A/N: Yes, I know that in Cannon Ser Barristan Salmy was at the Tridant and was badly injured and Ser Jonothor Darry was at the Tridant and met his death there. As mentioned many times this story is AU – there will be some timeline differences. There are reasons for these changes, if people had the guts to log in before making comments I could PM them and have a discussion about it. I am more than happy to discuss things with people, so please stop hiding behind 'Guest' and feel free to PM me any questions. BTW the Spartans practiced divorce, and the Anglican church exists because a monarch wanted a divorce, so it is in no way modern.

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Part 14:

Jon noticed another spot of blood behind Arya's left ear, gods, they'd already tried to clean her face three times, but every time she turned her head he saw more blood. "You need a bath." He muttered, he trailed his fingertips through the water of the black pool, trying to make the action seem as casual as possible, then touched her face gently, he tried to remove the spot of blood without drawing attention to it, but it would not dislodge. "Maybe we should just throw you in?" He asked with a cheeky smirk.

Arya didn't react to the comment as she usually would, she wasn't cheeky or playful, she didn't threaten to pull him in with her or say she'd jump in if he jumped first, she simply shrugged and continued to clean her sword… the sword was already clean. He shared a concerned look with Robb over Arya's head. His little sister had taken a life, gods… He knew she wasn't really his sister, she was his cousin, but over the last few weeks he had discovered that learning the truth of his identity hadn't changed much, he had been raised as a brother to her and she would always be his sister. That was a stunning revolution. Robb, Bran, and even Theon, would always be his brothers… Ned Stark would always be his father… even if he was still hurt by the deception, he was starting to understand the reasons why.

He couldn't believe that King Robert could be so cold to one that only minutes earlier he had believed to be his son. Jon hadn't liked Joffrey, but he still felt sympathy for him, King Robert had been cruel. Jon worried what would happen to Myrcella and Tommen now, they were innocents, but the King seemed unpredictable in rage… no wonder Father had never dared tell him the truth.

Arya finally stopped running the cloth over her blade and put it way, she leant into Jon and he put his arm around her, Robb moved closer on her other side and put his arm around her as well.

"What did the message say?" Arya asked.

Jon sighed. "It seems Sansa may be in trouble."

"Trouble how?" Arya asked, frowning.

Thankfully Robb answered. "What do you remember about House Targaryen, about those that are left?" Robb asked gently.

Arya's frown deepened. "There are only two, right? Viserys was six when he and his mother fled to Dragonstone. Queen Rhaella didn't know she was pregnant, but King Aerys had raped her not long before they fled. She had a daughter, Daenerys… The queen died due to complications with childbirth."

"Yes, she did, do you know where Viserys and Daenerys are now?" Jon asked gently.

"Essos." Arya replied, suddenly her eyes widened. "And Sansa's in Essos!"

Jon nodded. "Essos is very large," He said quietly. "The possibility of Viserys running into Sansa, and knowing who she is… well, it's not very possible… yet somehow…"

"Illyrio." Arya replied.

Jon shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not, there are still Targaryen loyalists around, but somehow Sansa is with Viserys, the note suggests that she was taken against her will, but who can know?"

"Where has he taken her?" Arya asked.

Robb answered this time. "Viserys had sold his sister to a Dothraki Khal in return for an army, as the Khal hasn't given him the army yet…"

Arya frowned. "Would you say Daenerys could be described as a 'Silver haired moon daughter'?"

"I guess." Jon replied. "Why?"

"Tell me she wasn't married to Khal Drogo."

"Arya, how do you know that name?" Robb asked.

Arya looked at both of them in turn and shook her head. "We need to talk to Jeshi and Zhowi… we need to stop the Stallion from being born."

"Arya, you're not making sense." Jon said, but Arya was already making her way back to the keep, all he could do was follow.

~~/~~

When Arya found Jeshi she started to talk in rapid Dothraki, too quick for Jon to understand, Arya had spent more time with the Dothraki than most and had picked up the language more easily than he had. Jon made out some words, he was surprised when Arya address Jeshi as Khalakki, Princess, he heard the words Dosh Khaleen and Vas Dothrak… and something about a prophecy… then Zhowi, who was seldom far from Jeshi's side, was there and they were looking for Father… Uncle… Father.

Ned Stark was with Bran, Maester Lewin and Old Nan were there as well, all looked serious and sad, and suddenly Arya's sense of urgency was derailed. Maester Lewin said that Bran would never walk again… that the next few days would tell them more. Arya nodded and offered to sit with him for a while, and told Father that he needed to talk with Jeshi about Khal Drogo.

Jon offered to stay as well and Jeshi, Zhowi and Robb left with Father and Maester Lewin to discuss the matter. Bran's direwolf, still unnamed, climbed onto the bed after they had left, and Lady climbed up beside him. Nymeria and Ghost took up places on Bran's other side. Jon and Arya pulled the two large chairs from beside the fire and placed them near the bed. They sat in silence for hours and eventually Jon drifted off to sleep.

