Jon POV
Sat in the mess hall my tongue itching to ask if she knew anything about Lillian but apart of me didn't want to know. Pressing my lips together I gulped back that emotion shoving food into my mouth.
"Sorry about the food. It's not what we're known for" Ed apologises to my sister.
Sansa gave a small smile "That's all right. There are more important things" the sound of the door squeaking caused me to lift my head as a fellow brother of the night watch walked in.
"A letter for you, Lord Commander" he nodded
I stared at him "I'm not Lord Commander anymore" rolling my eye I took the parchment into my hand. The seal made me crack the letter open.
My jaw clenched as I Swallowed a piece of bread "to the traitor and bastard Jon Snow. You allowed thousand of wildlings past the wall. You have betrayed your own kind. You have betrayed the North. Winterfell is mine, bastard. Come and see. Your brother Rickon is in my dungeon"
I looked at Sansa, her eyes glistened with the same thing I felt fear he was the baby of the family "his direwolf's skin in on my floor. Come and see. I want my bride back. Send her to me, bastard, and I will not trouble you or your wildling lovers. Keep her from me and I ride north and slaughter every wildling man, woman and babe living under your protection. You will watch as I skin them living. You-"
I stopped at the words in front of me I no longer wanted to read "go on" Sansa commanded.
"It's just more of the same" I lied putting the letter away but Sansa wasn't believing my lie as she grabbed the letter and began reading it.
"You will watch as my soldiers take turns raping your sister. You will watch as my dogs your wild little brother. Then I will spoon your eyes from their sockets and let my dogs do the rest. Come and see. Ramsay Bolton, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North"
My blood boiled reading it beforehand was easier than hearing Sansa read it "Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North" I questioned.
"His father's dead. Ramsay killed him. And now he has Rickon"
I signed "We don't know that"
"Yes, we do" Sansa signed "and Jon he has Lillian" my eyes widen as I stared at her "she helped me escape, sacrificed herself so I can make it here"
"My sister?" Grant asked. Sansa raised an eyebrow "Lord Grant Falls"
"You're alive?" Sansa asked shocked
"Yes now my sister, Ramsay has her. They were best friends"
"He murdered Nadine" Sansa said her voice ruffled with pain.
Grant looked st Sansa only to turn to me, grant had already lost his daughter. His wife and two sons sat at camp south of the wall.
"How many men does he have in his army?" Tormund asked.
Sansa shrugged "I heard him say 5,000 once when he was talking about Stannis's attack"
I turned to both grant and Tormund "How many do you have?"
Tormund signed "That can march and fight? 2,000. The rest are children and old people"
Sansa eyes flared at me "You're the son of the last true Warden of the North. Northern families are loyal. They'll fight for you if you ask" he hand reached for mind.
"And I can come out of hiding" Grant nodded "we Falls have some sway"
"A monster has taken our home and our brother. We have to go back to Winterfell and save them both" I stared at Sansa "we have to save Lillian our sister and the love of your life Jon" I nodded my hand squeezing Sansa hand.
Grant stood "do you mind if um I go to my old keep" I nodded needing no other exchange. I understood the pain, My family death still with me everyday.
Lillian POV
My whole body felt numb, when I was brought back to Ramsay his eyes were glazed over I knew I was no longer protected from him.
Every inch of my body arched as I moved. The bruises I had received were large and my leg was possibly broken from the jump off winterfell. Pressing my body into the rock trying to fight back the ice cold air burning my skin and lungs.
Sound of a screeching door caught my attention looking up I could hear feet scattering. Frowning I stood my body not ready to take on anything.
"Here a gift from Ramsay" I caught the person been thrown into my arms. Turning him around I stared into those eyes.
"Rickon" I whispered.
"Lillian" he smiled his arm wrapping around me. I couldn't help the tears that fell I gripped onto him with all my life I though he was dead.
My body gave way as my knees slammed to the ground gritting my teeth together I gripped Rickon, he was no longer a little boy.
I don't know how long we cried and hugged, it was the first real emotion I have felt in a while and apart of me wanted to hold onto it just a tad bit longer.
"Shh I won't let anything happen to you ever" I whispered into his ear.
"Lillian?"
"Mmm"
"They killed Father, Mother, Robb, Robb wife and unborn child" he signed "Nadine" I didn't speak "when will this stop, what's the point of living in this horrible world?"
Pushing his curly hair out of his face "for the living that's why. Rickon I'm going to whisper something in your ear and you are going to keep it a secret do you understand?"
"Yeah"
"The north remembers" I whispered "and winter is coming" Rickon eyes glistened for a moment but he took a deep breath "now go to bed"
Rickon finally fell asleep in my arms. I wanted to tell him about the boys and my babies but I couldn't risk it I couldn't have Rickon tortured for information. As much as I love Rickon and would die for him my kids safety was the up most important thing in my books.
….
Jon POV
I never felt more intimidated as I stared at this young lady sitting in front of me her eyes glaring with pure dominance and strength.
"Lady Mormont" I smile nodding my head
"Welcome to Bear Island" lady Lyanna spoke but showed no emotion. Silence fell and I looked to Sansa to fix the awkward silence.
