Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire. Nor do I own any of its Characters, That right goes to George R. R. Martin.
"Fate is for those too weak to determine their own destiny." - Kamran Hamid.
How could he know this new dawn's light
Would change his life forever?
Set sail to sea but pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure. (Metallica - The Unforgiven III)
Never A Dream So Real. Chapter 1: New Dawn's Light.
Jon could not believe the things he was seeing. He knew he must be sleeping, for only in the most hellish of nightmares could his mind conjure this up. The dream had started out mildly enough, if you consider watching his father chop the head off a deserter of the Night's Watch, mild! From there, the dream got considerably worse. He watched as he and his brother Robb found a litter of six wolf cubs, one for each of his Fathers children.
He watched as King Robert Baratheon arrived at Winterfell with his party, which included his wife Queen Cersei, his two Brother in Laws, Jaime and Tyrion Lannister, plus his three children Joffery, Myrcella, and Tommen. He saw his father made Hand of the King, and practically forced to betroth Sansa to Joffery. This is where things started to get really bad. He saw Jaime Lannister push Bran off the tower, because Bran had caught him plow'n his sister, the Queen. Poor Bran was crippled and in a coma because of it. Jon wanted to wake up, he wanted the visions to stop but they wouldn't. They just kept getting worse. He wanted to scream out, but his voice was gone from him. Never had he had a dream so REAL!
For what seemed like forever he saw vision after vision. He saw himself go to the wall and take The Black. He saw his father betrayed and beheaded. He saw his brother Robb go to war and be declared King of the North, only to likewise be betrayed and killed along with his Lady Mother Catelyn. He saw Sansa being tortured and humiliated by the inbred brat Joffery, now king Joffery. He watched as she was forced to marry the imp, Tyrion Lannister. Thankfully the dwarf didn't make consummate the marriage. Till finally escaping Kings Landing.
He watched as Arya fled Kings Landing. He saw her journey and hardships, till finally she ended up training to be an Assassin in Braavos. He watched Bran's journey beyond the wall, and he saw little Rickon be taken to Skagos. He watched in horror at the fate of his home and his family, till finally the visions came back around to him. He watched himself as a member of the Night's Watch, he saw his victories and his losses. He watched as he became Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, and at the very end. He watched as he too was betrayed, and stabbed over and over. By his supposed brothers.
That was where the visions seemed to end. As the next thing he knew, he was in a dark space. The only thing he could see was a man. The odd thing was he could see the man clearly, as if the man where out in the sunshine and not in the dark. He was tall with long flowing silver hair, and dark lilac eyes. He stood with a poise and grace that bespoke of royalty. Oddly enough he seemed to be looking at Jon with an almost tender and affectionate look in his eyes.
"Wh-Who are you?" Jon asked, relieved to hear his own voice again.
The man smiled softly before he spoke, his eyes growing even more affectionate. "What's wrong? Do you not recognize your own father?"
Jon looked at the man doubtfully. "I'm afraid you must have me mistaken for another. My father is Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell."
The man gave Jon a sad almost pitying look. "There is no mistake, Jon. I'm your father Rhaegar Targaryen."
Jon's eyes widened before narrowing to slits, he knew that name! "You're the man who kidnapped my aunt!"
"I DIDN'T KIDNAP HER!" Yelled Rhaegar, his Targaryen temper flaring up. Forcing himself to calm down, he continued. "And she wasn't your aunt, she was your mother! Eddard is not your true father, he's your uncle."
"YOU LIE!" Jon yelled out angrily.
"I would never, ever, lie to you Jon" The man said with conviction. "Just hear me out, that's all I ask. Would you do that for me, and just hear me out?"
Jon wanted to tell the man to go plow himself, but his real father had taught him better then that. So Jon nodded his head, not trusting his own voice.
"Thank you." Rhaegar said sincerely. "This all started with a prophecy made over a thousand years ago. It stated that there would come a Prince that bring peace to land and deliver it from darkness. A bleeding star in the sky will herald his coming, and he will be born amidst salt and smoke. He will be of the blood of the dragon, and his will be a song of ice and fire."
"What does any of this have to do with me supposedly being your son?" Asked Jon kind of scathingly, despite his best efforts.
"Let me finish, and you will see." Said Rhaegar. "You see at first I arrogantly thought myself to be the Prince. That was at least until I realized that the prophecy wasn't actually referring to one person, but three! Once again in my arrogance I thought the prophecy must be referring to my daughter Rhaenys and my new born son Aegon and so for the prophecy to be complete. I would need a third child."
