Divergence and Calamity
Author Notes: This story is rated M, for Sex, Rape, Torture, Gore-scene, and Incest. (Hey, this story is all about incest and even Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen) and Daenerys Targaryen are Aunt-Nephew and fucking the hell out of each other. So, don't hate.)
Divergence means to separate, divide, part from something. While Calamity is another word for a cataclysm or catastrophe. Almost like chaos being erupted. That is what this story is about. While it is like the book/tv show, it will follow its own twist. So the War of Five Kings is like the Divergence, and the White Walker threat is the Calamity.
Please note that Harry Potter is now Aegon Stark, read the story and you'll see why. Basically, he died against his fight with Voldemort, going down with him. Because he was the master of the Deathly Hollows, Death offered him a deal. He would be reborn in a world where he would lead the people against a growing darkness that threatens to destroy the world. Harry Potter accepted and is now reborn in Westeros (Game of Thrones) as Aegon Stark.
Aegon Stark is named after Aegon Targaryen I, the Conqueror.
(Yes, I know that Jon Snow real name is Aegon Targaryen, but only Ned Stark knows this and to be named Aegon is a great honor among Targaryen children.)
Harry's father is Brandon Stark, the older brother Eddard 'Ned' Stark and first born and heir to Lord Rickon Stark. Visenya Targaryen is their mother and she is the youngest child of Aegon Targaryen V and the youngest sister of Aerys Targaryen II and his sister-wife Rhaella Targaryen. Making her the aunt of Rhaegar Targaryen, Viserys Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen. Visenya was protected by her older sister Rhaella from her abusive and mad brother Aerys. When Aerys began to also lust after Visenya, Rhaella acted quickly by marrying her to the heir of Winterfell, Brandon Stark the son of the current Lord at the time to Rickon Stark, in hopes to not only make peace with the Starks, but also to tie the Starks to the royal family as well as keep her sister safe. In the two years that Brandon Stark and Visenya were married, they did fall in love and she was devastated when she heard her brother burn her husband and father-in-law alive. She, along with Catelyn Stark née Tully was both pregnant during Robert's Rebellion and watch as Eddard Stark, the second oldest child of Rickon Stark, march off to war. She would die a few days after giving birth to twins, Aegon Stark, her eldest and her son, and her daughter, Rhaenys Stark. Named after the Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wife Rhaenys whom he loved more than anyone in his life, even over his older sister Visenya.
(You can look up the history of the Targaryen conquest on Westeros. Three Targaryen siblings, the oldest was Visenya, the middle was Aegon, and the youngest was Rhaenys. Both Visenya and Rhaenys were Aegon's sisters and by Targaryen culture, to keep the bloodline 'pure' Aegon was married to Visenya. While Aegon did love his older sister, he loved his younger sister Rhaenys even more and married her too. It is said for everyone one night he spent with Visenya, he spent ten nights with Rhaenys. So, the marriage was not only incestual but also polygyny, as Aegon legally married to both of his sisters. As the Faith of Seven doesn't allow a man to marry a 'close' relative or have more than one wife. This was a strict violation of their laws. One that would create problems in the future between the Royal Family of House Targaryen and the Church. Visenya was known as a fierce warrior of the three but no current Targaryen is related to her and all Targaryen's are related to Aegon and Rhaenys as Visenys child, Maegor Targaryen died with childless and with no heir, the rule of the Targaryen line comes from Rhaenys Targaryen, so Rhaenys is the mother of the Targaryen dynasty.)
So, Harry is reborn as Aegon Stark in the world of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms. As such he'll be referred to as Aegon Stark for pretty much most of the story if not the entire story, as this chapter he is Harry for only a few sentences and he quickly takes the name Aegon.
Because Aegon (Harry) is the true heir to Winterfell and the North, Robb Stark is not the heir but merely… second or third in line depending on what Rhaenys the younger twin sister does. While Robb doesn't feel he's been cheated out of ruling the North, Catelyn Stark doesn't particularly like the fact that Aegon and Rhaenys will rule and her children will get second choices. Making Catelyn Stark and bit envious of her niece and nephew. As the story progresses, she will come to terms and regret her role in not being a better guardian over them.
There will be several OC characters introduced in this story and some are in this chapter. I hope you all enjoy.
Chapter 01: Shards of Winter
Harry slowly opens his eyes as he attempts to adjust to the light. He slowly sits up as he looks around at his surroundings. After dying in his world and stopping Voldemort he was given a chance to be reborn in a new world against a great evil. He should have passed on but because he was the Master of the Deathly Hallows, he was able to meet Death. Because he was able to unite the Deathly Hallows and truly accept what Death truly was, he was given a second chance at life, but not in his world. He would have to leave his world behind. He would enter a medieval world where they would soon face a great incoming darkness. Harry knew very little of medieval warfare and for over seven years he has relied heavily upon his magic. Death knew this and gave him information and knowledge on medieval tactics and warfare. Then he was sent to Westeros in a place that was known as House Stark.
