Letters of Proof and Secrets

A/N: Well then, here is a chapter that several of you have been waiting for. Got a bit longer than my usual chapters too so I hope you like it. Oh and by the way, I edited the ending of the last chapter after someone in the comments reminded me that the Ice Dragon wouldn't really fit in the courtyard of Greywater Watch. So, feel free to check out the changes I made to the end of the previous chapter if you want.

Read, enjoy, and review!

Jon instructed his Ice Dragon through their bond to fly towards a nearby mountain peak to rest if the humid weather started to bother her, given that he had a feeling he would be staying a while on Greywater Watch. Through their mental connection, he felt her acknowledgment of his suggestion but she remains swimming for a minute longer before finally taking off. Then, he followed his host through the wooden keep.

Greywater Watch was a small castle and it showed. It had to be or it wouldn't be able to flote and move when House Reed commanded it and its lack of stone made it especially **** if it were found by invaders. According to his father's old friend, however, that was easier said than done on the untamed swamps.

"...Andals and Ironmen, Freys and other fools, all those proud warriors had set out to conquer Greywater in the past," Howland Reed continued. "Not one of them could find it due to our ability to move the fortress as need be. They ride into the Neck, but not back out. And sooner or later they blunder into the bogs and sink beneath the weight of all that steel and drown there in their armor, assuming our forces don't ambush them first with poison arrows and blades before they could figure out what was happening."

Jon nodded, impressed at their natural defenses and the stubbornness of their fighters. "Fascinating. And good thing I didn't come as an enemy then."

"True that," The Crannogman grunted. "We never really had to deal with a dragonrider searching for our keep, even during the Targaryen era. And the few times their dragons did came North, they preferred to visit White Harbor, Winterfell, and the Wall, after all. I am going to have to rally my bannermen at some point to debate how best to hide our ancient castle from someone that can fly," He said in a ponderous tone. "Hmm, that might take some time and effort."

Then he seemed to realize the implication of what he had just said and looked at Jon sheepishly. "My apologies if I offended you and your mighty companion, your Grace. I didn't mean to presume I have reason to think you would attack us on dragonback. It's just that we Crannogmen of the swamps are an ancient lot and we are proud of our resilience. Given how isolated we have been from the rest of the North even when we answered the call from Winterfell, it pays to take our defenses seriously. Besides," He added more slowly, "according to my reports, Daenerys Targaryen's dragons are growing every year. It seems prudent to make contingencies involving dragons for Greywater Watch even if we know you are on our side."

Jon interlocked his fingers, accepting his reasoning while noting the implications of a word he used.

"Makes sense," He replied. "And...does the fact you addressed me as your Grace means that Robb truly named me as his heir then?"

For a moment, Howland Reed seemed to hesitate, for some reason, then he turned to look at the hall at the end of their pathway.

"Yes," The Lord of House Reed confirmed. "But I think we are better off discussing those details over there."

And with that, he turned quiet again, making Jon raise an eyebrow. But when it seemed clear he wasn't going to continue, the secret god shrugged and kept walking. Eventually, they made it to the main hall and Jon noticed a woman that seemed to be in her mid-fifties turned her head around to look at him.

Jon smiled as she approached, realizing who she was while she gave him a fierce grin.

"My my, how have you grown, pup!" The woman said merrily. "I almost didn't recognize you. It has been so long since the last time I visited Winterfell with you in it, after all. But look at you! Every inch a man now."

Jon chuckled. "It is really good to see you again, Lady Maege Mormont. I am glad the reports of your demise were greatly exaggerated."

"You and me both, although unfortunately, most of my daughters weren't so fortunate," She said grimly. "Tell me, have you heard news of Lyanna?"

The new god grinned. "She was very first of our Nothern bannermen to answer the call so that Sansa and I could fight to reclaim Winterfell. Others have joined us since, but it is her footsteps they are following. You would be proud of her."

"Oh, you have no idea how much it pleases me to hear that!" Maege said, her eyes wide. "I know my youngest never expected become the Lady of our lands but I am so glad she has been up to the challenge. And that she hasn't forgotten that Bear Island knows no king but the King in the North, whose name is Stark!" She added with a shout as she clenched her fists.

Jon nodded towards her with respect. "Your House's loyalty will not go unrewarded, I assure you."

At that moment, Howland urged them to sit down around the hearth, which they did. "Now, I know you want me to answer your questions but if you don't mind, I would like to catch up with you a bit first. Old habits and all that," The Crannogman explained. "Like, how did you get an Ice Dragon? I am sure there is a fascinating story there."

The young king shrugged and decided to humor his host for a while. It was only good manners, after all.

"Well, it's a long story and I don't really want to explain it all in-depth right now," He admitted. "But I guess a good point to start would be my terrible trip to Hardhome and the significance it played later..."

