The Journeys of Jon Snow
Book 1: Chapter 3
First Steps Into A Larger World: The Journey Begins
True to his word, Jon made sure he was ready to leave two days after the message with the Horn Siblings. He and HK-47 moved his stuff from The Sanctuary's living quarters to The Ebon Hawk, which one of the Horns would fly with Jon, while the other took their ship back to Ossus.
Considering where he was going and how little Jon had brought with him, it did not take long.
Jon carefully placed journal after journal into cases in the ship's central lounge. These books were something he knew he had to bring with him, having only scratched the surface of his family's history.
Once the journals had been stored away safely, and his favorite training saber and remotes were stored in the ship's cargo hold, Jon went to join the droids in making sure The Ebon Hawk would be ready for travel after however many years it had been sitting here.
"How are we doing HK?" Jon asked as he stepped off the ramp.
"Observation: The ship should be ready to go. However, I would recommend finding a way to get more fuel to this facility's reserves the next time we return Master. I do not like draining them as much as we have."
Jon nodded, adding it to the list of things they would need to take care of. In addition to fuel, The Sanctuary would also need replenished food supplies for emergencies. And, if Jon planned on spending more time living here, he would also need fresher supplies and to learn how to cook for himself. Unlike Winterfell with its army of cooks and servants, Jon was aware he would be going places where if you wanted a better meal than those tasteless ration packs, you would need provide for yourself.
HK-47 soon broke him out of his thoughts.
"Advisement: Master, a vessel has just exited hyperspace and is on course for our location. I believe it is them."
Jon nodded and he and HK left to head up to the comm suite. M8 rolled up to them as they exited the hangar and Jon patted him on the dome as they went up the ramp.
When they made their way into the room, Jon sat down at the controls with HK next to him. This would be his first time manning the system by himself and he was going to establish contact with the ship, before directing them into the base.
"Assurance: Remember Master, if anything goes wrong, I will be right here to take over." HK said.
Jon nodded, taking a deep breath before pulling up the ship on the sensors. It registered as the shuttle Valin and Jysella said they were using. With the press of a button, Jon sent them a hailing frequency.
"Jedi Shuttle S-37, this is The Sanctuary, do you copy?"
It was Jysella who answered, "We hear you Sanctuary Outpost, we're approaching the planet now, please send landing coordinates."
Jon's attention moved over to another portion of the console where he sent off the information they would need for their approach. "We've just transmitted your approach info, please confirm you received it."
"Coordinates received. We're starting our approach into the atmosphere. Good job Jon, you're doing great!"
"Thanks Jysella. We'll get the door open for you, we've got the center of the landing bay open for you, though it may be a bit of a tight fit," Jon warned. HK had moved The Ebon Hawk as far over as he could and the group had worked to clear as much stuff out of the hangar as possible, but if there was one downside to The Sanctuary, it was the small hangar space.
"Not a problem Jon, we'll do fine. Thanks for the warning though."
With that the message cut out and Jon set to work opening the massive hangar bay door. The Sanctuary had been designed so the hangar bay door was actually built into the top of the hill, complete with camouflage to blend in with the surroundings.
With a pull of a lever it opened up and the dawn's light flooded the hangar bay. Soon enough, a shuttle descended into the hole, the two bottom wings that formed an inverted Y with the central fin folding up .
Once the ship landed, Jon shut the hangar door, before rushing out of his seat and down the ramp to the bay. By the time he reached the docking bay, the siblings were exiting their shuttle. Valin sent a cheeky wave at him, while Jysella just smiled warmly.
Jon dipped his head respectfully to both of them. "It's an honor to meet the both of you in person." He honestly had no idea how to properly address Jedi Knights, but he figured formal was best. The boy wanted these two to like him.
Valin just laughed. "Well it's good to know someone thinks its an honor to meet us. Seriously Jon, you don't have to be so formal."
Jon looked down, embarrassed, and shuffled his feet. "Sorry, I just wanted to make a good impression."
