Oaths of Honor

Jon.

The wolf pups were amazing, so small, so tiny and yet fully alert and active, he watched as they suckled from their exhausted mother. Farlen had taken a quick look at the mother and said she seemed to be doing fine, she just needed rest and would need even more food and water, all of which Jon would ensure she got. The five wolves, three male and two female, were all grey with varying shades of yellow eyes, except for one which was dark black with green eyes.

Ghost stood by ready to nudge any errant pup towards it's mother's teat and as Jon watched the mother drift off to sleep he was joined by Loras who had clearly been woken by the howls. They stood quietly for a few moments until Jon head footsteps and turned to see Walder approaching.

"Walder, how is she?"

"She's passed Jon." Walder replied tearfully.

"I'm so sorry." Jon said and found himself enveloped in what could have easily been a bone crushing hug should the man ever choose to do so.

"I'm sorry." Loras said as he too got hugged.

"It's, she was happy Jon, at the end, she was happy." Walder said before looking at the pups "The wolves have returned, she always said they would." he said with a nod.

"We should go find Maester Luwin, have him inform people and take care of things."

Walder nodded and after making sure Ghost also had enough food they locked the door and walked off towards the Maester's tower. Luwin was thankfully still awake though he looked disturbed for some reason. But once they informed him, he told them to try and get some rest and he would take care of things. Jon asked Walder if he wished them to stay with him for the night, but he said he was going to pray and despite offering to join him it was clear he wished to be alone.

After bidding Loras goodnight Jon walked to his room and unlocked it before locking it behind him, he undressed and took both eggs from their hiding place. The one Nan had led him to was different, the feelings he got from it were much harder to explain, where with his own egg he felt a sense of home and family. With the other it felt foreign to him, he felt the life beneath his fingers, but he felt no connection, there was no call and he wondered if he'd have to go through the same circumstances with it.

He lay down in the bed, both eggs wrapped up tight and hoped he'd dream of Rhaenys tonight, he needed to speak to her, to talk to her, unfortunately it was not to be and he slept a dreamless sleep. Waking up the next morning he washed, placed the eggs back and left the room, he seemed to be the first awake and so he headed to make sure the wolves were all right knowing that Jaime would rise soon. Crossing the yard he saw his uncle come out from the crypts and thought about calling him but he seemed distracted somewhat, so he continued on his way.

"Thought I'd find you here." he heard Jaime's voice some time later, how long it had been he had no idea.

"I just wanted to check, make sure they're all right."

"Your Maester came to see me last night." Jaime said.

"Luwin, why?"

"He told me about the old woman's passing, Nan was it?"

"Aye."

"How are you feeling,?"

"I'm all right my lord, come lets spar." Jon said and Jaime nodded.

The spar was longer than normal, it must have been well over an hour when Jaime hit the fifth point, Jon hadn't managed any this morning, but he had parried more and he felt he'd made Jaime work a little harder. Something that seemed more than likely given Jaime's swallowing of their water supply, Jon couldn't resist a chuckle as he watched Jaime shake his head when he realized there was none left.

"Thirsty my lord?" he japed.

"Aye, how are you not?"

"Unlike you I drank when I woke my lord," Jon said and Jaime smirked.

"You know far too much about me."

"Really, I think you know far too much about me." Jon said and both of them laughed.

"Come Jon lets break our fast."

By the time they entered the Great Hall most people were up, Lady Stark sat at the table with Lord Wyman, Lord Galbart and his brother and brother's wife, while at the other table Jon's cousins sat with Loras and the Manderly girls, Robb was sitting beside Bran and Jon didn't know what to make of him, his brother had been punished and had come to join them at the feast, but they'd yet to speak to each other.

Theon, he didn't have to turn around to know was at another table glowering at him, as he had been ever since he had been punished. Walking to the table Jon sat down beside Loras and a moment later they were joined by Jojen and Meera.

"What was that noise last night, are the wolves all right?" Arya said even before he had a chance to take a bite of his food, he looked to his cousin who was sitting there with egg dripping on her hand and he chuckled.

"Aye, they're fine little wolf, though you're not the only little wolf anymore." Jon said.

"What?"

"Ghost has brothers and sisters now." Jon said and had to reach out to restrain her as she tried to jump up from the table.

"I want to see them, can I have one, you're giving me one aren't you, I mean you gave me my bow, you have to give me a wolf now too." Arya said and the whole table broke into laughter.

"Arya, that's not how it works, but something else happened last night." Jon said sadly.

"What is everything all right Jon?" Sansa asked,

"I… I don't know if I should tell you this, I thought Lord Stark would be here?"

"Father didn't come down to break his fast for some reason, perhaps he's busy." Robb said and both he and Loras looked at him a little shocked he was speaking to them.

"Aye perhaps, I, ehmm I don't know how to tell you. But last night Old Nan, she passed." Jon said and immediately jumped up when he saw Sansa get upset.

"Sweetling what's wrong?" Lady Stark said before Jon could reach her.

"It's Nan mother, she passed last night." Sansa said and Jon took a seat beside her and put his arm around her as she began to cry.

