#and bring his bastard to Winterfell to be raised with Ned's trueborn children

[kelyon]

People need to stop saying Ned without context, because I am getting some very confusing Game of Thrones whiplash

[zenkindoflove]

Elucien Parallels: Eddard and Catelyn Stark's Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience Trope

I'm back again with more ACOTAR and ASOIAF/GOT parallels. You can go read this post where I breakdown my thoughts on comparing Elain Archeron and Sansa Stark as representing similar character archetypes in fantasy.

Today I want to talk about one of my favorite ASOIAF/GOT ships - Ned and Cat. What I want to do with this post is sort of breakdown the dynamics of their relationship and story arc and apply it to some common criticisms of Elucien and why in order to get the kind of tension Elucien have in canon, you need to have an understanding of how this particular trope works and the way these types of characters inhabit it.

So, a quick rundown on Ned and Cat and their relationship, just to get anyone reading this up to speed. Catelyn Tully was betrothed to Brandon Stark, Ned's older brother. Their betrothal represented a political alliance between the Starks of Winterfell and the Tullys of Riverrun - the liege lords of their respective regions. Despite being betrothed for political reasons, Catelyn fell deeply in love with Brandon anyways. And when he was tragically murdered by the Mad King, alongside his father, she was heart broken. Enters Ned, now the Lord of Winterfell, who has to secure this political alliance because he is about to wage a rebellion alongside his friend Robert Baratheon against the Targaryens. It makes perfect sense for him to marry his brother's betrothed. Ned and Cat get married quickly and off to war he went. When he returned a year later, he brought home his bastard, Jon Snow. He and Cat now have to figure out their marriage on top of not only being effectively strangers, but also with this betrayal looming over their relationship. When we enter the story of Game of Thrones, they have 5 children, the oldest Robb who was conceived just before Ned left for war, is 16. Cat and Ned are very much in love, showing open affection and devotion to each other. Cat is quoted later in the series telling her son Robb (show canon):

"Love didn't just happen to us. We built it slowly over the years, stone by stone, for you, for your brothers and sisters, for all of us. It's not as exciting as secret passion in the woods, but it is stronger."

Okay, so where does Elucien come into all of this and why should you care if you ship them?

Well, I think Cat and Ned's story illustrates a lot of things and disproves many doubts that are thrown at Elucien being endgame.

Betrayal

First is this issue of betrayal - that Lucien's involvement with Tamlin and his inevitable association with the situation in Hybern (though he did not know the extent of the deal with Hybern nor at all that Feyre's sisters had been kidnapped) will be such a huge breach of trust that Elain will never be able to get over it. That the relationship is dead before it even started.

Ned and Cat are a perfect example of how many anti-Eluciens are wrong when they think that Elucien are essentially dead before they start. By bringing home Jon Snow and raising him in his home amongst his trueborn children, Ned inflicted a huge betrayal onto his wife before they ever truly started their relationship. Although, at least in show canon, we know this ends up being quite a noble lie by Ned, this is never something that he reveals to Cat. So, Cat must swallow her pride and her jealousy and continue to be Ned's wife. This does not mean she has to fall in love with him, as it is not expected of her to, but she does all the same. Why? Because of Ned's inherent goodness and devotion to her. Cat sees that Ned is a good, honorable man - which is why she ultimately believes the rumors that Jon must be Ashara Dayne's son and that he is a love-child that Ned cannot bear to abandon. Because as she comes to know Ned, she sees his heart and his moral standing.

Which is all to say, that regardless of whether Elain begins her journey angry and blaming Lucien for association with her being Made and the end of her engagement, by getting to know him and spending time with him, she too will be able to see Lucien's inherent goodness. It is unavoidable and undeniable. Lucien, much like Ned, is honorable, loyal, and stands up to the face of evil, even if it will stupidly get him killed. He takes ownership over the people in the lands he runs and cares for that responsibility and their well being deeply. He commits violence when he must but he does not enjoy it. These are all traits that suited Cat well and why she ended up having such a loving marriage to Ned through many, many years. And likewise, suit Elain well and why she and Lucien will have a healthy and loving mating bond.

Reluctant Tension

Many anti-Eluciens do not understand the romantic tension presented in their situation. They see their distance, polite exchanges, and reactions as a sign of indifference or discomfort. It is a far cry from the explosive anger and deliberate pushing away that Nesta displayed with Cassian. Sometimes it's easier to understand Nessian's romantic tension because passion can exist both in anger and desire. But what about the stilted interactions of Elucien?

This is also where I will draw parallels to Ned and Cat. Ned and Cat did not go to the alter kicking and screaming. They were not political rivals or enemies. Catelyn did her duty with her head held high, living her house words (Family, Duty, Honor). Catelyn is often described as the picture of a noble lady - well-mannered, kind, diligent, dutiful, and respected. She held a high place of honor at Riverrun, effectively serving as Lady of the house after her mother's passing at a young age, and then taking over the role of Lady of Winterfell. She earned loyalty and respect amongst her subjects. We don't know much about the dynamic of Ned and Cat at the early days of their relationship. But what we can infer based on how Cat describes this time period, is that Cat hid her reluctance and anger behind silent pride. It was over time, as she grew to know Ned that this distrust and distance was thawed and she fell in love with him.

Similarly, Ned is not a hot head. He is grounded and stone-faced, a trait that Cat actually did not like initially because it was so different from his brother who she was in passionate love with. Brandon was a hot-head, charming, and funny. He was a showboat and is basically how he came to duel Petyr Baelish in the first place. But Catelyn eventually realizes the wisdom in loving a man like Ned, rather than the girlish love she had for Brandon.

Now Elain and Lucien are not mirror images of this. Lucien is certainly much more savvy and charming than Ned. And Elain is not forced into a romantic relationship with Lucien at all even with the mating bond. She has been given total freedom to choose, unlike Cat. But, my point here is that the presentation of their romantic tension, which is more quiet and understated and can confuse some readers who have a preference for the more passionate displays of tension, is very similar to Ned and Cat in the beginning of their relationship.

Now, as we learn both in the books and the show, Cat and Ned at the start of the series are well into their 16+ year marriage and are quite passionate now. They have many loving physical displays with one another, often passionately kissing or referencing passionate lovemaking they just had. They speak to each other with such warm affection others have to look away. It is clear they have deep love for each other that goes beyond duty. The passion certainly developed between them along the way. With Elucien I'm sure this will play out much differently given the presentation of the mating bond and how we know it affects people. It's very likely both of them are deeply desiring each other already, and very likely that they will have some dramatic rows between them, as it is likely Ned and Cat had as well, once they start really talking about the hard topics. But the point is that passion and the potential for passion does not have to be readily observable right from the start. If anything, there is something very delicious in the steady build-up to it through many of the tropes we see in historical romances where there are rules and etiquette to courtship (which many suspect Elucien will play with some regency era tropes).

Conclusion:

I really love finding parallels between ships of my favorite series, and there is of course a lot to draw from when its two fantasy series. In the end, my bigger point is that great love can come from Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience Tropes which Elucien inhabit with the nature of their bond snapping right when they met. It's not for everyone, but for those of us who get it... we really get it. Fortunately for us, Elucien exist in a romance with HEAs and not the world of ASOIAF/GOT so they won't meet the same tragic fates as Ned and Cat *sobs*.

[amuelia]

How do you think Roose will meet his demise? Or will he survive? What's your best Roose end game predictions?

Thank you for the question! This will be a long post under the readmore, going into my thoughts on the show ending and exploring what the books may have set up in regards to themes and characterization, as well as a bit of general analysis of Roose' story arc in a Dance with Dragons (and some speculation about Ramsay as well).

If you click on the readmore i will have divided the post into sections with bolded Headers, if you want to only read my specific endgame ideas you can skip ahead to the "His Endgame?" section.

In The Show

The show had him get killed by Ramsay in s6, which informs a lot of the fandom speculation about this storyline.

I am not a fan of the show's scenario as it was both similar to tywin and tyrion as well as a mirror of robb's death; it would also be offscreen in the books since neither of the characters are PoVs and Ramsay would need to do the act in secret. This would ultimately undercut Roose' role and impact, being a death scene that is not very unique and also isn't shown to the reader directly. Since no PoV is even in Winterfell currently, we would just hear of it from afar and not witness the consequences.

The show also has a different dynamic in the Bolton storyline, emphasizing Ramsay as the "main character" of this arc, and elevating him to the main villain for s5-6 to fill Joffrey's shoes as an evil character played by a very charismatic actor. Ramsay's show writing is informed by the needs of a TV setting that wants shocking moments and capitalizes on "fan favourite" actors; his rising importance in the show thus is not necessarily an indicator of his book importance. The show was also missing many central characters like the northern lords and the Frey men in Winterfell.

The show had a tendency to kill off characters early when they wanted to cull storylines or had no plans to adapt more of the character's story (like Stannis, Barristan, possibly the Tyrells...); In Mance Rayder we have the most obvious example, where they killed him off for real in a scene that in the book was a misdirection. We also have characters like Jorah where it appears the showrunners had their own choice of how they want his storyline to end, even if Grrm has his own ending in mind.

"For a long time we wanted Ser Jorah to be there at The Wall in the end," writer Dave Hill says. "The three coming out of the tunnel would be Jon and Jorah and Tormund. But [...] Jorah should have the noble death he craves defending the woman he loves." - Dave Hill for Entertainment Weekly

So a death in the show does not need to be an indicator that the books will feature an equivalent scene, even if it gives a hint as to what may happen. By s5 the show has become its own beast, and the butterfly effects from radical changes they made as well as the different characterizations results in the show having to cater to its own needs in many cases when it gets to resolving a plotline.

"We reconceived the role to make it worthy of the actor's talents." - Benioff and Weiss for the s5 DVD commentary, on Indira Varma's casting as Ellaria

In The Books

(Since this post was getting out of hand in length a lot of these arguments are a little shortened/not as in-depth as i'd like! Feel free to inquire more via ask if something is unclear or you disagree)

In the books i find it hard to make a concrete guess as to how it will end. Occam's razor would be to assume the show sort of got it right and that it will vaguely end the same, which could very well happen and i will not discount the possibility; Ramsay is cruel, desires the Dreadfort rule, and is a suspected kinslayer and has no qualms to commit immoral violence.

"Ramsay killed [his brother]. A sickness of the bowels, Maester Uthor says, but I say poison." - Reek III, aDwD

Reek saw the way Ramsay's mouth twisted, the spittle glistening between his lips. He feared he might leap the table with his dagger in his hand [to attack his father]. - Reek III, aDwD

Arguments against this or for a different endgame come down to interpretations of the themes in the story arc and opinions on dramatic structure/grrm's writing, and are thus very subjective.

The way the story currently is going, Ramsay killing Roose treats Roose almost as a plot device; his death brings no change or development to Ramsay's character as we already know his motivations and cruelty align with such an act, and we can assume that he would feel no remorse about it either. The results of such a scene would be firmly on a story level, as it brings political changes and moves the plot along into a specific direction. Roose himself cannot have any relevant character development about it as he does not have a PoV and we would not be able to witness his reaction from the outside.

“The only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself.” - William Faulkner, often quoted by Grrm

Further, killing his father is very difficult to pull off in secret (Roose is frequently described as very cautious, and employs many guardsmen). And even if Ramsay pulls it off (people often interpret Ramsay as Roose' blind spot, assuming he might be caught by surprise, not expecting Ramsay would bite the hand that feeds him), Roose is the one that holds his entire alliance together; The Freys would be alienated by Ramsay who would antagonize Walda and her son as his rivals, The Ryswell bloc appears to dislike Ramsay (especially Barbrey), and the other northmen are implied to not even like Roose himself. Killing Roose would quickly combust the entire northern faction, and hinder Ramsay's further plans (another reason why I am not convinced of a book version of the "Battle of Bastards"). Though this might of course, if we look at it from the other side, be grrm's plan to quickly dissolve this plot and move the northern story forwards.

"Ramsay will kill [Walda's children], of course. [...] [She] will grieve to see them die, though." - Reek III, aDwD

"How many of our grudging friends do you imagine we'd retain if the truth were known? Only Lady Barbrey, whom you would turn into a pair of boots … inferior boots." - Reek III, aDwD

"Fear is what keeps a man alive in this world of treachery and deceit. Even here in Barrowton the crows are circling, waiting to feast upon our flesh. The Cerwyns and the Tallharts are not to be relied on, my fat friend Lord Wyman plots betrayal, and Whoresbane … the Umbers may seem simple, but they are not without a certain low cunning. Ramsay should fear them all, as I do." - Reek III, aDwD

Roose' death at Ramsay's hand also removes him thematically from the Red Wedding, as we can assume such a death might have happened regardless of his participation in the event (seeing as Ramsay is getting provoked by Roose constantly in normal dialogue, and has a general violent disposition). Roose already took Ramsay in before aGoT started, and married Walda very early in the war, which is already most of the buildup that the show's scenario had. It also has little to do with the The North Remembers plot except set dressing, since the northmen are presumably neither collaborating with/egging on Ramsay nor would they appreciate the development.

Themes: Ned Stark and the rule over the North

Roose is treated as a foil to Eddard; They are often contrasted in morals and ruling styles, while also having many superficial similarities that further connect them (they are seen as cold by people, grey eyed, patriarchs of rivalling northern houses, etc...).

Pale as morning mist, his eyes concealed more than they told. Jaime misliked those eyes. They reminded him of the day at King's Landing when Ned Stark had found him seated on the Iron Throne. - Jaime IV, aSoS

They both have a "bastard son" that they handle very differently; Roose treating Ramsay in the way that is seen as common in their society. Ramsay and Jon as a comparison are meant to show that Catelyn had a reason to see a bastard as a threat (since Domeric was antagonized by his bastard brother), but also shows that her suggested plan for Jon would not have stopped any danger either (as Ramsay being raised away from the castle didn't help).

And if his seed quickened, she expected he would see to the child's needs. He did more than that. The Starks were not like other men. Ned brought his bastard home with him, and called him "son" for all the north to see. - Catelyn II, aGoT

"Each year I sent the woman some piglets and chickens and a bag of stars, on the understanding that she was never to tell the boy who had fathered him. A peaceful land, a quiet people, that has always been my rule." - Reek III, aDwD

It appears to me that Roose' story functions in some ways as an inversion to Ned. He makes an attempt to grab a power he was not destined to (becoming warden of the north), where Ned did not want the responsiblity thrust upon him ("It was all meant for Brandon. [...] I never asked for this cup to pass to me." - Cat II, aGoT). Where Ned rules successfully and his northmen honor his legacy ("What do you think passes through their heads when they hear the new bride weeping? Valiant Ned's precious little girl." - The Turncloak, aDwD), the Boltons are largely hated and there are several plots conspiring against them ("Let me bathe in Bolton blood before I die." - The King's Prize, aDwD).

It seems possible to me that in terms of their family and legacy, Roose might also live through an inverted version of Ned's story; where Ned died first, leaving his family behind, Roose already lived to see the death of his wives and trueborn heir, and might thus also live to see Ramsay's death. Ned leaves behind well raised children and a North who still respects his name, and even though he dies it will presumably all be "in good hands" in the end (in broad strokes, obviously this is all much more morally complex). Roose however built up a bad and toxic legacy, and also built his way of life around evading consequences; it makes sense to me that he would be forced by the story to finally endure all the consequences of his actions and witness the fall of his house firsthand. After all we already have Tywin who fulfils the purpose of dying before his children while his legacy falls to ruins, and a Feast for Crows explores this aspect thoroughly.

Roose' arc in A Dance With Dragons

The story repeatedly builds up the situation unravelling around Roose, and him slowly losing a grip on it and becoming more stressed and anxious.

Reek wondered if Roose Bolton ever cried. If so, do the tears feel cold upon his cheeks? - Reek II, aDwD

Roose Bolton said nothing at all. But Theon Greyjoy saw a look in his pale eyes that he had never seen before—an uneasiness, even a hint of fear. [...] That night the new stable collapsed beneath the weight of the snow that had buried it. - a Ghost in Winterfell, aDwD

Lady Walda gave a shriek and clutched at her lord husband's arm. "Stop," Roose Bolton shouted. "Stop this madness." His own men rushed forward as the Manderlys vaulted over the benches to get at the Freys. - Theon I, aDwD

It also directly presents him as a parallel to Theon's rule in aCoK, who similarly experienced a very unpopular rule and his subjects slowly turning against him. Presumably, the point of this comparison will not just be "Ramsay comes in at the end and unexpectedly whacks them on the head". Both Theon and Roose invited Ramsay into their lives, giving him more power than he deserves, and causing Ramsay to make choices that increasingly alienate others from them (the death of the miller's boys for example has repercussions for both Theon and Roose). Grrm is likely steering this towards a difference in how they will deal with this situation.

It all seemed so familiar, like a mummer show that he had seen before. Only the mummers had changed. Roose Bolton was playing the part that Theon had played the last time round, and the dead men were playing the parts of Aggar, Gynir Rednose, and Gelmarr the Grim. Reek was there too, he remembered, but he was a different Reek, a Reek with bloody hands and lies dripping from his lips, sweet as honey. - a Ghost in Winterfell, aDwD

"Stark's little wolflings are dead," said Ramsay, sloshing some more ale into his cup, "and they'll stay dead. Let them show their ugly faces, and my girls will rip those wolves of theirs to pieces. The sooner they turn up, the sooner I kill them again." - The elder Bolton sighed. "Again? Surely you misspeak. You never slew Lord Eddard's sons, those two sweet boys we loved so well. That was Theon Turncloak's work, remember? How many of our grudging friends do you imagine we'd retain if the truth were known?" - Reek III, aDwD

Roose' arc is deeply connected to the relations he shares to the other northern lords, which has been heavily impacted by the Red Wedding. It stands to reason that they are going to be an important part of his downfall, and we see many hints of them plotting to betray him.

