The Sword Of The Morning
Near Winterfell – 300 A.L
Six months after his return to Starfall Jon found himself on the way to Winterfell with Arianne in tow.
He decided that it was about time he visited his Father and his siblings in the north. He, Arianne and a small company of Starfall guards travelled to Oldtown before taking a ship up north to White Harbour. After a small welcome feast by Lord Manderly they departed for Winterfell the next day.
Jon was sat utop his horse looking at Winterfell in the distance. He was dressed in his uncles old kingsguard armour and white cloak which had been redesigned with the crescent moon and sword on the front of the breast plate instead of the old three headed dragon. On either side of his hips were the sword his father gave him when he was 8 and Dawn on either side. Also next to Dawn was the dagger Oberyn gave him when he was 16. Arianne joked that he looked like a knight out of the stories causing him to scoff saying that the stories were for fools and dreamers causing them both to laugh.
Jon thought back to before he left Starfall about how his Mother had given him his Uncle's old Kingsguard armour. When he questioned her why she just told him that the it will serve him well.
Arianne was dressed in her riding gear. Lord Manderly had offered to provide her with a carriage to ride to Winterfell in but she just laughed him off and said she would ride on horse.
Shortly after they approached the gates to Winterfell. Upon entering the main courtyard they found Ned, Catelyn and all of their children waiting for them dressed in their finest clothes.
"Lord Manderly must have told them to expect us" thought Jon.
Behind them were what Jon presumed were the main staff and to Jon's surprise Theon Greyjoy.
"So he's still here" thought Jon.
Jon took of his helm before dismounting his horse and made his way over to Ned.
"Father" said Jon.
"Jon" said Ned before enveloping Jon in a hug and laughing.
"Your a man grown now" continued Ned.
"Aye, I am, though I have to say, you don't look fat enough for a northener" said Jon.
Everyone else gasped in shock.
"Ha, you're just like your Mother, a good sense of humour, welcome to Winterfell" said Ned smiling.
"Thank you Father" said Jon walking over to Arianne's horse and helping her down before taking her hand.
"Allow me to introduce my betrothed, Princess Arianne Martell" said Jon walking her over to Ned.
"My Lady" said Ned kissing her hand.
"M'Lord" said Arianne in a pleasant voice.
Ned stepped backwards.
"Allow me to introduce you to my wife Catelyn" said Ned gesturing to Catelyn dressed in a fine green dress.
"My Lady" said Jon kissing her hand causing Catelyn to nod curtly at him.
"So, Mother was right, she doesn't like me" thought Jon.
"My children Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon" said Ned introducing each of his children.
Jon walked towards the reddish brown haired Robb who was 16 who was dressed in a brown tunic and wolf pelt around his shoulder.
"Brother" said Jon holding out his hand.
"Brother, it is about time you came here" said Robb giving Jon a firm handshake.
"Very true" said Jon.
Jon walked towards the bright red haired Sansa who was 13 dressed in a grey dress.
"Sansa, my dear Sister" said Jon kissing her hand.
"M'Lord" said Sansa smiling at him.
"Just call me Jon please Sansa" said Jon smiling.
"But it wouldn't be proper M'Lord" said Sansa.
"We are family Sansa, propriety is not required" said Jon.
"Of course M'lo...Jon" said Sansa smiling.
Jon smiled and moved on to the brown haired Arya who was 11 dressed in a dark grey dress.
"Can is see your sword?" said Arya bluntly.
"Arya" hissed Sansa.
Jon just looked at her and laughed.
"Of course" said Jon unsheathing Dawn and handing it to her.
She took it gingerly with both hands and looked up and down the blade smiling before handing it back to Jon.
Jon sheathed the blade and turned to Bran who was 9 with short brown hair dressed in a brown tunic like Robb.
"Are you a knight?" said Bran eagerly.
Jon laughed.
"No I'm not a knight little one" said Jon smiling.
"But that's a knight's armour" said Bran.
"Aye, it was my Uncle's armour, Ser Arthur Dayne, my Mother gave it to me before I departed Starfall for White Harbour" said Jon.
"Ser Arthur Dayne" said Bran in amazement.
"Yes, you wish to be a knight" said Jon curiously.
"Yes" said Bran eagerly.
