Another chapter done, and the story moves on. I hope you will like how the story is unfolding, and I'll probably add some reactions from the lions in the next chapter, seeing as with no Red Wedding, Tywin is up a certain creek without a certain instrument.

Chapter 24

"Your speech is improving rapidly." Rodrick Harlaw commented as he talked with Hermione during their trip to Old Wyk. The woman still scared him, but he was also awed by her intellect and scholarly nature. He still had no idea why her appearance was so different or how she could do what she did though.

"I just needed more practice. The grammar of your language is a bit different than what I am familiar with. It took some time to adapt." Hermione replied. She had to admit she was starting to like the man. To be a scholar in a society like the Ironborn was not easy.

"We'll arrive on Old Wyk by dawn tomorrow. I expect the rest of the lords should already be there or to arrive by the day after tomorrow at the latest. This will be a kingsmoot to remember." Rodrick said.

"I agree. We are demanding a massive change in your society. Even without my presence, such a thing would end in blood. You're sure the girl can pull it off?" Hermione asked. While she was slightly impressed with Yara as a person, she didn't know how good the girl would be as a leader of such a rowdy bunch.

"With my support and your presence, yes. Though I suspect that several examples will have to be made. Some lords are far too stubborn for their own good, but they're not stupid. We can't fight you, and I'll make them understand that." Rodrick replied.

"Good. I'd like to get things done here as soon as possible and return to my friends. We still have the Westerlands and the Reach to conquer after all." Hermione shocked him when she said that.

"Excuse me?" Rodrick gasped in surprise. The Young Wolf was certainly ambitious. Then again if he had people like this woman on his side, he could understand why.

"We were promised land in exchange for our aid. King Robb offered us Casterly Rock and Highgarden. When this war is over, I will be the new lady of Highgarden." Hermione replied.

"The Tyrells won't be happy about that." Rodrick pointed out.

"From what I've heard, they won't be missed too much. And if you think I'm powerful alone, wait until you see what I can do with my husband by my side." Hermione chuckled.

"I can't imagine what it would take to beat you." Rodrick said, trying to imagine how one could beat such a god-like being.

"Oh, I can be beaten. Nothing is truly invincible. Just because I am beyond the means of most men, does not mean there's nothing out there that can beat me." Hermione turned around to face him.

"Tell me, do you feel hate for the Ironborn? For any of the people you've killed?" Rodrick asked curiously.

"The ones I hate are beyond my reach. I bear no hatred for anyone in these lands. Today, you are my enemies. When you bend the knee to my king, you will be allies. It is as simple as that." Hermione replied calmly.

"It can't be that simple." Rodrick protested.

"Why not? We are outsiders in these lands. We have no grudge with anyone. King Robb was simply fortunate enough to meet us first." Hermione shrugged.

"Does that mean your loyalty can be bought?" Rodrick asked carefully.

"Not after it's been bought once. We do not break a contract once it's been made. And King Robb doesn't seem like a man to break his word." Hermione replied.

"That's true enough. Even the most savage Starks always stuck to their word. True, most of the time, the Winter Kings swore vengeance for past or future slights, but they always came true on their word. Probably the only reason why they managed to take and hold the North for so long." Rodrick replied.

As Rodrick had told her, by the time they reached Old Wyk, almost every Ironborn lord was there, and by the end of the day, the rest had arrived too, allowing them to begin the kingsmoot the next day.

"Those are the terms set forth by the Young Wolf. Regardless of who we elect as the new Lord of the Iron Isles, they will have to bend the knee to the Stark and abide by his rules. The alternative is extinction." Rodrick began to speak to his fellow lords. Already some lords were gearing to protest when one of them spoke up.

"I've seen firsthand what this demon did at Lordsport. I saw the bodies hacked to pieces with my own eyes. When I was told that a single woman did all that..." Tristifer Botley had arrived at Pyke a couple of hours after Hermione had left to find the slaughter she left behind. With his father dead, and his brother presumed dead in Moat Cailin, he now stood as lord of his house. "I for one have no desire to see it repeated elsewhere, and if you say otherwise, then you are all fools."

"The king ordered that an example be made. This is the last time Ironborn attack the North." Hermione replied calmly.

