Am I my Brother's Keeper, Yes I Am

by Alperez16

A different choice after the Battle of the Bastards brings another Stark back from the dead. Together with his brother how does Rickon Stark's living change the Game and what do another King in the North and his bastard brother mean in regards to the return of House Targaryen. An idea suggested by my good friend and co-writer Leilani972 that I just couldn't resist jumping on board

13. Spring or Winter,Prince is still Prince

King's Landing/White Harbor 303/304 AC.

Dany.

On the whole, the swearing of fealty went well. There were questions regarding the North of course but those would soon be answered and if they went how she hoped they would, much to her satisfaction. The West had been complicated somewhat, there were far more Lannisters alive than she'd expected and many with competing claims both on Casterly Rock itself and on the Wardenship. Taking Olenna's advice she'd named Ser Daven Lannister as her new Warden of the West and the man had agreed to march men North without question. Though he had told her that the number of men they had to call upon was greatly reduced from what it had once been.

In regards to the Rock, Tyrion's aunt Genna named him a Kinslayer and said he had no right to it or its lands and while Dany was almost tempted to agree, she'd already come to an arrangement with Tyrion, one that she was loathed to go back on. In the end, a compromise of sorts was hit upon. Genna would act as Lady of Casterly Rock until Tyrion was ready to take up his position and her oldest living son Lyonel was officially named as Tyrion's heir unless Tyrion had a child of his own. To him, it was yet another slight that she felt Tyrion didn't accept gracefully and both Olenna and Varys pondered on whether or not Lady Genna would seek to see some accident befell him.

Dany found she cared not if one did, his advice to her had almost cost her everything and his attitude regarding Jon had only grown even worse. Varys telling her of drunken insults being spoken about the part Jon played in the taking of her throne and how his own part was exaggerated greatly at times. Idle words she could accept for now, for she had much bigger things to worry and concentrate on. The Vale had not answered her call and so she was tempted to take Drogon and Viserion and fly to the Eyrie herself, only her eagerness to head North stopping her from doing so. Dorne it seemed was relatively content, though there were some who felt that Princess Sarella should be forced to wed one of her Bannermen, something that both the girl in question and Dany herself would not allow. Both the Riverlands and newly formed Crownlands were happy with their situations, Edmure Tully agreeing to march men North and Aurane Velaryon agreeing to help man King's Landing and the surrounding lands.

Asha had set sail for the Iron Islands and yet Theon had asked to stay and would join her on her journey North. His debt to the Starks was something that he wished to pay back should they allow him to. A debt was what Jaime Lannister seemed to owe too. Melisandre told her that his debt was one more than twenty years in the making and one that though she may not wish him to pay, she needed to allow him to. That the woman would say no more was frustrating and had she not arrived with Jon and proved her usefulness many times over, then Dany would have ignored her words.

The Reach provided a welcome respite. Olenna running it as smoothly as she did the rest of Dany's kingdoms and the wisdom of having her as Hand had been made abundantly clear more than once. Lady Desmera Redwyne was to be named as Olenna's heir and as the Lady of Highgarden, though there had been a surprise too when Olenna's daughter Janna had announced she was with child. Dany wondered if the lady would seek to name that babe her heir if it turned out to be a boy since she had no wish to name any of her other grandsons in her stead.

"All done my queen." Missandei said as Dany looked at herself in the looking glass, her thoughts no longer on Seven Kingdoms and instead focussed on simply one.

"All is prepared?" she asked and Missandei nodded.

Dany rose to her feet and together with Missandei left the rooms she'd had completely redecorated and named her own. Queens Chambers that for now, she spent her nights in alone and she shivered in delight a the thoughts that soon that may not be so. Walking through the Red Keep with Ser Jorah and Grey Worm at her back and guards nodding to her as she passed, she felt as she had in Meereen, truly a queen. She'd been one in name only when she'd arrived on Dragonstone, the rightful and true one, but one without a crown. Now she wore a silver circlet on her head, the city was hers, the lands hers and she was about to set off and do what a true queen should. Fight for those who needed her protection.

That the lands she was traveling to had not named her queen as of yet, mattered little. Nor that it may take a marriage for them to agree to bend the knee. For had it not always been so? Was that not what she'd set out from Meereen with in her mind? To find a suitable man who'd be the best match politically and who would bring her the most benefit. Little had she known at the time just how suitable that man would turn out to be and just how much he'd bring her. Reaching the courtyard she smiled at those assembled there. Lady Olenna, Lord Varys, Lady Ellaria, Aurane Velaryon, not a full Small Council but enough for now.

"I wish you good fortune in the wars to come, my queen." Olenna said warmly.

"I thank you, Lady Hand."

"For Lord Snow." Olenna said handing her a letter.

"My queen" Varys said with a bow.

"I look forward to many whispers, Lord Varys, especially regarding the Vale."

"My little birds will see the songs are sung, my queen."

"My queen."

"Lord Velaryon."

"Be safe, my queen, I and Dorne pray for your success and your swift return to us." Ellaria said, her eyes still red from tears that had been spilled when saying her goodbyes to both her daughters who'd be sailing North with them.

"I shall do my best to see it so, and to see your girls return with me." she said to a thankful nod.

With a last look to the Red Keep behind her and dismissing the thoughts that she'd come here to take this city and this keep, to sit the Iron Throne and now far sooner than she'd have thought she was leaving it behind, she climbed up on her silver and once those with her were mounted, she rode from the courtyard and through the city.

There were cheers, worried looks, hopeful ones and it took them some time to reach the dock where their ship awaited. Almost the entirety of the fleet had been loaded already and had set off. The ship that she, Missandei, and those closest to her would sail on amongst the last to leave. On deck, she could see someone who was mayhaps even more eager than she to be underway. Wylla looked impatient to be on her way, to be sailing North and to see the same man that Dany herself truly longed to see. In the sky both her sons flew in circles, eager themselves to see their brother once more and so once she and her silver were on board, she gave the order to set sail.

There were even more ships in this armada than had been in the one she'd brought to Westeros. Dornish spears, Reach knights, her Khalasar, and Unsullied and supplies to feed, clothe and arm them all. Others would ride to the North, men of the West and Riverlands and despite it being the largest army ever assembled, a part of her feared it would not be enough. As she stood on the deck and watched the city fade in her view she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned expecting to see Missandei standing there, only to find herself face to face with Wylla instead.

"We'll see him soon, my queen, you have my thanks for making it so." Wylla said softly and Dany could see the longing in the older woman's eyes.

"Is he who I believe him to be?" she asked softly, Wylla having told her little if anything to name Jon as true other than making it so that all the pieces fit.

"He is the song that's yet to be sung, my queen. The Prince that was Promised. He is their song, the song of ice and fire." Wylla said and Dany felt her heart stir at the words.

As the ships sailed and the weather began to turn, Dany found herself relieved that her own visit to the North had been enough to prepare her and those with her for what it was they would face. Her Khalasar was used to the cold nights in Essos but compared to what they'd face in the North those nights were sweet summer ones. The Unsullied and the Dornish forces were used to far warmer weather and those from the Reach too had never truly fought in Winter.

Jon had given her some furs and clothing to bring back with her, Dany then tasking Missandei and the women of the Khalasar to come up with something akin to it. They would probably need more once they got to the North itself, but the army she was bringing was relatively well provisioned in this regard. As they were with weapons and food, though truly that would depend on the enemy they faced and how they adapted to the way of fighting that they'd need to use to beat them. It could not be how they fought up to now, both Jon and Jorah having told her that large charges across the lands of the North in the snow would not be effective. It was why she'd asked for it to be Jon who commanded her armies and not Jorah or Grey Worm. Both men respected him and would follow his lead, and Jon had proved he understood tactics, but his experience in the North would be just as vital to their hopes of victory.

When she saw White Harbor come into view, it took her breath away. The city was as white as its name suggested and the smell of the fish and seafood being cooked at the docks and beyond made her stomach rumble just a little. She heard the worried shouts when her children flew overhead and so she directed them to land far outside the city. As they marched she'd take to the skies and do her best to resist the urge to fly to Winterfell which she knew she'd soon be feeling. They were welcomed by a rotund knight who named himself Ser Wylis Manderly and who took issue with Ser Jorah being by her side.

"Your grace, welcome to White Harbor." the knight said before his eyes were drawn to Ser Jorah and courtesy was forgotten "You have some gall to set foot back in the North, Mormont. Be thankful that you come as part of her grace's entourage or else you'd lose your head by nightfall."

"Ser Jorah is commander of my Queensguard, Ser Wylis, and shall be spoken to with respect." she said angrily.

"The man is a slaver, your grace, and the North will seek his head." Ser Wylis said not looking at her when he spoke.

"Then they'll need to take mine own to get it, Ser Wylis, and they'll find that no easy task."

For a few moments, she felt that the knight may be about to take that risk, only for him to shrug his shoulders and offer her the comfort of the New Castle while the army disembarked, Dany refusing to accept it after his harsh words to Jorah. So it was later that day that they left the city behind, she, her Unsullied who had landed in half the time that it took others to do and some of the Khalasar, the rest to follow.

"I had meant to bring that up, Khalessi. How the North would react to my presence. Ned Stark sentenced me to death and there are those who take his word as if it was spoken by the Old God's themselves still." Jorah said as they rode through the lands outside White Harbor.

"Yet Jon never sought it did he?" she asked to a shake of Jorah's head "And you would say he too would have lived up to such words would you not?"

"Aye, as much if not more than any man, Khalessi."

"There are those who would seek Jon's head too, Jorah, who'd name him a traitor and oathbreaker and yet he is anything but. Whatever crimes you committed against the North are no matter, for you've more than atoned for them over the years and should any have an issue with what you did in the past, then let them bring it up with me and face my scorn and contempt for doing so."

"It could cause problems, Khalessi, the North Remembers." Jorah said and Dany reached out her hand and touched his own, a hand that had been covered in Greyscale, not more than a year earlier.

"As do I, Jorah, as do I."

She felt it when she camped that night, the overwhelming need to fly and though the night was far too cold for such, she cared not. Despite the protests from Jorah and Grey Worm and the worried looks from Missandei, she had felt the call and she was determined to answer it. So she made her way to Drogon and spoke softly to him and to Viserion, her children keener even than she to be in the air, and then a few moments later they were.

The air was cool on her face and blew her hair back, the hood on her cloak down despite the chill. In the sky. Above her the moon shined brightly and each of the stars looked as large as she'd ever seen them. It was clear, not a cloud in sight and as she looked at the ground below she could see the reflections of the stars shining in the streams and rivers that she flew over. When she heard the roar ring out it brought a smile to her face, Drogon and Viserion quickly answered their brother's call. Her smile grew even larger when the Green Dragon came into view and then more so when she saw the figure on its back.

Winterfell 304 AC.

Jon.

He felt it, the call resounding through every fiber of his body. His very blood called out for him to answer it and he was powerless to do anything but give in. After making excuses and speaking to Tormund and Davos, the former acting as a shield of sorts and setting up a hunting party that he could slip away from unnoticed, Jon spoke to Rickon and told him that he needed to go and see Rhaegal and that he'd been gone until the morrow at least.

His brother seemed to understand and Jon was grateful for that small mercy. As he was for the ride to where Rhaegal had made a nest of sorts since it allowed him time to gather his thoughts. For some reason, he knew what the call was, or at least suspected it and if he was right, then it would mean that he would be seeing Dany sooner than he'd expected. While that thought was one he much enjoyed, it brought with it some worries too. Worries that even his conversation with Rickon after he'd laid out his plans in the Great Hall had not completely removed. His brother's offer and his own belief that Dany would feel a certain way were not enough to make him forget a lifetime of being told he was not nor would ever be good enough.

