The Winter King
Chapter 18: The Starks Return
Harry was sitting down in the chair. He just took over the Night's Watch and not one brother objected to it. Many were showing relief that Harry ended Ser Alliser reign. It showed he was a terrible man and like to rule through fear. Harry should have advised Jon about choosing his officers more carefully.
Right now, he was filled up with so much rage and hate. Even his own officers weren't talking to him. They could see he was not in a good mood. Brise was there when Harry receives the news about Robb's death, now Jon was dead too. Bran Stark was either dead or missing. Arya was nowhere to be found. Though she was spotted in the company of the Hound before she'd disappeared. Harry's guess was she went on a ship and headed to Braavos. He would have to speak to his contacts in Braavos to search for her.
Tonight, however, the red woman was going to perform a ritual that would bring Jon back from the dead. Harry was sitting down watching carefully. He only agreed because she couldn't do anything to a corpse. He knew there was no real spell that could awaken the dead. At least, not in his world. If the resurrection was possible, then he would have his brother back. He also knew his rage would lessen if Jon did come back.
The red woman places her hands on Jon's torso and began speaking in ancient Valyrian. She was unsure of herself but she continues speaking. After several minutes of speaking, she places her hands down in defeat and looks at the four men in the room. She then walks out as they follow.
Harry stays behind and sighs. It was too much to ask for, to bring Jon back. He would burn his brother and give him proper funeral rights. He would also make sure his remains return to Winterfell alongside his family. He didn't care what people would say. Claiming a bastard had no rights to be buried in the Stark Crypt. He would give Jon that right. He deserved it.
A sudden gasp cause Harry to look up and see Jon was gasping for air as if he was underwater or something. Harry gets up to see Jon was shaking but appeared fine.
Harry didn't have a cloak as he was wearing his armor still. He helps Jon sit up as he holds onto him.
"Jon, do you know who I am?" Harry asked.
"Harry," Jon said slowly.
Ser Davos and the red woman come back in. Ser Davos takes off his cloak and wraps it around Jon to get him warm. Harry pulls out his wand and placing some warming charms on Jon to make sure he didn't freeze to death.
Jon was breathing heavily and deeply. He kept breathing in as if he was having a hard time breathing.
"What do you remember?" Ser Davos asks.
Jon continues to breathe heavily but it was slowing down.
"They stabbed me…" Jon said slowly. "Olly… he put a knife in my heart." Jon said as he begins to shake his head. "I shouldn't be here."
"The lady brought you back." Ser Davos said.
"Afterwards, after they stabbed you after you died, where did you go? What did you see?" She asks as she kneels before Jon.
Jon shakes his head. "Nothing. There was nothing at all," he said.
"That's the thing with death my lady," Harry said. "It's like falling asleep, except with no dreams. If there are deities that exist in the world, we aren't meant to see them."
"The Lord let you come back for a reason. Stannis was not the prince who was promised, but someone has to be." She said.
"Could you give us a moment?" Ser Davos asked.
Harry pulls out a salve he had on him. He's had it on him for a long time.
"Jon, I'm going to attempt to heal your wounds," Harry said as he places a salve on the sound as Jon shivers. "Sorry, it will feel a bit cold," Harry said.
Ser Devos grabs a stool and sits on it in front of Jon.
"You were dead. And now you're not. That's completely fucking mad, seems to me. I can't even begin to imagine how it seems to you." Ser Davos said.
"I did what I thought was right. And I got murdered for it. And now I'm back. Why?"
"I don't know. Maybe we'll never know. What does it matter? You go on. You fight for as long as you can. You clean up as much of the shit as you can." Ser Davos said.
"I don't know how to do that," Jon said. "I thought I did, but…"
"Jon," Harry said as he stands up and places his hand on Jon's shoulder. "I thought I lost another brother. I lost Robb, then Bran and Rickon. Sansa was a prisoner and Arya was missing. This family has to return and be whole once again. I'm glad your back."
Jon nods his head.
"I failed though. I'm a failure." Jon said.
"We fail to succeed. Because without failure we cannot succeed. Learn from this Jon and become stronger. You're better than this I know you are. You just have to see it for yourself and accept it. You won't be betrayed again. I swear it. I'll kill anyone who thinks of sending you back to the grave." Harry said.