The north remembers, Lord Davos. The north remembers, and the mummer's farce is almost done. My son is home." - Davos IV, aDwD

Themes: Stannis and kinslaying

The books set up Roose and Stannis as foils as well; Both lack charisma and have trouble winnning the people's support, Stannis and Roose both parallel and contrast Ned, Stannis appears as a "lesser Robert" where Roose is a "lesser Ned", Stannis represents the fire where Roose represents the ice, both struggle over dominion in a land that doesnt particularly want either of them, etc... What i find interesting is how they are contrasted over kinslaying:

"Only Renly could vex me so with a piece of fruit. He brought his doom on himself with his treason, but I did love him, Davos. I know that now. I swear, I will go to my grave thinking of my brother's peach." - Davos II, aCoK

"I should've had the mother whipped and thrown her child down a well … but the babe did have my eyes." [...] "Now [Domeric's] bones lie beneath the Dreadfort with the bones of his brothers, who died still in the cradle, and I am left with Ramsay. Tell me, my lord … if the kinslayer is accursed, what is a father to do when one son slays another?" - Reek III, aCoK

Stannis is set up as someone who is very thorough and strict in following his own code and his "duty", even if he does not like what it forces him to do.

Stannis ground his teeth again. "I never asked for this crown. Gold is cold and heavy on the head, but so long as I am the king, I have a duty . . . If I must sacrifice one child to the flames to save a million from the dark . . . Sacrifice . . . is never easy, Davos. Or it is no true sacrifice. Tell him, my lady." - Davos IV, aSoS

The armorer considered that a moment. "Robert was the true steel. Stannis is pure iron, black and hard and strong, yes, but brittle, the way iron gets. He'll break before he bends." - Jon I, aCoK

Roose however is frequently characterized as someone who tries to get as much as he can while avoiding negative consequences, and who does not have a consistent moral code and instead bends rules to his benefit to be the most comfortable to him.

It is often theorized that Stannis will end up burning his daughter Shireen; the Ramsay issue might then serve to contrast the two men. If Grrm intends it to be compared by the reader, I can see it going two ways: Either Roose will be forced to finally act in a drastic way after avoiding his responsibility in regards to Ramsay and he will be forced to get rid of his son, making him break the only moral hurdle he has presented adhering to during the story (though analyzing his character, the kinslaying taboo is probably less a sign of moral fortitude and more him using the guise of morals to explain a selfish motivation). Or he might not act against Ramsay and suffer the consequences, presenting an interesting moral situation where some readers might consider his action "better" or more relatable than Stannis', breaking up the otherwise very black and white moral comparison between the two men. It serves as an interesting conflict of the morality of kinslaying compared to what readers might see as a moral obligation of getting rid of a monster such as Ramsay; contrasting Shireen whose death would not be seen as worth it by most. Ramsay as a bastard (who was almost killed at birth if he hadnt been able to prove his paternity) also makes for an interesting verbal parallel with the bastard Edric Storm, and might be used for a look at the utilitarian principle of killing a child (baby ramsay/edric) to save countless people from suffering that underpinned Edric's story.

"As Faulkner says, all of us have the capacity in us for great good and for great evil, for love but also for hate. I wanted to write those kinds of complex character in a fantasy, and not just have all the good people get together to fight the bad guy." - Grrm

"Robert, I ask you, what did we rise against Aerys Targaryen for, if not to put an end to the murder of children?" - Eddard VIII, aGoT

"If Joffrey should die . . . what is the life of one bastard boy against a kingdom?" - "Everything," said Davos, softly. - Davos V, aSoS

However Grrm decides to present these conflicts or which actions the characters will take in the end, it will result in interesting discussion and analysis for the readers.

His Endgame?

Looking at the trends of the past books, it is probably going to be hard to predict any specific outcome; every book introduces new characters and plot elements that were impossible to predict from the last book even if their thematic importance or setup was aptly foreshadowed.

Roose has a lot of plot importance and characterization that has, in my opinion, not yet been properly resolved in a way that would be unique and poignant to the specific purpose his character appears to fulfil. However I also have a bias in that i did not like the show's writing of that scene which makes me averse to see a version of it in the books, and i really like Roose as a character and want to see him have more scenes in the next book(s). This leads me to discount plot speculation that cuts his character arc short offscreen early. Roose is only a side character; however, i have trust in grrm's writing abilities and that he would give him a proper sendoff that feels satisfying to a fan of the character.

"…even the [characters] who are complete bastards, nasty, twisted, deeply flawed human beings with serious psychological problems… When I get inside their skin and look out through their eyes, I have to feel a certain — if not sympathy, certainly empathy for them. I have to try to perceive the world as they do, and that creates a certain amount of affection." — George Martin

Considering my earlier analyis, there is a case to be made for Roose killing Ramsay; however it appears grrm might have a different endgame in mind for Ramsay, foreshadowed in Chett's prologue:

There'd be no lord's life for the leechman's son, no keep to call his own, no wives nor crowns. Only a wildling's sword in his belly, and then an unmarked grave. The snow's taken it all from me . . . the bloody snow . . . - Chett, aSoS

I tend to think something might happen to Roose/the Bolton bloc later in the book that would cause Ramsay to attempt to flee the scene again like he did back in aCoK fleeing Rodrik's justice; perhaps Ramsay is sent out to battle but then flees it like a coward, or he sees his cause as lost. This time, the fleeing and potentially disguised Ramsay would not make it out to safety though, and get killed without being recognized as Ramsay, dying forgotten. This would serve as dramatic irony since Ramsay so strongly desired to be recognized and respected as a Lord of Bolton, without being too on the nose.

As for Roose, i could see him getting captured and somehow brought to justice (either when someone takes Winterfell or in some sort of battle). I see it unlikely that he will be backstabbed like Robb was, because it seems very "eye for an eye" and ultimately doesn't teach much of a lesson except "he had it coming"; But the various people conspiring against him could lead to his capture by betraying him (giving a payoff to the northern conspiracies and the red wedding). I would find a scene of him standing trial interesting since i believe we didn't have one of these for a true non-pov villain yet, and it would be an interesting confrontation that he cannot escape from (he also loves to talk so it would be a good read to see him make a case for himself).

I assume Roose will be out of the picture when the Other plot finally properly kicks into gear (whether dead or "in prison"). With Stannis as a false Azor Ahai and Roose as a false Other (with his pale, cold features), their struggle in the north seems to be a representation of the false "Game of Thrones" that distracts people from the "real threat" of the Others.

As always this is just my opinion, and it could all go very differently in the books! There could always be something that completely uproots my analysis and goes into a direction i did not expect from the material we had; But i have fate that Grrm as a writer will deliver and give me something i can be satisfied with.

[sunontherhoyne]

I’m not sure what you think of Catelyn, but I just can’t bring myself to like her.

Her making what might be Jon’s last visit to an unconscious Bran an emotional hell, telling him - a fifteen year old boy who’s done her no wrong - that he should have died, I can’t do it.

First off, I'm not defending her actions in the scene. What she said was completely out of line, no matter how much grief she felt.

Second off... no, Jon has never done her wrong, you're right about that. The problem is that Ned is the one who's done both of them wrong. Ned is the one that brought Jon to Winterfell and raised him like a trueborn son and who refused to answer any questions Catelyn had on the subject.

And yet Catelyn can't exactly take any of her frustration and anger out on Ned. He's the one with the power in their relationship, and if he sends her away she doesn't exactly have much recourse and would not be able to take any of her children with her. So, rightly or wrongly, it manifests itself in being cold to Jon when they interacted- which wasn't often at all.

The fandom keeps forgetting that the North isn't Dorne, and what Ned did- raising his bastard son at Winterfell where his lady wife resides- is extremely unusual. And there have been wars in living memory brought about by bastards trying to usurp their trueborn family.

I personally like Catelyn. I think she's a very interesting character who has admittedly screwed up sometimes- but who hasn't in this series?

Everyone is free to like who they want though, and I fully understand not wanting to like someone because of a scene like that because again, I'm not defending it at all.

[poorshadowspaintedqueens]

What do you think hoster thought about Ned bringing his ‘bastard’ home and raising him alongside his beloved daughters trueborn children?

That would depend on how much Hoster knew about the situation. I, for one, sincerely doubt Catelyn would have told him something like that after her marriage. She was close to her father while she still lived at Riverrun but we don’t get much indication that they corresponded a lot after her marriage except on political topics (or the topic of her children). My assumption had always been that Catelyn did her best to ignore Jon’s existence unless he was explicitly brought to her attention.

With that in mind, it is in Catelyn’s interests to keep Jon’s place in her household under wraps as much as possible. Anyone who shows up at Winterfell will probably encounter him, but since Hoster never travels north, I don’t think he’d ever have met Jon. Nor did Jon and Wylla travel north via Riverrun--they were already established at Winterfell before Catelyn and Robb even arrived, which suggests they travelled by sea from Dorne in order to make the timing work.

So I would say that Hoster probably does not know that Jon exists, and if he does, he just hears from somewhere that Ned has a bastard son and thinks nothing of it because that’s a fairly normal occurrence in Westeros.

[gondorosi]

How do you see Jon's personality being if he had been raised by his biological parents?

I have to thank you for this ask since it ties perfectly into something I’ve been thinking of - just how much of Jon, Dany and Arya’s personalities are tied to innate characteristics vs those molded by environment? Since you’ve asked me about Jon specifically, let’s focus on him.

Background:

Before anything, we have to establish Rhaegar and Lyanna’s situation. Since you mention both parents, I assume this means you consider a world where Lyanna is Rhaegar’s queen in King’s Landing. Lyanna’s political position will greatly influence Jon’s own experience, upbringing, and as a result, his personality. Does Rhaegar somehow get away with having two Queens? Is Elia alive and estranged from Rhaegar (the only likely minimally happy scenario imo)? Is Jon considered to be a trueborn Targaryen or a legitimized bastard? Does Lyanna have a say in the matters of the Kingdom or is she relegated to Dragonstone/a renovated Summerhall? If Elia is alive, does she allow a relationship between Rhaenys, Aegon and Jon? Is Rhaegar disappointed that Jon didn’t turn out to be his Visenya? Does Rhaella survive Daenerys’ birth?

For this post, let’s assume that Lyanna is (a) Queen, has a definitive say in matters, and has a proper loving relationship with Rhaegar. Jon is allowed to have a normal sibling relationship with Aegon and Rhaenys and Elia is a better human being than Catelyn. Rhaella survives, so does Dany and both are active presences in the Red Keep.

A Mother’s Love

Let’s get to the most obvious difference a life as a Targaryen would have entailed - Jon would have his mother. Even in her absence, so much of Jon is Lyanna - his quick temper, his sarcasm, his championing of the underdogs, his ability to judge character. A world in which Lyanna is alive to bring up her boy is likely to result in a firm, principled, headstrong young man completely devoted to his mother. Not too different from what we have, right?

In this world, however, Jon would have no reasons to hide in the shadows. If he stays in the background, it would be solely because he doesn’t wish to be in the limelight, not because he feels it’s not his place.

Prospects

Our first introduction to a Jon action is when he discounts himself from the list of Ned’s children so that the pup count adds up, and Bran doesn’t have to see the pups being killed. That’s:

Quick thinking

Big brother of the year

These aren’t character traits which can be molded. Thus I’m led to believe that a Jon raised by Lyanna and Rhaegar would be no different in these aspects. However, a different social dynamic to being the Bastard of Winterfell would mean:

He does not need to hide his intelligence or ability for fear of attracting anyone’s wrath

He doesn’t have to be constantly and forcibly reminded of his place on the fringes of the family and thus forms a more natural relationship with his siblings

He actually has prospects and options of futures in front of him

That last factor would mean that he has the freedom and ability to indulge his natural curiosity and wonder about the world. This is the guy who was mesmerized by the beauty of the snow stretching all the way to the horizon beyond the wall. This is the guy who took the initiative of learning all he could about Free Folk culture because he wanted to know them, when as a spy all he needed to find out was their attack strategy. This is the boy who lamented never being able to see all the places in the world since he had effectively barricaded himself.

Jon is a naturally restless soul with a thirst for adventure and knowledge - in this he’s the perfect combination of both his parents. Jon Snow, the Bastard of Winterfell would never have had the ability and freedom to indulge his wanderlust and thirst for adventure, but as a Prince of the realm and with his parents actively encouraging it, I think he will barely stay put in King’s Landing once he’s allowed to travel on his own.

Relationships

It’s quite entertaining to speculate the differences between big brother Jon and little brother Jon. I would like to imagine Rhaenys and Aegon not being tainted by Court gossip about Jon (and believe me there’s no happy universe I can think of where Jon’s birth would NOT be a scandal for the ages) and considering him to be their little brother.

I do see a little brother Jon being a bit of a brat - his escapades as a child in Winterfell with Robb certainly give enough fodder to imagine that. In case Rhaegar allows contact between his son and his cousins in the North (and he better, else Lyanna is going to have WORDS), Jon would likely get along with Robb just as well as he does in canon, albeit now they will be on a level playing field socially.

I don’t know about Dany really - they are both similar enough fundamentally that I see them getting along fabulously in any and every iteration but I’m not sure about anything more than being each other’s closest confidantes. To me the Jonerys jumps out due to the parallels of their experiences and their decisions and ultimate journeys. In the absence of that - I can’t say.

His relationship with Arya will likely be different as well - even if he’s fostered at Winterfell for a time he would not have been present in Arya’s life since birth and the closeness they share at being the ‘outsiders’ of the family would likely not exist. I still think she would be his favourite cousin - but a royal cousin is different from a beloved brother.

Another aspect a Jon who is raised in King’s Landing will not be able to avoid - he will be the subject of rigorous matchmaking exercises. As a bastard of the North he had nothing to offer anyone thus wouldn’t have been considered even for a third daughter of a minor house. As the second son of the King, however, he will be the one all Houses focus on once Aegon is betrothed.

You know, at the end of it, there’s so many ways Jon could have turned out differently. Lyanna could have still died birthing him and he would have been thrown to the wolves of the Court as a child. He could have gone through life as a royal bastard and faced continuous comparisons to the Blackfyres. He could have grown up the Crown Prince if Tywin picked the wrong side before waiting for the result of the Trident. In every iteration though I have to ask myself, would I like a Jon Snow who did not face all that he has and turn out as he has?

A person is the product and the sum of their circumstances, their experiences and their innate makeup. One is no less important than the other - thus a Jon who grew up with his parents but without Robb and Arya, without Ned and without the Night’s Watch would be a very different person than the one I know and love. He might still have turned out to be one of my favourites, but I think I’m ok with the one we have.

[sailorshadzter]

Can we see Cat's reaction to the soulmate reveal?

thanks for the request, anon. 

hope you enjoy!

ps, you can read part 1 & part 2  if you’re interested. :)

send me prompts

It's as she's making her way down the corridor towards the great hall that she hears her husband's voice. "Cat." Ned sounds nervous, anxious, a tone to his voice that she doesn't remember hearing in years. "Gather the children, we must speak of something." Ned's hand encloses around her wrist and for a single instant, they are trapped in the gravity pull of each other. "It's urgent." But then his voice brings them both back and she nods, a rush of fear running rampant in her body. Just what could be so very urgent?

But she does as she's been bid, finding Bran and Arya in the great hall, teasing their wolves with scraps from supper. She sends them upstairs to her and Ned's chambers before she seeks out the others. Rickon she knows naps in his chamber, too young for such a conversation, she decides, and instead heads outside to search for Sansa. She finds Sansa in the gardens with blue roses tucked into her vibrant hair, all smiles for her mother when she sees her. "Lady mother," she greets as Cat approaches, pushing into her hands a bundle of the roses she's already collected. "I was to bring them to you, anyways," she says, but sobers when she notices the strange look upon her mother's face. "What is it? What's wrong?" Fear catches in her throat and Cat is proud of the astuteness of her oldest daughter. Perhaps she is almost too astute.

"Come, your father wishes to speak with all of us." Cat explains, gesturing for her daughter to follow after her. Silence descends and together, they make their way back into Winterfell and up the stairs towards the corridor where the family chambers are. One by one they walk by each door until they reach a set of double doors at the end of the hall and just around a corner- the Lord's chambers, Cat and Ned's rooms. They are not so often invited into their parent's rooms and so all of the children are surprised when they find themselves within.

At once, they notice who has not been invited to this conversation. Jon, Sansa thinks sadly, her heart sinking. Yet again, here is another example of Jon being left out, being cast aside. No wonder he feels so apart from us, she thinks, but her wondering thoughts are cut off when her father speaks. "I have something to tell you all." Ned Stark admits, wondering if perhaps he should have spoken to his wife alone on this matter. But it's too late now. "It's about Jon." Sansa looks up from where she's been staring at the tips of her shoes, just barely visible beneath the stained hem of her gray gown. Blue eyes widen- many pairs, in fact, aside from Arya's Stark gray, and the attention is now entirely focused on their father. "Jon is not my bastard," he plunges into the story without preamble, retelling the story of Jon's birth before he can lose his nerve.

When he finishes a few minutes later, the entire family is staring back at him, every face a different variation of shock.

"It's not true!" Arya breaks the silence first, anger in the form of curled fists and damp eyes.

Bran's begun to cry and beside him, Cat puts an arm around him.

"It is true," Ned reaches out to gently pat his youngest daughter's head, raising his eyes to meet his wife's gaze a moment later. "I am sorry for lying to you all these years." He's speaking to Cat now, who's eyes widen, tears filling her eyes as several different emotions rush to claim her. "But I promised her." Lyanna, the thought of his dearly loved sister, lost to him all these years now... He thinks of her, barely older than Sansa was now, bleeding in her child bed, begging him to protect her son. "There's something else." He turns now to face his oldest daughter, her pretty ivory features twisted with her dismay. "What is the name of your soul mark, Sansa?"

Surprised at her father's question, Sansa blinks, as if she's trying to understand. But when he gives her an encouraging sort of nod she speaks. "Aegon."

Ned Stark smiles, he can't help it. Strange ways in which the Gods work, he supposes. "Jon's birth name... The name which Lyanna wished to call him... Aegon."

From where she stands, Cat feels the world come to a spinning halt. The younger two, Bran and Arya, they don't quite understand what this new admission means. Both children are visibly upset by the truth of the boy they call brother, and despite her cold indifference to the boy she called bastard, she feels for them. She feels for Jon, too. Now that the truth is there in front of her, guilt is beginning to creep in, a cold feeling that wells up in her belly, threatening to spill over. She glances from her husband to instead look at Sansa, who's Tully blue eyes are wide in her face, her hand clutching tightly to the fabric of her gown.

"The truth of Jon's birth... No one must ever know that he is Rhaegar's son, but it is time the world knows he is not mine." Ned speaks, bringing them all back from their thoughts. "For Jon's soul mark has appeared as well..." He knows as well as anyone else that there was no denying the mark that appears, the name that fate gives you is yours forever. He thinks back to the day his own mark appeared, the name of the beautiful Tully redhead that had barely spared him a passing glance back then.

