AN: Martin, George, R.R. owns all of this story.
They finally arrived to the Wall after two weeks of travel. It felt like it had taken forever, and the North would never end. Sure, James knew the way better than anyone in his party, but they were a hinderance. Tyrion Lannister and his guards slowed down the party, while James and his uncle Benjen just wanted to get there. It had been snowing light flurries everyday on their journey, and it was always so cold. They had left Winterfell on the same day as the King, to the shouting of horses and men alike. However James was quite and kept to himself on the trip to the Wall, much to the dismay of his brother Jon. He was anxious to get up to Castle Black and see the formidable structure that Bran the Builder built over thousands of years ago. He stayed close to James on the way up, always ever by his side. However, James knew a hard truth was about to hit him in the face. Jon began to realize when they met up with Yoren, the recruiter, on the way up. Yoren, the man who had a twisted shoulder and smelled of rot, was not Jon's vision of the Night's Watch. The man had brought "new recruits" with him, just rapers. Tyrion Lannister had begun to tell him the truth of it when they saw them in chains; while James, Jon, and the Imp sat around a fire.
"Rapers." Tyrion said, his face into a book. "Most likely they had a choice. Castration or the Wall, most choose the knife."
Jon looked at James with a look of despair, and that's when he finally began to realize what everyone told him was a lie. James gave him a curt nod and returned to staring at the fire.
"We should get there tomorrow." James said rubbing his hands together, over the fire. "And in due time you will say your vows. In front of the heart tree, like me and uncle Benjen."
Jon gave him another nod and went back to his thoughts. Finally tomorrow had come and they got ready to move. When they finally, were within sight of the Wall, Jon gave a gasp. His eyes wide and red faced from the cold. James was up front with Benjen when he turned around and said,
"Welcome."
They arrived at Castle Black, finally that morning. The castle is not really a true castle at all, as it has no walls to defend it to west, east, or south. Only The Wall stands to the north. It consists of several stone towers and timber keeps. Beneath the keeps and towers, there is a series of subterranean passages that connect all of the buidings called the wormways. They are rarely used during the summer, but in the winter it is the only way to travel to different parts of the castle. Castle Black has only a small sept and no godswood. Men who follow the Old Gods have to travel beyond the Wall, into the haunted forest, to a small grove of carven weirwoods left by the children of the forest, to swear their vows. Finally when the gates opened he took in the smell of snow and the cold air, and James walked Lyanna in and handed off to the stable boy. He looked up to the Wall and saw it was glistening, water was trickling down its base. Than he heard Ser Alliser Thorne, Castle Black's master-at-arms called to him.
"Stark!" he yelled, as James turned around. Ser Alliser is a fifty year old man, heft, dry and hard, with eyes as black as onyx and has black hairs ridged with white.
"I do trust you enjoyed your vacation." he said with a sarcastic smile.
James laughed and stared hard at him. "Aye, I did Ser Alliser."
"Seems you forget that you wear black now."
"I never forget." said James when Alliser waived a hand in the air.
"Lord Commander request's your presence in Common Hall. He has urgent business to discuss with you, and I believe Maester Aemon is there too." Ser Alliser smiled again,
"The Old Bear doesn't seem to happy."
Ser Alliser walked off when James felt a touch on his shoulder; it was Benjen. "What was that about?" he asked.
"Not sure. The Old Bear wants to see me," James said sticking his hands in his pockets, "Ser Alliser said he wasn't to happy."
"Aye, I'm not surprised." said Benjen with a sigh, "You lingered to long at Winterfell, you forget your place."
"I was unconscious for half a month. What could I do?" James said when Benjen put a hand on his shoulder,
"Nothing. Just remember your place his here now, you said the words." he finished when he walked off towards the armory. My place is in King's Landing, with my father.
James's thought's had been with his family since he left Winterfell. That dream with Lyanna had not returned since he woke up, but the meaning had always lingered. The dream or whatever it was, had a hidden meaning; it was cryptic and on the way up North he had tried to figure out her warning. The Lion and the Wolf will be at each other's throats…Protect them, James. James made a promise and he expected to keep it, he just had to find a way to get to the capital. He made his way across the training yard, noticing Jon fighting the other novices and gave him a nod. Jon smiled back and continued. James arrived at the common hall and opened the doors. The common hall was small with a hearth and many long tables organized in rows. James looked to the back and noticed the Lord Commander and Maester Aemon sitting down, talking. The Old Bear had broad-shoulders and a stern gaze. He has lost most of his hair save for his shaggy grey-white beard. Maester Aemon was a man of one hundred years with no hair, he is also shrunken, wrinkled, and blind. Mormont looked up and met James's stare, calling him over with a wave of his hand,
"Stark!" he yelled with a stern voice, "Get over here."
