Jon
The march south was long and gruelling. 12,000 northmen had ridden south with Jon's cousin Robb to free the only man that Jon had ever known as a father figure- Eddard Stark- Lord Eddard had been killed, executed on the orders of King Joffrey the ill born, before Robb and the northmen could come to his aid. Robb himself had won every battle he had ever fought in, but had been betrayed by the Freys, killed at his uncle Edmure's wedding, arrows had pierced his body, that was what Jon had been told of the even by Alys and the other northmen who had managed to escape that thrice damned wedding. Lady Catelyn had had her throat slit apparently. The mere thought of House Frey sent Jon's blood curdling, they would pay for their crimes against House Stark, against Robb and Aunt Catelyn, they would pay, and he would make sure of it.
Discussions on how to take the Twins raged long into the night. Some like Mors Umber were all for marching straight up to the walls of the Twins and tearing it down brick by brick and then sauntering into the ruins of the castle and killing every single Frey that came into sight. Whilst Jon could understand where the man was coming from, he knew that doing such a thing would not only be time consuming, it would also cost them a lot of men, men who would be needed if they were to stand a hope in hell of taking Riverrun back. And so Jon listened most attentively in council one night when Stannis Baratheon spoke. "The Twins shall not fall by common means. Old Lord Walder will be cautious more so now than he has ever had reason to be, before. No we must find a way into the Twins without giving away our position. We must not let them see how few men we truly have."
Jon knew that many of the northmen did not like to use methods of deceit to try and force their way into a castle that by all rights and purposes should have been torn down long ago, hell Jon didn't even approve of what Stannis was suggesting, and he knew that Stannis Baratheon did not like it even more. The quandary they were facing was how were they to sneak into the Twins without giving away their position that was an issue that was debated fiercely for some time. Until one day as they approached the Neck and they were greeted by the famous and elusive cranongmen, who were led by a man who was short of stature, had brown hair and dark green eyes, eyes that seemed to look deep into your very soul.
"Greetings Your Grace, Lord Stark. Welcome to the Neck. I trust all has been well for you during this testing time and weather." The man said, in a sing song type voice, that Jon swore he had heard before.
Stannis it seemed was in no mood to exchange pleasantries with the man for he replied rather brusquely. "Lord Reed, whilst I appreciate the greeting, we have a war to fight and therefore would appreciate any services you would be willing to offer."
Jon felt something within him tense at the man's name. So this was the famous Lord Howland Reed, who had fought alongside his uncle all those years ago during Robert's Rebellion, and had been the only other person alongside Jon's uncle to survive the skirmish at the Tower of Joy, the man had not left his home at Greywater Watch since the rebellion, so Jon was deeply surprised that he would have left it now.
Howland Reed merely smiled at Stannis, and said. "Why of course Your Grace, I do in fact have something that could be of much use to you in your battles to come. Freys."
Jon heard the murmuring amongst his men at the word Frey, and felt curiosity begin to well up inside of him, as well as the usual anger that appeared whenever the Frey name was mentioned. He spurred his horse on after Lord Howland with Stannis riding beside him. They stopped their horses when Lord Howland stopped is near a great big mass of swamp, when Lord Howland whistled and three cranongmen appeared alongside two men bearing the twin towers of House Frey, Jon felt his anger start to rise, and beside his horse Ghost began to growl threateningly.
Lord Howland seemed unperturbed by Ghost, and simply turned his horse around to look at both Stannis and Jon and said. "Your Grace, my Lord. I give you Ser Perwyn Frey and Olyvar Frey of House Frey. My men found them wandering around the swamps some days ago, and when we received word of you marching south, we decided to hold them for you to speak with. I think you will find what they have to say most interesting."