Lady Stark got up from her seat and walked to the table and as she got there Jon whispered in Sansa's ear that he'd talk to her later and moved so her mother could comfort her. Word quickly spread around the hall and then beyond and while they finished breaking their fasts a lot of people's hearts didn't seem to be in it. Jon left the hall and with Loras, Meera, Jojen, Arya and the Manderlys, headed back to check on the wolves, as they were leaving Robb followed and looked to Jon who nodded.

Once they reached the tower Jon told them not to try and go inside, the wolves would be very protective of the young and while he knew Ghost wouldn't and so far the mother hadn't snapped at anyone, he couldn't be sure they'd be safe. He opened the door and Ghost looked at him before rushing out and racing off, his wolf obviously had his own plans, no sooner had he gone than one of the female pups tried to leave.

"Oh this one, I'll take this one." Arya said moving towards it.

"Arya, wait." Jon said jumping in front of her "She needs her mother Arya, she's too young." he said to a pouting girl.

"But when she's older, I can have her then right?"

"I don't know Arya, It's up to her mother." he said and almost fell over when Arya stepped around him to talk to the mother wolf.

"Please can I have her, I'll be ever so good and I'll look after her I swear it on the old gods and the blue."

"I think that's supposed to be new." Loras said with a laugh which he stopped as soon as she glared at him.

Jon just looked on as the wolf mother looked to him and then Arya before he swore she nodded, he wasn't the only one who thought so given the large smile that suddenly appeared on Arya's face.

"See, all you have to do is ask." Arya said giggling.

Jon knelt down and checked on the mother, looking in her eyes he tried once again to open the door, this time she allowed him in some, though it was clear it was only to be briefly. Around him Loras distracted the Manderly's when he saw what Jon was doing and Jojen and Meera spoke to Robb and Arya. The wolf thanked him for looking after her and her young, she was tired but she had plenty of food and water and she was comfortable.

As he stepped back up they were joined by Sansa who almost cooed at the wolf pups, Jon looked to the mother who gave him permission and he picked up the other female pup. Holding it carefully in his hands he allowed Sansa and then the others to touch her, before he placed it back close to it's mother. Closing over the door and looking to the two Stark guards who were nearby he nodded and they began walking back to the keep, he saw Ser Wylis and Lord Wyman talking to the Glover lords, all of them watching them as they walked by.

Meera.

Seeing Jon with the wolves was something she'd never have believed had she not been there, how the mother wolf allowed him to hold her pup, how she seemed to trust him so completely was something unknown to her. Wargs she had heard of, there were some in The Neck but what Jon did was different, Jojen had explained how he'd taken control of several ravens at once, how he'd warged into a raven as far away as Dragonstone. While she knew her brother was being truthful, a part of her didn't believe it, until now.

Jojen himself had been changed by just being around Jon, for that alone he'd have her support, but he had trusted them enough to tell them the truth and ever since she had watched him carefully. Her father, her brother and now she, all would be there for him in anyway they could going forward. For now though she had another agenda, something she had wanted ever since she had beat his friend in White Harbor, she wished for a spar.

"So Jon will you be sparring with me today then?" she asked and Arya looked on excitedly.

"Hmm, let me see, Loras can you quickly think up an excuse so I can run away from Meera's spear." Jon said and Loras chuckled.

"No, I'm afraid not besides, I'm sure all these ladies would love to see you knocked on your arse, wouldn't you ladies?"

"Really, and I thought you were my friend." Jon said feigning being hurt.

As they entered the sparring yard she felt her heart race, she looked around and quickly got her spear, watching on as Jon looked at the tourney swords before shaking his head.

"Give me a moment." he said racing off towards his rooms.

"Is Jon really running away?" Arya said to laughs.

"I think he's gone for his sword." Loras said.

"His sword?" Robb asked.

"Aye, his tourney sword, he has one he prefers."

They waited for a few more moments until Jon came running back, a small thin sword in his hand, Arya ran to him to look at it and as he handed it to her she could hear them laugh as they walked towards her.

"It's so skinny." Arya said looking intently at the sword.

"So are you little wolf." Jon said mussing her hair before walking back over to take a tourney knife from the rack of blunted weapons.

"My lady shall we." Jon said and Meera grimaced before getting a smirk on her face, he'd pay for that.

"Of course, Ser."

They stood a few feet apart, Jon holding the sword much differently than she'd seen him before, she looked around to see far more people lined up around then than she'd hoped. Feeling her nerves get the better of her she looked to Jon who just smiled reassuringly at her, so she twirled her spear and got ready.

The first thrust just barely missed his head, the second forced him backwards, she swung the spear low trying to take his feet from under him but he surprised her by jumping over it. She backed away as Jon swung his sword swiftly, left and then right, forcing her to parry and back away some more, she thrust her spear once more and he blocked it with his sword. Then he began to move even more quickly, his sword strikes faster and faster, she was barely able to block them and only her extra reach kept him from getting a hit against her.

