Ned

Benjen's words rang through his ears like a bell that never stops.

"Trust your son".

It kept him up at night. Cat slept peacefully next to him. He ran his hand gently through her hair.

"I wish I had told you," Ned said.

He slid out of the bed and made his way to the only place where he could find some semblance of comfort. He went to the crypts.

He traveled down the darkness deep in his thoughts until he reached his family and dropped to his knees.

"I wish you were here, Father" Ned said, looking at the tomb of Rickard Stark. "You'd know what to do."

He turned to Brandon.

"You would too, brother. Gods, why did this have to happen to you?"

He turned to the last statue.

"My dear sister, if I had failed you in any way for me to not have had your trust. I tried to care for your boy. I did. But I failed. I failed."

He sat weeping in the darkness for what seemed like an eternity. Somehow, it felt so liberating to finally let all those unshed tears go. Yet it brought no answer, no matter how badly he willed the statues to come to life and tell him what to do. But they would not, for the dead may never return.

He rose eventually and put a hand on his sister's stone face.

"I'm gonna keep trying, Lya, I promise."

In the end, that was all he could do for his nephew.

He wandered out of the darkness and back to the castle. But he did not retire to his bed again. He found himself wandering his stronghold. Every corner was like a memory. In one he saw young Lyanna and Benjen hiding so they could scare him and Brandon when they passed by. In the yard he saw himself firing arrows, missing his shots just like Bran had done while his brother laughed. His mother, healthy and beautiful and carrying his little brother in her womb, stood with his father, looking proudly as his sons learned together, holding little Lyanna in her arms.

Walking around he saw other memories. The nursery where Robb and Jon played together all the time as toddlers refusing to begin before the other joined in, and later it was Bran and Rickon. The room where Catelyn gave Sansa her first lesson, Arya running in the direction of the yard rather than going to learn to sew. How Theon nervously approached Robb to ask if he could have a spar, or when Joanna had come in with a drawing of their entire family together, a proud smile on her face.

Despite all the lies that he had used to keep them safe, their happiness had filled these walls. His children and wards, his family. The truth would either destroy it or bring it closer than ever. But was the truth worth the risk?

Eventually he had found his way into the yard again, cold and empty, and sat down on the stone stairs. The truth of a lie he had told so long ago that could tear his family apart, to protect another lie that could tear the kingdom apart. It was down to Ned. But, Gods, he just didn't know.

Then there was a rustling in the distance and Ned almost jumped. His eyes darted towards the direction of the noise, expecting anyone but the small woman that had emerged from the shadows.

Old Nan was clad in a warm winter cloak and was using her cane to walk. It echoed across the castle as she made her way across the yard as Ned watched on, unsure whether to reveal himself. But then her eyes darted towards him and he saw the smile on her face as she changed directions towards him.

"Can't sleep, Eddard?" she asked with a smile.

She always called him by his full name as she had done so when he was a child. Even after his father abd brother's deaths and his ascension she still talked to him like he was her charge. Somehow, that felt oddly comforting.

"Nan, you shouldn't be out here. Why are you here alone? Where is Hodor?" Ned said to the old woman as she approached.

"Walder is sleeping, the poor boy's been working hard since your friend arrived. And I enjoy watching the skies at night." She slid down to sit beside him. "I come out here to remember. I served generations of your house, Eddard. There is much memory in these stones. I think you are here for that as well."

She was looking him in the eyes and he felt as though she was looking him right into the soul. He almost turned away.

"You are in pain, Eddard," she told him. "Many happy memories you have here, but there was pain in between them. Pain of a lie, you told to end the suffering the Fall of the Dragons had brought on".

Ned's head snapped towards her.

"What?"

"You've deceived your family, most of them their entire life. You did it for a noble reason, Ned. But a lie can only live for so long. A house built on a lie will fall, there is no stopping that."

"You know?" Ned whispered.

Old Nan smiled.

"Of course, my quiet wolf. I am too old and have seen too much not to tell the difference between a wolf and a dragon. Or in his case, I can see when one is both."

Ned looked at the woman, unsure of what to think.

"You never said anything."

"I let you have your peace, Eddard. You had a heavy burden placed on your back by the injustice of the world and the will of a madman. You've lost so much. I let you live the lie, but now that it's falling apart, I'm telling you that I knew this day would come from the moment that babe was handed into my arms."

"When Jon got sick... you said he had his bloodline's strength. Did you mean?"

"He had the strength of his mother, who gave all she could to live long enough to birth him, and his father's, whose ancestors rode dragons and battled demons. That pox never stood a chance."

Ned signed at the mention of Jon's parents.

"What they did brought more suffering than they could have ever imagined, Eddard, on themselves and others. They were rush and consumed by desire of what they've been denied by fate, but we are not perfect creatures and we make mistakes. It is how we learn from them that matters. Don't make their mistake, Eddard. They hid the truth out of fear of their separation, they meant to live a lie. Don't do that Eddard. Tell the boy. Trust in him, and yourself. Trust that you passed enough of yourself into him to make the right choice, whatever that choice may be. Trust, Eddard. Trust."

She put her hand on his shoulder as he looked into her eyes, tearful again.

"You are right, Nan".

He rose as the woman looked at him with what he could only call pride.

"I've run from this long enough."

The Truth

The morning sun had appeared on the horizon as he entered his chambers once more. His wife lay on their bed, beautiful in an almost ethereal way. He put his hand on her cheek and she awoke.

"Where were you, Ned?" she asked, concerned. "I woke and you weren't there. I was worried."

