AN: Another chapter guys! Hope you enjoy and if you have any questions be sure to either review or PM me! On another note, for all you Cat lovers out there… imma tell you right now I have a love hate relationship about her. I love how far she was willing to go to protect her family, but I hate how she treated Jon in the books AND don't worry she will get sort of a redemption she just won't be any sort of mother to Jon no matter how much she wants to make up for her one last thing,someone asked me if Jon was going dark,and my answer is going to be sort will be kind to his family,army,and children(his eggs and Ghost, and pack) but will seem like a demon out of hell to his enemies.
Jon stared confused at the body of the dead wolf. There was never any Direwolves this far from the wall, it just shows how bad things are starting to become, especially if a Direwolf, a mother no less would make the decision to have her pups away from the land she's known all her life. Jon looked at the deer antler sticking out of the she-wolf's throat Jon's eyes widened slightly if that wasn't a bad omen he didn't know what was.
Jons attention was taken away from his rememising from Theon Greyjoy commenting ''It's a freak'' Jon rolled his eyes so hard you would be afraid they'd get stuck in his head. ''It's a Direwolf'' Ned refuted.''Stubborn old beast'' Ned spoke idly while pulling the deer antler out of the wolves throat. Ned looked to the gathered men somenly as he held the deer antler in his hands the same worry and thoughts crossing their minds.''There are no Direwolves south of the wall'' Robb said in confusion. ''Now there are 5,'' Jon told him picking one of the pups up ''Want to hold it?''
Jon shoved one of the pups into Bran's arms while standing back and thinking on what this could mean.
"Where will they go?" Bran asked worryingly as he held the small pup in his arms."Their mother's dead, "
"They don't belong down here," one of the men said."Better a quick death."
"They won't last without their mother," Ned said beginning to walk away. Theon took that as his Que to draw his dagger. "Right. Give it here.".
"No!" Bean shouted as Theon took the puppy from his grasp."Put away your blade." Robb ordered him looking every bit the lord he was to be.
"I take orders from your Father, not you," Theon said his grip tightening on the pups nape. "Please, Father!" Bran begged him. Ned turned to him then " I'm sorry Bran" Ned told his son with a sense of finality in his words. Jon seeking to save the situation spoke up. "Lord Stark?" Jon called to him causing Ned to face him. "There are five for each of the Stark Children" it escaped no one's notice how he didn't include himself in that category."The direwolf is the sigil of your house. They were meant to have them." Jon brought up a decent argument as not a single person could come up with a counter one. The boys looked to Ned for his final decision hoping Jon had managed to convince their father of letting the pups live.
Ned sighed as he looked at his sons hopeful faces and knew he had lost. "You will train them yourselves. You will feed them yourselves. And if they die, you will bury them yourselves." Ned told them as he stalked off to his horse.
Bran cheered silently as he took the pup back from Theon. Jon bends down and gives two pups to Robb and the last two to Theon."What about you?" Bran asked his brother sadly. Jon looked down at him with a grimace, "I'm not a Stark. Go on now" Jon said as he shooed Bran back to the others. Bran nodded smiling as he walked back to his father and the others. Jon made to follow him before stopping confused and turning back to the wolf corpse. Robb and Theon turned back to him as Jon bent to inspect the wood again " What is it?" Robb asked him. Jon reached into a hollowed out tree next to the body of the wolf and pulled into view another wolf pup." The runt of the litter. That one's yours Snow." Theon said smirking. Jon looked at him with an utterly blank look as he took the pup in his hands walking off towards where the others were waiting for them.
Jon held the runt of the litter gently in his hands the pup had pure white fur pure and as white as snow itself with blood red eyes.''Ghost" he declared as he looked at the tiny pup using his body as a climbing stool.''The prince of darkness as silent as a Ghost as you prowl'' he said like he was prophesying something.''Ironic,'' he began a smirk slowly forming on his lips ''That the runt of the litter will grow to become the biggest and most formidable of them all.'' He chuckled lowly ''interesting how our fates are so similar'' he spoke to Ghost.''I'll make all you kings and queens yet'' he promised and he won't allow what he foresaw to come to pass. The Starks were not suitable caretakers, they were downright reckless! He mused. He won't just take them they'll all come to him if he carefully allows some events to come to pass.''For now however,'' Jon picked up Ghost in his arms pup yelped as he scrambled for a grip to prevent falling and he looked up at Jon in apparent confusion. Jon smiled gently at his pup and smoothed a hand down the pups head.'' It's time for you to get the conditioning that you deserve.'' He grinned. At last, the plans were in motion, let the games begin.
