Chapter 3
I woke up alone, the bed beside me was empty. I sat up "Rhae" I called out pulling the furs back and getting out of bed. I pulled on a pair of breeches and left my bed chamber going into the main part of my room. Rhaenys was there sitting in front of the fire. Ghost's head in her lap.
"Couldn't sleep" I gently say trying not to scare her as I sat beside her.
"Nightmares"
"You can tell me about me if you want" Ghost whined softly for more scratches.
"The same one I've been having for years. The day King's Landing was sacked. Muna, our brother, and Grandfather was killed. I can hear Muna screaming and begging for her life."I said nothing and let Rhaenys continue at her own pace. "I was hiding under Kepa's bed. One of Muna's maids found me before Ser Amory Lorch and Tywin Lannister's dogs did.
She snuck me out of the Castle via the tunnels under the Castle, there was a trap door in Kepa's room.
I could hear Muna being raped by those animals, I heard them smash Egg's head against the wall. The Maid got me to Dorne, where Uncle Oberyne and Ellaria took me and raised me."
"I wish I could bring back those that are dead just to kill them again. Gregor Clegane will pay as will all those who betrayed and hurt our family. With Fire and Blood Rhae, I promised."I kissed the top of her head holding her close to me.
"Fire and Blood" Rhaenys agreed.
Meereen, Essos.
Tyrion hoped his plan to make peace with Slave Masters worked at least till Daenerys returned or was found, she and Drogon. The former Kingsguard Barristan was not sold on the plan, and Missandie and Grey Worm were even less thrilled by it. Varys was well Varys.
"Any word on Queen's niece," Tyrion asked as the ship got closer
"Not as of yet. I have heard some rumors about your former wife. Sansa Stark. It appears she married Roose Bolton's son Ramsay. But it seems she is no longer at Winterfell. She and Theon Greyjoy escaped from Winterfell when Stannis Baratheon unsuccessful tried to take Winterfell from the Bolton.
He and all of his men were butchered. His wife and daughter were killed."
"Do you know where Sansa and the Greyjoy boy are now?"Tryion asked.
"Sansa has headed to the only family she has left. Her last surviving sibling Jon Snow, is now Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. As for Greyjoy, my little birds do not know where Theon Greyjoy has gone."Varys answered.
"You invite our enemy into our city" Grey Worm spat after a time.
"I did, for a truce, not peace" Tyrion paused before turning to face the two former slaves. "A clever once told me, it's best to keep your friends close but your enemies even closer"
"I don't make peace with the Queen's Eniemies, I kill the Queen's enemies"
"Yes, that's the military approach" Tyrion looked over his shoulder. "But how well has that worked out here in Meereen there's another way we can play this. The smarter way, the diplomatic way"
"Remind me Lord Tyrion how many days were you a slave for"
"Mere days. Lord Varys and I have a plan. We make it seem like we are going along with their demands for now at least till the Queen returns. As much as I would like to have Grey Worm remove their heads and send them back to Astapor as a warning. We have to be smart about this."Tyrion explained a little of the plan.
"I like your second idea" Greyworm grunted
"Oh course you would. Come let's get this over with"
Castle Black.
It seemed her brother had worked up quite the appetite last night and this morning. He dug into his meal of meat, bread and what was supposed to be porridge.
"Sorry about the food, it's not exactly what we're known for here" Edd apologized for the food
The door swung open.
"Letter for you your grace" The Nightwatchmen handed a scroll to Aegon.
"Thank you" I thanked him for handing me the scroll.
"Aegon who's it from" Rhaenys answered.
"Bolton Seals. Mostly Likey Roose Bolton" I answered tearing open the scroll to read it.
'To the Traitor and bastard Jon Snow,
You allowed thousands of Wilding South of the Wall. You have betrayed your own kind, you have betrayed the North.
Winterfell is mine bastard come and see. Your brother Rickon is in my dungeon. I paused reading the scroll from Roose Bolton looking at Sansa in horror. Rickon the baby of the family was at the mercy of those mad bastards. 'His direwolf's skin is on my floor. Come and see. I want my bride back bastard.