Olyvar Frey had been Robb's squire and one of his friends Alys had told Jon during one of their days spent together in Last Hearth. The man had not been present when the wholesale slaughter at the Twins had occurred, but neither had he tried to warn Robb, if he had, Jon's cousin may still have been alive now. Jon was about to tell Stannis not to bother listening to the two men who bore the name of the house he hated almost as much as the Lannisters, but Stannis Baratheon merely looked at the two men for a long time, before saying. "Speak then, and be quick about it."
It was the taller and broader of the two men- whom Jon would later learn was named Ser Perwyn- who spoke. "Your Grace, we have come to bring you information of a way to enter the Twins without too much suffering being inflicted upon your men."
"And why should I trust the word of you, Frey?" Stannis asked.
"Because Your Grace," Ser Perwyn said. "This is the only way that you can assuredly succeed in taking our home."
"And why would you want me to do that Frey? You, who betrayed the Young Wolf and killed him and his men under your roof breaking the sacred laws of Guest Right,?" Stannis asked.
"There was no honour in what was done at that thrice damned wedding. You would be a fool to trust these two Your Grace." Mors Umber said.
"Aye Your Grace, better to kill these two now or take them hostage then listen to their lies." Rickard Karstark argued.
Ser Perwyn unperturbed by the insults being dealt to his house or honour merely said. "Aye there was no honour in what was done at my sister's wedding, aye my family broke many sacred laws and our oaths to our king. But our father is old and weary now, he has betrayed his family too many times, we are tired and broken and wish to make up for sins both new and old. We are giving you the chance to free us from our servitude Your Grace, will you heed us or not?"
"Speak then Frey, but tell no lies for I shall see through deception." Stannis Baratheon said.
Perwyn Frey swallowed nervously and then spoke. " There is an entrance into the Twins from underneath the Water Tower, that will lead straight into a passageway, once the passageway one need only knock on the door twice to be let in, and find themselves outside the doors of the Great Hall. Our Lord father has of late sat in the Great Hall many a time, to decide the succession of the Twins, whomsoever sets foot in the Great Hall shall find him weakly defended. Our forces are either in Seagard with Black Walder or with Emmon at Riverrun."
Jon heard the lords of the north murmur behind him; this was interesting news, the Twins weakly defended, and most of the men of House Frey away with Black Walder or with that prancing fool Emmon Frey? Things were beginning to look up for their hopes. Jon though had his doubts, and he voiced them. "And how do you suggest then Ser Perwyn that we get our men into the castle through this passageway you describe, when it is likely your father will have men on the walls looking for just a thing?"
Jon had to hand it to Ser Perwyn, though he was constantly being questioned, he did not falter in his resolve. "I would suggest that sending His Grace King Stannis to speak with whomever it is that my lord father sends out to treat with you, shall be enough of a distraction to allow those chosen to sneak into the castle undetected."
There was much more murmuring after that as all the lords tried to have their say, either cautioning against sending Stannis out to speak with the Freys, 'a treacherous lot, all of them' was Mors Umber's description of them. Eventually Stannis spoke and silenced all the chatter. "Very well then, we shall do as you have suggested Ser Perwyn I shall speak with your traitorous family, and send twenty men in through the Water Gate. Await for me at first light tomorrow." With that Stannis rode away back to their tents and camp, Jon waited for a moment looking at Ser Perwyn and the man who had been Robb's squire trying to determine whether or not there was any trickery being done here, when he could not detect any he nodded at them and rode off after his king.
As soon as they had arrived back at camp and had freshened up Stannis called a council, and Jon sat at his right hand side in the main command tent. "We shall follow Ser Perwyn's advice," Stannis said. "I shall go and treat with whomsoever those traitors send to treat with me. Who shall be brave enough to go into the Water Tower and slit Lord Walder's throat?"
There was a cry amongst the younger heads of the northern army, those men who had been boys when Jon's cousin had marched south all those years ago all jumped at the chance to infiltrate the Twins and win glory for themselves and their house. Through it all Jon remained silent, content to listen to the green boys- it felt so strange to think of them as that, having only fought in three battles him- argue and postulate why they were the best for such a mission.
