The Rise of the Red Wolf

Here they were in front of us, Lord Howland, Ser Davos, Lady Mormont, Lady Brienne, and Tormund.

"Finally his Highness has graced us with his fooking presence," Tormund bellowed earning looks from the others and a slap to the back from Ser Davos. "Wha?"

I sighed and shook my head before gesturing to them to sit. "There is much to discuss and utmost discretion is demanded this morning."

Everyone was silent and waiting even Tormund who looked like he wanted to say something but held back.

"No one can contest that the matter of trust from me and your Queen is scarcely bestowed, given our history of betrayals. So to all of you we've called today, can we be assured of your fealty to us? Can you give us your word that all that will be discussed shall be kept within these walls until we deem the time is right to reveal them? Are you loyal to House Stark? Do you affirm your fealty?"

Tormund waved his hand. "Out with it Snow. I am no kneeler but I have always vouched fer ya."

"Aye," Ser Davos simply said with a nod which Lord Howland echoed.

"I swear it," Lady Brienne proclaimed. "To the old gods and new."

"Just get it over with King in the North," Lady Mormont prompted.

I nodded at them and looked at Sansa who gave a small smile of encouragement, silently slipping her hand in mine under the table.

We agreed to tell them of my parentage first after getting into the letters.

I gathered my strength and forced myself to look each of them in the eye, fighting the urge to swallow – vomit – faint – tremble whichever comes first but the soft pressure I felt pressed in my hand gave me the courage to proceed.

"Now that I have assured that you are loyal to House Stark I can proceed. You all knew me as Snow and you all named me Stark, that is true right?"

They nodded.

"I am a Stark. But I am not Ned Stark's son."

Confusion. Shock. Surprise. All those who didn't know had different expressions but no one made to speak so I continued.

"I am Lyanna Stark's son."

Ser Davos glanced at Lady Mormont as he tried to piece things together.

Lyanna Mormont was quicker though as she looked at Lord Reed then at me. "You're a Targaryen, aren't you? Rhaegar's?"

I nodded. "Aye I am."

She looked at Lord Reed. "You knew all along. You and Lord Eddard. So is he a Targaryen bastard now?"

I almost winced at that if not for the knowledge that I wasn't.

Lord Reed bobbed his head and crossed his arms. "Aye. I knew of it. But he's not a bastard. Rhaegar and Lyanna were wed before the old gods. It was the only way to keep the boy safe."

"Lord Reed will explain to all and show you the evidence of Jon's parents as well as their union but for now we need to know what this information means to you – means to the North," Sansa spoke out.

"Union? If that is true then you have the rightful claim to the Iron Throne – in fact the strongest claim as legitimate son of the first son of the king…" Ser Davos stated with wide eyes, the shock not wearing off.

"But weakens your claim to Winterfell and the North," Lady Mormont added. "Now that we've declared the North as independent."

"He is still a Stark," Brienne interjected.

"But he is not the immediate heir as Ned Stark's nephew," Lyanna stated matter-of-factly.

"What does that matt'r? E's the bloody King right now, Snow fought for these lands and the people. Enough reason ter be the fooking lead'r," Tormund argued.

"Oy enough all of you. You are all somewhat right. But as it is, I do not want the Iron Throne. I might be born in the South but I lived all my life in the North and I will die for the North if need be. I've already had to do that once after all."

That took them back and some even winced.

"Then what do you mean to do? And why did you even reveal this to us if you will not assert your claim? My previous statement would only be echoed by the other Northern Lords and we are tired and wary of having threats to this already fragile union we have." Lyanna spoke wisely and with warning.

I sighed. "Because it is foolish to think that such a secret would be kept a secret for long and we thought it best it came from us so it could not be used against us."

"You are talking about Petyr Baelish aren't you?" Ser Davos asked.

"That slimy southern pecker with the pointy beard?"Tormund spat.

Sansa's hand stiffened in mine. I brushed it with my thumb.

"Aye."

Then deciding that they've ignored Sansa for too long, I spoke up. "I already know that it would be hard for me to keep my crown without the other lords thinking that in the end there would still be southern involvement with the north. I can relinquish it, step down with no problem knowing that I would be leaving it in much more capable hands."

I looked at Sansa and smiled at her though she kept her gaze steady at the council's. "You still have your Queen. As the last known living Stark of Eddard Stark's line, and even if the younger Starks are found, she would still be the eldest, she has the best claim to the north. I do not have to remind you that while I lead the battle, she was the one who pushed for it and it was her wits that lead to our victory. I also do not need to remind you of the heavy price she paid to reclaim Winterfell."

