The sound of Ella's sobs could be heard as Careen entered the dungeon. She felt no sympathy for the young girl that had lied to her and used her position as her handmaiden to gain secrets. Ella Mormont had betrayed not only her King, but her kin.
When Careen walked into the cell where Ella was being kept, she began to beg the Queen to release her. Careen refused to listen to her pleas as she watched Lyanna Mormont question her. Jon gave Lady Mormont the chance to talk to the girl first. He thought it best he let the ladies handle this for now.
Sansa and Lady Brienne walked in next, the Kings guard walking to the back of the room, but staying close enough to assist the Queen if needed.
"You will tell me everything Lord Baelish told you and all that you have told him. You have a choice to make Ella. Your grandfather can't save you now. You'll either die quick by a hangman's noose or you'll live your days in this dungeon. Tell me what you know and I'm sure the Queen will show you mercy," Lyanna was being kind, holding back what she really wanted to say.
Ella crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back on the stone wall. "I have nothing to say. I consigned myself to my death when I walked into Winterfell."
Lyanna looked over her shoulder at Careen, the stubbornness of the handmaid testing her patience. "Death it is." Lyanna snapped her fingers and the guard walked in with his sword drawn.
"Wait…. Wait!" Ella screamed as she fell to her knees and began to cry again. "I was told my job was to spy on the King and Lady Sansa and send messages back to the Vale. The message you gave me; my lady was not from Lord Baelish. I… I leave the messages in the cupboard in the kitchen and they are taken and sent to Lord Baelish. I have never received a Raven from the Eyrie… ever. My grandfather is ill and dying and I do this so my grandmother can keep her home. I swear to you… I swear this is all I know."
Careen walked over to the girl and stroked the back of her head. "I believe you. Rise and look at me, Ella."
Ella rose to her feet and dried her tears with the back of her hand. The Queen smiled, trying to give Ella the benefit of the doubt. "Your Grace, please don't let them kill me."
"If you do as I ask, you can live out your life on Bear Island with your Mormont family. I need you to keep sending messages to Lord Baelish, but you send him what I tell you to. As for the other spy inside these walls, we will wait for them to take your message and capture them then, but I need your messages to be given to Maester Wendull directly. I will catch Littlefinger up in his lies," Careen smiled when Ella nodded her head, willing to gain her freedom and the Queen's trust again.
Careen could see the young girl was being used by Baelish. She loved her grandparents and she'd do anything for them. Lyanna wasn't so sure Ella could be trusted. The Moore's were not trustworthy people and were loyal to the capital and in turn, the Lannister's. They agreed Ella would never be alone and she would not be privy to private conversations.
Sansa agreed with Lyanna, the spy was not to be trusted. Careen needed to settle things for herself, especially since Ella was going to continue as her handmaiden. She took her hand and told her to close her eyes. Ella wanted to pull away, but Careen held on tight.
There was a sense of lost about her, her heart constricting as she pushed through the tangled mess of emotions around Ella. A sadness clung to this girl that was genuine and true. She was so young and impressionable and trusted in those older than her. Careen could tell Ella had goodness in her, but there was a darkness in this girl that clouded the real truth of her heart. Careen pushed harder as Ella struggled to free her hand. When the darkness cleared, she felt something that made her sick. Careen let go of Ella's hand and saw the smile on her face.
"You're… sleeping with him," the disgust that filled her body was enough to make her vomit.
"He loves me… not that whore. He only wants you for your name and your men. You're not worthy… you Bolton slut," Ella screamed again, her true nature finally coming out.
Sansa pushed her back against the wall and slammed the cell door shut. "I want her to rot in here!" she screamed before ran out of the dungeon.
"I will never betray my love," Ella screamed at them as they all left, but not before Lyanna Mormont said one last thing.
"If your grandparents ever come to Bear Island again, I will have both of them hang. I want you to wake each morning knowing when Lord Baelish dies in the courtyard of Winterfell, it was because of you," Lyanna smirked at Ella, watching the girl fall to the floor in tears.
There was another spy in Winterfell, one that had been inside the walls since Jon was crowned King in the North. Petyr planted his little birds, hoping they'd sing to him. One by one, Careen would cut off their heads and stop them from ever singing.
Lady Lyanna and Careen headed straight to the Great Hall to speak with Jon. He was waiting there for them to finish with their prisoner and report back to him. He turned to them when they walked in, eager to hear what they'd found out.
"Wife… you look…" Jon wasn't sure what the correct word was but fucking mad came to mind.
"I am livid. That girl… that…" Careen was on the verge of losing her lady like composure when Sansa finished her sentence for her.
"Lying little bitch," Sansa said as she grabbed a cup of a wine from the table and downed it.
