Runestone 292 AC.
Jon.
He woke up with a start and looked around the room, shocked to see he was in his bedroom and not in the Sept. That he was alone and not with Lord Yohn, and Lord Jon felt strange to him. Moving to his door he found that it was unguarded, unlike the one he'd seen and that Arthur was nowhere to be seen. Sitting down on the bed he began to go over the dream once more, he'd been small, far smaller than he was and he'd moved fast.
The voices were loud and clear and the things they spoke of, he was not Jon Snow but Daeron Targaryen, his father not Eddard Stark but Rhaegar Targaryen and his mother wasn't Arthur's sister but the man he'd thought of as his father's instead. He held his head in his hand and closed his eyes, trying to remember more, king, he wanted him to be king, why? Why him?.
Getting up from the bed he walked to the jug of water and poured himself a mug, drinking it down quickly as he began to pace the room. This was madness wasn't it, Targaryen madness a voice in his head said and he shook it from his mind. It was a dream wasn't it, surely that was all it was. He dressed and walked from the room and snuck out from the keep, the guard not seeing him as he slipped past him. Soon he was walking in the abandoned Sept and it was as if he'd been there before and he knew that he'd not.
"It can't be true, it can't be." he almost shouted his voice echoing around the empty hall.
Sneaking back into the keep he made is way to his uncle's room, though he now knew not whether Arthur truly was his uncle or that he'd been with him for any other reason than an oath to a man he knew nothing about. Knocking on the door he got no answer and so began to knock louder, banging on it with tears in his eyes by the time Arthur actually opened the door.
"Jon, Jon, what's wrong?" Arthur asked.
"Who am I? who? Please the truth, who am I?" he said his voice breaking as he struggled to get the words out.
"Come inside Jon, come inside and I'll answer any question you wish to know." Arthur said and he walked into the room.
Arthur led him to his bed and Jon saw Dawn leaning against the wall, the white blade covered yet he'd recognize the hilt anywhere. After bidding him sit, Arthur pulled out a chair and sat down facing him, looking closely at him before he began to speak.
"Your name is Daeron Targaryen and you are the rightful king." Arthur said and Jon felt himself deflate, almost shrinking into the bed as he looked at the man who'd lied to him all his life.
"Why should I believe you, you're a liar." he said angrily.
"I am and I'd lie again Jon, for you, I'd lie each day until my last one." Arthur said.
"For me, or for Rhaegar Targaryen?" he said not looking up at him as he feared the answer.
"For you Jon, as it's been from the day you were born. I loved your father as much as any man can love a brother and though we were not bound by blood we were by choice. But make no mistake Jon, you are as much my blood as your father ever was." Arthur said and Jon looked at him out of the corner of his eye, his hair covering his face so he couldn't be seen.
"Why lie?" he asked though he knew the truth.
"For your safety, so you'd never be in danger, there are many reasons Jon.".
"Why lie to me?" he said softly.
"I wished to wait until you were older, at least at first, over time I've dreaded this day coming." Arthur said and Jon looked at him unsure what he meant.
"Why?".
"You are my nephew and I am your uncle, that's something I've come to rely on, to think of you as. I feared when you found out the truth you'd never see me like that again." Arthur said looking to the ground.
"I don't understand this, what it is you want of me, what do they want of me?".
"They?" Arthur asked.
"Lord Jon and Lord Yohn." he said and Arthur nodded before looking at him once again.
"Lord Jon wishes to help you take back your throne, your birthright, Lord Yohn only found out tonight. How did you know he knew? How did you know any of this?.".
"I had a dream, no not a dream it was something else. I was small and I saw you all just like I did with Sandor when we found him." Jon said and Arthur looked at him confused.
"Go and try and get some rest Jon, we'll speak on the morrow, you, I and Lord Jon.".
Jon got up and walked to the door before stopping and looking back at Arthur who was sitting in the chair watching him, without thinking he ran towards him and threw his arms around him, feeling him hugging him back tightly.
"You can be my uncle if you wish." he said and felt Arthur shake as he nodded.
"I'd like that very much Jon.".
He spent the night tossing and turning before he fell to sleep, his dreams were of a man with silver hair playing a harp and a dark-haired woman smiling as he did so. Waking up the next morning he dressed and found Sandor waiting for him for their spar, Arthur not turning up for some reason. Jon wondering if that was perhaps because of their conversation the night before.
The third time Sandor knocked him to the ground he heard the laughs behind him and looked to see Robb, Arya, and Sansa standing with Elaena and Ysilla, Arya watching him keenest of all. After standing up and getting ready to go again, he found himself moving quicker, though it didn't stop him from being knocked down once more.
"For fuck's sake will you fucking concentrate." Sandor said and Jon chuckled when he saw the shocked look on Sansa's face, one that soon changed to confused when she saw that neither Elaena nor Ysilla wore the same expression.
"Let's go again." he said but Sandor shook his head and told him to grab something to drink.
"Can I fight?" Arya said and Jon looked at her and smiled, she was his sister, nothing he'd found out could ever change that, could it?.
"Maybe later." he said and she smiled back at him her mouth wide and Jon laughed as he saw the gaps where her teeth hadn't fully grown yet, feeling the hit from her when she saw him and misinterpreted what he was laughing at.
"I wasn't laughing at you Arya, honest." he said and she nodded and giggled when he moved to grab her, running to hide behind Robb.
He was enjoying the day playing in the gardens when his fa...uncle walked into them looking for him. Seeing Arthur behind him Jon knew they'd spoken and that he'd soon be told even more of the truth. Though he didn't feel truly ready for it just now, Elaena noticed the distressed look on his face and he did his best to reassure her that there was nothing wrong.
Knowing he'd failed as he walked away and looked back at her and the others, his friend watching him carefully while his brother and sisters played behind her. Following his uncle to the keep, he walked quietly and could feel that both his uncle and Arthur were looking at him. Neither of them said a word though as he was led to the solar to find Lord Jon sitting there waiting for them.
