All rights belong to GRRM
Jon IV
"It all started 20 years ago at the Tournament of Harrenhal." Lord Reed began. "It was the largest event in years. Not since Aerys coronation had all the kingdoms of Westeros been together in one place. During the tournament, many great deeds happened. There was the mysterious Knight of the Laughing Tree, Jaime Lannister was named to the Kingsguard, and Bronze Yohn won the melee." Howland explained, his mind flashing back to the great tournament. "But the most celebrated event, naturally, was the joust. Prince Rhaegar Targaryen defeated Ser Barristan Selmy in the final joust and was allowed to name a Queen of Love and Beauty." Howland's wistful look now died. "Ned once said that it was the moment all smiles died. Rhaegar, in place of his own wife Elia Martell, named Lyanna Stark the Queen of Love and Beauty."
Jon nodded seriously. "But my aunt was betrothed to Robert Baratheon." he pointed out. He knew the story of Robert's Rebellion, as it was a common story amongst northerners.
Howland's face shifted for just a moment before it reset. Jon didn't have time to wonder why before he continued. "She was," he answered. "For most of us there, we realized the repercussions that might come from the Crown Prince's actions. But for the months following, nothing happened and everything went back to normal. Ned and Robert went back to the Vale with Jon Arryn. Brandon, Benjen, and Lyanna went back North. And Rhaegar Targaryen went back to the King's Landing." he sighed. "A few months of peace before Westeros became bathed in blood."
"Robert's Rebellion," Sam said.
Howland nodded. "Rhaegar and Lyanna went off together, and Brandon Stark went to King's Landing demanding his sister back and challenging Rhaegar to face him. The Stark heir and his companions were captured and their fathers were called to the capitol to answer for their son's crimes. Rickard Stark, Ned's father, went south to defend his son. When he was put on trial by the Mad King, he demanded a trial by combat. Aerys Targaryen named fire as his champion and had Rickard Stark hung from the rafters and roasted alive in his armor in front of the entire court."
The blood from Jon's and Sam's drained as they listened to the Lord of Greywater Watch. They had heard of how the rebellion had started, how the Mad King had murdered Rickard and Brandon Stark, but they did not know the gruesome details that they were now hearing.
"What else?" Jon asked, steeling himself.
"Brandon Stark was brought in and garroted by a strangling device. A sword was placed just outside of his reach. He was told that if he reached the sword and freed himself then he could save his father. He died trying to reach the sword." Howland explained grimly. "Aerys then demanded the heads of Ned and Robert. Jon Arryn raised his banners in revolt to protect his wards. As you know, Robert's Rebellion happened. Ned and Jon Arryn married the Tully sisters for the Riverlands while Dorne and the Reach allied themselves to the Targaryens. After nearly a year of fighting, Robert Baratheon caved in Rhaegar's chest in the Trident, ending all hope for the loyalists. Then Tywin Lannister sacked King's Landing, the Kingslayer put his sword through the Mad King's back. The Mountain and his men murdered Elia and her children, and Tywin presented them as acts of fealty to the new king."
"What happened after that?" Sam asked, both he and Jon now fully invested in the story.
"The deaths of Elia Martell and her children caused a rift between Ned and Robert. As always, Ned wanted justice. What Tywin did was a heinous act, even his own brother blanched when he saw the bodies, but Robert had refused, calling the murdered children 'Dragonspawn'. Ned then went south, ended the Tyrell siege of Storm's End, and continued towards Dorne with a group of companions, I among them." Howland then abruptly stopped, as if reluctant to continue with the story. "We found Lyanna at the Tower of Joy, guarded by three Kingsguard, one of which was the most dangerous swordsman in all of Westeros. Ser Oswell Whent, the Lord Commander Ser Gerold Hightower, and the Sword of the Morning Ser Arthur Dayne stood between Ned and his sister. All three died, along with all of Ned's companions except myself." the wiry lord sighed. "We found Lyanna covered in blood and barely alive. I have little medical knowledge, but it wasn't hard to know that she had only moments to live. She gave her last words to her brother and passed on. Ned and I buried the bodies there in the sand at the tower, gave Dawn back to the Daynes, and returned to the North with the remains of Lyanna Stark to be put to rest in the crypts of Winterfell." he explained. "Most of this is common knowledge to most noble families throughout the realm, but there are bits of this terrible tale that could cause a war worse than the rebellion. I am one of two people alive who know the truth, and now I must pass them on to you, Jon. It's the truth of your birth."
