5

Children of the Weirwoods - Chapter 5 - Wups

-Notes:

So I forgot to mention that Arya and Sansa are both aged up by a single year.

I ended up settling on the variation of the word "Mother" that the time travelers will refer to each of Jon's wives. They will sometimes be used interchangeably if there is only one of the women nearby or if the child is rather young. Sansa=Mother, Rhaenys=Muña, Margaery=Mama or Ma, Val=Momma or Mom.

One more thing, I very much apologize for the number of names for the OCs. I tried to keep their aliases as close to their originals as possible if not the same.

Last full chapter of day 1. Things will start speeding up now.

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

Only a few noticed Jon slip away from the group as they moved to enter the Great Keep. Jon was thankful they made no comment about his departure. Instead of the warmth and light of the keep, Jon sought the chilly shadows of the crypts. He forced his mind away from the topics he desired for so long. Where his thoughts may take him was better deliberated in private, Jon will not be weak in front of the people of Winterfell. 

His fast gait may have attracted attention but Jon's head was in far too much chaos to notice. The day had started completely normal up until the execution. Ravings of White Walkers seemed so much more possible after everything that followed the man losing his head. The direwolves had been a welcome surprise, well once Jon found his own. He had never felt more like a Stark than when he found Ghost. Yet he is not even a Stark or a Snow...

Nearing the lichyard and the First Keep Jon could see the black wooden door to the crypt. Never before had Jon ever sought to enter the crypt, never felt welcomed among the halls of dead Starks. Had the spirits always known the truth? Had his grandfather and Uncle Brandon's hatred for Targaryens seeped into the darkness to unease their killer's grandson. Jon's father- uncle had said Lyanna loved Jon but had her own death changed that?

Jon quickly lit a lantern at the entrance and practically slammed the ironwood door closed in his rush. Taking two or three steps at a time Jon bumped his shoulder against the spiralling walls more times than he would ever admit. Once on the correct level Jon ran and nearly broke the lantern at one point.

The sole woman immortalized in the crypts was easy to find. One of two statues to not sit atop a throne as only the kings and lords did. No other segment of the crypts held more than one statue but Rickard's did, besides him were his eldest son and only daughter. Both however also had a stone direwolf at their feet as befitting a Stark. 

Dropping onto the cold stone floor before her Jon set Ghost and the lantern down before looking up. Lyanna Stark: his mother, and dead. How many times had Jon asked his father, no uncle, whether his mother was alive, who she was and so many other questions about her but he was never given any answers. The saddest part was how little he knew about her. Everything he had known was a lie and the only other potential truth was that Arya looked like her but beyond the long face the statue wasn't very similar. 

Lyanna Stark was the catalyst for the war. Her romance with his father resulted in the death of thousands or tens of thousands. Jon was the product of all that death, was he responsible for her death. 

Anger, sorrow and guilt flooded Jon's mind. His parents' selfish love caused chaos in the realm. His father abandoned his wife to take another younger one who was already promised to another. They could have ended the war as soon as it started or prevented it entirely but no they ignored their duties and created him in the process. 

Why had Lord Stark never told Jon of her, of his parentage? His uncle had claimed he did not wish to lose Jon as a son but while the confession may have cooled the flames earlier they were not enough now. Jon was nearly a man and had a right to know. It was reasonable to keep it from him as a child but Jon would never have revealed it if he knew it could result in not just his death but his family's. If Jon went to join the Night's Watch as he planned, would he ever have known, the time travelers revealed his uncle would die soon. Even if Jon was not happy with the man he would not let that happen.

Rhaegar Targaryen, Jon did not know what to think of him, besides irresponsible. The story of the kidnapping and crowning Lyanna at Harrenhall, had painted the prince in a bad light. Would Jon ever be able to think a good thought of the man that sired him? He may never even learn about the prince, few knew him personally and Ser Barristan and Jaime Lannister were sworn to King Robert. Though Elia Martell supposedly lived because of her husband's, or former husband's actions so it was possible. Jon may never even think of the man as his father, Eddard Stark is that man.

How long Jon sat there staring at his mother's statue as Ghost eyed the stone direwolves suspiciously, he did not know. It was Ghost turning his head down the tunnel that alerted Jon to the new arrival.

Silently emerging from the shadows was Jonnel with a message. "Supper is ready. Ghost is probably getting hungry."

"You don't carry a lantern, torch or even a candle." Jon was stating the obvious but traversing the crypts blind is dangerous.

Shrugging Jonnel sat down a few feet away from Jon, contradicting his message for Jon to join the others for supper. "I've memorized the path." Nodding his head in the direction of Lyanna's statue. "Apologies if I scared you. Picked up a few traits from my wife. She is a Crannogwoman, they're sneaky people. I've certainly been on the other side of a fright." The man's grin reminded Jon of Rickon's.

