Tale of Two Brothers

Jon had enjoyed his time with his family much more than he thought he would, he knew that they would never hate him for what happened but it was mostly just him projecting about how he felt about himself. He hated that his uncle had to suffer for him and that he couldn't do anything, perhaps it would've been better if he hadn't of run, but the fact the king had crossed beyond the wall with 1,000 elite soliders was worrying, the north was a big place so Jon was hopeful they could avoid them, Jon had learnt a few tricks over the years but he didn't feel confident in his ability to beat the king in combat anymore than he did the first time.

Lying on his bed he thought about what Robb had said about old nan, while she did tell the most fantastical tales all tales are based on some truths, perhaps he should ask her tomorrow about anything she might know, it might give him a starting point, reading the old tongue was difficult as the sizes of the runs often changed the meaning of the word that it represented, that combined with the picture drawn was supposed to tell a story.

But Jon knew he could worry about that tomorrow, right now he was laying down on his old bed in his old room, it had been almost 6 years since he had been here, he thought sleep would come easily but it never did when he slept alone, he hopes if he closes his eyes he'll drift off but is snapped out of his thoughts by the door. Getting up Jon makes his way to the door neglecting to cover his body only wearing some night clothes on his lower body. Opening the door he sees Tyene who's wearing a long white night gown that looked good when contrasted with her naturally tanned skin. She gave Jon a tired smile before walking in, not been waiting to be invited as was their relationship.

Jon knew that she must've felt the same way, they had been sleeping together for so long it felt unusual and a little bit empty to not hold each other at night. Tyene waits for Jon to lay in his bed before getting in and cuddling into him putting her head of his chest and leg over his body. Being with Tyene for so long he could tell something was wrong especially when she went longer than 5 minutes without making a jab at Jon or making a joke of some other kind.

"What's wrong Tyene" Jon asks placing a kiss on her forehead. Tyene lifts her head using her arm to push on Jon's chest holding herself up. Jon could see she looked upset so he cupped her face with his hand reassuring her for whatever it was.

"I'm worried Jon" Tyene says to him in a low tone.

"Is this Job worth it? Maybe back when the only trouble we could run into was wildlings or discovering that the chalice isn't real, but the king could find us" Tyene says her voice laced with concern, she had never really gotten over seeing Jon almost get splattered by the king and how beaten he had been in that fight, it would've hurt more than anything if she had lost Jon back then and she would've lived the rest of her life missing him.

But now if Jon was killed she would join him one way or the other, they were partners in life and in death. Jon sighs and pecks Tyene on the lips.

"It's more dangerous now but we can't give up, I do believe that the chalice might be real, I'm not sure about it having magical abilities but it could exist" Jon says softly to her as she cuddles back into his chest.

"We owe it to Missandei to see this through whether it can help her people or not, her father died finding us and she's our friend now" Jon says to Tyene who sighs because she knows he is right.

"Don't worry beyond the wall is a big place, I doubt we'll even see him" Jon says lightly trying to reassure her. Tyene starts rubbing circles on Jon's chest.

"After this I think I'd like to take a break from adventuring for a while" Tyene says in a low tone, she seemed to be close to drifting off to sleep.

"Seeing you with your family today, seeing how you were with your sisters and mother made me miss mine, would you come with me if I wanted to see them" Tyene asks.

"You know I would, even if your father and sisters might try to kill me" Jon says humorously, he can feel Tyene smile into his chest as she holds him closer.

"Maybe we can go to Lys as well, I think it's time I stop avoiding my family by burying my head in old books or dusty ruins" Jon says as he olds Tyene close to him.

"Can we get that small keep you always talked about, on a beach in Lys or maybe uncle will give you refuge in Dorne, we could live in the water gardens, I know I'm not a meek little housewife but would you settle for having me" Tyene whispers.

"There would be no keep unless I could share it with you didn't you realise that when i tried to fight the king" Jon says with a small laugh, though he is a bit concerned, Tyene is acting a bit different than usual.

"Tyene is everything okay?" Jon asks lifting her chin up so he could stare into her eyes.

"I-I just w-want to" Tyenes voice started trembling, Jon cupped her cheek.

"You can tell me anything Tyene don't worry" Jon says reassuring her.

