"Your Grace," Jon managed. "You're forgetting—I'm Snow, not Stark."
Lynn saw Jon's emotions settling and let the smile return.
"I'm a real king now, Jon."
"I haven't settled on a formal title or sigil or house words yet, but I've got the power that matters.
All you have to do is kneel at my feet, swear me your loyalty, and my sword can make you legitimate. You'll be the last Stark.
You don't even have to kneel if you don't want to. I don't care about that part."
"Yes," Jon said hesitantly. "There are precedents for kings legitimizing bastards. We've all heard the stories.
But… I'm a man of the Night's Watch. I knelt before the heart tree and swore—I will take no wife, hold no lands, father no children, wear no crowns, win no glory."
"Jon,"
Lynn rested his elbows on the table, voice calm and patient.
"I respect every man's beliefs, but let's be honest—swearing to a tree carries about as much weight as swearing to a worn-out boot."
Lynn had no grudge against the old gods, but he knew the Three-Eyed Crow was the one actually listening to those prayers. And he and the Crow didn't exactly have friendly history.
"Besides, the king and the Night's Watch reached a very good agreement. I don't think Ser Denys would begrudge me this small concession."
What else could Ser Denys say?
He nodded at Jon.
As Jon realized where this was heading, his mind drifted back to when he was a boy.
Back when he didn't even understand what "bastard" meant, he used to dream that Winterfell would one day be his.
Later he felt ashamed of those dreams.
Winterfell belonged to Robb and his sons. If Robb had none, it would go to Bran or Rickon, and after them Sansa and Arya.
Those childhood dreams now felt like betrayal—like he'd secretly wished his siblings dead so he could have it all.
I never thought I could be lord. I loved Robb. I loved all of them… I never wanted any of them hurt.
But they were hurt anyway. And in the end, only I'm left.
And now all I have to do is say yes and I become Jon Stark. No longer Snow.
All I have to do is swear to the king in front of me and Winterfell is mine. All I have to do is…
…break my oath again.
But can the same oath be broken twice?
He asked himself the question in silence.
Seeing Jon still hesitating, Lynn decided to add fuel to the fire.
"Think about the Boltons, Jon. Their bastard probably had your brothers and flayed them alive.
And your brother Robb—they say the traitors cut off his head and sewed a wolf's head onto it as an insult.
Do you want filth like that ruling your father's and brother's lands after they murdered your blood?"
Lynn didn't give him long to think.
While the hate was still burning hot, he picked up Dark Sister, walked around the long table, and stopped beside Jon.
"Let's not waste time. The dragon's waiting outside the Wall for his dinner."
Lynn nodded to Mance. Mance immediately handed Jon the sword that had been waiting—Longclaw.
"I just came up with a decent set of words for my royal style. While I still remember them, Jon—hurry up!"
Jon Snow looked like he might faint.
He stood on shaky legs, then dropped to his knees in front of Lynn, struggling to place Longclaw at the king's feet.
"You can stay standing, you know. Honestly, I don't mind."
Lynn said it kindly. When Jon didn't rise, he drew Dark Sister and laid the flat across Jon's shoulders.
Lynn cleared his throat and spoke with full ceremony:
"In the name of the Guardian of All Living Beings in Westeros, the Son of the Stars, the Bearer of Lightbringer who stands against the Long Night, and the sole ruler of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men:
I, King Lynn the First of House Morningstar, hereby grant you the name Stark and name you Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North."
"Jon Stark, do you swear to serve me all the days of your life, to give me honest counsel and absolute obedience, to defend my rights and my realm, to stand with me through every hardship, to watch over my people, and to punish my enemies?"
For one long moment Lynn thought Jon would refuse.
Then Jon Stark answered in a hoarse voice:
"I swear!"
"I will serve you all the days of my life!
I will give you honest counsel and absolute obedience!
I will defend your rights and your realm!
I will stand with you through every hardship!
I will watch over your people,
and punish your enemies!"
Lynn nodded, satisfied, then looked around the room.
"Who bears witness?"
The commander of Shadow Tower stepped forward, looking strangely moved.
"I! Ser Denys Mallister of Seagard, acting Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, bear witness!"
Lynn turned to Mance.
"I, Mance Rayder…"
Mance faltered. He had been King-Beyond-the-Wall, but that title no longer fit.
"…Governor of the Free Folk below the Wall."
Lynn supplied the new title for him. Everyone in the room looked surprised.
"Rise, Jon Stark."
Lynn tapped the flat of the sword on both of Jon's shoulders, then added with a grin,
"I spent half the afternoon working out those words—while you were lost in your grief.
I really should have Maester Aemon write them down. I'm terrified I'll forget one or get them in the wrong order later."
The freshly made Lord of Winterfell still looked dazed, unable to believe how easily his entire identity had changed.
But when he heard Lynn's words he stood up at once and said with quiet force,
"Your Grace, I will never forget these oaths."
Lynn blinked, then laughed.
"You misunderstood. I was talking about the part with my titles… I had to pick the decent ones out of all the names people have given me."
"Don't worry, Jon. Oaths are like the wind… I never expected a few words to buy real loyalty. This is just the formal part."
Lynn winked at him.
"Go find Maester Aemon. Have him record what just happened.
While you're there, ask him to send a few ravens to any lords you think might still be trustworthy. See if you can win them over."
"Next… the Umbers and Karstarks aren't much of a threat. We'll probably be marching on the Boltons soon.
That bastard Ramsay may sound like he's flirting when he insults people, but I'm still a king. I can't just let it slide."
He finished the joke and turned to the acting Lord Commander.
"Ser Denys, why don't you go with Lord Jon? You can take the rest of the Night's Watch prisoners back to Shadow Tower at the same time.
Oh—and convince Donal Noye to come back to work. I've got a mountain of armor that needs repairing and resizing.
The Thenns have some fine bronze smiths. With a little guidance they can learn to work iron. That should free Donal up. Make sure you tell him that."
As the two men turned to leave, Lynn added one last thing.
"And don't forget to send Brokenlimb Qhorin back."