1st Month of 300 A.C. The Twins
Robb Stark
"Say it again." Robb demands.
The man Black Walder had sent north from King's Landing looks at him nervously and then speaks. "King Joffrey, the bastard and ill born died at his own wedding, poisoned Your Grace. It seems the imp, Tyrion Lannister has been accused of committing the crime."
He feels some satisfaction at that for a moment before asking. "And what of Lady Sansa? What befell her?"
The messenger looks nervous. "She was brought before the hand of the king and questioned. She was found innocent of any wrong doing."
Robb nods. "Very well, you may go." he watches the man bow and then depart. Once he is gone, Robb turns to his lords and lady and says. "The bastard Joffrey is dead. His brother will sit the throne as King, and soon we may move from the shadows."
A small cheer goes up at this, but then Dacey asks. "Your Grace, what will you do now that the man is dead? Will you make for the north?"
Robb considers this a moment and looks around the hall, the throne he sits on is a pale imitation of what he knows rests in Riverrun, and as such he finds it funny that the Freys would find themselves worthy of being compared to kings. "We shall remain here for a time more. We must see what sort of King, Tommen Baratheon will be, and whether or not his mother, his grandfather or the roses hold the power at court. Things are to get very interesting in the south, and I mean to influence them."
"But how can you do that from here Your Grace?" Ser Kyle Condon asks.
"Black Walder Frey will continue to serve his purpose in the south, as will my uncle Edmure. There are those within court at King's Landing who would find it more interesting to play than to work, from what Frey has told me. I will take advantage of that, already there are those of mine in place to seek out offers and make promises." Robb responds.
"And the Lady Sansa? What of her?" Dacey asks.
Robb feels something tighten in his gut then, Sansa, his sister, he has not done right by her, and he never knows how to approach that topic. Looking at Dacey, he suspects she knows just that. "I will make sure she is protected. Howland knows what to do there. He will not fail me."
Dacey merely nods, and then Ser Kyle speaks. "What of the north then Your Grace? Will you allow Stannis Baratheon to continue onward through your lands and the lands of your people?"
Robb grits his teeth then to hold back the sharp retort that had been forming. Eventually he speaks. "I want word sent to the neck, tell Maege and Galbart to move out from the shadows. The bastard is dead and now it is time we begin working to reclaim what was taken from us. I want Deepwood Motte retaken and I want Torrhen's Square retaken. Free the Tallharts of their captors. Ser Kyle, you shall take your men north and aid them in this."
The knight nods and then asks. "And once that is done? What then Your Grace?"
"Then you shall wait in Torrhen's Square for further orders. Stannis Baratheon and the Bastard of Bolton can exhaust their resources on one another." Robb says.
There is a moment's silence and Robb can sense the tension present in the air. Ronnel Stout speaks then. "Your Grace, forgive me for speaking out of turn. But do you not think the time has come for you to emerge from the darkness? Joffrey Waters is dead, his brother sits the throne now, now is the time to push for the terms we always wanted. Waiting will do us no good. Surely you must see that?"
Robb looks at the man, and merely says. "Joffrey might be dead, but the threats that he posed are not. So long as his mother remains there, the shadows are the best place for some of us to be right now. I am no coward, make no mistake, I mean to make a move and soon, but for now there are certain things I must do from the shadows."
Ronnel Stout looks at him a moment and then says softly. "Your father would not have hidden from the threats, he would have fought them head on."
"And what happened to my father Ronnel?" Robb says his voice ice. "He was executed because he stumbled and blundered into a trap. I will do no such thing."
There is a long silence and then Ronnel bows his head and says. "Of course, forgive me Your Grace."
"There is nothing to forgive, you were merely asking me and making sure of my position. You were right to do so now, and not later. Now, what word has come from the north regarding my brother?" Robb queries.
There is a moment's silence and then Rodrik Forrester speaks. "There has been some progress on that front Your Grace. It seems Jon Snow is becoming more and more amenable to leaving the wall. It seems the chaos in the north has managed to draw his attention and with the chaos within the watch itself, we are not far from bringing him away from the wall."
"And there are enough men ready to replace him?" Robb asks.
"Yes Your Grace. My brother Ethan has seen to it. As such there is only one other thing that must needs be done." Rodrik says.
"And what is that?" Robb queries.
"What if Jon still refuses to leave the wall? Despite all that has happened, it does not seem as if he has willingly consented to any of Asher or Beron's overtures. How do we know that he will want to leave when what happens, happens?" The Lord of Ironrath asks.
Robb looks at the man and says. "I do not care what you have to do. Just remove him from the wall."
