12

Summary:

Jon opens the chest of his parents' belongings and meets another of his future wives, Val.

Notes:

The start is heavy with feels.

So sorry I lied, Jon will only meet Val this chapter. I wanted to explore Jon's feelings a bit more and still had some other stuff to cover first before Margaery arrives.

Made a small correction in the chapters Val takes place in, no longer is she wearing white as I'm pretty sure that mainly happens after she possibly considers herself stolen by Jon. She might be wearing mostly white to signify snow as a connection to Jon.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Jon stared at the chest as he had for the past hour, possibly multiple hours. He would not quite understand where his hesitancy came from but he was finally going to open the wooden thing after multiple days of confusion. 

His talk with his father or uncle had been heated, the man's apologies and the reveal of the chest had put out those flames. It was once Jon was alone with the chest in his room that he realized that in the other life he would never have known of this chest. Jon had wanted to stay angry with his father figure but he just had to call him his son twice. He has only done so three times, all of which have happened only since the time travelers arrived. 

Now Jon can learn about his actual father. He now has ownership of some of the last of Rhaegar Targaryen's possessions. It was still odd to think of the man as his father, harder still to differentiate his previous perception of the man with the truth that he still had so little idea of. That lies in the chest.

The thing was made of ebony wood. It was large, smaller than a dresser but it could still probably fit all six direwolves inside. 

Taking a deep breath, Jon flipped the latch and then lifted the lid. The first thing to greet him was two sigils embroidered on two cloaks. The red three headed dragon of House Targaryen, his house, as hard as that was to accept. The other: the grey direwolf of House Stark on pure white fur, his mother's maiden cloak, the other her bride's cloak. Proof of his trueborn status, if it was legal, another insecurity caused by his uncle's lies.

Seeing the cloaks reminded him of the only visual of a wedding that he has, his and Sansa's. At least that is what he thinks the vision was of. The cloak she wore did not bear the Targaryen sigil but a red variation of the Stark's. She had been stunningly beautiful, in white and red below the heart tree she looked more at home in the North than he could ever imagine. Those sapphire eyes had sparkled with unshed tears and looked at him with such trust. Her red lips curled in a stunning smile.

Shaking his head rapidly as if to rid his mind of thoughts of older Sansa, Jon focused back on the contents of the chest. The two cloaks covered the rest so he carefully moved them atop his bed holding them as if they were glass rather than fur and cloth. 

Next was a small black blanket with red dragons and white wolves, a babe's blanket. It was meant for him, just another thing that he should have had but was fated not to. He doubts it ever touched his flesh, no washerwoman could be trusted to clean such a thing. Gods, tears were already forming in his eyes. 

Underneath that was a small high harp laid vertically, it was the largest item in the chest. It's shiny silver strings contrasted the dark wood carved with segments of scales. Perhaps had Lady Stark let him take lessons like Robb then he might have been capable of playing the thing as Sansa would like. Was it her or his father-uncle which prevented such a thing? If Jon was honest he quite liked music but he was never invested in learning the art. Mayhaps it was the lack of opportunity or maybe it was about the association with bards and minstrels with seduction and his aversion to fathering bastards.

Then there were smaller chests and boxes. The first one he opened was filled with letters as was the second, he set them aside for later no matter how badly he wished to read them. The third contained raven scrolls, that too was set aside. The fourth and fifth contained jewelry, one was messily organized while the other was meticulous, amusingly Jon pictured his true father doing the organizing while his mother sat by laughing as she watched. Perhaps Jon would gift those jewels to his wives and children. 

A collection of books, all of which shared the same look, black leather with white painted titles. None of the tombs he had heard of; Blood and Fire, The Edge of the World, Hardhome, Jade Compendium, Watchers on the Wall, The Measure of the Days, and many more. Jon felt they must have been his father's, he cursed the man for making the chest so heavy.

Under his mother's marriage gown was a bunch of miscellaneous items: a carved wolf of weirwood, blue dead flower petals, a small misshapen metal rock, a stuffed direwolf and dragon, gold dragons, rubies, and notably a leatherbound book over two more sealed letters. That seemed to be everything besides the black fur that matted the bottom of the chest.

Grabbing the book and letters from under the clutter. One letter was sealed in red wax and it's seal already broken, the other a soft blue, both using the Targaryen sigil. He figured they were not correspondence between his parents as they were separate from the letter chests. Jon opened the red broken one first.

Blots dotted the paper and blurred some of the elegant penmanship. Jon wondered if it was the writer or a reader. 

Child,

It is with sincere heart that I apologize for my failures as required for this to be in your possession or mayhaps your mother went snooping and found this first. The life you received was certainly not our wishes for you, under my father's rule or my cousin's you will not get what you deserve. Ideally you shall at the very least have your siblings. Regardless, you are fated for hardship and greatness, always were. A burden lies upon your shoulders, one only you can bear. 

Among these items are tomes that I have copied. Their contents shall hopefully help you and your siblings along your paths. Our lacking knowledge is our greatest weakness, don't let it be yours, prepare. Conflict is inevitable, best be more prepared than I.