"Hey, you made a great first impression," Jysella said, putting a hand on his shoulder and kneeling down so she was eye level with Jon. "I don't know any other kids your age who would have kept as cool a head throughout this whole thing or handled flight traffic control as well as you did."
Jon shrugged. "Bastards grow up faster than trueborn children."
He saw both Horn siblings frown and worried he had said something that upset them. They gestured him over to a group of crates, where they sat down. This time it was Valin who spoke to him.
"You're going to have to give us some more information about this Jon, we're not familiar with the concept."
For a moment, Jon questioned whether he should tell them more, afraid they would think less of him once they knew about his bastardy, but he decided against it. All the journals from his kin had included stories showing a Jedi Knight would be able to tell if he was concealing something from them. With a swallow, Jon began to explain more.
"Bastards are children whose parents are not married to one another. The septons and septas, they're priests for The Seven New Gods, say because we were born from lust, lies, and weakness, that wantonness and treachery is our nature – "
Jon was cut off from saying more as Jysella jumped from her seat and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. Valin was just behind her and looked Jon right in the eye. There was pity, no pity wasn't right, Jon thought, just a profound sadness.
"Jon, please tell me you don't think that about yourself. That's a load of bantha fodder, you don't end up being wanton or treacherous because of how you were born. These are traits that get formed through life and the choices you make."
Tears welled up in the boy's eyes and Jysella squeezed him tighter and whispered into his ear.
"You're a good kid Jon, don't let some idiots make you believe any different."
She let go of Jon, who desperately tried to wipe his tears away. Valin handed him a handkerchief from his jacket pocket. For a while the group was simply gathered in silence. After a while, Jon continued, he couldn't look either of the other two in the eye, so he just looked down on his folded hands and the floor.
"It's tradition that bastards don't take their father's name like his trueborn children, but instead are named based on where they are from. Because I am from the North, I am a Snow," He explained. "My Father, Lord Eddard Stark, is better than most fathers. He brought me home, and has raised me alongside my trueborn siblings. Most noblemen foster their bastards with another Lord, or just make other arrangements for their care."
He heard a slight gasp from Jysella, while it sounded like Valin smacked his hands against the crate he sat on with a curse, before addressing Jon again.
"Jon, I need you to be honest with us, do you feel safe at home?"
The boy looked up at Valin questioningly, where was he going with this?
"Sure I feel safe at Winterfell, there's guards everywhere."
Jysella shook her head, "What Valin is asking Jon, is if anyone makes you feel threatened or belittled there. You mentioned your Father has other children, how is your relationship with his wife?"
Now Jon was just confused. "Lady Stark? We deal with one another as best as we can, I suppose. I stay out of her way, she ignores my presence for the most part. She doesn't like it when I do better than Robb in our studies or arms-training."
"Has she ever raised a hand to you, or punished you for doing better than Robb?"
Jon shook his head. "No, she just glares at me, mostly. I've learned to deal with it. Why is this such a big deal?"
Valin shared a glance with his sister before continuing, "We're just worried about you Jon. When kids your age run away from home, that is a red flag that we need to look into the potential for abuse or neglect. We just want to make sure you're safe."
Jon rubbed his hands together nervously, "I ran away because when I first used The Force, and I looked around, everyone was scared. Even Robb, who is both my brother, and the greatest friend, I have. And I couldn't take it, I just remember needing to run."
Once again, Jon was pulled into a tight hug by Jysella, who had moved to sit next to him on the crate.
"Do you want to go back to Winterfell and speak about this with your family before we leave?" She asked him.
Did he want to go home? Jon thought on it. On the one hand, he was still afraid of the judgement he would face from the residents of Winterfell. Would they still look at him with fear? Would his Father? A large part of the boy just wanted to keep running.
But a larger part of the boy was The Son of Eddard Stark.
He had always wanted to be considered a good and true son of Ned Stark. At the time, Jon had thought that was dependent on overcoming the name Snow and his bastard status. Now though, he understood it was more than that. It mattered little what the world thought of him, it mattered most that Jon thought that Jon Snow had been honorable and true.
