Note: As I mentioned in the last chapter, I'll be skipping the details of Jon's trip north of the Wall since it is more or less the same as in the show. I was almost tempted to write it after I realized you all were so excited about it. But I'm going to stay true to my original plan. The timeline has changed a little in this. Jon arrives back to the Wall earlier, around the time of the Battle Of the Yellow Fork. And the battle on the Wall will be a little postponed. A small change, Ghost followed Gilly and Sam back to Castle Black.
Jon woke up to find himself starring at a bleak ceiling. He tried to get up and found his sides aching and immediately put an end to his efforts. He closed his eyes and tried to recall what had happened. It all came back to him in a rush.
Craster's. Ygritte. Qhorin Halfhand. Mance. Wilding Army. Ygritte. Tormund. Ygritte...
Jon propped himself into a sitting position, feeling the ache throughout his upper body. He looked around and recognized the bleak walls and the shady furniture. He noticed Longclaw was placed beside his bed. He was back at Castle Black and he hadn't been more happier to see it in all his life. He heard someone open the door and Sam walked in.
Sam registered Jon's position and a wide smile formed on his face.
"Jon! You're awake. Wait here, I'll be right back. Let me get Maester Aemon."
Jon didn't even get a chance to open his mouth when Sam ran to get Maester Aemon. It was when Sam mentioned the Targaryen that Jon recalled Maester Aemon's arrangement. Now that Jon was back at Castle Black, he was unsure of his fate. He couldn't leave, not now, not when a hundred thousand free folk were marching to the Wall.
He heard the clicking of Maester Aemon careful steps along with Sam's heavy ones entering the room.
"Jon Snow. You've regained consciousness. You were in a quite beaten state when you arrived on your horse. A few arrows in you as well." Maester Aemon said.
Jon managed a small smile, "Wildlings do not take betrayal very kindly."
Maester Aemon raised an eyebrow, "No?"
"Not surprising really." Jon shrugged.
"And you would know this how?"
Jon signed, he would soon have to face the rest of the Night's Watch and a good majority of it respected Maester Aemon.
"I broke no vows, considering I didn't take any. But I still did my duty to the Night's Watch. It's a bit of a long tale, Maester. You might want to have a seat."
The Flames Of Winter
Jon dressed himself up, mentally preparing himself to meet with the leaders of the Watch. Half of whom hated him because of his family. He was counting on Maester Aemon to take his side. Maester Aemon had been uncharacteristically silent when he asked for advice. The only thing the old Maester offered was encouragement to tell them the truth. It made him nervous, worried that Maester Aemon didn't believe him when Jon said the Halfhand had ordered him to kill him.
Jon heard Sam walk in, Jon composed himself and turned to face him. Sam wore a nervous expression and tried to offer Jon a reassuring smile.
"They're ready for you." He informed.
Jon nodded and steeled himself for the trial to come.
When Jon entered the Hall he found Ser Alliser Thorne, Janos Slynt and Maester Aemon and few other high ranking brothers seated at the high table.
Jon was honest from the start, taking Aemon's advice. He told them of how he killed the Halfhand on his orders and how he infiltrated the Free folk. How a hundred thousand wildlings we're making their way to the Wall. But of course, Thorne was having none of it. Jon had a suspicion that Thorne just wanted to get rid of him.
"So you admit to murdering Qhorin Halfhand?" Thorne asked.
Jon was started to get frustrated, "I didn't murder him."
"No? You put your sword through a brother of the Night's Watch. What do you call that?"
"He wanted me to kill him."
Jon was interrupted by Janos Slynt, "A bastard son of a traitor. What do you expect?"
Jon was now trying his best to keep calm, he had only recently found out about his father's death. Apparently he had died the day after Jon had travelled beyond the Wall. Jon had heard rumors that Slynt had been part of the executioners party and it had taken all his self control to not plung his sword into Slynt. Jon had barely anytime to mourn, with his trial, uncertain fate and the wildling army marching on the Wall. Jon was not given the time to mourn over his dead father or the loss of Winterfell, and uncertain fates Bran and little Rickon. Robb was at War with Tywin Lannister and Arya and Sansa were trapped in Kingslanding. The only thing that kept him going was the assurance that he might be able to join Robb soon. Jon was torn between the threats beyond the Wall and the threats to his family.
