Chapter 1 : Prologue

The crypts of Winterfell were cold and dark place- only half a dozen torches were scattered around the newest of the tombs: Lyanna Stark, Brandon Stark, Rickard Stark, Lyarra Stark...

In front of the newest sculpture of Lyanna, stood the new Lord of Winterfell, Eddard ‚Ned' Stark. He had a sad look in his eyes, his face already marred by the months of war he fought alongside Robert Baratheon. And he'd fought for the wrong reasons... Next to Eddard, stood his younger brother and his only remaining sibling- Benjen.

„I want to join the Night's Watch." Benjen spoke, his voice a mere whisper, yet it echoed loudly around them.

Ned turned his gaze from the sculpture of their sister. „Why is that?"

„It's my fault. It's my fault Lya's dead. I knew and I hadn't even tried to stop her, from leaving with the Silver Prince."

Ned shook his head. „Lyanna had too much wolf's blood. No one could have stopped her. If there are people to blame, then those are father, the Mad King and myself." he sighed. „I knew of Robert's bad habits and I still believed Lyanna would be happy with him. But Lyanna knew, what I was not willing to see- that Robert would have never stayed in her bed for long."

„You're not to blame." Benjen said.

Ned looked at his brother with a look of finality. „Then, neither you are." there was a heartbeat of silence, both lost in thought. „I need you here, Benjen. You have to help me make the North strong and protect Jon."

Benjen swallowed. „He's Lya's son, isn't he?"

Ned gave a slow nod. „Yes, he is. The trueborn son of Lyanna and Rhaegar. They'd wed on the Isle of Faces, in front of the Old Gods. Since Rhaegar had wed Elia in front of the Seven, both marriages were equally valid. Especially since both Queen Rhaella and Princess Elia signed papers of approval."

Benjen's breath hitched. „Gods be good. Who were the witnesses?"

„Princess Elia, Sers Oswell, Gerold, and Arthur. And the septon, of course." Ned said in a low tone.

„Why would you need me Ned?" asked Benjen, voice still quiet. „Jon has his own Kingsguard in Arthur."

„Aye. But we need to make the North strong Benjen. This war had changed Robert in a way... I fear to think of. What man becomes a kinslayer in such a manner? His grandmother was a Targaryen Princess!"

Benjen swallowed audibly, his eyes darting to another sculpture, past that of their parents. „So were ours. Our grandmother was a Targaryen too." there was a quiet moment again. „What's his name? I presume you named him Jon."

Ned gave a small chuckle. „No- Jon is his nickname, as Lya said. She had agreed with the Prince, that their child will have a Valyrian name as befitting any child of the Iron Throne, but a matching northern nickname. That nickname is Jon. His birth name is Jaehaerys, after his Targaryen great-grandfather."

Benjen nodded, a thoughtful look passing his features. „Good name. Both, who had the name, were good kings."

„Will you help me, Benjen?"

Their eyes met for a second, blue on grey. „What do you need me to do, brother?"

Ned gave a tiny frown. „You'd need to marry, with time. We'd need to repair Moat Cailin- the more cut off we are, the safer I will feel. But first... I'll need you to go to Essos."

Benjen blinked in surprise. „I think, I understand, the part of your plan about Moat Cailin... but why do you need me to go to Essos?"

„Specifically, Myr." he said. „I want you to bring home the Wild Wolves. We'll need any and all help, we can get."

Benjen looked unsure and Ned feared, that his brother would say no. There were times, like this when he feared he was messing things up. He was not born to be Lord... Brandon should have had the North.

„The Wild Wolves..."

„The pack must stay together if we want to survive." Ned said.

„Very well, Ned. I'll bring them home... but I can tell, there's something you're not telling me."

Ned glanced at him, then shook his head. „Not now. I'll tell you, once you make it back from Essos."

Ben nodded and they turned to walk out of the crypts, plans and possibilities were going trough their heads. They were unsure of it all, but failure was not an opinion. They would not let their sister's only child come to harm, no matter what.

They were wolves and wolves always protected their own.