"And it says...?" Cat hears herself ask, though somehow, she already knows the answer.

"Sansa."

Her world stops spinning for a moment and Sansa sinks into the nearest chair, twisting her hands together in her lap. Only a moment ago, she learned that Jon was not her bastard brother at all, but her cousin. And a prince. The true heir to the Iron Throne. Now, she learns that the name her soul mark has given her was Jon's real name. All along, her soulmate has been Jon. A hand to her shoulder has her looking up and it's her mother, offering her a small smile. "Are you alright?" Cat asks, knowing the first half of the conversation was tough enough, let alone to learn that your soulmate has been raised alongside you as a sibling.

As soon as her mother asks, Sansa realizes that no matter how she feels, she can't begin to imagine how Jon does. All his life, he's wanted to belong to the Stark's, to be a trueborn son of Ned Stark. He's only wanted to feel like he was part of the pack. Surely now that must feel ripped away, lost to him, to know he's as much Targaryen as he is Stark. The dream he's always held onto... It's gone. "I am... But Jon..." She shakes her head, suddenly unable to sit there any longer. "He must be upset... Please, can I go to him?"

It is Cat who at first shakes her head, for suddenly, the dynamic between Sansa and Jon must change. But Ned cuts her off, giving his daughter a nod, knowing that she was right. Jon would need comfort in this moment and it was probably only Sansa that could provide it.

When Sansa is gone and the other two children sworn again to keeping the secret about Jon safe from everyone else, Ned and Cat are left alone. "I am sorry, sweetheart," Ned says softly, reaching out to gently touch her hand. "But you understand why I did it, don't you?" For a long moment, Cat regards him- this honorable man she calls her husband... In the end, despite the lies, how could she ever be mad at him for protecting the son of his sister? Would she not have done the same for one of her own?

And so she smiles, leaning into his touch, allowing him to wrap his arms around her.

Things must change, but she knows this is one thing that won't.

Not ever.

[merakiaes]

Tell Me You Love Me - Jon Snow

Pairing: Jon Snow x Baratheon!reader, Robb Stark x Baratheon!reader Requested: By @witch-of-letters, who has been really patient and understanding with me having writer’s block and being really slow. Shoutout to you

Prompts: None

Warnings/notes: Swearing, mentions of rape, violence, death, some changes in the timeline, really rushed because like I said I had the world’s biggest writer’s block, and I also have a migraine so I really didn’t have the energy to look through it and edit it. I really hope it’s readable, anyways.

Wordcount: 6457

Description: A bit of triangle drama between Jon, Robb and reader! I changed up the request a tiny bit so that it would fit the show better, hope that’s alright!

“I wonder if she’s gotten married, yet.” Theon voiced as he got his beard shaved off, thinking back to the last time he had seen you. 

“No.” Robb answered. “Father would have told us if she did.” 

“Yes, you’re probably right. King Robert would never marry her off to a stranger in the first place.” Theon agreed. 

Robb turned to look at his half-brother, eyebrows raised. “You’ve been awfully quiet since the news of the King’s visit got out.”

Theon laughed. “And that was a week ago.”

Jon glared at them. “I’m not quiet.”

“You’ve spoken about ten words since last week.” Robb snickered. “Something on your mind?”

“More like someone.” Theon joined in on the teasing. “A certain princess, maybe?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jon kept his glare as he spoke. 

Theon snorted. “Yeah, right. (Y/N) is the only girl you’ve ever met that you like better than your own hair.” 

Jon hardened his glare. “I don’t like her.”

Robb laughed. “Don’t let her hear you say that, she’ll be heartbroken.” 

Jon turned to him. “What’s that supposed to mean?” 

“It means want to fuck you, you virgin.” Theon said with a smirk, causing Robb to crack up. 

“I’m not a virgin.” Jon scoffed. “I’ve been with women.”

Robb and Theon exchanged a look. “Oh yeah? Who?”

“I-” Jon cut himself short, not having an answer to the question considering he was, in fact, lying. As he opened his mouth to speak again, he once again cut himself short as a man came at his head with a pair of scissors, causing him to flinch. 

This caused Theon and Robb to break into a full laughing fit, leaving the bastard hot up to his ears. 

“What did I say?” Theon laughed. “You flinch when someone touches your hair, and you can’t answer our question. You make it so easy to prove a point.” 

The three of them went into a full argument after that, having to be interrupted by Ned several minutes later because they were going to be late. 

But the whole time up until the point of your arrival, Jon couldn’t stop thinking about you. 

The North was cold, very cold. 

Now, the cold itself wouldn’t have bothered you if you had clothing better fit for this kind of weather, but unfortunately you were for the time benig stuck in your warmest clothes from the South, which weren’t very warm at all. 

You rode between your father and uncle, as you had been for the whole journey, and you were happy to say that said journey would soon be over, and you could finally reunite with your boys. 

When Jon Arryn had, under “mysterious” circumstances, died, you had been heartbroken, having seen that man as a second father. However, when your father had told you the news about you going north, you had been absolutely ecstatic. 

Not only would you get to see Ned, whom also was like a second father to you, but you would get to see your childhood friends, Theon, Robb and Jon. Although you had to admit you were slightly more excited about the last. 

You had been in love with Jon Snow for as long as you could remember, but being in love with a bastard who thought lower of himself than any other person in the Seven Kingdoms, was no walk on roses. 

Seeing as he didn’t think he deserved anything but the shit he was forced to take from Catelyn Stark on a daily basis, he always saw past any attempt of flirting you had made. 

It had started to go on your nerves eventually, and honestly left you very heartbroken, but you still couldn’t find it in you to stop. You had never been forced to worry about being married to a stranger. Your father’s love for you stopped that from ever happening. He wanted you to marry for love, and he wouldn’t care in the slightest if that love turned out to be a bastard. 

But Jon didn’t see it that way, you knew. 

You were the only trueborn child of Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister. It shouldn’t take a genius to figure out the fact that the rest of the King’s supposed children were, in fact, not his, but as it appeared every single person in the Seven Kingdoms were completely brainless. 

But even though you supposed you should be disturbed by your mother and uncle’s incestuous relationship, you couldn’t be bothered. Not because you loved your mother, though, but because you loved your uncle. 

Your mother was a stone-cold, psychopathic bitch. Always had been. The fact that you were not Jaime’s child had bothered her from the moment you were born, the disappointment had been as clear as day in her face once she noticed the hair on your head being pitch black. 

The lack of love your mother held for you was no surprise to you, so Jaime had told you the story of your birth himself, knowing it wouldn’t do anything else than give you the truth. 

Despite the fact that your mother and yourself had a strained relationship, you had gotten her traits of being cunning and smart. Jaime knew this, and therefor knew you wouldn’t stir chaos up without a very good reason, which in turn is why he knew he didn’t have to sugarcoat reality to you. 

The rest of your personality you had gotten from your father, though. Your father was determined, stubborn, blunt and charismatic, or well, the latter he had been, anyways. 

And you were all those things, only ten more times than him. And it was something your mother couldn’t stand being around. 

But your uncle Jaime was different. He had done many horrible things in his life, yes. But his heart was in the right place. Everything he did, he did to protect Cersei and their cubs. And you knew he would realize sooner than later that Cersei wasn’t worth it. 

Tyrion you got along with as well, of course, given the fact that he always seemed to be drawn to outcasts, and also that the two of you shared a love for books and wit. 

Given that you were your father’s daughter, the two of you were close, as well. But you could still agree that he was a very immature man. Had he not spent majority of his spare time fucking whores and getting drunk, you could have been even closer. 

But you had grown up now, and no longer craved as much attention from your King father as you once had. You did just fine on your own, as long as you had your bow or one of your uncles to keep you company. 

You did love your siblings, of course. But considering the relationship you had with your mother, you didn’t really get to spend real time with them, much to Myrcella and Tommen’s dismay. 

Joffrey, though, rather found pleasure in joining his mother in tormenting you. No surprise there. 

“Seven Hells, I had forgotten how bloody cold it was up here.” Your father bellowed from beside you. 

You rolled your eyes, tightening your grip on the reigns. “I told you that you should have put on the  fox fur.” 

“Yeah, yeah.” Your father grumbled, before sighing and reaching over to squeeze your hand. “I ought to listen to my daughter more often, don’t I?” 

“Finally something we agree on.” Your uncle spoke up at that, giving your father a teasing smile, but his eyes still hinted annoyance. 

Your father ignored him, opening his mouth to say something but as it seemed he changed his mind as Winterfell came into sight. “Finally! One more hour in this saddle and I would’ve lost feeling in my arse!”

You snorted. “I’m surprised you haven’t yet.” 

Your father turned to look at you. “Watch that mouth of yours.” 

But as you could see the teasing glint in his eye, you only scoffed, proceeding to straighten yourself up in your saddle as you would soon be entering the gates. 

Jaime fell behind slightly to take his assigned spot in line, while you stayed at the front beside your father, and in only a few minutes time, you found yourself riding through the gates to your second home.

As you spotted the small crowd waiting for you inside the walls, your eyes instantly went to Robb, Jon and Theon, your face lighting up almost instantly at  the sight of them. 

They had certainly grown up since you last saw them, that much you were sure of. 

But Jon had grown up the best. His black locks were still as gorgeous as ever, his eyes still as dark and soft. You weren’t a girl who used cliches, but even you couldn’t deny the butterflies filling you stomach at the sight of the bastard. 

Jon, who had been looking at the ground by order of Lady Catelyn to show respect, felt your heavy gaze and looked up to be faced with your bright smile.

Upon seeing you, Jon felt himself get warm. Not until then did he realize how much he had truly missed you. 

Theon let out a small whistle as they watched you climb down from your horse, giving you a once over as you walked to your father’s side as he greeted Ned. “(Y/N) grew up quite nicely, don’t you think, Snow?” 

Although Jon couldn’t disagree, he shot his friend a look. “She was already grown up when we saw her last. She’s three years older than us.”

Theon wiggled his eyebrows. “An older woman who wants to fuck you.”

Jon turned to look at him, a glare on his face. “She does not want to fuck m-”

“Can you two shut up?” Robb suddenly turned around and whisper-yelled, just as you reached him. 

Robb turned back instantly, taking your hand in his and bringing it up to his lips. “Princess, you look as gorgeous as always.” He said, putting on a smile as if trying to hide the conversation that had moments before been going on behind him. 

You only snickered. “We’ve known each other since we were all mere children, come here.” And with that you pulled him down by his neck in an embrace.

You felt him chuckle unto your neck, but your happy little reunion was cut short when your brother scoffed behind you. “(Y/N)” He started, a scowl evident on his face. “That is in no way how a princess should act.”

Your father had gone off with Ned at this point, and your mother and siblings were Gods knew where, leaving only you, Robb, Jon, Theon, Joffrey and Sandor Clegane in the courtyard. 

You rolled your eyes at the sound of your whiny brother’s voice, releasing Robb from your grasp, the latter clearing his throat as he glanced at the Hound. 

Turning around, you stared your brother down. “Unlike you, Joffrey, the Starks are my family and I won’t treat them like they are below me, I’ll leave that bitchy behavior to my dear little brother. You do it best, after all, isn’t that right?”

Joffrey gasped dramatically, hitting his guard dog’s on his arm as if to tell him to go after you. “Did you hear how she just spoke to me? Do something!” 

You rolled your eyes, something you seemed to be doing all the time when in the presence of your family. “You do know he’s not only serving you, but the rest of your family as well?” 

Joffrey narrowed hie eyes. “He’s MY dog, and he shall do as I command.” He said in a whiny voice, turning to look at the Hound at the last part. 

You took a few steps closer to your brother. “Are you ever going to get it into your tiny little brain that he’s not an actual  dog? Even dogs are only loyal to their masters until they feel threatened, maybe you should start watching your mouth a little before this one starts to feel that way.” 

Cue another dramatic gasp. “I’m telling mother!”

You chuckled. “You go do that, Joff. I’ll just tell father you tried sending the Hound on his beloved daughter.” With that you turned to look at the much larger man beside your brother. “Sandor.”

“Princess.” Sandor acknowledged, face straight, although you could see in his eyes he was just as satisfied with Joffrey’s reaction as yourself. 

You gave a curt nod, before starting to walk off, the three northerner boys wasting no time in following. 

Once far enough away to be able to have a conversation without your brother’s snooping ears, you wasted no time in jumping at the three boys.

The boys each let out a quiet “hmpf” at the force of you taking them all into your arms at the same time in a rather messy group hug. 

“Eager are we?” Theon chuckled as he let his hand rest on the small of your back. He made attempt to move it further down, but you instantly slapped it away. 

“I see you, Greyjoy, don’t try me.” You threatened playfully, earning a chuckle in return. 

“Robb, last time I saw you you were just as tall as me.” You snickered at the memory as you turned to look at the Stark boy. Probably to everyone’s surprise, he had been a slow grower. 

Robb laughed as you brought him into another hug, this time without Joffrey there to interrupt. 

Finally, you turned to Jon. 

He had put himself slightly behind the other two boys to not interrupt. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his eyes were softly staring into yours. 

As if your smile wasn’t already big enough, it got even bigger at the sight of the curly haired boy, and you wasted no time in jumping in his arms. 

Jon closed his eyes and sighed in contentment as the sweet scent of your hair filled his nostrils and took over his senses, letting his arms go around your waist to hug you back. 

“I can’t even begin to explain how much I’ve missed you.” You told the boys while still in Jon’s arms, but you all knew you were in truth talking to Jon and Jon only. 

Well, everyone except the boy himself, being as oblivious as he was. 

“What.” Theon spoke, the teasing tone evident in his voice. “You don’t enjoy spending quality time with your baby brother?”

The boys all snickered as you finally let go of Jon, much to his dismay, turning to look at Robb and Theon with a roll of your eyes. “Any more quality time, and I might just have thrown myself from a window.” 

“What about the Hound?” Robb questioned, wiggling his eyebrows. “You looked to be pretty cozy with the Hound.” 

“Sandor may be a man of few words, but he’s an actual sweetheart.” You responded, snickering. “Don’t let him know I said that, though. He’ll never speak to me again.”

Theon shuddered. “I don’t know how anyone could handle being in his presence all day long without shitting their pants, much less talk to him.”

You raised an eyebrow, eyes moving to look at his lower half. “Are you telling me you shit your pants just now, then?”

Theon glared. “No, not me. I don’t shit my pants for anything, or anyone.” He paused. “But IF I did, it would be because of him.”

“So you did shit your pants.” You repeated, smirking. 

Theon started protesting, but as Jon and Robb had had enough of your bickering, Robb cleared his throat. “We have something to show you, (Y/N), don’t we lads?” He turned to his brothers with a wolfish grin. 

“Oh!” Theon realized. “Yes, Robb and Snow got d-”

Jon slapped him upside the head. “You’re ruining it.” 

Theon rubbed his head, swinging for Jon, however missing when the latter ducked out of the way with a laugh. 

“Fine, fine.” Theon said finally, pulling out a cloth from his pocket. “You’ll have to put this on.” He said, holding it up like a blindfold.

You squinted your eyes at this, becoming slightly suspicious. “Why exactly?”

“Because it’s a surprise.” Robb laughed as he came to stand at your side, now having grabbed the cloth from Theon’s hand to put it over your eyes. 

“If this is your way of inviting me to a foursome, I’m very afraid I must decline.” You said in a mock-serious voice, causing them all to laugh. 

“As if I’d let you anywhere near Theon’s bed.” Jon said, grabbing onto one of your arms as you were blinded by the fabric in front of your eyes. 

Theon snickered, and you could just imagine the smirk he must have been sporting. “No, you’d want her all to yourself, wouldn’t you Snow?” 

You snickered as Jon hissed a ‘shut up!’, and suddenly you started moving, Jon pulling at you gently. 

Your heart started beating harder in your chest as you felt around with your feet carefully to not fall. Jon seemed to pick up on this, chuckling. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to let you fall.”

Laughing nervously, your hand came to rest on top of his that were holding your arm for support. “I trust you, Jon. It’s your brothers I don’t trust.”

Awaiting some kind of sarcastic response from either Robb or Theon, you were surprised to hear nothing but Jon’s chuckle from beside you, to which you furrowed your eyebrows in thought. 

“Did they go ahead?” You though out loud, using the hand that weren’t holding on to Jon to feel the air in front of you. You trusted Jon not to let you fall, but now that Robb and Theon had seemingly run off, it was your own feet you didn’t trust. 

“Yes.” He responded. “They had to go see so that the surprise hadn’t completely ruined my chambers.” He laughed, causing you to furrow your eyebrows even further. 

What kind of surprise would destroy furniture?

“We’re coming up the stairs now.” Jon said, assisting you in getting your foot on the first step. “No peeking.”

You snorted. “Unlike Theon, I’m not a peeker.” You joked, thinking back to the time you had found the boy in question peeking into the whorehouse when he was thirteen. 

“It’s a good thing he’s old enough to actually go in there now instead of peeking through the windows like a mad man.” Jon laughed, causing you to follow. 

“Is it, though?” 

“Maybe not.” He agreed, causing you to smile. 

As you reached the last step of the stairs, you let your hand trail against the wall as you kept walking. “How far are we going? I’m not liking this whole blind thing.”

As soon as you said that, the sound of Robb and Theon’s voices entered your eardrums, giving you the sign that you had finally reached your final destination. 

“No more.” Jon said, confirming your thoughts. “Watch out.” He spoke quietly as the voices got closer, helping you through the doorway of his chambers where Theon and Robb had suddenly grown quiet. 

“Are you ready?” You heard Robb ask from somewhere across the room. 

You nodded, eyebrows furrowed as you thought about what the surprise could be. “Get on with it.”

Jon snickered from behind you as he undid the blindfold, amused at your impatience. You were truly your father’s daughter. 

As the fabric was removed from your eyes, it took a few second  to adjust to the light as you had been in the dark for several minutes, but once they had adjusted, you let out a high squeal at the sight in front of you. 

On the bed in front of you were two small direwolf pups, lying next to each other, seemingly taking a nap, something you couldn’t care less of in this moment as you launched yourself forward to jump on the bed. 

“Puppies!” You let out in a high pitched voice, causing the direwolves to jump awake in fright. 

Although, to the boys’ surprise, they calmed down just as quickly and instantly started licking your face wet with kisses, whereas they would have growled and barked had it been Theon in your position. 