One month later
A little over a month had passed and the Direwolves were growing quite quickly, the most noticeable one was growing was Ghost. While all the other pups looked about the size of 3 month old puppies Ghost looked nearly twice that size looking about like a 7 month old puppy comparing size.
''I just don't bloody get it!'' Robb Stark shouted in frustration one day.''How in the Seven Hells is Ghost so big? He's supposed to be the runt of the litter!'' Robb questioned Jon.
Jon had merely answered without looking up from his scroll ''All I do is get him the required food and conditioning'' And that was that.
''The king is riding to Winterfell'' Ned Stark told the table as they were finishing raised an eyebrow, he had suspected he was coming considering the quite frankly,non-subtle preparations.''Really?!'' Sansa asked excitedly."That means The Prince rides with him as well" she said to her mother excitedly. Jon really could not understand what Sansa saw in the boy. He was an absolute brat! If the rumors he was hearing were true he was a tyrant in the making, and the coddling from his mother Cersei Lannister was not helping.
Alas, Jon supposed she will see his true colors in due time Jon thought as he listened as they made preparations for the arrival of the king and his eyes darkened at the thought of the Lannisters along with Robert Baratheon. While some may be redeemable others however…. Jon smiled darkly as he mentally moved one of the pieces of his chess board. Later in the week, the king arrived.
Jon couldn't understand what possessed his uncle to make this oaf a king. The things he did, was still doing for fuck's sake, the things he rewarded! The person he rewared had committed a most vile act, Jon would see this WhoreMonger off his throne if it was the last thing he did he snarled in mind the overwighted fool couldn't even get off his own horse as he needed a stepping stool and two assistance to step down,and even then the poor lads looked as though they would be crushed under his weight. He walked up to Ned then, the two seemed to stare intently at each other studying every detail about the other.
''You've gotten fat'' he commented. Jon and Ned simultaneously raised an looked Robert up and down then raised his eyebrow Robert broke down laughing Ned laughing along with then brought him into a big bear hug ''Its good to see you old friend'' he said.''Likewise'' Ned Robert proceeded to greet all the Stark Family skipping over Jon which did not escape his notice.''Show me to your crypts I wish to pay my respects''.
Robert requested.''We've been riding for a month my love'' Cersei interjected. ''Surely the dead can wait''
''Ned'' Robert beckoned completely ignoring her. Ned glanced at the Queen before following the King into the crypts. Jon let a smile show on his lips when he saw the flash of hatred and anger in her eyes.
Meanwhile in the crypts
Robert and ned were talking about the mysterious sudden death of Jon Arryn.''Tell me about Jon Arryn'' Ned said.''One minute he was fine and then…''Robert trailed off suddenly as he thought of the tragic death of his friend. He heaved a great sigh ''Burned right through him whatever it was''Robert told Ned.''I loved that man'' Robert declared wistfully, ''We both did'' Ned agreed. ''He never had to teach you much but for me? You remember me at 16?'' Robert asked Ned.
They both shared a laugh ''All I wanted to do was crack skulls and fuck girls, He showed me what was what.'' ''Aye'' Ned looked at Robert with a glint in his eye ''Don't look at me like that it's not his fault I didn't listen.'' They both chuckled again, But then Robert turned to Ned ''I need you Ned,'' he began ''Down at King's Landing not up here where your no damn use to anybody'' Robert told him firmly.''Lord Eddard Stark, I would name you hand of the king'' Robert then declared.
Ned knelt on one knee, ''Im not worthy of the honor'' Ned said. ''I'm not trying to honor you, I'm trying to get you to run my kingdom while I drink and whore myself to an early grave'' Robert laughed. ''Damn it Ned, stand up'' Robert said exasperatedly as he patted his shoulder. ''You helped me win the Iron Throne now help keep the damn thing'' he requested.''We were meant to rule together,''Robert then said.''If your sister had lived we'd been bound by blood'' Robert told him as he gazed at his friend. ''Well it's not too late,'' he grinned.'' I have a son you have a daughter we'll join our houses'' he said as he walked away. Ned followed him as he thought of what he said.
