Rhaegar looked at what remained of his family as they discussed what to do next. The message in his hand felt like it weighed a ton.
They'd finally defeated the Greyjoy rebellion and the Lannister's scheming. Know here the last three of them sat around the small council table, the last of the dragons. It was only his young sister Daenarys, his daughter Rhaenys, and himself.
His brother was dead. Viserys had been assassinated by the Freys when he lead an army of dornish and crownlanders into the riverlands to help Tully put down the Lannister funded uprising.
His son was dead. Aegon had died leading the attack on Great Wyk
His wives were dead. Elia Martell had been poisoned by the Lannister's though he could never truly prove it.
His mother was dead. He had wept as he held his mother's hand as she left this world of old age.
His father was long dead. And thank the seven for that.
How would he tell them of his other son.
"We've won", Daenarys said, "we have smashed our enemies. The seven kingdoms are securily under our control once more."
"Not quite", Rhaegar said as he showed them the message before reading it himself.
"I, Jon Snow, bastard son of Ned Stark proclaim the North to be a free and independent kingdom from the iron throne. We do not wish for war, but know that if you invade, we will defend our lands at all cost. Signed, Jon Snow, king in the north."
"How dare he!", Daenarys jumped up from her seat, "We shall show him what treason brings!"
"Please, calm yourself, sister", Rhaegar said.
"Perhaps we get try an alliance through marriage to get them under our control again. From what little I have heard of the Stark bastard he is close to both Daenarys and mine own age.", Rhaenys suggested.
"He commits treason and you would give him one of us as a bride?!", Daenarys said as she glared at her niece.
"Neither war or marriage will be necessary to get the north back under Targaryen control", Rhaegar said as he stood up straight.
"What do you mean, father?", Rhaenys asked.
"I'm afraid there is a secret I have told none of our family about..."
...
Jon watched as Sansa read the message they had received from king's landing less than an hour ago.
Sansa looked at him with an unreadable expression on her face, "Jon..."
Jon sighed, "All this time all I've ever wanted to be was a Stark and now I learn I'm not even my father's son."
"Jon", Sansa said as she grabbed him by the sides of his face, "It doesn't matter who's blood you have. Father was the man who raised. Wolf or dragon, you are still my brother."
Jon hugged her.
"Winter has come", Sansa said into his ear, "And we will survive. The north will survive."
...
Jon slammed his fists down hard on the wooden table to get the attention of the northern lords and wildlings.
"My lord", he spoke loudly, "We have received news from King's landing." He held up the parchment for the lords to see. "The Targaryens have regained control of the entire south." Several gasps and murmurs filled the now nearly silent room. "But this is not the most shocking news. In this message Rhaegar Targaryen claims that I am the son of him and Lyanna Stark!"
Several loud shouts filled the room. Almost all of them proclaimed it must be a lie.
He passed the letter to Lyanna Mormont who quickly read it before passing it to the next lord.
One lord stood up.
"Lord Reed?", Jon asked.
"I have something I must confess", the Lord spoke as he looked around the room at the other lords, "I was there at the tower of joy with Ned Stark after the battle of the trident. After we managed to defeat the king's guard who had killed all of our party except Ned and myself, Lord Stark walked into the tower for his sister. He walked out with a new born boy in his arms."
The room erupted into a great shouting match between every side.
"Lord Reed", Sansa asked as the room turned silent when she stood up out of her seat, "if you knew this than why did you only wait till now?"
"You father swore me to secrecy, my lady."
"It's true than...", Lord Glover spoke, "We've only traded one dragon for another!"
Lord Mors Umber spoke up next, "I Swore to house Stark not a Southern dragon!"
Jon hammered on the table for silence again but before he could speak Sansa did.
"My lords, when I learned of Jon's parentage I was as shocked as you.", She said calmly, " But we did not try to hide to the trurth from you because we trust in each of you as loyal banner men of house Stark. Jon is my brother no matter who his father was. My father raced him as his own. Jon is a North man no matter what his last name is.
Lyanna Mormont stood up and looked Jon in the eyes, "The first time I declared you as my king I said I didn't care that you were a bastard". She knelt, "And I do not care if you are a Targaryen. You are still my king!"
Lord Reed once again spoke up, "I knew the truth when I swore my loyalty to you than I still swear it now."
Tormund who had been very quiet stood up know, "Targaryen, Stark, Snow. I don't care. The free folk don't follow names. I follow the man who has bleed beside me and lead in battle. I follow Jon."
Every lord stood and drew their swords once more, "KING IN THE NORTH!"