Disclaimer: I do not own Elder Scrolls or A Song of Ice and Fire. All rights belong to their respective owners.
Chapter 15
Narrow Sea, 297 AC
The «StarWolf» sailed the waters separating the lands of Essos from those of Westeros. Night had already fallen, and an unusual meeting was taking place in the navigation room, involving five people and a wolf. Everyone watched in amazement as the young girl with silver hair voraciously devoured the food in front of her.
"How can so much food fit into such a small body?" Pyp asked, astonished as he watched the girl finish her sixth plate of lamb stew.
"No idea." Grenn, Sam, and Edd responded in unison.
Jon hadn't responded because he was observing the young girl closely. Something about her seemed familiar, though he couldn't quite place it. He felt two contradictory emotions simultaneously. The first was the certainty that he had seen this girl before. The second was a nagging curiosity, as he couldn't understand why such a young girl would stow away on his ship.
When the girl finished her last part, she let out a long sigh of satisfaction.
"Ahhhh… that was delicious." she said as she placed the empty plate on the table. Then, realizing everyone was watching her, she felt a bit uncomfortable and looked straight ahead.
"Well, now that you've satisfied your appetite, I hope you're willing to answer some questions. Although, I suppose we should introduce ourselves first." Jon commented, standing up to take a silver cup, into which he poured some watered-down wine, ensuring the girl wouldn't get drunk. After placing the cup on the table, he began the introduction. "My name is Jon. Jon Snow. The people with me are Grenn, Pypar, Eddison Tollet, and Samwell Flowers. And this." he said, pointing to the wolf. "Is Ghost."
As he spoke, Jon accompanied his words with a hand gesture, introducing each of those presents.
"I-I see." the girl murmured, visibly scared upon seeing Ghost, who at that precise moment decided to yawn, showing his fangs.
"Don't worry." Jon said, noticing the girl's discomfort. "He won't harm you if you don't try to hurt us."
The young girl, seeing that the wolf only saw her for a moment before lying back down to sleep, relaxed. However, the calm didn't last long, as Jon began with his questions. "What's your name? Why did you stow away on my ship? Where are you from?"
After mentioning the questions, Jon saw the girl lower her gaze for a few seconds before raising it again to respond.
"My name is Daenerys, and I'm from Braavos." the young girl replied, looking Jon in the eyes before averting her gaze, visibly disturbed by their unnatural shine. She then continued, sobbing slightly. "I boarded the ship because I was fleeing from assassins who killed my brother recently."
The mention of a dead brother made Jon recall something he had seen in Pentos before boarding the «StarWolf».
"I see… so that man was your brother." Jon commented, catching his friends' attention.
"What do you mean, Jon?" Grenn asked, intrigued by what had happened in Pentos while they were on the ship.
"When I was returning from the inn where I spent the night, I saw a group of people gathered in one place. As I approached, I realized they were looking at a scene with several dead bodies." Jon explained, not taking his eyes off Daenerys, as he had noticed the girl was hiding something. "Several of the bodies were lying around, but one of them stood out."
"Really? Why?" Pyp asked, taking a sip of wine.
"Because it was decapitated, and its head was nowhere to be found."
Jon's words made Pyp spit out the wine he had just drunk, staining Grenn's new jerkin.
"Pyp! Ugh, damn it, that's disgusting!" Grenn shouted, standing up and inspecting the damage to his clothes. "This jerkin is new!"
Grenn's shouts made Pyp look at him, scratching his neck awkwardly. "S-sorry, Grenn… Uh… How about I pay you for your jerkin?"
"Alright." Grenn replied after a moment's thought.
Pyp took some coins from his purse and tossed them to Grenn, who caught them and, seeing they were seven gold coins, put them in his own purse.
The way they resolved the jerkin issue made everyone present roll their eyes. After the brief incident, one of them decided to speak.
"Jon, do you know why they were killed?" Sam asked, looking at his friend.
"No. No one mentioned anything about it." Jon replied, seeing Daenerys, who was still looking down, clearly affected by her brother's death. "Why would someone want to kill you and your brother?"
The question made Daenerys shudder slightly, but after a few seconds, she began to answer. "Because we are the last of our family."
"What do you mean?" Sam asked, confused.
