One Month Later:
Winterfell, The North:
Grunts filled the training yard as three figures could be seen fighting in the centre of the sparring yard. Rodrik stood to the side along with a gathering of guards who had finished their drills for the day and all of them watched as the three young lords of Winterfell fought.
Jon stood in the centre of the group, a bastard sword in his right and a round shield in the other. His eyes were zeroed in on Robb's low swing as he blocked it, his sword thrusting back at Theon who barely blocked the strike.
Pushing Robb back, Jon kicked out and sent his brother stumbling. This left him open to Theon, who went for a low swing only for Jon to hop over it. At the same time, his leg snapped out and at his jaw, but the Greyjoy barely lifted his shield to block it.
Kicking off the shield, Jon steadied his footing and spun back around, surprising his brother as he threw his shield at him. Robb, as well as everyone else, looked surprised as the young lord lifted his shield, deflecting the wooden circle to the side.
At the same time, Jon stepped to the side and avoided Theon's swing from behind, cracking the hilt of his training blade against the shoulder of his shield arm.
"Fuck!" he cursed, but Jon just grinned, kicking out his legs before grabbing his kite shield and pulling it away. Theon swiped recklessly behind him, but Jon just stabbed the shield into the ground and blocked the attack.
That was when he noticed his brother charging at them, narrowing his eyes when Theon rolled away and let his brother attack first.
"I thought! That this was a three-way?!" Jon grunted as he stepped back, dodging the downwards swing before raising his blade to parry Theon's slash.
Twisting his wrist, the blade slid along his own before he kicked outwards at Robb, pushing off his shield with a jump and leaping back.
"It was, but then you showed that you can handle us with ease, brother," Robb replied, to which Jon hummed as Theon picked out his kite shield from the ground again.
With a deep breath, he spun the blade once and held it with both hands, eyes flicking between his two foes as they walked to either side of him.
Exhaling softly, the sounds of the world grew sharper as Jon's senses were dialled up several times thanks to the Aether coursing through his veins.
Its heat was comforting, one that he was used to after the month of studying through the journal his mother left him.
"Flowing Red Scale," he muttered incoherently under his breath and ignored the sensation of his blood flow accelerating as a few beads of snow on his hands began to evaporate.
Preparations now complete, he surprised Theon by shooting towards him, feinting a thrust forward. To his credit, the Greyjoy stood fast and held out his shield, but Jon surprised everyone as he swiped up at the ground.
Throwing sand to block Theon's vision, he rushed around and lashed out with a high kick, landing it clean against Theon's jaw.
The Greyjoy dropped like a sack of potatoes as Jon kicked Theon's blade out of his hands, catching it and throwing it at his charging brother.
Robb smacked it to the side while thrusting his sword forward, but Jon just grinned as he stepped forward and deflected the blow to the side.
Sliding his blade along Robb's, he flicked his wrist and landed a trio of clean blows against his shoulders and chest. The armour dulled most of the force, but it was still to knock Robb to a knee.
Ending with a swift flick to his neck, Jon stopped the attack as it was about to land, the rush of Aether through his veins ceasing and leaving him with a comfortable chill as Robb gave a defeated smile.
"That's enough, boys! Well done!" Rodrik clapped and that broke the silence, the guards clapping and cheering as Jon helped Robb up with a soft chuckle.
"I must say that you have become quite ruthless with your attacks, brother," Robb spoke with a grimace as he rubbed his chest, making Jon smile before he walked over to Theon and helped the Greyjoy up.
"Are you okay, Greyjoy?"
"J-J-Just a bith," Theon grumbled, letting go of Jon while rubbing his jaw and making the Snow give a subtle roll of his eyes that only Robb caught.
His brother hid his smirk as he walked over to Theon and pushed his forehead back slightly to look at his chin. Then, he spoke, "It is not that bad. Just some slight bruising. A salve or two from Maester Luwin and you'll be right as rain."
"Just in time to see me leave, if that makes you happier," Jon replied and that seemed to work as Theon grinned and crossed his arms.
"It would be nice to be ready for when the bastard of Winterfell leaves," Jon didn't say anything as Robb shook his head, patting his shoulder as they watched Theon walk away.
"How do you feel about your departure, Jon? Truly," Jon paused at the added part, looking at Robb as the two made their way to their rooms.
"Truly? I cannot wait," Jon replied, giving a low whistle that made Grey Wind and Ghost stop playing as they began trotting at the sides of their respective masters. "It's a new city, a new castle and a new experience. Even more, it's an opportunity for me to grow."