Eventually he had heard enough and said. "I will go, and I will go alone."
There was much more murmuring and outcry when he said those words. "But my lord you cannot go in alone. It is too dangerous!" Lord Ryswell argued.
"Aye my lord," Donnel Condon argued. "It is too risky for you to go in alone, more men would be required."
Jon merely looked at the men, his men and said. "The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. Walder Frey betrayed my family, and I mean to make him pay for it. Those guards won't be with him when I get to him, they will be out on the walls looking at King Stannis. I will take him and I will kill him."
With that he left the tent and made his way over to his own, Ghost following at his heels. He sat on his bed and buried his head in his hands and tried to keep the fear that was threatening to escape him at bay. He knew what he had just volunteered to do was near suicide, but he did not want anymore northmen dying for him, his countrymen had died enough already, they had already paid a heavy enough price; this was for him to do, and for him alone.
He went to bed that night dreaming of Alys and their children and a rebuilt Winterfell.
Morning came too early for Jon's liking, as he got up and changed he said a quick prayer to the old gods, that he would be successful today, that they would be successful today, and that there would be no more northern losses in this godforsaken south. Having said his prayers he strapped Winter's Fury to his back, and walked from the tent, dressed in pale blue plate and mail, with his wolf's head helm in his arms. He strode toward his horse and found Lord Howland waiting for him, Ghost bounded up to the man and merely cocked his head up at him, his red eyes staring straight into the man's green ones.
"Lord Howland, I did not expect you to be here now at this early hour. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Jon asked.
Lord Howland merely gave Jon a wry smile and said. "When you come back from this mission we must needs speak Lord Stark." And with that Jon watched Howland Reed walk away from his horse and into the early morning mist, leaving Jon wondering what it was that he could need to speak of with Jon.
As the hour ticked by, Jon could feel himself growing restless, he waited for the red knights that had come with Stannis Baratheon on his march south- Justin Massey, Richard Thorpe, Glendon Fell the most prominent amongst them- say their prayers to that red god, whose power Jon did not fully comprehend, though he knew the feelings he felt as the embers died in the fire, and he did not like them one bit. When the time came, Stannis Baratheon came out of his own tent, fully dressed in black and gold plate and mail of his house, and walked toward Jon. The man stopped some feet away from him and merely looked at him for a long moment, before saying. "Success Stark." Before he too walked away.
Jon knowing that the time was now or never, donned his wolf's head helm and walked toward the place where it had been agreed he would meet Ser Perwyn. Finding Ser Perwyn there already dressed in a hooded cloak, Jon merely nodded at the man and then followed him through the thick swamps and marshes that made up the neck. When the Twins came into sight, Jon felt something deep inside of him begin to boil, he would avenge Robb and Aunt Catelyn, and he would most surely do so.
Following Ser Perwyn deeper through the marshes and the bog, they came to the Water Tower, which was where Ser Perwyn stopped and turned round and said to Jon- who had kept his visor firmly on- "This is where we part my lord, gods willing you be successful. Follow the passageway to its end and knock twice, my men will be waiting for you on the end."
Jon nodded, and waited for Ser Perwyn to leave before he climbed through the little hole in wall of the Water Tower; the light disappeared the minute his feet found the ground in the hole. Opening his visor, Jon walked along the dark dank passage, feeling his way across the walls to judge how far away he was from the end. He stumbled once or twice, tripping over what he thought were bones and the remains of animals. Once or twice he could have sworn he heard the sound of feet pattering along the cobbles on the floor of the passageway, and his thoughts turned toward Gendel's children north of the wall, always hungry, and internally he shivered.
