Chapter Text
Chapter One, Truth
Bastard of Winterfell
John was very excited about the upcoming conversation.
After he finished expressing his anger on the mannequin, he headed to his room.
And he was already getting ready for bed.
As if there was a knock on the door of his room.
He opened the door and saw his uncle.
- John, your father wants to see you.
His uncle told him.
And now he headed to the solarium, his father, revenge on his uncles.
What does father want to talk about? asked John.
Now you will know everything, John answered his uncle.
Approaching the massive oak door that led into my father's solarium.
His uncle pushed the door,
And he motioned for him to come in. Going inside, Benjen followed him in, closing the door behind him.
His father stood in front of the fireplace and looked at the flames in the hearth.
Lord Stark greeted him.
His father frowned.
John, we’ve already discussed this, when the two of us can call me father,
Ned said.
“Okay, father,” John answered, a smile touched his lips, and his soul felt warm,
Ned smiled back at him,
And he invited me to sit at the table,
John did just that, Benjen stood behind him.
His father sat down in his place at the table.
- So, Benjen told me that you want to join the Night's Watch? asked his father
John nodded his head.
“Yes, father, I want to go with Uncle Bengenam and take an oath,” he answered.
His father looked at him intently and asked,
I can find out the reason why, do you want it?
- Father, I know that my presence here complicates your relationship with Lady Catelynn...
- John, began, Ned, but John passed him.
- Father, please let me finish,
- I know that she doesn’t like me much, to say the least. I also know that I can't stay here, especially if you go south.
- That’s why father, I want to join the Night’s Watch. You said before that I was too young. Now I'm seventeen, I want to leave, I want to join them, please, father. I want to go with Uncle Bengenam, John told him.
His father looked at him intently, and then at Benjen, who stood behind him, and then back at him, and began.
The Night's Watch, an ancient and honorable order, had served on the Wall for generations of Starks, his father had said.
But... You John will not join him. There's no place for you there.
His father told him sternly.
But why? John asked looking at his father, puzzled by his answer.
Because I promised your mother that I would protect you.
At the mention of his mother, John's heart began to beat (his father never spoke about her)
Father. Will you tell me about my mother? asked John, in a calling voice,
His father looked at him, somewhat hesitantly, then he looked at Benjen.
Who told him.
- Ned, he's old enough now.
to know.
His father stared at his uncle, then sighed, you're right Benjen, then he looked at John very seriously,
Yes, John.
(finally he finds out who his mother was) thought John
His father stood up from his seat and headed to the table with ale pouring a cup for each, he took two cups and gave one to John and the other to Benjin.
When his father took his cup John could see.
How his father, with one gulp, dried the floor of the cup.
This bothered him, because his father always tried not to drink.
Then he sighed.
- So John. Lord Stark began.
-What have I always told you?
He asked.
John raised an eyebrow.
Well...
-I always told you that even if you don’t bear my name, my blood flows in you.
And it is true.
John could see his father hesitate.
-But I'm not your father. He said, almost in a whisper,
- What...?
John couldn't believe what he just heard.
He turned around to look
at your uncle.
On Benjen's face one could read grief and
repentance.
- Was your mother Liana Stark, and your father was Rhaegar Targaryen?
Ned said.
John looked at him and felt a bitter taste in his mouth
- Am I not your son?
- No. And I apologize for not telling you this sooner and keeping this secret even from you, but I had to.
But it was before your own safety, I saw what Lanesteri did to the other royal children.
He said, Ned. And continued.
- John, the whole kingdom believes that. Rhaegar stole it.
- But this is not true.
The truth is that they loved each other and she left willingly, there was no rape, there was no kidnapping, it was just love.
Said the Lord of Venterfell. And he continued.
I found her, in the Tower of Joy, in Dorne,
but there were three more members of the Royal Guard. Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Oswell Whent and Ser Gerold Hightower.
I asked why they weren’t on Trident?
To this, they answered me that the prince wanted them to be there.
There were seven of us against three, but the gods were merciful. Of our seven, only two survived. Howland Reed and I...
