A/N:
AND NOW OUR WATCH HAS ENDED! No matter how the show ended, I'm going to miss it and I'm sure you guys will too. Tell me what you guys thought of the finale.
So a lot of people are saying that Robb being defeated by the Boltons and Freys alone is a bit far fetched. Yes, the other houses were armed, but there was so much confusion. The northern armies weren't sure who was the one who really betrayed them and they didn't get the time to think it out with the Frey army attacking as well and blocking their retreat. So people were just killing each other, Karstarks killing Boltons, Umbers killing Karstarks etc. Plus the Boltons set the camp on flames and killed all scouts that were sent to ride out so they had no idea about the Freys. The armies lacked guidance. Talisa's guards were killed and the Boltons murdered her not long after Jon left the tent. As for the GreatJon, he isn't infallible, he was focused on protecting and getting Robb to snap out of stupor and that left him vulnerable.
I hope this a good explanation, this how it went in head when I planned it out but I'm sorry if it's a not satisfactory. I'll try to do better in the coming chapters.
Well back to the story!
Jon opened his eyes slowly, he brought up his hand to block the light, giving himself a moment or two to adjust to it. He groggily glanced around his surroundings trying to remember where he was. He saw the Hound sitting under a tree, drinking out of a skin of wine and Ghost lounging not far from them.
He pulled himself up, his body screamed in protest as he did so, however Jon did his best to ignore it. He looked down to his left shoulder which was wrapped in a torn cloth, courtesy of the Hound, Jon presumed. His eyes welled up as he recalled the night before. Talisa and much of the northern army were dead and Robb had decided to join them. Jon could feel the guilt and regret well up inside him, he should've died with his brother but he was here and alive.
"Why?" Jon choked out.
The Hound cocked an eyebrow at him, "Why what, boy?"
"Why did you save me? Robb is king."
"Was. He was a dead man already, I know one when I see one. He chose death."
Jon lunged for the Hound in frustration but ended up falling over, groaning in pain. The Hound got up and glared at him, "I can see where your sister gets her stupidity."
The Hound walked over to a horse that Jon hadn't noticed and started to untie the reins from around the tree. "We're still a day or two ride from Riverrun, if we're lucky we'll get there before the fucking Freys do. We'll be doubling up on the horse, you can't ride with that arm."
Jon sat in sullen silence as he glared at the Hound. After he struggled to get up, drank some of the wine and picked on food the Hound had found, they set off to Riverrun. They rarely stopped, having no time to waste. The Hound made no effort to make conversation, and Jon for his part did not either. He was too consumed by grief and guilt.
Grey Wind's limp form, Talisa's bloodstained body and Robb's cold and lifeless face as he sent Jon away flashed through Jon's mind. The grief eventually was replaced with anger, calm and chilling rage, as they drew closer to Riverrun. He was angry at the Boltons. at the Freys, at the Lannisters, at Robb and himself.
Robb had let Jon go because he had believed Jon would make a better king, Talisa had thought so too. Jon did not want to be king, he was not even sure if he had what would make a good king. He had no army with the northern one in shambles now, no one knew of his heritage but for once Jon was willing to consider it. He had too much taken from him; his parents, his uncle and now his brother and sister in law and he could not let the people who had taken it all from him continue to sit on the throne that should have been his father's and then his half-brother's. There were threats to his family from all sides and Jon would do anything in his power to protect them, to not fail them as he had with his uncle, Robb and Talisa.
Jon's brother's death awoke something inside him that he never knew was there, it had started to stir and he wondered if it was dragon in him.
Catelyn waited on the ramparts, she had barely left them in the last two days. News of the Freys' attack and the Bolton's betrayal had already reached Riverrun but they had heard little after that. There was no news of Robb, but Catelyn stood fast in her faith. Robb had always come back after his battles and Catelyn prayed that he did this too. There was a chance he had escaped, been smuggled out during the fighting, so Catelyn waited as she had waited on Bran's bed after he had fallen. She watched the gates for her son and watched as the castle prepared for a siege.
Edmure and Uncle Brynden did not comment on her behavior but she could see out of the corners of her eyes, their pity and worry. They were skeptical of Robb's survival but they did keep watch for him.
Arya, on the other hand, constantly badgered the Blackfish everywhere trying to get any information on Robb and Jon Snow. When she was not following the Blackfish around she was practicing sword fighting or sitting along with Catelyn on the ramparts. While Catelyn's hope had translated into helplessness, Arya's had translated into anger.
Arya had been with Catelyn when a horn was sounded, signaling incoming riders. Catelyn could make out a single horse, "Lower the drawbridge." She breathed to the Tully soldiers and hurried down to the courtyard with Arya.
Her heart was racing not from her flight down the stairs but from the anxiety she was feeling. By the time they were down at the courtyard Edmure and the Blackfish were already there and the drawbridge was being lowered. Catelyn watched with her heart in her throat as she watched the riders dismount the horse. Riding in the front had been the Hound, relatively unscathed from the battle, behind him was Jon Snow, his arm injured and wrapped in a dirty, torn cloth.
It took a moment for Catelyn to process that Robb was not with them, she turned to Jon who refused to look her in the eye, looking everywhere but Catelyn and Arya. Catelyn stepped forwards towards Jon and was placed a hand on Jon's arm,
"Where's Robb?" She asked quietly.
Jon's eyes settled on point on her shoulder. Catelyn's grip on Jon's arm tightened, "Where is Robb?" Her voice getting louder with each word. Catelyn noticed Jon flinch and the hope she held was waning with each breath she took.
