Jon POV
Many things felt like I should have recognized, and people felt like I knew them but there was no memories and I had never left my fathers hold until now. It was confusing but at the same time comfortable. Rob and I along with others of the north ventured out between tents of goods and fires where stories were told, or food offered. We met more people than we could count and had fun fighting and just being in the moment. The other thing that confused me at three and ten was the attraction I had to one girl I had met the second day here.
Evolet was beautiful with long light golden wheat colored hair that was in braids and had beads at the bottom on the front framing the sweetest heart shape face I had ever seen. She had a small nose covered in freckles and full lips, but it was her eyes that drew me in the most. She had the brightest violet eyes I had ever seen. But it was more than her looks that drew me to her; it was the ways about her. I had watched her play with the younger children and nurse a sick lady tenderly. Gather and cook food for those around and help around the tent of a lady who had to have been over 100 years old all while smiling and laughing with others. She had such a kind nature that I couldn't help but be drawn to her. It was on the third day of the first week here that I worked up the nerve to speak to her.
"Hello, I think you dropped this?" Picking up a hide that had fallen from a basket beside her feet I said to the woman who I could sit and watch and never get tired of it. She was so beautiful and delicate to me that I wanted to protect her but at the same time her eyes show a depth that I had never seen before.
"I wondered when you would stop by to speak with me. I have seen you pass here at least ten times just today. I am Evolet." She tells me with a small light laugh that floated off into the air as she spoke the old tongue that I was very happy to be learning and it had been so easy like I had spoke it all my life.
"I did not think you saw me. My name is Jon Snow." I said and she handed me a basket full of hides and some other things as she lifted a small child into her arms placing her on her hip.
"I have to take these over to the River Clan to trade for some things we need, you can walk with me and we can talk." She said looking hopeful and I nodded following along beside her as we got to know each other stopping to occasionally look at something or to talk to someone that one of us knew.
Once we started talking, we had not stopped for the last week and half. She told me of the lady who had taken her in as a small child when she was orphaned and found in the snow alone not more than two years old. Blond and with purple eyes all had wanted to leave her or burn her as a witch because she was so different than the others in the far north. The old lady who I had seen with her was a medicine woman for the ice river clan, refused and saved her. Over the years her hair had darkened but her eyes had stayed the same making many want her for her exotic looks but still treating her as an outsider in the larger River Clan. Daily after that they had walked through the camps, ate breads and meats from others that I had bought her, played with the children of her clan, or hunted and fished by the nearby lake with her wolfs whom he had met.
"I have a present for you." I said sitting next to her in front of the hut she was staying in as she packed herbs and food items into clay pots and stitched hides.
"Why?" She asked looking over at me with a smile.
"Because I saw it and thought you would like it." Jon said showing her the leather necklace that had a green jade wolf howling at the moon.
"Do you know what giving a gift like this means?" She asked moving over to him and not reaching out for the necklace yet. Their worlds were just too different, and she wanted to know what he meant by this.
"I guess not." I replied dropping my hand into my lap.
"In our clan, once a girl gets her moons blood, she looks for a husband or he finds her most of the time since we really have no say in our husband. We exchange gifts; Men give the woman clothes, herbs, food, jewels. If wealthy enough a horse, food animals or herd animals, especially for first wives. The girl gives the man; if she is accepting of him; a dagger or something like to show that we accept their protection. Then they announce their intentions of marriage after the next moon and if someone else objects that man must fight for her hand to prove he can take care of her. So do not give me gifts unless you know what it means" Evolet explained watching his face closely hoping and praying to the old gods he would mean it how she wanted having fallen for the quiet young man across from her.
"If my father agrees, would you accept my gifts. I doubt he would let us marry before my eight and ten name day, but you could come to Winterfell with me. We could learn more about each other until that time." I asked her and held my breath letting it out slowly as she shook her head at me with a sad sigh.
"It will not happen, either we marry, and then I stay with your people, or we say goodbye." She said sadly because she did care for this quiet boy who she thought was very good looking and who had been in her visions since before she could understand them.
"Grand daughter go get us some food down yonder and some fresh bread that Ygritte is making for our trip." Her grandmother came out of the tent looking at them before sending her off.
Jon had stood to follow the girl and had taken a few steps before hearing "Sit boy now" from her grandmother.
The teens looked at each other and he nodded and watched as she walked into the passing crowd, and he sit down where he had been before.
"I have seen things in the fire as of late boy. You are being one of them. If your father agrees to this match you will have to fight for her hand as I have already been approached by T'Hue. If you win, she will follow you to your home because my time is not long now. Will you protect her and her heart boy? Evil comes and she has already been touched once by it. The darkness last longer and longer each night." The old lady says, and I know that for my age and lack of worldly experience this is something huge to take on. But she was a woman in the free people's world, and I would lose her if I did not do something about it.
"What do you mean touched once by evil?" I asked thinking over her words.
"Your father will know what I mean. He will understand when you tell him she is marked by the Night." She says looking into the fire and then nodding at what she sees there.
"What of her people? She will not want to leave them behind?" I asked knowing she would never agree to leave behind those she took care of and who were family to her if there were danger or another option that keeps them all together.
"We are a small clan Jon. Dozen children, handful of adults and me. All others died the night we found Evolet fighting the night. Our clan will not last if we return to our lands." She said and I knew I would be trying to take them all with us and that I would have to speak to my father.
"I will be back soon." I said and left as soon as she nodded still watching the fire and adding some leaves to it making the smoke turn purple as they burned.
"Lord Stark, I request an audience with you." I said having changed into my fighting pants and jerkin with the new longer cloak that I had gotten here at the summit.
