The funeral ceremony was held at the docks, where Hoster Tully had been placed in a boat filled with dry tinder and oils. He was dressed in silver mail with a blue and red tabard bearing the leaping trout of his house on his chest. Finally, his body had been covered with a Tully banner with his longsword placed on his chest and a shield placed at his feet.
The Blackfish, along with Lord Jason Mallister, pushed the boat into the current of the river and stepped back onto the dock, where Edmure stood waiting with a longbow and a flaming arrow. When the boat was far enough down the river, Edmure aimed and fired.
What was supposed to be a solemn moment was shattered when Edmure's arrow missed just left of the boat.
The new lord of Riverrun quickly grabbed another arrow and lit it, aiming once more. He fired, this time sending the flaming arrow sailing well past the vessel. The crowd that had assembled to watch the funeral began to shift restlessly as the boat began to drift towards a bend in the river, soon to be hidden from sight.
Edmure tried a third time, sending the flaming arrow high into the sky. It too missed the mark, splashing into the river just short of the boat.
Ser Brynden made a disgusted noise and stepped forward, roughly grabbing the bow from his nephew's hand and dragging an arrow from the sheath on his back. As he lit the arrow, he glanced up at the pennant that was flapping in the wind, noting the wind. When the arrow was lit, the Blackfish drew and fired in one fluid movement, not even watching as the arrow came arcing down onto the boat, setting it aflame.
The crowd let out a collective sigh of relief as the burning boat drifted around the bend, content that Hoster Tully had now been laid to rest.
The aging knight tossed the longbow at his nephew as he walked by. The crowd smartly parted for the Blackfish, who stormed back towards the castle, not looking back for a second.
Jon had not been part of the crowd but had instead placed himself a few yards away from the others where he could watch the funeral happen, but no one would notice him. He was dressed respectfully in a black leather doublet over a white shirt. Ghost sat on his haunches next to Jon, also silently watching the funeral.
When the crowd began to disperse, Jon stayed where he was. He was watching Lady Catelyn, who was simply staring downriver. Her only company was the silent Ser Rodrik, who had become the shadow of Lady Stark.
Jon truly felt for the woman. She lost her husband, now her father as well. Her eldest son was in the Reach, her other sons were in Winterfell, and her daughters were prisoners in the Capitol. Her family was spread out, and none were with her. There was also the fact that, according to Ser Brynden, Lady Stark had been sending almost daily messages to the Vale, begging her sister to send the Knights of the Vale to help.
Messages Lady Stark's sister has yet to respond to.
"I did not expect to find you here." Eddard Karstark said, walking up behind Jon. He and the other members of the battle guard had traveled with the Blackfish back to Riverrun after the Battle of Oxcross. Many had wanted to stay in the Westerlands with their fathers and raid and pillage, but Ser Brynden had ordered them back to Winterfell. He wanted them whenever the king returned from the Reach.
Jon glanced over his shoulder at the man before looking back at the river. "Nor did I expect to find myself here," he replied quietly.
The two northmen looked out over the river, neither saying anything. Jon had an idea of what the Karstark man was going to say, and was mentally preparing himself for the conversation.
"I never grew up around bastards." Eddard began. "My mother always looked down on them because of their birth. She said that they were a symbol of dishonor. My father never agreed with her, but never disagreed with her. My brothers and I, we never knew what to think."
Jon nodded slowly. "Aye, sounds about right," he said quietly. "Most don't know what to think about bastards. There's no particular stereotype. Others, well, they look down on bastards or hate them for some reason or another."
Eddard looked at Jon. "I always wondered why Lord Stark brought his bastard back to Winterfell. To have the results of his broken vow under the very same roof as his wife." He sighed. "I think I understand now. Robb saw you for more than your birth. He saw you as his brother, which he was right to. Whether you came from the same womb or not doesn't matter. The blood of House Stark runs through his veins as well as yours."
Jon glanced at the Karstark warrior. "That's a good way of looking at it," he said. "But not all men are Lord Stark."
Eddard nodded. "Aye, there are very few men like that."
The two fell back into their silence until Eddard came up with another way to keep the conversation going. Jon didn't mind, he was patient enough to wait. There was nothing happening today, save for the feast tonight to honor the late Lord Tully. Tomorrow, the riverlords would be sent out into the Riverlands and Westerlands to continue raiding and taking castles.
"How did Lady Stark treat you?" Eddard asked finally.
Jon gazed at the Lady of Winterfell, who was still standing on the docks. For just a second, their eyes met, and her tearful eyes turned to ice, just as they always had whenever she looked at him. But after a moment, she turned away and looked back at the river. The smoke from the burning boat was now fading.
"I hold no ill-will against Lady Stark for how she treated me," Jon said, still looking at the woman. "For all that I was, for what I represented, she never did bad by me. She never contrived to have me killed. She never drove a wedge between Robb or myself. She allowed us to be brothers. She allowed me, in her own way, to be a brother to all of her children."
Eddard looked at Lady Stark. "I've seen the way she looks at you," he said. "I know what happened when you first arrived here. She had you sent to the dungeon."
Jon nodded. "Aye, she did. But I still can not find it within myself to hate her. For how miserable I might've been not knowing who my mother was, I can not imagine what it must have been like for her. Seeing me every day and being reminded of what her husband did."
Eddard did something that Jon wasn't expecting. He chuckled. Jon looked at him, raising an eyebrow.
"Something funny?"
Eddard shook his head, a slight smile still on his face. "You are exactly how Robb said you would be. Serious, reserved, and honorable without fault," he explained. "And if what Lucas said is right, you're a damn fine fighter."
