The Whitefyre Reign

Prologue

King Rhaegar sat in his chambers alone, playing a most joyous melody. He had first played it more than thirteen years ago in the Tower of Joy while a young Lyanna Stark slept, her stomach swollen with his child. Rhaegar remembered thinking that for the first time in his life, he was truly happy. But with that, he knew that his happiness had cost so many lives. Rhaegar often wondered what Westeros would have been if Robert Baratheon was successful in usurping the throne. He would have turned the kingdoms into a shithole, the King would think.
After the Battle of the Trident, Rhaegar was able to meet with Ned Stark, telling him the whole story and that his beloved sister was not taken by force, but came willingly. The fighting had stopped as Lord Stark was taken to see his sister for the very last time. She had died, but not before giving birth to Rhaegar's youngest child Jaehaerys who was referred to as Jon, the name his mother had wanted him to have. As her dying wish, Ned Stark promised to watch over Jon while Rhaegar promised that her child would not be a bastard. When crowned king, Rhaegar legitimised Jon as the first of a new house: the House of Whitefyre.
But more trouble branched from his affair. King Aerys had heard that his son was killed in battle and that Robert was planning an attack on King's Landing. But as Rhaegar returned home to the capital, he saw Jaime Lannister sat on the Iron Throne, his sword stained with the blood of the Mad King. In his rage, Rhaegar killed the young member of the Kingsguard. But unfortunately for him, he had just begun the Lion War. Lord Tywin sought revenge for the death of his son and many lives were lost, including Rhaegar's mother, brother and wife. But Rhaegar and his armies stormed Casterly Rock and won the war without much struggle. The line of House Lannister was shortened when Cersei and Kevan Lannister were caught in the crossfire. Rhaegar, showing that he had no ill will, had allowed Tyrion Lannister to remain Lord of Casterly Rock and gave him a position on the Small Council.
During his rule, Rhaegar had done some things that many would view as unwise. Aside from legitimising his bastard, Rhaegar allowed Stannis and Renly Baratheon to remain at Storm's End and keep all their lands and titles. He also created a new law that allowed women to join the military or become knights, provided they pass some tests to prove themselves. He hoped that this would allow women like Lyanna to have the option she was never given in life. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Who in seven hells would be here at this time of night?! Rhaegar stopped his melody to answer the door. He saw a young boy of thirteen years old with dark hair and grey eyes. He wore a black shirt and pants while a dragon doll was at his side.
Rhaegar let out a sigh, "Couldn't sleep, Jon?" His son nodded his head. Jon was always a quiet one. Even when he was a babe, Jon always was as quiet as a mouse. When he and his brother got into fights, both of them would come to Rhaegar in bruises. Aegon would be shouting and crying while the maester fixed him up, but Jon would be silent. It was sometimes hard to read his emotions.
"I had a weird dream," said Jon with his head held low in a voice barely above a whisper, "it felt so real."
Rhaegar smiled as he escorted his son into his room. He sat him on his bed and said, "Now, tell me what happened."
Jon looked into his father's eyes, "I don't know what happened. At first I was surrounded by snow. There were these things all around me..."
"What kind of things?"
"They looked like people, but they weren't. They looked like they were dead. And I was fighting them. I was wearing black armor with a strange sword. It was red and on fire. I kept fighting these monsters until I heard a scream."
Rhaegar gave his son a questioning look, "What kind of scream?"
Jon said, "It was a woman's scream. It almost sounded like Rhaenys when Aegon and I covered her hair in honey while she was sleeping. But it was more violent. Then there was a flash of light, and I woke up." Jon scratched the back of his head, "I'm not going mad am I?"
Rhaegar chuckled, "Of course not. Why would you think you are going mad?"
Jon looked at the ground, "Because sometimes dragons go mad. And I'm a dragon, aren't I?"
"Jon. You may be a dragon, but you are also a direwolf. You are not going mad. It was just a bad dream, when I was your age I used to have similar dreams. I used to think these dreams were prophetic but your mother used to make fun of me when I talked about them." Rhaegar then ruffled his hair and saw a smile on his son's face.
As he was walking out of the room, Jon turned to face his father and said, "Could we visit mother?"
That was something the king hadn't expected to hear Jon say, "She's all the way up North. Do you really want to go to Winterfell?"
Jon nodded, "I haven't been there before. Also I want to know where my mother was born. If that is okay with you, father."
Rhaegar smiled, "I'll send a raven in the morning. Tell your brother and sister to gather their things tomorrow. We'll take Ser Arthur with us. I have to talk to Lord Stark about something anyway."
Jon grinned from ear to ear, "Thank you father." And ran back to his room.
Rhaegar returned to his chair and began to play his harp. This time a different song. The song of Ice and Fire.