Ned Stark
In all his life Ned had never felt as useless, not when the mad King had killed his father and brother, not when his sister lay dying in his arms and not even when Jon had disappeared.
He just sat and watched as his little boy wasted away before him. What started as a mild fever four moons ago had led to the bloody flux that was slowly but surely killing his boy.
Maester Luwin had worked tirelessly those first few days when the fever had first appeared. And despite all his efforts the fever didn't break in fact in got worse and the other symptoms began.
Bran failed to keep food down first then the rash appeared before finally the cough started.
Bile, phlegm and blood came with each cough rendering his once happy and wild boy a drained weak shadow who was disappearing with each day that passed.
It wasn't long now Ned knew Maester Luwin and the five other Maesters who had been called to help had all said.
Looking from his dying son Neds eyes went to the others in the room.
Catelyn his once beautiful wife sat broken at Bran's bedside grey hairs a tangled mess upon her head with dark circles under her eyes.
Robb stood silently in the corner of the room his eyes frozen on Brans unconscious form.
Sansa sat at the foot of the bed her hands and eyes focused on the needlework in front of her.
Rickon was with the Old Nan somewhere else in Winterfell. His youngest unable to sit in Brans presence without crying.
Arya similarly was with Nan but unlike her brother she didn't cry. She and Sansa couldn't be in the same room lately without a screaming match occurring.
His girls at least expressed their feelings the same couldn't be said for everyone else in his family.
For years now there was a tension within the walls of Winterfell all stemming from Jon's disappearance.
Gods he could still remember that morning when Robb rushed into the Great Hall shouting out that Jon was gone.
The days and weeks that followed were a blur. Ned had sent ravens to all corners of the North ordering his bannermen to send search parties out across their lands to search for Jon all of which failed in their task.
Ned himself had ridden for weeks on end searching without success for his lost son.
It had broken his heart to return to Winterfell without Jon.
He had broken his promise and lost Jon just like he had lost so many others he loved.
The months that followed were some of the worst he could remember and for a time Ned believed the darkness would never end, that was until a caravan arrived from White Harbor with news and hope. Jon was alive.
Ned could still remember the small Essosi man who led the group from Bravos. He claimed to represent the shipwrights of the free city and wished to arrange for the purchase of wood from the North for the building of their ships.
'I came across a very interesting young man several moons ago at a difficult time for my guild. Despite his age he was very persuasive and i believed his word thus here I am' the Bravosi said with a slight accent before handing a roll or parchment which detailed their needs and the price they would pay.
The deal would see gold and silver flow into not only House Stark and Manderly coffers but several other houses of the north who had vast swathes of untouched forests that the Bravosi were eager to access.
That wasn't the only thing the Bravosi handed over; two letters no more than a page each with his name on one and Robb's the other.
Lord Stark
I know the truth!
I left to find my path.
Do not search for me!
Jon
He read the words a dozen times before they truly sunk in and his mind raced. How did Jon find out? Did he truly know or was it some jape? Who else knows? Does Jon hate him? Do I send parties east to try and find Jon despite what he says?
Remembering the other letter he opened it despite it being for Robb. This letter at least was more detailed Jon spoke of how he left to find his own path and Robb, Sansa, Arya and Bran would always be his family. He promised that he would return eventually and when he did he hoped to spar as they had always done as brothers.
Jon had sent a few more letters in the years that followed to his brothers and sisters; none to Ned. Those letters were brief and rarely spoke about what Jon was doing they mostly asked how each of his siblings were. The last letter had been two years ago and in that time the tensions of Winterfell had grown and grown.
Despite the silence Jon's presence was felt and not just in Winterfell. Throughout the years trade had bloomed within the North; the Bravosi shipwright was merely the first of many.
The North now had trade of some kind with Tyrosh, Volantis, Pentos, Myr, Qohor and even Ibben. His lords were happy as they had gold and silver and their larders were full for a long winter.
In fact the only one who wasn't happy with all the trade was Catelyn who feared that Jon meant to buy the Lords of the North to his side to take Winterfell from Robb. Ned knew this wasn't the case but his wife wouldn't listen to reason and only stopped mentioning it when Bran became ill.
Taking him from his thoughts Heward one of his guards was calling out his name and banging on the door to Bran's room.
'Enter' he shouted out relieved for the disturbance.
Heward all but crashed into the room out of breath his face red. 'My Lord, your son Jon is at the south gate' the man said his voice deafening the already quiet room.
Without thinking Ned jumped to his feet and rushed from the room, Robb at his heels and Heward not far behind. Running from the keep he stopped dead in his tracks when there stood in the courtyard was Jon. He had grown tall, gained muscle and a scar down the left side of his face but it was Jon.
Speechless he stood there and watched as Robb pushed himself forward and hugged his brother with a smile upon his face
Robb Stark
Gods he couldn't believe it; Jon was home! His solemn, quiet brother had returned and for the first time in years Robb felt like a weight had been lifted.
Robb could still remember that morning walking into his brothers room only to find the room empty, the bed unslept in and a note upon the table detailing that Jon loved them but had to leave promising he would return.
For a time Robb had thought that Jon wasn't going to fulfil his promise as the last letter they had received had been more than two years ago but Robb had never been more relieved to be wrong.
'I've missed you Stark' he heard Jon say softly causing Robb to laugh and breaking their hug.
'Aye you too Snow' Robb replied still in a haze that his brother was home.
'How's Bran? Am I too late' Jon said with hope in his voice bringing Robb back to reality with the fact he has his brother back but was going to lose another.
'He still lives but it won't be long now Luwin thinks' Robb said in reply before Jon turned to his horse taking a box from a saddle bag.
His voice still hopeful Jon said that he needed to see Bran now.
Nodding unable to trash Jon's hope Robb turned to see men who rode with Jon all standing to the side. 'Ser Rodrik, see that my brothers companions are given chambers in the guest house and they want for nothing' Robb shouted out to the Master of Arms before leading Jon to Bran's room their father tailing them still not saying a word.
They all but ran to Bran's room Robb knowing as soon as Jon saw Bran whatever hope he had would be lost.
For a moment when they entered Robb saw a shadow of doubt pass Jon's face but it was soon replaced with a look of determination.
'Has his blood turned Black yet' Jon said turning to Maester Luwin and Beldon one of the Maesters who had come from Oldtown at fathers request.
He was confused for a moment before remembering the final stages of the Bloody Flux saw the infected' s blood turn black.
'Not yet Jon but it won't be long' Luwin said sorrowfully.
'Then I'm not too late' Jon said before he opened the steal box he carried with him revealing three vials of red liquid handing one of the vials to Luwin asking him to give it Bran to drink.
Both maesters looked confused at the vial and no doubt were going to ask what it was before Robb's mother spoke up here voice laced with hatred 'You will not poison my boy Bastard'
Robb turned to Jon expecting his brother to cower or retreat after being spoken too like that but his brother's face didn't' change and merely looked to Luwin speaking strongly.
'What you have in your hand is a tonic from Old Valyria, if what I have read is true it could be a cure.'
Bedlam soon erupted with question after question being asked of Jon from the two maesters, each trying to talk over the other.
Without getting to answer any of the questions a voice rang out silencing the others 'will it work?' his mother asked her face showing something other than sadness and hopelessness.
'If Bran takes the tonic now and the other two doses over the next two days he will be cured' Jon said not a hint of doubt as he spoke.
Maester Beldon all but shouted that Jon was lying that there was no cure for the Bloody Flux at this stage but his mother ignored the healer and ordered Luwin to give the cure to Bran her eyes remaining on Jon as she spoke.
Notes
Follow and Review
Internal Use - Confidential