Jon smiled but did not respond. He had not given the time travelers much thought due to everything else he had to think about. It was mad to think that not only were they his children but some were his with Sansa, his sister turned cousin. Then there was another batch from his actual half-sister, who was surprisingly alive. He always thought himself to be honorable, but here are his children from the future claiming he has four wives, two of which were his sisters. 

Eying the stone woman Jonnel spoke again. "I don't know much more about her than you do. Most of which I learned from you. Grandmothers know a bit but Grandpa Ned or Grand Uncle Benjen probably has some stories that neither of us have heard."

"What do you know?" Jon just wanted something. He never had much detail on his mother before. At first he just wanted to know if she was alive, then a name, then if she wanted him but with each answer Jon found he wanted more.

"She wielded a sword on occasion, rode a horse like no other, could out-joust men. She was kind, fierce, brave and many other good things. Grandmother Elia says she was similar to Arya but also had more traditional womanly interests. Winter roses were her favorite, partly why Rhaegar crowned her at Harrenhall. She liked Grandfather's songs too. From multiple sources I can confirm she loved you." The more Jonnel spoke the more his smile turned proud. 

Jon too felt the pride of being Lyanna Stark's son until the dark thought returned. "And I killed her…"

He realized he spoke out loud once Jonnel laid a hand upon his shoulder and spoke. "We both know that is not true. You were but a babe and you have no desire for her death. The possibility is there with every birth, circumstances can make it worse. The circumstances of your birth were not great but there are many witnesses of how much she loved you. She fought to stay alive until you were safe in Grandpa Ned's arms. I know for a fact she would rather you have lived then her because that is what Ashara would have preferred if it had been a choice."

The sadness did not leave Jon but the guilt had, slightly. "I am still an orphan."

"Hardly." Jonnel's words shocked Jon before more came. "You have another father and two mothers. There are two types of parents: the ones who conceive you and the ones who raise you into the man you are. Both Rhaegar and Eddard can be your father. If not Eddard can always become your father through marriage."

With his head down Jon's tears fell from his high cheekbones. Amusingly his direwolf tried to catch them, wiggling in his lap. Jon could not help but chuckle at the sight and hug his companion before turning to his future son. "Thank you. We should probably join the others and this one deserves some milk."

With an easy smile Jonnel stood offering Jon a hand to stand. Taking the lantern he took one last look at his grandmother's tomb. "We can return again with a winter rose. I think she would appreciate that from you after you made her watch you cry."

Despite the shame and insult Jon felt for crying in front of a grown man and his son at that, Jon chuckled at the jest. "I'd like that, we would have to remove it before the king arrives." It would do no good to possibly anger the king with the symbol of the romance his former betrothed had with his sworn enemy.

Leading the way out Jonnel smirked at his father. "See, you are plenty smart. Anyway. The others and I finished coming up with our cover. We shall be going under the name 'Wildpack,' every single one of us. Sara is our half-sibling from our 'Stark' father and a Lysene woman. Robyn is our orphaned cousin on our 'Tully' mother's side. The Dorne brood are to be Sara's half-siblings. We kept our names similar, not wanting to confuse you all. Sauna is Alsauna, I am Nell, Cailin is keeping her name, Minisa is Nissa, Sara is the same, Brynnard is the same, Robyn is Rohanne or just Roh, Dornish are all the same. Cassana is just an honorary part of the family as she was raised with us, same name."

Reciting the new names repeatedly Jon smirked as well. He refuses to be the one to make a mistake, at least he would outlast Robb and Arya. Besides these are his children it would be insulting to forget their names even if there are way too many of them. 

Entering the Great Hall nobody paid the Jons any attention, all of their attention was either on their food, eachother or the high table. The hall was not too populated, just the staff who are not currently on duty. As they walked by Jon was able to make out that most of the gossip they chatted about was Eddard Stark's long lost cousins.

The time travelers sat with the present Starks. Instead of sitting in the traditional line they had pulled up some benches so the boys were on one side of the table and the girls on another. Sauna was seated between Sansa and Arya, both who seemed to be very excited. Continuing from Arya was Robyn then Cassana, Sara, Minisa, Cailin, Daena, Myriah. Robb left two spaces on his left that would put the Jons across from Sansa and Sauna. Jon was already cursing the future version of himself for the names. To Robb's right was Theon then Baelor, Brynnard, Bran and then little Rickon.

Arya was the first to verbally acknowledge their arrival but a few of the girls' eyes spotted them before her. "Jon! Join us! Alsauna and Cassana were going to show us their weapons but insisted we wait for you two." The almost ten year old girl was basically bouncing in excitement, the fortnight until she can begin training will be a long wait for her.

