Chapter 3; King in the North;
Characters of the chapter
Brandon Stark, also known as the Three Eyed Raven, mage advisor to the court of King Jon
Jon Snow, also known as Aegon Targaryen and Jon Stark, King of the North Kingdom of the Twin Kingdoms
Sansa Stark, Lady of Winterfell and the Eyrie, Wardeness of the North
Kieran, Agent of the Inquisition, mage advisor to the court of King Jon
Wolkan, Maester assigned to Winterfell
In Winterfell life was continuing as usual for the time being, the people within unaware of what had happened at the Wall not long ago. In the courtyard a training session was in progress, the King in the North overseeing what were among the first lessons in swordfighting for his young son, as well as that of other noble children currently being fostered at Winterfell. Of course Winterfell had a master-at-arms who could have done so also, but Jon recognized his skills with the sword and wished to give his son the very best teaching, even in this. Their weapons were wooden and the children wore padding for safety's sake. Their lessons were currently very simple, the basic attacks and parries, as Jon's son had just recently turned seven.
Meanwhile Sansa was watching from the sidelines, thinking how she would have liked to have Arya to be there also, teaching these children her unique way of fighting. She found herself missing her, hoping she would not have gone and vanished at the end of the War. She also found herself wishing her own child could be out there training with all the rest. Alas, a suitable husband was still waiting to be found, one that would respect her and agree to let her keep the authority and responsibilities she had become accustomed to. One that would accept her terms of taking the Stark name, taking up residence in Winterfell and have any children born of the marriage named Stark as well. It was surprising how prickly many noblemen were about keeping their family name, telling her she was the one who should assume their family name and come with them to their castles, because that was the way it had always been done.
"Only Starks may ever hold Winterfell. No other house shall have that honor. The violation made by House Bolton will never be repeated." Had been her reply to every potential suitor that had told her as much. And although years had passed, marriage remained an unappealing prospect to her. Every time the thought occurred to her, her mind drifted back to previous marriages and the idea of marrying again withered and died in her mind.
"One day I must overcome those fears. The future of House Stark demands it." She reminded herself. She was fully aware that she was now more or less the last chance of house Stark. Jon was through the virtue of his father a Targaryen, even though his manner was every bit that of a northman and even though he frequently made use of the Stark name in ruling his kingdom. There had to be children who were born Stark from the beginning, otherwise the succession of the Lordship of Winterfell would become muddled and could be called into question by the nobility of the North. Arya would have been disinterested in marrying anyone even had she been home in the first place. With Bran on the other hand it had long since become clear that he had moved past thoughts such as marriage, even had his physical condition allowed heirs.
"But there is still time for that. I am still young, and will be for many years." She told herself. "Today is not the day I need to be so brave."
Pushing those concerns aside, her thoughts were drawn back to the children in the yard. "They grow up so fast don't they." she said to Bran with a smile on her lips, who was also there, sitting in his wheelchair.
"They do indeed." Bran replied absentmindedly, reading a book.
"You're not even watching." Sansa commented, a slight accusation in her voice.
"Yes I am." Bran said.
"No you're not" She insisted.
"Yes, I am." He said again.
"I can see your eyes glued to that book." She pointed out.
"One set of eyes at any rate." Said he.
"What?" Sansa said, puzzled. "Oh!" she then started slightly as she noticed a raven sitting atop the wall, looking a little too interested in the events of the yard. "Eight years and I still can't get used to this talent of yours." She said.
"I guess that makes two of us." He said.
"But… how are you in your own body and in the raven? I thought that was not possible when Warging." She asked.
"Typically that is true. This is Kieran's influence as it happens. Researching together we have found ways improve my abilities. Only currently works with ravens though, and only single creatures. But it works." He said.
Sansa glanced up to the battlements where Kieran was standing, looking out at the landscape, the wind ruffling the black feathers of his cloak. "You have learned much together haven't you?" She said.
"Much and more." Bran confirmed. "He has taught me of the magic of his people, and I have shared what I can of local traditions. Through him I have gained new insight what greenseeing and warging actually is."
"And you trust him with the knowledge you have? An outsider?" She asked.
"More than many other mages of Thedas I'll admit. He's not a greedy sort. He appreciates the knowledge of the past, wants to preserve it. Something he inherited from his mother."