I stood up then, drew my sword and knelt in front of Sansa. "I renounce all my claim to the North and the Iron Throne. If it pleases all for me to deny both Stark and Targaryen name, I deny them. I am more than happy to lay my life and follow the rightful queen as a Snow."

Everyone except Tormund knelt and bowed in front of Sansa. Tormund locked his eyes at me before giving a heavy nod at Sansa. He would follow.

Sansa stood up and motioned for us to get up and sit back down. "Sit please. I am grateful and humbled but we have much to discuss yet. The other Lords shall be arriving post-haste as well as Littlefinger. We can do all the formalities then but we need to have an accord right now."

Once everyone was were we were before, Sansa then took over the proceedings.

She took out the three letters and passed them over the others while she spoke. "We have received three letters, one from each of Tywin Lannister's progeny. The most dated came from Jamie Lannister, then Cersei and lastly Tyrion."

"Separate letters?" Brienne muttered as she made to grab the one from the Kingslayer.

Sansa nodded at her. "Yes. In summary, the Lannisters are separated by miles and by alliances and each serving if not wanting to serve different queens. Queens because the war of the kings are over. Queens have taken over. Cersei Lannister blew up the Sept of Baelor along with the Faith Militant and the Tyrell heirs and now calls herself Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Crossing the narrow sea is the Dragon Queen, Daenerys Targaryen, daughter of the slain Dragon King Aerys Targaryen, who comes to reclaim the throne that was taken from her family and backed by a large army that includes as you've read in the letter, scores of Unsullied, Second Sons, a Dothraki khalasar, as well as the Olenna Tyrell's men from the Reach, the Sand Snakes of the Martell House of Dorne, and the Iron Fleet helmed by Yara Greyjoy, Queen in her own right of the Salt Throne."

"And Jamie Lannister has allied with my uncle Edmure Tully and together they hold the Riverlands and a large portion of the Westerlands that are loyal to Ser Jamie. And they have pledged for House Stark whether we accept them or not."

It was Lyanna who spoke first. "Well clearly we know which Queen has already lost."

Ser Davos grumbled. "Indeed. Another Mad Queen on the Iron Throne. Yet we must not underestimate Wildfire, my lady. I saw firsthand how it was used effectively in battle." He looked at Sansa then who held a grim smile and nodded.

"They only needed one boat and one fire-tipped arrow," Sansa recalled.

The Battle at Blackwater.

"Yet let me make it clear right now before we go to any decision. We all agreed when you crowned Jon and I that we have a bigger more menacing enemy to face. I don't need to remind you," she started.

A collective aye sounded.

"As much as we need more men and more supplies to defeat the White Walkers and last the winter which was predicted to be the longest one yet, we simply cannot afford to go South. We need all available men and resources here. I understand that they all seek an alliance with the North and why wouldn't they? The North is the largest region in Westeros."

She eyed them all and gave a small frown. "I do admit that looking at our numbers… we are simply not enough and we only have two Valyrian steels and only a couple hundreds of dragonglass. We are then offered men, dragonglass, and dragons."

"But what good faith can we give them, really? Other than our word of support? Every man we send for them to fight could only be another man less we need to defend the North."

No one could disagree.

"But the consequence of our refusal to both queens?" Ser Davos raised.

"Death by fire. Wildfire or Dragonfire."

Cold surrounded the room, shivers reached spines and fingers, and minds raced a mile a minute.

Tormund harrumphed and spat. "FIRE? ICE is co-ming fer us! Ice will come fer 'em too! If those Southern cunts 'ad any sense in 'em, they'd use their fire to fight ice with us! What could pos'bly be so appealin' abou' an iron chair? Does i' magically suck cocks an' cunts?"

Bless you Tormund Giantsbane.

Bless you and your filthy mouth I almost grinned at him. I looked at Sansa and she smiled at me which I returned.

She looked at him then. "Filthy as it was, Jon and I share in Lord Giantsbane's sentiments."

He gave Sansa an appreciative crooked grin. "Don' be callin' me Lord now. Tormund's jes fine."

Sansa actually grinned. "Tormund then. Tormund is right. If they have any sense they would see that we are not the real enemy."