"Why?" he asked as he stood in his brother's room, Rickon looking at him to see if he was upset or just curious, finding it to be the latter Jon hoped.

"You know why."

"Why not speak to me first?" he asked, again curiosity and not anger his tone.

"I wanted you to react naturally, Jon, to act how you did, and to feel the truth in the words you spoke." Rickon said, catching him by surprise.

"How do you know I spoke the truth? How do you know that I didn't just hold my tongue because my king was speaking and to call him out would be bad politics?" he asked and Rickon chuckled.

"Because you're not that good a mummer, Jon. You may care for politics and not wish to undermine my rule, but you lead with your heart too. You're not Bran, Jon, thank the old gods for that." Rickon said and Jon smirked as he took his seat "It is what you want isn't it?" Rickon asked a moment later, his brother's voice was far less sure than it had been a moment earlier.

"Aye." he said before sighing far more loudly than he'd intended.

"Jon?"

"What if it's not what she wants? I've nothing to offer her, brother. No lands, no titles, I know where Tyrion would come out on the idea of this match and he may not be…"

"Fuck Tyrion Lannister, fuck any of them who think you're not good enough. You are my brother, the son of a Stark who carries the oldest bloodline in Westeros in his veins. And that's just on one side of your family tree, Jon. So fuck them and let them dare say you're not good enough, they'd better do it far from my hearing though." Rickon said angrily and Jon felt something he'd not known but a few times in his life, he felt supported, truly and unconditionally and he rose from his seat to walk to his brother, embracing him as tightly as he could for doing so "You're my brother, Jon, to me, there is nothing that makes you more worthy than who you are."

"Thank you, brother." he said mussing his hair and being slapped on the hand for doing so, Rickon smiling all the while "Besides you won't' be going to her and offering nothing."

"Rickon?"

"The North, Jon, you'll be bringing her the North."

He'd argued, they'd argued, well not a true one and more a heated discussion. Rickon named him as the rightful king and Jon told him it was never something he wished for. His brother countering with the fact that he'd not wished to be King in the North or Lord of Winterfell and yet fate and blood had brought them both to his door. When he'd brought up that Dany was queen and had won by right of conquest, Rickon had said that he was not suggesting he usurp her throne, only that he share it with her. That the North would kneel to a son of Stark and more importantly, that he was the dragon that Rickon himself intended to kneel to.

It hadn't removed his doubts and he'd found others soon joining them. Yet as he saw Rhaegal, as he climbed up on the Green Dragon's back, he tried to remove them from his mind and enjoy the flight to come. Something that he very much did. Flying seemed to bring a sense of peace to him that he'd rarely known. Soaring through the sky and almost being able to touch the very stars themselves was an experience like no other and one that only one other person in the world would understand. Not even the cold winter night's air was enough to spoil the experience and so lost was he in it that he didn't notice the other two dragons when they came into sight. Rhaegal's roar of greeting being the first inkling he got that he was no longer alone and seeing her on Drogon's back, the wind blowing her silver hair back and what he believed was a smile on her face, was a sight he'd take with him to his grave.

"Dany." he said softly as Rhaegal roared once more, to his brothers or mother, or to them all, Jon couldn't be sure.

They flew a little longer together, all three dragons welcoming the chance to be able to do so after some time apart while it seemed that Dany too was simply enjoying their nighttime flight. It was he who directed Rhaegal to land and he picked a place that was both open and sheltered at the same time. A place where they would be safe and undisturbed and as he climbed down off Rhaegal's back, he looked to see Dany doing likewise off Drogon's. The urge to run to her was strong and yet one he resisted, instead going to Rhaegal and thanking him for allowing him to share this with him. Then to his and Dany's surprise, the three dragons took to the sky once more, this time riderless. He stood watching them for some time, the dragons seeming to be playing in front of his eyes and it was only when they were gone from his sight that he moved.

"Dany." he said, the words like an expiration of breath.

"I...Jon." her reply telling him all he needed to know and stopping him from doing what he truly wished to.

"You know?" he asked softly unable to look her in the eye, fearful of what she may be thinking or about to say.

"I know. Blood of my Blood." she said, taking his hands in her own and forcing him to look at her.

Her expression was not one he expected, but it was the one he'd hoped to see. There was no anger, recrimination, or hint of betrayal in how she looked at him. Instead, there was an eagerness, a willingness for him to be who she now knew him to be.

"I didn't know, Dany. I swear it. When I arrived, when I left, I didn't know." he said while holding his breath.

"I know enough about you to know that's true, Jon. Jon, is that your name?" she asked and he both nodded and shook his head at the same time.

"I…I don't know."

He felt her squeeze his hands and then before he could stop himself, he was kissing her deeply. She didn't pull back or resist and showed no signs that it was not what she wanted and so the kiss went on for some time and would have done for longer were it not for the cold breeze that blew.

"We should set a fire." he said to a nod from her and so he moved to gather some wood and less than a few moments later they were sitting facing each other with a fire burning between them, something that felt apt for some reason.

"It was Olenna and Varys, Jon. They worked it out somehow. I believe Olenna may have suspected for some time and set Varys to the task of finding out for true." Dany said as he handed her some of the food he'd brought with him and she ate it sparingly.

"Why? Why would Olenna wish to know?" he asked.

"It's who she is. More so now as my Hand, but I think it's who she is. In that regard, she's a little like Tyrion, had he suspected I believe he'd have done likewise…though…"

"Dany?"

"I fear he'd not have told me."

"Aye, he may not have. When I left to come back North, the first night I flew brought me to High Heart, you know of it?" he asked to a shake of Dany's head "It's not far from Harrenhal in the Riverlands and is to those of us who follow the Old Gods, a sacred place. It's said that the Andals killed the Children of the Forest, the animals that served them, and their First Men allies when they fought them there. They cut down the Weirwoods and all that remains of them now are stumps."

He looked over to see she was rapt in her attention to the words he was speaking, her eyes almost examining him from head to toe as she looked for something he knew not.

"I met a woman there who told me a tale of our house, our family." he said noticing how Dany smiled at his use of our "She claimed she was the mother of Jenny of Oldstones, you know the tale, the song?" he asked to a shake of Dany's head.

It took him some time to tell her of Jenny and Prince Duncan, of Summerhall and the prophecy that the Ghost of High Heart had given to his great grandfather, Dany's grandfather, and how it had led to Aerys and Rhaella being wed. Dany ate up every word like a starving babe, even more so when he began to speak of his father and what the Ghost had said about him. Jon then told her how she'd asked him to sing and named him a bard just like his father before him.

"You can sing?" Dany asked with a large smile on her face.

"Aye, though I knew it not at the time."

"So if I asked you to sing for me?" she asked playfully and he nodded, though he didn't sing right then, instead speaking words he'd not done to anyone else as of yet.

"I feared that I was a child born of Rape, Dany." he said before taking a deep breath "The tales I'd heard of my father were such that they were all I knew and I knew no reason to question them."

"My brother wasn't…"

"Aye, I know. I know the truth of my father, of my mother and yet for so long I'd known only the lies and I hate that I ever believed them, Dany, that even for once I believed them." he said his voice breaking as he spoke and before he could speak more, Dany had gotten up from where she'd been sitting and now sat beside him.

"He was a good man, Jon, I know he was." she said softly and he felt her arm around his shoulders as she offered him comfort that he welcomed.

"When I returned to Winterfell I found my mother's things. All my life they'd been there as had she and my uncle had kept them and her from me. I…" he swallowed the words he was about to speak on his uncle, not willing to let hate be what he spoke of as of yet, not after what he'd said about his father "My mother's maiden cloak, some toys she or my father had made for me and her journal. They loved each other Dany, with all they were they loved each other and this fucking world killed them both for it." he said angrily, unable to stop himself "I…my brother, my sister, my grandmother….my father and mother, I've…" he took her hand in his and brought it to his face kissing it softly "We've lost too much."

They sat in silence, Dany resting her head on his shoulder, her arm around his back making sure he wouldn't move and he felt so weak and so in need that he accepted the comfort of her without offering her much of his own. Eventually, though he moved and turned to look at her, seeing the tears she'd shed over the tale he'd told and the losses they'd gone through.

"When I was at the Wall I met our granduncle, Aemon, we spoke of him." he said to a nod of her head, a smile on her face at the thoughts that he'd at least met someone of their blood before now, "He told me something, something at the time I'd known not how to take and didn't truly understand. I understand it now, finally."

"What did he say?"

"A Targaryen alone in the world is a terrible thing, Dany. He told me that and I know it to be true." he said rising to his feet and helping her up so that she was facing him "I'm not alone anymore, Dany. We're not alone anymore."

On the road to Winterfell 304 AC.

Wylla.

For more than twenty years she had waited. Waited for them to call for her and to tell her story, his story. She had hated Eddard Stark for so long, first for not accepting he was to stand for her Prince's rights, for hiding him as a bastard, and for keeping her from coming to Winterfell, stating that his wife would think her the mother of his nephew. Then for not sending news of her Prince as he had promised he would. Yet there wasn't much she could do about it as she had been needed in Starfall after Edric's birth and she couldn't do much either since she wasn't from a noble family.

She remembered the excitement she felt when she was called to King's Landing. She had been wary of the new Queen's intentions, but seeing her smile when she spoke of Wylla's Prince made her realize she was genuine in her feelings. It reminded her of how Prince Rhaegar used to smile when he was looking at Princess Lyanna and she almost opened up to her. Almost, yet she resisted because she felt her duty was to talk to him first.

Young Edric was surprised to see her in King's Landing and then on the ship, but the truth of her willingness to see the one she'd nursed so many years ago and considered as her own child was enough for him not to insist, thankfully.

Queen Daenerys was eager to know more, more about Prince Rhaegar and his relationship with Princess Lyanna, and Wylla had to hand it to the woman in that she was very understanding when she was being turned down. While she on the other hand could understand her need to know much about her family. Instead, Wylla spoke about Rhaegar and his friendship with Ser Arthur Dayne.

"Those two were brothers by choice. Nobody could deny it. Whenever Rhaegar went, Arthur would follow. They had huge fights every time Rhaegar suggested leaving to appease the situation. Arthur wanted to go with him but Rhaegar feared he would be punished by his father for his role in Lyanna's disappearance, and he wanted to make sure someone he could trust stayed by his wife's side. Arthur did not want to hear this, and he relented only when Rhaegar informed him that Lyanna was with child. That was when Arthur brought me from Starfall to the Tower of Joy and things started to change between the Kingsguard and the Princess."

Someone else had started to regard her strangely when he'd asked about her presence on the ship.

"She is Jon Snow's wet nurse." The Red Woman answered for her. "She wanted to see him and to talk to him."

"Oh, so the Queen decided to give the Bastard a reunion with his wet nurse out of kindness? How... Nice of her to do so." The former White Cloak sneered.

"You should focus on what is waiting for you in Winterfell, instead of antagonizing anyone else, Lannister." the priestess retorted.

"And just what is waiting for me in Winterfell?" Ser Jaime asked and Wylla could see just how eager he was to know.

"The truth that you will have to face, about yourself and the things you did for love."

Wylla felt confused but happy to see the man's smirk fade. She was a Dornishwoman and had heard a lot of things about Jaime Lannister since the end of the Rebellion. While she couldn't fault him for killing Aerys Targaryen as her Princess would have killed him herself if she had the opportunity, she blamed him still for what had happened to Princess Elia and her children.

