Jon and the others watched from the entrance of the command tent as the small army approached. Most were on foot, wearing dark leather armor and chainmail, wielding spears and shields, while those on horseback were more heavily armored, wielding lances, swords, and axes. The group riding at the front of the column rode under a banner of a white rose on a field of grey.
The Company of the Rose.
"What are they doing here?" The Greatjon rumbled.
"Perhaps we should talk to them and find out," Howland suggested bluntly.
Jon suppressed a smile, wanting to look in command as the sellsword commanders approached. There were a lot of them, nearly twenty or so, but there was one man that surprised Jon. He looked like a Stark, with the same dark hair and long face that Jon's father had.
The mounted group was allowed entry into the camp and soon found themselves face to face with Jon and his commanders.
The White Wolf crossed his arms, glancing down at Ghost, who wasn't baring his teeth.
That was a good sign for the mystery warriors.
"Who are you?" Jon asked, keeping his voice neutral.
"I am Derren, captain of the Company of the Rose." The Stark-looking man answered. "These are my commanders."
"Why are you here?" Jon asked as soon as the man was done talking.
"That is a long story," Derren answered easily. "Perhaps we could speak alone. Myself and your commanders."
Jon glanced around at the crowd that was forming, picking out one man.
"Rodrik, watch the others," he ordered the heir to Ironwrath. "Derren, dismount and come in."
The leader of the sellswords slipped from the saddle and followed Jon into the tent, where the others were already re-taking their seats. They had just moved on from the Rills and were now making plans for relieving Eagle's Roost. The scouts had reported that the keep still held, but it was likely to fall any day now. The council had been debating on whether or not to send Lord Hawker ahead with the entire cavalry to try and break the enemy forces.
"Do you have a last name, Derren?" Jon asked, taking his place on the other end of the table from the man, though not sitting down. Ghost remained close to the man, almost prowling around him.
The man hesitated before answering. "Perhaps I should tell you why I am here before I introduce myself fully."
Jon raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Very well. Explain."
"The Company of the Rose was founded over three hundred years ago," Derren started. "It was not formed by men who refused to bend the knee to Aegon Targaryen, but by Torrhen Stark himself after he bent the knee. He was worried that the Targaryen King would go back on his word and burn the North, and so he assembled a group of northerners from every family. Second or third sons, cousins in some cases, and created the Company of the Rose. The goal was to preserve family lines should any go extinct."
"Hold on," Jon said, holding up a hand. "You're saying that you have Umbers, Glovers, Karstarks, and a member of every noble family in the North in the Company of the Rose?"
Derren nodded. "I do," he answered simply. "Manderlys, Hawkers, Reeds, even extinct houses like Ryders, Fishers, Greenwoods, and others."
"Starks?" Jon asked carefully.
Derren bowed. "Derren Stark, ancestor of Rickard Stark, youngest son of Torrhen Stark, the King who Knelt."
Now it made sense to Jon why the man looked like a Stark.
"So you're my cousin?"
Derren nodded. "I am. For three hundred years, the company hid in plain sight in Essos, holding on to the two orders that Torrhen Stark had given them. The first was to stay alive. We took jobs with high chances of victory and were generally known as a solid company. The second order was to return when a Stark once more wore the Crown of Winter."
Jon sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "That makes sense. Did you ever keep contact with the North?"
Derren nodded. "We did, though not with the Stark in Winterfell. The Starks were interconnected with every house in the North and with everything they had to handle, that responsibility of communication between the North and the Company fell to House Reed."
All eyes turned to Howland Reed, who casually took a drink of ale. He didn't look at all like he cared about the revelation that had been dropped on the others.
"House Reed is one of the smallest and strangest houses in the North and all of Westeros," Howland explained when he put his tankard down. "We were also ideally protected from unwanted eyes and ears because of the Neck. My family has always been Lords of Greywater Watch and spymaster for the Company of the Rose. We have a good system set up too, able to get information within a few days and even able to pass small packages across Westeros in a matter of days."
"That's why you said 'friends'." Jon said, remembering his first talk with the man. "You said your friends were investigating Winterfell after the Boltons sacked it."
Howland nodded. "My spies did that. We have a network that expands across Essos and Westeros."
"We relied on it heavily when choosing contracts," Derren explained. "Now, the Company has returned to the North to help take it back from the ironborn and the boltons before marching south to pledge loyalty to King Robb."
"Who knows that the Company is fighting for him and their history," Howland added. "A full report was delivered to Queen Margaery."
Jon's head was spinning with the information he was getting. Long lost members of northern families were returning after being gone for three hundred years, he had a cousin, and Howland Reed had a spy network. There was a lot to comprehend, but the story made some kind of sense.
"Is there anything else I should know?"
Derren nodded and produced a scroll from his belt, tossing it towards Jon. "I've been told to give that to you."
Jon broke the wax and unrolled the message. It read:
Jon,
I am sorry that I am not there to see you in person. Hopefully Derren has explained why he and the Company of the Rose have returned to the North. Please believe them. They are friends and allies.