Harry looks around and could see everything seemed so big for him. He was wondering just how young he was. The room looks pretty much like a medieval room, very similar to Hogwarts castle only less as magical and fancy, yet it still held grave importance. He could see books on the shelves of all kinds of categories, as well as information on battles and tactics. He could even see that there were books on sword techniques and fighting.
It took Harry a moment to realize he was able to see without his glasses. It felt strange having not to wear glasses. It has literally become a habit for him to wear glasses. It was going to take some time for him to not get used to wearing glasses.
The door opens, and a woman appears wearing in what could only be described as an important clothing. It took Harry a moment to register that this was Lady Catelyn Stark, the wife of Lord Eddard 'Ned' Stark.
"I see you're feeling better, are you well?" she asks.
Harry nods his head.
Lady Catelyn Stark places a bowl of water and a cloth on the side of his bed. She quickly ushers Harry to lay back down as she dips the cloth in the bowl and places the wet cloth places it on his forehead.
Harry looks at her and from the brief memories he had that Death gave him, Lady Catelyn Stark wasn't fond of him and she didn't like him. He had to be careful what to say, just remember his aunt and uncle hating him was a lesson he would never forget.
She checks him to make sure he was doing well.
She looks at him and her eyes seemed to be calculating and questioning. Harry couldn't be sure, she wasn't looking at him with hate or any sign of malice, yet there wasn't any warmth in her eyes either.
She finally turns and walks away, closing the door behind. Harry removes the cloth and quickly gets out of bed. He walks over to where he saw a sword on the table and walks over and picks it up. It wasn't sharp, but it was in excellent condition. It took Harry a moment to realize this was a sparring sword. It was given to him on his 'birthday' by Lord Eddard Stark.
Harry looks at it and swings it.
From the memories Death gave him, he seemed to recall that he wanted to either join the King's Guard or create his own order in the North. Lord Eddard Stark told him that there hasn't been a war in nearly five years, not since the Mad King and his family was killed off.
Then Harry remembers that he was a Targaryen, or at least his mother was. She was the younger sister of the Mad King and she married his father, Brandon Stark as a token of trust and friendship between the Mad King and the Starks. It quickly fell apart when Rhaegar kidnaps Lady Lyanna Stark who was brethren to Robert Baratheon. That's what started the Robert's Rebellion because he believed Lyanna was his and not Rheagar's. The war would last nearly ten months and the Targaryen were either killed off… or fled in exile to Essos.
Visenya Targaryen lived long enough to name her two children. Aegon Stark, her eldest and her son, (who is now Harry,) and his younger twin sister, Rhaenys. She gave him these names out of the first true rulers of the Targaryen lineage, the brother-wife of Aegon and Visenya who were said to truly love one another. She gave them these names because she hopes they would love each other as well. Because their father was killed by their grandfather, the Mad King, she would live her days in Winterfell with Lady Catelyn Stark née Tully who was also pregnant with Ned Stark's firstborn. Lady Catelyn Stark would be worry over her husband's fate during the war when he came home, he had come home with another woman's son, whom he claimed was his bastard son, Jon Snow.
Harry paused as he remembers the history of the Starks. He was a legal Stark, as his sister was, yet his cousin, Jon Snow was not a legitimate Stark, meaning he had nothing to inherit or have any claim.
Ned Stark, however, did raise and treat Jon with respect and did raise him as if he was a trueborn Stark.
Harry paused as he reflects on his memories, or rather the memories and knowledge Death gave him. He wouldn't see Death again and he knew the next time he dies, he wouldn't get another chance at life. He had to make this count and stop the incoming darkness.
The door opens and Harry or Aegon turns to see a young girl with long silver-blonde hair and crystal blue eyes looking at him. He instinctively knew this was his younger twin sister, Rhaenys Stark.
"Bird," said Aegon as he looks at his sister. She was young, possibly only five years old. Which meant he was five years old. Aegon paused as he heard himself call his sister 'bird'. Apparently, it was a nickname he had for his sister.
"Uncle will be pleased you're awake. You've been out for three days. Are you well enough to come to the Great Hall?" asks Visenya.
Harry nods his head. He turns and puts his sparring sword down and opens his wardrobe. He grabs his clothes and quickly puts it on. Harry walks out with his sister leading the way. Harry enters the Great Hall where he could see the servants of House Stark setting up the dinner table for either lunch or dinner. Harry looks outside to see even though there were grey clouds with no sign of the sun, Harry could see it was just about noon.
"Where is Lord Stark?" asks Aegon.
"I believe he is outside in the courtyard," one of the servants said.
Aegon nods his head and turns and walks out. He walks out to see his uncle standing on the balcony watching his son Robb Stark, and Jon Snow spar with one another. Harry could see they were the same age as he was.
"Lady Rhaenys, it's time for your lesson," said Septa Mordane.
"I don't want to," said Rhaenys.
