Storm of the North

Chapter 12

Q&A

Blaze1992: Yes. The oriental weapon's he'll most likely be using will be most prominent in Kingslanding, if force is deemed necessary. As for the companion… well, I wrote this chapter before I read you comment. Infer from that what you will.

Winterfell, 298 AC

-Dream start-

It is bleak as Naruto walked through Winterfell. Usually, his dreams weren't this clear, nor depressing looking. The ground is gray. The walls are gray. The sky is gray, all just a different shades. The castle is buzzling with people. They're grey. Naruto looks towards the training yard. Is this a dream? Or a memory? It's Benjen in the yard with him. Both of them are grey. They're training. The way young Naruto is holding his blade is almost…wrong. It's loose, too relaxed. He watches as Benjen tries to dash forward only to get slapped. The younger boy stumbles. Young Naruto indicates for him to get up. Suddenly shouts from the walls.

A rider approaches. It's Ned. His longtime friend looks so young here. Naruto, the older one looking on at the happenings, cannot hear what is said when Ned finally stops. But he knows, he remembers. Rickard is dead. Burned alive. Then something interesting. The younger Naruto is suddenly full of color, it's bleeding off him. The older Naruto hears a giant roar from the Godsood. He turns to look, leaving the memories/dreams to their planning to come for the war. If he'd paid them more mind, he'd have noticed they seemed to slow to a crawl.

The Godswood have their red leaves still. A giant murder of extraordinarily large crows moving in tandem like a pack of deadly fish consuming a greater prey. They dripped the grey from their feathers, spreading it to all they flew over. Amongst the murder is a great fox, even bigger than the direwolf mother Naruto had seen. It roared an unnatural roar. It bit at any crow not fast enough and tore into others with its claws. It was burnt orange red in color with furious red eyes. It had multiple tails, strong enough that it could use them as blunt weapons by simply swinging the crows aside. It was getting overwhelmed.

Yet this was Naruto's mind, so the first weapon he thought of suddenly appeared, stuck to the ground by his side. Dawn, the greatsword his father wielded. He didn't hesitate. The blade was grabbed and he dove into the murder. He sliced into the first bird he saw, and suddenly they all screeched at the same time, banking away from the great fox. The bird he killed emitted smoke as it vanished and now the birds were circling the beast and the warrior warily. The wounds the fox had received slowly sizzled and closed. It walked to Naruto's side and with every step, multitude of colors dripped from his paws and spread like wildfire across the ground.

The birds cawed angrily at the two, then reared up like a wave. Naruto and the fox were ready. They sliced and hacked. They beat and kicked. They killed the whole damn lot of them. They killed and slaughtered the birds. And more came, from the south, from the east, west and north. When most of them were gone and less than fifteen remained they flew higher, away from Naruto's and the fox's reach. They circled around a few times, then suddenly they started colliding with each other. But instead of dropping down, they combined, like blots of ink. The mass grew in size as the rest of the birds flew in.

Out formed a giant crow, even bigger than the fox. It had three eyes and it dripped the same grey. It opened its beak.

"Do you know you have done, boy" came out the voice. This was getting even more surreal than before. "Years of work. And now the board isn't mine to control. You-"

The crow was cut off as the fox lunged and bit into its throat and the crow started yelling in pain with a man's voice. The fox rent and tore. Until it finally got the wind pipe and the crow suddenly exploded into the same black smoke it formed from. Most of it seemed to vanish into thin air, but a small amount coalesced into a normal sized crow that as soon as it had wing, flew towards the North like it was running from the gates of hell. As the crow fled, color spread at its retreat and as it spread, it colored the world once more.

The fox cleaned itself. Then looked to Naruto, gazing at it from top to bottom. It walked towards one of the trees, laying down in front of it, simply gazing at the man.

"I don't suppose you're going to talk are you?" Naruto chuckled.

The fox tilted it's head slightly, then shook it in denial.

"I figured. Then what am I supposed to do now?" Naruto questioned while looking around.

"Now my boy, you wake up." Naruto only had the time to turn and see Rickard Stark standing by him with a smile as the ground gave way and the feeling of falling overcame his senses. That smile was the last thing of that dream he'd see as he snapped awake beside Lyanna, sitting upright with and exclamation of "Lord Rickard."

Naruto was sweating and he felt sore from where the crows had attacked him. No marks but the phantom feeling was still there. Only one thought went through him: 'What the hell was that?'

Ned had changed a bit. Not terribly. He was still silent looked severe. But he also now carried him with more confidence and energy. His shoulders didn't slouch and he didn't look like he was weighed down. He probably still felt the pressure of leading, but now he didn't show it. Robb was taking cues from his father. Tried to imitate the confidence he had. He had started to use the fur-lined jacket with Stark imagery that Sansa had made. He wore it proudly, as if presenting himself and challenging all others to claim he might be something other than Lord Stark, ruler of Winterfell, Warden of the North.