She swung the spear in a high arc from the right aiming at neck height, Jon ducked and she stopped the swing and lowered the spear coming back low from the left, which he jumped over. He landed a little awkwardly and so she swung again, high, low, and high again, though he avoided the blows, it was clear he was moving less comfortably. She smirked, it was only a matter of time now, she thrust twice quickly, moved her spear to swing and then it was over, she never even saw it coming.

As she swung her spear, he deflected it with his sword, but he followed through pinning the spear to the ground, before spinning, by the time she brought her spear back around, he held the knife to her neck. His sword was positioned to block any swing and he had come so fast and so completely inside her defenses that she had no choice.

"I yield." she said and he nodded.

"Well fought." he said smiling at her and she smiled back, there was no arrogance, no attempt to put her down, he meant it and she could tell she had given him a tough fight.

"That was, can I have a spear, can you teach me?" Arya said and Meera laughed.

She looked around the yard to see almost everyone had stopped what they were doing to watch, Lord Jaime was speaking to Lord Wyman, Ser Wylis and the Glovers. Wynafred and Wylla were asking Jon if he was all right, while Sansa was handing him some water, Lord Robb and Lord Loras were speaking in hushed voices while making some of the fighting actions she and Jon had just done. Jojen walked over to her a proud look on his face, he carried a mug filed with water which she drank quickly.

"You were incredible sister, I don't think anyone's given Jon such a fight."

"He won." she said.

"Aye, but he needed to work for it, you saw what he did to Robb and Theon, look around you sister, they expected Jon to have won, but look how they're looking at you."

She did as he said and took a look around, he was right, people were looking at her a little differently, Loras already respected her and she knew Jon did too, but Lord Robb was looking at her like she was the warrior reborn. Arya was moving around mimicking her spear moves, while though the girls were helping Jon, all of them smiled at her, even Lady Sansa.

They had few more spars that day, Jon though didn't take part, she had been right when he jumped he'd twisted his ankle and had gone off to see the Maester. Lord Robb asked for some pointers which both she and Loras gave him, though she could tell it was his brother he wished them from most. After finishing the spars, they were informed that there would be a service for Old Nan later, the surprising thing was it was to be a pyre and not a burial and would take place in the yard nearest the godswood.

Loras.

They would have their meal after the service for the old woman, he had found Jon talking to the giant who it turned out was her great grandson, though he called her grandmother, which had Loras thinking on his own. He really needed to send her a raven or letter, he'd been remiss and he knew she'd bring it up when next they met, which would not be as distant as it may have been. Lord Jaime had said the wedding in Casterly Rock would be a larger one and he knew his family would attend.

Jon limped some as they headed to the yard, he had only hurt his ankle slightly and not sprained or twisted it, but still it would be a few days before he sparred again, something his brother would not be happy about. After they had watched the spar with Meera and Loras had cursed himself for not thinking of bringing a dagger to his own, Jon's brother had spoken glowingly about him. Loras wasn't sure what to think about Robb, he seemed to be genuinely contrite, though he was being so to the wrong person.

It was Jon who Loras would take his lead from and so as arrived at the Pyre he watched as Jon's family made room for them both and as Walder moved to stand beside Lord Stark. It seemed the old woman was much beloved among those in Winterfell as the yard was full of people, young, old, it made no difference and Loras was not surprised to see some weeping as Lord Stark began to speak.

"I knew Nan all of my life, as most did here, she was there when I was born, when most of my children were born, Walder here her grandson told me her last wishes were to be laid to rest on a pyre and for my son Jon to say some words over her, so I shall leave it to him to best remember her how she would have liked." Lord Stark said to some gasps and hushed whispers.

Loras watched as Jon stepped forward, he looked to see Walder bend down and whisper something in his ear and when he nodded the whispers quietened down.

"Nan used to tell us stories, me, Robb, no doubt Sansa, Arya and Bran too, I'm sure at some point she told everyone of those who grew up in Winterfell those very same stories. Stories of Giants and Wolves, of Bran the Builder and The Children of the Forest, tales which made us laugh, made us cry, scared us and made us feel warm, they were all of them told and we listened eagerly.

She told us tales of the old ways, of how things were and how those who came before us were just like each of us, just the same, people who were trying their best. She would always be there to make sure we were feeling well, to make sure we never forgot that we are only here because of those who came before us.

I used to wonder why she would tell us those tales, why she would go out of her way to make sure we knew of the Long Night or the Last Hero, why we must know of The Night King or The Rat Cook. Had you asked me yesterday I wouldn't have known what to say, wouldn't have been able to answer, but today I know.

She told us because we must remember, we must always remember those who came before us, we must hold them deep in our hearts and never let them go. They must never be just stories that were told long ago and forgotten, they have to be more than that, they have to be remembered, Nan has to be remembered." Jon said.

"Aye." Loras heard being said loudly, "Aye." the noise even louder now.

"So we will forever remember Nan, we will forever remember all those who came before us. The North remembers." Jon said.

"The North Remembers." reverberated loudly around the yard as Walder stepped forward with a flaming torch, as he lit the pyre the wolf's howl was heard loudly through Winterfell.

Jaime.

