The Winter sworn

Part 2

Chapter 5

Riverlands

8 years later…..

Jon looked around the camp. The men were in high spirits. It had taken them a moon and a half to get the vanguard across the Shivering Sea but, they were finally here. The passage had been rough but, thank the gods, all their boats made it. He had wanted to take the full strength of the Wintersworn but, Asher had convinced him otherwise. Supply routes and fall back positions needed to be set up. Armies lived and died on their stomachs, without a stable supply chain, armies committed unspeakable acts in the name of their lord. It would do Robb no good for the rest of the kingdom to label his men more savage then they already perceived them. Robb's march south was as much political as it was marital.

"Lord Commander, we have a spy from the twins requesting to see us." Lucius said.

"Gods Vorenus, you can call me Jon when were alone. You and Pullo trained me for gods sakes." Jon said.

Lucius smirked.

"Sorry Lord Commander but, I have to disobey that order. If I started taking liberties the men of lesser rank would feel free to do the same. I can't and I won't, ever obey that order." Lucius Vorenus said.

"Gods Vorenus, sometimes I wish it could just be me, you, and Pullo again. It was a lot simpler when it was just the three of us. I relish the time when it was just the three of us against the world." Jon said.

Vorenus smirked.

"I think you and Pullo have a different perspective than I do of our adventures. I seem to recall trying to keep two brats alive in the Dothraki Sea, while you and Pullo were bragging about what you would do with Khal Rhako when you found him." Vorenus said.

Jon laughed at the visual that Vorenus painted in his mind. He was so stupid then.

"Well, you were the best babysitter a candidate could ask for." Jon said.

Vorenus rolled his eyes.

"I better get back to Pullo and our guest. Are you still waiting for your wolves?"

"Aye, I'm going to stay out here a few more minutes. Ghost and Midnight bolted when we made camp. They went to get something. What, I don't know." Jon said.

Vorenus nodded.

"See, you soon."

One hour later….

Jon walked into his command tent and Vorenus, Pullo, and the spy, stood up and saluted.

"At ease." Jon said before making his way to his desk.

He looked at the spy and found she was quite pleasing to the eye. No wonder it was so easy for her to spy on the twins.

"Report." Jon said.

"Infiltrator and first spear, Alys Grafton, reporting lord commander." Alys said.

"First spear Alys, Vorenus said that you had important information." Jon said.

"Aye Lord Commander. Our king is two days from the twins but, that isn't important."

Alys then took two scrolls and slid them across his desk.

Jon read them and was instantly incensed.

"How recent are these scrolls?" Jon asked.

"They came in within the week." Alys answered.

"Very well. First spear Alys, the North is indebted to you." Alys nodded.

"Can you get back inside?" Jon asked.

"Yes. I told them I was visiting my mother for a couple of days." Alys said.

"Can you get a couple of ours in with you?" Jon asked.

"No, the men would be suspicious but, the women…" Alys said.

Jon nodded. He knew what she meant. She was an infiltrator for the North. The most treacherous and dangerous of his Northern forces. They were black widows just waiting to eat their prey and he knew their value.

"Pullo, take Alys to the infiltrators. Tell them it's an A class mission and they will be paid accordingly. Also, tell them to put an S class mission on Alys's record." Jon said.

"For services rendered." Jon said while he nodded to Alys.

"Thank you, sir." Alys said before saluting and leaving with Pullo.

Once they left, Jon turned to Vorenus.

"Is it bad?" Vorenus asked.

"It's worse." Jon said while showing the Lannister and Bolton correspondence with the Freys.

"They mean to betray us." Jon said.

"Aye."

"Muster the men. We break camp tonight. We need to fade into the darkness as soon as we can." Jon said.

"Aye, but, that's not all. Is it?"

"No."

"The Bolton men must know their orders by now and we hear no alarms. Our King rides for the Twins without even a whiff of disloyalty." Jon said while shaking his head.

Jon poured himself some wine drank from his goblet.

"Tell our men to integrate into the Northern Army when it arrives. Have every Wintersworn in the Northern Banners vouch for our men. Tell them they are reinforcements from White Harbor, I don't care. Order them to have no drink or food from the camp. What they take with them will be their only sustenance." Jon said.

"Very well." Vorenus saluted before making his way out of the tent.

"Vorenus. That's not all." Jon said.

Lucius stopped before he opened the tent flap.

"King Robb can't have a dagger at his back after he's done with the twins. Order our men to kill everyone ranked above a foot soldier in the Bolton army. Lords, lesser lords, squires, and the like. If they have command experience of any type, they die." Jon said.

Vorenus sighed.

"No exceptions?" Vorenus asked.

Jon closed his eyes as he drank more of the Arbor Gold.

"No exceptions." Jon said.

Vorenus saluted once more before leaving to complete the task.

Jon watched his lieutenant leave. He didn't want to give the order but, it was better he do it, than Robb. Robb was too honorable for the distasteful things required for command. He was like with father in that way. He used to be that way but, not anymore. He learned his lessons in Essos well.

"We pave the way for better men." Cregan Stark said in his journal and Jon never forgot it. Kings were benevolent, their generals, less so. A king had to be above reproach. He set the direction while others like himself did the work. Robb couldn't afford to be muddled in the details. Especially, details like the orders he just put forth.

Jon opened the well-worn journal in from his desk. Its words held more weight now then they had when he first read them.

3 AC…..

King Aegon has made his threat. He threatens to bring the wall down with his dragons if we don't surrender. I plan to surrender fully to my brother on the morrow and ask for his mercy. Of course, this is just a show. My brother has already passed the sentence. Me and those of my faction are exiled. Families and all. The moment we leave, we will be decried in public as murderers and traitors. Villains in the North, forever. We are never to return.

I have already talked with Tohhren and realized that there was no other way. We will be the villains in this story while Tohhren and Aegon are the heroes. Tohhren bids me to accept in public and obey in private. He tasked me with building up northern assets in Essos. He told me personally that the Targaryen's and their dragons won't be around forever. And when they fall, he'll instruct his heirs to personally welcome us home.

I sighed and personally gave my word that this last mission would be done. I shake my head and wonder what the bards will think of us. I knew it would end this way. I was a northern fool for thinking my plans would work but, given another chance I'd do it all again. Tohhren, could never accomplish what we've accomplished. His crown and his honor have tied his hands. I have no such constraints.

I only hope that Tohhren wises up and sees our accomplishments for what they were. If it wasn't for the threat of the wall, we would have won. Unfortunately, I fear that our deeds will be buried along with Bran the Builder.

My men will be after thoughts in a song while Tohhren will be praised forever. Saving his men from dragons and breaking his crown is what history will remember. People like him, like my brother, will always be the leaves that thrive in the sun, while we, the protectors, the burners, ….the traitors, will be the roots that grow in the shade. Perhaps that is how it's meant to be. One son shining in the sun, while another grows in the shade….

Authors Note: Well, that escalated quickly. I've had the writing bug for the past month or so and started to give this a try. I totally abandoned this story until forty five minutes ago. Unfortunately, after I wrote it, I just said wtf did I just write? Well, you know what I'm gonna say. please read and review. Happy fourth of July.