I felt especially inspired.

Chapter 41: A Back is Turned from Purpose

Castle Black

Jon felt unwell and shivering, not from the cold but like parts of him were still getting used to moving and feeling again.

And Ygritte, he never wanted his first sight to be her lying on the floor and ice-cold from being the catalyst to bring him back from wherever he had gone after perishing from this world.

The former Lord Commander of the Night's Watch took in a heavy breath, lowering the torch and lighting the pyre which he built himself in the last four days.

Arya, Arthur, everyone, they all stood behind him and had worried expressions on their faces. He hasn't spoken to anyone since he came back, not even a long glace or greeting to even Ghost who hasn't left his side since.

"Jon?" Arthur called and put a hand on his shoulder, "Did you see anything over there, did you see father?" Jon turned his head slightly to look at him.

"I saw nothing at all, only blackness, only silence." Arthur didn't look so surprised but was disappointed, he can understand that pain.

If all there is on the other side is darkness, then that means their fallen comrades and family are neither peace nor happily reunited. Ygritte isn't at rest, his brother's child and wife aren't at rest, no one they've ever known is watching them as they like to believe.

All of it is a lie, just something for foolish children to grow up believing until they too meet their ends.

"It's time to go home, brother, you can go home." That's right, isn't it? He swore life and death to the Night's Watch.

He fought, he died, and served his duty. Now, he is free to choose which path he wants to follow.

Jon Snow sighed heavily against the falling snow and burning wood, looking at his brother and then walking to the Lord Commander's chambers.

The red stain isn't something to come out, not now, anyway. Jon sat down and picked up the tunic and felt the hole caused by the bolt Olly shot at him.

His door opened and Edd walked in with the look of anger in his eyes, "You are leaving us?" He didn't answer his friend, he couldn't bare to admit it.

Jon didn't say anything, but, everyone clearly felt it from how he's been brushing all other Night's Watch off. He even snapped at a recruit, saying that he wasn't Lord of anything anymore.

"How could you abandon us, your men need you." Jon slammed his hands on the table and stood up, angrily looking at Edd.

"I did everything I could- "

"You swore a vow- "

"Aye, I pledge my life to the Night's Watch, I gave my life- "

"For all nights to come!" Jon didn't know what to say to convince Edd that he was done.

They were his brothers, they betrayed him in the most horrible of ways and he's supposed to remain and protect them from what's coming? He will go home, try to convince his family to go as far South as South goes, and wait out the coming storm.

"What about Jeor, or Grenn or Pyp, what about your own uncle who gave everything for this Order? You will be spitting in their graves, Jon." He doesn't believe that, he has done everything he could to stem the tide that coming against the Wall.

"You are the Lord Commander, Edd. You have Alliser and Tormund to help when the Night's Watch and Free Folk are fighting... But I cannot stay here, not after what was done." They also have the North, Arthur is a greater Commander than he has to beat Stannis and the Traitors.

Edd shook his head and turned to leave, Jon stopped him and passed him Longclaw. "You will need this, it kills White Walkers and Wights." Edd brushed it off and left the room in anger, though, he stopped to say one more thing.

"I don't want it, Jeor gave it to you. Because he believes in your ability to lead us, I guess he was wrong." With that, his second to the last friend left him with words to scar his heart further than when Olly shot that bolt, Jon wanted to speak but he couldn't form the words.

Jon Snow sighed and leaned against the desk, closing his eyes and thinking his and Ygritte's cave and the feel of her skin on his own.

He packed every one of his belongings and for a long moment, he looked at Longclaw, remembering that Jeor told him to never lose it again. He should leave it for Edd but the man won't take it.

Making the decision, he tied it around his waist and left the room and rejoined his brother and sister. Val and some eighty Free Folk wished to travel South, most young children, and the sick. Arthur agreed as his proof has convinced him that the true threat isn't men like them but the White Walkers, their army of the dead.

"I'm glad you're coming home, brother," Arya said sincerely, Jon felt a fading smile return and he reached over to ruffle her hair.

Arthur was quiet, often glancing at Melisandre who rode not far from him. He remembered her speaking to him when he woke, spewing things and saying that he is the 'Prince Who Was Promised', one of three prophecies spoken in her order.

He didn't so much as care at the time, he only saw the body of his love on the ground and demanded to know why.

"Arthur, you stare at the woman. Why?" He asked whilst being slightly defensive, Arthur grimaced a response before speaking.

"King Stannis had me swear before his death that Melisandre must die, I'd like to keep my promise." He stopped his horse, Arthur stopped as well and was confused but then realized. "You don't think I should do it?" He shook his head, feeling owed a favor.

"Stannis is dead, his men are dead, what use does a promise mean to you?" Arthur was shocked to hear him say that, even he was surprised.

"She saved you, I can't possibly kill her for the deed, can I?" He smiled and Arthur turned his head to Melisandre herself, "You won't speak or spread your religion to any in the North, do so and you will see what the Old Gods are capable of. Am I understood?" The Red Woman hesitated to speak but nodded, promising to keep her preaching to herself.

"Now let us head for home!" The caravan picked up speed, they need to get back to Winterfell before the next snowstorm comes and traps them for another bad night.

In Arthur's mind, they were making good progress back to Winterfell although he wished those ships of Stannis were whole.

Seven vessels were missing from the fleet, he had the Commander of Eastwatch explain himself personally and what he heard was both troubling and relieving.

Shireen Baratheon and Devan Seaworth had arrived with several men, crowning Shireen the Queen of Westeros before assembling all sailors and filling them on seven ships from the fleet and had left soon after.