Rhaegar paused there for a moment, his face becoming an odd mix of shame and sorrow. "I am ashamed to admit, that my next actions brought about much pain and suffering. For you see my poor wife Elia, was a very frail woman and in poor health. She had barely survived the birth of our son, I was afraid a third child would kill her."
He looked down at his feet before continuing "It was at the Tourney at Harrenhal, that I first met her. Lyanna, your mother. I always used to laugh at the idea of love at first sight, but I swear to you Jon. The second I locked eyes with your mother, I knew I loved her."
"Loved her enough, that you kidnapped and raped her!" Jon spat.
"What?! No! Gods no!" Said Rhaegar, looking disgusted at the thought. "I married her! You see Jon, that was what brought about so much pain."
Jon's eye's widened. If what he was saying was true, then that would mean he wasn't a bastard. But Jon still had plenty of doubts. "How? How could you have married her, when you were already married?"
Rhaegar smiled, cockily. "Being a Targaryen does come with a few perks. Jon, it was not at all uncommon for the men in our family to take a second wife. I assure you both my wife Elia, and your mother knew of each other. Not to say it wasn't a little awkward at times."
"If you and Lyanna, were married. Then what did you mean when you said that your actions brought pain and suffering?" Asked Jon.
Rhaegar closed his eyes and took a deep breath, exhaling loudly he began to explain. "What you have to understand, is that when me and your mother met and subsequently fell in love, she was already betrothed to another man. A man she did not love, and she was convinced that he was only in love with the thought of her. For he knew not who she really was inside."
Rhaegar adopted a stony look."Robert Baratheon only ever saw what she showed to the outside world. Had he have truly known, what she showed only a few. He would not have been so in love as he thought. Their personalities would have clashed something horrible."
"What was she like?" Asked Jon truly curious, as his father never spoke much of his sister.
"Headstrong, willful, courageous and hot-tempered." Said Rhaegar with a fond smile. "She once dressed up as a knight to defend another's honor. Bested three other knights that day. I think it was that more then anything else that I loved about her, she had such a kind and caring heart."
"But back to the pain and suffering." Said Rhaegar. "After we met, your mother and I corresponded in secrete for several months. Falling even more in love with each letter, till finally we decided to wed. Naturally her betrothal to Robert Baratheon was a bit of a problem. For if the Starks reneged on the betrothal it could have started a war, between House Stark and House Baratheon."
Rhaegar's face showed a deep seeded shame. "What followed next is my fault more then anything else. For you see I came up with what I thought was the perfect plan. I would 'abduct' Lyanna, there by incurring the anger of House Baratheon towards me instead of House Stark. Don't get me wrong, I knew it would also anger House Stark as well. But my plan was simple, I would get Lyanna with child, and in my remorse for my actions. I would would offer to marry Lyanna to preserve her honor, no one had need know that we were already married."
Rhaegar clenched his fists. "This would have placated House Stark somewhat, so they would be less inclined to want to go to war. Then all I would have to do would be to placate House Baratheon. I would offer them a number of land and titles, as well as offer to betroth my son or daughter to one of them in the future. This would not altogether stop the animosity, but it would curve it enough to prevent war."
"So what went wrong?" Asked Jon.
"What went wrong was, I failed to factor in three points." Said Rhaegar. "First, I failed to see just how obsessed Robert had become with Lyanna. He would have never been satisfied with land or titles, or even the promise of an arranged marriage of one of the royal children to his house. Second, I didn't realize how hot blooded your uncle Brandon was. I should have know he would demand my head, but I didn't. Lastly and most importantly, I failed to factor in my father's madness. Things might have still worked out for the better, had my father not executed your uncle and grandfather."
"But he did, and in doing so. He gave the noble houses the perfect reason to revolt." Rhaegar looked down sadly. "Your mother was already pregnant with you when news reached us about Lord Rickard and Brandon's executions. By then the rebellion was already in full swing. Naturally your mother and I were horrified at what our actions had wrought and it was here, that I made my biggest mistake. For what I should have done, was ferret your mother, your brother and sister, and my first wife out the the kingdom."
Rhaegar paused for a moment, before continuing. "But I didn't, instead I foolishly thought I could talk since in to Robert and Eddard. Indeed had it just been Eddard, I probably could have. Robert on the other hand was never one to mix words with the enemy. When our armies met at the Trident, I sought to parley with Robert and Eddard. It was my intention to explain everything to them. And I was going to offer them my life in exchange for ending the revolt."
