Jon gathered himself after he'd had a bite to eat and walked out to the gate with Killian by his side. There were many congratulations from those that resided inside of Winterfell, most of them wishing a long life to the newborn Princes of the North.

Shouting could be heard as Jon and Killian got closer to the gate. Podrick and the Master of Arms both had their swords draw as Lady Brienne shouted at a group of ragged looking men.

"You may pass, my good man… but you can go straight to hell," Brienne said to the beast of a man that looked very familiar to Jon.

Killian looked back at the King, smirking as Brienne stood firm. "Brienne… lower your sword and let Lord Snow handle this."

Brienne turned to Jon, lowering her sword and stepping back. "This man will not pass these gates. He is Sandor Clegane and by all rights, should be dead."

"The Hound, at the gates of Winterfell… again. Arya told me about you, about your time together. I can see by your clothing and lack of armor, you have no connection to the Lannister's," Jon walked towards the men on horseback, remembering Clegane briefly.

"Your Grace, I'm Beric Dondarric and I come to ask you for food and shelter but for a night. We have traveled far to come here, to Winterfell. Thoros, a Red Priest, has seen the White Walkers marching into the land of the living. He has brought me back from the dead more times than I can count and I believe the Lord of Light has a purpose for me, has he does for you." Beric climbed from his horse, motioning for his men to the same.

"Aye, I believe I have a purpose as well. A Red Priestess brought me back as well, but I banded her from the North for murdering a child. I won't condone murder by fire, nor will I let your boy take from my people when they have so little to give. The boy will stay behind when you leave, he owes a debt to the farmer in Winters Town. I will give you food and shelter, but we will talk first. Podrick, show them to the Great Hall and Lady Brienne… come with me," Jon nodded to them Brotherhood, motioning Killian to go with Podrick.

Brienne's eyes stayed glued to Sandor, her lips pursed so hard they were nearly white. "I don't trust them," she said as her jaw muscles rippled.

"You don't have to, I do. Bring Arya to me and tell her nothing," Jon said with a displeased tone to his voice. He was aware of Arya's time with Clegane and what he did for her. He wanted Arya to be the one to send him away or let him stay.

The Brotherhood left their horses with the Stable Master and joined Jon in the Great Hall. He had food and ale brought to them and made arrangements for them to stay the night. Brienne walked in with Arya by her side, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Clegane.

Arya smiled as she sat down beside Jon, the day had been a joyous one and she was still reveling in the happiness. "Careen is resting and your sons are sleeping peacefully beside her. I'll have to look for my cradle until you can have another made."

"Arya…" Jon said softly as he took her hand. Her smile faded as she studied how serious his face looked. "… there's someone here you need to see."

She turned from her brother and gazed out on the faces of those in her midst. Her brown eyes got wider as she stared back at Sandor. "Jon… he's alive."

"Do you want me to send him away?" Jon asked, but he already knew the answer to that question.

Arya shook her head as she walked around the table and Sandor finally saw her. He rose from the table, licking his fingers. Arya took one step towards him, her hand going to the sword at her hip.

"I hoped you'd be here," Sandor said to Arya, dragging his injured leg as he walked towards her.

"Here I am and there you are," Arya nearly growled out, feeling a mix of anger and relief.

Jon joined his sister, standing behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders, letting her know he had her back. Arya looked over her shoulder at him, giving him a quick nod of the head.

"We're both survivors and you certainly aren't the same girl I last saw. Looks like I was wrong, Winterfell isn't a pile of rubble and your family isn't dead. Good for you… little one," Sandor's eyes shifted to Jon, then to Sansa as she walked in. Bran pulled himself up in his chair, the four remaining Starks showing all those that thought them all but a memory, they were a force to be reckoned with.

Arya pulled Needle from her hip and touched Sandor on the chest with it. "Once, I would have gladly run my sword through your chest, but now… now I just don't give a fuck. Glad to see you're too stubborn to die… old man."

Sandor chuckled at her as he moved the tiny blade away. "I'd rather killed those frozen bastards beyond the way… and eat some chicken."

A tiny chuckle left Arya's lips as she gazed up at Sandor, using her sword to impale a whole chicken and hand it to him. "Enjoy."

A large sigh broke from Jon's lips when Sandor took the chicken and grinned back at Arya. He had, had enough of killing for a lifetime and wasn't keen on seeing more of it tonight. There was no doubt in his mind, Arya could handle herself, especially after she told him it was she that send Walder Frey to the next life.

Jon left Arya with Sansa and Brienne as he joined Lord Beric at his table. Beric looked up for a brief moment, his one good eye giving him a stern glare. "You say you were brought back to life at the hand of a Red Priestess? The stories I've heard are true, you were slain at Castle Black, but the Lord of Light raised you from the dead."

"I don't know if it was the Lord of Light or some other God, but I am here before you because I have friends who have faith in me. Eat, drink and sleep well, we can talk in the morning. My wife has just given birth and I need to see to her and my sons." Jon bid Beric and Thoros a good night, seeing something familiar, yet weary in Beric.

