Chapter Text
Chapter One: Markings
“Torrhen’s Square just sent a letter.” Catelyn said, causing Eddard to nearly jump out of his skin.
His lady wife had not spoken to him in nearly a fortnight. Ever since the bastard she had so despised had gotten sick, and he found her praying over his bed. He could not in good conscience allow her to ask for Jon’s legitimization without telling her the full truth. No matter the consequences that would come down on his head, or his marriage.
She was not as angry as he thought she would be but… she did not take him lying to her very well. However, now that she did know she interacted with the boy much more. With his nephew almost dying, the perfect pretense for her change in demeanor towards him had presented itself.
“Oh?” He asked as he looked off the balcony at all of his children, even Sansa, watching the older three boys spar. Arya, Bran and even Sansa (who showed Jon much care during his recovery) started cheering on Jon as Robb and Theon teamed up on him as they realized they would not be able to match him one-on-one despite him recovering from illness. All the boys had their strengths. Robb could joust better than most men in Winterfell, and Theon was unmatched in the North when it came to archery. They just so happened to be currently participating in Jon’s strength.
“Lord Royce and his youngest son arrived last night, the one wishing to Join the Night’s Watch. Eddard… I think you should ask him to allow the boy…” She said, and Eddard whipped around to see his wife holding her hands up in a sign of peace.
“Don’t say it!”
“…to squire for him.” Catelyn finished
“What?” he hissed. That is not what he expected to hear but still, he would never allow Lyanna’s boy to go anywhere. He made that perfectly clear to her during their talk.
“Eddard, please! Please hear me out.” She said, and Eddard looked back down to the courtyard trying to not let his anger show visibly, either to Catelyn nor to disturb the children down in the courtyard. He took his wife’s house words to heart. Family, Duty, Honor. Family, Duty, Honor. Family, Duty, Honor . “Look at the boy. He is good… No, he is excellent . He needs somewhere to actually utilise his skills, it is much stranger -not to mention draws more attention- that you kept him here.
You do not plan on putting him on the Throne, and while I do not know him very well personally, I do know he will not want to depend on Robb for the rest of his life. Where else is there for him to go? The Night’s Watch ?”
He knew that a fortnight ago she would have been overjoyed to have the boy join the Night’s Watch, something that Eddard probably would have accepted as well. But now… it was a glorified Penal Colony. Not a place for a child, not a place for his kin. There was no way that Lyanna would want that for a child of hers, no matter what happened between her and Rhaegar. “Eddard, if you want to protect him this makes sense. You have drawn more attention to him by bringing him into our home like this.”
Ned sighed, “I promised her…”
“You promised her that you would watch over him.” Catelyn said, rubbing his arm. “He is… welcome… in Winterfell, but what kind of life is this?”
“You are right.” Ned said. “The Watch is an honorable calling but he should experience life first. Benjen may break my jaw if I let him join the Watch.”
“He knows?” Catelyn asked, surprised
“Those two were closer than Arya and Jon. Lyanna told him about Rhaegar’s letters. His veiled threats…” said Ned, taking in a deep breath through his nose. “You are right. There have been plenty of bastards who have become knights in their own right.”
“I… must ask you not to ask Robert to give him your name.” She said, while most of her… antagonism towards the boy himself faded, this one fact is still true, even Ned knew this to be true. “You trust the boy. The children trust him as well. I am… trying, but if he has your name and decides to have children can we trust them? What about the mother he chooses to have them with? Can we trust her?”
“I understand. I- I would have never asked you for that.” Eddard answered honestly. She was correct and it would look too conspicuous to give him the Stark name while he still had numerous trueborn children, two sons especially. “Maybe a household knight in the future or maybe he will impress Robert and become a member of his Kingsguard. Although I have always wished for Moat Cailin to be rebuilt. Robert knows this.”
Granted, in their talks Eddard always had it as himself that was the one to take over it while Brandon took care of Winterfell.
“He can start a cadet house possibly?” Catelyn said, this way any children of his own would be given their own inheritance and they would not look towards her own grandchildren’s inheritance.
Eddard laughed, “Yes, maybe. How about the Redstark’s?”
