Wolfswood…

Jon was on the run after fleeing Winterfell with the bags containing the crown and the broken sword. He was on foot right now, and he was sure that he would not be able to make too many miles without a horse, but the hearing of shouts of men, galloping of a horse, and the barking of the hounds in the far distance, made him wary from stopping.

He keeps running and running for only the Old Gods Know how much until suddenly his way was cut out when men on horseback appeared out of a bush. Jon fell to the ground to avoid them but immediately got up, throwing the sack on the floor and drawing out the sword.

One of the soldiers charged at him with his sword drawn, but Jon managed to avoid him and refocused in time to face the other men who charged at him too. This time the result was different, and he managed to wound him on the side, but at the same time lose the sword.

At that moment, the third soldier knocked him down, and as Jon was lying on the ground, the soldier said

"Surrender bastard, there is no way out for you."

"You…" (cough) "…You won't…." (cough and swallow) "…You won't take me back."

"You bastard!" the soldier cursed, hitting the horse with his heels and charging at him.

It was hours since he left Winterfell after the fight with the heir and the ward and the chasing through the woods. And now, as he was riding in the Wolfswood at a walking pace on his new horse, Shadow, that he had named, Jon sees a blood trail on the ground and starts to wonder what it could be. Getting down from his horse, and with the hand on the hilt of the sword, Jon took a step closer, and he could spot the body of a beast. But once he was a few steps away, he finally recognized what it was. It was the carcass of a wolf, but not a normal wolf. It was a direwolf. An ancient beast.

He wondered what they were doing so down south since Direwolves are not known to be seen south of the wall. As he was examining the dead body of the beast, Jon noticed that there was a horn stuck in it.

The mother wolf must have been involved in a fight for its life with a stag, who was dead as well a few steps from the direwolf.

Besides the stag's horn, Jon noticed that the belly was ripped, and from it, another trail of blood was leading down another path.

Tying his horse to one of the trees, Jon followed it, reaching his destination and saw the pups were dead too, and a sudden sadness overtook him.

It seems the Old Gods were cruel sometimes. direwolves had not been seen south of the Wall in two hundred years, but when it happened, they took her away.

Jon wanted to bury them, but now there was no time the enemy was on his heels. However, when he started to head back to the horse, Jon heard a whimper from behind a tree, and looking in the direction, he saw something small moving. Approaching, Jon realized it was a surviving direwolf. A white pup.

He bent down and picked it up, saying, "How are you doing, little fella? You lost ya, mother. I am trying to find my mother. I guess we both are alike after all." Caressing the soft fur of the pup, who titled up his head and wanted to lick him. Jon chuckled, adding, "Well, because of the great affection you are showing me, I would say you can stay with me. However, I need to find you a name, a proper name. Considering you are white like the North's snow and quiet like the ghost of a haunted fortress, I shall call you Ghost. How do you feel about that, eh?" asked Jon, caressing him under the chin, and the wolf just looked at him with his blood-red eyes, accepting the name. With Ghost in the arms, Jon hurried back to Shadow and rode fast to White harbor.

Dusk was coming, but every hour was essential for the journey. However, Jon doubts that they would suspect that he made it so far. He only hoped that he could book passage to Starfall and finally leave this forsaken place. He thought he would be a Stark, but again he was wrong.

Winterfell…

Ned had just returned from another expedition searching for his son, through the near lands around Winterfell, when he was informed that his wife was waiting for him in his solar, for sure wanting to speak with him regarding Jon. He still couldn't understand what happened between him, Robb, and Theon, but according to his son Robb, Jon attacked them both because he wanted to give them a lesson and, above all, to show Winterfell that he was better than them.

When he got there, he saw her standing at the window, overlooking the courtyard, with the hands in the sleeves and her fur cloak on, although inside her, it was quite warm. Closing the door, Ned asked, "What's going on? is Robb all right?"

"Is Robb all right," she said mockingly, turning at him. "Are you asking if your son is all right? Tell me, Lord Stark, when you went looking for your bastard these days, did you think about Robb's health?"

"Cat-"

"A broken arm, a face full of bruise caused by his punches, and above all, a humiliation in front of Winterfell," Catelyn said, raising her voice, approaching him quickly. "And who is the one to blame for this? Your bastard," she added with venom. "How many times I told you that bastards are evil. Treacherous and will always want what isn't theirs by right and law."