After the funeral things had gone relatively well, though Stark was behaving oddly, his wife had for some reason decided against trying to stop Jon sitting where he should and Jon had apart from spending time with the wolves, spent a lot of time with the giant Walder. Today Jon had come to speak to him about the man and Jaime was stunned by some of the revelations, he was glad Loras had been present or perhaps he may not have believed it all.

"You're saying that he's Duncan the Tall's great grandson and that the old woman was daughter to a king?"

"Aye, one of the great bastards my lord."

"I don't understand how, why would she be here?"

"She said she was waiting my lord, for me."

"Why?"

"To give me this." Jon said taking out another dragon egg, this one with deep bronze scales."

Jaime looked at the egg and shook his head, reaching out he knew what he'd feel even before his hand touched the thing and he was not disappointed as he felt the life move inside it. What Jon said next though took him even more by surprise, Loras too, though he was still coming to terms with the dragon egg.

"I made her a promise, I'd take Walder with us when we left. Make him a Kingsguard." Jon said,

"Jon, you can't just make someone a Kingsguard without thinking about it, can he even wield a sword, does he even want to?"

"He was born to it, I know how strange it sounds my lord, I understand, but I believe it's what I'm supposed to do."

"What do you mean Jon?" Loras asked.

"It's, the dreams, the visions, coming here now, all of it, it's what I was supposed to do. I can't explain it. Nan said it was my destiny, that some things were out of our control, so I don't know, gods, fate, whatever, but I think she was right."

"Fine, I'll check Walder out, me Jon, not you, if I'm satisfied we can go and get him better trained, he'll need to be knighted too, gods. I can only imagine what Arthur and Barristan will think."

"Thank you my lord." Jon said smiling.

Over the next couple of days, he met with Walder and while the man was clearly untrained, there was something there and for simple brute strength he doubted even the mountain would beat him easily. Today though he cared not a jot about Walder or the Kingsguard, he had woken up to be greeted with the news he'd waited for almost a moon to hear, Dacey and her family would be arriving later that day.

As he broke his fast he actually enjoyed the japes both Jon and Loras made at his expense, he found he cared not so excited was he to finally see her again, though given how people spoke of her mother, he was nervous too. Lady Maege it seemed embodied everything there was about her sigil, a fierce she bear if ever there was one, after seeing Dacey and her sisters, Jaime could only begin to imagine the woman who birthed them.

"It'll be all right my lord, we'll protect you." Jon japed. and Loras shook his head.

"I think he may be on his own Jon, We're not ready to face the she bears yet." Loras said with a smirk.

"My brave squires." Jaime said rolling his eyes to laughter from the girls at the table.

After Jon, Loras and the girls checked the wolves they were informed the banners had been seen and so Jaime his squires, the Starks and everyone else lined up to welcome the arrival. The first through the gates were not the Mormonts though but the Karstarks, he recognized Eddard and Torrhen and a large man who must be their father, but not the small slight girl with them. Following them was the Umbers and he was glad to see the Greatjon had managed to come, his son beside him along with one of his daughters.

He smiled broadly then when he saw the banner bearing the black bear on green, leading the way was a short stout woman and following her a woman who looked almost like a younger version of her, he saw Jory and Lyra and then he saw her. Dacey rode in holding a small girl in front of her and she looked around before their eyes met, the smile she greeted him with made the wait worthwhile and he watched on as everyone dismounted.

The introductions took a long time, Lord Karstark was gruff yet friendly, while the Greatjon greeted him like a long lost friend much to Ned Starks surprise. Jon too was greeted fondly though even Lord Karstark was friendlier with him. Finally the Mormont's greeted Lord and Lady Stark and Jaime noticed how brusquely Maege greeted the lady, though her greeting with Stark himself was far more welcoming.

"My lord I thank you for this honor you've done my house and my daughter." Maege said.

"The honor is mine own Maege, it's good to see you."

"Aye you too, my lord."

Jaime took a breath as she moved towards him, she looked him up and down her face expressionless before she turned to look at her daughters.

"My lady." Jaime said.

"You're far prettier than any of my daughters Lord Jaime, but I welcome you to my family." Maege said to a chuckle from Jon and Loras beside him, he turned and glowered at them before winking.

"I'm honored my lady."

"None of that, call me Maege." the woman said with a twinkle in her eye before moving to stand in front of Jon.

Jaime looked on as Maege looked Jon up and down carefully before nodding.

"I want to thank you young man, for all you've done, both for my family here and at the wall." Maege said.

"It was my honor my lady." Jon said and she smiled broadly at him before moving to greet the Reed children warmly.

After he greeted Maege's other daughter who was called Alysanne and said his hellos to Jory and Lyra, Dacey and the little girl moved to him.

"My lord, it's good to see you well." Dacey said as Jaime took her hand.

"You too my lady." he said as he kissed it.

"My sister Lyanna." Dacey said and Jaime noticed both Ned and Jon's heads turn to look at the little girl.

"Lady Lyanna a pleasure." he said to the girl who looked at him sullenly.

"He talks funny." Lyanna said before moving to Jon "Where's your wolf?"