She clasped both of Jon's shoulders, ignoring the wrapped wound on his left. She shook his hard and screamed as the tears leaked from her eyes, "Where is my son?!"
Finally the boy's eyes met hers, his face haunted and tears streaking down and Catelyn knew the answer, she had known along, before he whispered it, "Dead."
Catelyn's world froze and heart shattered. Dead. She starred at Jon for moment before a scream escaped her. Her knees gave in but Jon caught her when she about to collapse. She clutched the front of Jon's cloak as she sobbed into his chest, she had lost her firstborn son and the fact that she was weeping in the arms of a boy she had despised for most her life was the least of her worries. This was a product of her mistakes, all because she had not loved the motherless boy that held her as she wept over her son. Robb was dead and her family torn apart and yet she was somehow still alive. Catelyn could not think of a crueler punishment from the gods.
Jon kept to himself, rarely leaving his quarters. He spent his days mourning, regretting and thinking. Arya would occasionally come and talk and tell him what was happening, and Jon would listen quietly . He still found it hard to look in his sister's eyes even after Arya had told him it was not his fault when he had told her what transpired, Arya was furious at Jon for his behavior, furious at the world in general. But Jon found that he could offer no comfort to her because he did not know how to.
A day or two after his arrival at Riverrun, the Freys laid siege to the castle. Jon watched from his window as they camped outside the castle walls and as they tried to get Lord Edmure and the Blackfish to yield. It was about a week into the siege when the Arya said that the Blackfish requested Jon's presence.
Jon was reluctant, he still had so much to figure out but he obeyed nonetheless. Arya led him through the halls to the same room where Jon had reunited with Robb. Lord Edmure, Lady Catelyn and the Blackfish were all seated around a long table, Jon and Arya joined them. Jon snuck a glance at Lady Catelyn, she looked dead inside, her eyes red and dry from crying as they lingered emotionlessly on a point on the wooden table.
The Blackfish rapted his fingers on the table, calling everyone's attention to him, "We can't keep sitting like this. We need to talk of who will succeed Robb."
Lord Edmure glanced at Arya, "By all laws, Arya would succeed Robb with Sansa in Kingslanding."
Arya held her uncle's gaze as he uttered those words but she shook her head, "I won't be queen."
"Sansa is married to Tyrion Lannister, the Lannisters can never have the North." The Blackfish said strongly.
Arya's eyes flashed, "I wasn't talking about Sansa. Jon will have the crown."
The Blackfish's eyes flinted towards Lady Catelyn, he cleared his throat, "Jon Snow is not a Stark. He has no claim over Winterfell or the North."
"I wasn't talking about Winterfell." Arya said quietly with a steely smile. Lady Catelyn gripped the edge of the table tightly as Jon took in a breath, bracing himself for what she was about to say next. He had anticipated that Arya would say it, he had been counting on it, but he could feel his heart in his throat as she continued, "I was talking about the Iron Throne."
Lord Edmure scoffed at the idea, "Yes, because a bastard has a claim over the Iron Throne anymore than he has on Winterfell."
"No, but I'd think Rheagar's last trueborn son would."
Jon watched as the Blackfish's eyes widened slowly as he connected the dots and then narrowed on Jon, "You don't mean-"
Arya cut him off, "He's my aunt Lyanna's son. My father promised he would keep Jon safe, Robert Baratheon would've killed him had he not kept it a secret."
"You said trueborn, that would mean they were married." The Blackfish said a little too harshly.
Arya nodded, "They were and they loved each other." She took out a parchment from her coat, unfolded it and handed it over to the Blackfish. It was the marriage document, Jon realised, Arya had come prepared. Jon had no idea when she had retrieved it from his wooden chest but he didn't find it surprising, she had always been sneaky.
"So the whole kingdom waged a war for nothing." Lord Edmure raised his eyebrows.
"Nothing?" Jon interrupted incredulously, "The Mad King was someone who had to be done away with."
"He was your grandfather." Lord Edmure pointed out.
"And so was Rickard Stark, a man he burned alive."
"You expect us to bow to a Targaryen again? We done away with you lot for a reason." The Blackfish growled.
"I did not know the truth until Lord Reed laid it out before me. I did not care for it, but Robb wanted me to. He died, despite my efforts, so that I could take up this mantle." This time Catelyn's eyes widened, Jon had not had a chance to explain the circumstances of Robb's death to her yet, " I care nothing for power, but I do care for my family and the innocent, and if a crown is what it will take to protect them, then I shall wear one."
"Jon grew up among the Starks, the northerns will accept him." Arya added, "What more could they ask for, a dragon raised by the wolves, by Ned Stark nonetheless. Also, as acting Lady of Winterfell, I pledge the North to King Aegon of Houses Stark and Targaryen."
Jon looked at Arya, feeling oddly emotional and grateful. Arya smiled at him encouragingly and Jon offered her a small one in return.
King Aegon of Houses Stark and Targaryen.
Jon liked that, he was not just a Targaryen, he was just as much Stark.
He turned back to the Tullys, "So are you with me? Will the Riverlands fight for me?"
The pair exchanged a glance, "I expect Ned Stark to have raised an honourable and good man and from what I have seen till now, you are one, Jon Snow. House Tully will bend the knee, but it will take time to convince the rest of the lords." The Blackfish declared.
Jon nodded in thanks as he stood, it was what he had expected, "I vow I shall not let you down or let you regret this moment, my lords."
"Winter is just beginning for the Lannisters and their allies." Arya smirked in triumph, "Jon will take back what is his. He will take back his family's throne with fire and blood."
"With Fire and Blood." Jon echoed.