A Different Rebellion
Winterfell – 300 A.C
The next day…
Ned strapped Ice to his horse as he stood in the courtyard with the new Captain Of The Guard Jory Cassel who was the only Son of the late Ser Martyn Cassel who had perished at Kings Landing as well as half a dozen House Stark Guards.
Ashara was stood watching him with their younger children Willam and Leyla at her side while Melaro and Roslyn were stood with Maester Yolan next to them.
Their Second Son Willam was tall and stocky for a boy of 15 standing nearly as tall as Ned at 6'0 tall with short dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. He was dressed in a brown leather tunic and breeches with black and grey wolf pelts on his shoulders.
Their Daughter Leyla looked just like her Mother did when she was 14 years old with long silky black hair and milky unblemished white skin with the only difference to her Mother being her Stark grey eyes. She was dressed in a modest dark blue northern dress and gloves as she gave her betrothed a hug before he was to leave with Ned.
Her betrothed Cley Cerwyn was the 16 year old second Son of Lord Medger Cerwyn of Castle Cerwyn. He had short brown hair with a small brown moustache and stood at 6'1 tall. He was dressed in boiled leather armour and furs with a longsword strapped to his hip.
After a few seconds Cley Cerwyn moved away from her and mounted his horse.
Ned walked back over to Willam and placed his hand on his shoulder as he looked down at the floor.
"Your the Warden Of The North now Son, you must speak for your Grandfather, but you must also heed the advice that Maester Yolan and Ser Rodrik give to you, as well as your Mother's advice" said Ned solemnly.
His Father Rickard Stark had been bedridden with slow fever for the last four moons and Maester Yolan was growing even more concerned that he did not have much longer than a few moons left to live.
Willam looked up at him and nodded.
"Yes Father" said Willam.
Ned nodded and let go of him before giving Leyla a hug.
"Goodbye Princess… you be good for your Mother okay" said Ned softly.
"Of course Father" said Leyla sadly.
Ned sighed and glanced at Melaro and Roslyn.
"And look after your Cousins, they need you now" said Ned sadly.
Leyla nodded before letting go of him.
Ned moved over to Ashara who wrapped him in a hug and kissed him.
"I love you" said Ashara.
Ned smiled.
"Love you too" said Ned softly.
Ashara wiped traces of tears from her eyes.
"Keep our Son safe Ned" said Ashara softly.
Ned nodded.
"With my life" said Ned solemnly.
Ashara kissed him before finally letting him go.
She held back the tears as she watched him give Melaro and Roslyn a long hug and a kiss on the forehead each before climbing onto his horse.
Riverrun – 300 A.C
Two weeks later…
"You are not looking forward to this are you?" said Lyanna Glover nee Stark.
She was sat atop her horse next to her Nephew Jon Stark and her Husband of 17 years Ethan Glover of Deepwood Motte.
She was 33 years of age with long dark brown hair and stood around 5'7 in height. She was dressed in a brown boiled leather tunic, riding breeches and chainmail with a bastard sword strapped to her back and a dagger strapped to her hip.
Ethan Glover was a good bit taller than her at 34 years of age standing at 6'2 tall. He had short black hair and a muscular figure and was dressed in a brown boiled leather tunic and breeches with a dark steel breast plate on his chest.
Their Nephew Jon Stark was a 6'1 tall young man of 17 years of age. He had long slightly curly dark brown almost black hair down to his shoulders and was dressed in a dark grey tunic and breeches with chainmail underneath it. What was interesting however was that he had two swords strapped to his hips as opposed to one like most swordsmen in the Seven Kingdoms.
The one on his left hip was a longsword allowing him to use it in his dominant right hand while the one on his right hip was a much smaller short sword allowing him to wield both swords at once. As many had grown accustomed to in the North Jon had his ever faithful white Direwolf Ghost by his side who was the size of a grown wolf.
Jon turned to Lyanna as they reached the top of the hill looking down at Riverrun.
The entire Northern army was behind them numbering at some 22,000 strong.
With more time they could have gathered more men, owing to the size of the North it would have cost them time they did not have to gather their army.
"She should have been Robb's wife, not mine" said Jon flatly.
Lyanna sighed.