"Aye Jon, you do not have to be formal son. What troubles you?" Ned asked watching his normally very quiet son approach him with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He had seen a change in the boy after finding out who his parents truly were. There was sadness, anger, hurt, and confusion but never directed at him which he was thankful for.
"Father, I have come to speak to you about the lower Ice River Clan. I want to ask for the hand of Evolet the granddaughter of the medicine women." I said and that was the last thing that he knew his father was expecting from his level headed son who was very much to young to even think of marriage in his eyes but I didn't want to lose Evolet. Everything in me was screaming that she was supposed to be with me and was important to what was coming.
"Jon you're but a boy. Sit and explain." Father asked even though I knew he wanted to just say no straight out but the look I was giving him of almost fear and hope at the same time stopped him. His father had vowed to listen more and be more a part of his children's lives and this was one of those times he needed to step up and just listen.
"I know our customs are so much different than the free folks. Evolet is considered a woman in her clan even if younger than I and already another has approached her grandmother for her hand. I care for her greatly and think that she would be a good match in years to come. I had not meant to marry now but father I do not want to lose her either. Her grandmother told me to tell you she had been touched by the Night and that they will not make it long if they return to their lands. I want to bring all of them with us father please they are just children and few young adults left." I explained.
"What do you mean touched by the night?" Father asked sitting straighter in his chair and looking at me with something akin to fear which left me on edge because I had never seen that look on my father's face. It left me with an uneasy feeling and almost like an itch between my shoulders like we were being watched but as I looked around the tent, we were the only ones there still.
"I do not know father, she said that Evolet was found when her clan was fighting the night many moons ago and that she had been touched by evil, marked somehow. She told me many died that night. Evolet has gifts that she has told me that they have hidden from everyone they could. She heals people father, and she has dreams like green dreams. I know of not what, but I know many think she is an outsider and a threat to them." I tell him and wait as I watch him think over what is being said and not said as he seemed to understand something that I didn't know yet.
"I was going to give you a choice when you were older of the holds that you could choose from. Some are in horrible disrepair and some not so much. All would be starting from new as they have not been in use for generations. Are you sure you are ready for such a huge step as just a young man." father asked wanting me to understand the severity of my choices.
"No father I am not ready for a hold of my own, but I don't want to lose Evolet either." I said sinking into a chair across from him and anyone who looked at me would see then devastated look on my face.
"You will court each other in our ways. Get to know each other and build friendship then feelings for the other. She will learn what it takes to run a hold and her people will become your people. You must learn about them as well. You must put in the effort to become a lord Jon and I will agree only after we have a different talk." He said as his heart went out to the young man in front of him. He still thought that he was way too young for marriage, but he also knew what was to come and the chances were he would have to become a man way before his time which would change every aspect of his life. It was not uncommon for a young woman Evolet's age to marry but it was normally to a man ten and eight year old or older.
"I will father, I will do all it takes to learn. Thank you." I said nodding to my father feeling a bit more hopeful but still worried I would lose Evolet.
"This is but a small part of your bride's price. Let us talk with her grandmother and then buy what you need to ask for her hand. I mean it though you will wait until a time that I feel you are ready to actually marry her Jon." He tells me as he handed me a pouch full of coins and I instantly agreed hoping that her grandmother would agree to this also.
I led father over to where Evolet and her grandmother was staying, and he smiled as he saw her brushing the hair of a young child who was sitting in her lap while others played at her feet. The way she took care of her people were something to watch. She was caring, gentle, but strict when needed with the children. She would make a great mother someday in the future I thought and knew I blushed at the thought of making those children with her.
"Evolet, this is my father, Lord Stark. Father, Evolet and her grandmother" I formally introduced them before Evolet looked at me closely and I nodded and smiled at her before she greeted my father and offered him something to drink or eat even though they had little to share.
"Leave us, Lord Stark and I need to talk. Go and help the children finish packing and preparing for bed it will be good practice for the two of you. Their huts should be finished taken down by now so make them beds in our hut." Her grandmother said waving the children inside of her hut along with Evolet and Jon.
It was at least an hour later before I was called for and with a nod and smile at Evolet we left. I was nervous about what had happened in her past or been said between the two heads of our families and if I was to lose the girl, I wanted more and more each minute I spent in her presences. "Father," I asked having walked for the length of the camp to the other side and into the woods where we had been going to pray to the old gods.
"Come we must talk, you have a journey to take. I wasn't ready to put you through this yet. I wanted you to be older and possibly never have to share this burden and pain, but you need to know before you can decide your path with Evolet because she has been marked and you need to know from what son." father said as they stopped in front of the heart tree, and I watched father bowed his head in prayer.
"What journey, father what is wrong?" I begged hating seeing my strong and brave father look so defeated.
"This is a onetime vison of what life was before the God's intervened and brought me back to a point that could save humanity. The leader of the Children gave me this tea to share with those of my blood so that you too can see what happened and how we must fix it. If I could stop you from having to see this, I would and like I said I wish it was not till you were older, but Evolet needs to be protected and it is unfair to you to make a choice that you do not have all the details to. Drink this, all of it, and then touch the heart tree. I am sorry." He tells me and because I trusted my father more than anyone; I did as I was told and drunk the nasty tasting tea down. Then as he started to tingle Ned placed his hand on the tree and then stepped away. "I will be here when you are done." Was the last he heard before he felt himself falling through space and time.