With all things considered, he did fulfill one of Stannis's wishes. The daughter is alive and well, the question now remains whether she will leave the North be for the death of her father.

Arthur took a deep breath, removing Robb's crown of iron and bronze the running a hand through his hair.

The Dread Wolf looked back a moment, seeing Arya at Jon's side once more, then he eyed Princess Val from afar. He only met her once and now he is quite fixated, the woman is very beautiful for a Wildling beyond the Wall.

He remembered Robb telling him about the Wildling woman who he took prisoner, Osha. Frankly, it painted him a terrible impression on Wildling beauty but Theon had pounced upon her once and was quickly removed by Maester Luwin.

A tear found itself running down his face, Arthur wiped it away and kept riding onward with less and fewer thoughts on his brother or the people lost to the chaos.

The sky had begun to darken as they neared the edges of the Last River, "We shall stop for the night, be prepared to leave by noon on the morrow." He said to everyone around him, the 2,082 man host then started to set up camp.

The King of the North was patrolling the camp when the moon started to climb, he heard a splashing sound and investigated the noise to be met with both a surprising but pleasing sight.

It was Val, again. His purple eyes watched her nakedness bathing, taking a bucket of water and pouring it on her golden hair which clung to her white skin.

He'd have left silently if not for spooking a nearby crow, the creature flew in Val's direction and she followed its appearance until her eyes found him. She didn't rush to cover herself, only used an arm to shield her bosom from his gaze.

"I hadn't realized the King of Winter was a lustful wolf, your highness?" He chuckled and brazenly sat upon a large stone, she pierced him with her pale grey eyes, an air of bravery swells around her.

"I can control my lust, Princess, you wouldn't want to meet my uncle Brandon- A real wolf, that one." He remarked and pulled on his wolf cloak, made for by Sansa. "You must be chilled, you are welcome to have my company for the night?" He offered and the Princess looked to consider then he saw the most fearsome smirk on her lips.

"Mine is warmer and you are welcome to steal into it at any time, Dread Wolf. Once you are gelded, you'll be fortunate to have a brother to claim your throne for you." She said back in a challenging way before walking behind a bush and throwing around herself a cloak of heavy furs, she approached him and was mere inches from basically sitting in his lap. "Quit your staring, Arthur Snow. If you want me, you must work for it." She left him moments after, his eyes trailed and he found himself very intimidated.

What a woman, the same fire in her eyes as Mya and Asha. Yet, unlike his encounters with Asha, Val brought out a desire to have her within him.

Dawn arrived soon and he and Jon decided to ride ahead, together like they used to when or after their father executed someone. "Jon?" He started and found himself choking a bit, "Val, the Wildling woman. She said that I would need to work to have her, what does she mean?" He honestly didn't know and Jon actually showed him a smile for the first time since he was brought back, a real smile.

"It's Free Folk if you are serious, Arthur?" Not completely but he is interested, Jon sighed and continued. "The Free Folk believes that a man should steal the woman they want, and the woman should fight back fiercely. They shun the stealing of married women and inter-marriage." A strange tradition, but Arthur assumed that the North did such things before laws and crowns.

"And Val, she is not wedded?" Jon shook his head, saying that her supposed husband fell to his death during the first hours of the Battle of Castle Black.

"Arthur, do you intend to marry again?" He'll need a strong heir, more than once he pondered marrying one of Lord Manderly's daughters or once thought of taking Asha to wife but he wasn't ready.

"A marriage between Northman and Wild- Free Folk is something to consider, and Mya is gone, along with the child she carried." He said mournfully and felt Jon's sympathy, he accepted it wholeheartedly.

They rode on in silence for a long time, would have been quiet the entire time until Jon surprised him with a question.

"Arthur." He turned and his cousin continued, "Days before you left for home, you said to me that I was no ordinary man, I want to know why you said that?" Arthur stopped his horse and tried to think of what to say, he looked at Jon who waited for his response.

Jon isn't a man of the Night's Watch, anymore. He died and fulfilled his vows, now he's a free man with decisions to make.

Perhaps now is the right time to tell him who he really is, about whose blood runs in his veins, and to defend his father if Jon's reaction is negative to knowing the truth.

"Jon... " He lost his tongue, now isn't the time. "We have time to rest, no more wars or battles for now. We go home, we feast and get really drunk... Then I shall explain everything." Jon seemed a little impatient, but ran with his decision on the topic.

The brothers rode on for the next several hours, having the men make camp and then rose to set off when morning came.

Coming out of the Wolfswood, Jon saw home for the first time in a very long time. Arthur and Arya were smiling together, the family was united once more and won't ever be scattered from one another ever again.

AN: Okay before I start, let me inform everyone on one single change. Arthur will be pursuing marriage with Val, Jon and Dany will be as they were although it will be different as to how their bonding is arranged.

The romance side of things only a small half of the story, this change to me comes as a way to turn this from having the outcome the Rodrik Arryn had with getting together with Daenerys Targaryen.

With that being said, I apologize for the short chapter, again. The next will be at least 4k or more as we'll be adding more Lannister, Daenerys, and Stark scenes. Now, to the guest review.

Guest, The idea is intriguing which is why I changed course. I don't see what you meant by Jon and Arthur fighting each other, perhaps a little more info is needed. Arthur was going to, but he is conflicted since she was the one to bring Jon back, so he's relented... For now.

Now with that out of the way, I hope everyone is well and for those Stateside, happy Labor Day. The best days are yet to come, we just need to have faith in ourselves, our nations, and whatever is out there.