Enter Howland Reed. The most mysterious man in the world. He's also fun to write, because there's almost no limit to what I can do with him. He's an unknown entity.

8. Revelations - Sansa

Howland Reed wasn't an impressive man. Short of stature and slight of build, with a matted brown hair and light green eyes, he favored his right side and leaned on a walking stick. He was wearing a green leather jerkin armored in bronze scales, under a cloak which resembled leaves from a weirwood tree, in a brownish red color. There was a long bronze knife hanging on his belt and a frog spear strapped to his back.

Everything she saw fit the description of crannogmen she had heard before, save for a brilliantly ornamented sword hanging on his belt, on the opposite side of his knife. How did he get that blade?

As Jon was examining him, Lord Reed went to one knee. "The years have passed in their hundreds and their thousands since my folk first swore their fealty to the King in the North. I pledge the faith of Greywater, hearth and heart and harvest we yield up to you. Our swords and spears and arrows are yours to command. Grant mercy to our weak, help our helpless, and justice to all, and we shall never fail you. I swear it by earth and water. I swear it by bronze and iron." He looked up and stared Jon in the eye. "I swear it by ice and fire." His voice hadn't wavered at any point during that long vow, but he seemed to give more meaning to this last phrase.

Ice and fire? Sansa wasn't familiar with this oath, but it sounded ancient. The mention of bronze and iron also seemed to relate to the First Men somehow. She knew the blood of the First Men flowed in her veins, just like it did for every Stark, because her father had mentioned it so many times. Perhaps the Reeds also share that blood.

"Rise, my lord." Jon smiled and helped the man to his feet. "The Reeds and the Starks have been allies for as long as I can remember. And my father spoke very highly of you, lord Reed." The man gave him a strange look, but remained quiet. So Jon continued, "We accept your fealty, from this day until our last day."

There was something about this man's eyes. The way he stared, it was almost as if he could see beyond what everyone else saw. For some reason, he kept staring at Jon. What does he see?

"Your Grace," He bowed, then turned to Sansa. "My lady." He glanced at Ser Davos and Brienne, before turning back to Jon. "We've received your orders to find dragonglass and Valyrian Steel. While Greywater Watch doesn't have much in the way of dragonglass, I've brought you a gift." He said, unbuckling the sword from his belt and presenting it hilt first.

Jon hesitated for a moment, but grabbed the sword and pulled it from its scabbard. Sansa gasped as the blade reflected the light from the fireplace. It shone with such intensity that it almost seemed to burn. Brienne also made a sound, clearly impressed. Jon began waving it around for some reason she couldn't understand. Maybe he's testing the weight?

Ser Davos narrowed his eyes. "Did House Reed have an ancestral blade, my lord?" The old knight inquired. He was suspicious and didn't bother to hide it. She had to admit she was curious too.

Lord Reed didn't seem to be insulted, as he barked a laugh. "No, I'm afraid my family wasn't that lucky, good Ser." He shook his head and turned back to Jon, his face serious. "The tale of how I came to carry this sword is best told in private, Your Grace."

Jon looked over at Sansa, who nodded. "Ser Davos, Brienne, would you please leave us?" She asked, trying to sound polite. "And make sure nobody enters this room while we're talking." They both walked out without question.

Howland Reed was still glancing at her, so Jon cleared his throat. "Anything you wish to tell me, Sansa will also hear it. If not now, I'll simply tell her later." She beamed at him. She had been feeling guilty ever since the battle, when she didn't tell him about her deal with Littlefinger. But they had promised to trust each other after that.

Reed looked between them and nodded. "Very well." The man went over to check the door. After he made sure it was locked, he continued, "That sword you hold is Dark Sister, Your Grace." Jon gasped, but when he saw that Sansa didn't know what he meant, he explained, "Along with Blackfyre, it's an ancestral blade of House Targaryen."

"But… How?" Jon asked, as he examined the blade closer. Sansa followed his eyes along the length of the sword. The flame designs really jumped out at her now. There were rubies and golden details everywhere. She didn't know much about swords, but Jon seemed enthralled just by looking at it.

"Lord Stark never told you about your mother, did he?" Lord Reed asked, causing Jon to turn his head so fast, she was worried he might have hurt his neck.

Jon didn't answer immediately, but his eyes were unfocused. She had always wondered why father never told him, or anyone for that matter, about this mystery woman. This was yet another reason why her mother had hated Jon so much. Father must have loved her dearly, if he couldn't even bring himself to speak of her.