Jon grunted. "Haven't been challenged yet," he said with a slight smile.
Eddard chuckled, nodding. "Aye, not wrong. We still got Tywin bloody Lannister to deal with it."
Jon nodded, the smile fading from his face. "Let's hope that all we have to deal with," he said before turning around and walking away.
Line Break
The feast had been uneventful for Jon, who had remained amongst the battle guard while the Lords of the Riverlands shared stories about the late Hoster Tully, toasting to him whenever the mood took them.
Lady Catelyn sat in the middle of the table, with her brother and uncle on either side of her. She ate little and didn't speak much, offering a small smile and a few words whenever needed. She was the picture of a perfect lady and a grieving daughter. She wore all black and had a handkerchief balled up in one hand while the other pushed food around on her plate.
She didn't stay at the feast long. After yet another war story of her father during the last Blackfyre Rebellion, she had taken her leave from her late father's bannermen, thanking them for being at her father's funeral. Several offered to walk her back to her room, but she declined them all as the bulky form of Ser Rodrik was instantly at her side.
Jon didn't stay long himself. Just long enough to eat and drink before he excused himself.
Jon had thought that he was going back to his room, but he instead found himself in the Godswood, staring at the heart tree and the sad, terrified face that had been carved on it, red sap dripping from the mouth and eyes. The woods did not have the feeling that those in Winterfell had, but it was the closest Jon felt to being home since he had crossed the Neck.
For some reason, Jon couldn't seem to be proud of himself. It was a weird thought. He had traveled across the largest kingdom in all of Westeros to be at his brother's side. He fought under the Stark banner at Oxcross and played a major part in taking the Golden Tooth. He had earned the respect of both the northern lords and the lords of the Riverlands, as well as the respect from the other members of Robb's battle guard.
But for some reason, Jon kept feeling like he had more to prove himself. Now that he knew who his father was, he felt like he had to work that much harder to rise above his real father's tainted legacy as well as his bastard name.
Not for the first time, Jon wished that Sam was still with him. He would know how to cheer Jon up. The large lad always had a way with words and would be able to help Jon get his thoughts in order.
"I thought I might find you here." A voice said from behind Jon, catching him off guard.
Jon turned, a hand falling to his sword before he stopped. Regarding Jon, with her hands folded in front of her and a sad, firm look, was Lady Catelyn Stark. The woman he had actively tried to steer clear of.
Jon bowed. "Forgive me, my lady. I will take my leave," he said immediately, but Catelyn held up a hand to stop him.
"There's no need for that Jon." She said. "I will say what I have come here to say, and then you may go."
Jon didn't know what he could say, so he simply nodded. Lady Catelyn took a seat on a convenient bench, pulling her shawl a little tighter around her shoulders. Jon remained standing awkwardly, his hands behind his back like a servant.
"I have never liked you," she said quietly. "I never could bring myself to. You represented to me that there was another woman out there who Ned, my Ned, loved as much as me."
Jon went pale. "My lady…." he stuttered, but Catelyn interrupted him.
"Do not speak," she said firmly. "I also had my fears that you would try to take Robb's place as heir to Winterfell. Or that Ned would name you his heir over my son. May the Seven forgive me, but I allowed my fears to control me whenever I saw you. It didn't help that you looked like my husband far more than many of the children I gave him did."
Jon went to apologize once more, then quickly closed his mouth as Lady Stark held up a hand to stop him.
"I have now lost all three of the men I loved more than anything. The first was Brandon, my Wild Wolf. Then my sweet, dear Ned. We were strangers when we first met, newlyweds who were never meant to be together. But we made it work and our love grew over the years, as did our family. Finally, there was my father. A man who had always been a pillar of strength and wisdom, I saw crumble and die before my very eyes."
When Lady Stark said this, she began to cry softly, tears gently rolling down her cheeks. Jon shifted uncomfortably where he stood, not feeling like he was the best person for Lady Stark to be talking to.
"Lady Stark, I am very sorry for your losses…..but why are you telling me this?" Catelyn pulled herself together, sniffing lightly as she looked at Jon with red-rimmed eyes. "I miss my home, Jon Snow. I miss Winterfell and Bran and Rickon. Robb does not need me anymore. He has grown up faster than I could realize, becoming a lord and then a king. I can no longer be by his side, as much as I wish I could be. He is his own man, and I being here only holds him back from being so."
Catelyn stood up, walking towards Jon till she was just a foot away from him. She looked him right in the eye, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Jon Snow, as Lady of Winterfell, I command you to protect my son."
Jon raised an eyebrow. "Of course…." he began, but Lady Stark shook her head firmly.
"I understand that you fully intend to do so, but that is not enough for me. You say you are his brother, and I know he treats you as such. I want you to swear to me this, Jon Snow. If his life is ever in danger, you will give your life for his without hesitation. That, if he should ever go down a path that will lead to destruction, you must be the one to pull him back and save him from himself. If my son is dying then I want you to swear to me that you will do everything in your power and more to make sure that he survives, and avenge his death if you are unable."
Jon stood there for a moment before slowly drawing his sword, placing it point down in front of him. He knelt before Lady Stark, bowing his head.
"I swear on my honor and my life that I will always and forever do everything in my power to protect and defend my brother and king, Robb Stark," Jon vowed.
Lady Catelyn looked down at Jon, nodding slightly. "I leave my son in your hands, Jon Snow. If he dies because of you, then I shall hunt you through the Seven Hells and get my revenge," she promised. "Goodbye, Jon."
With that, Lady Stark swept out of the gardens, leaving a very bewildered and newly purposed Jon.