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Jon Stark II

Winterfell, North, Year 298 AC

"And remember to check the granary storages, love." His mother insisted. "We cannot face winter without them full."

"Don't worry mother," he assured with a shy smile. "Arthur and I will keep them full and under constant surveillance."

His mother looked at him with a proud look. "I know love…it's just the mother in me telling me I need to annoy my son with motherly things..."

"You do love to tease me…" Jon murmured.

"Oh you have no idea, sweetling." she smiled a bright smile. "I love teasing you and your father so much…You simply have no idea…" And with that, she pinched his cheek with a devilish smile. "Now give a big hug to mama."

He promptly did as he was told, he hugged his mother. Jon would surely miss her, his father and his siblings but this was his big chance to prove what he was capable to do. "Be careful in the capital mother."

"I will, Jon," she assured. "I will protect our pack down at the capital. Everything will be fine, I can assure you." he hoped she was right…if half the things she told him were true…then he feared for them but he knew his mother was tough just like the rest of his family. "Wolves are predators, not the prey, we hunt together, we are strong together."

"Father always said, when the snow falls and the white wind blows…"

"The lone wolf dies but the pack survives." His mother completed laughing. "I love that one," she said while eyeing him so more. "You are so similar to your father…I knew it from the day I first saw you, the day you came from my womb to the world…Everyone told me so too and when your father held you in his arms after returning from the war that took so much from him…he cried while doing so…tears of joy…it was one of the best moments of my life."

"You said so many times mother…" Jon smiled, finding the thought of his father crying even if tears of joy a foreign thing.

"I like to make my point clear love…" she said. "So I know people understood what I said." Then her face got soberer. "Now some tips…keep an eye out for the Boltons…they aren't stupid to the point of attacking us but I don't trust in them…especially if the rumors about that bastard of Lord Bolton killing his trueborn son are true."

The Boltons were ancient rivals of House Stark, their family feud went on into immemorial times. Some said they still practiced forbidden customs such as flaying people or the first night right…Jon never liked them and neither does any Stark for the matter and the feeling his reciprocated…

"I will keep them in mind," he assured. "And in Arthur and Theon as well…"

"The Wolf Blood is still without control in your brother…Ros told me what happened with the Crown Prince…" His mother admitted with a sigh. "He has to keep in line or he might end like his uncle Brandon did."

Neither father nor mother talked much about uncle Brandon and aunt Lyanna…From uncle Brandon, Jon knew he rode hard to the capital where he demanded justice for his sister who had been abducted by Rhaegar Targaryen and in the process, due to a bad choice of words, he was arrested and later died choking as he attempted to save grandfather Rickard from burning once he came to the capital as well…

"Arthur is still young, mother. He will learn with time mother." Jon said.

"Keep him close, hear his counsel when he gives it and reprimand him when he gets too wild or disinterested." His mother said. "Also…there is another matter we ought to begin discussing soon…"

"What is it?"

"Your marriage." The words of his mother hit him hard in the gut…It wasn't as if he didn't wish to marry because he did…but he wanted a woman like his mother so he could have a marriage like his parents', a happy one.

"Marriage?" he asked just to be sure.

"Indeed…" she said. "You are close to your fifteenth namesday and you are the heir to the North…your father and I have been brooding for years that you should marry when you are sixteen…but we don't want you to marry by force because it would be hypocritical in our part since me and your father married for that very same reason. That is why we are so concerned with the King's proposal of marrying his son with Elianna."

"I don't like Joffrey Baratheon mother." Jon confessed.

"Neither do I or Ros and your father seems to be slowly sharing the same opinion." His mother said. "But anyway…we were thinking on organizing a big harvest feast this next year be it summer or autumn…invite some young ladies…perhaps you will be able to find one good one amongst them…"

That would be difficult…all of them saw the heir to Winterfell in him, not Jon Stark the person…they all wanted him because it was convenient for their families to get closer to Winterfell…but if his father found a woman like mother, and in a feast, then perhaps, if he was so much like his father…perhaps he would find one too…

"Maybe you are right…"

"But that is something for us to worry when the New Year comes and we are back at Winterfell." His mother said while pinching his cheek. "Now I shall not hold you for longer. Go and say goodbye to your siblings, and give a…certain sword to someone…"

"How did…" he was going to ask the question anyone would but his mother simply moved her pinkie finger while grinning... "I don't know why I even asked…"

"Go on love." she encouraged as she pushed him around. "I'm sure she will love it. I have to finish packing things and still have a conversation with your brother Arthur."

