Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Prologue
He laid with his head in the snow looking up into the night's sky. He could see the stars shine against the blackness of night. He struggled to breathe as his blood slowly turned the snow around his body red.
Why did this happen to him? He tried to do what was right all of his life, and he was murdered for it. He was betrayed by the men he commanded, like Robb. Gods were this how Robb felt when he was killed? He could imagine the realization that his brother faced when the damn Freys killed him. When men he considered as friends shot him filled with arrows. Instead of arrows though, he was stabbed by his brothers.
‘For the Watch' they claimed each of them stabbed him. How was this for the Watch? He may be the only one that could help them win the war for dawn. No, his brothers did not think of that. They only thought about how his father was a "traitor" to the realm that they were not apart of. That fact did not matter to them though. Those bastards he called brothers only thought to try and prove their loyalty to a realm that did not care for the Wall. A kingdom that killed his father and brothers. A kingdom that sold Arya off to be married. A kingdom that married Sansa off to Tyrion and blamed her for the death of the cunt king Joffrey.
His chest hurt as he coughed up blood. His breathing staggered as he could hear commotion around him. His true brothers perhaps finally arrived on scene. It did not matter though. He knew that no matter what happens he will die and the rest of the world will fall to the Night King. He failed. He failed everyone and everything. It deserved the globe right through for everything they did to his family. Hopefully, Olly, the boy he trained and took under his wing, will die a more painful death than this.
He watched the sky as the stars started to slowly fade into the blackness that has begun to creep into his vision. The white snow that was falling onto his bleeding body soon became black. The sounds of fighting became distant and muted. Each breath he took became harder than the last. He could no longer feel air fill his lungs as he made his final breaths. He tried to move a hand, finger, a toe, anything but couldn't.
As he looked up to the stars, he only saw darkness, no stars. Before his vision became full of blackness, he could see a red comet racing through the sky above him. It was the last thing he saw. Red against black, like the blood on his leather.
He could feel something laying against his leg. A soft hand was holding on to his right side. As he took a breath, he could feel pain, but not as much as before. Slowly he opened his eyes to see where he was. He was laying in a bed with furs pulled up around him. Bandages were wrapped around his chest. He looked around the room and recognized it. He couldn't understand how he got here or how he was alive.
This was Bran's room back at Winterfell. The furniture and tapestries were different though. He noticed another bed also occupied the other side of the room. The bed looked like it was neatly made and hasn't been slept in for a couple of days. He could see two chairs by his bedside. A pot of blue winter roses sat on a table to the side of his bed along with some uneaten food and a jar of what he hoped was liquid.
Movement by his legs caused him to look down at them. He could see ahead with messy curly brown hair laying on his right leg. The girl was wearing a grey dress with direwolves stitched on it. She looked to be no more than five name days old. Her face reminded him of Arya. Arya was older than five the last time he saw her and would be older still if this was her. Who was this girl?
"Arya?" He choked out the word. When the girl heard him, she opened her eyes relieving grey eyes like his fathers. She immediately smiled and squealed before she threw herself on to his chest. The pain was excruciating as he clung to his neck. Noticing his discomfort, she slid off of him and sat on the edge of his bed.
"Sorry, Jon. Maester Walys said that you would need time to heal, but I forgot. Mother and Father will be happy that you are awake though. She stepped out to put baby Ben to sleep."
The little girl seemed genuinely happy to see he was awake. Maester Walys was a name he has heard before, but could not remember where. He couldn't help but wonder who the young girl's parents are and why they were in Winterfell, better yet why he was in Winterfell. Who was this baby Ben she was talking about? The only two Bens he knew were Uncle Benjen and Benfred Tallhart.
"Where am I?" He asked in a hoarse voice. The little girl did not look happy at that question as her face turned from glee to worry. She looked like Arya when she was sad.
“You are in Winterfell. In your and Ned’s room. Don’t you remember?” He shook his head.
