Author's Note: This chapter takes place on the same day as the last chapter and is all from Robb's POV. We get to see his view on the revelation about Jon, and then we will see what will happen next.
Chapter 8
Decisions
Robb
"You are not my son, Jon."
Those words echoed in Robb's ears. It had been a huge shock for him to hear his father admit that Jon was not his son but his nephew; which meant that to Robb, Jon was his cousin and not his brother. The words still seemed unreal to him. All this time, and he never once told us, he thought, taking a deep breath as he walked along the corridor. It must have been utter hell for him to do that. Robb was split on his father's decision; on the one hand he was disappointed, even angry, that his father would choose to lie to them, especially to his mother and Jon; but on the other hand he saw the wisdom behind it. I hope to the gods that I never find myself in such a situation, he thought as he opened a door that led to outside. Robb had stayed in the room with his mother for a short time after Jon and his father left, Jon to go to the godswood and Eddard to speak with the lords about what is going on with the conflict. After speaking with his mother about various things revolving around his childhood with Jon, Robb had decided to go outside and find Jon to speak with him. As he walked along the path that led to the godswood he noticed Jon's friends wandering around speaking with each other. He avoided them so that they would not ask him about what his father had wanted of them. Robb rushed into the godswood and walked along the path.
The godswood in Riverrun was a bright and airy place with redwoods and old elms as well as streams and nesting birds, and with the many flowers it was more like a garden than anything else. Its heart tree was unusual for godswoods south of the Neck; instead of being an oak tree the heart tree was a slender weirwood with a sad face carved onto it. Robb knew that when the Andals invaded thousands of years ago they had cut down or burned most of the weirwood trees south of the Neck, but a few places still had them such as Riverrun, Raventree Hall, Highgarden and even Casterly Rock. The one place that still holds a significant number of weirwood trees is the Isle of Faces in the middle of the Gods Eye lake south of Harrenhal, which according to what Robb has heard has many weirwoods all tended to by the order known as the green men. As he walked past the trees Robb thought about the godswood of Winterfell, which was at least ten-thousand years old if not more; three acres of forest with the ancient castle of Winterfell built around it full of many trees such as ash, chestnut, hawthorn, oaks, sentinel, ironwood and soldier pines all so close together to provide a dense canopy overhead, with old packed earth, humus and moss under foot and kept warm by the natural hot springs beneath that fed the pools, and at the very centre of the godswood was a pool of black water which was towered over by an ancient weirwood tree. Like all weirwoods its bark was as white as bone, its leaves a dark red colour, and it had its carved face, which was different for every weirwood; the weirwood of Winterfell had a long and melancholy face with dried sap within its deep cut eyes. Thinking about the godswood back in Winterfell made Robb think of home, and how Bran and Rickon were doing. Is Bran walking better now? he wondered. Is he able to walk without that damned cane? And what about Rickon? He must be fed up with us being so far away from him.
After a few minutes of walking Robb came across Jon kneeling before the weirwood tree, praying to the old gods. Robb watched him for a few moments before walking slowly over to him and kneeling down as well, his head bowed. Jon looked up to him as he had approached but did not stand up or speak, so they both stayed there, kneeling and praying. They may have both been born in the south, but Robb and Jon were of the North; they kept the old gods like Robb's father and most others from the North, not the Seven gods that Robb's mother prayed to. They stayed like that for a time before Jon stood up and wandered to a nearby bench and sat down. Robb stayed still for a moment before joining him.
"Talk to me Jon," he said after a moment. Jon kept quiet for a minute longer before taking a deep breath.
"I hate him," he said, his voice quiet. "He had fifteen years to tell me the truth. To tell your mother the truth. For fifteen years I have wanted to know who my mother was, and now I know." He trailed off then, looking up towards the heart tree, his face solemn and his eyes full of anger. "I can see why he did it," he continued after a moment. "But why could he not at least speak with Lady Stark? Let her know? At the very least she may have been kinder to me growing up." Robb sighed, putting his hand on Jon's shoulder.
"I..." he started before stopping himself. I can't say that I understand because I don't, he realised. "I can't begin to defend father's actions. I see why he did it the way he did. And I disagree with it." Jon looked at him when he said that. "He should have spoken with you alone to begin with, then told me and my mother afterwards. I think he should have done that a long time ago, before going south with the girls, hells before King Robert became fat." Jon snorted at the jape before chuckling lightly. "Arya and Sansa should not have found out the way they did either, but we can partly blame Lord Varys for that. What happened with him anyway?" Jon looked at him with a frown before sitting up straight.
"He was killed," he said. "That day when I found them being attacked by Stannis Baratheon's men, fath... Lord Stark told me that Varys was the first to fall. Took an arrow to the neck." Robb sighed as he slumped down into the back of the bench. After a moment Jon grunted. "I don't even know what to call him anymore," he said. "What do I call him? Lord Stark? Uncle?" Robb sighed at Jon's question.
"I don't know Jon," he said honestly. "I think you had better ask him that when you get a moment alone with him." Jon shook his head and stayed quiet for a short while. When he spoke, he did so with some malice in his voice.
"I want to hit him," he said. Robb blinked at that. "I want to punch him in the face, to kick him in the gut, to throttle him for what he has done."
"Then why don't you?" Robb asked as he stood up and looked down at him. "Why don't you go and do that?" Jon lifted his head and looked right into his eyes, his Stark grey looking into Robb's Tully blue.
"Because I'm better than that," he answered after a few seconds, his face softening as he calmed down. "I've always been better than just lashing out at people when I'm angry. Plus your mother was there." Robb shrugged his shoulders at that remark.
"I'm sure that she would have turned a blind eye on this occasion," he responded. Jon chuckled at that before looking off to the side.
"Why was she so..." Jon started before standing up and facing him. "Your mother, why was she kind to me earlier when we were all there?" Robb folded his arms and looked down at his boots, a slight smirk creeping up onto his face.
"When father's letter arrived telling us that all of you were on your way, mother's face was twisted with annoyance," he said as he looked back up at Jon. "She was calling you a deserter for not being at the Wall. After I read the letter myself I got her to calm down and look at the facts. She did not like that I was telling her to read the letter properly." Jon sniggered at that as Robb chuckled at the thought. "We read what father wrote about his escape and the girls being with him, and we read what he said about you and your friends. Mother just stood there looking daft, as if it were impossible for her to comprehend the idea that you were saving family. I said as much to her, and I used her own House words against her when I told her that," he finished, and Jon cringed.
"I'm surprised that you're still on your feet for doing that," he said, and Robb snorted.
