Robb

The look Jon gave him in the sparring yard froze Robb in his truck, his brother seemed frightened by the sight of him. Robb couldn't understand why, but his brother locked himself and when Robb tried to reach out to him he had ordered him to leave. One by one, his siblings had attempted to find out what had happened to Jon, but he refused to listen to them. Bran and Rickon were concerned about Jon, Arya was upset that her brother was ignoring her, even Sansa was curious as to what had happened. Robb himself knew that whatever had occurred was serious, for his brother usually kept his feelings to himself, Jon was very fine at brooding Robb had to admit. As they later learned, Jon returned in such a state from a meeting with their father in the Godswood. They had tried to find out what, but their father told them firmly it was between him and Jon. Their father himself was clearly taking this hard as well, his eyes were sullen and tired and he was clearly counting the time till Jon emerged from his solitude. Even their mother, whom Robb sadly knew had little love for Jon, was clearly surprised by Jon's behavior.

It stayed with Robb for the next two days, Theon tried to cheer him up but to no avail, he saw nothing of Jon and little of his father, his mother seemed to have taken charge of managing their guests, who were far from what Robb had expected. The king was, Robb had to admit, a disappointment. He had heard of Robert Baratheon, who slew Rhaegar Targaryen and whom with his father and Jon Arryn overthrew the dynasty that lasted nearly three hundred years. Robert Baratheon was a beast with a hammer and an antlered helm. But the man had grown fat and red, spending most of his time drunk. He respected his father's closest friend, but even Ned Stark seemed disappointed by what had become of their king.

The Queen he had heard of as well, the Lioness, and she was as beautiful as they had said, but her polite smile seemed to hide something almost predatory. She glowered furiously at the king as he practically threw himself at one of the serving girls and Robb felt some pity for the woman despite all he heard of Lannisters. The crown prince looked all Lannister though he wore the colors of both his houses. The boy was willful and had a sense of superiority Robb found annoying at times, but Sansa worshipped him as she had worshipped Joanna when she first arrived. Joanna herself was spending most of her time with her younger siblings, who were meeker than their brother but somewhat more pleasant company. Joanna seemed to enjoy their company as well.

Robb found himself thinking about how little Joanna spoke to her family. Tommen and Myrcella Robb could understand, Myrcella was but a babe when Joanna went north, while Tommen was not even born. But she hardly spoke of Joffrey and her parents.

But what worried Robb the most was his brother. Jon had been with Robb since he could remember, he had never cared that his brother was baseborn despite knowing the pain his mother felt, and to see Jon in such a state made Robb truly worried. His dismissal of Robb was one thing, but to see Jon turn Arya away, whom out of the six of them seemed the closest to his heart, made him badly worried. It stayed with him for the next two days. Grey Wind seemed to fill his concerns, his eyes were saddened and Robb was almost convinced the wolf understood what was happening. Grey Wind seemed to understand everything, he and the other wolves followed them like shadows, and Robb sometimes imagined that they were someone meant to find the mother. Jon had said it, four males and two females, perhaps it was truly fate that compelled the she wolf to give them her pups

On the second day of Jon's seclusion, Robb and Theon went out to the training yard. Bran was sparring with Prince Tommen, both boys and heavily padded, using only wooden blades.

Watching them, Robb heard Prince Joffrey call out.

"Lord Robb" he said with a small smile on his lips.

"Prince Joffrey?" Robb asked.

"I have heard your master at arms sing praises on you and the bastard."

Robb's fingers balled into a feast as he heard his brother insulted, but kept his face calm as his father would have wanted him to. He would not be provoked into doing something unwise.

"So I thought whether we could try your skills with my own?"

Robb could see an arrogant glint in the prince's eyes and thought of refusing to avoid more of Joffrey's smugness, but thought better of it.

So he gave a polite smile.

"Of course, Joffrey".

"But not with toy swords, that's for children" Joffrey said snidely.

"You are children," said Theon with a grin.

"Robb is a child, I am a prince. I've swatted at Starks with play swords for the past week.

"You got more swats than you gave, Joff," Robb said. "Are you afraid?"

Joffrey looked at him, his eyes sharp with anger.

"Terrified. You are so much older" he said to the laughter of surrounding Lannister men. "Ser Rodrick, I have a better suggestion."

Ser Rodrick looked at him thoughtfully.

"What are you suggesting?"

Joffrey smiled.