It was dark outside when Mya's hand on his arm gently woke him. A blanket had been placed over Arya and she was softly snoring in the chair beside him.

"Shh, don't wake her." Mya said softly. "I brought some food."

He gave her a sad smile, at once thankful for her kindness and devastated by it. Would she still treat him the same if she knew the truth? How could he tell her that they were third cousins? How could he tell her that his father had run off with her father's betrothed… that her father had killed his father and stolen his crown? He couldn't. 'Rhaegar may have sired me, but Ned Stark is my father.' He told himself. 'My mother may have given me a different name, but I am Jon Snow of Winterfell.'

He took the offered food and signalled to the doorway, she nodded and they moved into the hallway, they sat on the ground, near Bran's door and talked quietly.

"How is she?" Mya asked.

Jon shrugged. "She took a life today, how should she be?"

Mya gave him a sad smile. "You took a life too."

Jon nodded. "But I'm not eleven, besides, I was protecting my sister."

"And she was protecting her King." Mya replied. "But it doesn't matter, we will have war now, Tywin Lannister will never believe any version of events that isn't to his liking. Lord Stark will have to go to King's Landing now, as will I."

Jon shook his head. "No, if he goes anywhere he will go to Essos, to get Sansa… but he can't leave Bran, not now."

Mya looked down at her hands. "The King has ordered it." She said quietly. "He is giving Lord Stark two weeks for Bran to recover, then we must go to King's Landing with him, Lady Arya as well. Jory, Zhowi and a handful of others are going to Essos, they are going to try and sneak into Vas Dothrak with a trading caravan and steal Sansa back…"

"I should go with them." Jon said. 'Maybe I can talk some sense into Viserys if I tell him he's my uncle?' He thought. "I need to..."

He started to stand but Mya caught his arm. "Eat first," she said quietly. "Empty stomachs lead to poor decision making."

He raised an eyebrow at that. "Dothraki wisdom?"

Mya shook her head. "Andal actually, it was one of Lord Arryn's sayings, part of his argument that ensuring the poor have enough food is important."

Jon nodded and took a few reluctant bites of food, he soon realised that he was hungry and ate some more, before he knew it the plate was empty. Mya took the plate from him and gave him a gentle smile. "Lord Stark should be in his solar, I'll stay with Lord Bran and Lady Arya." She said quietly.

~~/~~

Mya had been correct, Ned Stark was in his solar, but so were the King, Ser Barristan Salmy, Jonothor Darry, Maester Lewin, Robb, Theon, Jory, Jeshi, and Zhowi.

"Jon." Ned greeted softly.

"Lord Stark," Jon greeted him formally, attempting to show that he was serious. "I have a request to make." All eyes turned to him and he was given the nod to continue. "I wish to go to Essos, to help retrieve Lady Sansa."

"No, Robb needs you here. I am to go to Kings Landing to take up the role of Hand of the King." Ned replied, his expression careful and guarded.

"With all due respect, Lord Stark, Lord Robb does not need me, Lady Sansa needs me, I beseech you, let me do this in your name… in the name of the North… let none doubt where my loyalties lie."

"Jon…" Ned took a step closer to him. "You are my blood, nobody doubts you."

"Then let me help my blood, let me talk with my blood and see if this can be resolved peacefully. You already have a war coming, you do not need two."

There was a flicker of understanding in Ned Starks eyes, Jon was sure that his double meaning had been understood. Jon scanned the room and found that Ser Barristan was looking at him intently.

"Viserys knew me when he was a boy… perhaps, of the King permitted, my presence might help." Ser Barristan said quietly.

King Robert nodded. "Let the lad go, he has proven capable, if you allow Jon to go I will give you Ser Barristan as well, and Ser Jonothor."

Ned looked from the King to the two knights then back to Jon. "You will leave within the hour, there will be no goodbyes." Ned Stark said quietly. "You will carry no sigils, and nothing that speaks of where your loyalties lie, you will travel in secret… you will go via Moat Cailin and collect Howland Reed, you will not kill anybody unless it is absolutely necessary. You will arrange your own passage, and likely have to work for it, I will give you what money I can, but use it sparingly, you will need it for the escape. If anybody doesn't like these rules… don't go."

"I would ask one goodbye, to Arya." Jon said quietly.

Ned nodded. "Robb will bring her to you, be quiet about it and pack light."

Less than an hour later Jon was riding south towards Moat Cailin, Ghost at his side, Father had argued that decision, but Jory and Ser Barristan had both backed him. Ser Barristan kept giving him strange looks and Ser Jonothor would not meet his gaze, but he would have to worry about that some other time. They bypassed Castle Cerwyn, a detour, but the less people that knew where they were going the better. They rode all night and partway through the morning before stopping, they slept for a few hours, then road on again just after midday.

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