"I suppose that is true," Robb murmured, drawing a raised eyebrow from his brother as they ascended the stairs of the Great Keep.
"Are you upset that I will be gone, Lord Robb?" Jon teased, elbowing his brother only to squawk as his brother wrapped an arm around his shoulder and ruffled his hair.
"You dare to make a fool of your Lord Stark, Snow?!" Jon just laughed and pulled his head free, pushing his brother who laughed as he walked further up the stairs to head to his room.
Jon paused as he entered one of the hallways of the floor that led to his room, looking down at Ghost who looked back up with a slow blink.
"You're amused?" he asked as he continued walking, feeling the amusement and love through the link with Ghost. The direwolf just gave a low growl and Jon rolled his eyes, turning the corner and pausing in his steps again.
'What is she doing?' he thought with a furrowed brow as he stood at the corner of the hallway, watching as Arya stood in front of his door and her forehead resting on the door to his room.
Beside her was Nymeria and the she-wolf looked up as Ghost and Jon walked over. Jon smirked as she looked up, her eyes and her smile widening.
With a jump, Jon caught her with a soft grunt and spun her around, her giggles making him smile as he put her down.
"You're happy to see me."
"Well, today is the day that you leave and I wanted us two to hang out one last time before you do."
"Did you not have something you and Sansa wanted to do together?"
"No, she just wanted to sit around and write out poems or make embroideries."
"And you felt no want to do so?"
"Not in the slightest," she replied with a scoff, opening the door and walking in as Jon followed with a shake of his head. He just scratched Nymeria's ear as she and Ghost passed by him, not surprised to see the two dogs hopping onto his bed.
"Understandable. What did you wish to do then?"
"We could maybe...rest?" she said/ asked and while Jon raised an eyebrow at her odd request, he smiled and gave a nod.
"Of course, but first, I need to go wash."
"Work up a sweat on the training yard?" she asked, giggling as Jon nodded while undoing his tunic and tossing it into his hamper.
If he had stayed, he would have noticed Arya's gaze flicker to the hamper, but he was none the wiser, climbing into the hot bath that the servants had prepared earlier.
A soft sigh escaped his lips as the warmth of the bath soothed the cold coursing through his Aether, tilting his head back to look up at the stone ceiling above.
'Today or tomorrow, they arrive,' The memories of his past life flashed across his mind as he relaxed, the Aether helping keep him focused.
It's been a month and one week since he woke up with these new memories and that meant that the big day where everything kicks off is near.
Considering how Lady Stark looked panicked while giving out orders yesterday, it was most likely today and with Lord Manderly not here yet, that only meant that he'll have a few days to ensure that nothing happens to his family.
'Well, if Lord Manderly comes early, I won't have to spend long with the incest couple,' he thought with a smirk, washing off his face and letting out a soft sigh before he sunk into the water.
He didn't need a wash normally since his body didn't get hot enough to sweat, but unfortunately, the Flowing Red Scale spell raised his body temperature by speeding up the flow of blood through his blood by a tremendous amount.
With open eyes, he let the grime be pulled off before he rose from the water with a gasp, standing up and climbing out of the path.
It was then that he looked at the doorway, meeting Arya's wide-eyed stare as she stood with a long-sleeved tunic and a pair of wool trousers in-hand. Her eyes then drifted downwards and he immediately covered up his crotch, which broke the spell as she turned and rushed back into the room.
"Well, that's going to be awkward, to say the least," he murmured as he picked up one of the fluffy towels, drying his body off before putting on the clothes she dropped onto the floor.
He stepped out of the bathroom and into the room, Ghost and Nymeria sleeping peacefully at the foot of the bed while a lump laid under the covers.
Without saying a word, he walked over and sat down on the bed, looking down at the lump that trembled.
"Arya?"
"Y-Yes?"
"Do you perhaps wish to talk about what happened?"
"...No."
"Okay. Still want to sleep together?"
"Yes," she answered immediately and he smiled, climbing it under the covers. Her arms immediately wrapped around his midsection as he lied down, to which he let out a soft chuckle and hugged her with one arm.
A soft sigh escaped his lips as he kissed the top of her head, smiling at her slight shiver before he closed his eyes.
"Jon?"
"Yes?"
"Would you ever think about staying?"
"I wish I could, Arya," Jon replied, rubbing her back as she trembled. "Truly, I do, but this may be the opportunity for me to rise beyond something other than just the bastard of Winterfell."
