Snow crunched under the leather of Jon's boot as he looked out over the wall. He once thought he would be here but not like this.

"How many men have gone missing besides my uncle?" Jon asked.

"7 in all your-um your highness." Stammered a member of the nights watch not sure how to address him the other man Allisser Thorne scoffed he still seemed to distain the Targaryen's who he once served only to be sent here.

"He isn't a highness; he is a bastard even if his father is the king." Allisser said hissed.

"It matters not who I am. I am here because my uncle Benjen Stark is missing and I want to know you are doing everything in your power to find him." Jon said simply.

"Oh yes I bet your legitimate siblings are just missing you terribly." Thorne scoffed.

"It cannot be easy." Jon heard behind him he looked to see the bruised large recruit behind him. He was beaten bloody but there was empathy in his eyes. "Being the bastard brother to the Crown prince." By the way the recruit said it Jon thought this boy had his own problems with a brother it was the only reason it did not anger him.

Jon just looked back out into the snow and wind seeing out for miles at the frozen freedom. The cold air whipped against his face, but Jon didn't mind there was a sort of clarity to the cold air. He was rarely cold at all people said it was because of his northern mother. "My brother is the greatest man I have ever known." Jon said finally not really to any of them.

His mother Lyanna Stark died giving birth to him in the middle of the war she and his father had created. A war that could have destroyed the Targaryen Dynasty if it had not been for Rhaegar's true wife Elia Martell. She made the choice to stay on Dragonstone instead of going to Kingslanding to beg for her husband's return and eventually he came to her with the young girl he impregnated and a war at their doorsteps. Princess Elia did what she had to for her children's survival including keeping her husband's pregnant mistress at Dragonstone while getting her brother to send the army Rhaegar needed and quickly.

Rhaegar had only ever been a tourney knight, but he had the full force of Dorne, and all the strength of the reach with him. He had Gerold Hightower the white bull who gave his life crushing the Valemen, Ser Barristan Selmy leading the Vanguard, Prince Lewyn who lead a secret march around the rebels to catch them on both sides of the river, and then of course Arthur Dayne who killed Robert Baratheon in single combat. Jon Arryn, Hoster Tully, and Eddard Stark along with other significant rebel leaders were being led to the capital to what would have been there smoking grave when news arrived from the capital of the mad king's death. Rhaegar who was happy to at long last be king accept their surrender and bending of the knee and sent them home.

His good mood turned foul when all of this had been for nothing when Jon was born a boy instead of a girl Rhaegar thought he needed. He thought he was important and would be the father of the three headed Dragon. It was as if Jon's birth told Rhaegar there was nothing special about him at all. Jon was sure without the newly Queen Elia's intervening Rhaegar would have sent him away to the north if not worse.

Instead the queen was the only mother Jon had ever known and she raised him along with his half-brother prince Aegon and half-sister princess Rhaenys.

The nights watch recruit was not the first to assume there would be bad blood between Jon and his brother the heir to the throne. There was not. In truth Rhaegar was just as disappointed in Aegon when he decided his son was not the prince who was promised after all. Besides they both knew Aegon looked a little too Dornish for Rhaegars liking.

Jon was not sure if Rhaegar hated Aegon more than him or not. Aegon was certainly reprimanded more than Jon. Jon could usually take his father's disdain in silence. Since he was a small boy, he could listen to his father rambling about how much was lost for the sake of a bastard boy instead of the second daughter he so desired.

Aegon could not which was always so odd to Jon because Aegon had his mother's kindness and goodness, same affectionate smile and warmth but he could never resist talking back to Rhaegar. It took Jon awhile to realize usually his brother was defending his mother the queen, his dornish looking sister, or even Jon himself. Aegon would rather be the target then a loved one which was one of the reasons he always took on all of Rhaegar's hatred. The other was because Jon believed Aegon to be smarter then that of his father and could not help but show it. Jon still remembered the time when he was 9 and he knocked over a pile of his father's books.