Daenerys, hearing Samwell's question, thought for a moment before deciding to tell the truth, or at least part of it, as she didn't know if they could be agents of the "usurper." "My brother and I were the last of an important family that, in its time, had a lot of power. But a man betrayed our father, gathering former allies of our family, and killed him. Then, one of my father's most loyal guards betrayed our family, and they sacked our house, looking for my mother and brother. A very loyal soldier helped us escape. Later, my mother had me, but she died giving birth to me…"
After those initial words, Daenerys recounted her life: how she had lived in hiding with that loyal man, how the house servants had stolen everything and left them on the streets, how her brother had begged to survive, and how a magister had offered them refuge in his home. Finally, she told how they were ambushed and how she managed to escape and hide on the ship.
The five friends watched Daenerys with different expressions. Grenn, Pyp, and Edd looked at her with understanding and sadness, while Jon and Sam saw her with curiosity, suspecting that the young girl had not revealed the whole truth, but only part of it.
'What are you hiding, Daenerys?' Jon thought, narrowing his eyes as he saw the girl. 'No matter. I can read her memories later.'
"Poor girl." Pyp said, looking at Daenerys with pity.
"Yes." Grenn, Edd, and Sam responded in unison.
Jon, for his part, said nothing, focusing on what to do with her. He spent a good while thinking, as he didn't know how to act. Without knowing Daenerys' true identity, he didn't know what else he could do. So, determined to get the answer quickly, he reached his right hand into his back pouch and pulled out a scroll, one of the few Edzard had left him. Among the scrolls his master had entrusted to him, there were some with spells for mind reading, memory reading, and aura reading. With the scroll in hand, Jon activated it subtly, making his palm glow faintly blue.
With the spell already in motion, Jon stood up and cautiously walked until he was just a few inches from Daenerys. He moved his hand and gave her a friendly pat on the hair, starting to ruffle it.
To any normal observer, the scene might have seemed like an act of comfort or affection, but to Jon's companions, who saw his hand glowing slightly, they knew their friend was using a spell.
Jon kept his gaze fixed on Daenerys as images flooded his mind. In them, he saw Daenerys' childhood and past. With each fragment of information, he realized she had told the truth: she came from a powerful family that had lost its prestige and home. Additionally, her mother had died giving birth to her. He also saw how she and her brother had had to beg and suffer, and how her brother had been killed. But what surprised him most was the truth behind the young girl's lies: she had not been born in Braavos, but in Dragonstone, the ancestral home of House Targaryen, the former royal family of Westeros. He also saw that her brother was not the best person, who, while good in his childhood, became cruel and somewhat mad in his youth, starting to physically abuse her.
"I see…" Jon murmured, as he withdrew his hand from Daenerys' hair and took a few steps back to create some distance. "It seems you had a difficult childhood, didn't you, Daenerys Targaryen?"
Jon's words caused the room to fall into a deathly silence.
"Jon, what did you say?" Grenn asked, rising from his chair, an action followed by his friends.
"Daenerys' full name is Daenerys «Stormborn» Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone and daughter of Aerys II Targaryen and Rhaella Targaryen." Jon said, looking at Daenerys, who shuddered with each word. "Her brother was Viserys Targaryen, a claimant to the Iron Throne."
Jon's words caused Daenerys to turn pale and begin to fear for her life, as Jon had discovered her true identity.
'How did he do it?! How did he find out my true identity?!' Daenerys thought, panicking. Her young mind tried to find a way out of this predicament, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't think of a solution. However, her sadness soon turned to anger upon hearing what Pyp mentioned.
"Targaryen? The daughter of the Mad King?"
When Aerys Targaryen's daughter heard Pyp refer to her father that way, she realized that none of them were loyal to the Targaryen family; on the contrary, they seemed loyal to the usurper. The fear she initially felt disappeared, giving way to a more volatile emotion: anger.
"How…?" Daenerys whispered before raising her head and shouting at the top of her lungs. "How dare you call my father, one of the greatest kings of Westeros, 'Mad King'?!"
Daenerys' shout surprised everyone, including Ghost, who jumped up and was tempted to bare his fangs at the young girl. However, before the direwolf could do anything, Jon placed a hand on his head, calming him.
"Your father a great king?" Jon asked with some sarcasm as he approached Daenerys, who, although feeling fear again, was so full of anger that she felt braver than usual.
"Your father was not a good king, girl." Jon said with a growl, emphasizing the word "girl." not as a pejorative towards her gender, but as a reminder that she was younger than him. "Your father was a madman who-"
"Jon, stop!"
If the revelation about Daenerys' identity had surprised everyone, at that moment the surprise increased a thousandfold. The person who had shouted, besides placing a hand on Jon's shoulder to prevent him from doing something impulsive, was none other than Samwell Tarly.
