Chapter 7: Jon
Clearly I am awful at updating with any sort of regularity. I really have no excuse other than laziness. But I just finished season 6 of GOT and it was awesome! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Jon had never thought ruling could be so boring. At Winterfell, the Lord would hear the complaints of his subjects regularly, but nothing had prepared Jon for this. Daenerys had declared that all of the prisoners found, whether that be in King's Landing or other castles and keeps, be freed. Jon had no argument with that, most of the people had been locked up by the Lannisters for no good reason. The problem arose when trying to determine which people were innocent and which were guilty. If they were innocent there was the question of loyalty to the Targaryens, which was really only an issue for the prisoners of higher standing. If they were guilty then a fitting punishment must be decided. Daenerys had insisted upon personally hearing every person's story, going so far as to have prisoners of special interest brought to King's Landing from all corners of her realm.
"I was only stealin' bread for me children, Your Grace, I swear it! They was starvin' you see. Everyone was starvin'. Please have mercy, I have a family to look after!" A week ago, the poor man groveling at their feet would have made Jon feel sympathy, or pity at the very least. But after too many stories to count, much less remember, and with the majority of them sounding something like this man's, Jon couldn't bring himself to care. The Queen would tell this man the same thing she told all the others.
"You did not ask for this war, nor did your children. Thievery shall not be permitted in my city and if you are charged with it in the future, you and all others will be sent to wall. In light of the war, however, your prior crime shall be ignored. You are free to go." She sounded almost as bored as Jon felt, which almost brought a smile to his lips.
The announcement of the final prisoner of the day, or prisoners in this case, quickly wiped any stray thoughts from his mind.
"Frey prisoners freed from the dungeons at the Twins, Your Grace." The guard swung the doors to the throne room open wider and in walked a very road weary string of men. The doors shut and they kneeled, still chained in line, in front of the King and Queen.
Jon's breath caught in his throat. Were these Northern men? He hadn't thought the Freys had taken any prisoners from their wedding massacre. The men's faces were bearded and dirty, and with no distinguishing emblems on their clothing Jon was at a loss. Then he noticed a man, a head taller than the others and with a familiar face. He stood and took a step forward, needing to be sure. He had only seen the Lord Umber once, when the man made a rare visit to Winterfell, but there could be no mistaking it.
He could feel Daenerys' puzzled gaze. "These are northern lords." Jon didn't know that for sure, but was willing to hazard the guess. The guard confirmed his suspicion.
"Aye, Your Grace, and all were part of the Stark army. Their escorts said that all the common soldiers and other prisoners are still being held at the Twins."
Beside him, the Queen stood, surveying the men as well. "Which one of you held the highest rank." No one moved, but Jon could have sworn he saw a few cast nervous glances to the side. "Which one of you will speak on behalf of your men." Still, there was no sound. Daenerys took a breath. "You shall all be returned to the North, to your homes and to your families. I ask of you now to swear your fealty to me, Daenerys Targaryen your Queen, and Jon Targaryen, your King, the Warden of the North, and the current Lord of Winterfell."
A man beside Lord Umber looked like he meant to speak, but before he could the larger man lifted his gaze to look at Jon. "You're Eddard Stark's bastard boy," he said. Jon's face remained blank, showing nothing, though the man's accusing tone tore at him. It was Daenerys who answered.
"Eddard Stark's bastard was a lie. This man is the legitimate son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen and he is now your King. You would do well to show some respect. I ask again, will you swear loyalty?"
The Greatjon spoke to the Queen this time. "What do you plan to do to us if we refuse, name us traitors and feed us to your beasts?"
Daenerys grew angry at the mention of her children. "I am no monster, I take to joy in murder. If you refuse then you will still be allowed to keep your lives, but shall be sent to the Wall like the traitors you are. The usurpers have all been defeated, this war is over I will tolerate no more petty fighting."
This only served to rile the men. A different one spoke now. "You ask for our loyalty? Well I ask you, what have you done to earn it? You fly in here with some flying lizards and start sending people to wall as you like. Take my lands if you will, take my titles, you've already stolen the North, and what's worse you've placed in the hands of traitorous bastard. You may have killed the Lannisters, but what the hell have you done with the Starks?"
Other voiced picked up. "What have you done with Sansa Stark?" "The North will not bow to girls and bastards." "You'll burn us to the ground like the Mad King before you."