And how could he live with himself if he slinked off into the shadows, letting his family constantly live with the question of what had happened to Jon Snow?
With a smile, Jon pulled himself out of Jysella's embrace and stood. He breathed out and reached out to The Force, hoping it would be with him in whatever was to come. He felt it come to him and settle around him, and the presence he had heard first in the training yard seemed to speak to him
'You are not alone.'
In The Force, Jon could feel the presences of Valin and Jysella, and he knew the voice was right. He was not alone. And he was centered.
"I'm ready. Let's head to Winterfell."
The day prior, in Winterfell
Not even the sight of his beloved home could improve Lord Eddard Stark's mood as he and his 50 guardsmen reached the summit of the hills a few miles from Winterfell. Home was in sight, but the journey had yielded little success.
When Lord Eddard and his men arrived at Bear Island to arrest its Lord, Ser Jorah Mormont, for selling poachers into slavery, they had been met with a scowling Maege Mormont, along with her daughters.
Maege had solemnly went to one knee, bowed her head, and explained that Jorah, her nephew, had fled the island with his wife. She said House Mormont's fate was in Eddard's hands as Jorah had broken vows to him, their liege-lord.
"Rise, Maege, you and your daughters. I will not hold your family responsible for Jorah's crimes. Bear Island will need a strong ruler to get through this, and I know there is no one better for it than you. Will you serve me as the new Lady of Bear Island?"
Maege had risen then and stared him straight in the eyes, before pledging her loyalty.
"I swear on the Gods of our people and the souls of my forebearers that I will always serve you and yours Lord Stark." Her daughters quickly followed suit in pledging their loyalty to Eddard.
From there, Eddard and his party had traveled to Castle Black, with Longclaw, the ancestral Valyrian Steel sword of House Mormont. When he had met with Jeor Mormont, Jorah's father and now Lord Commander of The Night's Watch, the older man had accepted the blade with a sad, but reserved look on his face, saying all the right words for a man of his rank.
But Eddard had known Jeor since the old man had been one of his father's bannermen and Eddard a young boy. Later that night as the two sat in the Lord Commander's Solar, Jeor had broken down crying for his son, and wondered where he had gone wrong.
Now, as Ned approached home, all he wanted was to be with his children, his heir, Robb, who he knew would make a fine lord one day. He wanted to listen to Sansa sing and laugh at whatever mischief Arya got into. He wanted to indulge Brandon's curiosity and show him every nook and cranny of the castle Starks had called home for thousands of years.
He wanted to see how Jon was doing, the last piece of Satele he had in this world. Eddard knew the list of things that would keep her from their son was short, and after 10 years, he feared it was the worst reason.
Many nights Eddard sat and worried over Jon. What future could he give the boy? How could he prepare him for what lied ahead? What would Satele think if she saw her son now?
He was snapped out of his thoughts as they arrived at the gates of Winterfell, the guards quickly opening the entrance of the castle for its Lord.
As Eddard and his party entered the main courtyard, he instantly knew something was wrong. None of his children were there to greet him, only his beloved wife Cat, Maester Luwin, the steward, Vayon Poole, and Fat Tom, whom he had left as acting Master-At-Arms with Rodrick a part of his party.
Everyone of them looked both happy to see him returned, but also incredibly nervous, and as he climbed off his horse, Eddard feared to learn what had happened now.
As he approached the group, the men bowed while Cat embraced him. "It is good to have you home, My Lord Husband."
He returned the embrace tightly and kissed her on the cheek. "It is good to be home, My Lady Wife." When her smile faltered, he frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
Cat took a deep breath before speaking in a hushed voice, "Jon ran away almost a fortnight ago. We are still trying to find him."
Eddard Stark, the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of The North, veteran of Robert's Rebellion and The Greyjoy Rebellion, a man enemies feared and allies admired, almost collapsed in shock, pain, and horror. When he caught his breath, all he could ask was "What?"
Maester Luwin had now joined the two and put his arm on Eddard's to help steady him.
"My Lord, we should take this discussion to your Solar. The courtyard is not a place for this topic," The Maester urged.
