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It was a slightly surreal experience walking through the northern army's camp. The last time Jon had done so was right before the attack on King's Landing, when so much fell apart. There were also quite a few people Jon was unfamiliar with. He supposed they were people who had been killed at the Red Wedding last time. Well, they didn't have to worry about that now; he'd handled that a few days ago.
"Mother!" Robb called out to Lady Stark when he saw her. The lady of Winterfell ran to her son with great relief on her face, but stopped in her tracks when she saw who was with him. She glared at Jon, not noticing who was also with him.
"What is he doing here? Has he deserted the Watch?"
Robb was speechless for a moment. "Is THAT all you can think about?! LOOK WHO IS WITH US!"
Catelyn finally took notice of the people who were being carried in Jon's arms and holding onto his leg, respectively. Her eyes went wide, and she gaped.
"It... it can't be..."
"It is, Lady Stark" Jon said. "Your children still live."
Upon realizing her youngest sons were still alive, the lady of Winterfell ran towards them, knocking several northern lords flat on their asses as they tried to get a closer look in the process. She threw her arms around the lot of them, not caring if Jon was still present, and cried in joy.
"My babies! You're alright!"
Rickon looked up at her, slightly confused. "Mother? Is that you?"
Catelyn looked down at her youngest. "Yes Rickon. Its me."
Rickon finally let go of Jon's leg and let his mother pull him closer to her. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't recognize you at first."
Catelyn sobbed as she spoke. "You were still so young last time I saw you. It doesn't matter."
There was a crowd gathering around them now. Northern men and Riverlanders alike trying to see if it was true and the youngest princes of the North truly did still live. Jon lowered Bran into his mother's arms and looked around, his eyes quickly noticing a symbol that made the dragon in him roar with rage: a flayed man. That had to be Roose Bolton. Jon stood up and started to move towards the man he knew had betrayed his family already, when Robb grabbed his shoulder. "Jon, you haven't met someone yet."
Jon turned and saw a beautiful young woman, no older than him or Robb, approaching. She was clearly from Essos, by the looks of her. Her clothes were stained red from blood, almost exclusively around a pair of gloves she... Jon stopped as he realized who this must be.
"Jon, I'd like you to meet my..."
"Talisa" Jon interrupted. "Your queen."
Both Robb and Talisa were too stunned to try to say anything. Jon used the chance to bow slightly. "Your grace, I heard much about you. It is an honor to meet you."
"I... thank you" Talisa responded. "Its an honor to meet you to. Robb told me so much about you.
Jon was about to say something when someone behind him said his name. He turned and found Lady Stark. Before he could say anything to her, she had thrown her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek.
"My... hugging... we are HUGGING?"
Lady Stark was still crying. "Jon, Rickon told me you found him. You found him and Bran and brought them back to me. Thank you. Thank you so much!"
Even Bran looked surprised at his mother's actions. Catelyn's resentment towards her husband's bastard was legendary. For her to be showing any affection... no one was saying anything. They were too stunned to try to.
A short time later, Robb had gathered all of his family in the command tent of his camp. Chairs were all seated next to the largest of the tables he had and he ordered that they were not to be disturbed for anything except news about an imminent attack. "Jon" he began. "As I said before, I have so many..."
Jon interrupted. "Robb, I know what I said earlier. But before we get into answers, we have a very serious matter to discuss."
Robb was confused. Jon seemed to switch from joyous to serious so quickly.
"You have a traitor in your ranks, Robb."
Robb turned wide eyed towards Bran, who was next to Jon. "I... what? Who?"
"Well" Jon continued. "Its actually several. But there is one in particular: Roose Bolton."
Robb, Catelyn, Talisa and Edmure were all stunned. "Explain" Robb said.
"He is planning to kill you. He has conspired with Tywin and Walder Frey. They planned to massacre you and your army."
"HOW?!"
"The plan was to slaughter you under the protection of guest right at uncle's wedding to Roslin Frey" Bran said.
"Guest..." Catelyn stuttered. "Do you have any proof?"
"They do mother" Rickon spoke up from where he was sitting. "Jon got it when he killed House Frey."
"RICKON!" Jon spun so fast he upended his chair as he got up. "Does the phrase 'blabbermouth' mean anything to you?!"
"Well you did. You and Rhaegal wiped them out days ago."
"WHAAATTT?!" Robb and his entourage of relatives shouted. Jon turned back towards them looking uneasy.
"I... I didn't actually wipe them all out. Just the one who were planning the massacre."
"How did..."
"Robb, I'll answer that later." Jon reached into a bag he had with him. He pulled out a stack of letters that were addressed to Walder Frey. "Here is all you need to see."
A stunned Robb took the letters and read. As he did so, he looked angrier with each line. Finally, he shouted. "GUAAARDS!" A pair of northmen rushed in. "FIND LORD BOLTON AND BRING HIM HERE!"
The guards left to do their task. As Robb did his best to calm down, Edmure slipped his hand under Robb's arm and took on of the letters. Like Robb before him, he too got angrier the more he read.
Roose Bolton was brought into the tent. Upon seeing him, Robb stood and lunged for the traitor's neck. "YOU FILTHY TRAITOR!"
Roose struggled to speak. "Trai... tr... traitor, your grace?!"
"YOU SNAKE IN THE GRASS! YOU PLANNED TO KILL ME AND MY WIFE!" Robb looked ready to just choke his vassal.
"Robb" Jon spoke up. "As much as he may deserve what you are about to do, the rest of your army needs to know of this first."
Minutes later, Robb had gathered all his army at the entrance of his command tent.
"My lords, I have called you all here to inform you that we have been betrayed! Betrayed is the most vile way imaginable!"
Just like Robb and Edmure, the lords got much angrier the more their king read of Walder Frey's letters. The idea of breaking guest right was unheard of. Quite a few brawls broke out among Lord Bolton's men and the rest of those present. When some semblance of calm was restored later, the traitor was brought out to shouts of fury and calls for his head.
"Roose Bolton" Robb said. "Do you have anything to say?"
"I demand trial by combat with the one that accuses me!"
"I accept" Jon replied. "However, you all may wish to move away."
The lords were all confused at Jon's address to them, but they didn't get the chance to question him as a loud roar was heard. Turning to the sky, they shouted in fear as Rhaegal swooped down to land where quite a few of them had been standing. Jon walked over to his dragon.
"This is Rhaegal. My dragon will be my champion for this. Do you still wish for trial by combat?"
Once again, the northern host was too stunned to speak. In the confusion of learning the younger Starks were still alive, everyone had completely forgot about the dragon.
Once he realized what he was up against, Roose knew he had already lost. He hung his head and said nothing. Robb responded to this by forcing him to the ground. He drew his sword and raised it.
"As King in the North, I, Robb I of House Stark, sentence you to die.
A swing later, House Bolton was extinct.
