Disclaimer: I do not own Elder Scrolls or A Song of Ice and Fire. All rights belong to their respective owners.
Chapter 13
The Wall 297 AC
The morning light fell on the imposing structure of the Wall, making it look like a majestic column of white stone. At its base stood Castle Black, a pseudo-castle without walls to the east, west, or south, filled with buildings and towers connected by underground passages. In one of these towers, known as the «Lord Commander's Tower», a meeting was taking place between three people.
Inside the tower, in the Lord Commander's quarters of the Night's Watch, was the room where the meeting was held. Seated around the table was Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, also known as «The Old Bear». At sixty-nine years old, Jeor had lost much of his hair, though he still had a thick white beard. He wore the black attire characteristic of all the brothers of his order.
Next to him was the maester of Castle Black, Aemon, a man who secretly belonged to the ancient royal dynasty of Westeros: Aemon Targaryen, son of one king and brother of another. Over a hundred years old, Aemon was born in 198 AC as the third son of King Maekar I and was sent to the Citadel to become a maester. After years of study, he earned the title and served faithfully until his father's death triggered succession problems. A Great Council chose his younger brother, Aegon, as king under the name Aegon V. To avoid being used in plots against his beloved brother, Aemon decided to join the Night's Watch. With his advanced age, Aemon was bald, wrinkled, and hunched; his blind eyes were as white as milk.
The third participant was Benjen Stark, First Ranger of the Watch and responsible for the defense of the Wall. Benjen, younger brother of Eddard Stark, was about thirty years old, with sharp features and blue-gray eyes. Like the other brothers, he was dressed entirely in black.
"You seem gloomier than usual, brother Benjen." Aemon commented, noticing the somber tone in the First Ranger's voice.
"It's just the usual sadness, maester." Benjen replied with a hint of melancholy.
"Of course, not knowing anything about a family member is terrible." Aemon said with understanding. Like Benjen, Aemon also carried the sadness of not knowing anything about his relatives in exile in Essos. At Castle Black, everyone knew that Benjen's nephew, Jon, seemed to have reappeared after being presumed dead, but he had not yet visited his family, which worried Benjen.
Jeor sighed before speaking. "As delicate as the topic is, we must stop talking about family and focus on what is happening in the castle."
The two members of the Watch nodded. As much as the uncertainty about their loved ones weighed on them, duty came first.
"Stark, how are the new members of the rangers doing?" Jeor asked, addressing Benjen.
"They're doing well, especially young Waymar Royce. Although he's young, he shows leadership potential; however, he needs to learn not to be so arrogant and to listen to the advice of the order's veterans."
"I see. Although I'd like to discipline him, I'm afraid doing so would anger his father, and we'd lose one of the few allies the Watch still has in the Vale." Jeor commented with frustration. The Night's Watch depended on its few friends to ensure the supply of resources.
"The order loses members and allies in the south every year. I'm afraid that in less than a decade, only the North will help us; the rest of Westeros seems to have forgotten us." Aemon added with a tone of anger and frustration.
The other two men remained silent. They knew that was the harsh reality. Of all the regions of Westeros, only the North remembered the Night's Watch; the rest seemed to have forgotten them.
Jeor, noticing his companions' silence, was about to speak, but before he could say anything, a raven flew in through the window. It was larger than usual, with small black eyes and large dark wings. It began to fly in circles in the room while cawing: "Wolf! Star! Wolf! Star!"
The raven's words were strange and disturbing.
"This is odd. This raven doesn't usually repeat the same words so much." Benjen commented as he watched it.
"It's an unusual raven, brother Benjen." Aemon added. "It prefers grains to meat."
The Old Bear stood up from his chair, took some corn from a nearby plate, and held it out in his palm, hoping the raven would come down to eat and be quiet. However, to his surprise, the raven did not descend and continued cawing in the air.
"Wolf! Star! Wolf! Star!"
