A Tale of Ice and Blood

Chapter IV - Dark Wings

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When last we last off with Jon Snow, he had just discovered that the girl posing as Arya Stark, his younger sister, was actually a girl named Jeyne Poole, the daughter of his fathers steward. it has been two days since then.

Jon woke up to a soft knock on his door. He rose up slowly, and siad, "Enter!" the door opened to reveal Dryn peaking his head into the room. he clears his throat and says, "Lord crow, Clydas says hes received a raven from Cotter Pyke." Jon then rises from his bed and begins to dress in his tunic and cloak. After slinging Longclaw onto his back he grabs his crutch and slowly makes his way out of the armory and towards the rookery. Not even bothering to acknowledge the salutes of those he passed, he nonetheless noted the sympathetic glances from many of the men, Black Brother and Free Folk alike. In Jon's mind, the sympathy was more unbearable than the resentment from before. All it did was remind him of what had been ripped from him. The hope that Arya was still alive...

"Snow! Snow!" A familiar voice called out, drawing Jon from his thoughts. Looking up, he noted old Commander Mormont's raven flying above him, big black wings casting shadows over him. Raising the arm not holding his crutch, Jon waits for the bird to come down to him. He's soon rewarded with another "Snow!," and the bird alights upon his outstretched left arm. Scratching the raven's neck, Jon wonders if it wouldn't be better to be like the bird, caring only for the next meal and flying free. Free of regret. Free of loss. Free of the rage he wants to let loose on everyone and everything around him. Shaking his head, Jon prodded the raven up onto his shoulder and continued on his way to the rookery.

Entering the keep at the foot of the rookery and ascending the stairs, Jon makes his way to Maester Aemon's quarters, where Clydas had been set up in the elderly man's absence. Entering the solar, Jon saw the steward scratching away notes at a desk he'd set up in the corner, no doubt figuring out what supplies he would need in the near future. Putting the headache of logistics off for another time, Jon cleared his throat, causing Clydas to look up and notice him for the first time.

Blinking in surprise, the steward rose and gave a short bow, "Lord Commander, welcome." He motioned to a nearby wooden chair. "Please, have a seat."

"Thank you," Jon returned, making his way over to the chair and dropping into it heavily. Grunting at the soreness that still perforated his body, Jon sighed and settled into the chair. Clydas, seeing him settled in, turned back to his desk and shifted some papers around, grabbing up a missive from the stack. "As the boy no doubt informed you, we've had a missive from Commander Pyke." Taking the missive from Clydas' hand, Jon began to read:

"Returned from Hardhome. Was able to rescue 5,000 wildlings. The rest refused to be rescued or died in the attack by the others. Lost wildlings on the voyage due to attempted mutiny. Others fell over board or died from hunger. Collected all their weapons and valuables. Will have it cataloged and handed over to the Iron bankers. W`aiting for instructions on the remaining wildlings.

Cotter Pyke, Commander of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea"

Jon sagged in relief, thanking the old gods that something had finally gone right. While the deaths of so many Free Folk weighed on his heart, he took solace that so many were saved and that Pyke was still alive. Frustrating as the man could be, Jon knew he would be relying on the man in the future. Straightening in his seat, Jon begins to consider what do with the Free Folk sitting on their arses at Eastwatch. Pyke can't afford to keep them their for long, Jon thought. If they aren't sent on, it'll likely mean a riot. Best thing to do is have the warriors and spearwives reinforce the other castles. The women, children, and those too old to help can be sent on to the growing settlements south of the Wall. Need to keep them spread out though, lest they overwhelm their resources and starve. His course decided, he gives Clydas instructions for a missive to relay his orders to Pyke. That done, he leaves the Maester's keep to deal with the next piece of unpleasant business: Jeyne Poole, who he has been putting off dealing with for the last two days. He had taken one look at the girl's eyes and stopped dead. Unable to deal with the crushing weight of the realization that she wasn't Arya, he'd turned around and left for the armory, locking himself inside for the rest of the day.

