Chapter 1 – Jon

Jon was happy to be on land again. The sea air was not for him. After being kept prisoner on Dragonstone for several months, followed by his disastrous mission to capture the wight, it was a welcome change to see home again. Despite being raised a bastard, Winterfell was his home. His father had always treated him decently. It upset him that Ned never got the chance to tell him about his mother, as he had promised Jon just before they parted. Jon wondered if he'd ever find out. The only mother figure he had had was Cat and she hated him. Never made him feel welcome there, always cold, always scornful. He did not miss her that much was certain. Sansa told him via raven that Arya had come back home! He cold not wait to see her!

He loved to be back in the North. This is where he belonged. The South was not to his liking. Too false, too political and too dangerous. The weapons of choice were unfamiliar to him. He fought with valour and honour, not with cunning and games. Cersei wanted the North to remain neutral, however he had already bent the knew to the dragon queen. Daenerys had come to his aid when he needed it most without hesitation - he knew then he could trust her, and she was worthy of him bending the knee to her. He knew this would not go down well with some of the Northern lords but he really had no choice. He needed her armies and har dragons. Sadly, due to their doomed expedition beyond the wall she had lost one of them. She loved them like her children, so she was devastated. It was as if something had died inside her that day. Later he realised she was never quite the same since that moment. He hated to see her cry – he loved her he had to admit himself. After Ygritte he had sworn himself to never love again but it happened again all the same. From the moment he saw her. With her violet eyes and silver hair – a being from another world surely. He certainly did not know girls could even look like that – they didn't where he came from. He was drawn to her like a moth to a flame and once they had a moment alone together he took his chance with her. He thought she would surely turn him away - why would she want him – a lowly bastard from the North. No, he was King in the North now he had to remind himself. but she didn't turn him away. They had made sweet, passionate love and he knew he never wanted to be parted from her ever again. He hoped…he wished…she loved him the same way he loved her. Were they using each other? Conquering and ruling Westeros without the North on side was impossible. And he needed her armies and her dragons. He did not want to think about it as a political union, but it probably was.

The first person that greeted him was indeed Arya! She ran towards him as soon as she saw him and almost knocked him over with her big cuddle! She had grown into a young woman now he was amazed to say. It made him realise how many years had passed since they last saw each other, just before he left to join the Nights Watch. She was still just as wild, still wearing breeches instead of dresses and she still had Needle! He was so proud of her - she would tell him about her adventures later, but he was just happy she had survived, and they were able to see each other again. Bran was there of course – a young man now, but a very strange one. He spoke in riddles most of the time. The fall from the tower had clearly addled his brains poor lad. What a bunch of misfits they all were now – the Three-eyed raven, an assassin and someone who had come back for the dead. Sansa must feel like the odd one out Jon chuckled to himself. Her and his queen didn't seem to get on too well and they were throwing daggers at each other. If looks could kill both of them would be dead several times over already! Jon rolled his eyes at that – girls! We all had to pull together now, and he would not stand for such petty nonsense. Sansa had to be reined in sometimes – she thought she was smarter than everyone. She'd spent too long in the presence of Littlefinger. That sneaky weasel seemed to have disappeared in the meantime. Jon didn't ask. The less he saw of that guy the better. Something about him set Jon on edge. Sansa was acting like the Lady of Winterfell. To be fair – he had to remind himself – she was the lady of Winterfell! And she was very good at it he had to admit – better than him. Arya absolutely loved the dragons and asked if she could ride one. That girl was scared of nothing! Sansa kept a sensible, reserved distance from them, watching them suspiciously.

