What if Robb listened to his mother shortly before her death and ran away. On the verge of death and taking to hiding after the North is taken by the Boltons, Robb finally reunites with Jon at Castle Black, revenge in his heart and the hope to take back Winterfell and fight behind the Wall with his brother.

Things to mention for the sake of this story:

1) Ygritte's still alive

2) Robb's still alive

3) Grey Wind is still alive

4) Rickon won't be killed

5) A recognised woman will be in this story

"Lord Commander, someone has arrived for you!" Tollett said, opening the door. "They haven't stated who they are and why they want you."

Jon frowned but followed Edd outside to the gates and stared at the hooded figure on the lone horse.

"What brings you here?" Jon asked. He was nervous, no one came for him and he'd lived his life in somewhat peace since leaving home. If this person was here to bring him trouble, he'd be having strong words with them.

He was already aiding in housing the remainder of Stannis Baratheon's forces and they were at least willing to pull their own weight in return for protection. Even Ser Davos Seaworth was proving very supportive and the Red Woman.

The hooded figure jumped down from their horse with ease and walked towards Jon's voice, making the Lord Commander step back with his hand touching his sword's hilt.

"Thought I'd get a better greeting than that, Snow," the voice said making Jon gasp.

The figure finally took his hood off and everyone collectively gasped at the sight, some even muttering prayers to their respective gods.

"It can't be..." Jon breathed out, disbelief in his eyes as his hand slacked to his side. "You-You were dead."

Robb smiled and took the remaining steps to bring his brother into a tight embrace.

"I'm here, Snow. It's me. I'm no ghost."

As if the direwolf knew its name was going to be mentioned, Ghost stalked up to the brothers who were almost in tears in their embrace. The direwolf howled lowly and placed a bloody rabbit by their feet.

Jon glanced down. "I think it's for you," he said to Robb, making him laugh in pain.

"I had to leave Grey Wind with Arya," said Robb as he stroked Ghost's fur. "We got separated. She was at the Red Wedding." His voice was strained. "I'm sorry, Jon. I should have made her come with me."

"At least she has Grey Wind to protect her," Jon replied. "Come. You must be hungry."

Robb followed Jon inside but not before the Lord Commander ordered for everyone to get back to what they were doing.

"Lord Commander, eh Snow?" Robb teased when they were in Jon's quarters.

"King in the North, eh Stark?" Jon replied in kind.

Robb's eyes fell and Jon immediately regretted his words.

"We'll get it back. We'll make them pay," Robb said lowly. "There must always be a Stark in Winterfell and we'll make it happen once again. The Boltons will be destroyed for their betrayal." He clenched his fists.

"How did you survive?" Jon wondered. He felt as if his mind was still playing tricks on him. "When I got the word that Father was killed, I wanted to desert the Night's Watch to be there by your side. You needed me but-"

"I would never ask you to do such a thing, brother. You were needed here and I had things under control but Mother saw what was coming before I did." Robb glanced away sadly.

"Then I heard you died," Jon's voice broke. "I felt as if I failed you for not being by your side in battle-"

"And it was not battle where I was stabbed in the back with arrows." Robb sighed.

Jon still felt guilty and sick. "So, how did you get out?"

"The Hound-"

"The Baratheon Brat's guard dog?" Jon spat.

"He was with Arya. He helped fight off Bolton and Frey men to get me to safety. I sent him to protect Arya and have her reunite with me at the Eyrie but she never came."

Jon was surprised. "You were at the Vale? You could have seen Sansa!"

"Sansa was not there, Jon... She's been taken as Ramsay Bolton's wife."

Jon felt faint. First Arya disappearing with the Hound and now Sansa was taken from the safety of her cousin's lands back home with a betraying man to marry his stranger son.

"I couldn't get word to Cousin Robin so I left when I realised Arya wouldn't come. Then a servant girl told me Sansa had been taken to Winterfell to marry into the Boltons," Robb continued. "I went to seek help from the Blackfish but-"

"He wouldn't help. You are of his blood, surely-"

"The Riverlands' forces were almost wiped out along with ours, Jon," sighed Robb. "I couldn't blame him. He was there to pledge his support for me from the beginning - named me his king. My uncle has done enough."

"What will you do now, brother? I can't leave, I'm Lord Commander. If I could give you an army to get back at the Boltons and avenge the Red Wedding, I would. I can't..."

Robb gave his distressed brother a hug. "I must rest, for now. Bide my time before I think about what I can do to get our home back. I stupidly lost it, it would be too much of me to ask you to help me get it back."