Catelyn smiled at the fact he was laughing at his own joke. “You are not as funny as you think you are, husband of mine.” She chirped as the children started to realize they were there. “It does truly roll off the tongue though does it not?” she added, causing him to laugh again.
“I do not think our Bolton neighbours would appreciate that. Although, we will have to cross that bridge when we come to it.” He smiled and Catelyn sighed at how he actually looked his age when he was not so grim. Ever since he told her the full truth about the Tower of Joy it was as if a load came off his stoic husband’s shoulders. “However, My Lady, I am surprised. We can always give him a holdfast, and give Bran or Baby Rickon Moat Cailin?” He punctuated this by rubbing her belly.
“We cannot give Moat Cailin to Bran until Robb gets an heir, and I doubt that we will end up giving Baby Minisa such an important foothold in the North.” She replied cheekily. Eddard knew that she did not care whether the child was a girl or a boy. A few weeks ago she’d have wanted another son to give Eddard three trueborn sons, but now she did not care either way. Then as an ironic echo she added “As for what will do with their futures… We can cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“There is something else we should speak of, My Lady.” Ned said, his face darkening and Catelyn did not like the look of that. “I think once she turns eight, we should send Arya to foster with the Mormont’s.”
A terror seized her as Eddard saw blood drain from her face, but she calmed it down. Bear Island was known for its warrior women as well as, and due to, the Iron born attacks. He knew she must think him mad that he wanted to send Arya there. He often spoke highly of them, but the last contact from them was Ser Jorah fleeing in the night.
Eddard spoke, before she could voice her objections. “I know, she needs to learn how to be a lady. However, the Septa is not making any headway in teaching Arya her studies, purely depending on Sansa keeping her sister in check. That is only causing tension in their relationship that can be avoided. However, if anyone could get her to learn her ladylike curtsies it would be Maege Mormont.”
“I understand Ned, but still… It is so far!” Catelyn said.
He knew she held nothing against the women of Bear Island despite how hard it was to imagine them as ladies sometimes. But that was nothing to the fact that her daughter was going to be so far away.
“The women of Bear Island are formidable, yes but they know their duties just as well as any southern lady. I would like to see someone imply otherwise. This is what she needs. I have seen what happens when the Wolf’s blood is repressed.” He looked at Jon, “It does not end well for anyone. Maybe this way we can all get what we want.”
~~~
Jon was curious. In all of his eleven years he had never been called to his father’s solar alone. Every other time he had Robb or his other siblings with him. Lord Stark always made sure to include him when he was giving leading lessons to Robb. They did not get those lessons from him directly regularly but when they did Jon went out of his way to treasure them.
Jon had a thought hit him. What if he called him here to speak about his mother? He had asked, every year near his name day, about her yet got nothing in response. He understood that his existence was a blight on his father’s honor, but he thought that he could at least get a little information on her. Did he not deserve that at the very least?
Feeling energized at the thought that he might be receiving knowledge about his mother, Jon started to run up the steps that led to his father’s solar. The last fortnight or so, he had not the freedom to move about willingly and he could feel it. He expended what seemed to be all of his energy during his spar with Theon and Robb this morning, he barely won. Now he could not even make it up a set of stairs without hunching over onto his knees. Damn the pox!
“Jon?” A voice said, as arms grabbed his shoulders. Despite himself Jon could not help but to jump. “Are you alright?”
“Y- Yes, Lady Stark.” He said, eyes widening at the woman married to his father. Ever since he got sick she had been almost eerily nice to him. He was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. “I- I am fine.”
“You need to be careful.” Catelyn admonished him. “The Maester said that it would take a few weeks to get your stamina back. After that showing this morning… You do not want to end back up in the medical wing so soon.”
Jon was not proud of it but he just stared at her in shock. He could not believe she was actually speaking to him directly. If he is not mistaken, he believes that this is the most she has ever said to him at once in his entire life. In the past he was never able to even look at her without her scaring him off. As he was wondering whether she was angry about him beating Robb she spoke.
“Let us go.” Catelyn sighed at his reaction while gathering up her skirts. “Your Lord Father is waiting for us.”
