It took a couple of months for the baby to get stronger and Aldarra to heal. When they finally set out with their full provisions, Aldarra had set up to have several wagon loads of supplies to follow them up to the Wall traveling behind them. She bought horses and plenty of furs to keep everyone warm including the soldiers. They traveled through The Neck by way of passing near overlooking Moat Carilan to get to the King's Road.

By the time they reached close to Winterfell, the dragons had appeared and Aldarra used them for reconnaissance to fly above and see if anyone was in the area as a threat and to clear the road ahead for faster travel. Every day she made sure the supply wagons from White Harbor were safe as well coming up behind them. Clearing the roads of snow made travel much faster for everyone. Instead of it taking six to seven weeks it took a month.

—--

In the meantime at Castle Black, Olly, Jon's steward, opens the door for Stannis and Davos Seaworth to enter the Lord Commander's study. Jon sits at his desk.

Stannis said, "Lord Commander."

Jon stands up and says, "Your Grace."

Stannis looks at Olly as he closes the door and says, "I'd like to speak alone."

Jon replied in control, "Olly is my steward now, as I was Lord Commander Mormont's. I want him to attend my meetings, to learn from men with experience. One day, he might command."

Stannis relents sitting down and said, "Very well. Have you considered my offer?"

Jon replied, "I have. And I thank you for it. You do me great honor. All my life I wanted to be Jon Stark."

Stannis said, "Say the word and you will be."

Jon pauses and said, "But I have to refuse you. I'm Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. My place is here."

Stannis doesn't understand and says, "I'm giving you a chance to avenge your family. To take back the castle where you grew up. To rule the North."

Jon said standing firm on his decision, "I wish I could fight beside you. Believe me, I do. But I swore a sacred vow at the Godswood. I pledged my life to the Night's Watch."

Stannis growled, "You're as stubborn as your father and as honorable."

Jon smiled and said, "I can imagine no higher praise."

Stannis still growled saying, "I didn't mean it as praise. Honor got your father killed. But if your mind's made up, I won't try to persuade you." He stood up.

Jon asks, "May I ask, Your Grace, how long you plan to stay at Castle Black?"

Stannis replied, "Are you bored of us already?"

Jon stated, "You saved us from Mance Rayder's army. We will never forget that. But it's a question of survival. The Night's Watch can't continue to feed your men and the wildling prisoners indefinitely. Winter is coming."

Stannis said, "I know it. We march on Winterfell within the fortnight. Before the snows trap us here."

Jon asks, "And the wildlings?"

Stannis said, "They'd rather burn than fight for me, so be it. I leave their fate to you. You could execute them, that's the safest course. *pause* Or you could see if this Tormund fellow is more willing to compromise than Mance ever was. I assume the brothers of the Night's Watch would rather see the wildlings dead."

Jon said, "Most of the brothers, yes. There's little love for the free folk here." Olly stares at him.

Stannis said, "You're the Lord Commander. Your decision." Stannis begins to leave. Olly opens the door for him.

Stannis tells Jon, "You have many enemies in Castle Black. Have you considered sending Alliser Thorne elsewhere? Give him command of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea?"

Jon said, "I heard it was best to keep your enemies close."

Stannis flippantly said, "Whoever said that didn't have many enemies." Stannis leaves. Davos begins to leave, but turns to Jon, as Jon begins to pace.

Davos said, "He sees something in you. Might not be apparent from his tone, but it's the truth. He believes in you." Jon looks up from his desk.

Jon said, "I'm sorry I disappointed him." Davos walks forward and takes a seat. Olly closes the door again.

Davos said, "The king is a complicated man. But he wants what's right for the Seven Kingdoms."

Jon replied, "As long as he's ruling them."

Davos said, "He's the one true king. He has the blood right to that throne."

Jon said, "I've sworn to stay clear of the politics of the Seven Kingdoms."

Davos smiled and said, "Have you now?" He turns to Olly and asks, "How does the Night's Watch vow go again? I bet you've got it memorized since you got here."

Olly looks towards Jon. Jon looks at him, crosses his arms, and nods. Olly says, "Night gathers and now my watch begins…"

Davos said, "Not that bit, the bit at the end."

Olly said, "I'm the sword in the darkness, the watcher on the walls, the shield that guards the realm of men. I pledge my life…"

Davos said, "Wait, that's enough. 'The shield that guards the realm of men.' That's what you swore to be. Now I'm not a learned man, but the best way of helping the most people might not be sitting in a frozen castle at the edge of the world. It just might mean wading in the muck, getting your boots dirty, and doing what needs to be doing."

Jon asked, "And what needs to be done?"

Davos said, "As long as the Boltons rule the North, the North will suffer. Just one man's opinion." He stands up. Davos nods and turns to leave. Olly opens the door for him. Jon sits at his desk and sighs.

—--

On one of Aldarra's reconnaissance flyovers she saw a party coming from Winterfell and headed towards the supply wagons. She knew it was Roose Bolton's people. She swooped down before they got near enough and burned them all, the damn usurpers.

—--

Many hours later, Roose Bolton was sitting in the War room at Winterfell sitting at a war table.

Ramsay asked, "How can you be sure?"

Roose replied, "Sure of what?"

Ramsay answered, "That Walda's pregnant. I mean how can you tell?"

Roose said, "Maester Wolkan has assured us beyond all doubt." Ramsay gets up and walks around to the other side of the table, wine in hand.

Ramsay asked, "So how did you manage it?"