Send her to me bastard, and I will not trouble you or your wilding lovers. Keep her from me and I will ride North and slaughter every Wilding man, woman, and babe under your protection.
You will watch as I skin them living.' I paused debating whether or not to read on. The sick bastard and his son would pay with Fire and Blood when I got my hands on them. They would pay not for what was done to Sansa, but Robb and all those killed at the Red Wedding. 'You will watch as my soldiers take turns raping your sister. You will watch as my dogs devour your wild little brother. Then I will spoon out your eyes from their sockets and let my dogs do the rest.
Come and See.
Ramsay Bolton, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of The North.' I finished reading. Sansa was shaking from where she sat between Rhaenys and Brienne.
"Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. The bastard's murdered his father"
"Edd get Lord Glover, Reed, and Lady Mormont we have a war council meeting to attend. Tormund are you with me on this" I asked
"That fucker will pay. No one threatens my family and lives. You will have as many men and women who can fight. That sick twisted fucker will pay"
"Aye he will with Fire and Blood" I shared a look with Rhaenys. Lady Mormont, Lord Reed, and Lord Glover arrived roughly minutes after I had asked Edd to fetch them.
"So the bastard killed his father and is calling himself, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North" Lady Mormont snorted reading the scroll, before handing it to Lord Reed and Glove to read.
"Aye, so it seems from the letter."
"What are you going to do your grace? We have barely two and a half thousand men mainly free folk. Plus your dragon. How many men does Bolton have Lady Sansa."Glover handed the letter to Lord Reed.
"When Stannis was going to attack Winterfell, I heard them say five thousand. But it's possible he would have more if he has the support of the Umbers and possibly the Karstarks. Maybe Seven to Eight thousand. I'm not sure."
"How many men can you spare Lady Mormont" I asked.
"Eighty and that would be pushing it. Your grace"
"Lord Glover, how many men can you bring to the fold you and bannermen."The Houses sworn to House Glover being, House Forrester, Bole, Woods, and Branch.
"Maybe a fifteen hundred men roughly." We now had a little over four thousand men.
"Lord Reed how many men can you and Craggon Lords gather to help us retake Winterfell."I turned to Howland.
"Eight Hundred. A hundred men per house."Our number where slowly increasing.
"We need to send Ravens to the remaining Northern Houses. The Skagoes, and the Mountain Clans as well. Have Ravens sent to House Dayne and Velaryon. And one to Meereen for the attention of Queen Daenerys of House Targaryen. We may need her armies if the Lannisters and Tyrells send their armies North. Rhaenys what of Dorne would they answer the call? If we sent Ravens asking for men to take back Winterfell" I turned to my sister and lover.
"Possible. Uncle Doran is a schemer, he will use you to his own end"
"We'll put Dorne on the back burner for now. I'll write up a letter to be used to be sent to Northern Houses, House Dayne, Velaryon, and our Aunt Daenerys in Meereen."I stood up.
"Where would we gather all our men, before we march on Winterfell."Lord Glover asked."Moat Cailin. Lord Reed does Bolton have any men holding Moat Cailin"
"No, "Howland answered.
I wrote a letter to be sent to every Northern House and a few different ones that were being sent to House Dayne and Velaryon. One for our Aunt in Meereen.
I King Aegon of House Targaryen and Stark Sixth of my name son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark call upon you the loyal houses of the North to help House Stark take back Winterfell that is rightly House Stark's by right, help us avenge the Red Wedding.
My cousin Robb Stark, the Young Wolf, King in North. Named me his heir upon his untimely death. As King in the North, I call upon you to uphold the promise you made to my cousin. Stand with House Stark.
Winter will come for House Bolton and those traitors who stand with them.
Signed and Witnessed King Aegon of House Targaryen and Stark Sixth of his name, King in the North and rightfully King and Lord Protector of the Seven Kingdoms. Lord Howland Reed Lord of Greywater Watch, Lady Meage Mormont Lord of Bear Island, Lord Galbart Glover Lord of Deepwater Motte, and Lady Sansa Stark of Winterfell.
