Chapter 58: Conflict at home

301 AC

Bran

He was eating lunch in the Great Hall of his home. He ate together with Alyn, as they had both come from practice before. Sword practice was more difficult now due to all the snow and ice that covered the training yard. The cold also chipped away at his stamina. It crept into your bones and he had thanked the Gods for the hot stew that was in front of him now.

He looked at the other side of the hall. The torchlight made shadows against the walls, but they were not what he was looking at. In front of the wall was his mother. She seemed angry again. There had been a lot of tension in the keep ever since the rumors of Jon had started.

He knew mother hadn't wanted for them to hear them, but he and Arya had teamed up together to find out. Arya had hidden herself and eavesdropped on people, while he had done the same whilst climbing. They had also taken possession of Summer and Nymeria to hear what the guards had been talking about.

Apparently, Jon would have dressed in Targaryen armor during a battle. People were saying that he wasn't their brother, but the son of their aunt Lyanna and Rhaegar Targaryen. Arya had thrown a tantrum when she had heard the news, but he had managed to calm her. If mother had seen her, she would have known they had eavesdropped.

Arya didn't believe a word from it, but he didn't know what to believe. Everyone in the keep seemed to think it was true. His mother had been angry ever since the rumors had started to circle. She had had multiple fights with Alys in private and even now she had a scowl on her face.

He was interrupted from his thoughts by his sister and her closest friend running towards him. She jumped on the bench next to him. "Bran, a raven has arrived." Arya whispered in his ear when she was close enough. He snapped his neck towards her. "Truly?"

She nodded. "Aye, I saw it with my own eyes!" His eyes went wide, as he thought about what it meant.

"Could it be Robb's?" His sister nodded enthusiastically. The whole castle had been waiting for news from the king for days now. Already rumors were flowing in, as it seemed Castle Cerwyn and other vassals had received news before them.

He looked at his friend in front of him and nudged him that they needed to go. "What about our food, Bran?" The Blackwood responded. He looked down at the stew, grabbed his spoon and wolfed it down in a matter of seconds. "There, you do the same. We need to leave, now!"

His friend did as he was told. Together they almost ran out of the hall. From the corner of his eyes, he saw how a servant walked over to his mother, she would probably be called to the Maester's Turret at once. That was a good sign, it meant that the message the raven brought was important.

They ran outside into the courtyard. Normally, he would scale the Bell Tower and cross the bridge to the rookery to eavesdrop there, but it was too dangerous with all the ice now. Instead Arya and he hid themselves in the stables, as they took command over their direwolves. Alyn and Lyanna would watch over them like they had done many a time now. They were the only ones that knew about their warging, but they had sworn on the Gods to never tell a soul. Lyanna had been the easiest, as she had told them how stories about wargs were still freely told among Bear Island. Included in those were stories that some of her ancestors were allegedly capable of commanding brown bears in battle.

He closed his eyes and opened them as Summer. It took him a second or two to adjust himself to the nature of the wolf, before he was ready. Arya and Nymeria needed some more time, but eventually they raced towards the wall together. They ran atop the stairs and scaled the walls. Some two-leggers with the pointy sticks looked at them strangely, but no one dared to disturb the direwolves of Winterfell. He almost smirked, if only they understood what was happening.

From the outer wall they ran atop the inner wall to the Bell Tower. Outside the door was another one with a pointy stick. At the sight of them, he almost seemed to shit his pants. Once both him and Nym started growling lightly, the two-footer let them pass. They raced upwards until they were on the bridge connecting it with the rookery. There they halted and pricked up their ears.

They were positioned just around the corner from the Maester's Turret and the direwolves superior hearing could faintly make out the conversation inside. The robed two-footer was talking. The other person in the conversation was the mate of the one that had left, the oldest of the pack. She was the mother of the she pup that his master was so fond off.

He forced himself to take more command of Summer and focus on the conversation. "So, the rumors are true?" He heard the mate say. "Yes, Your Grace. It seems that the King has proof that Jon Snow is Lyanna and Rhaegar's son." Only silence was heard after that, until he heard a door open.

Another female voice broke the silence. "Is it from Robb?" No one answered, but he heard the faint sound of paper waving around.

