Oaths of Honor

Winterfell 293 AC.

Jon.

Sitting in his room he tried reconcile what Jaime had said to him about Walder's song, he had tried to talk to the man himself but he just told him he'd heard the song once and it stuck in his head. This though didn't make sense to him, how could he have heard a song written by his father? Where could he have heard it?. Jon hadn't bothered to speak to Nan about it, the woman had made it clear how tired she was and he could speak to her on the morrow.

But that still didn't make the questions in his head go away, still didn't resolve the feelings he was dealing with. He got up from his bed and walked over to where he'd hidden the chest and took out the letters and the egg carrying them back to his bed. As he lay down he looked over his father's writing, saw how elegant it was, how precisely each word was written. Just glancing at the signature at the end and seeing his father's name written in his own hand made his breath catch in his throat and so he began to read.

The first few were simply asking how his uncle was and whether he needed anything but after a while the letters started detailing events at the Red Keep and referencing his grandfathers behavior. He closed his eyes in hope that the letters wouldn't detail what kind of things Aerys did but unfortunately it was not to be. It was references to how Aerys treated his grandmother though that had Jon sitting up in the bed, it didn't go into detail but it seemed his grandmother bore the brunt of his grandfathers madness.

He would need to speak to Jaime about this, to find out just exactly what his grandfather did to his grandmother, to find out why no one stopped him. After reading a letter which spoke of Elia and the birth of his sister Jon couldn't help but smile, how his father gushed over Rhaenys, how he pointed out every little thing she did like it was the greatest thing he'd ever witnessed. Placing the letters carefully on the table he lay back and gripped the egg tightly before falling to sleep and hoping to see his sister when he did so.

" You're late." Rhaenys said as she raced towards him.

" I'm sorry Rhae, I was reading father's letters." Jae answered.

" Oh, well come quickly I've something to show you." she said grabbing his hand.

His sister led him across a green field and into a ruined castle, the walls were stained black and crumbled and the floor was almost melted away. While Jae walked carefully, Rhaenys seemed to just skip from one patch of broken floor to another and she led him to a large open space in the middle. It's walls had burned away to nothing and above him was nothing but sky, here it seemed the flames had done the most damage.

" Do you know what happened here Jae?"

" No, where are we Rhae?"

" Summerhall." Rhaenys said sadly "This is where our family almost fell Jae, but do you know what happened here?"

" They tried to hatch dragon eggs." Jae said looking around the room.

" No Jae, this was where father was born." Rhae said smiling as they moved back from the castle and walked up on top of a nearby hill, they looked down while the fires raged, the flames green and terrible in the distance.

Rhaenys pointed above to the sky and Jae watched as a dragon flew in the distance, its white body was clear against the darkness and it's blue wings were only able to be seen against the light of the moon. He watched as the dragon flew towards the flames, as it slowed and circled before turning back and flying away. Before he had a chance to say anything he was standing with Rhaenys outside a room in the Red Keep. He could hear pained screams in the distance and he turned to run towards them but Rhaenys just smiled and held his hand tighter and they walked slowly together.

" It's alright Jae, a dragon's being born." she said as she led him through the room.

He saw a woman laying in the bed holding a babe while a silver haired man looked on happily, father he thought and felt Rhaenys grip his hand while she pointed at the babe.

" See Jae a dragon." she smiled.

He looked closer and could see the purple eyes of the babe, the dark skin, it was her, his sister and the woman holding her was Elia, he looked to his father and he could see it the love he had for both, for his wife and child. Rhaenys brought him to the balcony and pointed in the distance and he watched as the dragon flew closer its blue wings flapping happily as it landed on the tower in front of them, it's eyes dark and black as it looked down on them both.

" A dragon knows a dragon Jae." Rhaenys said and as he went to answer her he saw the dark clouds gather and so he pulled her to him and held her tight against his chest.

He saw a small girl with silver hair running through unfamiliar streets as she tried to escape the creatures that followed. He saw a huge dark horse and a woman with wings and the legs of a bird, her dark tail crashing down and almost hitting the girl. He saw a black wingless dragon running towards her while a ferocious stag snuck up on her from behind. He looked on as the girl came up against a wall and the creatures began to slow before a giant ferocious dog chased them all away.

He saw a star fade as it fell to the ground only for it to rise to the sky and shine even brighter, he saw a beast run from the light, it's lion's body and scorpions tail racing towards the retreating shadows only for it to be caught up in a net and for it to struggle to get free.

He saw a giant bite the head of a large snake while he crushed smaller ones beneath his feet.

He saw a giant grey wolf howl against the moon while around it smaller wolves joined in.

He saw a tree in the distance with a large raven sitting on it's branches cawing as a white dragon unleashed it's flames.

He looked on as the dragon flew towards him getting closer and closer until it landed, it's blue wings lowered and it's head faced him the dragon's purple eyes bidding him forward.

" A dragon knows a dragon." he heard a woman's voice say loudly.

Jaime.