"I know I jest a lot about it but I would like for us to have a family, but I thought it could wait for we are young and do not need to think of such things now" Tyene says to him.

"I have not yet had my moon blood, I believe I could have your child within me" Tyene says to Jon shocking him into speechlessness.

"I have the moon tea but I could not use it, I know you are an adventurous soul at heart so if you do not wish to be tied down yet I can always stay with my family" Tyene says in a low voice, this brings Jon out of his thoughts as he hugs her tighter before flipping her over and getting on top of her.

"I will get us a small manse in Sunspear and I can get work as a Maester while you take our children to the water gardens and raise them with your family, I will never set foot in a ruin again if it meant being apart from you and my future child" Jon says the last part rubbing Tyenes belly. This brings tears to her face as they pour down her cheeks though she has a smile as well. Jon leans down and kisses her though it isn't a fast and passionate kiss but a slow and loving kiss.

"I will take you before the heart tree and make you my wife, I will take you into a Sept into a Red temple, anywhere" Jon says between kisses only making Tyene hold onto him harder.

"Maybe we can also keep a few extra women, if Misa gets tired of being queen" Tyene says her usual smirk returning.

Jon ended up spilling himself inside Tyene many times that night even though he was exhausted he couldn't keep his hands off of her and she accepted everything he gave.

Though eventually sleep won and they both passed out in each others arms in the early hours of the morning.

(Library)

The Winterfell libraries were old and musky, the shelves were made out of ironwood, built like the rest of Winterfell to stand the test of time, in the centre of the library Jon can be seen looking through various old scrolls and books though he has a frown on his face.

Maester Luwin enters from another section of the library carrying a few more books this just makes Jon sigh before putting the scroll he was reading down and rubbing his eyes.

"I am getting no where with this, most of these scrolls and books do not go back far enough, while the ones that do reference the building of the walls as old gods magic" Jon says with frustration, Maester Luwin smiles in response.

"It seems it has been a long time since you've been at the citadel, as the frustration you're feeling now is but a part of a Maesters life" Luwin said with a smile.

"The Old Tongue language is complex, it uses a series of runes that could have more than one meaning depending on the size and the context" Jon huffs out. He gets up and decides that he needs a break and heads out of the library.

He covers his eyes as he had spent the better part of the day in the library and they were sensitive to the natural light. Walking around the courtyard he sees someone he hasn't seen since he had returned.

Old Nan was the oldest person in Winterfell, she had been brought in to be a wet nurse to Brandon Stark when his mother had died, though which Brandon Stark it was is still debated. She would often tell him and Robb stories of magic and children of the forest, of people being turned into others and giants crushing men with a single hand.

'Can't hurt to ask' Jon thinks to himself as he approaches her, she is sat outside the stables that her great grandson Hodor frequents as he takes care of the horses, she is sitting in a wicker chair while it looks like she's embroidering something.

"Old Nan" Jon says to her as he approaches and takes a seat on a chair next to her.

"By the old gods I didn't think I'd see you before I passed Jon snow" Old naan says shocked at the voice, her eyesight had been failing her for a long time but her ears were still as sharp as ever, she would never forget the little boy that would always follow her around asking for stories.

"It's good to see you Nan, I'm sorry I couldn't visit before" Jon says apologetically as he puts a hand on her arm.

"We are but leaves being swept up in the wind, we don't know where we will end up but we can always hope it'll be home" Old Nan says to him drawing a smile from Jon, he liked all her little sayings, she never seemed to run out.

"Now I'm sure you have something you want to ask, otherwise it's a strange time of day to visit me" Old Nan says with a smile.

"Nan I was hoping you'd know something about the Chalice of Winter" Jon asks not really expecting anything much.

"Why would you want to know something about that!" Old Nan snaps, surprising Jon it was the first time he had ever heard Nan shout.

"I'm looking for it and I managed to find out that my great grandfather had it at some point before he was killed and it was taken back beyond to wall" Jon states.

"Edwyle was a foolish man, he had ambitions far too large, some of them

even passing down to his son, I told him the chalice was evil and it should be cast into the sea or dropped in the deepest ravine" Old Nan says while shaking her head.

"But the chalice helped build the wall how could it be evil?" Jon asks with visible confusion.