Howland had enclosed his only letter for the Lords explaining my real name and why I had been known as Jon Snow, bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark all these years.
"The Bolton Soldier that brought the letter is he still here? "I asked
"Aye Lord Commander"
"Rider's Approaching" Someone called from outside.
"Open the gates" The gates creaked open.
Walking out onto the ramparts. Two horses rode in one a dapple grey, the other a dark bay. The rider of the dapple grey horse. She seemed familiar but I couldn't quite place her. It was then I noticed the sword on her belt.
'Needle' Arya.
"Find my sister and cousin. Tell them that Arya Stark is here"
"Yes Lord Commander" The Nightwatchmen went to fetch Sansa and Rhaenys.
Coming to Castel Black hadn't been the original plan when she and Gendry had boarded the ship from Bravos bound for Westores. She had planned to head for the Twins to kill Walter Frey, and all those responsible for her mother, sister-in-law, unborn niece or nephews, brother, and her brother's men murders. Cersei Lannister was another name on her list.
Bran had come, well she at least thought it was Bran who came to her in her dreams. Telling her she had to go to Castle Black. Jon needed her. The decision to come to Castle Black had been an easy one.
Jon was most likely all the family she had left, Sansa was missing no one had seen her since Joffrey Lannister was poisoned on his wedding day, and Bran and Rickon dead killed by Theon Greyjoy another name on her list. Mother, Father, and Robb are all dead.
She and Jon were most likely the last of their houses.
Seeing her brother for the first time in years. Arya ran straight to Jon launching herself into his arms.
"Jon"
"Arya," I said as held her in my arms for the first time in years. "You still got it" I nodded to Needle on her belt.
"Aye, I've used it a time or two. You got shorter."
"And you got taller little sister. Who's your friend" I noticed her companion.
"Oh, that's Gendry."
"Arya" Sansa cried behind me running down the stairs.
"Sansa" For the first time since the day Eddard Stark was executed on the steps of Spt of Baelor. The Stark sisters were together again.
"Where have you been" Both asked at the same time.
"Satin" I called for my former Steward.
"Yes Lord Commander"
"Find a room for my sister and friend please," I say as Rhaeyns came to stand beside me.
"Lady Stark if you and your friend would like to follow me"
"I'm no Lady. Arya will be just fine" Arya always hated being called a Lady, it seemed nothing had changed in that respect."Go settle in your rooms. We'll talk in my rooms Satin can show you where they are" I kissed Arya on the head.
Arya and her 'friend' Gendry joined us in my rooms. I hadn't failed to notice the looks between the pair.
"Arya there's something I need to tell you. I'm not your brother."I began to say.
"What of course you are Jon, half-brother or not? You are still my brother"
"No. Ned Stark is not my father. I am a Stark through my mother's blood. Lyanna Stark is my mother, and Rhaegar Targaryen is my real father. Your father found my mother in Dorne, she wasn't dying of a fever, but rather childbirth.
She made your father promise to protect me from Robert Baratheon. Because if Robert ever found out he would have killed me. He took this secret to his grave. It was only recently that I found out I'm Aegon Targaryen and not Jon Snow."I explained.
"So were you born of rape"
"My father never raped Lyanna. He, my mother, and Lyanna loved each other" Rhaeyns snapped at Arya.
"But we were told"
"It was a lie, Arya. My mother ran away to be with my father and Elia. They were married on Isle of Faces, before the Old Gods and New."I explained a bit more.
"Rhaeyns Targaryen is dead, but how are you alive" Ayra was speaking to Rhaenys and not me.
"One of our muna's maids found me. Snuck me out of the castle via the tunnels. She got me to Dorne where I was hidden and raised by my Uncle Oberyne and Aunt Ellaria."Rhaenys answered
"Why are you called Aegon? Didn't you already have a brother called Aegon"
"I was named for my brother."I paused before asking "Where have you been all these years Ayra"
"I was snuck out of King's Landing by Yoren he was a recruiter for Watch. It's where Gendry and I met. I was diagnosed as a boy. We were captured and taken to Harrenhal, where Tywin Lannister and his armies were.