"So what do you propose we do then?" Lyanna piped in. "The North is independent. It belongs to you Sansa Stark. To you as well Jon Snow, Jon Targaryen. Who cares. The blood of the first men still flows in your veins. The Wildling is right. Ice is coming for all of us. By the way I see it no matter what we will face Ice. So its either we die trying to fight Ice, or die from fire if the South comes for us. Either way if we fail against Ice, Ice will come for them too even if they had dragons and men. They don't know the enemy. They don't know the North like we do."

"Jon and I think as much. So what we can offer them is a choice. If they truly care for the realm, if they want to have anyone to rule at all, then they simply must join us in our battle. If they care more about the 'magical' chair as Tormund kindly pointed out more than surviving the Winter, then they do not deserve that chair. Whatever they decide to do, if they want our alliance, here are our terms," Sansa eyed each and everyone before speaking.

"Essentially, no one of the North shall go past the Neck. Only a select few can go further down towards the Twins if it truly the Riverlands has proved loyal to me. If they want to talk to the North, they must come North. That is my first condition. The last would be that all finality of alliances and dealings will be done after the long night, after the war against the dead."

Her eyes glinted, accentuated by the sparkle of the sapphires on her crown as she looked at everyone.

"They don't even need to fight for us. Because this is as much their fight as ours. So this is the choice we will be giving them. Fight with us or die after us."

She stood up then and placed a hand over her heart. "I was born in the North, raised in the North, bled in and for the North. And if I must die, I will die in the North. But I won't come quietly. There are many things I don't believe in anymore. But I believe that the North is worth fight for. I did not endure all seven hells and back if I didn't think it was worth it. ButI am just one Northman. I may be willing to die for the cause but I know that it it too much too ask of each of you too. So I only need those who are loyal to House Stark – loyal to the North. Those who wish to leave may leave, I will grant that."

She looked at me then softly for a moment before addressing them once more. "Someone told me that sometimes we have to fight with the army we have. That battles have been won against greater odds. Foolishness, I dismissed. Battles are won by the numbers and by tactic. That is fact. But what is victory if the men who picked up swords for you do not believe the cause? What is victory if there is room for betrayal in the midst? What is victory if the men who spilled blood for you are lead blind and for a different ulterior cause?"

She shook her head.

"True battles won aren't by the numbers but by the cause."

She smiled. "More foolishness, you might say."

"But if you die knowing you fought with all you've got for what you believed in, isn't that in itself, a victory?"

She took my hand then and gripped tight. "So I'd rather fight with an army who truly fights for the cause and not because of gold, or reward, or coercion, or fear but of their own truth – their own belief."

"And that is how I will address all when every Northern Lord has gathered. And whoever still remains in the Hall and stands by the cause will be our army. It's the army we will have. And it's the army we will fight with."

She looked back at me. "No matter the odds."

I returned her look as best I could but I was too overwhelmed and awed.

She believed.

Even back then, she listened.

She believed in me.

Sansa then gave me a tender smile before shifting to a determined one at them. "So I've said all, and I've said true. Now tell me. What say you?"

I looked at each and everyone of our unofficial council. Small as it was but they were true. And everyone looked as floored and amazed at Sansa as I was.

"The War of the Five Kings is now over and now Queens have risen," Ser Davos remarked while getting to his feet and sword.

Lady Lyanna stood up and gave an indignant huff. "Then it's a good thing we have our own then."

We both beamed at her.

And at that. All at once, they knelt in front of her, firsts to their chests, head bowed low.

I followed suit and knelt before her but I couldn't resist looking at her.

Eyes of frost, and fire-kissed hair, dressed in wolves and winter roses.

This was where she was meant to be.

"Aye. Queen in the North."

I can't stop looking at her.

It's driving me to the point of insanity.

I wanted to curse myself. This was hardly the time.

But it's really hard not to look at her especially now that she is in her element.

Now that she is Queen.

Just look at her.

Sitting straight, calm, and poised, her eyes focused as she listened to the lords and ladies who were gathered in the main hall.

It took almost a sennight for all to gather but they were here.

I was sitting on her right on the highest daise while Lady Brienne stood behind her, Ser Davos in turn, behind me. But it was only Sansa who was wearing a crown.

As expected, it was decided that I had to step down and surrender all claims to both my names as a sign of loyalty to Sansa's claim. Easy enough to give.

She was rightfully the Queen in the North, Lady of Winterfell, Head of House Stark, and by blood, cousin to the Lord Paramount of the Vale and niece to the Lord Paramount of the Trident.