Rhaegar shook his head. "The messenger I sent to request the parlay, was sent back without his head. I knew then the only way to end the rebellion was to defeat Robert."
"But you didn't." Said Jon, merely stating a fact.
"But I didn't." Rhaegar said in agreement. "Not for lack of my own skill, mind you. But for poor choice of weapon for the battlefield we were on. You see my sword style depended heavily on fast foot work to out maneuver my enemy. Well when you are knee deep in a river, fast foot work becomes a little difficult. Robert's war hammer however, needed only brute strength to be effective. Sadly brute strength, was something Robert had in abundance. To make a long story short. I fell, and any hope for our family fell with me."
Rhaegar's face showed deep lines of misery as he continued to speak. "After I fell, House Lannister sacked Kings Landing. Killing my father, not that he didn't deserve it. But they also killed my daughter, your sister. Dragging her out from under my bed and putting her to sword. The Mountain Ser Gregor Clegane, brutally raped and murder my wife Ellie. Poor Lyanna stricken by grief at the horror our actions had caused, lost all will to live and died giving birth to you. But not before making Eddard promise to keep you safe from Robert, who would have had you killed. Just for being my son."
Jon stood silent, but his mind was racing. Something of his thoughts must have shown on his face for Rhaegar gave him a long searching look. "You look as if you have questions my son."
"Too many to count." Said Jon. "Like why you mentioned your daughter dieing but not your son? Or if you really are my father, then why do I look nothing like you? How am I to know, that this isn't just a dream? And most importantly, if it's not just a dream. Then why speak to me? What is that you want of me?"
Rhaegar let out a sigh. "Fair enough. I didn't mention my son your older brother dieing, because he did not. He was spirited away and another baby replaced him in his crib. I believe he is somewhere in the free cities. As are your Aunt Daenerys and your Uncle Viserys. You must find them, for you four are the last of the Targaryen dynasty."
"As for why you look nothing like me?" Rhaegar continued. "That is simple. When your mother and I found out about the rebellion, we had a witch preform a powerful bit of blood magic on you. The magic would hide all your Targaryen traits until a certain event occurs which will reveal them. This was to help keep you safe from Robert's wrath."
"And lastly." Here Rhaegar look intensely into Jon's eyes. Hoping to stress the importance of what he was about to say. "If you wish to find proof that this and the visions you saw before coming here are real. Then you will need to go to our ancestral home of Valyria. There you will find your proof, along with some things that have been stored there to help you."
"Help me do what?" Jon interrupted.
"I'm getting to that." Rhaegar admonished. "I now have come to believe that you are the prince that was promised. It must be you that sets on the Iron Throne. Not your brother, and certainly not your Uncle! Your brother will not like this, but you must convince him! For if he or any other set upon the throne, then all is lost!"
"And how am I to convince him? If what you say is true. Then by right, the throne is his." Asked Jon.
"You will have to figure that out on your own. But make no mistake, he can not be allowed the Iron Throne. My time is about up. I need you to listen to me." Said Rhaegar, and indeed he was already starting to fade away. "You must go to Valyria, and you must find your brother and your aunt! For the Dragon must have three heads!You have two years, before your dream becomes reality! I love you my son, remember not only do you have the power of Valyria, but the power of the Old Gods aswell you must learn to master them! You are Wolf and you are Dragon."
As he faded away, Jon heard his last words echo.
"You are Wolf and you are Dragon, you are Ice and Fire!" Jon awoke with a start! He could see the light of morning coming in through the window.
As Jon sat on his bed breathing heavily, all he could think about was the dream. He didn't know if it was real, but he knew he must find out. For he could NOT let what he had seen in the dream come to pass! He would go to Valyria, and he would find this proof! And if the Visions of the dream proved to be real, then the gods have mercy on his enemies. For he would not!
Today was a new dawn, and Jon would face it head on.
(A.N) Well to be honest with you, I had not planed to write another story. But the dang plot bunnies wouldn't leave me alone on this one.
So tell me what you think. I will let you know it will be a few chapters or more before we catch up to the books. As Jon will have one hell of an adventure going to Valyria. But an adventure worth reading. On a side note, if anyone wants to beta for me it would be very helpful.
Well I guess that's all for now, don't forget to review. See you next time.
Sincerely: Reddog24485.