He was surprised when Jon knocked on his door early, even more so when he asked for a spar, though they had been remiss on this trip and had done so only sparingly. So he quickly dressed and he and Jon went out into the cool crisp morning air, whatever tiredness he had leaving as the chill hit him. The difference between the inside of the keep and outside was stark he thought as he smirked, the pipes Jon had told him about which kept the place warm were much needed.

He could tell how agitated Jon was by the way he moved when grabbing their swords, they had progressed to using live steel in their own spars, something that Jon and Loras had been doing for a while. But when he saw Jon grab the tourney swords he began to worry, though when Jon nodded he quickly focused to the spar itself, knowing his king needed to get this part out of his system first.

"To five my lord?" Jon asked.

"Aye, to five." Jaime smirked.

"I may actually get one today." Jon japed back and he laughed.

"Really, I think you're letting your easy victory yesterday cloud your mind Jon." Jaime said as he chuckled.

"Ah but I've at least had some practice my lord, how long's it been since you last worked out those muscles." Jon said and Jaime moved forward to swing.

It took him a decent amount of time to get the first hit in and Jon in that time had almost caught him twice, his speed was starting to outmatch even his own, but strength, reach and experience were still on Jaime's side. While he was also still a fair bit ahead of him on technique that gap was closing quickly too, Jaime thought as he gained his second hit.

The third one he had to admit he got lucky on, they'd been sparring for what felt like an age but was surely not even an hour yet and Jon moved to catch him on the right. It was only because he slipped as he went to parry that allowed Jon to miss and his own hit to land. Something which even got a smile out of the far too serious Jon in this particular spar, the fourth hit was an incredible riposte and Jaime doubted he'd ever hit a better one.

"It seems your luck's not with you again today Jon." Jaime said smirking, though in fact he was trying to get Jon to open up.

"No my lord it doesn't, though perhaps yours isn't either." Jon said aiming two quick strikes at him.

"Since I'm winning four to nought, I beg to differ, though in my case it is talent not luck." Jaime said as he feigned a thrust.

"Oh I wasn't talking about the spar my lord?" Jon said smiling as he spun quickly left, then right and then left again before aiming a swing which Jaime barely parried.

"So what are you talking about then?" Jaime aimed two quick thrusts before using a couple of half swings to try and catch Jon out.

"Oh I was talking about your betrothed not being here," Jon said and Jaime took a step back before laughing as he moved forward deciding he needed to put Jon in his place for his attempted dirty trick.

The swords clashed and moved faster and faster now, both of them in full swing, they parried each others blows as if they were nothing, saw through each others feints and dismissed their ripostes. In the end it was a simple swing which earned Jaime the victory and also Jon his point. As Jon ducked and spun and was hit in the side at the same time as his own blade caught Jaime on his sword arm.

"Well done, I knew you'd get him." a little voice said forcing them both to turn around to see who it was.

"Really little wolf shouldn't you be asleep." Jon said as he walked over to his sister.

"But you were sparring and I wanted to see." the little girl pouted.

"Oh she's definitely your sister all right." Jaime said and the little girl beamed at him.

"Why don't you go get properly dressed and we'll go break our fast."

"All right, but you'll speak to father about the bow won't you?" Arya said and both Jon and Jaime laughed.

"I promised didn't I little wolf." Jon said mussing her hair before she ran off.

He watched as Jon stared at the little girl as she ran off back towards the keep, her little legs moving swiftly as she dodged the little puddles in her way with ease.

"She's a wild little thing isn't she?" Jaime said

"Aye, she's fierce." Jon said smiling "Would you walk with me to the godswood my lord?"

"Aye why not."

Jon placed the tourney swords back and they headed off towards the godswood walking in a comfortable silence, he was pleased to see the agitation had been replaced by an almost calmness and it reminded him why he loved to spar so. As they walked he could see the keep come to life, there were people starting to move around, guards being changed and it reminded him that he really needed to talk to Stark today.

Jon had been practically unguarded while here, Ghost had been with him of course, though even the wolf had raced off from time to time and was missing yet again, but Jors and Alyrs had barely been able to do their job. While there may not be any threats here, it had still made him nervous to leave his king without protection and it could wait no longer. Unfortunately given that Jon had told his uncle he knew the truth, Jaime doubted he'd get away with just a conversation about his guards.

"I wished to speak to you privately my lord which is why it's better done here." Jon said as they entered the godswood obviously taking Jaime's silence for confusion.

"Aye I know Jon, I was just thinking of other matters."

"Really I only mentioned her once my lord." Jon japed.

"No, well I mean yes of course I think of Dacey, but not just now." Jaime said.

"Are you nervous my lord, about the wedding I mean?" Jon asked.

"What? No, I mean yes, I mean. gods, No I'm not about the wedding or the marriage, it's more what it means for us actually, you and I. I'm supposed to be your Kingsguard and I know, I know what you said about the vows Jon, but.."

"Actually about that I wanted to speak to you on that too." Jon said stopping him and holding out his hand.

Jaime looked down at the object in Jon's hand in shock, he couldn't, not him, someone else surely.

"Jaime Lannister, I would name you hand of the king." Jon said as he handed him the golden hand pin.

"Jon, I."