"Damned animal, stop cawing!" Jeor shouted, losing his patience.
At that moment, the door to the room opened, and an agitated black brother entered the room.
"Lord Commander!" exclaimed the man, who appeared to be about thirty years old, with black hair and green eyes.
"Catch your breath first, Kenneth. Then tell me, why are you so agitated?"
Kenneth was a brother who had joined only a few months ago but had proven to be a more than decent warrior, earning him a place among the rangers.
"A large caravan is approaching from the south." Kenneth replied after catching his breath.
"A large caravan?" Benjen asked, rising from his chair.
"It's strange. Supplies from the North don't usually arrive for another two or three months." Aemon noted, somewhat puzzled.
"Kenneth, stay here with the maester. Stark, come with me. Let's see what's happening." Jeor ordered, taking his cloak and then a longsword.
Benjen did the same as his Lord Commander and, sword in hand, followed him, leaving Kenneth with Maester Aemon.
Both black brothers quickly covered the distance between the tower and the gate. Upon arrival, they saw that, at the top of the gate, there was a small oak wood structure for defense and surveillance, where several men were gathered.
Without understanding why some brothers were there, the two leaders of the Night's Watch entered the battlements. There they saw about ten men: three rangers and seven recruits in training.
"What are some recruits doing here, Ser Alliser?" Jeor asked the castle's master-at-arms.
Alliser Thorne turned, revealing his sharp-featured face of about fifty years. His eyes were dark as onyx, and his gaze was hard. His hair, black with gray streaks, matched his impeccable black attire, polished boots, and a fur-trimmed cloak.
"Lord Commander. First Ranger." Thorne responded firmly.
"Answer my question, Thorne."
"I brought the recruits in case help is needed." Alliser replied.
Although Benjen and Jeor didn't fully believe him, they decided not to argue. They approached the battlement opening to see. The approaching caravan consisted of about fifty wagons, each pulled by a single horse. However, only the first wagon had a driver.
'How can he guide fifty wagons without help?' Jeor wondered, surprised. Upon closer examination, he confirmed that the driver was alone.
While Jeor tried to understand how one man could manage so many wagons, Benjen watched the driver with suspicion, as he couldn't see his face, hidden by a hood. He wore black wool pants, leather boots of the same color, and a brown tunic cinched with a belt from which a sheathed dagger hung. His cloak was made of brown bear fur, and the fur hood concealed his face.
"Stranger, what brings you to Castle Black?!" Jeor shouted.
The driver, sitting on the wagon, brought a hand to his mouth and, after a long, sharp whistle, replied:
"I'm just a traveler coming to visit a relative!" His voice, clear and youthful, revealed that he wasn't very old.
Jeor and Benjen exchanged a look upon hearing the response.
"Who is your relative?!" Benjen shouted, watching the young man.
The young man didn't respond immediately, remaining silent until a white blur approached the wagon. The horses stirred slightly, but none bolted.
Benjen's eyes widened as he saw the approaching creature: a large wolf. With each step the animal took, Benjen's breathing grew heavier. Finally, when the wolf stopped beside the young man, he removed his hood, revealing a face very similar to his brother Ned's, but much more attractive. Although the wolf was already a clear sign of the young man's identity, it was his purple eyes that confirmed it.
"Jon…" Benjen whispered, loud enough for Jeor to hear.
The Old Bear's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting to see Eddard Stark's prodigal son.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, Uncle Benjen?" Jon asked with a smile on his face.
The Lord Commander of the Night's Watch watched from his tower's balcony as the brothers of Castle Black went back and forth, transporting the caravan's supplies.
"Marsh, what has Benjen Stark's nephew brought us?" Jeor asked, stopping his observation of the courtyard and turning his attention to the mentioned Marsh.
Bowen Marsh, a man with a body as round as a pomegranate, was the Lord Steward of the Night's Watch and thus responsible for the order's vital functions, such as obtaining supplies.
