The Dragon of Winter

Chapter 5

Daenerys

"Daenerys?" A warm smile sparked onto Dany's face when she saw Arya running to Daenerys," Where's Jon?"

No...

The smile dropped from Dany's face as the realisation that she hadn't seen Jon all day hit her.

"You haven't?" Arya echoed as she read Daenerys' disquited and worried expression.

"No... I saw him yesterday, after we came back from the woods."

Arya explained to Daenerys of when she had last spoken to Jon before and that they should tell her father about Jon's absence. After some searching through Winterfell Arya finally spotted Eddard speaking with Maester Luwin. "Father!" She cried out as she skipped in delight before her father.

"Where's Jon?" A stern look washed over Eddard's face when he spotted Daenerys standing adjacent to his daughter.

"Daenerys."He motioned his hand in order to tell Daenerys she needed to step closer.

Daenerys did so before saying,"Yes my Lord?"

"Come with me."

Arya and Daenerys' faces shared a confused expression as Daenerys trailed behind Eddard. Why does he need to speak with me? Is it Viserys?

Once they were up a flight of stairs, Eddard opened the first door on the right, he checked to see if anyone was inside before letting him and Daenerys in. "Sit, Daenerys." His voice showed no emotion, yet Daenerys could see worry in his stormy eyes.

She knew that this was important.

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Eddard

Daenerys was studying him intently, as if she was trying to make sense of the situation. Eyes masked with uncertainty, she sat on the chair in silence.

"Daenerys..." He began, not knowing how to tell her, " I must tell you something about Jon." Daenerys' eyebrows furrowed at the mention of Jon Snow's name and Eddard took a deep before telling the Targaryen the truth about her friend.

He did not stop speaking, even when Daenerys' violet eyes grew wide with undeniable shock. The only thing he could not see, was whether she was joyous to find she had another remaining family member, or grievious when her mind reached the conclusion that the boy she had felt a spark with cam from her family. She was suprised, but that was the only feeling her eyes gave away.

"... So, you are Jon's aunt, Daenerys." Ned concluded.

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She didn't know what to think.

Even after Ned had comforted her, after she had been escorted to her room and sat on her bed. A part of her felt glad to find a member of her family who loved her, unlike Viserys who exploited his sister's beauty and title to get what his maliscous needs demanded.

I am his aunt.

Another part, deep inside her heart was mourning to the loss of a lover. She was aware, she had been for many weeks that she loved Jon Snow; his smile, his brooding, yet thoughtful attitude made the fire inside of her spark. The way he embraced her, it made her heart set alight. Yet... she felt no pain, she only felt herself growing stronger.

I am his aunt; and I need to find him.

She searched her head for any idea of where he might be. In an instant, her mind flashed back to Jon saying he would go to the Godswood whenever he needed time for thought. She knew he was there.

But how will I get out?

Daenerys was aware that racing there by horse would attract attention, yet she would be able to get out fast enough. Her mind argued from ideas to conclusion until her door was slowly pushed open.

"Arya?" Daenerys watched as the youngest Stark daughter stood in the doorway. It was clear that something was wrong; her usually stormy eyes looked empty, replaced with only clouds. Her mouth was not formed into its usual fierce grin, only a ghost of a smile that was barely there. Daenerys could feel a part of her crracking at the sight of her melancholy friend.

"Daenerys... I-I'm worried about Jon." She trudged closer to Dany, the spring in her step was gone.

Daenerys pulled Arya in for a fierce hug. It was something Dany had never got from her brother, or anyone for that matter until she had arrived in Winterfell. It made her feel loved, it made her feel safe. Daenerys felt Arya's tense arms relax as she breathed deeply onto Daenerys' shoulder.

"It's just... Jon always visits me, even when he's upset." Arya said, breaking from the hug," I make him feel better. I don't even know where he is!"

Daenerys realised that if anyone had smuggled herself out of Winterfell with success, it was Arya.

"Arya, I think I know where Jon is; want to help find him?"

The previously absent wicked grin grew onto Arya's again in the hope of finding her dearest friend as she lead Daenerys out of her chamber and into the courtyard.

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Jon

The sound of his sword hammering againt the tree had created a rhythmic sound which echoed through the Godswood.

It was too much.

The person he had called father his entire life was his uncle; his beloved siblings were his cousins. And Daenerys... Daenerys was his aunt.

The tree swayed back and forth from the impact of Jon's hits, it sickened him. His whole life; a lie...

Snap

Sword in hand, Jon swung his head round to see Daenerys standing by the Weirwood. He had never seen her like this; her eyes showed no emotion, her mouth was agape and her body was shaking.

Not from the cold. She's my aunt, my aunt... my father was Rhaegar Targaryen.

"Jon?" Daenerys cried out, a cold river of a smile ran onto her white face. Jon dropped his sword and ran to Daenerys. She pulled him into an embrace, taking in her glorious scent as she cried onto his shoulder. " I can't believe it... Rhaegar, he's your father. Lyanna... your mother." She breathed. She removed her face from Jon's arms and looked up. Tears were streaked down her face, her eyes were puffy and swollen. Yet, she still looked happy nor sad.

"Jon?" A new voice said. It was a girl, her hair was matted with tangles and her wild eyes shone brightly with tears.

Arya...

"You're Jon Targaryen! You're my cousin..." In an instant Arya collapsed onto the frozen ground, heaving with sobs of utter desolation and misery. Arya's heartbroken cries echoed louder than a wolf's howl through the woods.