"While that is something we can reluctantly accept, the demand we no longer take thralls and salt wives goes against every tradition and belief we have." One of the priests protested, but the man was understandably nervous to act against a creature that commanded the very seas. While she neither confirmed or denied any connection to the Drowned God or any other god, the priests decided to wait and see how things developed.

"Change is inevitable. You can either adapt or be swept by it." Hermione shrugged. "I suggest you get on with the kingsmoot. I am not here to interfere with your choice, merely to ensure that the one you pick and the rest of you comply with the king's orders."

The kingsmoot took several days, as arguments, negotiations and more took place between the various lords. However, in an interesting twist, what the various candidates were working on was how to foist the responsibility on someone else. It was obvious that no one wanted the responsibility of being the lord that ended the entire Ironborn way of life, and were working hard to avoid it. Even Hermione only had to do a few small water techniques and cut one stone pillar with the Decapitator to convince them to behave. That was why after the dust settled it was Yara Greyjoy that had the dubious honor of being the new Lord Paramount of the Iron Isles.

The other lords all agreed to obey Robb's orders, and Yara agreed to travel to the Riverlands to bend the knee to Robb as soon as she had put Pyke in order.

"Glad that's settled. Now, don't make me come here again." Hermione gave one last warning before she vanished in a flash, having used a portkey to return to Riverrun.

Meanwhile in Riverrun, Robb and his family was left to deal with the truth that Harry's spell revealed.

"Ned, you noble fool. Why didn't you tell me?" Catelyn was sobbing as she realized that all her hatred towards Jon Snow was completely undeserved. Eddard had never been unfaithful to her. With that revelation, the weight of her sins felt like a mountain on her shoulders.

"I think it's better he didn't. Your dislike may have even helped protect him." Harry pointed out.

"What do you mean?" The woman asked between sobs.

"It gave him an excuse to keep him out of sight, and anyone curious about the boy did not look too deeply in him in order not to risk your anger. Of course, the second reason to keep you ignorant was probably to ensure that if the truth ever came out, he would be the only one to be held responsible." Harry replied.

"The question is, what do we do now? This proves that Jon is the rightful king of the Seven Kingdoms." Sansa pointed out. She was also upset by her poor treatment of their cousin, but since it was not to her mother's extent, it didn't affect her as greatly.

"He swore the oath of the Night Watch. I'm not sure he'd want to leave even if I tried to convince him." Robb sighed.

"Your Grace, if it's the oath you're worried about, I can figure out a solution when I know more about it in detail. The real question is, who is it that you want to sit on the throne? Your cousin, or yourself?" Harry pointed out.

"Yes, that is indeed the big question. Being Lord of Winterfell was something I expected, was prepared for. Being king was not what I wanted, but I accepted because it was the only choice I had at the time. I know my cousin. I know what kind of a man he is. If he accepts his birthright, I will be the first to bend the knee to him." Robb said firmly.

"Very well. I suppose we'll pay a visit to the Wall. Thankfully Neville provided me the information I need to make portkeys for the places he has been North. We'll be able to appear very close to the Wall." Harry told him.

"After the wedding at the Twins. I'll be leaving most of the army here to rest and prepare for our march west. I'm only taking enough men with me to ensure Lord Frey doesn't think we're insulting him. Once the whole mess is over with, I can leave the Freys behind and take Bolton's men with me west." Robb replied without hiding his disgust for the lord of the Twins.

Hermione's arrival and news were very welcome and after discussing it, they decided to leave her behind to guard Robb's siblings while he attended the wedding at the Twins. Both Sansa and Arya were amazed by Hermione but for different reasons. Hermione's cultured and educated side appealed to Sansa, while her warrior prowess impressed Arya. While Hermione enjoyed some relaxation when not spending time with the two girls, Harry and Millicent left with Robb and most of the lords sworn to him. The River Lords were bound to attend, as regardless of what they thought about Lord Frey, it was the marriage of their future liege lord, and the Northern lords attended because their king did.

The wedding was indeed impressive, even if their host was beyond unpleasant, hurling insults at Robb until he offered an apology to Lord Frey and his family. The man was certainly lucky he had the combination of location, family and wealth to ensure his safety, or he would have been killed a long time ago. The presence of Harry and Millicent drew some confused looks as they were strangers, but Robb's words they were merely new allies seemed to satisfy their hosts.