"There's no else my lord, no one who's done as much for me or whose advice I respect more. You can't be a Kingsguard my lord and it has nothing to do with your vows or with Dacey, its just you're more than that, to me you're a lot more."

"I accept." Jaime said and Jon smiled broadly. "We may have to hide the pin for a while longer though."

"We've hidden a lot already, that shouldn't be a problem." Jon said laughing.

They reached the heart tree and sat down and Jaime put the pin in his pocket, had circumstances been different he'd have laughed at the irony of a Lannister serving a Targaryen king as hand once more. But he was not his father and Jon was as far from Aerys as one could be, this time they'd do it right, this time the Lion and the Dragon would be united in a common goal, one without ambition or madness.

"I had a dream last night my lord, a vision, some parts of it make sense and some not so much, but before I get to that there's something I need to know, I need you to tell me my lord, even if you don't wish to." Jon said.

"Tell you what?"

"My grandmother, what did he do to her?" Jon asked and Jaime gulped.

"Jon I…" he took a breath " "Are you sure you want to know my king." Jaime asked.

"I need to." Jon said determinedly as he stood up.

So he told him everything, of his grandfathers madness, his tortures, his killings and how fire excited him and what he did to relieve that excitement. He looked on as Jon's hands balled into fists, as he paced up and down, he thought about standing up and trying to calm him down but he waited to allow him do it himself.

"What of the Kingsguard?" Jon asked after a few moments.

"I asked Ser Jonathor one day, told him that we were sworn to protect your grandmother too."

"Of course you were, why didn't you." Jon said angrily.

"He told me we were, but not from him, that when we donned that cloak we swore to obey." Jaime said.

Jon shook his head and continued to pace up and down, his hand clenching and unclenching as he looked from the tree to Jaime and back again, before he knelt before the tree.

"I swear it here in this sacred place that never again will a queen suffer for the lack of protection. Never again will a kings word be enough to stay the hand of men when he acts a tyrant or seeks to harm those he's sworn to protect. I swear it by the old gods and the new, I Swear it by Fire and Blood." Jon said as he reached his hand out to touch the tree.

"I told you the oaths were shit." Jon said as turned around and reached over to touch him on the shoulder.

"Aye you did." Jaime nodded.

"Tell me about Sandor Clegane my lord." Jon said sitting down beside him."

"Clegane why?" Jaime asked in confusion.

"He's called The Hound is he not?"

"Aye, Jon why do you want to know about Clegane?"

"I think I'm supposed to send him to look after my family." Jon said to Jaime's surprise.

He proceeded then to tell him of his dreams, tell him of Ser Richard and the plans they'd made and how the dreams seemed to both involve those plans and offer up some worries about them. Jaime was a little put out by the fact that he'd made some plans with Richard he hadn't told him about especially those concerning Dorne. But it was the idea of the falling star which hit him even more than the idea of sending Clegane to protect Jon's uncle and aunt though he spoke of the former first.

"Clegane's a far better man than people think Jon, you know my father hired him to be my nephew's sworn shield?"

"No my lord I didn't."

"Aye, the moment he learned about my father's death he walked away vowing never to serve my house again."

"Why?"

"Well my sister is crazy and her son is just as bad, I doubt he liked serving either of them but with my father alive, well he'd have bore a grudge, had he done so with him alive, my father would have had him killed."

"Can he be trusted my lord?"

"I believe so Jon, do you believe the dreams?"

"I do?" Jon nodded.

"The star Jon, it's Arthur."

"Aye I know."

"I don't know the beast though." Jaime said shaking his head.

"I do. It's Amory Lorch." Jon said.

Ned.

After breaking his fast he asked Sansa and Arya to come see him in his solar, both his girls had been disappointed that Jon hadn't turned up and Arya especially so, but Ned was more concerned that Jaime Lannister hadn't shown either. The two of them were obviously together as Loras and the Reeds had come down and neither knew where they had gone. The Tyrell boy had got up to go find them only for Ghost to arrive and almost force him to stay which had been a sight to see.

He would deal with the boys later once he got the full story of what had occurred out of the way, he had spent last night watching and though both boys behaved well he noticed the looks Theon threw Jon's way. Cat too, though she had made her feelings far more vocal and yet again he had spent the night alone in his bed.

"My lord, your daughters are here." Alyn said from the door.

"Good Alyn, send them in."

His two girls couldn't be more different and yet both it seemed had taken well to Jon which made him happy, he had feared with the boy gone for so long that a distance would have grown between them. He had in fact thought that Jon and Robb would easily fall into their old pattern, the two boys having been inseparable once, yet it was the girls it seemed who'd welcomed their brother more eagerly.

"Father you wished to see us." Sansa said politely.

"Is this about my bow?" Arya asked hopefully.

"Bow, what bow?"

"Jon didn't tell you." Arya said annoyed.

"I haven't seen your brother yet."

"Oh, he must be getting it for me."

"Getting what?" he asked.

"My bow."

"Oh all right." he said not knowing what she meant and figuring it was better to just move along.

"I wanted to ask you about what happened yesterday in the yard with Robb and Jon." Ned said looking at both his daughters.

"Jon beat them both." Arya said smiling.