Aegon looks at Septa Mordane and realizes that as a lady of a Great House and even one who was once a part of the former royal bloodline, she was required to learn everything in being a 'lady'. Something Aegon noted, she hated.
Septa Mordane grabs Rhaenys hand and drags her away to where the other young ladies were gathering.
Aegon turns to his uncle and the current Lord of Winterfell, the Warden of the North."
"Are you feeling better, Aegon?" asks Ned Stark.
Aegon nods his head.
"Are you well enough to train?" asks Ned Stark.
"Ned… he has just gotten over the flu. Training should be…" began Lady Catelyn Stark.
"I can train," said Aegon.
Ned looks at him carefully and nods his head.
"If you feel strange, I want you to stop right away. I don't want you to get sick again after you've just recovered," said Ned Stark.
Aegon nods his head and walks down as he grabs one of the practice swords. Robb and Jon were going at it under the supervision of the Master-at-Arms of Winterfell, Ser Rodrik Cassel. He was trying to teach them how to correct use their swords and move around. Both Jon and Robb were doing well. Aegon knew even though Robb Stark was Ned Stark's trueborn son, he would not become Lord of Winterfell when Ned Stark passes the title. Aegon Stark would get the title as he was the son of Brandon Stark, Ned Stark's elder brother and therefore was the true heir to the North. Ned Stark was nothing more than a steward of Winterfell until Aegon Stark became old enough to take the titles.
Harry sits on the barrel, watching his cousins sparring with one another. He watches and knew that by watching his cousins spar and by listening to the Master-at-Arms Ser Rodrick Cassel, he would learn from their mistakes and learn how to improve. Harry smiles because he was liking this new life of his more and more.
Aegon seeing an attack from the corner of his eyes quickly jumps off avoiding a blow to his head. He quickly spins around to see his sister Rhaenys holding a sparring sword and with a smile on her face. Aegon smiles as he raises his sparring sword as immediately began to duel another. Rhaenys had a large smile on her face as she swings her sword at Aegon. Both quickly were fighting as the sound of metal clashing.
Aegon quickly disarms his sister, knocking the sword out of her hands, she backs away, never losing her smile. Aegon swings and she quickly lunges forward tackling him to the ground, as they quickly roll around getting covered in mud.
Aegon quickly rolls over and uses his weight, which was slightly more than his sisters and quickly pins her back to the mud, as he grabs her wrist and holds her in place.
It took a moment for Harry to realize that Jon and Robb were whopping as Ned Stark was giving slight chuckles at what the twins were doing.
Aegon lets go of his sister and helps her up. She stands up only to quickly tackle him in the mud. Aegon laughs as he muds wrestle with his sister. He could hear the rest of the Starks laughing as the two twins were messing around.
Aegon gets up from the mud as he and his twin sister were covered mud from head to toe. Rhaenys blonde hair was very muddy as the mud was all over her hair.
"Take a bath, both of you," said Lady Catelyn Stark from the balcony.
Aegon waves his hand showing her heard her and quickly walks inside towards the bathhouse, with his sister following him. They both put their clothes in the basket and went their separate ways into the bath. Aegon sinks into the bath as Jon and Robb came in. They weren't sweaty or as messy as Aegon was, but they still came in and relax in the bath.
Aegon leans back and relaxes as he thinks about his new life. He was really enjoying this life of his.
Nine Years Later
Aegon was leaning back on the pillar watching as Robb Stark and Jon Snow were teaching Brandon 'Bran' Stark, of age ten, the art of the bow, as Rickon Stark, the youngest at six years old, was sniggering on a barrel.
Rhaenys was sitting on a barrel beside Aegon, and like the boys, she was wearing a Northern suit that was general for men and young boys. Rhaenys rarely ever, wore a dress or anything that was 'lady-like'. She prefers wearing armor and long dream of battles.
Just four years ago, Aegon asks Ned Stark to create a small force to deal with the increase in the wildlings that have been seen in the North. Not to mention the increase in complaints and sightings by the people. Ned Stark appeal to the King of the Iron Throne Robert Baratheon for permission and nearly five days later, Ned Stark had permission, but he could only assemble a force of ten thousand to deal with the wildlings. Warning him that any bigger, and many Lords would see it as a threat from the North who was increasing their army, just saying it was a concern because there was peace in the realm right now.
Aegon immediately got to work, Lord Stark contacted an old friend of his, Ser Tobin Rane, the Bronze Knight. He was one of the greatest swordsmen and military commanders in Westeros. He was one of the few people capable of fighting or even defeating Robert Baratheon, Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Ser Jaime Lannister, Ser Barristan Selmy, Ser Gregory Hightower, Lord Randyll Tarly, and even Ser Arthur Dayne.
Aegon knew Ser Tobin Rane was a legend, but many people believed him to be dead. So, it was a surprise to hear that he was alive and well and living in the North. He was one of Rhaeger Targaryen instructors and fought alongside him during Robert's Rebellion.