James made his way over and took a seat across from them. Maester Aemon extended out a hand and James took it, offering his greeting's as well. Mormont handed James a horn of ale and told him to drink. James took a drink and set the horn down, when the Lord Commander began to speak,
"I trust you enjoyed your family reunion." he said pouring himself another horn of ale. "I'm glad to see that your awake. We received the raven telling us the news about you and your brother. How is the lad?"
"Last I saw him, asleep. Hopefully he will awake, God's be good." a moment of silence passed, "I did enjoy the reunion, but it's good to be home." James said with a smile, but the Old Bear wasn't smiling.
"You forget your place, Stark." he said pointing a finger at his face, "Your place is here. These trips of yours take to long, and they're too frequent. I'll have no more of this." A cook came out and placed a plate of ham and toast in front of the Lord Commander. He began to cut pieces with his dagger,
"And don't think I know about your trips to Mole Town." he said continuing to cut, "That ends today, you're a Man of the Watch. A ranger, and a damn good one."
James sighed and let out a breath of frustration.
"The Lord Commander, is right." said Maester Aemon in his frail voice, "You understand the words you spoke, why we Men of the Watch don't take a wife or bear children."
"It's so we don't know love, for love is the bane of duty." James said
"You are a smart boy, sometimes I think to smart." said Mormont stabbing a chunk of ham with his dagger, "But visiting your family stirs up old feelings. And sometimes I wonder if you'll ever return." he chewed and swallowed.
"Now I'm sending you away, at Maester Aemon's request."
"To where?" James asked, "On a ranging?" The Old Bear gave him a hard look,
"Aye, you'd like that wouldn't you. No, I plan on sending your Uncle, not you." he said taking another sip of ale.
"No, after much deliberation me and the Lord Commander have decided to send you on a recruiting mission." said Maester Aemon. James was in shock he took a step back, but in his mind this is exactly what he wanted.
"No!" James yelled, "This can't be! I'm a ranger, not some damn recruiter. I belong out on the other side of the Wall, killing wildling's! Not recruiting rapers and thieves." James continued to yell, but they just listened. "Send Yoren or someone else!"
"You are whatever, I say you are! And I won't be sending Yoren. You need a lesson, James. Consider this a punishment." Moromont said pointing another finger at him, "And I won't hear anymore complaining, you brought this upon yourself." James took another deep breath,
"And where exactly will I be going?" he asked, raking his hands through his hair.
"King's Landing. You will be leaving on the morrow." said Maester Aemon, "You will be rounding up recruits and Yoren will meet you there to take them back up North."
"King's Landing?" James said in shock. No, No, No this is good, this is good. "And will I be going alone?"
"Yes, now go and prepare." The Old Bear said as he finally finished his meal.
"Well, if there is nothing left. I'd ask for leave." James said pretending to be angry,
"Yes, Yes, go now. This conversation is over." Mormont said finishing his horn of ale,
James got up and gave a bow, as he stormed off towards the door of the common hall. He was smiling though because the god's have answered his prayers, he was headed to King's Landing to protect his father. Then thought's of Jon came up in his mind, and he was sad as he pushed open the doors; the sun glaring in his eyes. He walked over to the balcony and put on a face of anger as Jon turned around from training in the yard to give him a look of sadness, as if he read the look on James's face. James gave him a slight frown and stormed off towards his chambers in Hardin's Tower, he opened the door and pushed it closed. James made his way to his bed and layed down, letting his thought's run. Promise me, James.
-x-
James awoke from a nap, and began to pack for the Capital tomorrow. By the time he had awoken it was mid-day, and the respite was much needed. This 'punishment', couldn't have come at a better time; this was the excuse he was looking for. A free trip to King's Landing, on a recruiting mission, and he was to go…alone. This would give him no hinderance, and freedom to watch his father. He just needed to find a way to tell his brother. James felt bad for Jon, but he knew that he couldn't help him forever. James was packing when he heard a knock on his door, he ran over and opened it to find Jon standing there in black; a solemn look on his face.
