Ned tossed and turned for most of the night, sleep hard to find he eventually gave up and got out of bed quietly so as not to wake Cat, he dressed and went to the one place where he always found peace, the godswood. As he knelt before the weirwood tree he thought over what had happened, what he had agreed to, was he breaking his promise or as Jaime Lannister had accused him had he already done so, how would his sister see it, "Lya have I failed your boy" his voice softly carried in the night.
He sat there for hours, the cold not bothering him so lost was he in his thoughts, Jaime offered Jon something he couldn't or was that wouldn't, the feeling of shame at some of what he'd been accused of too hard to shake off, had he protected Robert more than he had Jon, he knew Cat had never accepted the boy and while she had never been physically abusive, she had made it clear what he was and that he was not the same as her children, my children,, have I done the same, have I treated him as my son, the simple answer was he hadn't and the thought of it broke his heart.
Ned resolved to do better, Jon would have a better life with Jaime away from Cat's disdain and from being reminded constantly that he was a bastard, he'd have a chance at a future and if come the day the truth outed, then Ned would be there for him. He left the godswood and went to the only other place he felt peace, the crypts, walking past the statues until he found heir's, the fierce little sister he loved so much. He looked up at the likeness, the sculptor had tried his best but no statue could ever capture the light that shone in Lyanna, no sculptor was talented enough to capture the love of life she exhibited.
He looked up at her face, the face that haunted him most nights and he smiled "you'd be so proud of him, Lya." Kneeling down he began to dig at the base of the statue, moving the dirt aside until he found what he was looking for, the box looked exactly as it had when he found it in the tower so many years earlier. The three headed dragon entwined holding a blue rose in its talons, wiping the dust from the wood made the image come to life as if it had just been painted yesterday. He opened the box and checked its contents, once he was sure they were all there, he moved behind the statue and opened the base to find the other object, long and slim and wrapped in a sheet, he took it and the box and headed back inside.
Jon woke up earlier than usual; he quickly dressed and left the room figuring he'd have a little time to train before breaking his fast, as he walked towards the training area he saw a figure enter through the opposite door, moving closer he saw it was his father, carrying something in his hands. He almost shouted out a hello until he saw his father's face which made him reconsider, his father looked as if the last thing he wanted was to be spoken too, so Jon left him be and continued on his way.
Jaime could get addicted to porridge and honey, what had started firstly as a warm meal to break his fast on these cold northern mornings had quickly become something he would make sure would be served in Casterly Rock from now on. He decided to have a second bowl and as he motioned to the serving girl to bring it in he saw Jon enter the room, sweat running down his brow he looked as if he'd been training yet again, Jaime admired his dedication, not every young lad would put in a training session before breaking their fast. He motioned the young lad over deciding he'd like some company while eating the second bowl of porridge and besides the boy would no doubt eat on his own, otherwise.
"Lord Jaime"
"Sit down Lad; break your fast with me"
Jon looked pensively at him before looking around the room, after a moment and obviously finding whatever it was he wanted to find, he sat down.
"Were you out training again, lad?"
"Aye, Lord Jaime, I was"
"Good lad, the more you apply yourself the better you'll become, in no time at all you'll be taking victories of even me"
Jon smiled a full smile at him before shaking his head "I doubt that my lord, everyone knows you're the best swordsman in Westeros, not even Ser Barristan the bold can beat you, I've no chance"
"True lad, right now you've no chance, but mark my words, one day you'll be taking victories from me and everyone else, then you'll be the best swordsman in Westeros"
Jon looked at him with awe, the smile on his face even bigger than before, Jaime nudged him on the shoulder making him laugh out loud as the serving girl brought the porridge and Jon's plate filled with sausages and bacon, the two of them tucked in, talking and laughing with each other as they ate.
"And then Gerion came in, his breeches around his legs, shouting where is the little sod"
Jon was curled over tears falling from his face as Jaime shared stories of the adventure he and Tyrion got up in the rock, Jaime too couldn't stop himself from laughing as he looked at the boy, he turned to drink some of the warm milk he washed his porridge down with and when he turned back to Jon he saw the laughter had stopped, the smile had disappeared and instead Jon was looking down at his empty plate a look of worry on his face. Jaime wondered what had happened to change the mood so quickly, looking around he saw Ned and Cat enter the hall, the scowl on the trout's face quickly explaining Jon's sudden mood change, don't worry lad, soon you won't have to deal with her pettiness anymore
Later that day
Jaime headed to Ned's solar, Stark wanted to see him before they told Jon about Jaime's offer, he walked past the guard who opened the door as he got there, clearly he was expected.