"Robb is gone Jon, and we all miss him… but we cannot spend the rest of our lives in grief, we have to avenge him and Brandon… and you must do this, it is your duty, to your family and to yourself" said Lyanna sadly.
"Besides Boy… she is a beautiful young girl, in a southern way that is, not sure how she will cope in the North though, especially during the Winter" said Ethan Glover.
Jon sighed.
"Duty, my duty" said Jon quietly.
He remained quiet for several seconds before Jon Umber of Last Hearth nicknamed "Smalljon" and Harrion Karstark of Karhold rode up alongside him.
Both Boys were older than Jon especially Harrion who was a good five years older than him at 22 years of age but Jon had grown rather close to them on his visits to some of the Northern castles.
To call Smalljon Umber that name would be a strange thing since he was nearly 7'0 tall at 20 years of age with long brown hair and a slightly unkempt brown beard. He was dressed in riding clothes and a red cloak with his greatsword strapped to his hip.
Harrion Karstark was the eldest Son and Heir of Lord Rickard Karstark standing at 6'2 tall. He had medium length brown hair with a little bit of stubble on his cheeks and he was dressed in boiled leather armour and chainmail with a longsword strapped to his hip.
"Set up camp along the banks of the river" said Jon.
The two young men nodded and held their horses back to direct the army.
Jon sighed as they rode towards Riverrun.
One hour later…
"Thank you" said Jon from his seat in Edmure Tully's Solar as said man poured him a cup of Arbor Gold wine.
Lyanna and Ethan Glover were stood behind him while Edmure Tully was sat opposite him with his famed Uncle Ser Brynden "The Blackfish" Tully stood behind him.
Edmure Tully was around 33 years of age and was slightly shorter than Jon at 5'11 with short brown hair and no facial hair. He was dressed in a leather House Tully tunic and breeches.
Brynden Tully was a good bit taller at 6'2 and was around 53 years of age with medium length greying brown hair with thick grey stubble on his cheeks and chin. He was dressed in dark grey leather armour made thicker with chainmail with his personalised black trout sigil on the chest.
Edmure Tully nodded.
"I trust the terms your Father has offered me are still true… that you will marry my Daughter Sansa" said Edmure Tully.
Jon sighed and nodded.
"They are My Lord… and we can count on your support in the war?" said Jon flatly.
"The Riverlands will fight for you if you uphold your end of the deal he has offered" said Edmure Tully.
Jon nodded.
"And how many men can we expect?" said Jon solemnly.
"18,000 Lord Stark, we would have had more if not for some traitorous houses siding with the Targaryans" said Brynden Tully.
Jon nodded.
"And I expect a wedding before we leave Lord Stark" said Edmure Tully causing Brynden Tully to sigh.
"You do realise we are in the middle of a war you fool" said Brynden Tully in frustration.
Jon sighed.
"Very well, the wedding shall take place in a weeks time, allowing my Father ample time to get here Lord Tully" said Jon flatly.
Edmure Tully remained silent and still for several moments before nodding.
"Excellent" said Edmure Tully.
Jon nodded.
Edmure Tully stood up.
"If that is all My Lords, My Lady… I will have the servants show you to your chambers" said Edmure Tully.
Jon stood up and followed his Aunt and Uncle out of the Solar.
Later that night…
Jon let out a weary sigh as he approached the doors leading to the smaller private hall where he would be having his supper with Lyanna, Ethan Glover and the Tullys.
He was dressed in one of his finer House Stark tunics and breeches with his hair tied back behind his head.
After several seconds he walked through the doors to find his Aunt and Uncle already seated at the large table in the centre of the hall along with Brynden Tully, Edmure Tully and who Jon assumed were his two younger children.
"Lord Stark, please sit down" said Edmure Tully gesturing for Jon to take the seat next to his Son Edwin Tully.
The youngest child and Heir to Riverrun Edwin Tully was 11 years old with short brown hair like his Father.
His younger Daughter Minisa Tully was 14 years old and looked the spitting image of her Mother with long brown hair framing her kind hearted face.
Jon nodded and sat down in the seat before helping himself to some trout and potatoes.
"My Daughter will be down shortly" said Edmure Tully.
Jon nodded and poured himself a mug of ale.
They waited in silence for the next ten minutes before the doors to the hall opened once again and Roslin Tully led the still upset Sansa into the hall.
