Chapter 3: Dreams and Waking
The alluring call of slumber had called to Jon as soon as he closed his tired eyes. He could feel himself become enamored by the relief he felt as his body fully unwinded. Even his own mind, which was usually plagued by the faces of those who turned into wights or even the faces of his family were nowhere in sight. In what felt like in years Jon Snow slumbered peacefully without being haunted by those he failed and those he yearned to see once more.
His previous dreams were seeing those he cared about stare at him with undead, blue eyes as their withered forms crept closer to him. He would feel the cold against his face as the temperature would drop. His breath would form icy clouds in front of him as the forms of wights would draw near him under the piercing icy, blue stare of an Other. Yet tonight his dream had taken place somewhere opposite. For his unconscious mind had warped the usual icy tundra into an ever-expanding desert.
Under Jon's gaze he could make out an unending environment filled with sand and even some sparse vegetation growing. This was unlike anything he had ever seen as he had never set foot out of the North. He could feel the blistering heat of the midday sun upon his face as its golden rays bathed his pale skin in its majesty. The new landscape he found himself in was devoid of the numbing cold of the Far North but held an almost searing heat under the sun's rays. Though he could feel the heat of the place he found himself it did not bother him so.
Jon was flabbergasted at this experience for he had never been to a desert or even somewhere as warm as this. His curiosity grew as he could vaguely make out something shining in the distance. 'What is that in the distance?', Jon thought as he willed his body to move. He could feel his feet move as his gaze never wavered from the distant shining. He felt that the journey to object of his interest had taken longer than he thought since the sun was setting in the distance. He could feel a familiar cold sweep through the desert. He grew astonished as the temperature rapidly fell as the once warm environment soon turned chilly. It reminded him of one of the warmer summers he experienced back in Winterfell.
He soon came upon the shining object which bewitched him to come to it. For what was before him shocked him as it was a nothing more than a luminescent rock. The stone was large around the size of a small dog. It radiated warmth as Jon drew nearer to it. It seemed to glow in an otherworldly light as he crouched down. His form was enveloped in the warm, splendorous light. The stone before him seemed to be the color of was black and shiny, yet it gave off ways of warmth around it. The color of the stone reminded him of the dark wavy steel of his Valyrian steel sword.
The strange stone called out to him in a way which compelled him to touch it. Jon did not understand the alluring call of the stone, but it resonated with his soul. Without any regard to any danger of the unknown stone, Jon's hand reached out and touched the surface of the metallic looking stone. As soon as he rested his palm on its rocky surface Jon seemed to be taken to another place.
His dream soon bleed away to nothingness as the desert was overtaken by the black expanse. All that remained around him was the soft glow of the stone and himself. Jon could not understand what was going on as he was stilled by the shock of the event. He could not see or hear anything besides what was illuminated by the soft glow, yet it would appear the glow was growing larger with each beat of his heart. With each consecutive beat of his heart the glow of the stone bathed his surroundings in its soft light. Soon the once empty, black void was filled with the soft light of the stone.
He was once again taken to somewhere new as he was in a field of sorts. Around him he could make out the chirping of birds and other wildlife. The field was the golden color of wheat. Jon could see the wheat stalks swaying lazily in the wake of a gentle breeze. It was an awe-inspiring sight to me yet that was not all. For before him were two people, one was the form of his father and the other was of a woman he had never met.
His father still held the imposing form of a Warden though his face was much warmer. He was also younger as he appeared to be close to Jons age. The usual icy exterior of Eddard Stark was melted by the presence of the woman next to him. He had never seen his father like this before even in all the years he had been married to Lady Catelyn. Jon's grey eyes roamed the woman's features and drank them in.
The woman before him was a young, beautiful, tall, and fair maiden, with haunting violet eyes. Her skin was a similar pale color to his own and her hair was the same shade as his. Her long dark hair tumbled around her shoulders as she drank in the form of Jon as well. He felt speechless as the woman gazed at him so lovingly it scared apart of him. Jon had not seen a gaze such as that after Ygritte.
The woman and the young form of his father took careful steps till they were in front of Jon's shocked form. Jon could only remain still as he looked upon the people in front of him. His mind tried to make sense of this even as he felt his knees collapse underneath him. He stood kneeled before them as they came face to face with one another. The fair looking woman seemed to smile slightly as her arms drew Jon's head into a hug. His head was nestled gently between her chest as her pale hands stroked his hair. He could feel tears forming into his eyes as he was comforted by the strange woman.
His attention was soon drawn towards the young visage of his father as the man soon spoke to Jon. "It has been along time my son", said Eddard as his own eyes welled with tears.
Jon could only let out a wail as his father stood before him as if he hadn't died. He had so many questions, yet they seemed to be caught in his throat. All he could do was look into the loving gaze of the woman before him and the teary-eyed form of his father,
"Oh, Ned please don't cause our boy further anguish. I dread that he will remain speechless to even talk to his mother", snarked the young beauty as he continued to stroke his hair.
Jon could only grow more confused as he looked upon the woman who proclaimed to be his mother. All he could say to that as his tears increased was a sobful, "Mother?".
