Jon
Becoming a lord was a surprise. Becoming a King was overwhelming. Jon wasn't looking to be one and neither did he really want it. But if he truly was going to lead his people and the Free Folk against the dead then he had to do what's best for his people and if being the King in the North was the answer then so be it.
He didn't want a crown made for himself. He didn't think it really mattered and didn't care for one. The only thing he did have made was a gorget with two of the direwolf sigil facing inwards on the front. To him, that was his crown.
At the Lord's Table, Jon stood in the center with Sansa at his right. Even though Rickon had the means to be out of his room now, he needed to resume his studies as much as he could. He barely even started them before everything went to seven hells for their family. Sansa had instructed Maester Wolkan to spend many hours teaching Rickon to read. Once he could grasp the basics properly, he would begin to practice writing.
Jon noticed that Ghost had practically abandoned him for Rickon. He could feel that Ghost knew about the fate of his brother. Since Shaggydog was gone, he needed to be the one to keep Rickon safe whenever Jon wasn't around to.
Currently, Jon was addressing all of the Lords in the room. After being elected the King in the North, he had told all them about the White Walkers and the Army of the Dead. He spoke of every important detail he could of what he knew. What happened at the First, Hardhome, the Night King, and how Sam killed a White Walker with a dagger of Dragonglass and he killed one with Longclaw. Valyrian Steel was something to rare and too few to rely on. Even with the Houses of Vale supporting them, there were only about a dozen or more ancestral weapons of the steel. They needed to put their focus on a more resourceful material.
"I want every northern maester to scour their records for any mention of dragonglass. Dragonglass kills White Walkers, it's more valuable to us than gold. We to find it, we need to mine it, and we need to make weapons from it. Everyone, ages ten to sixty will drill daily with spears, pikes, bows and arrows." The War of the Five Kings had decimated more than half of the North's true military strength. The odds were terrible against the dead and to make them seem even possible of winning everyone who could fight would have to.
"It's about time we taught these boys of summer how to fight!" Lord Glover jested.
"Not just the boys." Jon said, almost nervous knowing what he was ordering to happen. "We can't defend the North if only half the population is fighting."
Lord Glover stood up at Jon as if trying to intimidate him. "You expect me to put a spear in my granddaughter's hand?"
Lady Mormont proved to be far more intimidating than Lord Glover tried to be. "I don't plan on knitting by the fire while men fight for me." Jon allowed his lips to curve into a faint smile this one time. "I might be small Lord Glover, and I might be a girl, but I'm as every bit as much a northerner as you."
"Indeed you are my lady, no one is questioning-"
"And I don't need your permission to defend the North!" She looked over at Jon as if she was tired of Lord Glover. "We'll begin training every man, woman, boy, and girl on Bear Island." The other lords banged their tables in agreement. Jon was grateful to have someone as loyal as her. She always impressed and knew that he wouldn't ask of something without a damn good reason.
Jon resumed speaking his plans "My dragons are still young, barely a year old but they have grown immensely. I think when the dead come, they might be large enough to ride." There were a few whispering to each other at how unbelievable it was to say that but at the same time the amazement. "But even enough numbers could overwhelm them. Aegon the Conqueror lost one of his against the Dornish. We could easily lose one against the dead. And worse, the Night King might even be able to bring it back under his control." There was some fear that spread, but it was only small. Jon had to let them know that he knew how they are going to prepare and be ready.
"While gathering our strength, we need to sure up our defenses. Now that the Dreadfort in under new lordship, we need men to garrison there to protect its people and support the Northern forces. I want fifty men stationed and training others by the next full moon." Jon looked over to Tormund. "The Free Folk will settle on the lands around and be taught how to fight like us."
"If it gets us further south of the Wall a better roof over our heads you won't hear us saying no," Tormund replied.
"Aye, gather the Free Folk who are still in the Gift and send them to the Dreadfort. But I also need you to gather a few hundred men and go to Eastwatch and Castle Black. I've received some reports from the Lord Commander than some of the Wildlings are attacking the Night's Watch believing it to be a trap. They need to see familiar faces they trust working with those they don't."
"Then that's where I'll go. Looks like we're the Night's Watch now." Jon thought that was amusing, but couldn't let himself laugh. He could tell many of the other lords didn't like the sound of that.