"I know. I know. I just...it irks me that you are not a Stark already," she grumbled softly, making him chuckle as he pulled her closer.
"It does irk me as well, but by the next time you see me, I will either be a Stark or have started a branch-off house," he replied and she nodded into his chest, the two of them just lying there in silence.
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For the first time since he arrived in Winterfell, Jon found himself standing next to his Lord Father as he watched a group of knights flying the banner of House Manderly ride into the courtyard.
At the centre of the group rode a large bald man with a busy moustache atop a destrier, dressed in castle-steel armour with a teal-green, fur-collared cloak over his shoulders.
The man was the first to climb down, the rest of the knights on horses turning back to the gate as the knight bowed his head in greeting.
"Lord Stark."
"Ser Wylis. Is your father late?" Eddard asked, to which Wylis grimaced before he shook his head.
"Unfortunately, my lord, I must apologize in his stead. He wished to come, but he's been battling a cold that has been ailing him for the last three moons. Thus, he asked me to come and ensure that Jon makes it safely to White Harbour."
"I understand. Will you be staying the night?"
"Unfortunately not, my lord. A thousand apologies, but the illness looks serious and I do not wish to leave White Harbour for too long," Wylis replied with an ashamed look, but Eddard ignored it as he smiled and nodded.
"I understand completely, Ser Wylis. The gods above know that I would have done the same had something similar happened to my own family."
"Thank you, Lord Stark," Wylis spoke with a deep bow, to which Eddard simply nodded before turning to Jon. Jon himself turned to his father, ignoring the subtle glare in Lady Stark's eyes as he smiled.
"Jon, you leave today a young man and a squire to a lord. When you return, I wish to see nothing but the greatest that you could achieve."
"I will do my best to surpass your expectations, Lord Stark," Jon replied with a deep bow, but his eyes widened along with that of Lady Stark when his father lifted his shoulder and hugged him.
"My son is leaving. Let me have this," Eddard whispered and Jon hesitated before he decided to just move forward and hugged him back.
The warmth and comfort he felt nearly made him burst into tears, but he held strong, letting go when his father did and feeling his heart ache at the proud look in his eyes.
"Good luck, my boy."
"Thank you, Father," he spoke with a smile and a nod, turning to his half-siblings.
As always, Sansa looked disinterested as she held a mumbling Rickon, but Bran, Arya and Robb all smiled and waved. He waved back before turning to Lady Stark, stepping past his Father before surprising both her and everyone as he fell to a knee.
"Lady Stark, not many ladies would have allowed a baseborn son of their lord husband to stay with their trueborn children, but thanks to the old gods and the new, you found it in your gracious heart to let me be raised amongst your children. For that, I have nothing but the highest praise and gratitude to do and I hope that one day, I may find a lady wife that is as good-hearted and as wonderful as you are."
'And like that, you now look like the bad guy,' Jon still held a bit of resentment towards the woman and the past life's memories didn't help, but he wished to use them to his advantage and not have them blind him.
Standing back up to savour the woman's stunned look, he turned and walked to Ser Wylis, thanking the giant Hodor of Winterfell as he handed the reins of his own.
It was a garron stallion that his father had gifted him for his six-and-tenth nameday, one that he had named Old Boy purely because of how mature and calm the horse was even since he was a filly.
"Lord Wylis, I look forward to the lessons of you and Lord Manderly," Jon spoke with a bow of his head, which Wylis returned with a curt nod before the knight bowed his head to Lord Stark.
"We shall be leaving now. May you stay in good health, my lord."
"And may your father return and prosper with good health, Ser Wylis," Eddard replied, sharing a final smile with Jon whom hopped onto his horse before giving a sharp whistle.
A loud howl was his answer and both Ser Wylis and the Knights of House Manderly paused for a brief moment as they watched a direwolf pup the size of a medium dog jogging towards its master.
"Let us depart," Wylis spoke when he snapped out of his awe, Jon taking one last look at his family before he turned forward and took a deep breath.
Then, he snapped the reins and Old Boy began trotting after the knights, Ghost easily keeping pace beside him.
'Now, it's the start of a new life.'
A/N: And the story progresses somewhat as Jon finally leaves Winterfell. I was going to have him be there when the royal family and their group shows up, but time to have Jon go on his own.
Also, no double-chapter because I am too lazy to do anything extra. I really am a lazy degenerate, huh? Damn, I'm a bastard.
Next chapter: Passing By.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one...
Ba-Bye~!