That only left the Stormlands, the Crownlands, the Reach, and Dorne all of which were within the Dragon Queen's grasp. Based on Tyrion's letter, they were already allied with House Tyrell, Martell under the Sand Snakes, and even the Iron Fleet under Yara Greyjoy. That on top of the people loyal to them from Essos.

And right down the middle was the Westerlands, a third for Sansa through Jamie Lannister, a third for Tyrion Lannister for Daenerys Targaryen, and a third still loyal to Cersei Lannister.

But if you think more closely, Tyrion being Sansa's former…husband could have some loyalties to her if he was half as decent a man as I knew him, and Theon, scum as he was, owed his life to Sansa as well… Olenna Tyrell also owed Sansa for her warning of the ill-bred Joffrey as well as being the scape goat for their assassination of that kingling. If there were any Baratheons left or if their vassals were smart, they would realize that the Starks chose to aid their claims. Robert. Stannis. Even Renly. They should return the favor. Thrice over. And by what Sansa revealed that Ned Stark resigned as Hand in protest to my aunt's assassination, Danaerys could likely owe our family her life and he… he was her good-sister by my…parents. Seven hells, House Targaryen is alive because of him!

They all owed Sansa and House Stark.

Seven hells, Sansa truly deserved to be the Queen. And not just the North, but everything!

So there really should be no issue for them to overlook Sansa. '

Sansa who only wanted to come home.

Sansa who despite being terrorized by the North, still stands by the North.

But there was of course, Littlefinger.

"My Queen, if I may," came his sniveling voice. The way he said my queen did not settle well with me.

"Go ahead Lord Baelish," Sansa said calmly but I noticed her tense and saw that her hand was shaking underneath the table. I took it in mind automatically.

"Thank you, my Queen. If I might make a suggestion," he started.

"Proceed."

"Lord Stark, no Lord Targaryen or forgive me, but what do we call you my Lord?" he looked at me and though he did not smirk his feigned concerned smile did not fool me.

"Have you not been paying attention, Lord Baelish? I have renounced my claim to Stark and Targaryen. You may address me as how I was being addressed all my life. I care not," I faked a half smile at him.

Sansa squeezed my hand in warning.

"Ah. My apologies. But given that there is proof of your… royal blood. You are the son of the first son and as such you have a better claim than your aunt who is crossing the narrow sea. As such you have better claim to the Iron Throne." He said with a casual tone. Too casual.

I raised a brow. "And? That was very clearly pointed out before but as I said, I have no desire for it."

He looked at me as if he was ready to explain to a child and I had to clench my teeth to keep from being annoyed. Just spit it out Littlefinger.

"Must you dismiss it just like that? If you claim the throne, you hold claim to all. And you could order all the men to march beyond the Wall. You'd have access to everything. Everything you'd ever need. And what better way to protect the North's interest than having a King who was part North on the throne?" When he mentioned North his gaze landed briefly on Sansa then back to mine and I knew he was on his way to playing me. And playing me good. Just that one brief look at Sansa and already he knew where my weakness lay.

But then I felt Sansa brush her thumb against my hand and squeezed again centering my thoughts.

I let out a disinterested breath and said as calmly as I could. "That may be true but we do not have the luxury of time, men, and resources to march South which is still held by a Mad Queen who would probably burn down the whole Red Keep before others could pry it from her and not to mention, my aunt as you've pointed out, is marching South already. She's fought her way to cross the narrow sea, gained powerful friends, and has a justified motive. Why should I take the throne from her?"

"So you show support to your aunt then? You'd have the North bend the knee to your family once more along the way?"

He hit a nerve.

"As you have pointed out, my lord, I am also of the North. I am half a Stark. Were you implying I have my family bend a knee to my family as well?" I arched a brow at him.

To his credit he seemed unfazed. "Just as well. But your answer still remains, Lord Snow."

My other hand drew into a fist. "As I've said, I would support only those who would support the North first and foremost. I do not speak for House Targaryen. And as I have renounced my other claim, I do not speak for House Stark as well. I only speak for myself. And I have pledged to serve the Queen in the North."

"But if there was a way, even the slightest possibility that you could secure the Iron Throne, and by all its domain, the whole of the seven kingdoms, would you do it? Take the Iron Throne for the North?

I bit into the inside of my cheek to keep from revealing my emotions. This was a trick question. I can't just say no. But I can't say yes either.

