Chapter 1
*288 AC*
Robb grabbed Jon and Sansa's hands and dragged them across the keep of their home of Winterfell until they stood outside Old Nan's room. Robb looked at his brother and little sister with excitement. The children of Ned Stark loved hearing stories about myths of the North. The Starks had ruled the North for nearly 8,000 years dating back to the house founder, Bran the Builder. Up until 288 years prior every previous Stark was a King of Winter but Torrhen Stark the King who knelt, swore fealty to Aegon the Conqueror to save his people from the ruin of dragon fire.
Their Father Lord Stark always said that their ancestor Torrhen made the smart decision because a ruler must always put his people before himself. His father stressed that they would better understand when they were older. The children knocked on the door and after a moment it slowly creaked open and behind the door was a woman who looked close to dead. No one in Winterfell was entirely sure what her age was but everyone knew that Old Nan was by far the oldest living person in Winterfell.
Old Nan had little hair left on her head and that which was there was nothing more than white strands falling around her shoulders. Her eyes were a dull gray, but they spoke of wisdom from her long years. She measured up the children and smiled, only showing a few teeth in her mouth.
She chuckled softly and said, "I take it you children want some stories to be told before bed?"
Robb eagerly responded with, "Yes! Please Old Nan, we want you to tell us about the Long Night again and plus Sansa has never heard the tale."
Jon and Sansa both nodded along with excitement showing in their gray and blue eyes respectively. Old Nan gestured to them to come inside, and the children gathered around her bed, and all took seats on the ground. Old Nan slowly trotted over to sit on the edge of her bed.
Old Nan began the story, "Long ago there was a time when Giants and children of the forest lived throughout the lands of the North. They clashed for land with the First Men and the First Men emerged victoriously sending the giants and children further north. For many years there was peace until a winter came like none before it. The sun would never shine, and the ground would be frozen for years. Snow buried the lands relentlessly and people froze to death in the thousands. The sturdy First men weary but strong braved the winter praying for spring but it was not to be. A race of evil from the Lands of Always Winter marched South to claim the lives of all Men and gain dominion over the lands. They were led by the Great Other and his army of white walkers and wights. They tore through the race of men like hot knifes into butter. All seemed lost until your ancestor Bran the Builder made a pact of alliance with the children of the forest and clans of giants to battle their enemies together. Enemies of enemies can become friends with the right incentive. The dawn was in sight and the never-ending winter was approaching a close. The Night King commanded a final push against the allied armies of good unleashing a legion of ice spiders and undead creatures never seen by man before. The new assault caused the armies of the First men to falter, and they began to be pushed back. Their defeat was in sight. That was until a loud booming horn echoed across the land. All stopped for a moment in confusion. They say even the Night King paused with bewilderment on its face. No one is quite sure where they came from but the time for questions was later. A massive army in the thousands comprised entirely of dwarves with beautiful armour and weapons that glowed a pale white. They rode mighty boars bred for war and carried swords, war hammers, and axes. Their calvary charge smashed into the army of the undead and with the help of this unexpected ally the First men, children, and giants began to overwhelm their enemy. The Night King and his army were pushed further North from whence they came and were never seen from again. The War for the Dawn was won."
Old Nan paused to catch her beath and grabbed a cup of water off her nightstand. Robb, Jon, and Sansa all sat awestruck by the story told.
Jon wanting to know more asked, "What happened to the dwarves?"
Old Nan responded, "The legends say that they stayed around for a time and became good friends with Bran the Builder and taught him a lot of their craft. They may have even aided in building Winterfell and the Wall. At a certain point, no one knows when they simply vanished once again. The tales say they were mountain people who built great cities deep down into the ground. Maybe they still live deep underneath their mountains just waiting for the right day to revel themselves once more."
Sansa started giggling and asked Old Nan to tell a story about some knights saving a damsel in distress. Robb and Jon were noticeably less interested in the new southern stories but listened along, nonetheless. Jon eventually began to tune out Old Nan and thought about the dwarves. He wondered if they had bastards and what it would be like to be a dwarven bastard. Old Nan had mentioned before that the dwarves from the legends were nothing like dwarves the world knows today.
They were a separate race entirely not just stunted men. Jon blissfully daydreamed long through the rest of the stories about him riding to war to save everyone from the undead. Jon may be young be he was no craven and knew if the opportunity presented itself, he would gladly fight for the innocent.
The few times his Uncle Benjen, a sworn brother of the Night's watch came to visit, he was mesmerized by the sacred duty and honor of the Nights Watch. A place where even a bastard like himself could rise high and make a name for himself. Jon may be 7 years old, but they say bastards grow up faster than others. He wasn't blind nor deaf and he observed how people whispered about him behind his back.
There was also the hatred that his Lord Father's wife, Lady Stark, showed him anytime she looked at him. Yes, Jon was young still, but he was old enough to know he truly had no place at Winterfell and it was only through the kindness of his father that he was allowed to grow up inside the keep of Winterfell with his half-siblings. One day that kindness may run out and he would have to fend for himself. Become a brother of the Nights Watch or the childish part of him thought that he could go on an adventure for some dwarves. Jon smiled to himself and began to follow his half-siblings out the room and to his bed.