The Truth
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones and Campione do not belong to me. I am just borrowing them. English is not my first or second language, so please be gentle with me.
"Normal Talk"
'Thoughts/internal monologue'
"Telepathic conversation"
"Gods/Goddesses Talking"
"Shouting"
'Chant'
Enjoy
Young Wolf
Robb had ditched Maester Luwin again and hid in the godswood. He felt he was justified in his rebellion; he felt alone ever since Jon left. Jon was the only one who treated him like a brother. There were few boys of similar age to him, but they treated him like a beast rather than a friend. He missed the simple camaraderie he had with Jon; even the heirs of his father's bannermen only tried to get close to him to strengthen their bonds for the future. A part of him understood that such bonds were beneficial for the future, yet he could not help comparing them to Jon despite knowing that he was being unfair. He was a bastard but never tried to undermine his status like his lady mother warned him about. More often than not, he took the blame for their misadventures, citing he was going to be blamed regardless; better to take the whole blame.
He was frustrated that his lady mother could not see Jon for who he was and blamed him for every small infraction.
It all came to a head when Jon returned with the sword. His mother began avoiding Jon, and Jon revealed to him the whole story of how he came across the blade. To think that Jon killed a god was mind-boggling; to kill a god that was worshipped in the south and one of his mother's gods did not help the matter. Even if his adolescent brain could not understand the true implication of his words, he still could understand it was a big deal.
It was all games and story for him, but that night when Jon protected Winterfell and the folks of Wintertown, it became more than a story for him. Jon transformed from his brother to a warrior from legends that night. But something changed within him that night.
No, that was wrong. Jon was different the morning he came back with the sword; it was the battle that made the changes more apparent. Jon was quiet and withdrawn and shied away from the talk of his victory over the Ironborn. It took him weeks before he summoned his golden blade, content on practicing with a practice blade to make his strikes less dangerous.
He was puzzled by this behaviour before Ser Rodrick cleared it for him. Jon had taken lives for the first time that night. Rob had protested that he and Jon were already well versed in taking lives and it was not the first time for them. They had been accompanying their father on his hunts. But Ser Rodrick disagreed. According to him, hunting animals was one thing, but killing a fellow man stains one's soul, and Jon was feeling guilty for what he had done. The lives Jon had taken that night were enough to make someone feel like a monster. Robb wanted to go to Jon to assure him that it was not his fault and if he had not taken his sword then the fate of the residents of Wintertown would have been upon them. Ser Rodrick agreed with his assessment but said that Jon would have to come to terms with his action himself. The best thing Robb could do was let him know that he was not alone.
Robb took the matter in his own hand and began spinning stories about Jon to Sansa. She was an attentive child and had started picking up on their mother's cold attitude towards Jon. He decided to recruit her and Bran; if there was one thing Jon adored more than him, it was playing with their younger siblings.
Bran was already on board, having seen Jon thrash several recruits alone, and his victory over the Ironborn had raised Jon as a true knight in Bran's eyes, and Arya was already closer to him than any of her other siblings. He just needed Sansa to look at Jon with the same eyes. He began telling her stories of Jon, embellishing some facts. But he made Jon into a knight from stories for her, greater than them even. Their mother's changed behaviour and Jon's wandering habits helped the matters immensely.
He always came back with stories from his travels, about helping smallfolks, protecting travellers and maidens from bandits, and killing wildlings.
Jon was the real-life knight from her stories.
Sansa, enamoured by the stories of knights and princesses, began imagining herself as a princess. She began demanding different flowers from Jon every time he came back from his travels, and Jon never failed to grant her requests. Ser Rodrick said it was a good thing for Jon to have something other than steel and blood to look forward to.
But things came to an end when the reports of the destruction of Dreadfort came. Jon was banished, and he left without saying goodbye.
Robb wanted to rage on Jon and his father. Jon had left him.
He knew he was banished, but he still did not even say goodbye. His father had not given him any satisfactory answers.
Since Jon was not there, he concentrated his anger on his father. At least Sansa and Bran understood the situation or at least showed that they did, but he did not know how to explain the situation to Arya. She had been yelling nonstop for Jon, throwing tantrums more than ever and calling for Jon. It was a struggle even to feed her. It took moons for her to understand that Jon would not be coming back soon.
His father's decision did not sit well with the rest of the realm, from what he could understand. A close investigation of the incident at Dreadfort revealed that Jon was indeed telling the truth, the truth that his father refused to listen to and chalked it up as the talks of a madman. Rob felt vindicated. He felt happier when the letter from the crown arrived, ordering him to renounce the banishment of his brother. He relayed the news to his siblings, who waited with eager anticipation for Jon's arrival, but he was nowhere to be found.
It had been close to six moons since Jon left Winterfell when the first words came. Jon had conquered Braavos.
A representative came from Braavos two moons later to reveal the news and bring gifts on his brother's behalf. He demanded why Jon did not come himself, and the representative became flushed. He ignored his father's warning look for speaking out of turn and instead looked at the representative, expecting answers. He said that since Jon had chosen exile himself, he would come back when it was necessary. He wanted to question what that meant, but his father explained that since Jon was a king himself, he could not enter another kingdom without due process.
He did not care about that, and Arya shared his sentiment by raising a fuss. Sansa and Bran tried to appear understanding, but it was also clear that they were trying to copy the elders. Arya just knew that Jon was not there, but for Robb it was the feeling of abandonment that filled his heart.
He tried to leave the hall, but the representative stopped him. Jon had sent him a letter.
In the letter, Jon had apologised for not saying goodbye while also explaining the events that happened at Dreadfort and Braavos. He had also explained that he wanted to visit, but Bellegre, his advisor, had advised against it. Since he was now a king, he could not simply visit a foreign kingdom without due process if he did not want to make trouble for the North. He invited him and all his siblings to visit and asked him to write. Lastly, he promised that if he ever needs him, then he will come, regardless of any objections.
It was not much, as it was a poor substitute for having his brother in front of him, but the letter was proof that Jon still cared for him.
That was not the last letter that Jon sent to him. He talked about the books he had to read to understand the nature of gods to use the usurped authorities efficiently and battle the gods. According to him, it was fortunate that the gods he had fought so far were either mad or straightforward. There were a lot of things that made no sense, and he wanted to explore Valyria, but Bellegre begged him to fully prepare for his trip rather than diving headfirst.