The dragons finally settled North of the castle. They brought them goats, pigs and fowl to eat after their long flight. He wanted to pet one. Both of them seemed interested in him but Rhaegal especially liked him. He felt a strange bond with the beast and he wasn't afraid. Rhaegal was being really very friendly, and it was almost as if the creature was willing him to ride him. Dany gave him a look. Was she thinking what he was thinking? It was a crazy idea. It would be a great way to show her some of the North in the little time they had, he thought! Well there was nothing for it. No time like the present. He watched her get on her dragon and he did the same with his, just more clumsily, nearly fell off doing it. He had barely got hold of it when it moved. He thought it might be like riding a horse, but it was nothing like it. It was much harder to control as it was so huge a beast. He clung on for dear life. Dany laughed. They had both taken flight – he followed her. Or tried to. "Just lean into it" Dany shouted when she noticed he didn't know who to steer. They were high up above now. Watching the white landscape below pass them by. The North was beautiful. He hoped she would see that. They were chasing each other now. He was surprised at how quickly he took to riding a dragon. It almost seemed too easy, almost like he'd never done anything else his entire life. Dany looked surprised too and slightly taken aback by it. It was like a dark shadow had crossed her mind momentarily. He took her to a place beyond the Wolfswood. To a frozen waterfall. "The North is beautiful and I'm glad I came with you." Dany said in awe. They kissed. He wished he could stay there forever. It seemed like nothing else mattered at that moment. Not the petty quarrels they had with his siblings, not the war with Cersei and not the even the advancing army of the dead. But that moment passed. No, Jon couldn't wallow and linger for too long. Duty called. They had to go back and save everyone, save this precious part of Westeros from certain doom. Bran had told them the Night King had breached the wall and now had Viserion in his service. A terrifying thought. It was good that both now knew how to ride dragons, just in case they both had to fight him. Then Jon remembered that Bran also said he had something important to tell him that only concerned him. "We best be getting back" he said to his queen, just as the sun was setting.

He found Bran by the fireside in the library. Sam was with him too. "You wanted to talk to me? about something important?" Jon asked, slightly apprehensive about what was to come.

"Yes sorry it couldn't wait." Sam was nervous. "Best if you sit down for this Jon."

Jon got even more worried upon hearing this but sat down all the same. Bran looked at him.

Sam cleared his throat. "Jon its about your parents."

Jon perked up. "You found out who my mother is?" his heart skipped a beat. He wanted to know so desperately. His heart was beating fast, full of hope.

Sam nodded: "And your father."

Confused, Jon asked. "What do you mean? I know who my father is. Ned Stark of Winterfell!"

"Jon, Ned is your uncle not your father. Your mother was Lyanna Stark his sister. And your father …your real father was Rhaeger Targaryen. They married in a secret ceremony and she fell pregnant. Rhaegar was killed by Robert at the battle of the Trident just before your birth. Your father promised your mother to never tell anyone in order to keep you safe. Bran chimed in: "You are not a bastard. You were never a bastard. Your real name is Aegon Targaryen and you are the true heir to the Iron Throne."

Chills went down Jon's spine. His mind as spinning. 'What are they saying?' "This can't be right. You must be mistaken. My father wouldn't lie to me like that!" Jon refused to believe it.

"It was confirmed in an official book from the citadel Jon." Sam insisted. "I saw it with my own yes. And Bran looked up the secret ceremony and saw the conversation between your mother and your uncle about protecting you and keeping you safe. She made him swear it."

"No!" Jon screamed. He would not have it. Nevermind about being heir to the throne, Jon didn't care about that. Or not even the fact he was not a bastard. Ned had lied to him all these years, the man who he had worshipped, adored, his role model was now not his father and had plainly lied to him. He could not, would not accept it. Never. It would destroy his whole world. He was angry. "How could he do this to me?!"

"Because had Robert ever found out the truth he would have had you killed without hesitation. He loved Lyanna and hated Rhaegar. In his mind, he had stolen her from him, when actually he loved her, and she loved him." Bran explained.

Jon's mind was spinning from all this. It was like his whole world had fallen apart, the foundations of it had been pulled from under him. The whole thing gave him a headache. He sat in silence for a bit, digesting everything. Bran and Sam wouldn't lie or play games with him, he thought. So, it was the truth. The stark horrible truth about Ned Stark, the honourable Ned Stark, having lied to him all his life, telling him tales. He clearly hadn't told Cat either as otherwise surely, she would have treated him better. So, he had lied to her as well. It stung a little, knowing that his life could have been so different had she known the truth. He was a Targaryen now…a strange, foreign concept. It would explain the dragon ride he supposed. He had to do more research into the whole thing and find out more about Rhaegar as all his life he only heard negative things about him. Perhaps hopefully he wasn't such a bad person after all. He can't have been if he'd loved his mother enough to marry her. After mulling over it some more Jon decided it made no difference. He would always be a Stark and Ned would always be his father, be it by blood or not. He was a father figure to him, the one who raised him. The wolf was strong in him he knew, stronger than the dragon.

Would he tell his queen? It would break her he was sure of it. So probably best to keep it to himself. He would have to tell his family though. He owed them the truth. Sansa and Arya must know. It was a family matter and they had a right to know.