"May I come in?" he asked. James gestured, "I trust you are taking well to your new brother's?" James asked as Jon walked in,
"Some brothers." Jon said immediately noticing the black clothes laid out on his bed.
"What's the…where are you going?" he asked giving James a look of shock, when James motioned him to take a seat. Jon sat on the bed and James took a seat next to him,
"The Old Bear sought to punish me, Jon." James began staring at his feet and looking back at Jon as he spoke, "I'm to leave tomorrow on a recruiting mission: to King's Landing." Jon's eyes grew wide,
"What? Why?" he asked in despair, "But you just got here! How can you be leaving already?"
"Lord Mormont feels that I overstayed my welcome in Winterfell. That I have forgotten my place, and this is meant to teach me a lesson."
"But you're a ranger!" Jon yelled as he stood up pacing back and forth, "Recruiting isn't for you!"
James motioned him to lower his voice and hushed him, "Yes I know, but I serve the Night's Watch, and I must do what the Lord Commander says. Even if it is, insulting." Jon sat down on the bed again and looked at him,
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. James didn't know what he was talking about; but then it dawned on him, "Why didn't you tell me the truth, about the Night's Watch."
"Jon-" James began when he was cut off,
"No, you lied to me. All of you did! Father, uncle Benjen. You knew what I was asking for, and said nothing." Jon said standing up, yelling. "What's even worse is you said nothing." Jon than sat back down, out of breath.
"I said nothing…because you didn't want to hear it." James said, "You had Old Nan's stories in your head, and if I told you the truth; it would've fallen on deaf ears."
Jon shot up with anger and pulled back a fist; as if he was on the brink of tears. "THAT"S NOT TRUE!" ,he yelled at the top of his lungs, "I've always been an outsider! You're lucky…you're a true born son." Jon sank back onto the bed again, face in his hands.
James put a hand on his back, "I'm as much an outsider as you. I took the black and father has never forgiven me for it, or my lady mother."
"But at least they love you!" Jon said looking up at James, "Atleast you have a mother…who loves you. Father won't even tell me who my mother was, her name, where she came from, or if he loved her."
"Aye, you're right on that account, Jon." James said.
"And now you are leaving, James. The only family I have left, leaving."James gave Jon a pat on the back,
"No you have a new family now, and whether you like or not. They're your brothers now."
"You're right, James. There is no turning back now, I made my choice." Jon said standing up walking towards the door, "I'm to be a man of the Night's Watch."
He went for the door as they both heard another knock, Jon opened the door and found Tyrion Lannister standing there, with a smile on his face. As if he heard the whole conversation.
"Ahh, yes. A noble calling!" said Tyrion as he walked in and took a seat on the chair that sat across the bed, facing a desk.
"What are you doing here, Lannister?" James asked, seemingly angry at his sarcasm.
"Have I offended you? Sorry, it's been a rough day." he said taking a drink from a wine skin, "I came to deliver some news, take a seat."
Jon walked over to the bed and took a seat by James, both of them worried about what he could possibly have to say. "What kind've news?" asked Jon, "Good or bad?"
"Both." said Tyrion,
"What's it about?" said James, as Tyrion handed him the wine skin and he took a long drink. "It's about your brother, Bran." Tyrion replied, taking back the wineskin. He offered some to Jon, who shook his head, no.
"Well out with it!" exclaimed Jon, when Tyrion took a breath and began, "It appears that Bran has finally awoken, but-"
"-But what?"
"But I fear, it's his ankle. It broke under the fall, he won't be able to walk for quite awhile." Tyrion said handing James the raven scroll, James opened it and began to read. He could tell it was Maester Luwin's hand writing,
"This can't be." said James, "Luwin said that he only sprained his ankle, and it reads there is another scroll for me to read."
"Well, apparently the Maester was wrong. And it get's worse." Tyrion said handing James another raven scroll, this one was unbroken. The grey seal of House Stark was on it. "The Lord Commander told me to only let you read this, only you and nobody else." Tyrion said as James opened the letter and began to read, it was his mother's hand writing this time. He began to frantically read as he finally finished and crumpled the letter in hand, throwing it into the hearth in his room. The paper bursting into flames,
"What did it say?" Jon demanded, as James just sat back on the bed, in shock. "Well? James?"