"This … this can't be. This must be a joke! Ned would never … he wouldn't have lied. He couldn't! No, that boy, no this is impossible!" The mother of the pack exclaimed. She had been the mate of the former leader of the pack and he knew his master loved her dearly.

"It is, My Lady. His Grace would not lie. He even used it in his battle strategy. It seemed to have worked as multiple lords fled the field before the battle."

"He won? Is he alright?" Two voices answered positively and he could hear a sigh from up above. "What are we to do with this?" His master's mother exclaimed.

"Robb left instructions further on in the letters. I propose you read them all in silence, Lady Catelyn. We will discuss it once you have all the information." He looked over to his sister and she looked back at him with big eyes. They wanted to hear what they would decide, but it seemed they had to wait for a bit. No matter, they could wait.

After a while, they were suddenly interrupted. "Summer, Nymeria, get down from there!" A female voice screamed from inside the yard. It was the other female of his master's pack, the one with the auburn hair. His other sister was with her, the calm one. The auburn two-legger was holding the pup in her one arm and she held the paw of the last male of the pack at her side. His brother was next to him, the wild one. Their black wild brother was running around the yard, waiting for them to come down to play with him.

The auburn two-legger once again screamed for them to come down and where their masters were. He looked into his sister's eyes and saw how her master had gone from it. He thought about his body lying in the stables. Get down Summer, I'll wait on you in the courtyard.

He opened his eyes and found himself back in the stables with Arya bowing over him. She looked at him as to ask if he was alright. He nodded and took her hand. They walked over to Alyn and Lyanna together and ran outside into the yard. There he could see Sansa standing with Eddara and Rickon.

The looks she gave them on arriving said more than enough. She knew. Not much later Summer and Nymeria ran across the yard towards them and he hugged his direwolf. His companion was the same height as him now. From Robb's letters he knew he could surpass him again when he was older, as Grey Wind and Ghost were smaller than his brothers when they stood up.

Sansa looked sternly at them. "Come to my room tonight, just the two of you. We have to talk." His older sister looked at him sternly.

They both nodded in resignation, but Arya looked mad. "What is it Arya?" Their sister asked.

"It's true, about Jon. He lied to us. He is aunt Lyanna's son and not father." She almost whispered, making sure none of the guards or servants could hear it.

Sansa looked upon her in shock but nodded. "We can ask Alys soon, she will not lie to us." That was a good idea. Robb's wife had found her place in the family ever since little Edda had been born. Speaking of their niece, the little one disturbed them as she shouted "Wolf, wolf!" loudly over and over again.

Nymeria freely walked over towards Sansa and their niece petted the direwolf with a huge smile on her face. She proudly proclaimed "wolf" once more, as her hands softly hit the beast's fur.

Arya walked over to her. "Edda, do you want to ride?" The smile and giggle Robb's daughter gave in response was one of the most adorable things in the world as she nodded. Arya took her from Sansa, who complained that mother wouldn't like it.

"Mother isn't here. Besides, Edda is a Stark. She has nothing to fear from the direwolves. Nymeria will not let her fall." Arya responded decisively.

The little one's fists grabbed on to the grey fur, as Lady, Summer and Shaggydog greeted the little Stark's presence. They started slowly walking her across the yard, careful enough so she wouldn't fall while still giving her the pleasure of a lifetime.

Arya looked at them and he could see her considering to ride her companion into battle or something once again. "No Arya, you're too fat for her to carry you." He teased. His sister scowled and stuck her tongue out.

They played in the yard together as a family for the next few hours. The Cassel children and Wylla Manderly also joined in. Both Rickon and Edda greatly enjoyed the Cassel's company. Besides, Arya said Jonelle was almost family by now. Wylla was by now both a friend of Arya and Sansa.

Afterwards, Sansa, Arya and he accompanied Alys to Wintertown. She would hand out food to many of the poorest citizens and refugees that had come here for the winter. The last few months she had ordered extra houses to be constructed and it seemed like it was worth it, as almost all of them were filled by now and more people still arrived every day.