"Well, one day I'm sure it will come true" said Jon as he moved over to the 6 year old Rickon with shaggy brown hair dressed in a black tunic
"Hello Rickon, do you know who I am?" said Jon kindly.
Rickon shook his head.
"I'm your half brother Jon Dayne" said Jon.
"Half brother?" said Rickon in confusion.
"Yes, we share the same father, but we have different mothers" said Jon.
"Okay" said Rickon timidly.
Jon ruffled his hair and made his way over to Theon.
"It's been a long time" said Jon.
"It has" said Theon holding out his hand.
Jon smiled and shook his hand.
Jon made his way back towards Arianne and his guards.
"I'm sure my house guards will be able to find lodgings in Winterfell" said Jon.
"Yes, there is an inn above the Tavern, you and Princess Arianne are welcome to stay here, I had the servants set up chambers for you" said Ned.
"Thank you Father, we would like to get settled in now if that is okay" said Jon.
"Of course, Sansa and Arya will show you to your rooms, Princess Arianne a bath has been drawn for you, there will be a feast later on to welcome you to Winterfell" said Ned.
"You don't have to Father" said Jon.
"No Jon, I do, after all it's not everyday my eldest son travels to may home with a beautiful lady on his arm" said Ned.
Catelyn shook with silent fury.
Ned saw her and sighed.
"Sansa, Arya will you escort Jon and Princess Arianne to their rooms please" said Ned looking at his two daughters.
"Yes Father" said Sansa and Arya simultaneously.
"Lead the way" said Arianne.
The four walked into the castle.
Jon, Arianne, Sansa and Arya arrived at the rooms which were placed next to each other.
The four entered Jon's room. It was fairly simple with a double bed, a wardrobe and a desk and chair.
"Cosy" said Arianne.
"Aye, I don't suppose you'll be willing to join me at night, after all the bed is big enough" said Jon smirking.
"I might consider it, after all you need someone to keep your bed warm, or I could just leave you alone with your hands" said Arianne with a coy smile.
Jon laughed while Sansa turned scarlett red.
Jon noticed this.
"Sansa, is there something wrong" said Jon innocently.
"No" said Sansa nervously.
Arianne raised her eyebrow at Sansa.
"We'll leave you two to yourselves" said Sansa.
Sansa guided Arya out of the room.
Jon turned to Arianne and started laughing.
"Poor girl, I think you frightened her" said Jon.
"She's 13, old enough to know what goes on in a marriage bed" said Arianne smirking.
"Come on, lets get ready for tonight" said Jon.
"Aren't you going to give me anything?" said Arianne with a coy smile.
Jon pulled her to him and crashed his lips to hers. She moaned as he slipped his tongue into her mouth and kept her lips locked to his before she eventually broke away after some time.
"Good, now we can get ready" said Arianne.
"Actually, you need to help me remove my armour first, it requires an extra pair of hands" said Jon smirking.
Arianne smiled and began to untie the staprs on his armour helping him slide them off his arms and chest.
Once she had removed his armour leaving him in a white shirt and black breeches she walked to the door before turning back to him.
"Aren't you going to help me as well" said Arianne in a flirty tone.
Jon smiled and followed her to her chambers.
Upon entering they noticed they were identical to Jon's chambers except there was a bathtub near the wall.
Jon helped Arianne take off her riding clothes and teasingly took off her small clothes. She climbed into the bath and looked at him.
"Aren't you going to join me?" said Arianne seductively.
Jon smirked and took all of his clothes of before climbing into the bathtub behind her.
Arianne leaned back into his chest and relaxed.
The two slowly bathed before a maid walked into the room with Arianne's clothes, she saw the two of them in the bath and screamed before running out of the room.
Arianne looked back at Jon and the both of them laughed.
After the two finished bathing Arianne got dressed before the two of them went back to Jon's room so he could get dressed.
After Jon had finished getting dressed the two sat on Jon's bed talking before a knock at the door interrupted them.
"Lord Dayne, the feast will begin shortly" said a young female voice.
"Thank you" said Jon.
Jon stood up and turned to Arianne holding out his hand.
"Shall we Princess?" said Jon smiling.
"We shall M'Lord" said Arianne smiling taking his hand and standing up.