"Sit down Lord Jaime, there are things we need to discuss"
Jaime took the offered seat, worried that perhaps Stark was going to backtrack, perhaps he was going to call his bluff, Jaime had admitted he cared for Jon's welfare, had he said too much, was Stark now sure he'd never reveal the secret and was going to refuse to allow Jon to leave.
"Before I speak to Jon, there are some things we should clear up"
"Very well Lord Stark"
"Call me Ned; this lord nonsense gets tiring when it's only the two of us speaking"
"First name status, aren't I special" Jaime quipped.
"Dammit Lannister, I'm trying to be civil"
"Very well then, Ned" the smirk still on his face clearly annoying Stark.
"There are things that belong to Jon, things his mother kept for him, things I may not have ever given him if we hadn't spoken"
"What things"
"I never meant for Jon to be treated differently, it was never meant to be like this"
Ah confession time is it Lord Stark, very well confess away, I'll listen if I must just as long as this leads to me leaving with Rhaegar's son, I'll put up with your inane drivel if that's the price.
"At first it helped the story, what woman would love her husband's bastard, it was to be expected that she'd be distant even that she may be mean to the lad, oh she'd never touch a hair on his head, but I let it go on because it kept him safe"
Jaime sighed.
"But I suppose I never thought how badly it'd affect Jon"
Of course you didn't.
"What you said you were right, I put Robert's reign over my nephew, I did it to protect Jon, but your right I did it for Robert as well, I still think it's too dangerous for Jon to make a claim, but it should never have been my decision to make once I decided not to claim for him"
Ned stood from the table and walked to the back of the room, he returned carrying a box and something wrapped in a sheet, laying them out on the table he looked at Jaime and pointed towards them.
"Jon's birthright"
Jaime looked from the table to Ned, after receiving a nod he reached over and opened the box, inside he found some papers, a piece of material wrapped around a round object and a golden harp.
"Is this, it is, this is Rhaegar's harp"
"Aye, it is"
Jaime looked at the harp with reverence on his face, no one who knew Rhaegar could forget the times he played that harp, the sound he was able to get from it were otherworldly, his hands shaking he lifted it up, the strings still as tight as they ever were, he carefully put it back down and picked up the papers.
"A marriage certificate between Rhaegar and Lyanna, signed by the septon and witness by Ser Arthur and Ser Oswell, as well as a notice of annulment between Rhaegar and Elia, signed by them both, there's also a letter from Elia to her brother's explaining her choice"
Jaime was stunned, Stark had all the evidence which proved that the rebellion was built on a lie, if Robert ever found out he'd lose his head, then Stark would lose his.
"The other two are Jon's birth announcements, one for a girl and one for a boy; they hadn't been sure so they went with both"
Jaime looked at the documents,
We hereby announce the birth of our son,
Jaehaerys Targaryen, second in line to the throne after his brother Aegon.
Signed by his parents Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Targaryen
and witnessed by Ser Gerold Hightower, Ser Oswell Whent, Ser Arthur Dayne.
The other document was pretty much the same except for being for Visenya in case the babe was a girl.
Jaime placed the documents back in the box and took the material wrapped object in his hand, the heaviness of it surprised him and he looked up to see Stark wipe a tear from his eye.
"Lya's maiden cloak"
Jaime nodded, understanding how difficult it must be for Ned to look at the cloak given what happened, he unwrapped it and almost dropped what it was covering. He had never seen one before, never even knew anyone who had, but it was clear as day, he was holding a dragon egg. The white swirls with flecks of blue shone in the small solar and Jaime turned it over and over looking at it in amazement, as he did he noticed a small letter fall from the beneath where the cloak had covered the egg, he looked at it and at Stark.
"What's this?"
"I don't know, I've never seen it before"
He picked up the letter and saw one word written on it Jaeharys, he handed it to Ned who looked at it before smiling,
"Lya's handwriting"
They looked at each other coming to a silent conclusion, this was not for them, it was Jon's, between him and his mother and they would leave it to him to open it eventually.