He had also joined the training yard again. He'd not truly ever been out of shape, and remembered how to swing a blade, but he was rusty. Theon Robb and even Jon sparred with him, but they still felt the gap between age and real battlefield experience against youth and energy. Starks were always bulky, especially Ned's older brother and their father. They were clearly First Men in blood. And Ned was going to slowly tone back towards what he was in the war. Robert was famous for his size and strength during his rebellion, but people forget, Ned trained with the man in his youth and was keeping up rather easily.

Right now, it was Naruto and Ned who clashed, they stopped for a moment.

"How did he take it?" Naruto spoke, while pushing against Ned.

"Not well, he's still sour. Even more so since Lyanna sent those invites" Ned spoke through gritted teeth as he pushed in return.

"Well, Robert can deal. It's happening since you've now taken you head out of the sand." Naruto said, disengaging and immediately ducking down to avoid a swing from Ned.

"I still don't know how you spoke me into letting you marry" Ned sighed as he blocked Naruto's blade and bullied the younger man with his bulk. "It's Cat that's giving me the headache. She seems to have taken this a slight to her person since, according to her, she wasn't consulted on proper the ways and traditions to get married. I've been married to her for fifteen years and still can't understand her. Is that normal? I don't think it's normal."

Naruto opened his mouth for a reply, but almost got a full headbutt from close range from Ned. It still made some contact to his nose, but there was no crack or visible bleeding, yet at least. Naruto immediately backed away from range.

"I think it's enough for today. You almost make my nose crooked and Lyanna deserves to have me look presentable as soon as the other lazy fuckers are here." Naruto said as he felt whether or not his nose still straight.

"Fine. Robb, come here! It's time for your lesson in tactics. More specifically, what to do in a closed area with a physically stronger opponent." Robb groaned as Ned got ready to trounce his son.

Before Naruto left he spoke to Ned in a lowered voice "No, I don't think it's normal. Maybe you should do what's written in that tome in the library. It's called "How to train a Southern lady, the Northern gentleman's edition". It's the one with instructions to Northern lords on how to have a southern bride get familiar with Northern traditions. Just, if you do, make sure the paddle it smooth wood. Nobody like splinters" Naruto kept his face blank as he turned and made a swift exit, leaving Ned there to think on his words. Before he could retort, Naruto was gone.

Ned grumbled under his breath and took it out on Robb. Father-son bonding at its best.

A wedding ceremony for the Seven lasts, in most people's opinion, too long. Pomp and ceremony are their bread and butter. Easier to get money when you've convinced everyone else that such a long process is necessary and takes a lot of compensation.

The Old God's didn't have that. More of "Who are? You want to get married? Okay, now you're married." Much simpler and efficient for all involved. Everyone has work to do. Or a feast to hurry to. Most likely the latter. Any who, most of the northern Lord's or their representatives had arrived about a week after the messages went out.

So, without further ado, Naruto had donned the traditional dark heavier-cloth made clothes of his people and pulled on a fur cloak over it and Lyanna had pulled on a beautiful white fur made dress. She almost looked like a wildling princess. They'd have two ceremonies. The Northern first, that Howland Reed would officiate and the eastern Yi-Ti ceremony that Jon would officiate as he was pretty much the only one who'd read the book telling how it is to proceed.

As the lords and the royalty gathered in the Godswoods, Naruto stood a bit off to the side before Howland and the lord officiating was almost laughing since he'd never seen Naruto nervous before. Jon was standing in the front of the crowd, ready to switch places with Howland.

A hush fell as Ned walked with Lyanna on his arm silently towards the weirwood.

"Who Comes before the Old Gods, this Night?" Howland spoke in a booming voice for all to hear.

"Lady Lyanna of House Stark comes here to be wed. A woman grown, trueborn, and noble, she comes to beg the blessings of the gods. Who comes to claim her? " Ned spoke in turn, his voice firm and loud.

"Ser Naruto of Clan Uzumaki. Who gives her?" Naruto said stepping forward.

"Lord Ned of House Stark, Warden of the North and her brother" Ned replied and Lyanna squeezed his arm.

"Lady Lyanna, do you take this man?" Howland asked.

Lyanna stepped forward, speaking in firm voice, holding her head high "I take this man."

Naruto held his hand out to Lyanna and helped her kneel before the tree and then kneeled alongside her. After a moment of prayer in silence they stood and Naruto wrapped his cloak around Lyanna. The cloak was adorned with the red Uzumaki swirls that were painted on the white wolves of the Starks.

"The gods have spoken and have given their blessing."

Howland raised his arm and indicated Jon to walk forward.

When he was standing in front of the crowd, Jon swallowed his anxiety. It would be his first time in a spotlight like this. He finally opened his mouth and spoke in a loud voice.

