Game of Thrones: Of Lions and Roses

Chapter 18 of my Game of Thrones story, a chapter I'm sure many have been waiting for, HE'S ALIVE!:) Anyway, enjoy.

Reviews

Marina Ka-Fai: Glad you liked it, yeah :)
wazzup11: Well, Tyrion's fate right now resides in the will of the Small Council; yeah she did, she found her moment and acted.
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it :)
canonman89: Thanks :)
Wolfgirl2013: Yeah and thanks :)
Veridissima: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it; yeah, well, wait till her next chapter and you'll see her motivation, killing Joffrey should be obvious why, but why frame Tyrion, that will be revealed in her next chapter.

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.

Jon

It felt almost like dreaming; a feeling of weightlessness; that was all Jon felt as he lay. He wondered briefly where he was, was he dead. Then he remembered the pain, the sudden onslaught and his eyes jerked open, convincing himself he was alive. He was lying in a bed, his body felt stiff and awkward; with a jolt he tried to sit up.

"Where…?" He gasped, his voice sounded croaky and hoarse.

A hand touched his shoulder and tried to push him back down, he struggled. Pain exploded in his torso yet then he heard a familiar voice.

"Easy Jon, easy…" It was Sam; Jon relaxed and allowed himself to be coaxed back into lying down.

He then became aware of his surroundings; he was in his bed in the Lord Commander's chambers. He could the tightness of bandages around his torso and guessed his injuries had been treated. He still felt stiff, light-headed and dizzy; also feeling rather weak.

Sam was seated next to his bed. "Just take it easy, you lost a lot of blood. You were stabbed around seven times; luckily nothing vital was hit and we were able to save you, but it was close."

"We?" Jon asked; confused.

Sam nodded. "Maester Aemon and myself."

Jon sighed. "I thought Maester Aemon…"

He felt guilty, knowing that Maester Aemon's age was catching up with him, that the old man had to tend to him, despite his own frail condition.

Sam however shook his head.

"The moment he heard what happened, he roused himself." He explained. "I've never seen the old man move so fast…Nor work so hard. He is resting now, his efforts tired him, but he says he'll be fine after some rest."

Jon merely nodded, not trusting his mouth to work; he hoped that it was true. Finally recovering his strength enough to speak again he asked.

"What else has happened?"

Sam shook his head. "Nothing much, except Janos has been imprisoned, awaiting your justice. But that can wait, until you have recovered."

The tone of Sam's voice and the look he gave him made Jon want to laugh. He was acting so serious, but Jon admitted he had a point.

He sighed and replied. "Yes, I am of the North, he who passes the sentence should swing the sword, I'll behead himself, when I've recovered."

Sam nodded; relieved he had convinced Jon not to overexert himself. He did note that Jon still seemed restless however and luckily he knew why.

"Don't worry, we're covering for you as best we can, everything is being taken care of." He reassured him. "When you're back on your feet, everything will still be efficient and working."

Jon nodded. "Good, that's good."

He smiled; relieved; now he could concentrate on recovering. All the same his mind wandered; he wondered about Ygritte, would she be North of the Wall by now, would she find what she was looking for, would she even return?

They remained in silence for a while, before Sam seemed to suddenly remember something.

"Oh, that's right, we've received a letter from Winterfell; it seems they are preparing for war again. However, they've had volunteers who are going to be on their way here." Sam remarked; Jon smiled, he knew Robb would reply to him. "Also, you have a guest, a man has come from Winterfell, he says he needs to talk to you urgently."

That caught Jon's attention. "Who is it?"

Sam replied promptly. "A Lord Howland Reed of Greywater Watch."

"Send him in; I'll see him right away." Jon replied; noting that Sam had mentioned the man's need for urgency.

Sam nodded and helped Jon into a sitting position before leaving. A short moment later, a grey-haired, grey bearded man entered. Jon noted he had green eyes and was short and slim, a Crannogman of the Neck. He recalled his father talking about Howland Reed; the two had been very close friends.

"Lord Commander Jon Snow." He greeted Jon; bowing as he did so.

Jon shook his head. "Please, you were an old friend of my father's, there is no need for that, please sit down."

He gestured to the chair, Jon noticing a pained grimace cross the man's face as he did so.

There was an awkward silence for a while, before Jon spoke.

"So, Lord Reed, I am told you wanted to see me?" Howland nodded and Jon asked. "What did you wish to speak about?"

Howland Reed sighed. "After everything that's happened to you, I don't know if you're ready to hear this. But I promised my good friend Eddard something important…Something I swore never to divulge; unless necessary."

Jon tensed, he had a feeling he wasn't going to live this.

Howland continued; shaking his head. "But I feel that you have the right to know."

"What does it have to with me?" Jon asked, even more confused now.

Howland bowed his head sadly. "Everything; for what I'm about to tell you, is the truth…about your birth."

Jon started at that, as Howland then continued.

"It's time you were told who your parents were."

Jon shook his head, he knew this already. "Lord Eddard was my father, my mother…"

"No, that is not true." Howland replied sadly.

Jon froze, feeling as if one of the foundations of his life had been wrenched away. If he wasn't Eddard Stark's son, who was he and why would Eddard risk so much, especially his marriage, to raise him if he wasn't of his blood?

"I am sorry, I know this comes as a shock…but it was devised for your protection." Howland explained slowly; clearly this was hard for him too. "Lord Eddard pretended to be your father, in order to keep you safe. If King Robert knew your real father, your real mother, his rage would have been terrible to behold."

A cold feeling grew in Jon's stomach as a thought; an impossible thought began to take shape in his head.

Still, he knew Lord Reed was the only living soul who knew what happened that day; he had to be certain, to hear it from the man's own mouth.

"Who were they, my parents?"

Howland sighed and explained. "Lord Eddard was actually your uncle; your mother was his sister, Lady Lyanna…Your father, was Rhaegar Targaryen. I was there when it happened; Lady Lyanna told us herself, who your father was, and made us promise to keep you safe."

Even hearing it, despite his suspicions, Jon felt stunned; it was as if everything he knew had been shifted upon its head. Seeing the effect his words had, Howland Reed apologized and then excused himself, before leaving. Jon remained in bed, lying down again; his mind still whirling with what had just been revealed to him.

End of chapter, final Jon chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.