"Aye, I know, but why were they fighting?"

"Because Theon and Robb are stupid" Arya said.

"Sansa?" he said looking to his older daughter.

"Jon did nothing wrong father." Sansa said.

"I know that Sansa, but I heard Theon said something to start it, is that right?"

"Yeah he called Sansa a bitch." Arya said angrily.

"He what? Sansa is this true?"

"It is father, he called me that word and he moved as if he was coming to me, but Jon I..I don't know, only Theon was on the ground and Jon was telling them if they wanted a spar he'd give them one." Sansa said shakily.

"Sansa it's all right, Jon's not in trouble, I just need to know what happened, what did Robb do when all this was going on?"

"Nothing he just stood there like always." Arya said.

"Always, this has happened before?"

"Yes father, though sometimes Robb says things too, yesterday he didn't though he just stood there." Sansa said shaking her head a little more angrily now.

"Well then I'm glad your other brother was there yesterday." Ned said and both Arya and Sansa smiled.

"I am too father." Sansa said.

"All right, thank you girls, now I think you have lesson to go to, I shall see you both later.

The girl said their goodbyes and left and Ned reached over and took a mug of water, this was worse than he'd thought, not only had Robb and Theon behaved how Jon had said, but apparently they'd been doing things like this for some time. He would need to think more on this, Jon was right if Robb was behaving like this with his sisters, how was he behaving with everyone else, yes he'd need to think on this carefully.

Sansa.

Her lessons were boring, she hated to admit it but ever since Jon and Loras had arrived she had been finding herself more and more bored during Septa Mordane's lessons. Only coming out of that boredom once the Septa inevitably made some disparaging remark about her brother. She smiled as she absentmindedly played with the wolf pendant he'd given her, looking over to her sister she saw she too was paying just as much attention to the Septa.

Being called in to see her father this morning had worried her, she knew what it was about, what it could only be about but she worried how her father would handle it. Would he send Jon away? Force him to leave? She hoped not and so she had resolved to tell her father the whole truth. To speak up for her brother just like he had for her and she had been relieved when her father had accepted her word.

"Lady Sansa are you not finished?" Septa Mordane asked.

"I am." Sansa said and placed the embroidery down on the table.

She had almost finished Jon's handkerchief and had started to make one for Loras too, but at the moment she was finishing her present for Lord Jaime and Lady Dacey, she hoped they'd like it. The Septa picked it up and smiled at the quality of the work but then for some reason frowned perhaps remembering who it was for. Not that Sansa cared as she was starting to see why her sister had such a problem with Stinky Septa as she called her and Sansa had to bite her tongue not to laugh.

When they were given leave to go Arya raced off while Sansa walked in a far more ladylike fashion, she had no real plans for the rest of the day and hoped Jon and Loras wouldn't be too busy to spend time with her. She set off in the direction of Jon's room hoping he'd be there and as she walked she bumped into literally, her older brother.

"Watch where you're going." Robb said annoyed.

"I'm sorry Robb."

"Sansa." she heard Jon's voice call to her.

She looked to Robb who was scowling at her and then to Jon who was waving her towards him with a smile on her face, moving away she heard her brother huff in annoyance as he walked off in the opposite direction. It never even entered her mind to wonder what he was doing in this wing of the keep, though given the look Jon was given his retreating form, it may have entered his.

"Morning little sister." Jon said smiling at her.

"Morning Jon, is Loras not with you?"

"No, I think he's with Lord Jaime, so are you busy?"

"No, actually I've nothing to do." she said sadly.

"Well how about I teach you to draw like I promised." he said and she smiled while nodding her head.

They walked down the corridor to Jon's room and she watched as he frowned a little before unlocking it, as they entered she saw him look around and he moved a chair for her to sit on while he went to get the parchment. She saw a folded piece of parchment on the table and picked it up, opening it she saw a picture of a woman with dark hair and grey eyes, it looked familiar to her somehow though she couldn't place it.

"Jon, who is this?" she said holding the picture.

"Oh, that's' my..Our Aunt Lyanna." Jon said.

Sansa looked at the picture even closer now, the girl was beautiful, her eyes full of life and her hair tied over her shoulder, it looked almost lifelike and Sansa tried to reconcile the picture with the statue in the crypt. While there were similarities there were far more differences, looking again at the picture she far preferred this to the stillness and coldness of the statue. Carefully placing the picture down she noticed more parchment folded and so she picked them up, there were some more pictures of even younger girls.

The first was barely older than Arya, the second a beautiful girl not much older than Sansa herself and the last an even older girl, though none of these were finished and it seemed Jon had left room to change the colors. She found herself eager to know who these girls were and just why they were important to her brother, perhaps they could be friends of hers too, the younger girl maybe friends with Arya.

"Jon who are these of?" she asked handing him the pictures.

"Oh those are just some people I know. This is Joy though I need her hair to be blond and her eyes green," he said holding the picture of the youngest girl "She's Lord Jaime's cousin."

"And this is Margaery, Loras's sister." he added handing her the picture of the slightly older girl "Though it's not really finished yet either." he said with a soft smile.