The horror stories of the handful of survivors deterred most of the explorers. Even though Jon was confident that he could brave Valyria alone, Bellegre and her lady-in-waiting reasoned that he would not know where or what to look for. He, at the very least, needed a scholar versed in Valyrian culture.
Aside from that, they talked about everyday things too. It was something to look forward to. Since he was the oldest and ahead in his letters, his siblings demanded he read the letter to them.
The news of Jon being the king spread across Wintertown, and smallfolk raised their cups in celebration. The different merchants that came from Braavos spread the stories more, and there was even a new song, 'The Wolf and the Bull,' sung across the town.
The other thing that changed was their mother's response to Septa Mordane. Septa Mordane had begun Sansa's training, but apparently, she began teaching her the nature of bastards according to southern faith and tried to turn her admiration of Jon towards disdain. Mother had caught wind of the lessons when Sansa asked her if Jon would come back to take Robb's place as the next lord of Winterfell. Mother was wroth with Septa and tore her a new one in the sept.
"Jon Snow is the king of Braavos, one of the most prosperous cities that houses the Iron Bank. Please educate me, Septa. What could he gain by being the warden of North that is not already within his grasp as the king?"
"Lady Stark, is this not the proof of Bastard's nature? He took something that he had no right to. Sooner or later, he will turn his eyes towards the North."
"You will keep those thoughts to yourself. Jon Snow may be the bastard, but he adores his half-siblings. The fact that he conquered Braavos single-handedly raises the question, what stopped his hands from doing the same to Winterfell? Despite being brought in as a criminal and sentenced to the Wall, never once did he raise his sword. Disregarding the fact that he saved Winterfell and the smallfolk of Dreadfort. If that does not speak for his character, then I fear that the teachings of the Seven were wasted upon you. Another such attempt will see you banished from my services."
The servants whispered that Mother's behaviour had completely changed. While, after the siege of Winterfell, Mother became more tolerant towards Jon, it was the first instance that she had publicly defended him. He was not blind to the disdain that Mother showed Jon in the past, though he chose to ignore it; he was surprised by her behaviour. It did not feel natural.
She used to always warn him that Jon was a bastard and would try to usurp him. He always ignored her warnings and even defended him, but now Mother was actively trying to deepen the bond with his younger siblings. He asked her about it, and she revealed that Jon had made a promise to her on the night of the siege. In that moment she did not see the bastard but rather the son of Eddard Stark in front of her. Jon, even after having the power to end an army in a matter of moments, was more concerned with fulfilling his sibling's demands. A true measure of a man comes not from the power of their blood but rather from what they do with that power.
He asked Maester Luwin what mother meant, and he explained that the perfect instance of one such individual is the lord of Twins. The man was a self-important lord and took advantage of the fact that his castle stood on the fastest route to the Riverlands. He was a prickly sort and never failed to insult visiting lords or foist his brood of children on lords wanting to cross his bridge.
In the present, the lords of the north were gathering in Winterfell to discuss what they found in Dreadfort and the future of House Bolton. Domeric Bolton was said to arrive in a week's time, but the party escorting the Bolton heir was delayed due to a freak storm in the sea.
He was broken out of his thoughts when he felt something shift around him. He looked around to look for a disturbance but could not see anything. Suddenly, a part of Heart Tree shifted, and a figure detached from its bark as if it had always been there. The figure was the size of a child and of the same colour as the bark of a tree. He rubbed his eyes; the bark of the Heart Tree was white, whereas the unknown figure was sporting brown skin colour. It had three fingers on each hand and had its modesty preserved by leaves rather than fabrics.
"Robb Stark, Son of Eddard Stark of Winterfell. I am here to request a meeting with the Lord of Winterfell." The figure spoke.
"Wha-who are you?" he asked with a stutter. It took him a moment to notice that the figure spoke to him.
"I am Leaf, leader of the Earth Singers. The first men called us children of the forest. I have things to discuss with the lord of Winterfell." The figure, now revealed to be the fabled children of the forest, reiterated their demand. Robb gave a shaky nod and ran towards the castle to fetch bread and salt and also to inform Father of their unusual guest.
King's Uncle
Viserys was training in the yard. It had been ten and four moons since his nephew was declared the king of Braavos, a title that no one thought possible. But that was the thing with dragons, Viserys thought. They took what they liked.
His thought went back to his nephew, Aemon Targaryen. He was a strange creature. He had none of the refinements of a monarch, but the air around him hummed with power. He was confident, blunt, and eager to hit problems with his stick, yet had no respect for fine etiquette.
When the merchants refused to accept his authority and threatened to void their business agreements, Jon simply went to harbour and sank four ships of one of the more vocal merchants with a swing of his blade. He then threatened them that if they voided their agreement or tried to deal with him in bad faith, then he would destroy their entire operation with his hands. Despite not taking particular interest in ruling, having delegated all the responsibilities that came with ruling to the Sealord, and caring not what he did, he understood that Braavos relied on trade and leaving the merchants to do as they pleased would be detrimental for the economy.
'I am their king.' He simply said. His sister and Bellegre tried to make him understand that it was not how it worked and spent months coaxing him to partake in lessons for ruling. Aemon instead wanted to run towards Valyria to find the truth about his powers.
At the beginning, Viserys blamed his mother for the fall of his family, calling him a dog of the usurper. Dany and Ser Willam tried to restrain him, but the years of living in shadow, away from his home and having no family aside from his sister, had taken a toll on him. He ranted and raved about how he should have been in Westeros, how they were living in shadows with mere stories of home. How he missed his mother and father and could barely remember their faces. He cursed Aemon's uncle and his entire bloodline as traitors. But Aemon listened patiently, looking him in the eyes with a dangerous glint. But he ignored that and his sister's attempt to quiet him. But when he called Lyanna Stark a whore, Aemon snapped and punched him.
He woke the next day with Dany snuggling beside him. His movements awoke her, and she cried in relief. She told him about what followed after he lost consciousness.
Aemon had asked Ser Willem about what he had been telling them about the rebellion. The conversation that followed broke Dany.