Ned wanted to laugh in her face right now and reveal the great truth that he had been hiding since the days of rebellion, but he knew that it was not wise to do so because that truth would have given her, even more fear and perhaps do unimaginable things.

"Why did you go in his search, Lord Stark?" she asked with coldness, crossing her arms in an unlady way. "Was it to bring him back to answer for his deeds before the Seven or to listen to his lies in the hope that it is the truth?"

Ned didn't reply, sighing, and untying his cloak, heading towards the table that was there, but she grabbed him by the arms, made him turn, screaming, "Answer me?!"

"Both. Because I think it was just a petty squabble between brothers. Nothing that one of his age should be held about," replied Ned, trying to be convincing even though, deep down, he didn't know what it was because besides his second son, in the same state was his ward too.

"A petty squabble?" she asked very dangerously, just a few inches away from his face, that he could even feel her hot breath on him. "A Petty squabble?! Your son lies in bed badly wounded, and you're saying it was a petty squabble." Turning, she started to move towards the door, saying, "Since I see that you do not have the courage to bring justice to those who deserve it, it is good that I took matters into my own hands."

At hearing that, Ned immediately rushed towards her, stopping her from leaving the solar. "What have you done, Catelyn?"

"What was needed," she replied with a snarl of disgust, shrugging his hand away and leaving the solar in a hurry.

Ned sighed, pondering what to do and thinking about what she has possibly done. There was only one thing he could do now to prevent the inevitable. And he left the solar in search of Maester Luwin.

She was sitting on the trunk of the Weirwood tree, hugging her knees to the chest, because of the little cool air that could be felt in the Godswood, as the wind was making her loosened hair wave in the air, thinking back to all these years when she was worried about the opinions of those around her regarding the relationship that she might have had with Jon, her bastard brother.

Everyone was looking down on him, from the highborn to the low born, and whispering and laughing behind their back about the stain that was on Eddard Stark's honor.

But now, Arya did not want to think about them. No, she was here, in the place where the Old Gods of her father could be heard, to pray for him. To pray for the brother that she never considered as such. She never expected to miss him so much now that he runs away, and she knew that she should feel angry at him for what he did to Robb. But couldn't.

She blamed herself too for this turn of events. If she hadn't let her mother influence her opinion regarding Jon's status and that he was evil, maybe the hatred between her older brothers wouldn't have festered, and Robb wouldn't be lying in bed badly wounded. If she and Jon had been closer, she could have stopped him from doing such a massive eruption and challenging Robb. And especially Jon would have still been here.

"Is everything all right, little wolf?" Arya heard a voice come through the wind and glanced up, and she saw her father approach.

She didn't reply, as her father sat next to her on the trunk, keep hugging her knees. Still, when she felt his hand on her back, caressing her, she broke into tears and throwing herself at her father, wrapping her arms around his torso and crying loudly, knowing that the only one to witness this were the Old Gods.

"It's my fault that he did! If I loved him as a sister, if I accepted him, he would have never done this!"

"Shhh…." her father tried to reassure her, saying words to comfort her and make her stop crying, but they were not enough. She kept crying and clutching at her father.

A few days later…

Wolfwoods…

After a long ride, Jon was finally reaching White Harbor. He was tired, hungry, but above all, eager to leave this cold place as well as the cruel people who live in it.

Suddenly he hears the galloping of a horse on the main road, and he was sure that they were his father's men who were searching for him. There was no way to outrun them with Ghost in his arms. He may fall during the ride if he tries. No. The only way to escape them was by hiding behind the trees or a big bush.

"You!

"Stay where you are in the name of the Warden of the North!" shouted one of the soldiers from the horse."

"Fuck!" muttered Jon. He stalled too much, and now they saw him. Getting down from the horse, Jon put Ghost behind a tree and drew out the sword, ready to fight the enemy.

With sword in hand, the Stark soldier charged at him, but Jon managed to avoid the horse, wounding him on the legs, therefore, making the enemy fall to the ground. Still, at the same time, the other attacked too, and Jon started to run through the trees to escape them, and now and then attacked the soldiers.

