JON XII
Waking up long before dawn, Jon couldn't manage to fall back into sleep. After wasting time in his bedcamp, he chose to arise and donned his clothes and armor for the day. Still very tired from yesterday's battle, he left his personal tent and walked out. The beginning of the day's light was barely distinguishable. He recalled the sunrise at Casterly Rock, the sun rising between the mountains and falling back into the sea as the day advanced. Blackwater Bay didn't have the same beauty or the same calm as the Sunset Sea or the surroundings of the Rock. Or maybe it was just Jon's actual state that made his surroundings bleak. He wandered through the encampment, crossing the path of guards and a few other men who couldn't sleep. They had made better plans this time and Jon hoped these men would not suffer as much as yesterday, in part due to his decisions.
The banners of the Starks, the Umbers, the Karstarks, the Mormonts, the Dustins, the Manderlys, the Glovers appeared on his way. All men who were determined to fight Stannis, the Ironborn and the Lannisters. To believe that not long ago, Jon lived among them. And again, the image of Mira came to his mind. Where was she right now? Somewhere in the Westerlands? Had she returned to Casterly Rock? Was she praying in the Stone Garden, with nobody aware that her dark hair was shining by the torch light? Or had she gone back to Highgarden? Was she even free? Did they make her a prisoner after she came back from the Riverlands, having freed Arya? Jon was beginning to think about what he would do to anyone who dared to hurt her when he spotted the white tree on a black field, a black sword in the trunk. And not far from it, Gregor Forrester was sitting, a mug of ale in his hand.
Jon hesitated, but he thought that to fear the fury of the Lord of Ironrath was no good reason to stay away. If Lord Gregor was angry at him, it would be for good reasons and Jon shouldn't fear the consequences of his actions. He approached and Mira's father noticed his presence.
"I see I'm not the only one who's unable to sleep," he told Jon.
"Aye. You're not alone in that."
He invited Jon to sit. "I can serve you some ale if you want."
"Thanks, but I'm not sure it would help for the battle."
"You would be surprised. Many men drink themselves to death before battle. That's how they manage to face it. Fear lowers after a good drink."
"Everything's better with some wine in the belly."
Something an old friend once told him. Jon watched the Lord of Ironrath staring at the fire. He hid it well, just like Jon's father would have, but he knew Gregor Forrester was afraid for his son Rodrik. He felt responsible for his disappearance. People saw him being dragged away by Stannis' men. It was because of Jon's second charge on the enemy lines. Rodrik Forrester was captured at this moment. Had he not ordered the attack, Mira's brother would still be with them. What would she think of him right now?
"Wisdom of drinker," the Lord of Ironrath commented, emptying his mug and putting it roughly next to him.
"Tell me, Jon. How did you feel back when your two brothers were alive, prisoners of the Ironborn?"
"Powerless. My only wish was to ride back to Winterfell and free them."
"But you didn't?"
"No. Because I could not. I couldn't abandon my brother, the army… or my king."
"And now my son is prisoner of this said king."
"I'm sure nothing will happen to him. He's too valuable alive. Stannis is not the Greyjoys."
But then again, Jon and Robb never expected Theon to murder their brothers. He didn't say it aloud. He was fearing the worst for Rodrik. His father sighed heavily.
"No, indeed. I have known Stannis in the past and he wouldn't execute valuable prisoners. If Tyrion Lannister didn't kill your sister, I don't expect my son to die. I just regret he didn't stay at Ironrath, more now than ever. I told him to stay behind, to rule my lands as I rode to war, but he wouldn't listen. He wanted to fight. There was no way I could have forced him to stay home, even if I had wanted."
"I thought you wanted him to remain at Ironrath."
"Yes, I did. But I wanted him to take that decision by himself. I didn't want to force it upon him. A good lord must take his own decisions, not wait for someone else to take them in his stead."
"My father used to say something similar."
"He was a good man, Jon. If only for him this war was worth it."
"Do you think it still is?"