He looked around the room once again. What did she mean this was his and Ned's room. Who was Ned? Did she say his father, Eddard Stark? She couldn't as the bed looked across from him seemed only to be able to fit a young child, not a grown dead man.
He felt two little hands take his right side and squeeze hard. "Don't you remember me? I am your sister, Lyanna Stark."
At the mention of the name that caused so much grief in his time, he suffered a headache. When he closed his eyes to the pain, he saw flashbacks of events he never lived. He remembered being in a room with his parents and two brothers as his mother showed them their little sister, Lyanna she called her. Another scene came into his mind as he and Lyanna walked through the godswood. More memories of events he never lived came into his mind as his head felt like it was on fire. He could picture a scene as he was training with a sword with his brother as Lyanna tried to get them to teach her. His father was right Arya was like Lyanna reborn.
“Lya, I am sorry if I scared you. My head just hurts a little bit. I am alright now.” His ‘sister’ perked up at that and flung herself around him again. He tried his best to hug her back. “Lya, you should go and find Maester Walys and mother and father.”
His aunt or sister Lyanna nodded her head eagerly before kissing his cheek and sliding off the bed. He watched as she ran out of the room screaming for the maester or their parents. It hurt when he chuckled at the memory of Arya doing the same thing.
He looked at the empty bed as another assault of foreign memories flooded his mind. This time the memories were of his brother or father Ned. He could remember them being the best of friends as they grew up. They were always told they looked alike which was expected as they were twins. Twins. The thought came to him quickly. He was the younger twin brother of Eddard Stark. While Ned had brownish hair, his was dark like his mothers. Other than that it was hard to tell them apart.
A gasp brought his attention to the older woman standing in the doorway. Her hair was long and dark as his. It did not take him more than a second before more memories filled his mind. She was his mother, Lyarra Stark. He had a mother. He could remember her nursing any injuries that he sustained while playing. He could remember her reading him stories for him to fall asleep. He could remember all of the motherly things that she had done with him that he never experienced before he awoke here.
He could feel tears begin to fall down his cheeks as he realized he now had a mother. The one thing he wanted more than the name Stark, and he finally got one. At what cost though? Being killed by his supposed brothers in night apparently. Having to fall through time to live a life that was never his.
His mother pulled him into his embrace so she could hold him tight. She kissed his face multiple times as Lyanna giggled from the side of the bed where she hopped on again. "Oh, my sweet little Jon. I am so happy that you are alive. When I find out who did this, I will flay them like the Boltons." He could hear a deep chuckle come from the doorway.
Turning his attention to the man standing in the doorway Jon immediately recognized who the man was. He did not need the new wave of memories to tell him that the man was his father, Rickard Stark. The man was known to be stern, unforgiving, honorable, and without feelings. That's just how he portrayed himself to the world. He could remember times when it was just the family, and Rickard Stark would laugh and play with his children like any good fathers. He would tell them stories of the ancient Starks and tucked them into bed when they were younger.
"Be careful Lyarra; the new maester says that his wounds might reopen with the slightest movement." His ‘father's' deep-voiced sounded like how Jon always imagined it would be. It was strong, but hide a tone of love under it.
"He is my little boy Rickard. I will hold him if I damn well, please. Walys knows nothing." His mother still sat back down in her chair as his father sat down in the one next to her.
“I am glad you are okay Jon. You gave us all a fright with what happened.” Rickard Stark pushed a piece of hair behind his head.”How are you feeling son?”
"My chest hurts, and I have a bad headache." Both were true. He didn't tell them how he somehow traveled through time and became someone who has never existed.
“The maester says you will heal in time.” His father turned his attention to Lyanna. “Lyanna can you go to Benjen, he should be in the nursery, and bring him here.”
His sister nodded her head before promising him she will be right back before running off again. Once the door was shut his father turned back to him with a stern face. It reminded him of what he and Robb used to call his father now brother's lord face.