I've said this many times but you were too young to remember, possibly too young to hear from the safety of your mother's belly, I love you. If only you and I could have one memory of eachother, for you to have been in my arms, to meet my eyes, to grow before my eyes but it was not meant to be. The most important thing I can impress upon you is my love for you and your mother, whether you be my Visenya or a son. Hopefully you already know that. 

My love will forever linger with you, your siblings and your mothers, never question that. Day, night, dawn, dusk, winter or summer, you will always be the living embodiment of Lya and I's love. The union of ice and fire.

I love you, my child.

Your father, Rhaegar

The letter slipped from Jon's shaky fingers. Gods, how he had longed to hear those words, he never will from either of his parents. It was rare for his uncle to say such but he was a busy man and he never said so to his children without doing the same for Jon. 

Rhaegar, his father, a man he previously believed to be amongst one of the worst ilks of man, loved him. The words written before his birth told him everything he wanted to know. Jon had been wanted, very much so, even if his father seemed to crave a daughter over a son. He was conceived with love. He was loved. At the very least by his father's account.

Jon had to stop himself from pondering what could have been had the rebellion gone differently. After a tear fell and caused one more blot on the page, he quickly moved the page away as he collected himself. There was still much to read. 

Grabbing the blue wax letter, Jon took a deep breath before cracking the seal. The penmanship was not as elegant, and larger and more sloppy than his father's hand. It also required a second page.

Jaehaerys or Visenya, whichever you may be,

Sweet babe, why did your father have to be a bloody poet, my words can't compare. But I love you more than he and he loves you greatly!

Your father was kind enough to lower himself more to our level in his letter. I must confess, I peeked, I shouldn't have, it only stressed me out and I'm to avoid stress but everything is stressful! He's gone. Are these letters cursed to be needed or are we cursed? I hope you aren't. I'd give my life for yours but it's scary, I am not ready to die, but for you I would. I don't want you to suffer poor Dyanna's fate and I don't want to suffer Ashara's, especially without Rhaegar. I couldn't do it, all the death for nothing. 

It wasn't meant to happen. None of it, Brandon, Father, the war. I sent a letter to Riverrun when I left to meet your father at the inn. 

I hope you may forgive me for leaving you alone. But you'll have the love of Elia and Ashara, be kind to your siblings, don't be afraid to push them around if they are being stupid, gods know Benjen needed it. Speak to him if you want to hear our many tales, he was the only one always around. If you need an ally in the North, find him or Howland Reed. Ned may be a great risk. 

If Robert wins, ensure that bastard gets what he deserves for taking your father from us, for thinking I'm nothing more than an object. He should have just married Ned. Would have saved us both the trouble. End Robert or Stab him or kick him in the jewels and slap Ned for me. Also call him Ed or Eddy, he hates it.

Do not blame yourself, my death is not on your currently tiny little hands. I love you and you mean everything to me, us. 

You are a dragon and a direwolf. If you hatch that egg of yours, find a direwolf! At least they are cuddly unlike massive scaly fire breathing lizards.

I love you, my little pup! And don't you dare forget it! 

Your amazing but sadly dead mother that loves you, Lya

Also sorry about the tears drops, I'm emotional! That one is actually your fault.

Jon couldn't help but let loose a half sobbing chuckle. He wishes he could have met her, beyond the moons he spent growing inside her. His mother seemed entertaining, she certainly wasn't strict like Lady Stark. A childhood with his mother would have been exciting. Arya would have loved her.

Jaehaerys. Jon was not even his name. That would take a while to get used to. He supposed Jon Targaryen does sound pretty bad. It was a bit messed up that he was named presumably after Jon Arryn who was one of the leaders of the rebellion that dethroned his house. Sharing a name with the Conciliator puts expectations on him that he can only hope to live up to and possibly exceed. One day he will go by the name his mother wished, he owed her that much, but he would alway be Jon as well. He will always in part be Jon Snow, bastard of Eddard Stark.

While he may not have a dragon egg he did at least have a direwolf so that is one of his mother's wishes complete, attacking the king may be a bit challenging, his uncle however...

He stared at the letters rereading the declarations of love over and over again until his eyes started to tire and he spent more time yawning than reading. Putting everything back into the chest, Jon promised himself to read through everything else later. Hopping into bed with the clearest mind, Jon slept the best he ever had.

Watching Robb or Theon spar against Jonnel, Cass, or Baelor was always entertaining. Today it was Robb and Jonnel in the ring, Theon and Brynnard were off practicing archery. Jon sat on a fence with Baelor witnessing Robb try his hardest to best his nephew. 

Baelor had Ghost laid out across his lap, casually petting the spoiled pup. The sight was common if Ghost was not with Jon or Robyn then he found one of Jon's children available, usually Baelor as the lazy one. 

"Heard you and a certain someone were all kissy in the Godswood yesterday." Baelor side eyed Jon with the only visible brow raised. 

Jon nearly panicked. How did he know about the kiss with Sansa? Turning quickly to his lazy son. "What?"

Smirking, Baelor explained in his currently annoyingly slow drawl, "Roh was out climbing with Brynnard."

His heart almost fell. If Robb finds out... "No one will tell Robb, right?"

"No, Sauna put her foot down. Self sabotage, she called it." 

