Ok, so first of all I'd like to apologize for the super long break I took. I have thesis and a part time job that really took all the 24 hours I have in a day. I only got the chance t write during lunch breaks and Sundays. I got good news, though. I already finished the draft of the story! And I will post it before this month ends.

And also, Im starting to rewrite the whole thing. Correcting and smoothing the loopholes I left here and there so I hope you guys be patient with me.

Thanks to the people who still reads and put the story in their fave list though I didn't update as often as before.

Lastly, I do so hope that you guys enjoy this chapter and leave a review on how you prefer to end it. I m done with the draft, not yet final.

So I hope you guys like it and Ciao!

-Corareed

Chapter 21

Jon

"There you are…" Jon did not realize that he said that out loud. He felt as if a boulder was lifted off his chest the moment he recognized Koreen. Jon had almost forgotten that Ser Jory was walking behind him until the light from the man's torch did not cover his path.

"Jon!" Koreen exclaimed.

"You have the whole castle looking for you!" Jon said who ran to her. When he saw Koreen crouching on the bushy ground, his fear overcame him yet again.

Jon knelt down to Koreen on the ground. "You had me so worried! You are miscarrying and you ran off the woods in the middle of the night! What were you thinking?" Jon scolded. He was angry but more worried than before.

"I wasn't, I know! But I can't stay in Winterfell, Jon! I will just humiliate Robb and the rest of your family! And I cannot do that, I'm sorry!" Koreen frantically apologized.

"I must take you back—" Jon said worryingly.

"No! Where are they? Lord Stark and Robb. We have to find them and—ugh!" Jon's eyes went to where Koreen was holding.

"I need to take you to the Maester, Koreen." That was all that Jon can muster after seeing Koreen's hand stained with blood and so was her bottom.

"No! Find your father and Robb, and the guards. Edris and his men are heading to the castle. I heard them. Please-" Koreen begged.

"What have you heard?" Ser Jory kneeled before them too to hear.

"They were looking for Lord Stark and Robb." Koreen swallowed and gathered all the strength she still had. "Edris' brother was arrested and they came here to seek revenge. They said the heir betrayed them. I- I don't… " Koreen was confused, her words almost incoherent.

"Ask questions later, Ser Jory. I need to take Koreen back to the maester. She's still losing blood." Jon told Ser Jory.

"Be quick, Jon. Take Koreen to the castle and alert the guards. I will go find Lord Stark and Robb. It's not another four hours until we are to meet at the main road." Jory commanded.

"Yes, Ser Jory." Jon wrapped Koreen's left arm around his neck as he lifted her off the ground.

Koreen was looking paler than when he visited her in her chamber. Jon barely could see, without Ser Jory, only the moon was lighting their way. He could feel Koreen getting colder and her breathing slackening.

"Don't sleep, Koreen. Please." Jon said. Carrying Koreen in his arms, the race against time and the danger that might be lurking among them was eminently tiring. But Jon paid no mind.

He was careful not to miss where he and Ser Jory left their horses.

Jon knew that Koreen would never hide along the main road, and the woods were too dense for the horses, so they decided to leave them. It was a few hundreds steps away, straight North, he reminded himself.

"I-I'm so s-sorry, Jon. Tell Robb." Koreen said. Her arms were barely embracing.

"No, just hold on. You will be fine. Don't sleep, Koreen. Talk to me." Jon looked at Koreen while he continued to walk on. He recognized the bloodtree he marked, and walked right past it.

"I will run away, Jon. If I'm gone, you can stay with your family." Koreen said, a little louder than a whisper.

"You did not need to run away, Koreen. Father and I was about to leave Winterfell. Robb was to be lord of Winterfell, and he could do pretty much whatever he wants, and he won't let you be banished out of Winterfell. It will be alright, Koreen." Jon told Koreen to keep her awake. "He can be your husband if you want."

"I-I did not want to leave Winterfell, Jon…. I did not want to leave Robb. I did not want to leave you." She said meekly.

"Koreen…" Jon did not know what to say.

"If you were leaving, I don't know what I feel about staying in Winterfell… without you."

Jon knew that Koreen was hurting and in disarray. She could be saying these things out of confusion.

"I assumed if we disappear together, we had a chance… Am I being foolish, Jon?" It was difficult to look at Koreen and find their way at the same time. But Jon could not help but stare at Koreen's eyes weaklygazing right at him. "But I knew you won't have me. I-I am cursed to be alone. Perhaps that was the reason… my babe won't be born. The Gods… are kind enough to take its life… than to let it live in cruelty." Koreen breathed.

"Don't say that. You are going to be a good mother." Jon said, trying to catch his breath.

A few more feet, he was familiar with the cherry tree covered in bird droppings that its trunk was painted white.

"I-I don't know how… I never had one." Koreen muttered.

"Then stay. Stay with me, I never had a mother too. But I know I can love your babe with all my heart." Jon pleaded looking at Koreen, her eyes almost half open.

