Jon Snow - Winterfell

Jon knew he shouldn't have promised the cure would have worked. Especially as if it didn't then his family would hate him. He just couldn't take the risk that Lady Stark would refuse. It was Brans best chance so he made the promise.

After the tonic had been given Jon sat and waited knowing the cure wouldn't be immediate.

It was during this time that Arya and Rickon had made an appearance. His youngest sister throwing open the door and rushing in locking eyes with Jon for a brief moment before looking him up and down before smiling and running into his arms for a hug.

The wild little girl he knew before he left had turned into a wild young women.

Rickon unlike Arya didn't give him a hug but walked up to him hesitantly asking who he was, a question that hurt more than Jon would admit.

The next few hours were spent sitting at Bran's bedside; his siblings asking countless questions about where Jon had been and done these last few years.

He gave them some details but left much unsaid. Lord Stark satin silence throughout the entire day only speaking when it had grown late and he ordered his children to bed.

Jon didn't leave however he sat in silence where he was in a chair opposite Lady Stark on either side of Bran's bed while different maesters came and went.

The days that followed were pretty much a repeat of that first day. Bran received the final two doses of the tonic and to the great surprise of the Maesters his condition didn't get any worse.

In fact Bran remained the same for four more days before he began to improve. It started slowly his breathing becoming less laboured, his coughing less frequent and the broth that was fed to Brans unconscious form kept down.

The mood in the room had improved considerably with each hour that passed only to be soured by Septa Mordane.

'My lord Ser Robar requests Jon's presence' Jory Cassel said from Brans now open door.

'Send him in' Lord Stark said before Jon had a chance to reply.

The Vale knight walked into the room silently nodding his head slightly to Lord and Lady Stark.

'Does Jon serve as your squire Ser Robar' Sansa said softly hoping to get more information from the knight than Jon had revealed.

Robar couldn't help but laugh at that before speaking 'Ser Jon has long since earned his spurs my lady and it is I who serve him'

'You would shame your lord father by serving a bastard Ser Robar' Septa Mordane spat out silencing the room.

Even though Robar was one of the most composed of his men Jon could see that he was close to anger.

'You asked to speak Robar, is there an issue' Jon said distracting the man.

Whatever the man had wanted to say to the spiteful septa he didn't say it but instead turned to Jon and spoke. 'Commander, Ser Eldon has rode ahead the rest of the men they have passed Cerwyn and should be here by nightfall'

Relieved that the rest of his companions were close Jon thanked the man and asked him to speak to Vayon Poole about where they could store the half dozen carts of supplies they had brought with them from Essos and White Harbor and promising him he'd be out shortly.

Those present no doubt had a hundred questions about how Jon got his knighthood or why Ser Robar called him Commander but none were asked. Robar hadn't been gone a moment before Lord Stark turned to the Septa and all but screamed at the women to return to her room and not to leave or risk banishment from Winterfell.

Whatever intervention the Septa hoped to receive from Lady Stark or anyone else wasn't to come as the entire rooms attention was quickly on a small voice calling out for water. Bran had awoken.

The next few days passed by in a haze Jon welcomed the rest of his men, sparred with Robb and Arya, told Rickon as many stories as he could and spent hours by Bran's besides talking to him and the rest of his siblings. He also had to deal with the many Maesters who still stayed within Winterfell, each of whom had countless questions about the tonic and anything else Jon might have or know. They only stopped the pestering when he promised he would deliver some tomes to Oldtown by years end.

'Can I still be a knight Jon' Bran asked the fifth day after he woke when all their siblings had gone to get some food. It was only the two of them present besides Lady Stark who sat in the corner doing needle work. Despite Bran's improvements she still spent much of her day within the room.

Jon knew that Bran had lost much of his already smaller frame over the length of his illness and his brother feared what it would be mean.

'You will be the finest knight the realm has ever seen; you just need to build your strength and that starts with leaving this room.' Jon said knowing that up to now Bran had yet to walk beyond the confines of the room.

Whatever complaints Bran was going to spout stopped in his mouth when Jon mentioned that he and their siblings would not receive any gifts until Bran walked himself into the Great Hall to receive it.

Whether it was a desire to get a gift or desire to begin gaining back his strength Bran walked the following night from his sickbed to the high table in Winterfell's Great Hall.

He didn't want to make a big spectacle of it but that couldn't be helped as Bran had told everyone who had visited him who in turn told many others. The Great Hall was far from packed but there was many more present that usual after a meal.

He handed Bran three tomes which contained the exploits of many famous warriors and knights from both sides of the Narrow Sea. His brother grasped the books eagerly thanking Jon as he opened the first book.

'Reading about adventures is one thing Bran but you also need to prepare to have your own and to do that you need to be prepared. This blade once belonged to Aerian Balaryn; his exploits are one of those mentioned in the tomes before you. He was the second son of the one of the forty families of Old Valyria. It was said he once fought off a dozen assassins with this blade saving his family.'

Bran looked at the blade his eyes wide at the story behind it and having received his very own Valyrian steel blade however small. There was a very shocked faces throughout the room at Jon giving away valyrian steel but no one said anything to his relief.

He gave Rickon a large number of hand carved Goldenheart toys from the Summer Isles, hopefully they would last longer then the other broken toys Jon had seen Rickon with.

Jon turned next to Sansa who still kept a distance to Jon her years of tutoring under the Septa and her mother unforgotten. 'Sansa you are a true Northern beauty and deserve to be clothed as such' he said before Garin opened the large chest he had brought into the room. Inside was a score of different rolls of fabrics and laces of many colors he hoped his sister would like.

'I have also a gift for you and Arya both' he said unwrapping two silver necklaces with a large direwolf pendant on each. Sansa's had red and blue gems for eyes and Arya's black opal.

'Even in Essos I heard stories of the wild she wolf of Winterfell. As such I feel it only fitting that a wolf has a bone to play with' he said with a smile before handing over a Dragonbone bow. He knew Arya would be unstoppable with it especially after seeing her practice with a normal bow the last few days.

Pleased to see his sisters so happy with their gifts Jon soon turned to Robb.

'I'm afraid to say I only have one gift for you brother I hope you can forgive me' he said with a smirk on his face.

He took the scabbard from Robar and slowly drew the blade he had refitted in Bravos handing it over to Robb. 'This sword doesn't have the storied history as Bran's but no doubt you will make it famous brother. Lord Stark may have Ice but you and every future heir of House Stark will have Frost'

Jon could hear audible gasps throughout the room as Robb held the valyrian steel long sword in his hand with a look of shock on his face. He couldn't really blame him rarely if ever had a valyrian steel sword been gifted since the fall of Valyria. In the space of an evening House Stark now held three blades of valyrian steel.

'Jon I can't take this, this is too much. You should wield it' Robb said after regaining his composure.

Smiling Jon's hands went to the two swords he had at his waist before replying. 'I have my own swords brother' bringing yet more gasps and many whispers to erupt throughout the hall.

Notes

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