Jon nods his head as he gets up and gets dressed. Harry, Ser Davos, and Jon walked outside to see the Night's Watch, the Free Folk, and his Rangers all looking at them. Jon walks down and begins to go through them. Many of them couldn't believe their eyes and had looked like they were watching a ghost.
Jon embraces some of his brothers as he walks up to them.
Winterfell
"The Umbers are a famously loyal house." Ramsay Bolton said.
"Famously loyal to the Stark." Lord Harald Karstark said.
"And you, Lord Karstark. Your people share blood with the Starks, don't they?" Lord Smalljon Umber said as he stood before the two who were seated. "But here we are. Times change."
"When my father became Warden of the North, your house refused to pledge their banners," Ramsay said.
"Your father was a cunt." Smalljon Umber said.
"My beloved father, the Warden…" Ramsay began but Smalljon interrupts him.
"Your father was a cunt and that's why you killed him. I might have done the same to my father if he hadn't have done me the favor of dying on his own."
"My father was poisoned by the Winter King." Ramsay protested.
"Sure, he was," Smalljon said.
"Why have you've come to Winterfell, Lord Umber?" Ramsay asks.
"The bastard Jon Snow led an army of wildlings past the Wall. We're farther north and any of you fuckers. Wildlings come down, we always have to fight them first. I like fighting wildlings. Been doing it all my life. But there are too many of them for House Umber to handle alone." Smalljon said.
"So now you've come seeking help?" Ramsay said slowly.
"We need to help each other. The colder it gets, the farther south those goat fuckers will roam. Won't take them long to get here." Smalljon said.
"You think a horde of wildlings can take Winterfell?" Lord Karstark said.
"If they get Jon Snow leading them, maybe. He knows this place better than we ever will." Smalljon said.
"Pledge your banners to House Bolton. Swear loyalty to me as Warden of the North, and we will fight together to destroy the bastard and all his wildling friends." Ramsay said.
"I'm not kissing your fucking hand," Smalljon said.
"Traditionally a bannerman kneels before his Lord," Ramsay said.
"I'm not doing that either," Smalljon said.
"Why would I trust a man who won't honor tradition?" Ramsay said.
"Your father honored tradition. Knelt for Robb Stark. Called him King of the North. Was Robb Stark right to trust your father?" Smalljon said.
"Then it appears we're at a bit of an impasse," Ramsay said.
"Fuck kneeling and fuck oaths. I've got a gift for you." Smalljon said.
"The Winter King?" Ramsay said with hope.
"The Winter King's army hasn't been sighted for months. It's likely his army mutiny and deserted." Lord Karstark said.
"His fleet is still out there. Transporting goods and materials to any house who will support him. He's out there somewhere in the North. Where he ventures is anyone's guess. No, my gift is better." Smalljon said.
Castle Black
Harry stood watching as Jon walks on the hanging gallery where the traitors and mutineers were in a position to be hung for killing Jon.
Jon gave them all a chance to speak their last words. They all spoke, except the boy Olly who just glares at Jon with as much hate as he could muster.
Harry walks up to Jon and stands as Jon draws his sword but didn't cut the rope. Harry could see there was conflict in Jon.
"Want me to do it?" Harry asked his brother.
"No, I should do it. Our way…"
"… is the old ways." Harry finished.
Jon takes a deep breath and swings his sword cutting the rope. The traitor's bench that supported them was pulled back allowing them to be hung. They choke and tried to gasp for air. They wiggle and twist and turn as they slowly died.
It was a few seconds later when they stop moving completely.
Jon was taking a deep breath as he stood before his former comrades. He walks away and turns to Ed.
"We should burn the bodies," Edd said.
"You should," Jon said as he takes off his cloak and hands it to Ed.
"What do you want me to do with this?" Edd asks.
"Wear it, burn it. You're choice. Whatever you want. You have Castle Black." Jon said as he walks off. Harry heard him say "My watch has ended."
Harry walks down and follows Jon to the Lord Commander's office.
Jon was packing the few things he did have in a saddle bag.
"Where are you going to go?" Edd asked.
"South," Jon replies.
"What are you going to do?" Edd asked again as he holds Longclaw.
"Get warm," Jon said with a small smile.
Ed places Longclaw on the table. "I was with you at Hardhome. We saw what's out there. We know it's coming here. How can you leave us now?" Edd demands.