Think. Think Jon. Think.

But at the sight of his smirk I finally found my words.

"Unless you explain that possibility I do not have the luxury of thinking about what-ifs. I'd rather we deal with what we have and not imagined scenarios," I leveled with him.

From my peripheral vision I could see Sansa looking at me and felt the pressure of reassurance on my hand followed by a stroke of her thumb.

"I propose you command Jamie Lannister to kill his sister the Queen as a sign of his loyalty and use his men along with the Knights of the Vale - both Southern armies to lay siege to the Red Keep. If our Queen allows, men from the Riverlands can come and help you take the throne. Is it not wise? Keep the Northern army North, your Southern army South? You could still defend the North while taking he South. Take the throne before the Dragon Queen comes. I am sure once she knows you are of blood and that she is no longer the only Targaryen in the world, she would not fight you right then and there. There would be a parlay. Perhaps you might even do the world a favor by averting a bigger Southern War. Perhaps you might make an alliance. You have worked well as co-regent with Queen Sansa when she was still your sister, perhaps you could rule as co-regent with your Aunt. And well, as Targaryens do, you might even not need to be just co-regents by blood alone."

The hall was silent and I'm sure my eyes faltered a bit.

That fuck really thought this through. Thought about how tempting it all sounds.

And his implication was not uncaught by me. He means for me to marry my aunt.

I felt ill.

And its not because she's of my blood. It's because – it's because…

And I looked around the room and I knew that there were people considering it. Why wouldn't they?

But the thought of marriage.

Spending my life tied and duty bound to a woman I've never met.

No.

Spending my life with a woman who was not Sansa…

I looked at her and tried to tell her with my eyes how I feel about this. What should I do? What was the right thing to do? What does she want me to do?

She looked pale and as ill as I was. Her eyes steady but to those who really knew her you'd see they were troubled.

Then there it was. A tiny subtle tilt of her head and a blink. She gave me her answer.

I don't know.

So it really fell to me.

Think. Think.

I looked at Baelish and his smug face brought me back to perspective.

I gave him a smile.

His smirk deepened, feeling victories.

I smiled wider. "That's a pretty picture. My lord. And I do not deny the merits you've discussed and by your outstanding proposition, it could well be a plausible plan. But as I've said, we simply do not have the luxury of time even if we do have the men. It would take almost four months to get to King's Landing from Winterfell. Winter is here, my lord. We do not know how long before the Dead come for us. I'd rather stay here with my Queen to whom I pledged my sword and my life. And we have hope that my aunt if she was truly what the stories and whispers have said is a just and reasonable queen, then she has no cause not to aid us. If blood matters, then she'd aid me. I relinquished my claim. By all rights and purposes, having the better claim, I will have given my aunt the kingdom that as you've said, was owed me."

I looked at Sansa and smiled before staring down at Petyr Baelish. "I have never met either of the Southern Queens. And I do not need to. I have chosen the rightful Queen. Just as the North owes their lives to Queen Sansa, I also owe her mine. I happily with no reluctance whatsoever, surrender all my claim to the Northern Kingdom to her. What's another Kingdom? And what good would it do to own the South? If my Queen wishes it, I would claim and give her the Seven Kingdoms but what need would we have of the South when my Queen only knew terror and hell from living in it?'

That wiped the smile from his face.

"So, no. No. Lord Baelish. My Queen wishes to protect the North. And I will stand by her. As long as she needs."

I smirked as I heard the cheers from the people. But suddenly Baelish's hateful glare let up as light entered his eyes before he relaxed into a knowing smile after hearing my final words.

And there it was.

I knew he found something in my words. I knew this was far from over for him.

I may have won this battle.

But this war was far from over.

I looked at Sansa once more and she offered me an encouraging smile which I returned, grateful that at least she thought I held my own.

"Of course," Petyr interrupted and as he looked at me and at Sansa with a simpering grin and look that was a moment too long before he gave a clap before turning towards the audience.

"As the White Wolf has declared to be part of the Red Wolf's pack, so should we all! I am but from the South but I cannot help but turn North to fight against the real fight and stand by the rightful ruler. The War of the Five Kings is long over and the Reign of Queens has begun. Do we bow to the Queen of Lions?"

"No!" shouted the collective.

"Or do we bow to the Queen of Dragons?"

"Never again!"

"Then who do we fight for? Who holds the North?"

"THE RED WOLF!" "HOUSE STARK!" "SANSA STARK!" "THE QUEEN IN THE NORTH!"