He leapt out of his bed to find Aemon and demand answers. He found him in the hall, breaking fast with Sir William. He demanded to know about the lies that had been spreading and asked to apologise to his sister. Ser Willam could not meet his eyes, but Viserys's entire focus was on Aemon. He simply finished his meal and asked Viserys to join him outside in the training yard.
What followed was a beatdown. Granted the boy was a Campione, but he did not even give Viserys the dignity of drawing even his practice sword while Viserys wielded an iron training sword.
When Viserys fell on the ground in complete exhaustion, he sat beside him.
"Your father burnt my uncle and grandfather for imagined crimes. The whole of Westeros thought that my father kidnapped and raped my mother, and then your father had the audacity to demand my uncle's head. Even a lowborn would suggest that one should not kick a dog too much lest they want to be bitten. Your father was a madman who liked to burn people alive." Aemon did not wait for his reply and disappeared.
He had demanded answers from Ser Willem about why he had not stopped Aemon from spewing lies. Ser Willem looked shamefaced. He stood from his chair and knelt before him. He apologised for not speaking the truth but only because he wanted his and his sister's memories of his parents not to be tainted by the madness of his father.
He did not come out of his room for days. Some part of him, deep down, had the inkling of truth, but his best memories of childhood were of his mother. The perfect mother who tried to keep him away from his father.
But his father always taught him that he was a dragon and it was the duty of the realm to bow to the dragon or be burnt by it.
It was only the cries of his sister outside his door that broke him out of his brooding. He remembered his promise to his dying mother. He was the elder brother, and it was his duty to protect Dany.
Ser Willem's condition worsened; he lost most of the strength to move his body, but he was happy. He said he knew he was not long in this world and was glad that they found family and protection. But Daenerys and Viserys were not ready to part with him. He was their father figure; he was the one who comforted him and Dany when they were sad or afraid, the one rock in their turbulent life.
He had asked Viserys if he truly wanted to be the king. Since Viserys was crowned king by his mother and Rhaegar was taken out of succession by his father, then the crown rightfully belonged to him.
But since Aemon was the hidden prince and was proclaimed by the gods to be the rightful king, he certainly had the power to back up his claim, and there was nothing that could stop him if he decided to stake his claim.
Viserys wanted to deny his nephew the crown since his mother had already crowned him, but Ser Willem made him understand that it would not be that simple. They could not keep Aemon as a simple enforcer of Targaryen rule if that was what Viserys wanted. Aemon was a headstrong individual who had issues following orders. He would go along with his days, undermining the ruler's authority at every turn. How was Viserys to rule his subjects if his own nephew would not heed his orders?
Also, could he turn his family against him? His mother's words rang in his ears these days still. 'A Targaryen alone in the world is a terrible thing.' She had said while handling Dany to him. He had promised her that he would never leave his sister alone.
But if they were to crown Aemon, then Viserys could act as his hand, and if his off-hand method of ruling that he had shown in Braavos was anything to go by, then Viserys could be the one ruling Westeros on Aemon's behalf.
Simply put, they needed Aemon more than Aemon needed them. Viserys reluctantly agreed to abdicate his claim; they were the last of the bloodline, and he had no wish to sow seed for another dance.
Ser Willem wished to crown Aemon, but Aemon declined, citing it to be useless since he has no need for it. Viserys had lost his temper at that. The Targaryens had forged the Seven Kingdoms through blood, fire, and steel, and it belonged to them through the right of conquest.
"If the right of conquest is the proof of your right to rule, then the Baratheons, too, have a right to rule because they won the throne through fire and steel."
"But it was the Targaryens that forged the Seven Kingdoms. It belongs to us; you were born a king! Are you going to leave your kingdom to the usurper?!"
"Do you know what the gods call me when they see me? They call me the usurper. As a victor, their authority belongs to me. The sword that you see, which made me known across the lands, was taken from the hands of the Warrior. The restraints that bound Aquan were usurped from the forgotten god of North. I am the greatest usurper ever to live. The gods attack me because I usurped the divine power, and I fight them because of my will to live."
"So, you will ignore the fact that our family was deposed from our home?!"
"I will not raise my sword unless given a reason to. The Targaryens fought, and they lost."
He had not broached the subject since then. Ser Willem explained to him that Aemon had not yet fully accepted his Targaryen heritage. He was raised by Eddard Stark, and however Aemon refused to acknowledge the idea of Stark influencing his decision, nonetheless it was the truth.
For him, the Targaryen burnt his grandfather and uncle. So much resentment does not go away overnight. Once he accepts his true heritage, he will raise his sword to take back what was theirs. He had deep bonds with the Starks, and despite having Targaryen blood, there was no familial bond. Aemon had no reason to go beyond protecting them.
Going for the crown meant Aemon will have to face Starks in the field since Eddard Stark had given his oath of fealty to the usurper and the Stark lord was not one to take his oaths lightly. Ser Willem assured him that sooner rather than later, the usurper will stand in the field against the Targaryen; the Lannister lord would not allow for the contenders of his grandson's throne to live, and Aemon will have no choice but to fight. Meanwhile, it was his and Daenerys's task to create deep bonds with Aemon.
On the other hand, Ser Willem had begun working towards laying the groundwork for future support. It was as if fire had been lit inside him. Aemon had revealed that the entire rebellion was based on a lie and the machinations of the individual Petyr Baelish. After some discussions, Bellegre and Ser Willem asked Aemon's permission to handle the matter. He did not know the details, but two moons later, the letter of Lyanna Stark was in their hands.
The most important development was the arrival of Aurane Waters. He was the bastard of Driftmark and was in contact with his father. He was leery of opening up to him, and even Ser Willem looked at him with suspicion, but Waters has been able to gain their trust.
He assured them that his father has begun contacting the lords of the Narrow Sea in secret, those who were loyal to Targaryen and had sent out feelers for the ones who were on the fence. He had declared that they will have the support of the Narrow Sea lords by the time the Targaryens decide to take back the throne.
But all things come to an end, and Ser Willem breathed his last on the fifth moon of 296 AC, surrounded by the last living Targaryens, two of whom he loved like his own children.
Thus, his last decision weighed heavily on Ser Willem's heart, but the day he died, unknown to anyone, a missive was sent to Westeros in secret, its destination known only to the rider. Ser Willem hoped that his queen would forgive him should they meet in the afterlife.