Jon waited for Tormund to sit down before resuming his announcements. "Thanks to efforts of the Daenerys Targaryen, for this first time in hundreds of years, there are enough men that three more of the castles along the Wall have been garrisoned once again and more men from Essos continue to come to the North." There was a bit of discontent amongst the lords when they heard that. Foreigners manning the Wall? It was unthinkable.
"Do you know how many men have come?" Lord Glover asked.
"I was told around two thousand so far."
"That's two thousand foreigners being stationed at our northern flank. When the Mad King's daughter arrives in Westeros, she'll have them ready and waiting to attack!"
"I was also told that only one out of ten arriving are made a ranger because only one out of ten can swing a sword and not fall over. The rest of them are either builders working to restore the castles or stewards providing support to the rangers and teaching many of those who do not speak the common tongue how to speak it. They are also working on a larger fleet to ferry more supplies to the Wall from Essos, which is relieving some of the weight from the North regarding our own supplies."
"I'll trust you, your Grace, but I don't trust them." Lord Glover grumbled.
"You don't have to, you only need to hope that the Wall doesn't fall. But if it should, the first two castles in the army of the dead's path are the Last Hearth and Karhold."
Lord Royce had immediately stood up to voice his opinion, surprising to a few. "The Umbers and the Karstarks betrayed the North. Their castles should be torn down with not a stone left standing." Such a thing was not uncommon in the history of Westeros, but to Jon, it was always curious as to why anyone would have castle's torn down and lands salted. It was just a waste.
Sansa decided now was a better time than ever to get her word across. "The castles committed no crimes and we need every fortress we have for the war to come. We should give the Last Hearth and Karhold to new families. Loyal families that supported us against Ramsay."
Many of the lords agreed with her idea. It made sense after all. The last time a Karstark was given justice, their child retaliated against the North. The Umbers gave Rickon to Ramsay and betrayed their rightful lord. But it wasn't right.
"The Umbers and the Karstarks have fought beside the Starks for centuries." Jon objected. "They've kept faith for generation after generation-"
"And they broke faith when they aligned with the Boltons."
She was angry and had a great right to be. She had more hate for the Boltons than Jon did and the same went for those that allied with them. "I'm not gonna strip these families of their ancestral homes because of the crimes of a few reckless sons-"
"So there's no punishment for treason and no reward for loyalty?" The was a long silence that no one dared to break. Sansa seeking justice that was already delivered from it felt like.
"The lives of the lords who committed treason against us were forfeit when they declared for Ramsay. Smalljon Umber died on the field of battle. Harald Karstark has renounced his titles and given his life to the Night's Watch-"
"They fought against us for the family that butchered ours for the Lannisters. Give the castles to families who fought for us against the monster who shot an arrow into our brother." This earned many of the lords agreeing with her but there were some of them muttered to each other in disagreement.
Jon took a deep breath to keep himself calm about this. He agreed with her that the Houses that were loyal and joined them in battle deserved to be rewarded, but not at the expense of it robbing an innocent.
"When I was Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, I executed men who betrayed me. I executed men who refused to follow orders. My father always said 'the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword' and I have tried to live by those words. But I will not punish a son for his father's sins. And I will not take a family home away from a family who it has belonged to for centuries." Jon met his sister's gaze."That is my decision, and my decision is final."
Sansa was angry at him, that much was obvious from just one look at her.
"Ned Umber," Jon called out. A boy as young as Lady Mormont stepped forward from his seat. He was nervous and had the right to be. "Alys Karstark." Ned was joined by an older girl whose red hair was just as bright as Sansa's. Jon motioned them to step forward to the foot of the table and they did as commanded. Anyone looking at them could see they both were ashamed and scared as they walked forward. "For centuries our fathers fought side by side on the battlefield. I ask you to pledge your loyalty once again to House Stark, to serve as our bannermen, and to come to our aide whenever called upon." The shame and nervousness vanished with the words of confidence given to them. The two of them drew their swords and bent the knee to Jon, looking more determined to face him. "Stand." They did as they were ordered. "Yesterday's wars don't matter anymore. The North needs to band together, all the living North. Will you stand beside me, Ned and Alys, now and always?"
"Now and always," They said in unison. The support of the northern Lords was greater with Jon than it was with Sansa.
At the end of the meeting was the start of an argument between Jon and Sansa. The position of the North was one that was in such a delicate hold now and the only way to strengthen that hold was to strengthen the bonds with all the living North. They couldn't afford to make more enemies to add to the ones they already had.