On Robb's orders she had also started overseeing the build of two great orphanages, one for boys and one for girls. Both housed some two hundred and fifty children now between the ages of eight and fourteen. Most of those were the arrivals from King's Landing, but some were Northerners orphaned in the war. The Southern arrivals had been twelve years old and younger, as apparently his brother wanted them to have time to learn how to be a Northerner before they got to work. He had asked Alys and Maester Luwin what that practically meant, being a Northerner, both had laughed and told him to think of the differences between him and the local boys in Riverrun. That he understood, they had some weird customs over there. Even if he had been very happy with his grandfather and uncles.

He knew that his mother had wanted to visit them with the Septon when they had first opened, but Alys had stopped her. Robb's orders were that no Septons or teachings of the Seven were to be allowed in their upbringing. She had been very offended at that, but Alys hadn't given in. Since then, mother had rarely gone to visit the orphanages. However, Alys had been adamant that the women of House Stark should be seen caring for the orphans. Both to show the smallfolk their house's generosity and soften the voices that were critical of "importing Andal children".

She had also forced him to come along some of the times, as he was still the Crown Prince. He really disliked both the title and the responsibilities that came with it. He hoped Robb would soon return and that Alys would get pregnant with a little boy. That way, he could still become a knight or maybe a lord without having to be brought into town, meetings or hearings every other day. It could also give Rickon another friend, that way he could have more time to climb when he wanted to.

More orphanages were being constructed now. Robb had sent a thousand children from King's Landing and another two hundred or so had come from the North itself, either from the lands of House Stark itself or those of House Glover. The latter didn't have an orphanage and it had always been custom that some of the people of the Wolfswood found refuge in Wintertown during the winters. Maester Luwin had told him more from the Clans would still be arriving.

A third orphanage for boys from the ages of three to eight years old had recently been opened. Its female counterpart would soon open as well, as would a joined one for babies until they became three years old. The first two would house another three hundred children each, while the oversized nunnery as Arya called it would support the same amount another time. The others would also be expanded on further in the near future.

When he had asked Alys why she was doing this, as it exceeded the demand for now, she had sadly smiled at him. "The war isn't over Bran. More children become orphans every day. Besides, winter and sickness will also take its toll on the people. It's better to be prepared to help those children beforehand than have to put them in the cold while still trying to house them."

He knew what she was talking about with that last sentence. As the orphans from King's Landing had arrived, there had been too many for them to house. Many had stayed for months with local families in turn for extra food rations. That was still the sad situation for many girls under the age of eight years old, although smilingly Alys had also told him some had been adopted by local families.

The personnel Alys found in the local communities around Winterfell. Young widows without any children of their own, old shrews whose daughters and sons had families of their own now. Local boys and men had been hired to help as well. Alys had financed it all from his family's coffers, as Robb had demanded.

However, Maester Luwin had shown him how smart that logic was. The economic benefit it brought the local communities was big. Local builders, lumberjacks, joiners, carpenters, weavers, tanners and others had been swimming in work these past few months to house and cloth those children on top of their usual work. This brought Wintertown to life and served as an incentive for locals to come and find work in the town.

The biggest benefit would be the extra benefit when they got older, as all those children were learning skills from the ages of eight to be able to fit in Northern society. Alys had showed him how local blacksmiths, tanners, stonemasons, millers, weavers, roofers, farmers and many others had regularly come to the orphanages to help teach the boys. Maester Luwin and mother had explained him that in turn they gained cheap assistants when the boys became fourteen. The boys could also leave the orphanages and work on peak times for them for a few days to help their businesses as they got experience in their trade. The farmers had already been promised as much for their first harvest in spring.

He had been mesmerized by the thought his new sister had put in it with Maester Luwin, especially as Winterfell was still without an official steward after the death of Jeyne's father in Winterfell. Even the captain of the small town watch came to look at some of the stronger boys sometimes to possibly recruit one or two in the future.

Arya hadn't been that impressed though. When she had asked what the girls were learning, Alys had simply answered that most were being groomed to marry and run their families. Some would be trained to be midwives, servants for Winterfell or to help in farms, but most would be expected to stay home and start a family.

His sister had scoffed at that, but he could feel that she felt pity for them. Father had always indulged in her and Robb had given Alys and Jonelle instructions to do much of the same, especially after the attack. Since then, even their mother let her do most of the time. These girls would never have that luxury.

