289 AC

He watched the children play in the yard- Robb, Jon and his own son, Cregan.

Thinking of being afather was still strange to him, but it was not unwelcome- he'd finally taken his seat at Moat Cailin two years ago with Serena. The Boltons had been taken out afew months after the Greystarks' arrival and it had been decided, that little Cregan would eventually inherit the Lordship and lands of the now-renamed ‚Whisperfort'. When Ned protested, that Cregan should get Moat Cailin, Rodrick just laughed and said, there would eventually be more ‚Greaystark pups', so asecond-born son could inherit Moat Cailin.

Benjen wanted to sink into the ground after that sentence and Serena herself strode out of Ned's solar red-faced and glaring at her father. Ned tough only seemed amused and agreed to the idea.

He was currently in Winterfell, helping Catelyn manage the North, as Ned was away- having answered Robert's call when Balon Greyjoy took up his crown of salt and chose to rebel. Robert, of course, called the banners and so, Ned had to go. Tough in all honesty he would have probably liked to drag Robert from the Iron Throne himself, before throwing him and the old squid into the sea.

‚It's not time yet.'he told himself.

Jon was only eight, but according to Arthur, already aspitting image of his father. He had curling silver hair with two strands framing his face, that were dark brown. His eyes were dark, as Lyanna's had been, full of fire, but violet, another distinctive trait, to mark his ancestry.

Robb on the other hand, looked almost aspitting image of his mother- auburn hair and the bright blue eyes of House Tully, with his father's height already showing. But then again, Jon was the shortest of the three, so even Cregan was taller (this, of course, annoyed Jon to no end).

Cregan, his pride and joy, had his grandmother's lilac eyes and the typical, dark hair of Starks, also about the same height, as Robb.

But, without question, Jon was the best in these games of fight, his lessons with Arthur having started last year. Catelyn- who was keeping apromise, as he'd been told- doted on Jon, too and had been glaring daggers at Arthur for hours when the knight said, he'd start his training early. That helped her settle and it seemed the Lords and Ladies respected her for it.

Northmen never had those strict beliefs about bastards, as the Andals. Actually, just like the Valyrians, they were rather lenient, taking care of their own, within boundaries, of course. (Only the Dornish were so careless.) No one forgot how bastards, who'd been given too much and rebelled against their Lords- may those be the Blackfyres or the Greystarks. So, when she accepted Jon, the Lords and Ladies saw, that she was adapting to their culture and became more welcoming.

Today, Catelyn and Serena (who'd gone through similar suspicion, despite her northern ancestry,) were welcomed with smiles, as if they were born here.

He was drawn from his musings when the yard below fell quiet. He turned his attention downwards, to see the boys panting and taking their wooden swords away. Cregan and Robb laughed and joked between each other, while Jon trailed behind them, quietly. The sight made him frown.

While Catelyn accepted him and cared for him, like she did for Robb, it didn't stop the whispers and looks. ASnow, who looked almost naught like his ‚father'- and Arthur's presence didn't help much either. Despite their best efforts, Benjen knew, that Jon felt somewhat of an outsider.

Arthur spent the most time with him and noted, that he was as quiet and melancholic, like his father. Beneath the melancholy was afree spirit- like awild wolf, with adragon's fire in his veins,- but all the looks and whispers squashed it. Ben knew, that he was agood fighter- he's seen the training the Kingsguard put his trough- but he never let it show, fearing what others may think if he continuously bested his ‚trueborn sibling'.

‚Accepting for sure.'he thought, glaring down at awoman, who threw alook at Jon. It seemed, the people remembered too well, what sort of problems bastards could cause and they thought, that Jon would do it, as he was older, than Robb.‚They think, he'd want the North and that we're making amistake in raising him here.'

If only they knew... Jon will have much more to take care of, than the North, when the time was right.

„Ben?" called asilky voice from behind.

Benjen turned away from the yard to find his wife wrapped in thick, dark furs, that made her silvery hair stand out even more. „Is something wrong?"

He shook his head. „No, but Iswear, if Ihear the whisperings any longer, Iwill cut off someone's fingers."

Serena's grey eyes flashed. „Fools. They just can't see how much he cares for us all. He'd make agood lord with his skills and caring nature."

Benjen smiled at that.‚The qualities of agood king too, my dear.'Serena seemed to notice his smile and raised an eyebrow. „What?"

Ben glanced around- no one was nearby. „Come to the Lord's solar." he said, offering his arm. She looked confused,b linked her arm to his and they walked towards the solar, which usually Ned occupied. He hoped his brother would be back from the fight soon and would be back alive.

Once the solar's door closed behind them, Ben leaned against it. He gestured for her to sit down, but she declined. „What's it, Ben?"

„I'm pretty sure you remember, that years ago Iwent seeking you in hopes of making the North stronger. Tough, Inever gave you areason."

She looked confused, but nodded anyway. „Aye, Iremember."

„Well, Jon's the reason." he said with asigh.

She raised an eyebrow. „Jon? Why would Jon be the reason and how exactly?"

„He's the trueborn son of my sister, Lyanna and the Targaryen Prince, Rhaegar. She wasn't kidnapped, but went with him in defiance to our father."

For asecond, she looked confused, before understanding flashed in her eyes. „Targaryen.King."

„Aye."

Her nose wrinkled up in the cute way, he liked, as always when she was thinking. Then, soft chuckles left her lips, soon turning into clear laughter. „You've been hiding atiny cousin of mine, under the Usurper's nose all these years?"

Ben nodded. „You could say... but what do you mean cousin?"

Her eyes flashed and asharp grin appeared on her face. „My mother had been Aelea Belaerys. The Belaerys were an old Dragonlord family, like the Targaryens and the Velaryons. The three families had always been closely knit and despite the loose blood ties, they always considered one another, as cousins."

Ben's eyes widened. „I... really?"

She chuckled. „Aye. It seems, I'll be taking my little nephew under my wing and I'll be teaching him what it means to be descended from the Dragonlords of old."

Ben's eyes widened in panic. „He doesn't know and he's still too young to know! You can't tell him!"

She shook her head. „You know, dear, Ican be subtle, when Iwant. Iwon't have to tell him, who he is, to teach him some of our ways. He seems to be intelligent, always hungry for knowledge, but also likes adventures. He can't go to Essos, but Ican tell him about it and Ican tell him about my family and teach him the Old Ways of Valyria, even without telling him, he's king."

Ben thought about it for long, before sighing. „Well, he'd have to start learning High Valyrian in afew years anyway. When he does, along with the Targaryen history, that all Lords have to know... Ithink if he asks you something, you can steer him towards what you want to teach him. He wouldn't really notice, Isuppose- he'd be just happy, that someone understands him and helps him." There was aheartbeat of silence before he caught something from her earlier words. „Wait... Valyrian gods?"

She huffed and rolled her eyes. „I keep to my mother's Dragon Gods, dear. Have you not noticed?"

„Well, Idid notice you never come about the Godswood, but Iassumed you'd follow the Seven." he shrugged. „I never bothered to ask, because it doesn't matter, as long as you are content."

„Well, now you know." she said, pecking him on the cheek. „Thank you, for giving me back apiece of my home. Where Dragonlords and Wolves reside together, Ican truly feel at home."

„You're welcome, Serena."

They left the solar side by side, both feeling lighter at heart.The pack survives.

As long, as they worked together, nothing bad could happen and – Ben guessed, that eventually, he might even see his nephew sitting upon Aegon's Throne.