Late Eighth Month of 297
Jon stood against the wall of the smithy, as the ringing of a hammer hitting an anvil sounded throughout the forge. Infront of him, Robb stood with a steel sword in his hands, swirling it around in circles. His auburn hair was glistening with sweat, and the heat of the forge had forced him to throw aside his pelts and tunic.
"This is good steel," he acknowledged with a slight nod. Theon yawned, fiddling with an arrow on the table.
The smith, Donal Noye, grunted, "Of course it is, boy; you think King Robert would've had me forge his war hammer if I didn't know what I was doing?" he said with a smirk. The man was tall and muscular, even though he was missing a hand, which he claimed to have lost during the siege of Storm's End. He had a large belly, yet he looked every bit a warrior to Jon.
"You really made it, then? The war hammer that caved in Rhaegar's chest?" Robb asked with raised eyebrows and wide eyes, his swirling coming to a halt, as he paid no attention to the lack of formalities observed by the black-haired smith.
"Aye, I did, and Lord Stannis's first sword too. Never made anything for Renly, though, not that he seemed the type to want a proper weapon anyway," he mused, his hammering coming to a halt.
Jon spoke for the first time in a while, "What's he like? The king, that is," he added hesitantly, curious for more knowledge of the man who was their best hope against the White Walkers. His father had often talked of him, and of their time in the Eyrie, but had little to tell of Robert's childhood or his campaign in the Stormlands. From what Jon had heard, Robert seemed like just the man they needed as king when dead men were rising north of the wall. He remembered the night well, only a week past. The light from the fire had awoken him first before he had awakened his brother too. Together they had rushed to the Lord Commander's burning tower, from which their father, uncle and Mormont had come running out. When the fires cleared, they found a charred skeleton, with a half-melted sword placed firmly in its chest. Gared, the three men insisted, had attacked them in the dead of night, having risen from his death. Since then, he had been practising for hours every day with Alyn and Wyl.
Noye chuckled, bringing Jon out his thoughts, "Robert is true steel, a warrior through and through. I'd dare say he was the greatest warrior of the last several centuries in his prime. When he swung that war hammer against the Targaryen loyalists in the Stormlands..." he sighed, looking off to someplace far away, before composing himself, "Yet Robert is more than just the warrior: he's damned clever too - not for politics or the governance of his lands, he never gave a fuck about any of that, but for war. He defeated three armies in a day, and then turned every single one of them into his most staunchest allies."
"How?" Robb questioned with a frown, putting aside his sword to better listen to the smith.
"Seven hells, Stark, I don't fucking know. All I know is what I saw. He beat their asses thoroughly, showing his strength, yet treated them honourably after their surrender. He didn't hold any ill feelings towards the men who stayed loyal to the Mad King, and he made that clear to them. And then... well, you boys are too young to understand the art of seduction," he said with a wink, "but Robert was always the master of it, and he used his skills on the men he defeated. He made them all bloody love him, with a single feast, that is. Come morning, they woke from a night of debauchery and found that they loved the man they had tried to kill not even a day back." he finished, before picking up the sword from the anvil and quenching it into the water. It sizzled loudly before he pulled it back out.
Robb pondered the words for a few seconds, before he picked up the sword, and swirled it around again. "Bloody shame he won't be able to seduce the white walkers," he said with a chuckle. Jon chuckled too.
"He may not be able to, but I can," Theon said with a smirk before the sound of footsteps outside alerted Jon to the arrival of someone. Turning towards the door, he saw his uncle Benjen enter the smithy. He nodded to Noye, before looking at Robb and Jon respectively.
"Boys, your father wants to see you in the King's Tower," he told them. Jon noticed Theon frown.
"Is it about the attack?" Jon asked quickly.
"Or are we finally departing for Eastwatch and the Shadowtower?" Robb added.
"I think Ned knows better than I what he wants to talk with you two about," he answered with a slight smile.
Noye grunted, "He gave the sword to you then, eh?" he asked with a grin, nodding towards the sword that hung by Benjen's side. Jon looked down and spotted the sword in the sheathe, and felt his eyebrows rise. The immaculately inlaid pommel at the end of the sword's hilt seemed to depict a dark grey wolf's head, with silver eyes, a pommel that he had not seen on Benjen's sword before.
