"Are we close?" Jojen asked
"I don't think so?" Meera said
"How do we know if we're close?" Jojen asked
"We'll know. Winterfell is said to be the most grandest castle in all the North!" Jon exclaimed.
Having left Greywater with only Andrys Fenn and Bartimos Blackmyre as part of their escort, they had become ecstatic about arriving at Winterfell. But the sight of Moat Cailin had excited them as well. "It's only been five days since we left. Quit your bellyaching!" Bartimos said. He hated to admit but of all the crannogmen he'd come to know: Bartimos Blackmyre of the Shady Glen was the one that scared him. An unusually large man from the swamps; towering at least six feat and had every part of him ridged and hard with muscle. His valyrian steel blade Gnarl made him look even more deadly. The ripples in the steel glinted in the faint light. The blade did indeed have a darker tint to it than Rippletorn. It was a shortsword, that much was plain, and it was clearly deadly.
"We should make camp here and then leave at sunrise" Howland said. They then began to set up the encampments and began to rest.
But he just couldn't. He couldn't simply rest. Jon found himself wondering about his real family. He knew that he was a Snow. But he never felt like it. The crannogmen didn't seem to notice or care. Would my real family care? Do I have any brothers or sisters? Will they hate me?
"Jon" He then turned his head back and saw it was only Meera. "Oh" "What are you doing? We're going to be leaving at first light" she said. "I know. I should be sleeping but I can't." "You're excited to meet them? Aren't you?" Meera said, her voice wavering a bit. "I want to know them. I want to see what they're like. Howland never told me much about them, other that they're good people" Jon said.
"I know they are. Whenever father talks about Lord Eddard Stark, its like he's singing a song. Why else would he name Little Edd after him?" she said, smiling. "I'm feeling kinda sleepy now. G'night, Meera" "G'night, Jon" she said, giving him a small but warm hug. As he went back into his tent, she found herself blushing.
Something about today seemed strange. But nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He then went to the Great Hall to break his fast with his family. Suddenly the doors of the hall opened and a guard walked in. "Pardon me my lord," he said, "but we have visitors."
"Who is it?" asked Ned. "Lord Howland Reed, with his children Lord Jojen and Lady Meera. And a small party of crannogmen"
Ned immediately stood up. "Let them in," he commanded. A short man wearing a green attire walked in. His faced looked haggard, which must have been from the long journey from the Greywater Watch, but still he smiled. Behind him stood his children. Jojen Reed must be about Sansa's age. He was short and slim and had unusual deep green eyes which were almost the colour of moss. Meera Reed must be about Robb's age, a woman grown. Her green eyes were not as unusual as her brothers. She was wearing the same attire as her father and brother, which hid any sign of her femininity. She was carrying an unusual spear with three prongs on her one shoulder. Ned then took note of the boy right beside Meera. Jon. Was this truly the same boy he had given to Howland to raise and care for? He had his face but all he can see is Lyanna's.
He then walked towards the Reeds and stopped in front of them. The Reeds immediately bent their knee. "My lord, we are at your service," said Howland then pulled him up. "I am having none of that from you," he said, and embraced him in a brotherly hug, both men laughing all the while.
"It's great to be back to this place after such a long time," Lord Howland said, "Ned, allow me to introduce my son and heir, Jojen Reed and my daughter Meera." He then nodded at them curtly. "Ser Bartimos Blackmyre, Ser Andrys Fenn and my ward Jon" Howland introduced his party. "You have come at a great time. Please sit with us and enjoy this feast." Lord Howland sat beside him, while his children sat between Arya and Rickon. And Jon sat rather uncomfortably between Robb and Theon.
"Do you fight with that spear, how do you do it?" Arya asked. "Well," Meera spoke, "you just try sticking them with the pointy ends."
"So, what do you think of them?" Meera asked, as they were shown to their chambers. "They all seem like good people. I've never known such warmth other then Greywater" Jon replied. "What about you, Jojen?" Jon asked the boy. "It's alright, I guess" Jojen said.