Duskendale: The Crownlands

Jamie Lannister finally managed to reach the gates of Duskendale the regrouped remnants of his forces. It seemed many of the soldiers of his army that had scattered in every direction after that thrice-damned dragon showed up out of nowhere and broke their siege of Riverrun had decided to flee south instead of their homeland to the West, seeking the relative safety of King's Landing. And by the time he had managed to escape the Riverlands and into the Crownlands, separated forces had regrouped until he had nearly 2 thousand men under his command again.

"Two thousand survivors out of eight thousand and NOTHING to show for it," Jamie thought grimly. "This was a military disaster."

One of the men from the last groups of soldiers that rejoined his host near the frontier had told them the dragon had started chasing a column they were traveling with and let loose blasts of ice against them until they were all but decimated, with a few hiding in the riverbanks long enough until the flying behemoth passed. And they had reported that they saw it in the distance attacking garrison not long after, in the Stoney Sept. That could only mean the dragon and its rider, whoever it was, was trying to chase his forces out of the Riverlands and wipe out the Lannister-Frey presence in the towns and holdfasts of the region.

As the residents of the walled town opened their gates, the fired Kingsguard wondered what to do next. It had been almost a day and a half since they last saw the winged beast, ever since the exited the Riverlands, so Jamie was inclined to think for now that the rider was content for the time being to let the ones that could escape the country keep their lives if they didn't return. But even if that was the case, this defeat was completely unacceptable. The Iron Throne will have to retaliate somehow and the very pride of House Lannister was on the line.

But for now, he was going to have to have to play it safe. They would rest on Duskendale until tomorrow and then march the rest of the way to King's Landing. Surely some ravens would have already reached the capital with news of this Ice Dragon wreaking havoc on his forces. And eventually, the news will reach them of the identity of the rider. It was only a matter of time.

"Hopefully Qyburn will have some ideas on how to deal with such a beast," The Lannister commander thought. "He is the closest thing to a Maester that practices magic that I know, after all."

Then he sighed. Seems like the looming threat of Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons won't be the only winged menace they will have to deal with.

When Jon was done with his story, once more omitting the fact he had become a god, Maege Mormont and Howland Reed glanced at each other for a long moment.

"Well," Said the Lord of Greywater Watch, "Now that's a tale for the singers and mummers."

The She-bear of the North tilted her head. "And it seems like this time, more than just winter is coming."

Then, Howland Reed stood up and went to a nearby desk. Over there, he opened a small chest and showed him dozens of letters in his hands.

"These are the signed copies of late King Robb's last will and testament where he officially named you his heir," He said as he opened one of them. "As you can see, it also shows the signatures of most of the major lords and heirs that were present at the time, most of which sadly died at the Red Wedding before word could be properly spread."

"However, it seems that with your recent actions the time is finally right to rally the rest of your bannermen and defeat the enemies that remain in our homelands," He went on. "Which is why I am proud to renew my oaths of loyalty to House Stark," Lord Reed declared. "Hail Jon Stark, King of the North and the Trident! Long may he reign!"

LONG MAY HE REIGN!" Roared Maege Mormont and the Crannogmen guards in attendance.

The young man, now feeling secure in his claim to kingship, took a deep breath as he looked at them bending the knee. Then he smiled and motioned them to rise. "Thank you. I vow to do my best to remain worthy of the trust you have placed in me."

Maege Mormont took that moment to speak. "I know my honorable daughter already declared for you, but I brought with me 18 warriors of Bear Island when I came to Greywater Watch. It's not much, I know but every one of my seasoned islanders is worth 10 summer children from the Westerlands. Just say the word and we are yours to command. We have been waiting for the right chance to strike at our enemies for too long already."

And with that, the young King and his new bannermen set out to strategize.

One hour later, Howland Reed had retired to his chambers, after they Jon had decided to send Maege Mormont to Seagard in the Riverlands to reinforce House Mallister at their soon-to-begin Siege of the Twins. Having parted with his dear guest of many months with a more literal than not bear hug, the islanders departed Greywater Watch to go fight their enemies in the name of their new king.

"Their new king," Holand mused. "Oh, if only they knew."

Jon had asked if he could lay down for a few hours since he had been riding almost non stop for the last few days and his back could use a bit of rest. He had his servants prepare the best guest room for him and then they parted ways for a time. But now, he was back in his quarters, staring at the chest he had been dreading to open for nearly 2 years.

Yet, he stared at the note his son Jojen had made on the top of the box and knew now was the time.

"To be opened when the unknowing heir of Ice and Fire arrives at Greywater Watch on a dragon."

