Bringing the Dawn

I.

Eddard Stark

Winterfell, 299AC

Summer snows in six of the seven Kingdoms that made up Westeros was almost alien. Then again, most of the Kingdoms had never even seen a single snowflake in their lifetime. However, in the North, snow falling in the middle of summer was a common occurrence. Seeing the different shapes snowflakes took and watching them hit the ground only to melt and later turn to ice. Today was one of those days where it was technically summer, but due to location there was still a biting cold. The women trying desperately to stop the falling snow from falling into their eyes, and the men walking around in thick fur cloaks still.

Wintertown was always a pretty quiet town, nothing like White Harbour with its stony beaches, busy streets, and flowing markets. In total, only a few thousand people lived in the small town, but today was different. Today, the town centre was bustling with the upcoming name day of Robb Stark- the heir to Winterfell. The impressive castle standing a little over a mile away. Every year, each Stark child would be paraded around the small town to familiarise the people. It certainly made the dreary markets look worthwhile.

But there was one child that never got this treatment. In fact, not many people outside those who were higher up in ranks knew he even existed. A boy by the name of Jon Snow. The bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark. The product of a single night's stray from his new wife whilst at war. It was a common occurrence to happen, but what made it different was that it was the honourable Ned Stark who had done so. Some people questioned the claim, but there was no definitive proof to say he wasn't- so they took his word as truth. Of course, nobody but Ned knew there was documents to prove otherwise- but he was not going to falter.

The day was coming, the day he was dreading for the past sixteen years almost. With Robb's sixteenth name-day approaching, it meant Jon's was going to be here a mere week afterwards. The day that he had promised Lyanna and she died from complications of childbirth that the boy would know who he really was. He thought he was prepared for it, but as it came nearer- he realised with a start this was not the case at all. He still had a week to decide how he was going to do so. The chest Lyanna had given him kept in a hidden part of the crypts near her statue along with Dark Sister.

It wasn't going to be an easy thing to confess. Jon may despise him, and the poor boy will go through turmoil. From thinking you're a bastard to finding out you're the rightful heir to the throne. Catelyn may not forgive him for making her believe he had an affair for sixteen years. The children may not forgive him for never telling them. But he promised her, and he promised he would do whatever he could to make sure that he was safe. Which meant from Robert. Ned had not seen his friend for many years, and if the words people spoke were true- he had changed drastically. Gone was the muscular Baratheon heir, replaced with an overweight alcoholic. Then again, with the wonderful Cersei Lannister as his wife- it did not surprise him.

Robert had been completely in love with Lyanna, had been since the moment he laid his eyes on her when their fathers agreed to the betrothal between the pair to join their houses. From her fierce nature and no-nonsense statements, he thought she was perfect in every way. Was she picture-perfect-beautiful? No. However, there was no denying there was something about her that made her incredibly attractive. His little sister never once let her gender stop her. If Jon did decide he would act upon his claim, Robert would proclaim war. And the thought terrified him to nothing else.

The Lord sat at the high table in the main hall, watching with a small smile on his face as Catelyn ordered their eldest son to remain still so she could make sure his new winter cloak was a perfect fit. The redhead grumbling in irritation as she did so, but he didn't want to have her feel like he did not appreciate the gift. Robb was tall, nearing Ned in height already at only fifteen name-days of age. His eldest sister following in his footsteps being only a couple of inches shorter but two name-days younger than he. Sansa was without a doubt her mother's daughter. From looks, to manners, to general attitude.