"So who goes first, Alsauna, Cass or I." Jonnel tapped the white pommel of his own blade. 

"Cass obviously." Sara spoke the suggestion as if there was an obvious reason which if there was then Jon was ignorant to it. "Then Alsauna because Ladies first."

Reaching behind her chair Cassana stood and Jon felt puny in her presence, she was most certainly six feet tall. Quickly a large one handed warhammer was displayed in front of the group. The dark metal had ripples of gold, Valyrian steel perhaps. Its small face of the hammer was shaped as a hoof and the claw of the hammerhead was what seemed to be a broken antler. Small stags, direwolves and bulls were embroider in golden thread on the spiralling black leather grip. "The Stampede. I forged it myself, one of my bests. Though my adoptive mother did the embroidering." 

Everyone admired the beauty of the item, completely forgetting it was meant to knock the light out of men's eyes. Sansa who disliked weapons even gasped as she gently ran a finger over the embroidering. "Whoever did this was extremely talented. Your smithing was beautifully done as well."

"This is Valyrian steel is it not?" Robb's question was answered with a humble nod. "And you forged it? As in you made the steel or just reworked it?"

Cassana gave a shy smile. "I did participate in making the metal. Reworking is relatively simple." The woman knew one of the greatest mysteries and most sought after secrets of all time.

"How? Can you make me a blade?" Arya blurted out what all the men wanted to ask.

Biting her lip Cassana's eyes darted to Sara and Sauna. "I'm afraid I can not tell you how, it is a secret of another house. I will not break the trust that was bestowed upon me." She looked Jon dead in the eyes as she said the words. So he was the one to entrust her with the secret, Jon trusted wisely if he did say so himself. "Besides it is currently impossible to forge more. There are resources that are unavailable."

That seemed to disappoint most everyone. As the warhammer was returned to Cassana's side the attention was turned to Sauna. 

Instead of moving for the large sword hanging on her chair Sauna reached towards the floor. Jonnel, Sara, Minisa and Cailin copied her. Each of their hands returned with a sheathed dagger. Unsheathed their white blades each with an individual color ripple: Red, a pale blue, silver, grey, and deep blue. "Each of these blades including the one behind my back is a shard of the legacy of house Stark. This blade in my hand is to be Roh's when she comes of age just as Jonnel's is to be Brynnard's."

No one seemed to quite understand what she meant by Stark legacy. Everyone seemed to understand that each of the Stark children was to carry Valyrian steel. Sansa was notably shocked that even the more feminine of her future children also carried weapons.

After returning her dagger, Sauna pulled out the blade on her chair. The blade was large, nearly as long as Ice, and was taller than Jon and Robb. It was a silver-white with pale blue ripples, the coloring and ripples gave the impression of snow over ice. The crossguard was shaped as two direwolves pouncing in opposite directions and between them a weirwood with ruby leaves. The blade itself had runes engraved on its surface. Its pommel: simple but beautiful. A simple and smooth leather grip for the two handed greatsword. It was the most beautiful blade Jon had ever seen. "Frostbyte," Sauna announced as the blade's name. "Reworked by Cass."

Through her awe Arya still managed to inquire, "How do you color the ripples from the rest of the metal? You don't have to paint over every ripple do you?" Her eyes never left the blade.

"The ripples are a slightly different metal, the less of that metal the better quality the Valyrian steel is, the lighter it is too. Because they are different metals they react differently to certain alchemy solutions and take different colors. The main metal of the blade can not actually be any sort of cool color with any process we are aware of. The two blades this sword and the five daggers were reworked from were dyed which made it a pain but it needed to be done," Cassana explained. 

Jonnel chuckled. "Perhaps I should not have been last. It can't compare in looks but has great familial value. May I present to you, Longclaw." He showed another Valyrian steel blade but this one lacked the altered colors of the others. The most notable thing about it was its pommel which seemingly depicted Ghost with eyes of rubies. 

"Look at it Jon! Ghost! Arya exclaimed the obvious excitedly.

The direwolf perked up in Jon's arms at the call of his name. Jon smiled at both the wolf and the girl. "Aye, it's Ghost."

"Indeed. This was my father's blade before mine. He felt its place was in the North." Jonnel returned the bastard sword to its sheath and rubbed Ghost's head before taking a seat. "Now, I'm hungry and where is the ale?" Everyone returned to their now slightly colder meals. 

While Jon was working on his food after feeding Ghost, Robb nudged Jon's shoulder with his own. "You alright? I feared you might have run away." Robb looked genuinely concerned and Jon thought might have forgotten about him and Sansa.