The two walked out of the door into the corridor where they saw the young woman around 14 years of age with long brown hair who had been sent to collect them.
"Lead the way" said Jon.
The girl nodded and walked down the corridor with Jon and Arianne following her.
Upon entering the great hall hand in hand Jon and Arianne looked around in amazement.
The tables were covered in roast boar, potatoes, vegetables and flagons of ale and wine.
The two made their way to the high table at the top of the hall where the rest of the Stark's were waiting for them.
Sitting down at the high table Jon and Arianne helped themselves to some Boar and Potatoes with vegetables, Jon also poured himself a cup of ale while Arianne settled for the wine.
The two spent an hour before talking to the Stark's telling the about their childhood and sharing amusing childhood memories.
Eventually after everyone was fed and watered, the tables were cleared to the side to make way for a small dance floor exciting Sansa more than anyone else.
Jon and Arianne danced together along with Ned and Catelyn. After Jon and Arianne had finished Robb walked up to Jon.
"Jon, could you have a dance with Sansa, she wants to dance with you but wants you to ask her" said Robb.
"All right, while your here, you can dance with my intended, instead of leaving her alone on the dance floor" said Jon causing Robb to blush and Arianne to laugh.
"Come on Stark" said Arianne taking his hands and leading him around the dance floor.
Jon walked over to Sansa and extended his hand to her.
"Would you like to dance My Lady" said Jon.
Sansa smiled and took his hand standing up.
"I would M'Lord" said Sansa.
The two walked out onto the dance floor.
"I bet this is what they do south all the time, dances, feasts, tourney's brave knights competing with favours from ladies, it all sounds so exciting, I wish I was down there" said Sansa cheerily.
"This is your home remember Sansa, you have the blood of the first men in your veins, you are a northern woman" said Jon.
"But nothing ever happens up here, it's just the same thing day in day out, I want some excitement" said Sansa sadly.
"Just remember Sansa, not everything is like it is in the stories, but who knows you might be able to go south one day, you could always come to Starfall with me, go and see The Water Gardens of Dorne if you want?" said Jon.
"Can you take me there, please?" said Sansa excitedly.
Jon laughed.
"Sansa, I only just got here, I won't be leaving for at least a month or two yet besides, you'll have to ask your parent's first, don't forget your only 13, there'll be plenty of time for you to see the south" said Jon.
"My Father will let me go, he has too, it's what I want" said Sansa.
"Sansa, wait and see what happens" said Jon.
The two finished dancing.
"Your a good dancer Sansa, now I must get back to my intended" said Jon.
Sansa smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you Jon, will you dance with me again later" said Sansa.
"We'll see Sansa" said Jon.
Sansa and Jon walked back to the head table to find Arianne Robb and Arya laughing at something Theon had said.
"Did we miss something funny" said Jon smirking.
Arianne turned towards Jon and engaged him in a passionate kiss.
"Easy there lovers, save some of it for your wedding night" said Robb laughing.
"Once you have a woman of your own brother, you won't be able to get enough of her, especially one as beautiful as the Princess here" said Jon laughing.
The others laughed at Robb. Jon picked up a mug of ale and took a hearty swig as the group continued to talk long into the night before they all went to bed.
The next day Jon found himself in the training yard with Robb, Bran, Theon and Ser Rodrik Cassel.
"You fight well Jon, perhaps you can teach your brothers a thing or two" said Rodrik looking impressed after he had disarmed and knocked Robb to the ground.
"Perhaps I could" said Jon smiling as he grabbed Robb's hand and pulled him to his feet.
"Or perhaps he could teach me" said a voice walking towards the practice yard.
Jon looked towards the voice and saw Arya approaching dressed in breeches and a tunic.
"Your Mother forbade it Lady Arya" said Rodrik sternly.
"Please Ser Rodrik" said Arya.
"Its okay, Ser Rodrik, if she wants to learn where's the harm?" said Jon.
Arya smiled at him and walked into the practice area.
Jon took the practice sword off of Robb and handed it to Arya.
She took the sword and walked to one side while Jon twirled both his swords and stood at the other side.
"Come on then, what are you waiting for, attack me" said Jon.
Arya stalked towards him and tried to stab him in the chest.