Jon sat back in his chair, his hand grasping the sword at his side. For all his life, he had wanted to know who his mother was. Was she a common wench, like most assumed, or was she more? Now that he had the opportunity to learn, he felt sick to his stomach.
"I'm listening," he said finally.
"Robert Baratheon spread the narrative that Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped his betrothed. That he raped her. No one knows the exact truth." he started. "Ned and I are the only ones, but only because we heard it from the woman herself. Lyanna had always been a free spirit, not unlike her niece Arya. Rhaegar knew this and used it to convince her to go with him after the tournament. An escape from a man like Robert was all she wanted. So she went south with Rhaegar and his men to Dorne."
"Why?" Sam interrupted. "Rhaegar was married to Elia Martell?"
Howland nodded. "There were rumors that the Bard Prince was obsessed with a prophecy. The best way I can explain it is through the Red Priests from Essos. They have a story of a great warrior coming forth to slay a great darkness that rises in the North, the Great Other, they call it. Rhaegar's prophecy is very similar. The Song of Ice and Fire." he explained. "From what Ned and I understand, Rhaegar thought that he had figured out the prophecy. With his wife was nearly killed by her last birth, Rhaegar interpreted the prophecy as the child of a Stark and Targaryen being the answer to the prophecy. Hence the reason he sought out Lyanna Stark."
"What does this have to do with my mother?" Jon asked, his anxiety and curiosity getting the better of him.
"Don't worry lad, I'm getting there," Howland said, placating Jon. "Rhaegar took Lyanna because he thought she was the missing piece to the puzzle. When she heard about her father and brother being murdered by the Mad King, she wanted to leave. But Rhaeger wouldn't let her. Ned and I assumed that by this point, the Bard Prince was too obsessed with the prophecy to let Lyanna go. He needed her with child, so he…." Howland stopped, hesitating. He leaned forward, resting his arms on his legs as he regarded the two men before him. "I can not claim to know Lyanna Stark as well as I wish I had, but just spending a few days with her at the Tournament of Harrnehal, I like to believe I had a pretty good idea of the person she was. She was kind and caring, full of passion, and unflinching in the face of danger. She was brave and fierce. But above all, she was a fighter." his shoulders sagged, the fiery passion he had displayed when describing Jon's aunt now fading. "But there were three of them against her….and she lost. Rhaegar had his kingsguard hold her down as he got her with child. Apparently, Ser Arthur had been the only one not involved. He had been away getting more supplies when Rhaegar had done the deed, knowing that the knight would have been against the act. When Ned and I found Lyanna after the fight, we found her clutching the child, having just given birth. She made Ned promise to take care of her babe, to protect him from Robert Baratheon. And that's what Ned has been doing ever since." he explained, raising his head to look Jon in the eye. "Jon, you are the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Your uncle is Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. He dishonored himself and claimed you as his bastard to protect both you and the reputation of his sister." he ended.
Jon was stunned, unable to move as he tried to make sense of the news he had just been given. Some part of him wanted to cry with joy as he finally knew the answer that had plagued him all his life. He knew who his mother was. At the same time, he wanted to scream in anger. He was a product of rape, almost as bad as being a bastard. Not only that, but his father's family had murdered his mother's.
"The gods truly have a fucked sense of humor," he murmured finally, putting his head in his hands as he leaned forward.
Howland didn't relish giving the boy this news. He had fought with Ned for years about Jon's decision to go to the Wall. His old friend had only been ok with it because it took Jon further away from Robert, and when he was to become a member of the Night's Watch, he would finally be beyond the Stag King's reach. That had always been Ned's greatest fear, was Jon's true heritage getting out. Not only would Ned be unable to protect the boy against all of Westeros, and indeed some of his own bannermen, but there was always a chance that there would be another Dance of the Dragons where Westeros became severely divided.
"How could the kingsguard have….you know." Sam asked quietly. "They're knights."
"Their kingsguard vow meant that they were sworn to obey the king, and in this case, the prince. They violated their knighthood to uphold their vow." Howland explained. "Ser Arthur Dayne was the only one who didn't participate. I think...I think he knew that he wasn't going to walk away alive. Some of his final words to Ned were 'I wish you good fortune in the wars to come'."