"Yeah, I'm good now. I went into the crypts." Jon left the rest unsaid. 

Robb understood and gave him a sympathetic pat on the back. "Good but don't think I have forgiven you yet."

Turning on his brother in all but truth, Jon shot him an incredulous look. "I have not even done anything yet." And he hadn't and might never. The thought of him and Sansa was still completely mad.

"Yet. You did not even try to say you won't. This is worse for me. I see you both as my full siblings while you two might not. It is all mad and very Targaryen. Oh, sorry. Can we still make Targaryen jokes?" Robb sheepishly smiled at Jon and ran a hand through his hair hitting his elbow on Theon's face. He ignored the ironborn's oof. 

Sighing, Jon nodded to Robb. "Yeah, jokes are fine. Sorry about this. If it helps you have my full permission to hurt me if I ever hurt her." Jon would never intentionally hurt Sansa regardless of how annoying and bratty she can be. Somebody verbally awed at his words but Jon missed who.

"Oh, trust me, I would not wait for your permission if you hurt my sister. Even if it is treason, Prince Snow." The threat turned into teasing. Luckily for Robb, Greywind on the floor prevented him from being kicked. "And Sansa, don't 'Aww' at him!"

Sansa had the gall to look somewhat ashamed but like Arya it was more for getting caught than the act itself. 

Across from his mother, Jonnel mixed two word into a cough. When nobody caught the word he tried again, "King Snow."

Snapping his head to look at his future son, Jon really hoped that was intended as a jest. He did not know a bloody thing about being a king. Sure he had watched Lord Stark do his duties and had mostly been taught alongside Robb but that was nowhere near the duties of a king. Jon may have dreamed of being a conqueror or a lord but never a king or prince. What would people say about him if he was made king? What happens to Aegon for Jon to be named king? Would they call him the bastard king and dislike his upbringing or would they be fighting over themselves to kiss his ass and gain his favor? Would everyone who has ever wronged him change attitudes because of the damn title? Sansa already had. That thought irked him, before she only saw his title and now she still only sees his title.

While Jon threw his head back and looked to rafters groaning, Sansa let out an excited cry. She only stopped her excited wiggling when she grew conscious of everyone's eyes on her. Her red checks revealed her embarrassment and hid her face for a few moments of silence. Addressing Sauna and Jonnel she asked, "Why are you two name after…your own parents?" Sansa's change of subject was one that actually interested Jon.

While Jonnel laughed at the question, Sauna smiled lovingly at her mother and father. "My name comes from the old tongue, it means soul or spirit. So my full name is intended to mean 'spirit or soul of my house.' And the 'Al' part of 'Alsauna' means 'my' so it means 'My Soul.' Father calls me that mostly but Mother does as well." Sauna's explanation caused her young mother to verbally awe again.

Jon himself could not help but smile, he isn't so egotistical as to name his child after her mother or himself. Well it was still a possibility but the chances were slimmer. "Where did you learn the old tongue? It has been basically completely forgotten."

"Momma Val. Beyond the Wall they still speak it. It is the only language the giants speak. Mom taught Father and Mother. She originally thought Mother was named after the word. It was chosen for me because I was set to be the ruler and the spirit of the keep. Mother liked the poetics of it while Father liked the meaning."

That sounds about right to Jon, he can see himself referring to his children as his soul or other mushy things. Sansa would probably like the word games side of it. But now Jon had to reassure himself of his own humbleness: "and Nell?"

Alsauna looked half tempted to play with Jon's fears but settled to go easy on him. "He is named after the name Father was raised as, the mummer he was forced to be. Nell is intended to be all the Father had wished to be back then. To be true. He mostly is. It was mostly Mother's idea she wanted Father's childhood dream to come true in some fashion." 

Turning to the man Jon could not help but think of all that he had wanted to be. A trueborn Stark serving his sibling as a bannerman or master at arms, loyal, brave, honorable, good and a leader of men. A wife and family would also have been ideal but Jon had tried to avoid thinking about that before. He actually liked the sentiment behind the name. Being Sansa's idea also helped, it also made him realize that she might be more than that silly naive girl one day. The one part that bothered him was the implication that Jon was not his real name. If he wasn't Jon Snow, Jon Sand, Jon Stark, or even Jon Targaryen then who was he? Were the two even the same man?

"What! That can't be right!" Practically shouting, Arya was standing on her chair looking down at Cassana. Fortunately most people had left the hall and she hadn't revealed anything.

"Arya, what is this all about?" Jon was probably the most likely to calm her down. He was usually the one to do it anyway.