Sansa grabbed his hand, trying to comfort him. It couldn't have been easy for him, living all these years not knowing something so important as your own mother's name. They interlocked their fingers and Jon turned to face the man.

"He… Didn't have time." Jon replied, avoiding the man's eyes. He's ashamed. She squeezed his hand.

Howland Reed looked at him with sad eyes. "I see." He took a deep breath and continued, "Well, it's about time you learned the truth, then." Jon was squeezing her hand tightly. "You might want to sit down, it's a long tale." He took a seat and waited for them. Sansa led him to two chairs and sat down next to him. Jon was still holding on to Dark Sister for some reason.

"Before Ned returned to Winterfell with a baby boy, we went to Dorne with a few loyal friends. Robert Baratheon had already defeated Rhaegar Targaryen at the Trident, Jaime Lannister had killed the Mad King, and Gregor Clegane had killed Elia Martell and her children." The man couldn't hide his disgust at that last event. Sansa remembered her lord father had felt the same, since he wouldn't speak to his friend Robert for a long time after that.

"In short, the war was over." Reed continued. "But for Ned, the war would only end after he found his sister Lyanna. His search led him to a place some called the Tower of Joy." He paused to look at their faces. "It's at the northern edge of the Red Mountains of Dorne. It was a long journey, but we made it there. However, our way was blocked by two kingsguard. Ser Arthur Dayne and Lord Commander Gerold Hightower."

"What were knights of the kingsguard doing all the way down in Dorne?" Sansa asked.

Howland Reed didn't hesitate to answer. "They were guarding the heir to the Iron Throne, of course." Sansa made to speak again, but he continued, "Rhaegar had married Lyanna before he left for the Trident. Lyanna was inside that Tower, giving birth to the future king of the Seven Kingdoms. She didn't survive long after childbirth, but she made Eddard promise to keep her son safe, for she knew Robert wouldn't have allowed another Targaryen to live. Lyanna had named her son Aegon, but Ned found it safer to call him…"

Sansa gasped and finished for him, "Jon." She heard a clanking sound and turned her head to see that Jon had dropped the sword.

Reed pointed at the sword on the floor and said, "We found Dark Sister with her. She mentioned Rhaegar had received it as a gift from an old relative, and he wanted to leave it for his son." His son, Sansa thought. Jon is a Targaryen prince.

"Do you have any proof of this?" Sansa asked, knowing the implications. If what this man says is true, Jon has a claim to the Iron Throne. A better claim than Daenerys Targaryen. Rhaegar was the crown prince, so when Aerys died the crown passed on to his firstborn. And then to his sons. If Jon was his last surviving son...

"Other than the sword and my word, no." Howland Reed replied simply. "I'm the last living person who bore witness to Lyanna's death. Nobody even knew she was pregnant, and most people believe Rhaegar took her against her will." Most people believed that Lyanna was raped by Rhaegar, she knew. I wonder why?

"But why didn't they explain it to everybody?" Sansa wanted to know. Marriage is a holy ceremony, regardless of the faith. No wedding was truly secret. She herself had been married twice, once before the Seven and another before the Old Gods. "Uncle Brandon went south to challenge Rhaegar, then grandfather Rickard went to try and save his son. Both of them ended up tortured by the Mad King."

Howland Reed sighed deeply. "I'm afraid I don't have all the answers, my lady. Perhaps a simple letter could've prevented many deaths. Perhaps that wouldn't have changed anything. Aerys had earned his title of Mad King long before he burned your family." He said, looking sad.

Sansa finally turned around to face Jon. I've been so stupid! While she was busy wondering about his claim to the Iron Throne, she forgot to consider how he must be feeling after all this.

"Jon? A-Are you… Well?" She had been holding his hand for a while now, but now she realized his grip wasn't as tight as it was before.

He pulled his hand free and rose from his seat. "I…" He started, but his voice was hoarse. "I'll need some time to think." He finished, moving away to leave the room.

This was actually the second draft of this chapter. I had initially written this from Jon's POV, but it felt off. I wanted to discuss the Targaryen succession, but it just didn't work from Jon's mind because he doesn't care about that.

Also, it's tough to work such a big reveal from the POV of the person it affects the most. Jon would probably stop listening about halfway through. And I went with the show version of the Tower of Joy battle, due to recency bias.

Finally, the sword. I was torn between Dark Sister or Blackfyre, but ultimately I thought Dark Sister was more believable. Though I admit it's a bit contrived. My reasoning is that Bloodraven left it with Aemon, who sent it to Rhaegar. I'm not sure if Blackfyre will show up yet. I'm still considering it.

The date is 16/05/2019