Jon Snow was a simple boy. Being the baseborn son of The Lord of Winterfell had warranted him many boons and just as many curses. The biggest of the boons was how he was treated, how he was taught on the same level as Lord Stark's trueborn son and heir, fed on the same table. He had formed bonds with all his true-born siblings. Well, almost all of them to be exact. Which was where the biggest curse came from.
Lady Catelyn Stark was not fond of him, to say the least, and she was not shy about showing it. Her behaviour had passed down to Sansa Stark, the eldest daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. But unlike her daughter, Catelyn Stark was vicious, snarky and outright nasty sometimes. Sometimes she would forget her lady teachings and would make sure Jon knew where he belonged. Jon when he was younger had defended this behaviour, telling himself that any lady would react like this if the stain on her honour lived in the same house that she did. But an event had changed it all. Jon had gone through something that changed his life and his outlook on it completely.
He was just a boy then, young and naïve. One nasty telling off had Jon running away from Winterfell in the dead of night. Jon did not remember much of that night, but at the same time, he remembered many things. Eyes of ravens and the sounds of their flapping wings and caws had led Jon to an old Weirwood deep in The Wolfswood, deeper than he had ever ventured. The tree was old, and its face looked more vicious and animal-like than the one Jon had seen in the godswood of Winterfell. It seemed to call for him and when Jon answered its call, Jon saw a whole lifetime from its eyes, Jon saw his own life through the eyes of the tree. And when he was done, he was a sobbing mess, curled in the snow and hiccupping. A man came to him that night, a man with silver hair, pale skin marred by a wine stain birthmark and a single crimson eye.
The man had taken Jon back home and had received the gratitude of Ned Stark and one favour, albeit the Lord of Winterfell was unsettled when talking to this man. The man had asked to join his men at arms, as a fighter. Ned Stark was hesitant but as he had promised, he agreed to it.
"Ten years have passed since the night I found you under the weirwood tree" Brynden spoke and Jon listened. "Ten years of me training you to wield a sword, learn the powers that I pass on to you."
"Bowen Marsh, Othell Yarwyck, Wick Whittlestick, and Alliser Thorne" Jon spoke softly, saying the names monotonously. 'And many more whose names you refuse to speak of. They were sacrificed to bring you back to life."
"Necessary sacrifices for the greater good. You've seen the kind of problems they create. Do you feel bad for them Jon?"
"No" the boy shook his head, a hand gently scratching the back of Ghost's ear. The wolf simply whined and nuzzled the hand. "I remember what they did to me. Or would have done to me. I don't feel bad for them: a pause, "the king's arrived. We could end it all right here right now if we wanted. One push and he's done for."
"And have your family here endangered? You know Cersei and you know how she'd act. She would have you all hanged and Robert would destroy the realm by killing her. We need to be smart about it, strike when the time is right."
"Even if waiting results in another war?"
"War is inevitable either way. But unlike how you saw things happen, we can change the flow to suit our wishes. But we need to be careful about how we do things."
Jon let out a soft grunt, looking back out of the window. From his position, he could see the royal party. Robert and Ned moved away while Cersei and her children were taken aside to their quarters. Jon's hand clenched into a fist before he relaxed again. "Daenerys?"
"Same as she was at this point" Brynden informed the boy. "I have my… friend looking over her for now. We can't do much to change her outcome yet, not without Robert knowing. We have to bide our time."
"How much longer" Jon grit his teeth in frustration. Daenerys Targaryen was but a small part of the memories that he was given all those years ago. Yet she was someone that Jon wanted to protect at all cost. He was family and unlike her brother she could be saved still. Saved from the fate forced upon her and him in the end.
"We have to be patient" Brynden insisted. "Daenerys will come to you when the time is right. And with her will come her dragons. We need her dragons."
"I need her more" Jon argued, his voice a rage-filled whisper.
"Patience" Brynden repeated and Jon spat in distaste. The one-eyed raven waited a moment before speaking again. "What will you do about your mother's side of the family in this conflict?"
"Save them obviously" Jon answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Uncle Ned will not lose his head in the capital. Robb will not be betrayed by his men. Sansa will not be raped by Ramsey Snow, Rickon will not be shot down by arrows and Arya will not become some faceless assassin."
"And Bran?"
"Bran only lived because of you, yes?" Jon asked and the man nodded his head, "I suppose if I can keep him from climbing then he can be saved" the boy muttered.
Brynden noted the tone of indifference in the words that Jon spoke. He was not surprised at it. Brynden had bet his powers on Bran and the result was a King who abused his powers to take the throne, his kin being made to kill one of his own and then banished. The knowledge did not please Brynden, The Raven was not someone that should rule over people, only watch over them. And even if a Raven was to rule, he'd rather it be from his blood than anyone else.
Jon's resentment for the Bran from his memories was more so because of what he had to do when Bran could have changed it all. The Jon from his memories was a man forged from a life of inferiority in Winterfell and not feeling like he was worthy of anything. The Jon now was a young man made through the trials of The Raven, fully aware of who he was, what he hailed from and what he deserved. He was not the same man, and this man did not take backstabbing lightly. Even if it was from family.
"Come, Lord Stark wanted you down there to greet the royal party. We should go before he realizes we weren't there."
"He won't realize" Jon stated calmly, yet readying himself to leave. "He's hardly one to question his anti-social 'son' who wouldn't want to bring dishonour to The Stark name."