Going to the Godswood

Jon Snow had been busy for the last couple of hours. He managed to finish explaining his orders to his sworn followers on Braavos shortly before Arya returned with Sarella Sand so that the Dornish healer could tend to the cut on her shoulder. To make things easier for his sister and because he knew he could trust the Great House Bastard, he gave her permission to show her mark of ownership to Sarella, who had smirked widely at that and congratulated his dear sister, telling her that she should count herself blessed to belong to the greatest, kindest and most promising living Master in the known world.

Jon had chuckled at that response but the praise did stroke his ego, with his mood only improving when Arya's reaction to that was to glance at him with a small smile as she nodded in agreement before responding that she loved her brother very much.

But once the healing session was over, Jon hurried to send more messages to some of his other claimed followers, this time the key allies he had that were based out of the Free Cities of Myr and Volantis. It took longer conversations to explain his situation, point out the benefits of following his orders on short notice, and to make sure they understood every part of his new, accelerated plan but in the end, the invisible voices vowed to follow his commands to the letter from across the Narrow Sea. In fact, they sounded quite intrigued by the political, mercantile, and military benefits they would be getting out of the deal that the very wealthy Bastard of Winterfell was currently organizing.

Eventually, he finished delivering all of the orders to his distant strongholds that really couldn't wait, just about an hour before sunset. However, while he made a lot of progress for his new damage control moves, he realized that the rush ended up delaying him on other matters as well.

After all, Lady Catelyn was supposed to return shortly after the sun started sinking on the horizon and the Bastard of Winterfell knew that if she ended up making her way back before he could make a crucial preparation, arranging the private meeting where that needed to happen would be much more complicated to organize with her watching him like a hawk.

So, with that in mind, he finally headed out of his chambers to go look for Sansa.

Eventually, Jon found out from a servant girl that Sansa was recently seen heading to the Godswood to pray. Jon was mildly surprised to hear that and more than a little pleased. After all, from what he remembered, Sansa tended to favor the New Gods, not the old ones that their First Men forefathers have been following since the Age of Heroes.

Regardless, he smelled a good opportunity to get her alone so he headed to the sacred Weirwood of Winterfell. And there, he found his beautiful sister sitting on the ground with her back caressing the ancient tree, her eyes currently closed.

Jon stood there in silence for a long moment, watching his now-grown sister as so many memories and feelings, some more suppressed than others, rushed to the surface of his mind. Before long, he shook his head, inhaling sharply.

Sansa must have heard him approaching at that moment before it wasn't long before she opened her eyes and Jon's heart swelled when it dawned on him at her immediate reaction to finding him there was a sweet smile, her blue eyes looking at him with fondness.

"Good to see you, brother," She said softly. "Were you also feeling nostalgic?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," Jon admitted. "But, mostly, I was looking for you. I have to say though, I am surprised to find you here and not in the Castle's Sept."

His redheaded sister gave him a sheepish look. "I actually came here after praying some more back there. I don't know, I just...felt like trying harder to make sure my prayers were listened to, you know what I mean?"

Jon paused for a moment, remembering the times he had felt somewhat torn by the realization that he knew for a fact he had been blessed by an ancient Valyrian God despite the fact his warging powers were proof that the Old Gods of his ancestors were actually real, even if some details may have been lost to history.

"I know exactly what you mean," He ended up replying.

Then they stayed silent for a long moment locking their gazes together as memories of gratitude and regret circled around them. Eventually, Sansa sighed.

"So, you were looking for me?" She asked, her tone not surprised at all.

Jon nodded and decided to start addressing the mammoth in the room.

"Your mother will return soon," He reminded. "So, I figured we shouldn't waste our chance to talk before she tries to keep you as far away from me as she can manage."

Sansa bit her bottom lips as remorse filled her eyes. "I thought you said you didn't blame me," She said with a small voice.

"And I stand by what I said then," The Bastard of Winterfell said firmly. "But...I could tell you had things to say to me that had been weighing heavily on your conscience for a long time. So, if it will help you sleep better at night now that I am here, I will be more than happy to listen."

His beautiful sister actually started tearing up right then and there, as if a dam was starting to break behind her eyes. Jon sighed and open his arms, the invitation clear. Sansa didn't hesitate and jumped into his arms, embracing him hard as if she was afraid to let go.

"I am so, so sorry, Jon!" She sobbed.

The Bastard of Winterfell caressed her back gently, trying to calm her down.

"Hush, it's alright, Sansa," He said in a reassuring tone.

"No, it's not!" She shouted. "Those Ironborn raiders kidnapped me and Lyra Mormont on Bear Island for a huge ransom in the middle of the night and no matter how many warriors were in your path, you fought your way to me before anyone else could get to their anchored ship. They could have cut you down in so many different ways but you refused to give up. And not only did you manage to save us...you managed to save my virtue before their captain could start forcing himself on my naked body," She choked out.

Jon inhaled sharply as the memories of that fateful night came back to him. Thus far, he had yet to fight against worse odds by himself but his determination had made him fiercer than ever as he thrust and hacked his way to Sansa; determined to protect his sister like a wolf fighting savagely for the protection of his pack.

