Chapter 59

Jon rode to meet with his father. He reached them by mid-afternoon. The Stark heir was confused by the size of the host. Father had left Castle Black with more men than he ever expected. He was surprised by Bran's presence as well. He should have been with mother. Jon hated that they needed the Boltons. He had seen the way Roose Bolton looked at father. The Dreadfort Lord was all compliance and smiles but there was bitterness there. Jon disliked Ramsay Bolton as well. There had been rumors of what he had done to the Ironborn heir. Father distrusted them too. Jon reached father and Bran.

"Tormund had agreed to speak with the new arriving tribes." Ned nodded.

"Father and I are going to speak with the Boltons. Father said you and him are going ranging once we have all of our bannermen's support." Bran said in greeting.

"I thought we were going to meet uncle Benjen by the Fist. He is there waiting for us; Tormund in speaking with the chiefs of the northern clans as we speak." Jon reported.

Father nodded, "Your brother has had a dream." His lord father regarded Bran's dreams as predictions. Jon respected father's wishes but was more sceptic.

"What did you dream about Bran?" Jon asked carefully.

"Lord Bolton hugging father and then father dropping to the ground. Mother and Rickon were by his side crying. You were not there; neither were Robb or Tommen. All of you were beyond the wall with his bastard. The white walkers got all of you. The bastard saw you and he smiled." Bran said nervously.

"Is this why you traveled with all these men?" Jon asked once more.

He shook his head, "Your mother insisted I did. Bran just had the dream."

"What is our plan?" Jon was confused why were they still going to join the Bolton forces if Bran was so sure their vassal lord would betray them.

"We are going to meet with the Boltons and pre-empt an attack. I will speak with Roose myself and then we will set forth North. I will range with him and my men. We will end this possible mutiny before it starts." Father said clearly. They travelled and reached the castle by night. Roose Bolton and his men were nothing but welcoming.

They had supper and father spoke in clear terms. "How long have we known each other Roose?"

"At least five and twenty years." Roose calculated.

"In all those years have I treated you unfairly? Have I offended you? Have I interfered with your lands?" Father's voice acquired an authoritative voice.

"Not once Eddard." Lord Bolton looked confused as did the Greatjon and the Karstarks.

"I do not take treason lightly. I will speak plainly. There have been rumors about your loyalty Roose."

"Lies, all lies Eddard. I would never go against your word. We have fought together, as our fathers, and ancestors have." Bolton replied. "But what you have done with those wildlings is unacceptable."

Jon saw the swords drawn immediately. He was surprised when the Karstarks and drew their swords as well. Summer and Ghost were in front of Bran in two seconds.

"So this is the way it goes." Father said and drew his sword too. Jon pointed his sword at Rickard Karstark.

"They slaughtered my son and you have the gall to ask me to give them my lands." Rickard yelled and came at father. The watchmen rallied behind father and him. Soon they were fighting father fought off Bolton and Rikcard while Jon fought off Harrion Karstark.

Jon saw to his left and found Summer and Ghost biting off men's arms and legs. Summer bit Ramsay Snow's neck off. They all wanted to get to Bran who seemed in a trance. "Get Bran." Father yelled but Jon was too busy fighting off the Karstark. It did not look good for their side. Soon it was all a haze of red and fire. Jon managed to put a sword through Harrion Karstark. Rickard Karstark looked at him and lunged. Father fought off Bolton. Jon wished Smalljon were there to fight off the Boltons and the Karstarks. It was only five minutes later when he saw heard Summer whimper and saw Bran frothing at the mouth. He was distracted five seconds and then saw black.

Jon dreamed of a woman. He had been dreaming of her for the past year. She had beautiful and shocking eyes. Her hair was blonde, blonder and more beautiful than mother's ever was. There was fire around her, she was fire and he wanted her. She called to him. The woman did not know his name but it was him. She approached him; the woman was pure fire, naked, warm delicious fire. Ned shivered and tried to reach her. His woman had three dragons surrounding her.

The Stark heir woke up with a scream and shivering from the cold. He opened his eyes and looked at his father's concerned eyes. "You were out for days." Father said.

"Where are we?" Jon asked. He looked around and realized he was back in Castle Black.

"We rode back to Castle Black. Father killed Roose Bolton. His men are imprisoned in Oakenshield." Bran was by his side.

"Who did we lose?" Jon asked again; his head hurt horribly.

"All the Karstarks. Greatjon lost an arm. He is recovering. We lost most of the crows but for Tollett." Father explained.