Ser Rodrick Cassel taught them well but being taught by Ser Tobin Rane was even better.
Aegon didn't keep his word in only allowing ten thousand men and women to join the Northern Army. He kept it open, he lied to Ned Stark about not getting enough recruits, however, he was getting more than enough recruits. In two years, his militant force alone rose to nearly seventy thousand men and women in his army. Twenty thousand were Rangers, the best warriors he had in the army. They were warriors, scouts, archers, trackers, and sentries. Being a Ranger was just as good as if you were knighted.
No one really knew just how many men and women that was in the Northern Army. Aegon kept reporting that it was just under ten thousand, as he was ordered to, but he made sure to keep it quiet and made sure no one knew about it.
Rheanys also kept quiet about it as she knew by violating the orders of the Iron Throne would be punishable by death, and the current king, Robert Baratheon, has long wanted them both dead as they had Targaryen blood in their veins, even if they were Starks and the rightful heirs to Winterfell and the North. Robert Baratheon didn't care, he hated all Targaryen's whether they were pure or carried another name.
"Patience Bran," said Aegon.
"Focus on the target," advice Rhaenys.
"Go on, Father's watching," said Jon as he places his hands-on Bran. Bran looks up at the balcony where Ned Stark was watching as well as Lady Catelyn Stark. "and your mother."
Bran gives a smile as he slowly returns to the task at hand in an attempt to hit the bullseyes on the hay.
Bran releases the arrow and overshoots the shot again. Jon, Robb, Aegon, and Rhaenys couldn't hold back chuckling as Bran continues to struggle with the bow and arrow.
"And which one of you was a marksman at the age of ten?" asks Lord Stark as he looks down upon his children. This causes almost everyone to shut up. They look back up to see Ned Stark giving his young son an encouraging smile. "Keep practicing, Bran. Go on."
"Don't think too much, Bran," said Jon as he leans down to give Bran so more advice.
Aegon remembers when he and his sister Rhaenys would practice every day until the point they master the marksmanship at age ten. They further increase their skills over the years.
"Relax your bow arm," said Robb to his younger brother.
Bran was clearly focused as he aims carefully.
Then, to everyone's surprise, an arrow hit the target, dead center. They look back to see Arya there holding a bow and had a smile on her face. Everyone turns back to look at her. Arya gives s short mock lady bow. Bran drops his bow and arrow and starts chasing after his older sister. She drops her bow, taking off, smiling and giggling as Bran chases her.
"Get her Bran!" shouted Robb.
Aegon smiles as he looks up to see Ser Rodrick Cassel approaching Lord Stark. He lost his smile as he watches what was going on. He couldn't hear what was being said, but he knew it must be serious.
Rhaenys looks at her brother with a raised eyebrow. Aegon looks at her and knew something was going on. Aegon looks back up and notices Lady Catelyn Stark was looking at Jon Snow with some distastes and malice on her face. She always looks at Jon that way, as if she was blaming him for anything that was wrong with Winterfell or her family.
Aegon and Rhaenys got along well with Jon and Robb, as well as Arya. They had trouble with Sansa Stark, believing she was a stuck up royal bitch. While Robb knew he wouldn't be Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, he never the less, loved and respected his cousins. Robb had no desire to get married off in some political alliance, Aegon respected that, and promise him if he and Rhaenys were unable to have children or their children were killed off, Robb would, and his children would ascend as Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.
A guardsman walks up to them telling that Jon, Robb, Aegon, and Rhaenys along with Bran and Theon would be accompanying Lord Stark where several scouts had captured a deserter from the Night's Watch. Desertion meant death by beheading.
They quickly saddle their horses and rode them with Lord Stark and their bannermen. They rode North nearly a couple of hours until they reach one of the executions platforms, where the Stark bannermen were dragging a brother of the Night's Watch who was a mess. He was also pale as a ghost. He kept mumbling 'White Walker'. The bannermen place the man in front of Ned Stark.
"I know I broke my Oath. I know I am a deserter. I should have gone back to the Wall and warned them, but… I know what I saw. I saw the White Walkers. People need to know. If you can get word to my family, tell them I'm no coward. Tell them I'm sorry," said the boy.
Ned Stark looks at him before nodding his head. The bannermen lower the boy to the makeshift wood where there was a curve for his neck to be. The boy looks somewhat frightened, but he didn't try to fight it. Theon holds the Stark family heirloom great sword 'Ice' to Ned Stark as Ned Stark removes it from its sheath. The great sword was indeed magnificent. Ned Stark places the tip of the sword down on the ground as he holds the handle and begins to pray.
"Don't look away," said Jon to Bran as Ned continues his statement. "Father will know if you do."
Ned Stark finishes his statement and brings back his sword and cuts off the boy's head. Ned Stark gave the sword to Theon as he begins to wash the blood off the sword before putting it back in the sheath.
"You did well," said Jon to Bran who flinches and nearly closed his eyes from seeing such things, yet he kept his composure and watch without turning away or closing his eyes.
