284AC - One Year After Robert's Rebellion a.k.a. The War Of The Usurper
A year passed since House Targaryen was overthrown and defeated. On the Iron Throne sat the man who killed the Mad King's eldest son at what became known as the Ruby Ford.
King Robert of House Baratheon.
For a long time before that and long afterwards, Dacey and her sister Alysane dreamed of the day they could take up arms to fight for the Starks and to be counted among their loyal bannermen.
Eddard Stark, the second son of the late Rickard Stark, the new Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell, was a man full grown at one and twenty. From the tales her lady mother told her, Dacey saw him as a great leader of men and, in her mind, the uncrowned King of Winter. When Eddard Stark had to bring his lord father's remains along with those of his elder brother, Brandon, and his sister, Lyanna, back to Winterfell for burial. Dacey and Alysane mourned along with the rest of the North for the slain Starks and cursed the Targaryen name with every fiber of their being.
When news of Eddard's sons celebrating their first namedays reached Bear Island, Dacey sent a raven to Lord Eddard Stark, asking for a stay in Winterfell so she could meet her future liege lords in person. Alysane stayed on Bear Island to watch over their youngest sister of two tender years, Lyra, while their mother ran Mormont Keep.
Within two days, Dacey Mormont, a girl of seven, arrived in Winterfell with the aid of House Glover. Lord and Lady Stark were there to greet her. Lord Eddard was solemn and stoic at times but embraced her warmly. Lady Catelyn was more reserved but smiled kindly to the young girl.
Robb Stark and Jon Snow were in the same room though their cribs were kept at a distance from each other. Dacey did not have to guess why. Lord Eddard wanted to keep them together but Catelyn wanted to keep Robb from being close to his bastard brother.
Eddard and Catelyn watched as the young girl whispered something to the wet nurse who watched over the two infant boys. Within a moment, a comfortable chair was set between the two cribs and Dacey sat on it. Lady Catelyn smiled at seeing Dacey hold Robb until the wet nurse picked Jon Snow up from his crib and put into Dacey's arms alongside her infant son. Eddard kept a hand on Catelyn's shoulder to keep her from protesting as Dacey cradled the two boys in her arms.
It did not matter to Dacey that the auburn haired, blue eyed child was high born or that the black haired, grey eyed child was not high born. To her, they were Starks and Dacey loved them right away.
One night during her stay in Winterfell, Dacey happened to overhear Lord Stark telling Catelyn of his plan of traveling to Castle Black with Jon Snow. "I may not be fond of him but Jon has not even left his crib. Does the Night's Watch recruit at such a young age?"
"They do not recruit so early in life, Catelyn. I want him to meet Benjen. Dacey Mormont's uncle is the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. I thought they would like to see each other as well."
Catelyn grew to love Eddard Stark over time. In the blink of an eye, she grew to hold an equal contempt for him but not so much as what she harbored against the child that lay in a crib next to the son she gave Eddard. The child he brought home after the war was a reminder to her that, for one time, Eddard Stark was not entirely honorable; that there was another woman out there who he loved more than her. "Leave him on the Wall or send him to Bear Island. Whatever decision you make, know that I will never embrace your bastard or count him among our children." Catelyn said bitterly at her husband, who looked at her with a wounded look in his eyes.
Dacey hid in the shadows as Catelyn stormed out towards the small Sept built on the grounds of Winterfell. The cold words of Catelyn Stark would resonate in Dacey's mind for years.
In the morning, Eddard Stark rode out with Rodrick Cassel and several Stark soldiers and a wheelhouse that carried Dacey Mormont and Jon Snow along with a wet nurse to watch over them both.
For the majority of the journey, the wet nurse gave assistance to Dacey, who seemed to be tethered to the little boy cradled in her arms. It reminded her of Lyra and how she and Alysane would hover over her, tending to her needs and playing with her while their mother was out hunting, training the soldiers and bowmen or running Mormont Keep.
Upon their arrival at Castle Black, Eddard Stark was welcomed directly by the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and former Lord of Bear Island, Jeor Mormont. The Old Bear was four and fifty yet possessed enough vigor and might to stand against any opposition, both old and young. He was a Northman true and through. He never forgot his family's pledge to the Starks or the strong ties that bound their houses together. "Lord Stark. Castle Black welcomes you and yours with open arms."