"What do you mean?"
"Joffrey and his parents are dead. My father is avenged. Sometimes I wonder what's the point of fighting the Lannisters."
"Protecting the kingdom of the North, my boy. The people who killed Ned Stark may be dead, but now we must defend the North. Anyway, I doubt the Lannisters would make peace with us so easily. Remember they still have your sister."
"Aye."
They started a war to avenge Jon's father, and now they ended fighting for their freedom and independence. How did it come to that?
"You're never worried about Mira?" he asked. Lord Gregor's face turned a little darker.
"Yes, I do worry. But… at the same time, I tell myself that it might be good to have someone on the other side, just in case this war doesn't turn the way we want. Look at how things went wild quickly. Two days ago, we were preparing an invasion of the western lands and now we're fighting the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Mira believes she is safe by Lady Margaery's side. She knows better than I do. What I fear the most is that she claims to be safe because she wants to protect her family."
"You think she's not safe?" Jon felt cold all of a sudden.
"I just hope she is. You know, physically Mira takes more after me than after her mother. She definitely has the Forrester look, and my blood as well. But she was raised by her mother with the idea to become a southern lady. She's stubborn. She won't walk away from it. And I fear she will try to use her position to help us, and that only makes me even more worried. She could put herself in danger for her family, and she already did. I'm afraid, Jon, yes. I am."
They remained silent. Jon thought about the girl he met in the godswood of Winterfell, who he travelled and spent time with at Casterly Rock, who took huge risks to bring back Arya to their family. Somehow, he felt less nervous about his sister, especially now that Joffrey was dead. Sansa was innocent, no threat at all, possibly more an honored guess than anything else now. Tyrion Lannister had brought her with him when he abandoned King's Landing. Probably she was more an honored guest than anything else now and risked few. Mira, however… Jon didn't expect he would think it one day, but Mira was getting herself into trouble as much as Arya did. Not in the same way, but both got themselves into trouble. Only Mira was playing to much more dangerous games than Arya.
A horn sounded. Dawn had come. The camp was stirring up.
"It seems it is time, Jon. We'll see each other on the battlefield."
"Good luck, my lord."
"Winter is coming."
"Iron from Ice."
Lord Forrester nodded as a sign that he appreciated the fact Jon said his family words. Jon had already donned his armor, so he was ready for battle. He went to see Robb and the other generals and prepared all together the final details of the coming battle.
Not long after, Jon found himself on the battlefield, among the cavalry again, though not leading it this time. Lord Glover had been given command. Instead of commanding the complete wing, Jon was only at the head of a squadron. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised after the catastrophe of yesterday, but still he felt ashamed and frustrated.
Robb's plan was simple, in some way. They had to defeat Stannis now. Their scouts revealed the king had reinforcements coming from around the Crownlands, which could explain his willingness to wait. Robb couldn't count on any reinforcement, and both he and Jon knew the loyalty of the riverlords and even some Northerners was not guaranteed. They were in a precarious situation. Although Stannis couldn't wait forever, he could wait much longer than Robb. So they needed a victory, and a victory now.
In front of the enemy lines, a pile of wood trunks were piled, with a stake planted upon them. A few men stood next to it, including a figure wearing red robes. She was probably the red priestess who stared at Jon during the parley. More men came, holding another who seemed to struggle to get free. When they tied him to the stake, Jon recognized him, and he understood right away what they were doing.
"NO!"
He never heard Gregor Forrester scream before. He rode passed Jon and went to Lord Glover.
"Galbart, we've got to do something. We cannot let them do that."
"The king told me to not attack before he gave the signal," replied the lord.
"Galbart, he's my son!"
Right when he said that, the horn sounded.
The Lord of Deepwood Motte looked confused for an instant, then he drew his sword.
"Attack!"
The cavalry charged. As Jon hurried his mount forward, followed by Ghost, he thought that this time they did not do it to fight Stannis. They did it to save an innocent man.
Please review
Next chapter : Davos