She looked at the picture more closely now, seeing the resemblance to Loras even more clearly, she felt so envious of her brother for being friends with these people, even here in the north she'd heard tales of the Tyrells. Meeting Loras had been something she enjoyed very much and looking at the picture of his sister, she could see herself being friends with her if she only had the chance.

"Do you know Lady Margaery well?"

"Aye, she's one of my closest friends." Jon said his smile much broader now.

"Who is this one?" she asked holding the last picture and noticing a strange look come over her brother's face, before he got to answer though there was a knock on his door and their father entered.

"Jon I was wondering if we may speak, Sansa do you mind if Jon comes with me."

"No father, Jon and I can speak later." Sansa said disappointingly.

"Why don't you get more inks and parchments Sansa and as soon as I'm finished I'll come see you." Jon said and she nodded enthusiastically.

"All right, father did you see this?" she said handing her father the picture of their aunt "It's aunt Lyanna, isn't it wonderful." she said smiling.

Her father just looked at the picture and then at Jon a sad expression on his face, he smiled sadly and handed Jon back the picture before turning to move to the door.

"It's incredible Sansa, Jon,." he said before turning "I'll see you in the godswood Jon."

"Aye Lord Stark, I'll be there in a moment."

Jon turned to her and gave her a warm smile before leaning over to place a soft kiss on her forehead, she looked to him and nodded before leaving and heading to the Maester to get more parchment and some colored inks wanting to do this right.

Loras.

When he had finished breaking his fast and after Jon's sisters had headed off to their lesson's, Loras looked to Ghost who finally let him up from his seat, why the wolf had chosen to keep him there he knew not. He and the Reeds left the hall and as they were walking from the keep he saw Lord Jaime walking alone and so told Meera and Jojen he'd speak to them later and rushed over to his lord.

"Is everything all right my lord?" he said looking around for Jon.

"Aye it is Loras, Jon has some things to take care of, so why don't you come and we'll have a spar, it's been far too long." Jaime said and Loras nodded eagerly.

When Meera saw where they were headed she and Jojen followed along, no doubt she wish to spar with them too, he wondered briefly how she'd do against Lord Jaime, but then figured he'd likely not spar against her. Entering the sparring yard he saw both Theon and Robb training hard under the watchful eye of Ser Rodrik, so he and Jaime found a slightly more secluded area and quickly began to get ready. Sparring with live steel was a completely different proposition, firstly you needed to be padded up and secondly the rules and consequences for breaking them were much more serious.

But compared to sparring with tourney swords the improvements made were incredible, his improvement since he came to Casterly Rock was dwarfed in far less time by the improvement made using live steel. He and Jaime sparred for almost an hour and he was practically exhausted by the end while Jaime was barely breathing heavy, he was surprised when Jaime agreed to spar against Meera though.

"It'll be tourney swords though Lady Meera." Jaime said.

"Off course my lord."

"You're not really going to spar against a girl." the snide voice of Theon Greyjoy said the master of arms having obviously been called away.

"You should address him as My Lord, Greyjoy or have you learned no manners here in Winterfell." Loras said angrily.

"Oh I'm sorry My Lord." he mockingly retorted.

"To answer your question yes I am, Though given both your performances yesterday I find it amusing that either of you would even recognize a spar." Jaime said and Loras and Jojen laughed.

"We've been trained under Ser Rodrik my lord." Robb said dismissively.

"Ah, but even a master couldn't train either of you to be adequate." Jaime said turning as Meera walked towards him carrying a spear.

"The bastard got lucky yesterday, had we have warmed up we'd have beaten him easily." Robb said and Loras felt his blood rise, before he could say or do anything though Jaime looked at him and smiled.

"Really, so you two think you could beat my other squire then do you?" Jaime said and Loras smirked.

"Easily, him or the bastard or even both together." Theon said and Loras couldn't help but laugh at the smirk on Jaime's face.

"Very well then, he'll face you both." Jaime said.

"My lord, I think they were talking about facing Jon and Loras together." Meera sad sarcastically.

"No Meera, we must make it fair, Jon blindfolded would beat both of them together." Jaime said to laughs as Robb and Theon glared angrily.

Loras walked over and grabbed his tourney sword and stood waiting for the two boys to come forward, he heard them laugh as they walked towards him and out of the corner of his eye he saw Jon walk out of the keep. Both he and Ser Rodrik walked over to see what was happening and he saw his friend move quickly until Jaime shook his head making him stop halfway across the yard, Loras nodded to him and Jon smiled.

"What's going on here?" Ser Rodrik asked?

"It' seems your charges wish to be thought another lesson Ser." Jaime said.

"What?"

"They insulted my squire yet again and disparaged his skills, now they wish to face my other squire, so I've evened the odds."

"Fine." Ser Rodrik said shaking his head disappointingly though he quickly looked more annoyed when he saw it was to be Robb and Theon against him "I thought you said you evened the odds my lord?"

"I did." Jaime said nodding to Loras.