Runestone 292 AC.
Arthur.
He hadn't slept since Jon left and more than once had thought of going and waking up Eddard or Jon Arryn, having them suffer through the night as he was. Eventually, he decided against it and after dressing he made his way to the Sept and lit a candle to the crone praying for the wisdom to do what was right. He sat there for most of the night and was surprised when he walked outside to find Sandor standing in the courtyard with a mug of ale in his hand.
"I never thought you a pious man Ser Arthur." Sandor said.
"I'm not, usually." he said and looked to the scarred face of the Hound "Take Jon's training for me on the morrow will you, there's something I need to do." he said and Sandor nodded while looking at him strangely as he walked away.
He broke his fast as soon as the kitchens started their day and waited until Lord Jon, Lord Yohn, and Eddard had broken their own. Once they had and the children had gone to play, he walked up to Jon Arryn and asked to speak to him, to him, and to Eddard and made his way to Lord's solar. Lord Yohn asked should he stay and while he had no issue with it, Lord Jon told him it was perhaps for the best if he did not. The Bronze lord leaving them all alone to discuss what needed to be done.
"He knows." he said simply and directly to the point, Eddard staring at him while Jon simply nodded.
"How?" Jon Arryn asked.
"He dreamt it, though it was no dream, what it was I'm not sure but he saw you speak to Lord Yohn and heard it all." Arthur said.
"Dreamt it, what do you mean it wasn't a dream?" Eddard asked confused.
"I don't know how to explain it, he said he was small and he moved quickly, it was strange but I need to speak to Helliweg on that. That's not the important part anyway, he knows and we need to explain it all to him, everything." he said and Jon nodded though Eddard did not.
"He's too young, he's too young to have to deal with this, he should be older." Eddard said and while Arthur agreed it didn't change the facts of things.
"Be that as it may, he knows Ned and we've no choice but to speak to him now, he's a smart lad, clever, he'll understand what he can and can't say but Arthur is right we must speak to him, he needs it explained by us." Jon Arryn said.
"Where is he?" Eddard asked.
"He and Sandor are sparring, leave them be for a while and then we'll fetch him." he said and both men nodded.
They sat and talked more about what it meant that Jon knew and did it really change anything. In one respect it was good that it was out in the open and that he was aware of who he truly was, as the longer they went without telling him, the more upset he would be when he found out. He'd shown last night that while the news upset him, it hadn't devastated him, and Arthur was grateful for that.
Eddard looked to him and he nodded as they went to collect him, Jon playing with his brother and sisters, his cousins in truth. Jon's expression when seeing them made it clear he knew why they'd come and Arthur was unsurprised to see Elaena's concern, both of them having this innate ability to know when the other was upset. By the time they reached the solar he felt his nerves rise and sitting down, he watched as Jon looked to Jon Arryn, to his uncle, and finally to him.
"Jon, Arthur tells us that you found out the truth last night. I'm sure you have questions but before that, there are some things you need to know." Jon Arryn said.
"Your mother and father were in love Jon, they married though none of us knew at the time. By the time we did, it was too late, your father had fallen at the Trident and your mother was not long for the world." Eddard said taking a deep breath.
"What was she like?" Jon asked softly.
"That tales I told you of my sister, Jon, told you of your mother were all true, It just wasn't Ashara I was speaking of." Arthur said.
"You said she was strong and wild and that she stuck up for those weaker than her." Jon said looking to him and then to Eddard.
"Lyanna was all of that Jon, later I'll speak more of her but there is much you must know before then." Eddard said.
"I rose up against your grandfather, Jon, not your father and until I saw you for the first time I believed the tales to be true. By that time though I'd seen my folly, the error I'd made. Robert is not a king and the realm suffers under him and will even more so when Tywin Lannister fully controls the throne." Jon Arryn said.
"So you wish me to replace him? Why? Why me?".
"Not only are you the rightful king." Jon Arryn said and Arthur looked as Jon stared at him with a look of confusion "But we can see it in you, Jon, you're the one person the realm could rally around, the one person who people would look to for a better future.".
"How am I the rightful king, Robert took the throne by right of conquest, did he not?" Jon asked and Arthur found that despite the question he was smirking, the lessons paying off.
"Not only, but we also used his blood ties too Jon, had you been known of then a counsel could have been called and your blood right would have placed his own behind it." Jon Arryn said and Arthur watched as the wheels turned in Jon's head before he shook it and seemed to change his question.
"There is no other way is there? If I say yes then at some point I'll have to go to war won't I?" Jon said and Eddard reached over to touch his shoulder.
"Aye, you would but you'd not be going alone Jon, I, Lord Jon, Arthur, you'll have the Vale and the North and that's just the start." Eddard said.
"But fat…uncle is this what I should do, is it what I'm supposed to do?" Jon asked and Arthur saw how Eddard almost shrunk upon being called uncle.
"I seek you crowned for the realm Jon, I can say that hand on heart and I admit I've not fully thought your own feelings on the matter through. I believe you have a duty, a right to be king and I've sought and will seek to enforce that right, but should it not be what you wish then no one here would force you." Jon Arryn said.
Arthur found himself sitting with bated breath as the silence in the room stretched on, his eyes looked at Jon Arryn's and he saw the man wearing the same expression as he felt he was. Beside him, Eddard too seemed to be in deep thought and he wondered if he hoped for a different answer than the one he and Jon Arryn wished to hear.
"A king's duty is to the people, the realm, not to himself, his wants and desires mean nothing, I read that in a book on the reign of Aegon the Unlikely. The throne means nothing to me and is the last thing I want but what I want doesn't matter, not truly." Jon said as he got up.
Arthur watched as he looked to him and smiled before nodding and looking back to Jon Arryn.