Jaime wrapped the egg back in the cloak, placing both things back into the box; he made sure he got everything inside before closing the lid. Then he looked at Ned who was handing him the final object, something long and skinny and wrapped in a sheet, wait no that wasn't a sheet that was a banner, a specific banner, that was Rhaegar's personal banner, the three headed dragon holding a sword in one talon and a harp in the other. Taking the object from Ned he unwrapped it quickly, excitement building in his cheat based on what he'd found so far, he almost dropped it when he uncovered it.
"This, this can't be, it is though isn't it"
"Aye, that's dark sister all right"
"How, where, how"
"I don't know, all I know is that it was left in the tower with the box"
Jaime couldn't believe it, the sword was the stuff of legend wielded by VIsenya, Daemon the rogue prince by Brynden River's Bloodraven and by Aemon the Dragonknight, the very epitome of what a kings guard was supposed to be, the papers proved Jon's legitimacy, the dragon egg was incredibly valuable, the harp, letter and cloak and banner were ties to Jon's parent, but Jaime was and always will be a swordsman first and foremost and Dark Sister was to him something tangible, something real, something he would have wanted if he was Jon and now it would be Jon's, Jaime couldn't keep the grin from his face, he'd turn Jon into the best damn swordsman ever a man worthy of the blade he'd carry.
Jon was worried, he'd been caught again, the first time Lady Catelyn had made it clear he was to keep away from nobles like Lord Jaime, but the thing was Jaime wasn't like other noble Lords, he was different, he didn't look down on Jon like they did, he talked to him, listened to him, he even sparred and trained with him. When Jon was with Jaime he didn't feel like a bastard, he felt like a trueborn son, he felt the way he thought Robb must feel when Lords speak to him, when they compliment him, no one ever bothered to make Jon feel like that, but now he ruined it, he'd been warned and got caught and now his father wanted to see him, Jon hated disappointing his father more than anything in the world and now he'd done it twice in two days.
"Here you go lad, your father's waiting for you inside" Ser Roderik said as he motioned for him to enter the solar.
"Ah Jon, good, take a seat lad"
Jon looked around the solar nervously, Lady Catelyn sat beside his father her face in what Jon thought was a permanent scowl, or no that's not true, she smiles sometimes, just never at me. Jon fidgeted in his seat, the worry starting to rush over him, if Lady Catelyn was here then it was serious, whatever excuse Jon gave she was sure to ignore or shout down, Jon was in trouble and he knew it.
"I', sorry fa...Lord Stark, I'm sorry, I won't do it again"
"Hush lad, you're not in trouble, far from it"
Jon looked at his father in confusion, if he wasn't in trouble then why was he asked to come here, why was Lady Catelyn here.
"Jon, Lord Jaime has come to me with a proposal, an offer for your future"
"He wishes to take you on as a page and then as a squire, he wants you to earn your knighthood with him"
Jon felt his heart swell, a knighthood, he had never imagined such a thing, he looked at his father's smiling face and then to Lady Catelyn's whose expression had changed into one he knew all too well, disgust"
"Aye lad, he says he sees great potential in you, that you have it in you to be a great swordsman one day"
Lady Catelyn scoffed and his father shot her a reproving look, Jon couldn't believe what he heard, him a great swordsman, Jaime had said it to him before but he figured he was just being nice, but no he said it to his father too and wanted him to be a knight, so it must be true, mustn't it.
"It'll mean you leaving Winterfell though, you'd have to travel back with Lord Jaime when he departs, so you can take up your duties"
Jon looked between his father and Lady Catelyn again, the words entering his head he noticed the expressions on both their faces, his father looked sad while Lady Catelyn had a smile on her face, that's it, that's how she's punishing me, she's forced father to make me leave and he convinced Jaime to take pity on his bastard, Jon jumped up from the seat, tears running down his face and ran to his room.
"Jon, Jon, what's wrong lad" but the words were mist to him as he ran towards his room, gone, they want me gone, what have I done, why do they hate me, he slammed the door shut behind him and fell onto the bed, his tears flowing freely It took a few moments but it felt like hours before Jon heard the knocking at his door, he knew it was his father and as much as he wanted to keep his door shut he knew he had no choice, so he wiped his face and got up to open the door, he was right there was his father a worried look on his face
"Lad what's wrong, talk to me"
"Why are you throwing me out father, I don't want to go, I want to stay here, please don't let them take me away"
Ned looked at the tear stricken face of his nephew, he could hear the sniffle's in his voice as he spoke, had he messed even this up, could he do nothing right.