"What do you want, Sam?" Jon growled, causing Grenn, Pyp, Edd, and even Ghost to step back a bit.
"Stop talking, Jon." Samwell said in a mediating tone, trying to calm his friend. He also did it for Daenerys, who, despite facing Jon, showed clear signs of fear. Without thinking too much, Samwell asked Jon. "Let me talk to her alone."
Sam's request took Jon by surprise, but he still nodded. At that moment, he didn't want to be near the descendant of one of his master's first forty apprentices. Without saying anything else, he turned and, signaling Ghost and the rest of his friends, began to leave.
Edd, Grenn, Pyp, and Ghost followed Jon and left the room, heading to the kitchen to drink something, leaving Sam and Daenerys alone.
Samwell, seeing they were alone, sat in the chair and, gesturing, showed Daenerys to sit near him.
Daenerys saw Samwell's invitation and, although she was tempted to refuse, decided to accept. With cautious steps, she approached the chair and sat down, looking at the young man.
"First things first." Sam said, starting the conversation. "I want to apologize for Jon's and my friends' words."
Sam's words surprised Daenerys, who hadn't expected an apology. However, after a few seconds of reflection, Daenerys looked at Samwell and nodded, accepting his apology.
"Alright, now I want to know a few things, if you don't mind." Samwell continued, waiting for Daenerys to nod. "Tell me, where did you get the idea that your father was a great king?"
Daenerys looked at Samwell and, after thinking for a few seconds, spoke.
"From my brother, Viserys. He always told me stories about Westeros, about how all the kings of our dynasty were just and very loved by everyone."
"I see…" Samwell said, letting out a sigh. Then, he reached into his enchanted bag and took out an object, which he presented to Daenerys. "Do you know what this is?"
"A chain." Daenerys responded upon seeing the object Samwell showed her.
"Yes, but this is not an ordinary chain." Samwell said, with an amused smile on his face. "Did your brother ever tell you about people who wear chains made of links of different metals?"
Samwell's words triggered a memory for Daenerys: a story about a group of people who lived in Westeros.
"Yes, he told me that people called maesters wore chains around their necks, and that these chains were made of links of different materials." Daenerys responded, and upon finishing, she realized the situation. She then raised a finger and pointed at him shakily. "Are you a maester?"
"No." Samwell replied simply and quickly, while a friendly smile appeared on his face. "I didn't become a maester, but I was an acolyte, and I forged some links, one of them being the copper link, which symbolizes that the maester has studied the history of the known world."
The news that Sam had studied the history of Westeros made Daenerys forget her earlier anger and look at the young man with excitement. She had always been very curious about the history of Westeros.
"I see you're eager to learn about the history of Westeros." Samwell said with a smile, before getting serious. He knew that what he was about to tell her would destroy everything her brother had told her. So, taking a deep breath, he decided to give her a small warning before starting. "I can tell you everything you want to know about some periods of the Targaryen dynasty, but to do so, you have to promise me that you won't scream or interrupt me."
Daenerys looked at Samwell with some doubt, but in the end, her desire to know more about Westeros made her nod.
"Alright, then… I suppose I should start with the moment when Lord Aegon Targaryen began his conquest…"
Winterfell, 297 AC
The sun shone over the clouds in the Northern sky, allowing the area to have some warmth, but it still kept that icy touch characteristic of the place.
Riding alongside one of the carts Jon had brought to the Night's Watch, Benjen saw a landscape that evoked many past memories, memories of a summer childhood he had left behind long, long ago. The horses' steps were agile but not too fast, as unlike earlier times, they were not in a hurry to arrive. The Lord Commander had given him direct orders not to return to the Wall until completing a treaty with Ned Stark, an agreement to prepare the Wall for what was to come.
'I hope Ned accepts the agreement.' Benjen thought as he climbed the last hill before being able to see Winterfell. When he reached the top, he saw the town of Winter Town. This small town had several houses in very orderly rows. Most of the buildings were made of logs and hewn stones, with paths covered in mud. The main road led to a square near the main entrance of Winterfell.
"It seems the town is empty, as expected in summer." said Kenneth, who was in charge of driving the cart.
"Yes, but that will change in autumn and winter. This place will fill to the brim with people from all over the North who will come here seeking Winterfell's protection and help to survive the winter."
"Yes, that's true. I hope the Smoking Log still has that dark beer from White Harbour."
Kenneth's words received a nod from Benjen, as White Harbour's beer was famous and exported to Braavos and Ibben.