"It says…" he began when he looked over at Tyrion, who took the hint.
"Ah, I see. Best said in private, I suppose." he got up and waddled out of the room, closing the door behind him.
"It says, that there was an attempt on Bran's life. His direwolf saved his life from the footpad. My lady mother has left for King's Landing with Ser Rodrik, to see my father and find out the truth behind this." James said, as Jon looked at him in shock. Clear on his face,
"What? Why? Who would want to murder Bran?"
"That is what I'm thinking, unless…" James said standing up now beginning to pace back and forth before the hearth,
"Jon, what I'm about to tell you. Can not leave this room, do you understand?" James said, as Jon nodded in agreement. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, I won't tell anyone." Jon said,
"I lied about not remembering anything the day Bran fell. I remember everything." James began as Jon looked at him listening intently,
"Bran did not fall. He was thrown."
"Seven hells!" said Jon who stood up as if he was pulled up from the bed, "By who? Who would do such a thing?"
"Jaime Lannister." James said as he saw the look of shock plain on Jon's face, "I know it was him, I saw his hand holding Bran. The golden sleeve of his tunic, in plain sight."
"DAMN THE LANNISTER'S!" Jon yelled at the top of his lungs, "Quiet!" James yelled at him, "Don't let nobody hear you."
"We have to be quiet about this, the letter revealed more news. The footpad was armed with a dagger, made of Valyrian steel." James said as Jon was standing in front of him, listening. "What kind've footpad has that fine a weapon? Unless it was given to him, Bran saw something he wasn't meant to see. And I plan on finding out when I go to Winterfell tomorrow, on my way down to that shit hole capital."
"Yes, Yes, Yes, you can ask Bran yourself!" Jon exclaimed as he made his way towards the door. But he lingered at the entrance,
"I'm to watch the Wall tonight, at the top. Will you join me later?"
"Of course." James replied as Jon smiled and walked out of his room. James sat down on the chair and put his hand to his chin, thinking about what Bran could have possibly seen. Protect them, James.
-x-
Night fell upon Castle Black as James left his chambers, packed and ready. The air was cold tonight as he made his way to the loft that would carry him and Jon up the wall. James arrived to the winch elevator to find Jon already there, wrapped in furs and clad in black. He was looking up at the Wall in amazement as he stood there waiting; not even noticing James. The sight of him brought back memories of when James was a novice, and was looking for the same glory Jon was. He had a rude awakening too, but he had always known what the Watch was, perhaps one day he will tell Jon his reason's; but not today. James walked beside Jon and looked up at the Wall with him, the moonlight reflected off the structure as if it was some big mirror: illuminating the courtyard below.
"Magnificent sight. Is it not?" James asked as Jon still was looking up.
"Beautiful, like a woman ." he said as the winch elevator opened and they both stepped inside, clad in black furs from top to bottom. James smacked the side of the cage,
"Take us to the top!" he yelled as the men to the side began to move the lever, taking them up. James began to laugh to himself as him and Jon were both shivering from the cold; cold that sunk to your bones.
"What's so funny?" asked Jon as James continued to laugh, "Your analogy. Comparing the Wall to a beautiful women."
"What? It's true, just because I'm seventeen doesn't mean I can't tell if a women is beautiful." Jon said smiling,
"Pray tell brother, have you ever kissed a women?" James asked slapping him in the shoulder, as Jon began to blush.
"Of course!" Jon exclaimed as the elevator moved closer to the top,
"And who might the lucky girl be?" James asked,
"Well if you must know, it was a servant girl named Alison." Jon said laughing, "We kissed in the godswood, once." James began to laugh, thinking of Ros. "I've often had tumbles in the godswood, tell me brother ever go any farther?"
Jon blushed at the prospect, "No, I don't ever want to father a bastard." the smile now gone from his face.
"I understand." said James, as the moments passed in silence. "It was with that red women, wasn't it?" Jon said out of the blue,
James gave him a puzzling look, "Ros, you mean? Yes, that is who I had my tumbles with." James said letting out a giant sigh, looking up at the star-filled sky through the cage. The thought of Ros wasn't on his mind as much as it used to be, her leaving for King's Landing took some weight off his shoulders, but he would like to see her again. Maybe, he can see her down there, search her out. The thought of seeing her, kissing her, being inside her again made him smile.