"My sister gifted me with a rather fine sword. I understand it was forged here just for me".

"Aye, a fine blade, I recall, and not all that cheap."

"Yes, perhaps live steel will do better for training."

"Done" said Robb, feeling an urge to show up the prince.

"Hold up there lad" said Ser Rodrick. "Live steel is too dangerous. I'll permit tourney swords and nothing else."

Joffrey glared at the man while Sandor Clegane stepped forward.

"This is your prince. Who are you to tell him he may not have an edge on his sword, ser?"

"Master-at-arms of Winterfell, Clegane, and you would do well not to forget it."

"Are you training women here?" Clegane challenged.

"I am training knights. Robb's only fourteen".

"I killed a man at twelve. Not with a blunt sword."

"Ser Rodrick is right" said a voice and Joanna appeared beside them. "I don't want to see either of you get hurt".

Sandor Clegane laughed as Ser Rodrick glared at him.

"Need a little princess to defend you, Rodrick".

Joffrey scoffed at the situation.

"And I thought you wanted to see me in battle, sister. You're the one who gave me the blade. And now you say I'm too young for it. Oh well. Come and see me when you're older, Stark. If you're not too old."

Lannister men laughed as Robb shook with rage, but Joanna gave him a pleasing look and he backed out for her sake.

Joffrey yawned.

"Come Tommen" he said, "The hour of play is done. Leave the children to their frolics."

Ser Rodrick was red with fury as the prince went away. Robb was a little better, and Joanna turned to him sadly.

"I'm sorry about him, Robb".

"Was he always like this?"

She shrugged.

"He wasn't always pleasant," she said after a moment.

"He's a little shit" Theon said plainly.

Robb signed at him.

"Its alright, Robb" Joanna said looking down. "He has a point. More than that." She scoffed to herself. "Oh, for gods' sake, yes he's a shit." she finally burst out in resignation.

"Lets spar properly. Take our minds off him" said Theon raising a tourney sword.

"I should go after them" Joanna said and quickly went in their direction.

"I'll go exploring with Summer" said Bran with a smile and went off to find his wolf, leaving Robb and Theon alone.

Sparring with his friend took Robb's mind off Jon's seclusion and Joffrey's antics for a while. Theon could be obnoxious, but he and Robb always got along well, and their spars made him feel better. He managed to bring Theon down only to be brought down in return. As Theon helped him up, Robb noticed movement in the shadows.

"Jon?" Robb asked as his brother slowly moved out of the darkness. Robb awkwardly approached him.

"May I join you?" his brother asked despite the questions he still had to ask him, Robb smiled.

"Of course, brother".

Jon's sullen face lit up slightly.

The three of them took turns against each other. Despite his best efforts, Jon and Theon never got on, but Jon's heart didn't seem to be in their usual rivalry. Despite this, his brother looked happier than he had earlier and when they were done Theon left them to talk, heading to Wintertown.

"Robb, I'm sorry I turned you all away" Jon said.

"Its alright, we know you meant nothing by it" Robb said assuringly, then looked at him sadly, "but what happened between you and father. He hasn't been well either."

"We've had a talk. A proper one. We both needed it." Jon was looking down.

Robb studied Jon's face, his eyes were fixed on the ground as if he wanted to avoid looking Robb in the eye.

"What happened in the Godswood?" he asked cautiously.

Jon took a moment to answer.

"Lord Stark told me about... my mother".

Robb blinked in surprise. His father had refused to reveal who Jon's mother was. Not to his wife, to none of his children, not to Jon himself. She was always a mystery. A noble woman? A lowborn? He knew his brother asked many times for her name at least but got no response. He thought back to a time when they were young and Robb pushed Jon too hard during a playfight and Jon got a sprained knee. Robb felt guilty and cried to his mother for comfort. Jon however, cried for his own mother, asking why she wasn't there with him, while their father just held him sadly.

"He did?" Robb asked in surprise.

Jon nodded sullenly, still staring at the ground.

A question was on the back of Robb's tongue and Jon sensed it.

"Robb... I'm not ready to talk about it. I just want to say I'm sorry about how I behaved. I didn't have the right to shut you out."

"I understand," said Robb sympathetically.

"I still have to apologize to the others".

"Jon, no one blames you. They'll understand."

"I still owe it to them. And... I'll tell you what Lord Stark said about my mother, just not right now".

Robb nodded. Then he gave him a small smile.