"I did everything I could. You know that." Jon said.
"You swore a vow."
"Aye, I pledged my life to the Night's Watch. I gave my life." Jon said.
"For all nights to come," Edd said.
"They killed me Edd! My own brothers. You want me to stay after that?" Jon said.
"Jon, you're welcome to come with me. I could use you in my army. It about damn time I retake Winterfell." Harry said.
"I rather find somewhere else to go," Jon said.
"The Stark name is not what it once was. We're not safe to roam these lands anymore. Even if you are a bastard of one." Harry said sadly.
Jon looks down and sighs. It was clear this wasn't what he wanted to hear. But he seemed to have accepted it.
A horn blows causing the three men to look outside.
They walked outside to see several people riding inside. Most of them were Harry's Rangers. Lady Brienne of Tarth, Podrick Payne, and Sansa Stark was also riding in.
Harry and Jon walk down the steps as Sansa gets off her horse. Harry rushes forward as did Sansa and he embraces her. Giving her the biggest hug he's ever given anyone in his life. He places his hand on the back of her head to reassure her all was well. Trying to be the big brother to her he's always been.
He lets her go and she hugs Jon. Who embraces her as well.
It felt strange to have the siblings united once again.
They went inside to get Sansa food and to get warmed. It was clear she was freezing. Harry and Jon sat beside her. Watching her drink some soup.
"It's good soup," Sansa said in a soft voice.
"I'm glad you escape Sansa. I fear the worse if I had to attack Winterfell." Harry said as he drinks from his flask.
"Do you guys remember those kidney pies Old Nan used to make?" Sansa asks.
"With the peas and onions," Jon said.
"Mmm," Sansa said.
"We should never have left Winterfell," Jon said.
"Don't you guys wish we could go back to the day we left? I would scream at myself 'Don't go, you idiot'." Sansa said.
"How could we have known?" Jon said.
"We don't. we will always do things that make us regret doing them. We learn from them, grow, that's how we become better." Harry said.
"I spent a lot of time, thinking about what an ass I was to the both of you," Sansa said.
"I was an outsider," Harry said.
"I wish I could change everything," Sansa said.
"We were children," Jon said.
"I was awful to you both, just admit it," Sansa said.
Harry and Jon smile as Sansa tried to get to admit her behavior towards them. Jon is the bastard son of Eddard Stark, and Harry being his adoptive son. Neither were true sons. While both were a part of the family and did everything with them, Sansa took a part of Lady Catelyn Stark's cold attitude towards them. It was only during the last years, Lady Catelyn realized her mistake and tried to make amends to the both of them.
"You were occasionally awful. I'm sure I can't have been great fun. Always sulking in the corner while the rest of you played." Jon said.
"Can both of you forgive me?" Sansa asked.
"There's nothing to forgive," Jon said.
"Forgive me," Sansa said in a loud voice.
"Alright, you're forgiven," Jon said.
Sansa turns to Harry who merely smiles at her.
Sansa reaches out for Jon's cup to try his ale. Jon gives it to her and Harry was waiting to laugh knowing Sansa wouldn't be able to handle the drink. She took a sip and started coughing. Jon and Harry chuckle.
"You'd think after a thousand years; the Night's Watch would have learned how to make a good ale." Jon Snow said.
"Where will you go?" Sansa asked.
"Where will we go?" Jon said. "If I don't watch over you, Father's ghost will come back to murder me."
"Come with me," Harry said. They turn to look at him. "I do have an army at my side. I'm also getting ready to retake Winterfell, our home. You'll be safe with me. I swear it."
"Jon let's do that. Let's take back our home." Sansa said.
Jon leans back and looks at Harry and Sansa.
"Alright, let's take back our home," Jon said as he stands up. "How many men do you have in your army?" Jon asks.
"Just over a hundred thousand. However, I might be forced to send men south to Riverrun. There is trouble brooding in the Riverlands." Harry said.
"Let's get something to eat," Jon said.
It was clear that Jon Snow didn't have anything good to eat since his rebirth. They went to the mess hall and sat down. The stewards provide the food the best they could. However, it was tough making decent meals with a limited amount of supplies. It was nothing like eating the warm food during their time in Winterfell.