Val had taken charge of the girl in his stead, taking her back to Hardin's Tower and caring for her. From the looks Val had shot him yesterday, she was clearly less then impressed with his actions, or lack there of. Ghost, the traitor, had been staying with them as well, clearly taking Val's side in this matter. He could honestly say that was a conversation he'd rather avoid, but putting Val off was never that easy. Jon gave an unconcious smile, thinking fondly on the woman, before shaking his head. He couldn't afford to get distracted. That was a complication he really did not need. Making his way across the training ground, he nodded to those of his men who greeted him, noting those who needed more work on their technique and those who were making progress. Leathers had been making good progress with the lot of them. The man still terrifies his trainees, Jon thought. If they can ever overcome that fear, they might just be ready for anything. Seeing the tower coming up on him, passing Wun Wun on the way, he steeled himself for what was to come.

When Jon finally reached Val's quarters, the soreness of his body rising to a slightly dull throb, he knocked on the door and waited. A few moments later, the door opened, revealing Toregg standing inside. when Toregg saw Jon standing there he stepped aside and let him walk in before closing the door behind them and the two of them made their way up the tower steps. Wryly looking at Jon, Toregg knocks on Val's door and announces Jon's arrival. through the door we can hear a faint shuffling before the door was opened to reveal Val in a pair of white breeches and a tunic with the laces at the neck slightly undone to slightly reveal her clevage. jon blushed at the sight before he cleared his throat and thoughts to say, "Hello Val, I'm here to speak with Jeyne."

Turning her attention to Jon, Val gave him a look that clearly said, 'Its about time Crow.' Snorting quietly, she waved him to follow her. Stopping at the door to her room, she turned and addressed Jon sternly, "The girl is terrified of everything. Whatever those Boltons did to her, she can hardly stand to have anyone be near her. She nearly killed herself trying to get away from Ghost the first time he came near her and started sobbing when Toregg tried to touch her." Giving him a grim look, she added, "I doubt I need to explain what the last means." Jon nodded, face stony with restrained fury. Continuing, Val said, "She's been beside herself with worry that you'll throw her back to the Boltons. She thinks your furious with her, for pretending to be your sister."

Quietly, Jon replied, "Its not her I'm angry at."

Val snorted, a slight grimace on her face. "It doesn't matter. You putting off talking to the girl has only made it worse. She's already half-convinced that you've sent word to the Boltons to take her off your hands." Giving him a hard look, she poked him hard in the chest. "You will fix this, Crow, or so help me, I'll cut off your balls and feed them to that damn bird on your shoulder. Am I clear?" Jon, tense and uncomfortable, nodded. Still glaring at him, Val knocked on the door. A loud creak from inside signaled that Jeyne had likely jumped in Val's bed, fear playing havoc on her reactions. "Jeyne?" Val called. "The Lord Commander's here to see you. Can we come in?"

It was silent for a few moment, before a barely audible "Come in." sound from inside the room. Opening the door, Val strolled in, Jon trailing behind her. Taking a close look at Jeyne, Jon noted the terror laced blue eyes were still the same as when she first arrived. Her brown hair was wildly unkept and her dress was ragged and torn at the edges. Noting they were the same clothes she'd been wearing when she first arrived, Jon through a quisitive look towards Val, who shook her head. Putting that aside for the moment, Jon walked slowly up to the side of the bed and, with difficultly, knelt down. After a few moments, Jeyne finally looked at him directly, filching at the sight of him, but then tentatively began, "J-Jon Snow, I mean Lord Commander." She bit tentatively at her her lip, eyes going to Val, who nodded reassuringly. "I-I'm sorry Jon. I didn't wa..." She trailed off, unable to continue and beginning to give quiet sobs.

Jon, scratching rubbing his neck, sighed. He had never been good at dealing with weeping women. Gilly was proof of that. Trying for a smile, he was sure it came off as more of a grimace, Jon addressed her quietly. "Jeyne." She gave a little jump, but he had her attention. "I'm not angry with you. I will never send you back to those monsters. You have my word on that. Alright?" Jeyne looked up at Jon blankly, before hurling herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck and sobbing out declarations of gratitude. Jon's panicked look and silent plea for help to Val was met with silent chuckles and a smug smirk. She was clearly enjoying Jon's discomfort.