"Well, if you want to start apologizing, Arya will be finishing her lesson with the Septa about now."

Arya practically threw herself into Jon's arms, like Robb holding no bad blood, especially after Jon explained the reason for what happened. With Sansa it was polite and courteous as usual, while Bran and Rickon seemed to immediately forget anything had happened at all, while Joanna peered happily at them from beside her siblings.

But there was still a strange look in Jon's eyes whenever he looked at his siblings and it surprised Robb. And that evening he noticed there was an odd stiffness between Jon and his father, whom Jon has not called anything but "Lord Stark" the whole day. Robb wondered what had gone down between them and realised the story was much more complicated than he had expected. But his brother needed time so that's what Robb would give him. No matter what they were, a pack and a pack sticks together.

Joanna

Her mother's words from her previous day stayed with her all night as she pondered what her mother might want with House Stark. Furthermore, Jon's troubles, her betrothal and the day of departure that drew closer and closer by the day.

She tried to move on from it, focusing her time on her siblings. She had drawn pictures of Tommen and Myrcella and the delighted looks on their faces brought a smile to her face, and giggled when Ser Lion hissed at the drawing she made of him, apparently displeased that she failed to add in his grumpy look in his eyes. Being with the two of them made her feel an odd sense of warmth that she never felt here at Winterfell despite all the happy times. This is what being with Joffrey should have felt like? She thought. We should have laughed together, played together, been happy as brother and sister.

Later that day she found her elder brother with Tommen, who sparred clumsily with Bran, her little brother wasn't made for the sword it seemed. Joffrey meanwhile was trying to goad Robb and Theon into a spar with live steel. The Hound supported him and the man's comment madeher unsure whether to pity him or avoid him. Ser Rodrick was against it and Joanna stepped in to support him, fearing what would happen if Joffrey was successful. Luckily her brother backed down and left promptly with her other brother, his attitude leaving Joanna so aggravated that she let her tongue slip in front of Theon and Robb, though she found herself not regretting it.

But she knew what her brother could be like after an incident like this so she went after them lest he take it out on Tommen. Luckily Joffrey stayed quiet for most of the day to her relief. But she was also relieved that Jon was coming back to them.

She heard he had sparred with Robb and Theon after she'd left and made things right with all his siblings. They got a moment alone in the hallway and Jon explained what had happened, albeit with an odd glint in his eyes.

"Lord Stark thought I should know who my mother was before I joined the Night's Watch. That I know who I am before I say the vows."

"And?" she asked expectantly.

"You were right, Jo," Jon said. "I'm not ready to make that decision. I'm staying with Winterfell."

Joanna's heart skipped a beat in relief. She might be leaving soon, but Jon was staying where he was happy and so she was happy for her friend.

"I'm glad, Jon. I didn't mean that you shouldn't join the Night's Watch, though I know how it sounded. It's just, you need to know it's right for you before you make that decision."

"I know, Jo. Thank you."

"For what?"

"Just for being my friend," he said with some meekness.

"I'll always be there fir you, Jon, '' she said, smiling. "Like I said I would ''.

He looked at her with a surprising firmness in his eyes.

"Do you promise?" he asked, his voice even.

She could see how badly he needed to hear the answer. So without hesitation, she nodded.

"I promise".

He gave her a smile and a nod.

"Jo... I will tell you about what happened between me and Lord Stark. What he said about my mother. I'll tell you all, but not today."

She nodded.

She was glad that Jon knew who his mother was, she always felt he deserved to know that. But there was something else there, another angle to that story. Jon clearly had a lot on his kind despite his attempts to mask it for the sake of her and his siblings, and there was a distance between him and Lord Stark, a gap between the father and his son. And it left her wondering who Jon's mother was. And how did it happen that Ned Stark, a man of true honor like no other, dishonored his wife. There was an explanation to all this, and she could only hope Jon trusted her enough to share it with her. Jon was special to her, not like everyone else, she trusted him with her secret once on a snowy night in the Godswood. Would he do the same for her?

She sighed as she lay on her bed that evening. So much was happening in her life she didn't know which way to turn.

Ned

When his son told him he wanted him to tell Cat the truth, Ned was lost for words. He had promised himself that whether Cat would know the secret would be the boy's decision and his alone. But now his boy had made it, and Ned wondered whether he could truly trust that this was what Jon wanted, what he thought was best, not what he felt he owed to Cat or that he hoped to be free of her indifference and scorn. Bit as he looked into his son's eyes he didn't see a boy making a choice in a whim, he saw a man making his own decision that was his to make, and Ned Stark felt pride sting his heart as he saw that despite all that was happening and all the changes that no doubt confused him, his son could still show the great man Lyanna knew he would be.