I watched as I saw my uncle's life growing up with his siblings, followed my mother through her life and when she disappeared gaining a bigger insight into what really happened and answering some of my what if questions. I watched her giving in and following her heart only for it to be broken into thousands of little pieces. I saw and felt the love she had for my father before it turned to hate and then me being born. I watched as they cut her open to deliver me and she bleed out only after making my uncle promise to raise me as his own and to protect me with his life. To tell me when I was older that she would always be with me watching and guiding me. Then I watched as each one of my family died and not being there to stop it killed me as all I could do was beg for it to stop and call out to my loved ones to run, to fight harder. The war between the five kings and the slow destruction of the whole seven kingdoms as people flip flopped sides as it was needed. Then I watched as my aunt came helping defeat the Night King but losing herself in the process. I watched as I had no choice but to take the life of my wife and the woman I loved to save those left of my family and the kingdom from another mad ruler. The feeling I had for her was foreign and detached but all the real as I felt them rush back. I watched as Bran came and was made king only to be banished north of the wall for doing my duty to my family and people.
"Son," I heard and spun around looking into the eyes of the mother I didn't remember but still loved and knew.
"I failed them all." I said as my mother embraced her me holding on tightly.
"No, you did the best you could in the situation that was presented, and I have never been more proud of you. Now you can help your uncle change things and you can live the life that you deserve and have always wanted." She tells me.
"What of Dani? Do I forget that love we shared. I really care for Evolet much more than I did in the beginning with Daenerys." I asked thinking of the love I had for Daenerys but that I still lost and fearing that the same would happen with Evolet and maybe at the hands of his aunt who was still out there possibly gathering troops already. I caused me to feel that burning loss in his soul even thinking about losing Evolet and having lost Daenerys. There were times that they had that were great and beautiful, but she would have eventually turned on his sisters and possibly even him since she knew his identity.
"She will always be a flip of the coin son, just like her brother was and if you should chose her; I do not believe that you will be happy in the end with her because you will always be honorable and protect the pack and she will never understand. I hope this time around she finds peace and love but I do not believe it is with you. I want you to follow your heart son, but no matter what you chose, just know I will always be proud of you.
"You would still be alive if it had not been for me. She would have lived." I said sadly thinking that I had killed all the women who ever loved me in my lifetime and feared it would be the same with anyone else that loved me.
"No, my child, I would have died some way, some how it was my time. Same as Daenerys, she will die by someone's hand at some point as it is not the time for dragons ever again. Remember that son dragons must never come back into the world, or you will lose this war." My mother said gripping my hands tightly and making sure I understood what she was saying and would remember it.
"I have loved you from the moment I knew you were on your way. I have watched you grow into a strong, brave man. I now have the pleasure of doing it again. Listen to your heart always and remember a lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. Create your own pack son." She tells me before she vanishes into air and my eyes clear to where once again, I was in the forest in front of the heart tree with my father.
"There must never be dragons again father. We will lose everything if they come again." I exclaimed and then took a deep breath wiping my face of the tears that I was shedding before I turned to face the man who raised me and who died because of betrayals and deceit.
"I failed them all father. I left for the wall, and they all died after being tormented. Sansa was raped by that bastard father; how could you not kill him on site and his worthless father. He betrayed us and…. Gods Rob and his child. The boys were but babes still. I failed Rickon, I was supposed to protect them and save him and instead he was murdered because of me." I said crying into my father's arms and holding on tightly having felt the crushing blow of losing my father and siblings as freshly as if it had just happened.
"You did not fail Jon. You were brave and strong, kind and steady. You tried to save them and you did your best even at the cost of your soul and heart. It was just too big for one person son. I will not fail you or them again I promise that. I will change things son that is why we are here now." Eddard said and let his son cry for all the loss he had lived through once again but in a much shorter time frame.
"You have the memories of a much older man now inside you. You are no longer a boy, so I must ask what choice you want to make about Evolet?" He asked some time later after they had sit quietly for a while, while I was coming to terms with what I had seen and been through.
"When her grandmother says she was marked, does that mean the Night King touched her somehow. Does that mean he can reach her even across the wall?" I asked having put together the first of so many questions that I had flooding into my mind.
"If the wall holds then no, he cannot get to her. But yes, for some reason he marked her as a babe. What that is for we do not know but suspect it is as a mate or because of her visions of the future. There is so much we do not know yet about him and his kind. We know how to kill them and what they want. How they were made to start with possibly but we do not know what will defeat them completely and what it is that he would want with Evolet. Even if you walk away from her now, I have granted her grandmothers request that they are allowed south of the wall. They will never survive otherwise, and I could never condemn her to being hunted and her family killed again if I can do something about it." father said and then sat quietly with his thoughts over everything as I did the same thinking of all the things that I had learned.
"When will you show the others what happened to us all?" I wondered aloud before facing father again and waited for him to think over everything.
"I do not know. Rickon years from now if ever because I truly hope that by the time he is old enough there will be no reason to show him. The others I want to change the world for them but at the same time what if something should happen to me again, they need to know as well. But I go back and forth because how do I show Sansa the nightmare that is to become her life if we fail. Arya is so lost for so long before finding you again and even then, it was not enough to keep her from leaving again. And Bran becomes something that I am not quite sure is all human nor pure in heart." Ned asked the tree in front of him, and both seen a flash of red and then nothing go across the tree letting them know the gods were listening and were there but it was their free will that would lead this world now." He laid out and I could understand his want to protect us and keep this knowledge to himself, but we had our roles and he would need our help if we were to save our family and possibly the whole kingdom.
