Chapter 2

298 AL, Fourteen years later, in Winterfell

Lady Lyanna spotted Daenerys who was sitting uncomfortably while listening to Lady Catelyn going on about "Courtesy is a lady's armor". She smiled at the thought that in less than a moon Daenerys would be five and ten. Her own son who shared his nameday with Daenerys, would be turning six and ten. She was glad that Jon would be staying for another two moons before returning to King's Landing to see his father, King Robert Baratheon. She was happy that Jon had paved a way to keep her and her former betrothed in good terms. Not wanting his nephew to be branded a bastard, It was in his fifth nameday that her brother Lord Eddard Stark legitimized him as a Stark. Jon woke to practice his skills with the sword. He hurriedly slipped on his breeches and put on his doublet and a black cloak lined with white fur. As he left his chambers, he spied his lady mother walking with Daenerys, who looked stunning in a pale blue dress, covered by a white cloak and her silvery blonde hair flying in the wind.

"How absolutely beautiful she is today" He thought as he quickly approached them.

Lady Lyanna looked up to see her son approaching them. She smiled at him sweetly when he greeted her with an embrace.

"Good Morning, Mother. You look splendid."

"Good Morning, Jon. I am surprised to see that you're not with your cousins at the training grounds ."

"Mother you needn't be surprised. I was on my way there when I ran into the both of you ." he said as he turned to Dany.

"Dany, you look stunning." he complimented her.

"Thank you, Jon. You look good as well. "

She said as her cheeks turned pink when he looked at her. Lady Lyanna chuckled when she noticed the pinking of Dany's cheeks. He smiled in reply and tucked a strand of silvery blonde hair behind her ear. This astounded Lady Lyanna who was used to her son's quiet and unsmiling nature. She smiled at Robb when she saw him coming. He waved in reply as he walked passed them. Bran and Rickon suddenly appeared and grabbed Jon on both sides and ran to the training grounds. Lady Lyanna and Dany followed them. Lyanna went to stand beside Ned and Catelyn and Dany went to sit beside Rickon who stood up and sat on her lap. Bran was practicing with the bow and arrow. He aimed at his target and when he released the arrow it hit a barrel a few feet away from the target.

"Go on Bran, your father is watching and your mother." Jon encouraged him as he looked.

He aimed again and the arrow shot across the grounds and hit a bush. The Stark boys began to laugh as Bran kicked the ground in frustration. Dany shook her head and looked at the boys disapprovingly as Ned spoke.

"And which one of you was a marksman at ten?"

The boys stopped laughing as Ned continued.

"Keep practicing Bran. Go on" he encouraged his son.

Bran tried again and as he aimed.

"Don't think too much, Bran" Jon advised.

"Relax your bow arm" Robb instructed as he crossed his arms.

Just when he was about to let go of the arrow and another hit the target. Bran and the boys turned to see Arya smiling and curtsied with a bow in hand. The boys laughed as, Bran let go of his bow and went after his sister. Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn retired as Lady Lyanna went to the stables and left for a morning ride. Robb and Jon still chuckling as Rickon jumped off Dany's lap to join Bran and Arya. Dany stood to help Jon gather bows and arrows as Robb put the targets in to the shed.

"You shouldn't tease your brother, Robb" she scolded.

As she bent down to pick up an arrow, she accidentally grasp the wrong end and hurt her hand. She cried in pain as blood oozed out of the gaping wound. Jon was taking the barrel of bows to the shed when he heard her cry. He threw the barrel and brushed pass Robb as he went to her side. She clutched her hand and hid it behind her back when he approached.

"No, I'm fine Jon. There is no need for you to see this" she reassured with a whimper.

"Dany, let me see it" he said with a firm tone.

He took her bleeding hand in his and saw the wound was long and not so deep but it made a nasty mess out of her soft hand. Suddenly Jon's voice was miles away and her vision was a blur, then she saw nothing.

"Let's get you to a maester." Jon said but when he looked up at her, he saw her skin turning pale and her eyes unfocused. The next thing he knew, she fainted in his arms. Robb rush to his cousin to help as Jon held Daenerys.

"Dany, open your eyes." he said, his voice thick with worry.

As Jon carried Daenerys to her chambers, Robb sent for Maester Luwin who revived Daenerys, treated her wound and gave her a vial of herbs to numb the pain. When the Maester left, Robb gave Jon a knowing look. Jon stayed and watched over her while she slept. A slight knock kept Jon from dozing off. He opened the door to find a page.

"Milord, Lady Targaryen's presence is requested by your lady aunt and your lady mother."

"Tell my mother and aunt, I'll be escorting her by and by." he said as he reluctantly woke her from her peacefully sleep.

"Dany, Aunt Catelyn needs you" he whispered while he watched her wake.

"How long ago did she send for me?"

"Not long, just now."

"I wonder what she requires"

"We'll find out soon enough, I offered to escort you to her."

"That's very thoughtful of you, Lord Stark."

Pentos, Across the Narrow Sea

Magister Illyrio gives a letter from Varys to Prince Rhaegar, who was reading the History of the Seven Kingdoms to his children. As his brother gave him a look, Prince Viserys took his niece and nephew to their rooms. When they left, Rhaegar opened the letter and was surprised to find it was written in Lyanna's hand.