“Why do they like her more?” Theon spoke, watching sourly as you fell down into the bed. 

“You smell.” Jon commented as he came to stand at his side to watch the scene unfold with them. 

Theon turned to look at him with a glare. “We just washed ourselves, together. If I smell, you smell.”

You laughed. “You make it sound like you washed each other, Greyjoy.” 

He turned to look at you, dropping his glare and putting on a smirk. “Jonny boy is saving himself for y-”

Jon slapped him on the arm, glaring. Robb just stood by laughing at his brothers as he kept watching you, arms crossed. 

“Where did you find them?” You gushed finally as they left the bed to take Jon and Robb’s sides, wasting no time in following the white one to Jon and getting down cross-legged on the floor to take him into your lap.

“We found her mother in the woods.” Robb started. 

“Killed by a stag’s antler, tough old beast.” Theon continued. 

You looked at the direwolf in your knee sadly. “What are their names?”

“That’s Grey Wind.” Jon pointed to the pup at Robb’s feet, before looking down at the white one in your arms. “And that’s Ghost. He’s mine.”

“The runt of the litter.” Theon snickered. 

“Arya, Sansa, Bran and Rickon each has one as well.” Robb told you. “Nymeria, Lady, Shaggydog, and Bran hasn’t named his yet.” 

You smiled brightly, talking sweet nothings as you scratched Ghost behind his ear. 

Jon chuckled at the sight. “You might want to stop sweeting him up, he won’t know how to protect himself when the time comes.” 

You pouted. “Fine.” You stood up. 

The window of the room whistled loudly as a breeze blew past. Looking outside, you noticed it now having gone dark. 

You turned back to the boys. “Which one of you are going to escort me to the feast?” You smirked. “Your princess is starting to feel rather starved after traveling for so long.”

Theon hurried to step forward, holding out his arm. “My lady.” He bowed deeply, coming back up with a grin on his face. 

You laughed, curtsying before hooking your arm with his. “My lord.” 

And with that, he led you off to the feast. Jon furrowed his eyebrows at seeing you laugh with Theon, Robb giving him a knowing, teasing look, earning a glare in response, as they walked after you.  

You had feasts in the Capital all the time, but this was as much fun as you’d have in a long time, finally having enjoyable company. 

“Look at your daughter.” Cersei scoffed at the head table, scowling bitterly. “Acting like a man, throwing herself around at all those boys. Disgrace.” 

“Shut your mouth, woman!” Robert bellowed, stopping in his tracks of groping one of the servant girls, at his wife’s words. He turned to look at her. “She can do as she pleases. You worry about raising that little brat.” 

She clenched her fists as she looked at him, turning back to look at you dancing around with Robb and Theon, Jon long ago having left at the request of Catelyn. 

Cersei then turned to look at her brother, only to find him watching you play around with a grin, amusement clear in his eyes. 

She scoffed again. “Tell me again why we’re marrying her off to the Stark boy.” She asked no one in particular as she had Robert’s attention. “We could marry her off to someone much more valuable for the crown.”

“Do you think I care about the crown?” Robert boomed. “I’m not marrying her off to someone who will fuck her and have her birth children all life. Robb is the only one I would even consider as a husband.”

“If I may, Your Grace.” Ned spoke up for the first time, inviting himself into the conversation. “Robb thinks very highly of (Y/N), he would never attempt to stop her from practicing her interests.”

“Yes.” She muttered, leaning back into her seat. “That’s what I’m afraid of. She needs to learn how to act like a lady.”

“Fuck acting like a lady!” Robert once more shouted at his wife. “The betrothal between her and Robb is final!” And with that, he walked off with the servant, leaving Cersei to fume in her lonesome. 

You had been dancing with Robb and Theon all night, until Robb had been forced to take Arya to bed. Only moments later, Theon had kissed you good night and left with a girl not much older than Sansa. 

You had rolled your eyes at this, but not bothered to tell him off. Far to tired after the nights festivities. 

Not wanting to be alone, you ventured outside to search for Jon, finding him out by the sparring grounds having a conversation with Tyrion. 

“Uncle.” You greeted as you approached them, causing them both to turn your way. 

“Ah, my sweet (Y/N), are you having fun?” Tyrion smiled up at you. 

You smiled so. “Very much so, but now I’m afraid my company has betrayed me, and I’m in need of a new companion to entertain me for the rest of the evening.”

“I see.” Tyrion said. “I will leave you two to it, then. I will see you at breakfast tomorrow morning.” 

You nodded at him, offering a smile, before he walked off into the castle, leaving you alone with Jon. 

The two of you watched each other quietly for a moment, before you moved to sit down against a wall, pushing your cloak under your bottom so that you wouldn’t get cold. 

You patted the space beside you, Jon coming to sit down only moments later. 

“Why did you leave?” You asked as you pulled out a flagon of whine that you had managed to snatch from inside the hall from underneath your cloak, popping open the lid and taking a drink. 

“Lady Stark didn’t wish for me to be in the King and Queen’s presence.” He said in a formal voice, something that led you to believe that Catelyn had talked to him about being around you, as well.

You frowned at this, holding the flagon out for him. “You could have just told me. I would have maken sure you got to stay.”

“I needed the fresh air, anyway.” He spoke, grabbing the flagon from your hand and taking a long gulp.

“Although I do enjoy the company of your brother and Theon, I have to admit I would have had more fun with you.” You admitted, leaning your head on his shoulder and looking up at you. 

He turned his head slightly to be able to look down at you, a smile coming to rest at his lips. “Don’t let Theon hear you say that.”

You snickered, grabbing the flagon back from him and taking a sip. “Something tells me he knows of my feelings.”

“And what feelings would those be?” He asked softly, scanning your face as you watched each other carefully. 

You searched your head for a sassy reply or remark of some kind, but you found none, getting utterly lost in his deep, dark eyes. 

You parted your lips briefly, before closing them again. Your eyes traveled from his eyes to his nose to his lips, catching his Adam’s apple bobbling in the corner of your eye. 

You watched as his tongue darted out to wet his lips, and as he rubbed them together, before moving your eyes back to his, searching for any kind of hesitation. 

And when finding none, you leaned your head up and pressed your lips to his. 

Jon responded almost instantly, admittedly being frozen for a few seconds despite knowing your intentions from the start. But he quickly melted into the kiss, moving his lips to match the movements of your own. 

The flagon of wine was long forgotten by now, crimson liquid spilling out into the the snow. 

You reached up to put your arms around his neck, successfully dragging him with you to lie on the ground without ever breaking the kiss that was getting more feverish with every passing second. 

You let your lips break away from his for a moment of breath, before quickly reattaching and this time letting the tips of your tongues meet. 

The only thing on your mind was Jon, how his hands felt as they ran down your sides to squeeze at your hips, how his lips felt as they moved from your lips to your jaw, to your neck, to your collarbone. 

Not in a million years would you have suspected the news that would be pushed upon you the morning after. 

But as you woke up that morning in Jon’s bed and went to the Hall for breakfast, the news were thrust upon you none the less. 

“In the sight of the Seven, I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity. Look upon one another and say the words.”

You remembered the ceremony clearly, your father and mother and siblings, and all of the North watching as you were wed to one of your best friends. However, not the one you loved. 

You had broken down in the middle of the room at the news of you betrothal to Robb, screaming and pleading to your father to let you marry Jon instead. 

Your father had, much to everyone’s surprise and your mother’s dismay, agreed, but the boy in question had already heard the news from Robb and decided to go to the Wall with his uncle Benjen. 

You had cried to him the whole night before his departure, about ready to get down on your knees to beg him to stay. It was the most heartbroken he, or anyone else for that matter, had ever seen you. 

It eventually got so bad, you had to be carried to your chambers by your uncle Jaime, who proceeded to hold you the entire night until you finally managed to doze off from exhaustion, the last word Jon had spoken to you before you were taken away being “You deserve better.” 

When you had awoken that morning you had been completely numb, and you hadn’t been able to leave the bed to see Jon off. 

It had broken his heart, but he knew it was his own doing. He wanted so bad to stay with you, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t let you marry a bastard, and have bastard children. You deserved more than that. You were a princess after all. 

Robert had come to bid him farewell. Although he was absolutely broken at the state of his daughter, and despite the fact that he saw Jon as a fine young man, he too, thought of him as too little for his sweet (Y/N). 

Jon had rode off between Benjen and Tyrion early that morning, heart heavy and eyes stinging with tears. 

“Father. Smith. Warrior. Mother. Maiden. Crone. Stranger. I am his, and he is mine, from this day, until the end of my days.”

“Father. Smith. Warrior. Mother. Maiden. Crone. Stranger. I am hers, and she is mine, from this day, until the end of my days.”

The wedding came sooner than you would have wished. Robb saw that you were unhappy, but despite this didn’t protest. 

You would never get over Jon. You would never love Robb as you did his half-brother, but you were, truth be told, happy that it was Robb and not some random high-lord. 

You had gone to war by Robb’s side when he had called the Stark’s bannermen to go up against the Lannisters. Your family. They weren’t really your family, any more, though. 

Your father was dead, and Jaime was too love struck by your mother to be able to differ right from wrong. You only wished he realized it sooner than later, despite everything loving him dearly. 

Robb had never forced you to get intimate with him, something you were more than grateful for. You knew that despite the fact that he hadn’t protested, he didn’t feel that way about you, either. 

When the two of you met Talisa, you had your marriage annulled, allowing him to marry the true love of his life. 

While they were off doing Gods know what during the evenings, you were stuck in your tent with Grey Wind watching over you, the direwolf having, dare you say it, grown closer to you than his own master. 

But you didn’t complain. Animals had always been your preferred company. 

Having made a promise to Walder Frey to marry one of his girls, he had been furious to hear the news that Robb had married Talisa instead of one of his girls once you had annulled your marriage. 

But you came up with a solution, you thought, and were invited into his home for a marriage between Edmure Tully and one of Frey’s girls. 

That’s where everything started going downhill. The only word you could use to describe your stay at the Frey’s was bloodbath. Massacre. 

They called it the Red Wedding. Robb, Talisa and Catelyn had all been slain under the roof where they broke their bread and salt with the Freys. 

You don’t know how you had managed to escape, but you were lucky you had. 

You had ran until your lungs burned, desperate to make it back to your tent before the Freys did, luckily succeeding and managing to get Grey Wind and yourself out of there before they could get to you. 

Ashamed that they had let a girl get away, Walder Frey had made up a graphic, bloody story about how they had slowly killed you and Grey Wind. 

Jon had been unable to keep on is legs when hearing it, having to grab a hold of the table as his knees buckled out of shock, the letter in his hand dropping down to the floor. 

He had screamed, yelled, broken everything in sight as anger and grief filled his entire body, his friends being forced to drag him away from the shelf he was currently hacking to bits with Longclaw. 

This was a while ago. A lot had happened since. Jon had brought the wildlings to Castle Black only shortly before receiving the news about your death. 

He had been stabbed to his death by his supposed brothers, and brought back to life by the Red Woman. 

All the while you had been living in hiding, waiting for the right moment to return to any familiar place. 

And once you’d heard of Jon snow being in command of a wildling army and Castle Black, you headed off without looking back. 

You reached the Wall in a few weeks time. 

Grey Wind was walking slowly by your side as you sat on your horse, loyal as ever. He hadn’t left your side once since the Red Wedding. 

The men who where currently on watch duty in the tower spotted you through the snow, getting ready to call out to you. However, as they spotted the direwolf revealing itself from behind you, they knew in an instant that you were here for Jon, calling out to open the gate. 

“Open the gate!” They called down to the courtyard. 

You didn’t have to stop as the gate started rising only a second later, allowing you clear passage into the castle. 

Everyone stopped and looked at you as you rode through, shock evident on their faces as they laid eyes on the giant beast at your side, Grey Wind now having grown to be almost as big as the very horse you were riding. 

You looked around slowly, searching for the face you had come looking for, but finding it nowhere.

Without stopping your search, you stopped the horse in the middle of the clearing, climbing down from the saddle to stand on the ground. 

A stable boy came over without any words said, taking the horse by the reigns and leading it off, leaving you to grab at Grey Wind’s fur as he growled quietly at the people around you in suspicion. 

“Last time someone came to fetch me to see something down in the courtyard, I was stabbed repeatedly in the chest.” Jon grumbled as he walked alongside Edd, steps determined but annoyed as he had been busy when Edd had come rushing in to take him outside, speaking a bunch of gibberish that was quite hard to comprehend. 

“Trust me.” He told his friend. “You’re going to want to see this.”

You held your head held high as you kept looking around, keeping your stare hard to show the people around you that you weren’t bothered by their stares in the slightest. 

You had yet to see Jon, and you were just about to give up and ask someone of his whereabouts when suddenly your name was called. 

“(Y/N)?” Your heart skipped a beat at the familiar voice, head whipping around to find the source so quickly you got dizzy. 

“Jon.” You breathed as you caught sight of him on top of the stairs to the upper part of the castle, looking between you and Grey Wind in shock.

Neither you nor the people in the yard had any time to react as Jon flung himself down the stairs, several steps at a time, and launched himself towards you. 

Your face broke into a watery smile as this seemed to trigger your own movements, running to meet him in the middle. 

The two of you hit each other in an embrace so rough you probably would have complained about the pain in any other case, but as you for the first time in several years felt the warmth of your first and only love’s arms around you, the only thing you could think of was him. 

The only thing on your mind it that moment, as you hugged each other close, was Jon. Just as it had been every day since the day you had first met. 

“Tell me you love me, Jon Snow.” You breathed into his neck, tears now spilling down your cold cheeks. “Tell me you want me just as much as I’ve always wanted you.”

“I love you. You’re the only thing I want.”

And with that, you pulled your head away from his neck and pressed your lips to his just like you had done that one night in Winterfell. 

Just like you had done on the best day of your life. 

[sepedarodatiga]

The Stark’s revenge towards Aegon’s conquest

I feel like I have been quite more receptive towards the ending of GoT than other Jonsa shippers as proven with this post and this post. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things that I don't understand but I chose to let go of those things and write it off as something that D&D just failed to convey without GRRM's book. Three-Eyed Raven King Bran is one of it, and every concern I have read about this is valid and I cannot offer any explanation. I don't know if GRRM would ever be successful in delivering this in his book but obviously he will do much better than D&D. Not that I will be waiting around for it though. Despite my acceptance towards the ending, I am still quite hurt and have decided that I am done with GoT and ASOIAF.

That is after I write a few more meta to tied up loose ends I suppose…

There are basically two things I think, that has made me more receptive towards the ending.

First is the realization that GoT/ASOIAF is really about the retaliation from House Stark with their magical ancestry towards Aegon Targaryen's conquest. Every other storyline is just the events that brought House Stark to the top and beat the other houses, especially House Targaryen in the game. We heard it again and again: Ned Stark should have taken the throne for himself. Because that didn't happen, his son who was named after the first Stark ancestor would have to do it.

I know, I know, Bran is not really Bran anymore, Bran died in that cave, etc, but he still used the name Bran when he is crowned King. Or maybe this interpretation is just dead wrong, but until there’s another one that makes sense and can make me feel better, I’m going to hold on to it.

Aegon Targaryen kneeling to Brandon Stark in 8x06 - The Iron Throne. Winter has come for House Targaryen. The North Remembers.

Aegon Targaryen conquered Westeros and brought King in the North Torrhen Stark to kneel with three dragons. Dragons were then no more until Daenerys Targaryen hatched exactly another three. In the same time that another Brandon Stark was alive and crippled by the Targaryen-King slayer Jaime Lannister.

Bran Stark in 2x01, the episode title is The North Remembers. 

House Stark also hide and raised the true heir Targaryen Prince (also named after the conqueror Targaryen ancestor) who shared blood with them, who will later be instrumental in moving the events to bring the demise to House Targaryen. I'm sorry, I know we all love Jon Snow and we know he is a proper lad and much more a Stark rather than a Targaryen, but he is still a trueborn Aegon Targaryen. Is it fair to Jon? Maybe not, but this is something that I am going to discuss later in the second point.

Bran's rise as king in the show came from nowhere because the show only cares about Daenerys Targaryen, the fan favorite and they didn't spare any thought about concluding the story of any other character. It probably would have been more interesting if we got Bran's POV in the last season. How he knows the events that was gonna happen and the realization of what he must do as well as his inner doubts and turmoil about it. How he make decisions and how those decisions affected the story as well as the reason why he must take the throne. But alas, we didn't even get ANY Stark POV in the last season and got the Dany show. Pathetic, considering the Bran's rise is suppose to be culmination of the story.

The second thing is that I firmly believe that there was supposed to be a Jonsa bastard child. The foreshadowing is absolutely there and they told us via subtext exactly when it happens. Other people has speculated that this would happen in the future as some kind of Bael the Bard story. But I think it should have already happened in this story and not only that, but it would have been the thing that moved Aegon Targaryen to commit treason to his house and his aunt Daenerys.

Aemon Targaryen to Aegon Targaryen in 1x09 - Baelor

Look it's just so silly that I can pinpoint exactly when the consummation happened (the night before the war with the NK aka episode 8x02 titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms) and when Sansa would have realized that she's pregnant (when Gilly told Jon that she's pregnant, Sam/Gilly has always been a stand-in for Jonsa). Sansa also hides in the crypts after just like Bael the Bard's Stark maiden. However the show decided that it should only be in the subtext for God knows what reason. Maybe it is for future story, I don't know. Or maybe a hint for it to be a different plotline in the books. GRRM did asked "how many children does Scarlett O'Hara has?" when asked whether the show and the books will have different ending. But in the show they decided not to bring it to the text and gave Northern Independence as Sansa's motive rather than her love for Jon Snow and in the end she is given "Queen in the North" as a consolation prize for the missing bastard child plot.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know that many people are happy that Sansa got what she deserve and she does deserve to be queen, but there are also many people who pointed out that her coronation felt hollow and not satisfying whatsoever because Sansa wanted romantic love and family. Her queen foreshadowing mostly relates being a consort of a King and bear his children and technically if she bears Jon's children, she is bearing a King's child. Jon is a "King" only not in the throne, but a King (that lives exiled) Beyond the Wall. 

Sansa Stark in 2x07 - A Man Without Honor (again with the episode title, geez, stahp!)

