A Time for Wolves

Jon II

The ten days he had agreed on with Stannis had come and gone, and Jon had not talked with him again. Now he was Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, and it seemed to Jon that accepting the self-proclaimed king's offer would mean to forsake his duty to his sworn brothers, who had chosen him as their leader. Besides, who would be Lord Commander if he quitted? Janos Slynt? Jon thought it was a terrible choice, but he was likely to end in the position if Jon rejected it.

After breaking his fast he went to Stannis's chambers. The king had not specifically requested his presence, but Jon imagined he would be waiting for him nonetheless, to finish the discussion they had started before the end of the choosing. When he got to the king's chambers, he found that the door was guarded by two men. One of the guards opened it and informed the king that the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch was waiting without and, at his king's command, he let Eddard Stark's son in.

The king was sitting in front of a wooden desk with many candles, maps and letters on it, at the back of the room. Jon approached him and stopped when he was at some paces from him.

"Good morning, Your Grace" Jon said, bowing. "I am here to discuss the matter we have talked about before I was chosen Lord Commander, of my legitimization, and the northern lords' loyalty."

"Good morning, Lord Commander Snow. As far as I know, we have already discussed that matter, and the only thing missing is your reply. Do you accept my offer, or do you not?" Stannis said dryly, but he gestured toward the chair in front of him, inviting him to take a sit. Jon sat down before answering.

"I meant to accept it, but then I was chosen Lord Commander," Jon explained. "I don't want to forsake the brothers who chose me and leave the Wall without a leader. That is why, although I would really like to take your offer, my duty to the Night's Watch demand that I turn it down. This is my answer, Your Grace. But if somehow I can help you without leaving my post, I swear that I will, because of all the kings that there are now in Westeros, you are the one who most deserves the title."

"I am the only king of Westeros: the others are usurpers of my throne," he corrected severely, staring intently at him. "You are an honorable and dutiful man, Lord Jon. I am not used to making concessions, but this time it may be worth it. I will make you another proposal, then: that you are Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and Lord of Winterfell at the same time. The laws that forbid the men of the Watch to intervene in the wars of Westeros or to have families were established many centuries ago, to focus the men of the Watch in one objective alone. And that worked while the Watch had a good reputation, but now it is different: the men that are now defending the Wall are not enough, many rangers have gone missing and many others are deserting. This is the time to change the rules. The Lannisters changed the Kingsguard; I want you to change the Night's Watch."

"Do you think I can be Lord Commander and Lord of Winterfell at the same time? That I can get married and have children without being a deserter?" Jon challenged the king's idea. "I don't think my sworn brothers will like that."

"Whatever goes for you, Lord Snow, will go for them. If you accept this offer, you will give your sworn brothers the right of getting married and having children, as long as they continue living in the Wall's castles, and the firstborn son of each of them should be given to the Night's Watch too. And they will be allowed to inherit lands, but they would be after their siblings in the succession, and they will not visit their castles more frequently than you, the Lord Commander, allow them. I don't think your brothers would object to these terms."

"If those terms were accepted by the majority of my brothers, I would undoubtedly accept them too. But once you named me 'Lord Stark of Winterfell', my duty in the Wall would remain my first priority, because the threat of the Others is far more urgent and dangerous than the war against the Lannisters and the Ironmen. Many years may go by before I could honor the promise I made you."

"I will not ask you to neglect your duty as Commander, Lord Snow. The only thing I want is that you send a raven to each castle of House Stark's bannermen explaining our situation: the two wars we are fighting. Ask every loyal bannerman to send a small number of men to the Wall, to help the Watch without taking the black. Those men would be returned to their homes as soon as the Others' threat is over. You should ask your bannermen to simulate being on the Lannisters' side for now. But when I march south to defeat Lord Bolton, they should join me, and help me conquer the Seven Kingdoms. I also want you to come with me when I conquer the North, but as soon as that region is under my power you will be free to go back to the Wall and fight against the White Walkers."

Even though this proposal seemed impossible, it did not demand of him anything he was unwilling to give, and it let him do his duty at the same time as it handed him over Winterfell and his father's titles, which he had never been allowed even to think of possessing. It was very tempting, but even so, he could not make so important decisions that involved so many people without even knowing what his men thought on that. The Old Bear's death had taught him that, when angered, some men would not think it twice before baring steel against their Lord Commander, and making this decision on his own would probably offend them. Besides, he had yet to discuss Melisandre and her Red God.

"I accept your offer then, if my brothers don't object. And if you swear to me that you will allow the North to keep to the Old Gods, and that the weirwoods will not be harmed."

"I swear by the Old Gods, by the New and by R'hllor, that the northern godswoods will remain undamaged if you choose to support me. Now kneel, Jon Snow, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch."

Jon did as Stannis told him. As a boy, he had fantasied many times with the idea of being legitimated, but he had never wished it to be like that. He wondered how he would explain that to his sworn brothers. Maybe Stannis would do it for him, but it would not be convenient, because it could make the men of the Watch think that their Commander was being controlled by a king, as if he were a mere bannerman, and the Watch a simple group of knights and warriors at his service. Looking fixedly and solemnly to Jon's eyes, Stannis touched Jon's shoulders lightly with the sword they called Lightbringer.