He shook his head frantically. "No, I need to get out there and find him, have Hullen get me a fresh horse."
Eddard was shook out of his panic as Cat grabbed his shoulders with both hands, "Ned!" She whispered harshly, "You cannot go out there right now. We have as many men as we can searching, and they believe he is somewhere in the hills on the edge of The Wolfswood. The hounds followed his scent to some rocks, but they lost the trail there. Rest and help then, but going out there now and pushing yourself to death will be of no help to Jon!"
Something his wife had said in her plea made Eddard halt. "You said they had tracked him to the edge of the Wolfswood?"
Cat looked confused, "Yes, but there is nothing out there, why did that stand out to you?"
He took off toward the Great Keep, gesturing to both of them, "Luwin is right, this is a conversation for my Solar, I'll explain there."
When they had arrived in the chamber where he and so many Lords of Winterfell conducted the business of ruling the North, Eddard pulled out a map of Winterfell and its surrounding environs. He pointed to an area by the headwaters of one of the White Knife River's tributaries, it was about a day's journey from Winterfell. "Is this about where the trail went cold?"
It was Maester Luwin who answered, "Aye My Lord. There was some dried blood on a rock wall along a path through the hills, but from there, the trail went cold. We've since been having men search downstream in case Jon went back along the river."
"Ned, why is that area so important?" His wife asked, wondering where all of this was going.
"Because Jon's kin have had an outpost built into those hills since before anyone could remember. They have always had an agreement with the Lords of Winterfell that they would be able to use it unimpeded by the Starks as long as they followed our laws while on our lands. Unless you know someone on the inside, the only way in is with a bit of their blood as a key."
He waited for Catelyn and Luwin to exclaim that he had gone crazy with talk of blood magic, but instead they just shared a look with one another before replying.
"That would start to explain a great deal My Lord. Particularly when it came to the circumstances surrounding Jon's disappearance." Maester Luwin said thoughtfully, putting one hand over his chin and lips.
"What do you mean?"
Catelyn replied this time, looking very uncomfortable with where the topic was going.
"The boys were in the yard training one day, when Jon and Theon began to spar. Somehow, Jon seemed to increase greatly in skill and he easily beat Theon." She paused here, judging if she should continue. "Theon did not take his defeat well and when Jon called him a sore loser, he mocked Jon for his status and…said he would keep an eye out for his mother if he visited brothels."
It took all of his will for Eddard not to storm out of the room, find the Greyjoy heir, and strangle him. Closing his eyes and breathing deeply, he decided to wait until Jon was safe and he had cooled down before deciding on a punishment for the boy. "That still does not explain why you didn't call me crazy when I mentioned magic being involved."
"After Theon's insults, Jon threw him across the courtyard without touching him. Obviously, everyone was shocked by this, none more so than Jon. He seemed terrified, and before anyone could do anything, he ran so fast it was as though he had disappeared. By the time we recovered, he was already out of sight from the walls," Luwin explained.
Eddard closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. He had wondered when the day would come when Jon's powers began to truly develop. There had been signs showing his son had the gifts of his mother's family, appearing in places no child should have been able to reach, or how when he was younger Jon had always found a way to get his and Robb's favorite toys, no matter where they had been stored.
Once again today, his wife had to stir him from his thoughts.
"Ned, I know you have asked me to never question you about the boy's mother, but…"
"But now, things have changed," he replied firmly, before turning his attention to Luwin. "If it is as I suspect, I will have to travel to the site tomorrow to retrieve Jon. The likely issue is that he is unable to exit the outpost. He should be fine, their family always kept the place supplied and they had plenty of rations made not to spoil, even since it was last stocked. The plan his mother and I had made was for me to bring him there on his 13th nameday and give him the instructions on how the place operated. Now, Luwin, I need to speak with My Lady Wife privately, please."
The Maester bowed and left the room. Now, he and Cat were alone, about to discuss the issue that had hung over their marriage since nearly the beginning. After a while, Cat made the first move.
"Who was she?"
He shifted in his chair uncomfortably, before deciding to get it over with.
