Conversations with the not so dead

Author's Notes: Glad so many people liked the Septa conversation. This is one isn't as long but I had it mind for a long time. As always don't forget to Review! :D

Rating: M; it's Game of Thrones, anything less is not Game of thrones :D

Summary: Companion piece to my other fic, the Raven's Plan. A series of conversations from minor characters perspectives.

Jory Cassel I

Jory knocked on the door of Lord Stark's solar and waited.

He was on edge...along with the rest of Winterfell. The entire night and the strangeness of it all was bewildering. The scene in the great hall was stupefying, he'd heard the screams and had come running, expecting to find a bloody murder.

He hadn't expected to to find Robb straddling Theon, beating him senseless and bloody. Jon Snow had arrived at the same time. Jon had promptly tackled Robb driving to the ground and off of Theon. They'd struggled for a moment before Robb had recognized Jon. Even then Robb had been red in the face and enraged. Jory had never since Robb like this before. Nor had he know Robb possessed such rage.

Things had descended into madness after that as Robb screamed out impossible things and roaring about Theon betraying them. He screamed more obscenities at Theon and tried to jump on the prone Theon again intending to finish what he had started.

That had finally shocked Jory out of his stupor. The look in Robb's eyes had scared him when he finally saw them. They left no doubt about how final Robb intended to finish things. Robb's eyes had become the eyes of a killer. The green boy he had known had disappeared and been replaced with someone who had killed before.

Jory had jumped forward, grabbing Robb from one side as Jon grabbed him from the other. Things descended into further chaos as people began to crowd around him. As the crowd gathered and watched, half of them had started cheering Robb on.

Jory shook his head trying to clear it, so much had happened in so little time, his head was spinning. He didn't even want to think about what his Uncle had tried to do or said afterwards.

Never mind the thing with Hodor!

Cutting into his revere came Lord Stark's voice, "Come!" he called out gruffly from behind the closed door of the solar.

Jory's mind turned back to present as he entered the Lord of Winterfell's solar. He found Lord Stark standing in the middle of his solar, with a frustrated and grim look on his face. Lady Catelyn stood with him and her expression wasn't any better...in fact it looked much worse. A myriad mix of emotions stained her face, most prominently; despair.

"Lord Stark, Lady Stark," he nodded respectfully at his liege Lord and Lady.

"Yes, Jory?" prompted Lord Stark.

"Ser Rodrick is questioning the people as commanded and Theon has been confined to his quarters. I've placed trustworthy guards at his door. No one can enter without your permission, especially Ser Rodrick." He paused a moment before adding gravely, "But the people are still very...unsettled."

Lord Stark nodded back grimly, he turned to Lady Catelyn, "We will finish this later. Go settle the people, they must know that we have a handle on this...this return."

Lady Catelyn nodded unhappily, she looked like she wanted to add something before decided against it. She left without a word.

Lord Stark watched her leave, his eyes lingering on the door for a moment before turning to Jory. He still had a grim expression on his face which softened after a moment.

Lord Stark came up to Jory and grasped his shoulder, "After all that has happened, it is good to see you again, Jory."

The turmoil in Jory's stomach continued, his uncle- after calming down, somewhat, had embraced him and said disturbing things to him that Jory hadn't wanted to believe. He'd said that Jory gone to King's Landing with Lord Stark and none of them had returned. He didn't know how Jory had died, but he did know how Lord Stark had been executed by the Queen's bastard, Joffrey...and wasn't that a whole other shock!

Jory hadn't wanted to believe him, but Lord Stark's comment lent much too much credence to his uncle's words.

Jory stumbled over his words, "Thank you, my lord," he managed to say. What else could he say?

Lord Stark smiled and squeezed his shoulder once more before moving away and taking seat behind his desk. The disturbed look had returned to Lord Stark's face. He sighed heavily, "This business is disturbing...much will change in the coming days," he stated grimly. "We were dead...and now we're not...Now we live again...it's unnatural."

The turmoil in his stomach turned into a cold feeling at Lord Stark's dark comment. His throat drying up as he asked, "How did we die?" Was that even a proper question to ask?

Lord Stark's head jerked up to look at him in surprise, "You don't remember?"

Jory shook his head, "No, my lord."

Lord Stark paused and pursed his lips, his expression darkening further, "Sit down Jory, "he commanded.

Jory sat as Lord Stark began his tale. With quick curt words, he explained how King Robert had came to name him Hand of the King. And all the betrayals that Lannisters had committed.

It was War.

War was coming...

The Queen's actions and Tywin Lannister's pride would broker nothing less. It was horrific combination and the Realm would bleed for it.

Lord Stark's face turned grimmer, as he gazed at Jory, "Martyn Cassel was a good man. You are your father's son. I never questioned your loyalty before...and now I never will..but I would rather that you didn't share your father's fate. There are too few Cassels in the North for my peace of mind."

Jory's back stiffened at his liege lord's words of praise, as he sat straighter in the chair. The turmoil he was feeling disbursed by the sense of pride that was overwhelming him now.

"...Jory, for my sake and yours, for the debt that House Stark owes your father for his sacrifice by my side, whatever happens in the days to come...do NOT cross swords with the Kingslayer." Lord Stark finished gravely with a hard beseeching look.

Jory frowned, the Kingslayer?

...Oh.

Killed by the Kingslayer...at Lord Stark's side? At least it wasn't a stupid death, he thought darkly as he sat and absorbed Lord Stark's words of warning. Jaime Lannister was among the greatest of swordsmen, it was no dishonor to fall before such an opponent, even if the man and the rest of his actions were dishonorable.

His father had fallen to Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword in the Morning. And he'd fallen to Jaime Lannister, the Lion of Lannister. It seemed being killed by renowned swordsmen had started to become something of a family tradition.

Sort of...

After a few moments of silence. Lord Stark rose, "See to the people Jory, calm them and assure them, we are in control. Then get some rest...I doubt the coming days will be restful."

Jory rose at the command and dismissal, "Yes, Lord Stark"

He left the solar quickly, thoughts of the Kingslayer coming unbidden to his mind and haunting him. The siege of Pyke came readily to mind and what he'd seen of the man then.

As he walked though the halls of Winterfell, he shook himself, shaking his head hard, coming to terms with all of Lord Stark's revelations.

Was it natural to know who would kill him?

Probably not...

Lord Stark's other words came back to him. Not enough Cassels, huh? Perhaps it's time to find a nice girl to settle down with as well?

With a silent prayer to the Old Gods, he moved forward with renewed vigor. He had duties to attend to. And a future to plan.

Author's Notes: Hope you all like this. Don't forget to Review! :D