Sara spoke up before either Arya or Cassana could reply, "Cass simply answered Arya's question. Arya wanted to know about Cass' parentage . She found the answer shocking enough to deafen some of us." The way she emphasized parentage and shocking implied some things but Jon could only infer about the first one. Cassana was Arya's daughter... 

Still standing on her seat Arya glared at the silver-gold haired woman over Robyn and her future daughter's head. "It Is Impossible! I don't want to marry or have children and I never will!" 

Abruptly Cassana stood practically throwing her chair back. Snatching her fallen hammer from the floor of the dias she walked around the high table and all the other rows leaving through the primary entrance. Jon thought she looked fierce before but with a scowl she was terrifying. 

In the following silence, Jon realized what he had to do. Removing himself from the bench he moved around the table before lifting Arya to the ground and leading her out the Great Hall through the exit that connected to the Great Keep which held the family's quarters. Arya fortunately made no protests and simply crossed her arms and scowled in denial.

Of the two options for destinations Jon settled on his chambers over Arya's, they were slightly more remote. Once there Jon moved to set a fire while Arya angrily sat on his bed. Both their wolves had been left in the arms of one of his future children. He had last seen Ghost in Robyn's arms and figured the wolves would be fine, both were already fed.

"Arya…" Jon had no idea where to start this conversation from.

"I understand Sansa or Robb having children in the future, even you or Bran but me… I don't want to be a mother." Arya spoke quietly which was an oddity unless she was sneaking. 

Jon felt a bit of what she was feeling, he still had trouble comprehending the presence of his children from the future. But he had so much change in the last half of the day that perhaps it was easier to accept. Plus he was able to see parts of himself in his children and had a larger pool to compare himself to. The most obvious thing Arya and Cassana shared visually was the long face but Arya was still a child and spent little time in front of the looking glass. But as much as Jon related to Arya he felt he understood Cassana better. "What do you know of being a mother?" 

"I know they have babes." Arya stopped to chuckle to herself before continuing, "And all babes do is piss, shit, scream and cry."

The response made him bite back a smile. "I'm sure there is a bit more to it than that. They also feed."

Arya gave a somber smile back at him. "I know I'm not going to have a leech suckling at my teets, if I grow any…" She wrinkled her nose in disgust at her own thought.

Sighing, Jon looked to the ceiling of his chambers. "Arya, how do you think she feels about you not wanting a child?" He already knew the answer as he had sometimes thought himself unwanted by his at the time unknown mother, unloved.

"Oh." She hung her head as she quickly understood how Cassana interpreted her words. "I didn't mean it like that…"

"I know you didn't but you still said it. You'll have to be the one to make it up to her." Jon recalled as many of the small details he could about the woman of discussion. Sauna, the eldest, implied Arya lived into her lifetime yet she lacked the memories of her aunt. If he recalled correctly then during supper Cassana herself referred to Sansa as her adoptive mother. "Arya, I don't think she has any memories of you. I don't think her father was there for her either."

Silence followed his comment. Arya had her head against her knees.

Rubbing circles on his little sister's back Jon decided to change the course of the conversation a bit. "You know, for not wanting a child yours came out pretty great. She seems a great warrior but we shall see in the yard. A smith of Valyrian steel. I'm sure she could teach you to fight just as well as Sauna and likely knows weapons better. Everything you like."

Lifting her head she sent him a soft appreciative smile that quickly became her usual one, though unshed tears remained on the edges of her eyes. "Obviously I would have a great kid because I'm great. Your kids seem pretty great too but not as great, some are Sansa's."

Jon laughed at that and pulled Arya into a quick embrace. "That is rather mad, isn't it?"

"They do say it is in your blood." Arya jested.

Damn him for allowing Targaryen jokes. Jon hoped the others got tired of it quickly but he had a feeling they would overstay their welcome. "I hate you."

Arya giggled. "No you don't. I am your favorite sister."

"Apparently not. Seems you are now third."

Mock gasping Arya adopted a mask of false anger. "Seriously you must have inherited the Mad King's madness to marry Sansa."

"She is not that bad." At the look Jon received from her, he amended himself, "She might get better." He recalled the reasoning for Jonnel's name. Whether Jon marries Sansa and/or Rhaenys does not matter when it comes to his favorite sister as he would see them as his wives not siblings. "Regardless. Arya, you will always be my favorite sister."

"And you are my favorite brother." Arya hugged him.

Gods, did Jon need that hug. He enjoyed every moment the embrace lasted. "You should probably go find Nymeria and prepare for bed. It has been a long day."

Arya's eyes widened and she shot out the door for her wolf without so much as a goodbye.

Jon knew he too should go find his companion but he also wanted to think about everything he learned today or just go to sleep. He was utterly exhausted. So he just laid there on his bed fully dressed staring at the ceiling.