"That is not the truth, the truth was hidden as it was something far too terrible for people to know" Old Nan says with a severe voice.

"Nan, tell me please regardless of how it was used if it can be used to put the fire mountain to sleep then it could help save thousands" Jon asks desperately.

"Oh aye it can do that, for everything that is capable of great evil can also be used for good but it is rarely in man's nature to use it that way" Old Nan replies to Jon, she then sighs and realises Jon won't back down from this.

"In the Age of Heroes, when the world was young and the North was beset by dangers both seen and unseen, Brandon undertook legendary tasks of construction. With determination in his heart and a spirit of ingenuity, he crafted Winterfell, the seat of House Stark, brick by brick and stone by stone. It stood as a bastion of strength and resilience, embodying the spirit of the North" Old Nan explains to Jon though he is confused as to why she tells him this as Jon knows about the accomplishment of Brandon the Builder.

"But Brandon's ambitions did not end there, for he set his sights on a grander task. He envisioned a colossal barrier, stretching from coast to coast, to protect the realm from the terrors that lurked in the icy depths beyond. The Wall, they called it, a masterpiece of engineering that defied the imagination. With unwavering resolve, Brandon oversaw its construction, summoning the power of ancient spells and rallying the people of the North to toil side by side, raising the frozen rampart" she continues but before she can keep going Jon stops her.

"Nan I know this, every child in the north knows this, he built the wall united the north and became the first king of winter" Jon states finishing the rest of the story.

"Aye Jon but like most stories from a time long forgotten, it's based in truth but mostly not. Brandon the Builder is a man from the Age of Heroes, but Brandon Stark was a man with the same evil in his heart that so many others do" Old Nan says severely.

"Thousands of years ago the first men and the children of the forest were living in peace, ever since the pact on the isle of faces, but men do not so easily forget, and Brandon Stark and his brother Rickard did not forget the vile blood magics the children did, how they smashed the arm of Dorne with the hammer of the waters" Old Nan explains, Jon though is curious as he had never heard of Brandon having a brother.

"You see they lived in a time where war seemed to be on the horizon, for as long as men exist peace is just what they call it when they lower their sword to catch their breath, before raising it again" She continues.

"The Stark Brothers knew in this next war they needed a power strong enough to fight against the children, and that journey took them to the lands of always winter right on the edge of the world, it was there that the brothers found it" she says in suspense.

"Found what!" Jon asked louder than he meant to.

"The Heart of Winter" Nan says lowly.

"Some believe it to be the heart of an old god, while others say it was winter itself, though which is true cannot be said" She says shrugging her shoulders.

"No one really knows how the brothers found it, nor how they managed to split the heart in half, but it is said that when the two brothers returned they had two objects of immense power, ready to challenge the children and have men take their rightful place at the top" Jon was listening with apt attention, he had not heard of the heart of winter nor had he known about a second Artefact.

"Brandon had used his half of the stone to create a weapon of immense power, it was said that it could control ice and could never be lost as it would always find a way to return to its master" Nan explains.

"What was the weapon called" Jon asks, perhaps he would recognise it under a different name.

"No one knows, it is lost in the great current of time, the only ones who remember are the children as they sing the song of the earth and the earth always remembers" Nan replies before continuing with the story.

"Rickard was not a warrior however, he was a healer, he would be the one to heal his brother when he came back from battle, so he did not create a weapon but something else" Nan explains.

"The Chalice of Winter" Jon finishes for her to which she nods her head.

"As most people know any liquid dropped from the chalice can freeze entire lakes, and this was how they raged war against the children, for what harm can water be if it is frozen" Nan states.

"But things did not go so well for the first men, the two artefacts no matter how powerful they were could not even the scales, especially when the children could control the very forests and animals themselves" she explains.

"It all changed when Rickard Starks wife was killed. So overcome with grief he was that he delved into magics not meant to be practiced, he would capture children and learn their blood magics and it was at that time the world would never be the same" Old man says with bated breath.

"Using the Chalice of Winter as the main instrument he used a mixture of these magics in an attempt to bring his wife back from the lands of the dead, and he succeeded though some would argue that he failed" She continued.