Roose asks, "Manage what?"

Ramsay answered, "Getting her pregnant."

Roose replied, "I imagine you're familiar with the procedure."

Ramsay asked, "Of course, but how did you find it? And if it's a boy?"

Roose said, "You're worried about your position."

Ramsay said, "My position is quite clear. I'm your son until a better alternative comes along." Ramsay finishes his wine and goes to get more.

Roose said, "You've never asked me about your mother.

Ramsay said, "Why would I? She had me, she died. And here we are."

Roose said, "She was a peasant girl. Pretty in a common sort of way. She was the miller's wife. Apparently they had married without my knowledge or consent. So I had him hanged and I took her beneath the tree where he was swaying. She fought me the whole time. She was lucky I didn't hang her, too. A year later she came to my gates with a squalling baby in her arms. A baby she claimed was mine. I nearly had her whipped and the child thrown in the river. But then I looked at you and I saw what I see now. You are my son. *pause* Stannis Baratheon has an army at Castle Black. But he won't stay for long. He wants the Iron Throne, and the road to King's Landing comes right through Winterfell. He means to take the North. But the North is ours. It's yours and mine. Will you help me defeat him?"

Ramsay replied, "Yes."

Roose said, "I wonder where that party of men I sent out to monitor the King's Road is? They were sent out this morning and it's past dark now."

Ramsay said, "They probably went to the brothel instead." Roose shrugged.

—--

Aldarra and her party were about a couple miles away from Castle Black, Aldarra climbs on Drogon's back and flies up looking over everything.

In Castle Black's dining hall, Jon sits at a table, tapping his fingers anxiously. The men in the room talk amongst themselves.

Jon asks, "Sam." Sam looks up. He looks at Maester Aemon's chair that's empty. "Maester Aemon?"

Sam said, "He apologizes for not being here. He's not feeling well."

Jon says, "Take good care of him."

Jon said to the group, "Brothers. As you all know too well, it's long past time to dig a new latrine pit." They all laugh. Jon looks at Alliser. "First Builder Yarwyck and I have decided to appoint a latrine captain to oversee this crucial task." More laughter. After a moment, he continues, "Brian. Seems like a good job for a ginger."

Everyone laughs. Some of the men jokingly pat Brian on his back, and Brian laughs as well.

Jon said, "Ser Alliser. *silence* You have more experience than any other soldier at Castle Black. You proved your valor many times over, while defending the Wall from the wildling attack. I name you First Ranger." Some of the men shout in approval. Alliser looks surprised. Edd and Sam look at each other. Janos pats him on the shoulder.

Jon said, "Lord Janos. I'm giving you command of Greyguard."

Janos scoffs and says, "Greyguard is a ruin."

Jon said, "Yes, the fort is in a sorry state. Restore it as best you can. First Builder Yarwyck can spare ten of his…"

Janos said arrogantly, "I was charged with the defense of King's Landing when you were soiling your swaddling clothes. Keep your ruin." Some of the men begin talking loudly. Olly shifts in his seat.

Sam shouted, "Alright, alright! Enough of that."

Jon said, "You mistake me, my Lord. That was a command, not an offer. Pack your arms and armor, say your farewells, and ride for Greyguard."

Janos stands up, angrily shouts, "I will not go meekly off to freeze and die! Give it to one of the fools who cast a stone for you. I will not have it. Do you hear me, boy? I will not have it!"

Jon asks, "Are you refusing to obey my order?" The men in the room all turn to look at Janos.

Janos spat, "You can stick your order up your bastard arse." Some of the men whisper in shock. Janos looks pleased with himself. Alliser turns to Jon smugly.

Jon commands, "Take Lord Janos outside." The men begin to stand up. Janos scoffs.

Jon stated, "Olly, bring me my sword." Olly turns quickly to Jon, then gets up. Janos looks more unsure of himself as more men get up. Alliser turns and looks at Janos disapprovingly. Edd walks over to get Janos. Alliser stands in his way for a moment. Jon looks at the confrontation, worried. Alliser raises his eyebrows for a moment and moves out of the way. Janos looks at him shocked. Edd grabs Janos, and some other men assist in dragging him outside in the darkness they carried torches.

Janos shouts, "You cannot do this! Get your hands off me!" Everyone moves outside. "Scum, all of you! If the boy thinks he can frighten me, he's mistaken, yes, very mistaken." Someone puts a chopping block down. Janos is taken up to it.

Janos shouts scared, "A disgrace! I have friends, important friends in the capital! You'll see!" Jon takes a final sip of his wine, gets up, and goes outside. The watchmen all gather in the courtyard. Olly hands Jon his sword. Jon walks up to where Janos is being held. Stannis watches from afar. Jon unsheathes his sword, and Janos looks up at it.

Jon said, "If you have any last words, my Lord, now is the time."

Janos was trembling and shouted cowardly, "I was wrong! You're the Lord Commander! We all serve you! I'm sorry! Not only for this, for all I've done and said! I was wrong!" Jon brings his sword up. "My Lord, please, mercy! Mercy! I'll go! I will! Please. I'm afraid. I've always been afraid." Janos sobs for a few moments.

Jon hesitates, and then brings his sword down, decapitating Janos. He hands his sword to a watchman standing nearby. He looks up and makes eye contact with Stannis. At that moment there was a large flapping sound and Aldarra landed her dragon at a distance. Jon and all the Night Watch stared at her in shock on the dragon's back wearing armor and a saddle. Then he heard the sound of horses coming from the road.