"Many things, Lord Commander." Marsh replied.
Jeor's expectant look made it clear he wanted more details.
Swallowing, Bowen continued. "To be more specific, he has brought us fifteen wagons full of high-quality iron. Enough for all the brothers in the castle to have two complete sets of steel plate armor with their respective weapons. And if we use it for chainmail, we could equip the entire order with new armor."
The Old Bear's eyes widened in surprise; he didn't expect such an amount of iron in just fifteen wagons.
"Apart from that, ten wagons are filled with barrels of wine and beer, enough to supply us for about three months, even if we drank non-stop."
A smile appeared on Jeor's face upon hearing that. It would be good for the brothers to enjoy good drinks occasionally, to make their lives more bearable.
"The rest of the wagons are filled with salted meats and fish, along with sacks of wheat flour and some assorted vegetables."
Jeor's smile widened; he could finally enjoy good food.
"Lastly, we'll keep all the wagons and almost all the horses. The First Ranger's nephew will use one to travel to Eastwatch, where he will leave it."
With those words, Bowen concluded the report on the supplies brought by Jon Snow.
Jeor nodded and, satisfied, headed to a chair to sit, knowing there were still a couple of hours before his meeting with young Snow.
While Jeor Mormont was receiving information about what Jon had brought, in a separate room, uncle and nephew were conversing. When Benjen Stark saw that the young man who had arrived with a caravan was his prodigal nephew, he ordered the gates to be opened. As the caravan entered, he and Jon shared a strong embrace as soon as Jon got off the wagon. Then, Jon presented himself to the Lord Commander and explained that the goods in the caravan were a gift for the Watch.
After this, Benjen asked his Lord Commander for a place to talk with his nephew. The Old Bear agreed, mentioning that he also wanted to speak with Jon, to which the young man agreed, as he himself wished to converse with Jeor about something.
Both Starks were seated, looking at each other. Jon, who had come alone, saw his uncle in one of the rooms of Castle Black. His friends were waiting for him at Eastwatch, aboard the «StarWolf». When he told them he planned to go to Castle Black, they all asked why, to which he responded by talking about the vision he had had.
Flashback
The crew of the «StarWolf» was gathered in the navigation room, discussing. The reason: Jon's desire to go to Castle Black to talk to the Lord Commander and his uncle, to confirm certain things.
"You can't be serious, Jon!" Grenn shouted. "You want to go to the same place where they betrayed and stabbed you?!"
"Grenn is right, Jon! It doesn't matter if you saw a vision of something marching towards that place, that's no excuse for you to go!" Pyp exclaimed.
Jon, along with Edd and Sam, remained silent.
"Grenn, Pyp, I know you're upset, but it's something I have to do." Jon said firmly, sending a shiver down both their spines.
"Jon is right, but first, let's calm down." Samwell intervened, trying to mediate so the situation wouldn't escalate.
"Sam is right. We need to calm down and think clearly. We can't lose sight of our goals just because of visions of a possible future." Edd said, surprisingly calm and mature.
Grenn and Pyp looked at Edd, surprised by his calm and serious tone.
The atmosphere relaxed enough for everyone to speak more calmly.
"So, Sam, what have you discovered about those words I told you?" Jon asked, looking at his friend.
"It's a prophecy, Jon. One that mentions several historical events that have already happened." Sam replied, looking at the paper where he had written down what Jon told him about the vision. "'When the empire of dragons falls due to its ambition.' clearly refers to the Valyrian Empire and its curse. The next phrase, 'when the dynasty of dragons loses its throne.' is a reference to Robert's Rebellion, when the Targaryens lost the throne. Then, 'when the stag dies and a bleeding star streaks across the sky.' I fear it might refer to the death of King Robert or some family member of his in the future. 'When five crowns fight in rivers of blood'… seems to speak of a war of succession or independence. And finally, 'when the cold gods return and the fate of humanity rests on the last apprentice of the last son of the Lord of Dragons'… I don't know how to interpret it fully, although 'the cold gods' is an ancient expression used to refer to the 'Others.' the enemies against whom the Wall was built."