Once, Sansa had asked how she would ever find a suitable husband if she was more versed in wielding her dagger than running a household. Jonelle had laughed at that and had told her that many Northern boys from Houses like Umber, Glover or the Clans wouldn't mind her wielding a weapon. Arya had smugly laughed at Sansa then, but the smile had quickly disappeared when Jonelle had quickly added that she could wield a weapon only on the condition she also knew how to run a household. After that, Arya had been forced to do needlework for three consecutive days after her weapon training to drive the point home. Even Sansa seemed to have accepted the method, which said a lot.

Both his sisters had slowly grown closer for the last two years, to the pleasure of the whole family. They were still very different and they often bickered, but more out of annoyance than in malice. Ever since Sansa had sent Lady to protect her and her friends from the Greyjoy attack, Arya had started to respect Sansa more. He had asked her about it and she had responded that she had realized that their sister would do everything to protect her and the pack just like they would. She had just scoffed that Sansa couldn't do much and hated the fact she wasn't interested in learning more like fighting. Yet, it seemed enough for them to grow closer it seemed.

The birth of their little niece had also helped. Ever since the birth of Edda, he had noticed how the whole castle seemed happier. Especially his mother and sisters, who could play with her for hours. It was funny, the little girl went from clapping at Sansa's and mother's embroidery to roughhousing with Arya and Rickon and the wolves in the yard.

Both Sansa and mother had scolded Arya after she had led Edda ride Nymeria for the first time. Even Alys had seemed scared and unsure. Yet, his stubborn sister hadn't relented and insisted Nymeria thought of her as part of the pack and would never hurt her. Soon the little girl was heard laughing and riding through the halls to the astonishment of all present. By now, everyone had gotten used to it and only mother and Sansa still rolled their eyes or become annoyed. However, he had noticed how even their eldest sister had allowed Lady to cuddle and roll around with Edda when she thought they were alone in her chambers. Even mother had laughed aloud when the pup had pointed to Nymeria and loudly exclaimed "wolf Edda horse!" Nymeria seemed fine with being called the pup's horse.

Even though he missed father, Robb and Jon greatly, they were happy. He thought about father every day and made sure to talk about him with Rickon as much as he could, as the boy almost seemed to forget about who he had been. The whole family celebrated his brother's victories with a small feast every time the news came in to stay connected to them. Regular correspondence in letters did the rest and they all trusted more and more that Robb and Jon would manage to come home in time. His brothers, or brother and cousin, he still didn't know what to think about that news.

Arya had been the most unhappy for a long time. She had been restless after she had healed from the attack. Only when both Greyjoys had been put in the cells of Winterfell had she allowed herself to open up again. He was glad. He loved his sister and had the best bond with her out of all his siblings, but he hadn't wanted her to be this angry all the time. She still wanted the Greyjoys dead, but had at long last accepted they had to wait for Robb.

He then spent some time giving out food and talking with some of the boys his age. On their way home, Arya confronted Alys on the news and she seemed shocked and had asked how she knew. He had come to his sister's rescue and had just scoffed "they all knew." Alys seemed to accept that, but Sansa looked very suspiciously at both of them.

Alys had explained everything and confirmed it was true. Arya had angrily asked if she could write a letter to Jon about it and their sister-in-law had agreed.

However, mother didn't agree with this when she came home. As soon as she had heard, she had yelled at his sister. "Arya Stark, you will not disobey me! You will not send any letters to that bastard, unless I allow it and I won't."

He had been shocked by this. Both had started yelling at each other and he found himself once again coming to his sister's rescue. "Mother, when I was fostered at Riverrun, father demanded from grandfather and uncle that I would be able to write to family every time I wanted. Not only home, but also to Karhold to Robb or to Jon in White Harbor. He did the same for them when they left and even for Sansa when she was in Barrowton. Even Arya's friends have never been obstructed to write home. Father would want us to be able to write to Robb and Jon."

His mother looked strangely at him and he could see a tear forming in the corner of her right eye at the mention of his father. "He, he is not your brother apparently. So, that doesn't count anymore." She weakly countered. He had never seen his mother so emotional and thought it strange. Even stranger had been that only Arya really seemed to understand her. "Father lied to her for over a decade, of course she is angry and hurt." She had told him this afternoon and he kept that in mind.