Sansa and Brienne were eating slowly. Choosing their bites carefully. Harry, Brise, Tormund, and Jon dug right in. Harry and Brise were used to eating standing meals with the army. Not luxurious meals inside castles. Tormund clearly has eaten worse since he grew up north of the Wall. Brienne didn't like the way Tormund was looking at her. It clearly was upsetting her appetite.
"A letter for you Lord Commander." A brother of the Night's Watch said handing Jon a letter.
"I'm not Lord Commander anymore," Jon said as he accepts it.
Harry looks at it and sees the seal of the Bolton's on it. Jon removes the seal and opens the letter and reads from it.
"'To the traitor and bastard Jon Snow. You've allowed thousands of wildlings past the Wall. You have betrayed your own kind. You have betrayed the North. Winterfell is mine, bastard, come and see. Your brother Rickon is in my dungeons.'" Here Jon pauses as Sansa and Harry listen carefully. Disbelief was written on each of their faces. Jon looks at Sansa before looking at Harry. Rickon was only eleven years old. Harry was prepared to skin Ramsay Bolton alive if he so much as harms his brother. Jon went back to reading the letter. "'His Direwolf's skin is on my floor. Come and see, I want my bride back. Send her to me, bastard, and I will not trouble you and your wildling lovers. Keep her from me and I will ride north and slaughter every wildling man, woman, and babe living under your protection. You will watch as I skin them living. You…'" Jon stops as he silently read the rest.
"Go on," Sansa said.
"It's just more of the same," Jon said as the letter rolls itself together. Sansa reaches up and grabs the letter before Jon could stop her. She opens it and reads to get to the part where Jon left off.
"'…you will watch as my soldiers take turns raping your sister. You will watch as my dogs devour your wild little brother. Then I will spoon your eyes from their sockets and let my dogs do the rest. Come and see. Ramsay Bolton, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.'" Sansa said as she puts the letter down.
"Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North," Jon repeated.
"So Roose Bolton is dead," Harry said as he slams his knife into the table. "In the line of succession Ramsay would be next in line. I heard the rumors that I killed Roose Bolton by poison. However, I'm quite sure I never gave no such order, nor am I that kind of person to use poison to kill my enemies. As I prefer having my enemies see who kills them. It appears Ramsay killed his father and blamed me. He's a fool if he thinks he can challenge House Stark so openly." Harry said.
"Now he has Rickon," Sansa said.
"We don't know that," Jon said.
"It could be a lie," Harry said. "I have men looking for Bran and Rickon and there has been no sign of them. Unless they show us proof, we can't believe the words of that cutthroat." Harry said trying to reassure Sansa.
"I know he's with him," Sansa said with a grave tone in her voice.
"How many men does he have in his army?" Tormund asked.
"I heard him say five thousand once when he was talking about Stannis's attack," Sansa said.
"Our reports say he has a total of twelve thousand men. If his numbers have dwindled it's because of poor leadership. We know the Karstarks have three thousand men and the Bolton's have at least eight thousand." Harry said.
"How many do you have?" Jon asks Tormund.
"That can march and fight?" Tormund said as he paused to think hard. Harry knew he wasn't good at counting and he would have trouble getting an accurate number. "Maybe ten thousand. The rest are children and elderly."
"What about you Harry? How many do you have that can fight?" Jon said turning to Harry.
"In this area? I have forty thousand. Sixty thousand others who I can recall to fight." Harry said slowly.
Jon looks at Sansa as did Harry.
"You're the son of the last true Warden of the North. Northern families are loyal. They'll fight for you if you ask." Sansa said. Jon look didn't look convinced. Sansa reaches out to grasp Jon's hand. "A monster has taken our home and our brother. We have to go back to Winterfell and save them both."
"The Northern Families may not support us," Harry said.
"Yes, they will," Sansa said.
"Sansa, the Bolton's have led a reign of terror since they took over three years ago. I have been in open rebellion since the start. I have also asked all Northern Houses to pledge their support to my cause. Only two houses responded. House Reed and House Cerwyn. Four months ago, House Cerwyn withdrew its support. House Reed will back us. I know they will. However, our name is not as strong as it once was." Harry said sadly.
"We have to try," Sansa said.
Harry looks at Jon. Jon nods his head.