"Is that something he told you or something you saw?" She asked.
"Both." He said. "Besides, he has shared his knowledge freely, should I not do likewise in return? It seems only fair. Our work is an exchange, to the benefit of both. Together we have walked the fade, learning of many things, more than either would have found on their own."
"I had thought that nothing was hidden from you." She commented.
"Nothing is, but when you see everything, some things may be lost in the background. It's like looking at a landscape. Unless I know what I'm looking for its hard to spot specific things." He explained.
"And so it helps to have another pair of eyes looking at the same things, spotting what you missed." Sansa said.
"Exactly." He said. Bran was difficult to read these days, but he almost seemed impressed.
"And what is it that you have seen together?" She asked, finding herself curious.
"Much of it would not mean anything to you, and other things you might not believe even if I told you."
"Try me. I want to hear it." She insisted.
For a moment Bran gathered his thoughts, considering how best to begin.
"I have witnessed the stories of the Hero of Ferelden, the Champion of Kirkwall, and the Inquisitor. I had had brief glimpses of Thedas before they ever found us, but before Kieran I could never put what I saw into context. Now I can. Since the Thedosians made contact with us, especially after Kieran came into our service, I have seen even more, things drawn directly from the Fade, beyond what the network of weirwood trees can show. More of the past of our lands, and more of the myriad stories that Thedas has to tell. There are even glimpses of what I think are of Andraste and her story."
Sansa nodded, considering these things Bran claimed to have seen. On one hand such vast knowledge was frightening, on one hand deeply intriguing. It had been so when he had first displayed such talents years ago, and it continued to be so now.
"Of course that is ultimately only the tip of a mountain." He continued. "There is much more to see. There are even glimpses of other worlds in the farthest reaches of the fade, places that are not tied to the fade like our world, but that nonetheless sometimes echo in that realm of dreams. I have seen double suns setting in places that we would have no names for. I have heard music being played before our kind learned to speak. Deeds and stories. Civilizations and passions. Wars and struggle. And great beauty. Within the fade, a living memory, preserved for all time for those with the skill to go and see."
Sansa raised an eyebrow, wondering why Bran had decided to go so poetic all of a sudden.
"I once saw a memory of a people who made war in great moving castles fashioned from the hardest steel, battling each other with weapons too terrible for any of us to imagine, searching their destiny amongst seas of sand. I understand they found what they sought, and it brought them a great tragedy but ultimately allowed them to find a home they had forgotten." He continued telling.
Sansa frowned, wondering if Bran was actually serious now or if he was making some kind of elaborate joke.
"There were once memories of a female warrior sailing a strange ship between the stars themselves. A mortal woman she was, fighting to break a cycle perpetuated by dark gods. She fought for many years, and unbelievably she won at the cost of her own life, lighting up her world with a light the color of her eyes, the color of the Fade, changing everything forever. Like Jon she once died and returned to life to finish the fight she started. And the tools she employed… I would have thought it magic, but somehow I knew it was not. Her armor sheathed her in a field of energy that could repel almost any attack, a bit like the barriers Thedosian mages can create. As her weapons she had a gauntlet of orange light with which she could attack her enemies with fire and thunder, and an odd weapon that fired bolts far harder and faster than any crossbow ever designed."
Sansa could not help but chuckle, shaking her head. "I believe you have gone on to spin fanciful stories for my amusement, just like Old Nan used to. Castles do not move, nor are they built of metal, and no mortal may stand against gods. And how could colored light change anything in a world?"
In response Bran gave one of those mysterious smiles of his. "I told you that you would not believe me."
"How could I?" She said. "Next you will tell me you have been to this Black City the Thedosians speak about."
"No, that kind of thing I won't be claiming." Bran said, completely serious again. "No dreamer dare go near that place, not even I. Yet I have a feeling that one day someone has to go there. There is some profound truth there about this world, waiting to be discovered beneath all that darkness.
Bran's tone gave Sansa a moment of pause, wondering at the meaning of his words.
"In any case, seeing how much there is to occupy your mind in the fade, I'm actually rather surprised that you spend any time here with us. Must be dull by comparison." She said then.
"Well, someone once told me that it was beautiful under the sea, but if you stay too long you drown. Breaks like this are necessary." He answered. "And there are times you have need of my advice, so I try to remember to be in the waking world as well, where I can be of some use."
