A Different Rebellion
The Tower Of Joy – 301 A.C
Two weeks later…
Jon spotted the large red brick tower on top of the hill in the distance as they rode towards it.
Smalljon Umber and Harrion Karstark were riding alongside him while Rodrik Forrester, Martyn Glover and Eldric Dustin were riding behind them.
After a few minutes they stopped their horses near the base of the holdfast.
The holdfast was small with just a solitary red tower sat atop of a staircase that had been carved into the mountain.
As they dismounted their horses and approached the tower they saw three members of the Kingsguard waiting for them.
Ser Arthur Dayne who was stood looking at Jon with a pained look on his face.
Ser Oswell Whent was knelt down on one knee sharpening his sword with a whetstone while the latest member of the Kingsguard Ser Martynn Hightower was stood watching them with one hand on his still sheathed sword.
Jon and the others walked towards them and stopped several feet away from them keeping their swords sheathed.
Arthur glanced at each of them before sighing.
"Jon" said Arthur flatly.
"Uncle" said Jon sadly.
"We looked for you on the Trident" said Smalljon Umber.
"We were not there" said Arthur.
"Woe to the Usurper had we been" said Oswell Whent.
"Rhaegar is dead, I killed Aegon on the Trident… why were you not there to protect him?" said Jon that caused Oswell Whent and Martynn Hightower to send angry bitter looks at him.
"Our Prince wanted us here" said Martynn Hightower frostily.
Jon sighed.
"We just want Arya back… then we can leave" said Jon.
Silence ensued for several moments before Arthur sighed and stepped away from his fellow Kingsguard causing them to turn to him.
"What are you doing Ser Arthur?" said Martynn Hightower.
"Fall back in line Ser Arthur" said Oswell Whent.
Arthur sighed and unsheathed Dawn before stabbing it into the ground.
"Oath or no oath, I will not fight my Nephew Ser Oswell… and orders or no orders, we shame ourselves as knights by keeping the Stark Girl, it would be best just to let her go" said Arthur flatly.
Oswell Whent and Martynn Hightower readied their weapons.
"Kingsguard do not flee, if you want the Stark Girl… you must go through us first" said Oswell Whent.
Jon and the others unsheathed their swords and charged the two Kingsguard.
It became perfectly clear how difficult this fight would be when Martynn Hightower cut Martyn Glover down after several seconds.
A now enraged Jon and Smalljon Umber clashed blades with Martynn Hightower who held them off for a good few minutes before Jon caught him out and slashed his throat with his longsword.
The two stepped away from the dead Kingsguard and over to where Harrion Karstark was impaled on Oswell Whent's sword.
The veteran Kingsguard pushed Harrion Karstark's body off of his sword causing it to fall next to the bodies of Rodrik Forrester and Eldric Dustin.
Jon looked at Smalljon Umber who nodded.
The two circled Oswell Whent for several moments before charging him at the same time.
After a few minutes of fighting their combined effort paid off and Oswell Whent dropped to the floor in death with Smalljon Umber's dagger stuck in the back of his neck.
Almost immediately Jon rushed over to the body of Martyn Glover dropping to his knees beside it as he felt the small sliver of hope that his Cousin was alive fade away instantly.
Jon sighed and stepped away from his Cousin's body before glancing at Arthur who sighed.
"In the tower" said Arthur solemnly.
Jon nodded and took a step towards the tower as Arthur pulled Dawn out of the ground.
He sheathed Dawn and removed his white cloak.
"Give me one of the horses" said Arthur flatly.
"Where will you go?" said Jon.
"I do not know… but I cannot stay here" said Arthur flatly.
Jon sighed and nodded.
"You can take one of the horses" said Jon solemnly.
Arthur stepped towards Jon and wrapped him in a tight hug.
"Give my love to your Mother" said Arthur.
Jon nodded and wiped a tear from his eye before walking away from Arthur.
He ran towards the steps leading to the tower as Smalljon Umber checked over the bodies of their friends.
Two minutes later…
Jon burst through the doors into the chambers where Arya was lying in the bed.
"Jon" said Arya weakly.
"Arya" said Jon in relief as he rushed over to the bed kneeling down by her side and taking her hand.
Arya was weak and had cold sweat running down her face and in her hair.
"Is that you, or are you just a dream?" said Arya weakly.
Jon smiled.