After those words, the small group of Black Brothers continued their journey until they passed through the two enormous walls that protected the castle. When they reached the courtyard where the stable was found, they dismounted and left the horses in the care of the stable master. Once the horses were well secured, Benjen and Kenneth took the cart's contents and, with the help of some passing servants, carried the chests to his brother's solar.
Fortunately for both Black Brothers, they hadn't encountered any of Lord Stark's children, so they managed to reach Ned Stark's solar without any issues. They knocked on the door and waited for the lord of the castle to allow them to enter. When they heard their brother's permission, Benjen and the rest of those with him entered the solar.
"Benjen." said Ned, smiling at his brother as he stood up from his chair, as he had been reviewing some documents until a few moments ago.
"Ned." Benjen responded, also with a smile on his face.
After that brief greeting, the two brothers approached and hugged. When they separated, Ned asked Benjen a question.
"When did you arrive?"
"A few moments ago."
"I see… Why didn't you let us know you were coming?" Ned asked, curious as to why Jeor Mormont hadn't sent a raven informing them of his brother's arrival.
"It was fortuitous, not planned." Benjen responded sincerely.
"Really?" Ned asked, with a touch of curiosity in his voice, already beginning to worry about what might be happening at the Watch. "Has something happened up there?"
Benjen looked at his brother for a few moments before nodding. "Yes, but not the kind of event you expect."
"Really?" Ned asked, relieved to know that nothing serious had happened that would force him to call his bannermen.
"Yes, but before I tell you what's happening, it's best to call the children." Benjen said, and looking at Kenneth, he nodded. Kenneth began to carry the chests with the gifts inside the solar.
"What are those chests?" Ned asked, seeing Kenneth bring the chests, moving them with such ease that it seemed he wasn't making any effort at all.
"Gifts for the children." Benjen replied while looking at his brother.
Benjen's words piqued Ned's curiosity, as he knew it was rare for his brother to bring such gifts to Winterfell; it was more common for him to bring stories to tell during dinner. However, he decided to wait for Benjen to tell him about the gifts.
"I understand…" Ned said, then looked at a servant to call his children to the solar.
The servant nodded and left. Meanwhile, Benjen looked at Kenneth, who seemed bored in the solar, and told him he could go for a walk, that he would catch up with him later at the Smoking Log. After those words, Kenneth left the room, allowing the two brothers to still be in silence for a moment.
A few moments after Ned and Benjen were alone, the door opened, and all of Ned's children entered.
"Uncle Benjen!" Arya and Bran shouted in unison, running and throwing themselves into their uncle's arms.
"Ha, ha, ha!" Benjen laughed, amused, as he hugged his nieces and nephews and spun them around. When he stopped spinning them, he put them down and, kneeling, began to ruffle their hair a bit before greeting them. "I see you're in good health."
After greeting the youngest, Benjen stood up and looked at his other two nieces and nephews. "Robb, Sansa."
"Uncle Benjen." Ned Stark's two children said in unison.
"Well, brother. Everyone is here. I think you can give them their gifts now."
Ned's words surprised the children, but the surprise didn't last long, as within seconds, the youngest began jumping around, shouting with joy.
"Gifts!" Arya and Bran shouted upon seeing the chests on the floor.
"Heh, heh, heh. Yes, they are gifts for each of you." Benjen said with a smile, as he loved seeing his nieces and nephews so happy. "Now, although I would like to say these gifts are from me, the truth is I didn't buy them; someone else brought them."
The way Benjen mentioned that the gifts weren't from him, but that he was acting as an intermediary, surprised everyone present.
"Who was it?" Robb asked, looking at the first of the six chests on the floor.
"Someone you know."
Benjen's response only confused the children more, as none of them could guess who had sent the gifts. The other five people in the room also tried to guess, but after several minutes of speculation, they gave up.
"Uncle Benjen, can you tell us who it was?" Sansa asked, looking at her uncle.
"Yes, Uncle Benjen! Tell us who it was!" Arya shouted as she approached her uncle.
Benjen saw the energetic way his niece asked for things, and a feeling of déjà vu washed over him. After looking at her for a moment, he realized that sensation came from a memory, one related to his older sister, Lyanna Stark.
"Uncle Benjen?" Arya asked, catching her uncle's attention.
Benjen blinked upon hearing his niece's words. Coming back to himself, he noticed everyone was looking at him with concern.