Dacey laughed and once again Jaime caught his breath, he watched on as Lord and Lady Stark had servants show them to their rooms and found himself torn between following Dacey and propriety. Something his betrothed didn't seem to have the same problem with.

"My lord, could you show me to my room." she said holding her arm out and winking suggestively.

"It would be a pleasure my lady."

He led her after the others and saw her little sister head off with Jon no doubt just like Dacey she didn't take later for an answer. When they reached the keep, her mother and sisters were shown to their rooms and Jaime asked a servant which were hers. Leading her to the room, he helped her bring her things in, while other servants brought in two large chests, once they'd placed them down and left, he found himself in her arms. The kiss was hungry and deep and how long it lasted he couldn't tell, when they eventually broke from it both of them were breathless.

"I missed you." both of them said together before laughing.

"How did you mother take the news?" he asked as he led her to the bed.

"She was furious, demanded we stop this folly at once, refused her permission for us to marry." Dacey said before laughing at his shocked face "Oh that was way too easy." she said and he grabbed her kissing her again.

"It's not nice to mess with your future husband." he said kissing her neck.

"But that's what makes it fun." she said as she yawned before pouting as he got up from the bed.

"Well, you're not the only one who likes to have fun." he said smirking as he walked to the door and opened it stepping out into the corridor."

He ducked the pillow she threw at him and smiled as he walked down towards his own room, there was nothing he wanted more than to stay in the room and ravish her there and then, but he could tell she was tired. They had plenty of time to get reacquainted and it wouldn't do for them to be found together alone in her room just yet, after all the wedding was mere days away.

Sansa.

Having so many important guests staying at Winterfell was exciting, having them stay because they were coming to a wedding was a dream come true for her. She had finished her presents for Jaime and Dacey and had put the finishing touches to the ones for Jon and Loras so as she sat in her sewing room she found herself at a loss for what to do. Having Wynafred with her had been something she had really enjoyed, the older girl liked a lot of the same things as Sansa did and had been impressed with her drawing.

She also knew Jon and Loras and spoke fondly of them both, especially her brother and how well he danced something which Sansa was unaware of. Alys Karstark too was proving to be someone who Sansa enjoyed spending time with also and she wished that both ladies would be staying for longer than the wedding. Wylla was like Arya and far different than her sister, though she too enjoyed embroidery she just didn't seem to take it seriously.

"This is incredible Lady Sansa." Wylla said looking at the picture Jon had drawn of her.

"It is isn't it, Jon did that for me."

"He did when?" Wynafred asked.

"Not long after he arrived, it was he who taught me how to draw."

"Do you think if I asked he'd draw me?" Alys asked.

"I'm sure he would."

"We should ask for pictures of all of us, I'd love to see what I'd look like with different color hair." Wylla said.

Sansa just nodded and since they had nothing else to do the girls left the room to go in search of her brother before they had yet another dinner to go to. While not fully fledged feasts the meals they'd had since the guests arrived had been more and more extravagant, mainly because of the number of guests seated at them. Thankfully after the first one when Lord Wyman had arrived her mother had not tried to sit Jon away from them anymore.

As they made their way to the Broken Tower knowing that was where Jon and the others would be, she smiled at the memory of the one the night Lady Dacey arrived. It had been more loud than usual and she had heard comments that had come from the table where the Umbers sat. Remembering what she had heard it was the reaction of the Smalljon when he heard there were more wolves which was the reason for her current smile.

" What do you mean there are more, how many more?"

" Six, there can't be six."

" Are they white like that one."

" Do they make noises."

" Thank the gods."

It had taken Jon and Loras to explain to her Ghost's fascination with the Smalljon and she swore after that every time she looked to the man he would check over his shoulder periodically. As they reached the Broken Tower she wasn't surprised at the group who were there. Jon, Loras along with both the Reeds, Arya and Lyanna Mormont who were thick as thieves ever since the young girls arrival. Lyarra Umber stood towering over Jojen Reed and she was glad to see both of them seemed to get along. Also there was her brother Robb who it seemed spent more time in their company now, something she was pleased about.

"Little sister, I thought you had your embroidery to do." Jon said smiling at her.

"We finished and we were wondering if you'd do a favor for us?"

"Anything for you little sister, you know that." Jon said and she smiled beamingly at him.

"Lady Alys saw your drawing of me and wondered if you'd draw her and the other Ladies." Sansa said.

"I, of course, it'll take some time, but sure if you wish."

"Really, you'll do it." she said excitedly.

"Of course, I'll make some time. How about we start later today?"

"Aye, that sounds good." Wylla said smirking.

"I thought you were gonna show me and Lyanna how to use our bows." Arya said annoyedly.

"I will little wolf. I can do both."

At that point one of the little pups came walking out of the tower, her grey fur shined in the light and she wagged her tail as she walked towards her. Sansa bent down to pick her up when Jon nodded and she giggled when the wolf licked her face.

"It seems you're not the only one the wolves like Arya." Loras said chuckling.

"They still like me more stupid." Arya said and Loras chuckled louder as he jumped out of the way of a kick to his shins.

"Fool me once little wolf." Loras said and the others laughed.