He simply looked at their mother. "If he isn't our brother, he is still our cousin. Either way that makes him family and part of the pack. The pack should stick together, even when they are angered or hurt by each other."

His mother scoffed. "You and your sister with that damned pack mentality. Sometimes, you act more like wolves than like people because of it."

"Mother, you are wrong." Sansa responded to everybody's surprise, not in the least mother who seemed in shock. "What do you mean, Sansa?"

"We are a pack. Father always said so. Grandfather Rickard told him the same when he was young and all Starks before them told their children the same. Ever since the direwolves came to us, it's even more true. We all got a direwolf, so did Jon. This is no accident or coincidence. Ghost is different, yes. He looks different and never makes a sound, but he is still part of their pack. Apparently, Jon is different too, but in much the same manner he is still part of our pack. Father always said that the lone wolf dies and the pack survives. When I was in King's Landing, Lady hated it there. She only seemed content when father was around and I think she missed her siblings, as I did mine. The worst of it was on the boat to White Harbor and the joy she felt when she finally saw Nymeria and Shaggydog again was the same I felt when I saw Arya and Rickon. None of us have been alone since Bran got home and because of it the pack survived, it even protected Arya from the Ironborn." Their sister explained, as she looked at Arya.

"Robb has fought in the South for father's memory, for us and for the North for two years now. He has done amazing things and we all love our brother, but he didn't do it alone. He always had help. Partially from Houses Tully, Karstark and many other loyal vassals, but also from Jon. Robb was never a lone wolf. They fight together and from Robb's letters it seems he trusts Jon as he does no other. Robb probably knew the news long before that battle, yet he didn't care as Jon is part of the pack. The lone wolf dies. Father was a lone wolf in King's Landing after he sent me home and he died. Robb and Jon are not alone and they will bring each other home together. I've never had the best relationship with Jon but alienating him would leave Robb alone. You have the right to be angry and sad on father and even on Robb and Jon but I will never support a decision that would leave Robb alone after all he has done for us. No one deserves to be a lone wolf and I want my brother to come home safely to us. Eddara deserves to grow up with a father."

All looked at Sansa in shock. She had always been the most like mother and had always insisted on calling Jon their "half-brother" in the past. For her to go against mother in this way was as likely as the Old Gods showing up on their doorstep in the flesh, or so all of them would have thought but a minute ago.

Mother was completely taken aback, while Arya's shock slowly seemed to make way for something like respect and pride. He felt much the same, as did the direwolves. He could feel what Summer felt, Sansa probably had the same with Lady. Something pulling in the back of his mind made him look over towards his direwolf. He sat on his hind legs, Nymeria and Lady in an identical pose next to him. Just as he, Arya and Sansa looked over, they all raised themselves up and howled loudly. Within mere moments another howl could be heard from the other side of the castle, as Shaggydog joined in.

They looked silently at each other and soon Rickon and Shaggy came running over, while Alys arrived with Eddara in her arms. "What is going on here?" Alys asked in confusion. "Edda heard the howls and she screamed for the wolves until I went outside to meet you."

"She wanted to be with the pack." Arya just smiled knowingly. Edda smiled at all of them and stretched her arms for mother to pick her up. She did so, the sight of her granddaughter clearly having an emotional effect on her. Rickon ran over and he played his hand through the curls of his younger brother, as they both laughed.

The four direwolves sat around them proudly and his mother looked flabbergasted at the scenes in front of her, while Eddara looked happier than ever in her arms surrounded by the rest of the family. In the end, she just sighed. "You can send your letter, Arya. I will write my own to Robb."

She then looked upon all of them and finally on Sansa. "We need to have a serious conversation about you and your wolves, but not here. I demand you tell me what's going on and soon. He and his sisters looked at each other and they just nodded. As mother walked off towards the keep with Edda, Rickon pulled on his arm. "What does momma want to know about the wolves, Bran? Is there something with Shaggy?"

He smiled at his little brother. "No, Rickon nothing is wrong. Mother just doesn't understand our bond with them because she has no wolf and she wants us to explain it to her."