The Lord sighed. His son possessed the ancient gift of the Children of the Forest in his bloodline, the power of Greensight. That allowed him to dream the future, most times metaphorically, sometimes more clearly. In fact, it appears he had foreseen part of the effects of the Red Wedding even though he wasn't entirely sure what to make of it at the time. But he had foreseen enough to learn that Maege Mormont would seek shelter in his keep and had instructed him to hide her there until the time was right. When he had asked when would he know, he replied that the note he had just reread would be his cue to let her go, among other things.

"I hope you had a good reason to make me postpone the revelation of this secret, son." He muttered.

And with that, he used the key to open it and saw a letter inside. Anxious to finally learn more of his son after he sent him to guide Bran Stark so long ago, he broke the seal and started reading.

"Father, if you are reading this after heeding my last request, then thank you for trusting me. I imagine it wasn't easy to keep the secret of Jon's heritage after he finally found you. But I am afraid there will be a lot to do from here on out and discretion will be paramount on certain things."

"As you know, my dreams of the future are often full of symbolism that are hard to fully unravel before the events unfold, even if I can still be guided by them to an extent. But I left this letter to you before leaving on my journey to find Bran because my Greensight suddenly became clearer than ever one night. And what I saw...surprised me."

Howland inhaled sharply as the letter detailed the events of Hardhome, the return of the Night King, Jon's **** and resurrection, the alliance at the North Grove, the young king's bonding with the Ice Dragon, and more details that Jon had shared with them since he arrived a couple of hours earlier. This was absolute, detailed proof that his son's Greensight had become more focused than ever, even if it didn't last beyond that night. With hands shaking, he kept reading.

"I had been trying to understand why my dreams of foresight became so enhanced temporarily and the only explanation I have been able to come up with is that Jon's resurrection and subsequent rise to magical power became the center of a mystical quake, even mightier to the currents of magic than the rebirth of the fire dragons by Daenerys Targaryen. So powerful, in fact, that the echoes of that quake were felt in the past too and some of those that could still see the future had their senses flooded with images of what was to come or what may come with more clarity than would normally be possible."

"And that is why, after having seen two different pathways that the future could take, I must ask you to do something very important for the good of our people: don't tell Jon about his true identity just yet. If you do, I foresee that events will unfold in such a way that Daenerys Targaryen will travel beyond the Wall with her dragons for some reason and they will be killed by the Night King and his lieutenants. And if they are all turned into wights, they will be able to destroy the Wall and invade the realms of men with their dead army before the North is ready."

"You may wonder then, when will it be safe to reveal the truth? And the only answer I can tell you right now is, based on what I have seen...after the Dragons have finished the second warlike Dance. But not before."

The Lord of Greywater Watch grimaced at that, not liking the historical parallels at all. The first Dance of Dragons was terrible, after all, and right now they should be focusing on working together, not draining more of their strength with the Army of the Dead at their doorstep.

But before he could contemplate disregarding his son's request, he read some lines that made his heart grow ice-cold with dread.

"You may be thinking that it will be a bad idea to wait that long. And to that I say, if you won't do it for the realm then do it because..it's my dying wish. I am so sorry for keeping this from you, father, but I also foresaw that I will die in the process of getting Bran to the Greenseer cave safely. Meera will make it back but, I am afraid that, if you are reading these words for the first time right now, then I am already dead."

Howland couldn't stop tears from flowing down his face right then, grief suddenly hitting him with full ****. With trembling hands, he continued reading the letter his son wrote that was getting shorter and shorter.

"I love you, father. And for all the times I have caused you pain or disappointment, I apologize. But this is bigger than you, Meera, and me. This is about the very survival of humanity. So, please, I beg you, listen to me. Don't make House Reed be responsible for the chaos that would follow my second vision..."

The middle-aged man swallowed hard and turned the page around for the last paragraph.

"I left you a final letter at the bottom of the chest where I wrote small messages to everyone at Greywater Watch I wanted to say goodbye to, but wouldn't get the chance to do in person. And please, don't blame Meera. She did the best she could, and I don't need Greensight to know that she will be feeling too much guilt for not being fast enough. But don't blame her. She was the best sister and protector I could have asked for. Thank you for everything, father. I hope we will be able to see each other again someday. Goodbye..."

The grieving parent wept for a long while when everything finally sunk in. But after a few more minutes, he took a deep breath and calmed down a bit as he tried to focus.

"I am sorry, my king, but I must honor my son's memory and fulfill his dying wish," He said to his empty room.

Then he sighed. "Forgive me, Lyanna. I know Robert isn't a threat anymore but it seems your son is going to have to wait a little longer."

A/N: Well, I imagine many of you didn't see that coming but there is a method to my madness here if you wanna call it that. Make no mistake, Jon WILL learn of his true identity eventually. Still, I have several reasons for drawing out the secret for a while longer, some of which will be made apparent before too long. But for now, I hope you enjoy the ride. As they say, sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.

I hope you enjoyed this and to hear from you all soon. Until next time!