After holding the she wolf for a few moments Jon took it from her and placed it back beside it's mother, Ghost came walking over carrying some meat in his mouth and Jon let him inside the tower and locked the door. Before leading them all away while speaking to Arya and Lyanna, as they entered the courtyard she noticed her mother standing on the walkway holding Bran in her arms. Her brother had spent far more time with her mother the last week or so and Sansa hoped he was feeling well.

She watched as a man approached Jon holding a letter and a frown appear on her brother's face as he took it from him, the man turned and left and Jon placed the letter in his pocket shaking his head. After that they moved to the sparring yard and she looked on as Jon and Loras spoke to Robb, holding a sword in his hand they both showed him some movements and pointed out something about his feet. There was no actually sparring though as Jon left to go to the archery area with Arya and Lyanna and Meera and Jojen along with Lyarra went back into the keep.

"Lord Robb I was wondering if you'd show me the glass gardens." she heard Wynafred say and she looked to Loras who smiled at her.

"Lady Sansa, will you and your friends like to accompany us?" Loras said and she smiled as she took his arm.

Jon.

After taking the letter he walked to the archery yard, Walder had asked to guard him days ago and while Jon had known it was what he wanted and what he had agreed to, he knew the man was still grieving. So he told him to take some time, to spend it with those around Winterfell he felt close to, they'd be leaving here soon and it would be a long time before they returned. Walder had eventually agreed and so it was as always Jors and Alyrs who stayed with him.

Jaime had told them to guard him loosely while in the confines of the keep, but once they left Winterfell they'd be much closer. He actually felt sorry for the two men though they never complained and so he'd given them the day off, allowed them to spend some time in Wintertown and had given them enough coin to enjoy themselves. Which was why the man handing him a letter had chosen now to do so, he knew who it was from and he was glad of it as he needed to make his own plans with Richard.

"Look Jon I hit it." he heard Arya say happily.

He looked up from where he'd been sitting and saw she had managed to hit the target, though it was one of the outer rings. His sister didn't have the strength required for drawing the bow properly, but Mikken had allowed for this, the draw weight was suited to her small frame and the arrows themselves lighter and though the ends were blunted, they still stuck in the softer targets. Lyanna Mormont too had been able to use the same bow and it had led to him needing to have one made for her too, much to her mother's delightl.

"Great work Arya, Lyanna why don't you take your go." Jon said.

It felt strange to be saying his mother's name out loud and he enjoyed how it felt even if it was directed at someone else. Lyanna Mormont and Arya were a match made in heaven, two fierce little girls and he couldn't help compare both of them to his mother. Had she been alive would she be teaching his own little sisters to fire their own bows he wondered, would she have taught Rhaenys too?. Before he could start feeling the sadness he felt when he thought of his sister and mother, he heard a clapping sound and turned to see Lady Maege standing there.

"Well done Lyanna." he heard the woman say as Lyanna too hit the target.

"My lady," he said standing up.

"Don't mind me Jon. It's good to see you spend time with the little ones." Maege said as she walked towards him.

"I enjoy it my lady, Arya and Lyanna both of them, I enjoy sending time with them. They remind me of the tales I've been told of my.. of Lady Lyanna." Jon said stumbling over what to call his mother..

"I knew Lyanna, Jon. Knew her well, she and I were friends did you know that?"

"I didn't my lady." Jon said surprised.

"The she bear and the she wolf, though she was much younger than me we spent a lot of time together when ever I could visit. There are not a lot of ladies like she was even here in the North so we stuck together you see."

"Did you..Did you like her my lady?"

"Lyanna was the most amazing woman I've ever known Jon, that's why I named my daughter after her, look at her Jon, if she grows into half the woman Lyanna was I'll be the proudest mother in the North." Maege said as Jon looked to see Arya and Lyanna giggling while lining up their next shot.

"I wish I could have known her." Jon said sadly.

"She'd have been proud of you Jon, of that I've no doubt." Maege said smiling as she patted him on the shoulder.

"Lyanna, Arya, come lets leave Jon here alone, the girls are gonna be sparring soon, don't you want to see your sister's beat some men up Lyanna." Maege said laughing and Arya and Lyanna ran after her as she turned to leave.

Jon walked over to pick up the bow and the arrows, before bringing them back inside the keep, he left them in the armory where his uncle had ordered them to be kept, well out of the reach of Arya without supervision. Sitting down on the bench he took the letter out of his pocket, opened it and began to read.

I am at your service, anything you wish.

The Smoking Log.

R.

Walking to the nearby torch he held the letter up to it until it burned and walked back to his room, unlocking the door he grabbed some parchment and began to write. He would spend most of the day drawing since he'd promised Sansa, but he had time to make it there and back so once he was finished with his letter he locked the door and went looking for Walder. He could of course go to Wintertown alone but he knew how Jaime would feel about it and given how nervous he was about the upcoming wedding it would be best to make things easy for him.

