Note:

The first three chapters of this are edited from works originally posted on AO3 here.

This is one of my Great Bastards AUs. Basically Jon inserted into the early Blackfyre Rebellions era.

I may post up more eventually.

XxXxX

Sundered

Chapter One

Jon didn't know why he thought he could get through to any of his older brothers, but he couldn't stop himself from trying.

"You can't mean to do this, Daemon!"

He stumbled back a few steps when Daemon turned on him, his face full of a dragon's wrath.

"And why should I not? He's more a bastard than we are! Our father legitimized us!"

"Daeron is not a bastard! You can't listen to every vile thing Aegor spews into your ears, Dae! You're supposed to be the reasonable one!"

"So you're choosing his side, then?"

Jon had been born only a little before their father's death, his mother dying from the birth so that while he was legitimized he was largely ignored by his Northern family. Daeron had been near a father to him, letting him stay in King's Landing, educated alongside his grandsons.

But Daemon...Daemon was the big brother he could turn to for comfort when he was scared. For company when he was lonely. When he'd wed and moved, it was all Jon could do not to request to go with him. It was a moot point now, of course, as Daeron had arranged a marriage for Jon in the North, but it had been a fantasy life he'd imagined for years growing up.

"There shouldn't be a side! We're all brothers! What will you do, become a kinslayer because you–you aren't getting to marry Dany?"

Daemon looked angrier, yet, and when he took a step forward Jon flinched. The movement seemed to still his brother's mood, forcing Daemon to take a few breaths for calm.

"Don't you see, he's trying to separate all of us? Daenerys was promised to me by father, now she's been sent to Dorne. You have always been closest to me, and now he's sending you to the North. To isolate me."

"That's...I truly doubt that's how Daeron thinks of this." They were beneficial matches, Dorne getting Daeron's own full-blooded sister and the any lord of the North willing to overlook the circumstances of Jon's birth in favor of his Stark blood.

"Then it's not him, perhaps, it's Brynden ."

Jon flinched. Brynden was...scary. And Jon felt bad, every time he thought that. But it wasn't his looks that made Jon uncomfortable, it was his abilities. And the stories he told. He'd often come to Jon when he was little and whisper tales of the First Men, of the Blackwoods, and the Starks, and the Children of the Forest. Of wargs and greenseers.

Everyone knew he did some sort of magic. Sorcery, most claimed, but Jon thought it was something from the stories. Thought that if he hadn't been so close to Daemon, Brynden might have sucked him right into that world.

"Or it's Daeron making sure his rule is as stable as possible. For the good of the people. And our family."

"...You are too soft, little brother, too kind. Perhaps we coddled you too much as you grew, but you were so young and we were all you had." Daemon frowned, setting a hand on the top of Jon's head. "I love you, Jon, and that is one of the reasons I must do this. I will not let someone who has no right to that throne tear us apart."

Jon gritted his teeth, torn. Daeron was his rightful king, he knew that to be true. But Daemon was just deluded. If he could stay with him and get through to him, would that be worth it? Or would Daeron-and Baelor, and Valarr, and all the others-just see him as a traitor?

"Don't do this, Dae, please."

"Stop trying to dissuade him, brat." Aegor's voice made Jon tense, but Daemon simply shot their brother a glare. "This was always meant to happen. It's why father legitimized us. To put a true son of Aegon IV on the throne."

Rolling his eyes, Jon pulled away from Daemon, feeling like they'd lost something with the interruption.

"You know, Aegor, I may have even sided with Daemon in this. But I have no interest in being your puppet."

"No, just Daeron's. And Brynden's." Aegor laughed at Jon's grimace. "Go on, dog, back to your master. You wouldn't want to gain a mind of your own."

"Aegor," Daemon's voice was foreboding, but the damage was done.

Jon shook his head, sending a glare Aegor's way. "You're both fools if you think war is better than peace. When our family lies dead and dying across a battlefield, will you even care?"

He didn't stay to hear what else they had to say. If Daemon was so willing to listen to Aegor, Jon realized he must be truly lost.