The Wolf Lord
Eddard Stark never believed he would have to face such troubles. His son had come to find him with a platter of bread and salt, urging him to follow him into the godswood. He had refused to open his mouth and just asked to follow him. As much as he wanted to reprimand him for ditching his lessons, the urgency in his voice made him follow his son.
Nothing could have prepared him for the revelation of a creature that matched the description and claimed itself to be the child of forest stand in the Godswood of Winterfell. He briefly wondered if his father prepared Brandon for such. He wondered if it was the same creatures that gave faces to the weirwood trees.
He was glad that he had posted guards outside the entrance of Godswood. The lords of the north had decided to wait for the delayed party escorting the Bolton heir, and he did not want someone to wander into the Godswood before he could ascertain the truth of the matter.
He offered the guest rights to the strange creature.
"Greetings, Lord of the Stark." The creature said after accepting guest rights. "My name is Leaf; I am the leader of the last tribe of Earth Singers. The First Men referred to us as the children of the forest and voice of the old gods." Though it was difficult to determine the gender, the voice had a feminine quality to it.
"Greeting, Leaf of the tribe of Earth Singers. Your kind was not seen in a thousand years, so much so that you are considered to be nothing more than myth, even in the north." He spoke, but the question was clear: Why are you revealing yourself now?
"And we would have stayed hidden until the long night, but the song of the world has changed. The recent events have forced us to come out of hiding, Lord of Starks." She answered without giving anything.
Eddard wanted to sigh but resisted the urge. The children of the forest were part of North. Every story, every lore mentioned them, like they were the voice of old gods. They were the original residents of these lands before the first men came. The story goes that they fought for the land, causing years of bloodshed before coming together against the common enemy, the Night King.
That thought brought him sudden chills down his spine.
There was a child of the forest in front of his eyes. What else was true that has been discarded as mere myths and stories? Robb was fidgeting beside him, no doubt having so many questions. But he decided to enquire about the reason for her visit. If she proved more knowledgeable of the current events, then mayhap he should invite her to discuss the matters further. With the recent events regarding Jon, it would be better if he had proper information to act upon.
"There must be a reason you sought me out despite not being willing to reveal your existence. By your own words, you have taken a great risk." He continued.
"Answer me truthfully, Stark lord. Did you raid the secret library of Dreadfort?" Eddard nodded his head in answer. "I must request you to hand over all the books that mention their god."
Eddard's eyes widen at such a request. "Those books are a part of Northern history. It is the tale of our people, of our ancestors. Yet you ask me to hand over our history to you? May I ask the reason for such a request?" He asked.
Leaf gave him a judging look before answering. "The god that Bolton worshipped was banished from the pantheon after they went mad during the long night. We were tasked with removing any mention of them from the mortal world. But the Red King of old found a reference to them and began worshipping them. The mad god tethered itself to the Bolton line and survived on their worship. Jon Snow defeated the mad god and usurped their authority, but he will need to understand the origin and myth of the mad god to truly use the authority."
Each word resonated fear in his soul. He had dismissed all the claims made by Jon as mere fantasies and Targaryen madness. Only after the reports of Dreadfort and him fighting a giant bull that everyone claimed to be the god Aquan, he began to tentatively entertain the idea of the higher beings descending into the mortal world. But the reappearance of the children of the forest and her demands made it clear the world was facing something no one had been ready for.
"But why now? There have been no stories of gods attacking the world of man, but now there have been three. What has caused these beings to descend and cause havoc?" He asked. He wanted to understand the reason and how Jon was connected to all this.
"The worlds, both spiritual and material, are on the precipice of chaos. The enemy of life has woken from his slumber, and the gods are more aware than ever of the ongoings of the realm. But it has been your wife who helped ignite the fire, Stark Lord." The singer answered after some deliberation.
"Be careful what you accuse my lady wife of." He warned.
"Did you know that the Stark Lords of old resisted the tide of holy war that saw the end of the old god's reign from the south of the neck? The faith tried time after time but failed in the face of the might of northern devotion." He gave her a hard look. "Do not presume to teach me, Leaf of Earth singers. I know my history well enough." He said it in a hard tone, but Leaf continued, ignoring his warning.
"But then you built a sept for your wife in the very heart of the north, the seat of power. But not only that, you allowed your children to be taught in the ways of Seven on the insistence of your wife. The septon and septa that came here to take care of the sept are slowly trying to convert the smallfolk to their religion. The same religion that called for the destruction of Weirwoods and declared our gods as pagans. How long before your descendants convert the Stark line to Seven and void our pact with the First Men?"
"The Starks have followed the old gods and will continue to do so." He declared strongly, not liking the accusation.
"The seed is already planted, lord of Stark. Your eldest daughter and your spare heir show inclination towards the foreign faith rather than the gods of their ancestors. Unless it is unearthed from its roots, it will grow into a tree." Leaf did not back down. It was a stare-off as no one wanted to back down.
"You said that the world is on the precipice of chaos, my lady. What did you mean by that?" Robb interjected, but Eddard was thankful for that. Loath as he was to admit it, he had let his anger get the better of him. The child of the forest questioning his wife and the education of children left a sour taste in his mouth.
Leaf gave him an impassive look before continuing. "Your lady wife offered a bargain to the god of her faith. It gave the Seven enough leeway to enter the mortal world. They took the opportunity, knowing that their interference would cause irrepressible damage to the fine balance, willingly breaking the sacred law.
"So, when the Seven descended in the mortal world, it sent a wave through the higher plane of existence, provoking other gods to do the same as they were eager to do so."
"But why? What caused them to descend when they have not done so before? Is it related to the precipice of chaos that you mentioned earlier?" Eddard asked.
"The Long Night, Stark Lord, the twilight of the world approaches." Eddard felt his blood freeze and legs become weak, but he stopped himself through sheer will. He could see that Robb was similarly affected.
"What?" he asked in a whisper.