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Jon relaxed. "Nell is married, what about you?"

Baelor shrugged, "Not married. I'm sort of following my great uncle's footsteps."

"Betrothed then?" Jon asked hopeful, the only unmarried uncles of Baelor that Jon could think of were Benjen, Brandon, Viserys and Oberyn, not that he knows much about the last two.

"My love are lowborn, and we don't care much for the paperwork or pissing off lords and ladies after my hand."

Jon stiffened at that, that ceremony may not affect the couple much but their child... "You'd father bastards?"

"It is not the same as now. The Faith of the Seven's influence died greatly after the wars and the destruction of the Faith Militant. Many of our lords or ladies were bastards raised to their stations, both the ladies of Storm's End and Casterly Rock were bastards. Many of the small folk were born out of wedlock." Baelor did not even react to Jon's anger.

Calming himself down, Jon took deep breaths and closed his eyes. Baelor's choices were not ideal but he could not lecture the man while he marries four women. Opening his eyes they instantly focused on a raven atop a battlement. There was something about it.

"So you finally noticed it."

"What?" The raven? Jon didn't think it would be worth mentioning.

Instead of answering Baelor just extended his arm. The raven as if following his command took flight and landed on the offered perch. It's beady eyes stared at Jon. "Message!" it croaked.

The loud call was enough to stop the fight in the yard. Robb eyed the bird with a slack jaw and a floating swordarm. "Did that Raven just talk?"

"Yes." The raven answered.

Robb took a step backwards and his brows shot up in alarm. Scared by a bird, Stark?

"Message!" The bird repeated and jumped on Baelor's arm as if frustrated. "Benjen, one hour away!" A sentence, the bloody bird spoke a sentence! That can't be right, Uncle Benjen would have sent a raven beforehand, one that was not so strange. After saying its message the bird maneuvered itself onto Jon's shoulder.

Giving Jon a look, Robb shrugged. "Should we inform Father?"

"Yes." Jon and the raven replied at the same time. 

Even Eddard Stark did not know why Benjen was to arrive, Robert Baratheon has still yet to reach the Neck. So the whole family awaited Benjen Stark. Lady Stark had seen the opportunity as a chance to practice for the king's arrival. The raven was still perched on Jon's shoulder.

Horns bellowed their call from the East Gate signifying the incoming rider or riders. It took a few minutes before Jon's uncle rode through the inner gate into the courtyard. Seconds behind Benjen were two blonde women and a dark-haired woman all on their own horses. Moments after them came two men.

"We come bearing gifts!" Shouted the dark-haired woman as she stood on her horse's saddle gesturing towards the carriage being pulled by the mount. Jon already felt the second hand embarrassment as he recognized those dark curls as his own. This was his daughter, his surprisingly outgoing daughter…

Behind Jon, Jonnel chuckled. "Look. The big bad magnar got injured. Don't see that often. Any bets? My money is on messing up climbing the Wall, man's a sh- bad climber."

Sara's voice answered, "Why would they go over the Wall? Benjen is with them so clearly they stopped at Castle Black regardless. Why risk it?"

"They wouldn't. All of them are aware that only three keeps are manned. They must have found Benjen, I can't see reason to take the women to Castle Black with only a five man party. The men would be disarmed for admittance, they would have required insurance," Sauna deduced.

Soon enough Benjen swiftly dismounted and handed the reins to a stableboy. Marching over to the lord of the keep he paused as he noticed Minisa but after a moment or two recovered. "Brother," his greeting was slightly frosty as his blue-grey eyes flicked towards Jon. "We must talk."

"That we do." Lord Stark's response was no less cold. "What is it you bring?"

"Castle Black's library." Benjen's answer caused Sara to nealy squeal. "Who are these?"

Sighing, "Our cousin's children?" Ned's claim was met with skepticism. "And your party?"

"That's complicated. We had a misunderstanding beyond the Wall, three parties are less fun than two," Benjen explained.

Jon stopped paying attention to his uncles at that point, his focus instead on the blonde woman that lingered closer to the horses and carriages, Val, he figured. She was far more beautiful than he was expecting, she was a wildling afterall. But this young woman was one of the prettiest he'd ever seen, the prettiest he wasn't related to, comparable to older Sansa. Though if he thinks about it after thousands of years of wildlings stealing beautiful maidens Jon supposed that would yield results in their own children. Blue-grey eyes looked around in wonder at the keep until they met his own.

Freezing under the stare, Jon snapped his attention back to the conversation. Surely blushing like a green boy.

The injured man in black with dark hair spoke up to Lord Stark. "Apologies, but do not expect us to bow or kneel to just anyone, we swear to the man." His dark greyish eyes met Jon before returning to Eddard's. "Regardless, I am Jael and this is-" The man lifted his not restrained arm to point to the raven on Jon.

"Jeor!" The raven called out cutting off Jael. Abandoning Jon's shoulder for a perch on the older man.

"-Jeor…" Jael finished off sounding extremely tired. This was the man his children said looked just like Jon in the future. His second oldest child. Jon could see the similarities. Jael inherited Jon's great hair, though his was more in length with Benjen's than Jon's. He also had facial hair, something that Jon was not yet capable of.

