Chapter 10: Jon
It had been months since Sansa, Arya, and Father had left for King's Landing. Lady Catelyn had come back out of her shell, being more active in the affairs at Winterfell. I think it has something to do with the many ravens from Father and Sansa. The North was calm until two ravens came for Robb in quick secession. I was with Robb when they came, and his pale face became white as snow. He read both frantically and sank into a chair as he pushed them to me. I grabbed them and saw they were from Sansa.
Robb,
I write to you today with a heavy heart, our good King Robert is dead, killed from wounds he took in a boar hunt. Father has been charged with treason. He conspired against my beloved Joffrey and tried to steal his throne. The Lannisters are treating me well and provide me with every comfort. I beg you to come to Kings Landing and swear fealty to King Joffrey and prevent any trouble to the great houses of Stark and Lannister.
Your faithful sister, Sansa
The letter mad no sense. It was in Sansa's hand but was obviously not her words. Queen Cersei must be controlling her in some way. I place the first letter aside to read the second.
The lions hatch a plot the stag knows not. An old wolf is in chains, a young wolf must use her brains, and the youngest heads for the pack. A lion sits the throne so the wolf must let their support be known, but a dragon will fly again. I need you.
She did not sign the second letter but I knew this one was written without anyone hovering over her shoulder. The Queen must not have as much control as I originally thought. I look up to Robb, who is deep in thought.
"Please tell me this doesn't mean what I think it means." I'm desperate for Robb to answer in the negative. If both letters are true, Lord Eddard was in the Black Cells and his friend was dead.
"It does." He signs, rubbing his face and putting on what I have started to call his Lord's Face. "The Lannisters have killed the King and are controlling that brat Joffrey. Cersei is probably whispering in his ear. But Arya is coming home." He smiles then, "I've missed her."
"So you will go? Head into the Lion's den, so to speak?" I do not know what Winterfell will do without him. And that would mean more of the Starks were leaving the North, which felt wrong.
"I need to, Sansa needs me." He moves towards the fire then and speaks so quietly I have to move closer to him to hear, "And if I'm reading Sansa's words right, we will be putting a Targaryen back on the throne."
I completely looked over that line. Robb was right. For some reason, Sansa seems to want to back a surviving Targaryen for the throne over her betrothed. Something big must have happened and Robb needs to find out what.
"Bran will have to be acting Lord while you are gone but Theon and I will take care of him. You need not worry, just don't be long, brother." Winterfell needed him. Robb looked at me and clapped a hand on my shoulder.
"I won't be long, Jon, and you will do a fine job in the North." He leaves me then to go talk to Theon and make plans to head South as soon as possible. The world as they knew it was about to change.
—
About a fortnight later, Robb's absence has almost been compensated for. Bran sits to hear the complaints and requests of the minor Lords. Other than that Theon and I preform the duties of the Lord of Winterfell together. I was taking a break, walking through the Godswood with Ghost and Lady when I heard the horns blowing, announcing that someone was coming to Winterfell.
I rushed to meet them, hoping it was Arya and I was not disappointed. Jory entered the gates first, with Arya not far behind. The were travel worn and dirty but I had never been happier to see her in my life. Nymeria rushed to her siblings as I rushed to Arya. I picked her up off her horse and swung her around in a huge hug. She laughed and hugged me back. I let her stand on her own but did not let her go.
"Ser Jory, thank you for returning Lady Arya home safely. Help yourself to what you will." I truly could not thank him enough.
"It was my sworn duty, Jon. I am always happy to serve." He bowed then and took the horses to the stables.
I turned back to Arya and I can feel how wide the smile stretches on my face. "It is so go to see you."
She laughs then and punches my chest lightly, moving away and towards the main Keep. "Don't get all sappy on my now, Jon Snow! Come on, I've missed home and I have much to tell you."
She and I settle in her solar and I called for food and drink to be brought to us. We talked of her times in the Capital, how awful she found it and how easy Sansa made it look. She was holding something back but insisted I tell her all of what had happened in her absence. I told her, there was not much to tell.
"Jon," she began, looking at her hands and I thought I saw a tear in her eyes, "Father is dead. Joffrey killed him." She looks up then and I can not tell if she is more sad or angry. Both emotions are palpable. I feel as if I can't breathe. Ned was gone, the man who raised me and I called Father for 18 years of my life, was dead.
"I hate Joffrey, I hate them all. He deserves to die." Her words pulled me back into the present. A girl of 13 should not have to deal with any of this.
"Oh Arya." I cry then and she comes to hug me. We allow our grief to come out and sit together in silence for what feels like hours. When the food arrives we come out of our pain, and slowly, we come back to the world of the living.
"Here," she said after she has served herself, "Sansa had me promise to get this to you safely." She hands me a sealed letter. It is a little battered from Arya's journey. I put it in my pocket, I can read it later, now, Arya and I will have a toast to the man who raised us and mourn his loss.
—
I finally open Sansa's letter as I get ready for bed. I sit by the fire, looking down at the seal. With a sigh I break it and slowly unfold the letter.
Jon,
This is a dangerous time so the following information must stay quiet. My father is gone but the truth of your parentage is not. Father told me of your birth before he was taken. You are a Stark, I was correct about that, but you are not Ned's son. You are my cousin, the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. I know it is hard to believe but Father would not lie about something this important. Rhaegar sired you, I hope out of love, and married Lyanna. You are Jon Targaryen. Jon, you are still you, this does not change who you are as a man. Your aunt, Daenerys, is making a claim to the Iron Throne and I mean to help her only if you do not wish to make your claim known. Send me word that Bran is healthy to tell me to continue this plan. Joffrey is bastard, Jamie Lannister's son. Given that, Daenerys has the strongest current claim. I wish I could be with you in the North.
Your loving cousin, Sansa
I could not believe this. My world came crashing down around me. The only person who had ever been a parent to me was dead, but he wasn't my father. My mother was dead, my father too, killed in a rebellion that was caused by their love or Rhaegar's stupidity. I was the product of the end of the Targaryen reign and the cause of Robert's reign. All I had ever wanted was a name, never would I have dreamed that name would not be Stark, but Targeryen.
That was when Sansa's words came back to me. She loves me as family. She says I am still the same person I was before I learned my name. I am a wolf and a dragon. I will help my aunt get her throne but I will also stay true to the family that raised me. The Stark words are Winter is Coming, and it is as much a threat as the words of Baratheon, Ours is the Fury, or the Targaryen words, Fire and Blood. Winter would come for the young Lion King.