"You were supposed to be a Targaryen princess, your cunt of a mother swore to me she would give me the daughter I needed and instead she decided to die and leave me with a useless-" Rhaegar had been yelling as he walked toward Jon. He usually never hit his sons but tonight he had been drinking more than usual. Rhaegar raised his hand and Jon shut his eyes tightly bracing himself for a pain that would never come.

"There is nothing in the prince who was promised prophecy about the Dragon having three heads, did you get that part wrong or just fancied the idea of it?" Aegon asked fearlessly making his father change course and strike him instead. Aside from that incident it was rare that Rhaegar lost his temper enough it hit them. He usually preferred long rants, yelling or unsuccessfully trying to pit them against each other.

The worst time was when the ironborn rose up and Rhaegar took both his sons to his study Elia knew something was wrong and rushed after them. Even the kingsguard were alarmed Ser Jamie started saying something about escorting the princes to bed when Rhaegar shut the study door on his face before locking it.

"Everyone wants to take things from you, when you are king, I hope you can defend what belongs to you." Rhaegar told Aegon as he poured more wine.

"I will father." Aegon promised but he looked to his brother unsure what was happening Jon just shrugged.

"Rhaegar please unlock this door!" Elia begged the hammering at the locked door only made the situation seem more dire.

"Words are nothing, anyone can say words and then break them! Prove it. Jon is your biggest contender for the throne! What will you do about it!" Rhaegar asked.

Aegon saw Jon's horrified face.

"A good king." Aegon began stalling as he found his next words. "Knows who his enemies are and who they are not. Jon is my dearest friend and loyalist alley; I think I'll make you hand of the king." Aegon said and he made a funny face at Jon because as nervous as he was, he saw the horror on his brothers face and wanted to make it go away.

Rhaegar did not think this amusing and took the ruby engraved candleholder off the table.

"Protect what is your Aegon, don't be such a weak link!" His father demanded. "Do it or else!"

"RHAEGAR FOR THE SAKE OF THE GODS OPEN THIS DOOR!" Elia screamed.

Jon knew how strong Aegon was when he shook his head no.

A Ruby hit Aegon just right to leave a scar but at the moment blood ran down Aegon's face too much to tell. Though he was on the floor clutching his bleeding face his father raised the candelabra again.

Jon showed the loyalty his brother just talked about by leaping at his father. "Leave him alone!" Jon screamed. Rhaegar pulled Jon off of him dropping the bloody candleholder, grabbing his son by his neck. Aegon started to crawl to his brother's aid getting kicked by his father bloodying his nose too just as the doors burst open. Elia ran through the doors screaming at the sight.

Try as she might, she couldn't break them down. She had Jamie and told him to get far away as soon as he did so Rhaegar would not suspect Jamie of being more loyal to the queen then the king.

"Stop your going to kill him!" Elia shouted as she pulled on Rhaegar trying to get his fingers off Jon's neck.

Sometimes Jon thought that's what Rhaegar wanted he would rather pass his crown on to his pure Targaryen brother then either of them who he called mutts. Rhaegar had thrown Jon to the floor next to his brother.

"You brats belong together." He scoffed. "You don't even look like Targaryens." He said as he pushed Elia off him before he stormed out. Rhaegar said that a lot although Aegon had the purple eyes though his were very dark purple, he also had high cheek bones, silver hair, Rhaegar still did not except him. His son's skin was always a little too warm in color for Rhaegar, Jon on the other hand looked like his mother which Aegon always called lucky, he despised looking similar to his father.

Elia hurried to her boys. "Jon breath." Elia told him softly pushing a little on his chest seemingly reminding his panicked body how to do it. At the same time with her other hand she pulled Aegon to sit up so he would not choke on his own blood.

She pulled them both to her holding them tightly. Before Rhaegar woke from his stupor his wife and children would be gone to Dragonstone she would not return until he threatened her to do so. Rhaegar never had any recollection of that night or anytime he hurt his family. The handsome prince he was seemed to be so far gone in a man with so many regrets.