Immediately following his introduction he was jumped upon by Robyn the little redheaded girl. "Jael!" She was readily greeted with a single armed hug. Jon recalled receiving the same hug when the girl first appeared in the Godswood.

The next man to step up was the blonde in white, Jon's eldest. Pointing to himself, "Varon." Shifting his fingers towards the little white and black bird nested in his white cloak, "Bunty."

Surprisingly the process was cut off by Sansa who verbally awed. "He is so cute! May I hold him?"

Varon smiled at his younger secondary mother, or whatever the term is. "Hold out a finger." 

After doing so the small round bird fluttered its small wings and landed on the girl's index. Sansa caressed its head with her free pointer finger. "Aww."

Next up was the woman who was almost an exact copy of her mother. Honey blonde hair, just like Val but with the same vivid violet eyes as Robyn. "Greetings. I am Dalla, and this is Tassels, because she shreds everything to tassels. Despite the name she is mostly harmless, just don't take her food." Dalla introduced as she petted the little white rodent poking its head out of the slit of her collar. 

Quickly the woman was pulled into the triplets' group. The three pestered her with hushed questions.

The outgoing girl with Jon's dark wavy hair pulled a dark form from her behind her cloak. A shadowcat cub! Surprisingly none of the direwolves or other animals reacted negatively. "This is Vampire and I'm Shireen."

"Is that a shadowcat?" Arya was excited as to be expected, she has never seen one. The girl has hardly gone far from the great walls of the keep. Never truly leaving the nest or rather den.

Shireen smirked. "A cub. Wanna hold her?"

"Yes!"

Lady Catelyn put a stop to that quickly. "No, she will not hold it."

Shrinking and dramatically slumping, Shireen pouted. The cub mimicked the expression. "She's harmless."

"It is currently biting your arm." The lady of Winterfell brought attention to the animal's teeth piercing Shireen's bare arm.

"Oh, that is for mutual pleasure. My blood is the only one she likes. She doesn't like the taste of other man's meat." Shireen said it with such confidence it almost sounded normal. No one knew how to respond to that. 

Thankfully Varon ended the awkwardness with an outburst. "Really? Everybody already has their direwolves. An owl, Sara?" She shrugged. "Can someone please point me in the direction of the biggest snowbear around or am I going to have to wait?"

Mock gasping Shireen covered her mouth with a hand. "What would Snowball think of your disloyalty?"

Arya broke out in laughter as everyone smiled. "You named a snowbear Snowball, that is hardly threatening."

Dropping his shoulders Varon grumbled, "He's a gentle giant…"

Val, now near her children, recognized the shift of eyes to her. "Val," she introduced herself nonchalantly but her white knuckles around the spear she leaned on spoke of her nerves. He didn't blame her, he'd be on guard if he was in a wildling camp.

"Cat, can you prepare more rooms in the family quarters? Benjen, Jon we need to talk." Lord Stark commanded.

Benjen raised an eyebrow at Jon's inclusion. "One of them and the girl should come as well." Motioning to his party. 

Then it was Eddard's turn to pause. "Which one?"

"Val," Benjen clarified.

Instead of making the decision the lord looked to Jon.

If Benjen trusted the woman enough and considering Jon marries her, she could be trusted for whatever Benjen wished to discuss. Jon met his future wife's eyes before turning back to his former father and nodding his consent.

"Alright. And the other of your party?" Ned asked.

"I'll go." Varon volunteered. "Magnar here needs his beauty sleep." Elbowing his dark-haired twin's good arm causing the man to scowl. 

Lord Stark motioned for them to follow and they did so. The brothers lead the way followed by Varon and ending the formation was Jon and Val walking alongside each other. 

Right before they entered the keep, Jon caught Sara's command. "Nell, Baelor, Bryn, Robb, be gentlemen and help carry my books to the library." Jon did not envy them, the poor saps would have to walk the bloody steps dozens of times.

The walk was done in mostly silence. Jon recalled that Val taught his children and future him the old tongue, so she might know what magnar meant, they did not seem to be referencing the Skagosi house. "What does magnar mean?" Looking to the blonde woman.

"Lord." Her answer was curt. Her grip was still tight on her spear.

"We will not harm you unless you provoke it. We are aware you are a-" Jon had to stop himself from saying wildling, "- a freefolk."

Val gave him a curious look before it hardened. "My people have done less that has been considered provoking." They were bitter words. It would have been easier to take her seriously if she wasn't already getting red with sweat beginning to form on her forehead. Her thick furs would be hot even outside, especially if she was used to colder. Inside the heated walls she must be boiling.

"Lord Stark." Jon called. The lord stopped and turned to Jon. "We should probably get Val some more fitting clothes. Alsauna's would fit." They both seemed to prefer breeches and now Sauna has a wardrobe because of Cailin and Minisa's teamwork.

After taking a quick note of Val's state, Eddard nodded. "Be quick."

"Follow me." Jon led Val towards the chambers that Sauna and Robyn shared. 

"You have my thanks." Val confessed after he set out a set of clothes for her, even underclothes which was awkward enough, hopefully Sauna did not hate him for it.

