Chapter 24

Ned Stark sat in his office where he handled all his affairs related to the North and saw quite a few messages had arrived at Winterfell this morning if Maester Luwin's sudden rush to get to him was any indication. One from House Manderly and one from the King himself. Opening up the scroll from his bannerman, Ned carefully read its contents, and was surprised by what he found when reading it.

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My Lord,

We have recently received word from some of our traders in Essos and Braavos of the Targaryens not only being alive, but have an army. Word has it they sacked one Free City Astapor for the army of Unsullied trained there. I don't know if you are aware of the Unsullied by reputation or stories, but from what our contacts have said, they are quite the fighting force.

In addition, one of the merchants has claimed the Targaryens managed to hatch actual dragons. Dragons. Not one, not two, but three dragons with word being they are all the size of a large or if not larger. Finally, the merchants all claim the army and dragons are being led by someone claiming to be Aegon Targaryen. Which is strange considering we know the babe was killed during the sacking of King's Landing. However, he was seen in the presence of the Mad King's daughter Daenerys Targaryen. Whether he is one or just a mummer marrying into the family is unknown. The man is said to wear all black with a strange mask that hides his face and hair. Be on your guard my Lord. The Targaryens have no love for the Starks any more then they do the Baratheons.

Whatever you decide to do, my House will support you.

Best regards,

Lord Wyman Manderly

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"Surely Lord Manderly heard incorrectly. Three dragons. Hatched in Essos by someone with Targaryen blood. It doesn't seem possible," said Maester Luwin with Ned holding the parchment in his hands while his mind focused on the words on it.

Aegon Targaryen. Could it be that Jon somehow found out about his heritage? And if so, was he seeking to eventually claim the Iron Throne from Robert. No. Surely he wouldn't do that. Jon had no understanding of the game, the concepts, or anything else that made it vital to navigate through the politics generated in that city.

A city where his Father and brother died at the hands of the Mad King.

Throwing the parchment aside, Ned Stark decided to focus on the one from the King and hoped it was better news. He didn't really want to focus on the Targaryens or what Jon may or may not be doing right now as one of them.

Unfortunately, his hopes were both dashed and shattered by the King's extremely blunt message to him about the same topic he just read.

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Ned,

The dragonspawn are on the march. Building a powerbase in Essos. They plan to come after us. After the Iron Throne I took from them. I won't have it Ned. I need you to call all the banners in the North. Do it quietly. The dragons have allies. We need to get everyone together like the old days before those fucking dragon loyalists can make a move first. When the time comes, I will send for you to come South to King's Landing, and together we'll kill those fucking dragons like we did years ago.

Your Sworn Brother

King Robert Baratheon

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"Should we call the banners my Lord?" asked Luwin with Ned shaking his head.

"No. Not yet. If my bannermen hear of this in the wrong way, they will cause a loud stir and hide nothing from the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Robert wants this done quietly in the event some Houses are still loyal to House Targaryen. So that is what I will do. I will do things quietly. Send out messages to each House. Tell them to come to Winterfell to discus 'urgent business' and to come immediately. If we are going to do this quietly, it will require all the Northern Lords here to tell them and so they understand the need for being discreet when returning to their lands," said Ned with Maester Luwin nodding.

"At once my Lord," said Maester Luwin before leaving the room.

And leaving Ned Stark to his thoughts about Jon Snow. In truth, he was deeply worried about the boy since the news of him not being found had reached his ears a second time after Ser Rodrik's own attempts had failed. He had gone to the godswood and knelt at the tree, praying for guidance, praying for some sign Jon was all right. Healthy, happy, and living a life of peace away from evils that plagued the Seven Kingdoms in one way or another. Even a raven with a message from the boy would ease his heart, but everyday that went by seemed to drain what hope there was to be had on the subject.

And now this. Jon had somehow learned of his Targaryen heritage. One he swore to keep the boy from knowing. Not to spite the boy, but to protect him from the enemies obtained from being a Targaryen in the form of Robert Baratheon and Tywin Lannister. After what Tywin had done to Elia Martell and her children, Ned knew Jon would be next to die, but at the hands of Robert himself and that damn war hammer. He still remembered the sight of the Dornish woman, her children, the pleased look on Tywin's face and Robert's too. The sound of Robert laughing at the sight presented made Ned think back to the stories of the Mad King laughing at the sight of fire.

Robert had been no different in that moment with his laughter echoing in the room. So the Warden of the North had decided to protect Jon the only way he could. Claiming the boy as his bastard. It was the only way of keeping him close without anyone truly raising a fuss over it.

Of course, the one person who did raise fuss about it, Ned wished she had not, and would have come to love Jon as one of her own. Only she didn't. His wife refused to accept Jon. Like he was a disease. An oddity. Someone or something unnatural. He had tried to get Cat to see reason during the early years of their marriage, but Tullys were known for their stubbornness and pigheadedness at times. As such, his wife refused to listen, understand, or try to love Jon since he was an innocent child.

~ "He is your son by another woman Ned. Not mine! He is a bastard born from lust and sin you had with a shameless. I will never accept this child as a member of the family Ned. You bring that child into our home? To mingle with our true born child? He will betray you Ned. Betray your son and heir you have with me and all the other children we have in the future. And when he does, you will curse the bastard child for being brought into the world and the whore you slept with to conceive him!" ~

He wanted to tell her the truth. Tell Cat the boy's origins. But telling anyone such a secret would be dangerous. It wasn't that he didn't trust his wife, but rather her family. Holster had been a military man through and through with ambitions to raise his House high. The Targaryens had done it with his House in the past and Lord Arryn had promised to take it even further when Robert was King, if they sided with him. And the best way to do it had been through marriages, which Holster accepted without question.

Holster's son Edmure was another problem since the boy turned young man was showing he wasn't exactly the smartest trout among the sea of fish. He was too impulsive and like his Father, had no love for the Targaryens no matter the circumstances. The man wanted to prove he was just as good as his Father if not better. If there was anyone in Cat's whole family, who could jeopardize Jon's life, if told the truth, it would be him. There was also Lysa Tully to consider, as she married to Ned's Foster Father Jon Arryn, who was Hand of the King to Robert. Ned wouldn't put it past the woman to do anything to get any kind of distinguished praise or reward for both her House and her husband by selling out the boy to Robert.

And now Jon Snow was no more. Aegon Targaryen had taken his place. So what could he do? Call his banners? The Northern Lords would want to know why. Could Ned lie to them? There wasn't even a way to lie to them and get around how Aegon Targaryen had hatched three dragons and slowly conquering Essos with them along with three dragons?

'I'm sorry Jon. I'm sorry Lyanna. But Robert is King now. I can't go against him,' thought Ned while hoping his sister and her son would understand.