"It's nothing. I just had a déjà vu." Benjen responded, then looked at his family. "Well, regarding Sansa's question, the person who gave me these gifts for you was Jon."
The mention of Winterfell's bastard surprised everyone.
"Uncle, are you sure they're from Jon?" Robb asked, confused, as he couldn't understand how his uncle could have seen his brother.
"Yes, I'm sure." Benjen said with a smile, which widened before he added. "After all, do you think I wouldn't recognize my own nephew's face?"
Benjen's words left everyone in shock, as they understood what they implied. What Benjen had said about Jon at the Wall shown that Jon had been in Westeros not long ago.
"What do you mean, Benjen?" Ned asked, rising from his chair. The lord of Winterfell's eyes shone with hope that there might be more news about his prodigal son. "Have you seen him?"
"Yes, Ned. I've seen him."
"When? Where?" Robb asked, looking at his uncle anxiously.
"At the Wall, several weeks ago." Benjen responded.
The news that Benjen had seen Jon caused an uproar among everyone, except Sansa. Questions started pouring in: Did he look well? Was he healthy? Was he going to visit Winterfell? And many more.
"So, he's alright?" Ned asked, with concern and curiosity.
"Yes, he looks healthy and well-fed." Benjen responded, bringing a cup of wine to his lips.
"I see… that reassures me." Eddard Stark said, feeling his heart calm a bit. He had always worried about his son's well-being, so hearing that Jon was well from someone he trusted was more than reassuring for him.
"Uncle Benjen, what is our older brother like?" Arya asked, looking at her uncle with anticipation. She wanted to know if her brother was an idiot or someone cool. Although, deep down, she thought Jon must be cool, as only someone cool would give Robb a Valyrian steel sword. And a part of her hoped that her own gift would also be a Valyrian steel sword.
"Well, that would be hard to say. In appearance, he looks like Ned, though more handsome." Benjen said, smiling mockingly.
"I'll have you know, brother, that I'm not ugly." Ned commented, looking at his younger brother.
"Heh, heh, heh. Yes, I know. Otherwise, she wouldn't have noticed you."
The indirect mention of Ashara Dayne caused Ned to feel his body and mind return to the fateful tournament at Harrenhal, making him think of the woman he lost. However, he quickly snapped out of that state and, realizing everyone was looking at him with concern, he smiled and decided to speak: "Don't worry, I was just remembering the past."
Although Ned's words were simple, they achieved their purpose: those who were looking at him with concern were reassured.
"Well, have you seen him fight?" Robb asked, eager to know if his brother was skilled with weapons.
Robb's question caused Benjen to feel a shiver run through his body, shaking him completely. He remembered that during the short time Jon was at the Wall, he trained with the young recruits. The training was nothing out of the ordinary, but what really surprised him was the way Jon fought. He faced all the recruits at the same time, defeating them easily and effortlessly. Although that was to be expected, it was the battle against Ser Alliser Thorne that really left him astonished. It all started when Thorne began insulting Jon, calling him a bastard several times. Jon didn't respond, but when Thorne insulted his mother, Jon challenged him to a duel. Thorne laughed, not thinking of accepting a bastard's challenge, but when Jon told him he was also a knight, things got serious.
Flashback
The eyes of all the members of the Night's Watch widened in shock at what was happening. In front of them, a duel was taking place between two knights: Jon Snow and Alliser Thorne. Both wore chainmail, wielded swords, and carried shields, but there was a peculiar difference: Jon used a training sword, while Thorne wielded a real steel sword.
The clashes of the swords resonated, sharp as screams, as both fought to subdue the other. But in reality, it was Thorne who was seriously trying to kill Jon, while Jon easily blocked all his attacks. In fact, throughout the fight, only Thorne moved around the battlefield, as Jon remained in the same spot.
"Ha, ha… damn bastard." Thorne growled, gripping his sword with rage, while Jon watched him with total indifference.
"You know, you're really pathetic if that's the only insult you can use against me." Jon said calmly, showing no emotion on his face.
Jon's words made Thorne grit his teeth in fury. To him, it was a real insult that the bastard of the traitor Eddard Stark could fight that way. Guided by his anger, he began to attack more furiously and erratically.
Jon watched calmly, dodging each of Thorne's attacks. After a few minutes, he grew bored of the "theater" and decided to end the fight. Ducking, he dodged a blow from Thorne, leaving him open, and took the opportunity to strike him in the face with great speed. The force of the blow sent Thorne flying three meters back, landing hard on the ground.
What happened to Thorne's body left everyone present astonished and fearful, as they hadn't expected the blow to be so devastating.