Like before she was still dressed in a black dress making Jon feel slightly uncomfortable as she approached him.
He glanced at Lyanna who quickly but discreetly nodded to him.
He stood up as she stopped in front of him and slowly bowed his head.
"My Lady I am so sorry for your loss" said Jon humbly.
Sansa nodded and offered her hand for him to kiss.
Jon slowly took her hand gently kissing it before she sat down in the empty seat between him and her Mother.
Jon took his seat a moment later as they continued their supper in a rather uncomfortable silence.
After several minutes of silence Jon felt Edwin Tully tapping his arm.
He turned to face the younger Boy and nodded his head to him.
"Is it true you used to squire for Ser Arthur Dayne?" said Edwin Tully.
Jon nodded.
"I did" said Jon flatly.
"Does that mean you are as good a fighter as he is?" said Edwin Tully.
Jon chuckled.
"No… my Uncle can do things with a sword that I can only dream of doing" said Jon modestly.
"I had thought your Father would have accompanied you here My Lord" said Sansa flatly.
Jon turned to face her and saw that she was looking at him with a flat look on her face.
Jon sighed.
"My Father is at The Eyrie My Lady, he will be here before our wedding" said Jon causing Sansa to freeze up slightly.
After several seconds Sansa smiled but Jon could see that it was forced.
"I am looking forward to it My Lord" said Sansa flatly.
Jon nodded and went back to eating his food before Sansa started to eat hers.
Unfortunately she did not have much of an appetite and put her knife and fork down barely three minutes later.
"May I be excused?" said Sansa flatly.
"You have barely eaten anything Sansa" said Roslin Tully sternly.
"I am not hungry" said Sansa icily.
"You need to eat more to keep your strength up, and we have Guests remember, it would be rude for you to leave now" said Roslin Tully.
Sansa turned away from her before Jon sighed.
"Your Mother is right My Lady" said Jon.
Sansa turned to face him with a slightly frosty look on her face as if she was feeling slightly insulted by his words.
"You must eat to keep your strength up, it would not do you good to get sick by not eating" said Jon humbly.
Sansa slowly nodded before she placed some more fish on her plate and turned away from him in silence.
Jon went back to eating his food as the uncomfortable silence around the table continued.
Two nights later…
"She wants Robb, not me" said Jon as he drank from his mug of ale from his seat around the small circular table.
"As did most other girls in the North you moody fucker" said Jonothor Locke mockingly.
The only surviving Son of old Lord Locke was around the same age as Jon at 17 years old and he stood at 6'1 tall with shoulder length brown hair. He was dressed in a grey tunic and black breeches drinking ale with his feet up on the table.
Jon sighed.
"I seem to recall one that caught his eye" said Rodrik Forrester teasingly.
The young Forrester Heir was 19 years of age with medium length brown hair standing at over 6'4 tall dressed in a dark brown tunic and breeches with House Forrester's ancestral greatsword strapped to his back.
Jon glared at him.
"Do not talk about her" growled Jon.
Rodrik Forrester and the others chuckled.
After a few seconds Jon sighed.
"How the fuck do you marry someone who is grieving for your Cousin, especially when you barely know her?" said Jon as he took a large swig of his ale.
Smalljon Umber clapped his hand on Jon's shoulder.
"Its simple, you take her under a Weirwood Tree, or before a Sept since she is a bloody southerner… you say some vows, kiss her, have a small feast, then you bed her… what is not to understand?" said Smalljon Umber amusedly.
"Speaking about it like that makes it sound easy, that does not mean it will be" said Jon wearily.
Smalljon Umber squeezed his shoulder.
"Have you heard from your Father?" said Smalljon Umber.
Jon nodded and clapped the older Boy's hand.
"The Vale stands with us, but he would not say how many men they have in fear of the raven being intercepted, but that they would arrive within the next four days" said Jon solemnly.
"Good… because I want out of this shitty camp so I can kill some of those Targaryans… so they can pay for what they did to my Brother" said Harrion Karstark bitterly.
Jon nodded to them.
"We will… and with the Stormlanders with us, should have enough men to crush the Targaryans, and maybe put a better ruler on that blasted chair" said Jon flatly.
"Too right… we have seen enough mad Targaryan's to last a dozen lifetimes" said Eldric Dustin.
