The Lost Winter Rose

Chapter 4

For the past two days, Lyanna, much to her dismay, spent her days taking short walks around the halls of her home either with her sister, or Jon, whenever he had time to spare. Somehow, though it didn't take much convincing, Lyanna had managed to let Sansa cut off a good few inches of her hair. It was still long, longer than it had been when she had been captured, ending just near her waist. But truthfully, she preferred it that way. It was easier to braid it back and keep it out of her face.

It was the day after she had found Brienne in the courtyard that Jon had gathered every lord, warrior, and wildling to the great hall for a meeting. A meeting that should have happened as soon as the battle had been over and Winterfell had been reclaimed. However, Jon insisted that they would wait until his sister was healed properly, as he wished for her to be there too.

The meeting had gone as expected, the northern lords hadn't exactly warmed up to the wildlings, and while Jon was trying to convince them of the real enemy, the real threat, they had all but shunned him. What she hadn't expected, as Lyanna Mormont, no more than a child, she carried strength and bravery far more than any of the other men. She had stood up and called out Lord Manderly, Glover, and Cerwyn before turning to Jon and proclaimed him king in the north.

For a moment, silence loomed the hall, and Lyanna was almost worried that no one would stand behind Lady Mormont's proclamations, that was until Lord Manderly stood up.

"Lady Mormont speaks harshly and truly." He paused for a moment, "My son died for Robb Stark, the young wolf. I didn't think we'd find another king in my lifetime. I didn't commit my men to your cause 'cause I didn't want more Manderly's dying for nothing. But I was wrong," He said, letting his eyes fall upon the rest of the lords as he spoke with his voice raised. "Jon Snow avenged the red wedding. He is the white wolf. The king in the north." He drew his sword to the sky and kneeled.

Any doubt Lyanna had was washed away the moment Lord Glover stood up as Lord Manderly kneeled, his gaze pinned to the three siblings sitting at the large table in front of everyone.

"I did not fight beside you on the field, and I will regret that until my dying day. A man can only admit when he was wrong and ask forgiveness."

The room held their breath and turned their gaze to the dark-haired man sitting in front of them. Lyanna could see the look in Lord Glover's eyes, regret, but most of all pleading, pleading for his family, if not his pride.

"There's nothing to forgive, My Lord."

Lyanna could feel the pride growing in her chest as Jon spoke. How far hadn't he come? She remembered him being pushed aside and mistreated for something that was out of his reach, being sent to the night watch, beyond the wall, then back again, as he faced death and survived. Jon won the battle of the bastards and reclaimed their home. She could see the way some of the men started to look at him. Like the man that he is, no longer cursed by his last name but blessed by the blood in his veins—a true Stark.

"There will be more fights to come." Lord Glover said, his eyes going through the hall. "House Glover will stand behind House Stark, as we have for a thousand years, and I will stand behind Jon Snow." He took out his sword, raised it as he shouted. "The King in the North!"

Lyanna almost felt as if she was bursting with joy as all the other lords, warriors, and men, suddenly stood up, their swords unleashed, pointing to the hidden sky as they all chanted. King in the North, King in the North, King in the North. As Jon stood up, he looked at his two sisters, who sat on each side of him. Sansa gave him a small smile, while Lyanna couldn't help but let a proper grace her lips. She had, after all, been there when they kneeled for Robb, chanting at him and knew that he would have been so proud of Jon, as would their father.