Joanna

The lessons with Septa Mordane were sometimes a chore, she could do needlework but never liked to while her courtesies were fine according to her at least. She missed her Uncle Tyrion most at this time, she missed his lessons. Septa Mordane was not unpleasant if strict, but her lessons were simply not interesting. Arya agreed, she couldn't wait to get out of the lessons and have fun, unlike Sansa, who was clearly in her element with the Septa's lessons on courtesy. It was amusing, however, when she and her sister would inevitably clash over something.

"You ruined it" cried Sansa over a handkerchief she had sawn. Arya asked if she could add her own pattern and what came out made Sansa's nerves crack.

"It looks better now!" Arrya shouted stubbornly as they argued, then both turned in hostility Joanna, whom let out the laugh she was holding for an hour of watching them.

"Shut up, Anna" said Arya, as Septa Mordane gasped.

"Arya!" she scolded the girl.

"It's fine, Septa," laughed Joanna, wiping a tear.

The Septa shook her head, but did no more to scold Arya. The lesson came to an end early, to spare the Septa any more of Arya's wrath, Joanna suspected.

The three were on their way to the glass gardens when Robb, Jon, Bran and Theon and several other men arrived in the yard.

"What's that in Robb's hands?" Arya asked.

"Jon's git something too" said Joanna, squinting her eyes at the small things her friends were carrying.

They moved closer to join them and all three gasped.

They were carrying small wolves. Pups, with their eyes closed that almost seemed to be asleep.

Arya immediately run forwards.

"What are those?" she asked excitedly.

"Direwolves," Jon said with a smile.

"Don't be silly" said Sansa, "Father says they don't come those side of the Wall."

"There are now," said Robb.

"Where did you find them?"

They told the story of how they found a dead wolf, slain by a stag, with its mate protecting their cubs. They asked how Jon had approached the she wolf even when Lord Stark was weary. Then of how the wolf had dropped her cubs in the hands of the Starks and vanished into the forest. It sounded like one of the tales Old Nan would tell.

"We told them we'd seen Direwolves" Joanna said triumphantly.

"Aye" said Jon, smiling at the memory. "They've been living in the woods all that time. The father must have tried to protect the others. The Stag got him, but the mother was able to stop it from hurting her cubs."

"Father thought it would be kinder to kill them if the mother would not look after them, but Jon helped us to convince him that we should get them," said Robb.

"We can keep them?" asked Arya, her eyes beaming.

"Aye, sister, one of these is yours."

"Can I have the white one?" she burst out.

"That one's Jon's, Arya" said Robb. He raised a smoke grey cub. "And this one is mine."

"But you can have one of the others, little sister. There's two girls. One of them can be yours?".

Arya squealed.

"We can't keep them, they're dangerous," said Sansa nervously.

"Not if you train them properly, Sansa" said Joanna, admiring the pups. "You could train yours to be nice, couldn't you?"

"Well, I suppose," said Sansa more curiously.

They went into the kitchen and laid out the pups comfortably. Lady Catelyn came in, leading young Rickon with her.

"What is this?" she exclaimed, her Tully eyes wide.

"Our wolves, Mother" said Arya happily.

"Wolves, what, what is this?"

They told the story over again, by the end of it Lady Catelyn was perplexed.

"Gods, your father agreed to this?"

"Jon convinced him, Mother. There's six Stark children, four male and two female. We were meant to have them, Mother, it's a sign" said Bran.

Catelyn looked confused at six, but then looked at Jon and understanding mixed with disapproval appeared on her face, though she said nothing, but clearly wondered why Jon was allowed to have a symbol of House Stark like his siblings. Joanna suppressed a frown. She was usually fond of Lady Catelyn, but she struggled to understand her contempt for Jon. She knew she was hurt by her husband's dishonor, but taking it out on a child that had no say in how it was born she couldn't understand.

The naming brought on a set of arguments.

"Lady? It's a wolf not a dog" Arya told Sansa.

"She's beautiful, though" said Sansa, holding her cub, grey with yellow eyes, her previous nervousness fading.

"You need to pick a name, Bran" said Robb, holding Grey Wind as he had named his pup.

"Maybe Growl... or Fang?" said Bran unsurely.

"Mine's Nymeria" Arya said proudly looking at her pup.

"What's yours Rickon?"

"Shaggydog" exclaimed Rickon, his nervousness going away slowly but surely.

Joanna went over towards Jon, who was holding the smallest, white pup. It slowly opened its eyes and Joanna was slightly spooked. They were a deep blood red and staring.