"So, to know more about these cold gods, we should look for information at the Wall, right?" Jon asked.
Sam nodded.
"But aren't the 'Others' supposed to be just stories to scare children?" Pyp asked, with a touch of fear in his voice.
"Are you really going to deny their existence after what we saw in that floating tower?" Jon replied.
"Heh, heh, heh… well, if we see it that way, then those things must be real." Pyp responded with an awkward smile while scratching his neck.
"I don't understand why we need to worry about this now." Grenn commented. "We can leave it for later, right? When we finish Edzard's task."
Pyp nodded, relieved to avoid the Wall, as no one in their right mind would want to return to the place where they knew they had died in an alternate future.
"I have to go. Although this may happen in the future, it's better to warn them and even leave them some provisions. That way, if this happens soon, they'll be prepared to fight and prevent those creatures from reaching the south." Jon said.
End flashback
After that, they headed to Braavos, where they bought a large number of provisions. They used part of the fortune they had found in the tower, as upon leaving, Pyp discovered a secret door where they found piles of gold, jewels, and other valuable items. After putting everything in their enchanted bags, they left with a great haul. Almost everything was distributed among them, who deposited most of it and kept some for personal use. The undistributed part was used to buy two galleys that would transport the horses and wagons with provisions for the Night's Watch. They also donated the two galleys to the order.
Jon's thoughts were interrupted when his uncle asked him a question.
"Sorry, Uncle Benjen. I didn't hear you, what did you ask me?"
The First Ranger sighed and repeated the question. "Where did you get the money to buy everything you gave to the Watch, Jon?"
Jon smiled and calmly replied. "I got it on my travels."
Benjen raised an eyebrow, expecting Jon to give more details.
"Tell me something, Uncle. Have you been to Winterfell recently?"
"Yes, I went shortly after Robb's Name Day."
"I see… Did he like my gift?" Jon asked with curiosity.
"Like it? No, he loved it. He named that sword «Frost»." Benjen replied with a smile, remembering how his nephew had shown him the sword, a true beauty.
"I'm glad to hear that."
"By the way, Jon. Why haven't you returned to Winterfell?" Benjen asked seriously.
Jon looked at his uncle and felt a pang of sadness seeing the melancholy in his eyes.
"It's not the right time to return yet." Jon replied, with a hint of regret.
The First Ranger looked at his nephew with pity, sensing that it truly pained him not to be able to return.
"Why can't you go back, Jon? Is it because of Catelyn?" Benjen asked.
"No, no. It's for another reason." Jon quickly responded, uncomfortable with the cold tone his uncle used when mentioning his brother's wife.
"What is that reason?"
Jon sighed before answering. "Alright, uncle, I'll tell you… but swear by the new gods and the old that you won't tell anyone."
Benjen looked at him with concern, noting the weight of Jon's words. After a moment of thought, he nodded.
Seeing that his uncle had agreed, Jon began to recount his mission, where he had been, and who had raised him.
"Valyria…" Benjen murmured as he brought his hand to his forehead, astonished. What Jon had told him left him speechless. His nephew had been living beyond the Wall, in the lands where he himself used to hunt wildlings. But the most astonishing thing was that Jon could use magic. At first, Benjen didn't believe him, but Jon demonstrated it by using a spell on his direwolf, making it shrink in size until it looked like a puppy.
"Yes, the place I must go to at the end of this journey is one of the most dangerous in the world."
"A part of me wants to scream at you not to do it, but another part, the one that has seen things beyond the Wall, tells me that what you're doing will save the world from monsters." Benjen said, shuddering as he spoke.