"Let's get a war council right away. I need to gather my officers. Give me a day." Harry said as he gets up. The others get up as well.
The next day, all of Harry's commanders were inside Castle Black gather around the map of the North.
Harry, Jon, Sansa, Ser Davos, Brienne of Tarth, Tormund, along with Commander Brise, Commander Cyrus, Commander Tarik, Commander Chrestan and Commander Sabas along with the Red Woman, Melisandre were all gathered around the map. As they began to plan for the war.
"We can't defend the North from the Walkers and the south from the Bolton's," Jon said as he looks at it. "If we want to survive, we need Winterfell and to take Winterfell we have to defeat the Bolton's," Jon said.
"We have the men. The problem is we need to draw out the Bolton's. Jon, you know this as well as I do, Winterfell was built and design to withstand a siege. As long as they have an army inside those walls, our fight with them could end up bloody." Harry said.
"Aside from the Starks and Boltons, the two most powerful houses in the North, are the Umbers, the Karstarks, and the Manderlys." Ser Davos said. "Thanks to King Harry's information network. We know that the Umbers and Karstarks have pledged their banners to the Boltons. So we're not doing so well there." Ser Davos said as he grabs their makeshift banners to the Bolton's.
"The Umbers gave Rickon to our enemies. They can hang." Sansa said in a bitter tone. "But the Karstarks declare for Ramsay without knowing they had another choice."
"No, they turn against us Sansa," Harry said. He stands up and points at their banner. "When their former head, Lord Rickard Karstark commit treason and destroy the North's political advantage we had over the Lannister's during King Robb's reign, he was executed for it. The new head, Lord Harald Karstark, immediately order the Karstarks to stop supporting the Stark family. The moment the Bolton's were declared Warden of the North, Lord Harald Karstark kissed Roose Bolton's ass. I sack their home in retaliation for their betrayal to our family. My information also says the Karstarks are supporting Ramsay Bolton one hundred percent." Harry said.
"Not looking so good there." Ser Davos said.
"You know as well as I do the North doesn't work that way," Sansa said to Harry.
"Sansa, I've been fighting since Robb was ruling. The other fact we have to face is, even if we want the other houses support. We may not get it. They're still trying to recover from the Red Wedding." Harry said.
"You know as well as I do the North is loyal to our own and more suspicious of outsiders," Sansa said.
"Not many revolted against the Bolton's when they betrayed our family. We have to play this smart." Harry said.
"I know men, they're pretty much the same as any corner of the world. They're not going to fight just to see their woman and children skin for fighting a lost caused. If's Jon's going to convince them to fight alongside him, they need to believe it's a fight they can win. Thanks to King Harry's forces, it's a fight we can win and get the support we need." Ser Davos said.
"We need the support of the Northern Houses if we are to truly end this bloody civil war. We can't do this alone. The North remembers, and we have to be united. House Stark can't rule the North by itself." Harry said.
"There are more than three other houses in the North," Jon said as he stands over the map and points to each stronghold and calls them out. "Glover, Mormont, Cerwyn, Mazin, Hornwood, Tallhart, Dustin, Ryswell and Reed. Together they equal all the other houses. We can start small, and build." Jon said.
"The North remembers. They remember the Stark name. People will still risk everything for it, from White Harbor to Ramsay's own door."
"Sansa it's good to hope. But like I said, many houses are still recovering from the Red Wedding. We may not get the support we need. We're going to need to win the North through unity, not fear." Harry said.
"My lady I don't doubt it. But Jon doesn't have the Stark name and Harry isn't a trueborn Stark." Ser Davos said.
"No, but I am," Sansa said. Everyone turns to look at her carefully. "Jon and Harry is every bit as much as Ned Starks' son as Ramsay is Roose Bolton's. They're also the Tully's, they're not Northern, but they will back us against the Boltons without question." Sansa said.
"I didn't know the Tully's still had an army." Ser Davos said.
"My uncle, the Blackfish has reformed it and retaken Riverrun," Sansa said.
"I have been giving support and supplies to the Blackfish and the Tully's," Harry said as everyone turns to look at him. "The Tully's have been loyal to House Stark both during peace, times of war and in our darkest hour. They currently have ten thousand men under them. Sansa, how much do you know about the situation in Riverrun?" Harry asked turning to her.
"Not much," Sansa said.
