Chapter Text
“Daenerys, I will not meet with Cersei until I have seen my home and my sister again. I must return to Winterfell and see my lords. Before I go to King’s Landing.” Daenerys nodded. “If you wish. I will return to Dragonstone and speak with Tyrion.” She squeezed his hand before she left his bedside. “I will look forward to the day I see you again, Jon Snow.”
OPEN THE GATES! THE KING HAS RETURNED! Jon sat on his horse, next to Davos waiting for the gates to open fully. He tried to think where they will all be. Bran, probably in his room, because of his fall. Sansa, standing on the steps, as when the roles were reversed at Castle Black. And Arya, his beloved sister. She’ll probably be running through the gates as soon as she could fit through them. Jon smiled at that thought. “What are you smiling at?” Davos asked. “What will happen next.”
Jon dismounted his horse and started walking toward the gate. When the gate was about halfway open, it happened. I thought you were dead. I thought you were dead too. You still have Needle. Arya was the first one to move. She started slowly, then she broke out into a full out sprint. Jon matched her speed. He reached her and wrapped his arms around her. “Jon,” Arya gasped. “Little sister.” Jon smiled and felt a delight he had not felt in years. She shifted his hair to cover her face before planting a kiss on the side of his neck. She tightened her grasp and did not let her lips leave his skin for several minutes.
When he finally released her, he planted a kiss on her brow. They locked hands and she began to lead him toward the Godswood. “Why the Godswood?” Jon whispered into her hair. “Bran has something to tell you,” she replied with a monotonous voice.
“I don’t believe him,” Jon said in clear disbelief. “You will when you see the scroll that Father's best friend has to show you.” Jon had an exalted look on his face, thrilled to finally meet Howland Reed. “Howland Reed is here?” “And he brought scrolls from Greywater Watch.”
Jon shook his head. “I was never a bastard. M…” Jon trailed off. “I need to rest before the feast.” Arya frowned. “Sansa can’t know about your parentage until you tell the lords. If she grasped that information, she would use it to overthrow your rule. She’s always wanted to be queen.” Jon grimaced. “Thank you. Arya.”
Jon plopped down on the furs covering what used to be his lord fath… no, uncle’s bed. If uncle had told Lady Catelyn, she wouldn’t have hated me. To my family, I wouldn’t have been a bastard. He marveled at the thought. But alas, what is done is done.
“MY LORDS!” Jon’s voice boomed through the great hall. “Many of you will not take this news lightly. In a scroll written by High Septon Maynard, he revealed that Prince Rhaegar Targaryen annulled his marriage to Elia Martell. He then held a secret ceremony in which he married Lyanna Stark.” There were harsh whispers breaking out across the room. “As you all know, my brother, Bran, is a greenseer with immense power. He saw this ceremony and he also saw Eddard Stark defeat Arthur Dayne at the Tower of Joy. After this, Ned entered the Tower to find his lady sister holding a babe, Rhaegar’s babe, at her breast. Lady Stark made him promise to take care of the little boy. Hence, my lord uncle brought the newborn babe back to Winterfell and raised him as his own bastard. And here I stand.”
Chaos descended onto the Great Hall. “MY LORDS!” Jon was forced to raise his voice again. “Aye. I know how you feel. Betrayed, lied to, and ready to proclaim Sansa Queen of the North.” Harsh whispers broke out among the gathered lords. “I was raised as a Stark bastard. I was raised in Winterfell. I have a direwolf. I feel more Stark than Targaryen. And I am still your king. I will never bend the knee to a Southron ruler. Unless you would have it of me. Daenerys Targaryen is going to fight the Night King. But if we are to fight alongside her, I must bend the knee.”
There were choruses of, “You cannot,” and “You will not,” throughout the room. “Your right. Bending the knee is not an option. But marriage is another.” A ripple of roars graced the room. Arya spoke out, “You don’t have to marry her. You are the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. You don’t need to marry her to secure your claim. What you need is to secure the North.” Silence fell over the Great Hall. “Who do you propose he marry?” Lord Glover asked.
“Lady Sansa will have to acknowledge her marriage to Lord Tyrion. Alys Karstark is married to the Magnar of Thenn.” Arya blushed. “And I am married to no one.” Jon grimaced and forced out the words,” So you propose I marry you.”
Arya blushed deeply now. “Yes.” She composed herself before continuing. “Who else would you marry? Lady Lyanna? You need to marry now if you want the North. A long-term betrothal is not an option.” Jon continued to disagree with his little sister’s idea. “What about Meera Reed?”
“She is a Reed of Greywater Watch! Who do the people and the lords prefer as queen, a girl of a castle no one can find, or a Stark of Winterfell?” Arya asked Jon, but also directing the question to the Northern lords. “She does have a point, Your Grace,” Bronze Yohn Royce spoke out.
Jon could feel himself being backed into a corner. “Arya, you’re my little si-“ “Cousin. I’m your cousin.” Arya clarified. Lady Lyanna stood up and smiled before Jon could say anything. “I believe we have our queen.”