"The Halfhand wanted a man to get inside Mance's camp. Find out as much as he can." Jon explained.
"Don't talk as though you knew the Halfhand. He was my brother."
Jon held Thorne's hardened gaze, "Then you would know that he would do anything to defend the Wall. The free folk would've boiled him alive but letting me kill him-"
"The free folk? He even talks like a wildling now." Slynt snickered.
"Aye, I talk like a wildling." Jon answered, his voice raising with every word, "I ate with the wildlings. I climbed the Wall with the wildlings. I.."
Jon hesitated and remembered Aemon's advice, "I lay with a wildling girl."
Slynt almost looked triumphant, "You admit to breaking your vows then?"
Jon didn't answer, Aemon had not told him if could inform the rest of the Watch of the predicament he and Mormont had put him in. But Slynt seemed to take his silence as affirmation.
A small smirk formed on Slynt's face, "The law is the law. He must die."
"Jon Snow has broken no vows." Maester Aemon interrupted.
Jon held his breath, knowing quite well what would follow.
"He's admitted to laying with a woman," Thorne countered and shot Jon a disgusted look, "With a wildling."
"Jon Snow has still broken no vows, for he has not taken any."
"What is the old man talking about?" Slynt demanded.
"Jon Snow never took the vows a man of the Night's Watch takes." Maester Aemon said, "A decision came upon by myself and the lord commander. A decision kept a secret."
"The man's gone mad." Slynt said incredulously.
But Jon noticed Thorne watching him curiously and asked him, "Is what Maester Aemon said true, Lord Snow?" Jon nodded in response.
"What proof do you have to offer, Maester Aemon?"
Maester Aemon summoned Sam who brought a sealed scroll with him. Aemon's fingers fumbled to open it and he handed it over to Thorne, "One of the documentations regarding Jon Snow's arrangement signed by the lord commander and I."
Slynt snatched the parchment from Thorne and read it himself. Jon felt a small feeling of satisfaction when Slynt couldn't think of anything to say to that.
"Then what about when Snow made his way to the weirwood? To take his vows with your steward."
Jon spoke up this time, "I didn't take my vows. Eddison Tollet and Denys Mallister are aware of this, they were the ones who accompanied us there."
Thorne shot Jon a dirty look, Thorne knew he was losing. With a scroll signed by the lord commander and witnesses to Jon not taking his vows were weakening his case of executing Jon for treating with the wildlings.
"Why wasn't he allowed to take his vows?" Thorne demanded of Aemon.
"Jon Snow is close to his father's family, particularly his brother-"
"A family of traitors." Slynt added snidely.
"The Wardens of the North nonetheless. Perhaps Jon Snow has not taken his vows but you have, Ser Janos. We do not take sides in the political conflicts of the south." Maester Aemon reminded him sternly.
Slynt scowled in response but kept his mouth shut. Maester Aemon continued, "The Watch can only expect help from the Starks. One of the only families that still value the Watch enough. Jon Snow can speak to his brother, Robb Stark. Ask him for aid, and we will need it with a hundred thousand wildlings marching to the Wall."
"He could've done that even if he was still in the Watch." Thorne argued.
"Was Benjen Stark able to? Being Ned Stark's brother? No. The Watch is not taken seriously enough. But when a man who is not even part of the Watch, fights for our cause. We perhaps have a chance at some help."
Thorne looked back at Jon and glared at him, "It seems we are in a predicament as to what to do with you, Lord Snow. It seems you have not taken any vows but still you treated with the enemy. You might have sold us out to those savages. You will be locked in quarters until a decision is made."
Jon let out the breath he had been holding and took his leave. Accompanied to his quarters by two brothers of the Watch. He was relieved that he was at least most probably not going to be executed.
The Flames Of Winter
Jon's temporary detention reminded him of the time he was confined to his quarters when he pulled a knife at Thorne. That night a wight has tried to kill the lord commander. That night Ghost has been with him too.