"You loved her, didn't you?" Jon asked, noticing his smile. "That red-haired women, she was beautiful."
"I'm not sure if it's love or lust. But I definently have feelings for her." James said smiling at his brother,
"One day Jon, you will love a women. Trust me, the day will come when your vows will truly be tested and you will break it."
"No I won't! I don't care about any of that." Jon retorted,
"Oh, but you will." James said staring at him, "I thought the same as you did when I took the vows. I promised never to see her again, she took my virginity you know."
Jon just looked at him, "I didn't know…"
"Aye, on my fourteenth name day. You can thank Theon for that, and I loved the feeling of it. So when I took the black at seventeen, I vowed to stay away from her. However, the first time I came back home she found me and we did it in the godswood. That was the first time I broke my vows, and it wasn't the last." James said staring at Jon, who was shivering.
"When was the last?" he asked,
"You really want to know, Jon? Well not to long ago, last time I was in Winterfell."
Jon was silent at that and James could tell he was a little disappointed in him, they were now close to the top of the Wall. "Jon, do you know why we men of the Night's Watch take no wives, have no children?" James asked now standing in front of the cage side by side, looking right at the ice of the Wall.
"No, I don't." Jon said,
"It's so we don't know love, for love is the bane of duty." James said putting an arm around his shoulder, "That's what Maester Aemon told me, when he found out I wanted to return to Winterfell for Ros. And he kept me in place."
"I seem to understand…" Jon said, and James still realized in some ways he was still a child,
"One day, you'll understand. Don't make the same mistake I did, but if you do: do it for honor." James finished as they reached the top of the Wall.
James and Jon stepped out of the winch elevator and saw their Uncle Benjen standing at the edge of the Wall looking down at the haunted forest below. They walked over to his side and stared out below with him, Jon's eyes wide as he took in the sight. Benjen turned around and noticed them,
"Boys, you've made it." he said clad in black furs as well, his face was red, "I wanted to be here when you saw it for the first time, Jon. As I was here for James."
"It's enormous." said Jon as he stared in amazement, "Aye, it makes you realize how small we are in this world." Benjen said as he looked out to the forest with his two nephews.
"I heard about what happened with the Old Bear earlier, James." Benjen said turning to face him, "Recruiting! Mormont must've been pissed!" he scoffed, "You're a ranger, you're place is out there. With me, when I leave tomorrow."
"Leaving so soon?" James said as Benjen laughed, "I'm First Ranger, as you will be after me. Our place is out there." he said pointing to the forest before them.
"Mormont thinks otherwise, he seeks to punish me." said James staring out to the forest.
"A punishment that is deserved, James. I've often warned you about going to Winterfell so often, don't think he doesn't know what you're doing there. We all know about Theon's present." Benjen said
"Aye, I understand. I do wish I was going out there with you tomorrow." James said as Jon spoke up,
"Let me go with you, Uncle. I'm ready to go."
"Jon-" Benjen said,
"-I'm ready to go! I'm the better than-" Jon said when James cut him off,
"-Better than no one." James said looking at him, "Up here; a man get's what he earns. I thought like you did, but I was green." Jon looked at him in shock and Benjen nodded in agreement.
"James is right. Don't expect any privileges because Eddard is your father, he is my brother and will have a special place in my heart. But these are my brothers now." Benjen said placing a hand on his shoulder and turning around to leave. "I'll see you two when I get back." he said as he walked off into the winch elevator and descended down. Than again it was only Jon and James,
"Me going to King's Landing. Uncle Benjen going out on a ranging. Winter is Coming…" James said watching the forest, noticing his breath appearing in front of him in a white mist,
"For once those word's make sense to me." said Jon looking at James now, "I'm going to miss you, James. I've never actually thanked you."
"Thanked me for what?" James asked looking back at him,
"For treating me like you do Arya, Bran, Sansa, Robb, and Rickon." Jon said, "For defending me in front of your Lady Mother, for everything."
