Chapter 78: The result of a dream

13 AF

There is a two-year time jump since last chapter.

Bran

Everything was dark. He could see nothing wherever he looked. He tried to look at his own hands, but although he felt them, he saw no sign of them no matter how hard he waved them in front of his eyes. He wandered around in the dark, not knowing what to make of all of this.

A white light could be seen in the distant. He looked over towards it and realized it was getting closer quickly. No, he was getting closer to the light, not the light to him. He was floating through the dark. How this happening? He did not know.

As he got closer, he realized that the white light was coming from two weirwood trees. He recognized them as the two trees that stood just east of Moat Cailin. They got closer and closer, and he became afraid that he would smash into them. However, magically, he stopped just in front of them.

He looked upon the two painted faces side by side. One had a sad face, the other a happy one. He was comparing the details when the two pairs of eyes abruptly opened and stared at him. The shock caused him to fall backwards, yet the trees just stared at him.

Suddenly both mouths, sad and happy, opened and a voice came out. The voice sounded strange, both as if it was one voice and dozens together at the same time.

"BRANDON STARK", the voice exclaimed loudly, and he felt all the hairs in his body stand up in response.

"YOU HAVE BEEN SUMMONED. WE HAVE A TASK FOR YOU. DO NOT DISSAPOINT US. YOUR FAMILY MAY SUFFER IF YOU DO."

In a flash, the weirwood trees were gone. He found himself in the Godswood of Winterfell. He knew where he was. The weirwood was to his back and he wanted to turn himself towards it, but something else caught his eye. Shapes moved through the trees towards him. Six in total, the six direwolves he and his siblings had raised.

At the front walked Grey Wind, with Summer and Ghost at his sides. They stopped a few feet from him. "THIS IS WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF YOU IGNORE OUR MESSAGE." A booming voice called from behind him. He instinctively knew that it was the Weirwood who spoke to him.

He didn't have the time to turn around, as Summer stalked forward towards him and put his paw on his forehead. Suddenly, images flashed in front of him. He saw himself, Robb and all his other siblings. He saw how they got older and how the small children that walked beside them grew up quickly. In shock, he realized that he saw Edda and Ricky as adults.

He saw himself with a young boy. The boy grew up into an adult and he found himself old and grey lying in a bed, whilst holding the much older boy's hand. "Brynden, my son, I must leave you know. The Gods call for me to join them." He heard the elderly version of himself say. His eyes grew wide. Brynden was only three years old, here he looked at least forty. He saw how his boy nodded, a tear streaking over his cheek. He saw himself die, as his son closed his eyes forever.

Instantly, he saw Rickard who did the same to Robb. Edrick to Jon, Beth to Sansa, Medgar to Arya and a boy he didn't know to Rickon. He saw how his siblings' eyes were all closed by their children. Suddenly, he saw their direwolves and they illuminated a white light through their eyes before the light extinguished, and the direwolves turned to dust.

He saw their children gather in Winterfell, as Robb's body was set in the crypt. Next, he saw an elderly Ricky with an adult son and another small boy next to him, as he sat on the throne of the Kings of Winter. Robb's future line, he realized. He looked around and saw Brynden stand in the hall.

An elderly woman approached the throne. She spoke to Rickard and grey mist came from her mouth. "The real direwolves died together with your father and his siblings. The line that had been reforged has ended prematurely. The Gods didn't intend for this. They will shed tears for their followers, they will shed tears for the fate of your family." The woman fell down on the ground, as the sound of direwolves howling filled the hall.

The woman was dead, he realized. Then the images started flashing even quicker. He saw armies marching. Battles being fought. He saw the adult man and the boy that he had seen next to Ricky, but they had aged at least fifteen years. They fought side by side, killing indiscriminately, but the enemies were too many. The older died first, soon followed by his son.

He saw dozens of weirwoods in flames at once, as he heard dozens of voices scream their pain and sorrow in his eyes. He saw Castle Cerwyn and the Dreadfort as mere ruins. He saw a battle at Moat Cailin. The direwolf banner of his house flew high above the highest tower. The fortress was stormed from all sides and in a flash the battle was over, with thousands of bodies lying scattered in and around the fortress. The image zoomed in on one.

He saw a greybeard lying dead in the middle of the courtyard. He wore the tabard of House Stark, but the direwolf it displayed was pierced by a thousand cutes. The dead greybeard opened his eyes, but they were all white and saw nothing. A voice came out of his dead mouth. "I have failed you father. I couldn't protect our family. Please forgive me."

He realized that he looked upon the old dead body of his little boy and tears streaked across his face. He tried to grab his son's face, but he couldn't get closer. His body drifted in the sky away from the moat and the further he could look the more destruction he saw. He saw people running for their life, being hunted down by fanatically motivated enemies.