"If I'm to take the throne then I wish to be involved, I won't be a puppet, not to anyone." Jon said.
"No one wishes you to be Jon, no one in this room would ever wish you to be." he said and they looked as he walked from the room.
Runestone 292 AC.
Robb.
He found he liked it here and could see why Jon did, though they were in the south it felt like the north, even despite the fact that there were more knights and protocol seemed more important here. Not that it wasn't in Winterfell either but here it felt as if it mattered far more and even speaking to people felt far more formal most of the time. What really surprised him though was just how far behind Jon he was when it came to the sword.
Jon had always been a bit better and had spent far more time than he had training with Ser Arthur but now it was even more clear. Though he did take comfort in the fact that it wasn't just him that Jon was better than, Waymar, Mychel and Domeric too had all been shown up by his brother. Yet in the last couple of days, Jon seemed distracted, and as they sparred Robb had to pull his strike in order to not hit Jon once more, his hit a few days ago had caused enough concern.
"Dammit Snow pay attention, I may want to beat you but I'd like it to be because I'm better and not because you're off in your head somewhere." he japed and Jon smiled and nodded.
"Very well Stark." Jon said and Robb was soon sorry he'd woken him up from whatever daydream he'd been having as he was soundly beaten.
As they drank their water after the spar and Waymar and Mychel took their places, Robb looked to his brother and saw he was still as distracted as he had been. He was about to ask him if there was something wrong when Arya came running over, their little sister pulling on Jon's leg seemed to jilt his brother from his thoughts.
"Jon, catch me." Arya said running off "Catch me." she shouted back when Jon didn't immediately chase after her.
Robb stood there watching and laughing along as Arya giggled when Jon chased after her, always allowing her to stay just out of his reach. When he did catch her he began tickling her and even from where he was standing he could hear the happy shouts of his sister. Sansa came walking by with Elaena and Ysilla and he immediately went into a more formal lordly pose, his sister had already made her displeasure clear when he'd not done so previously.
"She's a bundle of energy isn't she?" Elaena asked as Robb looked to see Jon laying on the ground and Arya trying to roll him over.
"Aye, underfoot they call her back at Winterfell, always getting into places she shouldn't." Robb said as Arya and Jon began to walk back over to them.
"Underfoot." Ysilla said laughing.
"She's not ladylike." Sansa said almost embarrassed by Arya's behavior.
"Not everyone can be you, Sansa, besides I remember a certain little girl who used to sneak into the kitchens to grab an extra lemon cake while I stood guard." Jon's voice said from behind her.
"Jon, I did not." Sansa said her tone one of exasperation though the smile on her face gave away the fact she wasn't annoyed at all.
"Very well, you did not, I shall inform Lara that we won't be requiring lemon cakes with our meal this evening." Jon said taking Arya's hand and moving to walk away.
"Jon." Sansa exclaimed.
"Sansa." Jon said back before they both began to laugh.
Robb found he had missed this, had missed this both the thoughts of having his brother close by and to have someone else to be a counter to Sansa. With him she always reverted to being the perfect little lady and felt his attempts to lighten the mood or to make her act less formally, to be beneath him as future lord. When Jon did it though he achieved the effect that Robb aimed for and he wished he was around to do it more often.
"So ladies what is your desire for the day?" Jon said as Waymar and Mychel finished their spar and Domeric looked to them to see who would take him on.
"Can we go to the flowers again?" Sansa asked and Arya shook her head.
"Of course, Robb why don't you meet us there, Arya, one, two, three, go." Jon said and Robb chuckled as he watched his brother chase her in the direction of the flower garden.
"Ladies, if you'll excuse me." he said and walked over to face Domeric.
Dinner that night was more awkward than he'd expected, his father seeming to be just like Jon had been, distracted and lost in his thoughts. Jon while trying to listen and talk to everyone would also occasionally seem to be lost in his own head and Robb wondered again had something happened. Though when Lord Jon told them the arrangements for Elaena's nameday celebration and that they would be staying on to help celebrate it, Jon seemed happier than he had been.
He'd teased his brother about Elaena and found him more than ready for him, Jon teasing him back over Ysilla and Robb finding himself unable to respond. It was Sansa who reprimanded him over it, telling him that he shouldn't tease Jon over the possibility of something that couldn't happen. Robb finding himself almost angry with her until he realized that she was right and that she was sticking up for Jon rather than against him.
"If you don't wake up you're going to lose that." Jon said and Robb turned to see Arya eyeing up his desert, finding his appetite not what it had been he handed her the plate and laughed as she wolfed it down.
"That's her third." Jon said and Robb looked to see Arya showing no signs of being full.
"How?" he asked.
"How am I supposed to resist those eyes of her's brother, seriously when did she learn that trick?" Jon asked making him laugh some more. Arya's ability to widen her eyes when she wished for something well known to anyone who'd spent much time with her.
"It's something she figured out Jon, the nameday celebrations are they large?" he asked and Jon nodded as Arya drank down a mug of milk spilling most of it.
"Arya." he heard his mother's voice call out and he moved to wipe her, only for Jon to get there before him.
It took Jon some time to wipe her dry, Arya squirming away until he said something in her ear which made her stop. Once he'd done, Jon turned back to him and told him how they usually held a small celebration in Runestone, and then Lord Jon and Elaena would make their way to the Eyrie for a larger one up there. This time though because of their arrival the celebration would be much larger as Lady Yara would seek to outdo herself Jon told him.
He spent the next few days exploring even more of the lands of the Vale, Jon taking them for a ride outside Runestone and Robb finding he enjoyed it very much. Robb even found himself looking on shocked when Domeric and Jon played the harp together, both of them being very good he thought. Though it was Sansa who seemed most interested in the music and who was the reason they played until their father arrived.
"Jon, can we speak." his father said and Robb had never seen such a look on his face before, Jon's too taking on an odd expression.