She kept her impatience in check by watching Edric spar with Tyene Sand and Sarella Martell. The little boy she nursed was now a man, and he had finally been given leave to become the new Sword of the Morning. She felt so much pride seeing him wield Dawn as his uncle previously did, and to know he was about to protect the Realm along with her Prince made her emotional. even though she was more amused at that moment. Wyla smirked when they all kept complaining about the growing cold as they grew closer to White Harbor and it reminded her of Lyanna's tales about the North.

"I just can't with this heat. Seriously. It feels as if the Sun itself wants me to suffer." the Princess said jokingly.

"Yet you refuse to wear anything else than your breaches, Princess. Why is that? This dress would make your life so much easier..."

"You're right, but... My brother Benjen offered it to me, along with this shirt. Soon I will not be able to wear them, and this is the last remaining thing I have from my family."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."

"All is well, Wylla. I am just... I miss the North. I miss Benjen and our daily rides into the Wolfswood. I miss seeing the summer snows and bathing in the hot springs. I know I will not be welcome there for a long time after the Rebellion, but I hope… No. One day I will show you, Wylla. We will travel there and I will show you and this little one the wonders of the North."

The Princess could be sad sometimes, most of the times when she thought about her family and the troubles she had caused by leaving with Prince Rhaegar, but she was determined to endure whatever scorn the North would throw at her and she was also adamant that they would hear reason when Rhaegar would give them proof of his innocence. She still couldn't believe how things had ended up this out of control and while she had mourned Brandon's loss, she had blamed Rickard and Ned as much as she had blamed herself.

The travel from White Harbor to Winterfell felt excruciatingly long for Wylla. They were surrounded by snow and she was grateful that both her Prince and the Queen had been foreseeing, for the journey would be much harder on them had they not been warned of how cold it could get. The Dothraki clearly were as the Dornish, not used to the snow at all, yet Wylla could see beauty in the snowy scenery around them. It was a whole new world to her, a world she only heard about through Lyanna's tales and she found that, as her Princess said when they met, it was leagues from what she had imagined.

Would it be the same with her Prince?

She had wanted to ask the Queen about him, but didn't want to cause much trouble or to give too much away by being emotional, so she had settled on one of her followers. The woman though came to her before she could ask her anything. Her red attire and the way people feared her made Wylla wary, yet the words she said had soon warmed her heart.

"You want to know if my Prince is worthy."

"Your Prince?" Wylla repeated, unsettled.

"I suppose he was yours long before he was mine... I can however assure you that he is worthy."

"How can I be certain?"

"The Lords of the North are oft to say that he has his father's sense of justice and a strong attachment to his family, but we both know that it comes from his mother." the woman said with a smirk, making her own smile grow. "Oh he has some of his father in him, this is true, but not in the way they think. He has an immense sadness in him, one that is only tempered with being around his loved one."

"Are you sure about her, too?"

"I am. You will see them together and any doubt you'll have will be erased instantly." the woman said firmly.

"I hope you're right, my Lady."

"Just Melisandre. I am not a Lady."

"Will you tell me more about him?" Wylla had asked eagerly, happy to see the Red Woman nod.

She had wept. For how the boy had been treated by his mother's family and then sent to end his life at the Wall when he should have been King. For all the hardships he had to endure and the betrayals he had to face before finding his way back to his family. He was now supporting his cousin who he thought of as his brother and who was King in the North when it was he who should be the one ruling all Seven Kingdoms. Wylla had thanked the Red Woman for bringing him back from the dead and prayed to the Seven that they would protect him and to both the Old Gods and R'hllor too, though she believed in neither. And then she vowed to herself to never leave his side once she would get to see him once more.

The North/Winterfell 304 AC.

Dany.

The words he said resounded in her head, the way he said them showing that he spoke the truth as clearly as any evidence that could be provided would ever do. Hearing someone else speak of her family, their family, in such a way was something she never understood how much she needed until Jon did so. For as much as in the end she'd come to hate her brother, he was like her a Targaryen and as Jon had put it so truly, A Targaryen alone in the world was a terrible thing. To not be alone any longer was something she welcomed greatly, to not only find that more of her blood lived but that he like her wished to be joined, was even more so.

After they'd spoken on what it meant that Jon was a Targaryen, they'd then spoken on what it truly meant that he was who he was. Not to the Realm or the world at large, but to them, to each other, and to their future. Hearing that he wished for what she wished for had been such a relief. As the thoughts that the truth of who he was may have changed how he felt about her were not ones that she wished to ponder on for long. When she'd spoken to him of what she'd been advised to do, she'd stood waiting with bated breath for his response, laughter not being the one she'd expected.

"Jon?" she asked confused as he stopped laughing when he saw her expression.

"It's nothing, just…do you ever get the feeling that those around you know you better than you know yourself?" he asked and she nodded, knowing that Missy knew what she would think or feel long before Dany herself did at times "My brother made the same suggestion, Dany. It seems those around us wish us to be wed."

"And you?" she asked nervously, smiling when he moved to her and kissed her softly, his grey eyes staring deep into her violet ones.

"You need to ask?" he said and she nodded her head "Aye, it's what I want. It's what I want more than anything I've ever wanted. Marry me, Dany, be my wife."

She had no words, they were lost to her and she was unable to form them and speak them and so she answered the only way she could. The kisses she delivered to him were many and she never wished them to end. Her head nodded and she felt her eyes grow wet as the tears of happiness wished to be let loose. Eventually, she was able to speak the words, and even though her voice was strained and husky with emotion, they sounded as sweet to her ears as they seemed to do to Jon's.

"I'll marry you, of course, I'll marry you." she said smiling beamingly.

They'd held each other for some time and had then been surprised when the dragons had returned. Surprised and disappointed as it had been the signal that their time together had come to an end, for now at least. Saying goodbye was even harder this time than it had been the last. Though Jon's whispered words that they'd see each other again before she made it to Winterfell and that once she had they could then begin to plan a wedding and a life together, were more than enough to make her accept their need to part.

It was just after noon that she arrived back at her army that had already begun their march. Missandei, Grey Worm, Jorah, and the others relieved to see her unharmed. From Drogon's back, it was to her Silver that she went, turning down the chance to stop and eat and instead doing so as they rode. Melisandre and Missy rode beside her with Grey Worm marching with the Unsullied and Jorah taking up his position behind her. Up front some of her Dothraki led the way and Dany had seen from upon Drogon's back that they had sent scouts on ahead to make sure their march was undisturbed and held no surprises.

"All went well, my queen?" Missy asked and Dany turned and smiled at her friend.

"More than well."

"You met with my prince?" Melisandre asked.

"We met. Jon is well." she said not wishing yet to have the conversation she knew she would soon need to have.

Melisandre looked at her, as did Missandei, both of them wearing almost identical smirks, and yet neither said anything more regarding her and Jon's meeting. When the weather begin to change and the cold wind began to blow, she called a halt to the day's march and ordered her men to set up their tents for the night. It was something that was welcomed by one and all and soon enough the fires were burning and men and horses alike were huddled around them.

It was after she'd eaten that night that she knew she couldn't hold back how she was feeling about her talk with Jon. Even during the meal, she'd found herself drifting off somewhat, wishing the meal was being held in the Great Hall of Winterfell and not in a tent on the road to there. Trying her best not to be disappointed in the company she kept while she ate and wished it was with others that she did so. So once it was over and done with, she knew she had no choice but to speak on all that had happened. Asking Missandei and Melisandre to stay along with Wylla, she readied to tell them that she and Jon were to wed.

"Jon knows the truth about who he is, he knows he's my nephew and that the man he thought his father was in fact his uncle. We spoke much on it and then on what it meant regarding how we felt about each other." she said as the three women looked to her with eager eyes, two on Jon's behalf she believed and one on her own "He wishes for us to wed and it seems the North wishes it too." she said, the last words bringing a smile to her face and to the others she was pleased to see.

"I am so happy for you, my queen….Dany." Missandei said when Dany reached out for her hand.

"As am I, your grace." Wylla said and Dany could see no reason to doubt her words, her eyes were then drawn to the last of the three women, Dany holding her breath as she waited for Melisandre to speak.

"I am most joyful at this news, your grace, most joyful. There is no better match in the realm than my prince and yourself, and I mean that not because of politics. No two people deserve to be happy more than you both and I know you will have R'hllor's favor in your union." Melisandre's words were far more effusive than she had expected and more than welcomed.

Talk soon turned to the preparations for the wedding itself, Missandei not needing to ask her whether or not she wished it to be held in Winterfell or to wait until they headed back south once the war was done. Her friend told her that she'd begin work on her dress as soon as she could and that it would be ready most quickly. Both Melisandre and Wylla asked her how Jon was and she told them that he seemed in good spirits and keen to see them both. Something that Melisandre seemed more pleased about than Wylla, though Dany knew that the woman was growing more nervous the closer they were getting to Winterfell.

Over the next week and a half, she flew three more times and met up with Jon on each of them. They spoke on many things, some regarding the war to come, some on those she traveled with, and yet mainly on the future, their future. Listening to him speak of life once the war was won was incredibly comforting. Talk of helping her rule and of the changes they would bring to the Seven Kingdoms was something that she truly needed. Just the knowledge that she'd not be alone in the world, that she'd have someone by her side who understood what it meant to be a dragon, that was almost enough for her. The fact that person was Jon, that when she looked at him and he, her, she could see how he felt about her in his eyes or were that not enough, feel it when he held her in his arms and kissed her, that was so much more.

When she finally saw the large grey keep come into view after more than two weeks of travel, she felt her heart begin to race. The rest of her army had joined her, the Dornish were finally getting used to the cold weather and her Khalasar was finally united. All in all, she had brought more than a hundred thousand men to Winterfell, with more on the way. As they passed through the small city that lay some distance from the keep, she could see the worried looks and frowns on some of the faces. Jon's words came to her as she did so and she held her head up high and offered her warmest smile, something she saw returned by the children alone at first.

It was then that the white wolf came running towards her and some of the Dornish spearmen began to grow agitated. Jorah calmed them down as Ghost ran past everyone to come to her side. She took off her glove and felt his warm tongue on her hand, the wolf then taking up position alongside her Silver once he'd welcomed her to the North. The effect of him walking alongside her was instant, the looks on the faces that had been less than friendly a few moments earlier were now much different and it was no longer only the children who smiled as she passed them. Jon had told her that the Direwolves were the sigil of his mother's house just as the Dragons were of theirs, seeing Ghost accepting her so easily and so completely, had the desired effect and she wondered whether Jon had sent him to her to ensure it.

Upon reaching the courtyard, she looked to see that Jon was not standing with those assembled and for a brief moment she worried he was elsewhere. She'd seen Rhaegal join his brothers in the sky when they were marching through Wintertown, but Jon had not been on his back at the time or so she had believed. Just as she began to doubt whether or not he had been, she heard his voice and looked to see him standing by her Silver, his hand held out to help her down and she took it unreservedly.

"Welcome to Winterfell, My queen." he said softly when she was standing beside him.

As the others dismounted, he led her to where Rickon and the rest of his family waited to greet her. The Lords and Ladies of the North looked on with hard-to-read expressions on their faces as he did so.

"Welcome to Winterfell, Your grace." King Rickon said, his voice even and with a smile on his face that she could see was true.

"I am most pleased to be here, King Rickon." she said warmly.

"My sister, Lady Sansa." Rickon said and Jon moved her to the tall redhead, Dany not expecting the warmth she was greeted with, nor that it seemed as true as both Jon and Rickon's welcome had been.

"It's a pleasure to meet you again, your grace." Sansa said with a picture-perfect curtsy.