"So am I if I'm honest," he said before they both burst out laughing. They began to walk around the godswood, walking close together as they did. "Anyway, after we had finished arguing mother agreed to be at least kind towards you, for a while anyway. Although I imagine that with everything we've learned today that she's feeling disgusted with herself for being anything but." Jon said nothing in response, and Robb looked at him. "I won't take offence if you harbour any hate towards my mother," he said when he felt things getting tense.
"I don't hate her, surprisingly," Jon said. "I know some wouldn't blame me if I did. I didn't like her, and to a degree I still don't. I resent how she has treated me, but I can't hate her." Robb was surprised at Jon's admission, but said nothing in reply. They both remained silent for a time as they walked around the trees of Riverrun's godswood, reflecting on all they had learned today. After a while Robb remembered why he had sought Jon out. He cleared his throat and looked at him, taking on a serious look as he did.
"Listen Jon, I know things have changed for you," he said as he brushed his hand through his hair. "I know that, with this... I know that you may feel that everything has changed, and you're right." Jon shifted uncomfortably before looking away from him. "But not everything has to be different," he continued before Jon could speak. "We may be cousins, but you'll always be a brother to me." Robb put a hand on Jon's shoulder and gently squeezed it. "From this day until my last, you'll always be my brother, no matter what. You will always find a place at my side. And Arya's as well." Jon chortled at that before putting his own hand on Robb's shoulder.
"You're right Robb," he said as he looked at him. "I know you're right. Everything else has changed, but not us. We just know the truth. But I'll always see you as a brother. I can't think of you as anything else." A smirk appeared on Jon's face then. "Well, apart from being a pain in my arse from time to time." Robb frowned at that before he burst out laughing, and soon the two of them were laughing away like lunatics.
After their talk in the godswood Robb led Jon to the great hall to get some food. Along the way they were joined by Sam and Pyp, who were both talking about some mummers troupe that Pyp said he used to be with. Once inside they found Grenn sat at one of the lower tables with a bowl of stew in his hands. The five of them sat together and ate and spoke, talking about anything other than the conflict. Robb listened as Pyp spoke of his time with the mummers troupe he spoke about earlier, telling them that he has heard so many different people that he can tell where someone is from by their accent alone. Pyp also gave a demonstration of his skills, taking on a Stormlands accent before adopting a Reachman's accent. Robb and Jon laughed at Pyp's antics. Robb then asked Sam about his family, recognising his surname as being that of a House from the Reach. Sam was uncomfortable with talking about his father, who was the reason for him going to the Wall in the first place, but he spoke of his mother and sisters with some fondness. He even spoke of his little brother Dickon, who was now the heir to Horn Hill. Right now they were listening to Grenn as he spoke of his past.
"Well, I was left by my da when I was about three," he said after he drank his ale to wash the last of his stew down. "I lived on the farm where he left me until a wandering crow came to recruit folk for the Watch. At the time I was nursing a broken heart."
"You never told us this," Jon said before he sipped his own drink. Grenn shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, none o' you asked," he replied, earning a couple of laughs. "Anyway, there was this girl, Brida. Gods she was lovely, same age as me, with dirty blonde hair halfway down her back, brown eyes and a pretty smile. We messed about as kids quite often, and when we got a bit older..." Grenn sniggered as he reached for his drink. "Well, let's just say that we became more than familiar with each other." Robb laughed joyfully at the thought, as did Jon and Pyp. Sam however just had an envious look in his eye.
"How... how many times did you... you know, did you do it?" he asked nervously. Grenn looked at him blankly before shrugging his shoulders.
"As many times as we could," he stated. He then looked down at his empty bowl, his face going serious. "And then she came up to me one day, tears running down her face, and told me she was pregnant." Everyone fell quiet then, not sure what to say to that. Robb scratched his chin before clearing his throat.
"What did you do?" he asked him. Grenn looked up at him then and Robb could see anguish in his eyes.
"There was nothing I could do," he said. "I told her that I would marry her, but her father had wed her quite quickly to some merchant that he knew. She was married before she could speak to me. Her father then approached me and told me to sling me hook the first time someone came looking for labourers or soldiers. A few days after Brida left the farm we got told that a merchant's caravan had been attacked. It was the same merchant that Brida was wed off to." Robb looked away then, anger filling him as he thought on what could have happened. Soon enough Grenn told them what he heard had happened. "The merchant was dead, his throat slit ear to ear. His guards were all dead, and there was no sign of any women. None at all. I don't need to guess what happened." Robb looked back to him and saw the others looking at him with sympathy in their eyes. "A fortnight after that the wandering crow arrived looking for volunteers. I walked up to him before Brida's father could march me up to him. And the rest is history." Grenn took his cup and downed the rest of his ale before putting the cup down. Robb turned to the side and waved a serving girl over.
"Get us some more ale please," he told her. The girl took off, and several minutes later she reappeared with a flagon filled with ale.
As Robb and the others drank they were joined by Theon, who looked quite pleased with himself. Robb did not need to ask him what he had been up to as it was clear on his face. Theon sat down and began to talk with the others, and even Jon joined in on the conversation, which Robb was surprised with.
"So then Snow, did you get a look at any pretty wildling girls while you were up there freezing your balls off?" he asked him. Robb rolled his eyes at his friend's question while Jon shot him a glare.
"None of us here got to see any," he said. "Recruits aren't allowed north of the Wall, not until they take their vows, which I didn't." Theon leaned back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest and smiling in a cocky manner.
"Ah well, I've met a rather lovely girl from over the Wall," he said before turning to look at Robb. "Both of us have haven't we Robb?" Robb stared at Theon with a raised brow before looking back at Jon.
"A few months ago now, when I went out riding in the Wolfswood with Theon and Bran, after we were told it would be safe for him to ride, we came across a band of wildlings," Robb said, frowning as he remembered that day.
"What happened?" Jon asked. Robb looked up at him.
"Bran didn't tell you I take it?" he asked him, to which Jon shook his head. "Well, I went to find Grey Wind and Summer after they had howled to let us know that they had caught their food. Not my best move as I left Bran by himself. When I came back I saw about five wildlings surrounding him. I drew my sword and challenged them, and three of them approached me when Grey Wind and Summer attacked them. Two of them came for me, a man and a woman. I killed the man, slashing his belly open before cutting the side of his neck. The woman put up more of a fight, but Grey Wind snatched her spear from her hands and I got my sword to her throat. Then the wildling leader was all that was left, and he held a knife to Bran's throat." Robb took a drink while Jon stared at him, eyes wide with shock.
"How did you get out of that?" he asked.
"Well, Theon's timely arrival and reckless decision making resulted in the wildling dying from an arrow through his back," Robb said, shooting a glare at Theon who rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Come on Robb, I knew the risk I was taking," he said defensively. "I adjusted my aim to make sure that I wouldn't hit Bran and I loosed off my arrow. No harm done."