Jon felt curious hearing his uncle mention having seen things beyond the Wall. He didn't know exactly what, but whatever it was, it had been enough to make a veteran ranger like him shudder. Unfortunately, when he tried to ask him, the door opened, and a black brother informed them that the Old Bear wanted to speak with Jon in the maester's chambers.
Jon rose from his chair, nodded, and asked his uncle to go with him, as the First Ranger should also be present.
The old maester's room was just below the raven colony, giving it a subtle smell of droppings. Although three of those present didn't seem bothered by it, the fourth felt uncomfortable.
'There are days I hate having enhanced senses.' Jon thought. Sometimes he wished he didn't have such sharp smell and hearing, especially when he picked up unpleasant odors more intensely than others. It also caused problems when passing by brothels, where the noises irritated him. But overall, his enhanced senses were useful, especially for avoiding ambushes.
Jon was seated at the table with the old maester, the Lord Commander, and his uncle. The meeting hadn't been going on for long, and Jon had already asked about the state of the Watch. The answer he received was not encouraging: the Night's Watch was falling apart. There were no longer enough men to fulfill their duties, and they only subsisted thanks to gifts from the North, as the southerners had forgotten them.
"I see…" Jon said after listening to the old maester. He had introduced himself as Aemon, but Jon, thanks to Sam, had discovered something peculiar. Sam, while transcribing a very worn book about the current maesters and their stations, had found that the maester's full name was Aemon Targaryen. Knowing that there was a Targaryen, a descendant of Edzard's forty traitorous apprentices, in front of him made Jon want to kill him for a moment. However, he decided not to; the old man was already on the brink of death, and the Stranger would soon take him.
"Yes, I'm afraid the Watch is no longer what it used to be. But thanks to your generous gift, we can survive a while longer." Jeor Mormont said, drinking some beer from one of the barrels Jon had brought.
"Indeed, it's not common to see such generosity outside of the northerners, especially from House Stark." the maester added in a soft voice.
"It's the least I could do, after all, you are the ones who protect the realm of men against what lies beyond the Wall."
The way Jon said this surprised both Jeor and the old maester, who detected no mockery in his words, only respect.
"It's refreshing to know that there are still those who believe in the nobility of our mission." Aemon commented with a smile.
Jon looked at him and decided it was time to address the reason he had come.
"Uncle, I know you're the First Ranger, the one who spends the most time outside Castle Black. What have you seen beyond the Wall?"
Benjen and Jeor looked at each other. The seriousness in Jon's voice unsettled them. Finally, with Jeor's approval, Benjen began to recount what he had seen. "Reports have come in of wildling villages completely abandoned. There have also been tribes that have disappeared without a trace."
Jon gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath. Then, he took out a paper and handed it to the Lord Commander.
"What is this, boy?" Jeor asked, looking at the document in confusion.
"Uncle Benjen, do you remember you asked me where I got the money for everything I brought?" Jon asked, earning a nod from his uncle. "All of that was thanks to some treasures I found in the Thousand Islands."
The eyes of the three present widened in surprise; they hadn't expected that response.
"The Thousand Islands…? How did you get to that place, young man?" Maester Aemon asked, astonished.
"On my ship, the «StarWolf»." Jon replied.
The answer brought a smile to the old man, who saw in Jon certain parallels with a great sailor from Westeros's past.
"It seems you're trying to emulate Lord Corlys Velaryon." Aemon commented, making a clear reference to the voyages of "The Sea Snake."
Jon smiled at the comparison to one of his heroes, as he admired Corlys Velaryon for his adventurous spirit. However, he knew that was the only similarity he would share with the legendary navigator, as he would not marry a Targaryen princess.
"Unfortunately, my parallels with 'The Sea Snake' end there. My final destination is not Yi Ti or any Free City; no, my final destination is a place only a madman would dare to go." Jon said enigmatically.
Jon's response made Benjen shudder, as he knew his nephew planned to go to Valyria.