"I'm glad to hear that." She said.
Meanwhile Jon had apparently decided that there had been enough training for one day and called for a halt. While the children went to put away their equipment, he climbed the steps up to the wall where Kieran was looking at the landscape around Winterfell.
"Well, well, what have here?" Kieran said when he noticed the king approach, a mischievous glint in his eye. "The King in the North comes to speak with me. To what do I owe this honor your Grace?" He asked with a playful tone.
"Just seeing how our guest is doing." Jon replied. "Enjoying the view?" he asked.
"Indeed." Kieran said. "I occurred to me that I had never stopped to look at it in all the time I have been here. It is breathtaking. You have a beautiful country Your Grace."
"Thank you. I'm rather proud of it. I just wish it wouldn't be so empty. It would be easier to manage if there were more people to work with. Still, I would not exchange it for anything." Jon said.
"If I may, the emptiness of your realm is one of its most endearing qualities in my opinion. Emptiness brings silence, and when there is silence you can truly listen to yourself. There is much wisdom to be learned from such." Said Kieran.
"You know, when you say things like that, you somehow manage to sound like a man five times your age." The King commented.
"Maybe I have an old soul in a young man's body. Or a memory of such a soul." The mage said, seeming to remember something from his past.
"Meaning?" Jon asked.
"It's complicated. And personal." Kieran replied.
"As you will. I was just curious." Jon said.
"How go the lessons with your son?" Kieran asked next.
"Well enough. He is learning, but it's early yet. Learning to wield a sword properly takes many years, and he is only seven after all."
"Of course. He is learning from the best at least." Kieran said. Before he could say anything else his eyes caught a black spot moving on the sky towards the castle. "That raven… it brings bad news." He said.
Jon glanced at the same black dot, then back at Kieran. "What the…? How could you just know that?" he asked, confused.
"I don't, truth to be told. I just… feel it to be true." Kieran replied.
Jon shook his head, deciding it was folly to ask how Kieran ever knew anything. Instead he descended the steps form the wall and walked to the rookery. As he approached Maester Wolkan emerged from the rookery and walked straight to him.
"A raven from the Wall, your Grace, addressed directly to you." he said.
Jon accepted the scroll with a nod, broke the seal and began to read. As he read his expression grew grim. "Call the banners. Find Davos and bring him to me." He said when he was finished, his voice even. Wolkan nodded and left. Jon closed his eyes and took a deep breath to collect his thoughts, then went to look for Sansa.
"We have a problem. Read this." He said when he found her, handing her the scroll. Wondering what was going on, Sansa took the scroll and read the words on it. "Damn…" She said quietly when she was done.
"Should I return to the Vale to organize the knights?" She asked of Jon.
"I am more likely to need you here. Send messages instead." He said.
"Very well." She replied, nodding gravely.
Jon nodded, reassured. "Davos will help you."
"He is not coming with you?" Sansa asked, surprised.
"Davos is many things, but soldier is not one of them. While I know he can command if necessary, I think he will do better here, ensuring we get the support we need." Jon said.
Sansa nodded her understanding. "It will be interesting to work with him. I just wish it had not happened under these circumstances."
"Me too." Jon agreed. "Bran said nothing of this did he?" he asked, to which she shook her head. "I guess even he misses things from time to time." he contemplated.
"I don't think he has been looking lately. And he did tell me once that sensing the future is often difficult. Too malleable." Sansa commented.
"He has said the same to me. Pity." Jon said. He was about to walk away when he turned back.
"...look after Robb while I'm away would you?" He asked.
Sansa smiled. "Like he was my own."
Jon nodded and smiled as well. Then he noticed Davos in the yard and went to deliver him the grim news as well.
War was upon them yet again...
Made a few refrences through Bran here, because I couldn't help myself. Points to anyone who can figure them all out. If not, don't worry, its not critical information.
So Jon has a son in this story. You'll know his mother soon enough, though most of you might guess it already. I considered several different name possibilities until I figured that he might name him in the memory of his brother. If someone is wondering why is he being trained to use a weapon already, in medieval times beind trained as a knight did start at a very young age. Look it up for yourself if you like, its interesting stuff.
Next time were off to King's Landing.