Eventually the end came into sight, and Jon breathed a sigh of relief when the door, which had the engravings of the two towers of House Frey and what seemed to be a direwolf, engraved on it. Jon did as he had been bid and knocked twice on the door, the sound reverberating around the passage. The door opened seconds after the second knock, and Jon found himself looking at two men bearing the sigil of House Lannister, Jon felt something within him clench- had Perwyn betrayed them? Or had he been betrayed? - The Lannister men laughed and said "Oh look here, a bastard come to slit Old Lord Walder's throat, where's his support?"
Jon drew winter's Fury from his back and leapt out of the passageway as quickly as he could, and in one stroke had slashed one of the men's throat's open, as the man fell bleeding to the ground, he cut off the other man's head and as it fell from his body, Jon ran on toward the Great Hall. He cut his way through the two guards who stood there, they feel easily and Jon felt his blood sing with their deaths. He barged into the Great Hall to find it nearly completely deserted, apart from a man standing at the foot of the throne, dressed in blue, but built like a bull. Ser Hosteen Frey, the man had escaped the north and the slaughter that had occurred at Winterfell.
"Heh, would you look at that Hosteen, the Stark bastard has come to the Twins." The shrivelled old man that would be Walder Frey said.
Jon merely looked at the man sitting on the throne, and felt much hatred and anger build up within him, that he could not speak. His hands tightened around Winter's Fury- which was still slick with the blood of the four men Jon had killed- he stepped forward toward the throne and found his way blocked by Ser Hosteen.
"Heh," Lord Walder cackled. "I won't make it so easy for you to kill me bastard. Kill Hosteen and then we shall see."
Hosteen Frey- a brute of a man- drew his sword and charged at Jon. Jon raised Winter's Fury up as quickly as he could and felt the clanging of steel on steel, as it jarred its way up his shoulders. They broke apart and went back at it, swinging and hacking at each other in a frenzied dance, cutting and slashing at one another. A knick by Ser Hosteen opened up a cut on Jon's shoulder. A slash by Jon opened up a dent in Hosteen's armour. Back and forth it went, both men giving no quarter to the other, hacking, slashing, cutting, ducking and dodging until Jon finally found a opening and struck at Ser Hosteen with such force that he broke the man' sword, then he plunged his own sword deep within the man's throat.
As Jon pulled his sword out of Ser Hosteen Frey and advanced toward the throne where Old Walder Frey sat, Hosteen Frey gurgled his way to his death, and Walder Frey looked like he had seen a ghost. Gone was the mocking tone that the man had had, it had been replaced by ice cold fear, Ghost who had been silent until then advanced with Jon and growled threateningly at the old man.
"Walder Frey, you have committed a crime of great treason. Not only did you betray your king, but you broke all the sacred laws of gods and men, when you had my cousin, your King, Robb Stark killed under your roof attending his cousin's wedding. For this crime, I sentence you to death, and claim you life as forfeit." Jon said, his voice laced with ice.
For once it seemed that Walder Frey did not have some snide remark at hand, instead he simply ogled at Jon, and said aloud. "Who are you? What are you?"
Jon smiled a grim smile at the man and said "I am Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. I have come to avenge my cousin and aunt, and in the name of King Stannis Baratheon I do hereby sentence you to die." With that Jon spared no more words and advanced up the last few steps toward where Walder Frey sat unable to move on his throne, and Jon plunged his sword deep within the man's chest. Even after he had pulled the sword from Walder Frey's lifeless body, Jon stood in front of the throne, not moving, his sword in one hand, his other hand buried in Ghost's fur, as if his direwolf could anchor him to the present, even as memories of playing with Robb and Jeyne in Winterfell flew past in his head, even as the memories of when he had said goodbye to Robb that long ago day, Robb with melting snowflakes in his hair.
Jon's thoughts were interrupted when the doors of the great hall of the Twins flew open, turning round to see who it was, Jon saw himself looking at Mors Umber, the man was caked in dirt and blood. Jon saw Mors look at Jon then at the lifeless body of Walder Frey, and saw him snort and say "Finally that old bugger is dead." Before he moved toward the throne, Ghost growled at him, but the man simply said "His Grace is asking for you my lord of Stark. He's in the guest chamber not far from here."