Her appreciation made him feel something, his checks were probably bright red. As he moved towards the door, Jon informed her, "I'll be outside the door."

She called just before he closed the door. "Peek and I'll geld you."

Swiftly he closed the door, never turning towards it. He did not know why but that threat or more her tone and fierceness stirred something in him, more so than her thanks. Jon had to admit that was somehow attractive. He is a goner if all the women are so beautiful and demanding. 

A few moments later she strides out of the room in a blue and grey outfit. She looked stunning in the thinner breeches and the jerkin showed off her form far better than her thick furs. "I feel naked." He wished she was. That is not what Jon needs to imagine right now! "Why is it so hot in here?"

They resumed their journey to the lord's solar. "The castle is built on a collection of hot springs and the water runs through the walls heating the keep. We recently built bathhouses from a few of the larger ones. One of the girls can show you later."

Val looked impressed at the walls. "You southerners have it all, don't you?" she asked almost bitterly.

"I'm a Northman, not a southerner."

"Is the Wall not North of here?" Val asked rhetorically, still moody.

She was not wrong, from beyond the Wall even the North is south of them. "I suppose we are south of you but our land is called the North so we are Northmen," Jon tried to explain.

Humming in agreement, Val nodded. "Depends on where one stands I suppose but you'll always be a southerner to me. You don't deny your people have a great many things?"

"I suppose we do, the South has more so than us here though. The Reach produces enough food to feed all of Westeros."

The woman's jaw slackened for a moment. "No wonder you all are so soft. Besides wood and stone there is not much beyond the Wall that is not trying to kill you."

Jon never thought of that before. Luwin taught them the common exports of each kingdom but the resources or lack there of north of the Wall was never mentioned. He knows it is cold up at the Wall and they get even more snow than in Winterfell so it would logically be worse for crops. "Is that why you raid?"

"Not all of us do. Some trade but that is not something you might hear about. But some raid. Most believe what is yours is only that which you can defend. Should someone steal it, it is then theirs." 

That sounded utterly miserable to Jon. As someone who desired to earn a place somewhere and have his own property, it seemed impossible under that ideology. Though he supposed it makes people aware of what is really valuable to them. "No wonder why you still use bronze." 

She rounded on him with her bronze spearhead near his neck and narrowed her eyes. "We are forced to use bronze because your people with your steel forced us so far north our only company is dead things.

He put his hands up in surrender. "What I am trying to say is a man can't build a home without it being stolen, a man can't discover how to forge iron without it being stolen with both men likely being killed. What is the point of working hard or inventing or doing anything but stealing?" Jon really hoped that was enough to calm her down.

Slowly Val lowered her spear as she contemplated his words much to Jon's relief. "To my understanding your people are born into power and it is not earned. We get what we earn. Is that not better?"

Debatable. "Their ancestors earned their castles, some stole it, some were given it. Though there are few ways to currently earn a keep besides birth. Though I imagine our smallfolk have it better than yours."

"'Smallfolk.' You call them small as you look down upon them from your castles. Our people are at least equal."

"I concede on that. At least we don't steal and rape our women."

Val cocked her head. "No, instead you trade your daughters and sisters for gold and favors like cattle. Women trained to be obedient with no choice at all. Our women can fight off an unwanted man or choose a man to steal and that man can fight back if they wish to. I myself have rid a few men of an ear, eye or their cocks."

Again, neither seemed moral. "I see everything comes down to combat beyond the Wall." Jon commented with a hint of amusement.

"Mostly. We respect strength." Val mentioned as they walked past two guards who did not seem keen on allowing her to keep her weapon.

Arriving at the door, Jon knocked and awaited to be called in. His uncle's approval came almost instantly.

Inside both his uncles sat with their arms crossed and Varon looked like he was in a cage with two dueling bears. "Finally. These two haven't said a word the whole time."

Jon grabbed two chairs and pulled them nearer to the desk where their conversation would take place. "Apologies." Jon sat in one and Val accepted the other practically hugging her spear. 

"Benjen, what is this about? I wasn't expecting you for another moon and a half." Father-Uncle asked.

Looking tired, Benjen sighed. "Aye. For Robert's arrival…" Benjen did not seem all that pleased about the ruler, Jon figured his mother was right and he would favor her or Jon over the Baratheon. "I left early to accompany his party, we need to discuss things going on beyond the Wall." Benjen gestured towards Varon.

Lord Stark frowned. "The new King Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder."

"In part. This woman here is Mance Rayder's good-sister and is negotiating for her people. The problem is we are severely undermanned against the wildlings but there are complications. The wildlings united to run from something." Jon's uncle's words turned ominous. "The Other's have returned."

Recalling the deserter's mad raving, Jon met eyes with his father figure. Eddard gulped. "Have you seen them?"

"No, only the corpses of their thralls that Varon and his party slayed." Benjen ran a gloved hand through his long dark hair.

"We had a deserter the day we found the direwolves, half mad I thought, raved about the White Walkers. Gared, I believe the name he claimed was. I suppose he told the truth even in his fear," Ned said solemnly.

Benjen's shoulder's fell, "Royce's lad led his party. None returned or so we thought. Jeor was thinking of a search party."