"She was alive but… changed she had hair like winter snow and her skin was as pale as the moonlight, her eyes were orbs of blue crystals, some believed that it wasn't his wife who came back but merely something wearing her skin, the wife was different now when they had gotten ambushed after the ritual she killed all of the children with her bare hands" Old Nan says with a shiver as if the mere thought of the women was enough to send a chill.

"Rickard Stark then performed the ritual on himself, though he was different, he was alive when it was performed so the sacrifice gave him greater power, realising this he killed all of his men before raising them as his new winter army" She explained.

"Some say that he was responsible for starting the long night others will disagree, some even deny Brandon had a brother, so who can say" Old Nan says with a shrug.

"Who stopped him, if he was able to create others how did they beat him" Jon asks enraptured in the story.

"His brother, he gathered the first men and the children of the forest and he killed his brother sending his armies back into the lands of always winter" She replies.

"So he must've taken the chalice from his brother to build the wall" Jon says mostly to himself.

"He would've used both artefacts as such a structure could only be used by something that had complete mastery of winter" Old Nan corrects.

"Thank you Nan" Jon says to her before kissing her on the head and going to the crypts hoping there might be clues on his tomb.

Walking to the crypts he runs into Tyene who is layered in woollen clothes still not used to the cold of the north.

"Hello handsome, have you finally come to pay attention to your poor neglected Tyene" she says with a wide smile.

"Soon love, I will be going to the crypts bellow Winterfell, I hope that I can find something there as it seems stories are all we have to guide us" Jon says to her, she walks up to Jon and loops her arm within his, her intention to go with him clear.

They both head down into the crypts. Heading down the stone steps the natural light of the sun disappearing with each step.

Jon Snow and Tyene tread softly, their footsteps echoing through the dimly lit crypts of Winterfell. Shadows danced along the cold stone walls, shrouding the ancient statues of long-departed Starks. Torches flickered, casting a warm glow upon their faces, illuminating their determined expressions.

As they ventured deeper into the subterranean labyrinth, the air grew heavy with the weight of history. Jon's breath hung in the frigid air, mingling with the faint scent of earth and moss. The sound of distant whispers seemed to echo through the chambers, carrying the voices of generations long gone.

Their footsteps brought them to a grand chamber, where legends whispered that the tomb of Brandon the Builder lay in rest. Jon and Tyene paused, their eyes scanning the solemn stone sarcophagi that lined the room, each marked with the sigils and names of the honored dead.

In the dim light, Jon's gaze met Tyene's, a mix of determination and reverence mirrored in their eyes. Together, they approached a central sarcophagus, intricately carved with scenes of ancient battles and sigils of House Stark. It stood taller and more elaborate than the others, befitting the legend that rested within.

With cautious hands, Jon and Tyene traced the carvings, feeling the etchings beneath their fingertips, as if trying to connect with the essence of the past. They shared a quiet moment, paying homage to the memory of Brandon the Builder, whose legacy had shaped the very foundations of Winterfell.

Silently, they stood side by side, their breaths mingling with the hushed whispers of the crypts.

"Do you know what they mean" Tyene whispers as she fingers the runes and glyphs that littered his tomb.

"It's old tongue, the translation won't be accurate especially when it's in writing, old tongue was a language made for speaking" Jon replies to her before taking a closer look at the sarcophagus.

"Blood of my blood, make it whole, fix my mistakes" Jon reads though the accuracy of it is questionable.

"What does that mean" Tyene wonders.

"Maybe something connected to the Starks" Jon says unsure of his answer.

As Jon and Tyene explored the depths of the crypts beneath Winterfell, their eyes caught a glimmer of something unusual. A faint beam of light, barely perceptible, filtered through a hairline crack in the stone wall of Brandon the Builder's grand tomb. Intrigued by this unexpected discovery, they exchanged a knowing glance, their curiosity piqued.

With cautious anticipation, Jon and Tyene approached the wall, their hands gently grazing the ancient stones, searching for any signs of an entrance. As they pressed against the crack, a hidden mechanism yielded to their touch, causing the stone to shift silently, revealing a hidden passage.

"Did you know that there was a secret passage down here" Tyene asked with a raised eyebrow.

"How would I know that" Jon asks incredulously.

