JON SNOW

The days are growing colder and it could be felt especially at the wall. Everyday Jon would go to the top of the wall and look for his brother. His mind is everywhere. He had recently learned the truth of who he really is from Robb through Howland Reed. The man he thought was his father, promised he would tell him the next time they saw each other. Because of the Bolton's treachery that day would never come. When Jon heard about his father he thought he would never know the truth. Now he does; it is unsettling to know that man he believed was his father was actually not. There is comfort in the fact that he is not a bastard after all. In fact Jon is a Prince by all rights.

Jon wanted to ride to Castle Cerwyn and tell Lady Stark, but Robb talked him out of it. Not that Jon would have with her heavily pregnant. "Aegon." He says to himself. Every morning and at sunset Jon comes to the wall to look for his brother or cousin now. Howland Reed had remained at the Castle, to wait for the return of his children.

"You don't have to keep coming up here you know. They will come back." Howland says from behind.

"I know you say that. I know you believe it, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't look."

"Have you spoken to Maester Aemon yet?"

Jon had been putting if off. He is consumed with keeping the peace between the Free Folk and the Night's Watch. Then there are the acting Northern Lords of each House to contend with. "No I have not. I have been really busy."

"He is old I am afraid he doesn't have much time left."

The next morning Jon goes to see Maester Aemon. He breaks his fast with him. "Well this is a pleasant surprise Lord Commander."

"Yes I needed to speak with you. I recently learned some…wonderful news."

"What is it?"

"My mother was actually Lyanna Stark…Lord Eddard was not my father, but my Uncle. Prince Rhaegar Targaryen was actually my father. He did not rape Lyanna, they fell in love at the Tourney of Harrenhal. My mother named me Aegon the Seventh. My father…Lord Stark…named me Jon and took me as his bastard to protect me."

"All this time. All that bloodshed over a lie."

"Not all lies. Aerys did kill my Grandfather and Uncle."

"How long have you known?"

"Since before my brother Robb left. He told me and Lord Reed told him."

"I am glad at least one of my family members has been vindicated. So that would make you my Great Great Nephew."

"Yes it would."

"I got a letter from my Great Niece a while back. Daenarys Targaryen. Never got the chance to write her back though. What will you do when she comes to Westeros?"

"What can I do. I am Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. The Night's Watch is my family now. I can only hope she will aid us against the White Walkers."

"I meant will you tell her?"

He sighs, "I don't know."

"Jon Snow…You have your mother's family the Starks and your father's family the Targaryens, but only you can define who you are. Kill the boy and become the man."

A week later Stannis arrives at Castle Black in chains and under guard. "Unchain him." Jon commands. "Would you like some lemon water my Lord?" Jon asks.

"Yes thank you."

"I heard you had a Dragon."

"I did, those Dornish fools killed it."

"How did you come by it?"

"The pain is still fresh in my head, along with everything else. I would rather not talk about it Lord Commander."

"Well I will need you here at Castle Black. Your experience and skill will be of great benefit."

"When do I take my vows?"

"Now if you like. We do not serve the lord of light up here, but..."

"Do you have a Sept?"

"Yes."

"Then I will take my vows in the Sept. I turned my back on the seven for a lie. I hope they can forgive me for all the things I have done."

Two months after Robb left A Raven arrives from East Watch by the sea. Bolton men have arrived and Cotter Pyke Commander of Eastwatch wanted to know what do with them. Jon sends a message back by Raven telling him to divide them. Half at Eastwatch and the other half is to head for Shadow Tower. They are to take their vows immediately at Eastwatch.

During the first week of the month the first supply of Dragonglass weapons arrive from Winterfell; spears and arrows. A ship arrives at Eastwatch and another at Shadow Tower with the first supply of food from the Reach, Dorne, and the Westerlands. Everything is accounted for and evenly distributed among the Night's Watch and Free Folk.

Also men from the watch and of the Free Folk go hunting and fishing in the Gift to sure up their supplies. "Lord Commander." Gren says entering his solar.

"What is it Gren?" Gryff had killed one of the Free Folk while hunting. Problem is the only ones who witnessed it was a man by the name of Squirrel or that is what he is called by the Free Folk. A fight almost broke out, but the leaders of both hunting parties had the sense to bring the matter to Jon. "Do you realize what you did?"