So as his son stared at him in the eyes awaiting his response, he nodded quietly.

"Would you like to be there, Jon?" he asked and his son shook his head.

"It needs to be between the two of you like it was fourteen years ago. If she wants she can talk to me later. But take these."

Jon reached down under his bed and drew out the box from underneath a rug. He opened it and took out some papers.

"My birth certificate and proof of my mother and Rhaegar's marriage, along with proof of his annulment with Elia Martell."

He handed Ned the papers.

"And there's another thing that you should have, Lord Stark". Ned grimaced at his son's choice to address him when he handed him another letter, sealed with the Stark sigil and he recognized Lyanna's handwriting as he looked at the words.

To Robert Baratheon

"It was among the sealed papers," Jon said.

"I didn't realise," Ned croaked. "I didn't go through them, Wylla said they weren't for me. But I never thought..."

"You should take it. Robert is your friend. We both know you can't give it to him but it's up to you what to do with it."

Ned stared at the letter, wondering fiercely what his sister had intended to say to Robert. When was this written? Before or during or after the Rebellion?

Ned couldn't think of any answers so he simply put it in his pocket with the others.

"Tell her as soon as you see fit" Jon told her as he left quietly.

Cat was not in their chambers when he arrived and he noticed some of her clothes were gone. She was back in her old chambers, where she slept in the first years of their marriage. He thought of going to her, telling her now, but his legs refused to move. Instead he sat on his bed and stayed there for the night until dawn broke.

He thought of his wife, his beloved wife, whom he had condemned to feel dishonored and ashamed simply because he was afraid of what the truth would do to their marriage. Of what she would think of him and his lies. What would she say? Surely she would have done the same for her sister. But would she have told him? Exposing may well erase all progress they have made in the fourteen years of marriage. But Jon had been right, it was time to stop the lies. He would never be able to tell Robert, but his wife deserved to know.

But first, Robert was clearly awaiting his answer and so he invited his friend for a ride in the Godswood. Robert's horse struggled under his way as they galloped lightly across the streets.

"Well, Ned, you've thought about my offer?"

"I have." Ned turned to look back towards the castle. "Parting from Winterfell again will not be easy, but I know my son will rule it well. I will travel to King's Landing with you, taking my daughters and second son with me.

Robert laughed in joy.

"I knew you'd agree, Ned. And what about my other offer? Will you match your daughter to my son?"

Ned thought hard on this. The Prince seemed to be courteous and willful, he showed some level of arrogance, but so did many boys his age, and Sansa already adored him, surely she would be happy?

'Yes, we shall have a match" Ned finally said and Robert nearly fell from his horse and he reached over to clap Ned on the back.

"Then we shall finally have our wish and be brothers through our children as we should have been through your beloved sister. You'll love the South, Ned, well teach your frozen face how to laugh again. Now, a race for old times sake?"

Ned won that though his heart wasn't truly in it. As Robert chattered on the way back to Winterfell, Ned thought hard on everything that was happening: he was to leave Winterfell, his home, leaving Robb to rule in his place, Jon knew the truth at last and it was time for Catelyn to know at last. Ned could only pray that she would understand.

He was happy to see that Jon was spending time with his siblings again, at least that had begun mending, but his wife avoided him and barely looked his way when they were in the same room. How badly he wanted to reach out and embrace her, to tell her now and get it over with, take whatever is to come with dignity, but he couldn't, he had to wait for the long hours of day until night had fallen and he could move through the castle unseen.

He knocked on his wife's door and heard her soft courtly voice answer.

"Come in".

Taking a heavy breath, he entered.

His wife's eyes seemed to light up as she saw him but she looked down quickly.

"My lord" she said, her voice courteous and controlled.

Ned shut the door slowly and turned to face her.

"We need to speak, my love".

Catelyn looked at him almost accusingly.

"I believe we have said all there is to say, my lord" she said, her voice calm yet emotionless.

"No, Cat," he said with a sigh. "We have not."

"What else is there to be said?"

"I've agreed to be Robert's Hand. I'm taking Sansa, Arya and Bran with me."

She nodded.