"He gave you a new pommel?" Robb questioned confusedly.
Noye roared with laughter, "A new pommel, eh?" he chuckled, "No, Stark, that's a new sword, and a rather special one if I might say so myself."
Now he had Jon's interest. A special sword, given to his uncle by someone? "Well show it to us then!" he encouraged.
Benjen sighed through his smile before he with a swift and elegant motion unsheathed his bastard sword. Jon heard Robb gasp behind him, and felt his own jaw drop, as he saw the dark grey sword, with a distinctive rippled pattern adorning it. Theon gave an impressed whistle, putting aside his arrow.
"That's Valyrian steel!" he exclaimed, to Noye's amusement.
"Aye," his uncle confirmed, "The Lord Commander wanted me to have it, as a reward for burning down his chambers. If only I'd known I could've gotten a Valyrian steel sword all these years, had I just thrown a bloody lantern at his curtains..." he said, causing Jon and the others to laugh loudly, as Benjen handed the sword to Robb, who thrust it at no one in particular, before slashing the air a few times.
"It's light," he commented, as he handed it to Theon, "lighter even than Ice, which I had not thought possible."
Theon hacked with it a few times, before handing it to Jon, "Not as quick as a bow," he commented, annoying as ever.
Jon accepted it, before adjusting his grip, and swirling it around. It fit perfectly in his hand, and it was after much admiration that he finally handed it back to Benjen. His uncle took it, before sheathing it once more, "Now, boys, you'd best come with me, before your father sends someone out to find us." he said with a smile.
The oak door opened before Jon, Robb and Benjen, revealing Mormont's new solar in the King's Tower to Jon for the first time during his stay at Castle Black. Inside was a large round room, with a great table in the centre. Upon the table lay a map, which Jon quickly recognised as that of the North, and the lands beyond the wall. Standing around the map, were several high-ranking officers in the Night's Watch, as well as the men of Winterfell. His father stood at the end of the table, with Mormont on his right, and two empty spots on his left, which Jon guessed was meant for Robb and himself, while the empty spot beside Mormont was meant for their uncle.
"My lords," Robb greeted respectfully, while Jon bowed his head.
"My sons, come," their father responded seriously, pointing to his left.
They joined the men around the table before Jon looked up to see who was at the meeting. Next to himself stood Alyn, his father's chief lieutenant while at Castle Black. Further down the table, left of Alyn, stood Ser Waymar Royce, the only living man who had seen a White Walker and lived to tell the tale, Ser Jaremy Rykker, the second best ranger at Castle Black after Benjen, or so Jon had been told by Noye, and finally, Ser Mallador Locke, a steward. On the other side of the table, next to Benjen, sat the ancient Maester of Castle Black, Aemon, as well as First Builder Yarwyck, Lord Steward Bowen Marsh, and Alliser Thorne, the particularly unpleasant master-at-arms, whom Jon had had the displeasure of meeting several times. He sneered as he made eye contact with Jon, his eyes cold and hateful, and Jon did his best to repay him with a nasty look of his own.
"Now that we are all gathered, we must discuss our plans. A creature that we presume is a White Walker, attacked Ser Waymar, as many of you already know. A week back, the ranger you knew as Gared rose from the dead, and attempted to kill your Lord Commander, your First Ranger and myself. My lords, this is a declaration of war, if these creatures are able to do so." his father stated, and Jon noticed that he had donned his 'Lord's Face', as he and his siblings liked to call it in jest. He rested his hands on the table and looked calmly at each man around him.
"Ravens have been sent south," came the soft voice of Master Aemon from his chair, and all listened, "To every castle in the North, and to the seat of every Great Lord, detailing the attack. With some hope, they will listen."
"The lords of the North will answer this call to arms," his father assured them all, "I have commanded them all to travel to the Wall with a hundred men, whenever these have been assembled."