Jon saw Daenerys bristle at that, but before he could attempt to speak the girl was already shouting. "I have shown you and your north nothing but mercy and this is how you respond? You are usurper's dogs, all of you! By right I should have you all executed for following false a false king. I ask you one last time, do you swear fealty?"
"House Umber swears loyalty to none who have not earned it." Despite the chains, the man stood. Behind him the guards reached for their swords. "Send me to the wall if you will but know that the North will not remain beaten down forever." Lord Umber was soon joined on his feet by other lords, all swearing similar intent. A hush fell among them as one man took a step forward, the one chained next to the Greatjon.
"Stay back." The big man spoke quietly, but Jon heard nonetheless.
The smaller man shook his head, face turned towards his face. "No." He said simply. Then he raised his head, stood tall, and looked directly at Jon. "What have you done with Sansa Stark."
Jon fought to keep his face still but he knew he was failing. It felt as if all the air had been knocked from his lungs. How had he not noticed this man before? Older and dirtier though he was, how had Jon not spotted him immediately? He should feel elated, Jon knew, his brother and best friend was standing before him, back from the dead. And he did. By the gods, this was more than he could ever have dreamed of. But at the same time a slow dread was creeping in. All of this, Jon's new name his being a King and Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell, it was hard enough for him to reconcile with when he knew that at least it was for the best. His younger siblings, cousins now, didn't need the burdens he carried at the moment. But now Robb was standing in front of him, and his mother beside him, Jon now noticed. Jon had taken everything that was supposed to be Robb's and more, exactly the thing that had caused Lady Stark to despise him in the first place. But all thoughts of Catelyn Stark were driven from Jon's mind by one overpowering fear. 'What must Robb think of me now?'
"Sansa Stark is none of your concern-"
"I asked Jon." Robb did not shout, but his words silenced the Queen regardless. His familiar tone confusing her. Her confusion turned to annoyance when Jon spoke.
He met Robb's gaze with as much confidence as he could muster. "Sansa Stark is alive and well. She's currently residing in Winterfell. As the Queen said, the North has been shown much mercy." To his surprise, and relief, his voice did not waver. "Your siblings are safe, you have my word, however little that may mean to you now." Robb did not miss Jon's wording, and neither Daenerys.
"You're Robb Stark." She gave him a long look, as if sizing up her rival. "A false king."
Robb returned her look evenly. "I fought for the North, which was a kingdom unto itself long before the Targaryens came. I never wanted your cursed Iron Throne."
"Then will you swear loyalty?"
"No." Daenerys opened her mouth but Robb spoke again. "I will not swear my loyalty to you. As my men have said, you have done nothing to earn it yet, besides not murdering a young girl." Robb's turned back to Jon. "My bastard brother held my utmost trust, once. It was many years ago, now, and clearly many things have changed since then. What do you have to say, Jon Snow?" If Jon hadn't been looking closely, he would have missed the almost desperate glint in Robb's eyes, but he didn't, and it gave him hope. Robb still wanted to trust him. He could still fix this.
"My Queen, these men and Lady Stark have clearly not been informed of recent event. Perhaps we could settle this more peaceably if we sat sat and talked it through. Robb Stark is a reasonable man, if-"
"No!" Deanery's shout startled him. "I'll have their oaths now or not at all." She gave him a challenging look and Jon sighed in defeat.
"The North has only just been rebuilt, Stark, but the peace we have at the moment will not last long. The North bent its knee to the dragons once before, now it has done so again. I ask you, with the best interests of everyone in mind, to swear fealty to me now." In a softer tone he continued. "Haven't we all lost enough in this gods forsaken war? The North can be as it was before all this started. You will not have your own kingdom, but there will be peace and safety for all the northerners, that I swear to you. You are a Stark. Lord of Winterfell or no, your actions carry weight, so please, rethink your answer."
Robb was silent for a long time. The other lords began shifting anxiously. Finally, he gave a sharp nod, as if having finished an argument with himself, and walked forward to stand directly before Jon, causing the line of prisoners to shuffle with him.
"I, Robb Stark, former King in the North and Lord of Winterfell, pledge my allegiance to Jon Targaryen, the one true king of the seven kingdoms of Westeros." He knelt down on one knee. "I swear my loyalty to you and your kingdom from now until my death."