Koreen then close her eyes and leaned her head on Jon's chest. He swallowed.

Carrying Koreen in his arms, Jon kept searching. But he was certain where he had left the horses. He could not be mistaken.

Did he not tie the horses tight enough that they were let lose?

Jon grew anxious when he finally realized that their horses were missing. He cursed himself when he thought that they could be lost.

But then he heard a faint clash of metals and distant call of his name. Jon looked back the path they took.

"Ser Jory…" he whispered under his winded breath as he gazed back his course.

Jon was apprehensive. He was unsure of what to do. His horse was missing, Koreen was lying in his arms almost lifeless, and Jory called out his name from the obscure darkness.

Catching his breath, Jon knelt down. He was careful not to move Koreen so much. "Gods…" frightfully he prayed. "Please, show me what to do." He whispered under his breath.

Jon then laid down Koreen at the foot of a large tree, big enough that she can hide her frail body amongst its roots. He removed his fur coat and wrapped it around Koreen.

"J-jon…" Koreen murmured, fighting back the pull that was closing her eyes.

"Shhh. Koreen, look at me." He touched her pale face to wake her. "I need you to stay here-"

"N-no! No, Jon! W-we must find your father and brother! They will kill them…" Koreen, though weak was agitated.

Jon held her to calm her down. "I promise I won't let that happen. I promise." Jon pulled Koreen to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her.

"This is all my fault! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Jon! I should have not left the castle. I should not have come in Winterfell!" Koreen cried uncontrollably.

"No, Koreen. It's not your fault." Jon kissed Koreen's head. It was involuntary, he didn't think. Jon brushed it off. He did it to soothe and quiet her down. He held her face to meet her eyes.

"I-I can help…" Koreen croaked.

"No, I need you to stay here and be brave. Please, Koreen. Don't move. Be quiet." He said looking at her eyes. "Whatever you hear, whatever you see, do not move. Do you understand?" Jon meekly asked, wrapping the furs around Koreen whose face wet with tears. "Save yourself if you must. I will come back for you. I promise." Jon swallowed.

She then held his hand. Koreen did not answer. She just looked at him.

"I'm sorry, Koreen…" Jon whispered.

Koreen faintly nodded as if telling him to g o on and do what he had to do. He saw how Koreen gritted her teeth and held onto her bow and quiver. The bravery she possessed when she arrived in Winterfell was once again present in her eyes.

"Go, I'll be fine." She murmured, although Jon secretly refused to believe.

The moment he stood up and turned around, he was already worried about Koreen. He questioned his decision to hide her and go rescue Jory instead of taking Koreen back to the castle and alerting the guards. He regretted his choice almost instantly. He did not even dare turn to look back.

He ran as fast as he can, not minding the darkness.

He tried to calm himself down, but it was a weak attempt.

Jon heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Jory lying on the ground unconscious. He was attacked not too far where they were separated. He took his sword out and checked his surroundings.

The torch's fire had died and his sword was gone. Jon rushed to the man's side and felt if he was still breathing. Blood still wet was dripping out of his nose. His left eye was starting to swell and turn purple. But he was certain he was still in fact alive.

"Ser Jory, wake up." Jon lightly slapped the man's face.

He tried to recall what Koreen had said. Edris and his men were out to hurt his father and Robb. Ser Jory was an expert swordman and now he was lying on the ground beaten and bleeding. And he concluded that somebody must have taken ahold of their horses. How many men did Edris bring with him?

He assessed himself. How many enemies can he fight off? He had training since they were little boys but he barely learned anything new since Lady Stark had been strict with him.

Jon now had to protect two people. One was unconscious while the other one barely hanging on to her life. And he had nothing but only his sword to defend themselves against a number of enemies he didn't know.

He thought of pulling Jory out of danger, hide him like he hid Koreen. But where? The woods was dark and cold, a deadly place to be alone even without Edris and his men.

Behind the rustling of the leaves and trees he faintly heard hooves. His hope was raised when he thought it could be his father and Robb or any of the guards they were with. However he was also apprehensive that it could also be Edris and his men.

He kept still, trying to figure which direction the sound was coming from. But the wind was blowing, whistling against the deep forest. The chirping and bustling of the night animals did not help.

Jon almost could not believe when he thought he heard Jory let out a soft moan.

"Ser Jory?" Jon whispered.

Jory didn't answer. He didn't even make a sound.

Jon looked out the distance. He closed his eyes and tried to listen if he could again hear the horse's steps. He kept still, but still nothing but the rustling of the trees. Jon thought that he was going mad, he must just be imagining the horses and Jory's groans.

He mustered all the strength he still has. The cold was sharp and painful to breathe in, without his furs the air was also piercing his skin.