Jon left his mother's private chambers which she did not use for anything but extra storage for her things and walked to the armory. There he picked his package and he waited a while for Arthur to arrive.

His brother showed up panting, he had run there. "Sorry…I took so long…brother." Arthur murmured as he regained his breath. "Mother kept insisting about me behaving well and all…"

"She wanted to emphasize her point." Jon said.

"Well…she said that very same thing to me…are you perhaps…turning into mother?" Arthur broke into laughter and Jon soon followed.

"I may become a father in a nearby future but a mother…that is unlikely…" Jon commented as he tried to regain his composure. "We have something to do brother."

"Indeed brother." His brother nodded. "Let us go to our dear sister."

The courtyard was blatant, the servants were packing the many chests with his family's belongings in the many wagons. Father was coordinating everything together with Ser Rodrik, Elianna was enjoying a conversation with Jeyne Poole and a saddened Beth Cassel who was not allowed to go. Next to them slept Star, Elianna's gentle pup. Lyra was happily playing with hers which she called Blacky. Jon had called his Ghost for he made no sound and was white as a ghost, while Arthur's was called Breeze.

Brandon came next with his pup Rune and huge ironwood chest likely filled with books more than clothes. And finally came Arya with an ironwood chest of her own and Nymeria strolling next to her. His middle sister looked displeased…

"Arya!" Arthur called and their sister's attention turned to them, Jon motioned her to come to them and she did so.

"Yes?" she questioned confused.

"What did you do now?" Jon asked, slightly amused.

Arya made a grim face. "Ros told me I had to pack everything properly folded and not messy…"

"Ros was right little sister." Arthur agreed with the older woman who was talking to their mother as the two of them walked to the wheelhouse that would transport them and the girls. Even Arya…

"Arthur…you hardly fold your clothes at all so you can't give her a lecture." Jon said.

Arya lolled her tongue out to their brother with the opportunity Jon provided her with. "They are all going to get messed up anyway. Why should I bother with it?"

"Because it's better than way," Jon explained. "But Arthur and I didn't come here to talk about folded clothes Arya."

"We came here to give you a little present of goodbye," Arthur added with his smirk. "For our favorite troublemaker."

"A present?" she said beaming.

Jon pulled the package out while Arthur untied the rags wrapped around the present picking it up and lifting it to the sky where it shone bright with the light.

"A sword…" she remarked in a surprised whisper.

The scabbard was soft grey leather, supple as sin. Jon drew out the blade slowly, so she could see the deep blue sheen of the steel. "This is no toy." he warned her.

"Be careful not to cut yourself in it, sister," Arthur added. "The edges are very sharp."

"It's such a skinny blade." she remarked while she glanced the blade from up and down.

"So are you, little troublemaker," Jon said amused. "We had Mikken make it like the swords of the Free Cities."

"These are not made to cut heads off but to pierce holes in the opponent," Arthur said as he placed it in Arya's hands. "Perfect for someone as skinny as you."

"But you will have to work at it every day." Arya was already waving it to test it. She had some practice with swords but did not have a sword of her own yet and of live steel too. "How does it feel? Do you like the balance?"

"Yes!" she said much happier than before.

"We should have given it more thought Jon." Said Arthur smiling. "Poor Bran will be dragged into never-ending fights now…"

"Gods…" Jon whispered as he messed up Arya's hair. "Go easy on him will you?"

"I will," Arya assured. "When I see it fit…"

"And hide it from the royals," Arthur added. "They will be with their pride shattered when a girl waves her sword better than the Crown Prince."

"Arthur." Jon scolded as Arya giggled.

"Sorry…" Arthur said with his head low. "Or not…"

"I wish you both could come as well…" Arya murmured with a sad face. "It would be so much better."

"It will just be a year Arya," Arthur said as he clapped her shoulder. "We will be here waiting for the next champion of Winterfell to arrive and kick our arses to the dirt."

"We will miss you, little sister," Jon said. "But as Arthur said, it will be just a year."

"Now put the sword down and give us a hug," Arthur commanded and she did so, hugging them tightly and showering them with kisses. "Also…don't you wish to know what the name of your sword is?"

"Name?" she asked confused. "Does it have a name too?"

"All the best swords have names," Jon said smiling. "This one is named after your favorite thing…"

She seemed puzzled at first but then it came to her. "Needle!"

"Indeed." Both brothers laughed.

"Thank you both." she said as she made way to her chest to store it there.

Arthur and Jon said their farewells to the rest of their siblings and friends. Their mother showered them in more kisses and hugs before letting them say goodbye to their father.

