Chapter 1

Pentos, Across the Narrow Sea

Magister Illyrio Mopatis opened his doors to the exiled Targaryen princes and became their custodian. Prince Rhaegar pines for the lady he left at the Tower of Joy but hides his longing for his ladylove whenever he is in the presence of Magister Illyrio, his brother Prince Viserys, and their men. In each passing hour, he masks his longing in order to raise his younger brother and plan his return to Westeros, to reclaim his throne, and the love of Lady Lyanna Stark. A soft knock interrupted Prince Rhaegar's train of thought.

"Enter" said the prince.

"Your Grace, I have a guest here to see you." said Magister Illyrio.

"Who is it?"

"An old friend of mine, Lord Varys, Master of Whisperers, my lord."

"Send him in."

Magister Illyrio leaves as Varys enters along with two children holding his hands.

"What news from Westeros, Lord Varys?"

"It is my sad duty to inform you of the demise of the King and Queen, of Princess Elia of Dorne, and that your half-brother Raemond was struck down in the Battle of the Trident. However, I was able to switch your son and daughter with two peasant children in order to save their lives." Varys then lead them to their father.

"Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaenys, my lord"

Prince Rhaegar falls on his knees as he embraced his children. Seeing Viserys standing by the door, he led his children to play with their uncle.

"Go on, Lord Varys."

"Your mother, the Queen, died giving birth to your sister Daenerys Stormborn Targaryen, who is now under the care of House Stark."

"What of Lady Stark? What of Jon Snow, her child?"

"According to my little birds, Lord Eddard Stark found them. Currently, they are living in Winterfell. My Lord, if I maybe so bold to ask but why do you care too much about Lady Stark's son when you've no relation to the boy?"

"I was rather fond of the boy, Lord Varys. I was the one who helped delivered him in to this world. I may not be his father but I considered him as one of my own."

"I hope you are satisfied, my lord."

"I am, Lord Varys. I wish to know one thing before you leave"

"What would that be, your grace?"

"Who is Jon Snow's father?"

"Robert Baratheon"

"SEVEN HELLS!Until I take back the Iron Throne and kill the Usurper. Lord Varys, I demand that you do everything in your power to keep, Lady Lyanna, Jon Snow, and especially my sister safe. If either one of them is harmed, I swear, I will have your head, UNDERSTOOD?!"

"Yes sir, I understand, I swear to the Seven, I will do everything in my power to keep them safe"

"I trust you not to break your word, Lord Varys. You may leave but keep me informed of news in Westeros."

"Thank you, your grace. I shall keep you informed."

Lord Varys leaves slightly startled seeing for the first time the infamous Targaryen Rage in the always melancholic Silver Prince. As Lord Varys left, a thought crossed Prince Rhaegar's mind, it was the parting words of his brother Raemond before he perished.

"A dragon in the wolves den is a prey to the stags, and the lions of Westeros."

Meanwhile in King's Landing

As the cold, howling winds ushered in a storm; Robert Baratheon is found pacing in his chambers, when Jon Arryn enters bearing a letter from Winterfell. Robert greets him with an embrace.

"Jon Arryn, It's been too long, come what news from Winterfell" he said as he continued to pace.

"Well Robert, it seems that Ned has found his sister, Lady Lyanna."

Robert stopped in his tracks and slowly turned to face Jon Arryn with a surprised face that can only be described as a 'comedic face of curiosity'.

"Is she well, Lord Arryn?!"

"Very well, in fact, she has a child!" Lord Arryn said, with a cheerful look in his face.

Thoughts ran through Robert's mind on who fathered the child and his blood boiled as he saw in his mind's eye the image the Targaryen Prince.

"Who is the bastard who fathered MY lady's child?!"

"Robert, my dear boy, you are the 'said' bastard that fathered her child."

Robert was greatly startled by his words. He stared into the eyes of his foster father, as if he was asking "HOW?"

"Do remember that day when you woke up in Lady Lyanna's chambers?"

"Why Yes, it was that day that Brandon threw a solid punch in my face and in my gut. But I do not remember how I got into her chambers. All I remember is that I was following a whore into a brothel that looked like Stark Manor."

Jon Arryn then covered his face with his hand in frustration. Then Robert realized,

"Wait. That was no brothel, wasn't it? And the girl was no whore. "

"YOU HAD TO FUCK HER,Robert. Hence the reason why Lady Lyanna was avoiding you since Harrenhal." Lord Arryn furiously said as he straightens out his tunic.

"And now, you have a son that will never bear your name."

"What?"

"I'm very sorry to say this but because of what you've done, you lost Lady Lyanna."

"I started a rebellion to keep her hand, won the Iron Throne, and yet I lost her. How is that so, Lord Arryn?"

