CHAPTER 6

Jon Pov,

The hunt left at dawn. Prince Joffrey rode with his father, so Robb had been allowed to join the hunters as well. Benjen Stark, Jory, Theon Greyjoy, Ser Rodrik, and even Tyrion had all ridden out with them. It was the last hunt, after all. On the morrow they left for the south.

Winterfell felt quiet once again. He still couldn't get used to this place, the entertainment was lacking heavily. The boredom he felt was to the extent that he started exercising an hour in the morning and evening just to pass time and feel tired for sleep. He even learnt how to ride a horse, which was not comfortable at all.

He also decided it was time to give Arya her sword and prepare for the wall.

Arya was in her room, playing with Nymeria her wolf pet, she would only have to point, and the wolf would bound across the room, snatch up some wisp of silk in her jaws, and fetch it back. But when she smelled Ghost, she sat down on her haunches and yelped at them.

'What are you doing now?'

"Nothing. I was teaching Nymeria some tricks, wanna see? "she gestured to a wooden Frisbee in the room.

'Maybe later, now I want show you something interesting',

She looked at me with her with her dark golden eyes expectantly,'

'It's just as well. I have something for you to take with you, and it has to be packed very carefully."

Her face lit up. "A present?"

'You could call it that. Close the door.'

Wary but excited, Arya checked the hall. "Nymeria, here. Guard." She left the wolf out there to warn of intruders and closed the door. By then he had pulled off the rags he'd wrapped it in. He held it out to her.

Arya's eyes went wide. Dark eyes, like his. "A sword," she said in a small, hushed breath.

The scabbard was soft grey leather, supple as sin. Jon drew out the blade slowly, so she could see the deep blue sheen of the steel.

'This is no toy,' he told her. 'Be careful you don't cut yourself. The edges are sharp enough to give a cut on touch.'

She looked at him. "It's so skinny."

'So are you,' I reminded her. 'I had Mikken make this special. If you are fast enough you could poke a man till he is full of holes'

"I can be fast," Arya said.

'You'll have to work hard every day then.' He put the sword in her hands, and stepped back. 'How does it feel? Do you like the balance?'

"I think so," Arya said.

'First lesson, stick them with the pointy end.'

Arya gave him a whap on the arm with the flat of her blade. The blow stung, but Jon found himself grinning like an idiot.

"I know which end to use," Arya said. A doubtful look crossed her face.

"Septa Mordane will take it away from me."

'Not if she doesn't know you have it,' Jon said.

"Who will I practice with?"

'You'll find someone, King's Landing is a true city, a thousand times the size of Winterfell.'

While messing up her hair. 'I will be going with our uncle, once he is back from the hunt, l will miss you sister.'

Suddenly she looked like she was going to cry. "I wish you were coming with us."

'We will meet again in our path ahead, who knows?'

Arya ran to him for a last hug. 'Oye, put down the sword first,' Jon warned her, laughing. She set it aside almost shyly and showered him with kisses.

When he turned back at the door, she was holding it again, trying it for balance. 'I almost forgot,' he

told her. 'Any idea what you are naming your sword?'

"Like Ice," she said. She looked at the blade in her hand. "Can I give the name? Oh, please."

'Well, my naming sense sucks so it's your shot' Jon teased.

Arya seemed puzzled at first. Then it came to her. She was that quick. "Needle!"

'My idea was to name it Shiny Poker, isn't it good?'

Arya with a serious face," No, never!".

After parting with Arya, Jon went on his way.

Somewhere off in the distance, a wolf was howling. Crows circled the broken tower, waiting for corn. The sound hung over the castle like a flag of mourning.

As Jon followed the howling sound which led to the broken tower, there was already a crowd. After some enquiring about the happenings, it seems that Bran had fallen from the tower on which he usually climbs.

There was a tugging in my mind about the transpired event and then the dots connected. Bran must have watched the queen and his brother in action and was further pushed off the wall by Jamie.

Well, it's a canon event for the plot, I could do nothing about it and I don't care whether he lives or not. I also decided against visiting him since Catelyn was with Bran all the time.

Finally, the hunting party also returned and it was decided we will be leaving in the morrow.

Ren failed to hunt even the small game which was factored to the fall of Bran and the hunting party was cut short to be returned.

I then gave instruction to Ren to pack his bag and convince his father which he was doing from the first day, since he became my minion. It was rather difficult for him both with the choice he gave his father to either become a knight or take the black, his father had reluctantly agreed.

Outside, everything was noisy and confusing. Wagons were being loaded, men were shouting, horses were being harnessed and saddled and led from the stables. A light snow had begun to fall, and everyone was in an uproar to be off.

Robb was in the middle of it, shouting commands with the best of them. Grey Wind was at his side.

"Uncle Benjen is looking for you," he told Jon. "He wanted to be gone an hour ago."

'Is that so," Jon said. He looked around at all the noise and confusion.

Robb had snow in his hair, melting from the heat of his body. "Did you see him?"

'Your mother seems to be guarding the place heavily'

Robb knew something was wrong. "My mother …"

'It's okay, I will definitely meet him again, once he is back to health.'

Robb looked relieved. "Good." He smiled. "The next time I see you, you'll be all in black."

Jon forced himself to smile and, 'Then you will be the lord of Winterfell once I see you again"

"Soon enough," Robb promised. He pulled Jon to him and embraced him fiercely. "Farewell, Snow."

Jon hugged him back. 'And you too Stark.'

"I will." They broke apart and looked at each other awkwardly.

"Uncle Benjen said to send you to the stables if I saw you," Robb finally said.

Benjen was standing near the stables with a horse talking with some other men along.

"Took your sweet time Jon"?

'Aye, said some goodbyes along'. Jon said, scratching the back of his head.

Leashing the horse to me which was struggling to come front due to my wolfy companion, "Your ride to the wall take care of it".

'Aye', I said looking at the horse who looked as if he was reclined to his fate.

Ren was there waiting for me with a white horse given by his father to him as a last gift.

Looking at Ren 'Our Journey to the wall begins then, let's go'.

I once again looked back at Winterfell and moved forward.

I sighed internally at the thought of shitting in open places along the road, ah how my life sucks and how many times I wish for a magic to not shit.

Should I try R'hllor and become a priest...,