After Jeyne had finally calmed down, Jon gently settled her back on the edge of the bed, moving slowly to sit beside her. Placing an arm around her, which briefly made her tense up, causing Jon to retract his arm. Relaxing, Jeyne reached out and latched onto his hand, smiling shyly up at him in gratitude. Sighing, Jon rubbed his neck with his other hand, dreadfully uncomfortable. Looking down at Jeyne, Jon spoke softly, still concerned that he might startle her. "Jeyne, I need you to answer a few questions. Can you do that?" Seeing her nod, he continued, "What happened at King's Landing? To my sisters? At Winterfell and with Stannis?"

Jeyne takes a moment to steady herself, then gives at shuddering sigh. She asked, "How much do you know?"

Jon replied, "I know Sansa was betrothed to Joffrey. I know that something went wrong in King's Landing, leading to my father being imprisoned and Robb calling the banners to free him. I know he was executed." Here, Jon grimaces, but carries on. "What I want to know is the details. How and why did this all happen? What happened after?"

Jeyne looked down at her lap, shuddering at the old memories. Then, in a rather detached voice, she starts reciting what happened, as if reading out loud from a book. "Lord Stark was making a lot of trips around the city. We never knew why. Sansa and I were caught up thinking on her betrothal to Joffrey. Everything was going so perfectly. Then, out of nowhere, everything started to fall apart. Lord Stark was attacked by Lannisters and was nearly killed. The King died next, tusked by a bore. Then Lord Stark said we were leaving, all of us, back to the North. Sansa didn't want to leave. She wanted to marry Joffrey and be his Queen. Lord Stark said he'd arrange a Northern match for her and that he'd explain later, but Sansa wouldn't hear it." Jeyne stopped for a moment, her grip tightening on Jon's hand. Quietly, desperately, she asked, "Why didn't she just do as she was told?"

Jon shook his head and said, "I don't know, Jeyne. I really don't." Val took a seat beside Jon to better hear Jeyne's tale, squeezing Jon's shoulder as she did so. Giving her a small smile, he turned back to Jeyne and waited for her to continue.

Shaking her head, Jeyne continued, the same emotionless tone returning. "Sansa went to the Queen." Jon's eyes widened in realization. "She was desperate to stay and told the Queen that Lord Stark planned to leave. Afterwards, Sansa and I were thrown into a room and left there while everything happened. I later learnt that Lord Stark was arrested and executed, but I was dragged off and handed off to Lord Baelish," here grip tightens again, but she continues. He...made me do things. To teach me. After a while I was handed over to the Bolton men, who had brought Ser Jaime back to King's Landing. I was so relieved. I was finally going to go back to the North. I thought nothing could be worse then what had already happened." She turned and stared at them both blankly. "I was wrong."

Giving Val a look, Jon nodded at her. Sighing, she asked kindly, "What happened next, Jeyne?"

Turning her eyes back to her lap, she said, "I was taken to Lord Bolton. I couldn't tell if he was pleased or not, but he wasn't harsh. He treated me well enough. I thought, even if I had to pretend to be Arya like they told me to, I could at least be happy. It took awhile, but we eventually made it Moat Cailin. We got stuck there, because of the Ironborn. Lord Bolton's men eventually removed them and we finally entered the North. I can't tell you how happy I was to finally be back. Then I met Lord R-Ramsay and everything started to go wrong." Blinking away tears, her voice filling with more emotion, she continued, "He was vile. He hurt me in...in so many ways. He was just as vile to Theon." At Jon's sudden scowl, Jeyne pleaded, "I know he did horrible things, but he helped me. He saved me. I'd be dead without him." Jon, not wanting to have this conversation, simply nodded. Jeyne went on, "Things in Winterfell started to go wrong. People started dying. Eventually a group of women helped us escape. They fought through the Bolton men and we ended up jumping from the walls of Winterfell to the snows below. Lord Mors asked me questions to see if I was really Arya and I was able to answer them. Then he sent Theon and I on to King Stannis. Theon was imprisoned and I was sent to you. Ser Justin said King Stannis was trying to repay the debt he owed you, for revealing the Karstark betrayal." She sighed, releasing Jon's hand and putting her arms around her legs. "That's everything."