"For the past three years, the Frey's have been laying siege to it. Trying to starve the Tully's out and force the Blackfish to surrender it. However, one thing I admire about the Blackfish is when he's loyal, he can be stubborn as hell in giving into demands to his enemies." Harry said.
"That's good. The Blackfish is a legend. His support would mean a great deal." Ser Davos said as he stands up. "Stark, Tully and a few more houses, then we'll actually win the North back properly."
One of Harry's Northern Rangers walks in holding a scroll in his hands.
"Your Grace, information from King's Landing." He said handing the letter to Harry. Harry opens it and reads carefully.
"We're not going to get the Tully's support," Harry said suddenly.
"What do you mean?" Ser Davos said.
"The Lannister's are unhappy with the situation in Riverrun and are sending Ser Jaime Lannister with a force about eight to ten thousand men to end the siege," Harry said. "Once the Lannister's take control of the Siege they might break it. Jaime Lannister is gifted in military strategy and tactics." Harry said as he places his hands on the table. He looks at up at his Commanders. "Commander Cyrus, take Commander Tarik and fifty thousand men with you to reinforce the Tully's in Riverrun. Do not let them break the siege no matter what. Force them to leave, or kill every single one of them. Lady Brienne of Tarth will go with you. Once the siege is broken, you will place yourself under Ser Bryden Tully's command until the North can reunite with the Tully's."
"Yes, Your Grace." Commander Cyrus said as he and Commander Tarik place their hands on their hearts and bow their heads. They immediately turn and leave the room.
"One more thing," Harry called out before they left the room. They turn to look at him. "Make sure the North sees you leaving. Let the Bolton's know you're leaving. If they follow you that's okay. Only engage if engage upon. Do not try to hide your presence. I want the Bolton's to think the Winter King has left the North. Travel by the Kingsroad. "
They nod their head and leave the room.
"Why would you want that?" Jon asked.
"Like I said. The only way we'll take Winterfell is to draw them out. If the Bolton's see the Winter King's army heading south. They will think we're not in the area. This gives us an advantage and allows Ramsay Bolton to have an ego. Most of the houses will not have the numbers to support us. I want Ramsay to think he is going to win and crush him before he realizes his mistake." Harry said. "Also, when we go to the other houses for support, leave the Winter King out of the conversation. Make sure we don't tell them you have my support. Only tell them, if they agree to help us. We don't know which houses truly supports House Stark or the Boltons."
"If they knew you were the backing us with your army then they will come," Sansa said.
"Awe they would. However, what if they are really supporters for the Boltons. What if they don't want to back House Stark. We need to see which house are truly loyal to House Stark and won't side for us base on my reputation and army size." Harry said.
"You're being cautious." Ser Davos said.
"I have not survived this long in this war by being foolish or trusting the wrong people. The North is currently divided. Two families are battling it out for control. It is most likely, that many of these families are waiting to see who will emerge as the victor." Harry said.
"Let's mount up. The sooner we start the better." Commander Brise said.
They all get outside where Harry's Rangers immediately got the horses ready. Sansa went to her room for several moments before she comes out holding two pieces of cloaks in her hands.
"Here, I made this for you two," Sansa said as she hands one to Jon and the other to Harry. "I made it like the one Father used to wear." She said as they take theirs. "As near as I can remember."
"Thank you, Sansa," Jon said.
Harry hugs his sister before throws the cloak over him. Jon through his over him, as well as Edd, walks up to him to speak to him for one last time.
"Don't knock it down while I'm gone," Jon said.
"I'll do my best," Edd said. Jon and Edd hug knowing they might not see each other for a long time. "Good luck," Edd said.
Jon nods his head before he climbs on his horse and the gate opens.
"Commander Chrestan, I need you to gather the men and send them to Stannis old camp. Recall those who are left." Harry said as the gates open.
"Yes, Your Grace." Commander Chrestan said.
The gate was fully open and Harry urges his horse forward to leave Castle Black. His Ranger and companions all follow. The Free Folk also trailed behind them.
Author Notes: Hope everyone enjoys, the war for Winterfell is about to happen. Even though Harry has the man power to attack the North, he understands to win he needs the Northern Lords to help him. He knows the Northern Lords are needed in helping ruling the North. How I'll set Harry up as King will be revealed soon.