Unlike Jon yesterday the lesson Loras wished to teach them both was to be a far more painful one, they had insulted his king, his friend and Loras wouldn't stand for it. So the first blow caught Greyjoy on the arm while the second cracked against Robb's knee, before they had recovered the third and fourth caught them hard again. This time he'd hit Greyjoy's non sword hand hard getting a pained yelp from the boy, while he'd caught Robb on the shoulder.

Loras didn't notice when Jon's sisters arrived, he didn't see Arya stand beside Meera looking on excitedly or the worry on Sansa's face as she walked towards Jon, he was far too busy. For the next ten minutes, he danced past the angry blows Theon and Robb sent his way, he parried a blow from Theon into Robb getting a grunt from him in return. He caught Robb with a leg sweep which he hit so hard that the boy crashed heavily to the ground.

"Jon." he heard Lord Stark's voice and it almost cost him a hit in the head but he ducked out of the way at the last moment.

He retaliated with two really hard swipes catching Theon on his arm and in his side watching on as the boy backed away in pain, before turning his attention to Robb, this time he was relentless. As annoying as the Greyjoy was it was Robb who angered Loras the most, what Jon had said yesterday was still in his mind. This was your brother, your sister and you preferred the company of a hostage, preferred to comment and sneer and belittle rather than be what a brother was supposed to be.

The blows he aimed were hard, fast and true, to the arm, the leg, the side, the shoulder and eventually to the sword hand knocking the sword to the ground. Theon had backed away so far that he was almost running from the yard and Loras felt so angered by this that he raised his sword for another hit on Robb only for Lord Stark to shout across the yard.

"Enough, it's over." the lord said walking towards them.

"As you say my lord." Loras said turning to walk away.

Why Theon Greyjoy decided to then make a move to attack him he didn't know, well he did the boy was a coward, why he assumed he'd make it though was beyond him, but he heard the pained scream. Turning he saw the Greyjoy backing up and crouching in the corner, Ghost approaching him with fangs bared, he gave the boy credit for not soiling himself though the panicked words coming from him would take time to live down.

"Get him away from me, please, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, please don't let him eat me." the Iron Born said as he cried in the corner.

"Jon, control your wolf." Lord Stark said and Jon just nodded as Ghost walked over to be rubbed gratefully on the head.

"Ser Rodrik, bring the boys to see Maester Luwin, Lord Tyrell explain yourself." Lord Stark said angrily.

"Perhaps you should ask your son and hostage to explain themselves Lord Stark, Loras was doing as he was bid by them both." Jaime said taking his arm and walking away.

"You did very well Loras, very well indeed." Jaime said laughing when they were out of earshot.

Jon.

After seeing the humbling Loras gave his brother and Theon he couldn't remove the grin form his face if he tried. His uncle had still insisted he speak to him though so Jon had reassured Sansa that everything was all right and had watched as Loras and Jaime walked off. He nodded to Meera and Jojen to look after his sisters and turned to walk to the godswood,. Seeing Jors and Alyrs standing just a little bit off he motioned to them to stay and he and Ghost walked towards the Heart Tree where his uncle was waiting.

"What in the name of the gods was that all about?" his uncle said angrily.

"I believe Theon and Robb didn't learn anything from yesterday Lord Stark."

"Enough with this Lord Stark business, call me Ned or uncle when we're alone Jon." his uncle's voice still raised.

"I told you yesterday how Robb behaves is being noticed uncle."

"You had no right Jon." Ned sighed "I welcome you bringing it to my attention, but what you said, how you said it, had you been anyone else I'd have had you removed. I'm Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North and you'll respect that."

"You're right uncle, I was angry, I should have thought more about how I said things, but what I said is the truth and you need to take note of it."

"What do you mean?"

"Forget about what they said about me, even forget about Sansa for a moment. They just insulted the lord of one of the most important houses in the realm, bad enough to make him wipe the floor with them in a spar, that can't stand uncle."

"I know, I know." Ned said resignedly.

"But that's not what we're here to talk about is it?"

"No Jon it's not, you can't go for the throne."

"Really, I beg to differ uncle."

"Jon, you lost the right, your family lost the right."

"No my family had the right stolen from us, or don't you remember the rebellion, what your friend did was a crime uncle, what your foster father did was just as bad, or do you not remember the bodies of my family laid out on the floor of the throne room."

"Jon, Robert won by right of conquest."

"Then he'll lose by it too." Jon said determinedly.

"You would go to war for this?" Ned said shaking his head.

"For what, the murder of my family, is that not what you went to war for uncle?"

"I cannot support you in this Jon, I will not go to war again."

"You won't have a choice uncle, you think Robert will allow you to sit this out, you think should he win he won't remember you didn't support him or am I wrong and what you're actually telling me is that it's me you'll not support, not your friend."

"I don't want a war Jon, I never did, why do you think I didn't push your claim."

"Tell me?" Jon said looking at him.

"I lost my father, my sister, my brother, I lost friends and people I've known all my life, the last thing I wanted was another war, so I hid you and claimed you as mine own, my only wish was to keep you safe and well."

"You failed uncle, I was safe perhaps, but I was never well, I was never well." Jon said as he felt the tears begin to flow.

"Jon I.."