"Of course Lord Stark." Jon said and Robb thought him being overly formal but put it down to how things were done in the Vale.
Whatever it was they spoke of he had no idea, though it seemed that what little bit of distance that he'd noticed between them had quickly gone, and by the night of Elaena's Nameday feast it was as if he'd imagined it all.
King's Landing 292 AC.
Varys.
He moved through the city disguised and unrecognizable as always, his destination drawing ever closer. When he reached the house he knocked three times and the woman opened the door, Varys hurriedly moving inside to see Ser Barristan sitting at the table. Giving the disguise the famed knight was wearing then Varys may have been forgiven for laughing, the nature of their business though was far too serious for such a thing.
"Sara, perhaps there is some things you'd like to buy." Varys said handing the woman the small pouch of coins.
"I thank you, you'll see yourself out?" she asked and he nodded and waited until she'd left the room.
Once she had he walked over and grabbed the jug of water pouring out two mugs and handing one to Barristan before taking a drink from his own. Then he sat down and looked at the other man, the two of them joined in an enterprise that should anyone find out about, only one of them would be able to fight his way out of.
"I've received word from a friend in Essos who is willing to speak to me about financing the king." Varys said and Barristan looked at him.
"Financing why?" Barristan asked.
"We'll need coin Ser Barristan, I can cover the cost of my little birds with Lannister gold and Ser Arthur can see the king is set with his prize from Lannisport. The Vale can't support him nor can the North and unless we reach out to the Tyrells, we need coin." Varys said.
"For what?" Barristan asked and Varys sighed, much preferring to deal with men who thought rather than those who fought.
"The loyalists need to be brought up from where Robert cast them down, Velaryon, Celtigar, Darry others are no longer the houses they once were. The North too must be stronger, ships, arms, it must be ready. The Vale is strong enough and won't need much work but we need coin, and until he takes the crown Daeron won't have access to enough of it.".
"Your friend, what does he want for his coin?" Barristan asked.
"A way into Westeros, maybe a seat on the council in the future, we can trust him." he said and Varys nodded.
"Lord Jon?".
"I feel it's best for you to speak to him Ser Barristan, let him know you have his back and I have yours." he said and Barristan nodded.
"And what of you?".
"I'll try and keep the king's excesses down as much as I'm able and my little birds have spread through the west, watching every move Lord Tywin makes.".
"Dorne?" Barristan said looking to him.
"Difficult, Ser Arthur may have helped but I don't know if Dorne is truly ready to join us. Oberyn has begun looking in places we'd rather him not, a visit to Starfall and to a Sept nearby and since then to Essos for some reason or other." Varys said and Barristan got a worried look on his face.
"His temper could be an issue." Barristan said.
"I'd worry more about his brother's, but it could be a problem. I need you to write me a letter Ser Barristan. I intend to visit the Vale and speak to Ser Arthur, it's time he knew I'm no enemy of his." he said.
After leaving the house a while later he soon reached his rooms, placing the letter that Barristan had written in the space in the wall before he washed and dressed and was himself once more. Varys moved through the halls and saw as the Kingslayer entered his sister's chambers, not the last thing of his sister's he'd be entering this night he thought as he tittered.
It was when he got to the Tower of the Hand that he saw him and he again wondered if he should place people to watch the mockingbird more closely. The man was reaching high and doing his utmost to take a position he was unsuited for. It was his closeness with Lady Lysa that concerned him most of all, while he'd not been able to discover if they were intimate, he suspected it, and that placed him far too close to the king. As he watched the man leave he decided that he would indeed put more of his little birds to the task.
"Lord Varys." Littlefinger said as he caught up with him.
"Lord Baelish." he replied.
"His grace was most upset to find that once again the treasury was barely able to cover the cost of the tourney for Princess Myrcella's name day.".
"Was he indeed, I'm sure her grace's family would be more than happy to provide, would they not?".
"They would, but I was wondering if perhaps it's time the crown earned more of its own coin. I have some ideas you see though with Lord Jon not here I can't truly hand them to the king.".
"Perhaps I can help my lord, I'll be meeting his grace later on." he said and the smile he got in return was one he knew to be false.
"If you could mention it to his grace, I'd be most pleased." Littlefinger said and he nodded glad to see the man walk off in the opposite direction.
Yes he would certainly need to keep a closer eye on Littlefinger, he was getting far too close to the small council and at this rate, it would only be a matter of time until he was Master of Coin. Lions and Mockingbirds, he didn't know which was worse. As he made his way to the King's rooms, he readied himself for the noises and smells that would assault his senses when he got there and found they didn't disappoint.
Whore's perfume and spilled wine, roast pig, and sweat, no brothel ever smelt as bad as the king's room did and in the time he had to wait for his audience he felt his stomach turn. While the smell was better than the last one he remembered under Aerys, it was still one he'd prefer not to have to suffer.
"His grace is ready for you." Ser Mandon said and he nodded as he walked in.
The girls were still undressed and asleep on top of the covers and Robert sat at the end of the bed, a mug of something in his hand as he glanced from the dishes to the girls, until he finally turned to look to him.
"What do you want spider?".
"I wish to travel to Essos your grace, word about the Targaryen's has reached me but I don't wish it to be another false trail like last time. I intend to find them and see them for myself before we waste resources on a fruitless chase." he said and saw Robert smile and laugh loudly as he drank a mouthful of wine or ale or whatever was in the mug.
"Found the Dragonspawn did you, good, good, go seek them out, but let me know if it's true and I'll send Stannis to fucking collect them, maybe this time he'll do it right." Robert said and Varys nodded as he turned and walked from the room.
"I will be in touch your grace." he said though he doubted the king even heard him.
He smiled as he walked away though, eager to be away from this city and to see Illyrio once more.
Runestone 292 AC.
Ned.