"You are experiencing the longest summer ever in your history. But as soon as this summer ends, the age of winter will begin." The Long Night was part of their history, bordering on myth. Many, even among the northmen, were sceptical of the existence of such an event or even the creatures that it warned about, but nonetheless, it was the history of their land, and everyone, be they of noble birth or smallfolk, was taught about it. He remembered his lessons that the Wall was built to keep the realm of man safe from the Night King and his army of undead, though in recent years it worked as the protection against wildling invasion. Recently, the Night's Watch could not even man all the castles on the wall. Recruitment was all time low and they were always in need of resources.
The Wall was not ready for it; nay, the realm was not ready for it. In between the gods attacking the mortal world and the approaching Long Night, he did not know what could be done. A part of him wanted to deny it, but another part of him reasoned for any more logical explanation.
"But how can this be? The stories say that the Last Hero killed the Night King with his blade and ended the Long Night."
"Nay, Stark Lord. Words were lost in history. The Last Hero did not kill the Night King. He fought against the Great Other and sealed him to buy time for humanity. It was the destiny of the Last Hero to protect the world of man, but it was not his destiny to end the threat. He foresaw the aftermath and knew that the one whose destiny it was to end the threat was not born yet. It was for this reason that he asked Brandon Stark to build the Wall. Ask yourself, if the enemy was truly defeated, then what was the need for the Wall? Do you believe that your ancestor erected such a structure that stretches for miles and meets the heaven purely to protect the North from Wildling invasion?" She commented.
"And the Night King?" He asked.
"Was the thirteenth commander of the Night's Watch and a general of the Great Other." He needed to contact the Night's Watch to check their records. His mind focused on the other part of Earth Singer's explanation. The person who was destined to end the threat.
"Who is this person? The one who is destined to end this evil. Who is he?" he asked anxiously.
"He is the son of a dragon and a wolf." The words chilled his blood. "Born in sand, raised in snow," no "the song of ice and fire," No "Aemon Targaryen."
"No." He voiced his thought. Leaf looked at him in confusion. "No?"
"No, this cannot be. There has to be something else." He protested. Leaf simply shook her head.
"I am afraid not, Stark Lord. The song of ice and fire is the prophesied saviour; he will unite the tribes of man and lead the charge against the eternal cold. The song was sung aeons ago, and the world has waited for this very moment."
"The men of Westeros will never rally behind him; they will never bow down to the dragons again. What you are asking is not possible. The Targaryen dynasty was deposed, and the men of Westeros stand beside Robert Baratheon, and he will not suffer any Targaryen to live. Besides, the Wall was erected to protect the realm of man from the Night King, and it has stood for eight thousand years." He said hotly. Robb was looking at him worriedly, but he ignored his looks.
"The Wall has done its duty. Time and again it protected the lands south from the servants of the Great Other, but it was not meant to be more than a shield. The Night's Watch has done an admirable job in defending the realm, but it would not survive the encounter with the real threat. The Night King is a master strategist and will find a way to invade even if you somehow put efforts into reinforcing the Night's Watch."
"What you are asking is no simple matter. If I try to convince my fellow lords to crown Targaryen again, then they will rebel. There is simply too much animosity. Perhaps you do not know the past happenings that led to the downfall of Targaryen, but the wound left by them will not be healed anytime soon."
"We know more than you do, Eddard Stark. We care not who sits on your throne, nor will we interfere in your politics, as it was agreed in our pact; neither are we asking you to crown Aemon Targaryen. You asked what can be done, and I told you what was foretold. Whether you choose to believe the prophecy or not, whether you choose to act or not, will not change the future.
"You can unite the Seven Kingdoms against the Night King and gather the greatest army ever seen since the formation of the Seven Kingdoms. With proper preparation, leadership, and luck ,you may even defeat the Night King.
"But he is not the true enemy, is he? Rather one of his generals, his herald. All your actions, all your deeds will do nothing more than delay the final confrontation. Aemon Targaryen will fight against the Great Other, and the outcome of that battle will decide whether the sun will rise again or if the darkness will reign." She stated it as the irrefutable truth. When Eddard said nothing, she continued.
"What do you think will happen when the army of dead crosses the wall? You will mount defence but the dead do not tire or eat; they are relentless. How will you kill what is already dead? Each fallen soldier of your force will join the undead army. Morale will be down; there will be no negotiation or ceasefire. Your crops will wilt and rivers will freeze. Mothers will smother their children to escape the inescapable fate. Brothers will kill brothers for the last morsel of food; many will turn to cannibalism. Only the song of ice and fire stands between that fate and the world of man." Leaf was painting a grim picture, similar to those of the dark days of the last Long Night.
The realm had bled enough. Was he going to plunge the seven kingdoms into another war of succession? He wanted to ask questions but feared he would be exposing Robb to the knowledge that he tried so desperately to hide.
"Robb, go look for Howland Reed and ask him to wait for me in my solar. I will be there shortly." He ordered.
"But father…" "Now Robb." He did not raise his voice but the command in his voice was firm. His son did not want to leave but he relented under his eyes and left the Godswood.
"Can you tell if he is gone?" He asked Leaf, to which she nodded her head after some time.
He sighed and continued, "Why are you certain that Aemon Targaryen has the power to end the Night King?"
"He has already proven his mettle. Was it not he that slew the Warrior and usurped his blade of victory and claimed the title of Campione? He has slain three gods so far and usurped their authorities. Believe me, Lord Stark, he is the only one capable of standing against the heretic gods and the coming darkness." There it was, that title again. Jon mentioned him being crowned by that title.
"You spoke of Jon claiming the title of Campione; I must ask what that entails." He asked, wanting to get the clear portrait. He regretted never really talking to Jon, but at that time he suspected him of contracting the Targaryen madness.
Leaf looked as if she was preparing for something, and Eddard could only wait for the answer. Finally, she opened her mouth. "Listen well, Eddard Stark, and take it as a warning if you must.
'A Campione, a Godslayer, is the Supreme Ruler. Since he had killed a celestial being, he can therefore call on the sacrosanct, divine power wielded by the gods.
'A Campione, a Godslayer, is a Lord. Since the power to kill a deity is in his hands, he therefore looms over all mortals on Earth.
'A Campione, a Godslayer, is a demon. For all the mortals who live in the world, none can assume a power to match his.'
Her words shook him. He could never have imagined such a thing to exist. However, it raised many questions.
