AN: Was not expecting the response I got, but thank you!

Also, to answer Vulcron's question, I'm hoping to follow the tv series more than the books (helps me plan it for the long run), so Jon, and everyone in the story, thinks that he's Eddard's son, but we'll know that he's actually Rheagar's. Jon will find out in this story when he finds out on the tv show, so not for a long time to come.

Chapter Two: Unwanted thoughts

Jon watched as the dwarf walked into the Great Hall. He was about to start swinging at the dummy again when movement in the shadows caught his attention.

"I didn't mean to overhear." the princess walked into the light of the moon, and Jon's breath caught. She wasn't wearing something as fancy as the Queen, or the younger princes and princess, but he thought that she didn't need to be. She would be beautiful wearing anything. Jon groaned slightly and frowned. He shouldn't be thinking these things.

Elayna stepped closer and leant against the wooden post that was next to him. "My uncles right you know." Jon turned away and began swinging the sword at the dummy again. He didn't want to hear what she had to say. She could never understand what it was like to be him, to be an outcast, to not belong with the people he called family.

She sighed and looked up at the sky as he continued to jab next to her. Once he was out of breath and stopped, she began talking again. "You know my mother hates me." Jon turned to look at her in shock, but he didn't say anything. She was still look up at the sky, unaware of Jon's sudden attention. "I don't think she always did, but then she had Joffrey, and Myrcella and Tommen, and I was just a reminder of the man she detested; the man she married." Elayna finally looked at Jon, a small smile on her face. "She treats me as if I don't belong. I'm not a Lannister. I'm too much of a Baratheon for her liking. And I think that's what Lady Catelyn sees when she looks at you. You're a Stark Jon, no matter how much Lady Catelyn wishes it weren't true. All her children take after her, apart from Arya," she chuckled slightly as she remembered the girls' antics in the Great Hall.

"When she was little, Arya used to think she was a bastard like me," Jon mumbled. "All because we look like Stark's and the others look like Tully's." Elayna bit her bottom lip.

"It's the same with me. But I know I'm not a bastard. If I was, I wouldn't even be acknowledged by the King if I were, as he does all his natural children." Elayna sighed and gave him a genuine smile. "Which is why Tyrion is right. Nobody will forget that you're a bastard. The time will come when it doesn't matter that you are. Stark blood runs through your veins Jon Snow, and that makes you a Stark. Nobody can take that away from you." she took hold of his hand and gave it a light squeeze before letting go.

"You are most definitely not what I was expecting." Elayna chuckled, her eyes lighting up with amusement.

"I should hope not." Jon gave her a genuine smile back.

"You should probably get back. They'll be wondering where you are Princess." Jon finally remembered his formalities, making Elayna roll her eyes.

"Fuck that. Fathers too drunk to notice, and like I said, the Queen doesn't like me much. Besides, Tyrion saw me before he went inside. He knows I'll be fine." she took hold of the sword that was still in Jon's hand and smiled. "Go grab another one." she insisted. Jon frowned but did as she said.

They were now stood to face each other, swords at the ready. Jon was a bit apprehensive, making Elayna giggle. "Don't treat me as a girl, or the Princess. This is training. I'm Theon Greyjoy, the prick of Winterfell and-" their swords clashed, the sound ringing around the courtyard. Jon was remembering what Theon had said earlier about Elayna.

A smirk was on Elayna's lips. Jon smiled as well, not believing that he was sparing with the Princess, but they carried on, long into the night, laughter falling from their lips. Jon enjoyed her company, and he was starting to wish that he was a true-born Stark, rather than a bastard.

The two weeks that the royal procession spent at Winterfell, Elayna did her best to get to know the rest of the Stark children. Sansa was everything Elayna was meant to be, and she answered all the younger girls questions of Kings Landing, and life in the Red Keep with patience and grace; something that surprised Elayna herself.

She spent what time she could with Arya, teaching the basics that she remembered Ser Barristan teaching her; with Rickon, she kept him from under everyone's feet when he wasn't with Maester Luwin; she spent an hour every evening in Bran's room, talking to him, reading him stories, and telling him what had happened that day. The rest of her time was spent with Robb, Theon and Jon. She really couldn't stand Theon, but he was Robb's friend, so she tolerated him.

Her, Robb and Jon had become practically inseparable during her time in the North. They went out riding together, sometimes without Theon and could be seen laughing and joking wherever they were. Elayna could tell that Robb and Jon were brothers. They were both proud of who they were and were most definitely their fathers' sons, but Elayna knew who she liked the best.

Robb was more sure of himself. He had grown up knowing that he would be Lord of Winterfell someday, and so he usually acted with authority, sometimes without even knowing he was doing it.

Jon was much quieter, and the conversations she had with him always put a smile on her face. They would talk about the North, Jon joining the Night's Watch and his uncle Benjen. Elayna had come to notice that she would do anything to see that boy smile, even if it was his shy half smile.