"Aye she is your mother my son. She is Lady Ashara of House Dayne", said Eddard sorrowfully.
All Jon could do was cry harder into the fabric of her dress. He had longed to know his mother's name yet all he could do in the moment was let all his tears run freely. Part of him wanted to scream at his father for never telling him or even question his motives, but he held that within for he had longed for this moment too much to ruin it.
His mother continued to gently stroke his head and soon spoke, "I am sure you have a lot of questions son, but we do not have long here".
"Aye Ashara is right Jon. You have lingered here for long, but your mind will soon wake", said Eddard sadly as he clasped Jon's shoulder with his hand.
Jon's tears ran out as he listened to what they meant. For they had a tragic tale to tell their son. They told him of their growing love between them during the tourney of Harrenhall. How his parents grew to love each other and of the time spent at Harrenhall. He learned of the joy his mother felt as she carried him as a savage war was waged. Of the tragedy his mother felt at learning of Eddard fighting in the rebellion. The feelings of lose his father had as he married a woman he did not love at the time. Of the pain his mother felt at learning of his fathers marriage. Of the hard birth she experienced as she gave birth to twins. He learned that he was one of a set of twins, yet his own twin sister had died during the birth. He was all that his mother had. He learnt of the tragedy at the Tower of Joy as his Aunt died in the birthing bed. He felt the sorrow of his mother as she learnt the man she loved slew the brother she adored. He learnt of the deep-seated grief and melancholy of his father as he had lost all his family except his youngest brother. He heard of the conversation they shared as Jon was presented to his father, yet it seemed in his grief his father had not understood the desperation his mother felt. For his father had made a decision which haunted him till his death, as he had decided he would take Jon North. His father was consumed with grief that he did not see the heartbroken gaze of his mother as both father and son set out to leave the heat of Dorne behind them. His mother had soon taken her own life as the only remaining piece of happiness was torn from her. His father had grieved for her and kept her identity a secret. For the coveted his bastard son as the only connection he had left for the woman he loved in his youth.
Jon could only stay still as his parents wove the tale of their tragic love. He wanted to rage at his father for taking him away from his mother. He wanted to punch his father for never telling him or dissuading him from going to the Wall. Yet as soon as his blood pumped with rage it also gave way to a strong feeling of loss. Jon was as honorable and just as his father for he did not feel right to further cause his flesh and blood any grief. Jon could only soak up all that was said and finally know who he was. For his parents gave him the gift he yearned for. Jon could only calmy hold them close into his arms as they reciprocated his actions.
"I know you may never forgive me Jon, but I hope with this tale you can know that you are so loved", said Eddard sadly.
Ashara turned her haunting, violent eyes on both father and son, "I have made peace with the past Jon. Though I still yearn to throttle your father. We have made peace and we hope you can as well".
"Aye it will take time, but I am happy to know I have such a loving mother and father", said Jon as he smiled upon his family.
He wished this could last forever, yet all good things must come to an end. Jon could feel his mind stirring as he felt the scenery around him crack. He could feel his body fading a bit at a time as he made out the black emptiness returning. It slowly spilled into the field as he gazed upon his parents in worry.
"Fear not Jon for we knew we had limited time", said Eddard.
"We will be reunited once more my son. It is just time for you to go. Please do not fret for we will always be with you", said Ashara lovingly.
Jon could only grow numb as his consciousness was stirred again. He could now see the emptiness returning as the forms of his parents vanished. With his grey eyes opening into the world of the living there in sight was no field or his parents. For what greeted him were the stirring forms of his companions as they woke up to the morning song of the woodland creatures around them. Jon could only sigh in defeat as it seemed it would be awhile before he saw his parents. Though he felt disappointed by waking up he felt his heart grow fond as he thought of the, For he knew he was loved and cherished by them. With a slight smile upon his lips Jon set out for this new day.
Author's Note: The last review by ibragimovruslan553 made me really think about how there are a gazillion, and one stories about Jon Snow being the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. I know the son made it canon in the showverse, yet it is still unknown who Jon Snow's mother is in the books. I do like some stories where he is the son of Rhaegar instead of Eddard, but it has been done a lot. I wanted to have Jon Snow be the son of Eddard and Ashara since I have always liked the idea and it just makes the story between Ned and Ashara even more tragic. In this story Jon will be the son of Eddard and Ashara. I know it's based off of a theory since we won't know till The Winds of Winter is finished hopefully. School has taken a lot of my time now, so I won't be able to write for a lot of my stories. I have posted a poll to see which stories people would like to see more of and I will plan to update those stories more frequently. I don't plan on abandoning any of my stories, it is just that I want to focus on a few for now till the semester is over. I am also pleasantly surprised that a lot of people have already voted. So far it seems Rebirth of a Bastard Direwolf and The Old God's fill Our Sails are in the lead lol. I do plan on keeping the poll open for a few days. I will say I am not abandoning any of my stories it's just that I will update some more frequently than others. I am also looking for a beta reader who can hopefully help me with some of my stories. If you are interested in becoming a beta reader just PM me. I hope everyone is also going to have an awesome holiday weekend.