"I don't want to rest yet. I want to use their training grounds" Meera said. "That sounds like a challenge" Jon said. "It sounds like your demise, Jon" Jojen japed. "is that a fact?" Jon said, mockingly. "Let's go then!" Meera insisted, dragging the both of them to the training grounds.
As they found themselves there, Meera got out a blunt spear which was made from a dark oak shaft. Jon then took out his own which was made of bone with a blunt metal head. They both stood at opposite ends listening to the rules of the spar. "Alright, then. No killing shots. Its over when the other yields. Other than that you may do whatever you wish as long as no permanent injuries are resulted." Jojen said. And so he walked over to the side of the sparring ring, signalling for them to begin.
Both Meera and Jon used different techniques. While Meera kept her spear across her chest at a diagonal angle and her feet shoulder width apart and pointed forward, Jon used a more ancient form keeping his body sideways with the spear under his right shoulder and across his his right foot pointed forward but his left point to the side and his knees bent.
Observing from the side Lord stark spoke to Howland and Ser Rodrik softly "Both of their forms are impeccable especially for their age" "My Meera is one of the best fighters around. Swift and agile. Jon's a bit more graceful and been trying to learn swordsmanship from some of the few crannogmen that actually use swords. Like Ser Andrys and Ser Joseth" "I remember Joseth. Knighted by King Robert himself. Ser Swamp" Lord Stark and Reed then heartily chuckled.
And with such swiftness, Meera struck. Dashing forward before coming to a stop and swinging her spear in a downwards diagonal movement meant to slash Jon. However Jon was already moving dashing to the right of Meera. He rotates his wrist so his forearm is facing upwards and swings Halfway through the swing his left meets the shaft of the spear grabbing and adding more momentum. The two spears meet. Shaft on shaft. Before both fighters dash back putting distance between one-another. Jon initiates first this time with a simple Jab which Meera side steps and Jon having over-lunged and off balanced was hit by Meera's neck height swing of her spear. The blunt blade of her spear hitting his neck sure kill if it were sharp and no armour present. "Meera the Mighty is the winner!" Jojen announced. Jon and Meera both shook hands. Both having enjoyed the short spar they had. Jon did not feel sad about the loss for he knew he had over lunged the simple strike. And swore he would not do so next time.
"Alright, you won that" "I knew I would" Meera said smugly. "Children! Come here" Howland said. Meera, Jojen and Jon then approached the lords cautiously. Howland then had that same sad look. "You'll be staying here. All three of you" he said. "Why?" Jojen asked. "I want you to learn and become. Jojen, you will learn what it means to be a bannerman of the North here. Meera, I want you to thrive here and be the warrior I know you are" Howland said somberly. He then faced Jon. "Your place is here. For now. Be strong as you and I know you are" Howland said. "I will" Jon said, giving the man a tightening bear hug. "Good luck to you all" he said.
He then went to his chambers with Meera and Jojen following suit. "It's strange now that we're going to be staying here" Jojen said. While he didn't say it, the look on his face surely told everything: he was already missing Greywater Watch. "I know. But we'll have each other" Meera said. "Well, I'm rather tired. Good night, Jon. Good night, sister" Jojen said, hugging her tightly. "Good night Jojen" they muttered. "Good night, Meera. And I will beat you" Jon said. "Good night, Jon. And not bloody likely" Meera said, giving him a small hug.
As she went to her chambers, she couldn't help but wonder. Were his eyes always that grey?
Looks like Meera, Jon and Jojen are gonna be spending a lot of time with the Starks now.
Oh, and to KBlack25; Jon is actually aware of his heritage but has lived in blissful ignorance for the most part; he's heard rumour about him being the son of Eddard Stark from fellow crannogmen. All the more reason as to why he was excited to go to Winterfell. And the Reeds are the only family he's come to know and love