I was his cupbearer. I don't know how or why he didn't recognize me. I nearly shit myself the day Pertyr Baelish turned up at Harrenhal. We escaped only to be captured again by the Brotherhood without Banners. They captured the Hound."Ayra went into more detail.
"I was there the night of the Red Wedding. I saw them parading Robb's body with Greywind's head sowed on, mocking him. Mother's body was thrown into the River. After leaving the Hound to die. I headed for Bravos.
To the House of Black and White. While I was in Bravos I met up again with Gendry."He squeezed her hand before Arya continued. "I originally was going to the Twins to kill the Freys then King's Landing for Cersei. She's on my list."
"List of what," Sansa asked.
"List of names of people I'm going to kill. Bran came to me in a dream saying I needed to go to Castle Black to find Jon. It was an easy choice to make. Jon was the only family I thought, I had left.
You had disappeared after the purple wedding. Most people seemed to believe it was you that poisoned Joffrey."
"I don't know who did. But I'm not sorry he's dead. He was a cruel bastard but he has nothing on Ramsay Bolton"
"Ramsay Bolton," Arya questioned.
"Roose Bolton's bastard son. He became Ramsay Bolton after I was sold to him as a bride by Littlefinger. He got me out of King's Landing on the day of the Purple Wedding. He hid me in the Vale. He killed Aunt Lysa, throwing her through the Moon Door.
It would have been better if I had been left to the mercy of the Lannisters rather than go with him."There had to be more to that story of what happened with Littlefinger.
"How did you end here"
"Theon and I escaped from Winterfell jumping from the battlements. Stannis Baratheon had come to retake Winterfell. We were pursued by Bolton Soldiers. We were saved by Rhaeyns, our cousin William Sand, Uncle Brandon, and Ashara Dayne's bastard son, Brienne, and her squire Podrik.
They brought me to Castle Black, and on the way here we came across Lord Howland Reed, Lady Meage Mormont, and Lord Galbart Glover" Sansa explained how she came to be at Castle Black.
"There's another thing I have to tell you Arya" I stood up removing my Jerkin, then my shirt.
Gendry's eyes widened the fight of seven stabbed wounds on my chest, stomach, and abdomen.
"Jon how did you"
"I didn't survive Arya. Jon Snow died in that courtyard. Aegon Targaryen rose from the flames. They burned me on a funeral pyre. I woke up and walked out of the flames. 'Fire cannot kill a dragon'
While I was between worlds. I saw Bran and my grandkepa Aerys Targaryen. They showed who I really was."I answered.
"Who, Why, "Arya questioned
"I was betrayed by four of my own men. Their reasoning was I'd betrayed the Night Watch allowing the Wildings South of the Wall. And before you ask, they're dead. I took two of their heads. Another I feed another to Ghost and the ringleader to my dragon Sȳndor also known as Cannibale"
"A dragon can I meet him"
"Sure come on" I chuckled"So you going full Targaryen now? Satin was saying it would be a good thing if we were heavy sleepers"
"Oh, why would that be" I asked as we walked through the tunnel to the other side of the Wall.
"Apparently you and Rhayens kept everyone awake for half the night how loudly the two of you were fucking"
'Sȳndor come here boy, there's someone I want you to meet' I called to him in my mind.
'Coming Kepa' Syndro roared in reply.
"Seven Fucking Hells. He's huge" Ayra swore as Syndro bound over to us. Rubbing his massive snout against me.
"Syndro this is Ayra. Ayra, Syndro" I introduced them.
Syndro turned his green eyes to Arya. "Hold out your hand" Ayra gingerly put her hand forward for him to sniff at.
Syndro turned his massive head behind him. A massive Direwolf was pulling a sled with two people on it. I looked closer at the man on the sled. A man I had known as a boy, who I had seen as a man in my dreams when I was between worlds.
"Bran,"