Arya never cried.

Not when Jeyne and Sansa called her names. Not when Catelyn screamed at her. Not even when she fell into an icy river, even then had she only smiled.

Yet Arya cried then, in the Godswood when she found out her brother was never her brother...only her cousin.

Jon wrapped his arms around Arya; he could feel her shaking and seeing Arya's heartbroken reaction only made Jon increasingly grievious. Why me?

He knew it was true. Ever since Daenerys' arrival, he felt like he belonged with her. The song she sang to Rickon, the ways she spoke, the things she did... it was so like himself, and only then did he understand why.

"Arya." Jon heard Daenerys say.

Arya pulled her small head from Jon's now-tear stained chest and looked at her.

"Come walk with me, Arya..." Daenerys smiled truely beneath her tears and gently pulled Arya up from the ground. Her crying ceased as Daenerys linked her arm with Arya's and the two strolled into the woods and out of Jon's sight.

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Daenerys

It broke her heart to see Arya like that, and she knew the only way to mend it was to mend Arya's heart too.

"Arya." Daenerys watched as Arya stopped to look at her. Her eyes were still red and sore, but Daenerys could see hope growing in her eyes.

"Arya... listen to me! Nothing can ever change your love for Jon, whether he's your cousin or brother. You love him dearly, and he loves you too. You two are family! Have you ever been told that you and Jon look alike? Believe me; it's no lie, Arya. That must mean something!"

Daenerys saw Arya again; the real, wild, clever and kind girl she had come to know over the weeks, "I love Jon... nothing will ever change that." Arya said, a smile dawning on her face," But... his grandfather is the mad King, his father raped and killed and raped my Aunt!" Her eyes clouded again but her sadnes had turned to anger.

Daenerys was angry for a second, but she realised her quiet rage was futile; she knew what her father was. Over the weeks she hadn't forgotten the dream, all she could see was her crying mother, eyes awash with so much pain. And the mad King... her father, uttering "burn" with every movement. She knew it was no dream, and she knew it meant something. Daenerys could not blame Arya for her rage at the Mad King and Rhaegar, the Mad King had burned her uncle and her grandfather. She shivered at the thought of her father, laughing while the Starks screamed in relentless pain as the flames swallowed them. But Rhaegar...

"Arya. The Mad King, he's my father, and I hate that every day of my life! He truly was insane, the stories do not lie, he earned his name." Arya's jaw quivered as Daenerys placed her arms on Arya's shoulders," But the truth you have not been told is of Rhaegar and Lyanna..."

"Tell me the truth, please." Arya said, her voice had stopped quivering, and was now stern. It reminded Daenery of Ned Stark.

"Your father told me the truth yesterday morning. Lyanna never loved Robert, she had become to know him as a drunk, and one night, his drunken state had climbed into your aunt's bed..." Arya's eyes grew wide in shock; in Westeros, the lords and common fold alike spoke of the undying love between the King and his deceased betrothed, and any knowledge that the love went one way could startle anyone." Lyanna was like you, she wanted to explore, she didn't want to be owned by any man. There was a tourney at Harrenhall, and that day my brother's eyes fell on Jon's mother for the first time. The two soon fell in love, and only three weeks later did Rhaegar and Lyanna dissapear with eachother. Now, they say Rhaegar felt that Lyanna had something to do with a prophecy, yet love had grown between the two. By now, Robert had rebelled against the Targaryen dynasty, and the Mad King had killed your grandfather and Uncle. Months later, after Robert had killed my brother at the Trident-" Daenerys sniffed at that, it tore her heart to think her brother had not taken Lyanna for his 'wicked intentions', but for love, or a prophecy. Yet no one hailed him as a great Lord, only a rapist. "-Eddard found Lyanna in the Tower of Joy, Lyanna was in a bed of blood; she was dying, dying from birthing a babe she called Jon. She told Ned everything, and after, she told him to promise her that her brother needed to pretend Jon was his bastard. It was the only way to keep him safe."

Arya's tense body relaxed," I need to go and find Jon!" She exclaimed before running back to the Weirwood tree.

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Jon

"Do the others know?" It was Arya. Her eyes were their usual wild selves, a wry smile was creeping onto her face and she no longer looked so desolate and upset.

'It is your choice to tell your siblings... and Catelyn' Ned's words repeated in his head.

"No... should I?"

Arya stood silent for seconds, trying to decide. She was never the first to be told anything important, and she never decided on anything down to even sewing lessons; she was the youngest Stark daughter. Finally, she said," Jon, they deserve to know. How you will tell them I don't know... and my mother won't hate you so much." She laughed nervously before ran into Jon's arms. "I love you, even if you're not my brother. Nothing will ver change how I love you!" Arya's words lit a fire inside Jon, and this time he knew why he felt a fire.

It all made sense; Eddard would never break his wedding vows. The song that Daenerys sang, it was in Valyrian. The Targaryens descended from the ancient city that was now in ruins, if he had been rised as a Targaryen Valyrian would have been Jon's mother tounge. Why Jon was said to look like Lyanna, and why Ned had never called Jon his child, only his "blood".

"Daenerys, she's your aunt... and you loved eachother." Arya said, still wrapped around Jon.

"I didn't-" Jon protested, yet he could feel his heart set alight.

He knew it was true.

And he knew Daenerys felt the same.

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NOTES: There will be more Jonerys next time, there wasn't much her-sorry :/

Thoughts on this chapter please? And any requests for the ones to come! :) ?