"Her name was Satele Shan. As I said, her family has been friends of the Starks for many years. She was a couple years younger than I, we knew each other as her father was a close friend of my own."
"You use the word, 'was' when you talk of her. Is she…" Catelyn trailed off, unsure of how to finish. He cut her off.
"There is only one plausible reason Satele would never have come back for Jon." He said, wanting to cut it off at that.
Cat nodded. "Did you love her?"
And that was the toughest question of all.
"In a way, yes. As I said, Satele and I had been friends from childhood. When my father and Brandon died, she was going through a hellish war of her own. In the end, we both made the decision to try and comfort one another. Would I trade our love and the life we have for one with her? Never. The only thing that would have remained between Satele and I would have been our love for Jon."
For a while they just sat together silently, the fire in the hearth casting shadows over their faces. Finally, Catelyn spoke.
"What do you know about this magic that he can do?" She asked pensively.
He sighed and thought of how best to answer. "Not much. Her people called it 'The Force' and claimed it connected everything in the universe, aye I was skeptical too until I saw Satele throw 50 boulders with nothing but a gesture. And from everything I could gather, that was the least of it."
Cat shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Ned could tell her next question was one he would not like. "What do you plan to do with him? If this is as you say and as I saw, Jon could be a danger to our children. What if Sansa or Robb says something that upsets him?"
"Jon would never harm one of his siblings. Those are accusations I never want to hear again." He spoke quietly, but forcefully.
But his wife was not finished. "And what if whoever was after the boy's mother comes looking for him here then? What danger will he bring to our home?"
He jumped out of his seat, shocking Catelyn. "That boy is my son. I would protect him just as fiercely as any of my children if someone threatened them," He spoke harshly. He tried to collect himself, before continuing. "Besides, no one knew of Jon even being a possibility. As soon as Satele learned she was with child, she sequestered herself in the outpost and told no one what was happening."
His words did not convince her, and Catelyn stormed out of the room, Leaving him alone with his thoughts.
The Lord of Winterfell did not stew in self-pity for long. He visited the children that remained to him. Robb and Arya were besides themselves with worry for Jon, and it took all his strength, and Robb's help, to refuse Arya's demands to join them in retrieving their brother on the morrow.
Sansa was more reserved when he spoke with her, but Eddard could see she had been crying often with Jon missing. She had been working on sewing a scarf for him, embroidered with white wolves.
The only blessing had been that at three, Bran still did not understand much of what was going on, but his minders had told him that he had not stopped asking for Jon since he had left.
That night, Eddard barely slept. He was alone, this night being one of the rare times Catelyn and he did not share chambers. On top of that, while no person joined him, fear and doubt were constant companions. What if he was wrong and Jon was not in the outpost? What if he was hurt?
Eventually, exhaustion overtook him and he had a few hours of sleep, before rising again early in the morning. Quickly moving, the Lord Stark woke himself with a few splashes of water from his basin, before dressing as fast as he could.
After rousing Robb, father and son, went down to the Great Hall to quickly wolf down some food while their horses were prepared for travel.
"Do you hear something?" Robb asked as he was about to eat a piece of bacon.
Ned frowned, listening carefully. Indeed there was a sound in the distance, but rapidly approaching. It was two whistling sounds. As they got closer there was a wooshing tone to them as well, before both cut out.
Jumping to his feet, Eddard rushed out of the hall, Robb right behind him. A crowd was beginning to form in the courtyard and guards along the walls were pointing to something outside of Winterfell.
Father and Son quickly climbed to the top of the castle's outer wall and Ned gasped when he saw what had caught everyone's attention. Two metal flying ships had landed at Winterfell, and out of the one Eddard Stark knew well walked Jon Snow.
And Back To Jon's POV!
Jon faltered as he looked up and saw his father and Robb staring down at him in disbelief from Winterfell's walls. Gently, Valin urged him forward as he exited The Ebon Hawk and both of them approached the ancient castle.
Quickly, Jysella joined them from her shuttle, squeezing his shoulder comfortingly as she settled in next to him.