The redheaded beauty took a deep breath and continued speaking her mind. "Those were not the tainted actions of an unworthy bastard...those were the actions of a hero that can put many knights to shame!"

Then, he felt her swallow hard as her heartbeat raced against his own chest. "You were my hero, Jon..." She whispered, her voice cracking. "I had always treated you worst among our siblings and yet you didn't hesitate to fight for me when it mattered most. I felt so touched and grateful like you wouldn't believe. And what was your reward? Getting banished because of my impulsive reaction. How am I supposed to get past that and how can you forgive me so easily? It's not fair!"

Jon hugged his sister more tightly, trying to convey through his body language that he truly had no hard feelings for her as he reminisced about that moment. The scene came to him as vividly as the day it happened, which wasn't a surprise as he had thought back on those events countless times.

He had lost count of how many Ironborn he had slain and crippled in his path to the ship but once he had climbed his way up, he saw the captain ripping apart the last of his sister's clothes and started removing his trousers, so drunk on lust that he was blind to his presence. Jon remembered seeing red, as rage coursed through his body and then running towards the would-be **** as fast as he could. The captain turned around just in time for him to get stabbed in his offending crotch before the Bastard of Winterfell twisted the blade and slashed upwards like his skin was butter before kicking the bloody belly, forcing the dying man to collapse on his back.

He remembered the handful of surviving raiders losing heart at the bloodied sight of him, especially once they glanced at the carved-up bodies on their comrades along the path that lead to the ship from their higher position. So, they rushed to leave on the lifeboats, taking their chances with the sea rather than facing him.

That left him alone with his bare sister, since Lyra Mormont had been locked inside the Captain's cabin before then. Sansa had started weeping at that point, overcome with emotion after everything that had happened as she stared at her brother turned savior before she rushed to embrace him, trying to feel safer in his arms.

And then, in an impulsive act that changed his life forever, his grateful, naked sister kissed him passionately right then and there, just in time for his father, Robb, and worst of all, Lady Cately to witness it as they entered the boat alongside their loyal escort.

Some parents may have decided to overlook the spontaneous, incestuous nature of that kiss in light of the fact Jon had saved her life and virtue. But Lady Catelyn had always had a grudge against him and watching Sansa, her pride and joy, completely naked as she embraced and kissed the bastard that had brought shame to her only made the hate and paranoia for him that she had been carrying in her gut grow stronger than ever.

They had managed to get Sansa some clothes soon afterward and the guards from the Stark household that witnessed the events, including Rodrik and Jory Cassel, were sworn to secrecy to try to prevent a scandal from breaking out but the damage was partially done. Rumors are hard to crush even if they aren't true and Sansa being captured by Ironborn raiders, unfortunately, did not look good for his sister's future prospects; with the shadowy possibility that she was actually **** that night hanging over any potential betrothal that she may later have.

Fortunately for the Stark name, King Robert Baratheon didn't ultimately care for that and decided to join his House with that of his best friend through Sansa, but the engagement plans took longer than they could have to take shape and Jon was sure that part of the reason was because of the specter of that night hanging over her.

Unfortunately for him, however, Lady Catelyn was absolutely determined from that point onwards to kick him out of Winterfell, the sight of her daughter kissing him becoming too much for her. He suspected she didn't trust his grateful sister at the time to stop herself from eventually doing more than kissing with him, although he never actually heard her say that to his face. Between that and her other concerns that Sansa's marriage prospects were damaged by the rumors that could arise out of the ****, the Lady of Winterfell pushed, argued, and ranted until eventually, his father gave in and pleaded with Jon to go elsewhere for at least few years until things cooled down.

Since he firmly believed that he had done the right thing in saving his sister, however, Jon refused to contemplate the possibility of joining the Night's Watch since the context of the circumstances behind his banishment in all but name would effectively make him look like a confessed criminal in Lady Catelyn's mind and he outright refused to give her the satisfaction on that front.

So, he ended up accepting the gold and fresh horse that his father had given him and together with his newly loyal companion, Lyra Mormont, headed to White Harbor looking for opportunity on the upcoming Grand Melee before ultimately crossing the Narrow Sea.

"You are right," Jon said softly. "It wasn't fair. And I won't claim your mother's actions didn't hurt, Sansa. But I want you to get this in your head and then let it flow into your heart, alright?" He asked of her. "I came to regret several things after being expelled from Winterfell but saving your life when I did was NEVER one of them," He stressed. "So, please, try to forgive yourself."

His dear sister sighed deeply at that, her tears falling into his neck as she melted into his embrace. "I love you so much, brother. And I am so sorry I never really told you that before."

Jon closed his eyes, his most suppressed feelings trying to burst open into his mind. "The feeling is mutual, sister. And I accept your apology."

A/N: Well, those are the explanations for the incident in Bear Island I had been hinting at in this alternate timeline. I hope the reveals and the way they were written into the chapter made it worth the wait. And that it got you extra hyped for Jon's upcoming payback against Catelyn XD

Anyway, I will try to update soon but until then, please review! I am curious to read your thoughts about this one.

Later!