"And you Jon?" she asked.

"I'm not sure yet," he said, smiling fondly at the pup.

The pups were the centre of attention for the rest of the day. It was a struggle for them to be sent to their beds, but when they succeeded, Lord and Lady Stark pulled Joanna aside.

"Joanna, we need to tell you something" Lady Stark said, she was surprised to see the look in their eyes. Something was wrong.

"My lord?"

"Jon Arryn is dead, Joanna, he died of an ailment the Maester's could not treat."

Joanna gasped. Jon Arryn was Hand to her father since he took the throne from Aerys Targaryen. She felt sadness for him, for he had always been very kind to her. But she knew Lord Stark felt even worse, it's like he lost a father again.

"I'm so sorry, Lord Stark" she said sympathetically. He nodded.

"Your father plans to set out for Winterfell, with your family." Joanna nearly stumbled. Her father, her family. Here?

"Are you all right?" said Lord Stark in concern.

"Aye" she said faintly.

"Your father sent this to you as well."

He handed her a parchment. She took it and read it in silence.

Dear daughter,

I'm sure you've already been informed about poor Jon. I know you share my grief fir you were always fond of him and I think that the sentiment was returned. I have missed, my dear, for all those years, greatly. Ned tells me you're growing into a fine young woman, and I look forward to seeing it for myself. I am coming to Winterfell, daughter, with your mother, brothers, and sister, and our family will be together again. You'll be happy to learn I am bringing your mother's brothers as well. Lord Tyrion still writes to you often, I hear. I have missed you greatly dear daughter, your mother too. Myrcella is eager to see you again, she's going on about her big sister down in the North. Tommen can't wait to meet, he's always been very curious about you. I know Ned's made a fine future Lady out of you. Your time in the North will have proven fruitful surely when we take you home.

Your Loving father,

Robert Baratheon

She read the letter twice, then nodded to Lord and Lady Stark, and excused herself. She didn't remember going to her room, yet when she cleared her head she was lying on her bed, crying.

Her father made it clear that he was taking her with him when he left Winterfell, but she didn't want to go. She loved the North, Winterfell was her first real home. Home isn't the sort of place where you are allowed to be hurt by your own brother. Home is where you are welcomed, protected and treated with kindness. The Starks gave her that. The thought of leaving them and going back to Joffrey made her stomach turn.

She eventually drifted off to sleep, but sleep brought no bliss.

She was standing on the hill of Casterly Rock with her brother before her.

"I'm your prince, sister, and you've scorned me. You must be punished."

"Joffrey, please... Mother".

Her mother was there too now. She shook her head.

"Your brother is right, you are a nasty girl. An ungrateful girl. You ought to be ashamed."

"Shame" they started to chant. "Shame. Shame. Shame. Shame. Shame. Shame. Shame. Shame. Shame. Shame. Shame."

"Please..."

Joffrey pushed her. She fell into darkness and water.

She saw blackness and then a man with violet eyes and silver hair.

"This shall guard all our secrets, my wolf, I leave it with you. He handed something to a thin figure with dark hair.

"Our secret," the figure whispered.

There was a red dragon before her now, with three heads. And beside it was a grey wolf. They were bound together by a branch of Winter Roses.

"Protect him, Ned".

A white wolf ran across the Godswood of Winterfell. Its red eyes glared.

She awoke with a jerk and in sweat and confusion. What was this dream? Joffrey and her mother she could understand. But the dragon's and wolves, strange. And what secret did the silver haired man and the dark haired woman speak of?

She rose from her bed, feeling the situation down on her. Her father was coming. She should be happy. And yet she wasn't. Was she being ungrateful like her dream had told her? Her head hurt from it all and she slid off the bed and went out of her room.

She was once frightened by the castle at night, but it passed with the years. She wandered the halls until she found the door and knocked on it.

"Jo?" said Jon, opening the door. He wiped his eyes, dressed in his night clothes. "What are you doing here?"

"Can we speak, Jon?" she asked him.

He nodded and she entered his room. It was smaller than the other rooms but it was warm and cozy. He sat on his bed while she sat by his desk. She saw the white wolf below the bed in a den Jon had made. It was awake, its small eyes staring at her, yet not as eerily as shame remembered.

"He's very quiet," she said.

"Aye" said Jon, looking fondly at the wolf. "Hasn't made a sound all day. He just keeps staring".

"He's like a ghost compared to the others" Joanna said absent-mindedly and was surprised by Jon's big smile.