"Its really me Little Cousin, I am here to take you home, your Sister's and your Cousins are waiting for us" said Jon.
Arya looked at him with a fearful look on her face.
"I will not make it" said Arya sounding scared.
Jon squeezed her hand.
"You will" said Jon as tears started to appear in his eyes.
"I do not want to die, I want to be brave Jon" said Arya in a scared voice.
"You will not die Arya, you will live a long life in the North with your family" said Jon reassuringly.
Arya sobbed slightly as she pressed Jon's hand into her side which was covered in blood.
Jon fought back the tears and turned to the Wet Nurse by the door with a bitter look on his face.
"Get her some water" said Jon loudly.
"No water" said Arya in a pleading voice.
"Get a Maester" said Jon loudly.
"Shut up, shut up and listen to me Jon" said Arya in a pleading voice as she used what was left of her strength to raise herself up to Jon's face.
Jon leaned his ear towards her mouth.
"I loved him, he was my Husband, and I gave him a Son… Daeron Targaryan… if the Lannisters find out about him he will be murdered, you know he will… you have to protect him now, keep him safe" whispered Arya.
Jon felt shocked before he heard a baby's cries from his side as the Wet Nurse handed Arya's newborn Son to him.
"Promise me Jon, promise me that you will protect him" said Arya as she started to feel sleepy and dropped back to the bed.
"I promise" said Jon.
"Promise me" said Arya quietly and weakly as he eyes started to shut and her breathing started to slow.
Within seconds all of the life that was in his youthful vibrant Cousin had left her for good.
He had rushed into a war that tore the Seven Kingdoms apart just to bring her back to Winterfell.
Only now she would be laid to rest in the crypts with only the vast number of fallen Kings and Lords for company.
Jon fought back his tears as he looked down at Daeron Targaryan who was looking up at him with his striking violet eyes.
Apart from his Father's eyes he had his Mother's looks with the strong Stark face and tufts of dark brown hair.
Jon sighed and looked back at Arya who was lying there with a peaceful content look on her face.
"Arthur… Arthur Snow" whispered Jon.
Suddenly he heard the sound of someone stepping into the doorway.
He looked up to see Smalljon Umber looking at him in shock.
Jon wiped the tears from his eyes.
"No one… no one can know" said Jon flatly.
Smalljon Umber walked through the door looking down at the baby in shock.
"What will become of the child?" said Smalljon Umber.
"I will say he is mine, he has the Stark look so no one should question it" said Jon flatly.
"People will still ask questions" said Smalljon Umber warily.
"Let them ask… the story will not change, and I will not let the Lannisters kill another Targaryan child" said Jon bitterly.
He turned to the Wet Nurse who was looking down at the floor in sadness.
"Where did you travel from?" said Jon flatly.
"Starfall My Lord" said the Wet Nurse.
Jon nodded.
"You will accompany us to Winterfell so you can look after the babe on the journey there, once we have arrived at Winterfell I will have someone escort you back to Starfall" said Jon flatly.
The Wet Nurse bowed her head to him.
"With your permission My Lord… I brought the boy into this world, I would like to join your Household so I can be there for him, please" said the Wet Nurse hopefully.
Jon sighed and nodded.
"Fine" said Jon flatly.
"What about the King?" said Smalljon Umber gruffly.
Jon scowled.
"He can go and fuck himself as far as I am concerned" said Jon bitterly.
He walked over to his friend.
"Ready the horses… and have a wagon prepared, we leave in an hour" said Jon flatly.
Smalljon Umber nodded before leaving the chambers.
Riverrun – 301 A.C
One and a half moons later…
Jon and Smalljon Umber rode across the drawbridge into the courtyard along with a few House Dayne Soldiers who they had met at Starfall.
One of the Soldiers was on top of a wagon which contained five coffins which contained the bodies of Arya, Harrion Karstark, Martyn Glover, Rodrik Forrester and Eldric Dustin while the Wet Nurse from the Tower Of Joy was also sat in the wagon holding onto Arthur Snow.
As he and the others came to a halt Jon laid eyes on Sansa who was stood near the doors with a warm smile on her face and a bundle of blankets in her arms.
Stood with Sansa were her parents, siblings and Uncle Brynden.
Jon slowly dismounted his horse and walked over to Sansa who stepped forwards to greet him.
"I have missed you greatly My Lord" said Sansa softly giving him a peck on the lips.
"I missed you too Sansa" said Jon.