Arya
Jon was acting strangely. Arya noticed he was increasingly becoming much more distant with each passing day. Sure, he still played nicely to her, Bran, and Rickon. However, he was finally showing his disdain for the two Stark patriarchs Arya had known he'd kept hidden. He now acted civil at best to her mother, Father, and her brother Robb. Arya, the ever-observant girl she was, believed that Jon loved Robb the same amount of affection he held for his younger siblings. Arya had also noticed the dark looks he would settle on some of the members of the family. Like he so desperately wished he could disembowel them that very moment, her mother and Greyjoy especially.
Theon Greyjoy
Arya believed he was just jealous of her big brother. I mean who wouldn't be? He was quite beautiful. Tall slender body, shoulder length curly dark hair along with dark grey eyes. His movements had the gracefulness of a cat, while also showing the prowl of a wolf the Starks were known for.
Furthermore, when he wanted, when he got angry enough he could show the fierceness of a dragon. One time when her brother Bran was getting picked on by the neighboring Lords children Jon had come up to them, eyes smoldering in anger and simply said: " Get lost before you find yourself returning to your father in pieces." She had never seen someone run so fast. What fascinated her the most of her brother she supposed, was how he could utilize this in a spar. He could bend his body with alarming flexibility, not unlike a serpent, but could still be lighting quick while one step ahead of his opponents. She inspired to be like him one day. A fierce warrior feared across the 7 realms as he was sure he would someday be.
Jon
Jon was sitting in his quarters when there was a knock at his door. He smiled he had figured this would happen sooner or later. If anyone would notice something was wrong he was sure it would be Arya. His smile got even wider when he was indeed greeted to the sight of his little sister." Hello little warrior, how can I help you this fine evening" he greeted her as he beckoned her inside." Hi, Jon" Arya greeted back not even flustered by the endearment well used to the nicknames he gifted to his younger siblings. She hopped on his bed and made herself comfortable." But, I think you know why I'm here" she said. Jon slipped in a chair and gazed at his sister." Aye, I'm honestly quite surprised it took you so long to confront me" he told his sister smirking slightly." Well, I couldn't bloody well do it with the king still lurking about" she huffed. "Quite possibly not" Jon chuckled.
Arya smiled at him glad to see her brother was still the same under the mask of indifference he put on."So," she pressed when the silence got too much for her "What the bloody hell is going on with you" she demanded. "Why of course dear little sister, however, let's make one thing clear" his eyes suddenly darkened as he leaned forward and laced his fingers together " I'm not obligated to tell you anything especially this delicate so I don't want this told to anyone unless I do so myself, I'd like not to get any of you in danger simply because you knew too much understood?" He asked his sister looking at her sternly looking all the while a big brother preventing his siblings from mischief. Arya nodded her head meekly ducking her head down to hide herself from Jon's gaze. Nymeria, like her master, had her head lowered between her shoulders whimpering slightly under the blood red gaze of her bigger younger brother. She knew without a doubt, that in time, he would be her Alpha. While Ghost was having his dominant stare off with Nymeria, Jon was telling Arya of all he had learned, leaving out of what he had planned.
That would come in time.
"Wow" Arya breathed in shock and awe. "So your a dragon?" She questioned still in disbelief of what she had just learned even though Jon had showed her proof in the form of the letters."Indeed I am little sister" he responded nonchalantly leaning his hand down and stroking around Ghosts heads smiling at the growling purr he got for his efforts.
Arya looked at him in surprise hesitantly asking "Y-You still consider us siblings even though I'm your cousin?" She asked timidly. Jon was suddenly reminded of how no matter how tough his sister acted there was still a little girl under her act. "Of course little warrior, I wouldn't bloody well leave you to your fate with having Sansa for a sibling." Jon said in mock offensiveness. Jon then picked her up and embraced her "But know this little warrior, no matter what happens to this family, no matter what you do or who you become, know that your big brother will always love you and be proud of the person you become." Jon told his sister as she tearfully nodded in his chest. And Jon would, he would always be proud of his siblings(well except maybe Sansa) and he would protect them with all his being.
