A Brave New World

Note: I do not own song of Fire and ice or game of thrones. I claim nothing nor ask for anything but to play in the sandbox that Martin created.

Jon Snow

Winterfell

I took a deep breath before slowly letting it out to calm my nerves. The door before me was solid ironwood. It was thick and sturdy. It had been the door of the solar of the Lord's of Winterfell for hundreds of years, maybe even thousands. Yet it was well oiled and well cared for.

This door was also all that stood before me and my future. It had been a debate for the past month since I woke up here in the body of a eight year old. But I knew this word was far different from my own. It was a place that life held less meaning and was far more dangerous.

That danger and the idea of what might be coming was the reason that I had made my decision. I didn't want to sit back and follow the path I knew my body had once walked. I didn't care about what I might screw up. Hell I wanted to live, love and laugh. No matter how corny that might sound I wanted a chance to enjoy this second chance at life. I wanted to see the world and explore the parts forgotten.

It was a decision that I considered over carefully and now decided that this was how to reach that path. This was the way to make my choice happen.

So I took a second deep breath to center myself before I knocked on the door. My small hands rapped on the old wood firmly as I could but softly it sounded due to my size. Still it didn't surprise me that I heard the heavy voice answer my knock. "Enter."

I pushed open the door and stepped into the solar of Lord Eddard Stark. The door was rustic with wooden beams running along the ceilings and walls. There was a large hearth with a blaze keeping the room warm. A massive white bearskin rug lay over the middle of the room from a beast that must have been massive. The windows had glass panels that were sealed and covered with frost from the early evening. The right side of the room across from the hearth was a large ironwood table and the man I had come to see.

He looked like Sean Bean from the show. His long face was youthful but lined from a hard life. He wore a wool tunic that was grey and the symbol of our house on his breast. The grey eyes of the man turned from his paperwork he was watching by candlelight to look at me with a softness at my hesitance to enter. "Come in Jon and shut the door."

"Thank you Sir." I stepped forward to the other side of the desk. Once there I pulled one of the chairs closer so I could sit close to the desk and see what he was doing. From a quick glance I could see numbers as it appeared he was going over the taxes collected and double checking the submissions from his lords.

Eddard must have caught me looking at them because he smiled at me, "Curious what I am doing?"

"You are reviewing your lord's tax contributions in comparison to last years. It is a way to see if the lords are cheating you what is owed assuming the crops are the same. But have you considered that they may have cheated for years prior? Is there someone that independently checks their crop yields and taxes from trade?" I answered with a question of my own. Despite the age of my body I was not going to hold back my intelligence for two reasons. First because there was no way I would be able to hide it and second because I didn't feel like acting like a small child for a decade.

My question threw off Lord Stark before he smiled, "Maester Luwin had told me that you had been showing your skills in your studies. That you admitted hiding them from everyone before. I am glad to see that his reports on your abilities were true. But why were you hiding your smarts Jon?"

"Your wife my lord does not like me. I would not cause undue stress for you and your marriage." I paused a few moments to consider before answering. "I thought if I seemed less intelligent then Robb it would make her happy and stop her attitude to me. That she would understand I am not a threat to her son's claim on Winterfell. I love my family."

"I know you are not a threat Jon. You are my blood and the pack stands together. It is not like the south where siblings fight each other. Lady Catelyn was raised different then our ways. She will understand someday." Lord Eddard answered calmly hi with a small warm smile for me. "Is this what brought you to me this evening? I can promise you that Winterfell will always be home to you Jon."

I slowly shook my head back and forth in the negative. "No, it was not what brought me here."

"Then what did bring you here Jon? My door is always open to you but it is late and I doubt you came to see numbers?" Eddard asked with a little quip and smile at the end.

I took a deep breath and readied my words, "I want a name Uncle."

The room fell dead silent as my words hit him. He stared at me with his deep grey eyes flicking with emotions. I could see loss, concern, sadness and wariness. "How?"