"You too, Lady Sansa." she replied trying to keep eye contact with the taller woman and not looking to Jon as she wished to.

"My sister, Arya." Rickon said and Dany was surprised to see the smile on the younger woman's face, though there was some suspicion in those grey eyes as she looked at her too.

"Your grace." Arya said simply with a bow of her head.

"Arya." she said softly, the feel of Jon holding her hand a little more tightly helping her to move to the final member of the Stark family, and the greeting she received from Bran Stark was cold and distant.

Once she'd greeted some of the Northern lords and ladies, Lady Lyanna greeting her warmly as did Lord Wyman, while others like Lord Glover did not. She began to introduce those with her, hearing the intake of breath when she did so with Jorah and with Qhono though for much different reasons. Sarella was greeted warmly much to the woman's surprise while Jaime Lannister was very much not, to no ones. When Sarella introduced Ned Dayne, she heard the hushed whispers and found Jon's eyes immediately drawn to the young lord of Starfall. Yet it was when Jon's eyes locked with Wylla that it seemed as if the world itself stilled.

She watched on as Jon moved from her, his footsteps unsteady as they brought him closer to the woman. As for Wylla herself, hers were anything but and she almost ran to Jon the moment that he moved towards her. They were too far from her to hear what words were spoken to each other, none but the two of them able to hear them and mayhap that was how it should be. When Wylla embraced Jon and held him tightly in her arms, Dany heard the shocked gasps that came from more than one of the Northerners present as well as from the Starks. Yet seeing Jon weep openly as the woman spoke softly to him and held him in her arms, was something that none of them expected.

After he'd wiped his eyes, Jon called for Ser Davos and spoke quietly to the man, Dany looking on as the older man nodded his head at whatever words Jon had spoken to him. Once he was done, it was Ser Davos who led Wylla away and Jon then moved back to her side. His hand was held out in front of him for her to take which she did so happily. She heard him speak words but not what they were, instead her focus was on his demeanor and she was relieved to see he was able to keep his emotions in check, which he'd not been when speaking to Wylla.

"I'll show you to your rooms, Dany." he said softly after a few moments and then led her into the keep, Missandei following behind them along with Ser Jorah and Grey Worm.

"You are well, Jon?" she asked when they were far from any but those closest to her.

"I am. I'd not expected…." she watched as he took a deep breath "When you told me that she was with you and in your party, I'd not….she was there Dany, she was with my mother and father, she knows….she knows my name."

"Jon…" she said softly only for him to stop and turn to her.

"That's not who I am, Dany, she knows who I am, who I was always meant to be. She told me that my mother and father would be proud of me….I've always wished…it's what I've longed to know…."

In the end, it was her and not him that led them to her rooms. Jon was happy enough for her to lead the way and not once did he let go of her hand as she did so. A fire was already burning in the hearth and Missandei, Jorah, and Grey Worm were soon joined by guards and servants who showed them to their own rooms, all on the same wing as hers. It allowed for her and Jon to be alone and she readied to offer her whatever comfort he needed given the emotions he'd just gone through, only to find it was a different type of comfort he sought.

The kisses were deep and she welcomed them and the feel of his hands as they explored her body somewhat. Before she knew it they were laying on the bed and her hands were doing some exploring of their own. Who stopped first she knew not, but she looked up at him to see that he wished not to. There was a fire in his eyes, a hunger the likes of which she'd never seen before and it sent a shiver down to her very core. Not even Drogo had looked at her with such want and desire as Jon now did and how he restrained himself from just taking her there and then or how she did likewise to him, only the gods themselves knew.

"I want…" he said huskily before he took a breath "But I want it to mean more, Dany. I want our first time to be more than just frenzy, I want it to be true." his words were spoken so earnestly that despite the heat she felt, despite the need he'd instilled in her, she nodded and then spoke her agreement.

"Aye, as do I." she said, smiling when he chuckled at her use of his Northern tongue and shivering at the thoughts of the use she'd most like to put it to.

"I love you, Dany, truly and with all I am, I love you." he said as he kissed her softly and Dany found she could barely reply, her words stolen from her and she hoped the look she gave him was enough to show that she loved him too.

Winterfell 304 AC.

Rickon Stark.

She was making him very nervous and he didn't like the feeling. He had planned everything with the help of Ser Davos, and yet she insisted all the council be present when they would make their offer, as well as his family members.

Daenerys Targaryen stared at him with a bit of nervousness in her expression too, and the fact that he could pick up his emotions thanks to his closeness to the wolf seated next to her made things a little easier.

"I thank you once again for respecting your part of the bargain, Queen Daenerys. I have to admit that the army that you brought with you is an impressive lot." he began.

"More is to come, King Rickon. The Westermen are on their way, as is your Uncle Edmure who has sworn fealty to me and will travel with some of the forces from the Riverlands, as well as some from the other kingdoms."

"I hope we will have time to train them all. They might be skilled already but they will have to endure the storm that is coming. The Night King brings the cold with it. A cold that none of us has truly experienced apart from my brother and the Free Folk.

"That is why I would name your brother as commander of our joint forces." Daenerys agreed.

"I agree with the idea, but I need you to order your forces to accept to be trained by the Free Folk too. They won't survive if they keep their prejudices getting the best of them."

"I understand."

"You said you had an offer to the North. Do you want to talk about it now?"

"I do, but before we speak, I have two matters to settle with you."

"Two?"

"Lord Yohn Royce has..."

"Oh, for fuck sake! Will he never give up!" Rickon exclaimed angrily. "We offered him a trial by combat to settle the matter and the fucker refused it."

"That's what I thought." Daenerys sighed. "I will talk to him."

"What's the second matter?" Rickon asked, deeply annoyed.

She gestured to one of her Unsullied who walked outside before bringing in a man who was chained and looking down. Sansa gasped while Arya and Jon rose to their feet, making Rickon wary.

"Jaime Lannister." Daenerys said, her tone full of disdain.

"Why did you bring him here?" Rickon frowned, lifting his hand to halt his sister's impulse as Nymeria and Ghost went to stand before the prisoner menacingly.

"He asked to come North during his trial and Lady Melisandre vouched for him." Daenerys said and Rickon turned to the Red Woman.

"Is there a particular reason why, my Lady?" Rickon asked the Red Priestess.

"A debt to be repaid and an oath to fulfill, Your Grace." Melisandre answered, her gaze fixated on Jon who looked uncomfortable at it and her word but before he could comfort his brother, Daenerys spoke again..

"When I was a child, my brother would tell me a bedtime story... about the man who murdered our father. Who stabbed him in the back and cut his throat. Who sat down on the Iron Throne and watched as his blood poured onto the floor. He told me other stories as well. About all the things we would do to that man... once we took back the Seven Kingdoms and had him in our grasp." Daenerys declared, and Rickon could feel her dislike for the man.

"You heard in King's Landing what your Father did. I had to do what I had to do." Lannister said gruffly.

"Which is why I agreed to bring you North, to face the other crimes you committed, this time against the Starks." Daenerys said looking to him, Sansa, and Arya but not Jon.

"Do you want me to apologize? I won't. We were at war. Everything I did, I did for my house and my family. I'd do it all again."

"The things we do for love..." Bran said and Jaime Lannister looked at his brother in disbelief.

"I do not trust him." Rickon said.

"You don't know me well, Your Grace. But I know Ser Jaime. He is a man of honor. I was his captor once. But when we were both taken prisoner and the men holding us tried to force themselves on me, Ser Jaime defended me. And lost his hand because of it. Without him, my lady, you would not be alive. He armed me, armored me, and sent me to find Sansa and Arya and bring you both home because he'd sworn an oath to your mother." Brienne stated firmly, maybe more firmly than Rickon ever heard her talk.

"So you believe he needs a second chance?" he deduced, his curiosity piqued.

"I... I don't know. What I know is that what we are about to face is unprecedented and I think he could help." Brienne said softly.

"I don't know what you seek, Kingslayer, but I say we let him face the dead or die trying. For we need every man we can get" Jon said harshly and Rickon saw both Arya and Sansa nod in agreement.

"Very well, then. This matter is settled. Brienne, he is your responsibility. He is under guest right and is not to be harmed." Rickon stated as he felt the weight of his council's gaze on him.

"Was that all you wanted to talk about, Queen Daenerys?" Jon added, suddenly shy.

"We haven't talked about my offer yet, King Rickon." she answered as she smiled at Jon and turned to look at him.

"Well, we do have an offer for you too, so who should start?" Rickon asked amusedly while feeling the queen's excitement.

"I believe I have found a way for the North and the rest of the Seven Kingdom to ally." she started.

"I believe I too have found a way for us to become allies."

"Are you speaking about the Pact of Ice and Fire?" she said and Rickon saw Bran flinch slightly, which meant it was a good sign.

"I know not of it. What does it entail" he asked, eager to find out what would cause his brother such discomfort.

"A contract, between House Targaryen and House Stark, one that had been drafted between Jaecaerys Velaryon and Cregan Stark during the Dance of the Dragons. I now intend to honor it."

"Bran, do you know what this contract is?" Jon asked and Bran nodded stiffly.

"In exchange for the support of House Stark to Rhaenyra Targaryen, Jaecaerys, her heir, had offered a daughter descending from his line to wed a son from the line of Cregan Stark."

"Are you suggesting the same for you? That a daughter of yours marry one of Rickon's sons?" Lyanna frowned.

"No. I am a descendant of Rhaenyra Targaryen and I intend to repay what was due by offering a marriage alliance with a son of Stark Blood."

"What will happen to the North? Will we have to bend the knee?" Lord Manderly asked.

"The North would be its own kingdom, as is the Iron Islands, with ties to the South by having a King with Stark blood as my consort. We will need to draft alliance contracts to clarify our-"

"I agree to your offer." Rickon cut her off, smiling wickedly.

"Truly?" she said, surprised by his outburst.

"Well, our offer was to a certain extent the same. We were willing to propose a marriage with a member of my family."

"In this case, I accept your offer as well." Daenerys said happily as she looked to Jon once more.

"Good. Now let us tell everyone the good news. My brother Bran is getting married!" he exclaimed happily.

"BRAN?" Jon gasped.

"Are you out of your mind?" Lyanna yelled, affronted on Daenerys' behalf.

"Well, I am obviously too young to get married..." Rickon chuckled internally as he tried to keep a serious front.

"But I thought... That's not..." Daenerys stammered.

"Unless you had someone else in mind, Queen Daenerys?" Rickon said with a wolfish smile.

"I… was thinking more about Lord Snow… No offense to you, Lord Bran…"

"He is playing with you and wants to annoy me, Queen Daenerys." Bran said unemotionally. "He always had the intention of offering Jon to you."

Rickon couldn't help but laugh at the relieved sigh of his future goodsister and the annoyed look of Jon who, he was certain, would make him pay for the jest later.

"We are to be family soon, Queen Daenerys. Best you get used to my teasing now!" he joked as Arya rolled her eyes.

"I will keep that in mind, King Rickon." Daenerys said smiling though not fully.

"To hell with titles. You agreed to marry Jon. You can call me Rickon."

"Not in public, Your Grace," Sansa reminded him and it was his turn to roll his eyes.

The rest of the council was looking at him with amusement, except for Lyanna whose gaze unnerved him. He knew what her stare meant. She didn't miss the fact that he had prevented Daenerys from giving the North more than he intended to accept, since he was set on bending the knee to Jon. He also knew that he wouldn't get past the flow of questions Lyanna would unleash on him as soon as they would be alone.

