Invasion

The march south from the Wall had been long.

Jon's mind filled with questions as to what had happened down in the war and why he had been legitimised. Well, he knew why, his brother needed him. But he questioned as to why Robb needed him. The Greatjon had been quite vocal on how Robb had managed to outmanoeuvre Tywin Lannister and go on to capture the Kingslayer.

So, the question Jon asked, why did Robb need him?

Jon had made it no secret that his entire life's ambition was to join the Nights Watch, it was said to be a great honour. He had hoped that by doing so he would not only make things easier on his family - but Catelyn had also never hidden her distaste for him – and would be able to make something of himself up there. At Winterfell, he was just Ned Stark's bastard. At the Wall he could have been something else.

Except that hadn't been the case, even at the Wall he was still Ned Stark's bastard.

Arguably, he was more hated up at the Wall as well considering Alliser Thorne was there.

Yet here he was now, Jon Stark and Lord of Moat Cailin, marching south to join his brother, the King to defeat the Lannisters. That in turn raised more questions, why was his brother the King?

He asked as much to the Greatjon who chortled.

"Ye haven't seen the lad in charge, have ye?" The Greatjon asked and Jon shook his head, Robb had never really been given the chance with Ned around and when his father had gone south, Jon had gone north. "He's good at it. Put me in ma place I'll tell ye that."

Jon's eyes trailed down to where he could see a few fingers missing from Lord Umber's fingers. He'd heard that story on a number of occasions on the walk south to Breakstone Hill in the Northern Mountains where they were to meet with the gathered warriors from the Mountain clans of House Wull, House Burley, House Flint of the First Flints, House Harclay, House Knott, House Liddle, and House Norrey.

There were even warriors from the House Magnar, Stane and Crowl from the island of Skagos.

Overall, the total combined number of soldiers consisted of four thousand warriors of the various Mountain clans. A formidable force that would soon march south under his the Greatjon's command to face the Lannisters.

"He's different to his father as well. I respected Ned, aye, but at times I thought him too soft. Wasn't raised in the North ye see, at times it looked like the Vale had rubbed off on him too much, but I respected the man. Would fight and follow him but wouldn't die for him. But I've seen that lad lead men into battle, seen him think of ways to beat his enemies and I saw a man that would finally give us Northern independence. Now there's a man I'll die for, I thought to myself."

Jon supposed he should have expected no less from the Greatjon. His father had spoken of him from time to time, he was a prideful, but loyal man. However, Ned had always said that the Greatjon had a great desire for independence ever since Robert's Rebellion.

'It seems now he's got what he wanted.' Jon thought, remaining quiet as they eventually came to the top of the hill and looked down at the men camped below. Temporarily his breath froze in his chest, his gaze looking upon the thousands of men camped below. He couldn't even see them all, many of the camps disappearing into the white, winter fog that settled over the north. But he could make out the sight of numerous fires burning in the distance, their orange glows easily spotted through the light mist.

"Don't freeze now, lad." Greatjon smacked his back, nearly unhorsing Jon as they started trotting down the hill.

A number of men moving forwards to meet them.

"The Greatjon…big bastard…finally arrived!" One man exclaimed angrily and for the life of him, Jon could barely understand a word of what he said. His northern accent thick and his grasp of language itself seemed to be sparse.

"Shut yer fucking mouth, Big Bucket." The name was familiar to Jon, he'd never met the man but had heard of the head of House Wull, Lord Hugo "Big Bucket" Wull. He was a large rotund man, hence his nickname but he still looked strong. "Come on, lads, let's find a place out of this fucking wind."

With that, the group made their way through the army camp to the centre. Along the way Jon learned the names of their new companions.

There was Donnel and Artos Flint of the First Flints.

Brandon Norrey and his companion and champion, Owen Norrey.

Lord Torren Liddle and his son, Morgan Liddle.

And a number of noblemen from each of the clans gathered.

It was hard to believe that he was been given command of four thousand men and expected to march to war. He hadn't been prepared for this yet, should he have expected anything less? Robb always liked to surprise him, and it seemed even as a King that tradition had not changed at all.

"So, how many men ye got?"

"Three thousand." Owen Norrey spoke, and Jon released a sigh of relief, it seemed that at least someone amongst these lot actually knew how to speak properly.

"The fuck? Ye were meant to have four. What the hell have ye been doing all this time?" Greatjon exclaimed angrily. "The King gave ye an order and this is what ye have to fucking show for yerselves."

"Not all here." Brandon Norrey shot back.

"No shit! What ye been doing all this time while we've been fighting a war, huh? Sucking each other's cock?"

"Don't worry, the men of Skagos aren't here yet, that should add another fifteen hundred men to our army." Owen informed, hoping to appease the irate Lord Umber and to avoid a fight breaking out between him and the Chiefs of the Mountain clans.

Greatjon looked at Owen closely and Jon feared he'd strike the Mountain clansman. But instead, the Greatjon threw his head back and laughed. "Why didn't ye say so in the first place?" He then reached round and slapped Torren Liddle on the back and the man stood firm, matching the Greatjon's slap with one of his own.

To be entirely honest, Jon wasn't convinced that the Greatjon wasn't a Mountain clansmen himself because the way the man acted made him fit right in. 'And me? I'm completely different. Again.'

"When will they be here." Jon asked, the gazes of all the men here turning on him quickly and Jon almost shrank away.

"Few days. Then march to free the Ned." Big Bucket said.

And that's when they heard a commotion outside. All those in the tent moving out to see a man trying to push past the guards stationed outside. "I have urgent news for Lord Umber! You have to let me pass, please!"

"Pleading won't help ye much, lad. Most won't understand a word yer saying." The Greatjon said, indicating for the two guards to let the man through. They did so with nary a grunt of discontent and the man rushed forwards, quickly dropping to his knees before Lord Umber and Jon. "What ye got to tell me that's so important?"

"The Greyjoys, they've invaded."