Jon fetched for his steward Olly, telling the young boy to make sure his brother was brought good food ale to eat and drink and to get him fresh clothes to wear. He was still a king after all.

"Of course, Lord Commander," Olly bowed slightly. "Your Grace," he added nervously before quickly leaving.

Robb chuckled. "Good boy?"

"He's good. He's being trained by me to be a skilled fighter for the Wall."

Robb smiled, patting Jon's back. "Well, you were the better fighter out of us. If you were by my side in battle, I'd never doubt your protection of me."

The door suddenly opened and Olly rushed in.

"Lord Commander. It's one of the wildings you brought back. Says he knows your uncle, Benjen. Says he's still alive."

Jon shared a shocked glance at his brother.

"Go," Robb urged him. "I will wait here. Get news about our uncle, now." He felt faint. "I will sit down. I have travelled long. Go, I'll be here."

Jon nodded and followed Olly outside to where everyone gathered assumingly by the gates to see what was going on.

It was then when Jon pushed through the men, Olly following close behind him.

Jon halted as his eyes saw the sign.

Traitor

Confused, he turned around and that was when the first blade pierced into his skin and quickly retracted before the next stab happened and the next and the next and...

Olly.

The boy's eyes worriedly met Jon's betrayed ones as the young man dropped to his knees and looked up at him.

"Olly..." Jon whispered. "Ghost..." He said even quieter, not even audible.

He landed the final stab.

Upstairs, Robb shivered and drew his cloak tighter around his body as something unsettled his stomach.

It wasn't the idea of eating nothing the past few days but the idea of something being scaringly wrong.

He listened outside where there was no sound. The walls were thin, he must have heard something.

Robb glanced at Ghost who was slowly getting up and heading downstairs. He didn't think anything of it. He just had to wait until his brother returned so he could tell him of his new thought out plan to reclaim their home.

His eyes grew heavy and he was about to close them when he heard Ghost howl mournfully.

"Jon," Robb whispered, getting up.

Something was scaringly wrong.

Robb grabbed a spare sword and quietly made his way out of Jon's quarters, making his way behind a pillar and hiding behind it. He looked over the edge and gasped when he saw Jon on the ground, his blood soaking the snow as Ghost was herded into a cage, howling repeatedly as it was dragged away from its master.

Tears sprung to Robb's eyes but he had to think carefully. He played recklessly and stupidly during the games for the throne. This time, he had to play clever.

He felt sick.

Across from him, he saw Davos Seaworth and a red-headed woman rushing towards him. Davos gasped upon seeing him.

"K-King Robb?" The older man asked, shock in his eyes.

"They've... they've killed my brother," his voice whispered, strained. "I'll kill them all!"

Davos prevented him, looking down where the man who had told Jon of his arrival earlier in the day was fighting off his own brothers with another man.

"Come any closer and I'll clip yer ear off!" The man roared, ordering his loyal men to attack the men of the Night's Watch.

Robb saw a few men attempt to pick his brother's dead body up and head upstairs to the room where he'd just come from. He quickly rushed into there with Davos and the woman.

They were soon joined by the loyal men from the Night's Watch with Ghost hot on their heels.

Robb thanked the gods for Ghost's safe retrieval at least.

He watched as the men who seemed loyal to his brother barricaded the door as the other men placed Jon on the table.

Robb's instinct took over and he rushed to Jon's body, disbelief in his eyes at the idea of the man he'd travelled so long to be reunited with was dead.

"Who are you?" One of the men finally asked him.

Robb looked up. "King Robb of the North, First of his Name-"

"Jon's brother," they breathed out.

"But you're-"

"Dead? Apparently not." Robb snapped. "Who did this? I want their head for this!"

The men glanced at each other. "It was a mutiny," one finally admitted. "I am Eddison Tollett. Jon's... was a good ally of mine."

Robb nodded stiffly, staring in anguish as blood soaked his brother's tunic and dripped on the floor in a sickening sound.

"Why did they betray him? Jon is honourable, more so than me," Robb asked. "He'd never do anything to get himself killed!"

"He let the Wildlings in."

"Surely with good reason? Jon was not a fool."

Edd nodded. "Aye. He was no fool. Winter dawns on us and White Walkers prepare to take over the North and rest of Westeros. Jon wanted to cease a chance of the Night King growing his army by turning Wildings into wights-"

"White Walkers? Wights? Night King?" Robb asked, baffled. "What in Seven Hells-" He regretted swearing, sending a quick prayer to his mother's gods and his. "Are those?"

