Author Note: I don't own Game of Thrones or any characters. I only own the story's plot and a few characters, which are my own.

Summary: Sickened by what happened to Elia Martell and her children at the hands of Tywin Lannister's men. Ned comes to hate the man he thought of as a brother. Promising Lyanna on her deathbed to protect her son Aelyx Targaryen from Robert. Ned Stark plots to put his nephew Aelyx Targaryen, the rightful king, on the throne with a little help from his mother.

Prologue

Winterfell, the North

281 AC.

His family, well, what remained of his family, stood in the courtyard of Winterfell waiting for him and his men, who had returned to Winterfell after a year away, fighting to bring justice for the murders of Rickard Stark and Brandon 'the Wild Wolf' Stark.

The Rebellion had taken three of his close family, cousins, and uncles on his mother's side. House Flint is without a male heir now. Wars and sickness had plagued the main branch of House Flint of Breakstone Hill.

Accompanying Ned on the ride back north were Lord Howland Reed, Lord of Greywater Watch, Lord William Dunstin, Lord of Barrowtown, Ethan Glover, Theo Wull, Martyn Cassel, and Ser Mark Ryswell. The Three Kingsguards, who had guarded Lyanna at the Tower of Joy.

Former Lord Commander: Ser Gerold Hightower, also known as the White Bull, Ser Oswell Whent, 'the Bat', and the Sword of the Morning himself, Ser Arthur Dayne. The loss of Ashara was still fresh for both Arthur and him.

It was not just Ashara they lost, but a son for Ned and a nephew for Arthur. Both she and the babe died on the birthing bed. His son had died before he drew his first breath. Ned felt a part of himself had possibly died with them.

Ned turned his attention to those waiting in the courtyard for them. His new bride, Catelyn Tully, stood with a bundle in her arms. Their firstborn son, Robb, is named for Robert. A waste of a name for his firstborn.

He should have a Stark name, not be named for that bastard. Robert Baratheon, at one point, had been like a brother to him. Ned understood that things happened in war. But the brutal slaying of Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaenys, along with the rape and dismemberment of Elia Martell.

The sight of the three bodies had made Ned's blood run cold. His call for justice for those responsible for these heinous crimes fell on deaf ears.

'They must be punished, Robert. You can't allow this injustice to go unpunished. Elia Martell and her children were innocent.' Ned had argued.

'Innocent, do you remember what her husband did to your sister? The woman I loved. He kidnapped and raped her. What about her good father? The Mad King, what about what he did to your father and brother? They are not innocent children; I only see Dragon Spawn.' Robert hissed.

It was at that moment that Ned saw Robert Baratheon for who he truly was. Ned had thought he had known Robert; they had been the best of friends for years, having fostered with Jon Arryn during that time. Perhaps he had never known him.

Ned left King's Landing with his men early the next morning. Heading for Dorne to find Lyanna and bring her home. He would not allow that bastard anywhere near Lyanna.

By the time they got to the Tower of Joy, it was almost too late. Lyanna was dying from a birthing fever.

'Promise me, Ned. You will protect him. You know what Robert will do if he finds out Lyanna never lived long enough to tell Ned the name of his nephew.

"She called him Aelyx. Aelyx Targaryen." Arthur Dayne told him, holding the rightful king in his arms.

"What will you do now? Dragonstone has fallen. Queen Rhaella was found dead in her bed. Childbirth, they said. Ser Willem Darry took Prince Viserys and the babe across the Narrow Seas."

"Our prince wanted us here to protect the princess and the babe. With Princess Lyanna, Princess Elia, Prince Rhaegar, and their children are now gone. Aelyx is Rhaegar's sole surviving son. We go where our King goes." Ser Oswell Whent sometimes called the Bat, answered.

"Lord Stark, what will you do with your nephew? He has a better claim for the Iron Throne than Robert Baratheon," Ser Mark Ryswell questioned.

"We will bid our time till the time is right. My nephew is the rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms, not Robert Baratheon. There was a pact made during the Dance of the Dragons between House Stark and House Targaryen.

The Pact of Fire and Ice. Aelyx is the son of Fire and Ice. It was said that Aegon I foresaw the end of the world. A Great Darkness. We all remember tales of Long Night. From my blood comes the Prince that was Promised and he will be the song of Ice and Fire.

