Honor & Fealty chapter 5
Jon looked on in silence as Robb spoke with Dacey. It did not surprise or upset him that she chose to speak with his highborn brother first. He was the heir to Winterfell, her future liege lord and Warden of the North. It was likely that Dacey chose to personally pledge her fealty and service to Robb before anyone else.
Some days, it mystified him that Dacey acknowledged him with the love that she did in spite of his origins. Jon thought the mark of bastardy would have made him as approachable as a leper but Dacey embraced him as if he were no different than Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon.
"Lyra has thought of you ever since your first visit to Bear Island with Robb all those years ago." Lyanna said, pulling Jon out of his own thoughts. "How is she?" Jon asked.
"She started swimming in the Bay of Ice. The waters there are very invigorating. Or so she says, at least. Lyra has often wondered when you will work up the nerve to go out there with her."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Arya asked while already thinking about joining Lyra in the Bay of Ice if she was allowed to be fostered on Bear Island.
"Only if you forget how to swim." Lyanna said. "I make no jape about it, Jon Snow. If you ever visit Bear Island again, Lyra will try to get you out there with her in the water."
"I do not have much opportunity for swimming in Winterfell." Jon said feebly. Lyanna did not press further but the smile she gave Jon said more than she ever could with words.
The truth he never spoke of was that he had an attraction to the middle sister of the Mormont girls.
Lyra Mormont did not have the maternal instincts like Alysane Mormont nor did she possess the martial skills equal to those of her mother, Lady Maege Mormont, or her eldest sister, Dacey Mormont. On the other hand, Lyra had a bit more maturity than Jorelle Mormont and Lyanna Mormont. When it came to flirting, Lyra did not shy away from being physical in her advances towards Jon, all of which she did not apologize for.
Robb and Grey Wind's return saved Jon from further risk of embarrassment.
"Jon, Dacey is waiting for you." Robb said.
Jon nodded and walked off to speak with Dacey Mormont by the heart tree. Ghost walked up alongside him.
Upon approaching Dacey, Jon sat down and faced her. Being in front of the heart tree, thus in the eyes of the Old Gods, Jon was compelled to speak openly.
"Thank you for standing up for me. Not many have ever done that for me."
"Jon, there is something in you that says you are meant to do great things. When I came to Winterfell to see you and Robb for the first time, you both were infants. She kept you apart but in my arms, I brought you together." Jon did not have to guess who she was referring to.
The sight of Dacey's face taking a grim expression unnerved Jon.
"One night, as I wandered the halls of Winterfell, I came across the bed chambers of Lord and Lady Stark. He planned to travel up to Castle Black so he could speak with my uncle. To this day, what was spoken between them is unknown and I never asked. What is known is that Lady Stark told him to either leave you on the Wall or to send you to my home on Bear Island."
The light left Jon's face as he heard this. "Why didn't you?"
Upon Dacey's inquisitive expression, Jon asked his question more directly. "Why didn't you take me with you to Bear Island? I would have served you, your mother and your sisters faithfully."
"I never saw you as a servant boy in our house, Jon. That has not changed. Besides, I did not want to give Lady Catelyn Stark the satisfaction of having used me and my house to separate you from your brothers and sisters. It would have broken Robb's heart to have you taken away from him."
For reasons he could not fathom, Jon made a confession to Dacey. "I have thought about going north to the Wall one day and taking the black. No one up there would care that I'm a bastard, I would be able to achieve glory and honor for myself."
Dacey felt a cold grip on her stomach when she heard Jon say that. "You have no idea what you are talking about, Jon. The Night's Watch has become a shadow of its former self and yet the cost of taking the black remains the same."
"Theon Greyjoy and Lady Stark have made it clear to me that I'm a bastard whenever they feel like I have forgotten what I am. What could I possibly hope to achieve in my life? I will never inherit lands or titles. No one will ever see me as anything else than the living evidence that the honorable Eddard Stark had forsaken his marriage vows for the company of another woman he never speaks of."
"From what I know of Eddard Stark, he does not strike me as the kind that would betray his wedding vows on the come hither glance of any woman. As for companionship, Alysane had seen you with Lyra on several occasions. She spoke to me about it." Dacey said with a soft tone. Jon bowed his head to keep from either blushing or appearing embarrassed. "Though she has flirted with you many times, Lyra genuinely cares for you. She might have punched you in the face for even thinking of taking the black by choice but it would be out of love."
Taking Jon's hands in hers and made sure he looked her in the eyes. "I have come here to help mold Robb into a man and the future lord he needs to be for House Stark and the North. I will do no less in helping you grow and become a man."
"You talk about molding Robb into a man in ways that many other loyal bannermen do not."
Upon seeing the expression on Dacey's face, Jon spoke further. "I will not ask what your feelings are for Robb but I can tell you love him."