She loved every moment she spent with the Stark boys – she refused to call Jon a Snow. She'd noticed how Theon would call him that at every opportunity, which made her hate him all the more.

It was the morning everyone was leaving, and her uncle Tyrion had called her over. He'd noticed she'd been spending a lot of time with the eldest Stark and the bastard, and he was worried. Elayna had always built walls around herself, ever since she was a girl, and to see her so free had unnerved him a little. He hadn't seen her smile and laugh as much in a long time, and he didn't want to take that away from her.

"I've spoken to the King on numerous occasions over the past week," he informed her. She frowned slightly. Her father and uncle Tyrion didn't get along very well.

"About what?" she asked. Tyrion sighed and took hold of her hand, making them stop walking. Elayna knelt so that she was at his eye level, knowing that what he was about to say was important.

"I spoke to him about my visit to the wall, and about you accompanying me." Elayna looked at her uncle in shock. Her father rarely let her go anywhere, not even his ancestral home of Storm's End.

"And what did father say?" she asked. She didn't want to get her hopes up.

"He agreed with me." Elayna frowned once more.

"Agreed with you? About what?" she asked.

"About that fact that we both hadn't seen you this happy in years. The North agrees with you child, much better than it does the rest of our family." Elayna smiled slightly, remembering the amount of time Joffrey and her mother had complained about the bitterness of the North. "The Night's Watch is a dangerous place for a young woman, but he knows that you can handle yourself. He didn't stop your training with Jamie and Ser Barristan for that exact reason."

"He knows about that?" she asked in shock. She'd been training with them since she was 6. Her father hadn't really been part of her life, even back then.

"He does, and he knows that you're a better swordsman than Joffrey will ever be." they both smiled at that. Joffrey was all for show. He never cared about training properly. "Do you want to join me?" he asked. Elayna immediately nodded and kissed her uncle on the cheek.

"Thank you." she was about to stand up, but Tyrion grabbed hold of her hand to stop her.

"There was another reason for bringing you with me," he admitted. Elayna waited for him to continue. Instead of saying anything, his eyes landing on Jon. Elayna followed his gaze, and bit her lip slightly. "You like him." Elayna's eyes found her uncles.

"Of course I like him. He great to be around."

"That's not what I meant, and you know it." Elayna sighed.

"Maybe. All I know is that I've never been like this with anyone, and I've spent the same about of time with Robb as I do Jon."

"Which is why I suggest you figure it out at the wall." Elayna frowned.

"And then what? He's taking the Black, and there's nothing anyone can do to change his mind. Besides, nothing could ever happen, even if I did want it to." Tyrion smirked, and Elayna playfully hit him on the arm. "Oh shut up," she mumbled, feeling her cheeks grow hot at the sudden embarrassment.

"All I've ever wanted was for you be happy. And you're happy the most when you're around Jon Snow." Elayna stood up before he could say anything else.

"Thank you for letting me come to the wall with you." she gave him a tight smile before walking away, leaving Tyrion to muse on what he'd just been told. He loved that girl as if she were is own, and he would do anything he could to make her happy. This, however, was possibly a step too far, but there was backing away now.

Jon didn't know what to think. Why would the Princess want to travel to the wall? Yes, it was the largest structure in the world, and the furthest north she would ever go, but the rest of her family were travelling back home.

He was pulled from his thoughts by Lord Tyrion. "What are you thinking?" the small man asked.

"Why is she coming?" he asked. He didn't mean to sound rude, but he didn't understand what was happening. Tyrion looked over at his niece, who was talking to Benjen Stark.

"She needed to be away from her family," he said. Jon frowned slightly. She hadn't spent much time with her family the whole time she was at Winterfell. "You're worried about her?" Tyrion asked. Jon looked down at the floor. His uncle Benjen had arrived with three new recruits for the Watch – cut-throats and rapists.

Jon's jaw clenched. Of course he was worried for her. Yes, she was good with a sword, but these men were... he just didn't know what to think. "She can handle herself," Tyrion stated.

"I know that," Jon muttered as he looked back at the dwarf.

"But you will still look out for her." it wasn't a question. Jon didn't answer. "I think you always would if you could." Tyrion continued. "Tell me, Jon Snow, if things were different-"

"Don't." Jon interrupted him, telling Tyrion all he needed to know.

"So you have thought about it then?" Tyrion asked. Before the boy to reply Elayna had joined them once more. Jon looked over and saw that one of the new recruits hadn't taken his eyes off her. Elayna gently placed her hand on his arm, making him look at her.

"It's fine. They're being tied back up once they've eaten." Jon nodded slightly, but still kept his eyes on the man. Tyrion smiled, enjoying what he was witnessing. He could tell that they cared for one another, but would it be enough?

AN: Once again, I only own Elayna. Credit's where credit's due.

Thanks guys :)