Jon merely nodded, and sheathing his sword, he walked from the throne and down the steps, Ghost on his heels. He followed Mors Umber toward the room where Stannis Baratheon was in silence not asking what had happened at the parley, he found out soon enough as it was when he entered the room. There lying on the bed, his armour covered in a litany of arrows and dents and bruises was Stannis Baratheon.
Stannis's eyes opened when Jon stood next to him. "Stark," his voice sounded hoarse and pained. "Did you kill him?"
"Yes Your Grace." Jon replied, his own voice sounding rather hoarse.
"Good, that is good." Stannis Baratheon said before he was wracked with a coughing fit.
"His Grace should have some rest now." Maester Willam – the army maester who had been with Stannis's men since the wall- said.
"Rest, yes rest leave me now." Stannis whispered.
Jon left the room, and it was then and only then that he turned and spoke with Mors Umber. "What happened Mors? There were two Lannister guardsmen waiting for me when I came out of the passageway, did Perwyn betray us?"
Crowfood looked somber as he spoke. "Ser Perwyn was hung from the battlements when Stannis Baratheon came to treat with the Freys. One of his own kin had found out and had betrayed him. It was Olyvar Frey who was sent to treat with us, Stannis said as he said he would, and when Olyvar rode back to go inside the Twins, their archers fired at him and Stannis. Olyvar was killed Stannis got away lightly, but we were set upon by Black Walder and some 2000 Freys. They had been hiding around the castle woodlands. It was only because of Lord Reed and his frog men that we lived to tell the tale; they attack Black Walder's men from the east. The man himself fled with some 500 men, but the rest were killed and put to sword as were half the male Freys of fighting age."
Jon closed his eyes as he heard what Crowfood had to say, and he felt a sense of despair engulf him, they had been betrayed by someone. "How many men did we lose?"
"400 men my lord. Roger and Roose Ryswell were amongst the notable who died." Crowfood replied.
Jon sighed. There was still so much to be done and so little time with which to do it in.
Two weeks since they had taken the Twins and Stannis Baratheon's health seemed to be rapidly detoriating, the man could barely speak for more than a few seconds and when he could, he often had to stop speaking so that he could cough up blood. It was deeply worrying, Shireen and Lady Selyse were still in Winterfell safe and secure, but with winter here and the things from beyond the wall marching closer and closer to the wall and with Ramsay Snow still somewhere out on the loose, Jon was beginning to think that perhaps it would be best if they simply marched back south. But of course he had sworn to Stannis that he would march south and help him take the Twins and free Riverrun, and he intended to do just that. With Stannis being nearly unable to do anything more than cough, Jon had taken it upon himself to lead the northmen and whatever southern knights had survived the battles. Jon had had the lords and knights taken prisoner during the Red Wedding freed, which included the Greatjon Umber, Ser Kyle Condon and Ser Ronnel Stout and roughly 100 other noble men and knights from the north.
Jon had also overseen the execution of those Freys who had been part of the Red Wedding, and the sending of other Freys either to the Wall or to the Silent Sisters. With Perwyn and Olyvar dead, Jon had a difficult decision to make, whether or not to completely tear down the Twins or give it to someone he knew would be loyal to Stannis and House Tully once they were restored to their rightful place in Riverrun. It was during such discussions with the other lords that Jon often felt like he didn't belong, like it should have been Robb here doing this instead of him, Robb with his easy way with words and his easy way with people, Robb most definitely would have known what to do, would know exactly how Riverrun would need to be freed and who could be trusted to hold the Twins, Jon did not know and he could not help but think that he was being a poor lord and commander by not knowing.
