BENJEN STARK

Before leaving the wall Benjen says goodbye to his nephew, who asks to go with him. Part of him wished he could, but Jon was a Ranger yet and he had to take his vows first. Benjen loved his nephew, but he wished his brother Lord Eddard Stark, or Ned as those he called friends referred to him as would have legitimized Jon and gave a place in the North.

Benjen himself joined the Watch after the war was over. The loss of his father, Brother, and Sister was too much. Benjen remained at Winterfell for the duration of the war. The saying goes, there must always be a Stark at Winterfell. So while Ned was away at war Ben was at home ruling in Ned's name. Despite being a bastard, Jon had Stark blood and he would do well in Night's Watch.

Many of these thoughts cross through Benjen's mind as he rides into the wilds of the North beyond the wall. Benjen is well respected among the Free Folk, so he is off to find them and Mance Rayder then report back to the Watch. About eleven miles from the wall is Craster's Keep, but Benjen avoids it. He has no love or respect for Craster so when it is time to make camp Benjen tethers his horse and climbs into a tree to sleep.

As First Ranger Benjen had traveled far and wide across the lands beyond the wall. He knows how to survive. The ice and snow are relentless beyond the wall, but Benjen is a man of the North. At sunrise he breaks his fast and rides off. After two weeks Benjen's supplies start to run low, so he stops in an abandoned village near the Antler River.

He builds a fire for heat, then he goes hinting on foot leaving the horse well hidden. The Village was once home to the Antler Clan of the Free Folk, but it like many other Wildling villages had been abandoned. After four hours of hunting Benjen snags a deer. He has a sled that he had built out of wood from the village and drags the animal back.

After gutting, skinning, and salting the meat he cooks it all and eats his full. Then he packs the rest and sleeps in a food pantry in the floor of the house. In the morning Benjen moves on. A mile from the village the wind starts blowing and the snow starts to fall then they with blue eyes appear. Benjen is attacked by Wights. He is thrown from his horse which gallops off. Benjen swings his sword severing arms and legs, but the dead keep coming at him.

He is stabbed in the side and all seems lost when the Wights are hit by arrows and fall dead screeching as if in pain. All is quiet and Benjen gets another shock. A legend comes to life appears before him. "Are…are you a Child of the Forest."

"S'heeto!" One of the Childlike Creatures replies. "I am known as River Benjen Stark."

"How do you know my name?"

She smiles at him, heals his leg and leads him to a large heart tree. The largest heart tree Benjen has ever seen. It sits atop a hill near a frozen lake. There is a cave in the hill and they walk down a tunnel lined with tree roots and vines. Then the tunnel opens to a large area of the cave with more roots coming from above, a small pond of water.

The cave is warm and sitting among the roots and vines of the tree above is an old man. "Hello Benjen Stark…Welcome."

"Who are you?"

"I am known by many names. Here I am the Three Eyed Raven. Below the wall I was Known as Brynden Rivers."

"You…I have heard many stories about you. You fought against the Blackfyres in the first and second Dance of the Dragons."

"Aye that was many years ago."

"How did you come to be here?" For many hours Benjen listens to his life story.

"Then I became Hand of the King to my nephew…" He pauses as Benjen's stomach rumbles. "You are hungry…The Children will provide you with food…I am needed elsewhere."

"What do you mean?" Benjen's question goes unanswered as Brynden's eyes turn white and he goes into a trance like state. "Hello!"

"He will not answer you Benjen Stark."

"Why what is he doing?"

"He is seeing through the eyes of animals all over the world. Birds, beasts, rats, fish, and trees that carry the power of the old gods. Come he may be gone for hours." She leads him to a part of the cave with tables and chairs. "I am known as Leaf…I am the leader of the Children and the eldest of us."

"How did he get like that?" Benjen asks looking back.

"He will tell you all and hide nothing."

"I cannot stay here I must try to get back to Castle Black and warn them."

He sits with the Children eating fruits, cooked vegetables, and nuts. No meat is to be found. He drinks water that is cool and quenches his thirst. Benjen stands up, "Are you full?" Leaf asks.

"I am thank you."

"He will call you when he awakens."

Benjen sits back down, "Is he a Warg?"

She smiles, "He is many things…He is the Three eyed Raven…He can Warg animals all over the world…He can dreamwalk into the past, see things that are happening now, and sometimes see the future."

"Benjen Stark!" Bloodraven's voice echoes through the cave.

Benjen walks back to the roots of the tree. Looking upon Brynden again he flinches at the roots and vines going into his skin. "Are you in pain?"

"No, I am not."

"I need to get back to Castle Black."

"I'm afraid you must stay here Benjen Stark…"

Benjen get's angry, "Why? Am I a prisoner?"

"No, but if you leave this place you will die."

"The Children can…"

"The Children only leave this cave if absolutely necessary. It was necessary to save your life as the Prince will need you at his side when he comes."

"Prince! What Prince?"

"How well do you know your brother Lord Eddard Stark."

"He is my brother…I know him well enough."

"Do you know when he is lying to you."

Benjen sits down on a thick root, "My brother would not lie to me."

"Oh…Then he told you who Jon Snow's mother is."

"I…" Benjen thinks about it, "Who is Jon's mother?" He suspiciously asks.

Brynden stretches his eyes and lowers his head, "You say you know your brother…A man who sleep with another woman is sure to repeat it. In your youth, was your brother prone to bedding women."

"Is Lyanna my nephew's brother?"

"Yes. And if she is his mother, then his father is…"

"Rhaegar Targaryen." He slowly replies at the revelation dawns on him.

"Yes…Born of fire and ice, he will come. The Prince that was Promised and he shall bring the dawn during the long night."