"No uncle, you kept me safe, but what was I, you raised me a bastard when I wasn't one, you allowed me be treated as lesser than and allowed your wife..allowed your wife."

"Jon it helped sell the lie, can't you see that, it protected you from Robert." Ned said looking at him his own eyes teary too.

"Aye, but who protected me from life uncle, who protected me from that, not you and certainly not your wife, what life had you planned for me if Lord Jaime hadn't taken me away?"

"I,I…"

"None, is that right, I know about the Nights Watch uncle, I know you thought it a noble calling, but have you ever been to the wall? Have you ever seen the men there? Seen the conditions? No you have not and yet you'd have condemned me there would you not?"

"You'd have been safe there, Robert wouldn't have been able to touch you?"

"And I wouldn't be able to touch him, or will you lie to me and tell me that swearing away any claim I have wasn't part of your thinking?"

"Robert is king, Jon he's a good man." Ned said and Jon laughed loudly.

"Are you really that blind? Seriously uncle are you that far gone that your blinded to your friend's faults?"

"He lost the woman he loved Jon, had your mother lived."

"Gods you really are clueless aren't you, my mother never loved him, how many times did she tell you that? How many times did she tell you she'd not marry the man? Yet you were so blinded by him, you wished him to be your brother that much that you ignored your own sister." Jon shouted angrily.

"Jon calm down."

"Gods it's no wonder Robb is how he is, like father like son." Jon said and never saw the hand which slapped his face.

"Jon I'm."

"Don't be, you meant it, at least live with it." Jon said as he spit the blood from his mouth.

"Now let me enlighten you uncle because you clearly need it. My mother hated Robert had she lived she'd have taken her life rather than marry the man, she loved my father and he her and more importantly Robert knew this, she told him and yet he never spoke of that to you did he?"

"I.."

"How did he behave when you were marching to rescue my mother, how many nights did his bed lay empty? How many whores or serving girls did he bed while proclaiming his love for my mother and where were you while she was being dishonored so?

Let me tell you about your friend, as a king he behaves like a child, a petulant child, he drinks, he whores and he spends coin like it's nothing all the while the people he claims to serve suffer in hunger and deprivation. He owes Lord Jaime almost a million gold dragons, the Tyrells almost half that and what has he done with that coin? Where has it gone? For the realm is no better off."

"I was unaware of that Jon."

"Aye it's not all you're unaware of uncle, you were unaware of the truth about my mother, but more than that you were unaware they'd been plotting to remove my family long before my grandfathers madness. Or did you think it just happened by chance that houses suddenly married each other in quick succession? That you were fostered in the Vale at the same time as Robert?"

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that your foster father, your good father, your brother by choice all of them were plotting way before my mother met my father. They used it, they used my parents to take my family down and because of them I never knew my brother, my sister, their mother. I never knew my father or mother and I swear they'll pay for it before I'm done."

Jon turned and handed him the letter his mother wrote and watched as he read it once and then twice, before he took it back from him.

"Where did you get that?" Ned asked his voice shaky.

"It was in my things, from my mother."

"Jon how do we..maybe she was wrong."

"You really can't accept it can you? Can't accept that you chose wrongly. It doesn't matter, I'm taking my throne back uncle and you're either with me or against me, I leave it up to you which." he said as he walked away leaving his uncle at the tree.

Nan.

As she watched on she could see the hurt and pain on both their faces, though it was the pup her heart went out to, he had given her back her boy and it was to him she owed her allegiance. She waited until he had left the godswood before she approached and when she did she motioned to the crypts and bid him to follow. He did so albeit reluctantly and she wished she didn't have to do this now, but her time was coming to an end and she had but one purpose left.

"Can't we do this later?"

"No Jon Snow we cannot, my time is drawing to a close and you must be shown?"

"Shown what?"

"The truth of things, the face of your foe, your reason for being."

She hated it, being so vague, but she knew she was not the only one playing this game and should she play her part badly then the consequences would be dire indeed. As they passed the statues of his family she heard him sigh sadly at his mother's and she once again wished she had more to offer him. Alas though this was all she had, this and the truth of things and she would tell him that too, for now though they moved to the large steel door which hadn't opened in a more than two centuries.

"Tugaim an dragan geimhridh geallta, roghnaithe, ar aghaidh. Lorgaimid iontráil ar an taobh amuigh, freagraí ar na daoine gan amhras." (I bring forward the promised, the chosen, the winter dragon. We seek entry to the beyond, answers to the unquestioned.) she said in the old tongue as the ruins began to glow.

She reached out to the pup and took his hand in hers, before cutting it across the palm and drawing the necessary blood, ignoring his gasp she placed his palm on the door and watched as it opened. He looked at her with confusion as they walked past the door and down the steps beyond, down and down they walked. In the darkness she thought she could hear the flapping of wings but down here they held no power and she smiled, free at last.

"My brother was and is an evil man Jon Snow, a jealous man whose desire led to his downfall. But not before he committed sins against the gods themselves." Nan said as she saw the light ahead of her.

"What sins?"

"All of them, but the worst of all was Kinslaying, you know what they say about Kinslayers."

"That there's none more cursed." Jon said and she nodded.