Jon looked at his direwolf that was starring back at him. Jon had been glad that Ghost had followed Sam and Gilly back to Wall instead of being imprisoned or killed by the mutineers at Craster's Keep. Being stripped of Longclaw at the moment, Ghost's presence gave him a sense of security.
Jon knew his options, either he would be ordered to leave Castle Black or Thorne and Slynt would have him executed. Jon did not know what he wanted. He certainly did not want to be executed but he knew of the threat that was coming but also he wanted to be with Robb and avenge their father. Get their sisters and home back. Jon thus found himself leaning towards Aemon's idea. Jon would go to Robb, help him win his war and enlist his aid against the White Walkers. He knew Aemon was right, only a united realm could defeat the Long Night. Jon was not sure if he was just trying reassure himself of taking the right decision.
Jon had fallen asleep when he was awaken by the sound of a key turning in a lock. Jon involuntarily tried to reach for Longclaw only to remember that it was taken from him. To his relief, Ghost was in an attack stance. When the door finally creaked open, Ghost was about to prance when Sam walked in holding a lamp.
"Sam, what are you doing here?" Jon asked urgently.
Sam looked nervous but determined, "Follow me Jon, fast. No time for questions."
Sam turned around and started leading the way, trying to make as little sound as possible. Jon followed with Ghost close behind. When they reached the courtyard, he found Ed and Maester Aemon waiting there with a readied horse.
Realization dawned upon Jon, they were smuggling him out of Castle Black. But he did not see the use, once word spread that he had abandoned the Watch the northerns would be forced to execute him.
Ed handed Jon a sack and Longclaw, "That has everything you'll need for a ride to the Riverlands."
Jon took it but looked uncertainly at Maester Aemon, "I can't leave. Not with what's coming."
Aemon shook his head and grabbed Jon's hand, "Ser Alliser and Janos Slynt see you a threat. They will try to execute you in spite of you not taking any vows. They're trying to rally the rest of brothers to their cause. And they're not failing, many do not trust you for your time with the wildlings and the fact that you had not taken any vows. It's time for you to leave Castle Black. Once you are gone, Ser Alliser can not do anything. As you are not a brother of the Night's Watch"
Aemon placed two scrolls in his hand, "One is proof that you have not taken your vows. The sealed one is a letter for Lord Howland Reed. On your way to your brother, deliver to this to Lord Reed at Greywater Watch. He is an old friend."
Jon didn't know how Aemon knew Howland Reed or what message he wanted to deliver to him. But Jon nodded, he knew that the Reeds could be trusted. Howland Reed had accompanied his father in his search for Lyanna Stark in Dorne.
"Jon Snow, this is also for Howland Reed." Aemon said motioning Sam to hand Jon a locked wooden chest.
"Ensure that he gets this." Aemon ordered, "Now go, before anyone wakes up."
Jon hesitated still not sure what to do but he embraced Ed and then Sam.
"Look after Sam, will ya Ed?"
Edd chuckled and nodded.
"Good bye, Sam. Take care of Gilly and Maester Aemon."
Sam smiled sadly, "Of course. Bye Jon."
Jon finally turned to Maester Aemon and felt an urge to ask why Aemon was doing all this. Like Mormont has mentioned, Jon suspected there was more to it but he knew the man would not tell him now.
"Until we see again then, Maester Aemon."
Maester Aemon smiled, "I pray that I will have the chance to, my boy."
Measter Aemon pulled Jon closer and whispered,"You must play their game. You must. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Kill the boy and let the man be born."
Jon starred at Aemon for a moment before pulling back. Jon mounted his horse, securing the sack and the chest on the horse. He nodded at Sam and Edd. Edd opened the gates and Jon glanced one last time at Castle Black feeling oddly emotional. Then Jon Snow composed himself and rode off into the dark with Ghost at his tail.
Author's Note: Sorry for the late update. Been a bit busy. Hope you liked it. Don't forget to follow, fav and review. And thank you so much for the responses. The follows, favs and reviews. They mean the world to me!