Jon squeezes her shoulder lightly, "Thank you, Jeyne. I'll leave you to rest now." The girl simply nodded and Jon got up to go, Val following behind as they made their way out of the bedroom.

After shutting the door behind her, Val turned to Jon and asked, "What do you plan on doing with her?"

Jon grunted, running his hand through his hair in frustration. "I don't know," he said, "but she can't stay here indefinitely. Maybe I can send her to Karhold, once I'm sure Alys has settled things there. She could act as a lady-in-waiting for her." Val nodded, though Jon could see she wasn't completely satisfied with sending Jeyne away. She had grown fond of the girl, Jon noted. Shaking his head, he put in, "We'll see what happens. In the meantime, Pyke has returned with nearly 5,000 of your people. The rest didn't make it, unfortunately, but I'll be needing yours and Tormund's help dealing with those that did. Two or three weeks, stuck on a ship with Pyke, is sure to have left them in a foul mood." Val frowned, but nodded, knowing what would happen if they didn't meet this problem quickly. Feeling Ghost rub up against him, Jon glanced down and scratched behind his ears, thinking, Lets just hope nothing else goes wrong. Just this once. Even as the thought came to him, he was sure he was going to curse himself later. Nothing good ever came of such thoughts.

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Two Weeks Later

Jon stood in the courtyard with Tormund and Val as they issue orders to the Free Folk that had just arrived to the castle. Out of the nearly 5000 that came back with Cotter Pyke, 2000 remaind to be distributed along the castles on the wall and within the new settlements in the Gift. The new recruits were just as resentful as the orginal ones had been. He could see that some of them felt trapped and hated being here, serving under the ones who had killed their king and shattered their hopes of breaking through the Wall. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of tribes that had existed since time immemorial were now extinct. As the Lord Commander, all that anger ended up directed at Jon. He didn't let it bother him. At this point, most of those that now served under Jon resented him. If that was the price of keeping them all alive, he'd bear it. For the rest, he could see grudging gratitude. They didn't like it, but they accepted that they owed him their lives and were fully willing to pay that debt.

He was about to dispatch some men to break up a fight that had started to erupt when a group of riders from the south approached the scene. Everyone in the courtyard including the wildlings froze as a group of 40 horsemen stopped a few yards away from the groups. the leading rider, a stout women with grey hair and wearing chain-mail began to approach them. she scanned the crowed with a curious but conservative gaze until her eyes fall upon Jon. At once her eyes took on an almost rabid look. A hunger for something Jon could not even begin to fathom. Frowning, Jon called out, "Ho there! Who are are you? I do not recall giving leave for any new guests to enter!"

The woman continued walking up and, when she was maybe six feet away, gave a polite bow. "Lord Commander Snow," she said gruffly, "I am Maege Mormont, Lady of Bear Island. I believe you knew my brother."

Jon reared a little at that, but smiled. "Welcome," he returned, "Its an honor to meet Commander Mormont's sister. He spoke very fondly of you."

Maege snorted, "Fondly? You mean he complained that I was as hard headed as a mule and would be the death of him from all the worry I caused him."

Jon chuckled and said, "More or less. Now, if I may, what brings you here Lady Mormont? We had no word of your coming."

Maege frowned in what might've been confusion, but then laughed. "The damn raven must've had some mishap on its way here!" Pausing for a moment, as if thinking on something, she continued, "I'm here to inform you of the outcome of the Battle of Winterfell and arrange the transport of some prisoners to reinforce you here at the Wall. I'm afraid the traitorous magots are draining our food supplies. Better they be put to use by you, else-wise we'd have to gut them and toss them in a bonfire."