"If your arrow had been loosed at the wrong moment..." Robb began before he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"It was a risk son," he heard his father say. Robb looked up over his shoulder to see his father standing with Ice secured over his back and Hallis Mollen beside him. "We have all taken risks in the past. It just so happened that Theon got lucky." Robb looked over to Theon who had a wide cocky smirk on his face.
"See, I told you Robb..." he began before being cut off by Eddard.
"But at the same time it was reckless," he stated, and Theon's cocky smirk disappeared quicker than it had appeared. "Despite the fact that you adjusted your aim Theon, the man could have still slit Bran's throat if the blade was close enough to his throat. Even if you had got close enough to behead him, his arm could've twitched just enough to do some damage to Bran." Theon looked off to his side then, looking deeply ashamed Robb thought. After a moment Robb stood up and looked at his father.
"Do you need to see me just now father?" he asked. Eddard smiled before shaking his head slightly.
"Actually I was wanting to speak with Jon," he said. Robb looked at Jon who looked quite uncomfortable then.
"Go on Jon," he encouraged. "We can manage without you for a short time." Jon stood up slowly before looking at Robb, and then he nodded his head.
"Of course," he said as he walked off to join Eddard. Robb watched as Jon and his father walked away, no doubt to discuss certain things further. Robb hoped that Jon would act calmly and listen to whatever Eddard had to say before reacting.
"Well then," Theon spoke up, although not as cockily as he normally would. "Anyone fancy some fresh air?"
Ten minutes later Robb, Theon and the others walked out of the great hall and made their way to the tilt yard where some of the men were exercising. Men-at-arms were practising their sword fighting techniques while knights checked their weapons and archers worked to improve their marksmanship. For half an hour Robb walked past people as they trained, some acknowledging him as he walked past.
"Blimey, look at that," Grenn said pointing off to the scene in front of them. Robb looked at where Grenn pointed off to to see Dacey sparring with her mother. Maege held her spiked mace firmly as Dacey charged at her, swinging her own mace overhead before bringing it down to try and strike her mother's right arm. "I didn't know there was more than one woman fighting with you lot." Robb chuckled at Grenn's words.
"My father wouldn't be pleased to see this," Sam said. "He always said that a woman's war was fought on the birthing bed and it is a man's place to fight on the battlefield." Robb looked over at the fat boy and stared at him. Sam began to shuffle uncomfortably under Robb's stare.
"I take it Lord Tarly has never met Lady Mormont or her daughter then?" he said after a moment.
"He's had the pleasure of meeting me once," Maege called over from where she was stood training with her eldest daughter. Robb turned to see Maege looking at them as Dacey tried to take advantage of her looking away. Even though she was looking at him Maege was still paying enough attention to her sparring partner to raise her mace to block Dacey's strike, which she then countered by sweeping her boot behind Dacey's leg and pushing her daughter back, tripping her up. Robb winced slightly as his friend yelped in pain as she hit the ground, landing on her bad shoulder. Maege then turned to face Sam. "Your idiot of a father said those words to me years ago. When Lord Stark marched to Storm's End to lift the siege there and relieve Stannis Baratheon and his garrison, I was stood with him and my brother as the lords of the Reach bent the knee to us and swore fealty to House Baratheon. At some point during the talks your father walked up to my brother and told him that he should wed me off to a man who could keep me tied to the marriage bed. He then said to me what you just said, and I floored him with one punch to the face and told him that Bear Island women can fight better than most men as well as birth children and that if he doesn't like it he can always take it out on the Ironborn and the wildlings." Robb looked over to Sam who looked shocked at Maege's story.
"What have the Ironborn and wildlings got to do with women from Bear Island fighting?" Grenn spoke up then. Robb rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word Dacey spoke up, drawing his attention.
"The Ironborn and the wildlings have always plagued Bear Island," she said as she walked over while rubbing her bad shoulder. It had healed enough to allow her to resume training again, but Robb knew that it would still hurt a bit. "For thousands of years they have raided our shores, and seemed to pick times when our men were off fishing, leaving us women to learn how to fight." Dacey started to explain the history of her House's ancestral lands to Grenn and Pyp while Sam and Robb walked off with Maege. At that point Robb realised that Theon had taken off, and as he looked around he saw the Greyjoy heir at the archery boards with a group of young aspiring archers.
"I feel sorry for your brother's friend Robb," Maege said as they walked off. "Once Dacey starts, she never shuts up about Bear Island. Almost as bad as me I think." Robb wanted to agree with that last remark, but decided against it. After a few moments of walking Maege turned to look at him, her face serious. "So, has your father spoken with you about how to resolve the matter of the Dreadfort now that Lord Roose is dead?" she asked him. Robb looked off to Sam and noticed that he was stood wide eyed and frozen at the mention of the Dreadfort. What horror stories has Jon told you Sam? he wondered before he answered Maege's question.
"I have not had the chance to speak of that matter my lady," he said. Robb had been planning to ask about what to do with the lordship of the Dreadfort but then his father had revealed the truth about Jon, and Robb had forgotten all about it. "I will be speaking to him as soon as I next see him, once he has done talking with Jon." Maege nodded her head briefly at that before smirking.
"You've still got a lot to learn Robb," she said before looking at Sam. "You both have." Before either of them could respond to her a Riverrun guardsman approached them.
"Lord Robb," the man said. "Your lord father has requested your presence." Robb looked at the guardsman and nodded his head.
"I'll be there soon," he said. "Did my father want Theon Greyjoy there as well or did he just mention me?" The guardsman looked blankly before nodding his head.
"Yes milord," he said. "He wanted Lord Theon as well, but I already saw him and told him of Lord Stark's summons."
"Very good," Robb replied. He then looked at Maege who had an amused look about her.
"You'd better go and see what your father wants Robb," she said as she began to walk away.
Robb walked through the corridors of Riverrun for fifteen minutes before he found himself in the same room as his father and some of the other lords. Greatjon was standing there with an angry expression on his face, which did not sit well with Robb. Lord Rickard Karstark was stood glaring at the table in front of him, as if that table had offended him greatly. Galbart Glover was stood with his arms folded as he stepped away from the table. Robb's uncle Ser Edmure was sat on the chair next to the table while his great-uncle Ser Brynden was standing with his back against the wall. Theon was standing just in front of him, and Robb walked over to stand beside him.
"You asked to see me father?" he said as he stopped beside Theon. Eddard looked at him with a grim expression. After a quiet moment he pointed to the table between them.
"A letter from Renly, addressed to you Robb," he answered. Robb looked down at the top of the table and then realised that the letter was what Lord Rickard was glaring at. He stepped closer and looked down at the letter, turning it around so he could read it properly.