"Those are more important than the bloody Iron Throne. Without the Seven Kingdoms, that throne is worthless as shit," said Davos.

Robb slowly nodded. "And this is a greater threat than that Mad Queen which sits on it and that Dragon Bitch?"

Davos swallowed deeply. "Yes, Your Grace."

Robb nodded again and leant his head against Jon's cold one. "I'll avenge you, brother. I'll avenge my mother and our father. I'll find our sisters and younger brothers wherever they are and I'll help defeat this terrible Winter that comes upon us."

There was a bang on the door.

Thorne ordered them to surrender and leave.

Robb had a good mind to head out and kill them all. He was a good fighter, a skilled sword fighter. He'd take on as many enemies of his family as he could.

"Is that who murdered my brother?" He asked angrily.

"King Robb," Thorne taunted. "Tell those fools to surrender now and I will allow you and your brother's pet safe passage away from Castle Black with your brother's remains."

Robb clenched and unclenched his fists, glaring at the door in fury.

"Don't do anything stupid," Davos warned him.

"Other people killed your brother too. They have many loyal supporters-" Edd began.

"All cowards!" Robb roared. "Let me go and I'll kill them all for being cowards and cold-blooded murderers!"

"Why then, take me on, King Robb." Thorne laughed.

A hand restricted him and he turned to see the woman, slight fear in her eyes.

"I would not advise you to do so, King in the North." The woman sighed. "My name is Melissandre and I have a feeling that your brother will need you alive."

Robb's eyes cast downwards to Jon's body and he felt the air leave his lungs as the pain squeezed his heart.

Then, the banging started again and the door began to splinter and break.

They all turned to the door, some wearing fear in their eyes as others wore anger and fury.

"If you don't come out, we'll come in!" Thorne yelled out before instructing the person behind the door to break it open.

Everyone except Melissandre - and Jon - placed their hands on the hilts of their swords and drew them, ready to attack.

"Now, I'm sorry for what you are about to witness. I am no skilled fighter as you, Your Grace but I will try my damndest to protect you and your brother," said Davos receiving a grateful nod from Robb.

Then the sound of shouting and battle cries erupted and the banging stopped, the door barely standing upright.

"What is the meaning of this?" Thorne cried out as Wildlings surrounded them and easily cut through them.

Edd went to the window and a relieved smile took over his face as he turned back to the group.

"It's Tormund. He's got the Wildlings cutting them down!"

When the cries of wounded people and crazed attacks died down, Robb rushed downstairs with Edd and Davos to see the betraying men being hauled into a small group, rope around them as the Wildlings and loyal Night's Watch people held them hostage.

"Throw 'em in the cages!" Tollett ordered.

The three, with Tormund, headed back upstairs and Robb finally allowed himself to grieve over Jon. He prayed to the Old Gods then the New for good measure and even the Sept. He felt all the grief he had over the years since their father's beheading drown him with tears.

"Surely your god can do something?" Robb heard Davos say. "Please, resurrect him. He has so much to offer."

Robb's wet eyes thankfully met Davos' empathetic ones. "Please," Robb begged the woman. "I'll pay you anything. I'll give you anything. Bring him back alive."

"We'll need to clean him," Melissandre finally said heavily. "Strip him down."

They quickly got to work and soon she began her rituals, washing Jon down, grazing her fingers over his stab wounds which made Robb sick.

He'd seen stab wounds and worse before, especially after helping his wife - the gods rest her soul - amputate a man's leg. But his brother pierced with violent wounds, marks of betrayal for wanting to do the honourable thing... if he had anything in his stomach, he'd vomit all he had.

When she was finished, Robb noticed Ghost lay down in mourning.

It was too late or never meant to be.

Jon was dead and now he'd have to do this alone. Reclaim his throne and siblings alone.

His best friend, confidant and brother was truly gone.

One by one, the men and Melissandre left, the latter feeling guilty for not being able to do anything for him and his brother.

"Maybe the Lord of the Light has no use for him," she said ruefully. "I'll leave you in peace."

She left and Robb's tears returned. He gripped tightly onto Jon's arms and begged him to wake up, promising everything and anything he could just to see those broody grey eyes again.

"We never should have left Winterfell," he sobbed. "Father never should have accepted King Robert's proposal to be Hand of the King. We'd still be happy and you wouldn't have joined this damned place."

Robb wiped his tears and set his face, putting his borrowed cloak on and grabbing the spare sword, attaching it to his hip and forcing the damaged door open wide.

He found Davos outside, and the man bowed slightly.