"Jon, I know this may be difficult for you, but do you remember who did this to you." His father leaned in closer for an answer.
This was the question the Jon knew was going to be asked, but hoped would be at least delayed a couple of days so he could come up with a good lie. How could he tell the truth when no one would believe him. He still had trouble believing this is not just some kind of dream. He knew all of the names of the people who killed him. How could he say the names though when most are not in the same area of the others.
“I don’t remember anything father. I am sorry. I only remember being in the godswood. Then waking up here.” A flash of memory of being in front of the hearttree praying when he felt the stabs of a knife.
“It is alright Jon. You suffered a traumatic experience no one faults you for not remembering who did this.” His father patted his left hand.
“Mother, father where is Ned? I thought he would be here?”
"He left two days before you were injured. Your father didn't want Ned to worry, so he sent a raven for him to White Harbor. To tell him what happened. Ned arrived and got the letter, but had to go to the Eyrie to begin his fostering. It has been a moon turn since you were injured, so he is already in the Eyrie now. Once Maester Walys has looked over you, you can write a letter to Ned and tell him you are alright." His mother brushed his hair as he listened.
That was right Ned was going to be or has already fostered in the Eyrie. They had a going away feast three days before he was stabbed. Lyanna had thrown a pie at Brandon because he was teasing her. Benjen had fallen asleep in his seat to the amusement of everyone else. After the feast was over Ned and him sat on his bed talking about what they will do while they were being fostered. They fell asleep on the bed next to each other.
He was going to be fostered somewhere. The thought came to him suddenly. Ned was leaving at least a fortnight or more before he would leave to be fostered somewhere else. His father was thinking about sending him to White Harbor or Seagard. He was stuck between those two as they were castles on the coast with ships. Learning how to sail a ship was one of the main things he was supposed to learn how to do while fostering. He couldn't remember why though.
“Am I still going to be fostered?”
"Aye. I have decided to have you fostered at Seagard. If you became good friends with them, they would be able to provide you with naval support once you become lord of Sea Dragon Point. You will not leave here though until Maester Walys says you are better." His father responded stroking his long beard.
That was right his grandfather Edwyle Stark had started to rebuild Moat Cailin and Sea Dragon Point. Rickard Stark has continued to slowly build up the two ancient fortresses. His father wanted a Stark to man the southern border and another Stark to man the western coast. Ned was getting the Moat, and he was getting Sea Dragon Point. His father wanted him to create a new northern navy, so he had to learn how to captain a ship.
He tried to remember who was the lord of Seagard. It was a man named Jason Mallister from what he could remember. The man had a son named Patrek who was on Robb's battle guard before the Red Wedding. Jason was supposed to be a renowned tourney knight. His uncle was Denys Mallister, the commander of Shadow Tower on the Wall. The old man was chivalrous and honorable. He also asked for men quite a few numbers of times while he was Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.
“Does Lord Mallister know I have been attacked?” His mother squeezed his hand again when he mentioned his attack.
"Yes, we mentioned it to him when we asked if he could foster you. He says he will protect you like you are his own son. His actual son Ser Jason has agreed to take you on as a page know and if you desire as a squire." Her smile warmed his heart, and it was the kind of smile he had always wanted.
“I do not follow the Seven. How can I become a squire than.”
This time it was his father who replied. "There have been times were we followers of the Old Gods had been knighted. The Blackwoods have some knights in them."
A knock came from the door. A tall man with a long black beard with a chain linked together hung from his neck. Maester Walys had come to Winterfell a little over two years ago. The man was the apparently a bastard of a Hightower girl and an archmaester. The man was funny and would say crazy things while he was teaching to see if you were paying attention. Something though seemed off about him.
“Lord Jon, I am glad to see you are awake. Here I was fearing that you will never hear my lecture on how to best milk a cow blindfolded and standing on one foot.”