"We ride two days from today. We are going to Hardhome." Father left them then.

"Where is mother?" Jon asked, surprised that she was not there.

Bran looked serious all of the sudden. "Father and her had a big fight."

"What happened?" Jon was confused but more alert. The pounding in his head receded as he focused on his little brother.

"I saw Hardhome. The wildlings need to get out of there. I need to go North. I need to go North and face my destiny." Bran said seriously. The boy sat by him.

"I became Summer. I killed Ramsay Snow. It was me. Summer and I are one. I have to meet the Three Eyed Raven from my dreams." Bran said with determined eyes. His young brother looked older than his years.

"Bran, what happened after the fight?" Jon was growing exasperated.

"Father and all the men left rounded Bolton's and Karstarks men. Ghost and I killed a lot of the men. I could taste their blood. I went back to my body. Father said I fell asleep again and that's when the Three Eyed Raven spoke to me. He told me of Hardhome. He told me of Meera and Jojen Reed. I have to go with them. It has to be the three of us. We all have roles in this war."

Jon sat up, "The war is over Bran."

Bran looked at him, "I know you have dreams too. We all do. Robb, Tommen, Joanna and Arya have dreams too but they don't remember them. Father had dreams when he was younger too. You and he know that I am not insane."

Jon sighed, "Father will not let you go."

"Father and mother fought. I kissed mother goodbye. She will understand. It is the only way. I have to meet him. I will never walk like I used to but I will fly." Bran continued.

"We ride North of the Wall tonight. It has to be at night." Bran said.

Jon stood up. "We are going to see father right now." Jon's headache returned full force.

Bran grabbed his walking stick. They made their way to father's makeshift solar.

"Where is mother?" Jon asked as soon as he entered the place.

Maester Aemon and father looked at him. Well, father looked at him, he was not sure the old maester could see anymore.

"Your mother and Rickon are in Queensgate until the morrow. She will journey to Winterfell soon enough." Father looked tired.

"Very well. I shall take Bran to her." Jon turned away.

"You will do no such thing. Your brother and the Reeds are to go North tonight." Father looked so self-assured.

Jon shook his head, "Bran is a child. He's a cripple." It pained him to say the words but it was nonetheless true. Bran could not make the journey and those two rail thin children would be no help for him. They could not travel alone.

"Your brother has a destiny to fulfill. It is written, it was forecasted generations before he was born." Aemon said in whispers.

"I will go with them. I can guard them protect him. "Your path is not with your brother Jon Stark. You have to go with your brothers and father." The old man exasperated him.

Jon did not address the maester. He came close to father, "This is madness. Mother would never allow this."

Father frowned, "your mother will understand. Bran's role in this war is bigger than her motherly concerns. Bran is stronger than any of us."

Jon's patience ran out, "I will leave with Bran this instant. I will give him back to mother at once." He made to leave the solar. Bran was no longer in the room.

"In another lifetime you would have no one to call mother. In another lifetime you would have been Snow. Lord Commander Snow." The old man said feebly. Jon stopped, "Jon Stark you and your mother can do nothing to stop what is to come.

Jon left to retrieve Bran from his quarters. "Bran." He yelled as he went into his brother's quarters. He ran to the yard. Jon mounted a horse and ran off. They could not have gone far. The Stark heir rode North. He had to find his brother. Father was insane; the man had seen the white walkers. He had seen the dead rising and wanted to send Bran North. Jon felt the cold air bite into his cheeks.

He rode straight ahead, until his horse was tired. He rode a day and a half until he found the remains of Craster's Keep. Uncle Benjen mentioned the horrors and what Sam, the pseudo maester apprentice did and what happened after the ranging. He stayed in the keep for a few hours. Jon was disheartened. He knew he had to go back. Bran was lost to him.

Jon mounted his horse late at night. He did not care for his life anymore. He had not cared about his life since the war in the South ended. He rode nonstop. Jon did not go to Castle Black. He rode for Queensgate. The horse gave out near the Wall. Jon reached the gate and waited until a crow let him through.

"Lord Stark." The man said and offered him ale. Jon refused and grabbed a horse.

"What direction to Queensgate?"

"East my Lord, a day and a half riding." The man explained.

Jon rode as hard as he could. He was tired, sad, and angry. The man reached Queensgate and was surprised when it was Robb who greeted them.

"Father just arrived. We were expecting you sooner." Jon hugged him and then made his way inside the castle.

Tommen played with Rickon and father looked outside a window. "Jon." Tommen said happily.