It was a thought fight, a chase through the woods which made him, but in the end, he managed to defeat them. Approaching one of the dying soldiers and pointing the sword at his throat, Jon asked, "It was my father the one to send you, soldier?"

"Fuck you, bastard!" the man said, spitting at him with a mouth full of blood, and Jon gives him the fatal blow.

After having cleaned the sword, he returned to Ghost and, once settled on, and Shadow rode towards the white city.

White Harbour…

Jon stood on the hill watching the white city for a moment, while the cold breezes of the Bite tea caressed his face.

White harbour was a beautiful city. One of the few largest cities in all of Westeros was the most important port in the North. He never saw it in his life since Lady Stark thought it would be a disgrace to bring a bastard to visit the seat of one of the most important Houses of the North.

That southern bitch. She was jealous of him and was afraid that he would win the love and support of the Manderly. He never wanted the damn seat of Winterfell. Just loving life and the respect of his father and make him proud. But now? Now that was in the past, and one day, she will sow the highest that a bastard like him will reach. But first, there was something else that he would need to do. From here, he will sail to Dorne, where Starfall is located according to his knowledge of Westeros.

However, the problem was not to find a ship to sail there but to get inside the city, because for sure by now his father informed everyone of what he did to that cunt of his brother, and they will try to stop him.

Looking down in his lap, Jon saw that Ghost was still asleep and smiled to himself before caressing his fur for a moment. The little direwolf purred, and Jon hitting the horse with the heels, started to approach it.

From a distance, he could see caravans and people coming in and out of the city and soldiers at the gates. This was making him very worried. He can't defeat all of them by himself. He needs to find a way in without being recognized.

Jon approached a few more steps before getting down and starting to walk towards the main gates holding the horse by the reins, while Ghost at his left side.

The main gates were massive as he could see but well protected. On the sides, some guards were checking all wagons, it seems, and the riders seem to be held at the entrance.

"Fuck!" he muttered. His father must have sent word to stop him from sailing.

With a bowed head and looking down, Jon tried to be as natural as possible and tried not to raise distrust.

But then he heard one of the soldiers say, "Stop there, Ser." And three more men were approaching him. Jon looked at them quickly, thinking of what he could do, but there was nothing. Even if he managed to kill those down, there were still the archers on the wall.

"Who are you, Ser, and what business brings you to White Harbour?"

"My name is Ser Arthur Sand, and my business is my own," replied Jon in a firm voice, trying to move forward, but the soldier stopped him.

"No. I don't think so, bastard," and hit him at the head, making him lose consciousness.

Jon was slowly waking up. His head was hurting like hell, and he could feel something cold wrapped around his wrist.

Opening his eyes slowly, Jon saw that he was in a dark cell, chained, and a man was sitting on a chair in front of him.

"Welcome back, Snow," said the man looking straight at him, as Jon tried to get up, but he had chains at the legs too.

"What have you done to me?"

"Nothing. The soldier brought you here because you looked like an untrustworthy person.

"And you arrest everyone who seems untrustworthy for you?" asked Jon, feeling his throat dry.

"Guards," the men said, and Jon saw another one enter in, with keys in hand, before freeing him.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"MY father wants to see you, Snow," the man replied, starting to get up with difficulty.

"How do you know who I am?"

"You may have grown up, Snow, and forgot me, but I remember you. I remember you clearly. The bastard of Winterfell who always stayed on the sidelines, to not overshadow the heir of Winterfell," the man replied, as they started to walk slowly up some stairs, with guards behind them and in front. "My name is Wylis Manderly."

"Where are my things and my horse?" asked Jon even though he was more worried for Ghost than all the other stuff.

"With my father. Just like your wolf."

"And your wolf. They are all with my father, the Lord of White Harbour," the men replied, very breathless at backing the stairs, and he could hear him curse them under his breath.

Entering the great hall of the Jon saw that the walls, floor, and ceiling were made of wooden planks cleverly indented and decorated with all the creatures of the sea.

The floor had painted crabs, clams, and starfish, half-hidden among the winding black leaves of the seaweed and the bones of drowned sailors. On the walls were pale sharks roaming the depths painted blue-green, while eels and octopuses crawled between the rocks and sunken ships. Herring flocks and large cod's swim among the tall arched windows. Higher up, near where the old fishing nets come down from the rafters, the sea's surface is depicted. On the right, a war galley rests quietly against the rising sun; on the left, a battered old gear runs before a storm, its sails are made of rags. Behind the daisy, a Kraken and a grey Leviathan are locked in battle under the painted waves. It was magnificent, nothing like the old and cold Winterfell.