When they were within earshot, Jon called up to his father.
"My Lord Father! It is good to see you. I request entry to Winterfell, along with my companions, Valin and Jysella Horn of the Jedi Order."
After recovering from his shock, Lord Eddard replied to his prodigal son.
"And gladly I receive you. I would offer the hospitality of Winterfell to those who have brought you home."
Jon had told the two as they approached Winterfell that some formalities would need to be observed as they entered the castle. Among them would be the potential for Guest Right to be observed.
At Valin's questioning look, Jon had explained that Guest Right was a ritual where a host would offer bread and salt to a guest and once shared, neither could harm or hinder the other for the duration of the stay.
"The only ones more accursed than those who break the laws of hospitality are the kinslayers," Jon explained. He wasn't sure Guest Right would be offered to the Horn siblings, but if it was, they needed to know what it meant, and not to break it.
Soon enough, the gates were opened and the three entered Winterfell. As they came into the courtyard, a series of missiles flew into Jon, sending him to the ground. His siblings refused to let him up as they hugged him tightly.
Jon gasped as Arya punched him in the stomach.
"Don't ever scare us like that again!" She yelled at him through her tears.
He looked at Robb and Sansa for help but only got looks conveying the same message Arya had given him. At least they didn't hit him.
"All right, All right, how about we let Jon up now, OK?" Valin asked, looking down at the group of children. Robb and Sansa rose, the eldest Stark sister trying hard to brush herself off and regain her appearance. Arya for her part just glared at the Jedi Knight and clung to Jon harder.
"Arya Stark, let your brother up." Now, Jon's Lord Father had arrived at ground level. Reluctantly Arya got off her brother and allowed him to stand, though she refused to be parted from him.
The man pulled Jon into a deep hug, holding him close.
"I'm so glad you're safe," he whispered into Jon's ear.
"I'm sorry I scared you, father," Jon said back.
His father let the hug end, but clapped him on the shoulders with a smile. "What matters is that you are whole and healthy and back home."
Jon winced. "About that… we need to talk. Also, can Valin and Jysella have some bread and salt first?"
In the end, the Horn siblings got more than bread and salt. Jon's father invited them to break their fasts with him in Winterfell's Great Hall. For Jon, who had been subsisting on nothing but ration packs, the bacon and eggs had never tasted better, nor the watered down wine tasted sweeter.
As they ate, he made his request.
"Father, I want to go with Valin and Jysella and learn to become a Jedi like my mother," Jon said determinedly. Immediately, his statement was met with shocked outrage from his siblings. For his part, Eddard Stark just looked at him sternly.
"Did they put you up to this?" He asked gesturing to the two guests and ignoring their indignant looks.
"No Father. I contacted them because I wanted to do this. I want to live up to the legacy of my forebearers. I've read their journals, it's an honorable calling and the best option I have for my life."
"Jon…" His brother Robb said, leaning toward him. "You'd always have a future here. Neither Father nor I would ever make you leave."
It was times like this that made Jon appreciate Robb so much. It hurt that he had ever questioned the love his brother had for him. But still, he needed to do this.
"I know Robb, and that means more to me than you will ever know. But I want to do this," He turned to his Father, continuing his appeal. "When I arrived at The Sanctuary, and learned about my heritage, I felt whole for the first time in my life. The path of the Jedi is the one I want to take, to help people. But to do that, I need training I can only get at the Academy."
His father rubbed his beard and leaned back in his seat. After a moment, he looked to the Horn Siblings. "Will Jon be safe with you?"
Jysella stared resolutely at the Lord of Winterfell. "My brother and I would give our lives to protect the apprentices of our Order. The Yuuzhan Vong War is over, even in what was the darkest hour of the Jedi since the rise of The Empire, we pulled through. I will not lie to you Lord Stark, you'd see through it anyway, being a Jedi means doing dangerous things. But we are all devoted to doing everything we can to make sure our fellow Jedi come home safely."
