Jaime

All the high ranking officers of the Night's Watch were there. Looking down from his place on the table Jaime could see Bejen and Jorah sitting side by side in the crowd. When the hall was crowded enough the Lord Commander rose to his feet and started the mission.

"Brothers." He began." We have just received word than a Wildling Army has massed together at the Fists of the First Men." Chattering broke out amongst the ranks. They wondered the numbers, their weapons. And they spoke of the traitor Mance Rayder who gave up his black cloak to become King beyond the Wall." To assess this threat I'm sending a team of Rangers out to patrol the area." Jaime had already begun to rise in his seat, ready to choose his volunteers." Stark!" Mormont called instead and Benjen hopped to his feet.

"Yes, Lord Commander."

"I'm putting you in charge of the mission. Take your pick of men but only a few." But Jaime coldn't allow this. With the enemy so close to their door he had to be out there.

"Lord Commander." He said rising to his feet." Let me go. I'll find Mance Ryder and drive him back-"

"No!" Mormont cut him off." This is not a raiding mission, stealth it what's required here. So I'm sending Benjen." Jaime sunk back into his chair.

"I'll leave immediately Commander." Benjen said.

Not more than a half an hour later Jaime stood in the courtyard watching Benjen and his team of five men mount their horses.

He should be on this mission. Jaime could be stealthy when the situation called for it. But the Night's Watch had been at war for over a thousand years. Jaime could have ridden out and gotten whatever information the Lord Commander required. But he would have taken a few Wildling heads to make the deal even sweeter.

"Be careful. "Jaime said. Benjen nodded.

"I will." Then he turned and urged his horse forward riding down the tunnel and out into the cold, frozen world beyond the Wall.

If Mance Rayder was coming with a Wildling army Jaime wanted to make sure his skills were honed and ready. He made his way to the armory ready to train with sword and shield, axe and mace, every and any weapon he could get his hands on.

But when he walked in he found he wasn't alone.

Standing there cleaning a sword was a fat little boy that looked more like a pig than a man, one of the new recurits. Ser Jorah had mentioned him several times. He was a terrible fighter who showed no signs of improvement. Piggy was apart of a 'class' featuring three highborn names. Royce, Celtigar, and even Tarly of Horn Hill.

But it didn't occur to Jaime just now that the two were on in the same.

"Your Samwell Tarly?" He questioned when he saw him. "Your Father's Randyll Tarly?"

"Yes, First Ranger." He nodded.

"And you are his first son?" Sam nodded again." Then what are you doing here?"

"I….I choose to take the Black." Same gulped." There's h-honor in, in it." His words forced and unnatural.

"Nobody South of the Neck gives a damn about the Night's Watch, certainly not the heir to a great house. I didn't." He pointed to himself. With one great step Jaime across the space between them and stood before the young Tarly." So tell me why are you really here?" Sam began to shiver and shake.

"My…My father didn't want me to inherit Horn Hill." He squeaked." He, he told me if I didn't take the Black I would…. I would have a fatal accident." Jaime raised an eyebrow at him.

"Is that what he said?"

"No." Sam shook seemingly to afraid to met Jaime's eyes." He told me I would be thrown from my saddle to die." Jaime's eyes narrowed in response but that seemed to only frighten Sam more. But he was mistaken Jaime understood the pain Sam felt better than most.

"It seems we have something in common young Samwell." He told." My Father has forgotten about me as well. But that's alright we'll make a new family here." He managed a white, toothy smile and that seemed to lift Sam's spirits somewhat.

A few days later the time had come for Sam and the new recruits to receive their positions and say their vows. They piled together before the lift as Lord Commander Mormont and his officers stood above them.

"You came to us as outlaws, thieves, poachers, killers. You came to us rich and poor. Some of you have the name of proud houses." Jaime glanced down to find Samwell amongst the group. He had no idea what was coming." Others as bastards or with no names at all, it does not matter. Here at the Watch we are all one house. Think hard before you say the words. The punishment for desertion is death." Jaime looked out amongst the crowd, scanning their faces. Some of these boys might think themselves clever and make a run for it. Jaime certainly tried once." You've all been assigned an order based on your skills and our needs." Mormont said as he unrolled the paper. "Pyp to the builders,Chett to the Stewards, Ser Waymar to the Rangers, Ser Terrance to the Rangers. Toad to the Builders. Samwell to the stewards." Mormont continued." Grenn to the builders, Daeron to the stewards." With that Mormont rolled up the paper. "May all the gods preserve you." He stepped aside and officers stepped up.

"Builders to me!" called Othel Yarwyck.

"Stewards to me!" Bowen Marsh called.

"Rangers!" Jaime called. The Ranger might have been the main fighting force of the wall but they were actually the smallest of the three positions. It took a special kind of man to be a ranger. A knight or noble was almost guaranteed it, and currently Jaime had two of those.