A sudden pattern of knocks interrupted his procrastination. He moved towards the door and opened it. On the other side of the door with two others was Ghost. The direwolf was comfortably in the arms of Sansa with Lady alongside him. 

"Hi." Sansa's greeting was almost shy. "I-I have Ghost."

"I see that. Thank you. I was just about to go search for him." Jon extracted Ghost from her arms without risking Lady falling. After doing so he stood there like a fool as she looked at him expectantly. What more did she want? "Would you like to come in?"

A smile bloomed on her face as she nodded. After he stepped aside she strode into his room for the first time. "It is organized," she exclaimed, surprised.

 Jon took a bit of pride in that, he had to keep his own room clean. While Lady Stark would force the other boys to tidy their chambers or if they were lucky have a servant do so but she never came to his quarters. He definity did not keep it tidy on the off chance Lady Stark visited so he could prove her wrong about him. The lack of possessions certainly made the task easier though the aesthetic clearly suffered for it. "Aye, I'm not a slob."

"Is this all you have?" She looked at him with pity.

The combination of being annoyed at her pity and his exhaustion nearly made him snap at her but he held it back. "I don't need much."

Sansa looked at him like he said the sky was green rather than any of its natural colors. "But don't you want more? It is so plain in here." 

That was true but it wasn't of much importance to Jon. "I don't spend much time here and when I do my mind is on other things. Plus I don't exactly have any guests often." He moved to stroke the fire and add another log, Sansa prefers it warm.

Again she frowned at him and let the topic go. She followed him by the fire before sitting herself down on the pelt rug, his chambers only had one chair. Lady was released from her hold and laid regally on the furs by her master. "Ghost is very beautiful though his eyes are slightly scary."

"They are predators, Sansa, it is wise to have some fear of them."

Sansa huffed. "Lady won't be. She will be perfect: quiet, gentle, well mannered, and beautiful." She essentially described herself... 

Jon recalled mention of the wolf being killed in the other future and it had been Sansa's fault. "You can't change that fact she is a direwolf Sansa, she is not a simple pet like a dog. It is in their nature to hunt, if you shelter her she will never learn to take care of herself."

"She will never have to take care of herself, I will take care of her." Sansa brushed her fingers down the pup's small body.

Her words made him think of Lady Stark, was this how she thought of Sansa. Did she believe that she could make Sansa's life as perfect as a song? If Sansa was alone with strangers she would be hopeless… "And on the off chance you get separated?" No response. "She would trust blindly having only known love. She would not know the difference between what she can prey on and that which preys upon her. Let her be a wolf."

With her head down Sansa looked on the verge of crying, perhaps she too recalled the mention of Lady's death. She spoke barely above a whisper, "Okay." 

He grabbed her hand, skin touching skin for the first time in near six years. "Being able to hunt does not mean she will be a savage. If she is anything like her trainer she will be just as well behaved"

Wet deep blue eyes looked up at him with a soft smile. "Thank you Jon. I-I don't want to lose her…"

"You won't. The pack will protect each other. Man and wolf, she will protect you if you let her learn and you can protect her by letting her learn. I'm sure Ghost would happily protect a lady." Jon gave her the best smile he could muster.

"A true knight. He even has a white cloak." Sansa's fears were forgotten as she giggled sadly.

But a knight of the kingsguard does not protect ladies but princesses and queens. "Perhaps she should be named Queen rather than Lady."

 "She shall be my lady in waiting. It would be a threat to my rule if she had the title of queen."

Three others would share that title if by some ridiculous series of events he was made king. "I'm sure a great many ladies will be envious and their lord fathers enraged."

More giggles ensued from Sansa and Jon found the noise quite pleasant when it wasn't coming at Arya's detriment. "Let them be. No one deserves it more."

After their amusement died with the topic Jon relinquished her hand and leaned back and eyed the fire. Jon was able to see a bit more of who Sansa can be and found her more likable than he expected. It was similar to when he learned of the reasoning for the names of their eldest two children. "What do you think of them?"

"Who?"

Damn his conversation skills. "The... children, our children, mine children, Arya's." It was weird to refer to them as children when only two seemed under the age of majority and those same two were the only ones younger than he was. 

Sansa adopted a thoughtful face but a smile remained, he figured she would enjoy this topic. "It is a bit odd but it was my children who traveled to another time! Of all the people in the realm, ours! A song should be written about this! Oh! Cailin can do it. I learned at supper before you arrived that she is a very good musician. She promised to teach me songs from their time, including ones about me!"

Of course she would take this well. She has always expected to have kids while Jon expected to give up that ability with his vows. "I see you got your wish."