"OH FOR THE LOVE OF THE OLD GODS AND THE NEW! Robert, She refuses see you let alone marry you. What do you intend? Storm in to Winterfell, demanding for her hand in marriage and she would fall into your arms and the two of you ride into the sunset." He said sarcastically as he sat down.

"Now, that is a thought!" He said as called for a page to saddle his horse.

"Seven Hells, We may have usurped the Mad King but in his place, we are crowning a lovesick madman." He thought.

"We're doomed"

"Lord Arryn, did you say something?"

Jon Arryn stood from his seat, faced Robert and sigh in frustration.

"Robert, You and Ned are like sons to me, you've just won the Iron Throne but do not act recklessly, if you are to ascend the throne in four moons' time then rule wisely. Mayhaps, you ride to Winterfell demanding for Lady Lyanna's hand then that is one battle you will never win because you might as well drag her to the altar and make her say the vows at sword-point. If so then you're no better than the Silver Prince."

"Nevertheless, I ride to Winterfell tomorrow; I wish to see Lady Lyanna and my son."

"As you wish, Robert" Lord Arryn sighed as he poured himself a glass of Dornish red.

Three weeks and a day later, in Winterfell

As the sun began to disappear into the horizon, Lady Lyanna cradles Daenerys in her arms while a sleeping Jon Snow lay on his mother's lap. Her thoughts dwell in coming of her betrothed but her heart lies across the Narrow Sea. As she held the sight of the sleeping forms of her son and of the infant she held in her arms, she envied the peacefulness in their smiling faces. She woke her son in order to move the children to the bed, where they can sleep comfortably. She laid Daenerys on the bed placing two pillows on each of her side and assisted Jon as he climbed on the bed beside Daenerys, and falling asleep even before his head hit the pillow. Seeing this, Lady Lyanna giggles and she looked up as Lady Catelyn appeared standing at her doorway.

"Cat, is there something that you require?"

"No, I don't require anything, Lyanna. I just came to see if my ward is well. There is no need for alarm."

"She is sleeping."

"So is your son. Very peacefully too, makes rather me envious"

Catelyn sighed as she looks up noticed the distant look on Lyanna's face. She went closer to her sister-in-law and gave her a warm embrace.

"Lyanna, everything will be fine."

"Thank you, Cat."

There was a knock on the door as the banners of House Baratheon can be seen beyond the windows in the horizon against the setting sun.

"Lord Stark requests both your presence, my lady." said a page.

Catelyn looks at Lyanna who was now wearing an ice blue dress with gold embroidered flowers that brought out the color of her beautiful grey eyes. As she orders the page to call for a handmaiden to look after her ward, Lyanna approaches the bed and wakes her son.

"Let us get this done and over with" said Lyanna as Catelyn merely nods.

Lord Stark welcomed Robert Baratheon and Jon Arryn when they arrived then sent out his page to call for his wife and his sister. Six minutes later, Lady Catelyn arrived with Lady Lyanna who was carrying Jon Snow in her arms.

"Lady Catelyn, you look beautiful as ever and of course, my lady Lyanna you grew more radiant since I saw you last."

Robert tenderly said as he hugged Catelyn who then stepped back to stand beside her husband. Then he approached Lyanna and as he kissed her knuckles, Lyanna fought the urge of punching him and kept her face as blank as she possibly can. While Ned and Lord Arryn look at each other meaningfully.

"Thank you, Lord Baratheon. May I present to you, your son, Jon Snow."

She reluctantly lets Robert hold Jon in his arms and saw an apologetic look in his eyes. He asked Ned if he can have a moment alone with his betrothed. Ned and his wife lead Lord Arryn to his chambers. Robert noticed that his son takes more from his mother than he does from him.

"I don't know if you can forgive me for what I've done but know that I deeply regret losing you, my lady."

"When my son came into my life, I forgave you for what you did that day. Never will I regret the decision of keeping him. Forgive me, I know you fought this war keep my hand but I can't marry you, Robert."

"Then I won't insist, as much as I love you, Lyanna. I can't bear to see the sorrow in your eyes. You're free. I release you from our betrothal but I request only one thing from you."

"What is your request?"

"You must let me visit him here in Winterfell, and allow him to come to King's Landing to visit me. Are we agreed?"

"Agreed, Thank you, Lord Baratheon"

"Good Night, Lady Stark."

One week later, Robert Baratheon and Jon Arryn left for King's Landing and two moons later, Robert sent an important parcel by rider to Winterfell addressed to Lady Lyanna. The parcel contained a letter of acknowledgement and a wedding invitation. The former she kept but she gave the latter to her brother. As the days flew by, life in Winterfell was how it once was only the halls were filled with laughter and joy. Lady Lyanna enjoyed the peace given to her. Though her thoughts dwell in life in Winterfell, She finds herself thinking of what might have been if she followed her heart and crossed the Narrow Sea.