"Winterfell will be yours for the next year." His father said with a shy smile. "It's not an easy task but I'm sure you two and Theon can pull it up."

"We won't let you down father," Arthur assured. "We will make you proud."

"You already do." His father agreed. "Remember everything me and your mother thought you. It will come in handy now."

"We will." Jon nodded as he hugged his father. "Winter is Coming."

"Winter is Coming." His father smiled. "Take care you both."

"Take care father," Arthur said while hugging his father as well. "Winter is Coming."

And with that, the royal party finally left Winterfell, the North was his responsibility and duty. He would prove is worth now.

Cassana Baratheon II

Dragonstone, Narrow Sea, Year 298 AC

Cassana was peeking through the door of the Lord's chamber…her father was there writing some documents…and…

"Cassana are you to stay there for the rest of the day?" Her father inquired. "I'm sure you have lessons to attend with your Septa that will certainly be more productive."

Septa Mordane…to the woman Cassana was certainly a heathen…Mordane was nice but very strict…she more than complimented Cassana's abilities and qualities as a lady but also scolded without stop for her more boyish behaviors. Not that Cassana ever cared about her scolding…

"I wanted to inquire you about something father." Cassana began as she approached her sire.

"And what is it?" Her father asked back, his gaze falling upon her.

"Why have you left King's Landing in such short notice?"

Her father studied for a while…She didn't spend much time with him as he mostly spent his days in the capital, doing his duty as Master of Ships but every time he came to do his duty as a husband and as a father, Cassana would always try to play as much as she could with him.

He wasn't the perfect father, far from it, she came to find out that her father was uncomfortable around women and well…Cassana was a woman. But he never denied her of anything and gave his best to make her someone with a future.

"What is your guess?" Another thing her father liked to do with her was putting her brain to work with difficult questions…usually, she liked the challenge but today she was not really in the mood for it.

"Something happened at King's Landing that placed your life at danger." she suggested.

Her father smiled one of his rare and shy smiles. "You are certainly a bright woman," he confessed. "Your mother and even Ser Davos thought I had another quarrel with your uncle Robert and to an extent, they right as I indeed had one."

"That is not surprising," Cassana confessed. "And because it was not surprising and actually quite normal, it could never be that the reason for you to leave your position."

"A good reasoning." Her father admitted.

"Are you tell me what happened?" she insisted, she wanted answers.

"No." he plainly said. "You are still too young to understand…"

"I'm fourteen father!" she hissed bitterly. "You just told me that I am a bright person and frankly I doubt I wouldn't understand it. Am I not worthy of knowing?"

"Let us forget about this," he said. "The Septa should be waiting for you and if not her, then Velaryon should."

"But this not…"

"Go on with your duty." And that placed her on her place…or so he thought…she would get her answers.

When the afternoon came she was fighting with Jaehon, angrily because no one told her anything, not father, not Jaehon, not mother, no one did. She had to find out everything on her own and she was tired of it.

"You should calm yourself Cassana," Jaehon suggested. "Your movements have no precision, if it were a battle, you could very well be dead."

"And what do you know about battles anyway?" she retorted angrily. "You said you hate to fight and you are barely older than me so can you know?"

"He has spilled blood already, young Lady Cassana."

She and Jaehon glanced the woman who spoke, she was standing there by the courtyard. A woman of long copper hair and pale skin, with full breasts and a slender figure concealed in a long robe of bright red fabric. There was a red and gold choker with a huge bright ruby around her neck…

"Who are you?" Cassana inquired, she never saw this woman before. "And how do you know my name?"

"You are Lord Stannis Baratheon's daughter," she replied with a deep and weird accent as she began walking towards them. "Everyone on this island knows your name, My Lady."

"And yet I do not know yours and I certainly do not like it." Cassana retorted as she was getting confused with Jaehon's weird and hypnotized look as the woman walked towards them.

"You may call me Melisandre," she said with a smile. "I'm…"

"A Red Priestess." Jaehon completed and she sighed mentally for him returning to his normal self.

"Indeed young Jaehon Velaryon who they call the Sea Dragon," she said with an amused look, a weird smile on her face. "Is it true what they say of sea dragons? That they ate krakens?" How did she know he was called Jaehon? And how did she know he was a Velaryon? And what did this talk about sea dragons and krakens meant?

"According to legend yes," Jaehon replied expressionlessly. "I'm quite sure if another is to be spotted it will be with a kraken in its mouth."

"Very interesting…" The woman said as she stood in front of Jaehon glancing him from up and down. "I have seen you in the flames…"

"I have no wish to know about my future." Jaehon dismissed while Cassana was still confused with it all. "Surely you did came here to Westeros talk of a disinherited man."