"Yes!" Sansa's excitement reminded him of the difference in their ages: two years and four moons. "What did you think of the stories behind Sauna and Jonnel's names? I thought it was rather sweet and romantic."

Jon knew she would think that. "Aye. I appreciated the reasoning behind Jonnel's. Much better than naming them after ourselves."

Giggling Sansa nodded in agreement. "And Alsauna's?"

"A Pretty name. Sounds just like yours." Jon smiled and hoped she recalled the lesson she gave him.

"You remembered!" Sansa had a big smile and red cheeks but that could just be the firelight. 

Of course he remembered it was one of the few things she said to him after learning of his bastard status. Always tell a woman her name is pretty even if you did not think so. But Jon actually thought her name was pretty unlike some women's. " Of course, I remember lots of things. Do you recall the crypt incident?"

She hid her face a bit in shame but was still smiling. "When I screamed like the little girl I was when you jumped out covered in flour?"

"Aye! If it makes you feel better Arya punched me bad enough to bruise." Arya had been a little girl then and she still had an arm. 

Her smile suddenly faltered. What had he said wrong to make her frown? "Did you actually scold Arya for making Cassana leave or did you let her get away with it?"

Sighing, Jon ran a hand through his dark wavy hair. "Aye, I scolded her. She didn't mean to hurt Cassana but she did and she regrets it. I'm sure she will try to make up for it on the morrow."

There was a moment of silence as Sansa came up with a response. She looked at him with a frown as she asked, "Why do you always favor Arya over me?"

Jon could not exactly say because Sansa called him her bastard brother or half-brother while Arya didn't. "She needs someone to support her."

"Is it because she is always in the wrong?"

Arya was always the one to make an argument physical and often exacerbates the conflict. However Sansa was nearly as likely to start the conflict as Arya. "No. It's because…"

Sansa pushed for the answer. "Because why?"

He was hesitant for good reason, speaking of Arya's feelings and thoughts would be wrong but at the same time this could bring the two girls together. If Arya hated him for a while so be it as long as she gains a sister she would not have had then it would be worth it. "She often feels like an outsider. She does not have many friends like you do."

"She has friends."

"Can you name any or even describe them?" Beside himself and their siblings Arya had very little friends despite most of Winterfell being fond of the girl, there were few her age.

That seemed to stump Sansa. "...No but she has you and the others." There was a slight bitterness to her words that Jon could not explain.

At this point Jon's exhaustion had returned and he was getting tired of making no progress."Sansa. There is a difference between friends and siblings. Robb and I have duties and we can't always be there for her especially in her classes. Arya is not friends with any of the girls." 

"That's her fault." Perhaps Sansa was right, Arya does not really try to make friends with other girls but that wasn't the sole reason. 

"Is it? Because Arya doesn't feel that way." If this continues Jon will be spilling one of Arya's greatest secrets and entrusting Sansa not to take advantage of it.

Sansa scowled. "And how does she feel?"

Sighing, Jon hopes he does not regret this. "Incompetent. Everyone always compares her to you, the perfect little lady. I stick up for her because even when she is in the right your mother tends to believe you. While to Lady Stark my words mean nothing, they mean a lot to Arya."

The slight anger waned on Sansa's face and her lips curved ever so slightly downwards. "Because she feels like an outsider?" Referring to why his support had such meaning to Arya.

"Yes. She needs to know that someone supports her being who she wants to be. But those two go along with each other." Jon himself greatly appreciates when somebody stands up for him when he does nothing wrong other than be a bastard, which he apparently isn't. Even if he supports Arya when she is in the wrong he usually tries to correct her behaviour anyway.

Silence again followed his response. Sansa bit her lip as she looked back up at him. "...And if I too feel like an outsider at times?"

Jon was a bit slack jawed at the confession. He never thought Sansa of all people would feel that way she was beloved by nearly everyone. "...But what about all your friends?"

"I don't feel it with them but with family. Every one of you but me loves to play outside and fight or get dirty. No one likes the stories I ask Nan to tell. None of you desire to experience the South as I do. You all make fun of me and my desires, even Robb sometimes." There were no lies in her words.

Guilt suddenly flooded him. He should have realized sooner that even though she was well loved Sansa was still a person and Jon's words can still hurt her. "I'm sorry. To be honest I have never really given you much attention ever since… I didn't mean to hurt you, I just felt you were trying to throw away everything you had here for the South for your stories. Everything I have ever wanted." She confessed something so it was only right he did as well.

She looked at him wide eyed. "You wished for Winterfell?"

He wonders why she was surprised. If she had listened to her mother or septa then she would have thought he was plotting to take it from Robb. At one point he had wanted it and a part of him still wanted it. He had a little over a moon on Robb, he had been the first born… or not. "I wanted something, a keep, a name, glory, recognition. I wanted to be somebody. I want to be more than a bastard."

