Chapter 6
The feast the night before was what the North had needed. The world had been a dreary place and a night of music and celebration is what they needed. Jon wished it could last a few more nights; the joy on those he loved faces warmed Jon's heart.
As agreed the day before they met an hour before the counsel. It was decided that Bran and Arya would sit beside Jon and Sansa in the council. They were no longer children, if they were going to survive and fix the North the Wolves would have to stay together. When the time had finished they headed toward the great hall where all the men would be waiting for them.
As they walked in everybody bowed their heads to the Stark Children who took their places. Once everyone was settled they all sat down and the meeting began. It didn't take for the meeting to turn into chaos. Blame was thrown at many of the houses for what had happened. The tension between the Wildlings and Northern men could be cut with a Knife.
Surprisingly it was the youngest person in the room who put the rest to shame. Lady Lyanna of house Mourmount was no more then twelve's years old and put those nearly 3 times her age to shame. Her warriors although few, rallied to call of the house Stark. She levelly looked each Lord in the eye and many looked down in shame. Turning around she declared she would fallow only one king, and that would be Jon Snow the king of the North.
The room exploded again, all of the families ready to declare for a different one of the Stark kids. It was Bran who stopped the noise this time by simply raising his hand in the air. The room went silent wondering what the youngest Stark would say.
"My name is Brandon Stark, and it had been three years since I have seen home. Our world has been torn apart and reshaped into something none of us have ever known. No I decline the Stark seat because the Gods have chosen a different part for me to play. But I do say this, both Sansa and Jon shall rule together as King and Queen. One week from today they will be wed in front of the wire wood tree." Bran declared
Everyone looked at the youngest Stark in shock. How could this be these two Starks where siblings and even in the old religion this was forbidden. Sansa and Jon looked back and forth between each other and Bran. After a few moments Bran was ready to drop the bomb.
"Aye I know what you are all thinking it is forbidden to marry a Sibling, but Jon is not our brother. Here before you stand the son of Lyanna Stark Rhaegar Targaryen. My father promised his sister to protect the child as his own." Bran declared
"And why should we believe this?" Petry asks accusingly
"Because I saw it in a vision I had about the tower of joy. For the last year I have been trained by the three eye raven to take his place." Bran said simple
Everybody in the hall stared, many knew the stories of the Three Eye Raven yet none believed them to be true. Yet here the youngest Stark declared that he was to be the next one. The Starks had the blood of the first people and it was threw that he was able to acquire this power.
Bran had not wanted to use his power but he knew that it would be the only way to make them believe. He felt as the blindness take over him and his consciousness slipped into Lord Glover a few feet away. The man tried to fight him but Bran was too powerful, he made the man walk into the middle of the room and begin a northern jig,
Quickly Bran pulled his mind back into himself. When he opened his eyes ever one once again was staring at him. Jon looked to his family who simply looked at him in awe, seeing his power first hand.
"As Lord Stark says so it shall be, here and now I pledge house Glover to house Stark in your victories and defeat. I promise to shield your back and come when ever my banner is called for. I promise to lay my life down should it be needed. I honor the King and Queen of the North." Lord Glover said laying his sword between Jon and Sansa.
One by one each of the houses swore oaths to house stark and Jon and Sansa accepted each. For those who had sided with Bolton, Sansa made the stipulation that their oldest would be fostered and trained at house Stark. Many would call this fair because the rulers of the North had every right to simply destroy the houses. It was also decided for her loyalty Lady Mormont would also acquire Lord Boltons old lands.
The meeting was adjourned an hour later, the Lords agreeing to return in a week for the wedding. After all of them left the Stark children finally let their masks down and the shock set in. This was not what they had thought would happen at the meeting but all of the banner men have re pledged their loyalty which was the most important thing. They headed their separate ways Tormund helping the youngest Stark.
Once again the last person in the Hall Jon let his head dropp to the table. He wanted to be angry at Bran for revealing his lineage in public instead of privatlly to him first, but he couldn't find the energy to be. He did however let the shock fill his body, he was a Targaryen. Eddard Stark wasn't his father, but had went thru the ridicule of Jon being his bastard for 15 years to honor a promise to his sister.
A half hour later Jon shook his head got up and headed to the God's Wood where he knew that he would find Sansa. They would be married in a week, and rule the kingdom of the North together. When he promised that they would be equals this is not what he imagined would happen.
Brienne waited at the entrance of the Wood and as Jon walked by she gave a bow. Jon smiled at her and then continued walking. He found Sansa sitting below Wire Wood tree sewing something humming to herself, the ever constant presence of Ghost at her feet.
Jon thought she looked beautiful with her hair spread around her, a look of contentment on her face. His stomach fluttered as he watched her and he couldn't help but smile.
"Are you just going to stand there or are you going to join me." Sansa said without looking up
"Aye, I came to talk about the meeting." Jon said his cheeks blushing at being caught
"The counsel went well." Sansa said with a smile
"Aye, we achieved everything we meant to." Jon said
"How are you doing?"Sansa asked taking Jon's hand
She squeezed it in support
'I don't know how to feel my whole life I thought Eddard was my father, but he was only protecting me from being murdered. He lied to your mother and raised me as his own. "Jon explained
Sana knew there was more to what Jon had wanted to say but he couldn't form the rest of his thoughts. She looked at the man standing before her, he had suffered so much because all thought he was a bastard of war. Taking her mothers cue she hadn't treated him anything close to a sibling, simply a annoying thing that wouldn't go away. Jon looked so lost in front of her , his whole world being shattered in a matter of moments.
Gently placing the fabric back in the basket she pulled Jon to her and wrapped her arms around him. Jon closed his eyes taking in the comfort of her body, she was warm and smelt of flowers and snow. Jon wanted to cry for the mother he never knew, and the man who had taken care of him his whole life.
"So we're to be married." Jon stated lifting his head
"According to Bran we are." Sansa agreed
"We don't have to do it, if you would rather marry some one else." Jon said looking her in the eye
"I have been beaten, rapped and passed around a pawn. I know that you will never hurt me or betray me and although our relationship is strange I believe that we can have a good marriage, and be good leaders to our people." Sansa said seriously
She pulled the cloth out of the basket that she had been working on and handed it to Jon. As he unfolded it his eyes went to the details of the stitching. It had the house Stark Symbol encrusted on it. Jon eyes widen as he realized this was his wedding cloak that she was making. Leaning down Jon kissed her forehead, and then slowly they drifted to her lips.
It was a tentative kiss short and sweet, and when they pulled apart they where both blushing. Sansa mumbled something about meeting Arya to train. So helping her grabb all the stuff they woke up the sleeping direwolf headed back toward the castle.
Brienne watched as the two passed her and couldn't help but smile. Her lady had been thru so much and she knew that Jon could be the one to help her heal. But in turn the young commander would also be healed by the Redhead.