Jon hugged him and then Rickon. He looked at father. "He's gone. I could not reach him."

"I want to see mother." Jon could not look at him any longer. This was all his fault. It was because of father that a war broke out. He almost lost his sisters, Tommen. He almost lost mother. Now, here they were. He lost Ygritte and he lost Bran.

"She's in the last quarters in the second landing." Tommen offered. Jon ran to those rooms. He opened the doors and found her in the same position he found father. She looked outside the window. Mother offered him a smile and Lord Stark broke down. He cried and rushed to hug her.

"He's gone. I went after him." Jon sobbed.

Mother hushed him and kissed his forehead. "Your father explained."

Jon cried and held her. "He might as well be dead mother."

Cersei shook his head and rubbed his back, "Bran said I would understand some day. That it was not Ned's wish to part me from him."

Jon looked at her with disbelief in his eyes. "He gave him horses. The Reeds and Bran rode North with father's blessing. Lord Stark should have never let Bran go anywhere. He will not last. He is gone."

Cersei pulled apart. "I was waiting for you. Your father said you would go after Bran."

"Mother, I don't understand. He knows, he's seen them. Bran will die. He's gone. Bran is gone." Jon repeated and mother held him as he cried.

Mother shushed him, "Those siblings you brought. The boy, he grabbed my hand and showed me the white walkers. He showed me what would happen if Bran did not go North."

She grabbed his hands, "He said I would never believe not unless I saw it with my own eyes. I did, your father and I fought. I wanted to take him away. I wanted to take all of you away."

Jon realized his mother had red eyes. She probably cried for days. "I am so sorry mother." He kissed her cheek.

"He swore to me I would see him again. That he would watch over me and all of us." She wiped some wayward tears.

"Do you want some supper? You must be starving." She said and led him to the bed.

"No. I just want to sleep." Jon undressed until he wore plain clothes.

"I'll leave you to it." Mother tried to leave.

"Mother, stay. I want to ask you something." Jon said with half closed eyes. She rested next to him.

"What is it sweetling?" She asked while smoothing his hair.

"Do you remember when Bran was born?" He asked.

She cried a little, "of course I do. Your father put you in charge of all the little ones and was with me during my time."

Jon nodded, "Joanna asked me if you were going to die. We could hear you yelling. Arya tried not to cry and Robb distracted Tommen. Then we met Bran. He was so small, smaller than any of the other babies."

Mother smiled, "He was. Your father was so proud. He said his name would be Brandon because he would be stronger than any of you would ever be. He needed to have a builder's name and Brandon was only appropriate."

Jon became angry at father once more, "Father made a mistake." She looked at him and shook her head, "your father did what was best in this situation. Your brother would have escaped with the Reeds. At least now they have provisions for the nights and maps to guide them. Sweetling, never once think that your father gave conceded to Bran's plan without much thought and pain. You do not know how hard it is to lose a child. Your father and I lost three before we had you and every time the light in your father's eyes dimmed a bit. You and him are so much alike it scares me. He thinks Bran is lost to us but he is not. Bran is not dead. He's alive and he will be well."

Jon caressed her face, "Then why have you cried for three days?"

Cersei smiled sadly, "I miss him terribly."

Jon closed his eyes lulled by his mother's voice. He slept for what seemed to be a few days. The man woke up to Rickon's laughter. Jon opened his eyes and found Rickon playing with Ghost and Lan.

"Where's mama?" Jon asked and sat up.

Rickon looked up. "Dada and mama in his room."

Jon kissed his brother's forehead. He picked the little boy who squirmed and tried to get down. "not now Rickon. We have to find Tommen and Robb. You have to stay with them."

"I don't want to." Rickon frowned and reached for Lan who yapped and played with Ghost on top of the stairs.

Jon held onto his brother. Tommen was by the fire writing a letter. "Where is Robb?"

"Good morning to you to. He is at Castle Black. We ride tonight and leave for Hardhome in the morrow." Tommnen explained.

"Take care of Rickon." He ran up the steps before Tommen could argue with him. His younger brother needed the practice. Jon knew he was to be a father soon or maybe he already had his child. Did he have a niece or a nephew? He would ask Tommen later.

Jon could hear her cries and pleading before he reached the wooden door. "Ned, please." Mother cried.

"I cannot. Your place is in Winterfell." Father stated.

"Please, not again. You go off with our sons and I have to stay put. At least let me stay in Castle Black." Mother begged.

"No, you will go back to Winterfell. You will be well protected there." Father insisted.