Secondly, it is just such a messy ending politically. There are already many post talking about this. Bran just give his sister Northern independence, making the North effectively not part of the Seven Kingdoms when he is…from the North? And why would the other kingdoms not ask for their own independence?

I think if the Jonsa bastard child story line happened, Sansa wouldn't need the QiTN ending. She's already the Lady of Winterfell and also she could be Wardeness of the North. They even put a foreshadowing bit for it. Sigh.

Sansa Stark and Littlefinger in 5x04 - Sons of the Harpy

There's no need to bother with Northern independence since a Stark is already on the throne and even ruling other kingdoms of Westeros. They are not "bowing to anyone else", the King of the Seven Kingdoms is of the North. Sansa's conclusion would be her bastard child with Jon.

A Jonsa bastard child would also make sense as a payoff to all the Jonsa romantic scenes and foreshadowing and to our characters. Tell me how you would feel if Jon ends up beyond the wall and Sansa in Winterfell, but they already had a child together? Even if it’s a bastard. Especially if it's a bastard. Named Snow. It would still feel true to a heart wrenching GoT plot but won't leave you feeling hollow. It would have been truly bittersweet. For both the viewers and the characters. Jon has to go through a tragic plot with Dany, but he would have his Stark maiden and he would have sired a Stark heir ala Bael the Bard. And the bloody irony of it! He grew up a bastard, hated it, not wanting to ever sired a bastard, find out that he is not just true born, but a King, but still ended up siring a bastard named Snow. His own bastard name. But he would love it and it would be his source of happiness. So for me, it would made much more sense to have Jonsa in this story rather than the future.

There are other things that I might still want to discuss such as some other foreshadowing for Jon stabbing Dany as well as his exile to the Wall and maybe I will expand about how Bael the Bard story should have already happened. Let's see if I'm still interested to write it but for now I think these are the two arguments that I can give for myself to find closure and acceptance. I hope everyone is doing fine and I have been enjoying reading all your thoughts here on tumblr.

[julibf]

MY ENDING GAME THEORY.....

Jon Snow and Sansa Stark will be the King and Queen of the 7 Kingdoms;

Jon Snow will father a bastard daughter;

Jon Snow will have half of his face burned down in the final battle and will be blind from one eye;

Jon and Sansa will lie to protect the bastard girl and raise her as their trueborn child;

Sansa is the “Younger and More Beautiful Queen” who will cast down Cersei;

Sansa Stark will be known as THE QUEEN. She will be the one changing the laws of succession, allowing girls to be the heirs in front of their younger brothers;

Jon Snow will be the one killing Cersei, he will be the Valonqar of the prophecy;

The North will never bend the knee to a southern ruler ever again, but it may join the Realm in a new political division.

Arya Stark will call the banners and lead the Northern armies in the new Rebellion;

Arya Stark will be The Queen in the North;

Bran Stark will be the most important player against the Night King, not the dragons;

Daenerys will abandon the fight against the Army of the dead and march south, leaving the North to fight for themselves;

We will have a Second Dance of Dragons between Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen;

Daenerys arrival to Westeros will enter the history books as one of the worst events in the History of the 7 Kingdoms;

Jaime Lannister will be the Hand of the King for Jon Snow; Jaime Lannister will marry Brienne of Tarth and restore House Lannister to their former glory;

Tyrion Lannister will face his third trial, but this time he will be guilty of all his crimes;

Tyrion Lannister will lose his tongue and be sent into exile to Essos;

Daenerys will be the last antagonist of this story and will be remembered as THE QUEEN OF ASHES;

House Targaryen will come to an end;

Theon will be the King of the Iron Islands;

The new capital of the realm will be in HighGarden;

Episode 3 will be the Fight against the Army of the Dead;

Episode 5 will be the Dance of Dragons.

The Starks will rule the kingdom in the end, bringing a Time for Wolves.

________________________________________________________________

JON SNOW AND SANSA STARK MARRIAGE……

Jon Snow and Sansa Stark will be the final King and Queen of the 7 Kingdoms. Their romance has been foreshadow pretty much since book 1 and season 1 and their marriage will bring peace and prosperity to Westeros. The wars of Ice and Fire will destroy the kingdom and they will be the ones rebuilding the realm to its former glory; Jon and Sansa storyline are in a perfect parallel and they have been groomed to be king and queen of Westeros for the whole storyline in the books.

JON SNOW HAS ALWAYS LOVED SANSA STARK;

Jon Snow has always been in love with his cousin Sansa Stark, which is why he decided to go to the wall after Ned Stark accepted Sansa’s engagement to Joffrey Baratheon. Jon was written as a mirror to Jaime Lannister and one of the reasons Jaime decided to join the kingsguard was because he could never marry his sister and lover Cersei. Once the secret of Lyanna and Rheagar is finally out, Jon and Sansa will be free to be together. Their love story is the main romance of the books.

BTW, don’t be surprised if they reveal the romance between Jon and Sansa in the end of the first episode of season 8. The episode will start mirroring the pilot episode, when King Robert arrived at Winterfell with his Lannister family and we all know the episode ended with the reveal of Cersei and Jaime incestual romance.

JON SNOW IS GOING TO BE A STARK;

Jon Snow is going to take Sansa Stark name and pass the Stark name to all his children. He will be finally be a Stark and die as a true son by law of Eddard Stark, just like he always dreamed of in the books. This was foreshadowed in season 6 episode 5, when Sansa cloaked Jon Snow with a Stark Cloak.

JON WILL FATHER A BASTARD

Jon Snow will father a bastard. He will have trueborn sons with his wife Sansa Stark, but he will have a bastard girl with Daenerys. The books have foreshadowed this event to death. Jon and Sansa will pass this bastard girl as their own trueborn child and give her their Stark name. Sansa will raise this child as her own daughter and make her a Stark. That’s why the show wrote that scene with Catelyn Stark and Talissa on season 3 where Catelyn says that she failed to love and care for her husband bastard child, Sansa will do the opposite and love and care for Jon’s bastard daughter.

Jon will do the inverse of his uncle Ned, who lied and raised his trueborn nephew as a bastard. The story of Game of Thrones started with Ned Stark starting a war to prevent a bastard son of Cersei Lannister to sit in the Throne and it will end with a bastard daughter of Jon Snow as the heir of the Throne. History repeat itself and in the end, there wont be much difference between Starks and Lannister, they all lie to protect the ones they love.

“The things we do for love” will still be the theme of the story in the end….

THIS IS A STORY OF FATHER’S DAUGHTERS….

A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE its many tales in one; this is a tale of a Dragon prince madly in love with a Wolf girl; this is also a tale about home and families; about the things we do for love; it’s a story about tyranny and fear; its also a story about slow learners, who make several mistakes, but that eventually do learn, but ALSO, A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, is a story about father’s daughters.

And that’s exactly what Arya, Sansa, Cersei, Daenerys, Brienne all are. These women are their father’s daughters. That’s why the show gave so much importance on those character’s fathers and hardly touched the mothers relevance.

No one thought Sansa and Daenerys had much of their fathers in themselves, those two characters were always associated with their mothers, yet they will prove to all of us that they carry much of Eddar and Aerys inside of them, in the last part of this story.

THE STARK SISTERS WILL GET EVERYTHING THEY EVER WANTED…

Arya: “We both wanted to be the other people when we were younger. You wanted to be a queen and sit next to a handsome, young king on the Iron Throne. I wanted to be a knight, to pick up a sword like father and go off to battle. Neither of us got to be that other person, did we? The world doesnt just let girls decide what they are going to be.”’

(SEASON 7 EPISODE 6)

AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE QUEENS….

Yes, we will have two queens. Game of Thrones started with two queens. Daenerys and Cersei; one a conqueror, the second a consort queen. Two women, whose obsession for the Iron Throne, left a trail of death and destruction on Essos and Westeros. So, we will finish this story with two queens, who will restore the Kingdom and improve the lives of their people. Sansa will be the consort queen of Jon Snow and Arya will be the warrior, the conquering queen that will lead the armies of North, Vale and Riverlands into war in season 8.

SANSA STARK WILL BE “THE QUEEN”;

Queen Sansa Stark will change the Law of Succession allowing girls to be heirs in front of their younger brothers. Sansa it’s the YMBQ of the prophecy and she will be the one casting Cersei Lannister down; Sansa will be very political active queen, changing laws and improving the lives of the people of Westeros and making important changes in the realm; She will be loved by her people and called THE QUEEN.

Sansa was always meant to be the final queen and the one who will rebuild the kingdom after the wars. Sansa entire storyline in the books was about observing the major players of the game make their moves and see the ramifications of those decisions. In Kings Landing, Sansa saw it first hand how ruling can affect the lives of the people in Westeros. She was able to see what to do, when in power, but also, what NOT to do as a king or queen. She learned a lot from Cersei, Margaery, Ollena, the Tyrells, The Lannisters, Littlefinger and will use this education for good use as a queen.

All Sansa’s dreams will come true and she will be a living proof that “life is a song”. She will marry her brave and gentle hero; she will have children and rebuild her family and she will be a very beloved queen, admired for her beauty and kindness.

ARYA WILL BE THE QUEEN IN THE NORTH;

Arys Stark will rule the North as a Regent Queen. Arya storyline in season 8 will be a copy of Papa Ned in the first Rebellion against the Mad King. She will call the banners and lead the North armies into battle in the final war of this story. George RRMartin himself said that she would conquer the world in the final part of this tale.

ARYA WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE FINAL SEASON !!!!!

Arya is season 8 will be a huge warrior, with the help of Nymeria and their pack of wolves, she is going to lead their armies into battle, defeating Daenerys armies in combat (yes, the Dothraki bitches!!!!!!) They will probably meet in the Riverlands, where Rheagar and Robert had their first and final confrontation. She will be the one who will kill the mountain, avenging the people that he cruelly killed in the Riverlands and the Hound. Just like papa Ned became famous for killing Ser Arthur Dane, Arya will be legendary for killing the Mountain. They will write songs about her for years and years to come……

BRAN STARK WILL BE THE MAGICAL FORCE TO STOP THE ARMY OF THE DEAD…

I know the audience expects Daenerys and her dragons to be the magical force used to stop the Army of the Dead, but, don’t be shocked if she decides to abandon the cause in the middle of the fight and leave the North before the big battle against the Night King. There is a lot of Stannis in Daenerys character arc on season 7 and in the end, Stannis left Jon and the Nights Watch on their own to fight the Night King on Hardhome, and went to march to Winterfell to fight the Boltons. Stannis could never let it go completely of the Iron Throne and I expect Dany to do the same.

Its Bran Stark, who has been preparing himself to face this threat since the beginning of this story. Its Bran Stark who has been foreshadowed by the books and tv show to be the one who will matter the most in the end. Not the dragons. I suspect we will see the ghosts of the Kings of Winter, coming out from the crypts of Winterfell, to fight the final battle against the Army of the Dead.

Bran: What else have you seen it? Jojen: The ONLY think that matters. YOU.

(Season 3 Episode 2)

Also, in the first Long Night, there was no Targaryens; The North was left to fight on its own with the help of the Children of the Forest and George likes to repeat his stories very closely to the original. Defeating the Army of the Dead wont be Bran only job in season 8, he has also been written as a foil to Daenerys, so I believe he will be involved on her final defeat.

DAENERYS WILL BE THE FINAL ANTAGONIST IN SEASON 8 AND WE WILL HAVE A SECOND DANCE OF DRAGONS BETWEEN JON AND DANY……

Jon Snow: “They will see it you for “what you are”.

(SEASON 7 EPISODE 6)

In the beginning of this story we saw Sansa Stark falling madly in love with a beautiful prince, only to have her heart broken in a million of pieces in the end of season 1, when Joffrey shocked her by cutting her father’s head, finally showing how cruel and monstrous he really was. In the beginning of the series, we also had the audience falling madly in love with the beautiful Daenerys Targaryen, believing she was the hero of this story and just like Sansa, the audience will be shocked by Daenerys actions in season 8 and they will have their hearts completely broken in a million of pieces. Daenerys will finally show to the audience the monster that she really is. I expect to see a lot of shades of Joffrey on Daenerys in season 8. Remember, Joffrey believed his whole life he was the true heir of the Iron Throne, until a Stark man showed up in his life, telling him that this was a lie. This is exactely what is going to happen to Daenerys in season 8.

Remember when Sansa Stark fell madly in love with a monster and trusted a beautiful queen blindly when she was warned against it? You are all Sansas, you just don’t know yet.

Daenerys could never be the villain of her own story. That’s why it was always necessary for her to create a lie that painted her as the hero. She invaded Astapor to save the Unsulied from the evil wise masters; she conquered Meereen to pay back the slavers for crucifying the children slaves; she destroyed the sacred temple of Vaes Dothrak and killed all the Khalls, but she did for the Dothraki widows who didnt wish to stay in the Dosh khaleen. Now in Westeros she had no more excuses, there is no slavery or evil masters torturing young boys in the 7 Kingdoms, so she was forced to create a new excuse to defend her invasion of Westeros.

So, she told the audience that she wants to break the wheel of power that crushes the poor and the weak on Westeros. It makes no sense of course. She wants to break the wheel, by building a new wheel, this time, with only her family on top, crushing those under her. This is a phony ridiculous excuse and its supposed to be ridiculous. It’s a silly lie, all Daenerys wants in the Iron Throne, but she cant admit it afraid it will make her look bad, so she created this silly little lie and the audience (just like Sansa fell into Cersei silly lies in season 1) fell right into. What Dany really wants is install an absolute monarchy, with only HER in power.

Daenerys is a false prophet, who invented a sacred mission to convince her people and those who follow her of her good intentions, yet all her actions are motivated from the desire to take The Iron Throne, that’s the one thing who truly matters for Daenerys and now in season 8, when her claim to the Throne will be contested by the bombastic news of Jon Snow stronger claim to the Throne. That’s whe she will finally show to the audience who she really is.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BLINDLY FOLLOW, GOD AND HEROS;

By writing Daenerys Targaryen, George RRMartin wanted to show us how dictators and cult leaders are created. They started magical and inspiring, making beautiful speeches and promising great things, but in end, most of them are motivated by selfish desires and allow power to corrupt them. Daenerys story is also a warning about following leaders without questioning their motivations or decisions. Daenerys is adored as a goddess by her followers and never has her decision questioned by them. Unlike Jon Snow who is always questioned by Sansa, The North Lords and the Wildlings about his decisions. The Dothraki and the Unsullied just blindly follow Daenerys around, like children following their mothers, never questioning her real motives, or even contemplating if the move to Westeros has actually any benefits for them. And as we are about to see in season 8, following leaders blindly can be a very dangerous thing because it can lead us to our graves. The audience, the Dothraki and the Unsullied never thought that their hero could just simply be lying to them……No matter how much destruction and death she causes, her followers and advisers keep believing in her, defending her decisions, turning a blind eye to her questionable actions, finding excuses to her terrible acts. They know that she can be impulsive and dangerous but believe that in the end she is motivated by great ideals and will always listen to her advisers……..

Daenerys first instinct is always destruction and violence, but most of the time, she is restrained by her advisers………. But the rope that holds her together is about to be ripped apart in season 8.

Daario Naharis: “I pity the Lords of Westeros, they have no idea what is coming for them”

(SEASON 6 EPISODE 10)

Daenerys was always meant to be the final antagonist of the story, her time in Essos was not about learning to be a good queen, she was learning to be a ruthless conqueror, which she learned very well. Don’t be surprised if she marries Euron Greyjoy, they marriage has been foreshadowed on books and tv show. Daenerys its gonna shock the audience, she is going to behave in a way that will surprise a lot of people.

Jon and Daenerys relationship will mirror Rhaenyra and Aegon tragic battle for the Throne; This will be the final battle on episode 5, the fight for the Throne has always been the main focus of the story and this battle its what is going to put an end to this tale. Westeros will finally be united against the common enemy, which is Daenerys and her dragons.

The Army of the Dead and the Night King were always a red herring, its was always Daenerys and her dragons the major threat for Westeros. I believe that more than half of the population of Westeros will perish during the final wars; many who survive the war will latter die during the winter without the food that was destroyed by Daenerys dragons in the Field of Fire 2.0; in her short period in Westeros, Daenerys will cause a lot of deaths and destruction and she will be remembered as the Queen of Ashes.

The stallion that mounts the world was never Rhaego. It was always going to be Daenerys. Essos will also be throw into chaos, without Daenerys dragons to impose order, the masters of Astapor, Meereen and the local cities will raise again and the region will probably be engulfed into a civil war. It will probably take centuries for the world to recover from Daenerys reign of terror.

WINTER WILL COME TO HOUSE TARGARYEN;

Daenerys final battle on episode 5, will turn Kings Landing into ashes, but she wont be destroying just the capital of the realm, she will also put an end to House Targaryen. Their dynasty started with the destruction of Harrenhall and will end with the destruction of the capital that The Targaryens themselves build, closing a cycle of tyranny, fear and terror. Daenerys will be the last dragon.

DRAGONSTONE WILL FAIL;

I believe that Dragonstone will be destroyed in the end. The Castle in the remote island serves no purpose for Westeros. It can not be used for grains production or animal livestock, the only use for Dragonstone in the past centuries was to be used as base for a foreign invasion, the castle will probably be destroyed in the end. Also important, Daenerys spent this entire story threatening to destroy other’s peoples houses and cities. To have her own ancestral House destroyed in the end would be very fitting to the story.

“so comes snow, after fire and even dragons have their ending” 

J. R.R TOKIEN

WE WILL HAVE A SECOND REBELLION AND A SECOND DANCE OF THE DRAGONS…

Don't fight in the North. Or the South. Fight every battle, everywhere, always, in your mind. Everyone is your enemy, everyone is your friend... every possible series of events is happening all at once. Live that way and nothing will surprise you, ……..everything that happens will be something that you have seen before.

(Litllefinger SEASON 7 EPISODE 2)

Everything that happened in the past will happen again in season 8. Robert’s Rebelion will happen again. Sansa will be kidnapped at some point, just like aunt Lyanna Stark; Arya will lead the North armies south to save her sister (just like Ned Stark did in Robert’s Rebellion). The Riverlands, the North and the Vale will once again gather forces and go to war.

Stannis: “What are you reading?”

Shireen: "The Dance of Dragons."

Stannis: “What's it about? It's the story of the fight between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon for control over the Seven Kingdoms. Both of them thought they belonged on the Iron Throne. When people started declaring for one of them or the other, their fight divided the kingdoms in two. Brothers fought brothers, dragons fought dragons. By the time it was over, thousands were dead. And it was a disaster for the Targaryens as well. They never truly recovered.