"Aye, and believe me my brother is cursed indeed."

When they reached the bottom the cave they found themselves in was lit from an unknown source, down here they should be devoid of light and yet it was brighter than if they were standing in the sun. She led him to the walls and showed him the images drawn there, the images of the kings of old, of the first men and the children. She led him by the hand to the images of the children and the white walkers, the images of the great other depicted as nothing more than a storm.

To the image of the man wielding a flaming sword and the figure of ice he battled, the image of the white dragon as it's flames covered a mountain of ice, while beside it a larger different dragon this one of bronze spewed flame on a field full of men with blue eyes. She led him to image of a large white tree it's blood red leaves falling as a three eyed raven made a nest. Before she led to the last image where a man knelt in a glade of Weirwoods his flaming sword raised high and behind him a white wolf and a white dragon stood protectively while a bronze one flew overhead.

"This is your destiny Jon Snow, this is why I was sent here." she said as she picked up the egg, it's bronze scales glimmering in the light she looked at him before handing it to him.

"Why me?"

"You are The Prince That Was Promised, The White Wolf, The Winter Dragon, you shall bring the dawn of a new age Jon Snow, just as it was foretold." she said as she waved around the room and the light dimmed revealing even more images.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Gwenys Rivers, my mother was Melissa Blackwood and my brother was known by many names, though Bloodraven is perhaps the best of them, as I told you Jon Snow my brother is an evil man and one to be feared, be wary of the crows, for they see all."

"But Bloodraven died everyone knows that."

"You know nothing Jon Snow." Nan said shaking her head.

Jojen.

He had felt a little alone since they'd arrived at Winterfell, while Meera had spent time with him and so had Loras and Jon when they could, it was much different than being on the road where they spent all their time together. He found he missed it, missed the talks with Jon, the discussions on dreams and warging, the books were fine and very helpful but it wasn't the same as talking to someone about things. He understood though, Jon had been incredibly busy since they'd arrived, he had tried to make time for his family as well as spending a lot of time it seemed to Jojen with the old woman and the giant.

The giant intrigued him, there was something about the man and so Jojen had done some digging around and had found out that up until Jon's visit the man had been called Hodor for the word he kept repeating. Yet now he spoke plainly, elegantly even and even his eyes and bearing were far different than they had been. Jojen would have left it at that but for the reaction from everyone when the man had sung and something Meera had said to him while they were in Last Hearth.

" Are you all right brother?"

" I am, why do you ask?"

" You seem different."

" In what way?"

" I don't know, happier, you seem happier brother."

" I am." he said smiling.

" Is it because of Jon?"

" I think so, why?"

" It's jut that ever since you met him, each day you've been more, more. I don't know." she sighed.

" Happy." he japed and she laughed.

" Aye, happy."

" I think he changed something Meera, changed something in me." he said.

" Then I should thank him. I like this change." she said and he laughed with her.

She had been right off course, Jon had changed something, his future now seemed a much more palatable one, a much more happy one and so when the girl in Last Hearth had smiled at him he had smiled back. When she spoke to him he spoke back and over the course of the night the two had become closer, she liked him and he her and he could see her look to her father and smile occasionally. What that had been about he didn't know, but he knew that he had changed because of Jon which meant that perhaps Walder had too .

So he had taken it upon himself to go speak to the man and see if he could, if he would confirm things, which was why he was now standing nervously outside the mans door his hand poised to knock. In the end it proved unnecessary though as the door opened to show the giant figure of the man waiting.

"Come in Jojen." Walder said and Jojen looked at him confused.

"How do you know my name?"

"I know a lot about you, though you're far different than I remember, you seem lighter somehow, as if a great weight's been removed." Walder said and Jojen nodded.

"Aye it has." Jojen said and walked in taking the offered seat.

"Good, I know what that feels like." Walder said laughing.

"I don't understand." Jojen said

"Neither do I, all I know for sure is that the White Wolf helped me as he did you,"

"You mean Jon?"

"Aye, though we both know that's not his name."

"We do?" Jojen questioned not willing to let on.

"He's the king we follow Jojen, both of us, Jaehaerys Targaryen the third of his name and this time we get to see him rise." Walder said smiling.

?

He raced faster than he'd ever run, she was close he could feel her and she was in danger. The stag was too big, too powerful and it wished her harm. He couldn't allow that, he needed to get there first, he needed to save her. In another life, another time, he had been unable to help, he had been too small, too weak and she had died. But things had changed, this was not then and he was no longer small or weak, he was strong and he was powerful and the stag would pay the price this time.

He felt the ground shake and could hear the stag's antler's brush against the ground as it got ready to charge. He pushed even harder and saw it in the distance and with an almighty leap he was upon it. The stag never had a chance, so focused was he on the weak thing in front of him that he had paid no attention to his surrounding and as his teeth bit deep into it's neck he felt it's life force drain from him. He looked to her then, could see the hunger and recognition in her eyes, he moved away to allow her to feed, she needed it, the pups she was carrying needed it and she looked to him once and he felt it, they were together again, finally, they were a pack once more.

" Mother," Ghost said silently, though his mother's head turned as if she heard him.