Chapter 4

It was two years later that the perfect world the two children had forged in their loneliness was rocked by its foundation. Rayne would do magic and took great delight in showing Jon little tricks she had mastered, he in turn would show her his prodigious talent in sword fighting. They took great care of the horse that Lord Stark had gifted Jon on is nameday. It was a black stallion with a white star on his forehead; it reminded Rayne of the horse from the story called 'Black Beauty'. They named the horse Dante.

Rayne taught Jon Mathematics and helped him in his lessons and in turn Jon taught Rayne how to wield a sword.

The day Howland Reed of Greywater Watch came to visit his lord father Jon was shunned by Lady Stark to his rooms. She never let Jon be seen by the guests in the keep.

Jon sat morosely on his bed all alone feeling sorry for himself and cursing at whatever he could that made him born a bastard. He would never get respect from any of his father's bannermen. To them and the rest of the world he would always be a reminder of Lord Stark dishonor.

He was lost in his thoughts that he didn't see Rayne had arriving. She waved her hands in front of his face taking him out of his thoughts. They hugged and smiled at each other Rayne's smile a toothy grin while Jon's a little uplifting of the corners of his lips.

She looked at him and realized that he was sad.

'What happened?' asked Rayne.

'Father's bannermen are visiting. So I am confined to my room. Lady Stark does not wish for me to be seen by anyone'. Says Jon sadly.

'Medusa strikes again'. Jokes Rayne.

'Ray!' Jon admonishes her.

'What?' she asks innocently.

'Don't call her that. It is disrespectful. She is the Lady of Winterfell. And my father's wife'. Jon exclaims.

'I should have told you who exactly Medusa is. I should have said that it was a sweet nickname'.

'Regardless we can't go outside today. What do you want to do Rayne?'

'We will go outside silly. No one will know. You promised you will take me to the crypts today. After two years I finally get to see them. I can't let Your Lady Stark spoil our plans'.

'But Rayne we will be seen'.

'No will not be seen. I have magic. I will make us invisible.'

'Really, that is possible? Let's go then. Hurry up.'

Rayne holds out her hands for Jon. He feels as if water is being poured on top of his head. He looks at the mirror and sees himself fading.

'I can still see you Rayne. But I don't see myself in the mirror.'

'That is because my magic is helping you be invisible.'

They opened the door slowly and move into the corridor. Holding hands they make their way towards the crypts. They see some servants moving around and Maester Luwin but they manage to get near the crypts without bumping into anyone.

They move into the cave like entrance and all Rayne can see our statues of people who lived ages ago. Jon points out the few statues he knows about. All the tall men are holding a long sword in their hands and have a direwolf curled at their feet.

They stop in front of a statue of a man who does not look like he is older than 20 years. He has wild hair and a feral looking wolf at his feet.

'This is Brandon Stark. He is my uncle his death was a major cause for the rebellion. He and my Grandfather Rickard Stark went to the king to request the safe return of my Aunt Laynna. The king burned my Grandfather alive and my Uncle strangled himself trying to get to his sword.'

'I am sorry Jon. If I had known that this place would have memories like this I would not have forced you to take me here.'

'You don't need to worry I am fine. It's just that there is so much history down here, history of my family that I will never be a part of because I am not a Stark.'

'You will always be Stark where it matters and that is in your spirit and heart. Come I want to see your Aunt Lyanna.'

They both move towards the right and see a lone statue of a woman. She has a bow and arrows on her back, her direwolf looks like he is sleeping and she has a badge with the sigil of a laughing weirwood tree.

'She is beautiful Jon. I can see why the realm went to war for her. She is like the Helen of Westeros.'

'It looks like father was here a few days ago. He brings blue winter roses for her. They were her favorite.'

They both settle in the ground in front of the statue and talk about their day. Suddenly the silence of the crypts is invaded by footsteps. They both become silent and see that two men enter the corridor and stop in front of them facing the statue of Laynna Stark. One of the men is Jon's father Lord Stark and the other is unknown to both of them.

They are taking to one another and suddenly Lord says, 'I cannot tell anyone the truth. I promised Lya. I will do right by him. Please Howland you were there with me you know I am trying to keep him safe.'

'But don't you think you are being unfair to him. By the Gods Ned! The boy is the one true heir of Iron throne and you wife treats him like he is dirt beneath her shoes. You must tell him the truth. I hear rumors that the Baratheon rule is not that strong and the Lannisters have taken over the Red Keep. There are more Red cloaks then there are White cloaks in the capital. The throne is in debt and your friend drinks and fucks anything with a pair of tits.'