He was the youngest of them at 16 years of age with medium length light brown hair and matching stubble. The eldest Son of Lord Willam Dustin of Barrowton was dressed in a silk shirt and breeches and was stood by a barrel of ale pouring a mug for himself.
"I am with that, we have suffered through 300 years of Targaryan rule, now its time for a change, either that or we should go back to ruling ourselves again" said Rodrik Forrester.
Jon sighed.
"We have… but who can we name as King that will be a good ruler?" said Jon solemnly.
As Jon expected nobody had an answer to that question.
The next night…
Jon was sat at the desk in his chambers looking down at his longsword as he scraped a sand coloured whetstone down the blade sharpening it and creating a lengthy scraping noise each time he did.
After several seconds he spotted Ghost raise his head in the direction of the door as if to tell him that he had visitors.
"You can come in" said Jon as he carried on sharpening his sword.
The door opened several seconds later and Greywind entered the chambers slowly followed by Sansa who shut the door behind her.
Jon looked up at the Direwolf and smiled.
"Hello Boy" said Jon reaching out to stroke Greywind.
After a few seconds he looked up at Sansa as she stood by the door.
"How did you know I was there… you have no Guards" said Sansa flatly.
Jon chuckled.
"Ghost is very good at telling me when someone wishes to see me, no matter how quiet they think they are being" said Jon.
Sansa did not reply to him.
"We were wondering what had happened to Greywind, about whether Robb had taken him to Kings Landing or not" said Jon softly.
Sansa walked over to the bed and sat down.
"Must you do that now?" said Sansa glancing at the whetstone as he moved it up and down the blade of his sword.
Jon placed the whetstone on the desk before sheathing his sword.
"A man's sword must always be kept sharp and ready for battle… as my Uncle says" said Jon placing the sword on the desk.
Sansa sighed and looked around the room nervously.
"A bold statement, but a narrow minded one as well" said Sansa.
Jon looked up at her as he unsheathed his short sword and picked the whetstone up.
"I was born and trained to be a Soldier from a very young age, to fight with sword in hand, a little different from Robb" said Jon flatly as he started to sharpen his short sword.
"What does that mean?" said Sansa harshly.
Jon sighed.
"Robb was born to rule, I was born to serve… he spent most of his life learning how to govern over an entire Kingdom, I spent my time fighting and learning how to be a loyal Bannerman to my Liege Lord" said Jon flatly.
Sansa straightened up.
"And now you will govern over that Kingdom yourself" said Sansa flatly.
Jon sighed.
"I will, and I will have to learn how to rule, and so will you My Lady" said Jon flatly.
"I do know how to rule My Lord" said Sansa icily.
Jon turned to her as he stopped sharpening his sword for a moment.
"I meant no offence My Lady… but the North is a different animal to the South, our lives are made harder by the elements, ruling over the North is nothing like ruling over the South, as you will discover for yourself" said Jon flatly.
Sansa nodded.
"If you say so My Lord" said Sansa.
Jon nodded as he continued to sharpen his short sword.
Sansa straightened up.
"Would you be so kind as to break your fast with me in my chambers on the morrow?" said Sansa.
"I would like that My Lady… but could you have someone collect me at that time, since I do not know where your chambers are" said Jon humbly.
Sansa nodded before standing up and bidding him goodnight.
As she walked over to the door she turned back to where Greywind was lying down next to Ghost.
"Greywind" said Sansa.
The Direwolf did not react.
"Greywind" commanded Sansa in a slightly forceful tone.
Jon sighed and looked down at his late Cousin's Direwolf.
"Go with her Boy" said Jon solemnly.
Greywind raised his head in the direction of Jon for a few moments before slowly dropping to the floor once again.
Jon sighed and turned to look at Sansa who swiftly left his chambers and shut the door before he could speak.
He turned back to Greywind with a look of regret etched on his face knowing that she was hurt by the Direwolf abandoning her.
The next day…
Jon sat down across from Sansa watching her as she poured a cup of milk for herself.
She glanced at him with a slightly nervous smile as he helped himself to some bacon and boar sausages.
A few minutes after they started eating Jon looked straight at her.
"So is there anything you would like to ask me My Lady?" said Jon.
Sansa straightened up.
"Were you close to Robb?" said Sansa.
Jon nodded.