For an answer I leaned forward and reached out to the candle with my fingertips sitting in the flames. Eddard started to lean forward but stopped as I held up my other hand to hold him up. "My father's blood makes me immune to fire Uncle. My mother's makes me used to the bitter cold nights of our home. I am a child of ice and fire. But I do not want my father's name. I have no interest in a throne. I have no interest in plunging the kingdom into a war."

I swallowed and met his eyes with my own, "The dragons are gone. Their time is past. I just want to be a Stark and live in a city of my own. Maybe see some of the beauty of this world. But if I am seen as only a bastard that will never come for me. I want my mothers name. Please Uncle Eddard may I have this one thing?"

The man turned as pale at my words as the summer snows outside the window. It seemed he was frozen unsure how to react to my statements of truth and request.

"I had dreams Uncle that showed me who I was. They started a few months ago after my sickness. I realized who I was when I saw the Tower of Joy. I saw you and the Lords of the North versus the three Kingsguard in battle. I saw my mother in the birthing bed with me in her arms asking you to take care of me. I love you Uncle as you are my father no matter who gave the seed for me. I...". I paused my words for a moment and looked down from him to the floor.

"I am only asking for a future that I think she would want for me. A chance to live a life not as a scorn of dishonor but as a Stark. I would be willing to forswear inheritance towards Winterfell. I could be used to bind a family closer to Winterfell like House Manderly." I wet my lips with my tongue.

"They are truly loyal to House Stark for generations. Lord Wyman has only two granddaughters. If I were foster there and befriend them I could be used to build a closer tie to them. Maybe even wed one of Lord Manderly's granddaughters. I would like a seat someday to support Robb. Maybe one on the water where I could help trade to flourish for our people and feed them when winter comes. I could help protect the pack and be someone important instead of just a bastard." I finished realizing I had gone further then I originally planned from nerves. I looked up at Eddard and found him staring at me with a mixture of surprise, sadness, and pride.

He slowly stood up and walked around his desk and wrapped his arms around me to pull me into a tight embrace."Jon."

I returned the embrace to my uncle the memories of Jon from this new life filling my head. I did want to protect him despite it all. He was a father to Jon and tried to be a good one.

After a moment of silence he broke apart the hug and stared at me. " You are far smarter then Maester Luwin believes aren't you."

I slowly nod my head in agreement, "The wolf dreams showed me many things. I saw some things in the past and some in the present and some of what might come to pass. But I don't know if those are true or not. That is why I know if you asked the King would grant you my request. I know Lord Wyman would embrace me as his own son too. He would protect me as sure as I would be at Winterfell. But I can grow as a person and become my own man instead of a stain on your honor."

"I..." Eddard stared at me for long moments in consideration. Finally he nodded his head once, "Very well I will ask this for you. "

I could almost see him adding in his head for Lyanna. "Thank you Fath... Uncle."

"Jon, you can still call me Father." He smiled solemnly a he said the words. "In fact I insist that you only call me that. I will not risk the truth being found. Despite your wishes that would not be war that is what would come. Robert would not accept you to live."

"I know father, another reason for the deception. I don't want to be a king I just want to be a good man and serve my family." I added quickly to him with a smile.

"Very well, I will write the letters but I can not promise anything especially with Lord Wyman." Lord Stark stated with a small smile at the happiness shown on my face. "Also we will talk to these dreams in the future."

"Yes Sir." I answered firmly and raised my fist to my chest in a salute the guards used all the time. Then I became serious as I asked, "Are you going to tell Lady Stark?"

That question seemed to give Eddard pause as if he had not expected it. I could almost see gears whirling about in his head. The old saying if two people knew a secret then that was one too many to keep. My birth was a large secret but if he did not tell her the truth my request could be a disaster for his marriage.

"I think she would understand the truth and keep it to herself. I trust her. Family, Duty, Honor." The words of House Tully rang out from my lips as I stepped away from my Uncle to let him decide.

It seemed I put the man back deep into his thoughts as I left the room for my own. My plan had been successful so far. Hopefully it would work out, I could become something different then just the bastard of Winterfell.

--

It seemed my Uncle must had told my Aunt the truth. She looked at me with those blue Tully eyes with something different then anger for once. Normally her eyes when looking in my direct were colder then the frozen wasteland beyond the wall but now there was something else in those eyes, curiosity.