Maester Wendull came up to him with a message in his hands as he left the Great Hall, on his way to the East Wing of the Keep. "Your Grace, the Lords of the North are traveling to Winterfell to join you in the joy of the new Princes. Lord Cerwyn will be here by midday tomorrow."

He took the message and continued on, when he spotted Lady Lyanna as she walked into the stables. "My lady… a word."

"I would like to thank you, your grace, for honoring my Uncle Jeor. He would have been proud to have a Prince in the North be his namesake. When I marry, I will repay you the honor and name my first born son Jon. I have a gift for you, beside the fighting men," Lyanna entered the stable and retrieve a bundle from her saddle bags.

She handed Jon something wrapped in a pristine white cloth, bound with twine. Jon untied the package to reveal a black bear carved from the mighty trees of Bear Island. Jon looked a little puzzled, not sure why she would give him a carved bear until she explained it was a gift for his child, unknowing the Queen would give birth to twins.

"This is a fine gift, thank you. The spear you gave me is still in the Great Hall, my lady and will stay there until we go to the deep North. The Valyrian Steel in the tip will come in hand. I wanted to ask if you would stay for the feast and agree to help me find a council of the North. I may be King in the North, but the people of the North will rule here. Davos is my council and hand of the King, but I wish to ask you to be council to the Queen and Lady of Winterfell. Careen and Sansa both admire you and value your honesty. What do you say, my lady?" Jon wrapped the little wooden bear back up as Lyanna mulled over the request.

A cheery smile broke from Lyanna's face as she nodded her head. "I would be honored and I shall find the best of the North to sit on your council, your grace. You should go to the Queen… the hour is late and tomorrow will leave you little time to be with her."

"When the Lords of the North arrive, have Sansa and Killian greet them. I must speak with Beric and the Brotherhood before the feast. I will escort my wife and sons into the feast and look forward to speaking to you then. Sleep well, my lady," Jon gave her a nod, tucked the wooden bear inside cloak and went straight to his wife.

Careen was sleeping when he entered the room, her white gown and flaming red hair giving her an iridescent glow. He took off his leathers and gambeson, untied his hair, slipped off his boots and walked over to his cradle where his sons were sleeping.

Sitting down next to the fireplace, he picked the babes up in his arms, holding them to his bare chest and kissed their little heads. His true father was robbed of the right to hold him, to look upon, but he never went without a father's love. Ned Stark taught him how to be a good father and he would do his best to live up to that.

"I will have to go South soon, but I will return and once the South is free and the North no longer fears the Night King, I shall never leave your side. The North is our home and you will grow up with more love than I ever had. Your mother is a good woman, her heart is pure and her love is true. You are lucky, we are lucky… to be loved by her," Jon placed them back in the cradle, their tiny bodies fitting snuggling inside.

As he turned towards the bed, he was greeted with the most breathtaking smile and eyes of glittering sapphire. "Come here and hold me husband."

Jon slide in the bed beside his beauty, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to his chest. When she placed her cheek over his heart, he felt an ease, a peace wash over him. Careen nuzzled into him, her hand resting on his stomach as her fingers trace the hard ridges of his muscles.

"Sleep and know I love you, wife," Jon's lips rested in the soft locks of her red hair, his fingertips stroking her arm. Careen sighed contently, her smile making Jon smile in return. He closed his eyes, listening to the gentle thrum of Careen's heart and the crackle of the fire.

Jon opened his eyes, but they weren't his. He was low to the ground, his senses more alive they'd ever been. He rose on all fours and he knew immediately Ghost and he were one.

He walked out his bedroom, down the hall and out to the snowy courtyard. The crunch of the snow sounded loud, the coolness against his paws and the chill of the wind against his fur, none of it really bothered him as it would if he were a man. He heard voices coming from the Great Hall and a shaft of light filtering out upon the snow. Trotting slowly inside, he entered through the slightly opened door to find Berick and Thoros sitting by the fire, drinking ale and talking with Sandor Clegane.

Thoros looked at the direwolf, his eyes studying him as if he knew it was more than just a wolf. Jon pushed Ghost towards the man, sitting back on his haunches as he stared at the three of them.

"Is that King Snow's direwolf?" Beric asked as he reached his hand out to pet him. Jon quieted Ghost's nature to growl at such an intrusion, allowing the man to stroke the fur between the wolf's ears.

"It is and a fine animal he is. The Queen has a direwolf as well. The Starks command more than just the men of the North. There is magic… great power here and it runs deep in the King. He was brought back, like you were Beric and he took back Winterfell when the odds were against him. The Young Wolf is dead, but the White Wolf… he has a purpose and with the Finn girl by his side, the North cannot fail. I saw her in a dream last night, she was straddling a mountain made of ice and from her hand, she cast down glass that pierced even the Night King's heart. Three dragons flew behind her, their fire cleansing the Seven Kingdoms. Upon the dragons rode a Queen not scorched by flames, a King untouched by death and a Prince with a crown of knowledge upon his head," Thoros gazed into the flames of the fire, his thoughts lost to the dream as he recalled it.