"You are now." Her words echoed his inner thoughts.

"I don't feel like it."

Sansa did not respond for a few moments. "...What did you want to be?" The question also helped her learn more about Jonnel, the man was supposed to be everything Jon Snow wished to be but could not be because of his bastard status.

"Honestly, I do not know. I just wanted to prove to everyone I could be as good and true as Robb. As a child I had wanted to be a conqueror like Daeron the first. Before today I had thought to join the Watch." He did not have many options, the South would not want another bastard, if Lord Stark became the hand of the king then Winterfell too was not an option. 

Predictably Sansa was upset by this. "You can't! You would not be able to have a wife or a family." She forgot where he had mentioned thinking this before all the events of the day.

Whether she was bothered by the fact that joining the Watch would end the chance she would be queen through him or whether she just saw families as being the only happy endings, he did not know. "I had neither land nor a name to give a wife or child. No man would have given their daughter's hand to a bastard and I would never condemn a child to be raised with the name Snow."

Sansa again was quiet, she was doing that a lot but he thought that might be progress. She eyed him with an apologetic look. "Forgive me."

"For what?" He had an idea of what she was referring to but he wasn't sure.

"For everything." Sansa's sad eyes were pleading and he sorely hoped he built up a tolerance in the other future because they are hard to say no to.

Jon too had wronged her so it was only right to settle their grievances together. "Only if you forgive me."

A light giggle was followed by her words, "I forgive you Jon."

"Then I forgive you Sansa." He gave her a slight smile.

She returned it with a grin. "Thank you."

Now that he got her forgiveness for making fun of her dreams and interest, he felt he should at least explain himself a bit. "You know, there is a reason we make fun of the songs and stories you like."

"What! Why?" Sansa practically demanded the answer with a glare.

It was a bit amusing to him how sensitive she was about the topics. "Some of them are a bit odd. Like Florian the Fool is just creepy. The man spies on Jonquil and her sisters while they are bathing. There is nothing honorable or romantic about that."

"Stop! Don't say any more! I won't have you ruin my favorite!" Sansa was attempting to cover his mouth with her hand to physically stop him from continuing. 

Jon could not help but laugh at her effort, she was half-way on top of him when the knock came. Sansa shot off of him in an instant. He called the visitor in as quickly as possible to avoid them thinking anything untoward was happening. 

Through the door came Catelyn Stark and he had goose pimples on his arms and neck in an instant. He was so fortunate she waited for his call before entering. "Sansa, you should be in your own room in bed. And remember he is not your brother and so you should have a chaperone when alone in his presence. Now come."

That was surprisingly tame for Lady Stark. Jon had expected a raised voice perhaps even a slap but no she did not even glare at him. Though she seemed to be avoiding looking at him. Whether this promised to be a good thing or a bad thing will have to be discovered at a later date. 

Sansa picked up Lady into an embrace and stood. "Goodnight Jon. Thank you for the talk." She smiled at him before turning to follow her mother out the door.

Lady Stark lingered at the open door for a moment before looking at him. "Have a good night, Jon," she said before closing the door. It was the first time she had ever called Jon by his name, the day must have been really magical. 

He just got caught by Lady Stark alone with her eldest and favorite daughter in his chambers and lived. Though her words did imply she did not think him honorable enough to be alone with Sansa again so he wasn't completely in the clear. He did not even get reprimanded. What has happened to the world? Would it be better if all this was all a dream or reality?

Snatching Ghost off of the floor Jon moved to his bed and settled the two comfortably. He thought of everything he learned today: he would be a king with four wives and far too many children in the future, his true parentage, his half-siblings live, Sansa was actually likable and all the other little details. It would take a while to get used to all of it but things seem to be positive in Jon's future.

As exhausted as he was from the day's events, Jon had a feeling it was just the beginning. They still knew little about the time travelers' future but they would learn in time and the pack will survive.

Notes:

And again a new record for longest chapter in this fic.

Both Jon and Sansa are probably a bit too open in this chapter but hey Jon has had the world flipped over on him. It will also be a while before any of the relationships start especially between those two.

To clarify: Both Arya and Gendry died in the other timeline. There will probably be a big exposition chapter giving a summary of the other future in a few chapters. At least before Robert's arrival.

Have no fear, I will not break the Valyrian steel economy.

Next chapter will be north of the Wall following Val's perspective. Things are a bit more complicated up there considering the Others roam, the Free Folk, and the Night's Watch.

Upcoming Chapter POV Order (May Change):

Val I

Multiple POVs I

Margaery II

Elia I

(1 or 2 more chapters)

Cat II

Ned II (Robert's Arrival)