allegiance // jon snow

chapter sixteen

the pair found the weight of the truth still pressing heavily upon them. the cold air seemed to cling to their skin, amplifying the tension and uncertainty that now defined their reality. jon turned back to bran, his expression a mixture of resolve and lingering disbelief. "why reveal this to us now?"

bran's eyes were distant, as if he was looking far beyond the stone walls of the crypts. "the time for secrets is over. we might be facing an enemy that threatens the realm. you needed to know who you are, jon—viseron—because it's not just about you anymore. it's about the future of our world."

rhaenys, her hand still resting on her belly, glanced at jon. "we need to prepare, to make sense of what this means for us—and for our child." jon nodded, a deep determination settling in his eyes. "we will. but we won't let this divide us. whatever our past, whatever our bloodline, we'll face it together."

bran's voice was soft but insistent. "there's more you need to know, more about your lineage, your family, and the power that comes with it. the history of the targaryens, the truth of the dragons, and the legacy that has been passed down to you."

jon took a deep breath, his mind racing as he tried to absorb everything. "tell us, bran. we need to know everything if we're to survive this." rhaenys nodded in agreement, she grabbed jon's hand, her eyes filled with a newfound resolve. "we're ready to face whatever comes, together."

bran nodded, and the crypts seemed to grow even quieter as he began to share the history of the targaryens, the ancient bloodline that ran through their veins, and the power and responsibility that came with it. as bran spoke, jon and rhaenys listened intently, their minds spinning with the enormity of what they were learning.

hours passed as bran unraveled the complex tapestry of their shared lineage. he spoke of aegon the conqueror, the doom of valyria, and the dance of the dragons. he told them of the prophecy that had driven rhaegar, of the dream of a song of ice and fire, and of the role that jon and rhaenys might play in the battles to come.

as the last echoes of bran's words faded into the cold, still air, jon and rhaenys shared a look of profound understanding. the weight of their heritage had settled over them, but it had also given them a sense of purpose. they knew that their future—and the future of their child—would be shaped by the choices they made in the days and weeks to come.

"we'll need to be strong," jon said quietly, his voice filled with determination. "for each other, for our family, and for the world we're trying to protect." rhaenys squeezed his hand, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "we will be. we have to be."

bran watched them with a calm, knowing expression. he looked at jon before saying, "you have the strength of both the targaryens and the starks in you. remember that as you face what's ahead."

with a final nod of understanding, jon and rhaenys turned away from bran and went to stand in front of the statue of lyanna stark. "who is she?" rhaenys whispered. "lyanna stark," jon replied, his voice quiet. "or rather, lyanna targaryen."

rhaenys stood quietly, her thoughts drifting to memories of a time long past. the flickering flames cast warm light on her face as she recalled the man who had once been her father, a man she had loved deeply despite the tragedy that had befallen their family. "rhaegar targaryen," she began softly, her voice tinged with both sorrow and affection. "he wasn't just the prince everyone spoke of. to me, he was simply my father. i remember how he used to play the harp for me. the melodies were always so beautiful, almost magical. his fingers would glide over the strings so effortlessly, and his voice—oh, his voice was like nothing else. when he sang, it felt like the world stood still, like all the pain and sorrow could be forgotten for just a moment."

she paused, a small smile forming as she continued. "he had a gentle soul, despite what people might think. he loved books and poetry, and he often read to me when i was little. i remember sitting on his lap, listening to tales of ancient kings and queens, of dragons and lost cities. his eyes would light up when he spoke of history, and i could tell he wanted so much to be a good king, to bring peace to the realm."

rhaenys's smile faded slightly as she added, "but what i remember most is how he treated the people around him. he was always kind, even to those who served him. i once saw him give his cloak to a stable boy who was shivering in the cold. it was a small gesture, but it stayed with me. he cared about people, not just as a ruler, but as a person. he wanted to do right by them, to be the kind of king that could bring happiness and prosperity to everyone."

her voice wavered for a moment, but she pressed on. "it's easy for people to paint him as just another ambitious prince, but that wasn't who he was. he was a father who loved his children, who wanted a better world for us. i like to think that if things had been different, if the war hadn't taken him from us, he would have been a great king, one who could have brought about the change he dreamed of."

rhaenys looked up, her eyes reflecting the flames. "i miss him every day, and i'll always carry the memory of his kindness and his dreams with me. i'm proud to be his daughter, and i hope that, in some way, we can continue what he started, to build the world he envisioned."

jon listened intently as rhaenys spoke of their father, his heart heavy with the emotions she shared. he could see the depth of her love and the pain of her loss in every word she spoke. when she fell silent, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, jon moved closer, reaching out to take her hand in his.

he squeezed her hand, hoping to give her some comfort. "it's clear he was a good man, and you're living proof of that. i know it must be hard, missing him, thinking about what could have been. but he'd be proud of you, rhaenys. proud of the woman you've become, of the way you honor his memory with the life you're living."

jon paused, his eyes searching hers. "you're not alone in this. we're in this together, just like he would have wanted. and i promise you, whatever happens, i'll be here to help carry the weight, to make sure we keep his legacy alive. he gave you so much love and strength, and now it's our turn to carry that forward, to build the world he dreamed of."

he let go of her hand and pulled her into a gentle embrace, holding her close as the emotions washed over her. "we'll make it through this, rhaenys," he whispered. "together. and we'll do it in a way that would make him proud."

as they emerged into the cold, gray light of winterfell, they knew that their lives had been irrevocably changed. but they also knew that they had each other, and that together, they would face whatever the future held.

the truth of their heritage had been revealed, and with it, the knowledge that they were not just fighting for themselves, but for the legacy of their families and the survival of the world. and as they stepped out into the light, they did so with a renewed sense of unity and purpose, ready to confront the challenges that lay ahead.