"To put it in simple terms, Aemon Targaryen has the power of gods, and he will continue to grow stronger the more gods he defeats. Only gods and fellow Campione may dare to challenge him. The mortal weapons would break against his person, and poisons will prove ineffective. The mortals can do naught but bow their heads in deference and hope that the wrath of Campione does not fall on them. To challenge Campione is to court death. In the coming chaos of gods descending in the man's world and the approaching Long Night, is there anyone better to put your faith into?" She continued.
Eddard was afraid of it. If Jon decided to take back his birthright, then there was nothing he could do to stop him. If the ancient threat were not looming on their collective heads, then perhaps he could have tried to convince Jon to stay in Essos. But his return was inevitable, necessary even. And he was stuck between his oath and his duty. He may try to talk to Robert, but there was little chance of him listening. It was for the very reason that he hid Jon as his bastard, knowing that Robert could not be reasoned with.
He could not even begin to imagine how he would go about preparing Westeros for Jon's arrival. He needed support, and for that he would need tangible proof to justify supporting Targaryen.
"Leaf of Earth Singers, I must ask for your aid. The north is my home, and I must do my duty to prepare my people for the coming threat. The lords of Westeros and even the North have forgotten about the true purpose of the Wall. If I am to convince them of the coming darkness and prepare for it, then I must ask for your support. They might be my vassals, but they would just dismiss my concern while providing token support. I invite you to join me to discuss these matters with my lords so that we can convince them of the danger." He pleaded. The Earth Singer looked at him with an unreadable expression.
"You are asking too much of us, Stark Lord. The obscurity is our safety. We were hunted down to our last tribe. Even now, after centuries, our numbers have not recovered even a fraction of what they were. But even if I dare to reveal myself, your lords will still doubt my words. Our people have not interacted in generations, and we have drifted far apart. Even now, you are doubting my words, looking for an explanation that suits your view." Eddard shook his head.
"The Children of the Forest are part of northern culture. Everyone is looking for answers since the incident of Dreadfort and now Braavos. My vassal, Wayman Manderly, advised me to connect Jon to the northern culture. With your help, I can convince the lords to support him in the coming battle. As for your safety, you have my word as the Lord of the North and Stark that no one will dare harm you and yours. The lords of the north have maintained their faith through centuries, and the reemergence of the children of the forest will bolster that faith. In these turbulent times, I propose that we reaffirm the pact that our forefathers agreed to. With your support I would get the assent of my vassals to send a scouting party beyond the wall to look for tangible proof at the very least." He proposed, trying to make her see his point and asking for help. Leaf looked like she was contemplating something. The pact between the first men and the children of the forest was a sacred bond. He hoped that the possibility of reaffirming the pact might entice them.
"Your proposal to reaffirm the pact is greatly appreciated, Stark Lord, yet I cannot make such a decision lightly. Your word as a Stark may be enough, but I am the leader of my people and must adhere to my customs. I will discuss the matter with my peers and return three days hence with a decision. Be aware that it may not be simple. To reaffirm and strengthen our pact, you will be asked for a boon. In the meantime, I ask you to gather all the books you have taken from Dreadfort." Eddard accepted the decision, but in the meantime, he will begin his own preparation. He will need to bring in some lords he could trust into confidence. He saw the Earth Singer disappear into a crevice of the Heart tree. He checked but found nothing but a small hole with nowhere else to go. It would seem that the children of the forest had magical means to travel.
He shook his head and made his way towards his solar. He needed to gather the books and talk to Howland. If there was someone who was close to the myth of children of the forest, then it was Reeds. Aside from the fact that he was a close friend and knew the truth, there were rumours of them having the children of the forest in their ancestry. He did not know how much of it was true, but he had a feeling that Howland may prove to be more knowledgeable.
The children of the forest clearly wanted the books; maybe he could leverage the books to gain more information. Though, ultimately, it was for the benefit of Jon; he was the warden of the North, and right now he needed all the information he could get.
His line of thought led back to Jon and his role.
According to Leaf, it was his destiny to end the threat and end the second Long Night. But that did not reassure him. Would the North still be standing by the time Jon decided to interfere? No, it was his folly to think such. Jon loved Robb and had promised to come to his aid should he ever require it. It still left politics. He needed a way to contain the fallout that will occur when the truth comes out. It was akin to holding water in his hands as of late. The more he tried to hold on to it, the more it slipped. The first step would be to reveal the truth behind the rebellion on his own terms, at least to his vassals. After that he would need to deal with the loyalists who would want to use Jon and incite another war.
The preferable and the most peaceful path would be for Jon to marry Princess Myrcella in a way to combine the bloodline and end the animosity. As was done to end the animosity between the Greens and Blacks during the Dance.
But Robert would never agree. He would need to meet with Jon Arryn.
He would need to convince his foster father of the coming danger and their need for his nephew. Jon Arryn was a level-headed man and knew the importance of ending the fight in court rather than letting it answer itself in the field. His decision to take the bodies of Princess Elia and her children to Sunspear personally spoke of his commitment towards peace.
But what would he do if Jon wanted to reclaim his birthright? What if Jon wanted revenge for his half-brother and sister?
He shook his head; he was getting ahead of himself. He would first need to gather the evidence. The Earth Singer had been correct in their assessment. Even if he did not show it, he was sceptical of their words. But unless proved otherwise, he would prepare for the long night.
The Viper
Oberyn was enjoying his freedom. The wind was good, the captain of his ship was an old acquaintance of his and was not shy in bed, and the wine was plentiful, but most important of all, he had interesting company.
The woman, Saiten Taisei, was an open book and an enigma wrapped up in one shell. She never shied away from the truth and gave straightforward answers. But instead of resolving his curiosity, her answers raised even more questions. He previously considered himself a learned man, having studied in citadel but he was humbled to know that there was a lot more to know.
For the first time, he was interested in someone. Not to bed them but to learn from them.
"So, what is it that we need to look for?" They were moored near the 'Land of the Long Summer.' He wanted to travel to Norvos to collect his daughters and his paramour before heading towards Braavos. But Saiten insisted that there was something she needed to collect for Jon Snow.
Something that he will desperately need.
"A key, boyo. I will look for it because you will not recognise it. It is not a key in the conventional sense."
"Why would Snow need it?" He asked again, half out of curiosity and half out of boredom.