Jon’s heart sank. “Us,” she said. If she were to be in this meeting, there was only one reason behind it. He was being sent away. It was no secret that Lady Catelyn wanted him gone since she stepped foot in Winterfell. Jon, his siblings, even Jeyne Poole and Theon had all heard the arguments. Now that he had been sick and could have infected her other children she got all the evidence she needed for his father to send him away from his home. Maybe to one of his Bannermen or maybe he could finally join Uncle Benjen up at the wall…
“Jon?” His father’s voice interrupted his spiraling train of thoughts. “Jon, are you listening to me?”
“I- I am sorry father.” Jon said as he realized he must have let his mind wonder.
“Lord Yohn Royce of Runestone shall be here in a few days. If you would like, I will ask him if he would be willing to have you squire under him.” His father said, and he seemed so far and large while he was behind his desk. “He is an excellent fighter and a celebrated tourney knight but more importantly he is a good man. We have fought together in many a battle, I truly believe you can learn a lot from him.”
Jon felt a jolt of panic go through him. Sure, his father and Catelyn were offering to have him squired, but it was clear that it was a way to get rid of him. He knew that his father had stopped her attempts to get Jon sent away but he guessed that she had finally whittled him down.
“I… Uh…” Jon said, hesitating.
“Jon.” Catelyn said, grabbing Jon’s attention. It has been nearly eleven years and he thinks she has said his name more in the last seven nights than she did in the last decade. “I know… You are welcome here. You do not have to go if you do not want to. I swear it on the Old Gods and the New.
However, it is what is best for you. You need to be thinking about your future. If you become a knight this allows you to set up that future independent of your family.”
“And he may always say no.” His father said, letting him know not to get his hopes up. “He may be a good friend, but he is under no obligation to accept. Although if he does say no and you still wish to squire there is no shortage of Knights I may and will ask for you.”
Jon looked down at his feet as he debated his options. He had heard of Bronze Yohn Royce and acting as a squire to him would be a boon. Everything his father said about him was well known and in addition he was one of the top commanders during Robert’s Rebellion. The only downside was that he spends much of his time split between King’s Landing and the Vale, so he would not be near his siblings often, nor his father. Even Lady Catelyn who seemed to be warming up to him. But she was right. He could not stay in Winterfell forever.
He could make a name for himself. A knight of well renown. He knew how good he was with a sword already and someone with Bronze Yohn’s skill could refine his own skills to the degree of Arthur Dayne or even Aemon the Dragonknight! Finally he repressed a sigh and asked, “…When does Lord Royce get here?”
Five Years Later
“Mother, mother, mother!”
Catelyn looked up from the letter from the Grand Maester and the letter she just received from Jon Snow as Bran skipped into the room.
“Dear Seven!” Catelyn said, jumping up. “Bran what is that!”
“It’s a Direwolf! The symbol of our house!” Bran said excitedly. “We found six of them! Six! One for all of us! Four male pups and two female!”
“Six?” She said, incredulously. She knew that the Direwolf was the sigil of the house, but these things were ferocious beasts… or would be when they eventually grew up. They could hurt the children!
“But Mother guess what?” he said, tugging her arm, “Guess what, guess what, guess what?”
“What Bran?” She said, sighing as he led them to his siblings.
“Robb received a Soul-mark!” He said, grinning and a smile appeared on Catelyn’s face.
Soul-marks were extremely rare. She in all her life had only ever seen one and that was only after one of the partners had died and the mark had mostly faded away. But now her son had one? This was beyond a miracle.
“He did, did he?” She said, cocking an eyebrow. “Although I must admit I am upset. My own son! He did not even bother to tell me this?”
“He…” Bran said, as he realized he may have overstepped his bounds. “He’s giving the girls and Rickon their pups.”
“Did he know that you were going to tell me?” Catelyn said, already annoyed that they happened to find the pups the fortnight that Arya happened to be back in Winterfell with Maege. That one was the child she would need to watch out for when they got their wolf pup. Then again if the pup was on Bear Island it was one less she would have to deal with in Winterfell.
“No, mother…” Bran sighed dejectedly. Catelyn sighed as well.