"I have not…but that doesn't mean I should abandon the notion," she whispered. "I have a job to do but it looks as if I have to wait a while more."

"And what job is that may I know?" Cassana inquired…she had never so confused in her life as she was now…more questions and fewer answers…great…

"You will find out soon enough, Lady Cassana." The woman bowed as she began walking away. "The night is dark and full of terrors and you and your family will need the light in what is to come."

Not too long after and the woman completely disappeared...Cassana did not know what in Seven Hells just happened there…

"Are you alright Cassana?" Jaehon asked.

"No I'm not!" she hissed bitterly. "What was all this?"

"I don't trust her," Jaehon confessed. "There is a weird aura about her…and many of the Red Priests are religious fanatics, making sacrifices to their god…fanatics are dangerous."

Then she remembered Jaehon's weird look and the realization came to her... "Were you…staring at her breasts?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Jaehon seemed to be caught off guard with her question or so she thought. "No." Was his reply. "She was walking towards me, I had to stare at her to see if she was not going to attack me somehow. I most certainly was not staring at her breasts…"

It wasn't the first time she noticed him staring where it could be considered inappropriate…his glances were fast and not common but she did catch him staring at her sometimes…he wasn't the only one though…man sometimes were a bunch of pigs. "If you say so…" she concluded with wary eyes. "Though I must agree with you, I don't trust her either…"

"She got here without anyone suspecting her…" Jaehon added.

"Perhaps I should send some soldiers to fetch her…"

"For some reason, I doubt it will do much…" he said. "If she wanted to kill us, she could do it if the things I heard about them Red Priest are true."

More questions…great… "I will order the soldiers to be more attentive nevertheless."

"I guess it doesn't hurt to do that."

"I also wanted to say that I'm going to King's Landing soon." she said.

That caught Jaehon by surprise. "Why?"

"My father refuses to tell me what happened there so if I want to know, I ought to go there myself." Cassana explained.

"Do you realize how awful it sounds?" he questioned her decision. "Your father left King's Landing for a reason and you want to go there hunting for a needle in a haystack?"

"I will be fine besides there is been a while since I last saw my nuncles." she dismissed his worries. "It will do me good to leave Dragonstone for once."

"It will do you no good to go to a nest of vipers."

"I know how to defend myself." she insisted. "I'm the King's niece, surely no one will dare to harm me!"

"Cassana you are a smart woman and so you can't believe in that." Jaehon retorted. "It's risky."

"Then come with me and shut up because I'm going anyway." she made her decision clear and it wouldn't be him convincing him otherwise.

Jaehon sighed defeated. "What they say about Baratheons is true…you are all stubborn as the Gods know what…"

"So you are coming or keep ranting to the air?"

"I can't let you go alone…" he admitted. "So I guess I will go with you. But all the blame is yours."

"Don't worry, I will take responsibility for it," she assured him. "Oh and don't stare at women's breasts as you just did."

"I wasn't staring at her breasts…" he declared in a sigh.

I'm going to find out what happened in the capital…why father left…If no one tells me the answers then I find them myself.

As always thank you for the reviews, they mean a lot to me. And that answer some of them:

raw66: Chaos is a ladder and Littlefinger will certainly look for chaos to ascend. The Starks are not out of the equation for him if it means he can profit from them being at war.

Prince of Petersburg: The notes of Chapter 1 do say how the Stark children look like and their personalities will be shown as it goes. Littlefinger will look to where he can profit so neither the Starks not the Baratheons are out of his plans. Your suggestion is interesting though.

The Guest speaking of Cregan Stark, times were different then. When Cregan came south everyone was weak from the war, the North, however, had been untouched by it. Here everyone is at their full might so any rash decision can cause a huge war.

C.S. Tolkien: I don't quite understand what you mean? Could you elaborate?

Now since I have been receiving suggestions on who should Jon marry I decided to create a poll with some of my thoughts, from the ones I prefer to those I don't really want...It will go in two rounds, each lasting a week. First-round will have all these candidates below and the second will have the three most voted ones. You can only vote in one. It will happen here and archiveofourown. So just make a review on who do you pick from:

-Wynafryd Manderly
-Alys Karstark
-Ygritte
-Meera Reed
-Wylla Manderly
-An Umber daughter of Greatjon
-A Mormont daughter of Maege
-Cassana Baratheon
-Val
-Margaery Tyrell
-Myrcella Baratheon

As always thank you for sparing time reading and I hope everyone has a nice day.