The Songs of Winter | Robb Stark

Chapter 16

Robb Stark

I bring my shield up just in time, Jon's sword slamming into it with a heavy thud that reverberates through my arm, the force sending a jolt through my muscles. My body strains under the impact, but I grit my teeth and hold firm, pushing back against his strength. Jon's relentless. His movements are fluid, precise—he's not just fighting, he's dancing with his blade, each strike and parry a masterful display of control.

My thoughts, however, are scattered. As we continue to spar, my mind drifts to everything waiting for me outside the walls of Castle Black: the responsibilities I can't escape, the weight of reclaiming and saving the North before those White Walkers decide to cross that wall, and the fear of failing my family. The uncertainty of it all threatens to overwhelm me—my head feels like it could explode from the pressure. Nothing in my life at the moment is guaranteed, and I hate it.

"You're overreaching," Jon says, sidestepping my swing with effortless grace. His dark eyes are locked on me, tracking every move I make, every mistake. "When you swing, keep your stance low. If your footing is off, you'll leave yourself wide open."

I nod, trying to take his advice to heart, but my focus is split, my mind too restless. I press forward again, shifting my weight lower this time, but Jon is quicker. His sword flashes, parrying my strike with ease. He twists his blade under mine, and I stumble back, struggling to keep my balance.

"You need to stop relying on brute strength alone," Jon says, his voice calm but firm as he circles me. He's like a wolf, patient, calculating. "This isn't a battlefield where you can just charge in. You have to be smarter than that."

Frustration bubbles up inside me. I know I'm a good fighter—not as good as Jon, but I'm skilled in my own right. Yet here I am, struggling to keep up with him. I swallow my pride, nodding again, determined to do better.

I adjust my stance, lowering my center of gravity like Jon instructed, and strike again. This time, I manage to block his first hit, then the second. My heart hammers in my chest as I push forward, the sound of our swords clashing ringing through the cold air. For a brief moment, it feels like I'm gaining ground, driving Jon back across the courtyard.

But then, with a quick sweep of his leg, Jon knocks me off balance. I crash to the ground, the packed dirt beneath me jarring my spine. Before I can react, Jon's sword is at my throat, the cold steel pressing lightly against my skin.

"You're improving," Jon says, his voice steady as he pulls the blade away and offers me a hand. There's no smugness in his tone, just a simple acknowledgment of progress.

"Improving?" I laugh breathlessly, accepting his hand and pulling myself up. "Felt more like you handed me my arse."

Jon grins. "That's because I did." He sheathes his sword, stepping back to give me space. "But you're learning. That's what matters."

I stand there, catching my breath, rubbing the back of my neck as the wind howls around us. The cold at Castle Black is biting, cutting through my tunic, but after the intensity of the sparring, it feels almost refreshing.

"Your mind isn't here," Jon says, his eyes narrowing. "I can see it in your movements. You're distracted."

I sigh heavily, the weight of it all pressing down on me again. "Everything's in disarray," I admit quietly. "I know you don't want me to act just yet, but I can't stay still any longer, Jon. Aida's out there somewhere—our siblings, too—and the North is in the hands of the Boltons. If I don't start making moves soon, I'll lose everything. Again." I answer with a sigh.

I let out a slow, measured breath, trying to control the whirlwind of thoughts threatening to tear me apart. "You're right about what you said a while ago," I continued. "If those White Walkers come here and break through that Wall... every other war won't matter. Every kingdom, every crown will fall to dust. And the North?" I looked up, my eyes locking with his. "The North will be the first to face extinction."