Northern Conqueror

Chapter 16: Chains

Chapter 16: Chains

"Open the gates!"

Lord Commander Tullet made his way to the courtyard where he found Tormund leading a group of thirty men from various northern houses and some free folk.

Greeting the red haired wildling, Edd smirked. "I guess it went well?"

"You kneelers have a new king," Tormund said with a shrug.

Edd's face fell. "It's true then? Jon's king?"

"As much as a man with a fake name can be," Tormund laughed. Seeing Edd's confusion, Tormund clarified. "His mother named him Aegon Targaryen, though he still wants to be called Jon."

"Targaryen?" Half the yard broke into whispers as the rest were left silent in shock.

"Said his father Rhaegar stole his mother Lyanna from Winterfell, married her in some southron ceremony and she died giving birth."

"He was a fucking prince the entire time?" asked a brother.

Tormund shrugged as some of the northern men snickered, glad their own shock wasn't misplaced. "Not like he knew. Man who raised him lied to stop him being murdered by some cunts killed his brother and sister when they were babes."

There was a moment of silence before they started to snicker and laugh. "Of course Snow would be a fucking prince."

"Pretty enough to be one for sure."

"That cunt gets all the luck, I swear it."

"First his wildling wife, and then that other redhead-"

"That was his sister."

"Cousin now."

A brother scoffed. "Sister or cousin. I wouldn't care. Not if she looked like that."

"And now he's a fucking king." Another brother laughed, looking to Tormund and the men with him. "At least the prick didn't forget us."

Edd shook his head. "Jon wouldn't do that."

"Aye, he hasn't," said Tormund. "Said you sent some men out to scout for wights?"

"They came back three days ago," Edd nodded, motioning to the barracks. "They saw them heading east, but if we hurry we could catch their rear."

Tormund grinned. "Always enjoy takin' 'em from behind."

*~*~*

Brienne couldn't help be awed when she first saw the Citadel stretching above Oldtown. It reminded her of the Wall in a way, not only for it's height but because it felt almost otherworldly. It seemed impossible to think the city around it could be anything but normal, and yet she found it wasn't too far from the others she'd visited, only untouched by war.

Though she'd met him only briefly before his departure from the Wall, she felt a small relief upon seeing Sam.

"It's hard to believe," he said with a laugh as he handed her a satchel filled with copies of everything he could find supporting Jon's heritage.

"I can't believe I never bowed to him," Gilly fretted.

"He wouldn't want you to," Sam assured. After a moment he looked to Brienne, worried. "Would he?"

"He seems uncomfortable whenever someone does," Brienne said with a smile. "They call him King Jon rather than Aegon. I'm sure he'd prefer you think of him as you knew him."

"I can't imagine how awful he must have felt when he found out." Sam's frown turned with a laugh. "If anyone could feel bad about finding out he's king it would be Jon."