"What is the name of the one, coming here as follower of the Maiden-Made-of-Light?"

"Lyanna of House Stark" Lyanna answered.

"And what is the name of one, coming here to claim her like the Lion of Night?"

"Naruto of Clan Uzumaki" Naruto replied.

Jon reached into his cloak and pulled out a red ribbon. "This is the red string of fate. A bond which can never be broken. Lion of night, hold out your left hand" Naruto did as asked. Jon started to tie one end of the ribbon around Naruto's left pinky, as he did he spoke "With this string you vow to protect your mate and end your now shared enemies, while heeding the advice your mate provides"

Naruto replied "I do so"

Jon nodded and spoke to Lyanna "Maiden-Made-of-Light, hold out your right hand" Lyanna followed the instructions and Jon started tying the free end of the ribbon on Lyanna's right pinky he again spoke "With this string you vow to temper your mates wroth and cherish all that comes with that which you two shall create"

Lyanna replied in turn "I do so"

"You've now been bound in fate. Your fates are entwined together, forever shall the two of you walk, side by side, hand in hand." Jon said as Naruto and Lyanna came together in a kiss.

Ned stepped forward "Let us welcome Ser Naruto of Clan Uzumaki and Lady Lyanna Stark of Clan Uzumaki!"

A roar tore through the crowd as they welcomed their old friends, now newly minted. Even Robert participated in the roar, even he did still look pissy. The crowd started to move as one to the hall. There was feasting to be done.

Multiple times in his life had Naruto never wanted to move. Right now, the excuse 'She's my wife, I'll sleep with her as long as I want to' sounded pretty great.

It was the morning after the wedding. They had drank, sang and danced. And Naruto and Lyanna had retired early for the bedding ceremony. The men of the North knew not to try anything too traditional like tearing off clothes from Lyanna, They all liked their extremities where they were. Naruto hadn't been so lucky. All that survived of his traditional clothes were his pants from the assault from the women.

So they lay here breathing easily. Enjoying eachother's warmth. Slowly the hunger set in for both now lying awake.

"Breakfast in bed?" Naruto murmured.

"Yes, please" Lyanna murmured back. Yep, life was good. Naruto got out of bed against Lyanna's protests and got them food. Milk and water, porridge and smoked fish. They put the food on a nearby table they dragged next to the bed and casually snacked on them and fed eachother. They had laid in bed almost until midday. Right now, they were lounging with Naruto on his stomach looking out the window with Lyanna laying on his back, playing with his hair and looking out the window with him. Someone knocked on the door.

"Are you decent?" Jon spoke through the door.

"Define decent" Naruto replied with a grin. And in Naruto's book they were decent, Lyanna had a shirt on and Naruto had pants on.

Jon stepped through and closed the door "I expected worse" and moved to sit on one of the chairs.

"So..." Jon began, not sure where to go with this.

Naruto just grinned "You may call me father or great and powerful father from now on if you want to."

Jon was silent for a moment, then deadpanned "Fuck off"

Lyanna rolled her eyes and spoke sarcastically "Don't worry, sometimes I call him daddy"

Jon gaped at his mother who chuckled and mouthed 'kidding' at her son. Naruto just exclaimed "She does, she really does. In a perverse way it's pretty sexy." Lyanna smacked the back of Naruto's head in admonishment and he laughed lightly.

Jon seemed mollified for the moment. Then spoke "So, what names have you thought off?"

Naruto for his part hummed "Himawari is cute if it's a girl and you mother allows me to name her. For boy we were thinking Arthur or Rickard."

Lyanna scratched Naruto's head in a teasing way as she spoke "Lyarra and Kushina are also good in my mind."

Jon was silent in thought the opened his mouth again "Ygritte wants to come with me to the Wall when the time comes."

Naruto looked to Jon "And you're not sure if you want to take her? Whether they might do something to her at the Wall or she might go back beyond it?"

Jon just nodded silently. Naruto picked up a pillow and threw it at Jon, getting a *Thump* as it landed on his head "Talk to her idiot. You'll go old and grey with 'maybe's' and 'might's'. You'll only know what you should do when you're truly informed. Now go, I wish to mount your mother like the she-wolf she is and don't want to do it with you in the room" Naruto's head got slapped again.

"You know I'm not going to go if that's what you want to do" Jon tossed the pillow back on the bed. "I might just stay here for good."

Lyanna smiled wryly "Go on Jon. He'll do no such thing. He's worried for the baby's safety and just wants you to get off your arse by being crass about it. Go."

Jon nodded and was off to find Ygritte.

Silence reigned in the room for a moment until Naruto broke it "Daddy, huh?"

The slap that followed echoed in the hallway, followed by Naruto's laughter.

To be continued…

Next update, next weekend. Reviews always appreciated!