BREATHS ARE ICY CLOUDS in the deep Northern air where their embrace is doubly warm. When Jon pulls back to find his uncle’s eyes, there is a mixture of relief and betrayal within his own. ❛
you left me ALONE to fight.
❜
@toomanymuses ( BENJEN ) liked this ♡for a one-line starter
Benjen had hung his head, slightly ashamed at having left his nephew alone. “Jon…” The watcher started to speak as he saw the look in Jon’s eyes. “I left you to continue the fight, both you to do so and myself in the wilds. I almost died out there Jon.” He was stern now, his hand slipped from Jon’s shoulders as he looked away briefly. “I’m sorry.”
Jon scowls again, he doesn’t like the idea of his sister having to marry into someone else’s house -or the possibility of that house having control of Winterfell “Then Winterfell will go to her husband.” He mutters. “And we can’t have that can we?” It’s not really a question, he knows they can’t have that.
“I know what Lady Brienne said.” Jon sighs. “I’ve been trying not to get my hopes up she saw her several years ago now at this point. That could’ve changed.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I’m doing my best but unless there’s a legitimization I have no control over winterfell and I won’t attempt to take it. If you’re that insistent about – about ruining my brothers and sister’s chances at their rightful home at least do it right.”
Brandon was about to lose his temper with his nephew. “Winterfell will go to me before I let her husband take it.” Brandon snarled, pulling out his dagger and started to chip away at a nearby stick to get his frustration out. “Bran doesn’t seem he wants Lordship, which leads Sansa to lead House Stark for now.” He grumbled grumpily.
“I’m not that insistent on it but we need to start thinking ahead for your brothers and sister’s chances of this House surviving after all the shit it’s been through. Look, i’m not exactly adjusted to all of this either. I, the heir to my Lord father’s house, almost die, than exiled to Essos only to hear the news of my House and come back with no siblings and at least one dead nephew. I’m still trying to figure out my place in my home. You know the people, if they really wanted to, could name you King In The North as your brother once was and Sansa as Lady and you could co-rule together, King Snow and Lady…Princess Stark.”
Jon scowls again, he doesn’t like the idea of his sister having to marry into someone else’s house -or the possibility of that house having control of Winterfell “Then Winterfell will go to her husband.” He mutters. “And we can’t have that can we?” It’s not really a question, he knows they can’t have that.
“I know what Lady Brienne said.” Jon sighs. “I’ve been trying not to get my hopes up she saw her several years ago now at this point. That could’ve changed.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I’m doing my best but unless there’s a legitimization I have no control over winterfell and I won’t attempt to take it. If you’re that insistent about – about ruining my brothers and sister’s chances at their rightful home at least do it right.”
“No. Winterfell belongs to House Stark. Us.” Brandon knew that Jon wasn’t throwing around a question but he still felt like it would be answered. Brandon let out a hefty sigh as Jon spoke again and he curled his fists into a tight ball. “Ruining?” He let out a mix of a scoff and a chuckle. “They have Winterfell Jon. Sansa and Arya..you. Where ever and if he is still alive, Bran’s as well. But someone has to lead. Someone has to be Lord..nay, King in the North like your brother, Robb.”
Brandon laid a hand on Jon’s shoulder, trying to get closer to the young man. “I’m your Uncle, not your enemy, Jon. I want what’s best for you all and for our House. If that means Sansa takes over, she will. I have no doubt she would make a fine Lady or Queen of this house if you won’t take up the mantle as Eddard Stark’s son, bastard or not. It’s your home too. If neither of you will than I have no choice as the original heir and lord of Winterfell…” He broke off not wanting to finish his sentence as his hand fell from Jon and he looked away wishing he wasn’t here. He wasn’t the best with children, hell he was just a few years older than Jon before he almost…as he watched his own father die. He had little to no clue how to handle this children who were grown up, their own struggles that life had thrown at them.
“What I was told t’ do.” Jon says heavily. “Lord Commander Mormont told me t’ learn what I could about the wildlings. This is how to do it.”
“By living with them…by-” He didn’t dare think of what his nephew was doing as a wildling spy. “You start to get to close and cozy…You best remember you are a brother of the Nights Watch” Benjen hissed fearing the worst for Jon.
“Mormont could’ave sent anyone else…” Benjen sighed as he looked at his nephew. His young, sweet and good nephew who shouldn’t have come here. Who was giving up a life the wildlings and their own people could have given him.
“My father did what was honorable – right up until he died.” Jon half growls. He doesn’t know much about his Uncle Brandon but he’s not entirely certain he likes him. From what he can tell, Brandon Stark couldn’t have been more different from his younger brother. “I’m not listening to a Greyjoy about who I am. But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m a bastard. My mother could’ve been Queen Cersei Lannister and it wouldn’t change that.”
“I’m doing my best to help my sister, to keep the peace in the North as my Lord father would’ve done. But I’m not his true born son.” Jon shakes his head. “The only way I could be is a legitimization from a King, right now Winterfell belongs to Sansa. When Bran and Rickon are found it will belong to one of them. If they’re not found it remains Sansa’s until she has a son or a husband.”
From what he had heard Eddard had stuck to his thoughts and while he couldn’t say what Eddard did in the end was wrong but than again Brandon might have thought about self preservation, about his children and his house. “Winterfell may belong to Sansa but she knows her place as Lady of Winterfell. She’ll have to marry into a house.” Brandon was being practical, they had to look towards the future and success of their house.
Brandon sighed, he knew that if it came to it, he would have to rule, to be Lord of Winterfell he’d rather much have Jon take it. He didn’t know if he could do it after the years in exile. “Lady Brienne spoke of Arya, saying that she was still alive…” Brandon hadn’t expected to hear such news of his niece and he wondered if Jon was aware of that. “Least there is hope she is still alive.”
Viserys awaited the Northerns words, already knowing what he was going to say. Dany had mentioned it to him and well, Viserys was interested in what this Jon Snow had to say. “A threat from beyond the wall? The same wall that’s stood for eight thousand years to keep threats at bay with your people’s precious Nights Watch…”
Viserys gave a dismissive tone as he spoke. Surely this man simply meant Wildlings. If the men of the famed Nights Watch couldn’t handle a few Wildlings then perhaps he should enlist in their help to rid himself of any threats the crown would hold. It’d worked with the Dothraki.
“My sister tells me you speak of things called…What was it again? White Walkers? Things children are told of to be fantasy. You believe they are out there once more, is this not correct?” Viserys was suspicious of the man and his agenda. But part of his reasoned caution and to listen to what Daenerys had already heard, it seemed important and well, a few years back dragons were thought to have been no longer living breathing beings, stuck forever in memory and stories. But yet, here the Targayens sat, three dragons at their despoil.
Goldnwulf 