"He will be trapped in the near future, and this key will be needed if we want him to return." Ah yes, the importance of Jon Snow. He was the prophesied saviour, the hero who will end the second long night.
He snorted at first when he heard about it, but apparently the story of the Long Night was no mere story; rather, it was the history of their world. He did not know what he was going to do. Run to his brother, run to the Wall or gather his sellsword company and then head to the Wall. Saiten calmed him down. According to her, they had plenty of time to prepare but the most important figure for the fight was Jon Snow and they needed to guide him.
"How come you know so much about what will come to pass yet know nothing about the boy himself?" He had hoped that she may have the knowledge of Snow's mother but was disappointed.
Rather than responding verbally, she pulled a thin book out of her sleeve. (It still amazed him with the number of things she kept in her sleeve, and he even jokingly asked if she had a magic portal inside. He was somewhat disappointed to learn that rather than magic, there was a pouch sewn inside.)
He took the book and opened the first page.
"Who is Desmond?"
The Brown Pearl
Bellegre wanted to rub her face at the thick stupidity that permeated the chamber. For people who made money on wits and recognising the opportunity for what it was, they had decided to turn off their heads. The ruling class has been quiet for more than a year, but as if they forgot about the terrifying display of Aemon Targaryen's power, a group of like-minded people rose who wanted to remove Aemon from the throne. The argument has been going on for more than a moon, and the Sealord was fed up and has ultimately invited her to speak.
"It is against everything that we stand for!"
"I have contacts in the Asahi. If the traditional methods don't work, then perhaps the mystical side will take care of the trouble."
"The Sealord had no right to gamble the future of Braavos! Why should we be forced to abide by it?!"
For the past hour, the meeting hall in the Iron Bank has descended into a round argument. She had enough of it. She signalled the Sealord, who raised his hand to quieten the chamber. She stood in her seat and cleared her throat to bring attention to herself. It was a closed session and one of the rare few times she wielded her voice.
"My lords." Her voice was carried through the chamber. "If someone could explain to me, in simpler terms, what has riled you up?" She raised her hand when she saw one of the merchants, Vyrmar, her mind supplied, rising indignantly. "Yes, we bowed to Jon Snow. Declared the bastard of a Westrosi our king. But if there is someone who could point out what Jon Snow has done so far to 'end our way of life,' as you put it? Snow uses his title of king as much as you seem to use your wits in the past hour. Except for requesting our resources to keep an eye out for his half-siblings and requests for a few mummer's plays, what has he demanded? He had not yet demanded the reins of our city or to open the vaults of Iron-Bank, nor has he demanded details of our trade agreements. He even declined Sealord's manse when it was offered to him and asked for a simple manse, far below his position. Despite being named king, Jon Snow has yet to make demands to suit his station. Moreover, he appears to be far too agreeable to our requests. He has not changed the leadership of this city and left the ruling in capable hands, that of the Sealord and the Iron Bank, as it was before his conquest."
"But the current hierarchy is everything that we stand against. We choose our leaders rather than letting their blood dictate their place in our governing body. He may not interfere in our way of running our city, but what about the future? What about his children?" Synamar, one of the keyholders, protested.
"My lord, please forgive me if I am wrong, but you are the descendant of one of the original keyholders, are you not?" The implication of her words was not lost on anyone. "The world is changing." She continued. "Gods that have been sleeping for centuries are waking, and if the encounters so far have proved anything, it is that we are naught but ants to them. We can do nothing against them, but our new king can. We have the greatest protector calling our city his home, and he would do everything in his power to protect what is his. The god even proposed that our king stand aside in lieu of aiding him in taking back what was his, to which he declined." Few people in the audience shifted in their seats. The implication of Jon Snow's true identity was not lost to them. "Such protection cannot come without caveats." Her words resonated in the chamber, and she could see Ferrego's grateful smile directed at her. She decided to close her argument.
"So far, the new king has been humble and mellow, allowing us to govern ourselves rather than making unreasonable demands. Do not provoke him if you know what is best for us. Believe me when I say this: naught but destruction lies in that path. There will be no negotiation, no terms, only annihilation. The world is changing, so should we." Even though her reason silenced most of the naysayers, she could spot that Vyrmar and his ilk were not satisfied. She knew the reason.
He was in the competition for the position of Sealord against Ferrego. He formed a coalition with fellow merchants who were against Jon Snow. Vyrmar thought if he could gather enough leverage, then he could take the position of Sealord. Most of his plans fell down when Jon sunk one of his ships that was anchored in the bay.
Though she did not know if it was just luck or if something divine guided his hands, Jon managed to sink the one ship that contained the ledgers and accounts of almost all of Vyrmar's trade. Unfortunately for him, there have been no other copies of those ledgers that were not on that ship. Without those books, most of Vyrmar's trade empire was rudderless and out of his hands. He had managed to bury the news because his entire network hung on that thin thread, and she had no intention of rocking the ship until it suited her purpose. It would take him years to recover from that loss and re-establish his contacts.
"Lady Bellegre, it still leaves the question of leverage. Jon Snow has the ultimate power, but it would behove us to have a counter against him to maintain balance. It is not the policy of Iron Bank to invest in something that we do not have leverage over. He is a growing boy and may prove to be a tyrant later in life. Merchant Xer Ab Xavi is perhaps correct in his suggestion that we should look at the mystical side of things." Keyholder Aenar suggested. She shook her head.
"Keyholder Aenar, I would advise against such folly. Unless the shadow binders of Asahi have been killing gods in secret or have a god that they may have bound and/or are in contact with, they will be of no help. In the best case, they might make Snow laugh or make him furious enough to retaliate, which no one wants. Make no mistakes, my lord. Jon Snow has the power to kill gods and usurp their authorities. You can say that he stands in the same plane of existence as them. What our king, however, lacks is the ability to limit his power. Even if Iron-Bank can broker a favourable deal with a god to stand against Jon Snow, I beg you all to provoke him far away from our beloved city." The merchants and keyholders argued back and forth for some more time, but their argument had lost its fire after her words.
