The Bastard of Winterfell

The Second Raven

Jon sat on his horse, waiting for the Lord of Storms End to appear. He wondered, not for the first time, how the he had come to find being a lord. The tales he heard from the men who were sent from the Stormlands that the Lord they have heard about was cold towards women and prefer to be amongst the Blacksmiths. He had built his own forge, taken to a young peasant boy who he named his heir. Many say he fathered the boy, naming a bastard of his own as the next lord.

The sound of a few horses came up behind him. He thought he would find Gendry arriving like his father, with the fanfare and the many many soldiers, but he found himself coming face to face with three riders.

"I thought you would be at least a little taller since the last time I saw you ." Gendry smiled at him, the time hadn't seem to aged him, as he felt aged himself.

"I thought you would be a little bit fatter." Jon retroted matching his smile. Gendry rode his horse next to Jons. Both gazing at the Winterfell castle down below.

"Has the Queen been informed of our arrival?" Jon asked, Gendry shrugged his soldiers.

"I mean, Lord Tyrion did say that we were expected, but I highly doubt he informed her who. Also King Bran never tells anyone anything unless it's in a message they can't quite figure out." Gendry replied, giving a soft laugh. "But knowing you Starks for as long as I have, you are hard to shock." Jon's smile died. His eyes falling back onto the Stone castle.

"I'm not a Stark."

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Sansa eyed little Ned up in the balcony with Meera right behind him. She nodded for her to pull him inside, so that he will not be present when they arrive. Tyrion had sent word shortly after Bran had, but had not specified who would be arriving. From her many years in Kings Landing and knowing how Tyrion works as the Hand of the King, she understood to expect the unexpected. The real reason for their coming, she could only guess was to see the boy. Protecting him was one of her sole purposes in life since his arrival ten years ago.

The Queen of the North felt all the air leave her the moment his dark grey eyes met hers. Sansa tried to keep her face as neutral as she could. Tears sprang to her eyes, this moment she had dreamed of. Being reunited with even one person of her family in these long years made her heart soar and ache at once. He had sent Jon Snow to Winterfell. Secretly and silently in her mind she cursed the dwarf in his plans.

Jon took a few tentative steps forward with Gendry just behind him. Sansa stood there her Direwolf crown a top of her head, her red hair flowing freely, her blue eyes hard as steel. His mind race with words that he couldn't bring himself to say. He didn't know how to address her, she was after all, not his Queen, yet she was still Queen of the North.

"Your grace." Gendry bowed. Jon followed, the words fumbling out of his own mouth.

"Lord Tyrion said he had sent two trustworthy people with news of the south. Who would of think that he sent two of our Heroes from the Long Night's war?" Her voice was just as steely as her eyes. Jon gave a soft smile.

"I believe the Hand of the King thought I would be welcomed more than just an old Blacksmith from the south."

"So they sent a former King of the North?" One of the Lords spoke. The angered lord bowed his head in shame the moment her eyes went towards him.

"The former King of the North is of my family blood. He is welcomed in our childhood home, always." Her eyes turned towards Gendry. "As is the Blacksmith that labored day in and day out to help provide weapons and to protect the people of the North from the Night King." She motioned for a stable boy to come and grab their horses. Stepping forward, she tentatively took Jon's hands in hers. Jon watched her facial expressions, looking for any indication of any emotion. "I have business to attend to, but we will dine alone tonight." She smiled, before leaving the two in the courtyard. Gendry looked up at the balcony, wondering if he would see her, even if he knew it was impossible. His eyes fell on a boy no bigger than she was when he had met her. His big brown eyes staring at the guests.