"You read books… for fun" Tyene simply says to which Jon sighs though if was hard to feel negative at the moment

Excitement coursed through their veins as they stepped through the concealed threshold, leaving the solemnity of the tomb behind. The hidden passage unfolded before them, illuminated by soft, ethereal light that seeped through narrow crevices in the ceiling. The air grew cooler and tinged with a faint scent of dampness, hinting at the forgotten secrets held within these hidden corridors.

Their footsteps echoed softly as they ventured deeper into the concealed realm beneath Winterfell. The passage wound its way through intricate twists and turns, revealing ancient relics and forgotten chambers long untouched by the living. The aura of mystery and intrigue hung in the air, beckoning them further into the unknown.

As Jon Snow and Tyene ventured deeper into the hidden chamber beyond the secret entrance, they soon discovered that the path to uncovering the long-lost secrets of Winterfell was not without its perils. As they cautiously proceeded, their eyes keenly scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger.

Their footsteps echoed through the chamber, reverberating off the ancient walls. Jon's keen senses detected a subtle shift in the air, a faint hint of tension that signaled potential traps lying in wait. With a hand raised to halt Tyene's advance, Jon knelt down, scrutinizing the floor before them.

His intuition proved true as he spotted a pressure plate hidden beneath a thin layer of dust. He carefully traced the outline of the concealed mechanism, outlining a path that would ensure their safe passage. Communicating wordlessly, Jon and Tyene sidestepped the hidden trap, their movements fluid and precise.

The chamber ahead held further challenges, and the duo remained vigilant, their senses heightened. A series of suspended ropes with razor-sharp blades swung menacingly across their path, poised to inflict harm upon any unwary traveler. Jon's eyes flickered with determination as he analyzed the pattern, timing their movements with precision.

With a synchronized grace, they maneuvered past the swinging blades, their bodies moving in harmony as they leaped and ducked, narrowly avoiding the deadly arcs. The rush of adrenaline surged through their veins, fueling their determination to press forward.

As they advanced, they encountered a final obstacle—a room lined with ancient, crumbling tiles, each inscribed with enigmatic symbols. Jon's knowledge of history and lore served him well as he discerned a pattern in the symbols. Stepping carefully, he guided Tyene along a safe path, avoiding tiles that triggered hidden mechanisms.

Their hearts pounded in their chests, the weight of each step amplified by the possibility of unseen traps. Time seemed to stretch as they carefully navigated the treacherous floor, inching closer to the heart of the chamber.

With skill and perseverance, Jon and Tyene successfully bypassed the perilous traps that sought to deter them from their quest. Their unwavering determination and shared trust forged a bond of resilience as they overcame each obstacle, drawing closer to the elusive knowledge that awaited them.

"I'm starting to think your ancestor was a piece of shit" Tyene breathes out tired from avoiding obstacles.

"Why do you say that?" Jon replies he's at the moment leaning on his knees getting his breath back.

"He built deadly traps in a place where the most likely person to set them off would be his descendents" Tyene says with a chuckle.

"There has to be a reason for it" Jon says with a sigh, Tyene takes a step and Jon can hear a mechanism activate so he quickly grabs her and pulls her back, barely avoiding an arrow.

"Or maybe he was a piece of shit" Jon states.

Time seemed to lose its grasp as they continued their exploration, their anticipation growing with each step. Finally, they reached a chamber bathed in a soft, golden glow. In the center stood a forgotten altar, adorned with long-extinguished candles and weathered symbols of forgotten gods.

But it was what lay beyond the altar that captured their attention—an ornate door, bearing engravings that spoke of ancient magic and hidden wisdom. Intricate patterns intertwined, depicting scenes of triumph and sacrifice, inviting those who dared to seek knowledge beyond the veil of ordinary existence.

Heartbeats quickened as Jon and Tyene exchanged a nod of mutual resolve. With a shared understanding, they pushed the door open, revealing a realm of enigma and enchantment. A mysterious chamber, bathed in an otherworldly blue glow, standing in the centre of the mystery's chamber on a stand was an axe, Jon's breath caught in his throat.

'It couldn't be the same one could it' Jon thought to himself amazed by the sheer possibility of an Artefact like this existing.

Jon approaches the alter that the axe seemed to be resting on, below it were runes written in the old tongue.