"Ser Alliser!" some black brothers shouted, running towards the knight's body. Upon reaching and checking him, they sighed in relief to see that he was only unconscious.
End Flashback
Bringing a hand to his head, Benjen began to scratch his neck uncomfortably. However, after swallowing a bit of saliva, he nodded.
"Really?" Arya asked excitedly, then quickly followed with another question. "How does he fight? Is he strong?"
"Yes, very strong, in fact." Benjen replied, looking at Arya and Robb. "He was training with all the recruits at the Wall at the same time and defeated them easily. Then there was a problem with the master-at-arms, and Jon had a duel with him…"
Benjen's words filled everyone with anticipation, but also with concern, especially Ned, who knew the identity of Castle Black's master-at-arms. Knowing his mindset, thanks to Benjen, he worried that Jon might have been injured. Without him knowing, all his children, including Sansa, were equally worried, as they didn't want to lose their brother. However, Benjen's next words would leave them stunned.
"Jon wiped the floor with him."
"What?" everyone asked in unison, their faces marked with surprise.
"Ser Alliser couldn't touch Jon throughout the fight. Despite Jon's sword being just a training one and Ser Alliser's being real steel."
Benjen's words amazed Robb and the rest of those present, who began murmuring among themselves about what Benjen had mentioned. After a few minutes of commenting on how impressive Jon was, it was finally time to give out the gifts.
"Well, let's get to the good part." Benjen said as he walked to the first chest. Kneeling, he opened it. "This one is for Rickon."
With those words, Benjen reached in and took out several wooden toys, which he put back, as little Rickon was in the nursery sleeping, which was why neither he nor his mother were present. After leaving the first chest, Benjen approached the second one and, upon opening it, took out some items.
"These are the gifts for Bran." Benjen said as he showed Bran what was inside. The gifts consisted of a bow and a quiver with several arrows. The bow was composite, with a beautiful golden color that almost made it look like it was made of gold. The quiver, on the other hand, was made of black leather, stitched with silver threads, and shaped like a small box that could hold about twenty arrows.
"It's beautiful." Bran said as he took the bow in his hands.
"Yes, according to Jon, this bow is made of Goldenheart."
"Goldenheart?" Bran asked, confused, alternating his gaze between his new bow and his uncle.
"A very rare wood said to make the best bows in the world." Ned replied, approaching his son and, asking for the bow, took it to examine it. "It's very difficult to obtain, as it only comes from the Summer Isles, and its sale outside the island is prohibited. Therefore, it can only be obtained through smuggling and at exorbitant prices."
After those words, Ned smiled as he returned the bow to his son. "It's a good gift, Bran. It's not on the same level as Robb's sword, but it's something a prince could receive. So, learn to use it wisely."
"Yes, father. I promise I'll work hard to learn how to use a bow." Bran replied with a smile on his face, then went to sit in his chair while holding his bow in his arms.
"Alright, with Bran's gift done, now it's Arya's turn." Benjen said, chuckling. He saw his niece jump up from her chair and run towards him. When she was by his side, Benjen opened the box and showed her what was inside. Then he stood up and let his niece show her gifts.
As soon as Arya saw what was in the chest, she felt disappointed, as inside the oak chest was a bed of blue velvet with some gold jewelry. These consisted of a polished silver necklace with a pendant at the end, bearing the Stark house sigil. The pendant's decoration was made of blue sapphires, perfectly arranged as if they were a single piece. In the center of the necklace was a set of silver earrings with sapphires, and there was also a silver cloak pin with a direwolf made of sapphires.
"Arya, what did Jon send you?" Robb asked, approaching his sister, concerned to see her standing still like a statue upon seeing the gift. When the heir of Winterfell saw what was in the chest, he smiled and patted his sister's head, ruffling her hair slightly. "It seems he sent you a gift worthy of a lady."
"I'm not a lady!" Arya shouted, upset, as she removed Robb's hand from her head. The young Stark had slightly wet eyes, as she had hoped her other brother would at least be different from the rest, but it seemed she was wrong. However, as she wiped her eyes, she saw a folded piece of paper between the blue velvet and one of the chest's walls. Feeling the innate curiosity of children, heightened by her wolf blood, Arya reached out and took the paper. When she read what it said, she quickly threw it back into the chest and closed it.
Arya's action caught her father's attention, who approached her and asked. "What's the matter, Arya? Didn't you like your brother's gift?"
"No, father. I loved it." Arya replied with a wide grin.