Killian took his soon to be bride by the hand and led her out of the Great Hall. She needed to cool down and a walk to the Godswood would do just that.
Careen and Lyanna told Jon everything they had discovered, leaving the new King with a headache. There were so many things coming at him all at once and he wasn't sure which fire he should put out first.
Davos came to the aid of his King, offering to look for the other spy. He rounded up some of the King's best guards and made his way to the kitchen to question the staff there.
Jon needed to forget he was King, just for a little while. "You'll have to excuse me ladies, I have to see my brother."
"Do you need me to go?" Careen asked, wondering if she might take a moment for herself as well. Bran didn't need the power of the Heart Tree to Warg and Jon was getting better at controlling his gift without her guidance.
"No, my Queen. Where are you off to?" Jon asked before he walked out the door.
"Our room. I'm feeling very tired after dealing with Ella and I need to rest," she gave him a kiss, lingering a little too long before Jon pulled away. He smiled at her, stroking the back of her hair and letting their foreheads touch.
"I'll come find you when I'm done with Bran… or I might find you before that," he grinned at her, seeing the curious look on her face.
Careen's mind was like that of her husband's, overwhelmed and ready for some peace. She took off her shoes and lay in the bed with Scorch by her side. Her little direwolf was growing quickly and was very protected of her mistress.
Sleep came easily, with dreams to take her away from the reality of her waking life. Her dreamed took her to a sandy beach, with the lulling sound of the waves washing up around her feet. She walked down the beach, seeing something rising from the sand. Careen stood there watching as a dragon made of stone rose up, his wings tucked towards its body and its mouth open. The eyes of the dragon looked strange to her, as if they were weeping. She walked a little closer, see the tears drip down the stone, falling to the sand below. Careen squatted down, examining the tears as they turned to glass. She picked up one, holding the cool glass in her hand, turning the dagger like shard over to see a tiny flame living within the glass.
Rising up, she kept the shard in her hand and walked up the beach. A voice called her name, a voice unfamiliar to her. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to get a better look at the person standing near the cliffs.
"My lady, be careful. You hold our hope in your hand," the voice said to her again before turning to walk up to the castle at the top of the cliffs. Careen started to follow them when a sparrow landed at her feet, its beak covered in blood. The little bird began to peck at her feet, following her as she backed up towards the water.
She turned when she felt something hard at her back. Her eyes gazed upon a large ship with a dragon figurehead looking down at her. The voice called out to her again. The man's voice echoing from the cliffs around her. "The wolf will be bathed in fire and the seven will bow to the three."
Careen opened her eyes, feeling the dream slowly fade from her. A sharp pain came from her right palm. She looked down to see the shape of the glass in her dream lining her flesh.
"What is this?" she said out loud as her finger traced the outline, hearing the words from her dream.
Scorch was sitting up on her haunches, her little wolf head cocked sideways. Careen rubbed her head as she tried to collect herself. The wolf cub jumped from the bed and began to scratch at the chamber door. Careen climbed from the bed, opening the door to find Ghost sitting there. She watched as Scorch looked up at her as if asking for permission to leave. "Go on, girl," Careen nudged the wolf through the door, watching as she trotted off down the hallway and Ghost walk into their room.
The white wolf jumped up on the bed, his head resting on his paws. Careen sat on the bed beside him, rubbing between his ears when the wolf jumped off the bed and ran down the hall. She chased after him, stopping when she saw Ghost sitting at Bran's chamber door.
~.~
Bran was waiting for Jon in his room, the smile on his face making Jon chuckle. "What has you in a good mood, brother?"
The smile on the younger Stark's face hadn't shown in a while and Jon was beginning to wonder if Bran knew something he didn't. Bran's gift allowed him to see things and go places he couldn't normally and Jon was certain that was something weighing heavy on his little brother's mind.
"I saw Arya in a vision. She's coming home, Jon," Bran wasn't sure when Arya would be back in Winterfell, but he knew his sister would play a part in the battle for the Iron Throne.
"Arya… are you sure Bran?" this was joyous news to Jon. He missed his little sister so much and prayed for her return. He wanted Arya to know his Careen and have all the Starks back in Winterfell.
Bran nodded his head as Jon sat down. He wanted his sister home as much as Jon did, but he could see she wasn't the same Arya that they knew. There was a hardness to her, a coldness that lived in her once hopeful eyes. If Jon was looking for the sweet girl he knew, he was in for a rude awaking. Bran wished he could share his visions with him, so he could see the truth for himself.
"She's on her way now, but I'm not sure when she'll be here. We must tell Sansa and prepare her room," the vision Bran had come to him when he was at the Godswood with Careen, mixed in with the vision of the Wall. Careen being able to share his vision just clarified to him that her Divine gift was strong, more powerful than she even knew.