He looked down at his Son in Sansa's arms.
He had the Stark face and tufts of light brown hair.
"Jon… this is our Son, Robb" said Sansa with a smile on her face.
A smile he had not seen for a long time and it only made him feel even more guilty about what he was about to do.
He sighed and looked down at Robb.
His three moon old Son and Heir.
After a few moments he turned and walked back to where the Wet Nurse was holding onto Arthur.
He glanced back at Sansa and saw her frown as he took Arthur from the Wet Nurse.
Jon sighed and turned back to Sansa whose eyes locked on Arthur.
"Who is that My Lord?" said Sansa in shock.
Jon sighed and took a step towards her.
"Sansa… this is my Son, Arthur Snow" said Jon in a regretful voice.
He knew he was dishonouring his Wife by lying to her but deep down he knew he had to do it to protect Arthur.
Sansa froze up and quickly handed Robb to her Mother who was looking at Jon with a bitter look on her face.
Jon sighed and handed Arthur back to the Wet Nurse.
"Lets talk" said Jon flatly as he walked towards her.
Sansa turned around and walked back into the castle.
Jon followed her all the way up to her chambers in a guilty silence.
Once they were inside Sansa turned to him as he shut the door.
"You brought that bastard here, into my home" said Sansa bitterly.
"Better you find out about him now instead of finding out when we are back at Winterfell" said Jon flatly as he poured himself a cup of wine and took a large swig.
Sansa suddenly slapped him across the cheek.
"And what do you expect me to do with him, raise him as my own, to pretend that I am his Mother?" said Sansa angrily as Jon gently stroked his cheek feeling the stinging pain start to fade.
"I know you will not do that… but I only ask that you do not punish him for my mistakes" said Jon regretfully.
Sansa let out a harsh laugh.
"Punish him for your mistakes, he is living proof of how you were unfaithful to me, I will not have him at Winterfell, I will not" said Sansa.
Jon scowled.
"He is my Son, not yours, what becomes of him is my choice not yours" said Jon bitterly.
Sansa surprised him by grasping his hands.
"Please Jon, please… do not bring him to Winterfell, I am begging you to keep him away from me and your Son, let him live with your Mother and Father, or your Aunt and Uncle, send him to live anywhere but in our home, do not force me to live with the shame that you have inflicted on me" said Sansa in a pleading voice.
Jon sighed.
"I cannot do that Sansa, I cannot send my Son away, please do not ask me to do that ever again" said Jon sadly.
Sansa wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Why?" said Sansa sadly.
"It was a war Sansa, none of us knew if we were going home again, I got drunk one night and slept with a whore, it was my crime… but please, do not punish Arthur, he is innocent in this" said Jon regretfully.
Sansa turned away from him.
"Get out" said Sansa bitterly.
Jon sighed and walked towards the door.
As he opened the door he turned back to Sansa who was now sat on her bed with a sad look on her face.
"If it pleases you My Lady… I will not visit your chambers until you want me to, even if you never want me to, we have a Son and Heir now, that part of our duty has been completed" said Jon solemnly.
Sansa glanced up at him and nodded.
"That is your right My Lord" said Sansa.
Jon sighed.
He turned to face the door.
"You were wrong you know" said Sansa flatly.
"About what Sansa?" said Jon.
"About Robb… I stopped loving him right after my Son was born, because I realised that I loved you, and it breaks my heart to know that you have dishonoured me" said Sansa sadly.
Jon turned back to her.
"Now please… just go" said Sansa icily.
Jon sighed and walked out of her chambers with a guilty heart.
Winterfell – 301 A.C
Three weeks later…
Jon managed a small smile as he rode through the inner gates of Winterfell into the courtyard where he saw his Family waiting for him.
Across the courtyard he saw Ghost raise his head and started to pant slightly from his place with the other Direwolves in the courtyard including Nymeria who was lying on the ground with what Jon imagined to be a sad look as though she could sense that Arya was dead.
As well as his Family all of Winterfell's Household staff and current Guests were there to greet them as well as a sombre looking Daenerys Targaryan.
As Jon dismounted his horse the wheelhouse and two wagons that were following behind him and his Guards came to a halt in the courtyard.
Jon walked over to his Family quickly greeting them with hugs and kisses on the forehead for his Sister and Cousins.
He saw Ashara gaze over to where the Wet Nurse was climbing down from the wagon with Arthur wrapped up in blankets against her chest.