The wedding proceeded as planned afterwards, and Robb's uncle Edmure certainly seemed to like his new bride as the girl was indeed rather attractive and she seemed to find Edmure pleasing as well. Lord Frey also seemed to have spared no expense on the feast as the food was delicious and the wine was plentiful.

'I almost feel insulted. It's painful to watch.' Harry spoke to his wife using their secret non-verbal codes while he ate some food.

'I know. Even Malfoy was more subtle. True, it would have probably worked without us here.' Millicent pointed out. 'How do you want to play it?'

'We're under guest rights. We let them act first. But that doesn't mean we're not going to stack the deck.' Harry smirked for a moment as his hands moved through signs too fast for an untrained eye to follow and a second Harry flashed in existence for a single blink before vanishing.

'He'll lay the illusion, I'll make some dirt clones. You can start switching our lot.' Harry instructed her and with a second string of signs, humanoid figures began to rise from the stone wall on the far side of the hall, only to be replaced by the various Northern and River Lords.

"Lord Peverell? What's going on?" Robb was very confused to suddenly find himself standing to the side with the rest of his companions. He was further surprised to see that the rest of the wedding party completely ignored them. In fact they seemed to act like the featureless figures now sitting in their places were them.

"It seems our hosts were planning a much livelier party than we expected. The men are all wearing chainmail under their clothes, and there are hidden weapons all over the hall. The musicians are all hiding crossbows as well." Harry's words froze them in place. None of them noticed a thing.

"Don't feel guilty, for the standards of these lands, the trap was expertly set. Unfortunately for them, our eyes are far sharper." Harry smiled evilly.

"But why this deception?" Robb pointed at them.

"Guest rights. I'm not sure if there's any magic to the custom or not, but from how strongly people believe in it makes me unwilling to risk it. If nothing happens, we just return to our places and continue the festivities. If they attack, that means they broke guest rights first, and we're then free to retaliate." Harry explained, and the gathered lords all nodded in approval. Considering the tales in their history about the people who had broken guest rights, they all thought Frey was a total fool to do it.

"Why isn't Bolton with us?" The Greatjon asked.

"He's also wearing chainmail. And I also received some news from Neville, but since he said they were only rumors, I wanted to wait until I could investigate further. He said that there were whispers in the North that it was Bolton's bastard, not the Ironborn that sacked Winterfell." Harry told them.

"Always knew the man was a greedy cunt, but to go this far?" Greatjon spat.

True enough, once Edmure Tully and his new bride were taken away for their bedding and the crowd returned to the hall, Black Walder closed the hall doors and the musicians began to play the 'Rains of Castamere'. They were barely halfway through the song when the Freys drew blades and began to attack the dirt clones while the musicians began to fire their hidden crossbows.

"It seems I am in your debt, Lord Peverell. This ambush would have cost us our lives." Robb was completely aghast at seeing the Freys gleefully slaughter what they thought was the Stark family and their loyal bannermen.

"All part of our agreement, your Grace. Now that we have undeniable proof of treachery, how do you wish us to proceed?" Harry asked.

"Kill them all, but leave Frey and Bolton alive for me. Once that's done, please scour the castles and put everyone to question about their part in this atrocity Lady Peverell, while I and your husband go outside to talk to Bolton's men." Robb instructed them. Both ninjas simply nodded and flickered away from before him. By the time Robb turned back towards the hall, almost half of the Freys were either dead or dying.

Lord Frey was cackling with glee as he watched his family butcher the uppity brat and his kin as he thought of the prize he'd get from this. With Edmure tied to him, he could easily claim the Riverlands, and the money and backing from Tywin would aid him greatly in securing that claim. Just as he was working out the plans to do just that, the hall seemed to shimmer and distort before it revealed a very different scene. Instead of the Starks, it was the Freys who were on the ground dead and as he looked around, he noticed that his enemies were all standing together on the far side of the hall, glaring hatefully at him and Lord Bolton. In seconds, the two were disarmed and forced to kneel before Robb.

"I would ask why, but no excuse can pardon this level of treachery. You have violated every law of trust set by gods and men, and for that, you will die." Robb took a sword from a fallen soldier and quickly ended the two traitors.

"Stay here and guard my wife and mother. I need to see for myself just how deep the rot goes." Robb grabbed Bolton's head and walked out the hall with Harry and Millicent. Millicent peeled off to secure the rest of the castle, using magic to quickly interrogate everyone in the Frey family or working for the Freys about their part in tonight's ambush. If they knew and agreed with it, she put them down. If they didn't know or were coerced to take part or keep silent about it, she simply put them to sleep. Fortunately for them, most of the women had no part in the mess, and many of them didn't even know what the men were planning to do.