He made her stay after promising Daenerys and Jon that they will meet soon to talk more about the wedding and the arrangements and smiling as Sansa took it upon herself to start discussing the details with Missandei. His sister seemed to accept the union even more now that Daenerys showed she really wanted to wed Jon.

"You're hiding something," Lyanna started, crossing her arms and looking at him with her annoyingly know-it-all face, her eyebrow arched as she waited for him to spill everything.

"Aye."

There was no need for him to lie to her, for she was almost a member of his family at this point. That Lyanna, along with Tormund and Davos had kept quiet for so long was something akin to a blessing from the Gods.

"Do I want to know?" she asked with a sigh.

"I think you will soon anyway."

"Is it about Jon's mother?" she asked and he gasped, taken aback by her straightforwardness.

"How -"

"People talk, Rickon. His meltdown with the woman the Queen brought with her didn't go unnoticed. Is she -"

"No."

"Does she know her?"

"She does."

"Again, do I want to know?"

"I'd… rather not tell. I'm sorry. It's not that I don't trust you with the truth. I do. I just -"

"Is it bad?"

"It changes nothing in our lives." he answered with determination.

"But it does, else you wouldn't be pushing for him to marry Daenerys, nor would you be planning to give up the Crown to him."

"How… Jon is in love with her."

"He was already drooling in front of her the last time she came, yet you were almost cursing the Queen aloud for taking Jon away from you. You wanted to gut Davos for even suggesting a marriage. Whatever happened made you change your mind on the subject and I doubt you did it only for Jon's sake."

"I… We need to show that we support him. I need to show that I am behind him when everything is revealed. I was not lying when I said it changes nothing. We would have had to bend the knee to Daenerys to maintain peace regardless." he said as he looked at her and hoped she understood.

"I know. Now you'll make us bend the knee to your brother."

"Indeed."

"I get it. What I don't get is why Jon's mother's identity would change anything." Lyanna said frustrated.

"People will be upset at first. I was when I learned of it." he said looking down to the ground.

"So you don't want to break his trust. But you should be careful in how you're dealing with things. If I was able to catch that fact, others would too and they may not be so accepting."

"What do you think I should do then?" he asked curiously.

"You're the King, not I." she said, shrugging. "I just think that if you plan something you shouldn't be so bloody obvious about it!"

"But you trust me, do you?" He asked, feeling suddenly nervous. She was his friend and he didn't know how he would react if it wasn't the case.

"I trust you enough not to ask every single question that's going through my head right now."

"Thank you."

"But someday you will have to tell me everything! At least tell the council before word gets out, so we can help."

"I will. There's something I want to show you if you're willing."

"What is it?" she frowned as he gave her a wolfish smile. "Should I be scared?" she added and the small smirk on her face showed that she was and would be anything but.

"I swear you won't get hurt."

"At least it won't be another boring meeting." she sighed and swatted his offered hand away snorting, making him chuckle as he led her from the room and out to the stables to see Unicorn.

Winterfell 304 AC.

Jon Snow.

He'd flown to see her more than once and so he'd known just how close she was to Winterfell. While waiting for her to arrive, he'd seen to the grounds that her army would camp on, to rooms for those with her in the keep and to readying it and his family to welcome her as she should be welcomed. Jon had spent time speaking of her to the Northern Lords and Ladies. Telling them of his time with her in the South and the impression she'd left upon him. It had been something he'd intended to do regardless but it had become even more important given what his brother had suggested.

It had taken him by surprise and was not what he'd expected, even it had been what he wished for. The reactions from those on the council too were not what he'd have thought them to be. Those closest to him had been as supportive as he'd ever have wished, Tormund, Davos, his family, even Sansa had seemed happy with the turn of events, more so once they knew he was which had caught him by surprise. Not that he didn't think they cared for his feelings on the matter, just that other than Rickon, no one had ever really sought to see him happy before. Arya loved him and he knew she wished him well, but she was still growing and he'd been who she relied on far more than who he could rely on. Sansa had been in her own little world and there was no place in that world for him and even Robb had been somewhat selfish and only cared for his feelings on the surface. Not that his brother didn't love him, but he accepted his own words when they were clearly not true which showed that he never really knew him.

Rickon though had wished him to be happy. He'd cared for what was in his heart and let that be amongst the things that guided him as much as anything was, more so Jon thought. While it was true that a marriage alliance was the logical choice and it was clear to his brother that Jon and Dany shared feelings, Jon knew that were it not what he wished for, then Rickon never would have suggested it. That his reason for doing so was because he knew and cared. Even later when he'd japed and named it as Bran when Dany had arrived, he'd done so with his happiness in mind. Not that it didn't earn him a slap on the head from Jon for doing so.

"You really are a cheeky little sod aren't you brother." he said as Rickon looked at him and rubbed his head.

"I'm trying to be, Jon. Besides you were not yourself." Rickon said and Jon nodded.

"Aye, I was not. Thanks." he said softly and Rickon just nodded, not asking him if he was feeling better and just allowing him to feel how he did.

The simple truth was that he had been off since she had arrived, the first sight of her bringing up emotions that he hadn't been able to hold back any longer. Though he'd not seen her since he was a babe, he recognized her as if she'd been there with him all his life. Wylla was the woman who'd held him as a babe, who'd fed him from her own teat as they traveled through Dorne. She'd sat by his crib and rocked him to sleep and done all that his mother would have had she lived and so he'd been far more emotional with her than with anyone he'd ever met, other than the two women he'd believed he'd loved.

A few days earlier.

What had come over him?

Why had he been so emotional?

He'd wept, held her in his arms, and never wished to let him go. Spoken words to her quietly and softly and listened as she spoke words he'd long to hear. Word of his mother, of his father, of his birth, and were it not for the fact they were in the middle of the courtyard, then he'd have bid her continue and just tell him it all, but he knew he could not. So moving from her, he looked to Davos and asked him to find her a room and turned to Wylla to tell her that they'd speak later.

"I'll send for you." he said softly.

"And I'll come, my prince." she replied and he felt his heart soar as she walked away from him.

He showed Dany to her rooms and they spoke of what had happened with Wylla, Jon told her that he was well and then they spoke of themselves, of each other, and soon he was lost in her embrace, his lips meeting hers and the world other than that ceasing to exist. How he managed to not give in to his feelings he knew not, the desire, the need for her, threatened to overwhelm him and her own for him was just as apparent. Yet it felt wrong too, this was not how he wished their first time to be and so somehow he was able to stop himself from going too far.

After telling her that he loved her, that she was all he wished for, he allowed her to settle in for the night and made his way to his own rooms, wondering if he could manage to do so. He found he could not and so he made his way through the keep and outside. When he saw Howland Reed walking alone he nodded to the man and received one in return. They'd spoken for the second time and it had been far different than the first. His anger at the man was still there, it would probably never go away just as his anger at his uncle may be something that he carried with him for the rest of his days. But he'd been too harsh with the man, had not taken into account the situation he'd been in, and had certainly not taken into account all he'd done for Rickon. So he'd made his peace, apologized for what he could and they'd reached an understanding of sorts.

He soon found himself on the parapets and looking out on the tents the Dothraki had set up. Dornish tents alongside them and among them, the falling star of Starfall was one he searched for and soon found. Ned Dayne, the nephew of Ser Arthur and the new Sword of the Morning was a man he needed to speak to and speak with soon. As was another man who'd arrived with Dany, Ser Jaime Lannister. There were plans to be made, battle lines to be drawn and commands to be given and yet as he stood looking out on the tents, his thoughts went to only one place. Jon turned to head back inside the keep and almost laughed when he saw the man walk to join him, the gods showing him his path even though he already knew it.

"You got her settled, Davos?" he asked as Davos moved to stand beside him.

"Aye, Jon. I…"

"Ask the question, Davos, I know you wish to. So ask it of me and I'll answer what I can."

"The lady, Jon, Wylla, is she your mother?" Davos asked and Jon smiled, in a way she had been, had she not.

"She was my wet nurse, Davos. When I was but a babe she suckled me at her own teat. So aye, in a way you can name her my mother, though she is not." he said and Davos nodded "You gave her good rooms?" he asked to another nod.

"Aye. I did lad."

"Thank you, Davos, it means much to me."

"Come, Jon, it's getting far too cold to be standing out here." Davos said a few moments later and Jon shook his head, not feeling the cold and not yet ready to walk back inside, much though he wished to.

He was left alone and when he did finally walk inside it was not to Wylla's room or Dany's nor to any of his kin that he went, but to another woman he'd been most pleased to see arrive at Winterfell.

"My lady, forgive me for not speaking to you sooner." he said when Melisandre opened the door.

"You've nothing to be forgiven for, my prince." she said bidding him enter the room.

"I didn't welcome you as you should have been. Nor offer you the thanks for all you've done, both with me and since I've come back North. You offered her grace advice when she needed it did you not, advice that you believed I'd offer?"

"I did, my prince. I hope I didn't overstep…" she began but he shook his head.

"No, I'm here to thank you for it, for all you've done."

"Ser Davos, my prince….I…"

"I'll talk to Ser Davos, we have a war to face my lady, a war that needs all of us to see it done. R'hllor has sent you to play your part and I am most grateful he sent you to me, I wish you to know this." he said and saw the smile that appeared on her face but briefly "I'll let you take your rest, my lady, we'll speak on the morrow." he said as he turned to walk from the room.

It was Podrick that he sent to Wylla's rooms, the young man doing as he bid quickly and it was he and Ghost that led her to him in the Crypts. The white wolf then escorted Podrick from them and stood guard on the door while Jon stood in front of his mother's statue.

"They did a terrible job, my sister says they did so with my uncle, so I've come to believe they did so with my mother too, am I right?" he asked as Wylla stood beside him and looked at the statue.

"They haven't captured her spirit, my prince." Wylla said and Jon sighed "She was so full of life, fierce like a wolf and she had a light about her, a light that shined so very brightly. I heard tell that your father was a melancholy man, my prince. That at times he could get lost in his head, the knights that were there with us, the Black Bat and the Sword of the Morning, they'd speak of a man I never knew. For in all the time I spent at the tower, not once did I see the man they spoke of."

"He was happy, they were happy?" he asked nervously.

"Never have I seen it afore or since, my prince. They loved each other, brought the best out of each other. They were happy, I'd stake my life on it." Wylla said and Jon nodded.

"When they parted. When they said their goodbyes and…did they know?" he asked and he felt her reach out to take his hand "Did they know it was to be the last time…" he said choking back a sob.

"No. They believed they'd see each other again, that things would work out. Many times they spoke of the world they'd see come true once you were born. Of the life that you'd have with your brother and sister, of the life they'd have. Had they known then I doubt they'd have been able to part, my prince. I heard your father say something to your mother once, something that I'd not heard afore."

"What?"

"That love trumps duty. That honor means nothing compared to that." Wylla said and Jon turned to look at her, the words he'd heard long ago at the Wall now making more sense to him, and as he thought more on them, he began to sob.

His mother and father had been fashioned for love and it had led to no great glory and much great tragedy. He'd not known his brother's smile, nor had his father ever had the chance to hold him in his arms. The oaths that had been sworn to his family had turned out to be nothing more than winds and words. Duty and honor had been abandoned by men who'd claimed to live up to both, he'd seen it more than once in his life, and knowing that, was there anything else left to fight for but love? He felt not. Wiping his eyes, he moved from his mother's statue to his uncle's, Wylla moving with him.

"What can you tell me of him?" he asked, unable to name him his uncle or by any name.

"I'll not speak of that man, my prince. You should not care to hear about him either." Wylla said bitterly.

"Wylla?"

