Benjen IV

Once everyone had gotten over the fact, that his nephew had dragons, the preparations to march started almost immediately. To save time, it had been agreed upon, that all would be marching their troops straight for Moat Cailin, instead of the usual way of the troops gathehring at Winterfell first.

Along with his own men, the Manderlys had been the first to arrive, as they were only afew days' ride away. Now tough, he watched the long column of men, getting closer and closer. The might of the North gathered for his nephew.

All the colourful banners flapped in the soft, cold wind- but none as high, as the red three-headed dragon on black, right under it the grey wolf of white field for the Starks.

He looked at the sky, the three dragons circling above the growing army. He briefly wondered, if Jaehaerys was mounted on the black one. After that scene in the Wolfswood, he wouldn't be too surprised.

As the first men came into his immediate wiev, he found Robb riding in the front, Catelyn right next to him. He whirled on his heels and strode trough the corridors to greet them again.

„Are the gates open?" he asked his Captain.

„Yes, My Lord. The army has clear passage to the Neck. From what Iknow only asmall number of the Reed men would be joining?"

He nodded. „Aye. You and about three hundred will remain here, to protect the North. Lord Reed's men would make it so, that our enemies would have even harder time passing the swamps. Also, as per the King's orders aquarter of our fleet will remain patrolling the coasts for safety mesure. The Ironborn had been trying to raid again and we wouldn't want our homes unprotected."

„Smart move." his captain agreed.

Ben smiled. „Arthur and Ned had practically been feeding him tactics and politics, all his life. He just never noticed."

He passed the man then, ready to call the Lords into his Great Hall for some planning.

An hour later, all of them were there, in the hastily prepared war room, gazing at the map of the Seven Kingdoms. Jaehaerys was tracing the lines with his eyes, as if the map held the answers of the world.

„Aunt Catelyn, will the Rivermen be waiting for us?"

Catelyn nodded. „Yes. I've sent aletter to Riverrun and my brother's answer arrived just now. They're gathering their troops and will be waiting for us at Riverrun."

Jaehaerys hummed. „We have fifty thounsand men, as awhole, but Iwould say we take forty thounsand south. How many men can the Riverlands call?"

„Some forty-five thounsand, but even then, we can't call all of them all. The Lannisters might try something, once they hear of our movement. The Golden Tooth..."

„... is fortified, but we're not risking it being taken down, otherwise the Lannisters would be flooding trough." Jaehaerys finished.

„Exactly, but..." Catelyn frowned, worry on her face.

Jaehaerys raised an eyebrow. „What is it?"

„House Frey of the Corssing owes loyalty to Riverrun, but my father always said Walder Frey was too close to Tywin, in thinking. If the old weasel serves anyone other than himself, that it's probably Tywin."

„I'll keep that in mind." the tone he used, made Benjen shiver. He wondered, what Jaehaerys might do, if the Freys tried stopping them from reaching Riverrun.

Rhaenys III

After ahearty meal, she decied to head for Arya's cabin. The young version of Mother Lyanna still avoided her and Daenerys, as much, as she could. But that wouldn't do, she decided. Arya was aStark and Mother Lyanna had made it clear, when she was still achild, that the Starks would be her family too, once her brother was born. And she'd been right.

She knocked gently on the door, before stepping into the small room. Arya was huddled on the bed- her gray eyes stormy with anger and sadness. Rhaenys' heart ached at the sight.,She probably thinks she's losing afamily member, now, that Dany and Iare here.'

The young Stark looked up, before the sadness was overtaken by anger and she glared fiercely, befitting the sigil of her House. „Go away." she murmured.

„I'm not here to take him away from you." she said quietly. „He's my brother..."

„Jon ismybrother." she growled out.

Rhaenys sighed. „He's aTargaryen. He shares my name and my blood." Arya opened her mouth, but before she could retort, Rhaenys continoued. „Buthe's also aStark. AStark and aTargaryen, as Iam aMartell and aTargaryen. He is family to both you and me, little wolf. As is Lyanna Stark- she'd been kind to me, you know. Ihadn't known her for long, but she'd taken care of me, as if Iwas trully her blood. My mother spoke of her as asister and my father loved them both. Iremember little, but Iam sure he loved both Jaehaerys and me."

„He's aStark." she growled.

Rhaenys hummed in agreement. „A Stark and aTargaryen in blood. AMartell in spirit, as was Mother Lyanna."

