A/N: SORRY ABOUT THE UPLOADING AND THEN DELETING. Just facing some technical difficulties. For some reason this chapter isn't uploading on the website, both mobile and desktop.
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Jon hurried past the corridors aware that he was late for the war council meeting, he had been caught up in taking Ghost and Greywind for a run. The direwolves were being kept in kennels as they made the men nervous, so Jon had thought it would be a good idea to let them enjoy some fresh air. He barged into the room where the meeting was taking place. Most the lords were gathered around the table, Robb was bent over a map of Westeros. All eyes turned to Jon when intruded rather loudly, Jon murmured an apology and Robb motioned him to join them at his right. Robb had been insisting Jon take his place as his heir, seating Jon to the right of him and always valuing his opinions.
But Jon kept a low profile at Riverrun, observing from afar. He avoided almost everyone with the exception of Robb, Lord Reed and occasionally Talisa as well. Robb insisted that Jon take part in his war councils, Jon would offer an idea here and there but could always feel Lady Stark's burning glare on him. Robb had heeded Jon's advice and did not execute Lord Karstark. The Karstark men were not happy but they did not abandon Robb, Jon kept a close eye on them nonetheless.
Once Jon joined them Robb went back to studying the map laid out in front of him, "We can't sit at Riverrun any longer. The majority of the Lannister forces are stationed at Kingslanding."
He rounded the table and pointed to the Westerlands, "Tywin Lannister has kept Casterly Rock relatively unguarded. We have the men to press an attack. We can starve the Lannisters out."
The lords clamored in agreement, Robb continued, "We'll leave a sizable amount of men to keep Riverrun." He rounded the table once again, "On the other hand, with Lord Reed's support we shall continue our campaign to resecure the North. The Boltons have already taken back Winterfell, but Ironborn still occupy many other strongholds. Lord Reed will handle that."
Jon glanced at Lord Reed, who was listening to Robb attentively. The lords, Northern and Riverlanders alike, seemed to like Robb's plan and did not raise any objections.
Robb dismissed the lords, ordering them to start preparing their men. Lord Reed stood back and once all the other lords had cleared out he shut the door behind them, "Your grace, I was wondering if I could have a private word with you, Lady Stark and Jon?"
Robb glanced at Jon and nodded, "I have things to attend to now. But after supper, you may come to my solar, Lord Reed. I shall inform my mother." Lord Reed bowed in thanks and walked out through the door the other lords had exited. Jon did not miss the way Lord Reed glanced at him as he left.
During meals Robb had Jon seated to his right again positioning Jon as his heir, much to Catelyn's agitation. Catelyn was seated much farther done the table as a result of her treason of letting go Ser Jaime Lannister. Catelyn has been in poor spirits since Jon's arrival at Riverrun and was constantly butting heads with Robb because of him. She picked at her food, she barely ate after Theon took Winterfell. She had learned to expect the worst when it came to the her family's fate. Her hope that Bran and Rickon were alive was waning.
Not many tried to make conversation with Catelyn and for her part she didn't either. She watched as the lords celebrated one of their last nights at Riverrun before they rode back to the war. The GreatJon was enjoying himself, drowning himself in ale, Rosie Bolton was sipping a glass of wine, his cold, calculating eyes sweeping across the hall. Catelyn's eyes fell on Lord Reed, he was eating his supper quietly, not making much conversation with the others. Catelyn figured that since he barely left the Neck, he most probably was not familiar with any of the lords. Robb had informed her that Lord Reed requested a meeting after their meal.
As the night dragged on, Catelyn got more restless she just wanted to return to her room. Relief coursed through her body when the lords decided to call it a night and started to hobble back to their quarters. Catelyn got up at the same time Robb and Jon did. Robb pressed a kiss on Talisa's forehead and glanced at Catelyn, silently requesting her to follow him. Catelyn dismissed her guards and she discreetly followed Robb to his solar. When she entered, Robb and Jon were already seated around a table.
Catelyn ignored Jon Snow's presence and took the seat across Robb. She folded her hands in her lap and waited patiently for Howland Reed. The wait was uncomfortable, Catelyn refused to even look at Jon Snow and Jon did his best to look invisible, Robb squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. Lord Reed came a few moments carrying a chest.