Seeing Jon with his brothers and sisters gave him some comfort, the fact he saw them as such still being a boon to his heart. That he no longer saw him as his father was clear and that had been hard to take, but it was inevitable and though it had come sooner than he had hoped, he'd been prepared for it. Instead, he'd worried that when Jon found out the truth it was the loss of the rest of his family that would cause the most distress. So as they walked to the Godswood he was ready to thank the gods that it had not.
He'd enjoyed his visit here apart from that revelation, Jon seemed settled in well and Lord Yohn, Lady Yara, and their family seemed to have taken to him well enough. While there was no Weirwood he felt the peace of the Godswood as he took a seat, Jon seeming to find a small area with logs for them to sit at and he wondered if he came him to pray.
"You spend much time here Jon?" he asked.
"Aye, there is a Weirwood a few miles away but I come here when I can.".
"I wish to speak to you on your mother, Jon, to tell you what I knew of her and your father." he said and saw Jon sit up more eagerly.
"Did you know my father?" Jon asked and again he felt that pain in his heart as he shook his head.
"I only saw him at Harrenhal and in the distance on the Trident. I believed the tales Jon, the kidnapping all of it, and after what happened with your uncle and grandfather, the war was inevitable. But I believed it a just one and your father to be the cause of it, I believed that all the way to the Tower of Joy." he said looking out at the trees.
"Where I was born." Jon said softly.
"Aye, we got there and fought, Jon. I didn't know the truth of things and maybe if I had…but that matters not, were it not for Howland Reed I'd have died that day. Ser Gerold and Ser Oswell were good men Jon and they lost their lives as did Martyn Cassel, Theo Wull, Ethan Glover, Mark Ryswell, and Willam Dustin. Remember those names and remember them well Jon, as do I and as does Arthur." he said.
"I will uncle." Jon said and again he felt that pain in his heart and found he couldn't look at his nephew for some time "What happened uncle?".
"I traded blows with Arthur as did Howland, both of us outmatched, and were it not for Howland stopping Arthur's blade I'd have died that day." Ned said a faraway look in his eye as he remembered.
"How?".
"He said your mother wouldn't wish to see her brother dead on the day her son was born." Ned said and Jon looked to him with almost the same look he'd remembered on Arthur's face that day "So Arthur held his blade and we went to see you and your mother.".
"She…she was dying, wasn't she?" Jon said his voice breaking as he spoke.
"She was, nothing could have saved her Jon, you need to know that. It wasn't us fighting, where we were, nothing could have saved her but she fought every minute for just a little more time with you. She fought until she couldn't and then she made us promise to protect you.".
Ned looked away when the sobs came, Jon standing up and walking away not wishing to be comforted or to be seen. It took some time for him to walk back and take a seat once more and when he did Ned was taken aback by the determined look in his eyes.
"Did she wish me to be king?" Jon asked.
"Jon, I..".
"Did she wish me to be king, uncle, is that what she wanted for me?" Jon asked once again.
"Aye, she did." he said softly.
"Are you on my side, uncle?" Jon asked after a few moments.
"Always Jon, always." he said and was caught by surprise when Jon grabbed him in an embrace, his nephew holding him tight as he did so.
They stood there like that for a few moments and then Jon asked him for some time alone, Ned reluctantly walking away. When he got the path back to the keep he saw Arthur and Sandor Clegane, the two men walking toward him. He had wondered about the scarred man since he got here, though each interaction he'd seen of him with Jon had been friendly.
"Is he at the tree?" Arthur asked and Ned nodded.
"Aye, he said he wished to be alone." he said looking from Arthur to the Hound.
"He wishes Sandor to know something." Arthur said and only for the nod he gave him Ned would have rushed back to try and talk his nephew out of it.
As he watched the two men walk back though he wondered if perhaps Jon knew the man better than he did. He hoped so at least and when he entered the courtyard he saw his children playing with the Royces and with Elaena. Looking to his wife and the smile on Cat's face, he wondered if it was time to tell her the truth. He was standing there thinking on this when Jon Arryn walked towards him, his expression one he knew all too well.
"It's not time Ned, not yet." he said and Ned shook his head, his foster father had always been able to read his mind far too easily.
"She needs to know." he said and Jon nodded.
"In time, but not now Ned." he said and Ned looked from Cat to Jon Arryn before nodding and walking away.
Runestone 292 AC.
Elaena.
Her father had agreed to her request and she'd be joining him on his return to King's Landing, Elaena looking forward to meeting her brother. Tonight though it was time for her nameday celebration and so she sat while Marla fixed her hair while Sansa and Ysilla looked on. Thankfully Jon had come by to collect Arya who had thrown a tantrum when Marla had tried to comb her hair, the little girl almost jumping into Jon's arms to get away.
Never before had she ever seen two girls as different as Sansa and Arya, Sansa at almost seven namedays old was a perfect lady, and Arya at three was anything but. That they were sisters was hard to accept though not just because of how they behaved, Sansa's red hair and blue eyes a contrast to Arya's brown and grey ones. Though she was glad to see that both girls seemed to love their brother and she could tell how happy Jon was that they were here.
"All done, Lady Sansa you're next." Marla said and Sansa took her place when she stood up.
Once Ysilla was ready the girls waited for the knock on the door and Waymar, Robb, and Jon stood there waiting to escort them to the feast. She found though she hated the protocol of having Robb escort her while Waymar and Jon escorted their sisters, much preferring their normal celebrations when Jon would lead her to the hall. Once inside they also had to go their separate ways and for the first part of the night, she and Robb would sit the high table.
That Robb both wished to sit with Ysilla and with his brother wasn't lost on her and she found herself looking forward to when the meal ended. The night moved quickly though and she found herself enjoying her favorite dishes and the desserts that followed. When it came time for her gifts she waited expectantly, her father went first and he surprised her with his gift since there was nothing in his hands.