I didn't say anything letting her decide to say or do something in her own time. I knew eventually that confrontation would come but now was not the time or place. Letting her come to me made far more sense then pushing the issue. I was a patient boy and could wait to see how this ended up. I had a feeling that in time it would work out.

Putting that from my mind I turned back to Robb who had just asked me about the new game I invented for us a few weeks ago. A game with a ball made of pigs bladder and filled up that we could kick back and forth. It was a start but I thought I could eventually introduce it to the guards of the keep and elsewhere. Sports brings people together and a sport that would let others exercise may be a good idea for the men of the keeps of the North. I had originally wanted to do American football but I figured that would be harder without rubber. For now it was our game together but eventually it could expand. "Yes Robb we can try that again today."

My older cousin smiled brightly at my words and matched my grin of mischief. Over the past few months since I arrived I spent a lot of time studying and reading books which meant less time playing with him. I even started to try to learn the Old Tongue and High Valyrian.

I had always been good at languages. It had been a useful skill for my time in the navy. Join the navy they said and see the world, meet new people, and kill them. Honestly, I loved every moment of my time in the navy for my other life. I was a normal young man who loved history and adventure stories as a kid. I went to school at Annapolis studying at the naval academy history. There I learned of the Greeks and Romans to the Spanish Armada and the British Ships of the line. I learned military tactics and of course how to be an officer for the US Navy eventually on the USS Nitze. I got to see the world as traveled to ports as part of the carrier group.

This was why I had selected the Manderly for the best place to foster and befriend. Even if they did not want me part of their family someday I could learn the ways of the sea here and perhaps travel to see the world. I wanted a chance to explore this world. I wasn't going to become stuck in a keep and never see these lands! Lord Stark would never let me leave here if he had the choice because of his promise to my mother. Maybe I could help them invent new types of carricks or ships of the line? There was so many opportunities that could be had here. I just needed to reach out to grasp them!

It was ironic that after my tour was up in my old life and I was flying home to see family and friends that the flight went down. I don't remember much of my death except for the panic and feeling of helplessness as the airliner fell from the sky to the sea below. Ironic that I had always had a fear of heights and the fall from them had killed me. It was over in moments but I don't see myself enjoying heights ever in this life either. It was a. Good thing I was not reborn as an Aaryn. If Dany comes with dragons would I be the only dragon rider never to ride their dragon from fear? Hopefully Rhaegal doesn't eat me for the slight.

When I was dead I found myself in a larger chamber completely black where I could see no end in any direction. It was a endless land of dusk with no sky above even, a simply nothingness was there for me.

Suddenly in the sky above the words lit up like stars in the sky with a new question.

Would you like a second chance?

What else could I say but yes? Do I sit here forever or go to one of the hells that I was preached about? So I simply said yes.

The sky let us once again with an answer.

A game it is select your fate.

Then before my eyes a wheel appeared to be spun with blurred options on it. I was literally spinning a whee of fortune. I couldn't help the snort that came out at my poor joke in my mind. I stepped forward and spy it around with all my might. I could hear the tick tick tick noise as it spun round and round. The spinning slowed and stopped at a symbol that I was familiar with. The dire wolf of House Stark stared at me and I couldn't help but cringe. It could have been worse with something like warhammer 40k but this was a dangerous word that was not very good for House Stark in the series.

That was when the floating name appeared before my eyes:

Jon Snow (Daemon Targaryen)

Age: 8 name-days old

Parents: Rheagar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark

Level: 8

Abilities: Blood of Ice and Fire (magic)

That was all I was given. If this was a game it was a pretty shitty system. I had no ability to see any further status. I could not even see my own stats let alone an observe skill. I had no inventory and no way to know what quests I might have. That is assuming there was even questions.

I assumed I gained a level for every year I lived most likely to adulthood. That seemed to be something pretty common in games. Still the fact I could find nothing else even a help menu was infuriating. Maybe I was in the opening sequence still?

Someday I would hopefully find my way with this system but until then I would just try to live my life. I did know I had three abilities that I could abuse.