And of the royal guards, Arthur Dayne survived, he was seriously wounded,
Jon's eyes widened, Sword of the Dawn. Considered the best fencer in history.
- I entered the tower and found her there. Lying in bed. I ran to her and grabbed her hand. She was dying, I knew it and she knew it. "I couldn't do anything but hold her hand," Lord Stark said, and Jon saw tears appear on his face.
He closed his eyes and continued,
- She made me promise to protect you. Out of anger, Robert, she knew if Robert found out, then...
I would have been killed like my sister and brother, John finished for him.
That's why I claimed you as my own child in order to protect you.
I named you Jon, after Jon Arryn. Because I couldn’t leave, whose name she gave you,
She named you Jaehaerys.
John couldn't believe it, what he just heard.
And his head is a complete mess of thoughts.
His father turned out to be not his father, but his uncle.
And his aunt turned out to be, in fact, his mother.
He turned to look at Benjen, his face grim.
Silence fell between the three of them, the only sound being the crackling of wood in the hearth.
And he decided to break the silence,
- I still can’t stay here,
lady Stark,
“I know, John,” Ned muttered guiltily.
That's why I decided that you. Went to
Esoss. in free cities, you will be safer.
Plus you will see more of the world.
You haven’t been anywhere except Winter Town and Winterfell.
And also, I will give you a certain amount to live there. And I asked already, Jory.
Choose a dozen faithful guards who will accompany you.
And Benjin will also go with you.
Benjen's gray eyes widened.
- Ned, you know what...Benjen began. But Lord Stark raised his hand.
“I have already sent the Lord Commander a letter asking him to release you from your vows.”
Lord Stark said and continued.
“Ben,” Ned began, you yourself said that Leah wouldn’t forgive us if we put her son in danger.
Of course, as I already said, there will be guards with him. But who can I trust more than you?
Lord Stark asked his brother.
Benjen pursed his lips and nodded his head. I agreed with my brother's arguments.
- Tomorrow you both leave Winterfell
I don't really want you, John, to be under the same roof with the Lanestars.
You will go to White Harbor, and from there, to Esoss.
John nodded his head in agreement.
Lord Stark sighed, and there is one more thing for you Jon.
Ned took out a small package under the table.
John looked at him questioningly.
After she died, I searched the tower and found something that belonged to her. I collected everything I could find that belonged to them so that one day you could do this, so you could recognize your parents. Everything I found is in this package, John.
John nodded, head, and took it. package, and stood up from his place, and showed up to the exit.
His hand had already touched the handle, but suddenly he turned and said.
- Thank you. Jon said to Ned.
A warm smile appeared on Ned Stark's face.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As soon as he closed the doors of his room. He sat down on the bed.
His direwolf puppy immediately jumped on the bed looking at him with His ruby-red eyes.
- Ghost. John said as he walked over the white fur of the wolf cub.
Ghost, sniffed,
the package John was holding in his hands.
“This belonged to my parents, a boy,” John said, looking into ruby eyes.
He opened the package, John saw a small silver harp, his mother’s maiden cloak, with a depiction of a direwolf, and his father’s cloak with a three-headed dragon.
Which was a wrapped item. When John unwrapped it, his eyes widened in amazement.
Egg. A real dragon egg!
Dark scarlet color. He looked at it in fascination.
Then he felt it.
Warmth and life. Which came from the egg.
The ghost came closer to sniff and licked the egg with his tongue,
- Do you feel it too? boy,
asked John.
The wolf chuckled and looked at him with his ruby eyes.
John lay down on the bed, clutching the egg to his stomach, and fell into a peaceful sleep.
He dreamed that he was flying high in the sky on a red dragon, over a city that, according to John, was simply huge. Judging by what he saw, it was King's Landing.
He could see the Red Keep that stood on Aegon's Hill.
Then his dragon flew towards the city walls. and let in a stream of flame algo flame
John woke up with a start, his chest heaving and covered in sweat.
And the egg under his hands was literally burning and pulsating.