"Why do you think that?" Sam asked.
"Ser Arthur Dayne was known as one of the most noblest knights alive lad." Howland explained. "There was no way he would ever condone raping a girl, but he was also a Kingsguard, and very good friends with Rhaegar Targaryen. I believe that he realized that there was nothing he could but to do his duty, which was to protect Lyanna Stark, which Rhaegar had ordered the three to do after he went north to face Robert."
"Eddard Stark is my father," Jon said suddenly.
Howland raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "He raised you as his own Jon, and he loved you just as much. He is your father in all but blood."
"Does….doesn't this mean that Jon is the rightful king?" Sam asked. He knew his history, and with the rest of Rhaegar's lineage murdered by the Mountain, all that left was Jon. Rhaegar's only surviving heir.
"No!" Jon shouted suddenly, startling his friend. "I will never be king."
"No one said you had to lad," Howland said calmly. "You are your own man, and you are free to do as you wish."
"Why did my father never tell me this?" Jon asked. "All the hardship I had to endure, thinking I was a bastard for all my life. Why was I never told!"
"You were the only thing Ned had left of his sister," Howland explained. "Robert had sworn to kill the last of the Targaryens, and Ned would have fought tooth and nail to keep you alive. By making the whole realm think that you were his bastard, he kept you safe."
Jon couldn't say anything. The logic made sense. His father, the one who had raised him, had sullied his honor, dealt with the nagging of his wife, all to keep Jon around. He also had to live with the fear that his best friend might one day learn the truth and try to kill Jon. If anyone dealt with more than Jon, it was Eddard Stark. The most honorable man in Westeros.
"So what now?" Sam asked.
"We're going south to be with Robb," Jon said firmly, sitting up in his chair. "If Eddard Stark is still my father then Robb is still my brother. Blood be damned!"
Howland nodded. "I thought as much. I see that you have a valyrian steel sword at your side. Darksister I presume?"
Jon nodded. "How did you know?" he asked.
"I have friends," he shrugged. "I've always wondered if the Bloodraven had left the sword with his family at the Wall when he disappeared. It seems Aemon found out about your birth and gave you the sword." Howland explained, walking over to a nearby chest. Using a key he pulled from around his neck, he opened the chest and pulled out a long parcel, tossing it to Jon before retaking his seat. "Now that you know the truth, it's only right that you have this too."
Jon unwrapped the parcel, finding a sword within. It was a hand and a half sword. On the pommel, a massive ruby sat while the gold-steel crossguard curved up towards the blade. The metal itself had waves of black running the length of the blade. Valyrian steel.
"Blackfyre," Jon said.
Howland nodded. "It was found in the Tower of Joy. I looked through the library at Winterfell. All the sketchings and written appearances confirmed the fact."
"Where did you get it?" Sam asked.
"It was at the Tower of Joy, where we found Lyanna. To this day, I have no idea where the hell Rhaegar got it, or why he left it when he faced Robert, but I took when we went back north." Howland explained.
"What do you want me to do with it?" Jon asked.
"Wield it," Howland replied easily. "It's yours."
Jon gazed down at the sword, his mind a tangled mess. The only clear thing he knew was that he was going south to be with Robb. To fight beside his brother.
"May I go?" he asked.
Howland nodded. "A servant will show you to your room. You can stay here for the night and I will lead you back to the Kingsroad in the morning," he said, walking over to unlock the door.
Jon stood up, taking the sword with him, and walked quickly out of the room. Sam stood up as well, unsure whether to follow his friend or not. He felt like right now, Jon needed time alone to figure things out.
Sam went to leave as well, but Howland stopped him.
"Samwell, wait a moment," he asked.
Sam frowned and turned around to look at the wiry lord. "Yes?"
"Samwell," he said quietly, "Jon trusts you, that is easy to see. My friends also say that you are a lover of knowledge. I will make this clear once more. What I have revealed to both you of will bring Westeros to its knees, and can get Jon killed. If you are truly his friend. You will never speak about what was said, not even under pain of death. It is up to Jon, and Jon alone, if he wants to tell others of his birth."
Sam nodded quickly. "I promise." he stuttered.
Howland nodded once. "Good. Now go find your room. I will have food brought to the both of you soon." he said. "And keep a good eye on your friend. He will have much on his mind."
Sam nodded and fled the room, leaving the wiry lord of the Neck behind.