"Rob needs to know, Bran if he is to become the three eyed raven again. Arya has her role to play as well and it would be unfair to keep that from her, but Sansa and Rickon I want to spare for as long as we can maybe forever. While eventually Sansa becomes a very powerful leader and who became more confident in herself it was at so much pain and I just want her to find love and be protected. My Aunt cannot be allowed those eggs, ever. She can not bring dragons back into this world because that will bring the wall down and the dead south. This battle must be finished in the north, or all is lost," I says thinking of all I had seen and done over the years in that life and applying it to what we know is happening now.
"Daenerys must never be given power father it will drive her mad like before not because she is a horrible leader but because she lost to much and it twisted her heart and mind. But I do not want to go back there again because I would always be worrying about when she would become what she did and have expectations of a person who has not lived those mistakes yet. I made my peace when I decided to put a knife into her heart. She would have killed everyone I loved if not and the pack always comes first, the north must always come first. How do we stop her father." I asked having made my peace years before with her death in that life. This was so confusing because here I was back in my five and ten body but I had lived ten more years mentally and been through wars and lost everything I loved and still went on to lead the free people. It did explain why I felt so comfortable among them just having met and the recognition I had of some, my soul had known them and while we were different it still on some level reached out and recognized them.
"I want to marry Evolet very much. I think her and I can have something special, and I already care deeply for her as a person. I feel like I have known her for a lifetime already and we just met two weeks ago. Do you think it is because it was always supposed to be her that I met and married and it was just messed up because of all the forgotten histories that lead us all south instead of north, why I had such a pulling to the wall in that life." I wondered to my father after telling him I still very much wanted Evolet to be my wife.
"I do not know; I drive myself mad some nights trying to figure out what was supposed to be and what is now, and what is to come. Now you know all that I do and you have your memories; I will not hold you back if you want to marry her." he says to me with a nod.
"Will we live at Winterfell still or do I have to take one of the other Keeps and build it up?" I asked making plans in my head for us and her people that I would protect as my own like father told me.
"For now, Winterfell, but you will need to choose a keep soon and we can start repairs. It will be years before it will be ready for you to reside there. Until then please don't rush to leave I lost you all once before and am not ready for any of you to leave so soon." he said and I nodded.
"I fear letting the Ice River Clan down father. For all intended I will be their leader as their lord. They will look to me for protection now. What if I let them down, they will die?" I asked feeling 15 again and not mentally older.
"Good if you did not have that fear you would make a horrible lord. We have a responsibility and when we forget that people die. There is seldom do overs in life. Once dead it is over." He explained but I knew he meant others besides us because that was just what our family was getting was a do over and explained why he seemed to change overnight.
"I have missed you father. So many times, I have felt so lost without you to turn to." I said and hugged my father shedding a few more tears before finally feeling a bit better and straighten up squaring my shoulders and shedding the loss because they were all safe and alive now and I would make sure that it stayed that way or die trying.
"I have a bride to see. First, I need horses and some other things. I think somewhere close to a river would be nice maybe the sea, to make them feel more at home once we are settled in the future." I said to my now smiling father who sent me off to do what I needed while he worked on whatever it was, he was doing. First, I bought a large black stallion and three mares that were white and brown, a grey one with brown spots, and a tan on with white blaze down its nose. I found a dress that was much heavier skins with a new cloak of wool. Lastly some herbs for medicine and cooking. Leading it all to her hut I smiled at her surprises look and then my heart clinched and changed beat at her smile that she sent me.
"I come to ask for your hand. I pledged to take care of you and those of your clan. To protect you and to hold only you in my heart as a wife never taking another. I will provide for you and our children and give my life for your clan. I will never forsake you with another and I swear it on my honor to respect you and grow with you until our ending days. Will you take me as your husband Evolet." I said loudly and was hopeful she would accept.
"You do not do things simply do you Jon Snow. This is to much just for me as an outcast." She said quietly and I pull her into me for the first time ever and loved the way she fits against me as I kiss her forehead.
"You are the savior of your people, the best of them all and nothing will ever be enough for you. Please agree Evolet." I say and look into her eyes to show just how serious I was.
"What has changed? Your eyes are older than before. You have been through something that has changed you?" She asked quietly touching my cheek and I lean into her hand enjoying the feel of it on there. The warmth after feeling so cold for so long felt amazing and brought joy to his heart. I knew in my head that made no sense at all as it was minutes and nothing more for the visions but the emotions, memories, and feelings that went with them was a lifetime worths and truly mine.
"Yes, Jon, I Choose you. I vow to be faithful and take care of your home and our children. I will provide you with sons and fight along side of you. I will care for only you and will join your clan leaving mine when the time come." She said feeling a bit sad about that part.
"No Evolet they will be coming along with us. Your clan will join mine but also become mine as well. I would never ask you to leave them here in danger." I replied with a smile because of the bright smile she gave me in return.
"Child take this stuff in and get your gift for your intended. Tomorrow will be a long day of packing, but these horses will come in handy with that and your wolves." Old grandmother said. We had quieted the audience as I had gained many peoples attention walking through the camps with four horses loaded with goods and furs tossed over them.
"Kneeler, I Challenge you for the hand of Evolet. I spoke first and am clan, so my claim is stronger." I heard and had known this was coming.
"I will meet you at the fires in half an hour." I said as I watched him leave. I then hugged Evolet accepting the beautiful dagger and bow she had for me before I left her clan's area and returned to my group finding my father and brother along with most of the Northern lords waiting for me. My father having told them all what was going on.
"You are seriously getting married?" Rob asked before I could say anything.
"Only if I beat this T'Hue." I replied thinking of the ways free people fought and the battles I had before in that life and had watched in this one now. It would all come in handy as most will underestimate me because of my age.
"But seriously you want to marry a girl you just met? Why?" Rob asked and I knew he wouldn't get it until he had his memories of the last life back but then he would see, I just prayed to the gods that he handled it better than I did.