“Very well. Bring me to them….”
As they neared the kitchen, Catelyn and Bran heard various cries of pain from her daughters and she started running. Both of her daughters were gripping their own wrists in pain, Arya her left and Sansa her right, and Rickon was forcing himself as far away from Robb as gold possible. Robb himself was holding the three pups, one in each hand and the other on his knee as he struggled to stay upright.
“What happened?” Catelyn asked.
“As soon as they touched the pups, they felt pain! Nearly dropped the pups!” Robb explained, as he handed a pup to Catelyn. Her eyes narrowed as the one with golden eyes yawned and showed only pink gums. How did it hurt the girls?
“Like what you felt?” Bran asked, and Robb nodded and subconsciously looked at his wrist. Catelyn looked to see the marking of a weirwood tree with its leaves colored green on his wrist. She realized what must’ve happened and quickly turned to her girls.
“Girls your wrists!” She said, grabbing for them and there she saw that they too had Soul-marks. She also noticed out of her three eldest children Robb and Sansa both had theirs on their right wrist and Arya her left.
“Mother…” Sansa said, apprehensively. “Are these?”
“Soul-marks.” Catelyn said, nodding. Sansa looked ecstatic, while Arya frowned.
“I don’t wanna marry some stupid boy no matter what my wrist says!” She declared.
Sansa sighed, rolling her eyes. “You won’t have a choice! This is a message from the gods! They found the perfect boy for…”
“Hmmph!” Arya said, and right before they could start arguing Catelyn interrupted. The distance between them did not help the girls get along whatsoever as everyone else in the Household quickly came to learn.
“Girls!” Catelyn warned, as she looked to her eldest’s soulmark.
She had no idea what Robb’s could possibly be connected to. Robb’s weirwood leaf was obviously representing him but why green? While many houses of the North had green in their sigils that she could remember, the Weirwood did not narrow it down much. Getting a straight answer may take a while
“Rickon, sweetling…” She said looking at her terrified little boy as the black direwolf pup crawled on the floor in front of him. “Did you receive one as well?”
“No!” Rickon nearly shouted in panic.
“He didn’t touch the wolf.” Arya huffed, crossing her arms.
“What?”
“We all received our marks as soon as we touched the direwolves, mother.” Robb explained, and Rickon let out a terrified screech as the pup got closer to him.
Catelyn pulled her youngest little wolf into her lap. She whispered in her ear “Mama’s here Rickon. I need you to be brave, like your father.”
“B-But… It will hurt!”
“But you will have gained a new friend! Two new friends actually. Your wolf will like you if you pet him!”
Her little boy looked at her terrified as he finally held out a shaky hand. Catelyn murmured sweet assurances as the pup finally licked his palm. Rickon yelped and yanked his arm into his chest, before giggling and pulling the pup to him.
“Gentle! Rickon, gentle!” his older sibling sounded; horrified expressions upon their faces at his rough handling of the pup.
As her youngest cooed at the pup, Catelyn twisted his wrist out gently to look at the new mark. Oh! Well his match couldn’t be better!
For the North may not even hint at it due to their respect for Ned, they were still wary of the fact that Ned had married a southron woman. They may not even be annoyed as of right now, but in another generation or two of it, they may not be as accepting. This Direwolf wrestling a bear may help smooth things.
Especially since both of her daughters would more than likely be marrying outside the North. In the most ironic fit of fate, Arya’s mark was the less headache inducing, simple one to figure out with it being a Golden-Yellow Direwolf. One of the Royal princes if she had to guess since considering the friendship between Ned and Robert and now Lyanna’s doppelganger would now be marrying his son seemed to fit.
No, it was Sansa’s mark that she was curious about. It barely looked like a Soul-mark! Just what seemed to be a group of dots that together looked like, unless Catelyn was mistaken, Winterfell itself. She so wanted her daughter to marry south and she knew that Sansa wanted that as well. She hoped that whatever this meant, she would get her wish, but considering the castle was in her soulmark that hope was not high. Catelyn knew Ned wanted to keep as many of his children close so he at least would be happy.
“I- I must go to speak to your father.”