Jon nearly let out a sigh of relief and sheer joy began swelling in his chest as he let the realization that his dead brother now stood before him, alive, sink in for the first time. Robb stood and stepped back. Neither he nor Dany looked overly pleased, Jon noticed. The latter was most likely peeved that Robb had made his vow to Jon directly, and not her.
"And the rest of you?" Her tone was icy, but not as angry as it had been.
Unsurprisingly, the Greatjon was the next one to speak. "If you have Stark's oath then you have mine as well, Targaryen." Jon nodded his acceptance.
The other lords were more reluctant to follow suit, but after Dacey Mormont and Edmure Tully swore their fealty, they all did the same. Jon had not even bothered to hope that he would get all of their loyalty, and by the faint expression on Robb's face, the young wolf hadn't either.
"Guards," Daenerys called when the hall had fallen silent. "Please unshackle our guests and escort them to suitable rooms. Have warm meals and hot baths brought to them at once."
As the guards began to do so, Jon turned to woman beside him. "I would like speak to my brother and his men in private a moment before we send them off. They swore me their loyalty, the least I can do is assure them it was not misplaced."
For a long moment, Jon was sure she would tell him no in front of the northerners, she had a habit of publicly showing just who was in charge, but Dany simply gave him a long look then nodded her consent. "You may speak with your cousin but do not make it long. I expect to see you soon. We will not be hearing more prisoners tomorrow. You and I have much to discuss." With that she turned and walked out of the room.
The hall was silent except for the clang of shackles being removed. When every one of the former prisoners had been freed Jon motioned for the guards to leave.
"Your Grace," one said hesitantly, "I hardly think we'd be doing our duty if we left you alone with-" He trailed off, not knowing what to say.
"These men just took vows of loyalty." The man didn't look reassured, but left the room nonetheless.
When the doors had thumped shut, Jon finally stepped down from the throne and stood in front of Robb. When he opened his mouth to speak he found that his throat seemed to have closed up.
"Every-" He took a deep breath. "Every single report we heard said that you had been beheaded by the Freys, that they had sewn Grey Wind's head to your corpse, and that they had massacred every last one of your men." Jon hesitantly held out his right hand. "It's good to see you alive, Stark."
"And you, Snow." Robb grabbed his and and pulled him into a tight embrace. "You said siblings. Where's Arya?"
Jon pulled away from Robb and looked straight at Catelyn Stark. "Theon Greyjoy did not kill Bran and Rickon. He had two peasant boys murdered to hide the fact that your sons escaped. All of your children are alive and well."
Robb let out a choked laugh and Catelyn pulled him into a tight hug. "They're all at Winterfell?" For the first time in a long time Lady Stark was not glaring at him. "Who's looking after them?"
Jon hesitated a moment, but didn't want to unnecessarily worry the mother. "Sansa and Rickon are at Winterfell, she's caring for them both along with the wildling woman, Osha. Arya and Bran are here in King's Landing as guests."
Lady Catelyn's eyes widened. "They're here now?" The longing in her voice was almost painful, but a hardened edge soon pushed it out. "They're hostages, aren't they."
Jon didn't answer her. Instead he turned towards the group as a whole. "I know you are all in the dark concerning recent events, and I assure you that I will answer any questions you may have. It is getting late now though, and there are food and baths awaiting you. I only wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude. I had not expected so many of you to swear fealty, and while you may not believe me yet, your doing so has helped the North greatly." Jon gave the men a small bow, before dismissing them. "My men will see you to your rooms now."
Robb and Catelyn were the only two who did not turn towards the doors. "I want to see my children."
"Of course, Lady Stark. After you both have cleaned up send a servant to fetch me. All five of us shall dine together."
Catelyn still looked unsatisfied, but after over three years apart, dressed in prison rags wasn't how she wanted her children to see her. She and Robb walked arm in arm towards the doors. Just as they were about to open them, Jon blurted out the concern he had had for the past few minutes.
"Lady Stark, Robb," They both turned, confused. "Arya," Jon hesitated a moment before plunging ahead. "All four of your children survived on their own in some of the worst conditions for the better part of four years. Do not," Again he paused, uncertain of how to continue. "For your sake and theirs, please do not expect them to be the children you left because they're not, and they won't ever be again."
Lady Catelyn tensed and quickly walked out of the hall. Robb gave Jon one last sad smile before following her. Jon thought he should feel elated, all of siblings were back, but he just felt strangely sad. They'd each been through too much to pretend everything would be perfect now.