He met his Mother's eye for a moment before turning away from her and walking over to the wheelhouse where one of the Guards had just opened the door.
Sansa moved to climb out with Robb in one hand.
Jon held his hands out for her to hand Robb to him which she did.
Once he had secured Robb in one arm he helped Sansa down.
"Welcome to Winterfell Sansa" said Jon softly.
Sansa nodded to him and took Robb back from him.
"It is very homely" said Sansa politely.
Jon sent her a small smile.
"Come… its time for you to meet the rest of my family" said Jon softly.
He led Sansa over to where the Starks were stood watching them.
"Sansa… meet my Mother, Lady Ashara Stark, my Brother Willam, and my Sister Leyla… and you remember my Father, and my Cousins Melaro and Roslyn" said Jon softly.
He watched as Sansa greeted all of them in turn instantly warming up to his Family.
"May I?" said Ashara looking at Robb with a loving smile on her face.
Sansa nodded and handed Robb to her.
"Our Son Robb" said Sansa softly.
Ashara looked down at him with a warm smile.
Jon managed a smile as he watched Sansa converse with his family before glancing across the courtyard to where the Wet Nurse was stood still holding Arthur to her chest.
"Might as well get this over with" thought Jon as he walked across the courtyard to the Wet Nurse.
As he took Arthur from her he locked eyes with her.
"Remember what we agreed" said Jon quietly.
The Wet Nurse nodded.
Jon swallowed before turning around and walking back to the Starks who were now looking at him with shocked looks on their faces as if they could not believe what they were seeing.
He slowly walked across the courtyard to his Family where Sansa was looking at him with a frosty look on her face.
He paused for several seconds before he cleared his throat.
"Mother… Father… this is Arthur… my Son" said Jon flatly.
He stood still expecting words of disappointment to come from his Parents at any moment.
"Can I hold him Jon?" said Ashara flatly as she handed Robb back to Sansa who looked very uncomfortable at the presence of Arthur.
Jon nodded and slowly handed Arthur to Ashara who looked down at him with a curious look.
Jon felt his heart rate increase a few times when he saw her eyes glance at him a few times for a brief second each time.
After a few more seconds she turned to face him.
"I will have a cot made up for him in the nursery" said Ashara softly.
Jon calmed down internally before glancing at the second wagon which contained the five coffins.
He turned back to Sansa as the Starfall Wet Nurse made her way over them.
"I will have someone show you to your chambers Sansa" said Jon solemnly.
Sansa glanced at the wagon before nodding.
"Take your time" said Sansa sadly.
Jon nodded and walked over to the wagon as Vayon Poole walked over to Sansa to escort her to her chambers.
As Jon instructed the Guards to remove Arya's coffin Ned and the others made their way over to the wagon with sad looks on their faces.
Ashara took Ned's hand and squeezed it as Arya's coffin was placed on the ground.
Jon turned his gaze to Melaro and Roslyn who had hurt sad looks on their faces as they held each other closely while Willam was doing his best to comfort Leyla.
It was the looks on his Cousin's faces that almost made Jon not want to open the coffin but he knew he had to do it.
"Open it" said Jon quietly.
One of the Guards knelt down and slowly slid the lid of the coffin down exposing Arya's face.
She looked peaceful with her eyes closed and a small smile forever etched on her face.
Jon sighed as he felt tears appear in his eyes once more as he looked down at his dead Cousin remembering the promise he made to her.
Ned and Ashara had heartbroken looks on their faces as did Willam and Leyla while Melaro and Roslyn had tears pouring down their faces as they held each other tightly.
"Put her in the crypts" said Jon sadly.
The Guards nodded and closed the lid on the coffin before picking it up to carry it down to the crypts.
Jon and the rest of the Starks remained in the courtyard for over half an hour before finally going back inside to grieve.
Arya's funeral was two days later and later that night Ned and Ashara pulled him into the Lord's Solar and confronted him about Arthur.
They did not let him leave until they got the full truth about Arthur out of him nearly an hour later.
By the next day the only people who knew the complete truth about Arya were the Starks, Ethan and Lyanna Glover who were adamant about knowing exactly what their eldest Son died for.
Just before she left following Arya's funeral Dacey Mormont got the truth out of Jon who swore her to secrecy.
The one person who Jon could not bring himself to tell the truth to was Sansa. Though he told himself he could trust her he refused to tell her over fears that she would blame Arya for what happened to Robb.
