5 Chapter 5

The war was over.

With the combined forces of Westeros, the Ironborn were crushed, and Ned returned to Winterfell with a political hostage in tow. Theon Greyjoy, the last son of Balon Greyjoy, was taken from the latter as a ward of Ned Stark to dissuade the Ironborn from ever rising in rebellion again.

Robb and Jon organized a big welcoming feast using the boars and stags they had hunted themselves. Ned was proud of his sons when Rodrik Cassel and Luwin sang praises of the two.

He also received news of the conflict between Catelyn and Robb pertaining to the septa. Ned did not like that Robb spoke against his mother, but he was also proud that his son stood up for Jon and the traditions of the North. Still, his lady wasn't happy and was distant from her own children.

She spent hours upon hours praying in the sept. Ned knew it wasn't healthy for anyone in his family. Sansa, Arya, and Bran specifically needed their mother to be with them. Instead, she had been in the Sept, praying. So, before he did anything else after his return, he visited the sept to see Catelyn.

As he entered through the doors of the sept, he could hear Catelyn whispering about something. "Cat?" He cautiously called out.

She stopped immediately and turned around. As her tired red eyes landed on Ned, she abandoned all of her thoughts and spang towards him. She hugged him fiercely. Her husband had finally returned alive.

Praying for Jon's death could wait. Catelyn, for the moment, simply wanted to remain in her husband's arms and listen to his beating heart.

(TTOTUGS)

"Your mother told me whatever transpired in the castle. How could you shout at your own mother, Robb? I did not raise you like this."

Jon, who was standing beside Robb, had his head hung down, his gaze trained on the dark stain on one of the limbs of the table. Meanwhile, Robb held his head high as he said, "She brought the septa back to teach Sansa. I don't have any problem with my mother, or anyone else, practicing the faith, ya' know. But, the fact that the septa so openly tried to teach me that my own brother was an abomination and everyone who practiced other faiths, such as us in the North, are sinners, I simply couldn't allow that, ya' know."

Ned controlled himself and said, "You could have told your mother about your grievances in a calmer way. Instead, you yelled at her and dared to order her."

"I tried to explain it to her, father. But, her hatred for Jon blinded her to everything else, ya' know. Sansa is too young, and if she is taught something wrong, she will carry it with her for a long time. I could not allow someone to teach her to hate her own brother and her own people. You banished that septa, and mother brought her here behind your back. I was angry and frustrated with mother's constant efforts of driving a wedge between Jon and his siblings, ya' know. She isolated herself to the sept after that. I've wanted to talk to her, but she would change her path at the mere sight of me."

Ned sighed and leaned into his chair. 'This is troublesome. Cat is feeling alienated. She feels that everyone around her is against her faith. I need to talk to her.'

Sadly for the Stark family, Ned knew of only one way with which he could 'talk' Catelyn out of her fanatical phase. They 'talked' so much that they had another child.

(TTOTUGS)

Robb and Jon tried their best to accommodate Theon. They always took him along wherever they went, trained with him, tried to include him in their pranks, and even took him to the Godswood.

Theon was simply... Raised different. His circumstances were different from the brothers. Having lost his brothers, his family, his home... Theon felt alone at Winterfell. Everywhere he looked, he saw Starks. Men who were once fighting against his father.

Like a cornered animal, he tried to lash out. But Robb had a certain way with words. He always knew what to say to someone for them to lower their guards and trust him. It helped that Robb always managed to live up to that trust.

Slowly, but surely, Theon came around and bagan to open up. He did have confrontations with Jon. He was jealous of the brotherhood between the two brothers. He always imagined having such brotherly bonds with his own brothers. Sadly, they were killed during his father's rebellion.

Theon resented Balon. The man was the reason he was taken from his home and his people. Balon was the reason he lost his brothers. To save himself, Balon even gave up his last son to his enemies. To Theon, Balon was a spineless coward.

Robb had to sit Theon and Jon down and make them talk their greviences out. After that day, the duo of brothers became a trio.

Robb already had his tenth nameday, and Jon's arrived soon after. Slowly and steadily, Theon became a Stark in all but name. His nameday was celebrated on Robb's request. Theon felt grateful and grew closer to the Starks.

As Theon watched the Starks smiling and laughing during the celebrations of his name day, Theon thought, 'Mayhaps... I have found a new family.'

(TTOTUGS)

Robb found himself in a field of snow.

The cold winds of the North felt welcoming to him. It was brimming with natural energy, and Robb soaked it in like a dry cloth. He saw wildlings living in harmony among themselves. They had food, cloth and water and their children were healthy.

The next thing he knew, Robb felt a chill that ran down his spine. The cold wasn't welcoming any longer. Instead, it clawed at his skin and ran through his veins.

He saw men, frail and injured, walking through the biting chill of the winter with little to no clothes. Their skin so pale... if felt like they were dead.

They were dead!

Robb instinctively backed away from them. They were numerous. Everywhere his eyes went, he saw the dead marching towards him. Leading the dead were men made of ice. Their soulless eyes peered at him. He felt like a prey as the man of ice shrieked to his army of the dead.

All at once, they charged towards him. Robb wanted to run, but his feet were frozen from fear. The dead soon reached him, and when they were about to claw and bite and rip at him, Robb closed his eyes.

He felt no pain. Perhaps it was a dream.

He opened his eyes again. There was no snow. Instead, he was looking at the stronghold of Winterfell. He was flying... like he was in the body of a bird.

He flew to the south and saw Moat Cailin, the Riverlands, Dragonstone, Storm's End, Casterly Rock, the Pyke, the Reach, Dorne and King's Landing. Suddenly, he heard a bestial roar so dreadful that it rattled his very bones. The next thing he knew, the world was on fire. Everyone he knew and everything he loved was burned to ashes.

He looked up and saw three ginormus beasts with wings of a bat and the body of a lizard.

'Dragons.'

The dragons opened their mouths and breathed out flames so hot. He felt his skin bubble and peel off him. The pain was so dreadful that Robb woke up with a gasp. His sheets and his clothes were drenched with sweat. His breathing was shallow and eyes wide with terror.

'What.. What kind of sick dream was that?!'

(TTOTUGS)

A/N: This is my 3rd GOT fanfic, 'Naruto and The Game of Thrones' and 'A Crazy Journey Through Fiction' being the other two. If you like this, do give the other two a try as well.