"I remember when you were born, my lady. You were named for my Aunt Lyanna. It was said she was a great beauty. I'm sure you will be, too" Sansa smiles
"I doubt it. My mother wasn't a great beauty or any other kind of beauty. She was a great warrior, though. She died fighting for your brother, Robb" lyanna was showing no wiggle room.
"I served under your uncle at Castle Black, Lady Lyanna. He was also a great warrior and an honorable man. I was his steward. In fact- -
Lyanna signed "I think we've had enough small talk. What are you here?"
Nodding "Stannis Baratheon garrisoned at Castle Black before he marched on Winterfell and was killed. He showed me the letter you wrote to him when he petitioned for men. It said- -
"I remember what it said. "Bear island knows no king but the king in the North whose name is Stark" lady Lyanna recalled
"Robb is gone, but House Stark is not. And it needs your support now more than ever. I've come with my sister to ask for House Mormont's allegiance" I asked exhaling my heart beating rapidly.
Lyanna leans towards her maester. They whisper to each other. LYANNA turns back to face Me "As far as I understand, you're a Snow and Lady Sansa is a Bolton. Or is she a Lannister? I've heard conflicting reports"
Sansa jaw clicked "I did what I had to do to survive, my lady. But I am a Stark. I will always be a Stark"
"If you say so. In any case, you don't just want my allegiance. You want my fighting men"
"Ramsay Bolton cannot be allowed to keep Winterfell, my lady. It is our duty to stop him. Even more so because he holds our brother Rickon Stark as prisoner. What you have to understand, my lady, is that- -
Lyanna signed "I understand that I'm responsible for Bear Island and all who live here. So why should I sacrifice one more Mormont life for someone else's war?"
Sansa and I fell silent. Davos steppes forward "if it please, my lady, I understand how you feel.
Lyanna raises an eyebrow at Davos "I don't know you, Ser…?"
"Davos, my lady, of House Seaworth" Davos lowered his head. Lyanna turns to her maester "you needn't ask your maester about my house. It's rather new" Lyanna settles back into her chair.
"All right, Ser Davos of House Seaworth. How is it you understand how I feel?"
"You never thought you'd find yourself in your position. Being responsible for so many lives at such a young age. I never thought I'd be in my position. I was a crabber's son, then I was a smuggler. And now I found myself addressing the lady of a great house in time of war. But I'm here because this isn't someone else's war. It's our war"
Lyanna sat up straighter, her face showing no signs of emotion "Go on, Ser Davos"
"Your uncle, Lord Commander Mormont, made that man his steward. He chose Jon to be his successor because he knew had the courage to do what was right, even if it meant giving his life. Because Jeor Mormont and Jon Snow both understood that the real war isn't between a few squabbling houses. It's between the living and the dead. And make no mistake, my lady, the dead are coming"
Lyanna turned to me "Is this true?" She asked me I nodded
"Your uncle fought them at the Fist of the First Men. I fought them at Hardhome. We both lost"
"As long as the Boltons hold Winterfell, the North is divided. And a divided North won't stand a chance against the Night King. You want to protect your people, my lady. I understand. But there's no hiding from this. We have to fight and we need to do it together"
Lyanna maester leans over to whisper to her but she holds her hand up waving him away "House Mormont has kept faith with House Stark for 1,000 years. We will not break faith today" her face cracked into a smile
"Thank you, my lady. How many fighting men can we expect?" I asked happily
" 62"
"62?" I questioned
"We are not a large house, but we're a proud one. And every man from Bear Island fights with the strength of 10 mainlanders" Lyanna spoked
"If they're half as ferocious as their lady, the Boltons are doomed" Davos nodded
We were lucky to have Davos he swayed Lyanna. Walking out of the hall I bumped into someone. Frowning I crouched down "I am so sorry little man" I smiled picking the young boy up.
He looked so much like someone I knew curly black hair, bright blue eyes. That smile reminded me of Lillian "Sorry" I nodded "what is your name son?"
"Derik don't bother them, I am so sorry" a blonde woman came out another child on her hip.
"Don't apologise are they yours" Davos asked
"Yes" she smiled her accent was not from the north "they look like there dad"
"Oh and where is he?" Davos smiled
"Fighting a war in the north" she signed
"A war?" I questioned
"The foresters and the whitehills"
I turned to Sansa news had come from the forresters about a upcoming battle "what is your name?" I asked these kids were very familiar
"Jaymie"
"Jaymie who?" I asked curiously.
"Falls" my eyes widen I know but fours Falls children and one of them is dead.
"Brent?" Sansa questioned
"Yes"
It was as if the whole world stopped "do you know who I am?" she nodded "are these children Brent's?"
"Yes"
"Is Brent safe" Sansa asked
"I hope so"
"Are you safe?" I asked
"When you take back winterfell and save Lillian I'll be safe. She's the greatest warrior I have ever meet. She saved my life"
"Sounds like Lillian" I smiled.
"Do you know?" She asked "do you know what they did to her?" My lips pressed together. I could only imagine the torture she had my head no, Jaymie nodded "Good you wouldn't want to, call for house forrester Asher and Rodrick live. Brent will fight this war over the white hill get to them before the white hill do" Jaymie begged "Asher has fighters"
"Ok" I nodded I could use Brent by my side it would boost Grant self esteem, that's for sure.
...
Sorry been MIA but here you go the next chapter is up won't be long now until they see each other ;)
Jeanette