Eventually it was decided that they would leave the Twins in the hands of Mors Umber who would hold it until Riverrun had been taken and secured. Jon marched from the Twins with some 5000 men and sent out scouts at every possible option trying to gauge what exactly he would face. From what the scouts reported, Black Walder had fled not to Seagard but to Riverrun with his 500 men, and from what Lord Mallister reported to Jon when they met him near Oldstones, Riverrun was held by a mere garrison of 1000 men, the rest of the men having gone back to the Westerlands or having dispersed with the disappearance of the Kingslayer. Good tidings indeed, Jon thought for it would make their job that much easier.
The battle itself was fought not within sight of Riverrun but in the Whispering Wood. Hacking and slashing, cutting, ducking, dodging and blocking. Jon fought the Freys and the Lannister men still at Riverrun and he made damn sure that he was the one killing the notable commanders, Ryman Frey, Edwyn Frey, Walder Rivers all fell to his sword. He felt a sort of savage pleasure from watching them fall to his sword. He cut his way through the hordes of Lannister and Frey soldiers and kept fighting no matter the cuts and dents he himself was taking. He hacked and slashed until his sword was covered in blood and the ground was littered with bodies. The battle of the Whispering Wood ended when Jon plunged his sword deep into Black Walder's throat and pulled it out and let loose a animal like howl, that was answered by thousands of northmen and Ghost.
When they reach Riverrun's gates they are presented with Ser Emmon Frey's head and Genna Lannister in chains as well as their children. Jon takes one long look at them and orders them placed in rooms with guards on them. He then stalks into the castle, and allows for there to be a feast to celebrate their victory, though he, himself remains aloof and slightly solemn during the feast, the thoughts of all the blood and horror haunting him even when awake. As well as the thought that Robb once came to Riverrun after a successful victory and how that ended for him.
Later once the celebrations are done and a new day has dawned, Jon has Riverrun's maester send out ravens to the Twins and to Winterfell to inform them of the taking of Riverrun. Jon learn from a letter left by Daven Lannister some two moons ago that because of the winter snows Edmure Tully is being kept in the Golden Tooth, bringing back memories of Roslin Frey, the man's wife, she had been very, very heavy with child when Jon had seen her last, carrying the heir to Riverrun, Jon had ordered her kept in the Twins till Edmure had been freed, then the man could do what he liked with her, it was not his problem.
They spend a moon in Riverrun allowing the castle to be set to rights, and Jon learns that Aegon Targaryen has sealed an alliance with Dorne, and that Daven Lannister will more than likely be marching through to defend King's Landing. With winter here though, Jon sincerely doubts that that will happen. He learns that Cersei Lannister and Margaery Tyrell have had their names cleared by the Faith, though it is the Tyrells who are firmly in control of King's Landing now. He does not have the chance to speak with Howland Reed about whatever it was the man wished to speak with him about before the Twins, Jon does not have the time actively seek the man out, and the man does not seek him out and so Jon is left wondering whatever it was. But such thoughts are put out of his head when he receives a letter with the flayed man of Bolton on it, written in the hand of the bastard of Bolton, and the words he writes send chills and anger down Jon's spine. His wife captured, his son and step daughter dead. His mind is made up.
Ashara
"This man claims to be Aegon Targaryen, and offers no proof except for the word of a man long believed dead himself and the fact he has taken Storm's End and you wish to do what?" Ashara asked her brother.
"Find out for myself whether this man is whom he claims to be, and whether or not Jon Connington truly lives." Her brother replied.
"Hmm," Oberyn snorted. "So you would abandon your family once more, to go and serve a dragon who may not even be a dragon."
Ashara sees her brother bristle and knows what is about to come next. "This so called dragon could be your nephew if he is real."
"And how would you know that Arthur, Aegon was a mere babe when he died. And you were not even in King's Landing for half of the rebellion." Ashara says and immediately she regrets it when she sees the look of pain that crosses her brother's face.
"I know," Arthur whispers and Ashara knows he is thinking of Elia and little Rhaenys. "I simply wish to represent Dorne to this would be king that is all."