"You're going to be lord of Winterfell someday hopefully in the very far future. You must take more care in who you marry. I will always be your brother and banner man and nothing more, so I am freer to choose. Evolet is special brother, in many ways. When you meet that person your soul calls to. That you are meant for, you just know it here." I tell him laying my hand on his chest above his heart. "Never settle until you find that person Rob no matter who she is." I tell my very confused brother who though that I must have hit my head and gone crazy because who at their age wants to marry, he had voiced.
"Why are you fighting this man? And the horses and stuff what was that about?" Rob asked but helped me put on my gear to protect me better. It was light armor and easy to move in. I had choose this for a reason having remembered how it was to fight wildlings.
"Bride's price, you will have one as well of course not like mine, but you will. In their culture another has a right to object the match and if they win take the woman for their wife. I must fight him or lose Evolet. Come Rob and cheer me on." I tell him as we were leaving our tent and making my way towards the fire in the center of the camp. It was a round seating area made of stones and seats that each group represented. The Stark one was being updated as father had to tell all the different kings and lords until his generation to be represented on the chair. Luckily for him he had brought his book that had most everything written down in his notes otherwise I doubt even a studied maester would remember them in all.
Evolet and her grandmother along with what clan they had left was sitting to the left of the much larger upper ice river clan. This is where the other man came from, and it was not what Evolet wanted. We had talked about this many times over the past week. Her people would not be treated kindly but as slaves of the other clan until they were married off when they come of age as second or third wives. In fact, this man who was wanting to fight me already had two wives.
The fight was fierce on both sides and not without a few cuts but quickly I gained the upper hand having not just been really good in this life but also having the knowledge in the last as well making me something to see in battle this battle when all underestimated me. Finally, with a spin to the left and throwing my elbow into his face hard T'Hue fell, and I took advantage by placing my sword at the man's throat. "I do not wish to end you, concede Evolet and your claim and go in friendship. We have battle coming that needs all skilled warriors." I said in the old tongue meaning exactly what I said. I also knew that many would be left wondering about my actions. However, we did have a war coming and this man was a great warrior and his clan would need him to get them to the other side. He had wives and children that relied on him and frankly I didn't want them. The man glared up at me until pushed my sword into his throat drawing blood just a bit to prove I would follow through if I needed to but I was giving him a chance.
"Concede now." I growled out and it did not have quiet the gruffness I would have as an older man but it got my point across all the same.
"I concede Evolet, she is yours." T"hue said and I nodded removing my sword and offering my hand to the fallen man to help him up. After a few second, he took the hand so I pulled him up. "You fight like a much older man from the free people not a kneeler you are a seasoned warrior. I accept your offer of friendship to the Ice River Clan and hope to fight along side one with so much honor. It was in your right and our ways to kill me and take all that is mine, but you did not you only fought for what you wanted." T"Hue asked.
"You were down and beaten, there was no honor in killing you. I do not want what is yours. I simply want Evolet and nothing more. There is more honor in a good fight and walking away as allies than killing you and taking something just because I could. Your family is yours and need you." I said and I didn't know it then, but I had just gotten many new allies for the way I handled myself and it was then that many decided that they would give Clan Stark of south of the wall the benefit of the doubt since they were willing to embrace their culture, marry one of their own, and have honor in fighting against and beside them. That they would seek no boon just friendship was rare among the clans as greed had consumed many of them.
Feeling small warm hands on my back and feeling the slight tingle across my skin I turned knowing Evolet was there, and so I embraced her and rested my forehead on hers while taking some much-needed deep breath. I had been prepared to kill this man even if I had not wanted to and it had been a very hard battle. Had I know had my memories and the muscle memory from that time I would have lost. It had been close a couple times with a duck or spin barely in time to avoid being injured. "You need your wounds wrapped before they sour. Come" she said taking my hand as we walked towards where my people were sitting or standing talking about what just happened.
"Jon are you okay son?" My father asked having not ever seen something so scary in his life until now and watching his son fighting for his own life in real live combat and not being able to do anything to help him. He could only pray that the other would have been as honorable if he had won.
"I am fine father, a few cuts are all." I said as I was pushed into a seating position on the stone chair and Evolet was already looking over my wounds and pulling things from the bag that she had brought with her holding many herbs and bandages.
"Drink this it will help with infection. This one need to be sewed up and this one is just a graze." Evolet said touching the deeper one on my arm and then the shallow on across my neck before she pulled a bone needle out of her bag and some cleaned horse hair that she had in a bag full of herbs that kept it clean.
With a chuckle and a squeeze of her hand I did as she asked and watched her clean my cuts and then held still as she closed the deeper wound on my sword arm. That one had burned when I got it but it wasn't enough to stop fighting it in fact made me fight harder. "So, you are to be my good sister. I am Robb." His brother said taking a seat next to me and looking over the woman who stole my heart. She was pretty but there was something more there Robb just couldn't put it into words, but she brought peace to those around her.
"Hello, Robb. Jon speaks of you often" she said in broken common tongue she was not used to using as her clan was the old tongue.
"All good I hope." Robb responded but was called over to their father before he could say anything else.
"Take Evolet back to her tent and then join Robb and I by the heart tree. It is late and we leave in the morn for the wall so make sure your thing is ready to go after you meet us. Evolet does your clan need help preparing?" Father asked her with a mile.
"No, we only have a few huts that we broke down most of them today to get ready to leave, so will have two in the morn that will need to be. Once we get it loaded, we will be ready to follow you mi lord" she said and it sounded as weird to his ears as it felt to her.
