Summary:
Jon Snow was born with two powerful bloodlines, one of fire and one of ice. Yet the line of ice was old, and was used to taking the gifts of other lines as its own. Growing stronger for it. What if Jon had more of the North in him, more of the wolfblood, and just a hint of the madness that could lead to greatness?
I do not own any of the characters or the world.
Chapter 1:
Eddard Stark:
With hot wind blowing, the stench of smoke drifting past, Ned sat astride a horse, two large greatswords of impeccable quality strapped to the saddle. Being led by his remaining friend, Howland Reed, they crested the last hill before they moved into the valley beyond and slowed to a stop. He glanced back at the smouldering ruins and the 8 cairns barely able to be seen from such a distance and mused at how such a thing came about. All that death, caused by oaths sworn, and unrelenting duty. At that moment, a wail started, loud and sudden, taking his attention away from the scene and to the babe in his arms. Small and tiny, hardly anything of note, yet the child had a strength to his voice, as if trying to assert his will upon the world. Ned managed a half smile, the sight of the child wailing at the world, managing to raise his spirits a small amount after the trying day he had. "He has a strong voice on him," the raspy voice of his friend shook him out of his musing. "Aye, just like his mother before him," He replied. "Let's move on and leave this place behind us." Howland nodded his head in acquiescence."As you wish my lord," and he took the lead and spurred his horse onwards. As they rode on, with the remains of the Tower of Joy behind them, Ned could only look at the boy in his arms, purple eyes looking back, and echo the words spoken to him, "I promise."
Along the road to Starfall Ned looked to Howland and pointed out, "Robert will kill him." Howland looked startled at him, "My lord?", so he clarified, "Robert has no love of dragons and he will not overlook him because of Lyanna, especially because he is Raegar's son by her." Howland mused while deep in thought,"I could take him and sneak him to the North," and looked at him and said, "No one would be the wiser." Ned shook his head, "No, there is a chance it could get out, for he looks the splitting image of a Stark. And then there would be war." Howland raised a brow in question. Ned sighed and looked at the babe asleep in his arms, his face turning stoic with eyes bright with determination, "Aye, for I will not let another of my family die, especially at the hands of a king." Howland nodded in understanding, "And you shall have my support, My Liege''. Ned nodded in appreciation and turned his focus back to the problem. As he sat and pondered the shifting of the ride awoke his passenger and caused him to fuss. Ned worked on pacifying him and he wondered if he would one day do this for his own son. Ned started as he realized a solution to the problem. "Snow," he spoke, drawing Howlands attention. "He shall be Jon Snow," he said resolutely. Howland caught on, "The life of a bastard is not an easy life." Ned nodded but stood his ground, "The kingdom shall know of him and his name will be his shield. He may not have the name but he has Stark blood. The blood of kings of old and he will overcome any challenges he faces." And with that utterance, as they came upon the castle of Starfall, he had no way of knowing that he had just secured the life of a legend.
"Lord Dayne" he greeted solemnly with a nod, after handing Jon over to Howland. He reached to his horse and took the paler of the two greatswords and presented it to the lord of the castle. "I return his sword to you" he spoke as Lord Dayne looked on with a blank face, glancing at the sword to Ned's face to Jon until finally, he reached out and took the sword with a single tear sliding down his cheek. "Come, we will talk in my solar" he said briskly as he turned and walked away. He paused and mentioned "There will be bread and salt". Ned acquiesced and motioned to Howland to come with them. In the solar, after partaking in bread and salt, Lord Dayne sat behind his desk, and the signs of grief were becoming more visible. "It is an ill day to lose two children to the same family". Ned started, "My lord, I do not". Lord Dayne cut him off, "Silence. I have little patience for maneuvering today. My daughter died with her daughter in birth, your niece by your brother. My son by your hand. I had every reason to banish you as soon as Dawn was in my hands, do you know why not?" Ned could only shake his head. Lord Dayne looked over at Jon and his purple eyes, "Because of the boy and what he represents. He is Aurthur's last duty, and I will not ruin that with anger. Ned understood, he had been the same after seeing the babe, all hatred of Dragons gone in the face of his sister's last words and holding his nephew. After a few moments of commiseration on the lives lost, Lord Dayne broached the question on what Ned would do with the babe. Ned revealed that he planned to hide him in plane sight as his son with the name Jon Snow. Lord Dayne barked a laugh at that, "You? Father a bastard so soon after your wedding? Who in their right mind would believe that? No, that would never work, but someone else's bastard would". Ned looked on in confusion, until finally it dawned on him and Howland spoke up from the corner of the room, "You would pass him off as Brandon's and Ashara's". Lord Dayne nodded, tightening with grief. "Ashara would never want a child killed for who his parents were, if she were here she would have volunteered immediately". And in that room, the fate of the so called Jon Snow was changed from being the Quiet Wolf's only blight on his honor, to the Wild Wolf's only legacy.