When he found Walder and explained what he wanted, the man was only to eager to accompany him, the Greatsword he carried was sturdy but not of the best quality and Jaime had ordered Mikken to make a better one. Leaving the keep and heading out the gates they walked the short distance to Wintertown, Walder would need more practice riding and Jon had thought that he would need to warg to help him, that and they would need a destrier to carry his weight comfortably.

"Are you sure we should be doing this Jon?" Walder asked.

"It'll be fine Walder, we'll just be in and out, back before anyone even knows we're missing."

When they reached the Smoking Log and entered Jon was surprised at just how full it was, some of the Lannister men had taken to staying in town and had made it almost their second home. He noticed the man immediately and when he saw him he nodded to the upstairs, Jon and Walder followed him and when they reached the room, Walder insisted on entering first, once he was satisfied, Jon and the man entered too.

"What's you name?" Jon asked.

"Daved my lord."

"And how do you know my friend?"

"I was lucky enough to meet him a few years ago my lord, he helped me out of some trouble and I've been working with him ever since."

"What's his sigil?"

"Skulls and lips my lord." Daved said with a smile.

"Very good, can you get this to him?" Jon said handing him the letter.

"Aye my lord, he'll have it within the moon."

"So quick?" Jon said surprised.

"Aye, we have a system in place my lord."

Jon took out a few silver stags and coppers and handed it to the man, gold dragons would be no use to him here and though Daved tried to reject them Jon just shook his head and in the end he took them gladly. He and Walder soon left and Jon smirked at Richard's foresight, he had told him he'd organize a way to communicate while in the North and Jon had doubted him, not anymore.

When they arrived back at Winterfell Jon went to Luwin for more supplies, the Maester had refused his coin to pay for them much to Jon's annoyance. Once he had the parchment, inks and charcoals he went in search of his sister and her friends, it'd be a busy few days until the wedding itself.

Ned.

He was starting to hate these meals, a full on feast was bad enough and there would be one tomorrow for the wedding itself, but even these normal meals had turned into basically the same thing. He had accepted reluctantly Jaime Lannister's offer to reimburse and pay for the festivities and those leading up to them. The simple truth was that given how long he had stayed here, how many of his bannermen had arrived and how much of their stock they had gone through the help was welcome.

His wife sat beside him speaking to Lady Sybelle and Lady Jonelle, the Mormont ladies not being the friendliest to her, he sighed as he looked at her, it had been weeks now since they'd shared a bed. She simply could not get over her feelings for his nephew, no matter what he said or what Jon himself had done, it made no difference. He looked down to the table where Jon was sitting with his children and the other's, that at least he had rectified.

After what happened at the welcome for the Glovers and Manderly's he and Cat had their biggest fight yet, he had allowed her feelings to cloud his own and had Jon seated away from the other children and it had backfired terribly. Having Loras Tyrell move to sit by Jon was one thing, having Jaime Lannister not only do the same but call him out publicly on it was even worse and it had led to a huge argument with Cat.

" Have you any idea of the damage we've done."

" Why my lord, by seating a bastard in his proper place?"

" His name is Jon my lady and I'll not have you refer to him in any other way in my presence." he said angrily.

" So now I'm forced to address your bastard by a title in my own home."

" You're forced to behave like a lady in public, what we did tonight was wrong and we'll suffer from it no more, from now on Jon will sit with his brothers and sisters my lady and I'll hear no more about it."

She had stormed from his solar and they had been apart ever since, in the end he had spoken to Vayon to ensure that even without his presence Jon was to be seated with family. As he continued to look at him he smiled at how right it looked, his daughters loved their brother, young Bran though not having spent much time with him clearly did too. As for Robb it seemed after their talk he too had started to come around and as he looked at his son laughing at something Jon said he felt they were finally getting back to normal.

Though he would soon need to speak to Jon himself, something he had been putting off every since his talk with Nan, what she had told him, what he had found out since then, he shook his head, how could he have been so blind. He nodded to Vayon and bid the man to come to him, when he did he whispered in his ear for him to have Jon meet him later on in the crypts, they would talk tonight. Though he tried to enjoy the rest of the meal he found his mind drifting and he couldn't stop where it went no matter how hard he tried.

A few days earlier.

He walked to the older part of the keep, Nan had always refused to move to different rooms saying these had been hers for longer than he had been alive and she would be in them until she died. When he entered the room and saw her, he felt that may be far sooner than any of them wished, she sent Walder to fetch Jon and bid him to come closer to her. When he got to the bedside he was surprised and a little shocked by the slap she hit him across the face.

" That's to knock some sense into you Ned Stark, to remind you that you're a wolf not a trout and not a damn falcon." she said.

" I.."

" No, it's time you learned the truth of things, I've not long left and while I've done what I'm supposed to I'll not leave this world without telling you the truth of things. You need to support him Ned, for if you don't then not just you and your family will suffer but the North as a whole will be no more."

" What do you mean."

" In time, first you need to know the truth of things, Of Brandon and Lyanna, of your father and that damn Maester Walys he listened to and you need to accept it Ned Stark or so help me when I'm gone I'll return and haunt you for the rest of your days."

" What do you mean, what truth?"

" Your father knew of Lyanna and Rhaegar, he knew of Brandon and Ashara and he hid the truth about them both." Nan said and Ned almost fell from his seat.