Val cut in, "Whoever it was is certainly dead by now. A single survivor is miraculous enough."

Eyes darkening, Eddard let out a heavy breath. He knew Lord Royce, and perhaps he could empathize imagining Jon in Waymer's place. "Have you seen them?" Lord Stark questioned Val.

"Only their underlings. I could feel one of the walker's presence when my party was going to investigate his camp." Flicking her head towards Varon. "They killed one. I'm here to find out how." The claim shifted the Lord's attention to the man.

"Aye, they are bloody tough to kill. Faster and stronger than any man. Harder still with a swarm of wights. Tall with skin as pale as snow, eyes bright as stars but a haunting blue. With armor of black ice that can make them practically invisible in the night and snow." Varon's description painted a gloomy future.

Conflict is inevitable. Jon recalled from his father's letter. The books came to mind, their titles implied their contents, dragons, the Wall, the Long Night. Had his father known? Was this the war that caused such death in his children's past?

 The conversation continued for perhaps hours, covering the Watch, the wildlings and the Others. Throughout the talk one thing became evident: Val and Benjen did not know who Varon and his party really were.

As the discussion was dying down, Ned spoke up. "Varon, can you take Val here back to your siblings? I would like to speak with my brother and Jon in private."

Val looked annoyed, "When do I get my answers on how to kill them?"

"Valyrian steel, the metal that our spears are made of, which is extremely rare and valuable. The other option is dragonglass or obsidian as some call it. There is none of either north of the Wall so it is best you continue to work with us. Stealing a spear will do you little good, one blade or four won't save your people." Varon's words caused Val to groan and scowl. She moved to the door with Varon, before exiting the man directed a sheepish shrug at Jon.

After a few moments of silence. "Jon knows, Benjen." Eddard's word's brought back Jon's attention.

"He knows... and he hasn't punched you in your muzzle?" Benjen seemed greatly shocked by the revelation. "I'm surprised you told him."

"Eddy, didn't tell me," Jon clarified using the name his mother told him to call his older uncle by. 

The man was stunned by the name before a look of horror crossed his face. "Jon, where did you learn that name?"

Contrasting his brother, Benjen was laughing much to the lord's ire. "Ed didn't tell you?"

Smiling at the fact that Benjen clearly knew where the jest came from, Jon would have to ask later. "He did tell me but it wasn't exactly voluntary on his part. Someone else was going to do it if he didn't."

"Howland?"

Lord Stark interjected, "No, you met them earlier."

Benjen narrowed his eyes. "Our supposed cousins?"

"Aye. You are correct to be suspicious, they are not our cousins," Lord Stark confirmed.

"How did they find out? You trust them? Who are they really?" Benjen fired off questions.

His father figure turned his eyes to Jon imploring him to do the reveal. Jon figured this is his duty as it was his kids which traveled through time. Groaning Jon answered, "Hard to believe but they are from the future. They and the four from your party are my children, except one, that one is Arya's."

Slumping into his chair with his jaw hanging, Benjen's brows furrowed as he thought. "That would actually make a fair amount of sense, surprisingly. They said a great grandfather that they didn't care for was killed in the siege of King's Landing, I'd have never thought it was the Mad King. The one looks just like an older Jon and that other girl looks like Lyanna did… Aemon knew! That shrewd old man! No wonder he was in such a good mood."

"You're taking it better than I did," Eddard confessed.

"Of course I am. You are rather resistant towards new things." Benjen verbally jabbed back. "Wait! There were like a dozen of them. Not including the four with me."

"Yeah…" Jon did not know how best to explain he took four wives.

Having no mercy for Jon, his former father betrayed him. "The lad took four wives in the future. One of them being my daughter." Eddard fixed Jon with a jesting glare.

Benjen chuckled at the answer, clapping Jon on the back in a congratulatory manner. "Oh ho. Good lad. You were busy. Don't be afraid of this one, think of it as compensation for your upbringing. So do we know the other lucky ladies?"

Jon sighed, "Sansa, Val, Margaery Tyrell, and Rhaenys."

"Damn. You have some high standards there, two princesses and two great ladies. And all at once. A dragon's appetite." Benjen chuckled to himself. "To clarify, you do mean Rhaenys, as in Elia's daughter?"

"Aye. They live," Jon confirmed.

Benjen shrugged and nodded. "Any other matters."

"The group Tyrells are set to arrive soon with more of Jon's children. Another party went to Dorne to unite with Princess Elia. That covers most of it. We are waiting for the Tyrells to discuss the future," Eddard said.

One of his mother's tasks for him popped into his thoughts. "There is one more thing." Jon stood and leaned over his father figure's desk. He would have never imagined himself doing what he was planning just a moon past. The man looked at Jon questioningly until Jon's open hand clapped loudly against his face. It was hard but not enough to bruise or he hoped not.

While Benjen laughed at his brother's pain, Jon's victim stared at him stunned. "I likely deserve that but what was that for?"

"Everything, but mostly for my mother. She told me to in a letter."

That caused Benjen to perk up. "She wrote you a letter?"

"Aye. She spoke fondly of you in it. That is where I learned Fa- Uncle hates being called Ed or Eddy, I don't know why though. I have yet to look at the other letters in the boxes but I figure those are not addressed to me." 