"I expect no justice from you bastard!" Gryff says. "We all know how the Starks feel about Boltons and Whitehills." His words cause an uproar.

"Lord Commander!" Alliser Throne says speaking up. It goes quiet. "Might I suggest we close these proceedings."

"We demand justice!" Rattleshirt yells. "Or this fucking alliance ends here and now."

"Gryff!" Maester Aemon calls out, "Did you kill the man Roger?"

He hesitates to answer, because Maeter Aemon is well known for his ability to know a lie from the truth. "He's guilty!" A man named Ten Skins says.

"Quiet!" Jon yells, "Gryff Whitehill…We made an alliance with the Free Folk." He spits. "And according to that alliance…Any crimes committed by us against them will be punished by them and vice versa…Hand him over to the Free Folk."

"Lord Commander may I speak with you in private?" Alliser asks.

"I have made my decision. Hand him over." Some of the Watch brothers hesitate.

"You heard the Lord Commander…Hand him over."

They give him to the Free Folk and immediately they start beating on him. As they beat him they drag him from the main hall. Jon stares into the faces of those who did not agree with his judgement. It is tense, but the tension eases when the horn sounds once for returning Rangers, but there are no Rangers North of the wall.

"Bran!" Jon runs from the hall with men following. He heads down the tunnel and pauses as the gate is raised and he spots his brother Bran. Bran is not alone, there is a man riding a large Elk, two hooded figures, and Meera Reed. "Bran!" Jon hugs him and as he does, Howland Reed runs pass them and hugs his daughter.

"Jon…Its my fault." Bran says crying, "He's coming and it is all my fault."

"What are you talking about?"

"We should talk inside." A familiar voice says.

Jon looks to the owner of the voice, "Uncle Benjen?"

His skin is pale and his face looks drawn tight. There are holes in his skin, "That was my name before I became this…Now I am known as Cold Hands." He points to the cloaked figures, "This is Leaf…" She removes her hood shocking those gathered. A legend come to life, a Child of the Forest. "…And this is River. Both Children of the Forest." River removes his hood as well.

They go inside to the main hall. Many are curious about the Children of the Forest and about Benjen Stark. Many thought he was dead. They find his visage haunting to say the least. "It is all my fault?" Bran says again in the hall. The Senior members of the Watch are present.

"What is your fault?"

He looks down in shame, "The Three Eyed Raven is dead." Leaf says speaking up, "The Old one…He was killed by the Night King."

"You went to the three eyed Raven to train." Jon says.

"Yes…" Bran says looking down.

"Bran Stark became…Impatient. A quality that does not speak well of your race Jon Snow." River says.

"He dream walked without the Old Raven." Leaf says. "Curios to see something the Old Raven showed him."

"What?" Jon asks.

"The day you were born." Leaf replies.

"Oh!" Jon says taking their meaning.

"What is so special about the day the Lord Commander was born?" First Builder Yarwyk asks.

"Nothing!" Jon quickly replies.

"That is not the point…' Leaf says, "Bran did not wind up in the place he meant to. He was redirected by the Night King. And the Night King marked him."

"Marked him?" Jon asks.

Cold Hands takes Bran's arm, pulls up his sleeve, and shows everyone his arm. There is a blue glowing hand print on his arm. "What does it mean?' Bowen Marsh asks.

"It means that I have doomed us all." Bran says in tears.

"The magic on the wall keeps the White walkers from passing through, over, or around the wall." Leaf says speaking up, "But the Night King has magic of his own. With that mark on Bran he can nullify the walls magic in this area." The hall breaks into an uproar.

"We should have left him on the other side of the wall!" Yarwyk yells.

"If what they say is true this boy has doomed us all." Alliser Thorne says.

Benjen opens his mouth and wales. Everyone but Jon, the Children, and Bran grab their ears in pain. "The Night King will come through the wall here…We must get ready." Leaf says when Benjen stops.

"By the seven Benjen Stark, What the fuck are you?"

"I am what they made me…I am what the Night King was meant to be. Only less. I serve the three eyed Raven, Bran Stark. Time is against you. I must take Bran to Winterfell."