"What good will a few hundred men do?" Ser Alliser sneered, before adding, "My lord,"
Jon's father frowned at the question, "There are numerous northern houses, Ser. Within a few months, the Night's Watch shall be aided by more than two thousand of the finest swords, spears, and axes that the North can offer." he said stoically.
"We are grateful for your aid, Lord Stark," Lord Commander Mormont said, rebuking Thorne.
"Yet the aid will do little, as long as nearly all castles along the Wall are abandoned ruins," Lord Steward Bowen Marsh, a man as round and red as a pomegranate, reminded them.
His father nodded his assent, "Which is why they must be rebuilt," he stated calmly. The room fell quiet. Jon noticed the disbelieving looks on the faces of some of the brothers of the Night's Watch.
"Rebuilt?" said First Builder Yarwyck, "But who will do the work?"
"That is my concern," his father said simply, "I shall gather the necessary men if your builders will aid them, First Builder."
Yarwyck nodded hesitantly, "Good. Yet the necessary resources..." he said, trailing off.
"I shall provide the resources as well. With some luck, the king will soon aid us as well, yet I fear it will take more than a raven before King Robert sends the royal treasury north." his father said, interrupting the First Builder, who fell quiet.
"And the food for the men to garrison the castles?" Ser Mallador Locke questioned, yet Jon sensed he wasn't as opposed to the idea as Yarwyck, yet merely interested in assuring everything was accounted for.
"Shall come from the storages of the northern castles and cities. Everything shall be accounted for out of my pocket, my lords." his father assured them all, before he went on, "As for myself, I shall go west to the Shadowtower, to inspect the needs of every castle, before gathering the men of the mountain clans, while my son Robb," he said, nodding at Robb who straightened his back, "Shall go east to Eastwatch-By-The-Sea, inspecting every castle between here and there. We shall require the aid of some of your builders and stewards, however."
Mormont nodded, "You shall have them, as well as a couple of rangers each."
"Good," his father muttered, "And the ranging north?" he asked, his eyes on Benjen. Jon froze. He had heard nothing of his uncle going ranging.
"Everyone's ready to depart at dawn, my lord." His uncle replied.
"Forgive me, my lords," Jon heard Robb say beside him, who looked as confused as Jon felt, "Which ranging is this?"
"We have decided to send half a dozen rangers North, in the hopes of finding more wights." his father replied
"You mean to bring more wights south of the Wall?" Robb questioned.
"Aye," his father concurred, "The southerners will need more proof than our word, for I am afraid that it will have little value south of the Neck."
His uncle smiled at them, "Don't worry boys, I'll be back before you know it."
The words did little to soothe Jon's fears. Waymar had travelled north with two senior rangers, yet he had barely made it back alive. A wight had attacked Jon's father, uncle and the Lord Commander, all of them amongst the finest warriors in the North, yet they had had to burn down a bloody tower to defeat it. And now his uncle was to venture North, into the haunted forest, and look for wights? Jon did not like it.
"How many men are going with you?" Jon asked quietly.
"I'm taking Ser Waymar, Ser Jarman, Dalbridge, Jafer Flowers and Othor, all good rangers," Benjen said.
Jon wanted to argue, yet knew his place as a bastard. He was fortunate that he had even been allowed to join the war council. It would do him no good to scream at his uncle like a petulant child.
"Now, if there is nothing else, my lords, we ought to prepare for the morrow," his father questioned.
Mormont grunted, "A raven came in from the Shadowtower, from Ser Denys Mallister. The Halfhand returned from a ranging recently, says Mance Rayder has slain Dorgrim, a contender for the title of, 'King Beyond the Wall'. It would seem Mance is the only King now." he said solemnly.
His father sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "Then it is paramount that we prepare the Wall for an attack. The Wildlings will come sooner than the dead, I fear."
Benjen was to depart first, alongside the other rangers. When the sun rose on Castle Black, he sat atop his horse in the courtyard, as Jon approached him. The gate was already open, and it seemed as if all they were waiting for was for their last ranger to join them, judging by the lone horse. It was a cold day, and Jon was hugging his pelts tightly as he walked across the yard, with Robb by his side.
"You boys are up early!" Benjen said with a grin as he saw them. He dismounted and walked towards them with outstretched arms.