"Then you may find justice for my goodbrother. I pray you do well."

"We need to talk about Jon."

"I've made my standing clear," she said firmly. "If you want it so badly, your bastard can stay here, but he'll have no love from me. And I'll have none from him."

"That's my fault, Cat" Ned said heavily. "I let you feel shamed for fourteen years and let both you and Jon suffer because of it."

She narrowed her eyes.

"You should have known better. Known that bringing him here may have seemed the honorable thing but that it would not be a good thing. You raised that boy like a lord's trueborn son, but he's bastard and his future is all but decided by his birth. At least I never let him forget who he really was and what life awaits him."

"You're right. I raised Jon the wrong way. I gave him love but I never prepared him for a future. He saw no other future for himself than the Night's Watch when his time started coming. But my greatest mistake lies deeper. It lies in letting you live thinking him a constant reminder of your shame, a constant stain on your house. I know you never truly forgave me and neither did your family. I'm sorry for that Cat. You deserve the truth as much as Jon. You deserve to know who his mother was."

Catelyn's eyes lit up and she raised her eyebrows, almost worriedly.

"Well?"

Ned signed.

"My love, you are the only woman I have ever loved as a wife. But Jon's mother was dear to me"

He could see a flash of pain in Cat's eyes.

"But it wasn't love like we have. Cat I lied to you the day you met Jon. I lied because I needed to protect him."

She looked at him suspiciously.

"From what?"

Ned heaved his breath.

"Cat, I'm not Jon's true father. Not by blood. He's not mine."

She stared at him for a moment then slowly frowned.

"What are you saying, Ned, of course he's your son, one look at him and you'll know he looks like his father."

"No" Ned said, "he is my nephew, Cat".

Catelyn stared him in the eyes, looking for some sense of deception as the realization dawned on her face.

"Your... nephew..." she stuttered, holding her hand to her chest as she slid to her bed. Ned moved to kneel beside her. Cat's mouth was open while her face was pale."Brandon's son?"

"No," Ned said quickly. "He's Lyanna's." Cat's eyes widened. "And Rhaegar Targaryen's."

Cat's eyes seemed to glaze over and for a moment Ned felt sure she would faint. But she held herself up and looked him in the eye.

"Jon... is Rhaegar's bastard?"

Ned shook his head.

"Jon is trueborn, Cat".

His wife shook slightly as he held her tightly.

"My sister ran away with Rhaegar, Cat. They fell in love. Rhaegar annulled his marriage and they married before both Faiths. It's all on here, my sister left these for me before she died. Lyanna died in childbirth. She lived long enough to trust me with her secret."

He unfolded the letters carefully and passed them into his wives shaking hands. Cat read them, once twice thrice each, her eyes still wide, her breathing still uneasy.

"Do you see?" he asked desperately, praying that she embrace him and say she understands despite knowing he has no right to expect that. "Robert hated the Targaryens, if he knew one was still alive apart from the last two, and one by Rhaegar and Lyanna, proof that she had never loved him? He would have killed him, or at least stood by and watched as Lannister did it, a son of Rhaegar would threaten his grandson's right to the throne. There would be another war, Cat, I couldn't let it happen. Lyanna made me promise to protect him, always. Cat, I had to lie, I had to ..."

Cat was quiet, her face unreadable as she stared at his knees. Slowly she began to slip from his grasp.

"Why..." she struggled to speak. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Cat, I didn't know you," said Ned beggingly. "I couldn't know what you would have done?"

"And after?!" she shouted suddenly, on the verge of tears. "Couldn't you tell me after, Ned! After Sansa! After Arya! Why didn't you tell me!?"

"Cat, I was afraid, '' Ned admitted, heaving another sob. "Afraid of what it would mean for us! Of what would happen to you if Robert found out! Cat, I didn't know what to do! So I said nothing. But there were so many days when I saw you look at Jon and I wanted to tell you. To free you both! When Jon fell ill and you prayed by his bedside, Cat I wanted to tell you then more than ever."

Cat's head shook as she glared at him.

"And do you know why I stayed with him that night, Ned. Do you know why I prayed to all Seven Gods to let him live? Why I sat all night by his bed and listened to his wheezing, ragged breath?"

"No," Ned said, horrified at the look in her eyes.

"Because since you brought that baby home until that day, at the worst moments of it all, I prayed to the gods to take him away, make him die."

Ned stared at his wife open mouthed. Surely not. The woman he loved could not have wished this and meant it. She couldn't..