And the crowd erupted into cheers and proclamations, every tankard and mug were banged on the table, swords were drawn out and raised, feet were stomped against the floor, and voices echoed throughout the hall all for Sansa.

Baelish then turned his head slightly to look at me with his knowing smirk against the frenzied crowd in front of him, holding my sight before making a display of turning to Sansa, raising both arms to his sides and bowing low to her.

"Your people, my Queen."

Before I could get over the unsettling feeling he gave when he said my queen, Sansa stood up and raised her arms to silence the crowd. Immediately I went to her and handed her my sword and she took it from me and raised it high and with perfect grace and confidence just as I taught her for this moment.

"The time has come to fight for the North. To fight for our home. The North is ours. It has always been ours. But now we have to fight to keep it. For generations my family has always said, Winter is Coming. And now Winter is here. And with Winter comes the true enemy – the true threat to the world that only us Northmen know. So it falls to us to vanquish this enemy. So what say you? Will you fight for the North? Will you fight for our home?"

The hall erupted once more, livelier and louder than ever as each and every one in the hall raised their arms and their voices.

But I only had eyes murderously trained on Petyr Baelish's theatrics.

As if knowing he turned to me slightly to give me a look, wavering slightly to Sansa then back to me where he grinned maliciously.

And I caught myself before my body betrays me.

He knows.

Because I said my Queen.

I almost didn't go to her chambers especially now that a snake was on the loose but I had to see her.

When I entered her room she was by the window, still dressed in her green wolf gown. By the softening of her stance she knew it was me but she remained where she was, not even turning around to greet me.

So I walked over to stand beside her and stare out the window too.

In silence we watched the blizzard starting outside, washing the view in black and white. Snow against the night.

And I couldn't take the silence any more. "Sansa?"

She turned to me slightly. "Hmm?"

"Sansa, how are you feeling?"

She bent slightly, resting her elbows against the window sill and stared back outside. "The question I think would be, what am I not feeling?"

Then she took a deep breath before turning fully to me and gracing me with a smile. "How about you? How are you feeling Jon?"

I lifted a corner of my mouth. "Just peachy."

She crinkled her nose and studied me before leaning backwards, resting her weight partially on her palms planted behind her on the window sill. "That was dangerous you know."

"What?" Though I clearly knew what she was talking about.

"You shouldn't let Baelish bait you further, Jon," she chastised.

I sighed. "I know, I know. But tell me true, how much damage did I cost?"

She thought for awhile really considering it but then she shrugged and shook her head. "I don't see anything wrong… you actually handled it well… but of course, that doesn't mean that he doesn't have another plan cooked up."

I leant against the wall and crossed both my arms and ankles but kept my eyes on her.

"Of course."

Then she looked up at me. "But you're really not here to talk about Baelish aren't you?"

Nothing really goes past her.

I nodded and sighed. "Aye."

She pushed herself upright and walked in front of me then. "Then out with it Jon. Ask me what you really want to ask."

"My… my parentage Sansa… I want to know how you feel about this – how you feel about… losing a brother? Not that I was truly a brother to you. But – I mean how do you feel about me being a cousin… a Targaryen." I cursed internally through my stammer.

She said nothing. I followed her gaze as it lingered on my breast plate. It took a beat to realize what she was really looking at.

And immediately I took out her favor from my breast pocket and handed it to her.

"Does it really matter what I think?" she said as she stroked the wolf pattern.

I swallowed. "Of course it does. Your opinion is all that matters."

She looked up at me then with a look I didn't recognize. Before she blinked and looked away. "Like I said, what matters to me is how you yourself feel about it. This is your life. This is your legacy. No matter what, this is something that is for you to do as you will."

"Still." I rested my palm to her cheek and met her eyes. "I still want to know."

She smiled briefly then her eyes lowered as she thought. "As much as I know the value of a good name, you might understand why I am disenchanted by its notions." She frowned.

" Names can be powerful. And like any power, it can be exploited." She looked up at me then.

"My first thought was that I was scared for you… I guess I'm still scared for you…you are the lost prince. You could be King. I heard Melisandre mention you having king's blood and now that makes sense. On top of that, she thinks you are the Prince that was Promised. So followers or R'hllor will be after you. The Wildlings already think you some kind of god….Your aunt will definitely be interested in you, whether to kill you or to help her continue your bloodline… Point is everyone would now want a piece of you. Not only do you have a powerful name but you, yourself are powerful in that people have their own beliefs when it comes to you."

