Chapter 4 – Jon Sand

I do not own a song of ice and fire. And can you please review this story.

I am currently looking for a beta for this story. So send me a PM if you are interested.

Year 283 AL

Ned POV

I looked at the babe, Jon Targaryen was his name. He looked like her, like Lyanna. He looked like a stark apart from the eyes. He had his father's eyes; they were dark lilac just like Rhaegar's. But he looked like her, like Lyanna. The boy had her long face, and her dark hair. He had the stark look.

I couldn't look at him without remembering Lyanna and whenever I looked at him I felt guilt and anger. Why didn't she tell me, why lyanna why?

What would I do with the child, what would I do? How could I keep him safe from Robert's wrath, I saw how he butchered Aegon and Rhaenys. And Jon would be their brother, their brother.

"Lord Stark" I heard the Sword of the Morning call me "what will you do with the child?" he asked.

Ser Arthur Dayne had received news that his sister had committed suicide by flinging herself off the Palestone sword, which is one of the towers in Starfall; I could tell he was saddened by Ashara's death and was nearly depressed as me.

"I do not know" I said "for I cannot take him to Winterfell and claim that he is my bastard. For everyone would soon know about him and his eyes. And when they see his eyes, his true parentage will be revealed." I replied, "I do not know what to do."

"I could take him to Dorne, for I know prince Doran well. And we could claim that my sister is the mother and that you are the father".

"That could work" I replied. "But wouldn't prince Doran object, for in his eyes my sister dishonoured elia?"

"Prince Doran is man that could be reasoned with, his brother however cannot, the prince will take him in and raise him and I shall be always by his side."

"But the boy must visit me in Winterfell; for he will know from where his mother came from." I insisted, for I would honour my promise to Lyanna.

"Yes Lord Stark".

I could hear Ser Arthur Dayne discussing the possibility of Jon of being raised by prince Doran with the rest of the Kingsguard. They had agreed to the idea but under one condition that they will all remain with Jon while he is being raised at the water gardens.

"Swear an oath to me" I told the members of the Kingsguard.

They weren't expecting that question. Nonetheless they got on one knee and together said "on our honour lord stark, we will look after the prince as if he was our own son. And that he will trained and raised as a true knight, worthy enough to be a Stark, a Targaryen, and a Prince."

"Thank you Sers." I said. For as honourable as they were I was leaving Lyanna's son in their safety. But the way they said prince unnerved me and frightened me.

It was a ludicrous plan, but a plan nonetheless. The boy was going to be trained in the martial arts by the sword of the morning; high lords would offer the maidenhood of their daughters for the honour.

A part of me was relieved, another part of me was angry and another part of me was hopeful. What happened at the tower of joy was going to have massive consequences on Westeros in the future. For good or for bad, only the gods knew. And off to the Water Gardens we went.

Doran POV

I was sitting down in the Water Gardens watch the calm pools in the sunset of the sun. I always found peace here, especially when my limbs were in pain.

The maesters said that this was the beginning of the gaut and soon I would be barely able to walk. But this physical pain was nothing compared to what I had suffered.

Time was at an end for house Targaryen as a result of Robert's rebellion, the crowned prince had been killed at the trident and the king was betrayed by his own Kingsguard. My uncle was a part of the Kingsguard and he perished at the trident leading the Dornish forces at the trident.

And when Kings Landing fell, they said that my own little sister had been murdered. She saw her new-born killed in front of her eyes, and then she was raped and murdered. One day I would have vengeance upon Tywin Lannister, but today was not the day.

I needed time strengthen my forces then wait until the proud lion was at his weakest I would make him beg for mercy as I searched through his bowels for gold, while I make him sing Rains of Castamere.

When I think about how this started, my mind will always return to Rhaegar for his foolishness and madness killed my sister. Rhaegar Targaryen may you burn in the lowest of seven hells.

My thoughts were interrupted as the captain of my guard Areo Hotah came inside "my prince Lord Stark and Ser Arthur Dayne are here to see you" he announced. Now this was surprising the sword of the morning with the lord of Winterfell. This was unexpected.

I told my captain to let them in. but only lord stark entered, which intrigued me even more, I could tell from when he first entered he felt sympathy for me.

Stark also deserved my sympathy for he had lost a brother, a father and a sister, and if the rumours are true his younger brother would be joining the nights watch.

"Lord Stark welcome to Dorne" I said as I indicated for him to sit.

"Thank you Prince Doran for the hospitality" he said.

For a moment neither of us could find the right words to say to each other. It was stark who broke the silence finally.

"I would like to offer you my condolences at the loss of your family members. If it were up to me Tywin Lannister would be dead."

I was surprised by what he just said, and he said the name Tywin with such disgust. I didn't know what to expect next.

The man seemed nervous and scared. He blurted out "I would like to foster a child here".

"A child?" I questioned.

"He is my bastard. Jon Sand" and the sword of the morning brought him in.

The man was lying.

"Dorne is only safe place for him".

Now the man was beginning to scare me. The child had the Stark look , the Stark colouring, but his eyes were Rhaegar's eyes.

"He isn't your child, is he lord Stark? He is your nephew. He is Rhaegar's son".

He looked at me straight in the eye and said "yes he is and I would defend him with my life".

I thought about Aegon and Rhaenys, he would be their brother. He had Martell blood running through his veins; he was descended from Myriah Martell.

All of a sudden a child came stumbling into the room; it was my daughter Arianne Martell.

"Father who is that?" she asked.

"This is Jon he will be staying with us" I said as he sat on my lap.

Lord stark, Areo Hotah and the sword of the morning all looked very surprised.

"May I hold him" she said.

I handed Jon to her and instructed her to be careful.

The babe laughed Arianne herself was smiling and giggling as she tickled the babe.

This was a start of a new era, and for the first time since hearing about Elia and her children; I smiled.