Still, it took more time than necessary for the council to be dismissed. She had her schedule full, though the next task on her list was not a chore. She had taken young Daenerys under her wing. The little girl was starved for female guidance and had latched onto her. Bellegre felt no small amount of affection for her. She looked at little Daenerys, or Dany as she insisted, like a favoured niece or even a little sister. Dany, in return, looked at her (dare she say) as a motherly figure.
She began teaching her about her courtly duties and expectations as a princess. Dany was ecstatic to learn that the line of Black Pearl originated from the Targaryen line and diligently attended the lessons. It was during these lessons that it was revealed that Daenerys Targaryen had a knack for interpreting signs and visions.
Though far less powerful than her own abilities, Dany's vision lacked the focus and dealt in signs rather than people or events. It was akin to when the gift first manifested in the Black Pearl bloodline.
She was also a quick learner and was interested in Valyrian literature, eager to know her family's history. She began to nudge and guide her towards the spiritual aspects and myths of the Valyria and hoped to expand her interest to all things spiritual.
She was shaping the young girl to become the spiritual advisor for Aemon. Bellegre was filling the role, but her primary duty was towards Braavos. She was grooming the girl to take her place beside Aemon. Dany was aware of her responsibilities, for she diligently studied the materials provided to her. She was also endearing herself to Aemon's linking.
Similarly, her brother was grooming her to be Aemon's queen, to keep the Targaryen line pure. Something that the northern upbringing of Aemon abhorred. She did not dare to stop it, as it was sure to soon develop into a drama. Though she would interfere if she found that Viserys was pressuring Dany into something she was uncomfortable with.
Aemon looked at Viserys and Daenerys as if he was trying not to place them as substitutes for his own cousins. The first meeting with Viserys had gone much better than expected, but her heart went out to little Dany. She was stuck between wanting to become close to the only other Targaryen aside from her brother and the fear of the boy raised by the usurper's dog, as Viserys used to call Eddard Stark.
Aemon did not help matters when he struck Viserys for running his mouth and thrashed him again the very next day in the training field. But the Targaryen siblings were slowly forming a bond with their Westrosi cousin.
Dany clung to her when Ser Willem died, and she took the responsibility of the girl wholeheartedly.
They had also gained a follower from the sunset kingdom. Aurane Waters had pledged his sword in service of Aemon. Though the boy was older than Aemon, he voluntarily took his place under him. The boy admired Aemon. A bastard himself, he loved his trueborn siblings and his lord father.
He had a sharp and devious mind, and one would be a fool to take his words at face value. She found that the boy's true loyalties lay with his family, and fortunately for them, Lord Velaryon still held his oaths to House Targaryen.
Slowly but surely, the boy had found his place within a close circle of Aemon's trusted people.
She had a feeling that Aemon had begun collecting his court.
On the heavier side, she would need to keep her mystical eyes on the naysayers and merchants on the fence. It was clear that they would go to any length to maintain their status quo, regardless of the fallout.
"My lady." Her chief of guard, Dellono, was waiting for her on the steps to help her in the carriage. She placed her hand in his palm as he helped her climb the steps of the carriage.
"Has our king returned?" She asked. Aemon wanted to go to Valyria, but he had no idea what he was going to do there. It took her some time, but she convinced him to prepare for it. He had taken the decision as expected of a child. Though he lacked patience, she was able to impart her worry towards his well-being. In a fit of childish rebellion, he had taken to wandering the lands on the boundary of Braavos.
"No, my lady. The last message implied that the king has taken a detour from his usual routes and will likely not return for the next moon." She had expected as such. Aurane and Viserys often accompanied him in his travels, but Viserys had declined this time. Without Viserys, Aurane often goaded Aemon to go on adventures. Hopefully, he would not wander near the other free cities. She feared the political headache it would cause if he accidentally destroyed a free city. Her eyes caught a shock of grey beards poking through the throng of guards that protected her.
The man, whose beard and hair looked like a mane of lion, was trying to get her attention.
"Who is that man?" She asked.
"He claims to be a septon and a scholar. He wanted to talk to you, but I asked him to reach you through proper channels. He was quite insistent on meeting you."
"Did you get his name?" Something about the man intrigued her, for it was rare to find a follower of God with scholarly pursuits.
"He said his name was Desmond, my lady." She gave a little 'hmm' of acknowledgement but did not comment further. She entered her carriage and signalled Dellono to proceed. It would not do for her to allow strangers to approach in public. There was a reason for the existence of proper channels to get an audience with her.
She dismissed the septon-cum-priest out of her mind. She had more pressing matters to attend to and a girl to train.
To be continued.
IT'S ALIVE!
It has been a third of the year since I last updated. I have no excuse.
The dialogue between Lead and Ned Stark took too much time. I knew what I wanted, but it was difficult to write it down. I wanted it to be smooth, but my first few drafts looked forced, so I decided to sleep on it.
…and kind of forgot about it.
A friend had to remind me that I had not touched this fic in a long time.
I can only apologise for this.
Now to answer some reviews:
helrio uzugaku– Ned will not suspect Jon attacking Lysa because he does not know about her and Baelish's part in rebellion. He would have suspected him if Robert was attacked. Ned does not have the information needed. His oaths will be tested; that much I can say.
Khal Drogo may or may not come. The Dothraki are a warrior culture and would not respect someone who fell from his horse. Maybe he will decide to be cautious, or maybe he will cross his blade against him to prove himself to be the better warrior.
Viserys of this period is different from the cannon. His thirst for revenge will reveal its head from time to time and his dragon blood will show but currently he is not that far gone.
As for him leaving Westeros, I tried to develop a little wanderlust in Jon and intense curiosity in his origin. He was always going to leave Westeros; Eddard Stark just gave him a reason to.
tsun– I have held back on MC pov because I wanted to introduce different elements. There are other important characters who are crucial for the progression of this story. But worry not; next chapter will start from Jon's pov.
.71 – Mediaeval justice/politics at its finest.
Ariadne Venegas– Eddard may hate it, but he knows he needs to play politics. Catelyn will have her redemption arc, but as I wrote above, Robb noticed that his mother's reactions and attitude change looked forced. She has somewhat accepted the changed status quo, but Jon is still a bastard in her eyes. There will be internal struggles.
That is all for now. Thanks for all the reviews, and tell me what you think about this chapter and if I revealed the truth about the long night too early.
See you soon.