Diana felt like she slept for hours her first night at Castle Black. The walk in the middle of the ice didn't seem to have affected her, but as soon as she settled in a bed she felt the need to recover her energy. Therefore, she was apparently the last person to wake up to the new day. Not that the situation didn't have a difficult, sad and violent explanation.
In escaping the attempted mutiny, Jon had a heavy and painful score to settle. After all, the life of one represented the death sentence of so many others. Robb witnessed his brother making the same decision as him when he still had someone to follow him. "The man who passes sentence must swing the sword," he had always heard his father, Ned Stark, say. But listening is very different and easier than putting it into practice. It's not simple and it doesn't get simpler with time, especially when one of those receiving capital punishment is so young.
After the whole macabre process and the removal of the bodies, Jon confided to him that Olly belonged to a family murdered by 'savages' in an unsuccessful invasion attempt and was the one who stuck the knife in his chest during the rebellion. In return, Robb confessed to his brother that he had beheaded one of his main ally during the War of the Five Kings for disrespecting his orders and killing two Lannister boys, practically the same age as Olly.
Oblivious to all of this, Diana hastens to leave her precincts at Castle Black and is initially faced with the Knight of Onions, Sir Davos.
_ Sir Davos, have I fallen behind in the affairs of the day?
_ No, ma'am. The day began with regretful matters, but necessary for the continuity of the Night's Watch. The Lord Commander and his brother assumed that you would benefit much more from a few hours' rest after such a long journey. – Davos tries to explain the situation as best he can.
_ I understand. – the downcast face of the Amazon draws the attention of the former pirate.
_ Sir Robb Stark joined some recruits for a training in the courtyard of the castle. Maybe it's something more pleasant, princess, at the beginning of the day.
_ Yes, I would love to train after all these days of travel. I'll get my belongings and meet you in a few minutes in the courtyard.
The Onion Knight didn't even have time to formulate a response and watched the young woman quickly disappear from his path. He tried to find some indication during their brief conversation that she should join the day's practice, not that it had crossed her mind to stop her after the show of force on the day of arrival.
Since he returned to the North, Robb had stopped feeling cold for the first time as he picked up his sword, shield and training for the first time in his second life. He was aware that he was far from having the strength and dexterity of his former self, only that he was confident enough to practice with some Night's Watch rookies. Even so, the northerner had difficulty in the first attempts and had to escape some blows from young members of the Night's Watch. There was a lot of work to be done before he could use the old battle nickname, 'Young Wolf'.
In an instant, Robb feels a sword collide with his chest protection as he is distracted by Diana's arrival. The former King of the North needs a few seconds to recover and notices the far from innocent looks shot at his traveling companion. Therefore, he had the opportunity to dish out some blows and change the recruits' priority.
_ It's good to see that you are already strong to train, Robb. – commented Diana when she found him again one day.
_ It's good that you haven't seen me train, then. I used to be much better... - He tries to smile and catch his breath after the battle exercises.
_ I'm sure it's just a matter of time to go back to being what it was. Have you finished? I'd also like to practice, I've never spent so much time standing still. – she invites, picking up one of the swords available to the combatants.
_ If you intend to start, I already finished, princess. – the oldest Stark still alive shoots and ends up confusing the Amazon. - But, I think they don't mind keeping you company, but remember, Diana... They are recruits, most are becoming familiar with weapons and combat practice.
_ I'll be careful.
Robb has to contain himself from laughing out loud when all the recruits are happy with the invitation and promptly accept the Amazon's request, without imagining what they would have ahead of them. In a few minutes, Diana is the only one left standing and the wails, complaints and moans are heard in the distance. Jon and the red-haired wildling appear startled in the castle courtyard.
_ Crows are dumb. Why challenge an amazon? - shoots the savage.
_ I think they were just training, Tormund... And I don't think they understand what an Amazon is... I don't understand very well myself.
_ You southerners don't know anything.
Jon watched his older brother with his arms crossed and an amused expression on his face. Perhaps, he and the Free Folk were right about how this unknown woman could be of great help when the Great War came. Diana, Princess of the Amazons, he needed to take some time to learn more about his visitor. The Lord Commander would have liked that, but had his plans delayed by the sound of the trumpet and the warning of "approaching horsemen".
Immediately, he ordered Robb and Diana to return to their quarters until he was sure what the matter was. He knew that many lords in the North were unhappy with the Free Folk this side of the Wall and the unexplained presence of the former King in the North would not help matters in a more tense situation. The brother was even reluctant, but he gave in when he noticed that it was not a request, but an order. And in his new life, Jon was many levels above in terms of hierarchy.
With no view of Castle Black's gate or courtyard, Robb could not calm down, and not even Diana was able to find arguments to assuage his condition. So Robb missed the arrival of an extremely tall woman in gleaming armor, her likely young squire, and a girl in shabby clothes. The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch blinked three or four times to be sure before uttering the familiar name.
Sansa. Still stunned, Jon begins to slowly descend the stairs to the courtyard, followed by Tormund. He takes a few steps towards his stepsister and stops a few meters away, not necessarily knowing how to react. Any kind of awkwardness is undone when she breaks the distance and throws herself into her arms. He could only hurry to return the warm welcome, more and more bewildered by the scenario set up in front of her.
During his childhood, Jon recalled feeling loved and embraced by virtually the entire Stark family. Sansa and Catelyn were the exceptions, though he understood all the scorn coming from the Lady of Winterfell. "We should never have left Winterfell", is the second sentence that directs the newcomer, inside her rooms at Castle Black.
_ Wouldn't you like to be able to go back to the day we left? I wanted to scream at myself: Don't go, you idiot. – he agrees with a sad smile as he remembers the not so distant past – I spent a lot of time remembering how stupid I was to you, Jon. I wish I could change everything... I was horrible, admit it.
_ Sometimes, you were horrible. – he laughs briefly at the girl's speech and is surprised by the "application for forgiveness". He is reluctant, but ends up accepting the young woman's apologies for problems that seem irrelevant in his present. Jon takes a sip of beer still lost in his own memories and takes a while to notice Sansa's new request. - He is sure? – she nods positively, but she almost drowns with the first few sips. - Are you well? Excellent! Then you can come with me now, I have something to show you.
Sansa crosses the hall in pursuit of Jon, while trying to familiarize herself with the new scenery around her. Quickly, she notices that Brienne and Podrick are finishing tidying up in the courtyard and interrupts her inspection with Jon indicating that they are arriving at the dormitories. She turns once more and the door in front of her opens. The young redhead doesn't have time to unravel what would be waiting for her in the respective room, since two arms lift her off the ground and her name is pronounced several times.
Other people's tears begin to fall on her face as she gathers the courage to face the face... She already recognized the timbre, but her memories are hard to believe. It couldn't be, he couldn't be there. However, Robb is alive, breathing heavily next to her and apparently doing well. When the brother loosens his grip and returns him to the ground, the two look at each other for the first time in a long, long time.
_ Robb, you... How is that possible?! You... They said you didn't survive the Red Wedding!
_ It doesn't matter, but I'm here.