Jon frowned, knowing that this would help his manpower problem, but it would also further strain their food stores. At least word came from Braavos that our first shipment of food was on its way, he thought grimly. We'd be lucky to survive another few months without it. Turning back to the task at hand, Jon gave Lady Mormont a nod. "Thank you, my lady. The men will be relieved at having more brothers to watch their backs." Of that, Jon had little doubt. Pacified or not, his brothers were still wary of the Free Folk's presence and would be pleased to have more men from the south to even the numbers a bit. "Please," Jon said, motioning her to follow him, "I'm sure you must be tired from road. Lets go to the King's Tower. I'm sure Queen Selyse is curious to know what's become of her husband and you can rest your feet. My squire," he motioned Dryn over, "will see that your men are escorted to suitable accommodations in the Flint's Barracks."

Maege frowned at the mention of the Queen, but shrugged and waved her men off, who all took to following the young squire. Turning back to Jon, she grinned, "Lead on boy! The southron wench won't like what I've got to say, but better to get it over with." Snorting, Jon waved her to follow as he turned and headed for the King's Tower, Val and Tormund remained behind to continue issuing orders to the wildlings. the two guards at the base of the queens tower opened the door for them. they ascended the stairs until they reached the door to the queens chambers. Jon knocked on the door and announced their presence. the door was answered by Ser Axell Florent. He waived them inside as he went to stand by his Queen and Princess. Jon, Val, and Lady Mormont gave slight bows to the Queen and the Princess Shireen.

Once he has risen Jon says, "Your Grace, your Highness, may I present to you the Lady Maege Mormont of Bear island. She comes with news concerning the battle at Winterfell."

Clearly interested, the Queen snaps out, "Speak! Tell us of my husband's great victory!" Jon, Val, and Lady Mormont look to each other before Lady Mormont says,

"Your Grace, Winterfell is no longer in Bolton Bolton himself has fled with his wife and what remains of his shattered host, his bastard of a son is dead, and the northern lords have joined us except for the houses Ryswell and Dustin, whom have fled west towards their holdfasts. Unfortunately, his grace is dead and his body is laid to rest among the crypts of Winterfell. All that remains of his host is 400 men and Knights." Stunned silence that followed, Maege turns to reach into a bag and pulls out the king's flaming crown. She then walks over to the queen and places the crown into her lap. Princess Shireen cries out, "Father!" as she weeps into her mothers lap. Jon looks at the girl with sympathy, before glancing up at the Queen, expecting to see rage, only to note something is wrong.

"Your Grace?" Jon asks. "Are you alright?"

Ser Axel snaps out of his shock and shrieks at Jon, "Of course she isn't alright you fucking bastard! The King is dead!" The other Queensmen start shouting as well, pandemonium breaking out as they start screaming obscenities and denunciations at Jon's party or each other. All of that stops, however, when a cry goes out.

"Mother!" Shireen yells. All turn to look and see the Queen grasping for her heart, gasping in pain. Finally she falls forward, Shireen yanked away by the quick actions of Lady Mormont to prevent her from being crushed underneath her. The guards leap forward, picking the Queen up off the floor, only to find the sharp edges of her husband's crown embedded in her body. Shireen, sobbing and struggling in Lady Mormont's strong arms cries out, "No! Mother! Mother get up! Get up!"

Maege Mormont continues holding her as the men rush to see what they can do. "She's gone, girl," Maege say softly, "she's gone." Jon can only look on as the Queensmen and the Princess come undone. Why does everything have to go wrong?

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Author's Note: Not happy about this being a week late, not happy at all, but its still done, so I'm not too upset. Hopefully you aren't either, eh? Another chapter should be out by next week, but I'm not entirely sure. In any event, the slow stuff is almost over, so we'll be seeing real action the introductory phase is over by chapter six I believe. I'm sure we're all looking forward to it!

Remember to read and review!

PS: I do not own ASOIAF