A mischievous look crossed Benjen's eyes as they twinkled at his brother. "When Ed here left for the Vale he was Ed or Eddard, when he returned the only name he liked was Ned which Robert called him. Brandon, Lya and I made fun of him for it and for becoming partially a southerner. Honor, sun, honor, flowers, knights, honor, jousts."

"Stop Benjen," Lord Stark sounded half miserable. It was a sight to see the icey man with pink tinted cheeks and embarrassed.

"Gold, the Seven, honor, court, tourneys, and don't forget honor!" Benjen ended his tease with another chuckle. He turned to Jon hopefully when he settled down. "Jon, would you mind letting me read the letter?"

Uncle Ned too seemed interested. "I'd like to see it as well, if I may." Jon didn't think he would like what it said about him.

Jon thought about it for a moment. It was their sister, they deserved to know. The letter was not excessively personal. For a split second he was surprised Ned hadn't read it but quickly recalled it was still sealed when Jon acquired it. "I suppose. I want stories of her in return. The letter also does not speak highly of you," addressing his former father.

After sighing sadly, Ned spoke in a resigned tone, "I did not expect it to."

After returning with the letter, Jon passed it to Benjen first. He read through it with a sad smile, and looked equally amused, fond, and sorrowful. At parts he laughed, once he looked to almost cry. When finished he silently passed it to his elder. 

Unlike his brother, Eddard seemed to find little amusement from the letter and predictably he seemed much more depressed. When finished, he looked completely and rightfully defeated as he slumped in his chair with the two pages left on his desk. "She didn't trust me…"

"I think that is understandable," Benjen commented dryly.

Eddard didn't respond. Minutes later he investigated the letter once more. "Jaehaerys… She claimed to have named you Aegon to me."

What? Jon could not help but think when did names become so confusing, was he Jon, Jaehaerys or now Aegon? Jon was born after the siege of King's Landing but the letter seemed to be written before. "She must have named me after Aegon, thinking he was killed. But that wasn't the case. My father's letter didn't offer a name other than Visenya."

"So Jaehaerys was the name she originally wished for you," Benjen concluded. "More fitting anyway, you don't look like an Aegon."

Jon smiled. "No, I suppose I don't."

"Ben. Did you notice the bit about the letter to Riverrun?" Ned looked grave.

"Yes, it might have been shot down or the bird got lost, unless she sent it from Harrenhall before she left to meet Rhaegar…" Benjen trailed off.

"At that point the realm was at peace. That bird most certainly reached Riverrun and that is what worries me." Jon had never seen his fa- uncle so nervous before. But if someone had read that letter then they know one of the biggest secrets in the realm.

Benjen shifted his jaw back and forth. "Who would keep such a letter from Brandon?"

"I don't know." Again the lord looked defeated. "I will speak with Cat later, she was there. Surely she must have some idea."

Sparring with Val was nice, she was not as well trained as Myriah or any of her children but she fought dirty and unconventionally. She was something that Jon was still learning to fight against, Val bested him fairly regularly at the start but he was catching on quickly to her tactics. Without Jonnel and the others' training he would probably still be a year perhaps away from besting her regularly but with it he needed maybe a few more weeks.

Breaking from a meeting of her spear with his sword, Val whipped her head and her very long braid flew towards his face. On instinct he moved to dodge it, just to quickly find his feet were swept out from beneath him. Landing on his back with a thud.

Soon enough Val was half kneeling on his chest and sword arm. She smiled down on him. "I quite like looking down on you." And he quite liked looking up at her or just at her in general. Val was beautiful and fierce and her smile… Cleaning up only made her prettier. She lingered on his chest.

"Enjoy it while you can." While Jon took a surprising joy being beneath her even in such a manner, another part of him really wanted to tame this fierce, strong, wild woman. Not because he had to be the better in any sense but because he had to prove to her he could be worthy of her. They respected strength, she said so herself. 

Val smirked at him before getting off him. "Don't worry I'll be enjoying it for a long time." He hoped she would be. Gods, this woman is turning him into Theon. She deserves know about the children, though they are hardly children, all but two are older than he was. 

Jon wiped off some of the dirt from his garb as he stood. Luckily it was a dry day in the yard, no mud or soaked wool. "Val. There is something I would like to discuss with you in private."

She brushed over that bone dagger of hers with her hand as it traveled to rest on her hip. "You are not already planning on stealing me, are you? You heard what happened to the others." One of her dark blonde eyebrows was raised challengingly at him.

"Not yet." It took him a moment to realize what he said. His embarrassment must have shown as she laughed at him.

Picking up her spear Val moved back to him. "Lead the way." He did so as she commanded. "You are tolerable for a southerner."

"Good to hear." He directed them to the Godswood. "Are your people commonly named after words in the Old Tongue?" Alsauna was the only case he knew of such a thing but he thought getting to know her people has advantages.

"Not commonly, most names are just names. Some go by objects or plant names, some don't have names. Our babes don't receive names until they live two years as many do not live that long and doing so brings bad fortune. But I was named for the word meaning independent." Val gave him another of her rare smiles. 

