Don't own GOT or ASOIAF. Thanks for reading.

Chapter 10

The gates opened and the Starks we behind the door. Not only was there Jon, Rickon, and Sansa but there was also Bran. There was a girl helping him with his cart. They looked at the girl beside me and realized who it was. I heard a chorus of "Arya!" She ran to them and hugged all of them. While all the Starks were talking and hugging, I walked into Winterfell. They must have noticed Nymeria because I heard them yelling her name. It was near nighttime when all of the commotion settled down. It was mainly due to everyone running out of energy celebrating the return of the Starks.

Jon told Ser Barristan a letter came for him two days ago. He told him they received a letter from Daenerys as well saying that she was in Dorne preparing to march to King's Landing. Ser Barristan went to his chambers to read the letter and most likely send one back. We also mentioned we would deal with Robin Arryn tomorrow and determine if he should remain Lord of the Vale or if someone like Yohn Royce should take over. I decided to turn in for the night.

I was in my chamber when I heard a knock. It was Bran at the door with the girl who was named Meera Reed. I let them in and when they came in they looked at me with serious expressions. Bran started, "Our fathers were at the Tower of Joy when my aunt died. Our fathers did not tell us the whole or true story. Meera's father stabbed Arthur Dayne through the back of his throat. My father finished him off and your father killed the other Kingsguard. My father ran up to the Tower to find my aunt dying in a pool of blood. What he left out of his story was that my aunt Lyanna was dying because she gave birth to a son. A son by the name of Aemon. Your fathers came up after tending to their wounds and saw what was going on. My father looked at them and was worried what may have happened. They told him that this secret would be told when the time was right or it would die with them."

Meera jumped in, "This child was the offspring of Rhaegar Targaryen. Had Bran's father not promised to protect him, Robert would have had him killed, much like the child's two siblings. This child is the rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. My father is the only one living with the knowledge of the child."

Bran continued, "I saw in a vision a note being written by our three fathers. I could not read it but they were talking about the child."

I looked up and ran to my bag. I looked through it for the letter my father gave me just before I left Westeros. It was a little damaged but not too bad as I unrolled it. "Is this what you are talking about?" I asked. I set it down on the table and used stones to keep it flattened. It read,

To whoever reads this. Know that Eddard Stark, Howland Reed, and Meric Frost willingly committed treason to save a child that took no part in the outbreak of the Rebellion. This child is the offspring of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. His name given to him by his mother is Aemon Targaryen. He is the heir to the Iron Throne. Eddard Stark has promised to keep him as his own. His name under Eddard Stark will be Jon Snow. When the time is right show him this letter and hopefully one of us will be alive to tell him the truth. We know everything will change once he knows but he must try to understand it was to try to protect him.

We read it once more and realized that Jon Snow, our Jon Snow, was the true king of Westeros. I looked at Bran and Meera and they did not look as shocked as I was. It then hit me that Bran saw this and knew about Jon. I looked at him and he nodded as if he knew what I was thinking. I went to a chair and sat down still not processing what was going on exactly. A little smile ran across my face as I wondered what Jon would be like when he finds out if I am like this. Bran called for me to help me get out of my trance.

"You know what this means right? Jon is the King. He can command everyone to fight the White Walkers. We need him to find out because it is important that he can command everyone. I wrote a letter to Lord Reed telling him I know about Lyanna and I received a letter back a day ago saying he is on his way."

"How will the North handle it though let alone Daenerys. She wants the Iron Throne and if Jon is an obstacle I cannot predict what she will do. I bent the knee to Daenerys thinking she was the true heir but with this revelation, it means that I should bend the knee to Jon." I said.

We talked for a few more hours before sleep started to get to us. Our plan was to hand Jon the letter when Lord Reed comes and tells him about his true lineage. I told them that I would bend the knee to Jon when I find out. When they left I went to the bed and slept. I dreamt about my family and the Starks. I dreamt what the place would look like if there was still a Targaryen rule. I saw my family happy but there was no Jon as he was in King's Landing as the second son to Rhaegar. There was talk about Jon, or Aemon as was his birth name, being betrothed to Margaery Tyrell. It was a happy time to live but then things started turning bad. Winter was upon us and dead men were killing the villagers and my family was riding toward Winterfell to help keep us safe. I saw my brothers' horses fall from arrows and my brothers were butchered by the dead men. My mother was next and my father was hit by an arrow and we made it to Winterfell just before he died. His eyes changed though and in an instant he was on top of me with a sword. I woke up from the dream in a sweat. I looked out and while it was snowing, it was not as bad as it was in my dreams.

