Aloha. Usually, I hate doing long authors' notes, but I figured, since Anime Princess and a few other people are voicing concerns about this story, I'd explain a few things.
I've been experimenting with this type of fic for a while. Unfortunately, it's not as common here as on AO3. The story isn't lost, silly. It's foggy as a style choice. The Others were defeated but everyone died. They go back to after the Rebellion but before Jon Arryn died. For this instalment, it was a fixed point in time. The next one is different, as is the third- they'll go farther and farther back. For now, the current generation of Starks has a chance to reforge Winter- they are descended from the Kings of it- as Dorne, and Martells can reforge Summer, which is a purposeful parallel to the Faerie courts. Another reviewer said that the children adore their mother. Well, I HAVE a half brother. If my Dad wouldn't treat him at least as MY brother rather than my Mom's mistake and we didn't actually need him, I'd get him out. Also, if you can't tell, I kind of hate Catelyn with a passion, probably because of being brought up with a half brother.
Also, it was kind of intended as an implied role reversal for Catelyn. Because I love my big brother. So much. Just as there isn't much he wouldn't do for me (even if he grumbled) there is very little I would not do for him or to protect him. Sansa, Arya, Bran, Rickon and Robb know that Jon was a great king, as does Ned. When Catelyn (Showverse) claimed it all happened because she couldn't love Jon Snow, the gods gave her this life in punishment, methinks.
Thanks for the reviews
Muse
Robin was doing everything so very differently. He'd gleefully acted as if his mother was abusing him to protect his father, as her madness had been discovered, as was the poison she wished to feed her husband. First with the help of the Maesters and now on his own, Robin had corresponded with Rickon and then his Lord father. Now he also wrote every week to the Lords Declarant in the Vale, describing his lessons with Luwin and Sam and his training with the Stark siblings, Trystane Martell and his Sand Snake cousins.
Once he remembered that his father would die by his mothers' hand, it hadn't been hard to try to get rid of her. She hadn't poisoned him until later, when he was healing from the sickness. So, he wailed for and ran to his father every time his mad mother tried to feed him from her breast. He refused to eat food except what came from his fathers' plate, knowing his mother loved him still. When his father was busy, he either napped in his lap or pestered the Maesters into helping him send letters to his cousin Rickon, the closest in age to him, and the one who'd agreed to be his Master-at-Arms when they were given leave to save their fathers.
He struck up a friendship with Tommen Baratheon, who nicknamed him the Young Falcon. In retaliation, Robin had called him the Young Lion. Now they only ever addressed each other as Lion and Falcon. Myrcella had quickly been absorbed as Lioness.
When Sansa and Arya had sent the fostering invitation, he had begged his father to come with him to visit Winterfell, so they could meet his Master-at-Arms. Curious, Jon had gone along with it, astonished when Tommen Baratheon had hugged his son and said warmly
"Safe journey, Falcon, and prepare the Wolves for my arrival." With a laugh, Robin had returned with equal warmth
"Always, Lion. I will, and we'll care for the Lioness, at least until her Prince rescues her from the dismal Cyvasse players in the North." Tommen snickered and asked
"Didn't your man say that no one in the North knows how to play?" When Robin nodded, the Prince chuckled and remarked
"Ah, then Trystane will save Cella from boredom for sure. My thanks, Falcon." Robin shrugged and said easily
"For Family, and Duty, we soar as High as Honor." Nodding, Tommen replied
"They'll Hear Me Roar if Ours is the Fury." The boys walked away from each other, and Jon thought no more of it until they landed in White Harbor, and were greeted by Wylla Manderly, who said carefully
"Winter is coming, and the North remembers, Lord Robin Arryn." With a jerky nod, Robin replied
"For Family and Duty, we soar as High as Honor." Puzzled, Jon watches Lysa's nieces and nephews greet him, each scowling ferociously until Robin asks
"Where is my Lord Jon? I have been waiting to meet him, as has Father." Jon nods, curious about Ned's boy, and is left stunned when the scowls melt into utterly beautiful smiles. Sansa chirps delightedly
"My brother wolf is with my Kraken and our Lord Father in the solar." Robb chuckles and escorts them, commenting that
"A flight of falcons are living in the Wolfswood, cousin, mayhaps you should see if the animal of your sigil responds to you as the Direwolves do us." Robin replies in the affirmative, and Jon's consciousness fuzzes, as he remembers bits and pieces of before, both Ned and Robin hovering when he falls to a fever.
He rises anew, his son and their falcons studying him intently. Gods, this is why Ned had allowed his children to drive their mother from Winterfell. Lysa had… Well, it was safe to say he would be focusing on Robin from now on. Gratefully, he accepted both his new falcon, Goldeneye, and the offer of fostering for Robin. Who grinned as he stroked his falcon, Brightwing, and swapped nudges with his cousin. Rickon and Shaggy were a great fit for his son, two wild boys and their nursemaid beasts.
Although Robin disliked his father leaving him, he understood the why of it, so he and Brightwing saw off their fathers, Goldeneye being an adult falcon and Brightwing little more than a fledgling.
As others to be fostered came to Winterfell, more sigil beasts came to the Wolfswood. Tommen, Myrcella and her children received hulking lions, Trystane a snake, while Margaery and Loras were surprised to receive doves. Renly and Gendry both got stags that allowed them to ride, but were better in battle if they weren't ridden.
One of the visits to another holdfast included a stop at White Harbor, where Theon met a Kraken and the Manderly girls shrieked over having mermaids throw them weapons.
Once everyone in Winterfell (including, to the Stark children's displeasure, Catelyn) knew that Dany, Aede and Jon were the lost Targaryens, the dragons hatched. At Aegon's request, Ned reclaimed the Wall, executing those who were there for their crimes, men like Jeor Mormont and Aemon Targaryen given the chance to return to their homes. Those who didn't would help rebuild the Night's Watch with the help of the Wildlings.