chapter 35 : The wisdom of the old lion.

Jon returned much later to Winterfell where he was welcomed by the resistance soldiers and leaders including Lyra who had a certain smile on her lips, she had thought a lot about him knowing that he'll be her future husband even if she doubts a little that he was serious that day because it was too sudden.

They quickly set up a meeting where Stannis joined them, he was recovering from his injuries but couldn't really say anything in front of Jon because the last time he saw Jon he tried to kill his own daughter.

 Stannis no longer even knew where his place was, he no longer had the trust of the rest of his men, his wife killed herself and Melisandre, who had been killed, had completely disappeared without a trace.

They finished talking and Jon warned them that he would go visit their enemies, they tried to dissuade him for his safety but they remembered what he was capable of.

Plus, he was going to leave with Jory and Asher Forrester who insisted on being his guard.

 Jon was in his family's crypt in front of the recent statue of his father and Robb when Stannis arrived there with a torch and Jon looked at him.

 Jon: does your family have a crypt where their deceased rest ?

 Stannis: We pray to the 7 so...no. (Sighs) I'm not a man of many words but thank you for saving my life, the Boltons would have completely annihilated us without the intervention of your alliance.

 Jon: They did it on their own, I would have left you exhausted for what you tried to do to your daughter.1Moreover, this is not my alliance but that of the Lords of the North who have remained loyal to House Stark. 

 Stannis: How is Shireen ?

 Jon: She's a true sunshine, Davos and my brothers are watching over her. She learned things from Maester Aemon and was blessed by the old gods.

 Stannis: I can never redeem myself as a father but I can always ask you a favor for her.

 Jon: For her, I listen. What do you want ?

 Stannis: Let me fight for her.

 Jon: Fight for her ?

 Stannis: I'm no longer interested in the Iron Throne, all I want is to take back the Stormslands for her. I no longer deserve to be leader of the barratheons, but my daughter does. Our family must continue through her.

 Jon: That's what I was planning to do anyway, you can help but I'm going to kill you the second you dare to approach her. Did we understand each other ?

 Stannis: (sighs) I understand...

 He went out from there to go to the Sacred Grove and pray to the old gods, sharpen his sword and drink liquor like he did with Ned but when he got there he saw Lyra praying under the weirwood so he calmly walked closer, stood next to her and placed his left hand on the tree while his right hand grabbed Lyra's free left hand and their fingers intertwined.

Lyra faced this interaction just took a sudden breath before a slight smile decorated her lips. A few minutes later, they were kissing languorously and Jon did not hide his desire for the beautiful young woman as his hands caressed her erotically.

 Lyra: Were you serious then, my king ? Do you want me to be your queen?

 Jon: Of course, I want you, Lyra Mormont.

 Lyra: Will you tell me why?

 Jon: Your uncle Jeor is a man for whom I have enormous respect and whom I consider as a father. I knew he had nieces and I had already thought about marrying one of them. However, so many of your sisters died without my knowledge as well as your mother, I had given up on that until I met you. I immediately fell under your charm, you are a magnificent warrior woman with a lot of intelligence. An example for women in the North.

 Lyra: Are you sincere ?

 Jon: I be damned by the gods if I lie, I am aware of my assets and I could have any other woman. Why would I come to lie to you my lady ?

 "You are such a braggart…" She rushed closer to him to kiss him and they put more energy into it than earlier but in the middle of the action, Lyra stopped to look at him in the eyes.

 Lyra: Swear to me that it will always be just me.

 Jon only looked into her eyes and said nothing, so that gaze did all the work. Slowly, he began to undress her and she did the same to him.

When they were totally naked, Jon was immediately turned on by Lyra's beautiful body, she had a toned and athletic physique while still remaining very feminine thanks to the nanites.

 With their clothes spread out on the ground like a makeshift bed under the foliage of the weirwood, Jon and Lyra began to make love and it was the first time for Lyra who was still a virgin and Jon was very delicate with her.

 Jon: Under the gaze of the ancient gods (kiss)…I, Jon Stark, take you as my wife.

 Lyra: (moans)…I, Lyra Mormont, take you as my husband…

 Jon:...and I swear...to love you, respect you and honor you...(kisses Lyra's neck)

 Lyra: *hmmmmmh* I swear to carry your descendants and...and to honor you...

 Jon: From now on, you are mine...

 Lyra: Forever you are mine...

 Jon: I already love you my queen.

 Lyra: I already loved you…*aaaah*long before I met you, my king…

 Under these improvised vows, Jon and Lyra had just gotten married with Weirwood as witness under the gaze of the gods and the world.

It was a marriage like those made by the first men, without ceremony or religious leader. It was primitive but incredibly pure.