While he chuckled, the maester moved closer to Jon by his bedside. His father and the maester began to talk about some of the accounts of house Stark. He tried to pay attention to what was being said, but could not fully hear what the two of them were talking about. As he strained to listen Maester Walys had Jon do a variety of things to test how he was doing.
"Well Lord and Lady Stark, I think Jon will make a full recovery. The man who stabbed Jon had horrible aim and missed every vital organ. In time his wounds will fully heal, but he will always carry the scars of that night for the rest of his days. I say he can walk around now if he wants. Perhaps in less than a fortnight, he will be able to start training with a sword again. If everything goes well, then he will be able to ride off to become an eagle by this time next moon." The maester patted his shoulder before he stood up to leave.
"Thank you Walys. You have been truly helpful since you arrived." His father shook his hand.
"It is nothing, my lord. I think the Gods themselves were looking out for Jon as his wounds seem to be miraculous healing." The maester bowed before saying he must feed the ravens.
“Jon, your mother and I will leave you for the night. You have been through a lot in the past month. I will tell Benjen and Lyanna that you are too tired to see them right now, but will see them in the morning.” His father kissed his forehead before standing up.
“Sleep well my little pup.” His mother kissed both of his cheeks before standing up following her husband out of the room. Before she shut the door behind her, she blew him a kiss.
Once they left the room, he couldn't help but smile at his situation. It could be worse. He could have just died right then and there. Instead, he was reborn as a true born Stark and with a loving mother and father. He was born in a time of relative peace. He has the chance to right all of the wrong done to his family in the last part of the century. If he could somehow prevent either The Greyjoy Rebellion or the War of the Five Kings, the realm would be whole enough to stop the Night King. He would just have to figure out how to do it. In order to succeed, he must not forget anything that has happened or will happen. Having an idea, he looked around the room to find anything to write down on.
He saw a desk with a candle sitting on top of it. He slowly stood up from his bed. He felt like he hasn't moved in a year when in reality he hasn't moved for a moon. He slowly made his way to the desk with the non-burning candle. Going through the desk drawers, he found a stack of blank pieces of paper. He pulled out the stack along with quill and ink. He searched the desk more before finding flint and steel to little the candle. In a single motion, the candle lit up casting light and warmth around the room. He looked down at the blank sheets of paper ready to begin.
Judging by how much of the candle burned Jon would say he has been writing for almost the whole night. In front of him laid six pages of paper with everything he could remember happening from Robert's Rebellion to the day his brothers stabbed him. The pages contained any significant event along with a rough estimate of the time they occurred. Besides the timeline, he wrote down a brief story about his life as Jon Snow. He wanted to make sure that whatever happens, he would not forget who he was.
He wanted to start on a plan on how he should proceed to stop the events that will happen. He had first to remember how everything first started. As far back as he could think the thing that had caused so much grief for his family still hasn't happened yet and won't for another ten years. It was the crowning of Lyanna at the Tourney at Harrenhal by Rhaegar Targaryen that caused all of this.
If he never crowns her than he will never kidnap her. If she is never kidnapped than Brandon won't ride to King's Landing demanding the head of Rhaegar. If he never rides to King's Landing than Rickard will not go too and die. If neither die than the Mad King will not seek the heads of Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon. If the rebellion never happens then inevitably, the War of Five Kings won't either.
It was hard to imagine that Lyanna would ever be kidnapped. Even though she was only five name days old, she was fierce and free. She had never liked being made to be a ladylike Arya. It is hard to think that someone will be able to steal the she-wolf of the North without much struggle even if it was a prince and members of the Kingsguard. All of the stories that he heard agree that Rhaegar kidnapped the Lady Lyanna. Thinking back on it now his father never told them any stories about the war.
Any time one of his children would ask he would change the subject or say they were too young to hear it. Any time that they were able to coax something out of him it would be tales that they have heard from other people never any personal experiences from him. The only personal story he told was that Howland Reed saved his life at the Tower of Joy when he went to rescue his dying sister.