(GAME OF THRONES SEASON 5 EPISODE 9)

We will have a second Dance of Dragons, with the kingdom divided between Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen. The Lannisters will be divided too by this war. Tyrion (the flop) will choose Daenerys side and Jaime will choose Jon Snow and the Starks. This will be the decision that will change Jaime Lannister legacy forever.

Millions will die, but in the end Jon Snow and his armies will defeat Daenerys and her dragons. This war will not only destroy the realm but finally bring an end to the Targaryen dynasty. This battle will probably happens on episode 5.

SANSA’S PLANS TO CAST DOWN CERSEI…

Sansa will be kidnapped in season 8, probably by Cersei, but don’t be surprised if this kidnapping has a twist. In season 1, in the scene where Cersei and the small council is forcing Sansa to write down a letter to Rob Stark demanding him to bend the knee to King Joffrey., we have Maester Pycelle warning Cersei that Sansa may be so sweet and innocent now, but once she is older, she may hatch some treasons!!!!

“she (Sansa) may be a sweet thing now Your Grace, but in 10 YEARS, who knows what treasons she may hatch!!!!”

(SEASON 1 EPISODE 8)

Now, we know that Sansa did learn a lot from Cersei and maybe now she is finally ready to outsmart her former teacher… This was the first foreshadowing of Sansa’s plans to cast down Cersei.

And in season 6, we have another foreshadowing of how Sansa will plot against Cersei in the end, When Arya is in Braavos, she watches a Bravossi Theather play telling the events that happened in Westeros. In that storyline, the actress that plays Sansa hires a faceless man to kill the actress who plays Cersei, Lady Crane. I believe this was another foreshadowing of the events that will happen in season 8. Its Sansa who is taking Cersei down. The little dove will prove to the queen that she learned all her lessons. But I believe Jon Snow will be the one killing Cersei.

EPISODE 5 WILL BE THE DANCE OF DRAGONS;

He was no dragon, Dany thought, curiously calm. Fire cannot kill a dragon.

(A Game of Thrones - Daenerys V)

Well I believe thats exactly whats its gonna happen. In order to defeat Daenerys you have to kill her last dragon, Drogon, which we know will be flying over Kings Landing in the end of this story. Thats how the wildfire comes in. I actually think Jon and the Lannisters may set a trap for Dany and use the wildfire to kill the dragon and Daenery’s remain armies. Maybe Bran was behind King Aerys decision to cover KL with wildfire, already preparing to use against Daenerys in the finall battle for the Throne. if we rewatch season 5 episode 7 we had a little hint about this idea.

DAARIO: On the day of the Great Games, gather all the great masters, and wise masters, and worthy masters you can find, and slaughter them all.

DAENERYS: I am a queen. Not a butcher.

DAARIO: All rulers are either butchers or meat.

Remember that Bran’s first chapter he is forced to watch his father doing the Kings’s justice and Ned explains to him that “the man who passes the sentence, must swing the sword”. This is one of the most important themes in the story.

Also, in season 4 episode 2, we have Bran having a vision of the events that will happen for the first time. This is THE vision where he sees the dragon flying over KL. After the vision he tells Jojen and Meera: “I know where we have to go”. The show then cuts to a scene in Kings Landing.

So, I do believe Bran will be involved with the explosion of Kings Landing and using the wildfire as a last weapon to defeat Daenerys and her last dragon. Thats the only way Westeros will ever be free of the Targaryens.

BTW, gathering all your enemies in a closed space and destroying them with fire has been used by both mad queens, Cersei and Daenerys, so maybe now we will see the Starks using this idea to finally get rid of Daenerys, her armies and her dragon.

THE FUTURE OF HOUSE LANNISTER

No, House Lannister will not fall into nothing like the Targaryens. The House will be saved by Jaime Lannister, who will marry Brienne of Tarth and restore his family and legacy.

JAIME LANNISTER ITS GOING TO BE THE FINAL HAND AND ITS GOING TO END THIS STORY AS A GREAT HERO;

Jaime Lannister will choose Jon Snow, this will be the turning point for Jaime and the choice that will change his legacy. There is some very good foreshadowing in the books that hint to us that Jaime will side with Jon Snow in the final battle and help him to defeat Daenerys and her dragons.

I believe it will be Jaime who will kill Daenerys last dragon, Drogon, and becoming famous as a DRAGONSLAYER; Jaime Lannister will have a big role in the final part of this story, not only helping defeat the ARMY OF THE DEAD, but also defeating Daenerys Targaryen and saving the Kingdom once again from a tyrannical Targaryen; only this time he will finally receive the thank you, from the people of Westeros;

Jaime will be greeted as a hero and will end this story beloved and admired by the people. I believe at some point in season 8 Jaime will die and will be brought back to life, his character was written as a mirror to Jon Snow and Jon died on season 5, so this storyline may be possible.

Jaime will be the Hand of the King for Jon Snow (there is a lot of foreshadowing for this, in both books and tv show) and he will be able to finish his history in the white book as a hero. He will go down in history as one of the greatest Hands in the history of the 7 kingdoms. Jaime will be the last Lannister left on Westeros.

TYRION WILL BE SENT INTO EXILE;

Tyrion will have to face a trial for a third time and this time he will be guilty of his crimes. Yeah, that is not a prediction, it’s a spoiler, but I already expected that. George loves his 3. Tyrion its one of the characters that will have a very tragic ending. He was the fool who brought Daenerys to Westeros believing he could control her, the same mistake his sister Cersei tried to do with Joffrey. He invited Jon Snow under false premises to Dragonstone without mentioning to Jon about Daenerys demands to bend the knee.

He made a deal with Cersei that was never disclosed to the audience and I believe he may be behind Sansa’s kidnapping story in season 8. He keeps making one mistake after the other, always believing to be smarter than the people around him, always under estimating the players of the game.

But I don’t believe he will die. In the House videos released for season 8, they had the Lannisters brothers, Jaime and Tyrion, saying goodbye to each other and I believe we will see them say good bye one last time. I think Tyrion will be sent into exile to Essos, and banned from returning to Westeros.

CERSEI WILL DIE;

There has been a lot of foreshadowing about Cersei death and its one of the events many believe it happen for sure. The show made sure to write us a scene when her ending is predicted.

“I will hurt you for this. A day will come when you think you’re safe and happy and your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth. And you will know the debt is paid.”

(Tyrion - SEASON 2 EPISODE 8)

This episode was written by George RRMartin himself, so, I always assumed this was Cersei Lannister ending… Then in season 7, we had Jon Snow threatening to kill Littlefinger is he ever touched Sansa. In that scene we have Jon Snow choking Baelish with his cold hands and I believe this scene could be a foreshadow of Jon finally killing Cersei, for trying to hurt Sansa in season 8. The prophecy says that Cersei will be killed by the “little brother” and Jon Snow fits that role as the younger son of Rheagar Targaryen.

_______________________________________________________________

THEON WILL BE KING OF THE IRON ISLANDS;

He lifted his head to look at her. "Catelyn," he said. His voice was distant and formal. "Where are the children?"

A Game of Thrones - Catelyn I

I believe the children of Wintefell were always meant to be the heroes of this story. That’s why George made sure to have a Greyjoy, a Targaryen be raised close to the Stark children. Those children now are gonna be the rulers of Westeros and they will be the ones passing Ned Stark legacy forward, building a new and better world.

Thast why I believe Theon will kill Euron Greyjoy and be the king of the Iron Islands; Theon probably has a bastard child with the captain’s daughter he met in season 2 on his journey to Pike, he will recognize the child and raise them as his heir;

A TIME FOR WOLVES;

It will be a Time for Wolves; a new period for Westeros. Jon will rule surrounded by Starks, carrying the Stark name with Sansa and Bran by his side; The capital will probably be transferred to HighGarden, not only the castle it is still intact but its also located in the most fertile area of Westeros. It seems like a very interesting political decision. Again, I found a lot of foreshadowing for this in the books.

Jon Snow will rule over a graveyard, as he predicted in season 7. But the ending will be very sweet, with kids playing around in gardens and celebrating. We will see Jon, the Stark kids, Jaime and Brienne, Sam and Guilly, Theon….. ect all enjoying spring and celebrating their happy ending.

THE VERY LAST SCENE OF THE STORY…..

Daniel Abraham is the man responsible for converting the Game of Thrones book into a comic, mentioned that there is a particular line of dialog in the game of thrones book, which is very important for the last scene of "A Dream of Spring".

Have you collaborated at all with George R.R. Martin in the process of adapting the novel to comics? If so, what’s the creative process there?

Daniel: "I’ve spoken to George a lot in the process. The biggest issues we have are continuity questions. There are things about this story that only he knows, and they aren’t all obvious. There was one scene I had to rework because there’s a particular line of dialog – and you wouldn’t know it to look at – that’s important in the last scene of “A Dream of Spring.”- Daniel Abraham

On episode 1, when King Robert goes to visit Winterfell, he and Ned go down in the crypts to pay their respects to Lyanna Stark, the wolf girl he lost to Rheagar Targeryen. In that scene, the dialogue is different from what we have in the books.

ROBERT: Did you have to bury her in a place like this? She should be on a hill somewhere with the sun and the clouds above her.

NED: She was my sister. This is where she belongs.

In the books, this conversation is different:

"Ah, damn it, Ned, did you have to bury her in a place like this?" His voice was hoarse with remembered grief. "She deserved more than darkness …"

"She was a Stark of Winterfell," Ned said quietly. "This is her place."

A Game of Thrones - Eddard I

I think this is the scene. I believe we will end this story with King Jon visiting his late wife Sansa Stark in the crypts of Winterfell and someone will ask him why did he buried her there, why not building a monument for her, so that she could be on display and that’s how he will reply:

She was a Stark of Winterfell, this is where she belongs….

What made me believe this, were two momments of the story: First of all, Lady’s death. After Sansa direwolf is killed on her way to the south, Ned Stark makes sure to send a group of men back to the North and Winterfell, so that she can be buried in Northerner soil. Lady represented a little bit of Sansa, who died on that day and I dont think it was a silly detail George rrmartin make sure that her direwolf body was buried on Winterfell, I think that this scene, was much more important than most people think about it.

When it was over, he said, “Choose four men and have them take the body north. Bury her at Winterfell.”

“All that way?” Jory said, astonished.“All that way,” Ned affirmed. “The Lannister woman shall never have this skin.”

A Game of Thrones - Eddard III

Another momment in the story was Ygritte death. In both books and show, Jon Snow takes her body and goes to bury her up North, where she belonged.

Tormund: Did you love her? She loved you.

Jon: She told you?

Tormund: No. All she ever talked about was killing you. That’s how I know. She belongs in the North. The real North. You understand me?

Look at the excuse Tormund gives Jon to why Ygritte needs to be buried North of the Wall, its the same Ned Stark used to explain to King Robert why Lyanna had to be buried in the Crypts of Winterfell. Because thats where she belongs…….

I also believe this ending could bring the story to a full circle, because there is also the theme of the audience never really thinking as Sansa as a TRUE STARK. There is still the notion that Sansa is not really a Stark like Jon or Arya.

Sansa Starkiness was always a topic of contention among fans of the books and series. Many like to refer to Sansa as Lady Lannister or Lady Bolton, so to have Sansa finally resting in the Winterfell crypts, by the end of this story, as a Stark, would be a very satisfying ending. Her hair maybe red and some of her manners may be more southern like, but Sansa IS A STARK.

And in fact, she is the Stark who took back the North and Winterfell, she is the Stark who made possible for the family to reunite and be safe; she is the Stark who stood by Jon side when he was made King in the North and supported his claim; she was the Stark who prepared the North for the wars and the winter and she will be the Stark who will rule the 7 Kingdoms together with her husband.

Both Jon and Sansa are foreshadowed to live very long lives and I expect their ruling period to last decades. They will be the ones restoring and rebuilding the kingdom after the wars of Ice and Fire. But I do believe Jon will live longer based on a quote from the books.

Tyrion shared around his skin of wine until even Yoren grew mellow. One by one the company drifted off to their shelters and to sleep, all but Jon Snow, who had drawn the night’s first watch. Tyrion was the last to retire, as always. As he stepped into the shelter his men had built for him, he paused and looked back at Jon Snow. The boy stood near the fire, his face still and hard, looking deep into the flames. Tyrion Lannister smiled sadly and went to bed. - AGOT Tyrion II

And because of this line, I believe Jon Snow ill be the last one to die, he will live a very long life and will be forced to see all the ones he loved pass away, one by one.

THE END OF GAME OF THRONES…

[dknc3]

If Ned had returned with Jon from the war as his “bastard” but fostered him out, with Howland or Benjen or somewhere else as was the custom for bastards, do you think their marriage would have become warmer much more quickly? Or would Jon’s existence, being so close in age to Robb and looking like a Stark, still have cast a shadow over their marriage, if not as big a one as in canon?

If Ned had fostered Jon out immediately, Catelyn would have felt very differently about his existence. I know Ned was super paranoid about anyone discovering Jon’s true identity and incredibly guilty about Lyanna’s death and the deaths of his father and brother (You didn’t cause any of this, Ned!!!) which made him hold on to his promise to Lyanna and physically hold on to Jon very tightly, but I’ve often thought he’d have done better to send Jon to Howland Reed who knew the truth of his parentage anyway and lived in a remote place that NOBODY wanted to visit because people considered it a swamp and its inhabitants lowly “frogeaters.” No one was likely to go investigating Ned Stark’s bastard there. In fact, his very unusual behavior of keeping him at Winterfell garnered MORE attention for Jon. So, logically speaking, fostering Jon with Reed would have made all sorts of sense. So would telling Catelyn and EVERYONE that his mother was dead and the boy had no one else. I realize Ned is a terrible liar, but that was just the gods’ honest truth!! Of course, that wouldn’t have set the story up the same way so I suppose Ned couldn’t have chosen that course. Ah well.

But, IF he had . . . if Jon Snow was (to everyone’s knowledge anyway) simply a babe Ned Stark had gotten on some nameless woman who subsequently died in childbirth during a terrible war leaving him with no one to care for him, OF COURSE, the honorable Lord of Winterfell would see him cared for--bringing him north and giving him into the care of a minor bannerman in a remote location--out of sight and out of mind to most people. Possibly he’d send gifts on the boy’s name day or even make a visit once or twice a year, and certainly Howland would keep him updated on the boy’s health and general progress. 

No one would have blinked at any of this. Catelyn may not have been thrilled about the boy’s existence, but she was raised in society that more or less expected bastards, especially during war because how on earth could a male possibly survive for MONTHS without having his sexual needs met (BIG EYEROLL here, but this was the general school of thought), and birth control was pretty iffy. So she wouldn’t have held the infidelity against him, and might even respect him more for not abandoning the child entirely to its fate. She wouldn’t have seen Jon every day eating at her table, being tutored with her son, trained in arms with her son, and being recognized by all present as her husband’s son. Unless Ned actually had Jon visit Winterfell, even his physical resemblance to Ned wouldn’t be an issue because Catelyn wouldn’t have to see it, and very few people outside the Neck would know what Jon looked like as he grew up. Of course, any bastard can potentially be a threat to trueborn children (see Ramsay Snow), but a bastard raised “above his station” in his father’s castle among his trueborn siblings presents a much clearer danger, so the political threat Jon could potentially represent would loom much less large in Catelyn’s mind than in canon. The shame of having her husband force her to accept a bastard in her home would be completely removed. As she and Ned came to truly love each other, the insecurity of fearing that he would always love another woman more than her (”because he loved her son dearly”) would be removed. So yes. I think these two people forced into marriage as strangers but who were lucky enough to be extremely compatible with each other and to both WANT a good relationship would likely have found their way to it more quickly.

As for Ned, he’d still suffer from guilt over his secrets, his lie, and now over sending Lyanna’s son away from Winterfell rather than shaming and hurting his wife by keeping him in Winterfell. And Jon--well, he would know his “father” only peripherally rather than as a loving parent which is a loss, but would grow up without Catelyn’s scorn which is a gain. Would he resent Ned for not keeping him close or be happy and well-treated enough in Greywater Watch that he was simply grateful that his father acknowledged him and saw him cared for? As with any change in circumstances, this one could potentially produce new issues for issues it lessened or erased. 

Interesting to ponder. :-)

[gameofthronestldr]

Lyanna Stark

"His name is Aegon Targaryen. If Robert finds out, he'll kill him. You know he will. You have to protect him. Promise me, Ned. Promise me." - Lyanna Stark

Born: 266 AC at Winterfell

Death: 283 AC at the Tower of Joy

Hair: Brown

Eye Color: Grey

Features: Beautiful, Slim frame, Long face

Culture: Northhmen

Father: Rickard Stark

Mother: Lyarra Stark

Titles:

Princess Consort

Queen of Love and Beauty (tournament title; to Rhaegar Targaryen)

Siblings:

Brandon Stark

Eddard Stark

Benjen Stark

Spouse: Rhaegar Targaryen

Children: Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen)

Aliases:

The She-wolf

The Wolf Maid

Lya

Wolf girl

Allegiance:

House Stark

House Targaryen (by marriage)

Religion: Old Gods of the Forest

History

Lyanna Stark was the only daughter of Lord Rickard Stark, head of House Stark and Lord Paramount of the North. The North is one of the constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms and House Stark is one of the Great Houses of the realm. House Stark rule the region from their seat of Winterfell and Rickard also held the title Lord of Winterfell.

Lyanna had three brothers, Brandon, Eddard, and Benjen Stark. Her father arranged a betrothal between her and Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.

Some time after the betrothal, Lord Walter Whent organized a great tourney at Harrenhal, in which Lyanna saved Howland Reed from a group of squires who were tormenting him. Later, she took him to their tent, where she introduced him to her three brothers. Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne, was the victor. Afterward, the Prince rode past his wife, Princess Elia Martell, and placed a crown of winter roses, the crown of the Queen of Love and Beauty, on Lyanna's lap. This action was considered an outrage by many because not only was Rhaegar married but Lyanna was already betrothed to another man.

