Chapter eleven

Jon

Jon Snow knew he made a mistake coming to the wall after his first week. It was nothing like he had imagined as he lay in his heated room in Winterfell. He had imagined ranging beyond the wall, fighting wildings, and sharing ale and stories with his brothers. Instead, he was stuck doing meaningless training with Alister Thorne who hated him. He always took extra care to pick out Jon from all the recruits and demean him.

The only bright spot on the wall was Maester Aemon who had taken a shine to Jon and invited him often to his chambers at night. They discussed his life at Winterfell and Maester Aemon told stories of his exciting life. Jon had told the Maester about his doubts and Maester Aemon had told him of his own misgivings long ago when his family was in strife. But Maester Aemon had built a life here and so would Jon, he had made his choice and he had to stick to it. He had nowhere else to go.

Jon tried to keep his head down and do his duties admirably. He knew he would be a ranger soon enough and would have the adventures he had hoped, after all he was Lord Stark's son. A bastard yes but his son non the less. It was one moons turn after arriving when his nights with Maester Aemon came to an end after Uncle Benjen had visited him. Jon had asked both what had been said but both had remined tight lipped and then Uncle Benjen had gone off on a ranging. He had asked to go with him, but Uncle Benjen had refused.

Now today was the day in which he was to be sworn into the night's watch. Jon was sure he would be a ranger, after all he was the best fighter at castle black. He was almost bored as Alistair Thorne was going through the recruits to tell them where they would serve, of course he was leaving Jon until last, it was such a Thorne thing to do. Jon wasn't surprised when his friend Sam was sorted into the stewards, he wasn't a fighter and didn't have the stamina to be a builder.

"Jon Snow." Thorne paused and smirked before saying "Stewards."

Jon couldn't believe it. He was a fighter, no, he was the best fighter of the recruits and to put him in the stewards was ridiculous. He should be fighting the wildings and protecting the wall not shovelling shit and running messages. It was only a few beats before Jon couldn't take the stares from everyone and the smirk on Thorne's face and spun on his heel then stalked off with his face red.

It was a few hours later when Sam found him closeted away with the horses since he knew most people didn't spend much time there.

"Jon? Jon come on I know your in here." Sam said.

Jon just sulked. But Sam caught him by the arm anyway.

"Jon your being very stupid." Sam said. Jon couldn't believe it and went to reply, but Sam wouldn't let him.

"Maester Aemon took a special interest in you Jon, why do you think that was?" Sam said as if explained to a child which made Jon reluctant to answer. "They're prepping you to lead Jon. You'll be working under the Lord Commander; you'll be learning from him. Now you need to stop thinking your better than anybody here, you're a bastard Jon a highborn one but a bastard all the same. We are to be your brothers but if you are to lead nobody will follow somebody who they haven't fought with." With this Sam left Jon to think upon his words and eventually he got up and walked back to his chambers.

Jon Snow had accepted his fate. The Night's watch was all he had after all and even though he would have preferred to be a ranger it wasn't meant to be. He had sworn his vows in front of the heart tree on the other side of the wall and then taken up his duties helping Lord Commander Mormont. It was as he was settling in, trying not to brood as much, when he was called to Maester Aemon's chamber for the first time in a while.

"Maester Aemon? It's Jon Snow, you called for me." He called as he entered.

"Jon. Yes, yes come in. Take a seat." Aemon said.

"This is a surprise Maester." Jon said after a minute

"Well Jon, it was decided after we received some news from the south that I would be the one to talk to you as we have developed a friendship." Aemon said with a smile.

Jon's mind immediately began spinning with all the possibilities that would require him to be told. Robb's or Arya's death or even Bran having passed not recovering from his fall.

"Maester Aemon what's happened?" Jon asked panicked.

"Robert Baratheon has died." Jon was relieved but also confused.

"That's unfortunate but why does this affect me?" Jon said.

Maester Aemon hid a small smile but quickly straightened his face. "Your father has been arrested. He is accused of misleading the king and having your sister kill the Master of Coin. Your sisters are both on the run and along with Arya being accused of murder they are accused of kidnapping young Prince Tommen."

Jon was stunned. Arya accused of murder. Both her and Sansa alone trapsing across the kingdoms. This was not good; he knew the sisters didn't get along so there was a big chance they would separate and be alone. He had to go. He had to help them. His father would accept nothing else. Jon's mind went to his strong father locked up in a small dark cell. With this thought he stood with the idea to get on a horse and ride until it fell.

"Jon." Aemon's voice interrupted his panicked thoughts. "I know what you're thinking."

"How could you know what I'm thinking Maester. I mean no disrespect, but this is my family. They need me." Jon was incredulous.

"My family have needed me many times Jon Snow. It haunts me that they went through the trials that they did but what difference would one man make? I am a man of the watch, as are you. If you were to go you know the punishment and it would be your own father or brother who would be forced to be the ones to swing the sword. You want to help? Serve the watch. Protect them from the wildings Don't force them to end your life Jon Snow."

Jon didn't know what to do. His family was in danger but were they his family now? He had sworn to forsake them and make the wall his home. Ned Stark had taught Jon to put his honour above all and his honour demanded he stick by his vows.

Jon walked back to his new chambers under the Lord Commanders and lay awake late into the night. It was long after everyone else had retired when he heard a crash from above. Already awake Jon grabbed a sword leant against a wall and ran up the stairs two at a time expecting to see an assassin or a wildling, but it was something else entirely.

Earlier in the day yesterday they had found two black brothers who had accompanied Uncle Benjen on his ranging dead in the haunted forest. They had been brought in and lay in the Lord Commander's chambers before they can be burnt as is custom.

It was as Jon came to the doors; he saw something he would remember to the end of his days. The two black brothers who hours ago were cold, stiff and very much dead were upright and attempting to break down the door to Lord Commander Mormont's rooms. They must have sensed him as they turned as one and Jon noticed with a lump settling in his chest their eyes were the brightest blue he had ever observed. Jon readied his sword but to his astonishment as it entered the chest of the first attacker it did not stop them. It was like they couldn't feel it. Jon felt true fear for the first time.

He was pushing the brother attached to the sword backwards into his companion and it was pure luck that it was into the fireplace that was still lit into the grate. The furthest back man screeched like something Jon had never heard and it must have awoken the Lord Commander as he opened his door sword in hand.

"Swords don't work." Jon shouted to a befuddled Mormont. "They're dead."

"Jon, we need to get out." Mormont shouted with understanding.

"You go. I'll hold them back for you to get out." Jon said struggling to b heard over the screeching.

It was then that the man closest to Jon caught alight and his screams joined his companions, Jon doubled his efforts to push them back to let the leader of the nights watch to escape. The man behind broke off and it was then that Jon knew he was in trouble the room was full of flammable objects and just as he thought it the rug in front of the fireplace caught fire. Jon didn't think twice before throwing himself arms out onto the dead men and shouting "Go now!"

It seemed a age until they stopped fighting and Jon was surprised when he did not feel any pain from the flames that he could feel spreading around the room. He thought dying might hurt more. He could hear his brothers attempting to put the fire out using a human train and water. Once he was sure the dead men wouldn't rise again, he stood looking down at his miraculously unburnt body and walked towards the door in shock.

It was with shouts that he exited, and his eyes were glad to see Lord Commander Mormont unharmed. Jon saw Chet, Maester Aemon's apprentice whispering to him, and Maester Aemon's milky eyes lit up. It was the last thing Jon saw before his eye rolled up inside his head and he fell where he stood.