He saw the Wolfswood burning down, and the old burial hills of the Barrow Kings uprooted. His body moved north, and he saw the Wall melt down. New enemies pouring through it to attack from the northside. The North was stormed by zealous armies wearing the Seven-Pointed star from the south, as pirates and raiders landed on their shores from the east and the west.

He saw Rickard, Robb's happy little boy, stand upon the biggest tower in Winterfell. He looked old and frail. He saw enemies swarm over the walls of Winterfell, as his nephew fell to his knees and cry. He saw how he clutched his heart, whilst screaming loudly. He saw Robb's eldest son die from sorrow, as his home burned down.

He saw his homeland go up in flames as far as he could look in every direction, but suddenly it was all gone again. He found himself back in the Godswood in Winterfell, as Summer pulled his paw back from his forehead. "YOU HAVE SEEN WHAT COULD BE IF YOU REFUSE TO FULFILL OUR TASK." A booming voice shouted. He turned around and saw the melancholy face of the Winterfell Heart Tree talk to him.

"You must travel north. Go beyond the Wall and find the direwolves' future. Your elder brother Robb must accompany you. Together you can save the North from its fate. The reforged line must not be broken yet. The next generation will need their guidance and assistance, or they may fail. Now go and fulfill the task we asked of you. We count on you."

The eyes of the weirwood turned wider and wider and a great white flash threw him back. He felt himself fall down and couldn't manage to open his eyes. Abruptly, he felt himself hit the ground.

He opened his eyes and found himself laying in his bed in Moat Cailin. He grasped for air, breathing heavily. Bethany's face was hunched over him, and she looked scared. "Bran! Bran are you there? Can you hear me?" She asked carefully. He nodded in response, whilst trying to calm his breathing.

"What was that? You started sweating buckets and I couldn't wake you. In the end, you just started screaming loudly. A few seconds ago, your whole body flinched together as if you smacked into something."

He looked up to his wife in shock. "Or as if I fell down …" He whispered. She nodded strangely. "Aye, that may describe it even better. What happened?"

He looked around him and noticed how a large area of the matrass around him was drenched in sweat. His hair was wet as if he had just taken a swim. His back hurt, as if he had really fallen and he noticed tears streaking from his eyes.

He looked back at his wife. "I … I think the Gods visited me in my dreams. They send me a warning and a task. If I fail House Stark and the North may be in peril. If I fail, Brynden could die trying to fight it, Ricky and his children coulmdl too. Our son would die Bethany. He would die on these grounds in this castle fighting against a tide of enemies that he can't stop."

Bethany's eyes went wide in shock. She listened to him ramble. "The Gods visited you? You mean the Old Gods?"

He nodded, as he swallowed loudly. He jumped out of the bed. "I must go to Winterfell at once. I need to talk to Robb. I need to make him understand. I must protect Bryn. I must protect my son and my family."

Bethany looked perplexed and tried to calm him down, but soon realized she couldn't. She looked long and hard in his eyes, while he rambled on about what he had seen in his eyes.

"Do you really believe Bryn to be in trouble now?" She finally asked.

"Aye, … and no. Not now. Once Robb and I and all my other siblings have died, he may be in danger. The Gods showed me only one possible future. I don't think that it is set in stone, but they wouldn't go through all this effort if they didn't think it likely."

He took a deep breath. "In the future that I witnessed, he will die old and alone in battle. I saw him Bethany, I saw his body. It spoke to me. It asked me for forgiveness and told me that he failed. I must prevent it. I must not fail him. He can't do this without me."

Bethany looked at him, doubt clearly settling in his eyes. "And the solution is in Winterfell?"

"No", he shook his head. "I need to go look for something at the northside of the Wall. However, Robb needs to come with me. I saw Ricky die too and his son and grandson. This is not about me or Bryn alone. It is about House Stark. The Gods have given me a task. I cannot fail, Bethany. I cannot fail."

"You sound mad, husband." She simply replied. "There is nothing north of the Wall."

"There is something. It has to do with the direwolves. We need to find out. Where is my coat? My sword? I need to go. I need to go now." He almost screamed, as he looked around frantically for his sword.

Bethany put her hands firmly on his shoulders and forced him to stop and look at her. "Husband, do you truly think this is necessary? You said that it was only a possible future. Maybe It won't happen? Besides, do you really think that this could help our son in the future?"

He nodded. "Not only our son. His children and their children too. I saw the whole of the North burn. Dead was everywhere. It has something to do with the guidance of the direwolves. They will help prevent ruin, how I do not know. I must do this Bethany."

She looked him in the eyes for a long time, before answering. "Your bond with Summer is clearly magical, any soul can see that. It makes no sense. If you say that they are the key to protecting our son's life, I believe you. We will go to Winterfell. However, we will do it well. You look like a raving lunatic. I will ask the servants to pour you a bath. I will have other servants bring you your riding clothes right after, whilst I prepare the guard to accompany us to Winterfell."