These things were never easy. They weren't easy for Robb, Jon, Aegon, and Rhaenys when they first saw it. It was getting easier, but it still was hard to stomach.
Robb places his hand on his younger brother and quickly leads him back to the horses where several bannermen were holding them. Robb was trying to confront his brother as his own experience told him this wasn't an easy thing to see.
Ned Stark quickly walks towards Bran who was getting his horse ready. He began speaking to Bran about why he had to kill the deserter. In the North, their ways were the old ways. Something they firmly believed in. That when you make a decision, you live with the consequences. So, when you pass judgment on a person, you carry out the sentence.
Bran was more concern about the White Walkers sighting again. Ned Stark merely brush it off.
Aegon gets on his horse with Rhaenys beside him and the party quickly begins to travel south back to Winterfell. While they were living in an area of peace and much of the realm weren't in conflict. That didn't mean there were dangers. Hill Tribes were notorious for attacking travelers on the road. The North also had to deal with Wildlings attacks that would attack any for whatever reasons they would attack. That's why as Heirs to Winterfell and the North, along with the current Lord of the North, and his children, they had to be protected. Truth be told, they didn't expect an attack on against an armed escort.
As they began to get closer and closer to Winterfell, they suddenly came to a stop at a bridge where several bannermen paused. Aegon looks ahead and could see a creature was lying dead in the middle of the road. Not uncommon, but from the looks of things, it was killed recently.
Aegon jumps off his horse with Rhaenys who walks to the creature. It was a stag. It was clearly an old stag given the fact that its antlers were huge and stags antlers kept growing until they died.
It had to have been killed within the last six hours. The smell of rotten meat was in the air. Even maggots could be seen all around the animal. Given the number of maggots that was over the body.
Aegon notice that a piece of its antlers had been broken off. It wasn't an old wound it was recently.
"What is it?" asks Theon as they approach the beast. "Mountain Lion?"
"There are no mountain lions in the North, they live in the Vale," said Ned Stark.
"I got some tracks over here. They're also blood," said Rhaenys.
Rhaenys quickly walks down where she could see a path and a small bridge. This was normally used for hikers and anyone traveling between roads, yet from the looks of things, no one has been here for quite some time. Ned Stark follows his niece as she walks forward with a sword in her hand. Several bannermen stayed behind to watch the horses but several quickly follow the Stark household to where the blood was.
Everyone was on guard because they didn't know what was out there, or if it would attack them. They all had their swords out as they look around for any signs of what attack the stag. Hill Tribes and Wildlings were known to have barbaric methods and if they were near, they had to be dealt with.
They suddenly heard a sound, it was faint, but they could hear it growing louder. It was the sound of a pup's cry. Rhaenys puts her sword away as she looks down behind the tree to see a large wolf laying on its side, with the broken stag antler in its throat and lying dead as the wolf's pups were desperate to feed on their dead mother, as they were unaware their mother was now dead and no longer able to feed them. Her face was covered in blood as most of her upper body, most likely her own. The she-wolf was big too. Aegon looks at it and realizes it was nearly the same size as a Black Bear. It's head alone was as big as Hodor's chest, and that was saying something given the fact that Hodor was a 'small' giant. Aegon looks at the paws and could see they were big indeed. Most likely bigger than Ned Stark's hand. It had to weigh nearly three hundred lbs. Perhaps more. It was massive and big. The pups, on the other hand, were very tiny and small. Mostly likely newborns, by the looks of things, given the fact that their eyes were open and Aegon knew that newborns didn't have their eyes open for a couple of weeks and they were waddling around, they had to be perhaps six weeks old. They could see a small den, most likely dug by the she-wolf herself and they were near a small creek. A good place to drink water and be safe from most predators and avoid any traffic from the Northerners.
"It's a freak!" examines Theon Greyjoy at the sight of the wolf.
"It's a Direwolf!" explains Ned Stark in surprise. "Tough old beast," as he pulls out the antler from the Direwolf throat. It was clear the female Direwolf was dead because it didn't even move after the antler was removed. It was hard to say how long the Direwolf was dead. Maybe a couple of hours, as there were no maggots around the Direwolf yet, but there will be soon. If the maggots got on the pups, they would get infected and they would die a slow and painful death.
"I thought there were no direwolves south of the wall," said Robb as he watches what goes on.
"Now there are seven," said Jon.
Aegon and Rhaenys look around them, posed and sharp. Everyone could see there were tense.
"What is it?" Ned Stark asks.
"Direwolves are pack hunters, they normally have a pack as up to ten to thirty wolves. Not to mention these pups are young with their mother, meaning their father and the rest of the pack are out there somewhere in the North," said Aegon.
"Are they nearby?" asks Theon in a worrisome voice, as he looks around with concern.
"Hard to say," says Rhaenys. "Direwolves general do travel for miles in search of prey. They could be a hundred miles away right now. Meaning they don't know what has happened to the mother or the pups."