"What?"

"That's what I'll call him. Ghost."

He knelt down near the pup.

"You're Ghost, aren't you boy?"

The wolf stared at Jon and almost seemed to nod in approval. It wasn't that shocking, after watching its parents do the same.

Jon picked up the cub and held it affectionately, Joanna smiling at them both.

"So what did you want to talk about?"

The words brought her back to the reason for her visit. The look on his face darkened as he saw her expression and he set down Ghost by his side.

Without a word, she passed the letter into his hands. He read twice as she had done, eyes widening then he looked at her.

"So that means..."

"I'm leaving Jon" she told him, looking down. "But I don't want to. I want to stay here with you all. Is that selfish, Jon. Am I being ungrateful?"

"No," he said firmly. He stood up and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Jo, you are the kindest person I've ever met. You have every right to not want to go with them. They've let Joffrey hurt you because he enjoyed it, they did nothing when he nearly got you killed, except your uncle. Jo, don't ever think that you're in the wrong."

"I don't want to go, Jon".

"If he touches you I'll kill him" Jon promised darkly.

"Stay away from him Jon" she said concerned. If Jon confronted Joffrey in any way it would not end well for him. "Just stay away. I'll be alright. I'm not a little girl, anymore. I can handle him, like my uncle does. Don't worry Jon, I'm only sad because I'm leaving you all here at Winterfell."

He sighed.

"I probably won't be here much longer, Jo," he said sadly.

Her eyes widened.

"Why? Has something happened? Jon, your not planning anything stupid like running away? If it's about Lady Catelyn..."

"No," he insisted, "I want to join the Night's Watch."

She froze in her tracks.

"What?" she said after a moment.

"I want to join the Night's Watch..."

"Jon, no," she said sharply.

"It's a noble calling for a bastard, I can be useful there, have a purpose."

"Purpose? Protecting a wall with a bunch of convicts."

"Many nobleborns have joined the Night's Watch. The Lord Commander is a Mormont. My uncle..."

"Jon, you can be useful at Winterfell. To Robb when he's lord."

"Robb doesn't need me, Jo. He is strong and sure and wise. I can become something great there, Jo. You know that's what I always wanted. To have my own achievements. I can't do it here..."

"Yes, you can!"

"No. Here I'm just the Bastard of Winterfell. It won't matter there."

"It doesn't matter here" Joanna told him. "Your family loves you. Don't worry about the lady..."

"Its not about the lady. Jo, you don't tell me my family loves because I know that better than anyone. But here the best I can be is a vassal, a bastard with a skill for a sword. There I can be a Ranger, maybe even First Ranger. Jo, please try to understand"

His grey eyes were on her as she shook her head.

"I can't Jon. You're not appreciating the life you have here. Sure, Lady Catelyn scores you, but you'd be safer here with her than out there hunting wildings and whatever demons might live beyond the Wall if Old Nan and that deserter were right."

Jon's eyes flashed with anger which surprised her.

"Don't talk to me like I'm some hapless fool ready to get himself killed. I'll be a man soon. And don't tell me about my life here. You don't know what its like, Your Grace. You've known the North less than the South. You don't a thing about how hard life can be."

She was angry now.

"Really. Did you forget about how my own brother tried to maim me and nearly killed me. How my mother kissed her own brother in front of me. How my father dtinks and whires and cares more about his next tourney than his own daughter. Did you forget that? You've had it luckier than most bastards, you know."

Jon's eyes filled with tears and remorse as she started to cry as well.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered. Behind him, she could hear Ghost whine.

"So am I" she told him.

Slowly she hugged him and he hugged her back fiercely.

"You're my closest friend, Jon, I don't want you to condemn yourself."

"I know, '' he told her. "Jo... I'm not doing this because I'm unhappy. It's just, I want to do something more than just be Robb's brother. I love him, I do, but I've always lived like his shadow, like you...

She nodded.

"Like I was Joffrey's".

She looked down.

"Jon, if this is what you want, I won't do anything to stop you. But please think about it. What did Lord Stark say?"

"I haven't told him yet."

"Then do so. Please. Don't make this decision in a rush."

"I will not," he promised. "I'm sorry, Jo".

"It's alright, I'm sorry too. It's not my place to tell you what's best for you."

They hugged again. He walked her back to her room. They said a long goodbye at the door. Despite her words, Joanna went to her bed with a sense of long sadness

Jon

He felt sick with himself when he saw the look on Joanna's face when he shouted at her. It stayed with him even after they had apologized to each other and after he took her back to her room.