"No, he swore to your mother that he'd do as she asked him and he broke his promise to her. I was sent away never to speak on what I knew under the pain of death." Wylla said and he gasped "I tried to believe he was only doing so to protect you, protect your secret and that in time….but it was not you that he sought to protect and not the oath sworn to your mother that he wished to live up to."

"What was the oath?" Jon asked as Wylla glared at his uncle's statue.

"Promise me, Ned, Promise me you'll look after him. If Robert finds out he'll kill him. Protect him, Ned, give him the love that I cannot, the life that should be his. Tell him the truth of me, of his father, tell him that he was loved by us both and that the things they say of us are not the truth. Tell him that were it in my power, was there anything I could do then I'd do it just for one more day with him and that I do not go quietly to meet my gods. And that they took me from this world kicking and screaming. Promise me, Ned, Promise me that you'll see him told the truth of himself, his name…..tell him his name and that I loved him…Promise me, Ned, his name is…."

Jon felt his heart being torn in two, Wylla giving him his mother's last words and the truth of what his uncle had hidden from him finally coming to light. So torn up by what he had heard was he that at first, he didn't hear the name, didn't hear what he was truly called, and then he felt her hand touch his again and he was looking Wylla in the eye.

"Baelon, your name is Baelon Targaryen."

Now.

He sat in his room and looked at the harp, the wood and string were cheaply made and yet the sound of it as he plucked them was true. A part of him wished so very much that he'd have learned to play it, that it had been something he'd been given the chance to do when he was but a boy. Bastards though aren't taught such things, not even bastards of lords. Yet he didn't think that was the reason he'd been denied the chance to learn it or had never been encouraged to do so. His uncle wanted to keep anything that brought up memories of his true father far from him and he was now sure that it was not for his sake that he wished it so.

Baelon, Baelon Targaryen, the name took some getting used to, and yet deep inside of himself he felt it truer than he'd ever felt Jon to be. Or mayhap it was now knowing the truth which made that seem so.

"Why Baelon?" he'd asked Wylla long the day after they'd spoken in the crypts.

"I believe your father wished your name to be Targaryen and your mother wished you named for the North. In the end, it was easy enough to combine both their wishes."

"That was it?" he asked almost disappointed.

"No." Wylla chuckled and he found he joined in as she did so "Your mother wished to name you Bael after the Bard, you know the tale?"

"Aye, he was a King Beyond the Wall and after Brandon Stark named him a coward, he climbed the wall and stole into Winterfell disguised as a bard named Sygerrik of Skagos, After entertaining the Lord all night, he was asked what he wished for a reward and said he wanted the most beautiful flower that bloomed in Winterfell's gardens. Lord Stark gave him a Winter Rose and the next morning he found the rose laying on the pillow of his maiden daughter's bed, his daughter missing. They searched high and low and then a year later found her in her bed with her infant son, she and Bael had been hiding in the crypts all the time." Jon said repeating the story that Old Nan had told him once many years earlier, and leaving out the tragic end to that story.

"Your mother mayhap saw some of her and Rhaegar in that tale, your father was a bard after all. Or maybe she just liked the name." Wylla said chuckling again and he again joined in, knowing that the second part of what she said was a jape and that it was indeed the other part that was true.

"Bael though could not be a Targaryen prince, your father said and so Baelon it was, your father adding his own spin to the tale."

"How so?"

"The Spring Prince, Baelon the Brave, a good name for any child to bear, is it not? Though you were more the Winter Prince than the Spring one." Wylla said laughing more fully now and he found he enjoyed seeing her this way, just as much as he did the sound of her voice.

It was early when he walked from his room, no one truly up in the keep and soon enough he found himself walking outside and out the gate, across the fields in the cold morning air and when Rhaegal landed in front of him, he almost climbed up on his back and yet did not.

"We'll fly soon, with your mother too." he said as the Green Dragon trilled "Baelon, Rhaegal, they named me Baelon." he said happily as he sat down and leaned against the dragon's back "Baelon."

Winterfell 304 AC.

Wylla.

He was perfect. The best result of two strong lineages joining together. She had recognized him instantly and had almost fainted when she saw him smile at the Queen. She had managed not to cry when he came to her and when she held him in her arms for the first time in how many years… Even his warmth hadn't changed and his eyes when she looked into them brought her back to the first time he opened them.

"He's looking at me!"

"My Princess, you shouldn't…"

"No! I want to hold him as long as I can."

"You need to rest, Princess… Lyanna, please… You need to gain strength to care for him later."

She knew it was too late. That she had lost too much blood to be saved. Yet she couldn't bring herself to accept it. Lyanna however knew her time was drawing to an end and she enjoyed the feel of her son in her arms with a blinding smile.

"My little boy… I will join your father and your siblings soon. I am so sorry I cannot stay with you. I will be watching over you, though. I swear I will. And when one day you go North and look at the Heart Tree of Winterfell, I will be looking at you with your ancestors. If you see it cry, it will be me weeping with you. And when the time will come for you to wed, I will make it shed happy tears for you. I hope your life will be good, my son. Many hardships you will face, I pray you to be a Dragon all will fear, with fire in your veins and ice in your gaze."

"You have her eyes…" were the first words she whispered to him and her heart broke when she saw him crumble in front of her.

She had held him tight, as tight as she could, and whispered words she always wanted to say to him. Words she was sure his mother would say if she could. She was loathed to let him go, understanding that it wasn't the time to talk, as a lot of people were staring at them with surprised eyes, no doubt unused to seeing the King's regent behave this way.

She let the man who introduced himself as Ser Davos Seaworth bring her to her room and inform her that the Regent would seek her out shortly. Yet she had been surprised to have another visitor before him. A woman came to her, telling her that her father wanted to invite her to the Godswood when her task was done. It was only when she noticed her sigil that she realized who she might be.

Part of her wanted to deny him like he had denied her Prince of the truth. He was supposed to watch over him, to care for him as she couldn't do it herself. However, she thought about how the man she grew to hate had behaved with her and she wanted to know his motives for not telling the truth sooner.

The talk with Baelon had drained her emotionally. Seeing him revert to a little boy eager to know more about his identity and reliving his mother's last moments with him had been taxing but she knew it was needed. As was the next talk she would have to have with the one waiting for her in the Godswood.

He seemed calm at first and she could see the years had taken a toll on him. Gone was the Crannogman who ended the Sword of the Morning's life to get to the Tower where he sought his friend whom he thought was held against her will, instead a man full of regret and sadness stood before her, unable to look her in the eyes.

"Never had I thought I would see you again, yet I find myself glad you're here." he said softly. "Did you talk to him?"

"I did."

"Good. He needed to hear how his parents truly were."

"You could have told him." she retorted with a bite. "You knew his mother."

"Not as much as you, I didn't. You spent much more time with her than I did."

"But you could have said something anyway."

"I wish I had. I shouldn't have trusted Ned with this. I had asked him to let me raise Jon, you know?" he said and she was surprised by this fact. "When we arrived at Winterfell and I saw how his wife reacted to him having a bastard, I offered to raise him at Greywater Watch but Ned refused. He said he had few family left and he would not part from him."

"Yet he let him swear away his life at the Wall." she snapped.

"I will not try to defend him. I cannot. I do not understand his motives nor do I condone them. He kept me in the dark for years and I have to admit I was at fault too. I could have… I should have done more to look after him. I trusted my friend, my Liege, to have his best interest at heart and I was wrong for doing so. When I realized my mistake, it was too late. He had already betrothed his daughter to Joffrey and Jon…"

She could feel he was truly regretting his inaction, yet she wasn't the one able to forgive him. Baelon had not suffered heavily under his uncle's care, but the feeling of betrayal was still there and would take a long time to go away.

"If these things about the Long Night are true, then all of what your friend tried to do to him would have been for naught. He made him a Snow, but the gods will see to it that he becomes who he was always meant to be."

"What do you mean?"

"Winter is here, but my prince was born to lead us into Spring, and soon all will know the great injustice he had to face to become the King we deserve."

She looked at the face carved into the Heart Tree and smirked as she saw the red sap flow from its eyes.

I know you're in here, Lyanna… And I pray you enjoy what is happening now.

Winterfell 304 AC.

Sansa Stark.

(after Jon and Wylla have spoken, but before Rickon and Dany come to an agreement)

She was about to head to Arya's room when she saw her brother rush into his. Never had she seen Jon looking so distraught. It worried her and she instinctively followed him. She had realized since he had come to get her out of Littlefinger's clutches that he had been the one to keep the Pack united and had grown to care more about his wellbeing afterward. Even more so since she'd heard of Rickon's offer to Daenerys Targaryen. She was afraid to see him leave, especially since Starks didn't do well in the South and she had stopped seeing him as only her half-brother, but Rickon and Jon himself seemed sure it would be the best for the North and for Jon, so who was she to say otherwise?

She asked Sandor to guard the door, frowning when she realized in front of it that Jon never had a guard around him. She knew he was more than capable with a sword and that he could defend himself, but he never let any of his siblings without one, not even Arya who was formerly a trained assassin. Her heart clenched as she thought of something happening to him, as Rickon, Arya and even her would be completely lost without him. Why would he risk himself? Didn't he feel he deserved to be treated the same as them because of his status? Or was it because he had died and so death held no fear for him?

They had never talked about it. They didn't talk much before he got her back, as he spent much of his time with Rickon when he was at Winterfell and she was excluding herself from the Pack by staying with people who either were dead or openly despised her now. Yohn Royce had made it clear that he didn't believe her and that he distrusted the Lords of the North greatly. He was planning to complain to Daenerys Targaryen on behalf of his Liege Lord, whom she had contacted herself and explained in a rather large letter what had happened to her and what Littlefinger did to his mother. She hoped that SweetRobin would believe her and that Daenerys would not use this to weaken the North. As she didn't want to be the reason why they had to bend the knee. Even though she believed Rickon intended to do so if the Dragon Queen was to marry their brother and he'd done or said nothing to contradict her.

Her heart broke when she saw Jon curled up in his bed, clutching to a cover as if his life depended on it. It reminded her of Rickon holding onto Ghost when he needed comfort.

"Jon?" she whispered, putting a tentative hand on his shoulder so he wouldn't be startled. "Jon, what happened?"

She gasped as he reeled from her, her instincts kicking in and making her step away from him until she noticed his tears.

"Sansa..." he said, wiping them furiously and failing miserably to give her a smile. "I'm..."

"Not well. Do you want to talk about it?"

He looked away, clutching his blanket and she felt hurt by his hesitation. Did he not trust her still?

"I didn't want to tell you this way. I... I'm sorry..."

"You're worrying me, brother." she said and he snorted.

"Life is funny, isn't it?" he replied almost bitterly. "The Gods have a strange way to answer our prayers. Long have I desired to feel accepted, like a Stark, by you and your mother. To be part of this family. To be your full brother in your eyes and not half a one"

"You are to me, Jon. A full brother." she said meaning the words for the first time.

"Yet now that I feel that, I long for my Mother. I wish I knew her and that I could be with her..."

"Oh, Jon..."

"Do you love me, Sansa?" he asked, taking her off guard.

"Of course I do!"

"Swear it. Swear it that you love me, that I'll always be your brother, and that nothing I could say will change that." Jon insisted, taking her hands and almost crushing them.

"You're scaring me, Jon."

"I need you to swear it. Please, Sansa. If you truly love me, do this for me. For I cannot bear to lose more of you..."

Sansa's head was spinning. Jon's desperation showed that he had been told something that shook him deeply, and his speaking about his mother was uncharacteristic of him. She wanted to ask questions, to ask him why he was behaving this way, but his pleading eyes filled with tears broke her. She nodded and went to embrace him, tightening her hold on him when she felt him break down. It was strange for her to be in this situation, as Jon was usually the one comforting and protecting her. Seeing him this upset, this vulnerable, made her realize that now was the time to be strong for him and to prove that she really cared about him as he had her.