"You speak of dreams and riddles, Thoros. I don't understand what any of this has to do with the war you have us marching to. I joined you because I had no other place to go. When you said you were going North, to Winterfell, I'll admit I wanted to go to see if Arya had made it home. That girl has changed… I know a natural born killer when I see one. She has a list; one she would chat every night before she went to sleep. You let that girl go South and the enemies of the North will fall. If you are set on going to Castle Black, I'll go, but you need to make sure Jon goes South and takes Arya with him. I would bet my life that Cersie Lannister will not see another sunrise if Arya Stark is allowed in King's Landing," Sandor raised his horn of ale, gulping it down and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"We are here because the Lord of Light commands it. If this is his will… so be it. I will talk to the King tomorrow, but keep your dreams to yourself, Thoros. I have a plan, that none in Winterfell must know of. Time to turn in boys, we have much to do before we leave for Castle Black," Beric patted each of them on the back as he rose and Jon pushed Ghost to his paws, running back to the Keep and to Bran's room. He needed to know if Bran could see what Thoros described.

~.~

Davos corned Ryder as soon as they were down below deck. He pulled his sword and held it to the young Lord's throat. "You either tell me the truth about your time in King's Landing or you bleed out on the floor. The choice is yours, Ryder."

Ryder held up his hands, giving Davos a bewildered look. "I'm on your side… remember. I have history with Varys, but nothing you need to worry about."

His answer did little to calm Davos's anger or steady the sword at his throat. Davos pushed the tip into his flesh, nicking him just enough to make him bleed. "The truth… now."

"For fuck's sake, I'm your friend… my sword and my life are pledged to the King in the North," Ryder tried to reason with Davos but the Onion Knight wasn't having it. He'd seen much in his life, knew the difference between a truth and a lie and could tell Ryder was hiding something.

"You are loyal to Careen, not to Jon. You love her and would gladly shove a sword through Jon Snow's heart if it meant you could have her as your own. Your brother, your niece, they are loyal to the North, but you seem to forget that's where you came from. I'll ask you one last time before my blade turns red with your blood… tell me the truth," Davos narrowed his eyes as he pushed the sword forward, letting the tip dig in deeper.

"Varys is a friend, helped me when I had no one else… nowhere left to go. My father was dead, my brother turned me out and the only place I had to go was Greyfork. I fell in love with Careen but after a while, I knew she would never return my affections. I left for King's Landing, drinking my fill and fucking every whore from Maidenpool to Lord Baelish's brothel," Ryder licked his lips, taking a deep breath as Davos lowered his sword.

"Go on, boy," Davos sat, but kept his sword pointed at Ryder.

"I was approached by Varys to spy for him… spy on Petyr. I did this for him and he kept me in the lifestyle I was accustom too. I know things about King's Landing, things that many have either forgotten or some took to their graves. The secret of the Targaryen's rest deep under King's Landing. The Wildfire, a poison made of dragon magic, and a scroll with secrets of the last dragon. I found the scroll and kept it secret, not even Varys knows about it. There's a way into the Red Keep that the Baratheon's and the Lannister's didn't know about, passages deep down that had been long forgotten," Ryder took an easy breath as Davos lowered his sword, easing himself back on his bed.

"Why didn't you tell Vayrs what you found?" Davos said as he stood up, towering over Ryder.

"I'm a Northerner, first and foremost. As soon as I found the scroll I left King's Land and never turned back. I gave Varys the coin because the first day I met him, he gave me that coin and told me as long as I had him as a friend, I'd never go without coin. I was loyal to Varys, but my true loyalty lies with Careen, the Finn's and the North. I knew the day would come when the North would break free from the capital, but I never dreamed it would be under Jon Snow." Ryder settled back in his bunk, seeing Davos wanted more, needed more to keep him from killing Ryder in his sleep.

"What was in the scroll? You keep talking, but I don't hear you saying anything," Davos said with a menacing look on his face. He was done dancing around the truth and Ryder was going to tell him or else.

Ryder climbed out of his bunk, looking Davos square in the eyes. "The truth of my line rests in a vault at the Citadel, that was all. He wrote one line, sealed with the sigil of House Targaryen and signed Prince Rhaegar. The Grand Maester signed below it and I think the truth was given to him."

Davos pushed Ryder back on his bunk, leaned towards him as he pointed his finger into his chest. "You cross Jon Snow and I'll have your head. Don't get any grand delusions that Careen will ever be yours… she won't. That girl loves her husband and her heart will only belong to him."

The boat began to rock as a storm brewed across the sea. Davos stayed on his feet, he was used to the sea and the way the waves could rock you about. Ryder knew there was no way to convince Davos he would never betray Jon. He loved Careen too much to ever do that to her. They turned in for the night, but Ryder barely slept, thinking of the scroll and what else was inside it.

Thank you for your continued support. A special thank you to CLTex, bfireworks5, saiyan angle blue and Winter Kiss for the reviews.

I look forward to hear your thoughts on this chapter and hope you continue to read and enjoy.

*After the feast, there will be another time jump and we will be off to the South where Jon and Dany will finally meet*