At some point after these events, Lyanna was supposedly abducted by Rhaegar, who took her south and hid her away in Dorne. In reality, Lyanna had willingly eloped with Rhaegar and married him in a secret ceremony. Brandon, who had been on his way to Riverrun to wed Catelyn Tully, went to King's Landing instead to demand Rhaegar's arrest and punishment. Unaware of Rhaegar's new marriage, King Aerys II Targaryen had Brandon and all his companions charged with treason. He demanded all their fathers, including Lord Rickard Stark, come to King's Landing and promised they would receive a fair trial. Instead, the King had them all burned alive, except for Brandon, who strangled himself trying to save his father.

This incident sparked the uprising known as Robert's Rebellion. Jon Arryn was commanded to arrest and turn over his wards Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark, but he refused. The three of them rose in rebellion along with Hoster Tully of Riverrun after Eddard and Jon Arryn married his daughters, Catelyn and Lysa, respectively. The war saw House Targaryen almost completely destroyed and Robert installed as king after he personally slew Rhaegar at the Battle of the Trident. During the war, Lyanna died of then-unknown causes in Eddard's arms after her rescue. As per her request, she was buried next to her brother Brandon in the crypts at Winterfell. Robert continued to mourn her despite becoming king and marrying Cersei Lannister. Though Eddard was furious with Robert for refusing to hold Tywin Lannister and his army accountable for the Sack of King's Landing and for condoning the murders of Rheagar's children with Elia Martell, their friendship was rekindled over their mutual grief over Lyanna's death.

Lyanna's death, in reality, was from complications after giving birth to her son with Rhaegar. Her death was witnessed by Ned, two handmaidens and possibly Howland Reed. Before her death, Lyanna reveals her son's name is Aegon and begs Ned that he'll promise to keep her son safe from Robert, who would have had the child killed if he found out Rhaegar was his father. Remembering how the Lannisters had already brutally murdered Rhaegar's two children with Elia Martell, Ned protects his sister's son. He brings Lyanna's child with him to Winterfell and claims his nephew as his bastard son to keep him safe, renaming him Jon Snow. Ned raises Jon as his own alongside his trueborn children and Jon grows up with the maternal side of the family, unaware of his origins. Few knew the truth of Jon's parentage, with Ned, Howland and the two handmaidens being the only individuals bearing the knowledge.

Personality

At first glance, Lyanna is shown to be fiercely independent, tomboyish, and willful, much like her niece Arya. As a young girl, Lyanna was extremely spirited and self-confident, as evidenced by how great a rider she was. In addition, she was uncommonly kind to those of lower birth than her, shown prominently by her friendly treatment of Wylis, a mere stableboy in contrast to her being a great lady from a powerful family. Lyanna also showed herself to be quite practical, stating that with Ned leaving to the Eyrie someone would have to train their little brother Benjen.

She is later revealed to have also been rather rash when her nephew Bran discovers that she flouted her betrothal to Robert Baratheon without making a clean break with him, and secretly wed Rhaegar Targaryen instead. It can be argued that she did not love Robert as she did the dragon prince, but it is rather surprising that someone like Lyanna wasn't swayed by the fact that their marriage could bring about the deaths of her whole family, or that it would haunt her house for years to come. Although Rhaegar annulled his marriage to Elia Martell before marrying Lyanna, their discretion inadvertently led to the deaths of Lyanna's father and eldest brother, which in turn sparked a war that caused the deaths of tens of thousands, including that of her beloved Prince Rhaegar.

Despite all of this, Lyanna was fiercely protective of her son in the brief time that she had with him, and begged her brother Eddard to protect him, knowing that Robert would surely kill him if ever found out the truth. She deeply loved and, more importantly, trusted her brother - she showed true gratitude that it was him who found her; furthermore, Lyanna freely admitted to him that, despite wanting to be brave so desperately, she was afraid to die. That being said, in her final moments, Lyanna pleaded with Ned to protect her beloved son, as opposed to lamenting about the fact that she was going to die. She held more value on the life of her child Aegon, the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.

Relationships

Rhaegar Targaryen was born as the eldest son and heir to the Mad King Aerys Targaryen and his sister-wife Rhaella Targaryen. Lyanna Stark was born as the only daughter of Lord Rickard Stark.

To cement the relationship between the Iron Throne and Dorne, Rhaegar was wed to Elia Martell, sister of Doran and Oberyn Martell. With Elia, Rhaegar had two childern, a daughter, Rhaenys and a son, Aegon. However, Rhaegar never found true happiness with Elia.

Lyanna lived at Winterfell, and she was eventually engaged to Robert Baratheon. It is likely that Lyanna was not happy having Robert as her betrothed, because it was arranged.

Rhaegar's and Lyanna's relationship began at the Tourney of Harrenhall, about one year before Robert's Rebellion. Rhaegar was one of the combatants in the tournament, and eventually he made it to the final round, where he faced off against his friend and personal bodyguard, Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard. Rhaegar won the round and was awarded with the crown of Winter roses. He was then supposed to give it to the most beautiful maiden in the crowd. What Rhaegar did with it shocked everyone. He silenced the entire audience by giving the crown to Lyanna Stark, rather than his own wife Elia. And the fact that Lyanna was engaged to Robert Baratheon, the act was most disrespectful to him. It's not fully known whether Rhaegar and Lyanna had been planning to elope together before or after the tournament.

About a year later, Lyanna ran off with Rhaegar to Dorne. Before this, Rhaegar had secretly annulled his marriage Elia, without her knowing. After the annulment, Rhaegar and Lyanna wed in secret in a Faith of the Seven ceremony before a Heart Tree, in the presence of the Seven and the Old Gods. After the wedding they settled in the Tower of Joy, where they lived happily. At this point both Rhaegar and Lyanna had abandoned their arranged marriages and defied everyone who wanted to use their names to secure their own houses.

However, Rhaegar's and Lyanna's actions had very severe consequences to their respective houses, as well as the entire realm. Lyanna's eldest brother Brandon Stark, accused Rhaegar of kidnapping her and he traveled to King's Landing to demand Rhaegar's father, Aerys, to surrender Rhaegar for judgement and return Lyanna. Instead of handing over his son, Aerys had Brandon imprisoned for treason. Alerted by this, Lyanna's father Rickard Stark went to King's Landing himself to demand his son's release, as well as Lyanna's. This time, however, Aerys burned Rickard with wildfire and executed Brandon as well. Aerys then demanded that Lyanna's second brother Eddard and Robert to be handed to him as well. This act crossed the line and Jon Arryn raised the banners against Aerys, with Eddard and Robert joining him, beginning Robert's Rebellion.

At the beginning of Robert's Rebellion, Rhaegar and Lyanna first remained at the Tower of Joy. But as the tide was turning against the Targaryens, Rhaegar eventually marched to war with his loyal followers, leaving Lyanna to the Tower under the guard of Gerold Hightower and Ser Arthur Dayne.

Rhaegar fought in the Battle of the Trident where he was killed personally by Robert Baratheon, as the latter wanted revenge for Rhaegar for kidnapping and raping Lyanna, which never really happened. With the loss of Rhaegar, the end result was nearly certain. Afterwards, House Lannister proceeded to sack King's Landing, resulting in the deaths of Rhaegar's first wife Elia and their two children, Rhaella and Aegon as well as Aerys, who was stabbed in the back by Jaime Lannister. After the war was over, Eddard Stark continued his searching for Lyanna, eventually finding her in the Tower of Joy. He killed Rhaegar's remaining loyalists and rushed to the tower, where he found Lyanna dying of childbirth, having just given birth to Rhaegar's son. In her last moments, Lyanna whispered the name of her newborn son to Eddard: Aegon Targaryen. She also wanted Eddard to promise her that he will protect him, as Robert would surely kill him, if it came to be known that he is Rhaegar's son. Eddard promised to protect him and passed of the baby as his own bastard son, Jon Snow, keeping his true identity secret from everyone, even Jon himself.

[cnlycat]

( @watcherandshield cont’d from here  )

he tried to be strong, tried to hold back the tears, but the pain was too sharp, and they began to flow freely. she finds him at the foot of the GODSWOOD TREE, small legs huddled to his chin in effort to hide. ofttimes he and robb would train at swords, and the slip of the dull blade or a clumsy strike would land one or the other in a fit of yelling or silent tears. but jon would retreat somewhere by himself, away from the castle household. robb was the futurelord of winterfell, heir to all their lord father POSSESSED, and catelyn loved him dearly. who was a nameless baseborn in light of that? at the sound of catelyn’s voice, eyes widen, and for a moment jon isn’t sure what to think. oddly, her voice is not rough or disgusted, but edged with CONCERN. “i didn’t mean to cry,” he says in an effort to defend himself, lip trembling.

As she held him in her arms, she wondered at what possessed her to rush to his side like this, as if he were one of her own, instead of NED’S BASTARD. With some guilt, she gingerly let him go and folded her hands in her dress. It felt like a betrayal to Robb, this motherly concern that she should reserve only for her trueborn children. She’d often seen the bastard boy as a threat. More a threat to her children then to her marriage with Ned. Many a Lord had dalliances, but to bring him back here, to raise him at Winterfell when he had the STARK look... Though she loved to look upon Robb’s sweet auburn curls and bright blue eyes, how she wished that Robb had resembled his father more... and this child. How she had hated his very PRESENCE in her household, the sullen baseborn boy that could one day act dishonorably against her own. Yet when he apologized and looked up at her, so small and vulnerable, and hurt, her heart went out to him. He was trying to be brave, trying so desperately to keep the huge drops of tears from trailing down his face... he was just a little boy after all. Still, it was better to do her DUTY and keep her distance. 

“You must be more CAREFUL,” she said sharply. “Now show me where you are hurt, and we will get you cleaned up,” she instructed. The momentary motherly concern was gone now, but her voice was free of the scorn she usually dealt him. 

[moonlitgleek]

What do you think of the crack pairing of Jon Snow and Mya Stone? A marriage between bastards is fine, Robert might like it since it's his bastard to Ned's, it sends Jon away which Cat may like and gets Jon no allies to help steal her children's birthrights or use to claim his own should anyone find out so even less of a threat, Vale is pretty safe as Ned's allies, and if Robert finds out about Jon, he might think twice about killing his grandkids and Mya and Jon or condoning it

There’s some possibility for it in an AU where Jon goes to the Vale instead of the Night’s Watch and potentially falls for Mya, or something to that effect. That, however, would be a case of personal attraction more than an arranged marriage since any political discussion of such a match (or the character motivation of Robert and Ned, and to a lesser extent Catelyn) would only highlight its improbability.

For one, Robert Baratheon had little to no interest in his bastard daughter, with the exception of his one-time desire to bring Mya to court which was less about Mya herself and more about him being disturbed by Joffrey’s behavior in disemboweling a cat and wanting the sweet child he used to play with in court to make himself feel better. Mya’s knowledge of her father is limited to some vague memories of him playing with her as a child, and her place in the Royce household strikes me as Jon Arryn’s doing more than anything that Robert arranged himself so I don’t really see him being all that interested in her marriage. Adding to the casual carelessness he demonstrated with his bastards and his tendency to foist his responsibilities on other people is the fact that a marriage between Mya and Jon simply does not serve Robert’s purpose in recreating what he and Lyanna would have had: a Baratheon marrying a Stark, and Baratheon kids with Stark blood. Since Mya isn’t a Baratheon and Jon isn’t a Stark, this marriage means little in terms of strategic or even familial alliance, and it does not bring him closer to Ned in the way other matches could. Robert has no reason to put his mind to it when he has three “legitimate” children to pair with Ned’s kids instead which meets his desires much better, from making the Baratheons and Starks one family to reasserting the Baratheon-Stark political alliance to fulfilling the old marriage pact between the two families. And while Robert is not the most politically aware person there is, he’d at least recognize how it would be a point of puzzlement to the rest of Westeros, not to mention Cersei and Catelyn, if it appeared that the king was revitalizing the old marriage pact between the Baratheons and the Starks through two bastards.

As far as Ned goes, I don’t see how he’d see this match as a beneficial one at all. It’s a stretch to think that maybe this marriage kinship could offer some modicum of protection for Jon; after all, if Robert’s kinship to the Targaryens didn’t curtail his blood-lust, if his lifelong friendship and love for Ned wouldn’t have protected Jon or Ned if Robert learned the truth about Jon’s parentage, if believing himself the father of Joffrey, Tommen and Myrcella for years wouldn’t have protected them from his wrath, why would Ned ever think a marriage to Mya would protect Jon? It’s a paper shield, at best, and if there is one matter in which Ned was not willing to give Robert the benefit of the doubt, it was Jon’s safety, hence why he steadfastly lied to his best friend for a decade and a half. Too, a marriage to Robert’s daughter, if Robert took enough interest in her to arrange a match or was invested in the marriage as a link to Ned or had anything to do with it, would land Jon on Robert’s radar, which is something that Ned desperately wanted to avoid. The way he shot down the possibility of Jon accompanying him to King’s Landing and shut down the conversation about Jon’s mother with Robert speaks of a man whose preference was for Jon to be a non-entity in Robert’s mind which a marriage to Mya defeats the purpose of, if it included any involvement from Robert.

But even if Robert was not involved at all, there’s little chance that Ned would prefer this match. While Ned’s precise plans for Jon’s future are hard to determine, his surprised reaction to the idea of Jon joining the Night’s Watch and his aborted speech about Jon and Robb’s closeness clearly communicate that Ned intended for Jon to remain in the North in some capacity, perhaps as a counselor for Robblike Brandon Snow was to his brother Torrhen Stark, or as a Stark officer in the fashion of the Cassels. In that context, Jon’s marriage prospects far exceeded Mya Stone. Mya, while known to be the king’s daughter, is not formally acknowledged by him, much less a recipient of any advantage due to her paternity. More importantly, she is a baseborn servant to House Royce of the Gates of the Moon whose days are spent guiding mules to the Eyrie. In a glaring contrast, Jon is the formally-recognized castle-raised favored son of the Lord of Winterfell and the beloved brother of the future Lord of Winterfell. While seemingly a bastard with an unknown mother, Jon has received every advantage Ned could give him and a rather excellent upbringing as far as bastards go. His top-notch education and his closeness to the current and future rulers of the North could have afforded him a pretty good match, not just at least a similarly raised noble bastard girl but potentially a highborn bride from a lesser noble family (in the fashion of Ser Walder Rivers, himself a trusted officer for his father Walder Frey with judicial and military authority, who is wed to a lady of House Charlton), or perhaps even a supernumerary daughter of a major Winterfell vassal looking to get close to the Lord of Winterfell but isn’t dynastically important enough to land a match with one of Ned’s trueborn children or an heir of another noble house.

As for Catelyn, her preferred future for Jon was the Night’s Watch for how it neutralized his prospective danger and prevented the existence of any descendants of his to continue to endanger her line. She did not want Jon to marry and procreate, period. She expressed that sentiment in her second chapter of the whole series, and again when Robb told her of his intent to legitimize Jon and make him his heir. Any scenario that included the possibility of Jon fathering sons that might challenge her own grandchildren for Winterfell was not one Catelyn wanted. And if Robert or Ned sought to match Jon and Mya, she would rightly wonder why they were matching their bastard children instead of their trueborns, and if this was a prelude to giving Jon more benefits from either Ned or Robert, which carries the potential of increasing his danger to her own children.

[fairytalelovr]

Winter Roses Fanfic

Completely AU from the end of the Rebellion! After Ned takes Jon from the Tower of Joy, he stops by King's Landing to see Robert crowned. There, they discover the former Queen had died in childbed. But while Prince Viserys escaped Dragonstone, the baby Daenerys was not born soon enough and was brought to the capital to face justice for her family's crimes. This story is about Robert allowing Daenerys to live in Winterfell, betrothed to Jon to sully her line, rather than disgrace himself by murdering a baby.

A/N:  I've started posting this fic in AO3 back in November, but now I'll begin posting the chapters here. You can find the link to the fic in AO3 in my blog. I'll post one chapter per day until Tumblr is up-to-date and then I'll post here and in AO3 at the same time.