"Your Grace?" The lookouts from Bolton's camp were surprised to see the Young Wolf before them, especially since they knew what their lord was planning to do tonight.

"Tonight, your liege lord betrayed me and tried to kill me. For that, he paid with his life." Robb revealed Bolton's head which he held behind his back.

"Your Grace, this must be a mistake. Lord Bolton would never betray you." One man protested, but as he did, Robb noticed that they were being slowly surrounded.

"I will give you one chance. Drop your weapons and kneel, and you will be spared." Robb yelled out.

"And if we don't?" One man asked with a condescending tone, only to suddenly grab his throat as blood began to seep between his fingers.

"Then you will die." Everyone was shocked when Harry vanished from Robb's side and appeared behind the man, holding a blade in his right hand. The man that spoke collapsed to his knees, his head rolling off his shoulders as he fell.

"You can't kill all of us." Another man growled and raised his sword to rush at Harry only to fall in two halves as a second Harry appeared behind him.

"Are you certain about that?" Slowly more and more clones of Harry appeared from the darkness until over a hundred of them surrounded the camp. Seeing this, the soldiers were quick to kneel and swear to obey Robb.

"They can't be trusted. They'll take every chance to flee." Harry pointed out as they rode back towards the Riverlands. Fortunately for Edmure, his new bride was completely ignorant of her father's plot and was quick to distance herself from her old family. The girl was smart and she knew that her father's crime would hang over her head her whole life, so she wanted to make it very clear to her new husband that her loyalty was to him first and foremost.

"I know. They'll be taking the front lines for our push west. We'll be rid of them then. The problem remains that I was counting on the Freys to hold Harrenhall and the east while we marched West." Robb sighed.

"It seems we need to speak with your aunt, then. If we brought the Vale to our side, that would not only help us secure the east, but also give us additional forces when we eventually march to King's Landing." Harry pointed out.

"Not sure how successful we'll be with that, but I'll try. But first, we speak to Jon. I will not commit to anything until I know for sure who is to be king." Robb replied.

"Very well. When do you want to depart?" Harry asked.

"Tonight. I'll take the Greatjon and Dacey with me." Robb told him.

"I'll never get used to that. Feels good to be back North though." The Greatjon grumbled as they recovered from their portkey trip. Using the info from Neville and maps from the North, Harry had brought them within sight of Castle Black.

"An impressive sight. And a powerful one at that. Strong magic was used here." Harry whispered as he saw the Wall stretching before him. Even at the distance that he was, his sharp senses allowed him to feel the magic woven in the massive structure.

The arrival of Robb and his party at the castle was met with confusion, but they were quickly welcomed and when he asked about Jon, they were told that he had arrived yesterday, wounded by several arrows and was still recovering.

"Can you help, Lord Peverell?" Robb asked, obviously worried about his cousin.

"I'm not as good as my wife, but such injuries are simple to heal." Harry replied and was taken where Jon Snow was recovering. After a few spells and techniques, he was back to perfect health and quickly awoke.

"Robb, I'm really glad to see you, but why are you here?" Jon was overjoyed to see Robb again, but he was confused why his brother would travel so far just to see him.

"That's a long story. It all began when…" Robb quickly explained his fateful meeting with Harry's group, the fact that all of the Stark children were alive and safe, until he finally came to the reason for his presence here. Understandably, Jon was beyond shocked.

"That's not possible. It can't be true. You made a mistake." Jon protested.

"Blood doesn't lie. But perhaps you can be convinced otherwise. I believe the maester here is a Targaryen? Would you be so kind to ask him to come here?" Jon seemed a bit confused, but did so, and a few minutes later, maester Aemon arrived in the room.

"You wanted to see me, your Grace?" The old blind man walked inside the room and sat down.

"Yes. Have you seen Jon's face?" Harry asked the old man.

"I haven't had the chance so far. Why do you ask?" The old man frowned.

"Please do so. I think you'll understand once you do." Harry had examined all the Stark children as well as portraits of Robb's father and his siblings, and he had seen what most had not noticed. Hidden behind his hair and eye color were facial features that had to have come from his father.

