. This proved it for him. He didn't know much about pregnancy, but from what little he knew; he knew that when women are with child they miss their blood. He didn't remember Ygritte getting her blood the last month he was with her so maybe she missed it. And while he was growing up in Winterfell and Lady Catelyn was expecting his younger siblings he remembered the retching in the mornings. Jon felt lightheaded. The reality of the situation hit him hard. She really was carrying his child.
"Jon Snow…" She weakly said as she saw him standing by the door.
"How could you not tell me?" Jon whispered.
"Tell you?"
"I know! I know you're carrying my child!" Jon said a little louder but minding his tone so that no one can catch what he just said.
Ygritte stared at him unknowing. She didn't know what to say or what to do. She remained quiet.
"How could you?" Jon repeated letting out a bit of anger in his tone.
Ygritte caught his anger and it only instigated her to respond to him angrily.
"What'd you wanted me to tell you huh? Oh, Jon Snow you got me with child now we can run away t'gether an' we can be a happy family? You left me behind!"
"Because I had no choice!"
"You always had a choice! You chose t' leave me. I hated you for what you did. Leavin' me and our babe. I wanted to kill you. But that night I had you yet I couldn't let go o' that arrow. I still loved you an' I still do. But I almost got myself and my babe killed because of my anger. I wasn't goin' t' tell you because I already knew you'd chose this over us even if you didn't want t'. So I wasn't goin' to burden you with lettin' you know."
Jon felt deeply hurt but he saw the reason for her keeping the truth from him. He looked up at her apologetically. She looked into his eyes and saw the conflict and the sorrow in them.
"Jon Snow…" She called to him and stepped towards him.
Jon took a step back and apologized to her. He said he needed to think and that he'd be back later on at night. And with that, the both of them stayed alone to think of the event and the consequences of what was to happen.
