Six Years After he Discovered his power of Written Ownership

A/N: Just to clarify, I pushed the dates up for the timeline from Game of Thrones so that Arya and Sansa would already be at least 18 years old by the time the story begins. That said even though it's meant to technically be the same year that Season 8 took place, the story starts the day before King Robert Baratheon's arrival at Winterfell in Season 1 because Jon Arryn ended up living 7 years more due to the domino effects from a particular point of divergence. More will be explained later but if it helps, think of this as an alternate universe with a few key differences.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little writing experiment I have been meaning to explore for while. And if you do, then please remember to review.

Year 305 After Aegon's Conquest

Westeros: The North

Jon Snow, the so-called Bastard of Winterfell had mixed feelings as he stared at his childhood home from a distance, for the first time in several years.

He sighed, countless fond memories coming to him at once as he got nostalgic. Playing with his younger brother Bran and helping him climb towers. Having fun with teaching his dear sister Arya how to fire an arrow from a bow and then helping cover for her from the septas and the angry Lady of Winterfell. Sparing with Robb on the yard until they both got really skilled at it through constant practice. Helping his youngest sibling, Rickon, understand some of the lessons from Maester Luwin that he didn't care to learn that much.

And of course, how could he forget the kiss that his sister Sansa gave him? The sweet, grateful kiss that had **** him to leave the first home he had ever known...

He shook his head when he realized one of his companions was calling him.

"Master Snow?" Said the beautiful raven-haired woman clad in plate armor. "Are you alright?"

Jon turned to look at her more closely and smiled warmly at the only one of his female companions that had been with him through thick and thin since day one; ever since he decided to cross the Narrow Sea: the third eldest daughter of Lady Maege Mormont of Bear Island.

"I am fine, Lyra," He told her. "Just reminiscing about my time here, before we had to leave the North six years ago. What about you? That cut in the head may have been shallow but it doesn't look good."

"Heh, nothing compared to what those bandits suffered," The female warrior chuckled in response. "Don't worry about it, Master."

"If you say so," Jon said. "But this is probably a good point to remind you: no more calling me Master now that we are approaching Winterfell. I don't want them to get the wrong idea, especially with Lady Catelyn around. Just call me Jon or if you want to be more formal, Captain Snow will do."

"As you command," Lyra replied. "But you do know that you could just have me show them the written tattoo on my naked chest briefly so that they realize I have every right to call you Master."

The Bastard of Winterfell shook his head. "Yes, but it's too early for that. I don't want everyone to start talking about that kind of thing before I am ready. And besides, with King Robert's court and the Lannisters arriving here tomorrow, I am sure that there are spies in the area. Better play it safe for now."

"Very well then," The fierce islander said with a nod. "Do you have any other words to say to the rest of us before we get inside?"

He turned to look at the rest of his entourage, a couple of dozen among the many followers he had picked up on his travels across Essos, Sothoryos, and the Summer Sea. Several of them had joined him as guards after fighting alongside them during his brief time with the Second Sons Mercenary Company. A few he had met on Braavos and through their training with the Iron Bank had been able to help him manage the wealth he had accumulated over the years. Some were highly skilled female sailors from the exotic Summer Isles that helped run his fleet and also warmed his bed on occasion. One was the highly intelligent bastard daughter of the second-born Prince of Dorne, Sarella Sand, who had managed to hide her sex while training on the Citadel and then joined him as his personal healer. Others had family ties to the North even if they had lived in Essos for most if their lives.

And all of them were absolutely loyal to him. Of that, he had no doubt whatsoever.

"Everything I have just said to Lyra applies to you too," He reminded them. "No more calling me Master until I tell you otherwise. Be sure to be friendly but don't reveal any of our actual secrets when people ask about you and our adventures across the world and you answer their questions. Just keep it casual and if anyone insults me, do not act against them. I have waited for years to right the wrongs that have been done to me by Lady Catelyn. I can wait a little longer."

"Finally," Jon went on, "I want some of you to stay behind and stay close to Khūra while she finishes hunting and then, wait for me outside the keep. I promise to return for you all in a few hours but I want to make a good impression after all this time, and arriving with Khūra could make things...tense," He admitted. "Better to explain a bit myself before the surprise."

"You have heard the Captain!" Said Sarella Sand in a loud tone. "You, you, you, and you come with me," She said as she pointed fingers. "We will wait outside and keep Khūra company."

Then she bowed to him. "Best of luck with your homecoming, Jon."

"Thanks, Sarella," He said with a smile. "We will back as soon as we can."

Then he looked at the rest of them. "Be sure to keep an eye out for the expensive gifts I have brought and to handle them with care," The Bastard of Winterfell added. "As I said, I want to make a good impression after so long."

Then he turned to look back at the ancestral seat of his family by blood and for a brief moment, couldn't help but imagine his name written in big letters across the walls. Then he shook the idea out of his head and urged his horse to move forward, his loyal followers close behind.