"I'm afraid my gift can't be given to you in this room my little Eyas, but she's outside in the stables, you may have seen her earlier?" her father said and Elaena looked at him to see if he was jesting.
"The black?" she asked hopefully
"The black, she's all yours Sweetling, I hope you and she have many fine rides together." her father said and she found herself laughing when he kissed her cheek.
She'd seen the filly earlier and had hoped that it was for her, Ysilla telling her that it must be, though she'd tried not to think too much on it just in case. The next gift she got was from Lord Yohn and Lady Yara and it was clear that they'd known, as she was given a fine saddle and stirrups. Then came Ysilla who gifted her some fabrics and Waymar who got her a book on her family.
Elaena was surprised when Sansa gave her a beautiful handkerchief and when Lord Stark and Lady Stark gave her a sewing kit. When she saw Jon come towards her she wondered what gift he'd gotten her, happy to see the small locket with the engraved falcon on it's front. The rest of the night was spent dancing and after Robb and Waymar, she found herself and Jon together on the floor.
"Have you enjoyed your night?" he asked as they moved and she nodded.
"Very much so, thank you for my gift." she said getting a smile from Jon as they moved.
"Did you speak to your father?" he asked.
"I did, once we've visited the Eyrie I'll be going to King's Landing with him, spending some time there with my brother before coming back.".
"I'm so happy for you, though I'll miss you when you're gone." he said and she looked to him ready to say the same thing only for Jon to continue speaking "Luckily I'll be away at the same time so it won't be so bad.".
"Where are you going?" she asked curiously, having had no idea he'd planned a trip.
"I'm to head North for a little bit, I should be back when you return." he said and she nodded happily at that.
They had just finished the dance when he turned to her and pointed to the locket, smiling as he held it between his fingers.
"Oh just so you know, this isn't just an ordinary locket." he said smirking.
"I had hoped not, I deserve a special locket do I not?" she said with a giggle.
"You do, but this one has powers, it's a protective locket, works against the scariest thing in the whole world." he said almost whispering.
"You don't mean?" she said playing along knowing what he was going to say.
"Aye, the dreaded scary fish, this locket provides protection against the scary fish, if she sees it she'll swim away as fast as she can." Jon said and her giggles were full laughs now.
"So I've nothing to fear from my time in King's Landing then?."
"Nothing but the smell, I'm sorry my lady but I can offer no protection from that." he said as they moved to the table.
"And here I thought you a true knight." she said laughing as he pulled out her seat.
"I shall endeavor to be truer in the future Lady Elaena." he said and she nodded when he took his own seat.
The next day she readied to head to the Eyrie, eager to get the trip over with and to make the journey to King's Landing. It was a strange feeling for her as usually when she went to the seat of her father she felt excited and looked forward to that alone. Her father would hold some meetings while they would stay there and Elaena as his heir would stay for some of them.
Now though with a brother, that would no longer be her life, and she began to wonder what other changes that would bring to her and her father's time together. Would he still come back for her nameday's as he always did and would he still visit as much as usual?. After saying her goodbyes to Ysilla, Jon, Waymar, and the Starks, they took to the carriage. Elaena a little upset both at not being able to ride her mare and at the thoughts that this may be the last visit that her father really spent this much time with her.
It was clearly something that showed too as though her father didn't say anything about it on the ride to the Gates of the Moon, he did once they arrived there. Asking her to come and join him in the garden before they ate that night. Elaena walked nervously from the keep, her mind not allowing her to think straight. So by the time her father turned to her, she'd convinced herself that it wasn't her upset that was the reason to speak, but her father instead was about to confirm all her fears.
"Elaena, what's wrong sweetling?" her father asked.
"Nothing father." she said hoping that would be enough to dissuade her father from giving her the terrible news.
"Elaena, I can see something has you upset, please tell me." her father's voice and expression full of concern.
"I, with Robert I just…will this mean our times together will be lessened, that you won't come as much?" she asked worriedly.
"What? Of course not, Elaena look at me, look at me, my sweet little Eyas." her father said reaching out to turn her to face him "Nothing will ever stop me coming to visit you, our time together is precious to me sweetling, the most precious time in the world. Do you believe me?".
"I do." she said softly as her father hugged her tight.
"I love you Elaena, your brother or no one changes that, no one could ever change that." he whispered in her ear and Elaena felt herself just wishing they could stay there forever.
Runestone 292 AC.
Jon.
Since the truth had been confirmed to him, Jon had tried to act normally but found he was unable to. At times he could put on a decent mummery and only if you looked closely would you know he was elsewhere in his head, but at other times the mummery too would fail. Sandor had surprisingly been the first one to pick up on it and because of that, Jon knew that he couldn't hide this secret from him for long.
Elaena too had noticed though his friend was going through her own inner turmoil and for once he'd not been able to help her through it. He had tried but whether it was his own distractions or that this was just something she needed to do on her own, Jon hadn't been able to help much. It was when he spoke to Arthur about Sandor that he had found out something else which turned his concerns to excitement.
"I think I need to tell him, Arthur, it's either that or send him away and I don't want him to go." he said and Arthur looked at him.
"Sandor is a good man Jon, far better than people know, while normally I'd counsel you to wait on this I think you're right, he has to know and whatever reaction he may have, we can trust him on this." Arthur said and Jon smiled.
"I need to speak to my uncle also and to Lord Jon." he said and Arthur nodded.
"There is someone else, Jon, someone I think you need to see. Aemon Targaryen, your granduncle many times over." Arthur said and Jon looked to him in shock.
"I thought there was only my aunt and uncle, the ones in Essos?".
"No there is another, he's Maester at the wall, Howland told me next time we go North we should go see him, says he has something for you." Arthur said.