"We will stay here and help you fight." Leaf says.

"Wait!" Jon says remembering something, "Where is Jojen Reed?"

Meera looks away teary eyed, "He died saving my life from the White Walkers." Bran says.

"When the Night King touched Bran Stark. He was able to enter our sanctuary. You must pull all your men off the wall and now." Leaf says.

Jon says one last goodbye to Bran. Then Bran mounts the great Elk with Cold Hands and they ride off south. Castle Black comes to life as Ravens are sent to the other castles. All forces are to converge on Castle Black. As the Children explain it, it is the only place on the wall the Night King can break through at. The magic in the rest of the wall is still strong enough to keep them out.

"Lord Commander may I speak with you in private."

"What is it?"

"Valar Morghulis." The man says.

Jon recognizes the voice which had changed, "Jacqen H'ghar?"

"Come…" Two days had passed since Bran returned. They go to his Solar.

"I've been wondering where you were."

"A man has been watching from the Shadows."

"I guess you were right about me being a Prince."

"Jacqen H'ghar asked to speak with Jon Snow because some of his brothers plot against him."

"Who?"

"Alliser Thorne, Othell Yarwyk, Bowen Marsh…A man was hired by Quaithe of Ahsaii to protect Jon Snow."

"I do not know a Quaithe."

"She knows you my Prince…Jacqen would kill these men, but only if you command Jacqen." Jon runs a hand through his hair, "Jacqen H'ghar will have to kill them anyway, especially if they attack Jacqen's Prince."

"Can you get me proof?"

"They meet in private, they trust Jacqen as Markys, they will deny their treachery."

"When will they strike?"

"Jacqen does not know this yet. Most likely they will attack when the Night King comes…"

Jon stands up, "I can't lock them up."

"The Prince can accuse them of treason and execute them when they are caught in their lie."

Jon sighs, "Will you reveal yourself as a Faceless Man if I do that?"

"Jacqen H'ghar is sworn to the Faceless Men…If Jacqen reveals himself they may try force Jacqen to stay with the Night's Watch."

"Fine just testify against them." Jon summons Alliser and the conspirators to the main hall after everyone else. "Ser Alliser, Bowen Marsh, First Builder Yarwyk…Aron, Ser Richard, Hobbs, and Luke would you stand before me." They all do. Then they sneer as Markys stands beside Jon. ""Ser Alliser, Bowen Marsh, First Builder Yarwyk…Aron, Ser Richard, Hobbs, and Luke…I charge you all with treason and sentence you all to death by hanging."

The hall breaks into an uproar, "Treason! What proof do you have?" Bowen Marsh demands.

"I was there!" Markys/Jacqen says testifying. "I had a feeling you all were up to something so I acted as if I was against the Lord Commander. Ser Thorne led the meeting and expressed his desire to get rid of Lord Snow."

"You fucking traitor!" Yarwyk screams charging Markys, but the guards hold him.

"I cannot believe my ears." Maester Aemon says speaking up, "In the long history of our order there has never a group of brothers plotting to kill their own Lord Commander."

"Take them away and build a gallows for them." Five days later Ser Alliser, Bowen Marsh, First Builder Yarwyk…Aron, Ser Richard, Hobbs, and Luke are all placed on the gallows. "Any last words?" Jon asks.

"I did what I did for the watch. You betrayed us. When you made a deal with those Wildlings. Your brother destroyed us when he went North of the wall…" Alliser Thorne says, "I die in peace knowing I will not live to see the wall fall."

Jon walks up to Marsh. "Tell my family I died fighting the White Walkers." Hobbs spits at Jon. The rest give their last words. Jon walks up the rope. He sighs and cuts it. "Burn the bodies." Jon orders.

Over the next few days supplies arrive, men of the watch and the Free Folk. Then barrels of Wild Fire arrive from the Capital. A few men had been left at Eastwatch and Shadow Tower to receive the supplies arriving. "Lord Commander!" A man yells running. "Maester Aemon is dead." They hold the largest funeral rights ever. Even the Free Folk attend, because Aemon had spoken up for them and he had tended some of their sick earning their respect.