Arya's response confused Robb, who had been the first to see the gift and, knowing his sister, thought she would probably hate it.
'Maybe she's just saying that to avoid upsetting father.' Robb thought as he watched his sister. 'Although, maybe what was written on the paper pleased her… No, I don't think just a few words would calm Arya like that. She must be pretending for father's sake.'
"Father, can I ask you a favor?" Arya asked, looking at her father.
"Yes, what do you need, my daughter?"
"I need the chest taken to my room." Arya replied, smiling at her father.
"I don't see any problem with that." Ned said, smiling as he saw his daughter beaming.
"Thank you, dad! You're the best!" Arya shouted, hugging her father, while remembering what she had read in Jon's note.
«Arya, I know you won't like what's in this chest, as Uncle Benjen told me you're not the typical noblewoman who only likes to embroider, gossip, think about marriage, read fantasy stories, and eat lemon cakes. No, he told me you prefer men's things. While that is frowned upon in society, I'm not a puritan, so I decided to use the jewelry as a cover. You see, the blue velvet fabric is not just fabric, but a very well-folded blue velvet cloak, inside which is your real gift. I got this gift from a Braavosi, with whom I had a duel. If you are the kind of woman I think you are, well, I'm sure you'll love it. With love, your brother, Jon Snow.»
When Ned and Arya separated, the young Stark ran to her chair and began swinging her legs impatiently, waiting for everything to end so she could go see her gift in her room.
"With Arya's gift given, only Sansa's is left." Benjen said as he approached the fourth chest, which he opened and took out everything inside.
Sansa, like Arya, got up from her chair and approached the chest with her gift. When she stood before it, she had to have her excitement upon seeing her presents. Just like Arya, she also received many pieces of jewelry, but these were gold instead of silver and adorned with various types of precious stones. In addition to the gems, there were also several rolls of fine fabrics.
Seeing his eldest daughter's excitement, Ned approached, and what he saw made him smile, as Jon seemed to have hit the mark with almost all the gifts so far, except in Arya's case. Kneeling, the Lord of Winterfell examined the fabrics and recognized some as lace from Myr, and other very expensive silks from various places.
"It seems these fabrics come from Essos." Ned said as he examined the fabrics more closely.
"Really?" Sansa asked, excited, as she didn't have any dresses made from Essos fabrics.
"Yes, I can see Myrish lace, but the rest of the fabrics are beyond my knowledge." Ned replied with a smile. "If I had to guess, I'd say there are quite a few gold coins' worth of fabrics here. What do you think of the gift, Sansa?"
"It's nice. They're very pretty." Sansa replied, though her tone lacked the expected excitement.
Sansa's response irritated Arya, as her sister was so focused on the fabrics that she didn't respond enthusiastically to their father's question.
Sighing, Ned returned to his chair and sat down, watching his daughter do the same.
"Alright, now, I'm afraid for the last two gifts, I need to be alone with Ned and Robb." Benjen said, seeing how the nieces and nephews he didn't mention looked at him in confusion.
"Why, Uncle Benjen?" Arya asked with feigned annoyance, as she was happy to be able to go to her room to see what Jon had really given her.
"The gifts they will receive are something you won't understand. While it's true that Robb might not fully understand either, he is the heir to Winterfell, and I'm afraid it's something he needs to know." Benjen explained.
"I understand…" Bran said with a bit of sadness, as he wanted to see what his father and older brother would receive.
"Alright. Then, return to your rooms." Ned said, calling some guards to carry the chests of the three young ones to their respective rooms, along with Rickon's toy chest.
When the room was almost empty, Ned looked at his brother and asked. "Alright, Benjen. We're alone now."
"Good. The truth is the two chests there are just a decoy." Benjen said, lightly kicking the two empty chests on the floor, catching Robb and Ned's attention.
"What do you mean, uncle?" Robb asked, watching as both chests opened from the kicks, showing they were indeed empty.
"The gifts you will receive are these." Benjen replied, taking two papers from his cloak pocket and handing them to his brother.
Ned took the two pieces of paper and looked at the first one. It was the paper having the prophecy Jon had brought to the Wall. When Ned finished reading it, he passed it to Robb, who also read it. After Robb finished, Ned looked at his brother and asked what the paper meant. The answer he received both surprised and worried him, as he hadn't expected it to be something so important that Jon had personally taken it to the Wall.
"Are you sure, Benjen?" Ned asked, looking at his brother seriously.