James than put an arm around his shoulder and took him in for a hug. "Your surname may be Snow, but we share the same blood. I'll see you when I come back from the Capital. Hopefully, I'll be back in time to see you say the words." James said breaking off the hug as he walked back and stepped into the elevator that just returned, looking at Jon at the end of the Wall. Who for the first time in awhile, was smiling.
-x-
James woke up the next morning and packed his final items in the knapsack. He walked out of Hardin's Tower and made his way to the training yard where nobody was awake accept a few stable boys, James handed his provisions to him and he prepared Lyanna for the tough road ahead. The morning was crisp and it was damp, with a nice morning dew making the Wall glisten, yet again. It was summer mornings like these that he yearned for, and he knew it would be a good day. James heard someone call his name from behind, it was a novice that James did not know.
"Lord Stark." the boy said breathing heavily as if he had ran for his life, "The Lord Commander requests your presence in the common hall, he, Maester Aemon, and Tyrion Lannister are waiting."
"Aye, I'll head over there now." James said as he made his way to the hall again and found them in the same bench they were in yesterday, they were breaking their fast on bacon with eggs, and ham. This time Mormont had his raven with him, perched on his shoulder.
"James!" the Old Bear said beckoning him over, "Corn, Corn, Corn." the raven said as Mormont fed him corn from his hand. James walked over and made his way to the table, he sat down next to Tyrion as the servant brought James some food to break his fast. However, for him he just was served porridge with honey and ale to wash it down.
"I trust you are ready to leave, Stark." Mormont said tearing into a piece of bacon, as James began to eat spoonful's of his porridge.
"Yes, I'm packed and ready to go." James said
"Good. As I told you yesterday, Yoren will meet you down there in due time." the Lord Commander said opening his boiled eggs with his hands, "I was just talking to Lord Tyrion here, about the Night's Watch predicament." he ripped open the egg, feeding the yolk to the raven.
"The Starks are always right in the end. Winter is Coming." Aemon said, "Stark, Stark, Stark." the raven repeated. "The Night's Watch has become a band of undisciplined boys, and we've urged Tyrion here to notify his sister of our problem."
"I can try and tell my sweet sister, although I doubt she or the King will listen." Tyrion said drinking ale
"Aye, the realm cares not for the problem's of the Watch. They play their game of thrones, but the cold wind's are rising and in the end they will be asking for our help." James said finishing his porridge.
"I fear that may be the case." Mormont said cutting up some ham with his dagger, "Than Gods help us all."
James finally finished and got up getting ready to leave before Maester Aemon cut him off. "We read the letter that came yesterday, we hope you don't do anything rash. You are not to get involved."
"What did the letter say?" Tyrion said swallowing a piece of ham, "Just that my brother has awoken. You know that."
"The other letter." Mormont insisted.
"Oh, that letter was from my Lady Mother. Telling me about Bran's ankle and that I shouldn't worry." James said lying straight to his face. There was no way he could tell them the true content's of that letter.
"Than why did you burn it?" asked Tyrion, "Because I didn't want people to read a private letter of mine." James replied as he saw Mormont give him a hard look, before finally speaking.
"Ok, alright. I wish you luck on your journey south." he said standing up and shaking James's hand. Tyrion extended a hand and Maester Aemon offered his luck as well.
James made his way out of the hall again and pushed open his doors to find the training yard still barren. Than he saw Jon standing there with Lyanna in the center, smiling. James walked over to him and stood in front of him, clad in black.
"Thought I'd see you off." Jon said smiling as he pet Lyanna, "Lyanna…such a pretty name."
"Pretty name, for a beautiful women. It's a shame she died." James said, Jon said nothing.
"I'm glad you saw me off, Snow." James said laughing, Jon smiled and put a hand on James shoulder, "Next time you see me, I'll be a man of the Night's Watch. A ranger."
"I can't wait to see the day." James said as he took Jon in a final embrace, before he mounted Lyanna turning her around so he could face Jon once more.
"Goodbye, Jon." he said as he spurred his force forward into a trot beyond the now open gate, he looked back one more time and smiled at Jon who was standing in the middle of the training yard, arms crossed. James gave him a nod and kicked Lyanna into a gallop.
"To King's Landing." James whispered into the mare's ear, "To father." she galloped even harder.
AN: I had to get this chapter out of the way. King's Landing is about to get interesting for James. I'll probably update again tomorrow, I'm going on a writing frenzy considering i couldn't for the past week.
