AN: I should have mentioned it in the first chapter. This story will follow the story line of the show, not the books. Of course with a lot of changes since it's a fanfiction. Thanks to clsflames, Guest, Arianna Le Fay, amouwon for your reviews.
Guest- In the show, Catelyn Stark once mentioned Jon has strange brown eyes but then I read on the net that his eyes are actually deep grey. Since I wanted the twins to have same eyes and hair color, I changed Hope's eye color in the previous chapter. Thanks for pointing that out.
Arianna Le Fay- Well Hope is Jon's twin sister and the rest will be revealed as the story unfolds.
Chapter 2: Bound By Blood And Soul
Free City Of Essos
Volantis
Alais was panting loudly. Her entire body was covered in sweat. Occasionally moans escaped her breath as a wealthy lord took her from behind like a hound takes a bitch. Alias wasn't particularly enjoying what the lord was doing to her, she never does but she was paid a lot to act as if she was liking every moment of it. And after so many experiences, Alais was very good at faking her pleasure. Yes, she laid with many men even though it has only been a year since she fled from the Red Mountains and came to Volantis with little Hope.
A year ago when Alais came to Volantis, she had little money on her. The amount could barely keep her and the baby fed for a week. Needless to say, Alais had not come to Volantis so that a Targaryen heir would die of starvation. So what a girl to do with no money or family or even friends in a stranger city? Alais started selling her body. She began with local men and worked her way up to wealthy lords, even foreign ones. Thank the gods for giving her a rather beautiful face and attractive body, her journey from the bottom to top in the business of prostitution wasn't that difficult. Yes, it tainted her soul and gave her scars both physical and mental that may never heal but it was all worth it. Since it was because of her work that little Hope knew not of poverty or hunger.
The Targaryen child wasn't living the life of a princess as she should have been but given the circumstances, she was luckier than many. Most importantly she had someone who truly loved her. Alais was raising Hope as her own. She knew the girl would grow to call her mother. She also knew that one day, when Hope is old enough, she'd have to tell her the truth about her true parentage. But until then, Hope is her daughter.
The lord finally stopped pounding into Alais. She soundlessly let out a breath of relief. Then she turned over so that she was lying flat on her back. The lord was breathing heavily. He looked exhausted as he laid beside her. Well considering he was old and fat, it was understandable. The lord was greedy as well. As soon as he was able to catch his breath, he started groping Alais once again.
"Stay here tonight." The lord said to her after a few moments of silence. But Alais was already gathering her clothes. Her service time was already over.
"You paid me for two hours." She stated with flat tone of voice. Alais was a prostitute indeed but a free one. Well as free as anyone can be in this profession.
"Fine, I'll pay you more." The lord offered but Alais began putting on her clothes.
"If you want I can come back tomorrow." It was one way of saying that she won't be staying. The lord glared at her for refusing his offer.
"You think you are the only one who got a pretty face." Before Alais could prepare herself, she received a backhanded smack from the lord. The force was so much that it made her face turn away. She put her hand on her reddened cheek. There was no tear in her eyes though. Instead Alais looked back at the lord.
"So should I come back tomorrow my lord?" She asked shamelessly as if nothing has happened. The lord glared at her more heatedly.
"Get outta here you fucking bitch." Alais bowed her head as if to show respect to the lord and then she gracefully walked away. As soon as she walked out of the chamber, a smile appeared on her lips. Not only because she finally got rid of that old prick but she was going back to her little Hope. Alais had bought a house as soon as she had the money, for herself and Hope which wasn't anywhere near the brothel she worked in. It was far away near the fishermen colony. Alais didn't want her work to affect Hope's life when she grows up. Even now, she didn't want any pimp finding out about Hope.
As Alais approached her little house, she heard cries of a baby. Not just any baby but it was little Hope who was crying out loud. Knowing that something was wrong, she started running. Alais reached the door with haste and knocked loudly. The door opened within a few seconds and revealed a middle aged woman. She was Alais's neighbor. A widow of a soldier with no child of her own. The woman possessed a good heart. She watched over Hope when Alais was away for work. She was the only person Alais could talk to about her own pain and hardship. Though the neighbor knew nothing about Hope being a Targaryen.
"Alais thank the gods you are here." The woman looked relieved.
"Why is Hope crying Aunt Ann?" Annabel was no aunt of Alais but she called her that anyway. It just made them closer in a way. Alais rushed over to Hope. She was lying in her crib, crying her life out. Alais picked her up in her arms and started to rock her gently. She tried to breastfeed Hope but it didn't work.
"I've no idea what is happening to her. She won't stop crying." Aunt Ann sounded very worried and concerned. Alais checked Hope's forehead and cheeks for the second time.
"She doesn't have a fever." Alais said more to herself than to Aunt Ann.
"No, neither she threw up or anything. But she still seems to be in pain." Aunt Ann was right about that. Though she had no idea why.
"We must take her to a healer."
Alais didn't waste any time. She and Aunt Ann went to the local healer. She was ready to give up all she earned that day to make Hope feel better. The healer checked Hope but he could detect nothing. He couldn't understand what was making the child cry. The healer quietly handed Hope over to Alais.
"What? What's happened to her?" She asked with fear in her voice.
"I don't know. Physically she seems alright." The healer's statement angered Alais to no limit.