He did however tell her the truth about his night with Dacey and did apologise to her for his actions explaining that the two of them had comforted each other in a dark time for her.
Sansa stormed away from him in that moment and did not talk to him or allow him to see Robb for three days.
The Wolfswood Keep – 301 A.C
Two weeks later…
Willam took a deep breath as he knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" said the slightly sharp voice of his future Wife from behind the door.
He, Ned, Ashara, Leyla and Daenerys had been back at the Wolfswood Keep for little over a week now.
"Its me My Lady… Willam" said Willam with a hint of nervousness in his voice.
There was no reply for several seconds before the door slowly opened.
Daenerys was stood in the small gap in the open door looking at him.
Willam straightened up.
"I was hoping that we could talk My Lady… might I come in?" said Willam.
Daenerys remained silent for several moments before stepping to the side and opening the door giving him permission to enter.
Willam stepped into the room while Daenerys shut the door behind him.
He turned to face her as she crossed the room to the small desk and chairs by the only window she had.
Willam remained still as she poured herself a glass of Dornish Red before turning to face him.
"You can sit down you know" said Daenerys flatly.
Willam quickly sat down in the other seat and poured some wine for himself.
"So… what do you want to talk about?" said Daenerys flatly as she sipped her wine.
"I was hoping that we could get to know each other a bit… since we are to be wed in a week" said Willam sincerely.
"You want to get to know me?" said Daenerys pursing her lips slightly.
Willam sighed.
"I wish to know a little about my future wife before we are wed" said Willam.
Daenerys looked at him curiously for a few moments.
"Ask away" said Daenerys nodding her head to him.
Willam nodded.
"Okay… perhaps we should start with something simple like… what you were like growing up" said Willam.
"What was I like growing up?" said Daenerys warily.
"Or I could go first if that would make you more comfortable?" said Willam reassuringly.
Daenerys sighed.
"Its okay" said Daenerys.
She went on to tell him about her early years in Kings Landing before she left for Dragonstone with Aegon Targaryan and Margaery Tyrell following their wedding. About how she remained on Dragonstone for the duration of the war while Margaery Tyrell was called back to Kings Landing following the Rebels victory at Summerhall.
In turn Willam told her that from a young age he enjoyed reading with his Mother whenever he was not in the sparring yard with his Father's Guards and the Master At Arms.
Truthfully it was probably the wine that they were drinking that made them more open to talking to each other.
"Do you know what happened to your Niece, Princess Rhaenys?" said Willam softly.
Daenerys shrugged her shoulders.
"Last I heard she was still at Oldtown, married to Artos Hightower… why?" said Daenerys warily.
Willam slowly took her hand in his causing her to tense up slightly.
"Maybe we could go and see them one day, after we are married of course" said Willam.
Daenerys froze up.
"Do not play with me My Lord, do not play" said Daenerys sadly.
Willam squeezed her hand.
"I am not playing with you… I mean it, I would take you to Oldtown if you wanted, there is nothing that says we have to stay in the North for the rest of our lives" said Willam.
Daenerys looked at him with a flat look on her face before managing a small smile.
"You truly mean it?" said Daenerys.
"I do" said Willam locking eyes with her.
Daenerys smiled and moved around the table towards him.
Willam managed a small smile as he was slowly wrapped in a hug from the side by Daenerys.
"Thank you" said Daenerys softly.
Willam slowly placed a supportive hand on her arm.
"You will be my Wife Daenerys, and you are in a strange land, living with a family that fought against your own family in a war… I just want you to be happy here" said Willam softly.
Daenerys pressed her head into his shoulder.
"Maybe I can be happy here" said Daenerys softly.
Willam held her close to him.
"I hope you will be" said Willam.
Daenerys moved away from him after a few seconds.
"Would you like to go for a ride?" said Willam.
"To where?" said Daenerys curiously.
"Through the Wolfswood, it is still light outside… and supper is not for a few hours" said Willam.
Daenerys straightened up.
"But I do not have a horse, unless you wish for me to ride yours with you" said Daenerys.
"You can borrow Leyla's horse… she will not mind" said Willam.
Daenerys thought about it for a moment before nodding and standing up.
"Lead the way My Lord" said Daenerys.
Willam smiled and stood up.
Daenerys took his arm and let him lead her out of her chambers.