Inside, Jon counted at least ten guards, and at the end of it, at a high table full of food, there was a fat older man. He had white hair and beard and blue eyes; while on him, he was wearing a velvet blue-green doublet embroidered with golden thread.

However, what caught his eyes wasn't the fat Lord sitting upon the throne, but the pretty lady sitting a few chairs from him, and that was feeding his friend. Ghost. She has long blond hairs braid in a braid and beautiful blue eyes. She was wearing a dark green dress, while at her neck, there was a raffinate necklace with different precious stones. She doesn't seem to have noticed him, too focused on playing with Ghost. 'Damn Traitor.'

"Welcome to the Merman's hall, Jon Snow," the Old man said, with a loud laugh, drawing his attention away from the lady.

"Why did you bring me here, Lord Manderly?"

"Straight to the point, just like your father. I like it," the man said, laughing again, before cleaning his mouth and saying. "A few days ago, I received a raven from Winterfell saying that the bastard attacked the heir of House Stark and the ward in the courtyard and commanding me to check everyone who enters."

Jon didn't reply, knowing perfectly that there was nothing else to say. His father told them not to let him sail, and that is what they are going to do.

"However, this morning, another raven came from Winterfell, saying that I need to let you sail south and even give you some supplies. Now I'm here wondering which of the ravens I should listen to."

"I think you should listen to them later, grandfather," came the thin and high voice of the lady, and at that moment, when he turned at her, their gaze met for a split moment before he turned his attention back to Lord Manderly.

"Yes, that is what I thought. Tonight, I insist that you spent it at the new Castle, and tomorrow I will make sure that you and your wolf and the horse will have a place in the ship heading south."

"Thank you, my lord," replied Jon with a bow of the head in gratitude, before turning towards the lady wanting to take Ghost, but hears the Lord say, "My dear Wylla. Why don't you accompany Lord Stark's son to his chambers."

"Gladly, grandfather," she replied, getting up with Ghost in arms and starting to walk. "Come, Ser."

As they were walking towards the room that may have been assigned to him, or maybe a trap, Jon glanced now and then at the young lady. She was very young, maybe one or two years younger than him, but very beautiful.

"Stop looking at me," she said, and Jon immediately drew his gaze away.

"I'm sorry, my lady."

"Don't think I'm a fool, Ser. I know what you young men think of the girls. You think they are easy prey that will fall for your charm only because of your deeds."

"No. I don't think you are easy prey. You are strong," he replied but stopping not wanting to say things that may offend her.

"And how can you say that?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Because right now, you are holding and cuddling a direwolf. And an ancient beast of these lands. One of the greatest predators of the old times."

"He is just a pup," she said, chuckling, bringing him up and kissing him on the head, but Jon didn't reply, just keep walking as Ghost gave her a lick, making her giggle. 'What a lucky bastard.'

They walked in silence for a few more moments till they reached the doors of his room. Stopping, the lady looking down for a moment said, "Guards will be here at your door, and later the Maester will come to see your head. However, I wanted to ask you if you could let the wolf with me tonight."

"Leave Ghost with you my, lady?" he asked, crossing the arms. "Why should I let him with you?"

"I swear to you that I won't harm him, ser. Just for tonight. He is the first wolf I saw."

Jon waited, though, for a moment; his belly will be full if he stayed with the lady, but he feared that spending too much time with her would make him attached to the girl. "I beg you, Ser."

And Jon nodded.

"Thank you. Tomorrow morning you will have him back. I promise," she replied, kissing him on the cheek as if it was nothing.

Jon was stunned and became red after that and heard her ask, "What is his name, again?"

"Ghost," stammered Jon, and the girl went away, whispering something to Ghost, and a soldier pointing with the trident said. "Inside."

Jon entered in, not wanting to challenge their patience, as he was unarmed right now, and moving towards the bed, he laid there, closing his eyes.

More and more, the day of reunion with his mother is getting close and closer. If everything goes good tomorrow and he will sail, only a few weeks will separate him from Starfall.