"It is Eddard or father as we will be family soon." He says and she smiles at him with a nod as I replace my shirt with a clean one pulling it over my head and then nodded to father before taking Evolet's hand and leading her back to her hut. It was a quiet walk neither uncomfortable just enjoying their walk. I grabbed a loaf of bread with some fresh butter melted on it to eat on our way giving a chunk to her that I noticed she barely touched.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"What, no I am happy that you won. I worry about life changing now going south. All I have known is this life. What if I cannot fit into your world?" she said me quietly and I knew her fears and would do all I could to help her through them.
"You will do fine, and I will help you in any way that I can. Once we have a hold of our own it will be better because your people will be there with us, and we can create a hold built on our customs. We will mix things and figure out what works best for us. I swear it but if you're not happy we can come back north of the wall. I would follow you." I said knowing it would be years before that could happen but eventually, they would be free to choose what they wanted because I would protect all my family and help to end the Night King once and for all.
"I do not want to shame you." She said quietly looking at him with teary eyes.
"You could never shame me, just be you, that is all I ask. Do you not like the bread?" I asked having pulled her into my arms holding her close and kissing her forehead.
"I do, it is one of my favorite treats but some of the others have not eaten today because our stores are low, and we did not get as much for our trades as we needed. I was going to share with them." She explained and I frowned. That was not good if they were not eating what else did they not have that they needed.
"Take mine as well and do not worry, they will have all they need soon. We will get them safe and set up so that they can thrive and not struggle." I tell her and she smiled and nodded.
"Safe from what. You told T'Hue that you wanted an ally in the fight to come. What is coming?" She asked me and I thought over how to explain what I knew and how I knew it without scaring her off thinking I was crazy.
"I do not know how much of the legends of the Night King and the generation of night that you know, but it is not legend anymore." I start to says and watch as her eyes bleed out to solid white like what Bran used to do when he was seeing the past, present, and future being the three eyed raven. It was always disconcerting but now it was terrifying because this would make her wanted by many if they were to find out she could do this. I pulled her into me to stop her from falling once I saw her legs give way and could only wait for the vision to pass.
"He comes right now Jon; He is awake and he is planning an attack we must warn everyone." She says before she sags against me exhausted from her vision.
"Who knows that you have visions like this, I thought it was just dreams not full visions as well. Evolet who knows?" I asked pushing her hair out of her face and behind her ear keeping my voice very low so none around would hear us.
"Just grandmother, we hid it because many believe I am a witch already and wanted to burn me as one when I was found." She tells me and my worries for her get even higher because it would explain why the Night King wanted her and why she was marked by him.
"No one can find out do you understand." As she nodded, I sighed, "I will protect you always, but we must keep this quiet. Go get your grandmother and the others started on packing up and meet me back at the fire pit with your grandmother. Tell no one what you have seen I will take care of this." I said pressing a kiss to her lips and turning and running towards the heart woods to get my father as quickly as I could knowing that time was up.
"Father, Father?" I said skidding to a stop and having made so much noise that both my father and Robb were ready with swords drawn.
"What has happened?" father demanded having thought they were being attacked with the speed of the person coming into the area.
"He is coming, the Night King is planning an attack right now; we must warn the others and start huge fires and start getting ready to move all of these people away from him and his army of the dead." I breath out because I was out of breath from running so far so fast.
"Go wake the men Robb and meet us at the center fire. Jon we must find Bellisama she is supposed to have returned by now and then we must sound the alarm and prepare for battle." Father said as they started moving at once doing his bidding without question.
"I am already here Eddard. We must start fires and get everyone who can fight ready. Those who cannot fight must be sent to hid in the caves to the east or get beyond the wall." She said having moved out of the shadows and moving along with them leaving me uneasy still not used to seeing one of the Children and how she blends into shadows and appears and leaves so quickly always leaving us off quilter.
"My sons and the heirs can escort them and guard them. We must hurry." Father said and I could tell he was making plans as he gripped his sword handle tightly and his face was so grave. They obviously had caught up to the timeline now and he wondered how many was lost last time, if this was when Evolet disappeared and why he never found her before but Ygritte instead.
Bellisama took a very old horn out of her bag and put it to her mouth blowing it long and loud three times before they arrived at the center of the summit where you could see people from all directions running towards it with weapons in their hands.
Get your people ready to move now, the long night comes and with it the dead and the Night kings and his others. We need to start building a wall between us and them and set it on fire. All warriors get ready. We have a few hours maybe half a day to get everyone on their way. The Children will provide as much protection as we can to give everyone time to get packed and on their way, but we need to move now." Bellisama said standing in the middle of the circle and had raised her hands calling for quiet before she spoke.
"Fire, obsidian also known as glytterclass, and valerian steal will kill the others but they are very fast. The wrights will not die unless you burn them even cut to pieces, they will keep coming. If you fall you will be brought back as the undead. We must buy our people as much time as possible to get away from here. My sons will lead them towards the caves east of here and then towards the wall where they can get south of it." Father said taking his place at his seat and seen many nod his way and others look curious but there was no time to ask questions.
Everyone was scrambling around, and the giants were pulling large trees that had fallen or right out of the ground and other things to burn that others were pulling towards them. While they were making basically a wall between them and what was coming everyone else was rushing around. Each clan were calling out names and issuing orders as families quickly pulled what they could down and into some order to take with them and it was the same as the next with orders to follow Jon and Robb to the wall and stay safe. Huts were pulled down and supplies loaded as fast as they could but so much would be left behind because there was not enough time to take it all which meant many would be starting with nothing once at the wall. The other heirs and I were gathering weapons and handing out the arrows that father had been working on with the help of a couple black smiths that were tipped with the obsidian. The tents were pulled down and things tossed into trunks and on wagons. Their oxen and horses saddled for them to pull or ride.
