On the fourth day in Winterfell Jon, Sansa and Rickon sat at the high table while lords filled the great hall. He'd hoped fighting together would unite them, but he'd forgotten about those who hadn't.
"You can't expect us to sit aside and let wildling invaders take our lands," groused Robett Glover.
"We didn't invade," Tormund said from his seat beside the window. "We were invited."
"And now we have to open up our homes to you? Raiders and murderers?"
"And should we open up our homes to you, Lord Glover?" asked Barbrey Dustin. "I'd welcome Tormund and his wildlings to Barrowton gladly. I can't say I'd do the same for those who'd rather hide in their homes then fight when it matters."
Glover shot her a glare at her until Cley Cerwyn got to his feet. "The Boltons are defeated," he said looking from Glover taking his seat to the others. "The war is over. Winter has come! If the maesters are right it'll be the coldest one in a thousand years. We should ride home and wait out the coming storms."
"The war is not over," Jon said rising from his chair. "And I promise you friend, the true enemy won't wait out the storm. He brings the storm."
Cerwyn sank back to his seat as the others started murmuring. Jon looked around the room before glancing at Sansa, who frowned and gave him a small nod. Pressing his hands into the wood, Jon turned to them.
"The Free Folk, the Northerners, and the Knights of the Vale fought bravely, fought together, and we won. None of us could have done that on our own." He took a breath, standing straight. "Eddard Stark used to say we find out true friends on the battlefield. I think it's time we all trust each other. To help that… I think it best you all know a truth. One I only learned of in White Harbor, and held because I thought if I died it wouldn't matter. But it could be of use, so I need you all to hear it."
The lords fell quiet, concerned confusion coloring their faces as they looked to Jon.
"I'm sure you've all heard the stories of Eddard Stark riding off with men to retrieve his sister from Dorne, only to return with her bones. Heard the whispers of him killing Arthur Dayne and the Kingsguard to reach her." His eyes scanned the crowd, seeing the recognition in their faces. "I've no doubt you've all heard of it, but I know none have heard all of what happened there, not from the lips of the men who survived. Promises kept them silent. Promises that ended with Eddard Stark's death."
All eyes turned to Howland Reed as Jon looked to him, answering Howland's questioning look with a nod. Rising to his feet, Howland approached the high table and turned to face the lords.
"I rode that day with Ned, Willam Dustin, Ethan Glover, Theo Wull, Mark Ryswell and Martyn Cassel. We found the Kingsguard waiting for us and I was the first to fall that day," Howland said with a sigh. "I thought I'd die slowly, watching as they carved through each man until only Ned and Arthur Dayne remained. Ned… he was well trained, but Dayne was better. He'd have killed him, but I managed to come up from behind and push a dagger through Dayne's throat."
That garnered murmurs and gasps.
"Ned picked up Dayne's sword, Dawn, and ended his suffering before heading into the Tower of Joy. I followed behind slowly and saw it was mostly abandoned. The only people there had been the kingsguard, maids and Lyanna. It was one of the maids who told us Lyanna was never stolen by Rhaegar. She ran to him a girl in love and married him without anyone knowing."
That caused a few outraged yells, but Howland continued.
"The kingsguard weren't guarding a prisoner! They were guarding their prince's wife… and their future king!"
The growing murmurs fell silent as the lords gasped.
"Lyanna named him Aegon Targaryen, but asked Ned to keep him safe, fearing Robert and the Lannisters would kill him just as they had Rhaegar's other children. So Ned swore us to secrecy, called the boy Jon and raised his sister's only child as his own, claiming him a bastard."
Howland looked to Jon, who rose again, giving him a thankful nod, letting him return to his seat before looking out to the lords gaping at him. "I considered hiding this, but after all we've been through and knowing what's to come I know I can't. I've had word there is proof of the wedding, and if possible I'd like to send riders to retrieve it all. Once I do, I'll send word out to every other kingdom and beg them to come to our aide to help us fight the war to come."
"What war?" Robett Glover asked shaking his head.
"The Long Night," said Jon, sending a chill through the hall. "Ask any of the free folk and they'll tell you about the White Walkers and their wight army. I was there, beyond the wall at Hardhome when the Night King and his wights arrived, slaughtering thousands and raising them as his thralls. He and all his dead will march on the wall, and when he does he'll find me and anyone I can find willing to fight for the living ready to meet him."
Sinking to his chair Jon said with relenting resolve, "I'll claim for the throne if it means a chance for more men to join me in stopping the Long Night so that when dawn comes again, the North still stands."
The room was silent, somber as they heard his sincerity, saw the truth in him. When no one spoke, Lyanna Mormont rose to her feet and looked to Robett Glover.
"You swore allegiance to House Stark, Lord Glover, but in their hour of greatest need you refused the call." She turned to Cley Cerwyn. "And you, Lord Cerwyn, your father was skinned alive by Ramsay Bolton, still, you refused the call."
Cley lowered his head in shame while others watched Lyanna Mormont with amusement.