To the noble Robb Stark of Winterfell,
I am immensely pleased at your victory over Lord Tywin Lannister at the Trident river. I have no doubt that you must be so proud of such a glorious achievement. It is not every day that one defeats one of the most feared men in the Seven Kingdoms. Your father will be most proud of you.
In regards to your recent letter, I must decline your invitation to ride for Riverrun. Aside from the fact that it is such an unnecessary distance to travel I need to stay with the army that I am raising to engage the would-be King Joffrey. I think you will agree with me that the Lannisters have had too much power recently, and need to be removed.
It would be against our interests to divert attention from the real prize of King's Landing, and therefore I cannot ride out to entertain you and your fellow lords. Rest assured that I will do everything in my power to free your father Ned Stark as well as your sisters, Sansa and Ara.
I look forward to meeting with you in the future, both as your King and as your friend,
Renly of the House Baratheon
The First of His name,
King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men,
Lord of the Seven Kingdoms,
and Protector of the Realm
The letter had clearly been rushed considering how untidy the writing was, but after he finally managed to read it Robb was furious with what he read. He read it once more before passing it to Theon beside him, who read it slowly. After a moment Theon snorted.
"The prat can't spell Arya's name let alone write properly," he said with a chuckle. Looking at his father told Robb that he was not very happy either.
"This is no laughing matter Theon," Eddard spoke, his voice firm and authoritative. Theon had the decency to look remorseful before he spoke again.
"Forgive me, my lord," he said. "I did not mean to make light of this." Eddard looked from Theon to Robb, then to the other men in the room.
"No Theon, you did not," he said, his tone kinder then. "But Renly seems to think that this is a game. Not enough for him to rush his response to Robb's letter, but to assume that everyone will support him instead of his older brother Stannis is just another display of his foolishness. And that's before taking into account his promise of a hundred swords to me the day before my arrest." Robb heard a slight bitterness in his father's tone. "And this nonsense about King's Landing being the real prize?" Eddard shook his head, an annoyed look on his face. "Japes and games is all he seems to think about. Never did I think that the day would come that I would curse Robert and his kin." Robb frowned at those words, surprised at the venom in his father's voice. Something has changed you father, he realised. Has your time in the black cells made you distrust those of the south? Before he could speak a word Eddard looked at Theon. "Theon, go and find both my wife Lady Catelyn and my son Jon," he spoke. Hearing those words made Robb's eyes widen. Despite everything he's said he still calls Jon 'son'. Have you at least told him that father? Or will you only say that with me and mother around? Robb shook his head at his thoughts, and felt some amount of shame for thinking like that. "I want them to go to the great hall as soon as they can."
"Yes my lord," Theon spoke with a bow before leaving the room. As he walked away Eddard sighed.
"It's time for us all to speak about this conflict and where we are going with it," he said as he walked to the table and took a seat. "All of you, go find everyone else and have them gather in the great hall. Robb, stay here for now, I need your opinion on a couple of matters." The others all left the room, leaving Robb alone with his father. Greatjon patted him on the shoulder as he walked past while Ser Brynden gave him a small smile. Once it was just them Eddard gestured to him to take a seat.
"What matters do you need my opinion on?" he asked. Eddard sighed before looking at him.
"The successions of Hornwood and the Dreadfort," he said. "I would like to hear what your thoughts are on those matters." Robb shifted on his seat to get himself comfortable and then he looked his father in the eye.
"I have not thought much on the Dreadfort, as Lord Bolton only died a few days ago," he said, keeping his voice steady while under his father's stern gaze. "But I have some thoughts on Hornwood." Eddard nodded his head.
"Go on son," he said encouragingly. Robb took a deep breath and then began.
"Ser Helman Tallhart's brother, Ser Leobald, is married to Lady Berena Hornwood, Lord Halys's sister," Robb started. "She has two sons by Ser Leobald, Brandon and Beren. One of them could be taken to Hornwood and given the Hornwood name as they are descendants of Hornwood through the female line, so that is one solution. The other solution lies with the bastard son of Lord Halys, a lad called Larence Snow. Of course we would need consent from Lord Halys's widow, Lady Donella, who might not like her husband's bastard becoming heir." Eddard leaned forward then, putting one hand on the table while the other stayed by his side.
"So that gives us three possible candidates to resolve the Hornwood succession," he said, sounding impressed. "Well done Robb. How would you go about resolving it though?" Robb gulped at his father's question before thinking it over. After a minute he shook his head.
"I must admit that I am torn at the moment," he said. "Brandon Tallhart is the older of the three at thirteen, having been born just over a year after the end of Robert's Rebellion, and Larence is twelve. But as Benfred is Ser Helman's only son it might be wiser to favour Beren, even though he is nearly ten. So I would choose either Larence or Beren." Eddard raised a brow at Robb's choice.
"But not Brandon?" he asked.
"If something were to happen to Benfred then Brandon would become the Heir to Torrhen's Square in his stead," Robb replied, uncomfortable with the idea of Benfred dying. Robb has known Benfred for many years and has played with him as a child in the past whenever Benfred travelled with his father Ser Helman from their home to Winterfell. The thought of anything foul happening to Benfred made Robb feel slightly sick. "So with that in mind, it would have to be either Larence or Beren." Eddard nodded his head before speaking.
"We would need to learn more about both boys before making such a decision," he stated. "At his age Beren can still be taught much about being a lord, so as long as he shows promise then he would be an ideal choice. Larence is a bit older, but he could learn just as fast and could come to lordship quicker." Eddard smiled slightly at this. "Good reasoning there Robb," he said with some pride in his voice. "You're doing well so far." Robb smiled back before looking away to the side and frowning.
"As for the Dreadfort," Robb began. "All I know is that Lord Bolton has a bastard son named Ramsey, who from what I have heard is quite an unpleasant person." He looked back at his father who leaned back in his seat.
"In what way is Ramsey unpleasant?" Eddard asked. Robb sighed before leaning forward in his seat, clasping his hands together.
"From what I have heard Ramsey Snow is quite a sadistic fellow. He is rumoured to have an unhealthy lust for peasant women. One rumour I have heard from one of Lord Karstark's men is that Lord Bolton's bastard has even abducted such women and played foul games with them, some ending in rape and murder. There is even talk about him flaying his victims." Robb looked at his father the whole time he talked, and spoke calmly as he did. Eddard frowned as he spoke, and when Robb finished he stood up, wincing as he did.