"You two stick together and get south of the wall. You will want to protect but I need you both safe do you understand me." Father said taking his sons in and wishing to the old gods he had left them at the wall now. "Robb, we did not get to speak tonight and there is things you need to know, If I do not make it back to the wall Jon will show you and explain everything. I love you both and have never been prouder. Now go." He finishes and I knew that it could be the last time he looked upon his children once again and it was breaking my heart.
"Where is Evolet?" Robb asked as they made their way to the horses.
"She is supposed to be here by now. I don't know." I said looking around with my gut turning like it had always before, before a battle and when danger was close. It was almost like I could feel the Night king breathing down my back and watching me closely. I knew part of that was because of before in that life and having been a target because of the Dragons and the fact I was determine to kill him and while I knew he didn't know about that I did and it left me feeling the same way again.
"Go find her and meet back up with me." Robb said and I was torn I had left my brother once before and never saw him again and yet i knew that the target was Evolet and I wondered if in the life before if she had been caught at this summit or if she escaped and what happened to her.
"Look there she is, coming now" Robb said watching his brother debate and see the pain flash across his face when he said to leave and go get his soon to be good sister.
I could see that they had a hand full of really large dogs pulling pulls filled with just a minimal things made my heart hurt for her and her clan at how poor they truly were. The horses were being led by the hand full of females coming with them as children sat two or three to each. The wolves were next to Evolet, and I was glad for them because if they were like Ghost, who I missed very much, they would be an early warning sign for us and protection for Evolet if we were attacked.
"Put the kids in the wagons it will be tight but that will leave the horses for the women. Where is your grandmother." I asked her as Rob had yelled for them to move out.
Quickly doing as told the children ran or was loaded into the wagons and blankets put over them while a couple of the Harwood heirs and I helped the women onto the horses letting them fall into line behind the groups of people.
"She did not come. She said it was her time now and would just slow us down. She said that I will be protected by you and your house." Evolet said letting tears fall from her beautiful eyes.
I didn't know what to say because I never lost someone that was like a parent or grandparent that I could remember in this life but in the other time I had, and I knew her pain and nothing I said would help at all in how she feels. So, I lifted her up onto my horse and swung up behind her wrapping my cloak around her knowing just how bitterly cold it was fixing to get and she was not dressed for it. I would need to fix that quickly for all of them otherwise no matter if they were safe behind the wall or not, they would freeze to death. Kicking my horse into action I rode up the side until I was at Robb's side who looked over at me and then back behind us as the fire roared to life meaning that there was even less time to escape than they had thought because they were not to light the fires until the scouts saw the wights. The line of people behind us was never ending and I wondered if they would make it to the caves or the wall with them all. There was mammoths, polar bears with armor, large wolf like dogs that made me miss my wolf, elk, caribou, horses, shaggy cows, goats, and so many other things and I was just not sure how long this would work but we had no option but to try and save as many as they could.
"I should have stayed with father?" I muttered low so Robb did not hear me to Evolet.
"He will return this time." Evolet said having curled into him as the snows picked up and the cold came rolling towards them and it was just as he remembered and it made the hair on his neck stand up and that feeling of dreed to multiply 10 fold.
"What did you see earlier?" I asked her curious because I had not thought to ask details just to make sure that father knew and they were prepared.
"We were sleeping, and it got really cold, more cold than we have ever felt before. Then there was a scream and another before we heard the fighting, but there was so much death Jon. Thousands were slaughtered to rise and walk again. Then a tall all white creature was standing before me with the bluest eyes. I remember those eyes from my nightmares from when I was little. I have seen them before but do not know how but I think it was when I was a babe and why I was found all alone. He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the tent all around me was my people dead. Jaws ripped off and throats missing but them walking again. His hands were so cold that it burned my arm. Drug me off into the blizzard and placed me on a dead horse walking it north. I have seen this many times but never where it would happen or when. But the vision changed a few weeks ago, you were there, and your father sent us to the wall while they stayed an fought. The fires hold the others for two days and then it dies down and they fight. Some are lost but not your father. I see him leading the survivors away from the camps and into the woods east towards the caves. They make it to the wall half starved and frozen but alive." She explains and I thinks of her words and how I could help.
"How does your visions work?" I asked thinking things through as she snuggled in closer and pulling my cloak around her more as she rested into him sharing heat between them.
"They just come, sometimes a conversation will trigger them, but most of the time they come in a dream. It is random and not always very detailed while others lots of detail but not clear on timing or place." She explained.
"Do you know why the Night King wants you? You said you have seen him before was that in a vision?" I asked.
"I do not know. When I was maybe two years old the southern Ice Cave clan found me outside their village after something attacked them. They still do not know what, but it killed most of their warriors and many of their women and children. Grandmother said that when they were looking for survivors, they came across me sitting beside the river alone. My clothes were torn and had blood over them. My hair was covered so that it was red. She bathed me and brought me into the village. They wanted to toss me back out or kill me as a witch because my hair was almost pure white and my eyes purple. I did not speak the language or the common tongue. When I was young grandmother said I would speak of a woman who she figured was my mother. She would sing to me while she worked in the garden but that was my only memory." She explained and I nodded but wanted to find out more but was not sure how. She had darker hair now the color of wheat now but the way she described it was only a few families in their histories and he knew some lines had vanished throughout time and we always believed they were dead but what if they simply came to the north to live free and safe from others.