'Howland he is the king. Have care of how speak of him.'

'Ned I respect you and have considered you my brother that is why I request you must tell Jon the truth.'

Jon and Rayne exchange looks and keep on looking at the pair in front of them.

'Ned, Lyanna married Prince Rhaegar out of love. She gave birth to his heir out of love. That love did destroy lives of people round the realm but the fact remains we have the true heir of the throne with us. You must rally support for him Ned. The truth will come out sooner or later but if you are prepared maybe you can save Jon from Robert's wrath.'

'I can't Howland. I can't. The realm knows him as my bastard and that is how it shall be. I will one day tell him about his mother but not today.'

Howland Reed looks sadly at his friend and realizes that there was no changing his mind. He moves away from their sight and comes back with a chest and places it in front of Ned.

'I can't keep these with me anymore. You must take responsibility if these. I never once opened it in all these years. What is in it?'

Ned moves and opens the chest, both Jon and Rayne move to see it. Inside the chest is a bridal cloak in the colors of House Targaryen, the red three headed dragon on a black background stood proud and ferocious. Nestled inside the cloak were seven dragon eggs, petrified to stone by time but still beautiful. Jon and Rayne look at each other both surprised to see dragon eggs with their own eyes. Inside the chest was golden Harp. The famed harp of Prince Rhaegar, its music was said to have brought many great men to tears. Also the chest contained the document verifying the dissolution of Rhaegar and Elia Martell's wedding and the document stating that Rhaegar and Lyanna were married. And finally in a small wooden box were two necklaces one was Prince Rhaegar's Ruby necklace with the Targaryen three- headed dragon curled in a circle and the other was a feminine necklace with Rubies, Sapphires and Emeralds all made in a way that it seemed that you were holding a rose shaped flame in your hands.

'These belonged to Laynna. Now all this belongs to Jon. You should give this to him Ned. The boy might want something of his legacy.'

'No the boy is a Stark. He has lived as a Stark and he will die as a Stark.'

'But he won't Ned. Your wife will never accept him as a Stark; you had to fight to let him continue lessons with Robb. Do you think that your wife will let you give him your name? No she will not. The most he can achieve is that he will be is an owner of a small keep or a ranger of the Night's Watch.'

'At least he will be safe.'

Ned move behind the statue and opens a latch inside was a long sword that belonged to Rhaegar Targaryen and were two crowns. One belonged to Rhaegar and the other was a Queen's crown with Rubies, Sapphires and Emeralds. That was Lyanna Targaryen's crown. Also inside were letter that the doomed couple wrote to one another. Ned pushes the chest inside the secret compartment and bowed in front of his sister. He prays and gets up kisses her stony cheek and moves outside the crypt. Howland follows his friend, leaving the two children alone with their thoughts. Jon looks at Rayne and suddenly finds himself in a warm embrace. He breaks down and cries to his heart's content.

'Jon? Promise me something please.'

Jon looks up noticing the solemn request in her tone. He tilts his head to his side as if asking her to continue.

'Promise me that you never join the Night's Watch.'

Rayne begs. She never wants him to be a bitter old man in the freezing tundra all by himself.

'You heard Howland Reed. I only have two options. More likely only one as there is no way that Lady Stark will let me inherit any lands of my own. What will I do? I can be a ranger in the Night's Watch. If not that then what will I be. I have nothing to offer to anyone else. No one will marry a bastard. At least as a member of the Night's Watch I don't have to worry about not being good enough for anyone.'

Jon was feeling a myriad of emotions. The ones he could focus on the most were anger and grief. Anger at being called a bastard all his life when he was in fact a true born son of a Prince and his wife. He was the heir to the throne and the realm was his by right. The grief he felt was more crippling than the anger. He always believed that he had the love of a father even if he didn't know his mother. He believed that his mother never cared for him. But to know that he was loved by his mother and also maybe even by his father he felt a loss of something he never had, a family.

'You will be king silly.' A voice shakes him out of his emotions.

'What?'

'Yes. Jon you were born to be king and a king you shall be. I will make it happen. You will sit on the throne that belonged to your father and you will be the best king the world has seen. I will make it happen.' She vows.

'How?'

'With dragons. Like your ancestors you will ride on a dragon's back and make the world bow to you.'

'We don't have dragons Rayne.'

'We will Jon, we will. I will use my magic to hatch the eggs.'

Jon looked at her, smiled and said.

'You always know how to make me feel better. What would I ever do without you?'

'Well you never have to find out. I promise to be with you forever.'

'Always?'

'Always.'