She reached a hand to my face, the other clutching her favor against my chest. "You grew up Jon Snow. You knew what it was like to carry that name. And I know that even if you've learned to accept this and be proud even, I knew you dreamed…of more. And now you can be. No, you've always been…more. I…I admit that I thought that maybe you would embrace it. Embrace your birthright. This was once your dream. I…I thought that maybe a part of you still believed in that dream. Yet you renounce it so easily. So I'm not really sure. I told you it all depends on what you want. Who you want to be… Whatever you choose I always knew I would support you."

Then she spread her favor until you could read my embroidered name and she traced all three letters over my chest. Over my heart.

"To me what's more important is the man behind the name. A name is just a name and its really not that hard to change a name. I was once Alayne Stone you know."

"Stone?"

"Yes, Jon. I spent nearly two moon's turn as a bastard."

"When was this and whose?"

She frowned and looked back at the window. "Baelish's."

Then she let out a weary breath. "It started when I escaped the capital and all the way to the Eyrie. I was wanted as a fugitive, accused of having a hand in Joffrey's death..." She shook off those thoughts and drew the curtains shut. Then looked up at me with an offered smile before looking at her hands that were still holding the curtains shut.

"I thought of you, you know. I admit that I hadn't really before but... I thought all my brothers were dead. But at least i knew you were at the Wall. Far far away from the Capital. With the fall of our House I took comfort in the fact that you could still make something of yourself there. Make father proud." She looked up at me. "He was you know. Very proud of you."

Then she looked back down. "Unlike me. I was used for my name. And then I didn't even have that. I was just Petyr Baelish's bastard. I couldn't even go to the Wall." She laughed with little humor.

I stayed silent. She's shared with me a lot about her time in the Keep and under Bolton's terror but never her time at the Eyrie. For some reason it was something she kept guarded most and finally I was getting somewhere.

"And I felt bad for how I treated you. Getting a taste of what you must've felt. I thought about writing you so many times... But I was afraid that I would be found out. So I dreamt instead. And thought... Thought of one day seeing you again and how sweet it might've been to see you again..."

She hesitantly looked back up at me again and gave a real smile now, though there was a touch of uncertainty and shyness.

I reddened.

"At least I was right about that. It was sweet. Very sweet to see you again."

I was so taken aback and awed by her admission. So there was more to it. Her regard for me - her acceptance.

She was used for her name, forced to dirty it, then forced to abandon it and become a nobody - a bastard. And when convenient, forced to use her name once more.

"Sansa-" I wanted to reach out but she stepped out of grasp and looked towards the wall.

"Then I got my name back but what good it did me because in the end they married me to a bastard. Oh Ramsey was legitimized of course but when I pointed out that Tommen Baratheon was also a bastard he told me that bastards could rise above the world and cited you as an example. And that was when I first knew that you were Lord Commander."

She traced my cheek lightly and smiled. "I was overjoyed because I was right. You did make yourself proud there. And Ramsey provided me an idea. But regardless if my idea failed, at least there was still you. There was still a Stark in the world. A Stark in the North untouched by Southern corruption."

I held her hand to my face. "Sansa if only I had known. If only I had known you were married-"

She placed a finger to my lips and shook her head.

"That's it. We didn't know. How could we? You thought I was safe in the capital, I thought you were safe at the Wall. But we're here now. And I still stand by what I said. Seeing you brought me so much relief, so much joy, so much hope. It was truly sweet, sweeter than I imagi-"

My arms were around her then. Tight. Her hands trapped between us as I nuzzled closer.

"It was sweet to me too," I choked.

"It was sweet to me too," I repeated. "I just came back from the dead but I never felt alive until I saw you walk past the gates."

We stayed that way for a moment. And it felt like we were back at Castle Black. The relief and joy we felt back then? It felt like this too.

It felt even more.

"It didn't matter to me then what you were Jon. You were you then, and you are you now. And it doesn't matter to me what you want to be called, what role you want to fill, as long as you keep on being brave, gentle, and strong man I know you are. I know it might not mean anything to you but I'm really proud of you Jon. Arya was right. Robb was right. Father was right."

I held her by her arms then and made her look at me never mind that my heart was probably on my sleeve or my eyes.

She stopped talking then and we stood there, so close, close enough to breathe in what the other was breathing out.

"It means something." I whispered almost pained.