Ser Waymar Royce was the third son of Lord Yohn Royce of the Vale. As the third son he'd come up here to make a name for himself. Ser Terrance Celtigar was not that much different. They couldn't have been much older then himself when he first came here. Young, proud and dumb. But after a few rangings they'll have toughened up if they could survive it.

One by one Jaime dispatched his new Rangers to their positions. Some would travel to the Shadow Tower and Eastwatch. The only two knights of the group Ser Waymar and Ser Terrance would stay at Castle Black. With their background it was more than likely they'd become officers and leaders of the Watch someday. That being the case it was best that they remain at Castle Black the headquarters of the Night's Watch.

But after Jaime had dispatched his Rangers there was still someone there. But he wasn't a ranger at all.

"F-First Ranger." Samwell Tarly squeaked.

"Samwell Tarly." He responded with a smile.

"Bowen Marsh sent me over here. He, He told me I was to be your personal steward."

"That's right." Jaime nodded as he desended the steps to stand beside him." Do you know what that means?"

"I'll mend your cloths, change your bed sheets, follow you into battle."

"More or less. "Jaime said with a shrug of his shoulder." You'll basically be my squire, you've been a squire before right?"

"No." Sam shook.

"No?" Jaime repeated." Well I've never had a squire so it'll be a learning experience for both of us." He smiled." Come along."

Robb

Daryn Hornwood stayed with them a few days after the incident. And while he stayed he was Robb's honored guests but all too soon it was time for him to return home.

"Thanks again my Lord." Daryn said as he mounted his horse. Robb along with his household had come to bid the heir to Hornwood farewell.

"You were wronged. No thanks is necessary." He answerwed." I hope this does not scare away your bethrothed." He snickered.

"Alys is not yet flowered. There's still time."

Before Robb bid farewells he offered the heir to Hornwood a gift only he could give. Aside from ridding his land of the raiders, he allowed him hunting rights North of the ridge and a holdfast taken from his grandfather. These were two of the three requests he honored him with and would help him recover.

Daryn bid a happy farewell before riding off.

After every execution his Father had gone to the Godswood. It was there that he cleaned Ice amongst the comfort of the Old Gods. And now he found comfort being there.

Ripples from Grey winds tongue distorted his image. The wolf's perked ears alerted himsomeone was coming. The lack of aggression showed no threat.

"Lord Stark. "He heard Maester Luwin before he could see him. The Old Maester moved out from along the trees and into his sight. "Wonderful to see you home."

In the gods wood he was with his gods and the gods of his father. His mother never rightly understood them and that was fine. Bran wanted to be a knight so he would have to take the vows of the seven. Sansa would be married in a sept and all of the Stark children look more like Andals than first men though it's in theyre blood. Sometimes Robb felt the first men were losing they're place.

"It's good to be home. "Robb replied. Maester Luwin's face turned somber after Robb spoke." What is it Maester?"

"I thought it best to come to you first, my Lord." He answered. He pulled his hands from his sleeves to revail a scroll. The seal was that of a leaping trout.

"This could be anything." Robb said extending his hand.

"I hope you are right my Lord. Your Uncle's Wedding I thought. But I can't help but fear the worst given all that's happened." Robb broke the seal and read it himself. The light in his eyes going out as he realized that it was in fact the worst.

"I will tell her after dinner" he said.

"You should tell her now" Luwin advised "it will take time to get there" he was right, again. But that didn't make itany easier. How was he gong to tell his mother this?

But sooner or later, one way or another he had too. Robb rose to his feet and marched back into Winterfell.

Jon and Theon were in the yard practicing with bows. Jon let one loose and managed to hit the target. Theon stepped up and shot one clean and easy right in the center of the bullseye. Arya and little Rickon were nearby watching.

None of them seemed to notice him enter and that was good. This would be hard enough as it is. Robb rounded the corner and found his mother, but she wasn't alone. Bran was standing before her.

"Promise me." She said to her second son." No more climbing."

"I promise. "Bran nodded. Robb cleared his throat getting both their attentions.

"Robb." She smiled to him.

"Mother..." He lingered on her

"Robb what is it?" She asked. But he could not find words. He instead turned to Bran.

"Bran." He said instead." Go on." It was his business as much as their's but he just couldn't do this to her in front of her children. Eventually and begrudgingly she complied so now it was just the two of them.

"Robb… Are you alright" his mother asked. He couldn't answer yes or no. Before he could answerhis mother asked "is this about the boy you killed?"

"No mother" he said. Ramsay snow was a menace. He felt no remorse for killing him.

"What is it? Do you feel alright? Should-" she moved to he up but he raised a hand to stop her.

"Mother" he cleared his throat and paused staring aimlessly at her "Uncle- your brother Lord Edmure" he wasn't sure what to address him so he called him everything he could "has died"