Viserys and Daenerys were dear to Rhaegar, Rhaenys was less so but he did not hit her either, Elia was his usual target he had been emotionally abusing her most of their marriage but the hitting only started after Harrenhal after Rhaegar's usual mopping and sulking became much more bitter and aggressive it wasn't until his mother died still angry at him that he really lost it.

Elia tried to take the children with her to Dorne once, but he told her she could not take Jon. Jon begged her not to leave him and she promised she never ever would, she was a frail women but she never let Rhaegar get away with hitting either of her boys. She always tried to fend him off unbowed unbent unbroken just like her words.

Of course they were not boys forever, they were trained by not only the kingsguard but Oberyn decided to teach his nephew how to defend himself and Elia requested the same of Lord Stark anytime Jon was sent away into his care which was often enough. She demanded Jon's training be continued so he could defend himself.

Rhaegar could no longer hurt his wife or sons with two grown sons willing to defend her and several members of the kingsguard had come to her aid more than Rhaegar would have liked. Rhaegar was not interested in a fair fight anymore. The shining knight had aged into and angry fearful man like his own father. Instead he found other ways to torment his sons, he knew speaking ill of Elia was an easy way to upset them.

Selling Rhaenys to Jon Arryn when she was only 13 was one way, he found to leave Elia in anguish since she had protested the marriage of her children.

That day Elia took Aegon by the hand and lead him to talk in secret. She asked Jon to be her look out and he did so with honor. He heard as Elia told her son with tears in her eyes.

"He must never know you love Daenerys. You must never let him no Egg, he will use you love against you like he uses my children against me." She told him softly.

Jon tried his best to help Aegon control himself he often reminded him Rhaegar won when he got a reaction from them. Jon also knew enough about people and animals to know creatures can only be pushed so far. He worried what would happen that day that Aegon could not take it anymore. Mayhaps that is why Elia wanted Aegon to go back to Dragonstone, Jon was going to go with him until Rhaegar told him. "Go North and let me forget about you for awhile."

"It's for the best." Elia had soothed with both Rhaenys and Daenerys gone there was nobody Elia felt needed her son's protection, she would happily take all Rhaegars malice knowing her children were safe and sound far away from the angry broken man Rhaegar had become.

Jon still worried about his family, Elia was the only mother he ever known and it broke his heart he was not there to defend her but she made both of them swear to their respective gods they would not leave their chosen exile until Rhaegar was dead or called them back to court. That worried Jon that Elia was all alone with that monster even if she had the support of half the kingsguard. He worried about Aegon as well, Dragonstone was a lot closer than the north if Aegon thought his mother was in danger he would go to her immediately that's the way Aegon was. And like Rhaenys always said Jon was not one to let Aegon do something stupid, alone.

Staying busy was all Jon could do in the meantime. The lord commander was happy to have him as a guest of the nights watch but others like Ser Allisser was sure Jon needed to join or leave.

Jon was snapped from his thoughts by another trainee arriving in the elevator going straight to Ser Thorne.

"Maestor Aemon wants to see you, hopefully your uncle wants to tell you that you need to join or leave this isn't an inn!" Thorne said gruffly.

"You." Jon said turning to the recruit who spoke earlier he seemed learnt enough. "How generous is my sister Lady Rhaenys Arryn to the nights watch?"

"The lady of the Vale is most generous, she has the vale in its entirety send their prisoners to us, the wall has not been this well stocked in a century, five castles are up and running now." The recruit said.

Jon walked right up to lord Thorne. "I write a letter to Rhaenys only uncle Aemon will feel Rhaenys generosity, so I know you will listen when I say we are going to form a search party for my uncle." Jon said before leaving him in the cold.

It was odd having that man's hatred when he hardly knew him. Thorne was one of the men guarding Dragonstone during the rebellion. Sellswords had come to kill Rhaegar's family while he was away thankfully Jon Connington ignored his exile and came to their aid. Elia was so grateful after Lyanna died without naming her son Elia decided to call him Jon. Thorne had suggested to the princess that he could rid her of her husband's bastard she declined, and he was sent to the nights watch in Dornish chains for the offense.