"Your grace." He greeted, "My Lady. Jon."
He carefully placed the chest on the table and faced them, "I have reason to believe Bran and Rickon escaped Winterfell and are still alive." Lord Reed began without preamble.
Catelyn starred at Lord Reed in shock, she wasn't sure if she could believe him, it was too good to be true and lately good things hardly happened to her family. "How?" She managed to ask.
Lord Reed smiled at her sympathy, "Do you believe in greenseers?"
Catelyn had heard of greenseers in the stories Old Nan told her children. She shook her head, "Of course not." She could feel her voice trembling.
Lord Reed turned to Jon who shrugged, "I've seen much worse beyond the Wall. I'd believe almost anything now."
"Jon has seen wargs, greenseers aren't exactly a far stretch from there." Robb said. Catelyn glanced at Jon, wondering if the boy could possibly be telling the truth.
She turned her attention back to Lord Reed, "What does a greenseer have to do with Bran and Rickon?"
"My son, Jojen is a greenseer."
Catelyn was taken aback, "He has visions?"
"Yes. I believe he saw Bran and Rickon in one such vision. He and my daughter, Meera have set off to search for them."
"Where could they be then?" Robb asked.
"Perhaps at the Wall. They likely believe Jon is still there."
Jon spoke up immediately, "I'll send a raven to Castle Black."
"And I'll have my most trusted men ride to the Wall." Robb added.
Catelyn nodded in agreement, "But how could've they escaped? Bran cannot walk and Rickon is just a child."
"Rumors I was able to collect are that they escaped with a wildling woman and Hodor along with their wolves. Those rumors though ended with the Ironborn burning them alive."
Catelyn looked away, the tears threatening to fall. Lord Reed continued, "But as I said I have reason to believe they are alive." Catelyn glanced at Robb, who look relieved, he offered Catelyn reassuring smile.
Catelyn managed a small smile, "Thank you for telling us this, Lord Reed. And I must thank your children as well."
Robb nodded, "Thank you, my Lord."
Lord Reed bowed. Catelyn was about to get up, she needed to visit the sept, if what Lord Reed said was true, her prayers were answered.
"My lady, I'm not done." Lord Reed stopped her.
Catelyn sat back down, she watched as Lord Reed took a deep breath and faced them once more. Catelyn could see beads of sweat on his forehead, she started to worry about what he had to say. She noticed that Lord Reed kept glancing at Jon.
"What has Ned told you of what conspired in Dorne?"
"What does it matter anymore?" Catelyn asked. In hindsight, she realised things never went very well for the Starks when they took part in southern affairs.
"It matters, I promise you." Lord Reed reassured.
"He's said very little. Ned has always been tight lipped about it. All I know is you and he fought the Kingsguard and won. You found Lyanna dead. That's all." The one time Catelyn had mentioned Dorne to Ned was to ask about Jon Snow's mother. Ned had not been receptive towards her inqueries, she had never seen Ned act so cold towards here.
Robb and Jon nodded in agreement to Catelyn's answer, that was all anyone in Winterfell knew.
"I always wondered why no one asked more questions about what happened? Like why were three Kingsguard guarding the Tower of Joy? What did Ned find in the Tower of Joy? How did Lyanna really die?"
Robb was the one who answered, "Aunt Lyanna died of a fever."
"She died in a pool of blood. She was not dead when we arrived but those were her last moments. What fever could have killed a perfectly healthy young woman?"
"Lord Stark never said." Jon answered for Robb.
Catelyn was intrigued to be honest, what had happened in Dorne? "The kingsguard were surely there to guard Lyanna."
"While their prince rode to the Trident with only Barristan Selmy, Aerys was a mad man but he was king, and he was left with only Jaime Lannister. They remained there, even after both of them died, Though the apparent heir was sailing across the Narrow Sea. Why would the kingsguards stand guard for a dying woman who was supposedly a plaything for Prince Rheagar?"
"Guarding something else then?" Jon offered.
A bittersweet smile appeared on Lord Reed's face, "Something? Or someone?"
Someone. Catelyn eyebrows furrowed as she concentrated, but who else had even been in the so called Tower of Joy? Someone that The Kingsguard felt the need of protecting?