"I'm sorry, Ser Jory but I must hide you." He talked to the unconscious Jory. Jon stod behind him and put both his arms under Jory's. Jon groaned as he lifted Jory up and dragged him to the nearest and largest tree he could find.

He was careful not to make too much sound, but the place was too quiet not to even hear the crackling of the leaves as he stepped on them.

Jon then made sure that Jory was covered tightly by his black fur coat and as he patted his boots, Jon felt an object sticking out of it. Jory's attacker took his sword, but Jory was hiding a dagger inside the leg of his boot.

Jon removed it from its belt and tied the dagger onto his legs. When he decided that Jory was hidde enough, he sat beside him.

He doesn't know if his judgments were right. He wondered about Koreen. She was half-conscious, she just faked the strength she shown he was sure.

And now that they were hidden, he thought of what he needed to do next.

He stood up and quietly moved away from Jory.

Jon looked at the stars. Mikken somewhat taught him how to map and use them for directions. But Mikken was drunk during the lesson. He cursed under his breath. He was not even sure where he was anymore. He thought of going the other way and take a chance to find his father and brother. He changed his mind when he realized that running toward the castle will be much faster than finding Lord Stark and Robb who were also both on the move. He then can also alert the guards and get a horse to fetch Koreen and Jory.

He moved to a position where the view wasn't lush so he could see the stars.

But then he heard a whinny of a horse behind him.

"You should never leave these beasts lying around…" Jon gripped his sword firmer but did not raise it, "…Jon Snow."

Jon turned to see where the voice was coming from, he knew it was Edris. Jon felt his feet get cold, and his heart racing.

He smiled at Jon menacingly, riding the black steed Jory owned.

And out of the darkness, one of his men stepped out crunching the dried leaves on the ground. Jon recognized him. It was one of the two men who beat him up at the cave's mouth, Troy. But he kept himself calm; he had fought him off before. He did not die.

Edris dismounted the horse. He was expecting the other man who held a knife against Koreen's neck to appear soon with his horse.

Jon stared at each of them, held his sword low but ready to strike if he must need to.

"I didn't. I tied it to a tree, sowed and stands on Winterfell soil, the same land you are standing on and so our horses you stole." Jon answered bravely.

"You make it sound like you inherited Winterfell." Edris mocked.

"I am Lord Eddard Stark's son-"

"You mean to say you are Lord Eddard Stark's bastard." Edris reminded Jon.

The last time they were in Winterfell, they only knew his name but not his face. And now they knew that he was the bastard son of Ned Stark.

"You make it sound like you know me." Jon said.

"Oh, I know all of you!" Edris smirked. Jon grew anxious. Have the gone to the castle? Did they see his younger brothers and sisters? Have they seen Lady Stark?

"The last time we saw each other you accused me of a debt and a crime." Jon continued. He was thankful that Edris was not as enraged as he envisioned, but he cannot be too careful. Koreen said they planned to kill his father and Robb. He brushed off the thought.

"Yes, I apologize for the mistake. We both were victims of a lie, your brother's lie." Jon sensed the change in Edris's tone.

"You gained forty silvers out of that and you claim yourself a victim?" Jon said.

"Your valiant brother, Jon Snow basically paid me to clean up the mess he created. He used your name because Gods forbid the heir of Winterfell gamble away your house fortune and maybe lose some more. He gave me forty silvers, so that I would not reveal what he had done and you, the Starks and the whole of Winterfell would also not know that he almost killed my brother." Edris gritted his teeth of anger, but was still composed.

Jon didn't want to anger Edris. "You didn't carry out your end of the bargain." Jon uttered.

"Well, that's where you are wrong, Jon Snow!" Edris's anger became evident. He marched towards Jon as he spoke. The veins on his forehead were visible. "You see, I just wanted what he owed my brother. I came to collect Elmyr's money! Our money! And days after we arrived in King's Landing, I learned that my brother was summoned by the king and was put in jail for profiteering! Who do you think was behind that?" Edris asked Jon.

Jon remained calm and stood firm.

"I have no knowledge of this…" Jon told.

"I know. I don't really expect much from a bastard." Edris said, yet again very calmly. "But do you grasp the reason why I am a bit infuriated by this whole situation?" Edris asked. When he was standing right in front of Jon, he grinned sarcastically before turning around and walking towards Ser Jory's horse.

Jon swallowed. He didn't find any advantage in the conversation. There were two people that needed help, alone and freezing and could not afford to buy time. "What do you want?" Jon asked.

Edris spat. "I want your brother's head." Edris answered simply, wiping his mouth.

"I cannot let that happen. I will not let you hurt my brother or anyone on our land." Jon declared.

"Well, I see we have a conflict of interest here." Edris pulled the sword tied to Jory's horse and threw it to Troy who caught it by the handle. "I want my revenge, and I will stop at nothing to get it… Jon Snow." Edris said, as he rode the horse. Troy then walked towards Jon.

Jon raised his sword and readied himself to fight or even to die.