He had never spoken ill of Rhaegar Targaryen. While others curse his name and King Robert said he was the worst man to have ever lived, his father never spoke sick of him. His father who because of the actions of the crown prince had lost so much couldn't say anything wrong about him besides on who he crowned. Did Eddard Stark hate Rhaegar so much that he couldn't speak of him? Or did he harbor other feelings for the crown prince?
None of it will matter though if he is able to stop Rhaegar Targaryen from crowning Lyanna the Queen of Love and Beauty.
He yawned as he looked around the room. He tried to remember if there were any hiding places in the room. Suddenly he could remember him and Ned finding a loose stone under the table between their beds. They sometimes hid treats behind the stone to eat later. He kneeled down to slowly pry the stone from its place. He folded the papers and put it in the small opening they had carved out years ago. It will be the best spot to hide it at least for now. He couldn’t let anyone else find them as they would all think he was crazy and might lock him up somewhere.
Once the stone was put back in place, he laid down on his bed. He pulled the furs around him as he began to formulate an idea of how to stop what is to come.
Eddard, five days later
He has been in the Eyrie for a week now. He already missed home. He missed his family more than anything. He missed Jon the most though. The two brothers could read each other's mind. They were complimentary of each other. While he was shy and reserved, Jon was more outspoken and outgoing. While Jon did not have as much, as his father put it, wolf's blood in him as Brandon and Lyanna, Jon had more than he did.
When he heard what had happened to Jon when he reached White Harbor, he tried riding back to Winterfell. Rodrik Cassel grabbed him before he could get to the stables though. He had said that his father wanted him to go to the Eyrie so he can begin fostering. Apparently, his father believed Jon would understand why he didn't come right away to see him.
How could his father know what Jon would feel? He did not share a womb with him or slept in the same room as each other since they were born. He knew how Jon would feel. Thinking about how Jon would feel made him realize his younger brother would want him to go and travel to the Eyrie and not worry about him. His brother was the one to help squash the anxiety of being fostered far away from home in a strange land. It has been over a moon since he had left and yet no raven has been received by him.
They had promised to write to each other at least once a moon while they were away being fostered. He understood though why no raven has been received. Jon was still asleep in what Rodrik said was a coma. That it was a natural body response to something that severe. Still, he had hoped that his brother would awaken soon. He had sent a raven back to Winterfell the day after he had arrived here.
He had written about the travel at sea and how he hoped Jon would be better suited for it than he. He told him of the long climb they had to make to reach the top of the Eyrie. When he had reached the top of the mountain, the fortress of the Eyrie looked every part of an impregnable fortress. He was greeted by the lord of the Vale, Jon Arryn. Lord Arryn was an old man with hair already turning white. Next to him was his heir Elbert Arryn, his nephew. Elbert stood taller than his uncle and had blonde hair and blue eyes. Next to Elbert was another fostering young Lord Robert Baratheon.
The other fostering boy had dark hair like Jon but had bright blue eyes that contrasted against his hair. Robert was a year older than him and smiled happily when he was introduced to Ned. Robert mentioned how it would be fun to have another boy to play around with. He could quickly tell that Robert shared the same fun-loving, go with it nature that Brandon had. He was sure that if the two would ever meet they would become fast friends.
On the second day, he learned that Robert preferred a war hammer to a sword. He wielded the hammer, as well as any man, did with a sword during their training. Even though Robert was almost as young as he was, the storm lord had more strength than he did. To the amusement of Rodrik Cassel, who was staying for a moon before leaving, during their first spar he was knocked straight to the ground.
While the castle in the mountain was small, it still took Robert and him a whole day to explore it all. They had Elbert show them where all of the special places where in the castle. He showed them a statue of Ser Artys Arryn, the Falcon Knight. Ser Artys was the first king of the Vale and of the Andals. The statue showed a knight with a winged helmet looking out over the edge of the mountainside.