"Us?" He asked. "You will not accompany me north of the Wall, it is far too dangerous."

She nodded. "That much is true. However, I will go as far as Winterfell. If you and Robb are north of the Wall, others might get stupid ideas. Moat Cailin is still too small to protect us properly. In Winterfell we will be safe and Alys and her children can keep me company. If Rickon and Jon are present, they could protect us until you return. Besides, there is another reason to go to Winterfell."

He looked to her in confusion. "I talked to the Maester yesterday. I am pregnant again. I wanted to surprise you with the news today, but that plan has by now spectacularly failed."

His eyes went wide, as he looked upon her belly. Instead of joy, he felt even more fear. This would be another child that could suffer a horrible fate, if he failed. He felt the panic rise but forced it down. He steeled himself.

He looked upon his wife. "Aye, going to Winterfell is a good idea. Jon and Rickon can protect you, they have Ghost and Shaggy around them, and Arya and Nymeria are not far. Besides, it will do the child well to be born among my kin."

He took a deep breath. " I will not fail the three of you. I love you and Bryn, and I will love this new child just the same. However, now we need to hurry. You are right about that bath. If I arrive in Winterfell like this, Robb will think me mad, and it will not help us. We depart at midday, make sure you and Bryn are ready by then. I will arrange for the keep to be secured until our return. I will be back here for the bath in half an hour."

He kissed her on her forehead and ran outside of their rooms, absently picking up the clothes he passed on his way to the door and loosely putting on pants and a tunic. He had work to do. All the while, Summer looked at him with a meaningful facial expression upon his face from the corner of the room. He made no sound, but he looked on with approval as he hurried outside of the door.

(Fifteen days later)

Their pace had been slower than he had hoped for due to the unpredictable autumn weather and his young son's presence, but they were finally here. The great granite walls of Winterfell brought him a calm that he hadn't felt since he had had that dream. Even Arya's presence hadn't been able to cheer him up.

His younger sister had hosted them in Castle Cerwyn the day before yesterday and had then joined them on their way to Winterfell. It had been months since she'd been in their ancestral home, the longest period she had ever been absent from it. Cley gave her more freedoms than a noble lady should ever aspire to have, but he had been adamant that their second child should be born in Castle Cerwyn. "A good Cerwyn always should be", he had said.

This had made it so she hadn't been able to travel the last two months of her pregnancy nor the first three months after her son's birth. Now, after almost six months she was going back home together with her two children. Her eldest, her son Medgar, was four by now. Her second child was a daughter they had named Jonella, after Cley's sister who had been Arya's mentor.

He had tried to be happy to meet his niece for the first time, as all his other siblings except for Sansa had already visited Arya and Jonella at Castle Cerwyn, but he just couldn't get his mind off the dream that he had had. Now that he had reached Robb, he finally managed to calm down a little.

He rode his horse through the gates, as soldiers announced their arrival. He saw Robb walk into the courtyard with Ricky and the pain of the dream almost made him grasp for air. This happy nine-year-old boy had been the broken old man that he had seen die on the top of the keep he was just walking out with his father and Grey Wind.

Alys was already waiting in front of them. When he got off his horse to greet her, his manners taken the upper hand for the moment. He bowed lightly in front of her. "Good to see you, Bran." His sister-in-law smiled. "However, why the sudden visit? We hadn't expected you back for months yet?"

"I have something to discuss with Robb, it is urgent." He replied.

"So urgent that you couldn't send it by raven?" She joked but when she saw his jaw clench tight, she seemed shocked. "What is it, Bran? What do you need to talk about with my husband?"

"It is something that is for Robb's ears only, Alys. Please excuse me, but I cannot tell you." He dismissed her politely, which he would normally never do. Nevertheless, these weren't normal times. The future of their dynasty and the North could be dependent on him convincing his brother to go north before winter fell.

He walked over to his elder brother, who immediately gave him a hug. "Welcome home, little brother." He told him. "I must say that the new beard agrees with you. It will suit you well in the coming winter." Robb laughed happily. "To what do we owe the unexpected pleasure of your return?"

Ricky laughed loudly at his father's antics, and he saw his mother role her eyes at Robb because of it. "I need to talk to you in private, Robb. It is urgent, I wouldn't have come all this way if it wasn't."

A frown settled upon his elder's brother's forehead. "May I at least greet the ladies and children in your company? I haven't seen Bethany and little Brynden in ages, and I would love to see our sister and her children again too."