"Rumours do not normally describe a person's true character," he said as he walked around the table. "Anyone can start a rumour about someone for any reason, good or ill. But in some cases there is a grain of truth to rumours." Eddard stopped and looked down at Robb, his hands held behind his back. "How many rumours have you heard about Ramsey Snow?" he asked him. Robb stood up from his seat and faced his father, looking into his old grey eyes.
"Many," he said. "And every single rumour that I have heard has spoken ill of Ramsey Snow, including a couple from Lord Bolton's men." His father held his gaze before nodding his head.
"Then we will have to learn more about this bastard of Bolton's," he said. "If any of these rumours are true, then having such a claimant to the Dreadfort will be bad for the North. So if we cannot make Ramsey the next Lord Bolton, what do we do about this issue?" Robb thought about this for a minute, trying to figure out a good solution. He knew his father was testing him, seeing what he would decide as a means of judging how well he was doing with being a lord, and while a part of Robb was annoyed with him for it he also enjoyed it as it made him feel like he was being trusted with more responsibilities. After a moment Robb answered his father's question.
"If we cannot find an heir of the Bolton line then we have to give the Dreadfort to a lord that we trust," he said. "We would have to take some of the lands and divide them up between loyal lords, such as the Umbers and Karstarks who are north of the Bolton lands, and the Manderlys and Hornwoods who are south of those lands. As for the Dreadfort itself, we need a man we trust to govern the lands sworn to the Lord of the Dreadfort. A respected man, preferably with a good name." Robb kept eye contact with his father the whole time he spoke as Eddard walked around the room. After he finished talking Eddard stopped by a bookshelf and rested his hand on it before looking back at him.
"You've learned a lot from me over the last few years Robb," he said with a slight smile. Robb inclined his head at that and smiled in return. Eddard tapped his fingers against the shelf before turning around and walking to the door. "Now, we have dallied here long enough. Let's go down to the great hall and meet with our bannermen. We have a decision to make, and we need to come to an agreement soon." Robb watched his father walk out of the room, and after a moment's hesitation he followed him, closing the door to the room behind him. He had opened his mouth to talk but then decided to keep his peace; he wanted to speak with his father about Jon, but he was still trying to think about what he wanted to say to his father. My head is still in such a mess over this, he thought. I want to lash out at him myself, but that won't achieve a damn thing. And I still don't know what to say to him about this. He looked at his father ahead of him, who had stopped at a door to let him catch up. Gods damn it all, I can't deal with this just now, he decided. I'll leave it for now. I need to focus on the night ahead.
Robb and his father made their way down to the great hall, where his mother and Jon were both waiting. Theon was stood nearby, with Harrion and Torrhen next to him. Smalljon and Dacey were talking with Lord Dondarrion, who then approached Eddard and bowed slightly to him.
"Lord Stark," the Lightning Lord said. "I am glad to see you free of the Lannisters clutches. I am sorry that I failed you in trying to bring Clegane to justice. If I had realised that we were being lured into a trap..." Eddard gripped the man's shoulder and cut him off.
"The fault is not yours Lord Dondarrion," Eddard said. "If I had known that it was a ploy of Tywin Lannister's to try to lure me out then I would've tried a different approach myself." Lord Dondarrion bowed his head at those words. During his journey to Riverrun Robb had spoken with his prisoners when he could, and just before reaching Harrenhal he learned from Tywin Lannister himself that he had been sending men like Clegane to sack the Riverlands in a bid to draw Robb's father out from the capitol so he could capture him and trade him for his son Tyrion after Robb's mother took the Imp prisoner. Upon learning that Robb told the lords what he was told, and the news was met with outrage. Greatjon had vowed to tear Tywin Lannister in half for such a ploy, and it took both Robb and Smalljon to calm him down. Word quickly spread among the ranks of the Lannister Lord's ploy, and it was soon common knowledge. "I have heard that you led the men in the assault in the Whispering Wood?" Robb watched as Lord Dondarrion flinched at the reminder of what the man felt was a personal failing on his part. Robb did not blame him for the foolishness of Ryman Frey, but the Stormlander seemed to think it was a failing he was responsible for.
"Aye my lord," he said.
"And you did brilliantly Lord Dondarrion," Robb cut in before he could berate himself again. "We may have lost men, but your charge may very well have saved more men from being slaughtered." Lord Dondarrion smiled at Robb's praise and then stood to the side to allow both Robb and his father to walk on to the high table. Eddard sat down two chairs along from the high seat (which Ser Edmure would take in his father's stead as acting Lord of Riverrun), with Catelyn sitting on his left and Robb taking the seat on his right. To Robb's right sat Theon and then Jon; to his mother's left sat her brother Ser Edmure and her uncle Ser Brynden beside him. Soon after all of the others began to take their own seats. Brynden and Lucas Blackwood sat as far away from Lord Jonos Bracken as they could, while Lord Jason Mallister sat beside Lord Stevron Frey, who since exiling his own son looked even older than he did before. Galbart Glover and his brother Robett sat next to the Blackwood men with Lady Maege Mormont and her daughter Dacey sitting next to them. All three of the Karstarks were sitting beside the Mormont women with Greatjon Umber and his son Smalljon seated beside them. As he looked at the seating Robb found it odd that the Glover brothers sat far from the Umbers, who their House has had a fierce rivalry with for centuries, but willingly sat beside the Blackwoods, who before being exiled from the North thousands of years ago were petty kings in the Wolfswood whom the Glovers had waged war with a few times as well. And House Stark made them all give up their crowns thousands of years ago, he mused. They all bend to my family with little or no problems at all, but put them in a room by themselves and they will never get on at all, let alone come to a decision. Robb knew that they would argue once the talking began.
And argue they did. Every lord had a right to talk, and they did just that. They talked, and shouted, and cursed, and japed, and threatened, and walked out of the room before coming back a time later either having calmed down a lot or just becoming less angry. Everyone had the right to say their piece, and everyone did. Robb watched the whole thing quietly, as did his father. Not once did either speak out. When Greatjon and Galbart Glover started to threaten one another neither Robb nor Eddard spoke up. When Jonos Bracken argued with Brynden and Lucas Blackwood neither Robb nor Eddard spoke up. For hours the meeting went on, right up into the night. Thankfully not one lord had drawn a sword in anger yet, which Robb was grateful for, but he knew that given time someone would draw their steel. Some lords argued to take the fight head on to King's Landing and lay siege to it, while others said they should assault the Westerlands, an idea that Robb agreed with. Lord Stevron said they should stay where they were and see what happens; Riverrun stands athwart the Lannisters main route to King's Landing, so they could all sit and watch and launch attacks against the Westermen should they try to reinforce the capitol. The Glovers agreed with him, as did some others, but Greatjon would have none of it, stating that they should march on to the borders and smash the Westermen before they march. Lord Brynden Blackwood suggested that they should go further and sack the Westerlands, and go so far as to take Casterly Rock. Of course whatever a Blackwood suggests a Bracken argues against, and Lord Jonos stated that they should march south and pledge fealty to King Renly.