The Prince that was Promised will bring the Dawn. Aelyx is possible that Prince. My father had a saying. The Lone Wolf dies but the Pack Survives. I don't know about prophecy or anything like that.

But I will do right by Nephew and protect him. I ask you all, as true Northerners, to swear before the Old Gods not to breathe a word of this—what has happened in Dorne. The fewer people who know who my nephew really is till the time comes is my first concern."

"What will you do with your nephew?"

"I will name him my bastard nephew. Brandon loved women and fucked plenty of women between The Wall and Harrenhal. His mother could be Ashara. With your blessing, Ser Arthur. I don't want to besmirch your sister's memory." Ned turned to the Sword of the Morning.

"We could say his name is Jon Snow. He was conceived during the tournament at Harrenhal. Ashara died in childbirth. It's known how my sister died, and a babe died with her. We could say it was twins. Jon was the only babe to survive."

"Lord Stark Winterfell is yours," Benjen bowed. Gods his brother had grown so much in almost a year.

"My Lord, would you like to meet our son Robb?" Catelyn came forth with their son in her arms. Ned couldn't help but think of him and Ashara's son when he looked at baby Robb.

His lady mother looked no different, only a little older. Lyarra Flint-Stark was tall for a woman, standing 5'9. Perhaps it was to do with the giant's blood that House Flint is supposed to have. His grandfather, Rodrik Flint, was seven and a half feet tall, some people said. Brandon had inherited his mother's height.

He was the tallest of all four Stark children. Standing at an impressive 6'7. Ned was considerably tall, standing 6'3. Lyanna and Benjen were on the shorter side. Standing 5'6 and 5'9 at the moment.

Benjen when he was fully grown would be 6 foot.

Baby Aelyx cried from behind Ned in Wyall's arms. "Who's babe is that?" Catelyn turned those ice-cold blue eyes of hers to his gray brown

"My nephew, Jon Snow, is Brandon's natural-born son with Ashara Dayne," Ned answered.

"It's time for Robb's next feed. if you will excuse me." Catelyn scurried back to the Keep. Her reaction would have been worse if Ned had named Jon as his bastard son.

"Son, do you have Lyanna's bones with you?" Lyarra turned to her oldest living son.

"Aye, there any in my saddlebags? Is her tomb ready?"

"Yes. The stone mason is putting the finishing touches on it," Benjen answered.

The remaining Starks, along with the Three Knights, Wyall, and baby Aelyx, went to the Crypts to lay Lyanna to rest with her brother and father.

"Now the truth, Ned. Why are three former Kingsgaruds of the Mad King here? And is that Brandon's son or not?" Lyarra questioned.

"Jon's real name is Aelyx. Aelyx Targaryen is Lyanna's son with Rhaegar Targaryen. According to Ser Gerold, Oswell, and Arthur, the three of them—Rhaegar, Elia, and Lyanna—fell in love at Harrenhal and wed on the Isle of Faces before both the New and Old Gods.

As Rhaegar's sole surviving son. He is the rightful heir to the throne, not Robert Fucking Baratheon." Ned spat Robert's name with such contempt and venom. Lyarra and Benjen both wondered what had happened between Robert and Ned to fall out so badly.

"You plan to put him on the throne?" Lyarra questioned.

"Aye, I do at that. As much as I would love to raise him here alongside Robb, I can't, for fear of what Catelyn would do. Even if he is raised as Brandon's bastard son, she will see him as a threat. I will not subject him to that kind of treatment.

What if you and Benjen took him to Breakstone Hill and raised him there? Grandfather is without an heir and is not getting any younger at sixty and one name day. Jon could take the Flint name.

If Aelyx is to take back what is his by right. He will need to be ready for the battles and wars to come. Ser Gerold, Ser Oswell, and Ser Arthur will go with you. In the meantime, I will make plans to strengthen the North.

Father was right about wanting to strengthen the North, but marriages to Southern Houses didn't go far enough. If the North is to stand behind Aelyx to press his claim for the throne, we need to be ready for the wars to come. This was left with Lyanna as well." Ned pulled a dragon's egg out of a sack he'd carried with Lyanna's bones.

'Blood Raven smiled. The Quiet Wolf would learn to play the Game of Thrones. It's always the quiet ones you must watch out for. The stags and lions would rule for now. But dragons would return and take back what's theirs'