"Do you know how I felt when that boy got the pox and I watched my dear children cry for him. The boy I as good as murdered!"

"Cat it wasn't your fault..."

"Maybe, or maybe not. But I felt it was. I felt like a murderer, Ned. I felt like I killed a child out of jealousy for a woman I didn't know. A woman he didn't know! A woman who didn't really exist. So I prayed for mercy for your boy. For my children's brother. I promised to love him, Ned, to treat him like my own. To have you call him Stark and be done with it. And he lived... And I could keep my promise. I swore before the gods I would love a motherless child abd I couldn't keep that vow! And I lived in shame and fear of the gods' revenge. Perhaps this is it, to know that all that scorn and shame was for nothing. But you could have spared me that, Ned. You could have spared me that pain and spared him a lifetime of resentment! But you didn't. Do you really think I would have done anything to harm him? Harm you? Harm our family?"

"Cat... I know you never would. Cat!" She slipped from his arms and stood above him, glaring down with tearful red eyes as he desperately gripped her hand.

"You lied to me, Ned, when you knew very well that I would guard the secret with all my heart." She shook her head. "That's not what you do to someone you love."

"Catelyn, listen to me! I love you!"

But she had shaken her hand out of his and was already going to the door.

"Catelyn, I'm so sorry" he breathed out.

She didn't stop. She left slamming the door behind her, leaving him alone.

Benjen

He thanked the gods that his talk with Jon brought the boy out of his daze and he showed signs of life again. The boy reached out to his siblings who readily welcomed him back, and though Benjen could still see the weight of the knowledge in Jon's eyes, the boy's smile warmed his heart. It was Lyanna's smile, survived by her son.

Looking at Jon now knowing who he really was felt different to Benjen. He loved all his nieces and nephews, but he always felt Jon a bit of a kindred spirit. Now he could see why, the boy was so much like his mother, not just in appearance but also in his heart, he had Lyanna's warmth underneath his ice, her fierceness underneath his grim face. He thought of all those years he should have spent telling the boy about Lya and another spark of anger at Ned appeared, but they have been getting less fierce each time. He understood why his brother did what he did and while it didn't make it right, it was easier to forgive.

But Ben knew there was another task ahead of Ned, he and Jon had agreed that it was time for Catelyn to know the truth. Ben was worried, he knew his goodsister would not betray them but he knew that it would be a rest to her marriage with Ned. Ben would do all he could to support his brother but he knew that how it ended depended on Catelyn.

That night something else keit Benjen up though. His thoughts were in his home at the Wall, with his black brothers and the cold winds of the Lands of Always Winter. Of how he would soon leave his old home and settle back into the place to where he swore himself many years ago. Of how he was leaving his family, leaving Lya's son to face the world knowing who he really was. Knowing he is a prince, the blood of Kings, of Aegon himself, flowing in his veins.

A Targaryen alone in the world is a terrible thing.

His heart dropped at the thought of the sullen, sad eyes, unseeing and yet somehow all-seeing, as the familiar words rang in his head and he suddenly realised there was something else that could be done for Jon.

Rising from his bed, he went quickly to find his brother, for he knew Ned wasn't asleep. As expected, neither his brother nor his wife were in their shared chambers, but Benjen knew where Ned was.

Stumping on the cold snow, he found his brother in the Godswood where his brother showed emotions he feared to show before others. His brother was on the ground, leaning the Heart Tree, a wolf alone in the snow. His face was pale and his eyes were dry and dark and Benjen approached with caution.

Ned only seemed to notice him when he was standing right above him, but said nothing as Ben sat beside him.

"She knows?"

Ned nodded.

"She'll be needing time, Ned, but she loves you. She will understand."

"And if she doesn't" Ned asked quietly.

"She will" Benjen assured as Ned sighed.

"At Jon is accepting it. He's still angry at me, though, I suspect he shall only be ready to forgive me when he comes to terms with who he is. Gods, I look at him and his siblings, I can see he's still confused and I don't know how to help him."

"Perhaps I know," Benjen said as Ned looked at him in surprise.

"How?"

"If he wishes, I can take him to the Wall, not to join the Watch, there's someone at the whole who perhaps can understand what Jon is going through like we can't. Someone who can help him like we can't. Someone... whom might need Jon as much as Jon may need him."

"Who?" Ned asked.

"Aemon Targaryen".

(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(: )