"Renly is not the King!" Robb called out then, deciding to add his voice to the debate. The great hall fell silent then as everyone turned to him. Robb felt his father's eyes on him as well.
"Surely you don't mean to hold to Joffrey my lord? He wanted to put your father to the sword," Galbart Glover spoke up.
"That makes the bastard evil, but I fail to see how that makes Renly a king," Robb replied.
"Renly has been crowned," Ser Marq Piper said, standing up. The blond haired knight who is the Heir to Pinkmaiden Castle looked around the hall. "We have the might of the North and the Riverlands assembled here, and Renly has both Storm's End and Highgarden backing him, and the Dornish won't be laggardly. Once the Vale joins us properly, Joffrey and his mother will be surrounded by the combined might of six of the kingdoms. Why should we not bend to Renly my lords?" Before Robb could answer his father stood up, hissing slightly in pain no doubt from putting too much pressure on his leg from standing up too quickly.
"Because he is the next in line Ser Marq," Eddard said, his voice echoing through the hall. "By the laws of succession Stannis is the rightful King. Renly can only ever be his heir until he finally has a son."
"Lord Stark is right," Maege Mormont said from her seat as she slammed her cup down hard on the table. "Stannis's claim is the stronger." There was some muttering of agreement then from various lords.
"Do you mean to declare us for Stannis my lord?" Lord Karstark asked gruffly then. Robb looked up at his father who he noticed was looking around the hall at everyone that was sat there.
"No," he said. "Stannis Baratheon's men attacked me and my daughters as we were making our way to Harrenhal. Those who travelled with us were cut down without mercy, even those who were clearly not combatants." Gasps of shock and anger rippled throughout the hall then. "I will not support Renly either. Before I was arrested he offered me one-hundred swords to secure the Red Keep if I aided him. I told him that I would need those swords the following day when I went to take Joffrey and his mother into custody, but I would not support him in usurping his brother. Stannis I have been informed has taken to a foreign religion and intends to make it the dominant faith. His advisor, a red priestess from across the Narrow Sea, has already converted him and wants to burn the septs and the godswoods as offerings to her god." Cries of outrage went up across the hall then, and Robb felt a cold anger surging through him at this news. Eddard held his hand up for silence, and everyone complied. "Renly has the backing of Mace Tyrell, and is just as bad as Robert was when it comes to tourneys and other extravagances that the Seven Kingdoms could do without." A silence fell across the hall then, before Dacey spoke up.
"So we have a king who would make us forsake our gods and burn down our godswoods, as well as the septs," she said, hastily adding the last part. "And we have a king who would drag all of us into financial ruin. Neither seem like good choices to me." There were more murmurs of agreement then, before Lord Stevron stood up.
"My lord, if I may?" he asked, looking at Robb's father who nodded for him to continue. "We are in a rather unique position. We hold a man who was once regarded as the most powerful man in all of the Seven Kingdoms. That alone negates one threat, and leaves this conflict with only three effective factions. I say we let both Baratheon Kings fight over the Iron Throne while Joffrey and his mother try to defend it. We have all heard what Lord Eddard has said about Queen Cersei's children. I say we let those factions fight each other before either allying or fighting whomever is left. And let's go further. We hold leverage over the Westerlands in the form of their liege lord, so let us convince them to send what's left of their forces to fight against the Baratheons, making that fight a proper three-way fight without us needing to have our own blood spilled. My lords, if you let me go to Casterly Rock and convince the remaining Lannisters to direct their knights and men-at-arms to that conflict..." Lord Stevron was cut off by most of the lords there.
"Craven!" Greatjon roared, the idea of sending others to do his fighting for him not sitting well with him.
"Begging for a truce will make us look weak to the likes of those curs!" came the voice of Maege Mormont.
"Stuff any ideas for ransoms, we must not give up our prisoners!" Lord Rickard bellowed, no doubt thinking that Lord Stevron would have released Tywin Lannister in return for the Westerland's forces marching on the Baratheons.
"Why not make peace?" Robb heard his mother call out then, silencing everyone. Robb stood up and looked across at his mother, noticing that his father was also looking at her.
"My lady, the Lannisters sacked my grandfather's lands, put his small folk to the sword, burned the fields of his farms, and their puppet on the throne wanted to take the head of my father, your husband," he said to her. Robb then drew his sword from his hip and placed it on the table in front of him before pointing to it. "This is the only peace that I will give the Lannisters." The lords in the hall roared out in approval at his words, banging their fists on the tables; some of them were even drawing their swords in support of Robb. Eddard turned to look at him and raised a brow, and gave a slight smirk at his boldness. Robb inclined his head before taking his seat again. His father sat down also, but his mother remained standing.
"We set out to get your father and sisters free and to drive the Lannisters out of my father's lands Robb," she said. "We have managed to achieve both of our goals, and we have the Westerlands at our mercy. Must we have more bloodshed?" Robb heard a chuckle from the tables in front and turned to look at Greatjon.
"You are a woman, my lady, and most women do not understand these things," he said.
"You are of the gentle sex. A man has a need for vengeance," the Lord of Karhold said from beside Greatjon, drawing looks of disgust from both Mormont women sat next to him.
"Greatjon, Rickard," Robb heard his father speak in a warning tone then, and Lord Rickard bowed his head apologetically while Greatjon just smirked like a mischievous boy.
"Give me Cersei Lannister Lord Karstark, and I'll show you how gentle a woman can be," Catelyn said. Robb noticed Dacey smirking at his mother's words while Maege nodded her approval. "I might not understand war my lords, but I understand futility. With there being three other sides in this conflict why should we march out again? The lords of the Westerlands will not set foot in the Riverlands while we hold Tywin Lannister and both of his sons and Cersei will command them to help reinforce King's Landing. Both of the Baratheons will be so focused on each other and the Iron Throne that they will not care a whit for us." Robb looked at his mother as she turned to face him. "Robb, I want you to go back home, to kiss a girl and marry and have children of your own, to grow old and secure without having to go to war. Ned, I want us all to return to Winterfell and see our children grow and marry and give us grandchildren. We don't need to have our own spill their blood anymore, not when there is no need." Catelyn looked back to the hall again, and when she spoke her voice was almost pleading. "I want us all to go home my lords, and live our lives with our loved ones in peace."
There was a silence throughout the great hall of Riverrun after Catelyn's little speech. Robb was impressed with his mother's words, and even saw the wisdom. He had no doubt that his father was of an equal mind and just wanted to go back home, but Robb felt that he was not finished with this fight just yet. Not while that incest-born bastard still sat the throne. Before either he or his father could speak the Blackfish spoke out.