I cradled her head against my neck, tucking her under my chin as I lowered my mouth near her ear.

"It means the world." I whispered.

It means everything. I wanted to scream.

Nothing else.

I took my time and relished having her in my arms.

I brought my hand to stroke her hair from the top all the way down to her back. Inhaling the sweet scent of her hair of her skin. Her warmth and softness pressing against me almost made me weep. She was so close. We were so close. I wanted to be closer still.

"No one tells you enough too and I'm also probably not the best person to tell you but someone should. I'm proud of you Sansa. Robb would've told you. Your father and mother would've told you. Even Arya. And you know the little ones. We're all proud of you. You've made House Stark something to be proud again."

I dropped a kiss to her head and pulled away a little so I could grasp her face. I didn't look at her yet and instead pressed my forehead to hers. And I knew she was shaking from crying. But I knew those weren't tears of pain.

"You asked me what I wanted. Who I wanted to be. What I wanted to do. Well I'll tell you now. I am Jon. I am your Jon. Not Snow, not Stark, not Targaryen. Just Jon. They can call me any name that they like but they can't tell me what to do. Only you can ever have that power. All those titles, I used to want them. A part of me still does. But those titles mean nothing if they would only lead me to be parted from you. You came to me at Castle Black just as I was reborn. And if the reason I was brought back was to take care of you then that's enough reason to want to stay alive. I'd follow you anywhere. Sansa. I'd do anything for you. I meant everything I said to you and for you in front of all of them. You are worth following."

I looked at her then and I worry that I've said too much. Revealed too much. Half of me wanted to. But it was hardly the time. It was hardly the place. I don't think she's ready yet.

"W-why do you believe in me so much?" she said through tears.

Don't you know?

I smiled at her gently. "I can tell you all the reasons and the days and nights will never be long enough. But trust that I just do. Sometimes you can have all the reasons. Sometimes you don't even have even one. You just do. I've made a lot of mistakes but this is not one of them."

"And besides, I'm not the only one who believes in you. They call you many names too you know."

I dropped the hand on her face to hold her hand as I lead her to face the floor length mirror.

I stood behind her and placed my hands on her shoulders while I bent my head at level with her eyes and ears.

"Look. You are the one wearing the crown here. They crowned you Queen in the North not because you are a Stark. You fought to be here. You fought for our independence. They call you the Winter Rose that continues to bloom more beautiful with each passing day amidst the frost and the blizzards, delicate yet enduring. They call you the Red Wolf that won the North back. And soon enough they will name you Queen of the Trident and Queen of the Vale when they have no other choice but to swear fealty to you. I know you do not desire the Iron Throne but once you win the Battle of the Dawn under your reign, with or without the South's aid, they will call you the Queen who saved the South – who saved Westeros even. If we only had the opportunity, I would even claim the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms if only to give it to you if you ask it of me. You are worthy of it all, Sansa."

"But I know you only care for the North. Your home. I just want you to know that I believe you are capable of so much more than your name. Just being Sansa is more than enough. The world may have lost a just Queen of the Seven Kingdoms from you, but the North will always remember their Queen."

I pointed to her reflection.

"You are porcelain. You are Ivory. You are steel. You are all of them at once. Beautiful. Brave. Strong." I said while meeting her eyes through our reflection.

"Now pick your name."

She straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin, and looked at her reflection with glinting eyes and nerves of steel.

"I am Sansa Stark of Winterfell. I am Queen in the North."

AN: Whoo I need a drink. This chapter and the next ones were all so emotionally draining. And this one. So. Much. Going. On. And I really wanted to give Jon something – a little something to hope for. ;)

But first things first. Okay. So if you've noticed, I already added an estimate of how long this would go. Just four more chapters after this and finally we get to the end of Jon's Emotional journey. And, yeah, sorry it took so long but I've actually written like three different drafts er four actually, but it was truly a struggle! Anyway, it's here and thanks for all the support I truly appreciate it! I love you guys! The good news (for those who are the least bit interested in this story that is) is that I can salvage the other drafts when I realized that I've gone and written ahead already skipping this so you'll probably see the next chapters soon. Also, from the last chapter, I've added memory Robb as part of the main characters because I figured for this story, he would be the unofficial mediator or in the least the middle ground. If there was anything that they had in common it was their hero-worship of Robb (at least for this story). And he will figure even more prominently in the following chapters. But so will ugh Littlefinger. But until then.

Much love.