Dacey wanted to protest and say that it was not that kind of love but remembered that they were under the watchful eyes of the heart tree. They could not lie for the Old Gods would know truth from deception without fail. Instead of speaking, which could betray what was in her heart, Dacey nodded. At that moment, the wind blew through the godswood and Dacey heard the Old Gods speak to her.
They knew her heart and what she hid in it.
The North would grow stronger than they ever were before while the South would wilt and fall away as chafe in the wind.
Rising up from the ground, Dacey Mormont and Jon Snow with Ghost walked back to the others and they all returned in time for Benjen Stark to greet them with Rickon on his shoulders.
While the Stark siblings and Jon Snow went to talk with Benjen, several servant girls led by Sansa Stark approached Dacey and Lyanna Mormont. "Lady Dacey, it's always a delight to receive the heir to Bear Island in Winterfell." Her voice was well practiced, polite and articulate. Dacey could tell right away that she was Catelyn's only chance of making a noblewoman out of her daughters. "It has done me good to see you, Lady Sansa. You have grown since the last time we saw one another. To what do I owe this greeting?"
"Your chambers are prepared and I hoped to escort you there myself if it pleases you."
"Of course. Lead the way." Dacey said as Lyanna followed her and Sansa.
As they walked together side by side, Sansa spoke first. "Arya acts very different with you than with me, Lady Dacey. Why is that so?"
"I would not say it is from a lack of love for you or your lady mother, Sansa." Dacey said directly. "I would venture to say that Arya takes more after House Stark than House Tully."
"I spoke with my mother before seeing you. You were rather direct with your opinions and how the women of House Mormont express them. I do not ask for your contrition. I do wish to know why you have such contempt for my mother, her family or indeed anyone who lives south of the Neck." Sansa spoke as she watched Lyanna stand up on a stool as she helped Dacey out of her armor.
"I am a Northerner. I have been since the day I was born. I keep to the Old Gods. Since I was a child of seven, long before you were born, I saw and heard what the South did to Northerners during Robert's Rebellion. Three Starks went to the South alive and came back dead. Ever since then, I have not had any love or respect for the South." Dacey asked. Lyanna did not speak but she listened to the conversation as she finished taking off the all the easy parts that covered her arms and legs. Because it was too big for her to take off, Lyanna only unfastened the breastplate so Dacey could remove it herself.
"Robb was born in Riverrun during the Rebellion before being brought to Winterfell. He favors our mother's coloring as do I. Does that make him less of a Northerner? He was in the South and he came to Winterfell alive." Sansa responded. "He keeps to the Old Gods to honor our father. With all of these things being said, do you love him less?"
Dacey felt bile build in her throat as she heard Sansa's argument. For the longest time, she thought Robb was born in Winterfell. She couldn't even look at Sansa until Lyanna held her hand in a show of support. "Lady Dacey, I know you love and care for Robb. I do not mean to speak ill to you but not all Southrons are like the Targaryens."
Looking at the parcels left on the bed by the handmaidens, Sansa changed the topic. "I had taken the liberty of finding some clothes for you to wear. I am aware that you do not care for Southron fashion so they have none of their affectations. If you would like, I can have the handmaidens draw you a bath. Perhaps it will grant you some peace from old wounds."
"Thank you, Lady Sansa. You are very kind." Dacey spoke first. "Were you born in Riverrun like Robb was?" Lyanna asked as Dacey stripped down to her smallclothes.
"No. I was born here in Winterfell." Sansa spoke quickly. She was not accustomed to watching other women disrobe around her and the sight of Dacey Mormont's ample bosom and muscle defined body was disarming. She didn't need to see explicit evidence that Dacey was a woman full grown or that her body bore such strength while retaining a feminine figure.
"Then you are of the North regardless of coloring. Do not let anyone tell you anything different." Lyanna said as Dacey shed her smallclothes and stepped into a robe.
"I will set the handmaidens to draw your math right away." Sansa said as she quickly made her leave.
Once the bath was drawn, Dacey washed up, allowing the water to rinse away the dirt, sweat and grime from a long travel before getting dressed. The apparel she chose to wear for supper was a black and forest green that showed off her physique and figure.
"Robb might forget all about the Golden Rose of Highgarden when he sees you in this dress, Dacey." Lyanna said with a smile.
Though it was meant to be a kind jape, there was something about those words that made it sound true to Dacey. A part of her really hoped that did happen.
A/n: Big thanks to Marah Lane for helping me in looking over several bits and pieces of this chapter to make sure there were no holes or inconsistencies. In the next chapter, decisions will be made, opinions will be voiced and another Mormont may be entered into the story. Thanks to jean d'arc, dovah-wolfbear and Marah Lane for their support and reviews. I greatly appreciate them.