A Song of Fire & Snow (GOT)(Jon Snow)

Chapter 14: Jon Snow

~To Be a King~

The wind howled outside Winterfell, the sound echoing like a mournful ghost as Jon Snow stood before the great map of the North in the war room. He traced the outline of the lands he swore to protect with his fingers, his thoughts heavy with the burden of leadership. The threat of the White Walkers loomed over them like a shadow, and time was running out.

"Jon," Sansa's voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. She entered the room, her expression serious as she approached him. "We need to talk about Eastwatch. Tormund and the Free Folk are willing to man the Wall, but what about the strongholds? What about the Umber and Karstark lands?"

Jon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I've already spoken with Tormund. He's agreed to take his people to Eastwatch. They'll help reinforce the Wall."

"That's good," Sansa said, her brow furrowing as she glanced at the map. "But we can't ignore the question of those lands. The Umber and Karstark children—"

"They are not responsible for their fathers' mistakes," Jon interrupted, his voice firm. "Their families have suffered enough. We need allies, not enemies. They will keep their lands and castles."

Sansa crossed her arms, frustration evident in her posture. "Jon, you're being too lenient. Those houses betrayed us. We should reward those who fought with us against the Boltons, not give power back to those whose families have been traitors."

"Those children have done nothing wrong," Jon argued, meeting her gaze. "To punish them for their fathers' choices would be unjust. We need to build bridges, not burn them."

"I understand that, but—" Sansa began, but Jon held up a hand.

"Let's take this to the council," he said, wanting to defuse the tension before it escalated further.

As they entered the hall, Jon felt the weight of his bannermen's gazes upon him. The air was thick with the anticipation of the decisions to come. Alarys stood at the edge of the room, her presence commanding even among the Northerners. Jon caught her eye, finding a momentary source of strength in her unwavering confidence.

"Lords of Winterfell," Jon began, raising his voice to address the gathered men. "We stand united against the threat of the White Walkers. But we must also address the question of the lands held by the Umbers and Karstarks."

Ned Umber and Alys Karstark stood before him, their expressions a mix of defiance and hope. Jon had decided to offer them a chance to swear fealty to House Stark, not just as a gesture of goodwill but as a way to reinforce the bonds of loyalty that had been so frayed in the North.

"They are children of their houses," Jon continued. "They have the right to keep their family lands and titles. I will not strip them of their birthright due to the sins of their fathers."

There was a murmur among the lords, and Sansa shifted beside him, clearly unconvinced. Jon glanced at her, catching the uncertainty in her eyes.

"My lord," Ned Umber stepped forward, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I pledge my loyalty to House Stark. We are not our fathers. We want to fight for the North, for our people."

Alys nodded in agreement. "The North needs unity now more than ever. We stand with you, Jon."

"Thank you," Jon replied, feeling a surge of gratitude towards them. "We will need all the strength we can muster for the battles ahead."

As the council continued, Jon could feel Sansa's disapproval radiating off her. She stood beside him, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Afterward, once the lords had dispersed, Jon motioned for her to follow him into a quieter chamber.

"Jon," Sansa began as soon as they were alone. "You know I respect you, but you can't keep ignoring the consequences of these decisions. You can't make the same mistakes our father and Robb made."

Jon leaned against the table, his expression softening. "Sansa, I appreciate your concern, but I need you to trust my judgment. The children of House Umber and House Karstark deserve a chance to prove themselves, just as we did."

"Prove themselves?" she repeated, incredulous. "They might be innocent now, but the North will remember their families' betrayals. You're inviting division at a time when we need unity."

"They're children, Sansa," Jon countered, his voice rising slightly. "I won't repeat the mistakes of our past by punishing them for what they didn't do."

Sansa took a step closer, her tone becoming softer. "I'm not saying you should punish them. But don't underestimate the consequences. You have to think strategically. And speaking of strategy..." She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "Have you considered how we'll deal with Daenerys Targaryen? The Dragon Queen?"

Jon felt a knot in his stomach at the mention of her name. "We will address her when the time comes. We need to focus on the Night King first."

"You're underestimating her," Sansa pressed, her eyes sharp. "She's powerful, and she's not someone to be taken lightly. I learned a lot from my time in King's Landing—especially about trust."

Jon studied her, realizing the depth of her concerns. "You don't trust Alarys either, do you?"

Sansa shook her head. "Not yet. She's a Dornish princess, and we don't know her motivations. You need to be cautious, Jon. I saw how you looked at her during dinner."

The heat of embarrassment washed over him. "It's not like that."

"Isn't it?" Sansa challenged, raising an eyebrow. "She's beautiful, confident, and has an undeniable charm. But remember—your heart can't cloud your judgment. You can't let your feelings for her influence your decisions as a leader."

Jon felt a surge of frustration. "You're my sister. I respect your opinion, but questioning my decisions in front of the lords and Alarys undermines my authority. You could have done that in private."

"Maybe I should have," Sansa conceded, her expression softening. "But it's not just about us. It's about the North and what's at stake. I don't want you to be manipulated or distracted. We've lost enough already."

"I know that," Jon replied, his tone earnest. "But we have to work together. We can't afford division among us, not now."

Sansa nodded, her features relaxing slightly. "You're a good ruler, Jon. Just don't forget the lessons we've learned. Cersei taught me that loyalty can be bought, but trust is something that takes time to build."

Jon exhaled, appreciating her concern but feeling the weight of his own responsibilities pressing down on him. "I won't forget. I promise."

As they shared a moment of understanding, the tension between them eased. But the unease in Jon's heart lingered, a reminder of the challenges ahead. He couldn't shake the feeling that the path forward would be treacherous, filled with choices that could change everything.

As they left the chamber, Jon felt a flicker of determination ignite within him. He had to be strong, not just for himself but for the North. With the looming threat of the White Walkers and the uncertainties surrounding Daenerys and Alarys, every decision counted.

And yet, as he glanced toward the courtyard where Alarys trained with the guards, his heart skipped a beat. She was fierce and unapologetic, a force of nature in a world that often sought to stifle such spirits. He wondered how she would fit into the tangled web of alliances and enmities that were forming around them.

Jon shook his head, refocusing his thoughts. He couldn't afford to let anything—especially his feelings—distract him from the path he needed to follow. The North needed him, and he would not falter.

As he stepped into the hall, the reality of leadership settled around him, a heavy cloak that he could never quite shrug off. But he would bear it, for the sake of those he loved and the land he swore to protect. And with every decision, he would forge a future that honored the sacrifices of the past while remaining vigilant against the darkness that threatened to consume them all.