"I will not go back. Rickon and I will stay in Castle Black as we have done for the past year. You will not get rid of me so easily." She sounded hurt.

Father's voice was pained, "Get rid of you. Cersei, have you gone mad? I need you safe. I could not bear it if I lost you. Not after losing Bran. You must believe me. He swore that he would escape in the dead of the night." Jon had never heard his father's voice so broken.

"I believe you Ned. That boy, the greenseer. I saw our Bran. My love, please I have to stay near you. I could not bear it, not knowing how you are. Please. Do not keep me away from you." By this point mother was crying.

Jon heard sobs. He had never or heard father cry. It was painful to hear such sounds, "I am so sorry Cersei. I let him go. He could be dead for all we know." Father's voice was gruff, broken.

Jon peeked through the ajar door and the image he saw was too intimate. Mother held father to her. "He is not dead. He will not be fore many years. Our boy is safe." She said trying to convince herself. I love you Ned, and I forgive you. Let me stay, let me be near you. The last time we were apart we almost lost all our children." Mother kissed father's mouth. Father held her and hugged her. "You will stay close to the men of the Watch." Mother nodded and kissed him more and more.

Jon had intruded enough. He left and joined Tommen and Rickon who were playing with some toys uncle Tyrion sent Rickon for his last nameday. "Did you find them?" his young brother asked.

Jon nodded. He sat by him and watched as Tommen tried to write with his good hand. Tommen noticed his stare. "It's not as bad as when I first started. Did you know Cassana writes with her left hand. She taught me." Tommen said smiling.

"Mother mentioned your wife was with child." Tommen chuckled.

"You are late with news brother. I have a daughter. We've named her Myrcella." His brother looked blissfully happy. He wondered if Robb was this happy to be a father.

"She looks just like Cassana. I think she will have her hair. She has our eyes. Stark eyes." Tommen spoke of his family with so much love. Jon wondered when had his little brother fallen in love with this girl.

Rickon grabbed his leg. "Play Jon."

Jon pulled him up. "We have to wait for mother. You have to be fed and cleaned." Jon looked at Rickon sharply.

Rickon frowned, "I'm playing with Lan, Ghost and Shaggy Dog." The boy threw him a daring look and ran away from the hearth. He chased Lan, Ghost and Shaggy Dog by his heels.

"He's got more energy than Bran and Arya together." Tommen remarked.

Jon felt a stab of pain when she heard their names. Arya and Bran both lost to him. "I looked for him in the North."

"We know, father said you would." Tommen said calmly.

Jon was angry then, "You agree with this. Bran is a boy. He's barely old enough to leave mother's side. He never trained properly, not like we did. He should have stayed in Winterfell."

Tommen shook his head, "Bran is not a kid. He stopped being one when he fell from that tower. He had to go North."

Jon stood up. "Where are you going?" Tommen asked.

"Castle Black. I cannot stay here any longer." Tommen stood up too.

"For once. Stop thinking about yourself only. Think of mother and father. Father is devastated. Do you think it was easy for him to let Bran go?" Jon did not want to hear reason. He wanted to hate father. He did not want to consider his father's pain.

Tommen did not stop. "Mother and him stayed in their quarters for hours. Robb and I took care of Rickon until you came back. We saw father crying. Jon, think of them." His brother continued.

"I'll stay for her." Jon replied.

Mother and father stayed in his quarters for most of the morning and part of the afternoon. Mother looked somber when she greeted them. Father looked at him and nodded. "Tommen and you will travel to Castle Black this afternoon. Ready the horses and the direwolves. Your mother and I will travel with Rickon tomorrow.

"You are exposing her and Rickon again. Are you going to send them North too." Jon spat.

Father glared at him. "Ready the horses and leave."

Jon ignored his father. "Mother."

Cersei kissed his cheek, "do as your father says."

Tommen ran after him. "You have to give him time Ned." Jon heard as he walked out.

His brother stayed blissfully quiet until they reached Castle Black. "I will look for Robb."

They did not have to look for him much longer. Robb was in the courtyard training some crows.

Tommen joined him. Jon waved at his brother and then left for one of the quarters. He should have known Robb would go looking for him. "I heard you went after him."

Jon turned and saw his brother. Robb was his best friend. He hugged him. "I did. I have a half a mind to go to Queensgate and escort mother back to Winterfell."

"Father said she would bring her here with us." Robb, like Tommen seemed to agree and follow father without question. Jon shook his head.

"Do you think that is wise?" Jon asked a little forcefully.