He wrote all of the things he experienced in the letter he wrote to Jon. He also wrote a letter to his parents and other siblings. None were as long as the one to Jon though. All of his letters were already sent to Winterfell and should arrive soon. He could only hope his brother will be up and moving by the time that his letter arrived. He didn't want him to be already sent away to foster at either White Harbor or Seagard.
"Lord Eddard," a servant knocked on the bedroom door that he and Robert shared. "Maester Grover would like to see you."
"Thank you." He put the book that he has been reading back down on the desk he was sitting on. It was the tale of the Andal invasion of the Vale. Lord Arryn had gifted both him and Robert a copy to know the Vale better. So far Robert has yet to open his book up.
He followed the servant through the halls and up to the maesters office underneath the rookery. Inside he found Maester Grover sitting at the table with notes and books everywhere. The maester was an old man who had a long chain around his neck. The man came from the Riverlands and was born to a farmer and his wife. He had traveled to the Citadel to relieve the stress of finding food for all of their children from his parents. He has been in the Eyrie for twenty years now.
"Ah, Lord Eddard. A raven from Winterfell came last night. I would have given it to you in the morning, but Lord Arryn kept me busy. Come sit down and let me try and remember where I put it." He motioned to the chairs in front of his desk before rummaging through his desk.
As he waited for the letter, he looked around the room. Books and paper were thrown around the place. A table filled with bottle liquid stood next to a map on the wall of the Vale. A door was on the other side of the wall. Squawking of ravens could be heard coming from the other side. The maester murmured to himself as he tried to find the letter.
“Ah ha. Here it is.” Maester Grover produced a letter that had the silver stamp of house Stark on it. “I somehow placed it under the finances of the Eyrie. Here you go.” The old maester handed over the letter. “Now run longer, you will have your lessons soon enough.”
He stood up saying thank you before leaving the room. He made his way to the garden in the center of the keep. He didn't want to be with anyone else as he read the letter which felt heavy in his hand. He didn't know what the letter would bring. Will it say Jon is awake and moving again? Or will it say Jon has died? He sat down in a secluded spot in what was supposed to be a godswood.
With a deep breath, he broke the seal and opened the letter. He sighed in happiness as he recognized the handwriting as Jon's.
‘ Dear Brother,
I am alive and well. Do not worry about me. Maester Walys says I will make a full recovery and will be able to train, ride, and cause trouble with you in no time.
They say I slept for a moon turn before I woke up. It felt like the naps we would take after Old Nan would tell us a story. I was sad to not to see you when I woke up. Instead, I saw Lyanna. Father told me though that he made you go on to the Vale. I am sure we will see each other soon. Perhaps on mother's name day celebration we can both surprise her and come home.
I am to foster in Seagard with house Mallister. They fought the Ironborn for hundreds of years. I think father wants me to learn from the best on how to defeat the Ironborn, should they ever chose to attack the North.
Since we will be so close to each other, we may be able to visit. You must write to me all of the wonderful things that you see there. I will write to you about Seagard in return. I will make my way there in a moon turn from when I am writing this.
Father said Brandon is going to ride back home and then ride with me south to make sure I arrive at Seagard safe. I don't see what Brandon will do though. He is barely two name days older than us. It will be good to see him again though.
The wounds I have are all but healed. All six are sewed up. Walys says I will carry the scars for the rest of my life.
I will send a raven before I leave Winterfell. Send one soon though I miss you brother.
-Jon’
He was ecstatic at the news. His brother lived and was doing well! He wiped away a tear that was slowly rolling down his face. He couldn't wait to be able to see him again. He feared that Jon would die from his wounds. From what Rodrik said the wounds were quite severe, and they weren't sure how Jon was still alive.
He didn't care how his brother was alive only that he was. He was excited that Jon will be close by in the Riverlands. Jon had intentionally wanted to be fostered in the Pyke with the Greyjoys, but father put a stop to that before it even began. Seagard was close enough though. Ever since they learned that they would both become lords of their own keep they focused on learning everything they could on their lands.