I went to the hall and saw some of the men gathered as the start of the day was beginning. We would be talking about Robin Arryn and his situation. The few Freys that came with were going to bend the knee as was Edmure Tully. We started with the new lord of the Twins which was given to Hellela after I asked Jon to think about giving it to her. I mentioned her background and the fact that the Wildlings needed to have a hold in Westeros. In the back of my mind though was the letter and Jon. I tried to focus on what was going on but I would often drift to the back of my mind. Before I knew it, the topic of Robin Arryn came up.

Jon started the discussion. "I know this topic is a hard one but remember we will be changing the life of an innocent boy with our choice today. One choice will be to make him a Stone instead of an Arryn and the Arryn family line is gone. A second would be to keep him an Arryn but make keep him from marrying so that his children do not carrying the Arryn name. A third choice would be to do nothing at all and keep things the way they are."

For hours there was discussions about what to do and finally everyone came to the decision that Robin can keep the name but lose his seat as head of the Vale and to keep from marrying. Jon named Yohn Royce the new head of the Vale. He wrote a letter to Yohn Royce explaining what the situation was and his new title. He bid everyone a good rest of the day and to enjoy the peace while it lasts. I spent time with Red. We walked around Winterfell and went to the Godswood. We played with a stick I found along the way and while we were just sitting Sansa came up to us. She asked if she could sit with us. I nodded and told her she did not have to ask. She was too busy petting Red's fur to respond.

She said, "I want to thank you for all you have done for my family. You saved Rickon and brought Arya back. This place is starting to feel just like home again. The only thing missing is my father, mother, and Robb. I know it has been more than enough time to move on but I still grieve for them."

"There is no time table for grieving Sansa. What we have all been through would take its toll on everyone. We just take it one day at a time and get through it the best we can. We lean on those around us to help us. I still grieve for mine. It reminds you to love what you have right now. Let me give you some advice Sansa. Do not forget the past but do not let it control what you do now. Things are changing Sansa, what we once believed to be a myth is no longer a myth. People we once thought our enemies are now our allies." I told her.

She nodded and I excused myself while letting Red stay with her as he enjoyed the attention she was giving him. I was walking around Winterfell some more. I looked at the training yard and saw Rickon practicing his archery. It brought me back to a time when I was learning archery with Jon and Robb. We either overshot the target or undershot it. It brought a smile to my face as I continued. I saw Arya and Bran telling each other their stories of their respective journeys. Jon was sitting alone in the hall. He looked exhausted from everything going on the last few days. "You should get some sleep Jon. A King needs to be well rested to be able to rule effectively."

"I know but I was just thinking about the future. When I bend the knee to Daenerys and beyond that. The best way to make an alliance is through marriage. I could ask to marry Daenerys but that would mean I would be going to King's Landing. I must stay in the North to help plan against the invasion of the White Walkers. Bran and Rickon are too young to marry, let alone I was thinking that Rickon could marry Lyanna Mormont. They are close to the same age and it would mean that one of the most loyal houses in the North will be bound to the Starks. Rickon may have to give up his Stark name but Bran can keep it. I knew being a King would be hard but I now have to worry about everything in my kingdom now. What is good for one house may not be good for another. It is exhausting to think about." He confessed.

"Then do what every other King has done. Get a small council to help you. Tormund can help with the Free Folk, Ser Davos can help with being your Hand as he held the position for Stannis, and Sansa knows about the politics of running a kingdom from her time in King's Landing." I replied.

"I should but picking one lord instead of another could cause problems and we cannot have that at this time. I guess I am scared that there will be consequences to my actions and now that there is finally peace and prosperity in the North I do not want to ruin it." He said.

"Good, that means you are acting like a real King. But know this, not acting could be worse that making the wrong choice. You could have done nothing to help the Free Folk but you did not. You went to help them making it so that thousands of Free Folk still live because of you. All of them would have died and would be fighting for the White Walkers. Take the time to think of a small council to help you, but do not worry about the lords you do not pick." I told him.

"Thank you, I should go get some sleep before I fall asleep on this table. That would not look good for a King." He laughed.

I nodded and he left. "He is right you know." A voice startled me. It was Ser Barristan. "A marriage is a good way to cement an alliance." He continued.

"That is why you are here is it not? To see if there was a man worthy to marry our Queen?" I asked.

"Yes and I have seen only two men worthy of her hand in marriage." I looked at him with a questioning expression. "You and Jon. Both of you care for the people and are willing to do what is right even if it means your death. So many people care more about being King and worry about a dynasty through their blood that they do not care about anything else. Jon and you are different, you care about making Westeros a better place for all to live in, poor or rich, common or highborn. You would let Daenerys sit the Iron Throne but make sure she is not overextending her powers. Jon is also right. He is needed in the North so that only makes one person in the North who I find suitable for the Queen. I will mention it to her when she comes North to meet with Jon." I looked at him as he told me that Daenerys was coming to the North.