Chapter 059 – Truth

[291 AC]

Appearing in the godswoods in Winterfell the following night, Phenex concealed his presence with magic, as he looked at the twelve-year-old boy sitting in the frozen grass before the weirwood tree.

Opening his senses, Phenex looked into the boy's mind to see what Eddard had told him, though what he saw made the incarnation of Fire nearly lose his temper in anger.

Even after they had their talk yesterday, Stark didn't tell Jon of his true parentage and just promised him that they would talk about his mother at night and that Jon should wait by the weirwood tree.

Phenex almost couldn't believe that the Lord of Winterfell was so cowardly that even knowing that Jon wouldn't stay in Winterfell, he had not told the truth to the boy.

Shaking off these thoughts, Phenex decided to no longer concern himself with Eddard Stark, not after having given him a chance like this and seeing his true colours.

Surrounding the small grove with a barrier, he dropped his concealment and approached the boy in his blazing form.

…

Seeing a man made out of pure fire walking towards himself, Jon at first didn't really understand what it was that he saw, but after a few moments, it dawned on him.

Rumours and stories suddenly sprang forth in his mind, as he recalled the things he had heard about the Red God, though he was wholly unable to understand why 'he' would appear before him, he was after all just a bastard of House Stark.

Fire turning to flesh, the fiery figure suddenly turned into an incredibly good-looking black-haired man with eyes made out of fire, his presence not having lost its divine edge.

"You are no bastard of Eddard Stark.", a deep slightly raspy voice sounded out, as the man crouched before him.

Feeling the restrictions around him loosening up, Jon questioned out of reflex, a slight stammer to his voice: "W-what do y-you mean?"

"Eddard Stark lied to you and everyone else, as he called himself your father.", the godly man explained, "Just as he lied when he told you to wait here for him so that he can tell you of your mother."

"My name is Phenex, though most just call me the Red God. Last night I visited the Lord of Winterfell and told him that I would come and take you to Volantis with me. I told him he should tell you who you really are, but as you see, he did not.", the man ended.

"W-why do you wanna take me with you?", Jon asked, while clenching his fist in hurt, the feeling of betrayal strong in his heart.

"To meet your family, of course.", the man replied lightly, not an ounce of hesitation in his voice.

"M-my f-family?", Jon stammered, unable to believe what he had heard.

"Your brother and sister, your aunt and grandmother. They are still alive, though they didn't know of your existence until I told them of you.", the god stated, causing massive waves to crash into Jon's heart.

"I will tell you everything I know about your parents if you want to know, that is. It may not be a story with a happy end, but you deserve to know nonetheless. So, do you wish to come with me?"

Having waited his whole life for someone to tell him more about his mother, about who he was besides Eddard Stark's bastard, Jon didn't have to think twice to accept that offer, even though he might have to leave Winterfell to get his answers.

Grabbing the outstretched hand of the Red God, Jon gave the grove and the castle one last look, before turning his gaze back to the blazing man next to him.

"Someday you will see these walls again. Not as Jon Snow, but as Jaehaerys Targaryen.", the man stated, causing Jon's eyes to widen in shock before they both vanished in a shower of fire.

…

Reappearing in the temple gardens in Volantis with Jon by his side, Phenex looked ahead and saw Sapphire's beautiful form lying in between some tall trees and rocks, as she enjoyed the early morning sun warming up her body, causing her scales to shine with a blue brilliance.

While it was midnight in Winterfell, it was already early morning in Volantis.

Phenex knew that Jade had been taken by Rhaella for a short flight, as he could feel their presence northwest of Volantis.

Looking at the boy beside him, who stared at Sapphire in absolute fascination, he couldn't help but let out a small smile, knowing that the blood flowing through his veins was probably singing due to the proximity with a dragon.

Moving towards Sapphire, Phenex addressed the boy: "Your mother was Lyanna Stark, Eddard Stark's younger sister. It was her that gave you the name Jaehaerys, while your father, Rhaegar Targaryen wanted you to be named Aegon, after the first Targaryen King."

His words caused the boy to switch his focus to him, following behind Phenex as if on autopilot.

"Your father had already died on the battlefield though when your mother gave birth to you. Eddard, your uncle managed to arrive at the Tower of Joy just in time to hear your name from your mother's lips, before she died due to birth complications."

"I know you probably want to know of her relationship with Rhaegar, if there was love between them and such. But these are questions that are harder to answer than you might think, Jaehaerys.", he told the boy, as Phenex arrived in front of his dragon.

Sapphire let out a low and spoiled screech, asking Phenex for some caresses while being too lazy to move. Smiling at her antics, he crouched down while brushing over the scales of her jaws and neck, receiving a draconic purr as a reward for his work.

Turning his head to face the boy, as Jon stood only a few feet away, his gaze fixed on the fire-breathing creature, Phenex continued.

"Rhaegar was a broken man. He found it almost impossible to find joy in anything, melancholy and a shadow of sadness were his constant companions. Some say that it had something to do with the circumstances of his birth, as he was born during the Tragedy of Summerhall. You know what that is, don't you?"

"I do … I-I have read about it in a book from Maester Luwin.", Jon replied slowly.

"Mhm. That's good. It's important to know the truth about your family.", Phenex stated before he continued.

"Your mother Lyanna was very young when she met your father. She had a wild heart and wanted to be more than just a Lady hailing from House Stark. She was dissatisfied with her engagement to Robert, as she had never even met him until the tourney in Harrenhal. And the impression he left on her was anything but good. Drinking and whoring around even with his fiance at the same event."

"It was no wonder she felt more drawn to Rhaegar and even ran away with him. I can't tell you if it was love that motivated her to do such a thing, Jaehaerys. But I do know that she loved you very much.", Phenex ended.

"H-how do you know this? A-any of this?", the boy asked in doubt, his eyes slightly watery.

"The past cannot hide itself from a being like myself. And neither can death erase the truth that I see.", Phenex answered, his gaze focused on something beyond mere reality.