"I see… but what does this paper and what's written on it have to do with the Thousand Islands?" the Old Bear asked.
"When I was there with my friends, we discovered a mural with some inscriptions. Luckily, one of my companions was an acolyte at the Citadel and is a very learned person who reads a lot, so he was able to decipher what it said, as it was written in High Valyrian." Jon lied, not wanting to mention anything about magic.
"Something from Valyria in such a remote place?" Aemon commented curiously. "Lord Commander, could you read what it says?"
Jeor Mormont looked at the maester and, without delay, began to read the contents of the sheet. When he finished, both he and Benjen Stark were as pale as snow.
"This… this is a prophecy, no doubt." Aemon declared, with a look of sorrow.
"A prophecy?" Jeor asked, intrigued.
"Yes, a prophecy that seems to have been unfolding for over three hundred years." Aemon replied.
"Why do you believe that, Maester Aemon?" Benjen asked.
"The first two lines have already come true. The first refers to the Doom of Valyria; the second, to Robert's Rebellion." the maester explained, his voice hardening at the mention of the rebellion.
Aemon's words left the room in tense silence.
"The last part, which speaks of the 'cold gods.' is a clear reference to the 'Others.'" Jon added, capturing everyone's attention.
"Are you sure, Jon?" Benjen asked with concern, remembering that his nephew had shown him he could do magic, which made the threat of the 'Others' more real.
"My friend, the one who translated this, confirmed it." Jon replied, then directed his gaze to the old maester. "What do you think, Maester Aemon?"
The old man remained silent for a few moments before responding. "I'm afraid the reference is real. In some texts, the 'Others' are called 'cold gods.'"
The Old Bear looked at Jon and finally understood why he, the bastard son of Ned Stark, known as the «Wandering Wolf» among the northerners, had come to the Wall instead of returning to Winterfell. Rising from his chair, Jeor Mormont looked at him intently and asked clearly. "You came here to show us this prophecy because you believe those things are going to return, right?"
"That's right." Jon replied firmly. "If it's true that those creatures are going to return, the Night's Watch is the first shield of humanity. If they fall, the entire world will succumb afterward."
To reinforce his point, Jon raised his right index finger. "What I'm saying may sound like magic or superstition, but magic is returning to the world. Lord Commander, I want what I'm about to show you to stay in this room. I don't want to attract the attention of fanatics."
The Old Bear frowned but nodded.
With a quick gesture, Jon made a small flame appear at the tip of his finger, which then transformed into a tiny lightning bolt.
Jeor Mormont's eyes widened in astonishment. Never in his life had he expected to see real magic. Beside him, the old maester shuddered. Although he couldn't see what was happening, he had heard the sound of the lightning, and adding up the facts, he understood that the young man could use magic. If magic was returning, it meant the 'Others' could also return.
The Lord Commander looked at Jon again and, seeing his composure and bearing, thought he had the potential to be a great leader… Too bad he wouldn't join the Watch. Sighing, he handed the letter to Benjen.
"Stark, take this letter to your brother. Tell him his own son brought it to the Wall. Have his maester look for information in Winterfell's library; there are books there that even the Citadel doesn't possess. And, if possible, have him send us some financial aid. I'm afraid we'll need to rebuild parts of the castle and check the sealed tunnels of other forts to prevent possible infiltrations. In the meantime, I'll send Ser Waymar Royce to explore beyond the Wall."
Benjen nodded.
"Ser Jon Snow." the Lord Commander continued. "I know it's not much, but from what you've told and shown us, it's more than enough proof to concern me. If magic is returning, it's possible they are too. So, as long as I live, I'll do everything in my power to prepare the Watch for what's coming."