They continued the next two days together in the castle and rarely were they seen as they were always in a room or in the sacred wood.

 Not even once did he see Sansa, she had tried to talk to him but he didn't want to and it was the same for Arya, they didn't hide their resentment from her and considered Sansa like a ghost in the castle, a common shadow with which they had nothing to do.

Brienne, her protector, had tried to insist on an audience with Jon, she had been a little too insistent and Asher had intervened quickly to control her effortlessly.

The lady had tried to resist against the mutants but it cost her a dislocated shoulder and some bruises.

 Sandor Clegane for his part had been paid as he requested to make Sansa escape and he then offered his services as mercenaries but Arya threatened to kill him so he preferred to leave, he saw the young mutant at work and knew deep down that if they came to confront him, she had a good chance of kill him.

Truth be told, Sandor, Brienne and Sansa were terrified by the physical prowess of the people in this castle, they couldn't even explain what they were seeing but one thing was certain, they weren't very well liked there.

Yet Sansa had nowhere else to go and had to stay there.1Jon was planning to deal with Sansa's case later, but for now, the North had more pressing issues to deal with. 

 One morning while discussing the future of House Stark with Arya, Rodrik Forestier rushed in.

 Rodrik: Your Majesty, something has happened to the enemy.

 Jon: (Stands up) I'm listening.

 He gave him a quick report and apparently their spies in the Bolton camp reported to them that the Southern troops and the Golden Company had decided to turn back and return South under Tywin's orders.

He had barely listened to this when Jory rushed in with the others, they seemed to be bringing some news with them too.

 Jory: My lord, a message from King's landing. It bears the Lannister sigil.

 Jon: What does he say?

 Torrhen: The king calls for peace, he's ready to stop all war with the North and recognize it as a legitimate kingdom in its own right, he says he's ready to forge alliances with the North against a common enemy and is ready to welcome you to the royal capital.1He asks you to remember that your home actively contributed to the fall of the Targaryens and that Daenerys will also come for you. 

 Jon: Ahahahahaha! 

 Asher: King Tommen isn't that stupid after all.

 Jon: Tommen ? This is 100% Tywin's work, the old lion still has keen hearing. He knows that I'm back, he knows that I brought a large wildling army from the North and above all...

 Others :…

 Jon: He is aware of the imminent arrival of Daenerys Targaryen, her very large army but also her three enormous dragons. Fighting against the North will cause them enormous loses Especially now that I'm in charge and the night watch is going to get involved. Winter is here and their troops had trouble moving, especially since in the Neck they were harassed by the Reeds. He considers Daenerys a more dangerous opponent, especially since they have lost the support of Dorne.1I have sent one of my men to do a certain task, but it will no longer be necessary. 

Rodrick : Their idea of attacking the North was stupid from the start. 

Jon : No, their idea was good and well prepared because they had the support of many houses in the North. Only, the Stark children's resistance and alliance was an unforeseen factor without taking into account the gift of the Old Gods. But this latest decision shows just how wise the old lion is. 

Asher: By abandoning his allies and fleeing? 

Jon : They were never his allies, but his pawns. Now, this is where his tactics are tricky and very fine

The others:... 

Jon: If Tywin steps down and leaves the Bolton alliance vulnerable, what are we supposed to do under such circumstances? 

Torrhen : I think I understand, he lets us attack the Boltons for a mutual weakening between Northerners. He won't lose any fights or soldiers, since he won't have fought any real battles, if we set aside the attacks on the Neck by old Howland. 

Jon : This movement on his part seems cowardly and fearful, but therein lies all his genius. Any other great lord by ego would have continued to advance his troops, but not him. This man is intelligent and above all cautious..."Let wolves and foxes kill each other to harvest their furs". 

 Lyra : Shall we attack, my king ? 

 Arya: When did their troops split up?

 Asher: At dawn according to the informant.

 Jon: All right, we'll attack them in the evening and finish them off.

Arya : Jon, you'll do exactly what Tywin wants. 

Jon: No, Tywin is thinking of one or more battles that will cost us and Bolton dearly. However, It won't be a battle but a purge and the North will be all the stronger without these traitors. We'll have fewer soldiers without them for the big night, but don't worry, I've already thought of everything to fill our ranks quickly. 

 Rodrick: Why attack them so early ? 

 Torrhen: Our interactions with them have been quite cold recently, they have no idea that we know what happened, in the next couple of days maybe they will suspect but now is the perfect time to attack before they can escape or do something else.

 "In all these years you have not been my second in command for nothing…" He patted Torrhen on the shoulder before telling the others that he was going to look for the wildlings as well as the sworn brothers. He even had several ideas running through his head as he smiled happily.