Jon parried the attack with his right sword and used his left sword to knock her sword out of her hands.
"Again" said Jon.
Arya picked up her sword and swung at him. He easily parried the attack again and swung back at her with his other sword forcing her to block instinctively before he used his other sword to once again disarm her.
"Better, try to predict my movement's and match them" said Jon.
"Arya Stark" screeched Catelyn Stark striding over to the practice area.
"Mother, I just wanted to try" said Arya sounding scared.
"I have told you before, you are not to practice with swords, proper ladies do not fight with swords" said Catelyn.
"Lady Stark, I said she could practice, don't be angry at her" said Jon.
"Then you should have said no, this isn't your home, your not a Stark" said Catelyn.
Everyone gasped.
"No, I am Dayne of Starfall, I am my Father's guest here, and as for ladies not being allowed to fight, Princess Arianne has three cousins who are exceptional fighters all of them are ladies, ladies can fight if they choose" said Jon.
"That may be the case in Dorne, but here we do things differently" said Catelyn.
"Be as it may, if Arya asks me to train her, I will do so, take it up with my Father if you wish, I'm sure he only wants what's best for his children" said Jon.
Catelyn huffed and walked away from them.
Arya turned to Jon.
"Thank you Jon, your the first person other than Father to be able convince her to let me be myself" said Arya.
"What are siblings for eh" said Jon laughing.
"Will you train me then?" said Arya.
"I'll teach you the basics" said Jon.
Over the next few days Jon and Robb taught Arya the basics of swordfighting. Arianne even watched some of her lessons having been taught the basics as well though she was better with a bow than a sword.
One day when they were all practicing Archery Ned approached all of them saying that they minus Arya and Arianne were to come with them. They had captured a deserter from the Night's Watch and they were to come to the execution with him.
So shortly after Ned, Jon, Robb, Theon, Bran, Jory Cassel and Ser Rodrik Cassel rode up towards the execution site where some Stark soldiers were waiting with the deserter.
He couldn't have been much older than Jon with sandy brown hair. He knelt down on the wooden log used as an improvised chopping block.
He looked at Ned before speaking.
"I know I broke my oath, but I saw the White Walkers, they killed two of my friends, my family live near Storms End, will you write to them, tell them I died a deserter" said The Deserter.
Ned solemnly nodded before he unsheathed the Sark's ancestral Valyrian Steel sword Ice which was being held by Theon.
He placed the sword facing downwards on the floor before speaking the words sentencing the man to death.
Robb leaned over to Bran.
"Don't look away, Father will know if you do" said Robb gently.
Ned swung Ice down and beheaded the deserter with one clean strike.
"You did well Bran" said Robb patting him on the shoulder.
The group headed back towards Winterfell when they noticed a dead stag lying in the middle of the road.
Ned, Jon, Robb and Theon all dismounted and made their way over to the stag. They noticed a trail of blood leading into the woods and followed it followed closely by Jory, Rodrik and Bran.
Just down the path was a sight which shocked all of them.
A large female Direwolf lay in the path dead from a stag antler in its neck. Surriounding it's chest Direwolf were five smaller Direwolf pups pushing at their mother.
"Is that a" said Jon in amazement.
"A Direwolf" said Ned.
"What's a Direwolf doing south of the Wall" said Rodrik.
"No idea, but there are now five, here would you like to hold it" said Jon picking up one of the pups and handing it to Bran who took it with both hands.
"They don't belong down here" said Jory.
"Better a quick death" said Ned.
"Father no" said Bran loudly.
"I'm sorry Bran" said Ned sounding remoursful.
"Father" said Jon.
Ned turned to look at him.
"There are five pups, one for each Stark child, the Direwolf is the sigil of your house, they were meant to have them" said Jon.
Ned nodded.
"You will train the yourselves, feed them yourselves, and if they die bury them yourselves, gather them up so we can return" said Ned.
Robb and Theon picked up the remaining four pups. They were about to leave when Jon heard a soft cry from the bush next to him.
"What is it?" said Robb.
Jon bent down and picked up a pure white Direwolf.
"Ah the runt of the litter, that ones yours Jon" said Theon.
Jon smirked and continued up the path with Robb and Theon towards the horses.