He relented and slowly nodded his head, as Robb and Ricky moved passed him to greet the rest of the family. He looked starkly towards the place where the sun was hidden behind the clouds. It had already passed its highest point and it reminded him of the time that he would need to accomplish his task. He had never gotten a deadline, but he instinctively knew that the Gods wanted him to be on the other side of the wall before winter came.

"I don't know what it is with him. He has been like this for the past two days and he won't budge on what the issue is. I suspect that Bethany knows, but she doesn't say anything either." He heard Arya tell Robb behind him. It didn't matter, he would know soon enough.

He heard them talk among themselves for a few minutes, before Robb turned towards him. "Let's get it over with, shall we?" His brother sighed and he nodded in return. Robb gestured for him to go first. He needn't tell him where they were going. He knew the direction to his father's old solar like the back of his hand.

Their direwolves went with them. He also saw his great-uncle silently walk next to Robb, as he led the way. That could be a problem. He had idolized the Tully knight in his youth, and he still held him in the highest esteem. He had even called his firstborn after him, but now his presence would work against him. Ser Brynden knew about their warging, but it was still a foreign concept to him as the Tullys adhered to the Seven.

His tale of a dream of the Old Gods telling him to go beyond the Wall or risking the future of their kingdom and house would not go over well with him. For once in his life, he would find no ally in his beloved uncle.

Once they reached the solar, he decided that he could not take the risk. "Uncle, would you mind guarding the door? I must talk to Robb alone." The old knight looked shocked at the proposal, as he almost always accompanied his King to his meetings. He knew it must hurt him for the words to come from him, as they shared a great bond, but he had no choice.

He saw how the Commander of the Kingsguard exchanged a look with Robb, who had raised his eyebrows questioningly at him. "I won't budge on this, Robb. I must talk to you alone. Before we decide what to do, my words are for the head of House Stark only."

His brother and uncle shared another look, but in the end both relented. "As you wish, Bran." The Blackfish sighed, as he took up position outside of the door.

He followed Robb inside and the moment the door closed his brother turned around. "What is this about, Bran? I have never seen you dismiss our uncle that way. You apparently did the same to everybody else and you didn't even acknowledge Ricky's presence in the courtyard!"

"Robb, have I ever asked you for anything? Have I ever wanted a reward, a favor or anything else?" He countered.

His brother looked perplexed. "No, you haven't. Nevertheless, I have never forgotten you. You have gotten missions and tasks of high importance and I have given you the gateway to the North to govern."

He nodded. "Aye, that is all true and I am forever grateful. However, now I need to ask you for a favor. It may the only real thing that I ever ask of you, but it is of vital importance."

The line of worry between Robb's eyebrows only thickened. "What is it, Bran? What do you need? Are you in trouble? Is your family well?"

He shook his head. "I am not in trouble and my family is all very well, for now." The last words only thickened the line across Robb's forehead.

"I need you to listen to what I am about to say. No matter how crazy I sound. No matter how far-fetched it is. I need you to listen and I will answer all your questions afterwards. Can you promise me that?"

Robb looked him in the eyes for a few seconds, before he nodded and sat down behind his solar. He himself took the seat in front of him. "A fortnight ago, I had a dream about the Old Gods …"

Minutes later, Robb looked at him in shock. "You expect me to not only believe this, but to abandon my kingdom and family to march north of the Wall with you?"

"Aye, that is what I am asking." He responded calmly. Now that he had delivered his message, he felt a rare calm even more so than when he had first spotted the walls of Winterfell and the direwolf banners displayed on top of them.

His brother sighed. "I understand that it must have been hard to see your son and our family like that, Bran, but I am the king. You can't expect me to just go up and leave. I have a kingdom to run. Nobody even expected this. Jon is in Sea Dragon Point. Rickon is out with a dozen nobles visiting the Mountain Clans. Even mother is away in Riverrun. She will depart it in a week to bring our young cousin to Winterfell to start his fostering under my tutelage here. I cannot leave."

He looked his king hard in the eyes. "Then call Rickon and Jon back to Winterfell. Have mother stay with young Hoster in Riverrun for a while longer or have them tour the Riverlands for a month or two. He is the heir to the Riverlands, it will only benefit him to do so with the mother of the King."

Robb's face showed absolute shock. "You are serious about this?"

"Aye, I will never ask you anything else, but I need to ask you this." Was his reply. Robb shared a look with Grey Wind, who sat next to him at his desk.

"I can't do it, Bran … You must forgive me, but I can't leave the kingdom on the cusp of winter. Jon is gone, so are Rickon and mother. I can't leave. Maybe we can go there in a few years, when spring returns?"

He sighed. "I didn't want to do this, Robb, but you leave me no choice. I hadn't told you the entire dream just now."

His brother looked upon him questioningly. "I told you that I saw people dying in battle wearing our family sigil, one of them being Bryn." Robb nodded.