"What do you mean you don't know? She is a happy child. She has never cried like this before. Are you really a healer?" She couldn't help but snap at the healer for disappointing her. The healer glared at Alais in return.
"If you doubt my ability woman then get the hell outta here. I treat sickness and wounds, not madness." Before Alais could say anything back to the healer, Aunt Ann interjected so that the situation wouldn't get worse.
"I apologize on her behalf. She is just worried about her baby. Is there nothing you can do to help my lord?" Aunt Ann asked politely.
"Like I said before I don't know what is wrong with the baby therefore I cannot treat her. If you want my advise, start praying to the gods. There's no sickness that they can't cure."
Alais came back home feeling lost and scared. What if something happens to Hope? What would she do then? She swore to keep her safe and protect her. Alais was not ready to lose her to some unknown sickness. So she started praying to all the gods out there old and new ones. Little did Alais know that it wasn't little Hope who needed gods' mercy but someone else who was connected to her by blood and soul?
Winterfell
A baby no more than a year old was lying on the bed, unconscious. His little body was covered in pox. The grand Maester said if the boy lives through the night, then he may live. Catelyn Stark was sitting by the bedside. She was making a prayer wheel for the boy. One would think she loves the child very dearly but that was far from the truth. Catelyn hated the boy she knew as Jon Snow. A living breathing proof of her husband's infidelity. And she hated herself for hating the boy whose only fault was that he exists.
Eddard Stark, also known as Ned Stark watched them from the doorway. He wasn't unaware of his wife's hatred towards the boy. Only if he could tell her the truth. Things would be so much easier then. The boy may even get to experience mother's love. But alas it was not an option Ned could even consider. If anyone learns of Jon Snow's real parentage, his life would be in danger. It wasn't that Ned didn't trust Catelyn. He knew she'd keep the secret, if he asked her to. But Ned had promised his dying sister that no one would know of her son. Therefore Catelyn must live with the lie that her beloved husband laid with another woman.
It seemed to Ned only yesterday that his sister died holding his hands. He would never forget that day, ever.
Flashback
Ned heard a woman scream. It was coming from the Tower of Joy. Gerold Hightower and Ser Arthur Dayne were defeated and killed. Ser Arthur Dayne would have killed Ned if Howland Reed hadn't stabbed him in the back. It wasn't an honorable thing to do but it saved Ned's life. However, at that time honor was the last thing they worried about. Ned quickly started climbing the stairs of the tower. He arrived to a room. The screams were coming from inside. Ned barged through the door and saw his sister Lyanna lying on the bed. There was a slice in her stomach. The blanket and bed sheet was covered in her blood.
The Maesters had to cut Lyanna open to get the baby out of her womb. Lyanna had unfortunately come back to consciousness when they were operating her. But she had urged the Maesters to keep going and refused to drink any milk of the poppy. What a brave woman she was! Lyanna already knew that she is not going to live. The last thing she wanted was to miss seeing the face of her second child like she did her first. By the time Ned reached her, Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen's son was born. Lyanna was also informed of Alais running away with her daughter who was born two hours prior. But she gave no order to go after Alais.
"Ned?" His sister called his name with weak tone of voice.
"Lyanna!" Ned put down his sword and rushed to his sister.
"Is that you? Is that really you?" Lyanna couldn't believe her brother was finally with her. It felt like a dream to her.
"You are not a dream." She wanted to know for sure. She feared her mind was making her see things.
"No, I'm not a dream." Ned assured his sister and held her hand in a strong grip as if to prove that.
"I'm here. Right here."
"I missed you big brother." Tears were rolling down her face. It hurt Ned to no limits and watered his eyes as well.
"I've missed you too." He whispered to his dying sister.
"I want to be brave." Lyanna could barely talk. She was in so much pain.
"You are." Ned said to her. But she didn't believe that.
"I am not. I don't want to die." Her blood was flowing out but there was no way to stop it. Both siblings knew, it was their last moment together.
"You are not going to die." Ned told his sister but it was himself he was trying to assure. He didn't want to lose hope. Not yet. Not while his sister was still breathing. Ned looked at a handmaiden.
"Get her some water." He ordered. But Lyanna stopped him.
"Listen to me Ned." She gulped down her pain before speaking up again. "My first born, my daughter is destined to walk on a different path, which will one day lead her to her brother, to her family but my son is yours to protect. If Robert finds out, he will kill him. You know he will. You have to protect him. Keep him safe. Promise me Ned. Promise me!"
One of the handmaidens brought a child to Ned. A baby boy. He took the baby in his arms. A drop of tear escaped his eye as he looked down at his nephew.
"Ned!" He looked back at Lyanna and leaned closer to her.
"When my daughter returns home, tell her... tell her that I love her. Let them both know that I love them, so much... and tell them their true names chosen by their father-" Lyanna leaned closer to Ned and whispered into his ear. Two names she gave him that day. Two names, Ned would never forget but would never utter to anyone until the time is right.
End Of Flashback
Eddard Stark would have searched for his niece despite his sister expressing no such wish; but the moment he returned home and saw the hatred in his wife's eyes for the child, he changed his mind. His niece might live a better life elsewhere. Though he never forgot to pray for her. It was the least he could do. Ned didn't know how Lyanna knew that one day her daughter will return to her family but he believed her. He looks forward to that day everyday. Meanwhile he must keep his promise to his little sister and protect her son who would grow up as Jon Snow. The bastard of Winterfell.