Robb shook his head, "No, but I know what it is like to stay back. Father turned me back with Bran's broken body. I saw mother. You stayed with mother for a few months before you rode to battle. She is not made for waiting in castles. Mother needs to be here with us. If father did not deter her, what makes you think you will have any effect. She will not stay in Winterfell."

"What can she do? She will stay if we keep her there. I will leave my best men to guard her." Jon said angrily.

"She would never forgive you." Robb said and looked at him. "Do you think it was easy for father to let him go? It was not. I was there when he came to mother. He cried and she held him. She forgave him Jon. You do not have to like it. You do not have to understand them. We are going to face wildlings in the morrow and I need you to with us completely. I want to come back to my son. I need to come back to Eddard." Jon was confused for two seconds and then remembered his young nephew.

Jon laughed, "you have a son." He needed to stop thinking about father and his wrong choices.

"I do." Robb laughed back. "I always thought it would be you. My plan was to be like uncle Tyrion and worship the god of tits and wine.

Jon laughed even more. Only Robb could make him laugh like this, "uncle Tyrion is married now. He is married to sweet and proper lady Sansa of House Arryn."

"I daresay he is even happy." Robb relayed.

Jon shook his head. "I do not believe it. He was as pained to be married as I was. He did not even bed her."

Robb poured him some ale. "He likes her now. He must have recently taken a liking to her. Uncle Tyrion spent a year visiting one of our handmaidens. Margaery loved to point it out whenever in my company." Jon noticed the derisive tone in his voice.

"Are you still in love with Talisa?" Jon directly asked. He knew about his puppy love for the nurse that was in love with Tommen.

"Have you stopped loving your wildling?" Robb drank some of his ale.

Jon smiled sadly, "My Ygritte is dead. You have a lovely wife."

Robb smiled back, "My lovely wife is a harpy. Mother taught us too well. She tries to be pleasing but she does not care for me. She cares for Eddard but I guess she must since it is her child. She pretends to be in love with me when in reality all she cares for are my tittles and lands. There is no doubt in my mind that she would be content had she been shipped off to the Westerlands. She would be happier as Stannis wife or in your bed Lord Stark."

Jon laughed, "You frequent other lovers then. Do you have any bastards yet?"

"I do not have time to frequent other beds. I go to sleep with my wife. I said she was a viper that does not mean I do not enjoy her favors. I do not care for her and I will love Talisa until the day I die or until I find her once more. I am not simple in the head. Margaery Tyrell was not a shy virgin when we wed and for that I am glad. That girl is all I could ask when it comes to the fucking department."

"You are a pig." Jon said. He had missed Robb and his witty remarks.

"I may be but I am a pig with lands, tittles, a fuckable wife and a beautiful child." Robb waggled his eyebrows comically.

Jon could not help but laugh uproariously. They laughed together until Jon's eyes watered with mirth.

"Little Eddard looks just like us. Mayhaps he inherited Margaery's hair color but otherwise he looks just like Rickon and us." Robb said happily.

"I wish you could see him. His nameday will be soon. He is a rather smart lad if I say so myself." Robb's eyes lit with happiness when he spoke of his firstborn; just like when Tommen spoke of Cassana and Myrcella.

"Perhaps we will go to Winterfell once we come back from Hardhome." Jon offered.

Robb nodded. "I will take you to meet your nephew and the heir of the Eyrie."

"I shall meet the newest male Stark then. Did you know that Tommen's wife birthed a girl?" Jon asked.

"Myrcella, I believe is her name. I envy him sometimes. Not only for having Talisa's love but for being in love with his wife. He is utterly happy." Robb said plainly.

"The golden twins are happy. Joanna is with child. The crown may have an heir soon enough." Jon added insult to injury. Tommen and Joanna were always well behaved and easy going children.

Robb laughed, "I am happy for him. He was always the best out of us. The bravest. I should have done what he did. I should have fought for Talisa. I should have made her fall in love with me."

Jon thought of Ygritte. He thought of her everyday, at first he thought of her with regret. He could have forced her to stay back with Arya and then he would remember that Ygritte was free. She did as she pleased.

"You would not have given up your tittles. Your lands." Jon said firmly.

"If Ygritte were alive would you give up your tittle. Would you stop being Lord Stark?" Robb asked with a smirk.

Did he ever think of giving up Winterfell? Jon thought about it from time to time. He thought of joining the Watch after knowing he was not Cersei's Stark son but he was pained. These were his lands. "Never."