Prologue — The Betrothal

Ned looked to the child in his arms, Lyanna’s words echoing in his ears despite his sister having fallen silent over an hour ago. The boy was quiet, but his eyes were open and curious, even though the maid had told him the baby was only hours old. Eyes that were dark, though Ned knew babies’ eyes changed after birth. The wispy hair on the top of the child’s head was the same dark brown of Lyanna’s, the Stark brown. It was said that Targaryens had magic in their blood, and that is why they married within the family, to keep the magic strong. Perhaps the magic in the boy understood having silver hair and indigo eyes, like his father, rather than status would be only a death sentence. He looked up as he heard heavy footsteps. It was Howland, coming down the hallway, limping a bit, though his wounds had been seen to. “Maid told me what happened. I’m sorry, Ned. I know you only wanted to save her.” Ned nodded. “Nothing we could do, after all. Guess it makes sense now why Rhaegar left his best men behind.” “To protect a bastard?” Ned winced. “Lyanna wouldn’t have done that. I… honestly, it doesn’t matter anymore. She’s gone, Rhaegar is gone. By now Stannis will have taken Dragonstone. House Targaryen is over.” Howland nodded. “What… what are you going to do? You… you saw what happened to Rhaegar’s other children. And he… this baby has a stronger claim than Robert, than anyone else. If people were to find out…” Ned sighed. “I… I hate to ask this of you, my friend, especially when you have just saved my life. But Lyanna asked me, on her deathbed, to protect her son, and that I will do. For such, no one must know who he really is.” Howland frowned. “I will claim him as my son.” The other man was shocked. “Ned, but… you… and Lady Stark! How…” “I will not be the first lord to have a bastard, nor will I be the last.” “He will be forever tainted by that.” “But he will be alive. Robert trusts me. He won't think twice about it. No one will.” Howland nodded. “You have my word. I swear, on my and my family’s honour, for everything I owe your sister, that I shall never speak of this to anyone else.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The trip from Dorne back to King’s Landing was long and hard, especially the stop at Starfall. The maid that had been with Lyanna was in fact a woman from the village whose child had perished from a fever less than a week before, so she had vowed to keep the secrecy if she could care for the baby. “My babe was taken from me, milord, and the Princess was ever so kind, to send food and aid once she heard my little Rya was sick. Even the Prince, he sent his maester down to my hut before the man died. My payment for their kindness will be to protect their babe.” And as such the matter of the child’s wet-nurse was handled. Next, Ned needed to prepare his sister’s body for the voyage. The High Septon himself brought three Silent Sisters on the next morning. “I was saddened to hear, I was,” the man said. “They were so young and in love! Of course, I worried when the Prince asked me for his annulment, but then once he told me about… the annulment was correctly given, Lord Stark, and my Septas assured me the next morning that on their wedding night your sister was pure. So it was all done very correctly.” Ned wasn’t sure if it was as much consolation as the man had hoped. “I’m sure you understand, Your High Holiness…” “No one will ever hear the truth from my lips, I swear it. No one will know what happened here in this Tower. The Sisters I’ve brought can’t read or write, and they’ve sworn a vow of silence. Even if they wanted to — which they don’t — they couldn’t tell anyone the nature of the Princess’ death.” Ned thanked the man. “You are, of course, welcome to join my group as we make our way back to the capital, your High Holiness. Now that it’s safe to return to the city.” The man smiled and accepted the offer, leaving the room Ned had taken as a solar. Sighing, the northerner went back to organising their contingent. They were no longer a handful of men riding hard to save a distressed woman (who had never been in distress in the first place). Now he had to account for Lyanna’s bones, Howland’s wound, the baby, and his wet-nurse. And the High Septon. The arrival in King’s Landing was not as he had hoped either. He’d told the nurse to stay as quiet and out of the way as possible, hoping the seven months it took him to return to the capital would have made it reasonable to be believed he had stopped somewhere to pick up his bastard son. Or at least that no one would question that in his grief for losing his sister, Lord Eddard Stark had forgotten his vows and allowed a woman to console him. As it turned out, Robert was too distressed over the box with Lyanna’s remains to care. It was only on the next afternoon, as Ned was watching the nurse take the baby for a walk in the sun, from the balcony of the chambers Robert had given him that the new King approached. “So, whose is the child?” “Mine,” Ned said, hoping his friend would take his blushing for shame and not guilt. “I'm not proud of it, but I have claimed the boy.” “Ha! You! With a bastard!” “I'm no saint, Robert. We were at war. I'm a man. And my wife is all the way in Riverrun.” “You could’ve left the boy. Sent some money.” “This was my misstep and I’ll take responsibility for it. The boy comes home to Winterfell with me.” “And what’s his name?” “Jon,” Ned said. His name is Aegon Targaryen. “Jon Snow.” “But the surname should come…” “It matters not who his mother is, let alone where she is from. He is my son, and he will be raised in Winterfell. His name is Jon Snow.” “A whore, then?” Ned clenched his jaw. He knew Robert would keep asking until he got an answer and then wouldn’t care about it again. “Wylla was her name.” “Pretty?” “I was too drunk — we’d just won a battle.” “Ha! Didn’t I tell you? Nothing gets the blood flowing better!” Robert laughed, as if it was the funniest joke in the world. “What happened to her?” Ned was growing each moment more uncomfortable. He was shit at lying. “Don’t know, don’t care. For all I know, she’s still a whore. I offered a pension, but she said no. She wanted to send the boy to an orphanage. No interest in being a mother. So I took him.” “I could legitimise him, you know,” Robert said, looking at the boy again. “Say the word and I’ll sign the damn paper.” Ned blushed. On one hand, no child deserved to grow up a bastard. But then again, he had to think about Catelyn and the shame he was already forcing upon her. He knew his nephew was a few months younger than his son, so there would be no question on the line of succession — and bastards, legitimised or not, always ranked behind all trueborns. On the other hand… to legitimise him would spike people’s curiosities. Especially about his mother. And Ned really was shit at lying. The less people who asked, the better. Besides, even legitimised, Jon would never be treated the same as a trueborn. “No. Catelyn… she doesn’t deserve this. We haven’t had a proper marriage so far, what with the war keeping us apart, but she is my wife and she deserves better. It’s enough that I’m claiming him and bringing him to Winterfell.” “Your Grace,” called a squire, interrupting a conversation that had gone on too long already. “Your Lord Brother has just returned…” Ned almost sighed in relief. He knew his friend. Robert very rarely took interest in things to ask twice about them, unless it was a particularly pesky whore, a good wine, or a worthy opponent. The chances of him asking about Jon’s origins again were slim. “Well, that knucklehead certainly took his time! Where is he?” the King asked. “In the Small Council Chamber, Your Grace. He wishes to speak with you, Lord Stark, and Lord Arryn as soon as possible.” Ned followed the King, relieved that Robert had bought the lie without question. Once they entered the right room, Jon was already there, conversing with a clearly distraught Stannis, as a young woman held a baby nearby. “What is the meaning of this?” “I’ve taken Dragonstone, Your Grace,” said Stannis. “My men are securing the castle as we speak.” “And the baby dragon and his infernal mother? Where are the last two of that retched family?” “Viserys escaped, brother. I know not whether they were tipped off or if they knew we would come eventually, but servants said three loyalists absconded with the boy to Essos. The former Queen died,” at this Robert laughed, but Stannis wasn’t finished. “In childbed.” The King’s laugh died abruptly, finally realising what the baby in the room meant. “And you bring it here! Your orders were—” “My orders were to secure Dragonstone and bring the last of the Targaryens to justice. I have fulfilled those orders. I will not, however, murder a babe just for the sake of your revenge.” “Take care of how you speak!” “Take care of how you behave!” “Enough!” Jon interrupted. “You are brothers, behave as such! Lord Stannis is right, Your Grace, you gave him orders and he has fulfilled them. He brought the Targaryen he was able to find so you could dispense justice.” “Please,” the woman begged, “she is but a babe! Just a babe, barely out of her mother’s womb, innocent of any crimes!” “No Targaryen is innocent!” Robert yelled. “Robert, be reasonable,” Ned interfered, understanding why the cold Stannis had asked for his presence, “the girl is days old. You can't blame her for the name she carries.” In the back of his mind, Ned knew all too well the name the little boy he was protecting carried. His name is Aegon Targaryen. What if anyone else had found Lyanna before Ned himself? What would his nephew’s fate have been? You have to protect him. Promise me, Ned. Had Rhaella had time to beg the same? Would she even have tried with Stannis Baratheon, who was no kin to her? “Targaryens murdered your father, brother, and sister!” Robert exclaimed. “The woman I loved!” “The Mad King murdered my father and brother, and he has paid for his crimes. Rhaegar kidnapped my sister,” Ned clenched his jaw at the lie — besmirching the honour of his good-brother was the only way to save his son, so he hoped the man would understand, “and he is also dead. That girl has committed no crime. Do you really want your reign to begin by murdering babies in their cribs?” Robert clenched his jaw. It had been bad enough when Tywin Lannister had the Prince and Princess murdered along with their mother. “Very well. She won't be killed. But she will not be rewarded either. House Targaryen is finished. She is stripped of all her titles. Send her to an orphanage for all I care,” the new King decreed. The others in the room paled. An orphanage was no place for a highborn girl, be her stripped of her family titles or not. “Perhaps we should consider…” Jon hesitantly started. “No considerations! I won't have a child flaunting about and threatening my throne! It’s not as if there aren’t Targaryen loyalists still lurking! I want her poor, honourless, and supportless! And if she shows the smallest hint of madness, I’ll have her killed at once!” “Robert!” Ned exclaimed. “Kill the girl then, instead of leaving her to die slowly. You know what happens to girls in orphanages! She’ll be raped before she turns ten!” The maid started to cry, bothering the baby, who also started to whimper in protest. “Raped like your sister!” the King bellowed. Ned bit back a response. To offer too much kindness would be suspicious, but the babe was his family now too. “You know, I’ve decided! I want her weak, so let’s weaken her! Some might support the Mad King’s daughter if they think she’s not like her father, but no one would support a bastard line!” “What do you mean?” Jon asked, apprehensive. “Rhaegar Targaryen stole a daughter of House Stark and ruined her, leading to her father’s and brother’s deaths. Nothing more fitting that House Stark should be responsible for the fate of the last daughter of House Targaryen.” Ned felt cold gripping his heart. Robert was always unreasonable when he was blinded by what he felt for Lyanna. “Ned! You have a bastard son! A son set to inherit no lands and make no good marriage. Very well, I give him a bride. He will marry the Targaryen girl!” The room was frozen for a beat. “Robert, I can't…” “Nonsense! Your son is a Snow, you just said so yourself. He’ll marry the girl, have a highborn bride, what is much more than any bastard can expect, and they shall have a castle and lands. I'm sure you can find an empty keep in the North, give them a lesser title. They’ll live up there, a dragon in the ice! This way she is hidden from the world and no one can accuse me of mistreating babies!” Ned didn’t know what to do. Honestly to wed aunt and nephew! But no one knows he is her nephew, he thought, no one can know. And how to refuse, really? What Robert had just done was an honour. How to refuse without an explanation? You have to protect him, Ned. He nodded his acceptance. They were Targaryens, after all. Targaryens married brother and sister. What were aunt and nephew in that? “Wonderful!” Robert yelled. “The girl will be raised…” “In Winterfell,” Ned said. He knew what Robert would say, that he’d have the girl in Court, just so she’d be humiliated and laughed at by everyone. That was going too far. “But Ned…” “If she is to wed my son, I’d like to oversee her education.” “I hardly think it’s proper,” said Stannis, “to have them grow up in the same castle.” “Are you implying that I can't teach manners to my son? That I would allow dishonour in my own home?” “Nothing of the sort, Lord Stark.” “Oh, what does it matter!” said Robert. “She’ll be marrying a bastard. Let them speak.” So Ned returned to his chambers to arrange for the extra members of their contingent, his headache — an ever-present companion since being shooed away from his dying sister’s side, holding his nephew — growing.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“You bring a bastard home and expect me to foster him!” Catelyn yelled. Ned recoiled. “I can't express how sorry I am to have broken my vows and shame you in this manner. But the boy is my responsibility and I won't dishonour that.” “His very presence dishonours your name and your House!” “Catelyn, please. I have wronged you, and for that I can only say I know I was wrong and hope you can forgive me. But the child is innocent.” “And to bring a Targaryen! To force you to marry your bastard to the daughter of the man who murdered your father and brother!” Ned sighed. Honestly that was the least of his concerns. “As I said, I can't blame a babe for the crimes her father committed before she was even born.” Catelyn huffed and burst out of the room, furious. Ned was certain she was going to make her fury known for the next weeks perhaps months. Of course, the gossip had reached Riverrun that Ned Stark had had a bastard during the war, so Catelyn had been quite cold as she reached Winterfell that morning with their infant son, whom Ned had decided to name after his friend. He rubbed his forehead as Benjen walked into the room, barred the door, and poured them ale. “So, of whom is the child?” Ned rolled his eyes. “I've said his mother is…” Benjen looked seriously at his brother. “Ned. I know my siblings. Who do you think helped Lyanna leave?” “You cannot…!” “I do regret the outcome, of course, but I do not regret helping my sister. So, again, of whom is the boy?” Ned sighed, and nodded. Benjen exhaled, sitting back on his chair. “Now that is a nice kettle of fish we have on our hands. How’d he manage it? Convinced the High Septon?” Ned nodded. “Don't know on what grounds. But I made my sister a promise on her deathbed. I will honour that. Robert can never know.” “There's been worse cases in that family,” Benjen agreed with a sigh. “I should've been there with you. Could’ve claimed him as mine. Then you wouldn't have had trouble with the Lady.” Ned waived dismissively. “It's done, and I don't regret it,” he sighed. “My wife came home with one son and now she has three babies to care for. What kind of a husband am I?” “An honourable one, who cares about his family. Perhaps you should tell her.” “No. This secret has already been told to enough people. If she learns the truth she might one day let it slip if someone goads her about her husband’s bastard. I can't take that risk.” “What will you do about the betrothal?” “Find an empty keep. Robert said he'll send some funds, but I doubt it'll be enough, so the lands should be able to sustain themselves, and produce quick profit to support the building or maintenance of the castle. Howland had a suggestion, and I was thinking to go see it. The Blessed Island. It’s very defensive, even in ruins. We can make it into a trading spot on the Narrow Sea, and they’ll have taxes. And they could take fish from the sea.” “This might take more years than we have,” Benjen said worriedly. “Maybe. But they can live here in the meantime. Can I… I know you spoke of joining the Watch...” “I won't. At least not now. From Lady Stark’s fury, you'll need all the help you can get.”

[silkygoldmilkweed]

The Northern Restoration Happens in this Bedroom, or STARK RESTORATION, featuring the LADY WOLF OF WINTERFELL and her consort, THE HOUND

“House Stark is dead.” --Lord Robett of House Glover, “The Broken Man”

“We'll never get him back. Rickon is Ned Stark's trueborn son, which makes him a greater threat to Ramsay than you, a bastard, or me, a girl.” --Sansa Stark, “Battle of the Bastards”

“The North is yours.” --Jon Snow, “Stormborn”

“There must always be a Stark in Winterfell.” --everybody, always

So, House Stark is in danger of dying. 

The great White Wolf of the North is not Ned Stark’s bastard after all, but a trueborn Targaryen. All of Jon Snow’s children will be called Targaryen, especially if their mother is Daenerys Targaryen, which at this point appears to be a foregone conclusion.

And that circumstance leaves House Stark without a viable male heir. Bran Stark no longer identifies as a Stark--he’s denied it to Littlefinger and Meera, among others--and he is paralyzed, which very likely physically impairs his ability to create heirs. He certainly appears to be in no condition to be Lord Paramount of the North. He is too preoccupied with his visions and too distant from the world of men to be useful in that capacity.

Arya Stark, the younger daughter of a great lord, could marry and produce heirs, but as she told her sister, “I was never going to be as good a lady as you, so I had to become something else.” When her father told her he would make a good match for her someday, she told him, “That’s not me.” She identifies with her wild-roaming dire wolf, Nymeria, living free amongst a pack of other wild things.

Sansa Stark, meanwhile, has dreamt of only two things since we’ve known her: First, she wanted to marry a handsome prince and have his babies, and later, she wanted to go home. She is a true daughter of Winterfell, as Ros once noted: “[She’s a very important person.] I grew up in the shadow of her father’s castle. The day she was born, they rang the bells from sunrise to sunset.”

Beginning with the execution of her father, she felt that if she was back at Winterfell, all would be right with the world. As soon as she saw snow again after leaving King’s Landing, she built Winterfell from memory. As she once told Myranda, “I am Sansa Stark of Winterfell. This is my home, and you can’t frighten me.” She seems to draw strength from the castle itself, and certainly from being among family and familiar faces.

She is also as trueborn as Robb, and as familiar with her birthright and the place of the Starks as anyone. Jon, Robb and Sansa were truly raised by Ned Stark, but poor Arya, Bran and Rickon lost their father when they were so young that were basically left to fend for themselves and grew up feral. (The Hound, of course, helped raise Arya, and like a good father would and did defend her to the death.)

As such, it would seem that Sansa Stark, the Lady of Winterfell, is the future of House Stark. But how to do?

Enter, or rather re-enter Sandor Clegane, called the Hound or the Dog. He’s gonna put pups in the lady wolf of the north, and as he told her as he left her behind after the Battle of Blackwater Bay, “Your sons will be killers someday.” 

At the time Clegane was speaking the words, he certainly assumed her sons would be by Joffrey Baratheon, her unworthy prince, but the wheel has turned and crushed little Joffrey, eliminated a couple of other husbands along the way, and most recently destroyed her pimp of a “protector,” Petyr Baelish.

No, the sons who will be killers someday are going to be the sons of Sansa Stark, trueborn daughter of Ned Stark, by Sandor Clegane. George R.R. Martin loves reinforcing the bloodline purity of the most powerful clans of his kingdom, so dragons mate with dragons, and lions mate with lions, but if all the male dire wolves have died out, who then is fit to mate with a lady wolf? Only the biggest, most vicious dog in the Seven Kingdoms. 

Sansa and Sandor are genetically compatible to be sure (dogs are just tame wolves, wolves are just wild dogs), and thanks to hybrid vigor, the offspring of the Hound and the Lady Wolf may well be one of the healthiest and most robust generations of Starks yet known.  

Sandor Clegane is technically a man of the Westerlands, but he has the look of the North. When he and Arya Stark were roaming the Riverlands and the Vale together, they sometimes pretended to be father and daughter, other times it was assumed. Why? Because they looked alike and acted alike. Their bond is a topic for a different post, but it’s said that of all of Ned and Catelyn Stark’s children, it was Jon Snow (Lyanna’s son really) and Arya who most had the look of the North. Sansa’s sons with the Hound will be unmistakably sons of Winterfell.

A note on names: Second son Sandor Clegane was raised by a lord father and technically comes from a noble house, but Gregor was the heir and in any case Clegane Keep and all his lands were stripped from him by Ned Stark as punishment for his raping and reaving. Our Sandor Clegane is virtually penniless and homeless, doesn’t think much of his name and despises most lords, kings and gods as cunts, so he certainly isn’t obsessed with status. Because Sansa Stark has the far superior house to his, the children will take her name. He wouldn’t even be Lord Clegane if they married, just Clegane, just the Hound. Her children with him would be Starks without doubt, whereas if she married almost anyone else, the lord husband would insist that the children be given his name and that she leave Winterfell and move to his home place.

Now, I think it’s crucial that the show keeps talking about where Sansa sleeps. The show never talks about where Jon Snow, or Arya, or Bran sleep. We’ve seen some of their rooms, but it hasn’t come up for discussion, not even once but certainly not--quite pointedly--twice.

First in “Winds of Winter”:

JS: “I’m having the lord’s chamber made up for you.”

SS: “Mother and father’s room? You should take it.”

JS: “I’m naht a Stahk.”

SS: “You are to me.”

JS: “You are the Lady of Winterfell. You deserve it. We’re standing here because of you.”

And then again in “Eastwatch” by Arya Stark: “These are mother and father’s chambers.”

Notice the language. It’s described in both cases as the room is where the mother and father belong. The mother and father of the Starks, specifically. The bed they share is the marriage bed on which the Northern dynasty is founded.

Please note that when the Boltons held the castle, we don’t know where Sansa slept, but in any case she did not produce a Bolton heir (and thank the gods for that).

Now that she is free to do as she pleases, she has not taken any other man into that bed, nor has she entertained any marriage proposals or the attentions of Littlefinger. If and when Sansa Stark brings Sandor Clegane into that room and takes him into that bed, you can be virtually assured that their mating will produce heirs for House Stark. She will complete her evolution from Maiden to Mother, and he will complete his evolution from Warrior and Stranger to Father. Together her mercy and his justice will lead the North in an era of peace and prosperity for many generations to come.

Pups!