The «StarWolf» sailed the Shivering Sea, heading south. It had been less than fifteen minutes since it left from Eastwatch by the Sea, one of the three castles under the control of the Night's Watch. Jon, with his hands firmly gripping the helm, pondered over his last conversation with his uncle Benjen. He had said goodbye to him on the same day Benjen left for Winterfell, taking with him several gifts for his brothers and father. Jon had prepared them in advance, knowing that his uncle might have to travel to Winterfell after his visit to the Wall. During that last conversation, Jon had asked for permission to tell his father about his travels, although he had made him promise to keep everything related to magic a secret.
Flashback
"It seems this is goodbye, Jon." Benjen said with a sad smile.
Jon looked at him with a similar expression before responding. "No, uncle, it's not goodbye. It's just a see you later."
The First Ranger nodded and hugged his nephew, who returned the gesture. As they parted, Jon handed him two objects: a silver ring and a necklace that looked like a wolf's fang.
"What is this?" Benjen asked.
"They are two gifts. The first is an enchanted ring that will speed up your healing ability. The second is a unique necklace. If one day, during an expedition beyond the Wall, you need help, there is a tribe near where the Frostfangs meet the Haunted Forest. There lives a woman with blonde hair and pale gray eyes. Show her this necklace, and she will know you are coming from me. She will surely help you."
Benjen smiled upon hearing this, noting the soft tone Jon used when mentioning the woman. It seemed Jon had found love, or something similar.
"Understood, Jon." Benjen replied with a smile.
Jon smiled in return and, without further delay, said goodbye to his uncle. Both had different paths to follow.
End flashback
Remembering that farewell, Jon thought about the packages he had in his personal room, which the old maester Aemon had given him. The maester had asked him to stay a little longer after the conversation they had with his uncle Benjen and the Lord Commander.
Flashback
Jon saw the old maester sitting in front of him, his gaze fixed on the weakened body of the man.
"Thank you for staying and agreeing to share a room with an old man who seems you don't want to see." Aemon said, surprising Jon.
"What do you mean, maester?"
"You don't need to lie, young man. My old eyes may no longer see, but I can feel your gaze fixed on me." Aemon replied as he settled into his chair. "Moreover, my being feels uncomfortable in your presence. I feel sadness and shame, as if I had caused you a great affront."
The maester's words made Jon reflect, not understanding how the old man could feel something like that just by being near him. A part of Jon thought it might be due to what his family had done to the Starks, but he quickly dismissed that idea, as that affront wouldn't mark someone who didn't participate in it. After thinking for a while, Jon concluded that Aemon's discomfort must be related to the actions of his own ancestor, who betrayed his master.
'It seems the old man is paying for his ancestor's misdeeds with these emotions.' Jon thought as he stood up.
"Tell me something, Maester Aemon Targaryen." Jon said, surprising the old man, who didn't understand how Jon knew his true name.
"How do you know my full name?"
"I mentioned it before. I have a friend who was an acolyte at the Citadel, and while he was there, he was asked to transcribe a book with the names of all the active maesters and their locations. To his surprise, he found your name: a Targaryen in Westeros. He researched the history books and discovered that you are the son of King Maekar and Lady Dyanna Dayne, which, interestingly, makes us distant relatives."
The old maester's eyes filled with sadness upon hearing the word 'relative.' as his mind filled with memories of the last members of his house. Turning his blind gaze to Jon, Aemon decided to make a request.
"Young Jon, do you think you could do an old and dying dragon a favor?"
Jon saw him in silence for a moment. Part of him wanted to refuse, but another, filled with sentimentality, convinced him to accept, as it could be the last request of an old man. With a silent sigh, he responded:
"If it is within my power to do so, I will."
Aemon smiled, and taking his blackthorn staff, he stood up and began to move around the room. To Jon's surprise, the maester navigated the room without bumping into anything.
"Young Jon, can you come here for a moment?" Aemon asked from a corner of the room.
Jon got up from his chair and, walking towards him, saw that the maester was near a wall. Looking at it more closely, he noticed that one of the bricks was not properly secured.
"I see… you want me to remove that brick to take out what you've hidden, right?"
