With surprise from some

Jon Snow approached the gates of Winterfell at the front of his caravan and stopped once the pair guards got closer with their spears on alert. He didn't recognize them from before.

"Halt!" The youngest amongst them shouted. "State your name and business in Winterfell."

Jon looked at him and wondered how long he had been a guard. Regardless, he looked quite green as far as combat was concerned, especially given the stance he choose while carrying his spear while thinking there was reason to be on alert. Before he could answer, however, he spotted a familiar face cross his path at that very moment.

Jon smiled as he waved at the master-at-arms of the Keep. The old veteran turned and his eyes widened as he started heading towards the gates.

"Hey! I said state your..." The guard demanded but his voice trailed off when his immediate superior got closer.

"Jon?" He asked with a bit of shock. "By the gods, is that you? Look at how you have grown!" He added while looking at him up and down.

He chuckled. "Well, it has been a while since last we met. It's good to see you again, Rodrik."

"What are you doing here?" He asked, sounding bewildered.

"Arya paid a captain to deliver a letter to me once she had overheard he was doing business in White Harbor on my orders when she visited the Northerner city about a moon's turn ago," He explained. "Since I was on Braavos at the time, I received it faster than I would have had I been in any other Free City. She asked me to come home for her eighteenth nameday. I simply arrived a few days early."

"I see..." The oldest living member of House Cassel responded, his tone hesitant. "You do know that Lady Stark won't be happy to see you, right?"

"That is why I come bearing quite a few gifts from many corners of the lands across the Narrow Sea and even beyond," He replied while motioning to the caravan of followers behind him that was carrying what he chose to bring. "I have had many profitable adventures in the past 6 years, you see."

The master-at-arms looked curious at that as he stared at the people that usually called him master. Not that he knew that.

"Well, I suppose there is no harm in letting you prepare those gifts in the courtyard while I go fetch your Lord father," He said with a shrug. "Then you will have some time to prepare while they decide if they will let you stay or not."

Then he finally smiled. "It's good to see you too, Snow. I hope you can regale me with the tales of some of your adventures over some ale soon."

And with that, he turned around leaving him, with an astounded, green guard.

"Wait, you are Jon Snow?" He asked in shock. "The Bastard of Winterfell?!"

"Yes," He responded as he got nostalgic. "And after more than half a decade, I have finally returned home."

"Time to make the most of it," He silently added as an afterthought.

And with that, he urged his horse to move forward, the column formed by his followers riding or walking behind him.