"Didn't think you could leave without saying your farewells, did you?" Robb asked with a grin, as Benjen embraced him tightly.
They parted before Benjen embraced Jon too, "You boys look out for each other, you hear me?" he said seriously. Jon opened his mouth to respond, but Benjen shook his head, "I know you won't be by each other's side for the next several months, but you will meet again. When you do, stay by each other's side. My father always used to tell us, 'The lone wolf dies, but the pack survives'." he said with a sad smile.
Jon grinned and looked at Robb, "Now we know where father gets that saying from,"
His uncle chuckled heartily, "I imagine the saying has been in our family for thousands of years," he said, "Which might be why we're still around."
"I'll look out for Jon," Robb said in mock seriousness, before a smirk appeared, "Gods know he's useless without me,"
"You're the one who's blind without me, Stark," he jested, "Try not to fall down the stairs at Eastwatch, eh?" he jested.
Robb snarled, yet Jon knew him well enough to see that he was hiding a smile, "That was one time, Snow, and it was bloody dark," he said, causing Jon and Benjen to laugh.
They talked for several minutes until Jafer Flowers appeared and walked up to his horse. Benjen put his hands on Robb and Jon's shoulders respectively, "I must leave now. Remember my words, boys." he said with a smile, as he too climbed his horse.
"You aren't going to say goodbye to father?" Robb asked.
"Already did, an hour back," he answered, as the horse trod towards the open gate. He looked back at them one last time before he disappeared into the tunnel.
Another hour passed before their father entered the courtyard as well. A dozen men of the Watch were to depart as well, six with Robb and six with Jon and his father. The Stark men were already mounted atop their horses, all of them clad in mail. Twenty men were to stay behind under the leadership of Desmond, while Robb took thirty men with him to Eastwatch-By-The-Sea. The remaining were to go with Jon and his father.
"Next time I see you, you'll be an expert in maritime trade," Jon said with a smirk, as he and Robb were saying their farewells.
Robb groaned, "And you'll be an expert at crafting snowballs, or whatever boring shit you'll be doing at the Shadowtower," Robb countered.
"Watch out, or I might just put one in those pretty red locks of yours," he grinned, before asking seriously, "How long do you think it will be?"
"Soon enough," Robb assured him, before pulling Jon to him, and embracing him tightly, "Farewell, Snow."
"And you, Stark." Jon said, hugging him back. They let go of each other after a few moments, and Jon headed towards his horse. He gave a short nod of farewell to Theon, who was going with Robb, not bothering to speak to him. As he looked back, he saw his father approaching Robb, and embracing him. Jon climbed his horse silently, making sure his sword was by his side. It was his first proper sword, and he was honoured that his father had trusted him with it. It was no Longclaw - his uncle's new sword - yet it was sharp and quick.
"You ready, Jon?" Asked Alyn beside him. Although Jon would've preferred Ser Rodrick or Jory as the captain of his father's guard while at the Wall, Alyn was a good man as well, and a fine leader.
"I suppose," Jon said, looking off to his brother, who had climbed his horse. Every man behind him was mounted too, spears in hand.
One of the Watch's stewards cried 'open', and the gates of Castle Black creaked open, revealing the cold wasteland outside, the wasteland that to Jon represented the very essence of the North. six-and-thirty riders, six of them in all black, and the remaining thirty bearing the insignia of House Stark, followed the figure at their helm, who sat mounted on his tall horse. Clad in resplendent mail, with a white tunic adorned with a grey wolf atop it, the eldest son of Winterfell rode forth, his shoulders draped with a badger's pelt. Gauntlets, polished and gleaming, encased his hands
From his own grey horse, Jon beheld his brother's departure. The sight of Robb, leading with a commanding presence, ignited a swell of admiration within him. It was not just the figure of his brother riding out; it was the embodiment of a Stark of Winterfell. Shortly after Robb's departure, Jon and his father rode forth too, his father exchanging some last words with Lord Commander Mormont. Jon looked around at the yard of the castle one last time, nodded repectfully at the Old Bear, scowled at Thorne and smiled at Noye, before he too went through the open gate.