The maester's eyes widened in surprise at Jon's keen observation. A soft laugh escaped his lips; he understood that the young man's feeling was on another level.
"Heh, heh… Yes, young Jon. I need you to take out the two packages that are in there."
Without wasting time, Jon easily removed the brick and, reaching into the hole, took out a small chest. He then replaced the brick.
"In that chest are two relics of my house." Aemon said, fixing his blind gaze on Jon.
Jon easily broke the chest's lock. Upon opening it, he saw that inside was a bed of red velvet, though already moth-eaten by time. On it rested a one-handed longsword, sheathed in a red leather scabbard with gold details. The pommel was shaped like a golden flame, and the guard was designed like dragon wings, also golden, with a large ruby in the center. Jon lifted the sword with his right hand and, unsheathing it, discovered a blade of Valyrian steel.
"Valyrian steel sword…" Jon murmured, admiring the blade.
"Indeed, that is «Dark Sister»." the old man confirmed.
"The second sword owned by the Targaryen family." Jon interrupted in amazement, aware of holding such a legendary weapon in his hands. Without taking his eyes off the sword, he looked at Maester Aemon. "How is this sword here?"
"When I came to the Wall after my brother's coronation, I was accompanied by Brynden Rivers, one of Aegon IV's four great bastards. He was the bearer of this sword and used it wisely until one day, before leaving on an expedition beyond the Wall, he came and gave it to me. He didn't explain why he was giving it to me, but along with the sword, he gave me something else. Move the cloth in which the sword was wrapped, and you'll see."
Jon sheathed «Dark Sister» and, placing it aside, did as the maester instructed. He carefully lifted the worn velvet cloth and what he found underneath chilled his blood: in the middle of the chest was an egg-shaped rock with a scale pattern.
Trembling, Jon reached out and touched the rock, surprised to feel warmth beneath his skin.
"It's warm." Jon commented, drawing the old maester's attention.
Aemon was surprised to hear that. He had always thought the egg, the same one Brynden had recovered at the Whitehall tournament in two hundred twelve AC, had completely petrified and would never hatch. However, the young Stark claimed the egg still emanated heat. That revelation gave him a spark of hope. Approaching Jon, Aemon gently touched his shoulder and asked:
"I know my house has committed crimes against yours, but I beg you, as a favor to this old man, could you take these two objects to my relatives in Essos?"
The maester's request was something Jon had already anticipated. He knew that this request was the most likely. Looking at the old man, Jon paused to consider his options: he could refuse or accept the favor… After a few moments of reflection, he decided to accept it.
A broad smile illuminated the old maester's face, and he thanked Jon.
End Flashback
After that, Jon stored both objects in his magic bag and said goodbye to the maester.
'I only accepted that Targaryen's request because he's an old man, and even if that egg could be hatched, the methods to do so were lost when Baelor "the Blessed" burned the books he considered heretical. Now that egg will just be another ornament.'
Jon's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Jon, where are we going now?" Sam asked, looking at his friend.
"We're heading to Lys, but first, we'll make a stop in Pentos. We need to stock up on more provisions."
Author's Note:
To those who have made it this far, thank you for reading. To be honest, my English writing skills are not strong, and I'm relying on Google Translate and the dictionaries that come with Office 2019.
We see a reunion between Jon and his uncle, along with the indirect mention of Val. XD
We see that Jon is trying to take measures to strengthen the Night's Watch, because if they fall, everything south of the Wall is lost. While it may seem that I will only focus on the Night's Watch for the Wall storyline, the truth is that the Wildlings will also have a role to play in that plot XD.
Finally, we can see that Jon harbors some hatred towards the descendants of the 40 families of dragonriders.
I apologize for any spelling errors. Please don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed the chapter, or if there's something that needs improvement, or if you have any questions about the story. Any constructive advice is welcome. With nothing more to say, see you in the next chapter.