New Concerns:

1. Jon can't be a king right now. Those who messaged me with concerns about Jon being "king material," have no fear. Robb is a sixteen-year-old boy who has tons of thoughts running through his mind. He's allowed to dream. Goodness knows that once season
1 begins, it goes downhill from there.

2. There is a brief mention of rape in this chapter. Nothing graphic. Just mentioned. For those of you who have triggers, this shouldn't cause discomfort, but I'm warning my readers regardless.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything by Disney or George RR Martin/HBO. I own the idea of my OC.

Thanks to everyone who followed, favorited, reviewed, messaged, etc.

On with the story-hope I capture the Northern Lords right….

Rising from her seat, Zi allowed Arya's excitement to flow through her. Zi knew it was improper for a lady to greet men before her lord-husband did. Opps?

She would later claim ignorance. As she walked to the table, she reminded herself to stand up straight, pull shoulders back, and keep her head held high. With each step, she played over what she'd say.

"Aye, if it's not the mysterious beauty of the North that claimed Robb Stark as hers!" The older giant boomed with jest. His frame was rather large in both height and width; his face, hardened from the frigid Northern air, was framed by a hefty, greying
beard. While he appeared intimidating, his dark eyes, though piercing, held a warmth within them. His son, Smalljon, was simply a younger model of his father.

"Aye, but I believe it was he who did the claiming." She returned with a grin.

"Ha! The young beauty has jokes! Dirty ones at that! I like her." Greatjon announced to the table.

Turning, he addressed the Stark's table with a loud voice that easily carried over the noise of the hall, "Hey Ned, your good-daughter is a keeper! She's a looker and a joker!"

Ned turned away from Robb, who hadn't even noticed her departure from his side, to return, "Aye, she is a Stark."

Umber simply laughed in reply. The other Northern Lords chuckled along with him. "Alright, milady, are ya gonna sit with yer family or the Northern Lords who have pledged their allegiance to ya?" Smalljon questioned with a toothy grin.

"Well, my lord-husband is quite possessive. If you lot keep your hands to yourselves, I'll join for a lively conversation. Arya tells me your great warriors?" She returned as she sat beside Smalljon.

I'm playing the table. Allies, right?

Aye, charm them.

"Bah, Umber's no real warrior. He just pretends. Lord Rickard Karstark at your service milady." An older man offered with a genuine smile. Zipporah took a moment to assess their force signatures: all light save for Karstark who seemed grey rather than
pure light. No matter, she'd win him over.

"Don't listen to Karstark, we Umbers are known." Greatjon responded with a prideful facial expression.

"I see. Clearly, you have a height advantage." She offered with a smile.

"See? Lady Stark knows!" Smalljon grinned sideways at her. "Anyone notice how muscular she is? Look at her arms!" Smalljon bellowed to the table.

"Watch it. She is a lady." Hissed a strong, feminine voice. "A Stark." Zi cast a glance at the only other woman at the table. She was the only female Lord. Zipporah recalled hearing Arya once beg Lord Stark to send her to Bear Island to learn how to be
a lady warrior.

"My apologies miss. I meant no offense." Smalljon retreated his words.

"No offense taken. I'll admit I'm pretty strong, but no doubt not as strong as the Lady of Bear Island." The older woman seated at the end of the table raised her ale mug in reply.

"That she-bear is a strong one." Lord Umber conceded.

"I'm glad she's with us then." Zipporah commented with a grateful expression.

"Aye. We are all with you milady. Well, the Boltons are questionable. Jealous bastards they are."

Zipporah raised an eyebrow in confusion, "I am not familiar?"

"Roose Bolton and his bastard are known for their blood-sporting. They rarely offer anything to the North but dramatic, unnecessary blood."

"Huh." Was all she could come up with. Another threat to the Starks.

Robb glanced at Zi every so often to check on her. She seemed to be faring well with the rough Northern Lords.

"Father, I know about Jon. You need to tell Mother. Legitimize him. We will need him to play the game." Ned raised his eyebrows at his son, and lowered his shoulders in reply. After some time, Ned murmured, "You sound sure."

"Zipporah showed me while she slept—his real origins. If something happens to King Robert, he is the rightful heir to the throne."

"Hush, you speak of treason. Targaryen blood is demanded to be shed."

"No, but we both know that Robert Baratheon will not be in power much longer. Lord Baelish and the Lannisters are making moves. We must make ours."

Ned nodded in reply. His son had matured in these past few weeks. Zipporah had caused a positive change in him. "We will discuss this privately."

"Tonight?" Robb questioned.

"Tonight." His father grimly confirmed.

Zipporah smiled at the lords and politely excused herself from their presence. They grinned and toasted in her honor. Moving toward the Martells, her eyes connected with the Princes who greeted her with the same exuberance as the lords, "Ah, Lady Stark,
it is good to see you. Feeling better?"

"Very much so. Thank you, Prince Oberyn."

I know you know. We have much to discuss.

His eyes widened but he did not give away his shock. She was a goddess. The northern god was real.

"Excuse me, I have to make my rounds," Zi offered with a smug smile. Unaware of the mental message, Ellaria nodded to her and expressed her condolences on having to play the room.

Slowing making her way back to Robb's side, she greeted many in passing. Upon returning to her husband's warm side, she gave her family a warm, genuine smile.

"Making friends?" Bran innocently asked.

"You could say that." Zipporah replied with a faint smile.

"She was playing politics," Theon murmured, "she's damn good at it."

"Watch it." Jon hissed at the Kraken. It warmed her to see Jon seated with the Starks.

Thanks, Jon.

He nodded in reply. He was growing accustomed to her mental communication. At first, he was hesitant, which was understandable, but as time wore on, it became a necessity. The training yard was when they communicated the most.