"What will happen if we're discovered here?" asks Bran.
"The Direwolves will attack us," said Aegon.
"Direwolves don't normally attack humans," said Jorey Cassel, the Starks Captain of the Guards.
"They generally don't and very much leave us alone. They will, however, attack us if they believe the pups are in danger and we are a threat to them. Direwolves and all wolves will attack anyone or anything that threatens their pups. They are well known for attacking bears when they get too close to a den or near some pups," said Rhaenys.
Jorey looks around to make sure there weren't any Direwolves nearby. He was a bit nervous. All they could hear was the wind blowing in the trees.
Aegon looks around and couldn't really see any other signs or tracks that the pack has been around lately.
"The pack has been gone awhile. They could be gone for another week or so before they come back," said Aegon.
"You want to hold it?" asks Jon as he hands a young direwolf pup to Bran. Bran grabs it and holds it and he seemed to like the Direwolf as the pup begins to lick his face.
"Where will they go?" asks Bran as he tries not to let the pup lick his face. "There mother is dead."
"They don't belong down here," added Ser Rodrick Cassel, the Arms Master of Winterfell.
"The pack will return and raise them. Even if the mother dies, the pack always adopts the pups and raises them as their own. Just like a Stark would to any relative of ours," said Rhaenys.
"The pack might not get in here time to save them, they will die a slow and painful death. Especially once their mother gets consume by maggots and they get on the pups," said Aegon.
"Better give them a quick death. They won't last long without their mother. They are hunger and if they don't feed soon, they will be dead by morning," said Ned Stark.
Theon immediately jumps down as he pulls out a dagger in his hand.
"Right, give it here," he said as he attempts to grab the pup from Bran's arms.
"No!" shouted Bran as he attempts to hold the pup.
"Put away your blade," said Robb in a voice he rarely used that sounded like a command more than a request.
"I take orders from your father, not you," said Theon.
"Please father!" said Bran turning to his father.
"I'm sorry, Bran. This must be done," said Ned Stark.
"Lord Stark," said Jon as Ned turns to his bastard son. "There are seven pups, one for each of the Stark children. The direwolf is the sigil of your house. They were meant to have them."
Ned Stark turns with his head down away and it was clear he was thinking it over. Everyone turns to him to listen to what he had to say. Finally, he nods his head.
"You will train them yourselves. You will feed them yourselves, and if they die, you will bury them yourselves," said Ned Stark.
In other words, the Stark children would be allowed to keep the direwolves pups if they had no help from the servants. Most of the Stark children were far too young to raise the direwolves, but at the same time, it would be a good learning experience for them as they raise their direwolves.
Jon and Robb help Aegon and Rhaenys pick up the seven pups, two were given to Theon as two were grab by Robb and Aegon.
"What about you?" asks Bran to Jon.
"I'm not a Stark," said Jon. He was, after all, the bastard of Ned Stark and not a legitimate Stark like his half-siblings. This didn't stop Jon and Robb from having a good healthy brother relationship. Nor with his cousins.
As they were heading back up the trail and back to the horse's everyone stops when they heard a sound. Jon turns around and looks down. As does everyone else.
"What is it?" asks Robb.
Jon walks off and picks up a young pup that was hiding in the bushes. Unlike the pup's siblings where they had some grey on them, this one was pure white with red eyes.
"Awe, the runt of the litter. That one's yours, Snow," said Theon with a smug look on his face.
"Come on, we need to return to Winterfell fast, these pups are hungry," said Aegon.
They rode back to Winterfell and the gates that were generally always open, the moment they were through, Lady Catelyn Stark, Sansa, Arya, and Rickon were waiting for them.
"Father how was the beheading?" asks Arya with a smile. Sansa looks down upon her younger sister with disapproval look on her face.
"You don't need to know about that," said Ned Stark.
"We got a surprise for you all," said Aegon as he gets off his horse. Several bannermen walk forward and grab the reins. Aegon removes the young direwolf pup from his saddle and presents it to the rest of the Stark family.
Arya immediately rushes forward and grabs the young pup in her arms.
"You got us a puppy!" said Sansa.
"Not quite," said Rhaenys as she jumps off her horse. She reaches in her saddlebag and grabs two pups that were riding with her. "These are direwolf pups." She places them on the ground as they began to wander around and look around their new home.
Robb places his two pups on the ground and they too also join their siblings in playing around, grabbing their ears, roughhousing with each other. Theon also places his pups down from his saddle and they join their siblings.
"I'll go inside and warm up some milk for them," said Rhaenys.
"We have servants for that," snaps Sansa.
Rhaenys looks at Sansa with a cold look.
"If you want to have a direwolf pup, you're going to raise it yourself, feed it yourself, and if it dies, you're going to bury it yourself," said Rhaenys.
Sansa gives Rhaenys a cold look.