"Your Grace," he said. "I'm sorry about your brother."

Robb was about to speak but the sound of air being taken into formerly damaged lungs caught his attention and he glanced at Davos before the both of them rushed into the room again, Robb taking the lead.

The door was forced open again and almost fell off its hinges. It wasn't the door's last legs they were concerned about.

"Jon..." Robb whispered, staring at his stark as a babe brother.

Jon looked around, confusion and fear in his eyes as he tried to get off the table.

Robb rushed to his side, his cloak off to cover up his brother and hug him tightly.

"What...? Why am I...?" Jon looked close to tears, clinging to Robb with every strength he had.

"Let's get him dressed. We'll tell him what happened after," said Davos.

Soon after, everyone loyal to Jon - including Robb and a red-haired woman who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere - surrounded him in amazement, sympathy and joy.

Whilst helping him get dressed, Davos had told him that the Lord of Light maybe wanted him to kill the boy he once was and let the man live as well as other life lessons. Even Melissandre was surprised, stating that she didn't entirely know why he was brought back. In her mind, he was Azor Ahai reborn rather than Stannis.

"You need to kill them for their treason!" Tormund roared angrily. "Killing a man with no weapon brings dishonour and should be punishable by death."

"Killing an innocent man should be punishable, period," Robb gritted out.

"I will not kill them. They're here for a reason-" Jon began.

"No. You must kill them," Robb said.

Jon turned to his brother and furrowed his eyebrows. When did he become so bloodthirsty? Jon thought.

"It would be wise," admitted Davos.

Jon stood up. "Round up the men and bring the prisoners to be hanged for their treason." He sighed heavily.

Robb smiled to himself and nodded, watching Edd and a few men head outside with Tormund in tow with the redheaded woman. Even Melissandre retreated to her quarters with Davos following her. Robb then turned to his brother.

"Now that your Watch will have ended, what will you do?"

"I don't know. Move to Essos."

Robb's heart stopped. "I've only just got you back-"

"Come with me, brother. We can leave everything behind-"

"Our home-"

"We'll search for Arya-"

"Sansa-"

"We'll get the boys back-"

"There must always be a Stark in Winterfell. You're talking madness! Let's go home and get it back!" Robb cried out.

Jon slammed the table, making cups full of ale spill. "I've just been murdered. I'm tired, Robb! I've been fighting ever since I left Winterfell-"

"So have I!"

"And I paid for all of those years with my life. Robb, I cannot do this no longer."

"We'll see how you feel in a few days. If you still want to leave, I won't stop you. I didn't when you joined the Night's Watch. We left as boys and here we are as men," Robb whispered the last bit. "Men with different paths, how it has always been as I've realised."

"I'll visit you all the time, Your Grace," Jon breathed out.

Robb looked up at him. "I'm your brother. Never refer me to as otherwise. I see you as an equal, I always have. Mother never turned me against you. I wasn't afraid of you usurping me. I had dreamed that when it was time for me to become Lord of Winterfell after Father's death in old age, I'd have you by my side. And on the battlefield after Father's beheading, I would have had you as my Lord Commander in my Kingsguard. Where I went, you went."

Jon was stunned. All his life, he was evidently overshadowed by the Tully looking young lord or king and now, here the man was, telling Jon how highly he thought of him.

"I tried so hard," Jon whispered. "To hate you but I could never hate you. I loved you and when I thought you were dead... I wanted nothing more than to see you again and our siblings again."

"As I fought to leave the wedding, all I could think about was; my wife, my child, Grey Wind and my siblings. That includes you." Robb smiled.

The door opened and Edd bowed to Robb before informing Jon that everything was ready.

"Let's go and make our father proud," Robb told Jon. "Remember what he said not to do?"

"To look away," nodded Jon.

"Good. Let's go."

Notes for this chapter:

(1) Robb reunites with Jon at Castle Black.

(2) Grey Wind is alive and is protecting Arya after she and Robb parted.

(3) Robb explains how he reunited with Arya and their plans to come home to the North.

(4) Robb tells Jon that Sansa was taken as Ramsay Bolton's wife.

(5) Robb's maternal side's bannermen were almost wiped out along with the Stark forces.

(6) Jon and Robb share a moment from their childhood.

(7) Jon is called away to find out information about their uncle, Benjen Stark. Jon is murdered.

(8) He is quickly resurrected as in the show by Melissandre and he tells Robb that he wishes to leave Castle Black for Essos. He also tells him that they will find their siblings and leave.

This was re-edited on 04/04/19.