As Jon watched his siblings eat and giggle at different topics, Jon mulled over what he and Robb had discussed before training. Robb had mentioned that the future of the family may be put in jeopardy. Zipporah had seen it. Originally, Jon had entertained
the idea of joining the Night's Watch, but his family was going to need him. He would not abandon his family.

Later that night….

Zipporah found herself staring into a roaring fire as she heard the older Starks gathering. Her hearing picked up Lord and Lady Stark, Robb, and Jon. Theon was not a Stark, and the other children were too young to understand. Sansa and Arya would receive
a watered down version later. Zipporah knew this conversation was necessary, but it caused much stress on her and Robb. They had seen the gritty details. Both Lady Stark and Jon deserved to know the truth.

"Ned, you called us here. What is so important?" Catelyn huffed at her husband. Not only was it late, but her husband's bastard was considered important enough to be here. Catelyn was already put off by her husband insistence that he joined them at their
table for dinner.

"Catelyn, this is hard for me to explain." Robb shifted to move by his Mother's side. He anticipated that she would not react well, and he did not blame her. This was a difficult truth to receive.

"Jon is not my son. He is Lyanna's." Ned started in a low voice. Jon's stunned facial expression mirrored Catelyn's. Zipporah moved to stand beside Jon—to offer him support. She grasped his hand in hers and gave a small squeeze. She had learned that trick
from Poe. He often did that gesture during meetings that discussed potentially dangerous missions.

"I found Lyanna in the Tower of Joy, guarded by Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Gerold Hightower, and Ser Oswell Whent…she was dying."

"A mortal wound delivered by the kingsguards?" Catelyn questioned with curiosity. She was taking the news better than expected—for now.

"No, from childbirth. Her son, Jon lay quiet, gurgling in her arms. I held my sister as she died. She asked me to promise that I'd keep Jon safe."

"You lied to me." Catelyn accused in an angry and sad tone. Waves of guilt rolled off of her. Zi winced at the amount of guilt—she had treated Jon terribly; all because of a lie.

With a pained expression he continued, "Robert had declared that all Targaryen must be put to death, eradicated. In order to keep my promise, Jon's parentage had to be changed."

Jon bit his lip and slumped his shoulders, "I'm Rhaegar Targaryen's son? Born of rape?" In Jon's loud mind, it was worse to him to a product of rape than infidelity.

Ned was quick to correct him, "No. Lyanna loved Rhaegar, and Rhaegar loved her. He did not kidnap her like first thought. She ran away with him. Your parents loved you. They fought a whole war to stay together and to protect you."

Silence ensued, and it was deafening. Zipporah looked at Robb who seemed to be thinking the same as her: silence was worse than angry comments.

"Milady, Jon, I can show you as gods have shown me?" Zipporah knew that they needed more than Ned's word on the events that occurred.

"The gods showed you? Why?" Jon questioned with a slight edge to his tone.

Zipporah knew it would difficult explaining why, but it was necessary, "They showed me, so I would be able to mend this rift now. The gods did not want you to think that you weren't important, Jon. You are destined to do great things."

"Milady, the gods do not want you to feel guilty. They intended for Jon to grow up self-sufficient. Now that he is nearly of age, he can stand on his own two feet without any validation but his own. Lady Stark, he is your nephew. He deserves grace now,
yes?"

Jon smiled faintly at her. Her explanation made sense to him. He had often wondered why things were the way that they were, and now he had answers. His brothers, no cousin's wife, gave him answers.

"Jon," Lady Catelyn began, "I apologize for theharshness. It will be different now." Tears welled up in her eyes and she turned to Ned, "We have more to discuss, alone." Her tone was cold and bitter. Ned simply nodded. The two older Starks left
the teens to their own devices.

"Father didn't say it, but he is going to legitimize you as a Stark." Robb offered with a half-smile. Jon returned it and uneasily scratched the back of his head.

"Jon, Robb and I have news. You cannot tell anyone yet, but I feel like you could use an uplifting kind of news?" Zi offered with a shrug.

"Aye, to know I'm an orphan and hated by the king is a lot. But it is good to know that my uncle loves me enough to keep me safe. Plus, I have family. What is your news?"

"You will be an uncle—if everything goes well." Robb announced with pride.

"You're pregnant?" Jon asked Zipporah who eagerly nodded. Jon had a very similar response to Robb. He uncharacteristically howled with excitement and hugged them both.

"So who knows?"

"Just you. I want to be further along before we announce it to the Seven Kingdoms." Zipporah hummed.

"Makes sense. Now, tell me. What's going on?" Jon questioned with curiosity.

Robb briefly explained Zipporah's visions and the rumors that flew out of King's Landing.

"…We have the Martells and the North. No doubt, we can snag the Tyrells." Robb ended with a devilish grin.

"How do you figure that?" Jon asked with a laugh. The story his cousin had spun was quite entertaining. It was strange to be considered a major player in the Seven Kingdoms. Writing his Aunt and Uncle who allegedly resided in Pentos across the Narrow
Sea.

"Margaery Tyrell is available. Once you are legitimized, we should make them an offer."

"Let me get this straight, you want me to wed the Rose of Highgarden." Jon clarified with a suspicious facial expression. Was he worthy of such a match? The word from the South was that she was beautiful. She rivaled Cersei Lannister and came in a close
second to Zipporah. House Stark would be more powerful than most of the Houses-in alliances and territory. Jon's potential marriage would set up the Lannisters to be surround by the time of the potential war.

"Yes, is that a problem?" Robb quipped with a smirk.

"Absolutely not."

Scheming! I love it. Next up, the par-tay! Who else will arrive? Hmm? Any requests for the guests?