"It can't be. I know this face. There are differences but…" The old man was confused as he turned towards their visitors in question, and even if his eyes were blind, you could see the hope that the answer was indeed what his hands told him it was.

"I take it you believe us now?" Harry turned to Jon who nodded and collapsed on his bed.

"Maester, allow me to introduce you properly to the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna, Aemon Targaryen, First of his name." Even expecting it, Harry's words shocked the old man who recovered quickly as he embraced Jon tightly with tears running down his face. To know another of his kin was alive and given a chance to embrace them was a dream come true for the man.

"It doesn't matter who I was. I took the black, and the oath is for life." Jon protested.

"No oath is unbreakable. But let's see first if you really are oathbound. Maester, would you be so kind to recite the oath?" Harry asked as he waved his wand at the man. The old man did so, and the rest were surprised when a glowing green band appeared around the man's neck.

"I felt something around my neck. Is everything alright?" The man asked nervously.

"Yes, maester Aemon. We have proof that you are bound by your oath and that you have sworn it freely and willingly. The less willing you were to swear it, the deeper towards red the band would be and the tighter around your neck it would feel. Now it's your turn. Speak the oath." Harry explained and turned towards Jon. He too recited the oath, but to his surprise, nothing appeared. No band, green or otherwise, and he felt nothing around his neck.

"What does this mean?" Jon asked.

"It means your oath was refused. It does not bind you." Harry explained. That was a relief to him. Otherwise, he'd have to take more drastic measures, like temporarily killing and then reviving Jon.

"But I swore the oath before a heart tree. The old gods were my witness." Jon protested.

"Exactly. It appears it is not your fate to serve on the Wall." Harry gave him a soft smile.

"This is too much. I need some time to think." Jon sighed. The rest agreed to give him time and space and left. Robb left with his companions to talk with the rest of the Night Watch about their situation while Harry spent a few hours with maester Aemon talking about various topics.

"Alright, I suppose I've come to accept all you said as the truth. What do you want me to do now? Declare myself king?" Jon asked as he stared at his cousin.

"If there's any man I'd gladly call my king, it's you. Say the word, and I will kneel this instant." Robb replied firmly.

"No matter what, you will never kneel to me. How are things south?" Jon or he guessed he'd have to call himself Aemon now asked. He was actually glad he wasn't named Aegon. It was a pretentious name. Aemon was a name he looked up to and respected, and he was glad he bore it.

"A lot better thanks to Lord Peverell. I admit I made some mistakes in how I handled some things. At the very least, declaring for the dragon will confuse some people south." Robb chuckled.

"We're in a serious mess here as well. There's an army of free folk over a hundred thousand strong marching on the Wall, and even worse, the Others have returned." Aemon's words sobered them up.

"Fuck. You're sure about the Others?" Robb asked.

"I've seen and fought wights, and my friend Sam actually fought and killed one of the Others." Aemon replied.

"Before I had met Lord Peverell, I would have called you mad, but now I'm not so quick to dismiss such claims. If the Others are truly real and active once more, then these wildlings must be dealt with. If they attack the Wall, they will kill the Night Watch and damage the Wall. If they stay North of it, the Others will kill them and then use their corpses to breach the Wall." Robb pondered the issue with a sigh.

"I think the only solution is to bring them past the Wall peacefully." Aemon suggested.

"Are you daft, boy? Letting the wildlings just walk through the Wall?" The Greatjon growled.

"Lord Peverell, can you kill so many?" Aemon asked, cutting the man off. While he hadn't witnessed the man's power firsthand, he had heard his cousin describing the man's power in detail.

"Easily. My hydra technique was designed to devastate armies." Harry shrugged. He had only used it once to destroy Malfoy manor, but he knew its strength well.

"I am not suggesting we simply allow them through. We will strike a bargain with them. Safety in the Gift and New Gift for the duration of the next winter, if they follow guest rights while they're in our lands. They may be savages compared to us but they're First Men. They would never break guest rights." Aemon explained.

"And if they refuse, Peverell wipes them out. I don't like it, but I can accept that. Better that lot is here and behaving then leaving them north to be killed and raised as wights." The Greatjon sighed. "There's words I never thought I'd say."

"I guess we're going to ride north to treat with the King-Beyond-the-Wall, your Grace." Robb grinned at his cousin who grimaced as he realized what he agreed to.