"The others that I saw falling in battle were your grandson and great-grandson, Ricky's heirs. In an earlier flash I saw them next to your son when he held court for that woman in Winterfell. At the end, I didn't simply see Winterfell go up in flames. I saw Ricky standing on the highest tower of the keep, as the enemies poured over the walls with the castle going up in flames. I saw your son, who had lost his heirs, die from sadness and despair. I saw him lifelessly collapse on the ground, as the North and Winterfell burned around him, Robb. I believe that if we don't do this together that our house will face disaster. That your son will die an old and broken man. That is why I couldn't look at him in the courtyard."

"The Gods specifically asked for you to accompany me. They showed me the fate of your heir's line. I don't believe this to be a coincidence. If you don't go north of the Wall with me before winter, I believe that we are doomed."

Robb's eyes went wide. "You saw my boy die?"

He nodded. "Winter is coming, Robb. These are our words for a reason. We cannot wait until spring and hope things blow over. That has never been the Stark way. Either you come with me, or you risk it all. There is no middle ground, no compromise, no easy way to do it. I don't know why the Gods sent this to me and why they didn't contact you directly. I don't know, all I know is that we need to do this, together." He voiced his thoughts.

"I don't think that you were the only one that was contacted …" Robb whispered.

"What?" He almost screamed.

"A fortnight ago, possibly during the same night that you had yours, I had a dream of my own." It was completely dark, and a multitude of voices kept telling me things. However, I couldn't hear all they said. All I can remember, is the one sentence you also told me. The reforged line must not be broken yet … I thought it meant the line of Stark kings. I thought I was doing right." His older brother replied.

He hunched forward, closer to his brother. "Robb, do you really think this is a coincidence? The Gods tried to contact you. Maybe, the connection wasn't good enough and they contacted me afterwards? Why or how I do not know."

"I have a good guess. You said it has something to do with the direwolves? Your control over Summer was always stronger than mine over Grey Wind's …" Robb mused.

"Aye, maybe these things are related. In the end, it doesn't matter. All that matters is whether you will accompany me or not."

In that moment, Robb didn't look like a king, but like the teenage boy he had known in his youth. He had the same look upon his face as the time when Arya had been hurt in one of their games. He hadn't known what to do or how to tell mother back then. The same look of indecision, shock and fear was etched on his face.

In the end, it was Grey Wind that decided the day. The direwolf nudged his head against his companion's and wined softly. Robb looked him in the eyes, and they seemed to have a silent conversation. He understood it immediately, as he had had many of those with Summer. The thought of it made him look at his own direwolf. Summer's golden eyes looked at him and brought him calm. "He will accept. My brother will convince the pack's Alpha. He will guide him." He heard the familiar voice say in his head.

For some reason, he knew it to be true. When he looked back to the scene in front of him, he saw Robb's shoulders fall in slowly. His head looked at his shoes and he took a few breaths before looking in his direction. "Very well, Bran. I will accompany you north of the Wall. I will write the necessary letters to the Night's Watch and the keeps between Winterfell and Castle Black to notify them of our arrival." His brother sighed.

"However, I will need your help. Jon and Rickon are away, and Alys can't run the kingdom alone. I will recall our brothers, but it might take weeks before they return. I will need to prepare the North for my absence and talk to the councilors on what needs to happen. I will need to pacify my lords too. They won't like the idea of me travelling to the other side of the Wall, especially not this sudden. This will take all my attention and it could take a while."

He nodded. "I understand, what do you need me to do?"

"I need you to establish a large company of men to accompany us. I have no idea how large or small you would want this group to be. However, you must keep in mind that I am the King. I have an image to think about, especially when I arrive to Castle Black. Most of the Black Brothers are there because I banished them there. Arriving with twenty men would be suicide. You can ask Uncle Brynden for all the help you will need on that front. He will damn me to his Seven Hells for this, but he will still accompany us. That is who he is." He agreed with that. Their uncle was nothing if not loyal and stubborn.

"I want trusted and experienced men for this, but I want Winterfell to remain safe. I leave my five children here. I don't want to be worrying about them when I have Wildlings and other things to keep my mind occupied."

"I leave my wife and child here too, Robb. Winterfell will remain as strong and safe as ever. I promise you." He replied.

"Now you must excuse me. I have letters to write, and I need to talk to my wife. That is a conversation I am not looking forward to, so I better get it over with."

He stood up and clasped his brother's arm. "You are doing the right thing, Robb. Thank you, I know it must difficult."

The head of House Stark remained silent; his kingly mask safely worn on his face again. However, he knew his brother didn't feel as steadfast as he showed himself to be. Nevertheless, he knew Robb would get it done. He had never failed House Stark. He wouldn't start now.