"What do they say" Tyene asks as she looks over from the side standing just behind Jon.

"Behold, Winter Weaver" Jon replies to her, he then takes the chance to truly take a look at the axe.

At its core, the Winter Weaver is defined by its imposing size and strength. Its single edged blade, gleaming with an icy sheen, is crafted from a metal Jon had never seen before but it looked as if it would be capable of withstanding the most grueling battles. The cutting edge is honed to perfection, ensuring that each strike delivers devastating impact.

Ancient runes and symbols, intricately etched in shimmering frost, channel and amplify the wielder's command over frozen forces.

The handle of the Winter Weaver is a marvel in itself, intricately crafted from the sacred weirwood. The smooth, pale wood of the handle emanates an aura of ancient power, reminiscent of the mystical trees that embody the wisdom of the old gods. Carvings depicting intricate frost patterns wind their way along the handle, capturing the essence of winter and augmenting the axe's magical prowess. And at the hilt of the axe a blue jewel of unimaginable beauty lays imbedded.

The Winter Weaver stands as a symbol of both awe-inspiring strength and the delicate beauty of winter's embrace. Its presence evokes visions of frozen landscapes, where ice and snow reign supreme.

Jon tries to reach out and grab the handle but soon realises that he can not lift it, even using two hands the axe does not lift one inch.

Jon let's go and starts to think, lacing around the room, he starts to consider all the information he learnt today when he remembers a key piece of information.

"Blood of my blood" Jon says aloud.

He immediately draws a dagger from his belt and cuts his palm.

"What're you doing!" Tyene asks in a panic seeing Jon's blood drip to the floor.

"Brandon would never want something like this to end up in the wrong hands, the traps were to keep out the unworthy and this puzzle will keep those who are not Starks from taking it" Jon replies as he grabs the handle of the axe his blood soaking the pale ash coloured weirwood immediately disappearing into the wood.

The axe seems to thrum as Jon now lifts it out of the stand holding it in his hands, the first time in thousands of years that the axe had been held by another person.

It was light, a lot lighter than an axe of this size should be, icy fog seemed to emanate from the blade freezing the air around the two.

Jon looks at the runes and glyphs carved in the handle more closely now "One path always leads to another" Jon translates one side of the axe, he then turns it around looking at the runes on the other side.

"Through one half I lead to a whole" Jon says aloud for the second time.

"What does it mean, it sounds like a bunch of gibberish to me" Tyene says uninterested.

"I think it could be a way for us to find the Chalice" Jon says unsure of himself though this managed to get Tyenes attention.

"It is strange, I can feel the axe as if it were a part of me" Jon says to her. But that wasn't the only thing he felt, he felt the gem at the base of the axe, it connected to the axe and himself, but it also connected somewhere else, somewhere far away.

"I think this gem at the base is one half of the heart of winter" Jon says to Tyene who looks at him confused, he then inwardly chastises himself as he remembers that Tyene did not hear the story.

So for the next hour Jon retells the story that Old Nan had told him, it sounded like a fantastical tale to both of them but here they were holding a piece of history adding to the validity of the story.

"So you think you might be able to find the chalice" Tyene asks Jon as they begin to head back towards the crypts.

"I don't know unless I try, at this point there is very little too lose" Jon says shrugging his shoulders.

"Apart from running into a 6.7ft hulking mass of muscle who wants to kill you" Tyene replies to him getting an uneasy smile from Jon.

They eventually came back out of the crypts it was easier this time as they knew where all the traps lay and could easily avoid them, when they got out of the crypts they realised that it was nearly sunset, they had spent a lot more time down there than they had thought.

They both headed towards their respective rooms to freshen up for supper, Jon felt sad that he would have to tell them that he was leaving so soon after just arriving, but a lot is at stake here and they can't afford to tally.

Jon gets dressed appropriately for supper before heading towards the door, he looks back at the axe, the frost coming off the blue tinted metal then he heads out of the room making his way to the Great Hall.

(AN: Chapter is a bit shorter today, it could've been longer but it wouldn't have been anything or substance it would've just been them eating and then them saying goodbye tomorrow and maybe a smut scene. Anyway try not to take my little walk through history seriously. It happened like 8,000 years ago, who knows whether the story is true)