Jon settled back in the chair, readying himself to Warg. Bran instructed him like he'd done before, telling him to relax and let the power inside him take over. Jon let go of everything, clearing his mind and letting the power inside him take over. He was instantly lower to the ground, his vision keener than it had ever been before. Ghost rose, taking him down the hallway and to his bed chamber door.
The sound of Scorch scratching at the door was clear to him and the out the sound of Careen's feet padding on the floor was so distinct to him. The sound of heart beat, the gentle ease of her breathing, they were like music to him.
When Careen opened the door, he saw her little wolf and watched as she ran down the hall. He ran into the room and jumped on the bed, waiting for Careen to join him. The power that was coursing through him now was becoming a part of him. Each time he did this, it became easier. All his senses were heightened in ways that he'd never experienced before. He could sense the change in Careen, could sense the child growing insider her.
As Careen sat on the bed, he felt a shift. Bran was calling to him, telling him he needed to come back. He jumped off the bed and ran to Bran's room with Careen right behind him. She opened the door and he walked over to his body, letting Ghost's head rest in his lap as he came back to himself.
"What's wrong, Bran?" he asked as soon his eyes turned back brown.
Careen took his hand, looking just as worried as he was. Bran pulled himself up in his chair as he stared at Jon. "You're trying too hard, Jon. You need to let it flow through you."
Jon looked at Careen, her hand swiping the blood trickling from his nose. He wiped his nose himself, confused on how he was trying too hard. He let the power flow through him like Bran had told him, let it take control and guide him.
Meera burst into the room, her face lit up as she stood before the King and Queen in the North. "Your Grace… my father is here."
Jon rose, giving his wife a kiss on the cheek. Careen stayed with Bran as Meera led the way to the Great Hall, where Lord Howland Reed was gathered with Davos and Lady Brienne.
Howland Reed hadn't been in Winterfell in many a year and to be here now without Ned to greet him brought tears to his eyes. Jon walked to him, extending his hand and Howland took it, pulling him into a hug.
"Welcome to Wintefell, my lord. I have sent your brother, Lord Ryder, South to talk to his contacts there. I regret I wasn't at the gate to greet you," Jon was about to sit when Howland pulled a scroll from his cloak. He handed it to Jon as Davos joined him. The handwriting was his father's, the words written when Lord Stark was a younger man.
Lord Reed,
I ask that upon my death, you find my family and gather them around. Robb will be Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell when he is older and I need you to guide my son and help him protect the North. This I ask of you as my friend and guardian of my family. You alone carry my burden and you alone know the importance of what I ask of you. Catelyn will need you most, to guide her and help her understand the child from the South that comes North to join our family. If the Gods are kind, this letter will be of little use and we will live to be old men, but if not, this letter is my last wish and request of you. Jon will be raised in Winterfell; I do not wish for him to be sent away. He may not have the Stark name, but he is a Stark and will be raised as one. You know as well as I do what will happen if he is not. Do this for me, Howland.
Lord Eddard Stark
Warden of the North
Lord of Winterfell
"Your father wrote that when we fighting in Robert's Rebellion. He gave this letter to me when we were on our way back to the North after the war. He feared he'd die in battle or would be killed by a traitor. We both fought for Robert and knew that the Mad King had followers that would love to see a Targaryen back on the Iron Throne. The time has come for me to live up to the oath I vowed to him. I wept the day I learned of his death and I wept again when I heard of the death of his beloved Catelyn and his son, Robb. You are his blood, Jon Snow and I will help you protect House Stark and Winterfell. No more will Stark blood will be shed, this I vow to you," Howland pulled his sword from his sheath and bent down on one knee.
Jon stood before him, seeing the noble and brave man his father spoke with much fondness. "You honor me and House Stark, my lord."
Meera walked past Jon and wrapped her arms around her father, whispering to him about the Jojen. The older lord wrapped his arms around his daughter as they cried together.
Davos looked at Jon, the two men in awe. The stories of the great Lord of House Reed had been told to Jon since he was a young boy and Davos could tell the man was haunted, both by war and loss.
"The spy in the castle will most likely report that Lord Reed is here. I believe once we find this spy, we'll find the South's reach is far. Baelish may have declared the Eyrie to you, but he has in no way cut his ties to Cersei Lannister. Allow me to talk to the girl and I'll bring you the other spy," Davos watched Jon as he touched the parchment with his father's words written upon it. Jon nodded before he turned to face Lord Seaworth.
"Go… get your answers. I want this spy found and I want to know what the South thinks they have to fear from the North. The lies that slip from Lord Baelish's tongue will not cost the North another life," Jon took the letter, needing the counsel of his wife. He made his way back to the East Wing when he noticed Podrick standing outside of Bran's door.
"Is the Queen still with Bran?" Jon asked, when Podrick nodded back and opened the door.
