Chapter 2: The Gathering Storm
Episode 2: Shadows of the Past
Year: 298 AC
Month: November
Age: Robb Stark - 15, Bran Stark - 7, Jon Snow - 16, Ned Stark - 40, Catelyn Stark - 38
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The halls of Winterfell were quieter now, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows against the stone walls. The news of Jon Snow's return had spread quickly, though not all were as eager to welcome him as Bran had been. Catelyn Stark's smile, though genuine when she first heard of Jon's return, had faltered when she saw the boy standing in the doorframe. The years had not been kind to him, and the sight of Jon, taller and more weathered, reminded her of the great burden he carried. The burden of his true parentage, which had been kept a secret even from him.
It was late afternoon by the time Jon arrived at Winterfell's gates, the wind cutting through the branches of the nearby trees as if the world itself held its breath. Jon Snow stood tall in his worn Night's Watch cloak, his face harder than when he had left years ago. His once youthful features had been tempered by hardship, and the glint in his eyes spoke of the many dangers he had faced beyond the Wall.
"Jon," Ned Stark's voice was warm, though there was an edge of concern. He stepped forward, his figure broad and imposing even in the dim light of the hall.
Jon nodded, a slight tilt of his head acknowledging the respect between father and son—though not by blood. Jon had always known his place at Winterfell, but his true place in Ned's heart was a subject of much debate, especially among the Stark children. Catelyn had never been able to fully accept Jon, not because of the boy's character, but because of the mystery surrounding his parentage.
As the two embraced, Jon spoke quietly, "It's good to be home." His voice was rough, not from illness, but from the cold winds of the North, the ones that never seemed to relent.
Catelyn watched them, standing in the doorway, her gaze narrowed, assessing her husband's quiet affection for the boy. Her heart tightened as she watched Ned pull Jon into a brotherly embrace, but it was not Jon she truly worried about. It was the rumors, the whispers she had overheard that unsettled her. Whispers of danger beyond the Wall, of things that had awoken in the snow-covered wilderness—things that no one dared speak of in Winterfell's safety.
Bran Stark, full of youthful energy, had eagerly run up to Jon the moment he entered the hall, his eyes wide with admiration.
"Jon! You're back!" Bran's voice, filled with excitement, rang through the hall, his youthful innocence a stark contrast to the older, more somber expressions of his family.
Jon smiled softly at Bran, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's good to see you too, Bran. You've grown." He ruffled the boy's hair, his grin faltering just slightly as his gaze flickered to Catelyn.
Catelyn had not yet spoken a word to Jon, but she forced herself to meet his eyes, her blue gaze as cold and distant as the Northern winds. "You've been gone long, Jon," she said flatly, her tone carefully controlled. "The Wall must be far colder than I remember."
Jon paused, looking at her as though searching for some sign of warmth. But Catelyn's face remained an impassive mask. It was the weight of the past between them, the secret that neither could fully acknowledge in public. Jon's eyes flicked to the ground, a brief moment of tension passing between them.
"Yes, my lady," Jon said quietly, avoiding her gaze. "It is cold."
Ned stepped forward to break the silence, putting a hand on Jon's shoulder. "Let us sit. We have much to discuss." He motioned toward the long wooden table that ran through the center of the hall, and everyone gathered around, including Robb, who had been standing off to the side, quietly observing.
Robb, now fifteen years old, looked at Jon with a mixture of respect and curiosity. He had always been the heir, the firstborn son who would one day rule Winterfell. Yet there was something in Jon's presence that unnerved him. Jon's return reminded Robb of the looming responsibilities that awaited him, but also of the shadows of the past, of the fact that he was not the only son of Winterfell.
"Tell us what has happened at the Wall," Robb said, his voice breaking the tension. His voice was still youthful, yet had begun to carry the weight of his future responsibility. His gray eyes locked with Jon's. "Is it true, what they say? That the wildlings have been moving south?"
Jon's expression grew more serious, his features hardening as he sat at the table. "It's true. There's been movement—strange things beyond the Wall. The wildlings are not the only threat we face." He paused, his eyes flicking between Ned, Robb, and Catelyn, then lowered his voice. "There's something else. Something older, and far more dangerous."
The room grew quiet at his words. Bran, who had been bouncing on his seat, leaned forward. "What do you mean, Jon? What's beyond the Wall?"
Jon looked into Bran's eager face, his expression grim. "Things that shouldn't exist. Things that are waking in the cold. We saw them—shadows in the dark." He swallowed, clearly haunted by the memories. "We barely survived."
Ned's gaze hardened, the concern in his eyes no longer veiled. "How serious is it?" he asked quietly, the father in him pushing aside his duties as a lord, his voice demanding answers.
Jon met his father's eyes, and for a moment, there was no barrier between them. "Serious enough to risk everything. The Wall is no longer enough to keep the darkness away."
Catelyn's breath caught at the implications of Jon's words. She looked at her husband, her mind racing. She had been right to worry. Whatever was happening in the North was not something they could ignore. The South may call for Ned's presence, but Winterfell had its own pressing matters to face.
After a long silence, Robb finally spoke again, his voice grave. "We can't ignore this. We should send word to the Watch. They need help."
Jon shook his head, the weight of his words clear. "It's not just the Watch. The entire realm is at risk. We need to be ready for what comes."
The Stark children, though young, understood the gravity of Jon's warning. The safety of their home—of all they had known—was under threat. The shadows of the past were not just whispered rumors—they were real, and they were coming.
Ned placed his hand on the table, his voice firm with the resolve that had made him a leader. "We will prepare, then. But our loyalty to the King does not falter. Whatever happens, we must be ready for what's to come."
Catelyn met Jon's gaze once more, her thoughts still uncertain, but her determination unwavering. "The North must stand together. It always has."
The fire crackled in the hearth, the only sound breaking the tense silence that had fallen over the room. Outside, the winds howled louder than ever, and a feeling of impending doom settled over Winterfell like the snow that blanketed the earth.
The Storm was coming. And nothing would ever be the same again.
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End of Episode 2