Jon thought that babe detail was rather depressing. He tried to recall the little else he knew of the language. "A fitting name. Al means my, correct?"

She nodded. "Yes, but it can also mean self. You speak the tongue?"

"No, I only know four words now. Al, Val, Magnar, and Sauna. I asked about the naming because the woman whose clothes you wear is named Alsauna for my soul. I'd like to learn the tongue someday." Daena was currently teaching him Valyrian as the time travelers deemed that more important. 

Val slightly frowned but grinned softly at his last words. "Perhaps I'll teach you one day."

He would like that, Alsauna said Val taught him and Sansa so it happened once before. "Is there text for the language? Can you understand the runes?"

"There are few if any written words beyond the wall. No one knows the runes anymore."

"So you can't read?"

She seemed almost uncharacteristically embarrassed. "No," the word was curtly said.

Jon kept himself from frowning so as not to seem disapproving. "A trade then? You teach me the Old Tongue and I teach you to read and write. Deal?" He held his arm out to shake on the agreement as they stopped beneath the red canopy.

"Deal." She took his offered hand and shook it. "Though preventing the Walkers from slaughtering my people is my priority."

"Of course." Jon spotted Ghost pad along silently to them. 

The wolf went over to Val who sat on the rock his uncle usually cleaned Ice at. Almost hesitantly she petted the wolf's white head. "You are a warg?"

"Yes. Ghost there is a traitor." The albino spent as much of his time with Jon's future children and Sansa as he did Jon.

Val hummed. "What was it you wished to speak of?"

Ugh. Why did he do this alone? He should have brought one of their children at the very least. She'll think him mad. "Varon, Jael, Dalla, and Shireen. I wanted to speak about them."

"I don't know much about them. They are curious. Jael took an arrow for me and could have died and I don't know why." Jon could not identify the look Val wore.

Sighing, Jon resigned himself to whatever outcome this would have. "They are from the future."

"You met them hours ago. What would make you think something as absurd as that?" Val brought up a fair point. 

"That's true. but they are not the only time travelers, we had eleven of them appear a few days short of a moon ago. They came from that pool there, knowing some of our greatest secrets." Jon pointed to the pool of steaming pitch black water behind Val.

She took her time with her response as she thought through everything. "A moon ago you say?"

"Twenty-nine days ago, to be exact. Roughly the same time that another group further south appeared. We believe the weirwoods may be involved. Truth be told, we partially expected your arrival after we learned about the second group." They still didn't know much.

Val bit her lip. "They are my children, aren't they? They knew me. That is why Jael took the arrow. Dalla is my sister's name, she looks like her too but her eyes are so different. It was how they knew how to kill the White Walkers."

Jon confirmed her suspicions with a nod. He was going to try to avoid the subject of who the childrens' father was. "We will be discussing the future when the other party arrives."

Nodding, Val's blue eyes took him in, she knew. "You and Jael look alike, as Varon and Dalla look like me."

He gave her a sheepish smile or the closest he could. "Aye."

"You and I?" Val asked, directing her point at each of them.

"Yes."

She shrugged. "'Not yet' was it," Val teased about his earlier mistake.

Even though Jon groaned he couldn't help the corners of his mouth from curving upwards. "Not yet," he repeated."

"Could be worse." Val ran a hand down Ghost's fur.

"Like me having three other wives in the future," Jon commented offhandedly.

Her hand paused on the pup's head before it resumed. "I thought that was not allowed by your people."

"It isn't."

Surprisingly she gave him a small look of respect. "You're going to have to prove you're worth it. You better be. I have a soft spot for those four already. Besides, you're certainly going to be better looking than anyone worth anything beyond the Wall." Val smirked at him. "And I assume all these time travelers are your spawn."

"All but one. Twenty in total."

"I'll give it to you, you sure are virile."

Notes:

Small edits may happen to this chapter but they won't be worth rereading, if they are I'll mention it in the notes of a future chapter. Just changing the wording a bit on Rhaegar's letter and making Val a bit more hostile to Jon before they start to get to know one another. I also need to replace 'Freefolk' with 'free folk' which is simple enough.

I hope the first part with Jon's parent's chest and the letters was a worthy addition. Hopefully my characterization through the letters was also good. Nothing too overpowered in the chest. It doesn't do much for the plot other than give Jon an insight into his parents a bit more. The boy deserves it.

Jon is more understanding and more open about the freefolk culture mainly because he knows he 'marries' Val and thinks she can't be a barbarian if he married her. Perhaps he is a bit mature but bastards grow up quickly and Sauna and Daena are teaching him to be wiser. He most definitely is crushing on Val.

Sorry again for stalling Margaery's arrival but if not this chapter would have been really long. This also gives me a bit more time to get most of the outline of what happens beyond the books better. Though that will be pretty general in the chapter.

Next chapter will be Margaery's POV as her party finally arrives at Winterfell and she gets to her future husband and wives. Will probably be around four to six thousand words. Maybe less, maybe more.

Upcoming Chapter POV Order:

Margaery III

Everyone (Non Limited Perspective) I

Ned II (Robert's Arrival)

Elia II

Multiple POVs III (Robert, Jaime, etc.)

Sansa I