"Yes, Ned. It's no joke. This prophecy was something Jon brought to the Wall, and it was the reason he brought those gifts, along with the promise to send more money to the Wall when he earns more from his travels."
Ned looked at his brother and felt a great sense of pride for his prodigal son, as Jon was demonstrating that he saw the Night's Watch not as the penal colony it had become, but as the noble order of guardians it once was. However, despite the pride he felt, he was also confused by what Jon had brought to the Wall. While the prophecy's content was terrifying, he didn't expect it to be true, as no one could predict the future, and they didn't know if the "Others" really existed.
"Ned, you have to believe me." Benjen said, catching his brother's attention. "We don't know if the prophecy is real, but something is happening beyond the Wall. Many Rangers who go on expeditions return with news of completely abandoned villages, decimated tribes, and white shadows moving through the 'Haunted Forest.'"
"Ben, I'm trying to believe you, but what you're saying is fantastical, almost bordering on the incredible. I can't fully believe you without physical proof, brother." Ned said, rubbing his temple, as he didn't know what to do. He wanted to believe his brother, but without tangible evidence, he couldn't.
"Father, why not send more provisions to the Watch?" Robb asked, who had been silent all this time. The young heir of Winterfell had been pondering the contents of his brother's letter. While he thought it was fantastic, he knew deep down that his brother wouldn't do what he did in vain, so there must be a reason for his actions. However, he couldn't know what they were.
"It's not that easy, Robb. Maester Luwin has told me that the days are getting shorter. It may not be visible or felt now, but winter is coming, and I'm afraid that if we're not prepared, many lives will be lost. To have everything ready for winter, I'm afraid we'll have to reduce aid to the Watch, at least until we can fill the stores with grains and dried meats."
"But…"
"No, Robb. Your father is right. His primary duty as Warden and Lord Paramount of the North is to prevent the Northerners from suffering." Benjen interrupted his nephew. "Ned, while it's true that we're asking for help to prepare the Watch for what's coming, we're not asking for it for free."
With those words, Benjen took a letter from his pocket and handed it to his brother.
"This letter contains a proposal from Lord Commander Jeor Mormont." Benjen said as he handed the letter to Ned.
Ned received the letter and, upon reading it, his eyes widened. He couldn't believe what was written in it.
"Is what he proposes here true?" Ned asked, looking at his brother after finishing reading the Lord Commander's letter.
"Yes, Ned. The idea is from the Lord Commander himself."
After his brother's response, Ned sank into his chair, as his mind tried to process what was happening or, rather, the offer the Old Bear was making.
"What's the matter, father? You seem surprised." Robb asked, observing how his father seemed absorbed in his thoughts after reading the letter.
"And I am, Robb. If you want to know, read the letter." Ned said once he managed to return to reality.
Robb obeyed his father, took the letter, and quickly glanced through it. When he finished, the surprise was clear on his face.
"I can't believe it."
"Neither can I, Robb. But it seems the Old Bear is willing to return the 'New Gift' in exchange for increased aid from the North, along with some other things your uncle will mention."
"But why does it? It doesn't make sense."
"It makes a lot of sense, nephew." Benjen said, catching his nephew's attention. "The lands granted to the Watch during the Targaryen dynasty have not been used and are now just wild lands. We don't have the manpower to exploit them efficiently, so the Lord Commander is determined to return them in exchange for more support from the North."
"Wouldn't that cause division in the order?" Ned asked, worried about a possible mutiny against the Old Bear.
"I don't think so. Everyone in the Watch knows those lands are too far south to be used properly. Some may protest, but when they see more aid, they'll quiet down immediately." Benjen responded. "Besides, this is being carried out in absolute secrecy, so no one apart from us, the Lord Commander, and the maester knows about this deal."
"I see… I need to think about it, Ben. The proposal seems good, but it's necessary to evaluate how it could affect the rest of the realm. So, I'll discuss this with the maester tonight." Ned said, looking at his brother. "Is it alright if we talk about this tomorrow after breakfast?"
"That's fine with me."
"Good. I suppose you'll be dining with us, right?" Ned asked.
"Yes. In fact, I'll take advantage of everyone being there to tell you some things about Jon." Benjen said with a smile, which was quickly mirrored by Ned and Robb.
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.
And here is the chapter XD
We see that Jon has discovered that Daenerys is the daughter of the Mad King, which has led to an altercation where he told her the truths about what her father had done as king.
We also see that the Old Bear is trying to reach an agreement with the Starks, all in preparation for the White Walkers.
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.