"I swear it." she said with determination. "I swear that nothing will make me think less of you. No matter what you have to say, I'll be there for you, brother. I swear it on the Old Gods and the New."

She heard him sigh with relief and relax in her embrace, then the next words he whispered in her ear shattered the confidence she had shown earlier. She let him confess everything, about her father lying to him, lying to them all, on Jon's identity, the Rebellion, Jon's parents, and even his name. She let him cry on his shoulder as she understood he had just learned what it was by a woman who was there and her mind immediately went to the repercussions of it.

He was a Targaryen. A true one, named as such by her Aunt who was married to the Crown Prince, which meant that Jon...

She couldn't think of him as anyone else but Jon and it scared her to no end. She was not ready to lose him either, after everything, after she had finally accepted him as an integral part of her family, the root of it, she could not see him being anything else.

She wanted him to shut up, to stop talking. She didn't want to hear another word except that it was all a jest and he was testing her loyalty at this point. Yet he kept going and she caressed his back as he opened himself up to her for the first time in his life while wishing he hadn't and biting back tears. She didn't want to believe it, but it certainly explained why he had bonded with one of Daenerys' dragons and why he was able to ride it.

"Does Daenerys know of this?" she asked shakily and felt him nod his head. "How did she take it?"

"Better than expected. She is glad to have more family. I think I'm the only one struggling with it at the moment. Not that I... I don't know how to explain this. For all my life I've heard lies about my parents, lies that have been fed to us all, to all the Realm. Now I can't help but feel angry and sad when everyone else accepts the truth calmly."

"Who else knows?" she questioned, the last words he uttered catching her attention.

"Bran knew it from the start, although he wasn't the one tell me. I told Arya when my suspicions got confirmed and Rickon..." Sansa's heart skipped a beat as she thought of, their, her, their younger brother. "I'm sorry, Sansa. The whole ordeal he got through was because of me. Because Bran told him the truth about me and he reacted badly."

"Bran told him?" Sansa repeated incredulously.

"Aye, I still don't understand why he did sot, but the fact is that Rickon was told when I wasn't even there to help him cope with this. Thankfully he assured me that he thought of me as his brother still, as did Arya… And I hope you do to..." Jon asked, looking at her with a mixture of uncertainty and hope, and smiling as she nodded. "Truly?"

It pained her that he would doubt her attachment to him at that point, but she couldn't blame him either given what had happened before.

"You've always been more of a brother to me than I have been a sister to you. I guess now is the time to prove that I truly want to be your sister…" she said and the blinding smile he gave her warmed her heart.

"Thank you, for this, and for being there when I needed to talk."

She nodded and smiled at him, although many questions came to her mind at that moment, she didn't want to break the peace they'd found. His being a Targaryen changed things yet it didn't. He was still of the North, was still going to fight for them against the Army of the Dead, and would still be Rickon's regent as their brother would not let anyone else take his place. She knew some of the Northern Lords would take offense to that, especially if they were told that they went to war for a lie and that Jon was proof of it. She wanted to know what they had planned. If Jon wanted to tell the truth of his birth before the battle and if he was still going through with marrying Daenerys. Yet it wasn't so much the political repercussions behind the revelation that worried her, as she was certain Arya, Rickon, and herself would stand with Jon against whoever stood against him.

Instead, she just couldn't get over the fact that Bran had told Rickon and not her. She wasn't sure she would have been in a place to support Jon as he deserved had she been told sooner. Bran telling Rickon, who was fiercely attached to Jon and had proven time and time again that he wouldn't tolerate people speaking ill of their brother, seemed strange to her, especially knowing what resulted from the revelation. Not only did Bran act knowing what effect it would have on their younger brother, but he also said nothing to her and Arya, and it made her think more about his motives.

Sansa now thinking about what had happened after Rickon's ailment, how Bran had insisted she had to take the reins of the Northern Council since the Vale had to be present while she wanted not to usurp Rickon, and how people had reacted to it. She felt as if she had been set up to fail, or at least to create more tension in their midst. But why? Why would it do this to her, when she had been nothing but kind to him? She had tried to forgive him for telling her the details of what had happened in King's Landing when she had gone to confront him and the reason he gave her was that Arya needed an incentive to stay and that she was needed in the fight to come. So she had accepted to be the scapegoat of her sister's anger, but the more she thought about it, the more she felt she had a long-overdue conversation to have with her young brother.

Her eyes fell on the cover Jon held in his hands and she realized it was not a simple cover.

"Is it… Aunt Lyanna's…"

"Maiden cloak? Aye. I found it in the crypts, with her journal and some other things."

"She stitched wolves and dragons on it… This is not conventional." she said smiling as she saw his fingers caress the patterns.

"I guess we can say that she was not very conventional, Sansa. She met my Father at Harrenhal, you know?" he smiled almost dreamily and she nodded. "She entered the joust at a mystery knight to defend one of her bannermen's honor."

"Truly?" she gasped and he nodded. "Then Father was right when he said to Arya that she was like her."

Jon's smile disappeared at the mention of her father and she could feel he was growing angry.

"I... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…"

"I don't know if I will ever be able to forgive him for lying to me. I don't believe any longer that he even planned to tell me one day. He had agreed to betroth you to Joffrey, while knowing the truth about me, and he sent me to the Wall so I wouldn't cause trouble." Jon said his anger restrained but clearly there.

"Jon… I'm so sorry…"

"You didn't know. But he did and he went along with it. He could very well have done it to protect me or to be sure I could never claim my rights should I learn the truth someday. He took his secret and his motives with him when he died and I guess it angers me even more that we will never know."

Sansa's heart clenched in pain, feeling incredibly guilty. Arya had pointed out that her lapse of judgment had put in motion her father's and the Northern household's demise, and this would be another thing to add to the long list of repercussions that her mistake caused. Had her father been there, at least Jon could have some closure and someone to tell him more about his mother.

"I know what you're thinking, Sansa. Stop blaming yourself." he said and she was startled. "The Hound told me a lot of things. Aye, you did something wrong, but Lord Stark had already sealed his fate by threatening Cersei. He forfeited his life by claiming her children were not Robert's in the Throne Room and Littlefinger helped by betraying him while Lord Stark trusted him."

"So… It was not my fault?" Sansa deduced, shaking her head in disbelief.

"What I'm saying is that you are not entirely to blame. You still went against your father's wishes, which probably made Cersei act sooner to keep you as a hostage, but you are not the only one responsible for what happened back there, and you suffered enough already to keep this weight on your shoulders."

Far from relieving her, those words fueled her suppressed anger toward one of her siblings. Bran had told Arya about her story, her involvement in King's Landing, and her Aunt Lysa's death. He had made her sister and herself hate her more for naught, while she had completely trusted him. Why was he doing this? Why did he want to create dissensions in their own family? The disappointment and anger she felt needed to be addressed, but Jon needed her to focus on him at the moment.

When she left Jon's room, she hesitated to go to Bran. She was still much too angry at him for manipulating her, as she felt he did all throughout the moons since he arrived. She didn't understand his motives. He claimed he didn't want to be the Lord of Winterfell, nor King in the North, yet he pushed her to rule when he knew he was the one responsible for Rickon's state and after insisting that the Vale needed to be there when the North was against the idea. Did he want to make her lose the little credibility she had left in the North? Or did he only want to create chaos like Littlefinger?

Her feet led her to the Godswood and she shivered as she saw her brother, Bran's chair turned so he could look at the Weirwood's angry face.

"You are angry at me." he said dispassionately.

"You let Arya believe Father died only because of me."

"You may not understand why I said this to Arya, but it needed to be done."

"Why? Why would you deliberately pit her against me?"

"It was the path that led to Littlefinger's death and your bond being strengthened."

"How am I expected to believe you? Was telling Rickon about Jon necessary too?"

"It was, for other reasons. As for you believing me, I don't expect you to, but the results are there. The Pack is restored."

"So you knew what would happen to me? What Littlefinger would do?"

"I've never been shown this." he said and she didn't believe his words. "I just knew what I had to do and I would do it again because the more alienated you felt, the more you understand the value of family now."

"You should have told me, instead of…"

"Would you have supported Jon if I had told you of him before? Or would you have used him as a pawn to get Northern independence, by declaring him king of the Seven Kingdoms?"

"I…"

"You did not trust Daenerys to have the North's interests at heart, and now you're wary of her because of Jon, and you are right to be. Jon is too attached to her to see her for who she truly is. As soon as the truth will be known, people will rally behind Jon and not her, and she will resent him for that."

"Why would she -" she asked worriedly only for Bran to interrupt her.

"Everything I've done, I have always done it with our family in mind. You were a lone wolf once, Sansa. Lost in the clutches of a Mockingbird and fearful of a Lioness. You pushed the rest of the pack away and yes, what happened with Littlefinger needed to happen for you to fully find yourself back into the pack."

"What about you?" she finally asked.

"What about me?"

"Are you a lone wolf or are you a part of the pack?"

For the first time since the beginning of their conversation, Bran turned his head and stared right into her eyes, making her shiver in discomfort.

"I am not a wolf. Not anymore. I am the Three-Eyed Raven, and I watch over you all."

Winterfell 304 AC.

The Three-Eyed Raven.

His head was hurting so much he could barely keep up his façade. Ever since they made the announcement official, he'd been hit with images of a future he had no desire to see. Then Sansa, of all people, had the gall to chastise him! She would have been Queen in the North, the one in charge of their homeland if it wasn't for Rickon being alive, and she had the nerve to question his usefulness?

He had been tempted to show her, to get in her head to make her see what doubting him had cost her, but he needed his full focus to foil his brother's plan.

Why should they get their happy ending when Bran would not? Why should they be favored when they hadn't suffered as much as he had? None of them, none, knew the true meaning of pain. They thought they had because they had been betrayed, hurt, battered, or even killed, but death was a gift compared to what lay ahead for him.

A lifetime of servitude, stuck in a crippled body while observing his family grow and die, watching over their descendants while little by little he would be forgotten. His name and deeds were to be relegated to the ranks of bedtime stories in the North narrated by Rickon's offspring to scare their get and prevent them from climbing Winterfell's walls.

Never go alone in the Broken Tower. Your great great great uncle Brandon climbed and lost more than his legs that day. They say his spirit haunts the Godswood now for he had lost his mind by the end.

He was not mad. He was angry at the Old Gods for putting him on this path. He had wanted to be a knight, to defend the Wall like his uncle Benjen and his cousin at some point. Not only did the Gods decide otherwise, but they had also wanted to restrain him, to put a limit on his powers, and for what? To prevent a prophecy from happening? To correct a mistake they had created by empowering the wrong people all those centuries ago?

"We were at war. Our sacred trees cut down. We needed to defend ourselves." Leaf had said when he'd found out about the Night King's creation.

"From whom?"

"You." the way she'd looked at him would be forever ingrained in his mind, at that moment when everything changed for him.

The Children knew they were doomed and had tried to doom the descendants of the First Men with them, but Bran's namesake, his ancestor had succeeded where they'd failed, providing mankind with a momentary respite by erecting the Wall. In the end, Leaf and the others had been destroyed by the very weapon they had created and Bran couldn't find it in himself to pity them. Not when he knew why the Night King had been created in the first place.