(Seven weeks later)

It had taken far longer than he had wanted, but they would finally be passing through the Wall. They had been at Castle Black for four days now but hadn't been able to pass through due to a heavy autumn snowstorm. This morning it was clear, and everything was prepared for them to go.

Their journey here had been interesting. Normally, the trip here would have taken around eighteen days. Their journey had taken two weeks longer than that. Partially due to heavy snowfall, but also because Robb used the time to visit a few minor holdfasts on the way. He had listened to the grievances of the local people in the areas still directly sworn to Winterfell and had later listened to the minor nobles sworn to his vassals.

The last few days they had been hosted by the Night's Watch. They had arrived with one hundred and eighty men, which had given their former adversaries on the Wall a pause. A hundred elite guardsmen, all of them having battle experience. Five members of the Kingsguard with their squires, their own squires, a few dozen servants and craftsmen and Ned Umber and his retainers.

Ned was the youngest son of the Greatjon and he had received parts of the lands of the former gift, on the condition that he and his line would still be sworn to Last Hearth. Due to his proximity to the Wall, Ned had many dealings with the Night's Watch. The Greatjon had thought his presence would be helpful and had, in a secret letter, told them that he wanted the King to have more soldiers around him when dealing with the Watch.

The new commander of the Night's Watch, Jason Lanny, had been a vassal of the Lannisters in Lannisport. He had been one of the last loyalists in that city and had personally been sent to the Wall by Robb.

In the end, their meetings were cordially enough. The former head of House Lanny was no idiot. He knew that House Stark was the biggest donor to the Watch. Ned Umber's presence also helped, as House Umber was the third biggest donor after the Manderlys. The Southern kingdoms only trailing behind them. Although, donations to the Wall had increased from the South, as many families in the Westerlands and Vale had responded to the pleas of their banished kinsmen.

During the last years, the leadership of the Watch had luckily only changed a little. Duncan 'Big' Little remained the First Ranger, a great thing for the relations between the North and the Watch. He often voluntarily updated Robb on the workings of the Wall, which created a lot of goodwill with his brother. In turn, Robb provided a lot of the things that Little asked for and as such the relations with the Wall were well.

Another Northman, Bowen Marsh, remained Lord Steward and Othell Yarwyck remained First builder. The latter had delivered good work in rebuilding four keeps along the Wall and laying the foundation to resettle and recultivate much of Brandon's Gift.

Lanny had kept much of Denys Mallister's capable old guard in place. However, every time a man died, he had been replaced him with one of the 'new men'. A nickname given to the nobles that had been sent to the Wall during the wars in the South. A thing that could be noted by the sheer amount of noble born Reachmen, Westerlanders and rebel Rivermen in positions of note in Castle Black.

Lord Commander Lanny had promised Robb ten rangers to accompany them on their task, although it had been clear that he thought that his brother had gone mad. 'Big' Little had voluntarily chosen to lead the expedition.

It would be impossible for one hundred and ninety men to go north of the Wall. Only fifty in total would going, the rest remaining in Castle Black under the leadership of Ned Umber.

After having had breakfast with his brother, the Kingsguard and a few of brothers of the Watch, they had saddled their garrons. They rode through the gate and into the tunnel beneath the Wall. Summer clearly didn't like it there, although he found the ice fascinating.

Suddenly, they were on the other side. It looked nothing special. A large stretch of grass where all plants and trees were cut down around the Wall and then further on a wall of trees, better known as the Haunted Forest. From a distance, the trees looked dark and menacing. The air was damp and cold, and he could see smoke every time he exhaled.

He shared a look with his brother, after which both shared a look with their direwolves. Summer and Grey Winds seemed to think everything was all right, which was their sign to continue and enter the forest.

Most of the brothers of the Night's Watch scouted in a perimeter around them, whilst the direwolves did the same. They talked in hushed tones amongst each other. Nobody knew what they were looking for, not even him. All he knew was that this was where they were supposed to be. The brothers would first bring them to a weirwood grove a league from the Wall and they would go from there.

Robb looked at him and cursed softly. "I was supposed to tell you this at breakfast this morning, but I forgot. Here you go." He told him, as he gave him a letter that had been tucked away in his coat. "Jon arrived at Winterfell, Rickon did three weeks ago. Bethany added a small scroll for you to read."

He accepted the raven scroll and saw the small wax direwolf on it. Next to it was the tree of House Blackwood, which was how she signed her personal communication. He opened the letter.

Dear Husband, the baby and I are healthy. Brynden is safe and is having the time of his life with his cousins. I hope you find what you seek and quickly return to us. Your loving wife, Bethany.

He smiled at the message. There hadn't been much room for her to write upon, but she had gotten all the important information across. Now that Jon and Rickon were home, he felt more at ease too. The Old Gods had told him something in his dream about the direwolves, and he felt as Winterfell would need ones in the future. Ghost and Shaggydogg would do just as well as Summer and Grey Wind would.