"Peace is sweet my lady, but on who's terms? It's no good hammering your sword into a ploughshare if you must forge it anew come the morrow." Robb clasped his hands in front of his face to hide the slight smirk at his great-uncle's words.
"What did my Eddard die for if I am to go back to Karhold with nought but his bones?" Lord Rickard said. Robb looked at him and noticed that both Harrion and Torrhen looked down at the table in front of them, their eyes full of sorrow as they remembered their dead brother.
"Gregor Clegane sacked my castle, burned my fields, put my small folk to the sword and raped one of my daughters," Jonos Bracken stated, rising up as he did. "That foul beast may lie dead, and I am forever grateful to Ser Wylis for bringing justice upon him, but those who sent him still need to be punished. Or am I now to bow to those who sent him?" The Lord of Stone Hedge spoke with anger in his voice, clearly devastated by what has happened to his family.
"Bracken's right," the new Lord Blackwood said, surprising Robb. He watched as Brynden stood up from his seat. "We need to make sure the lions are dealt with properly. Those bastards brought death to our lands, we should pay them back in their own coin; sack their mines of all gold, take their crops and livestock for our own, and burn their wretched castles to the ground." Lord Brynden spoke with a fury in his voice, a blood-lust for vengeance that he has had since his father Lord Tytos died.
"And whatever the rest of you lords may have decided for yourselves, I will never call a Lannister my king!" Ser Marq declared loudly for all to hear.
"Nor I!" came the voice of little Lyman Darry, a boy the same age as Robb's brother Bran, and after the death of his father Ser Raymun Darry he was now the Lord of Darry. "I never will!" Robb admired the little boy for his courage, but at the same time he felt sorry for him. The last male of his House. If he dies then House Darry dies with him the poor lad. Soon after that the lords began to shout again, arguing about what to do and who to support. It lasted for only five minutes when Greatjon Umber stood up from his chair, smashing his giant fist into the table beneath him.
"MY LORDS!" he bellowed, his voice drowning out every other voice in the great hall. "Here's what I say to these two kings," he said as he walked around the table to stand in front of Robb and his father. In the next moment Greatjon spat onto the floor, earning a few chuckles. "Renly Baratheon is nothing to me. Nor Stannis neither. Why should they rule over me and mine from some flowery seat in Highgarden or Dorne?" He looked around the room, waiting for an answer, but none was forthcoming. "What do they know of the Wall, or the Wolfswood, or the Barrows of the First Men? Even their gods are wrong!" That statement got quite a few laughs from most of the lords, apart from those who kept the Seven. "The Others take the Lannisters too, I've had a bellyful of them." As the laughing died down Robb watched as Greatjon reached over his back and drew that massive greatsword of his free of its scabbard. "Why shouldn't we rule ourselves again?" he said, and Robb felt a chill run up his spine as he realised what the man was doing. "It was the dragons we bowed to, and now the dragons are dead!" Greatjon then turned to face Robb's father and pointed the tip of his greatsword at him. "There, sits the only king I'll bend my knee to milords. The King in the North!" And with that the Lord of Last Hearth bent his knee and placed his sword down upon the floor in front of where Eddard sat. Robb blinked at what he just witnessed, shocked by it. He turned to look at his father, who was slowly standing up from his seat, his face an emotionless mask. When Eddard had reached his full height Lord Rickard stood up next.
"I'll have peace on those terms!" he stated as he walked to stand beside Greatjon, gripping his longsword. "They can keep their red castle, and their iron chair too!" The Lord of Karhold drew his sword from his hip and bent his knee, placing his sword next to Greatjon's sword. "The King in the North!" he yelled as he stood up. Maege Mormont was next to rise to her feet, followed by her daughter, both with looks of pride on their faces.
"The King of Winter!" the Lady of Bear Island shouted as she added her spiked mace to the pile in front of Robb's father, Dacey quickly adding her mace as well. As they stepped back Robb noticed that Greatjon was looking up at him with a wide grin on his face, before he looked back at Eddard.
"THE KING IN THE NORTH!" he shouted louder than Robb has ever heard him shout before, and soon the great hall of Riverrun was filled with the voice of every lord and knight within; both Glover brothers, Robin Flint, Harrion and his brother Torrhen and every other Northman, and even Robb's uncle Ser Edmure, and Jason Mallister and Brynden Blackwood and Jonos Bracken, lords who have not answered to Winterfell ever, all were drawing their swords and adding them to the growing pile of blades in front of Robb and his father, and soon their voices were so loud that some of those camped just outside of Riverrun's walls would no doubt be hearing the declaration, one that has not been heard in nearly three-hundred years since King Torrhen Stark bent the knee to Aegon the Conqueror.
"THE KING IN THE NORTH!"
"THE KING IN THE NORTH!"
"THE KING IN THE NORTH!"
For what seemed like forever the chant continued, Robb stunned by this turn of events, but not nearly as stunned as his father was if the look in Eddard's eyes was anything to go by. The rest of the night passed him in a blur, as lords and knights picked up their swords or maces or in one or two cases axes, everyone of them swearing an oath of fealty to Eddard. Robb noticed that both Theon and Jon were smirking, in Jon's case ever so slightly. Of all the things that could've happened tonight, Robb thought as he stood up from his chair. His mother and father were both now stood off to the side speaking with each other as well as Ser Edmure and Ser Brynden. Greatjon and Lord Rickard sat down each with a drink in hand while Maege and Dacey Mormont spoke with the Blackwood brothers. Robin Flint conversed with Jonos Bracken as Galbart Glover offered a cup of mead to Lord Dondarrion, whose squire Edric Dayne was just sat their looking mesmerised by everything and everyone around him. Theon had wandered off, no doubt to find some female company, leaving Robb with Jon. Robb decided to leave the great hall behind, and Jon followed him. They both stood outside, breathing in the crisp night air. It was not as cold as it was in the North, but it was still cool enough to be refreshing.
"So then, what shall we do this evening my prince?" Jon said in a mocking tone.
"Well..." Robb began before he turned and glared at Jon, who just laughed. "Laugh it off Jon," he said as he punched his arm lightly. Jon rubbed his arm where Robb hit him but still laughed.
"Seven hells Robb, you should've seen the look on your face," Jon said when he eventually calmed down. Robb shook his head at that as he walked off to Riverrun's guest quarters, Jon walking beside him. "Still, in all seriousness Robb, do you think Lord Stark will accept this?" Robb looked at Jon and gave him a small smile.