"I had to think on many things, my love. Forgive me, but I needed to be elsewhere."

She looked at him, her blue eyes searching his grey.

"Is this about the offer, Ned? Have you accepted?"

"I will tell you later, my love, there is something I must do first."

She looked confused, but nodded after seeing the look on his face. He helped her dress, savoring the warmth of her, the woman chosen fir him and yet he could not imagine he could love another woman more. They were from different lands, followed different gods, and yet he could think of no one else he could be with.

When they went to breakfast, he took Alyn to the side.

"My son Jon needs to speak with me today. Ask him to come to the Godswood at midday."

Ned looked at Jon constantly as they broke their fast. Robert was laughing about some joke he had made, but he noticed something was off, as did Cat, and the Lannister woman seemed to take glee in whatever was happening to him. But he brushed aside their concerns and he could care less for Cersei Lannister today.

He sent his children to their duties and told Robert he had more work to do. Cat chose to oversee today's lesson with Septa Mordane, the girls now joined by Princess Myrcella. As for Ned, he sat in his solar and waited. When the time approached he set off for the Godswood, his heart heavy.

Jon arrived at midday, and his face was firm.

"Is this about the Night's Watch?" he asked. "What is that Father?"

He stared at the box, Ned had already dug out and opened. He lifted his eyes to look at his son.

"Jon, what I am about to tell you has saat in my heart for fourteen years since the day I first held you in my arms. I kept the truth from you, I felt it would be for the best and for a time it was. But when you asked me to let you join the Watch, I planned such a selfish decision, Jon. So selfish. Why? Because I was afraid. Afraid of losing you forever."

"Father" Jon asked, blinking in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"I love you, Jon. You are my boy, no matter what. I've always been proud of you."

"I love you too, Father" Jon said, tears falling freely. "I've always been proud to call myself your son, if I cannot call myself Stark."

"You may not carry my name, Jon, but you are a Stark. My blood flows in your veins. It always shall."

"Father..."

They embraced. A fierce embrace of a lifetime of love. A father and a son.

"I was always proud of you, Jon, as was your mother."

Jon slowly broke away and stared at him in shock.

"My mother".

"She held you for but a few moments, but she loved you with a lifetime of love. I vowed to keep you safe. And I tried my best, Jon, I did. But I betrayed her by denying you a single answer when you asked about her."

"My mother?" Jon repeated.

"She had passed, Jon. Long ago. I'm sorry, you had the right to know that at least."

Jon sank his head quietly as he took this in. The tears flowed down his cheeks as Ned put a hand on his shoulder.

"I've lost my mother, I know how that feels, but I don't know what its like to long to meet your mother your entire life and learn she is long gone. I'm so sorry."

"Who was she?" Jon asked after a moment.

Ned signed. Now, Eddard, now. He had to tell him the right way. He did not deserve to think one bad thing about himself.

"Jon, I must tell you the truth now... I am not your father."

Jon's head snapped upwards as he stared wide eyed.

"Wh...what..."

"I am your uncle, my sister Lyanna was your mother. But you were always a son to me in every way that mattered."

"No... you can't... why are you saying this".

He was breathing heavily and shaking. Ned grabbed him by the shoulders to steady him.

"Your mother was not kidnapped, Jon. And never raped. She let your father at Harrenhal and they fell in love. They fled without telling anyone and married in secret, your father annulling his previous marriage."

"No... Father. Please. It can't be. It can't..."

"Your father was Rhaegar Targaryen."

"No!" Jon shook free of him, saying his head again and again. "You're lying."

"I will never lie to you again, my boy, I've lied for fourteen years. Your name, your true name that your mother gave you on her deathbed..."

"Don't say it" Jon spat.

"Is Maekar Targaryen."

Then he finally dropped his gaze.

Jon stood in silence, eyes down. Ned could see him shaking across his entire body.

"You...you lied to me" he said at last. Quiet and balling his fists.

"Jon..."

"Don't... You...YOU LIED MY WHOLE LIFE!"

"Jon..." Ned cried, reaching out desperately. Jon slapped his hand away.

"ALL MY LIFE... YOU SPOKE OF HONOR. BUT YOU'RE THE GREATEST LIAR OF THEM ALL!"

"Jon, you are my son... You've always been my son. I loved you and..."

But Jon was no longer listening. Instead he screamed and kicked at branches, crying. Eventually he stumbled and fell down.

"Jon..." Ned breathed out. He saw Jon pull himself up. Blood on one hand.

"Jon..." he made towards him to help, but again his son slapped him away.

"Don't touch me!" he snarled. "Don't come near me! You... How could you?"

The last part came out as a whimper. Then Jon's eyes darkened and he rose and stumped away.

"Jon, wait" Ned said desperately.

He ran after him , taking the box with him, but his son was faster. He chased him all the way to Winterfell, where Bed stopped at the sight of his wife approaching the Godswood. She stopped in her tracks at the sight.

"What is this?" she asked. But Jon simply stomped right past her as if she wasn't even there. Cat stared after him, mouth wide open, then looked at Ned, who hid the box beneath his cloak.

"What happened? What's wrong with him?"

"I can't tell you now, Cat," he said, putting his hand on her cheek. "He needs time."

And so Eddard Stark, taking his wife by her hand, went back towards Winterfell and to whatever future now lay ahead.

(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.

This chapter is a bit shorter as I felt it would be nice to just write the reveal as one chapter. I hope you like Jon's new Targaryen name:)