Aegon watches on and knew that Rhaenys and Sansa didn't even like one another. They were complete opposites of each other, and they would argue and get into fights over the smallest things.
"You can't order me to do such trivial things like I'm a servant," snaps Sansa.
"You will," said Ned Stark as he ends the argument and potentially stopping Rhaenys from attack Sansa again. Even if his oldest daughter and niece didn't get along, he knew once they got into it, a fight would break out and Rhaenys would always win. Robb would always try to keep the peace between them, but it hardly ever works. Rhaenys also tries to keep the peace between them spend a lot of time outside of Winterfell tracking and hunting wildings and hill tribes. They have gotten into a dozen fights within the last year alone, and Rhaenys won every single one of them before it had even begun. Sansa wanted Rhaenys to banish from the North, but Rhaenys was the second in line to the North after her brother Aegon Stark, and neither her mother or her father had the right to banish them, no matter how many times she would beg, cry, and pouted.
Sansa nods her head knowing she once again, lost this fight and knew at once the servants wouldn't help her in raising her direwolf.
The weeks went by and the direwolves were getting bigger. Aegon had a male direwolf and had named him Remus, while Rhaenys took a female direwolf, one who was aggressive and like to be 'top dog' from the rest of her siblings, her name was Asena, mostly because she was as white as Jon Snow's pup, Ghost. She did have some grey on her, but she was mostly white. Both Remus and Asena got along well. They played and roughhouse with each other, they were getting old enough now to learn how to hunt. Aegon and Rhaenys would teach them how to stalk their prey, how to track and how to use their noses and ears to find their prey. Like all wolf pups, they were clumsy at first, but they were learning, and getting better.
Aegon was sparring with Rhaenys as they were practicing their swords skills against one another. Nothing too serious, as they weren't in a battle nor did they want to hurt the other, even if they were using sparring swords, but it was good to keep their skills sharp. Their direwolves were watching and it was like they understood that this was a mock session and something playful. So they watch greatly and with interesting, and making sure not to get in their way.
Robb's direwolf was named Grey Wind, mostly because he was he was the greyest of the direwolves siblings, and he was big too. Jon kept his white direwolf and named him 'Ghost', while Bran chose one who was like an adventurer like himself, who couldn't help but let his curiosity get the better of him and would always create a mess and would get into trouble with Bran. Arya chose a female direwolf and named her Nymeria, after the warrior queen of Rhoynar from Dorne who lived a thousand years ago. Sansa, who felt the aggressive and fighting style of such a life was simply too barbaric, chose the gentlest of the direwolf pups and named her 'Lady'. Lady was hardly ever aggressive, and for this, her siblings would pick on her a lot. Even Ghost, who was the smallest, would pick on his sister and she would cry out a lot causing Sansa to snap at all her siblings and cousins as their direwolves would constantly harass Lady. Ned Stark told her this was the way of the Direwolf to establish a hierarchy within their society, but Sansa didn't care and often said she would have their direwolves killed the first chance she got.
Aegon and Rhaenys would still travel a lot and now they were taking their direwolves with them as they were old enough to travel with them. Wildling's sightings and attacks were increasing more and more.
Today, however, they were sparring and after a light spar, put up their swords as their direwolves were jumping on them and moving around with their tails wagging in excitement.
The twins laugh as they lead their direwolves back inside.
The two direwolves were now stood up to their knees. Hard to imagine that just six weeks ago, they were small enough to be carried in their hand.
The twins notice that many servants were gathering all sorts of materials and setting up what look to be a feast, a very important feast. Only, there wasn't anything going on for a feast to be held. Nor anyone's name days, no memories, no victory celebrations, holidays to celebrate, or even their day when they become legal adults to ascend as Lord and Lady of Winterfell.
"What's going on?" asks Rhaenys as she saw tremendous amounts of food being gathered.
"The King is coming," said a servant as Lady Catelyn Stark was directing the decorations process.
Aemon and Rhaenys look at each other with a deep concern.
Even though they've never met Robert Baratheon, and they knew he was good friends with Ned Stark, that didn't mean his visit was a good thing. Because they were children from a Targaryen mother, and by having Targaryen blood, he demanded their death from the moment they were born. Ned Stark refuses to kill his niece and nephew, Robert Baratheon attempt to match north to Winterfell with his army's. He was stopped by Ned Stark, Jon Arryn, and Hoster Tully, with their armies backing them. At the combined might of nearly a hundred and eighty thousand men standing between him and Aegon and Rhaenys Stark, Robert Baratheon stood down. For he didn't have the courage to fight his friend and mentor in battle.
Aegon and Rhaenys Stark, even though they were heirs to Winterfell, also had a claim to the Iron Throne. This was something everyone in Westeros knew because they were Targaryen's. Wolves with dragon's blood.
They knew after Robert Baratheon and Tywin Lannister butchered every Targaryen in King's Landing, they themselves would eventually become targets from Robert Baratheon for his claim could be challenged by Aegon and Rhaenys.