The news that she was leaving made it worse, but he also felt some relief. No matter what he chose, she was leaving, and there would be one person less for him to leave behind. He felt leaving Joanna would be as hard as leaving the rest of his family.

Joanna was like Robb and Arya, always making sure he wasn't in the background, that he was always included, always a part of things. Joanna knew what it was like to live in someone else's shadow, but she was right, he was luckier than most. Maybe even luckier than her. Even if he sometimes felt small next to Robb, his brother never made him feel bad on purpose.

And she was right that he needed to tell his father. It would not be fair for him to break the news of his wish to join the Watch the next time Uncle Benjen came to Winterfell like he'd intended.

So when day broke he set off to find his father. Alyn confirmed his father was in his solar alone.

"Jon" his father said, surprised.

"May we speak, my lord? '' he said, his father frowning at how formal he was.

"Aye" he said, putting aside the parchment he had been writing on.

Jon took a seat, but couldn't bring himself to speak.

"What is it, son?" his father said, concerned.

"I want to join the Night's Watch," he burst out.

Bis father blinked with a frown and he took in dhar he said.

"What?" He asked softly.

"I want to join the Night's Watch. I want to go the next time Uncle Benjen comes."

His father looked at him for a moment and then closed his eyes.

"Jon, you're a boy of fourteen"

"I'll be fifteen by the time I'm at the Wall, almost a man."

"But you are a boy now," his father insisted.

"It's my decision," Jon said, trying to sound more confident than he actually was.

"Aye it is, but you can't just make it on a whim..."

"I've thought about it for years, father."

"Why?" his father asked. "Has something happened?"

"Why does everyone keep thinking that?" Jon burst out quickly.

"You've told the others already?" his father said, surprised.

"Just Joanna, we spoke last night. She thinks I shouldn't go."

"Maybe she is right, Jon," his father said softly.

"Please father, just let me do this".

"Why, Jon?" his father said again

"A bastard can rise high in the Night's Watch, it's an honorable calling."

"But are you sure it's right for you?" his uncle said in understanding. "Its not something you can walk away from, son. You've seen that deserter. You'll take an oath and you will have to live it, take no wife, father no children, hold no lands".

"I'm entitled to no lands," Jon said. "I want no wife and want no children" he wasn't sure he truly meant that, but he wanted this so badly.

"Jon, look at me".

He raised his eyes to look at his father. It was like looking at himself, older and wiser.

"Father, please, trust me. I will say the words and I will keep them. I'll make you proud."

Both their eyes were filled with tears.

"I've always been proud of you, my boy," his father said. He then opened his mouth to say something, his eyes heavy, but he stopped himself and his face straightened.

"We will speak on this again, Jon. My brother will come for the King's arrival in a moon. If you are sure this is the life you choose, I won't stop you. But you have to be sure Jon. Once it's done, it can't be undone."

Jon nodded.

"Now go on and tend to your wolf. Like I said, you make an oath, you have to keep it."

Jon nodded and left the room.

Ghost was waiting for him on his bed, Gods he had grown in the night, that was clear. He took the pup fondly in his hands. Ghost looked knowingly into his eyes. Jon smiled sadly.

"You're gonna love the far North, Ghost. I know that".

Dany

Illyrio and her brother were speaking. She wasn't sure about what but her brother was excited when he returned to her room.

"Sister, wonderful news," he said with a smile.

'Viserys?" she asked in surprise.

His purple eyes burned with passion.

"You will marry the Dothraki Khal Drogo".

Dany's mouth hung open as she stared at her smiling brother.

"But, Viserys... why".

He laughed.

"Because he had men, sister. Men. What does a conqueror need, sweet sister?"

"Men," she said quietly.

"Yes, we will build a mighty army. We will swipe the Baratheons from the Earth and birth a new world. You and I."

Then he grabbed her fiercely. His eyes sunk into fury.

"If you fail, it's over for us. Don't fail Dany, or you will wake the dragon."

His grip on her shoulders tightened.

"You don't want to wake the dragon now, do you?"

She shook her head meekly. His grin returned.

"We will be so powerful, sister. We will make a new world, a world of fire, when I take back my throne."

He continued ranting until he sent her to sleep.

The blue dragon's mouth was twisting into a grin.

"It has begun" it hissed.

(Please leave your thoughts in the comments. I enjoy reading your reviews. Let me know if I make any mistakes or need to change something(: ) I've got some personal stuff going on so chapters might become less regular, but i'll do my best