Jon made his way to the maestors chambers he hoped someday Aegon could meet their Great Great Great uncle who was a great man who was so happy to see some family again. Aemon told him wonderful stories from his childhood that Jon knew Aegon would love. Aemon had gushed about how good Rhaenys was to him, so proudly wearing the Targaryen pin Rhaenys sent him and calling it his proudest possession Jon decided he would ask Aegon to send him another bobble to make him feel he still had family.

It had been late into the night when Aemon's smile had died, and he apologized for his part in the prophecy's Rhaegar was obsessed with. Jon knew it was not Aemon's fault in the slightest his father made his own choices after all and they left him this melancholy man who cared more for prophecy's then his own living breathing children.

Not to say they were always unhappy. Elia did the best she could to protect her boys with all her limited power and Rhaegar often left to go to Summerhall or just be melancholy elsewhere and they could just be children. He remembered all the times playing in the gardens with his siblings. The time Daenerys and Rhaenys proudly dragged him through the gardens to show him the blue roses they had planted in the Godswood just for him. All the times he and Aegon would play at being great knights and famous Targaryens. There personal favorite was playing at stopping the Blackfyre rebellion. Aegon loved nothing more than to be Baelor Breakspear who like him was half Dornish and was still a legendary knight and great prince. Jon enjoyed being prince Maekar but on occasion he would pretend to be the bloodraven. Once Viserys told him he had more in common with Daemon Blackfyre then Prince Maekar and Jon's smile faded but Aegons widened and he brought his brothers back when he pointed with his wooden sword right at Viserys. "There he is Maekar, its Daemon Blackfyre with his silver hair and mule face, let's get him!" And they chased Viserys around the keep all day to their never-ending enjoyment. Jon even had happy memorize that were as simple as Elia sitting him on her lap and combing his hair out.

One of his best memories was just that. Elia was the only one who could get him to sit still long enough to wash cut and comb out his hair partly because he liked it best when she did it. He asked her a question Rhaegar had put in his mind.

"Why are you so nice to me after what my mother did to you." He said no more then a whisper. Rhaegar had said she was only pretending to care for him out of duty and it hurt more then most of his remarks.

He felt her lips against his forehead before her arms wrapped around him. When he turned to see her she was smiling at him warmly with an adoring look in her eyes.

"Jon you are the best thing Rhaegar and Lyanna ever gave me, all the pain they caused was worth it because it meant I got you, and you will always be my baby Jon. I love you." She promised he remembered her words they comforted him in his darkest times.

As always Aemon smiled widely when he could sort of make out Jon as best, he could anything these days.

"I hope you will not be to unhappy with me for breaking the seal." Aemon said giddier than Jon had yet to see him. "Curiosity never left me like it does most children though I will admit I couldn't read a word of it."

"It's fine." Jon promised seeing the broken Dragon Aemon loved nothing more than hearing about family he knew the old man could not resist finding out what his great great great nephew had written. Jon unfolded the note his eyes widened when he read it.

Jon

Return to Kingslanding now.

King Rhaegar Targaryen king of the andals, the rhoynish, and the first men, protector of the realm and blood of old Valyria

Jon sighed his father wrote more titles about himself then words to his son. He was going to throw it away and continue the search. Then he noticed there was a second scroll included and pulled them apart.

My beloved Son

I hate to take you out of safety of the North but your brother needs you now more then ever. I fear the things the two of you will have to indure but I have no doubt you can do so together. Have a safe journey and know you have my love with you always.

Your mother

"Start the search, I have to go to Kingslanding." He said slowly.

So really I have always wanted more stories about Jon and Aegon as brothers not hating each other. I also thought it would be neat to see ruling (and the whole winning but not really winning) having a similar effect on Rhaegar as it did Robert but I think it could be arguably worse with Rhaegar because of how Aerys and Viserys both went mad when faced with adversity.

This will also really feature Elia (No surprise.) Rhaenys, Margaery, and Daenerys. Lots of strong ladies!

As always big Rhaegar Lyanna fans might want to avoid.