Rickon turned his head slightly and a small frown decorated his forehead as he thought deeply. "Like how when I'm angry Shaggy is angry too?"

"Aye, exactly like that, nothing more. You are not in trouble … this time." He winked at him and Rickon stuck his tongue out in response. He had to laugh at the sight and pulled his little brother closer to him. Suddenly, he aggressively scratched his head as he started laughing louder. "Hey!" Rickon shouted, trying to do the same to him, but he just ran away laughing. His wild brother ran behind him whilst shouting, as Summer and Shaggy joined their banter and started playfully nipping at each other.

This is it for this chapter!

We return to Winterfell to find out how the Stark family has been faring amongst all of this. We see their reaction to the news of Jon's heritage, as well as the development of the warging skills of the young children. In contrast to canon, Bran has in Arya someone of his age who he can talk to about all this and discuss what it means long before Jojen ever came and without the dreams.

We also see Robb's decisions taking hold in the North, as Wintertown starts developing differently. We see how Alys has come into her position as queen and member of the Stark family, much like Robb was come into his position as king and war general.

We see what differences the Stark children being together has on their character and happiness. Bran and Arya openly enjoy warging, while Sansa figured it out and knows she isn't alone. Little Rickon just thinks it is the most normal thing in the entire world. Without losing Lady, Sansa feels much more connected to the pack and her family and, after being partly raised by Lady Dustin and Jonelle Cerwyn and seeing King's Landing, she is much more at home in the safety of the North and Winterfell. She takes her father's last lessons at heart and becomes fiercely loyal to her family in his memory, despite still being the perfect lady.

Catelyn is confronted with this new reality and her Southern side feels out of touch with her children because of it.

Thank you so much for your continued support!

Fannic

Reviews:

- KEZZ 1: You're welcome!

- Rebfan90: Thank you!

- Imperial Stormtrooper: Haha, Varys has been playing the extremely long game here!

- Oneremin09: As I explained before, I scrapped the WW plotline because it forces Jon to take a dragon, Robb to bend the knee and JonxDany. The show ruined the latter and I'm not willing to write it. Besides, it would just extend the story for 10 chapters and bring nothing of extra value except some dead. No one will ever write that the WW win, so it's pointless if you know what happens in the end, just not how.

- Raw666: That's the best compliment you could ever give an ASOIAF writer, thank you so much! This chapter had some slight worldbuilding and from chapter 62 and on a lot more of it will be happening, as it is true this has been pushed to the back of the story a little lately. I really like the worldbuilding aspect and will try to write it just 1/10th as good as GRRM.

- MasterOfDragonsGod: You're welcome!

- Farroljgk: Thank you very much! I sent you a PM.

- Force Smuggler: I doubt it haha

- Greatazuredragon: Yeah, the guy was on another level. Thank you!

- Snoperek: Thank you very much! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

- Stevem1: Thanks! I doubt the poison thing will work. They will either detect the men or smell it in the food. The problem is the North consists of large forests. They will just be burned down over time. Besides, Robb will never give up the Riverlands.

- Minatom: Thank you! I answered in detail in PM again. Can you tell me if you received it?

- Mike3455: Robb can't make a trip thousands of miles north just because he wants to see his family sadly enough, … It will be a while yet. However, here you get some extra insight in her life. It would make some sense, but also create a huge threat and a family rift with the Tullys. Edmure will rule most south of the Neck for Robb and Robb has the power to grant a lot of lordships/hands of heiresses to loyal men to keep an eye on/help Edmure with it.

I erased the WW timeline, because it would force Robb to bow to her and JonxDany which I detest after how the show butchered it. The 20 years later thing is an option I'll look into.

Glad you like the idea! I'm still figuring them out in my mind right now.

- Reiwil10: Thank you so much! I hope you enjoyed it.

- Poly19hum: Thank you very much! I wish you and yours the shame!

- Iacopo Passerini: Not a problem, I greatly enjoy your input every time! Highgarden is in trouble, but they are not done. The Iron Fleet was largely destroyed and only a part that remains serves Dany.

Guest1: Thank you! You'll have to keep reading to know what happens.