They hadn't left things on a strong note, but it felt like they were going in circles. Sansa reminded Jon about the foolish choices of their family that sealed their fates with death and it was followed with a discussion about Cersei Lannister when the raven from King's Landing arrived.
There were so many problems that were starting to hold them from the important one coming for everyone in the entire country. It was so much to think about.
Sansa took to her own to take care of matters in the castle with Littlefinger taking to her company. He was always close to her presence, but more than a simple councilor would be.
Ser Davos had joined Jon on the balconies away from everyone else in hopes of no intrusion. "Heard Cersei wants you to bend the knee."
"Aye, so she can have her executioner take my head. We won't have to worry about her for now. The snows are setting in and a southern army can't march on us with hopes of victory."
"No, but they could weaken our already small forces and fuck us more than we already are. I'm not sure how many we'll number in just the North even with the elderly, women, and the children, but it won't be enough."
"We have the Vale on our side. The knights here number two thousand. Another six are on their way."
"Are numbers won't be enough. You know this but you need to hear it again so we can fix it."
"Fix it how? The Riverlands belong to House Frey while Sansa's Uncle is locked in a cell. There's no one else we can call on for help."
"No one that has ties with the North. But that can change. House Stark commands a great deal of respect now that it rules again, and so do you now that you're the King in the North. Some might take the chance to try and offer you a Queen."
Jon chuckled as he wished Ser Davos was joking at that. He didn't have time to find a wife, he needed to find allies and weapons. "There's no time for that. It'll just be a distraction."
"If that's what it takes to get the army we have to grow, then I think it's very well worth it."
Jon thought about it logically. Indeed, a marriage would seal him to another House that would now be sworn to him. "But who? Cersei controls almost every country south of the Neck now. I don't think anyone would want to risk allying with us at the risk of her wroth."
"Aye, maybe they won't, but then again maybe they will. If you wish it, I'll send out some ravens to some of the greater Houses with eligible daughters. Never hurts to try."
Jon had tried many things in the past that hurt greatly. Trying love led him to be shot full of arrows and broken-hearted and trying to do the right thing led to him getting killed. But he needed more soldiers. Many more. "Alright. And send one to the Citadel for Sam. See if he's found anything that can help."
Ser Davos nodded and left quickly while Jon looked for a way to take his mind off of the stress of all the many problems arising. He had found his way the Godswood with Rickon. He had a promise to keep now that his brother could get out of the castle.
"I'm so excited!" Rickon was as giddy as he used to be.
Jon wheeled him to the heart tree and positioned him next to it. "They're a bit scary up close, so keep that in mind." walked out to a clearing and looked up to where Ygris and Lyarras were flying. He called out them and they swiftly dove down from the sky.
The two dragons landing gently in the godswood, forming snow into the air with the flaps of their wings. Ygris immediately moved to be nuzzled by Jon. Lyarras was patient and waited her turn. They were both so warm against the feel of Jon's touch.
"Ygris, Lyarras," Jon spoke to them, "this is Rickon, my little brother." He pointed over to Rickon who was watching with absolute awe and wonder.
Lyarras made the first move approaching Rickon. She slowly moved to him and inspected as much as she could with he golden eyes. When she got close enough, she reached her head out and sniffed at him, starting at her legs and moving her way up his body.
Rickon was now face to face with Lyarras. Jon couldn't stop smiling at the sight of it all. His brother was still very young at heart and didn't have the caution of danger that men had.
Rickon reached his hand out, but Lyarras puffed smoke at him and returned to Jon. "Did I do something wrong?" Rickon asked as he became disappointed.
Lyarras retreated to her sister and the two of them returned into the skies.
"I'm not sure. I'm still trying to learn what I can about them. I only have a few books about dragons I'm studying everything I can." Jon returned to Rickon and patted his shoulder very lightly. "But give it some time and they'll let you touch them."
That put some joy back into Rickon. "Still, they're amazing to see so close. I've never imagined them to look like that. They're so different from the pictures I've seen. You should have them be your sigil?"
"My sigil?" Jon inquired.
"I made you a lord, didn't I? You should take your own sigil since you can't have the grey direwolf of House Stark. I think having the Night Dragons as it will be perfect. Them and Ghost."
Jon looked at his brother skeptically. "The Night Dragons?"
"They were born in the eyes of the Night's Watch, weren't they? They're the Night Dragons."
Jon thought that to be amusing, but it did have a certain ring to it. "Aye, they are."