"Do not tell anyone else about you being found or what you looked like as a child, not even my siblings for now. In the south there was a family that ruled that looked just like you described, and they were all killed or driven out of the kingdom in the last war in the seven kingdoms. It would not be safe if someone though you were part of that family." I tell her and she sighed having so much to learn and I knew she felt overwhelmed.
It was almost a full day's ride before the caves came into view and I sighed. We would rest our horses and make sure everyone was feed the best we could and then leave for the wall in groups. We would have to figure out how to separate and still be able to protect those that they could.
"Set up the food, make sure the animals are taken care of, and rest. We will take shifts on guard duty." Robb said to the other heirs of the north who nodded and did as tell even if they were just as exhausted as the next person. Soon fires were burning and groups cooking and handing out food. Evolet and the other women of the ice river clan had done the same for the sons and daughters of the North with the help of each heir who had learned to pull their own weight in camp or be ridiculed by their fathers.
For the half day and night, they rested their animals as more and more people filtered in some barely alive others showing signs of battle having been towards the end of the groups leaving and been caught in the fighting. Many women and children were crying and having need of medical care. Many of the other women did their best to help them but some were not to be helped. They set up a pyre to burn those who passed on.
"We need to start moving on because soon there will be no room left here." Robb said to me looking around at all the people and it reminded him so much of the village he had visited that had been attacked by the others and wights and of Hardhome when we went to get what was left of Mance's people there. It was as horrible now as it was then but hopefully many more was saved than lost this time around. So many was losing loved ones and would never be the same no matter how many they saved.
"Split the food stores and supplies into thirds. Leave two here and I will follow you after all have come in and rested. One of the thirds we leave for father and the others to find. They will need food, cloaks, medical supplies and such. You must lead Robb because you are acting warden in the North and Lord of Winterfell until father returns. You will have to force the commander to open the gates and get these people through." I said having been thinking about the situation and what needed to be done.
"Who stays and who goes?" Robb asked not at all liking the fact that I was right and that he was in charge until our father came back. I refused to think he wouldn't return to them.
"Take the younger heirs they won't be good in battle if it comes here and shouldn't see whats coming. Leave the Umbers, the mountain clans, and the Flowood heirs with me. Tell them to keep only what will kill the white walkers and wights and send the rest ahead. We will send people on as they are ready." I explained the plan quickly looking over our group and splitting it evenly in power apart from the younger heirs who would do no good to either group.
"And Evolet?" Robb asked looking over at the girl who had finally fell asleep sitting next to the wall of the opening of the cave wrapped in Jon's spare cloak.
"She stays with me. Send help when you can brother and stay safe. I like this not separating but it has to be done." I said and Robb wanted to argue but didn't bother seeing the look on my face and knew it wouldn't make a difference if he did.
The two quickly broke up and went to work telling everyone what needed to be done and getting it done. Some women who were fighters decided to also stay and help if needed and some with medical knowledge choose to stay but the first groups that had arrived were now ready to leave again for the week and half long trek to the wall.
After seven days finally the flow of people finally slowed, and it was one or two elderly people that showed looking even more exhausted than the last and only the drive to get away from the dead kept them moving. I knew these people needed wagons and horses if they were to make it and it would be at least another half week before my brother reached the wall and then two weeks for help to arrive and they did not have that much time. Those who could hunt did so to replenish our stores but there were dangerously low as well and he feared much longer all of them would starve even with the help of the three dire wolves.
"There is an old gate just south of here in an abandoned castle of the nights watch, it might be easier to get to that and to the other side and find help than trying to get the rest of these people to the wall and Castle Black." I told the group on the ninth morning seeing as no one else had come in the day before meaning they either were dead or were fighting for their lives and all those who had escaped. I feared for my father and each day I wanted to leave and find him but knew I couldn't abandon my mission that my father had given us.
"I don't know, it is risky and what if we can't find the gate or get it open. If the free folk haven't all these years what says we will?" Smallest Jon asked and he had a point and I could not remember when it was opened or how. I just knew it was in the end before the wall fell. That had been a horrible day watching the only thing saving his family melt away bit by bit from dragons and the fear it could happen again was great because his aunt would be getting those eggs soon again.
"Aye, so slow going it is. Be bloody glad to be back south and home." Theo one of the mountain clans' heirs said and shifted his ax nervously in his hand looking around. That morning we had all woken with a sense of dread and urgency in the air making us all on edge and ready to move on quickly.
"Let's pack what we need and leave the rest for our fathers and the clans. We leave at first light." I said and they all went about making sure everyone would be ready and had what they needed. It would be very slow, and they would take about two weeks or more to make it to Castle Black but if the gods willing help would come for them.
"Evolet, we are leaving in the morning at first light is there any who will not make it?" I asked her gently because I knew she felt deeply each one she could not save, and it had pulled at her heart and soul. Over the last 8 days he had fallen in love with her gentle ways and caring touch. She was steady and brave when needed but also able to know what another needed just by a look. She would make a great lady and mother someday.
"Your Uncle will meet us he was already on his way when he crossed your brother, your brother sent back wagons to help and more supplies when he reached the wall that will reach us two days before the wall." She said and then smiled up at me as her eyes cleared and she went on folding cloth that she had ripped from the dead's clothes and boiled for bandages and passing out the other clothes to those in need that she had not used.
The next morning dawned very cold and very quiet. The group of about 100 left the caves and slowly walked towards Castle Black and the wall. I had put Evolet on one of the horses and walked next to it as did some of the others switching out with the elderly as they started to fall behind. It was a long two days before I finally heard my uncle call out and they could come to a stop. Making a fire and letting everyone rest while I filled in the First Ranger on what had happened and where.