"There will be no need for that." Doran says his voice laced with tiredness. "Oberyn shall be going to Storm's End to see who this man is and whether or not my nephew lives or not. If he is suitably convinced then Dorne shall finally enter this war."
And with that their little meeting comes to an end. Ashara and Arthur walk toward their rooms talking in hushed tones as they do. "Why did you really wish to go to Storm's End Arthur? Aegon was never yours, not like Rhaenys was."
When her brother remains silent, Ashara feels something akin to horror stir inside of her. "You could not mean to go there and tell them about Jon? Surely not Arthur?" she exclaims. Her brother remains quiet and so she goes on. "Jon Connington was always so jealous of Elia and the fact she held Rhaegar's heart in a way he never could, and when he ran away with Lyanna that destroyed him even more. The man would more than likely wish to kill Jon than allow him to continue to live. And this boy, even if he is Aegon, he will not Jon to live, Jon will serve as the humiliation that Rhaegar did to his mother, and if not then will always be a source of questioning as to whether he himself is legitimate. Arthur tell me you didn't want to tell them of Jon, we both made a promise not to!"
Arthur merely looks at her and says. "I cannot live a lie anymore Ashara, either this boy is real or not, if not then Jon is the rightful king. He deserves to know the truth." And with that her brother walks away from her and back to his own room.
When they return to Starfall, Ashara loses track of her worries about the mission to Storm's End and instead spends time keeping an eye on Sansa Stark and Willas Tyrell. The two seem to be completely besotted with each other. Sansa seems to have come out of her shell since Willas Tyrell arrived at Starfall two moons ago, she seems much more confident in herself and much more happier and willing to smile. Ashara can see much of Ned in her, true she looks like Catelyn Tully, but she has much of Ned's inner goodness in her and his desire to smile and make people laugh. She suspects that very soon she shall have to write to Jon and tell him about what has been going on between his cousin and Willas Tyrell, for it does seem as if a betrothal and a marriage could be coming up very, very soon.
Jeyne, her lovely precious daughter seems to have recovered slightly if not completely from her illness, and seems to be back to her usual self. Though Ashara has seen her daughter looking at Sansa and Willas from her room, a look of jealousy on her face, and Ashara feels her heart go out to her daughter then, she knows what Elia went through with her health and the constant feelings that she wasn't good enough, Ashara deeply hopes her daughter does not feel like that, that she knows how much she is loved and wanted here. Just as Jeyne seems to be getting better, winter arrives in all its might in Dorne and she falls grievously ill, so ill in fact that Maester Wallan tells Ashara one day that it is possible she might not survive this latest illness and Ashara cries and cries and cries, like she hasn't since she learnt Elia died. She knows not where Jon is, where the son of her heart is, whether he be in Winterfell now or the south getting revenge for his fallen family, wherever he is, Ashara knows he will want to be here, to be with Jeyne and herself during this difficult time, and even though she knows she is being selfish, she writes a letter and sends it to Winterfell, and hopes and prays that Jon gets here whilst Jeyne still lives.
Eventually word trickles down from the Riverlands; her Jon had led the assault that had taken the Twins and Riverrun back from the Freys and the Lannisters. But she also hears that the Bastard of Bolton holds his wife and children, and so he marches north, and she weeps more, she prays to the Seven that they keep Jon and his children and wife safe, that they keep Jeyne alive, that they help her get better. She knows not whether her prayers will make much difference, after all she prayed fervently during the rebellion and yet her father, and her uncle and Elia still died. Still she prays because that is all she can do, Jeyne is in a deep sleep, but still it is not clear whether or not she will ever wake up from this sleep or not.
During all of this turmoil and chaos, she receives a raven from Doran informing her that he has formally declared for Aegon and that the boy wishes to meet Sansa Stark, and she senses trouble on the horizon as she remembers the last time Ice and Fire met and what happened to the realm then.