"Jon, I'm not and will never throw you out, you hear me, Winterfell is your home, it's yours for as long as you want it to be"
"You...you mean it"
"Aye lad, of course I mean it"
Jon threw his arms around his father and for the first time since almost he was born Ned hugged his nephew, he felt him relax against him and felt the sniffling begin to subside, so he decided now was the time to speak to him like he should have in the first place, having Cat there had been a mistake, he saw that now, but he thought the idea would have pleased Jon, had he misread things, he needed to find out.
"Jon, the offer from Lord Jaime is real" he felt his nephew stiffen against him.
"He really does think you have the potential to be a knight and would like the chance to train you, this isn't about throwing you out, this is a real opportunity for you Jon, but if it's not what you want then that's fine, I only want what's best for you"
"But..I'd have to leave, wouldn't I?"
"Aye, you would lad, but it wouldn't have to be forever, you could come back and visit and when you're a knight you could come back for good if you want, it's up to you lad"
Ned helped him over to the bed, settling him down he gave him his warmest smile, pleased to see Jon return it, he tucked him in and ruffled his hair, getting a small pout that reminded him so much of his mother, he sat down on the bed beside him.
"listen, why don't you sleep on it ok, have a word with Lord Jaime in the morning and then decide what you want, if you want to go for it, then do it and if you want to stay then do that, no one will force you to do anything you don't want Jon, I promise you"
Ned shuddered softly as the words left his lips; hopefully he could keep this promise better than the last one. Jon nodded and shut his eyes, the events clearly taking a toll on him, so Ned got up and walked to the door, looking back he could see his nephew was already fast asleep.
Jon woke up feeling much better, he didn't have to leave if he didn't want to, but did he want to? That was something he wasn't sure about, to become a knight, have a future he dreamed of those things, to be away from Winterfell, from Robb, Sansa, little Arya and his father that was the stuff of nightmares, but Winterfell also meant Lady Catelyn, she hated him, she would always hate him and while his father said he didn't have to leave, she made it hard to want to stay, he needed to talk to Lord Jaime, he need to know that he wasn't being offered this chance because of pity, if he really did believe in him then perhaps leaving wasn't so scary.
Jaime was nowhere to be found, had he left already, did he miss his chance, what would he do if he had left, Jon felt as if he'd messed up completely, if he'd just said yes when his father told him he could have left with him, instead he let himself cry like a baby, he was about to do so again, he could feel the tears welling in his eyes.
"So there you are"
He turned around to see Lord Jaime staring at him intently, relief filled his heart when he realized he had another chance to take his offer, but the little voice in his head reminded him that it may be because he pitied him.
"Aye"
"You ok Lad"
"Father told me that you ehmm may ehmm"
"Ah he told you about my offer to have you be my page did he"
"Yeah he said you thought I could be a knight"
"Not just any knight lad, a true knight, like Ser Arthur Dayne or Aemon the Dragonknight"
Jon was stunned, Ser Arthur Dayne, the sword of the morning, Aemon the Dragonknight these weren't just knights, these were legends, Ser Arthur was the greatest swordsman that ever lived, and Aemon was the noblest knight ever.
"But I'm a bastard"
"Is your heart less pure than a trueborn, Jon, is your skill lesser because of your name"
"You think I have skill"
"Everything I've said to you since I've been here, Jon has been true, so listen to me now, I've never seen anyone as skilled as you are at your age, even those who have years on you are less skilled than you"
"So young man what do you say, do you have it in you to prove them all wrong, to show that you're not just good, but that you can be better than all of them, will you be my page, Jon Snow"
Jon looked at him, he saw the truth in his eyes, he meant it, it wasn't pity or trying to find favour with his father, he was the White Lion of Casterly Rock, why did he care what wolf's thought of him. He wanted to train Jon because he saw something in him, something he wanted to polish and hone; something he saw in no one else, for the first time Jon felt a sense of pride overwhelm him.
"Aye My lord, it'd be an honor"
"Off course it would" Jaime replied before the two started laughing.
A/N. I want to thank all those who've taken the time to read and review this story and those who've added it to their favourites, I hope you keep enjpying. I'll be updating the chapters I've done relativiely quickly so expect one almost every day or second day and then I hope to get into a regular two a week system of posting chapters every tues and thurs, please keep reviewing and feel free to point out if you think things can be improved or don't make sense.