First I was immune to fire as Targaryens seem to always be. I could hold my hand into the middle of a roaring fire and feel nothing g. I had grabbed a burning spit from the flames in the kitchen once and received no burns from it.

Second, I knew I was a warg. In the shows and books Jon was a warg of Ghost. I hoped to someday find the white pup as having a dire wolf would be amazing but I had tested the ability already. I had found a squirrel that lived in the godswood and captured it. I spent hours that day trying to see into the mind of the squirrel. In truth I started to feel like a crazy person. A few times I had to take a break and try to center myself but eventually I was able to see through the eyes of the squirrel. It would only last for a few moments before I was released from it and I felt like a truck ran over me when that happened but it was a start.

The final thing was I could almost sense emotions from others when they were extremely strong I could get the feeling coming from others around me. They were confusing and often I could not really pinpoint where they were from yet except when I was alone with someone. But I started to get the sense of others like a servant from the Riverlands I had passed that gave off the feeling of hatred and disgust since I am a bastard. It was something I was working on and should become very useful someday. Maybe I could make it even into my own spidey-sense! But it would be something that required patience.

--

It had been a month before I was summoned to the solar of my Uncle. I stopped before the chamber door and knocked twice loudly. The sound seemed to echo down the hallway and it was moments before the door opened.

It was not the face of my father that greeted me but instead the beautiful face of Catelyn Stark. For a brief moment our eyes met and I could almost few the swirl of emotions coming off of the woman. The air was heavy as she stood there staring at me. I could feel the mixing of anger and what I thought was sadness. It could also be loss or perhaps regret. I still had work to do. But I decided to break the silence by bowing my head slightly to the lady of the North, "Lady Stark. I was summoned by Lord Stark. Is now an acceptable time for me to meet with him?"

There was silence for moments almost as if she was surprised at my politeness or debating with herself how to answer but the hallway didn't seem to be the place for any conversations as she opened the door fully, "Come in Jon."

It was a slight improvement if nothing else. I followed into the chamber and closed the door. When I turned around she was already behind the desk standing next to my Uncle resting her hand on his shoulder. I quickly moved over and offered a bow to the man which was quickly waved off with a motion to the seat.

"Jon, I have received a response from Lord Manderly and from Kingslanding." The words of Lord Eddard Stark rang through the room. The man's long face looked calm but there was something in his eyes that mixed with the feeling of pride. His mouth split into a smile.

"You shall become Jon Stark immediately by the decree of King Robert Baratheon, King of the Andals and First men." He paused at that moment to watch me. I couldn't help but return his smile with my own grey eyes wide that my plan was actually coming to fruition. I couldn't get but glance towards Lady Stark. But instead of anger I found her actually smiling at me as she watched my face light up.

"It is good news Jon. Despite our past, I do not wish you ill nephew." Lady Stark said slowly. It was as close as I could expect to an apology from her for the years of dislike directed at me. While she had never physically abused me she had never treated me well. Still it was not expected of her to do more than tolerate a bastard under her roof.

"I understand my lady and I hold nothing against you for the past. We both did not know whom I was truly and I understand the situation you have been placed in." I said diplomatically to her in return and gave a small smile to her.

When I turned to look back at Uncle Ned I saw him smiling at the two of us. Then he spoke again, "You shall be sent to White Harbour next year where you will foster with Lord Manderly will you are the age of fourteen. Upon reaching your majority there you shall be given the lands bordering the saltpeter from the headwaters of the Fever River across from Moat Cailin to the Barrow River."

"Are those not the lands of House Dustin?" I asked in confusion at the words. I was immensely grateful for what he was doing but surprised.

"They were but House Dustin is extinct within three generations of the family. There are none they can claim the right to the house now except Lady Dustin. She is not blood and only has held the lands by the widows law. That law states for ten years she may control the assets if none can claim them. After that point the lands revert to House Stark." My Uncle stated and there was a touch of sadness in his tone for the extinct House of Dustin.