My Prince,

I do not know if this letter will reach you I have my doubts when Lord Varys told me that he knows where you are. Forgive me for you have lost your family because of me. I never regret leaving with you. You set me free but the day you left me and crossed the Narrow Sea, was the day I thought you were forever lost to me. Until my brother, Lord Stark found me and my son and handed your sister to me. I swore that I will give her the love you would have given her. Your sister is safe.

I remain,

Your Thornless Rose

"Fourteen years, I must say, brother, I admire that lady of yours. Fourteen years and you're still under her spell. Tell me, was she really worth sending our bastard brother to his death at the Trident." he said bitingly

"Viserys, did you forget that if it wasn't for Raemond, you would still be living. You owe your life to him so don't waste his sacrifice by making me regret saving you from the wrath of Robert Baratheon. He maybe a bastard but he saved our lives. Chose your words carefully and make no mistake the next time you open your mouth and something wrong comes out, will be the last time you speak. Now, get out of my sight." he replied with a tone of authority.

" I can never understand why he still has HER in his heart. How can he love the reason why we lost our father and mother and our sister, his wife and our kingdom?"he thought.

"As you wish, brother" he said mockingly as he left to look after his niece and nephew. As Viserys left, Rhaegar made a letter addressed to Lady Lyanna and made another one for Daenerys. He called for his most trusted friend Jaerys Darklyn and entrusted the letters for him the send to Winterfell.

Meanwhile in Winterfell

Lord Stark took his sons Robb and Bran, his nephew Jon, and his ward, Theon along with four companions to execute a deserter of the Night's Watch. Lord Stark himself passes sentence and beheads the deserter. He tells Bran that he who passes sentence "should swing the sword." When they returned to Winterfell, they discover a female direwolf dead on the roadside, her throat pierced by a stag she had slain. Swayed by his nephew, Lord Stark decides not to slay her newborn pups, with one going to each of the Stark children, they take the pups in as companions. Upon arrival, Jon knew Dany was with Bran, who was having history lessons with Maester Luwin. He went to looked for his cousin Arya and found her sneaking from sewing lessons.

"Sneaking again, Arya" he said.

"Obviously, my dear cousin." she replied sarcastically

"Want to go out for a ride?"he asked

"I was going to go practice the sword but Why not?"

When they reached the stables they found Lady Lyanna who was saddling her horse. Jon went to find his horse and Arya's and saddled them while Arya approached Lady Lyanna.

"Aunt Lyanna, would you like to join us for a ride? Arya said as she mounted her mare.

"I'd love to. Care to make it a race between the three of us?" she challenged and saw her son mounting on his horse.

"As long as my ladies don't fall behind." he countered.

"I am no lady, my dear cousin." Arya yelled after him.

When Maester Luwin finished Bran's lessons, Dany waited by the gates for Jon, Arya and Lady Lyanna. A man with silver blonde hair approached her.

"Pardon me, my lady. Are you the ward of Lord Eddard Stark and his lady wife?" he asked.

"Yes, I am. What is your name, ser? Why do you ask?"

"I am Jaerys Darklyn and I've word from your brother for Lady Stark."

Just then Lady Lyanna arrived with Jon by her side and as soon as she saw Jaerys. Jon assisted her as she dismounted from her mare and approached them.

"Dany, why don't you and Jon take Arya inside. I'll only be a moment." she uttered sternly.

"Yes, my lady." she said.

Jon took her and Arya by the hand and took them into the castle.

"Jaerys, What are you doing here in Winterfell?"

"My lady, I've a letter for you and for Lady Targaryen from him." he said as he handed the letters to her.

"Thank you, Jaerys"

"I take my leave my lady."

"Wait. Is he well?"

"Yes, my lady

With that Jaerys disappeared. Lady Lyanna sighed as she entered the castle and retreated to her chambers. Later that night, a familiar scream awakened Jon from his sleep. He scrambled out of bed as he ran into the chambers across his own, followed by his unnamed direwolf . There he found Dany in tears tossing and turning, he quickly approached her sleeping form as he heard her mumble his name in her sleep. As he sat down beside her bed, he took her in his arms and caressed her pale, rosy cheeks. At once she opened her eyes, she threw her arms around his neck.

"It is only a dream. You're safe, I'm here, Dany. I won't let anyone hurt you." Jon said as he felt her trembling in his arms.

"Jon, please stay. Please, at least until I'm sleeping." she said with pleading eyes as he wipes away her tears.

"All right, just until you sleep"

Jon's direwolf climbed on the bed and lay above Dany's blanket. She stroked the back of the direwolf's ear and it licked her hand affectionately.

"What name did you give your direwolf?"

"I haven't really thought about it. Why don't you name him?"

"He is as white as a ghost. Let's call him Ghost."

"Ghost it is then."

"Jon, can you lie beside me?"

"Are you trying to get me killed, Dany?"

"Please Jon." she gave him a look that he couldn't resist.

He gave in as he lay on the bed beside her. He hummed a tune as he watched her close her eyes. He felt nostalgic when he remembered that when they were younger, he and Dany always shared the same bed but stopped when he became three and ten and his lady aunt decided that it would be too inappropriate for him to share a bed with her ward. Now, he understood what Lady Catelyn meant. He struggled against the urge to kiss her which he found difficult. Considering her lips was only inches away, her pale skin was smooth to the touch and her delicate body shielded only by a thin night shift, peacefully snug in his arms, tempted him to no end. When she was finally asleep, he quickly retreated to his own chambers, bothered by his feelings for the girl in the next chamber.