While Jon had the coast of the western side of the North to look at, he will be able to look at the Riverlands in the south and the North in the north. While Jon got the ancient castle of the warg king Gaven Greywolf, he got the ancient fortress of Moat Cailin. The choke point of the North where all invading armies from the south broke upon its walls. To prepare for the unlikely hood of being forced into defending the gateway to the North, he has learned all that he could of siege battles and how to defend against them. Jon started to read about sailing and the Ironborn. Both had a long ways to go until they would be experts in their field though.
Hearing how Brandon would be traveling with Jon on his way to Seagard upset him a little. No one came with him to see him go to the Eyrie, beside Rodrik. Brandon did not even come back to Winterfell to wish him well. Then again no one was supposed to take Jon south but a guard. It seemed his father just wanted to make sure whoever tried to kill Jon didn't try again.
That was one thing that confused him. Who would want to kill Jon? The only one that would stand to inherit from Jon dying was Benjen, and Benjen was only four and had no means to hire a killer. So why did they want Jon died? Did this have something to do with father? What would his father do that required someone to try and kill the third son?
He started to make his way back to his room. He wasn't sure if he should write to Jon now or just wait for him to get his raven. He figured that he could at least write some of the letters now and wait for a reply and finish the letter. When he opened the door, he found Robert putting on leather they used during training.
“Ned! There you are. Our training with Ser Alex starts soon. I thought you would already be down there.” His foster mate gave him a smile.
"I lost track of time. I will be there shortly." Robert nodded before shutting them down behind him as he left the room.
Ned quickly moved to the desk and pulled a small chest from a drawer. It was a gift from his father and mother. Jon had one that looked the exact same. He opened the box and put the letter in it before shutting the lid. He pushed the drawer in before quickly changing to train.
Lyarra Stark, a Month later
She stood in the courtyard of Winterfell with her husband's arm around her. She sadly watched as her middle child said goodbye to her two youngest. Currently, the two youngest were wrapped around there older brother as he wished them well. Benjen was crying at having to say goodbye to another brother and playmate. Lyanna had a brave face on as her little she-wolf tried not to cry hugging her brother.
This was her third time seeing such a departure. The first was when her oldest, Brandon, had left to be fostered in Barrowton. Benjen was only a babe and did not understand what was happening. Lyanna tried to keep the tears in but failed. Brandon gave his twin brothers nuggies before leaving much to her annoyance.
The second time happened only a moon ago when her brave Eddard left to go to the Eyrie. The younger children acted the same as they did now. It broke her heart watching Ned and Jon say their farewells. Both were holding back tears as this would be the first time that they would be split up. Both have been close as can be since she gave birth to them.
After Ned had left Jon was solemn and brooded the two days before he was attacked. He spent a lot of his time in the godswood. He slept in Lyanna's bedroom with her and Benjen as he felt too lonely in the room he shared with his brother. How could they break apart the beloved twin wolves?
Watching Jon stand on the top of the wall and watch his brother ride out until he could no longer see him caused her to think if this was the right decision. Sending all of her little pups away was the worse thing she has done. She was happy that Rickard has agreed to keep Ben and Lyanna at Winterfell. She wouldn't know what to do if she could not see at least one of her little pups every day. It was all of the damn Maester Walys' fault. He suggested that her twins be fostered out of the North so alliances can be built with other kingdoms.
She didn't like the idea at all. The thought of sending any of her pups away from the den scared her. Much less to send two past the Neck. She tried to convince Rickard not to do it. Or if he must send the twins to people in the North and foster some little lords and ladies from below the Neck here. That way he got the alliances he wanted, and she gets her pups back home.