Lord Eddard let out a sigh and shook his head with a frown. "The lands of House Dustin shall be split into four. Barrowtown with the surrounding leagues be given to House Stout whom shall swear an oath to House Stark. The North most Dustin lands east of Barrowtown to those closest to Winterfell shall be given to Bran when he is old enough. The lands from the Barrow River to the west meeting the Ryswell lands shall be given to Rodrick Ryswell the second son of House Ryswell. Finally the rest of the lands to the east of the Barrow River shall be given to you."

The man paused for a time as he started to pour three cups of wine. I was surprised at first he poured one for me before he picked up a decanter of water and heavily watered my wine. My Uncle lifted up the godlier and took a sip of the wine before he continued. "We have time but I believe the best place to build your seat would be at the mouth of the Barrow River. There is a Tower fort there from olden times that has decayed but it could be rebuilt. I will help you in rebuilding it to be livable. It is where I expect you to take your future seat."

"Father..." I quietly interrupted him and he indulged me with a smile and nod. "Could I have control of both sides of the mouth of the river? If so I could help to protect it and Barrowtown from the ironborn. A harbor there could work like White Harbour protects House Cerwyn and Winterfell lands."

He considered me for a time and I took hold of my goblet to sip from it. As the silence stretched he finally nodded his head once in agreement, "Very well. Do you have any other suggestions for the future?"

I stated at him turning to look at Lady Stark who had been silent and back to my Uncle."In one of the books in the library I read of a substance the Valyrians used for construction. It is a liquid stone that can be used to build large structures and even roads. If I can figure out how they did it perhaps it could be used to help restore my and Bran's future keeps?"

Both of them blinked in surprise at my mention of concrete. To be fair if I had never heard of it and a kid expressed about it I would do the same.My Uncle asked, "Where did you find out about this?"

"It was mentioned in one of the older tomes about Old Valyria written in the old tongue." I knew neither of them could refute my claim or read the language. "I would want to prove I could figure out how it done of course. But if it works maybe it could be used to restore the Kings Road or the Old Tower here in Winterfell and maybe even Moat Cailin."

"That is something to consider if you can figure out how someday." Eddard said seeming to indulge the fancy of youth. Little did he knew that I already knew mostly the ingredients and should be able to acquire them to recreate it.

I smiled back to him then stood up from my chair and knelt before my Uncle and spoke up before them both unbidden, "I, Jon Stark, do swear on bronze and iron, on blood and salt, and on fire and ice that I forsake my claim on Winterfell in perpetuity and offer my oath of fealty to Lord Eddard Stark and his children for all time for myself and my house."

The room was silent as I waited then I heard steps and finally I felt a hand land on my should and squeeze it once. "You shall always have hearth and food in our halls. You shall always be welcome and protected by myself and by the Lords of House Stark. I accept your oath of fealty and have you arise."

I raised my head with a smile. It was a proud smile that my Uncle returned to me. Perhaps it should not have been a surprise that Lady Stark now had her own smile. I had just removed her biggest concern she had always had against Jon. My mother was not another woman that could steal away her husband and now I was no threat to Winterfell and the birthright of her children.

I know I had given up the furry possibility of taking Winterfell for myself but honestly I didn't plan for or want to be king. I didn't want to spend my life looking over my shoulder. Now I had a future and a chance to make my own success.

Author note: I always see Jon inserts want to conqueror the world or see old Valyria. They want revenge for Jon or to become all powerful. But what about someone that just died and simply wants to make his own life. He can make his own path and future and not worry about assassins or freezing his ass off at the wall. Perhaps the MC is a little Naive believing this will keep him out of the game but we shall see. Also as for stripping lady Dustin it makes no sense that she would keep control of one of the most powerful sets of lands in the north. She has nothing to hold that claim only the widow rule. So I had that altered slightly to make more sense.

Second note: The events of canon like the Greyjoy rebellion are pushed back here. Further the events of River coming to Winterfell won't start till Jon and Robb are 20. Most likely it will not start till Jon isI am not sure whom will be his wife but not Dany or Margery. Any suggestions are welcome as long as they make sense.

Final note: This was typed on my cell phone and for fun. May be changed in the future.