"It is good to see you, Lord Commander Mormont. I have someone else here who will be happy to see you." Eddard Stark said in time for Dacey to emerge from the wheelhouse and run up to join the Quiet Wolf and the Old Bear. "Uncle Jeor!"
"Dacey Mormont as I live and breathe." Jeor said as he knelt and wrapped his arms around the little girl as she hugged his neck. "It is so good to see you again." Jeor spoke as he held his little niece in a bear hug.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of such a visit?" Jeor asked as stewards tended to the horses while providing salt and bread as traditional tokens of guest right to the Warden of the North, the heir to Bear Island and the Stark guards. "I have come to visit my brother and to speak with you about a sensitive matter, Lord Commander." Lord Stark said solemnly but the Lord Commander knew there was more than what was being said.
Dacey held her uncle's hand the whole time until she remembered Jon was napping in the wheelhouse. "Uncle, I must check on Jon. May I be excused to see him?"
Jeor was surprised enough to momentarily lose his voice. With a nod from him, Dacey took off at a sprint. Looking back to the Lord of Winterfell, Jeor asked, "Is that what you needed to talk with me about?"
"It's a long story."
"A long story best told over many tankards of frothy, cold beer. I shall have a steward bring us a barrel or two. Gods be good, we'll need them."
While Eddard Stark and Jeor Mormont convened to the Lord Commander's chambers to talk privately, Dacey Mormont searched for Jon. She found him on the knee of Maester Aemon nearby the rookery as the wet nurse stood at his side. "I heard there was a little girl and an infant boy on the grounds. For a moment, I did not know where I was. Then I heard the sounds of clashing steel and Alliser Thorne's voice. Am I right to say you are the Lord Commander's eldest niece?"
Dacey looked up at the old man and introduced herself. "Dacey Mormont of Bear Island. How do you do?"
"In spite of my blindness, I do quite well, thank you. The boy is good company. Better than most I can think of and better trained. In some cases, I venture to say he's more housebroken than most of the mongrels who came from the Southron prison cells." Maester Aemon said as he handed Jon Snow over to Dacey, who kissed the infant on the forehead tenderly. "He's taken a liking to you just like I'm sure his brother has."
"For a blind man, you see a lot." Dacey said. Though the old man did not show himself as a threat, there was something about him that did not sit well with her. If she knew he was the blood of the dragon, Dacey would have taken Jon from his side and ran to her uncle in alarm.
"Why has Lord Stark brought you here to Castle Black? The Night's Watch does not recruit women. The child is too young to even know what the Night's Watch is."
"Lord Stark wanted to speak with the Lord Commander and visit his brother. I wanted to visit my uncle. It was happenstance that we would both venture to the same place." Dacey said as Jon stirred in her arms, signaling that he was hungry. "Go see Three Finger Hob and he'll fix something up for you and the boy."
"Thank you, Maester."
"It was a delight to meet you, Dacey Mormont." Maester Aemon said as Dacey walked towards the mess hall with Jon Snow in her arms.
Upon returning to Winterfell, Lady Catelyn watched as Eddard Stark dismounted his horse along with his guards. Dacey emerged from the wheelhouse with Jon Snow in her arms, wrapped in warm furs.
Catelyn gave Eddard a stare that was colder than the waters in the Bay of Ice during winter. He simply walked away from her as she continued glaring at him.
"Lady Stark."
Catelyn's attention was now on the 7 year old girl holding her lord husband's bastard in her arms. "I will take him back to his crib. Robb must have missed us while we were at Castle Black."
Catelyn could not trust her own tongue in front of the little girl who was more of a Northerner than she would ever be. A nod was just enough to show acknowledgment. Dacey walked away, cradling Jon Snow tenderly and carefully in her arms as if he were her own.
"Even if that red haired harpy does not say it, I love you, Jon. Never forget that." Dacey said as she kissed his forehead.
A/n: This will go a long way with setting up what comes next. I thank Dovah-wolfbear64, LadyKatherine29 and Marah Lane for their support and their reviews. It means a lot. Even if I only got 5 reviews so far, I value those reviews greatly. Review if you can but be police and constructive when you do. If you like the story, great. If not, do not try to demoralize my momentum or my ability to write through the reviews. Thank you.