She died in a pool of blood. Three Kingsguard. Someone. Apparent heir
Catelyn's mind went to her mother's deathbed, her mother had died giving birth to Edmure. She recalled the blood surrounding her mother. Catelyn's eyes widen slowly, Lyanna didn't die of some fever. She died in childbirth. The time period fit as well. The kingsguard were protecting the true heir, Rheagar's heir. But the child, what happened to the child?
He is my blood. Ned's voice echoed through Catelyn's mind.
Catelyn gasped, it all made sense now. She peered at Lord Reed, looking for confirmation and the look in his eyes as he gazed back at Catelyn was all the confirmation she needed.
Catelyn's gaze slowly fell on the boy in question, she just starred at him. This boy was Lyanna's son, Lyanna and Rheagar's son. Ned had been lying all along.
"You." She whispered in awe.
Jon looked at Catelyn and Lord Reed in confusion, of course he would never guess that he was actually a prince's son. Catelyn glanced at Robb and could see that the truth was slowly dawning upon him when he noticed where her gaze was.
Lord Howland smiled softly at Jon, "You. The Kingsguard were protecting you. You never were Eddard Stark's son, Jon. You're the son of Lyanna Stark and Rheagar Targaryen. Ned had to lie to keep you safe. Robert would've killed you had he known."
Catelyn remembered Ned once telling her how Robert happily received the bodies of little Rheanys and Aegon.
Jon gaped at Lord Reed, finding it too hard to register what he had just said. Catelyn watched as Jon as he accepted the truth, there was shock written on his face, followed by anger and disgust. He looked as though he wanted to ask a thousand questions but Catelyn asked the one she knew Jon wanted to ask the most.
"Did they love each other?" Was Jon a product of rape?
Lord Reed nodded, "I believe so. Honestly who could really spirit away a woman as fierce as Lyanna Stark. I know for a fact that they were married."
"Or else the Kingsguard wouldn't be there." Robb put in.
"We were able to find a document detailing their marriage in the Tower." Lord Reed took out a parchment from his coat and handed it over to Catelyn, "I was keeping it safe all this time. It was risky for Ned to keep it at Winterfell."
Catelyn's eyes swept the parchment and her eyes fell on the signs at the bottom, both Rheagar's and Lyanna's. Catelyn gazed at Jon who didn't even glance at the parchment, he was glaring at the table.
"That makes Jon a trueborn Targaryen. That makes Jon the heir to the Iron Throne. He's has better claim than even Daenerys Targaryen." Robb said in awe as he starred at his cousin.
"Lyanna named you Aegon. Aegon Targaryen." Lord Reed told Jon quietly.
That seemed to be the last straw for Jon, he kicked back his chair and abruptly got up and stalked out of the room without a word.
"Jon!" Robb followed suit and was about to go after him when Catelyn stopped him, "Give him some time."
Robb looked torn but nodded, Jon needed some time alone. Catelyn turned back to Lord Reed, "What is in the chest then?"
Lord Reed opened it to reveal a sword. A Valriyian steel sword. Catelyn studied it, she was never well versed in swords. Robb did the work for her.
"That's Dark Sister." Robb gasped, he leaned over to touch it.
Catelyn starred at the sword in shock. "It was at the Wall all along. Brynden Rivers entrusted it to his kin before he went beyond the Wall. It was with Maester Aemon." Lord Reed explained.
Catelyn sat back in her chair. This was too much she could take in.
Bran and Rickon alive. Jon was Lyanna's and Rheagar's. He was a Targaryen. He was heir to the Iron Throne. Ned had lied. Ned had let Catelyn go through all that humiliation and pain, he had let her be so horrible to the boy.
Catelyn felt so much. She felt relief, her boys were alive and Ned had never cheated her. She felt the guilt, she had been terrible to the boy. She felt anger, she had been lied to by her own husband. And of course she was awed, the bastard of Winterfell turned out to be the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.
A/N: So the big reveal. I wrote it in Catelyn's perspective because I really couldn't imagine what Jon must have really felt when he found out, I mean he just found out his life was a lie. I hoped you liked it. In the next chapter, we enter Jon's mind and a favorite character of ours makes an appearance. So until next time. Subscribe and Review in the meanwhile.