Careen was playing a game of chess with his brother and losing to him. She looked up at him, her smile spread wide across her face. "Do you want to play next, my love?"
"I came to ask you about this," he handed her the letter as he sat down beside her.
She read the letter, feeling a sorrow deep within the parchment. Each stroke of the quill held a sadness that tore at her heart. Lord Eddard Stark was a man lost in grief when he wrote this letter, so much loss that it embedded itself in the ink.
"I believe Lord Reed thought this letter was pointless, seeing how your father went back to Winterfell with you and had more children. With his and Robb's death and Winterfell falling into Bolton hands, he must have thought he broke his word and oath to him. Lord Howland is not a well man, father often said the war took much from him. To lose his son and have his daughter living here now, I would think Greywater held no joy for him. What about this letter troubles you, my love?" Careen handed the letter back to him, sensing the melancholy settling in his heart.
"Lord Howland was with my father when he brought me back from war. He may know my mother, know something about her. Do you think he'd tell me about her… do you think I should ask?" the prospect of finally knowing something about his mother shined in his soft brown eyes. Careen wanted hope to live in his heart, but she feared he may find more than he's ready to know.
Bran cleared his throat, placing his queen next to her king. "Checkmate."
Careen looked over at him, then to the board as she noticed the mistake she made in the last move. "You have me again, my lord," she tipped her king down, marking her defeat. Jon looked a little antsy, wanting to go to Lord Reed for information about to his mother.
"Stay with Bran and relax, my Queen. I will let Lord Reed settle in before I talk with him. He may not know anything, but I have to make sure," he kissed Careen's cheek and walked out of the room. She watched him walk away, leaving her feeling as if the knowledge he was looking for could change his world forever.
As soon as Jon was gone, Bran put the chess board away and took Careen's hand. He pulled her to him, his face only inches from her. "Is there somewhere we can talk that you can be positive no one will hear us?"
"You know about the spy?" she asked him as she tried to figure out what his urgency is all about.
"Yes and what I have to tell you must stay between us," Bran looked as if his life depending on his secret staying a secret.
Careen called for Podrick, asking him to help her get Bran to the Broken Tower. No one had been in that tower since Jon took Winterfell back and it was currently being used for storage. Podrick placed Bran on in the small wagon Meera made for him and pulled him out to the Broken Tower. The Queen kept a look out for anyone that may have followed them, making sure to keep a small distance between Bran and herself. When she was sure they hadn't been followed, she ran into the Broken Tower, asking Podrick to stay close by.
Bran took Careen's hand, his brown eyes nearly pleading with her. "You have to promise to tell no one, not even Jon, what I'm about to tell you."
"I won't lie to my husband," she said as she looked up the stairs. She left Bran to explore up the tower, finding the rooms at the top empty. Satisfied they were alone, she walked back down to find Bran looking somewhat perplexed.
"Careen… you need to know. Jon can't know, not yet and I'm sure he'll understand you keeping it from him when we do tell him. With your gift, you can help me make sense of all of this and help me decide when Jon should know. The Wall is failing and the Night King is coming and before Jon can face him, he'll need to face the truth," his words had a truth to them, a sincerity that opened Careen's mind.
Careen sat on the bottom step, her hands in Bran's. They sat quietly for a moment before Careen spoke. "What you saw in your visions about Jon, does it have something to do with his mother? You turned a sickly pale when Jon was talking about that in your room. I'm almost afraid to know myself, but you can trust I will keep it secret until you tell me otherwise."
Bran pulled Careen to him, letting his lips rest close to her ear. In a low whisper, he told her the secret he'd seen at the Tower of Joy. "Jon isn't my brother… he's my cousin. He's Aunt Lyanna's son."
"No… he can't be," Careen looked at Bran as he Warged and took her to the Tower, where Lyanna lay on a bed of blood and Ned kneeling by her side. She heard Lyanna ask her brother to promise her as a lady's maid place a small bundle in his arms. The baby in his arms was the offspring of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen and his sister made Ned promise to keep him safe… safe from Robert Baratheon.
Bran pulled them out of the vision, sending Careen reeling on her hands and knees. She felt as if someone had kicked her hard in the chest, her eyes burning with tears. Bran stroked the back on her head as she sat on the floor and cried. Podrick knocked on the door, then opened it when the Queen didn't answer him. He knelt on the floor beside her, asking if she was alright.
"Pod, take Bran back to his room. I need a moment alone. You can find me in the Godswood when you're done," she climbed to her feet, slowly making her way from the Broken Tower to the one place she found solace.
Thank you so much for the follows and reviews.
*The secret is out, but can Careen truly keep this from Jon. You'll find out more about Howland in the next chapter*
I hope you continue to read and enjoy