Valin nodded, contributing his own vow. "Under Master Skywalker, our Order has survived plenty of attempts to get rid of us. We continue to be here. There is not a greater force in the Galaxy than the Jedi and those who stand with them. All I can do is promise that I will do everything in my power to look after Jon."
Everyone waited on Lord Stark's decision. He stared at Jon, chin resting on steepled hands. Finally, he breathed deeply and sat up, nodding.
"Very well. You have my blessing and permission to enter the Order Jon. I know you will live up to the legacy of your mother's kin, as well as our own."
Jon felt his heart nearly leap out of his chest and a smile forming on his face as his Father gave him permission to go. He received reassuring smiles from Valin and Jysella, a warm, but sad one from Father, and tentative ones from Robb and Sansa.
Arya for her part was not happy. "You can't leave!" She shouted as she grabbed onto him. "I don't want you to go."
He sighed and pulled her into a hug. Leaving his siblings would be the worst part of this, leaving Arya the worst of the worst. "Arya. I need to leave."
She just cried deeper into his shoulder. Jon was aware of his father coming around to grab Arya, but he pulled her in close and continued to appeal to her.
"Please don't cry Arya. I don't want to see you sad."
"Then don't leave!" She told him.
"I have to sister. That is the way of the world, eventually our paths take us in different directions. But," he said, pulling her up to look her in the eye. "I will always make my way back to you eventually. And you saw that ship I arrived in, it's The Ebon Hawk and it is mine. So I have the means to come back and visit you, OK?"
Arya continued to sniffle, but she looked at Jon and nodded, before hugging him once again.
The group ended up spending that day and night in Winterfell, with Jon taking the opportunity to pack up his things. The next morning Jon, the Horns, the Stark Family, and their household gathered in the Courtyard.
Jon first said goodbye to Bran, the three-year-old still not entirely grasping the situation. He was led by the hand of his Governess, Lady Stark had chosen not to see him off.
Although she had gotten used to the idea of him leaving, Arya still did not entirely like it. Jon had ended up needing to demonstrate his lightsaber training the night before to distract her. When the time came to say goodbye, she gave him a fierce hug.
"You better come back someday," she whispered to him. Jon assured her he would before hugging her back.
When it came to Sansa, she smiled warmly at him, before presenting him with the scarf she had worked on. It warmed his heart more than his neck and for that reason, Jon treasured it, hugging Sansa.
"I'll make sure to bring back a bunch of tales of knights and maidens fair when I come back," he told her. Sansa smiled excitedly at that.
"Mayhaps there will someday be a song about Jon, the gallant Jedi Knight?" He could only laugh at that. "I think there's a line of gallant Jedi Knights who deserve their own song ahead of me Sansa, but thank you."
"You never know." She replied teasingly.
As for Robb, they shared a deep hug and smiles. "I don't know how fair it is that you get a laser sword and special training when you're already the best sword here, but I can think of no one better for it. Goodbye Jon."
"However much I train, I still won't be as good with a lance as you Robb. Take care of yourself."
Finally, it was time to say goodbye to his Father. The Lord of Winterfell pulled him into a hug and held him there for a few moments, as if he was afraid to let Jon go. Still, after a short moment, his father let him go to look him in the eye.
"You will do excellent Jon. Mind your teachers, work hard, and remember that you are a credit to the legacy of both your mother's kin and mine."
Tears welled up in Jon's eyes as he pulled his father in for one more hug.
"I won't let you down Father."
"I know you won't, my son."
With that, Jon joined the other two at their vessels. He didn't turn from looking at his family until the ramp of The Ebon Hawk closed into place. Sighing, he made his way to the cockpit, where Valin was getting ready for takeoff.
As he sat in the co-pilot's chair and begun helping where he could, Valin turned to him and asked, "Are you ready?"
Jon nodded and then, the ship took off, Winterfell soon becoming a speck, before they exited the atmosphere and Jon got his first look at his home planet from space. He stared at it until he heard Valin say, "Preparing for the jump to hyperspace."
The stars began to stretch before they jumped into hyperspace, everything in front of them turning into a blue tunnel. Jon's journey had officially begun.