He did not agree to it. He said he would look into fostering some children here. Even Walys said it was a good idea, which meant it was a bad idea. She knew at some point in her children's life Ned, Jon, and Lya would all have to leave home and live somewhere else. Ned and Jon would live at least in the North. Rickard has thought about betrothing her little she-wolf to some lord in the South. He suggested maybe between Edmure Tully, the heir to Riverrun. She did not like the idea though. No southern will be able to tame a wolf, much less than a trout.
She could already tell her daughter would be one of the famous she-wolves of house Stark where they did what they want. Her own mother was Arya Flint of the First Flints. She taught her and her sister, Branda, how to hunt, trap, fish, and survive in the wild. She took to it better than her sister Branda who married into house Rogers in the Stormlands. Lyanna took to the lessons even better than she did when her mother taught Brandon, Ned, Jon, and Lyanna all she knew.
Her little she-wolf adored her grandmother and the same was true the other way. Lyanna has claimed the favorite grandchild to the dismay of her sons. She found it as no surprise as the sons Branda had never come to visit, and the daughters are delicate southern flowers, at least according to her mother who was visiting Branda and the children in Amberly.
From what they last heard from her she was going to sail up to the Vale and visit Ned and then ride to Seagard to visit Jon before coming home. She said she is going to lecture her good-son about sending her grandpups away without her. Rickard said he was looking forward to the talk. She wasn't sure how much talking that will be said. She figured that her mother would most likely hit Rickard until he brings them back.
She watched as Jon pulled away from his younger siblings. He moved his way to where Rickard was standing beside her. As she watched her husband and son hugging each other, she missed her father. Rodrik Stark had died only a few years ago just after Benjen was born. If they have another son, Rickard already promised they would name him after her sellsword father. It was a shame that he died when he was journeying with her mother back to visit her clan in the mountains. A boulder fell, and he pushed her mother out of the way before it could hit her. He was hit instead and died in his wife's arms.
Silently Rickard whispered something into Jon’s ear before letting him go. Once Jon turned to face her, she quickly scooped him up into her arms. She dared not to let him go. Her little pup wrapped his arms around her tightly.
“I will miss you little wolf.” She tried not to cry.
“I will miss you too mother.”
"Remember who you are. You are a Stark of Winterfell. No eagle, fish, squid, or anything can hurt you. You are a wolf, and we are your pack. If anyone dares to harm you remember who are. I will come down to Seagard and beat up any who dare touch you. What are our house words?" She looked him in the eyes as she asked him.
“Winter is Coming.”
“Aye, and with it comes the might of the North. Always remember, when the snows fall and the white wind blows, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.” He nodded
“I love you mother.” She could see the tears in his eyes.
“I love you too, son.” She kissed his forehead between his brows.
As she stood up, she wiped away a tear as Jon walked towards the horse that was next to his eldest brother. She was glad Brandon was taking Jon south. While Brandon was only ten name days old, he was still a good lad and would make sure it was safe for his brother. She was also sure the twenty guards that were going with them would be almost enough. She wanted at least fifty more guards, better yet she didn't want anyone to go.
Rickard had promised that if she let the twenty guards go in peace, then he will let her pick who they foster at Winterfell. She was more happy with picking the children than if Rickard would. He would only pick them for any alliance material she wanted the children to be friends with her own. She has already decided to take at least two from the North and two from the South. She had ideas on who would come from the North but still hasn't decided who from the South yet. She thought about maybe Jaime Lannister or his sister but knew Tywin Lannister would not send his children into what the southerners call a savage land.
She watched as Jon mounted his horse, a gift from his grandmother. He exchanged a few words with Brandon before they both kicked their horses into a trot. She watched as they slowly left the safety of Winterfell. Rickard gave her a kiss on the forehead once they left the under the gate. He strolled back inside the keep to continue the work for the day. She moved to pick up Benjen who was becoming harder and harder to pick up as each day went past.
She grabbed hold of Lyanna’s hand and walked with her back inside the keep. I won’t be that bad soon she will have other children here to occupy her and her children’s time and before they will know it Ned, Jon, and Brandon will all be back to visit. They can be a family again then.