Arya just remained curled up on the bed. Rhaenys sighed.

„Neither me, nor Daenerys are your enemies, Litte Wolf." she said softly. „Jaehaerys- Jon is my little brother. Any sibling of his, is also mine."

Arya still didn't answer. She sighed queitly and turned to leave. She'd let the young northerner work it out on her own.

„When the white winds blow and winter comes, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives." she told her, opening the door. It wasn't even completely open, when Arya spoke.

„How do you know that?"

She turned, looking at him. „I told you, little wolf. Lyanna Stark was my mother in all, but blood. Any family of hers, is my own. Starks, Martells and Targaryens are all strong alone. Together, we could be even stronger, to take care of our family. All members of those Great Houses are my family, as they are Daenerys' family. Jaehaerys'-Jon'sfamily."

There was amoment of silence. The gray eyes were swirling with emotions and Rhaenys decided to wait. Wait and see, how she might react.

„But... he's my brother." she whispered.

Rhaenys nodded. „So is mine. It doesn't matter, which name we have. Blood doesn't make family- it makes the Houses, into what they are."

„Then... what makes afamily?" she asked. Rhaenys found it cute, that she was so confused- but she made amental note never to call Arya cute. She probably would't like it.

„Care. Love." she answered simply. „I care for him and love him, just as you do. That's what makes afamily. His name is Jaehaerys Targaryen, but that will not change, how he feels about you, I'm sure."

„You think so? That he'd still say I'm his sister?" Arya stood from the bed, walking closer. Rhaenys felt atiny spark of vicotry. She was willingly coming to her.

Rhaenys smiled and nodded. „Probably. Uncle Ned keeps saying you're the one he loved the most, ever since you were born. Love doesn't go away, little wolf."

„Jon always calls me that." she muttered. Rhaenys winced alittle, making amental note, not to use the nickname again.

„Arya..."

„He's really your brother?" she asked again, now looking straight at her, stopping her slow walk.

Rhaenys laughed. „You were the one, who said how much my eyes look like his."

Something flashed in the dark grey eyes, that Rhaenys couldn't quite name. This young girl was hard to read. „Does... that mean you're my sister too?"

Ahuge smiled formed on Rhaenys' lips. „If you want me to be your sister, then yes." she stepped closer to Arya and carefully brought her into ahug. Amoment later, surprisingly strong grip was the answer. „We're one big family. Alright?"

The young northerner nodded into her dress, muttering something. Rhaenys bent down and hugged her closer. „What was that? Icouldn't hear."

„Don't tell him, okay?"

Rhaenys blinked in confusion. „Tell who?"'And what Ishouldn't tell?'

„Jon." murmured Arya.

The Targaryen tilted her head to the side, studying the younger girl. „What Ishouldn't tell Jaehaerys?"

„That Ican't say it."

'Alright, this is getting confusing and Ifeel like running in circles. Uncle Ned! Where are you, when Ineed you?!'she thought desperately. But she wouldn't let her panic show. She took adeep breath and gently pulled Arya away, to look into her grey eyes.

„What is that Ican't tell him? What can't you say?"

Arya's expression was somewhere between fear and irritation. „You can't tell him Ican't say his name. Imean, his real name. Jon's."

„Why can't you say it?" she blinked.

Arya stomped her foot, glaring at her. „I just keep messing up the letters,okay?!It's too long and he's going to be angry too..."

Rhaenys couldn't help the laughter, that bubbled up from her chest. Arya's biggest problem was, that she suddenly couldn't pronouce her favourite brother's'new'name and she was afraid what Jaehaerys might say.

She scooped the girl into her arms, as she'd done with Dany, when she was old enough and Dany was small enough yet. „Come on, little wolf. We'll find Dany and Uncle Ned and I'll teach you some Valyrian. By the time we meet him, you'll be better, than him. And if he ever says anything about names and your terrible pronouciation, I'll chase him for you and when we're done chasing Jaehaerys, we can learn together, how to fight."

The grey eyes lit up excitedly- the sight reminded her of ayounger Dany, who'd been excited at the idea of being like Queen Visenya. „You'd teach me how to fight?"

She chuckled, as she carried Arya trough the corridors. „I could, but Iknow better. We'll ask the Kingsguard- Oswell, or Arthur, maybe- to teach us both."

Arya's grin could have lit up the darkest of rooms.