Castle Black
Jon Snow
Castle Black seemed like a cage, a damned cage. He was not trusted by most of his sworn brothers, the attack by Ygritte and her group had proved that. He had fought, had even seen her killed, and yet and yet they still did not trust him. That he had not been locked up was more to do with Maester Aemon and the control he had taken of the watch. Jon knew he had borrowed time, and he was hating waiting for his fate. As the door opened and Sam walks in, he finds his control slipping.
"Have you come to take me to the gallows?" He asks.
His friend stops and looks at him surprised. "No, I have not. They haven't discussed your fate for some time Jon. They've been far too preoccupied preparing for Mance. Bowen Marsh and Allister Thorne have ridden off to deal with fortifications elsewhere. Donal's in control."
"And did they say anything before they left?" Jon asks.
His friend hesitates and then says. "They continue to believe you are guilty, but they believe there is more to the story. At least Marsh does."
"And what do you think? I know that Grenn and Pyp have not been here for a while? Do you all think me guilty?" Jon asks.
"We've been trying to come and see you Jon, but before now we haven't been allowed to. Grenn and Pyp are struggling with something else." Sam says quickly.
"What?" Jon asks.
"I…It is not my place to say. But it has to do with those two northmen who keep appearing." Sam says.
Jon sighs. "What have they been doing? I thought we told them to get out long ago?"
"It appears they are not willing to listen to us. They continue coming back and have been giving the commanders hell about your treatment, saying that it is not right, and that a Prince of the North needs to be treated properly." Sam responds.
Jon snorts then. "A prince? Pah, I am no more a prince than you are a warrior Sam. My vows state as much. They are fools if they believe I will leave here when there is a very real threat coming."
His friend looks at him a moment and then asks. "Truly Jon? Does the plight of the north not bother you?"
His anger is growing now. "Of course I damned well care. I have wanted to ride south for the past two years. But I swore a vow, and by the gods I will keep it. I will not break it for something I gave up when I stood before the heart tree."
"Even if it costs your family everything?" Sam asks. "The north is bleeding and the Starks are dying, and you would remain here, despite having the chance to fix it?"
Jon clenches his fists. "It is not about what I want."
"Then what is it about Jon?" Sam asks.
"It is about the vow I swore and honouring that vow. I will not break it, not now, not ever. It kills me that the north is bleeding that my brothers are dead but I cannot do anything about it." Jon says.
"Then you would allow it all to burn for some vow to a place that does not want you here?" his friend questions. "When did you become me?"
Jon feels his anger begin to boil then he moves toward Sam and growls. "Get out, get out now."
His friend though, does not flinch and merely holds his ground. "I will not go, you are being a coward and you know it. Stop hiding behind some oath you swore and actually do something about what is happening in your home."
The beast inside him snaps and Jon punches his friend square in the face before he knows what is happening, as Sam reels backward, his anger guides him forward and Jon moves and hits his friend again, and then a third time before stopping and looking at him and saying. "Get out now Sam, and don't come back."
His friend disappears and the door slams shut, Jon stands there in the doorway for a long time merely staring at the space where his friend once was. He closes his eyes and sighs. What is he doing, gods above what is he doing? He opens his eyes and finds a figure standing before him, slim and beady eyed, with moss coloured hair. The figure looks at him intently and then says. "You are lost Jon Snow."
"Who are you? And how do you know my name?" Jon asks, his voice no louder than a whisper.
"Who I am is not important, only that you realise that you are lost and remaining here will not change anything. The wall will fall and death will come for you all." the figure replies.
"How do you know that?" Jon growls. "We have always defeated the wildlings, and we shall do so again."
"I do not speak of the wildlings Jon Snow. I speak of the great threat that comes from beyond. And the family that once helped them." the figure says.
"What are you talking about?" Jon asks.
"Your family must not rise again, not unless you are sat where the throne is. For the world is not ready for another winter. Not now, and not ever. Unless you leave here." the figure says.
"I cannot leave here. I am not allowed to leave, and I would not leave even if I could. I am no oath breaker." Jon growls.
The figure laughs. "The act you committed to prevent the true nature of your crimes against the watch coming out suggest otherwise Jon Snow. And even before you were always an oath breaker."
"Get out." he growls.
The figure laughs. "I cannot leave, not when you will not let me leave."
Jon moves toward the figure, but it moves away from him, he chases after it, but it continues moving before he can get to it. Eventually Jon gives up. "What do you want from me?!" He exclaims.
The figure merely looks at him and says. "Leave the watch, or die."