"Quite close… like Brother's more than Cousin's" said Jon.
Sansa nodded.
"I did not know you were as close as that" said Sansa flatly.
Jon sighed.
"We were… as you know he had no Brother's of his own, whenever I spent time at Winterfell we would always be together in the yard with swords in our hands, both before and after I went to Kings Landing" said Jon.
"How old were you… when you went to Kings Landing?" said Sansa.
"10… I stayed there until I was 16" said Jon as he cut into one of his boar sausages.
Sansa sipped her milk.
"How did you end up going there?" said Sansa curiously.
"My Mother arranged it, my Father was not too keen on the idea at first, but he came round in the end, agreed that squiring for my Uncle would help shape me into a man" said Jon.
"What was it like… in Kings Landing?" said Sansa.
Jon sighed.
"Horrible… I could not wait to leave" said Jon.
Sansa looked at him curiously.
"Why… I thought you liked squiring for your Uncle" said Sansa.
"I did… but I saw things no person should see, especially not at the age of 14" said Jon solemnly.
Sansa frowned.
"Did the same thing happen to Robb?" said Sansa sadly.
Jon nodded.
"It was a horrible thing to see… no one deserves such a fate" said Jon solemnly.
"Can we not talk about it?" said Sansa quickly.
Jon sighed.
"Forgive me My Lady… I should not have said that" said Jon.
The two continued eating in silence.
Two days later…
Jon was stood in the courtyard alongside his Aunt and Uncle, Smalljon Umber, Harrion Karstark and Edmure Tully as his Father walked into the courtyard with the Baratheons and Elbert Arryn.
Elbert Arryn was a 6'2 tall man at 36 years of age with short black hair dressed in steel plate armour and a black cloak with a longsword strapped to his hip.
The Baratheon's who had accompanied them were Lord Robert Baratheon, his eldest Son Joffrey Baratheon and Robert's Brother Stannis Baratheon.
Robert Baratheon was a 6'4 tall imposing man of 36 years of age with long black hair and a matching black beard. He was dressed in steel plate armour and chainmail on top of a yellow House Baratheon tunic clutching a large warhammer in one hand and a steel stag antler helm in the other.
Joffrey Baratheon looked nothing like his Father to the surprise of Jon and the others. He was 16 years of age standing at 5'11 tall with short blonde hair dressed in steel plate armour with a golden hilted bastard sword strapped to his hips.
Stannis Baratheon stood at 6'4 tall with short black hair at 34 years of age. Like Robert Baratheon he was dressed in steel armour and chainmail but his House Baratheon tunic was grey in colour, the stags on his helm were shorter and he had a longsword and dagger strapped to his hips instead.
Jon bowed his head to them as they approached him.
"Father… My Lords" said Jon dutifully.
Ned gave him a swift one armed hug while he received handshakes off of Elbert Arryn, Robert and Stannis Baratheon before he finally received one from a bitter looking Joffrey Baratheon.
Once Jon was done greeting them Edmure Tully stepped forwards.
"Chambers have been prepared for you My Lords… and there will be a small feast just after sundown" said Edmure Tully.
Ned nodded and followed Edmure Tully into the castle along with Jon, Smalljon Umber, Harrion Karstark and Elbert Arryn.
Later that night…
"So… what do you make of your future Wife?" said Ned solemnly.
He and Jon were sat around the small table in Jon's chambers sipping Arbor Gold wine.
Jon sighed.
"She mourns for Robb still… and she would much rather be marrying him than me" said Jon flatly as he sipped his wine.
Ned frowned.
"And you would much rather wed another, but life is not always fair like that, quite often our duty must come before what we truly want for ourselves" said Ned solemnly.
Jon sighed.
"She still loves him" said Jon wearily.
Ned nodded.
"And no doubt she will continue to love him for some time… but she may come to love you in time if the Gods are kind, and maybe you will love her in return" said Ned solemnly.
Jon downed his wine.
"How can we make this work… when she will spend quite a bit of time wishing it had been Robb she were marrying, wishing that she could spend the rest of her life with him instead of me?" said Jon.
Ned sighed.
"Thing will change in time Jon, you just have to give her time" said Ned solemnly.
Jon nodded.
"Hopefully" said Jon.
The two sat there drinking and making small talk for the next hour before Ned left him.