I know that my being alive is quite a shock, but it is no trick. I am truly alive and back in the North. The Company of the Rose saved me and Arya from death and worse in King's Landing, even managed to take Ice back as well.
Jon, words cannot describe how proud I am of you and Robb. The way you have both fought against adversity and have held yourself as true Stark men….words fail me. I am proud to call you my sons.
You are probably wondering what will happen now that I am alive and Robb is King. I am on my way to rally the mountain clans, but we will discuss that and more when we meet.
I am sorry for what my actions have caused, but know that you have made me proud beyond belief.
Your father,
Eddard Stark.
Jon, his hands shaking, set down the message. The blood was gone from his face and he was having trouble breathing. He was gazing down at the letter when another scroll rolled into his gaze.
"That one might make you a bit happier," Derren said quietly.
Jon quickly broke the seal and read:
Jon,
I am happy that you're not at the Wall. When I heard that you left to be with Robb, I knew you would!
I don't know what to write, but father and I are leaving to get the Mountain Clans. Hopefully we will see you soon.
I still have Needle!
Your sister,
Arya
Jon cracked a small smile. It had been a long time since he had seen Arya, but he could imagine her breathless, excited voice in his head reading him the letter. It was helping him overcome the shock of the first letter.
"Jon?" Glover asked curiously. "What is it?"
Jon looked up at Howland, sending a silent message to the wiry lord, who simply nodded in return.
"Jon has just learned that Ned is alive and back in the North," Howland explained, allowing Jon to comprehend what he had just read. "The Company of the Rose managed to save him and his daughter Arya from King's Landing."
"Sansa was unfortunately too well guarded," Derren added helpfully.
The Greatjon leaned forward, glaring at the crannogman. "What the blazes are you talking about? Ned is dead. Beheaded in King's Landing."
"That was a lie spread by Cersei Lannister and her son," Derren explained. "They killed a man who resembled Ned Stark."
"I thought the lannisters had both Stark girls?" Maege Mormont commented.
"Another lie," Howland answered.
"Where's Ned now?" Karstark asked.
"Gathering the Mountain Clans," Jon answered, making everyone turn towards him. "He and my sister said that they will meet up with us soon."
"He said that he wanted to bring the entire North down on Roose Bolton," Derren explained. "By the time we relieve Eagle's Roost and retake Deepwood Motte, he should meet us on the way to the Dreadfort."
"My father said that you were friends and allies," Jon said, gazing at his cousin. "Are you ready to prove that?"
"Of course," Derren answered immediately.
"Lord Hawker," Jon said, looking at the lord of Eagle's Roost who had yet to speak. "You and I will take the entire cavalry and ride for Eagle's Roost. Derren and the cavalry of the Company of the Rose shall ride with us."
"And the rest of us?" Karstark grumbled.
"The army shall continue to march north along the Stoney Shore," Jon answered. "We have to march north anyway to retake Lord Glover's home. That will be all."
Jon had dismissed the council so suddenly that it took a moment for any of them to move. Slowly, starting with Roland Hawker, the other commanders filed out of the room with Derren Stark taking up the rear. Howland was the only man who hadn't moved.
"Why didn't you tell me," Jon said angrily, glaring at the small lord.
"I didn't feel like the time was right," Howland answered honestly. "Besides, there was other information that you needed to know as well. I thought it best to give you all the information at the same time."
"I had a right to know!" Jon growled, slamming his hand on the table. "My father is fucking alive and has been for months and you've known this entire time!"
"Actually I found out when he got to Braavos." Howland corrected calmly. "Besides, you had a lot on your plate."
"Robb and I mourned for him!" Jon shouted, standing up. "I had a right to know regardless of all else going on!"
"Would you have reacted any differently?" Howland questioned. "I knew you would learn eventually, either from myself, a member of the Company, or Ned himself. This way, you find out that the Company of the Rose is on our side, that Ned is alive, and how the two are connected. If I were to tell you this back at Moat Cailin or at any point between then and now, how would I have been able to give you proof? You have a letter from your father!"
Jon began to pace, one hand gripping the pommel of Frost as he glared at the lord of Greywater Watch. He wasn't sure what he hated more. The fact that Howland hadn't told him or the fact that he was making a compelling argument as to why he was right to not tell Jon.
"Is there anything else that I or my brother should know?" Jon asked finally.
Howland shook his head. "Nothing pressing."
"I don't care if it's pressing or not," Jon growled.
"It does actually." Howland retorted in his same quiet and calm tone. "With all information, it has to be filtered into two categories: Is it important for someone like yourself to know this or can it wait."
Jon glared at Howland for a moment longer before sighing and dropping back into his chair.
"Fine."
Howland stood up, straightening his cloak a little so that it better hid the numerous weapons he had on his person. In every aspect of his life, Howland Reed was a mysterious man who had the potential to be the most dangerous man in Westeros.
"I am sorry that I did not tell you about your father," he apologized. "Now both you and Robb know."
"Lord Glover will be in charge when Lord Hawker and I ride north to free Eagle's Roost," Jon said, gazing steadily at Howland.
"Understood," Howland said with a slight bow before leaving.