"Well, he'll bloody well have to now," he answered. "Unless he intends to put someone else on the Iron Throne." Robb watched as Jon looked away then, his face going all serious then. "Did you and father speak about much when he called you away earlier?" he asked him. Jon looked at him briefly before looking back where he was walking, nodding his head.
"Aye, we did," Jon said. "We spoke about..." Jon trailed off and looked over his shoulder to make sure that no one was nearby to listen in. "We spoke about Rhaegar Targaryen and my mother. Regardless of the truth I can never call Rhaegar my father, not after what he did to my mother. Your father told me a lot more than what he said to us both earlier today. One thing he said was that if I wanted to I could take whatever name I could, even the Stark name, but not the Targaryen name." Jon snorted then, a humourless laugh escaping from him afterwards. "Not that I would ever want to. There was no marriage between Rhaegar and Lyanna, so I'm still a bastard. Just a bastard born of rape." Robb looked at Jon sharply then.
"Come on Jon, don't let this get you down," he said. Jon gave him a soft smile that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"One thing I asked your father was if he loved me," he continued. Robb watched him patiently, letting Jon take his time to answer. "He told me that he did and still does. I asked him how could he love me considering how I came to be. He could have killed me or given me to King Robert to deal with but he chose to keep me. He reminded me of the promise he made to my mother, and also added that he could care for me and love me as his own because I was his sister's child." Jon stopped walking and looked at Robb, gazing into his eyes. "He cared not who my father was, only that I was Lyanna's child, and he said that that was enough reason for him to raise me at the cost of his own honour." Jon fell silent then, and gazed off to the side.
"I can't see even a trace of Targaryen in you Jon," Robb said. "You're a Stark through and through. Father saw to that raising you back home. And I meant what I said earlier. There will always be a place for you by my side." Jon smiled warmly at that, and it lifted Robb's spirits to see that smile. It was the first proper smile Jon has had for a long time it seemed.
"Thank you, my prince," he said, and Robb scoffed.
"For fucks sake Jon, don't bloody well start with that nonsense," he told him.
"Blame Lord Umber Robb," Jon replied. "Like it or not, that's your new title." Robb frowned as Jon laughed. "Robb Stark, Crown Prince of Winterfell. It suits you well I think, brother." Robb smiled at that last comment, and the two threw their arms over their shoulders and walked along the corridor. Before long they were japing and laughing, all thoughts from earlier in the day cast aside for now, and then for whatever reason they began to sing 'The Bear and the Maiden Fair', rather poorly, as they walked along the corridor.
They had gotten near to the end of the song when they had reached the floor that their guest chambers were on. As they rounded the corner they were confronted by both Sansa and Arya, who were looking very annoyed with them.
"Will you two shut up!" Arya snapped. "We could hear the pair of you when you were two floors down." Robb and Jon burst out laughing at Arya chiding them. Sansa frowned at them, her arms folded and eyes glaring at them the way mother would glare at them.
"Our apologies princess," Robb said after they calmed down, trying to keep a straight face. Jon just started to laugh again while Arya just shook her head. She had opened her mouth to speak but then she could not find any words.
"Wait," she said after a moment. "Did you just call me princess?" she asked sounding very offended.
"He did Arya," Jon answered having finally stopped laughing. Sansa looked at them both with a confused look.
"Only royal girls can ever be called princess, and we are not royals," she stated. Robb looked over at his sister and smirked.
"Did you not hear the chanting from the great hall from up here?" he asked her. Sansa shook her head, and Arya just stared at him.
"What's that got to do with you calling me princess?" she demanded. Robb looked over to Jon, and nodded his head to him. Jon frowned at him before sighing.
"The chanting in the great hall was started by Lord Umber," he told the girls. "Soon after he started all of the other lords and ladies took up the chant. They had laid their swords at your father's feet and declared him the King in the North." Sansa gasped in shock at that, her hand going up to cover her mouth.
"So, we're..." she trailed off as the realisation hit her. As Sansa smiled widely, no doubt at the thought of being a princess, Arya looked beyond horrified.
"Oh no way!" she said. "Seven hells! No way am I going to be a princess!" Robb and Jon both chuckled at that.
"Well you're stuck with that title now Arya," Robb told her. He watched as his younger sister stormed off, muttering under her breath, while Sansa just walked gracefully back to the room that she was sharing with Arya, a look of wonder on her face.
"I can almost imagine what your mother will have to put up with tomorrow once she sees Arya," Jon said with a smirk. Robb laughed in response and then they both walked to their separate rooms, bidding each other good night before going to get some rest. As Robb lay down on the bed he thought not about the conflict that was still going on, but about his family and how it had changed. Father still has a lot of explaining to do, Robb decided as he pulled the fur covers over him. It'll take a lot of time for Jon to adjust. I don't think he can forgive father so quickly. I know I can't. But it makes little difference to me. Jon has always been my brother.
And he always will be...
Author's Note: So yeah. That's how it's going.
I decided to go with the North declaring independence from the Iron Throne. At the end of the day, as many reviewers have pointed out, there is no way that anyone would want Jon on the Iron Throne; he is the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna, and many would resent Lyanna for being responsible (albeit partly) for the War of the Usurper. The Northmen would not wish to see the Targaryens brought back, not even through Jon; they would simply have concerns about whether or not Jon would go the way of Aerys. That's my opinion on the matter anyway.
Jon's response to Ned telling him the truth about his mother is how I picture it happening, regardless of whether Ned told him alone or with other family around. I cannot see Jon lashing out at Ned despite having had the truth kept from him for all of his life up to that point. Jon doesn't hate Cat, but he does resent her for her treatment of him over the years. And yes he is a little freaked out by Sansa's new-found affection for him. We'll get his view on things in his next POV section. I don't yet know if that will be in the next chapter or the one after, but we'll see when we see.
Now just to remind you guys, this is a massive AU fic that will NOT have the White Walkers/Others showing up, nor will there be any dragons. I'm just stating that clearly for you all as I have had a couple of Private Messages asking how I will go about dealing with them, so I hope folk will read this and not ask about them. Pretty much any Game of Thrones/Song of Ice and Fire fic I do will not feature the ancient enemy of mankind in this universe, at least not until the time comes that the whole series (books and TV show) is finally done. THEN, I might do a fic with the Others bearing down on us mortals.
Anyway, enough of my inane rambling. I hope you guys have enjoyed this chapter, and indeed this whole story so far. I've still got a bit to do (once I kick start my brain again, lol) so this story is not yet done. We will see the Company of the Rose in a few chapters time (in this sort of world news doesn't travel that fast) and we will see what happens else where in Westeros too. So anyway, let me know what you guys think of this so far (and as ever, no flames please, thank you), and I hope you continue to enjoy my story as we carry on.