"But House Mormont remembers. The North remembers." Sansa smiled as Lyanna continued. "I don't care who sired or birthed him, Ned Stark raised him and Stark blood runs through his veins." Lyanna looked to Jon, declaring, "Whether he rules at Winterfell or the Iron Throne, he is of the north and he's my king. From this day until his last day."
Wyman Manderly rose from his seat. "My son died for Robb Stark, the Young Wolf. I didn't think we'd find another king in my life time… but Jon Snow saved my granddaughter from suffering a Frey husband forced upon her by the Lannisters. He freed White Harbor, and gave us a chance to help reclaim our honor along with the North." Wyman looked to the others, pointing to Jon sat at the high table. "Jon Snow avenged the Red Wedding! He is the White Wolf!" Wyman drew his sword and knelt. "The King of the North!"
Alys Karstark rose from her place beside the Manderly sisters, turning to face Jon. "I thought I'd die here, I'd wished every day Ramsay would kill me. I knew my father regretted it, wanted to help me get away, but we couldn't risk Ramsay slaughtering a thousand men and their families to free me." She trembled as she spoke, clutching her skirt with white knuckles. "I thought it would never end… but Jon Snow kept his word to my father. He could have let me suffer for my father's crimes, but he brought an army, let me feel safe for the first time since my wedding night. He gave me back my life, but I will gladly give it for him." She drew her sword, kneeling beside Wyman.
Barbrey Dustin rose from her seat. "Jon Snow could have run when he left the Night's Watch. He could have fled to Essos or Dorne to spent the rest of his life warm. Instead he came to Barrowton with a growing army and promised me a chance at vengeance for the murder of a boy I loved like my own son. He swore to see a home returned to it's family, and see justice done to those who ruled over us with fear. Jon Snow or Aegon Targaryen, his name doesn't matter. I, House Dustin and every northern house now free from living in terror of Bolton rule will forever be indebted to him." She knelt and looked to Jon with what may have been her first warm, pure smile in years.
Robett Glover rose to look at Jon. "I did not fight beside you on the field, and I will regret that until my dying day. A man can only admit to when he was wrong," he said shakily, "and ask forgiveness."
Cley Cerwyn and the others looked to Jon, who gave a slight shake of his head. "There's nothing to forgive, my lord."
Robett took a shaky breath, relief washing over him as he looked around the room. "There will be more fights to come. House Glover will stand behind House Stark as we have for a thousand years!" The others murmured as he turned to Jon. "And I will stand behind Aegon Targaryen." He drew his sword and raised in the air, "The King of the North!"
He took a knee alongside Wyman before another yelled, "The King of the North!"
The lords all rose, drawing their swords and chanting, "The King of the North!"
Jon glanced to Sansa, who smiled to him, proud for and of him. Jon had earned this, he would prove himself worthy. She knew it.
While Jon felt a swell of pride at their cheers, he also felt the pressure weighing on him, adding to everything that had already been there. Still he steeled himself, rising from his seat as the men quieted.
"I'll need riders. Men we can trust as much as they can move quickly and quietly. They'll head to Old Town and retrieve whatever proof found at the Citadel. Once they return I'll send word for any loyal to House Targaryen or smart enough to abandon a queen who murdered hundreds with wildfire."
Pressing his fist into the table, he took a breath. "I'll also need men to go beyond the wall." The lords exchanged looks, confused and afraid. "I'm sure some of you still doubt what I've said about the Night King. Imagine what the southron lords will think?
"Lord Commander Eddison Tollett has sent our rangers to track the wights. If he hasn't already, we've planned to capture one or more. I'll need men to help capture them and bring them back so any who doubt the war to come can see for themselves what we'll face. I think it would be best if the free folk helped along with at least one man from every house. Let this be another chance for us to stand together."
Once it was decided they would meet again with their suggestions for riders north and south the lords began exiting the great hall. Jon sank back in his chair, letting out a sigh.
"Does this mean you're king now?" asked Rickon.
Jon snickered. "I think it does, little brother." He turned to him with a teasing grin. "Which makes you a prince."
"It does?" Rickon asked with a blink. "What does that make Sansa? A princess or a queen?"
Both shifted as Jon asked, "What?"
"Well she's older than me, right? Aren't adult royalty kings and queens?"
His genuine confusion eased their concerns. "If anything it would make me a princess," said Sansa.
"And she's still Lady of Winterfell," Jon clarified. "At least until you're ready to be lord."
"You're not Lord of Winterfell? Even though you're king?" When Jon nodded, Rickon asked, "Does that mean you don't have a home?" Rickon looked to Sansa. "He can stay here, can't he?"
Sansa chuckled, smiling. "Of course he can, sweetling. He can stay as long as he likes. We can't leave our king homeless."
Jon glanced back at her, a teasing look shaping his gaze as he turned to Rickon. "I think I do have a home, actually. After we took Winterfell some of the lords suggested I claim the Dreadfort since I killed Ramsay. I suppose I could always go there."
"You're going to leave?" Rickon asked, eyes wide with fear.
Jon winced, having intended it to tease Sansa, not Rickon. "No," he said reaching out to squeeze his brother's hand. "Not for a while. Not until I have to." Seeing the boy calm, Jon sat back, looking between him and Sansa. "For now I'm home."