" He couldn't, he wouldn't."

" Would he not? How many times did your sister tell him or you that she wouldn't marry Robert, how many times did you ignore her pleas. Or am I mistaken?"

Ned shook his head unable to answer, he knew what she said was the truth, he could remember playing off his sister's concerns as nothing more than nerves and he had continually taken Robert's side.

" Brandon?"

" He and your father had a knock down fight when he received the letter from the Tully's saying Brandon wished to break off the betrothal, he demanded your brother live up to his responsibilities or he'd disinherit him, but when did Brandon ever do what he was bid?"

" Why, why would my father not accept it?"

" Partly the shame of it, to break one betrothal was bad enough, to break two." she sighed "But more than that it defeated his plans, defeated his desires that the Maester whispered in his ears. To bring the North and the South closer together would be beneficial you see, though your father was but a pawn in the games they play."

" I don't understand."

" No, that's the problem Ned, summer is coming to an end, it's time to prepare for Winter for it is coming and this one will be harsher and more deadly than any before it and you don't understand, it's time to be a wolf again, it's time to howl."

" I.."

" You father has private papers Ned, in his solar I believe though I'm not certain. I doubt he destroyed them, as for the Maester well perhaps this new one knows more, he seems a different sort. You need to find them Ned and you need to choose, one way leads to the ruin of your house and the other it's only salvation." she had said her voice breaking as she coughed.

So he had gone and searched his fathers solar, practically torn it apart and eventually when the desk and papers were strewn all around the room and when he'd given up hope he found them, hidden behind the fire. The letter from Hoster was damning, the ones from Lyanna and Rhaegar even more so and Ned had spent the night in his solar in a fury.

The next day he had gone to see Luwin and asked him to look through any records from Walys's time as Maester, he had been surprised when the man came back with some notes and a journal. It had taken him days to read through it and each new revelation forced him deeper and deeper into his head. They had planned it, his fostering in the Vale, his befriending of Robert, hoping to build ties between the North and the South, the things the Maester wrote, about his sister, his father, he and his brothers.

It had taken all his strength of will not to rip the journal apart, but Jon would need it, perhaps he could find out exactly who it was Walys was in league with, the thoughts it was Jon Arryn or Robert himself kept him up at night. Jon's letter from his mother said they'd been planning it for years, Walys journal seemed to back it up and Ned wondered who it was he could trust, who more than family?.

"Ned, Ned?" he heard his wife's voice."

"What sorry Cat?" he said turning to look at him look at her with concern.

"Are you feeling well?"

"No actually, I think I may need to retire early." he said looking around the room disappointed to see it so full.

"Surely not yet?" she said and he nodded, he'd grin and bear it some more.

It was a few hours later when he finally managed to leave, the dinner had finished and the children had gone to bed, Jon had looked up to him and nodded letting him know he'd meet him later. He bid Cat goodnight and went to his room, the journal and the letters were locked in a box hidden in the wall. He knew he'd need them later, or more importantly Jon would, so he sat nursing a mug of ale, he hadn't drank or eaten much tonight knowing what he was about to do, but he finished this mug off.

When he did so he got up and headed to the crypts, for the last few nights he'd gone there at the hour of the wolf and stood in front of his families statues. He'd cursed his father and had asked his brother why he hadn't told him, why he had felt the need to keep secrets from him?. But as always it the was his sister's he had spent the most time at, he had begged her forgiveness and had cried in front of her statue more than once.

He heard the footsteps as Jon walked towards him, he had left Alyn and Jory at the crypt door tonight, apart from Jon no one would be allowed in, what was said here tonight was for his ears alone. When his nephew saw where he was standing he moved beside him and said not a word, both of them standing looking at her statue in silence.

"She was the fiercest most full of life person I've ever known, though Arya comes close." Ned said and heard a small chuckle from Jon before he continued speaking.

"There wasn't a boy in the north who didn't wish her to be his Jon, not a one, you can ask them if you don't believe me. Glover, Manderly, even the Greatjon, not a one who wouldn't have taken her for their own should she allow them.

When Robert saw her he was no different and I wanted it so badly Jon, he was my brother by choice. I see it with you and Loras and it makes me smile you have that and yet I know that unlike me you'd pick Sansa over him or Arya if you were forced to choose. Not that he'd ever ask you to and I suppose Robert didn't ask me either, instead it was my own damn folly.

I should have listened to her, gods if I'd only listened." Ned said as tears fell from his eyes.

"Uncle, I can't forgive you for her, only for me and for that it's yours if you want it." Jon said and Ned nodded.

"I don't want to fight another war Jon, I wish I could go my whole life without one, but Jaime Lannister is right, war is coming and the only thing left is to decide whose side you're on.

You may not have my name Jon but you have my blood and should you ask it of me, you shall have my sword and the North."

"Uncle.." Jon began as Ned hushed him before taking his sword and kneeling.

"I Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Lord Paramount and Warden of the North, do hereby pledge my sword, my life, to the one true king Jaehaerys Targaryen the third of his name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm."