Jon Snow

292 AC

Barrowlands

After cresting the last hill I looked out to where the Barrow River emptied into the saltpeter. The river had grown in strength and emptied into the waters of the sea. I could see seagulls flying in the air with pelicans as they search for fish. The grassy hills turn into a plain at the mouth of the river as a cove is perfect for a future set of docks and a town on the eastern side. On the western side I could see the tower standing on a hill overlooking the river. What I did not expect was the small rocky island out into middle of the bay. It would be a perfect spot for a fort to secure the Harbour. I could create a triangle defensive positions to cover each other to make impossible for the ironborn to raid me in the future.

I heard the hoof beats as I turned in my saddle towards the noise to find Rob and Lord Eddard cresting the hill in front of ten guardsmen with Jory at their lead. My Uncle's face was filled with a dour frown most likely at the fact I left them in the dust racing for the first view of my future home. But, before he could say anything Rob spoke up, "I swear you are half horse Jon. The way you ride is like nothing I have ever seen."

I couldn't but laugh at the words with a smile before I answered, "It is in our blood. Aunt Lyanna was half horse as well. Perhaps I just take after her."

The flinch from Lord Stark was not seen by others but one of the guardsmen an old man named Jakob added, "Aye that she was lad. The Lady Stark rode like no other I have ever seen. I swear the lady could out race the birds in the sky. The Old Gods watch over her."

I couldn't help but smile for the old man which was returned by the grey beard with a toothless smile. But before I could nudge for more information Lord Stark spoke up, "What do you think Jon?"

"It is beautiful. Thank you father for allowing us to come for my name-day present." I added back to him with a grin. "I can almost see it all in before me built up. A walled city here on the eastern shore with a small keep and a set of docks filled with trading cogs and ships of war to protect the North. I see walls of black stone around the city to protect her and buildings of Stark-stone filling the small city. Men and women of the North going back and forth together and trade flourishing."

I paused a moment as I looked out over the future Harbour with a smile, "The set of rocks out there holding a small fort to protect bay with metal chains that can be raised to protect Harbour and both sides of the river from the ironborn scum." I fell silent after the last few words came out in almost a growl. My dislike for the scum of the isles showing.

I shook my head and turned to look at Robb with a grin. "What do you think future Lord Stark?"

I received a bright smile back to me from Robb as he answered, "You forgot the Stark banners flying over top the small keep that protects the Blazewater Bay."

"It seems you have a plan for the future Jon. Just remember a man doesn't walk the full kings road in a day but instead travels it step by step." Some days I started to believe my Uncle had more sayings then Sun Tsu.

I bowed my head respectfully to him, "Yes Father."

We turned our horses and rode down to the edge of the water. The lands here were a mix of sandy near the mouth of the river and rocky along the other shores. I could see salmon trying to swim upstream for the river. Sea lions swam on some of the rocks out into the bay their honking back and forth mixed with the sounds of pelicans and seagulls.

The river was swift and could be useful for water mills for blast furnaces. The hills could be used for wind mills to grind the grain that would come from the farms in my lands. The land was harsh but more temperate then further North and far more fertile. I should be able to encourage crops to grow here. I had plans already for crop rotations and harness plows. The land was plentiful with small streams and I could irrigate the crop lands. If I was smart I could perhaps turn my lands into the breadbasket of the north. I may never have yields as great as the Reach but I bet I could put yield some Riverlands houses.

The barrows we road past were huge hills. Some of them may contain useful ores. While I may never become a bastion of mining ores but if I could get my furnaces going the city could be used to refine the metal from the mountain clans to the North and even ship from here to the Riverlands.

I smiled as I looked upon where I wanted to place my keep in the future and I could see a giant field of winter roses. Their blue colors beautiful as the field drew the eye as the sun hit it. It was almost a sign from my mother of her blessing for the choice of location. I turned to my Uncle and pointed at the field, "Right there is where I want the keep to be Uncle."

I knew at once he saw where I pointed as a smile lit up his face. A almost wistful look filled his eyes of the past. After a few minutes she turned to look at me with a sad smile. "I think that might be a good place Jon."

--

Eddard Stark

293 AC

Winterfell

When Eddard Stark looked back on his life he had to consider himself blessed. He had lost plenty in the rebellion from friends to family. He had suffered greatly and it was partly how he became the man he was today. But he had also prospered. He had become the Lord of Winterfell and Protector of the North for his good friend.

Before the war his prospects had been a small keep in the North or Stormlands and maybe a marriage to a lady if he was lucky. But now he had a large family that he loved. He was blessed with a beautiful wife that he adored. He had three children of his own that he wanted to spend every moment seeing them grow.

Robb was becoming an heir to be proud of. He was diligent with his studies and kind to everyone. He would be an honorable lord of the North.

Sansa was a little lady like her mother. Her bright auburn hair of her mother and pretty blue eyes could get her anything she wished from him. She was his little princess and part of his heart was tugged every time he saw her.

His youngest, Bran he would see become a good Lord and support his older brother. He had already planned to sent a request to Robert to be returned the gift. He could be develop those lands for agriculture as they so of the most fertile in the North. He had not asked for much at the end of the last war but favors in the future now he called on those favors for Bran and Jon.

Jon or Daemon was a mystery to him. The boy almost seemed to have lit a fire under himself as soon as he knew his heritage. Before the boy was kind and quiet. He had studied and worked hard but always was more of a shadow to Robb.

Now Jon was different. He worked himself to the bone whether in the yard with practice swords and footwork or learning from the maester. Since he learned his parentage the boy was different. He had asked him why he was pushing himself so hard and was proud of the answer. 'My mother died to bring me into this world. You sacrificed your honor to give me a chance at life. Why would I not do everything in my power to give meaning to your sacrifices?'

It was those words more than anything else made him sure it was the correct choice to get the boy named a Stark. Lyanna would have wanted it. She wanted the boy to have a safe and happy life. Here away from the crown Jon had the chance to have a happy life.

The boy had come up with suggestions to help out. The idea of this wet stone he had named Starkstone was amazing. He had seen it put into practice already by the boy as he created a stone path on the outskirts of Wintertown. The liquid stone was also used by the boy to create blocks to be made into a building. The boy had suggested ironing the Starkstone to create a new grain storage building that was cylinder called a silo. In addition Jon wanted to use the material to build walls for his future town and keep in the Barrowlands. He had even requested to split the cost of a road with his new Starkstone from Winterfell to his future keep.

Eddard let out a sigh as he leaned back into his chair and sipped his ale. He glanced at the letter he had received from Lord Manderly. The man had offered to let his son take Jon as a squire. At first he was going to decline as the North doesn't need knights it was not their way but Jon despite being named a Stark by Robert some would still look down on him. If he became a knight it would be good for him. Plus it would mean the boy would be sent to White Harbour sooner. It would give the boy a chance to see a bit of the world.

The decision made Ned signed off on a letter and put it to the side to send back to Lord Manderly. He would let his nephew become a knight. Plus it would give more time for him to put the Barrowlands in order. He was not certain what Lady Dustin may have been doing with the lands since the death of her husband but with the lowered taxes for years it did not seem like much was accomplished.

Now the first thing he would do would send tax collectors there to review the books along with surveyors to see what his nephew might have to work with in the future.

--

Jon Stark

293 AC

Winterfell

I couldn't help but feel a sense of regret as I looked around the inner yard of the keep of Winterfell one last time. The place had grown on me for the past year and a half. It had truly become home and I knew that I would miss it.

I was sitting on one of the walls looking down on the massive courtyard. It was early in the morning as the light was just starting to peak over the horizon and fill the courtyard. I had to say this land was harsh but beautiful.