"How fares our little brother?" He asked.

Robb sighed. "He has refused a total of five betrothals as of now. However, his behavior hasn't stopped. It is a miracle that no bastards have come of it yet."

"Have you dealt with the problem with that clan chief?" He asked, remembering that Rickon had been found abed with the niece of a minor Mountain clan chief only a few weeks ago.

Robb nodded. "She doesn't seem to be pregnant, and Lord Cregan has accepted the monetary compensation I promised him for Rickon taking her virtue."

"That is good news. I still can't believe that he has been so reckless. He is eighteen years old now, he needs to start acting like it." He replied.

"I know." Robb sighed. "I tried to convince him to take a wife and settle down, but to no avail. Many of the nobles have come to call him the 'Wild Wolf', although our brother himself prefers the 'Wandering Wolf' after our great-grandfather Rodrik. Lately, I even heard talks of him considering going to Essos to follow in Rodrik's footsteps. Many of the young nobles around him seem to be won for the idea."

"Essos?" He asked him in shock.

Robb nodded. "Wandering Wolf doesn't seem to be too farfetched of a name. The only reason that he hasn't been outside of the North yet is because I had forbidden it until now, but I won't be able to stop him for much longer. He has seen almost everything there is to see in the kingdom, he has seen more of it than me and I am the King."

He sighed as well. He loved his brother, but he could be a handful. "What about those marriage proposals? Which houses came forward?"

"From the North? The Flints of Widowswatch, the Lockes, recently Clan Wull has as well. Rickon wasn't interested. I tried to convince him with a comparison with how our great-grandfather Rodrik took a Flint of the Mountains as a wife, but he wouldn't budge. He told me that Rodrik had been thirty years old by the time he married, not eighteen." Robb told him, as he disapprovingly twisted his head.

He rolled his eyes. That sounded like Rickon, all right. "What were the other two proposals?"

"They were far more interesting. Lord Jasper Rykker sent an offer for his younger sister. Although Andal, she was partially raised by Lord Jasper's wife, Arra Umber. She would take to the North far more easily than other Southern women would. Rickon would have none of it. Lastly, there was a proposal from House Brune. It could have tied us to Cracklaw Point. Rickon's immediate response had been … well it doesn't matter."

"What was his response?"

Robb sighed once more, as he gave in. "If I would want a woman that has nothing more to give to me than rocks, sheep and salt water than I would marry an Ironborn."

He simply raised his eyebrows. That was crude, even for Rickon's standards. He looked towards the Blackfish, who was dutifully riding behind them. "What do you think we should do with Rickon, uncle?"

Ser Brynden Tully apologetically raised his arms in the air. "I am the last one that you should ask about what to do with a willful lad that is refusing a forced marriage, Bran. I have refused it myself and I have never regretted it."

His sworn brothers chuckled at that. The story of the Blackfish had become legendary amongst the younger members of their Kingsguard. Many had asked themselves how he had gone from the spare of the Riverlands to the Knight of the Gate to the Lord Commander of the Starks' Kingsguard. His refusal to wed Bethany Redwyne had become a legendary example of the old knight's stubborn character for them.

Their conversation was suddenly halted, as the howl of a direwolf could be heard to the east. He looked to Robb. "It's Grey." He nodded. "WE MAKE FOR THE SOUND OF THE DIREWOLF MEN, ONWARDS!" Their uncle already shouted, quickly understanding the situation.

A few minutes later, they found themselves in a thick, overgrown part of the forest. The direwolves stood vigil, as the mauled bodies of three wildlings laid around them. A fourth one seemed to still be living, but he laid fearfully at Grey Wind's feet. Judging by the scent that hung in the air, he had lost control of his bowels a while ago.

Duncan Little whistled loudly at the scene of scattered limbs and other body parts. "The might of the direwolves … The stories don't exaggerate. These men stood no chance." Robb ignored the remarks, slowly riding towards the Wildling that was already being held up by two of their guardsmen.

"Speak, or you will share your friends' fates. Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"My name is Soren. We were sent here to scout the entrance to Castle Black by Devyn Bearcloak. We saw your company leave the gate and chose to follow you. We meant no harm, I swear it." The frightened man, who seemed to be in his mid-twenties, replied.

"Who is this Devyn Bearcloak?" Robb asked.

"I can answer that, King Robb." Little answered. "He is a local clan chief, who's people inhabit lands not so far from here. He has had many dealings with us rangers in the past. His folk don't like us much, but since the number of rangers has more than tripled, he does not have the strength to refuse us."

Robb nodded at the First Ranger in thanks. "Go to this Devyn Bearcloak and tell him what you have seen here today. Tell him that the Stark is here and that if he tries anything else it will not be the Black Brothers that he will need to fear. We are not here for business with the Free Folk and will leave you be, if you do not disturb us. Now run, before I sent my direwolf after you instead."