"Why?" asks Rhaenys slowly.
"The Hand to the King, Lord Jon Arryn has died recently. The King is seeking to speak to Lord Stark," said the servant.
Aegon quickly ushers his sister of the Great Hall and quickly retreats to their room, where Aegon quickly locks the door.
{You think Robert Baratheon is going to try to kill us?} asks Rhaenys in Valyrian.
{Hard to say, he does want us dead,} said Aegon as he stands where he was with his hands under his chin as he appeared in deep thought.
Rhaenys looks at the door and looks back at her older twin brother.
{We cannot be here when the King arrives. Even though he is forbidden from killing us, that doesn't mean he won't try. Jon Arryn is dead, Hoster Tully is an old man on his deathbed, Lord Stark will attempt to protect us, but it's not enough. We need to leave before the King arrives.} said Rhaenys.
Aegon looks at the door and sits down on his dresser.
{I sense dark things are going to happen. Something about this, make me feel uneasy,} said Aegon.
{Me too, however, if we stay, Robert Baratheon will most likely attempt to kill us. He hates all Targaryen's, even if we don't have the Targaryen name, we do have the Targaryen blood.} said Rhaenys.
For their entire lives, they have done everything to avoid Robert Baratheon as well as his associates. They knew the mere name of Targaryen or any reminder of the Targaryen's would cause Robert Baratheon to lose all sense and he would do everything to kill the anyone who was a Targaryen. Ned Stark did the best he could to shelter them from such violence, but they were smart and intelligent and easily caught on to what was going on.
{Grab what you need, we're going to Iron Castle} said Aegon.
The Iron Castle wasn't a castle, it was something they called where they wanted to get some peace and quiet. None of the Starks or anyone else knew where it was. It was also a place where they train their army and kept them hidden from the Iron Throne or any other unwanted eyes that would be looking for them.
They walk into the barber shop where Robb, Jon, and Theon were getting groom for the incoming arrival of the King and his royal entourage.
"Why is your mother so dead set on us getting pretty for the king?" asks Jon to his half-brother Robb.
"It's for the queen, I bet. I hear she's a sleek bit of mink," said Theon with a grin on his face.
"I hear the prince is a right royal prick," said Robb who was now cleanly shaved.
"Think of all those southern girls he gets to stab with his right royal prick," said Theon.
"Well Theon we know where your mind is at, as always," said Rhaenys as she walks in with Aegon beside her.
"You both are getting groom too?" asks Jon.
Rhaenys shook her head. It was then they notice they had bags on their back with one hand holding it.
"You're leaving," said Jon in surprise. Robb looks at them in surprise as the barber nods his head to tell Robb he was finished.
"We have to, we're not sure how Robert Baratheon will react to us being here. Given the fact that our mother was Targaryen. There is a good chance that he'll try to have us killed," said Aegon.
"He wouldn't dare, not as long as father is here," said Robb.
"Can your father stop him when he's drunk. I hear he drinks a lot and spends most of his time as a drunk if he's not fucking whores," said Rhaenys.
"Sorry, Robb… but to ensure there are no fights or incidents, we're leaving for the time being. Patrolling around the wall. We'll be back in five days. Hopeful the drunken king will be gone by then," said Aegon.
Robb nods his head. Aegon and Rhaenys hug both Jon and Robb before they turn and leave.
Theon looks at Rhaenys, but she didn't even glance his way before she walks out the door and gets on her horse, their direwolves following them. Theon has long lusted after Rhaenys, but she never even gave him a thought. The first time he attempts to grope her breast, which was over a year ago, she nearly severed his hand off in response. He has a nasty scar on the back of his left hand as a chilly reminder not to grope her again. That still doesn't stop him from his attempts to flirt with her in hopes he will wear her down and she'll sleep with him. He was well known for bringing in countless whores to his bed where he would fuck them in the past six months in hopes it would make her jealous. All it did was make Theon look like a fool, and make Rhaenys like him even less.
Ned Stark watch as his niece and nephew ride out Winterfell with several of the Starks bannermen just as the royal entourage appeared over the hill. Ned Stark didn't blame his niece and nephew leaving as the king was coming over. They knew he would most likely kill them if he saw them, especially Rhaenys. She looks exactly like a Targaryen and much like her mother while Aegon took after his father. This was going to be an interesting three days. He quickly walks down with Catelyn Stark as his children and house stood by to greet the King and his entourage.
Author Notes: I am working on the update for the Winter King and will get a new chapter up to date as soon as I can. I can say there may be only six chapters left for the Winter King. Maybe eight depending on what I can find with it. I'm starting over because while the show has become a disappointment and the books haven't even gotten past the Battle of the Bastards, I want to start a new story and make this one even better. I'm going to try to make this story even longer than the Winter King, as well as better written.
Yes, Remus is named after Remus Lupin but it's also a wolf name, so it's not suspicious.
Asena is a legendary female germanic wolf.
I hope you all enjoy, please like and review.