As I took a deep breath to air so clean you could never imagine it in my home world I had to wonder how it was so pristine. My family has ruled the North for eight thousand years supposedly but they have never progressed past the Middle Ages. Was it magic that kept things without the progress or was something else in effect to stop it? For gods sakes the Romans had concrete and now it took a nine year old to figure out how to recreate it.

That wasn't even talking about the guitar in my lap. It took my six months working with a carpenter in Wintertown to create the guitar. It took longer to get the strings correct and finally tune it correctly. But it was worth it.

It had become a favorite time to sit up here in the early morning when almost nobody was out and strum songs from my home. I figured if I did not work on them I would eventually forget them. There was already holes in my memory for faces and places from my home.

One thing I was grateful to my father of this word was for his voice. In my old world I could make a dog cry in pain but here?

"Hey Jude, don't make it bad.

Take a sad song and make it better.

Remember to let her into your heart,

Then you can start to make it better.

Hey Jude, don't be afraid.

You were made to go out and get her.

The minute you let her under your skin,

Then you begin to make it better.

And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain,

Don't carry the world upon your shoulders.

For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool

By making his world a little colder.

Hey Jude, don't let me down."

"You have found her, now go and get her.

Remember to let her into your heart,

Then you can start to make it better."

"So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin,

You're waiting for someone to perform with.

And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do,

The movement you need is on your shoulder.

Hey Jude, don't make it bad.

Take a sad song and make it better.

Remember to let her under your skin,

Then you'll begin to make it

Better better better better better better, oh.

Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude..."

I had to pause as I heard clapping and turned to find my Uncle leaning against the wall next to me. A smile across his face "I never heard a song like that. From your dreams?"

The nod was automatic as was the smile,"I think it was from Old Valyria. The words I changed to the common tongue but I thought it was nice.Do you think Sansa would like it to be sung to her when I return?"

"I think by then she will love bee big brother to sing it to her." Said the Lord of the North as he stepped forward to sit down with his legs hanging down to watch the courtyard starting to wake with movement with me. "I know all of us will miss you Jon but this is an opportunity for you."

"I know father. I wanted this myself. Just I will miss each of you also." I couldn't help a smile as I looked back to him.

He reached down and strummed my guitar a few times with his large fingers. The keys were not close to being correct."White Harbour is not far. I am sure you will visit. Are you packed?"

"Yes Father, everything is ready to go when everyone has broken their fast and the party is ready to set out." I gave a nod and strummed my fingertips

"Good. I am sure Lord Manderly and Sir Wendel will take good care of you. You must be on your best behavior at all times there." My Uncle started to speak in his Lord Stark tone setting expectations for me.

"Yea Sir. I give my word I will be on my best behavior." I said with a smile. "I must be to learn to become a knight. Maybe someday I can take Bran as a squire and get him a knighthood as well."

Eddard smiled back at me for my words but the smile disappeared as he became serious, "I am certain they will take you to far off locations including Bravos. You must be careful Jon. Nobody can learn who you truly are. If that were to happen..."

"I know Father. I give you my word I will not speak of it to anyone. I have no intention to let that secret spread and harm come to my kin. I give you my oath as a Stark to Winterfell. None shall know till perhaps my wife someday. I don't think a silver haired granddaughter for you would be easy to explain in the far future." I have a grin and wink at the man.

"No grandchildren for a long time to come. You and I are far too young." Eddard shot back with a smile. "Come let's go break our fast before everyone is there waiting for us."

I stood up and looked back over the walls at eh wilderness out there and the beauty of it as the morning sun cleared away the fog. I let out a sigh and smiled. "This land is too beautiful."

"That it is son." I felt the rough hand of Eddard give a squeeze to my shoulder then steer me away to the keep and breakfast.

author note: first I changed the last chapter to give Jon the full seat of House Dustin. Bran will get the Moat which is more prestigious. I pushed up Jon going to foster and squire. Sorry for a slow chapter sorta a filler one to set up a bit for this story. It might be slow at first but I promise date will screw with Jon in the future.