The man's eyes went wide at the mention of their House's name, but he needn't be told twice. Not caring for any of his companions, weapons or provisions he ran as if his life depended on it, which it did.

Little tried to say something, but Robb held up his hand for a few seconds. Only when the wildling was out of earshot did he allow him to speak. "Why did you let him go? We could have used him for more information back at the Wall."

Robb replied calmly. "Have one of your men follow him. You will have all the information you need and more." Little slowly smiled a dangerous smile and not much later, a ranger rode after the wildling.

They continued on their journey and quickly reached the clearing. In the grove, the faces of nine painted weirwood trees looked at him. He dismounted and went to a knee, quickly saying a prayer to the Gods. Most of the other men swiftly joining him. Only a few members of the Nightswatch stood aside, as they probably adhered to the Seven.

"What now?" The Blackfish asked, as he looked to him and Robb. He shared a look with his brother and in unison they replied. "Now we wait."

Three hours passed and the members of the Nightswatch grew restless. They rode out to scout the area and rode back in always saying the same thing. "There is nothing out there, what are you waiting for?"

None of them responded, they simply sat under the weirwood trees hoping for guidance. Suddenly, both Grey Wind and Summer sat up and looked around. They sniffed the air and after a small hesitation, they bolted away into the forest.

"That is what we were waiting for. We follow them men!" He shouted, as he quickly got back on his horse. Not waiting for Robb or their guards, he rode after Summer.

They rode for a few minutes, but he did not stop. After a time, he had to slow down because he could've hurt his mount in the undergrowth otherwise. This had given the rest of the company the opportunity to catch up to him.

His personal shield, Sir Benedict Blackwood, asked him if they had lost the way, but he shook his head. "They are in front of us, it is not far." He instinctively replied. The Kingsguard gave him a strange look but didn't respond. He had guarded him for almost a decade, he knew by now that he wasn't supposed to ask questions considering Summer.

Suddenly, they entered a clearing. The midday sun, which had been unable to pierce through the trees, streamed blissfully on his face. In front of him, he saw direwolves playing in the grasses in front of him. However, there were not two direwolves. There were four.

This is it for this chapter.

Sorry, not sorry for the cliffhanger. ;-) Brandon has a dream for the Old Gods, tying the future of House Stark and the North together with the direwolves. Bran is spooked and convinced that he and Robb need to travel north of the Wall, which they do.

On their way, you learn that Arya has had a daughter, and that Bethany is pregnant. The state of the Nightswatch is shown and Rickon's character and marital status are discussed once more. In the end, two direwolves are found by Summer and Grey Wind, meaning the survival of their species south of the Wall.

I know that this chapter is more "magical" than most of my other ones, but it doesn't seem too farfetched to me. The Old Gods clearly sent the direwolves in canon (their mother pierced by the antlers of a stag etc.). In a world without (or with delayed) White Walkers, there should be another reason for this. Here, it is to protect, advice and guide the Starks so they can watch over their followers.

There was also no real other option to get them to find other direwolves, as they are extinct south of the Wall and Robb has no reason to ever go north of it again. A major time jump is to be expected by next chapter.

The link to the family tree is in my bio. You just need to piece the parts of it together in your browser, as Fanfiction doesn't allow links to simply be posted.

I thank you for your continued support.

Fannic

Reviews:

- GoMagikarp: The website blocked me from trying to include my link. It should now be visible in my bio. You just have to piece the parts of the link together.

- Scifiromance: Thank you! I'm very glad that you loved it. Balancing out his rewards to the Blackwoods is a true point. More on that later.

- George Cristian810: I don't agree. Historically, House Stark had problems with cadet branches. Moat Cailin is too powerful to EVER give to anyone. It will serve as the Gates of the Moon or the Bloody Gate in the Vale, which were also frequently awarded to "minor" people of the royal family without allowing inheritance to their heirs.

If there ever was to be a succession crisis or civil war, the cadet branch of House Stark descended from Bran could cut the North of from the Riverlands thereby dooming the kingdom. It's not about the soldiers he could raise. It's about cutting off the Causeway. If the fortress is rebuilt and Bran's grandson tries to claim Winterfell, the Riverlands troops opposing him will never be able to help in the North. That is too much power.

I think you could read my mind. What did you think of how the new direwolves came to be?

- Foxy-Floof: He might be. It is a very important and great work, but he is rewarded for it.

- Rebfan90: Thank you!

- Clayvus: Thanks! I loved writing it.

- Johnny Jim Doe: I think I fixed it now, my apologies.

- Poly19hum: Thank you! The chapters will develop quickly now, and I would love to write where it goes.

- Force Smuggler: Thank you so much!