It had preyed on Jon's mind ever since he had told him, he had an uncle at the wall. So after arranging to speak to Sandor and then being led away by his uncle, he had begun to form a plan in his head. Now though he needed to tell Sandor the truth and he looked nervously to Arthur when he walked into the Godswood with Sandor. Arthur looking at him with a look which told him he was doing the right thing and Jon felt himself stand a little straighter.
"You wanted to see me?" Sandor said gruffly and Jon couldn't help but chuckle, no matter the circumstances take Sandor from his daily routine and he'd be grumpy.
"I did, I learned something about myself, about my mother and it changes things, changes who I am and what I need to do." Jon said and Sandor smirked.
"He told you that you're a Targaryen then? "Sandor said shocking both of them.
"You knew?" Arthur asked.
"I suspected, your sister was a beauty from all I've heard Arthur but still no woman makes Stark break a damn oath and your eyes and his." he said pointing to Jon "Aren't as alike as you think."
"You got it from that?" Jon asked stunned.
"There are other things too, uncle or no, there's no way he protects you how he does just because you're his nephew, you're more than that to him. That and if Stark isn't your father then who is, it could be the wild wolf but then why lie? No, you're the she wolf's child and that means your father can only be Rhaegar Targaryen." Sandor said.
"How long have you suspected?" Arthur asked.
"Since you asked me to stay." Sandor said looking to Jon.
"I..I'm going for it, the throne Sandor, I'm going to take back what was taken from my family, I..will you help?" Jon asked nervously.
"Aye, I'll help, I'm not fucking calling you, your grace though." Sandor said and was it any other man Jon would have hugged him for longer than he did, Sandor looking at him as if he was mad forcing him to let go much sooner "Next time you do that I'll knock you on your fucking arse." Sandor said when Jon let him go, Jon laughing as they walked from the Godswood.
He asked to meet with his uncle and Lord Jon that night and was pleased to see Lord Yohn had decided to come also. Once he sat down in the room he looked to the Lord of Runestone and saw him nod back at him. Arthur had explained to him that Lord Yohn would help but had not committed to back him for king and Jon could understand that. The lord was an honorable man and plotting to overthrow a king was, no matter the rights and wrongs of it, a dishonorable act.
"I need to go North, my uncle is at the wall and I wish to speak to him." Jon said and it was his other uncle who looked at him.
"Benjen may not be there Jon, you'd need to arrange it ahead of time to ensure he's not on a ranging." his uncle said and Jon felt his embarrassment rise as he'd forgotten about his other uncle altogether.
"I wasn't speaking of uncle Benjen, I have another uncle at the wall, an uncle from my father's side, Aemon Targaryen." he said and both his uncle and Lord Jon looked to him and to Arthur.
"Aemon Targaryen?" Lord Jon asked.
"Aemon son of Maeker and brother of Aegon the unlikely, he's the Maester at Castle Black." Jon said and it was clear that none of the others apart from Arthur knew this.
"Gods he must be nearly a hundred namedays old." Lord Yohn said.
"Aye, which means I need to go now while I can, it can't be put off." Jon said and Arthur spoke before anyone could object.
"Howland told me the next time we go north I should take Jon to his uncle, that he has something for him." Arthur said and Jon looked as his uncle looked to Arthur and nodded.
"You could come back with us, take the ship from White Harbor to Eastwatch and then ride from there to Castle Black." his uncle said.
"Aye, that seems the best of it, you'll need guards, more even than Arthur and the Hound." Lord Jon said and he nodded.
They made the arrangements before Lord Jon had left to head to the Eyrie, Jon said his goodbyes first to the Lord and then to Elaena. Both of them hoping that they'd find what it was they were looking for on their respective journeys and that they'd arrive back at the same time, so they didn't miss each other too much. When he told his brother and sisters that he'd be traveling with them to White Harbor, they'd been more than happy.
Though it was when he told Waymar that things got odd, his friend getting a strange look in his face and one that Jon didn't find out the truth of until they were readying to leave.
"I'm coming with you." Waymar said when Jon was packing.
"What, Why?" he asked.
"I told father I wished to see it for myself, that with you and Arthur going along with guards, I could go with you and see if that really is the life I wish for." Waymar said.
"You told me that you had no wish to go to the wall." Jon said almost accusingly.
"I don't, you set me right on it Jon, it's not the life I wish but it's still, I wish to see it, so I'll not regret my choice." Waymar said and Jon laughed.
"I'm glad you're coming." he said and Waymar nodded before he rushed off to do his own packing.
Ysilla was upset to see everyone go, not just Elaena, but he and Waymar too and Sansa who she'd become quite friendly with. Lord Yohn wished him well and then spoke at length to Arthur and the captain of the guard he was sending with Waymar, before speaking to his son. While Lady Yara told them both to wrap up warm and not get into any mischief or stray from their guards.
The ride to Gulltown was one filled with excitement for him, Jon laughing with Waymar and Robb, riding close to the carriage so he could speak to Arya and Sansa and annoying Sandor when he could. They didn't spend any time in Gulltown at all, instead heading straight to the ship and within a couple of hours, they were setting sail. Jon trying to picture the wall and looking forward to seeing his uncles, both of them but especially Aemon Targaryen.
He had always been interested in Targaryen history, even before he knew he was one, since finding out he'd been even keener. But books could only tell someone so much and Arthur while knowing of his own time had never really cared for the stories that much. Oh, he'd tell him of the Anvil and the Hammer or Bloodraven and Daeron, or the Dragonknight. But there was much more to his family than those men and Jon looked forward to learning it all. To embracing who he was and who he needed to be, and becoming what he was born to be. It was time to be the dragon he was born as, to be the king he the realm needed him to be.
A/N: Please forgive the absence of updates the past couple of weeks, other commitments forced me to place this on hold for a bit, to make up for it there will be a new chapter next week and the week after before it reverts back to it's normal every two week update schedule. Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. Up Next Elaena meets her brother, Jon meets his uncle and gets more than a history lesson and in Essos Varys meets with Illyrio to garner his support.
Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it.
Zyrus: It's kinda difficult not to accept him as not simply based on looks, hell even in canon when he went through checking for Robert's bastards and figured it out with Cersei he didn't put two and two together with Robin. It's combination of trying for so long and then finally Lysa delivering a child, after a number of miscarriages you'd kinda just be so grateful that she delivered that the questions may not come up.
Darthmaine: LF is the father, Jon not so much notices something is off it's more that with Elaena he has all his heart poured into her and so it creates a bit of a disconnect with Robin, we'll see if that means anything later on.
Guest: So glad you're liking it, with Jon A it's a little bit more complicated in that he loves Elaena and he's not feeling that with Robin, for now he's putting that down to not feeling for Lysa how he did for Elaena's mother, we'll see if over time he sees more.
Mugen: So glad you liked it.
Arianna: We'll see, here there's a large chance of it than canon as he has someone to compare him to.
Silentmayhem: Yes it's true as father he has more power in that society as lord too, but remember so did Ned and look what he did. In canon Jon Arryn planning to foster Robin is why Lysa killed him, that's what led to his death, nothing else. But we'll see if the addition of Elaena changes things. In canon I think Varys knew all about LF but he figured it helped his plans, here he knows some but not all and we'll see if he figures it out and if he manages to do anything with that. Cat knowing of Jon's leaving changed the dynamic and so there's not that animosity there, it changes things a lot. Sandor if you get him truly with you is as loyal as they come.
ATP: It makes no sense for Jon's arc for him to wish to crown anyone else, if he's he rightful king then why would he seek to crown Renly or anyone else? In terms of the makeup, yes, easy victory put Jon with Marge and you bring the Tyrell's on side and that in some ways may be their plans here, but events dictate things and I've got a Jon/Marge story, it doesn't need to be easy. Renly had the Tyrells and he would have lost even had Stannis not killed him off. Varys is on their side here btw.
Lady Octarina: Lol, I with Sandor here it was a little in reaction to Dany in TDC I have to admit. That's one of the things, in canon he's both so happy to have an heir and has nothing to compare Robin to that even when he investigates Robert's kids, it never hits him. We'll see here if things work out the same. It is that with both of them yes, something is going to click to move it from the subconscious to the conscious, but for now both of them know but can't accept it.
Bella: We'll see if he does just that, he has something to compare it to and someone to carry forward his line so we'll see.
Tony Warrior: Exactamente, la parte fácil es Avengers Assemble, la parte difícil es derribar a Thanos.
Mrspotter: He is yes we'll see if that gets found out this time.
Xand007: Thank you my friend: I always get the impression with LF and it's something no one ever truly sees a problem with, but he has no feeling for his son at all, like he wants him dead basically. Sandor is fully on board now, you too stay safe.
Raul: Jon A will live to at least canon timeline, after that I don't know, not sure if Willas will be with Sansa here, but perhaps. Dorne are checking out leads and we'll see Oberyn in a little bit.
Rhagar: It kinda is, I think it's because we all see it, the logic of it and it annoys the hell out of that Ned Stark the bestest lord ever according to the books never did. Here it'll be a bit different though with how he prepares the North. Well I can't say anything about Steamrolling but what I will say is that logistically Jon will have big issue here.
One of the things I find different with them just winning is if you prep the war right then Jon as a targ wins, he has the North, should be able to take the Reach with a Marge match and the Riverlands and loyalists. Given the odds against him, a fractured Stormlands and the West, Jon should win easily, hell Robb almost won with just the North, so you add in dragons and there really is no true conflict tbh. Like we saw with Dany in season 8 As BS as it was, they make a big deal about her forces, take them away from her with her allies and then she basically kicks arse in minutes because of one Dragon.
Here I hope to make it more interesting due to odds. Sandor is different for one major reason, the Mountain's fall. Yes he's coarse and he'll go a certain way in that but you remove the Mountain form the equation and you get a different Sandor, it's the biggest change you could possibly give his character.
Lord Stark: It could well have been Ned, though it could too have been Cat looking through all the Stark names and picking the one most unlike a Stark too, I'd say Ned named Arya and Rickon. It's hard to do full Dunk and Egg for a couple of reasons, Egg was never meant to be king and Dunk not his KG and the travel. Don't see why anyone calling their father papa is a thing, she's young here and she's calling him father now, but sometimes it can be a term of endearment more than the formality.
Varys is not involved in Blackfyres here.
Guest: One of the things is that how much time does he actually spend with her, like here he already doesn't like spending time with her. So you get a Jon A who's when in KL basically spending all his time doing his job, here he's got two, one Hand to Robert and two plot to put Jon on the throne.
Some guys kinda just want that peaceful life and so there's that too, so for a time at least Jon A would be like, yeah sit with her at meals or when I need to and ignore her all the rest of the time. Now if you then get an inkling that something is off, say you begin to question your son's paternity then it becomes a thing, but without the interest in the first place, the simple truth is that he probably wouldn't care. Lysa isn't prancing about with LF and Jon had no clue that LF was who she had slept with years earlier so for some time at least he wouldn't notice or care, then perhaps he would.
I'm a bit Oberyn fan, I have no problem with his hot headedness nor his anger, it's just would that anger be directed at Jon? I can see a case for a yes and no for it. With Doran as you say the line is how to bring him in, but we have to remember that Doran was also working on his own plot and how would that affect things. He had planned to marry Quentyn to Dany and Vis to Arianne, that gives him more than what Jon could offer him, so what does he do?.
Same with the Tyrell's, Marge as queen was their goal, knowing of Jon and Elaena would they seek to remove Elaena from the equation?. We'll see how they navigate these waters very soon, we're not too far from another little time jump and that will bring some big changes to things.