"Arise, Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Lord Commander of the Night's Watch."

Jon rose, feeling sad and a little guilty. In his boyhood's dreams, his father was always there when he was given the surname of his House, and that name was never accompanied by the title of Lord of Winterfell, being both his father and Robb alive. It was precisely because all of his brothers had died that Jon was finally a Stark, and he could not help but feel guilty for it, even though he had never wished for any of them to die.

"I swear to serve you with my life, my king, as long as my duty to the Night's Watch is not affected," Jon told Stannis, because it was the only oath he was willing to keep.

"I accept your service, Lord Jon Stark, and I name you Warden of the North, and I charge you with the duty of defending the North and keeping the King's peace there in my name. Your lord father held that title in his life, and I hope that in the future it remains in the hands of the House Stark of Winterfell, by means of your children and descendants."

"It is a great honor, Your Grace. I thank you once more for coming here, and for the help you promised the Night's Watch. But, how will we explain this agreement to the men of Castle Black?"

"I can do it myself if you want, Lord Stark. However, I think that a speech from their Lord Commander would be more convincing and effective."

"I agree, Your Grace. But, what will I tell them? What will they think of me? That I am neither honorable enough to live in accordance with the vows I swore nor honest enough to admit it, and that I changed the laws to avoid the deserters' punishment?" Suddenly he felt anxious about explaining this complicated idea to his sworn brothers. He would most likely be misunderstood, insulted and called an oath breaker.

"You very well know, Jon Stark, that that is not the truth. Tell them the true reason that convinced you to accept my offer. Explain to them that your plan is not to abandon the Night's Watch when the realms of men need you most, but to get an ally in that fight. Do it this very night, Lord Stark," the king ordered.

"As Your Grace commands," Jon accepted and, by Stannis's leave, he withdrew from the room.

He went to Maester Aemon's chambers to tell Sam and the Maester what had happened. He found them busy with some letters from the Shadow Tower and Eastwach by the Sea, but when they saw their Lord Commander they left it right away. Jon sat with them and told them of his conversations with the king, while they listened, the maester attentively and Sam open-mouthed.

"These are good news. If we can get the northern Lords' help, we will have more possibilities against the White Walkers. Declaring for Stannis seems a small enough price," Sam said after Jon had told them everything.

"I think the same, but it worries me that the other men may not. Janos Slynt could use it against me, even though he does not care one bit about honor."

"I am at your service, Jon Stark, as I was when you were Snow," said Maester Aemon. "Your decision will change the Night's Watch almost completely, but your reasons are good enough to justify it and, considering our present situation, this change could very well be our last hope when the Others truly attack the Wall. I think that most of your brothers will respect your choice once they understand it, and those who don't will be the ones that had decided from the beginning not to respect you."

That night, before having dinner, he went to the Common Hall and, standing in the center of it, to make certain everybody could see him, he asked everybody who was there (black brothers, wildlings and Stannis' men) to make silence and listen to him.

"I want to make an announcement for all of you. I want you to listen until I am done speaking, so you can understand what is happening before you decide to insult me or to criticize my choice. May I ask that of you?" He had decided that by starting this way he would avoid being insulted and disrespected, and he would not have to lose so much time trying to explain and justify himself amidst shouts and boos.

"Many of you have seen with your own eyes the threat beyond the Wall," Jon said after most of the men had agreed to hear him out without interrupting him. "Winter is coming, and the Others are moving forward. We men can't keep on fighting with each other if we mean to survive. The Night's Watch needs help, and Stannis has offered it. Both of us have made an agreement that involves many changes for the Watch, but many advantages too. This deal is not definitive, and it will only be agreed on if it is accepted by you, the men of the Night's Watch, who will vote on this matter after you hear the whole plan. Because even if as your Lord Commander I could make this choice by myself, I thought it would be better to take into account my sworn brothers' opinion on so important a matter as this one."

And thus, having the attention of all the men, who felt flattered and especially interested, knowing that their opinions would be listened to, he proceeded to explain Stannis's plan. When he finished talking, his friends cheered him, and Jon, triumphant, went to their table and sat with them, who congratulated him and expressed their surprise, because Jon had not mentioned anything of that to them before. The vote was carried out after dinner, in the same way as the Lord Commander's Election, but in this case there were only two options: 'yes' and 'no'. Most of them voted 'yes', and the matter was settled.

That night Jon slept soundly, and he dreamed that he was at the gates of Castle Black, facing the Kingsroad. In the distance he could see a girl walking on the road, drawing near and calling to him, asking for help. He could not see her clearly, but he knew who she was nonetheless. Jon got up and started running towards her, but a voice behind him made him stop.

"Your pack is scattered and winter is coming. But different roads often lead to the same castle. There is still hope, for the living," it said.

He turned round to see the man who had talked to him, but there was nobody there. However, the mysterious voice spoke again.

"You must not look for her. She knows where you are, but you don't know where to find her. That is why it has to be your sister the one who comes to you, and not the other way around. Wait for her here, and soon she will come."

Jon looked around again, trying to find out where the voice came from. The only thing he found was a crow; a three-eyed-crow that was looking intently at him.

Jon turned to the Kingsroad again, decided to ignore the crow and to find Arya. But when he did, she was not there anymore.