He tried and tried again to see the future he had glimpsed when he would rule over Westeros, getting restless as every look he took solidified more the path leading to Daenerys and Jon ruling. He could see his brother lay down the crown made for him at Jon's feet, sometimes with Sansa and Arya smiling with him as the whole North bent the knee. Sometimes he'd see it without their family and with fewer people watching. In any case, he couldn't let this happen, not when he saw a much better outcome, for him and for the world.

He focused on the event that could change everything and tried to see the outcome should he succeed, but the Gods it seemed they would not let him have his way that day. He would not give up, however. The wedding would take place soon if he didn't do anything to prevent it, and he needed to have the North at odds with Daenerys before she joined her claim to Jon's if he wanted a chance to create dissension between the couple.

A pained roar rang into his ears, bringing him back to the Godswood. He hadn't forgotten about him but he had hesitated before using him too soon. The dragon was not totally under his control, as his mind was hard to subjugate and he had made his unwillingness to let him in clear more than once. Thrice he'd tried, and thrice he'd failed, but Bran was confident after his third attempt that given enough time he could tame the unclaimed one, as he had managed a breakthrough and made him do his bidding in another way. Though time was running out for him now, he hesitated once more before setting his mind on the matter.

Tonight. Tonight he would fly and be the first one to ever enslave a dragon.

He felt it. the sheer power of it as he forced it into the air, the dragon's mind now almost completely his and for a brief moment, he almost abandoned his plan. The idea of having Viserion at his beck and call and for him to do his bidding almost blinded him to what it was he wished to do. it took all he had to deny himself what he deserved, to send the dragon to a man who wished him dead, yet he did so and though he kept the link open between them, it was a looser one than it could have been.

The chair was pushed to where he wished to see it all take place and the sounds around him of panic and worry were music to his ears. When he saw Daenerys race to where the other dragons were landing, he had to hide his smirk. Seeing her climb up onto Drogon's back made him covet the black dragon even more so than he had the golden one. Yet it wasn't until he saw Jon running that he truly felt that things were back on track, his plans playing out just exactly as they were supposed to.

They would be too late to save Viserion from his fate, which in turn would seal their own. He looked to the faces of the Northern Lords, to Robett Glover, Wyman Manderly, to Barbrey Dustin, and Lyanna Mormont. Bran could see the shocked looks as they watched Jon mount the green dragon and as they flew north to the Wall. Looks that would soon change from the worry about the flight, to the fact that it was even possible and all that meant. Jon's truth was soon to out and not how he wished it to, the deal the North had agreed to now hanging by a thread and despite himself, he smiled.

They were all merely players in a game that he controlled, a game that he held all the advantages in, a game that he would win and they would die in. The Game of Thrones had now truly begun.

A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed, sorry for the delay. Up Next we take a look at events through some other eyes as we look at the North, South and Essos.

Supremus: Thanks so much.

Daryl Dixon: Glad you liked it.

Lawkeeper: I'm so glad you felt that way, especially with Sansa that's been the case as she's had further to travel as a character so to speak, so I'm relieved that came across. That's the thing with Jon/Howland in some ways he's standing as proxy for Ned and so getting a lot of Ned's blame but he also has the advantage of being there and so Jon can vent, then consider and then go back, something he can't do with Ned. So here you see him mention that he knows he's been harsh and taking steps to correct that, while not yet being able to forgive. That's one thing that people don't take into account in regards to Ned, his death closes that door and so the resentment that Jon may feel towards him can never be resolved properly. I remember reading a fic where Ned was sent to the Wall and he told Jon while there and it made Jon desert, it never got to the endpoint but I always wondered what would have happened when Jon came back later to fight at the Wall, how they may interact then.

Jaime still has a Valyrian sword so it will be Ned that wields Dawn and we'll see Jon and Ned very soon. In regards to Jaime's trial, were saving it for an upcoming Pov of his as it works for the best through his eyes and it's a big moment for him character-wise. What I will say about him is that what we have planned for him is something I've wished to do for the longest time and it's why we pretty much changed Rhaegar's last words to him to fit here.

Rhatch: I think worse than any of that with Bran was the fact that he really didn't help any, like he sat and watched and offered no real help, and yet people listened to him too. He continually goes, I'm not a Stark, I'm the Three-Eyed Raven and yet people just blindly accept all he says. I know they see magical things and are facing an army of dead men, but everyone else gets bloody questioned when they say boo, Bran does not. So I'm happy to see you see that too.

Svenion: In canon, he certainly didn't as we well know. As for why here, Varys has some upcoming povs where we'll see him reflect on his reasoning for things. I could say it as simple as that Aerys decided there and not Varys, but it's more complicated than that. Suffice to say, here Varys had a reason for Harrenhal happening how it did.

Suppes: We wanted to do something different with Jon's name, make it kind of fit with something else, so the Spring Prince and Bael the Bard being combined to give us Baelon was what we decided upon.

Kingmanena: Jon knows he was harsh on Howland, but I think he would be, then he'd reflect. Howland kind of got Ned's share of Jon's anger, but they've resolved it somewhat. The Knights of the Vale have heard the tales of Jon and seen him spar and so none wanted to face him, Jon wouldn't have cared had they got someone willing to do, as he's confident enough in his own skill and it was important to stand up for Sansa, but yep, he knew he was golden.

Vwchick: So very glad you liked it.

Dunk: So glad you liked it, we went back and forth over how to show Lyn's end and decided to go with Nymeria as it would be different somewhat. Davos kind of just cuts through all the BS, he's so plain-spoken that it makes him the perfect mentor/father figure almost. Without going too much into the Old Gods, they have taken steps but they can't take back their gift as such, instead, they're negating it sort of. But again without spoiling they've done something and we're about to find out exactly what that was over the next couple of chapters.

I funnily enough had the same thought regarding the Starks a while back, given where they end up in the show and thinking about whether or not the books will end somewhat similar in terms of that, not how we get there, but getting there. Like I can see Sansa as QITN and I think GRRM has said Bran will be King in the South and Arya going off on some wanderlust with Jon either dead or Beyond the Wall, that all sounds likely. So you could see him pretty much starting us out with the Starks as the technical heroes of the story only that by the end they turn out to almost be the villains. That we see them suffer and sympathize/empathize with them and think them better than others, only to find out that they're very much not. It's kind of the sort of anti trope thing that he claims to like. In regards to Jon's truth, it's a hard thing to figure out, because so many fics make it such a big issue to the North and while it would be, I kind of think a bit like with Dany, it's not as big an issue as it's made out to be.

Don't get me wrong, they'd bitch and moan, but a bit like say had Dany arrived in WF and they'd done so and she'd then said "Fine face the Nk alone, I'm going back south" I think practicality trumps anger in the end. One thing I've always felt in regards to Jon's truth and Jon himself is that he fits the words that the Greatjon uses when calling for Robb to be King far better than anyone including Robb does. He knows the Wolfswood and the Wall, the Barrows of the First Men, and his Gods are right, so I've always felt that GRRM was hinting at that with the Greatjon's little speech. But yes there will be issues when the truth outs, which it kind of has now. We'll see with Sarella, I think with Olenna she understands clever and smart and respects it greatly, especially in a woman of Marge's age. Commander Snow was more a nod to Mass Effect lol.

Tammy: Thanks so much, this is more the true Jon IMO, the Book version which is far more assertive, yes he still has his issues, but the show completely watered him down. So glad you like it and it's the only Jon I intend to write in any fic.

Sibeal: That's more than enough my friend, more than enough.

Celexys: We wanted to show with Sansa this journey that she was on, to take our time so that when we get to these parts, she makes sense and isn't just suddenly acting OOC, you can understand why she's how she is now and it hopefully in hindsight makes where she came from character-wise work too. With Rickon and Jon, it's almost how both are, they pretty much want the other to be happy even were it to cause them some sadness, where in the show Jon never had anyone who thought that way. Rickon wanted it to be a bit of a shock to Jon so that even though people may understand it's what Jon wants, they'd not think it a scheme and think it more a political act.

I hated how they pretty much just gave him a couple of scenes with no real explanations behind it, Benjen deserved more and so we wanted to use him more here, we'll see him again soon and find out exactly what's going on.

Wryesenseofhumour: Overuse of certain keys, I've been there my friend lol. It's become a go-to in modern tv and movies, just pull this OOC moment out of nowhere and with no explanation in order to push the plot forward. That and the dreaded Off Screen, where big events happen out of view and are just referenced are the worst forms of lazy and bad writing ever. A good twist is fun to read or see, pulling something out of their proverbial arses is very much not.

I think with LF GRRM kind of pats himself on the back, there is one element in what he says about him that's right perhaps, in that he's from such a minor house that there is a kind of snobbishness that others have in regards to him that make them see him as lesser and therefore a lesser danger. But from his description to his words to every scene he has in the books, it's hard to believe people just fall for it. Some yes, not as many who do. I truly think he's been the luckiest SOB in Westeros at times.

Exactly that with Bran, so glad you bring it up. He's 120 odd when we first see him, has been the TER for more than 40 years, starting when he was in his late seventies and so that has to be taken into account regarding how he ended up. Bran on the other hand is early teens, yes he's in a wheelchair, but other than that there is no reason to think he has to end up like Bloodraven did, even if Bran believes it to be so. Jaime is kind of lost, Cersei running out on him has flipped his world upside down and so he's almost looking for something before he dies. So that and Mel's words bringing up Rhaegar and what he last said to him (something that in this fic is different than canon) has given him some impetus, we'll be getting a pov from him in a bit that will clear up some more of how he's thinking.
Sansa's arc is kind of a series of lessons, here she's gotten yet another. I'm so glad you said that about the actor, he is awesome and he deserved so much more screen time. Benjen as a character was kind of wasted and so we wanted to do more with him here, we'll be seeing him soon. That was exactly what we went for with Jon and Howland, he's a surrogate almost and he got far more than he deserved, but it's a human reaction and how you deal afterward is one too. Jon knows he was wrong and they've spoken, Howland and he will never be close, but he won't hate him either.

One thing that people don't at times seem to acknowledge is that characters are meant to be human, they will do things that may be wrong or place blame where it's not deserved and most characters will have their inherent biases too. What people see as bashing, or running down a character because a certain other character doesn't see their fave as they do, misses the point that it's how it would be. A Targ supporter finding out that Jon was raised as a bastard and sent/allowed to go to the Wall is not going to think kindly of Ned Stark, the very same way that a Ned Stark supporter is not going to think kindly of a Targ Supporter saying nasty things about Ned, but both of those things are logical and understandable.

Scarilla: We may see the Jon/Howland second conversation in a Howland pov. All the Starks know now, as do some of the Northern Lords because of the end of this chapter.

Procaptured: So glad you like it and mine too, I really dislike what he became at the end of the show and the only way to make any real sense of it IMO, is to make him a bad guy.

Lady Octarina: It's funny you bring up Rickon's empathy and that he gained it from the animals as that's something I do think would happen with the bonds of warging. I always felt the wolves showed their bonded's personalities, and that it was a two-way street. Jon is Ghost and Ghost is Jon so to speak. So Rickon connecting and seeing things through the animals is certainly that here. Having both he and Jon and Sansa/Arya have their moments here was so important as it shows them being who they're meant to be and is in direct contrast to Bran not being that way.

Jon did go too hard, Howland got Ned's share and almost stood as a surrogate for him in a way. As you see he's reflected and put it right somewhat, though they'll never be close. I'm really intrigued about Howland and why he never came to WF or told Jon the truth, I hope if it's in the books it actually makes sense and is not some BS excuse, but he's one of the characters that I most wished to see in the show, though saying that I'm now glad we really didn't as they'd have ruined him too lol. The Jaime/Mel/Rhaegar thing is important and will come back later.