Aenar Targaryen (295 A.C. Eleventh Moon)
Greywater Watch – Aenar's Chambers
He had awoken on the third day of the eleventh moon, the nameday of Alysanne. He was still surprised by the thought that she loved him and accepted him, as well as what was to come. He had prepared two presents—one to show his commitment to her, and the other more personal. He hoped she liked both.
He picked up the chest with the presents and opened the door. "Morning, Allyn," he said, seeing his loyal companion waiting outside. "Morning, Jon," Allyn replied.
"The presents for Alysanne?" Allyn asked, gesturing toward the chest as they started walking to the Lord's Hall.
"Yes, I hope she likes them. I haven't been this nervous for a nameday since I found out I was a bastard. Namedays never truly felt the same after that," He replied.
"I'm sorry that happened to you. No one deserves that," Allyn said.
"Thank you. Well, the stain of being a bastard is something I plan to set right in the future," Jon declared, thinking about how not all of his future children would be trueborn. More importantly, he was determined to treat them differently than how he had been treated.
"Perhaps you will, if you have a firm resolve," Allyn said, and Jon smiled at him. Not much later, they arrived at the Lord's Hall.
"Morning, everyone. I see Alysanne isn't here yet," Jon announced as he placed the chest beside his seat. "What is that, Jon?" Lady Ashara asked.
"A present for your daughter, my lady," he replied. As he sat down at the table, he made sure to keep a chair beside him free.
"Are you going to tell us what it is?" Meera asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Sorry, you'll all have to wait until the nameday girl opens her present," Jon replied with a grin.
"Speaking of…" He smiled as he saw Alysanne walking into the hall. She looked happy, her mother's beauty reflected in her graceful walk, with her long black hair cascading down her shoulders. He stood and walked over to her, pulling her into a warm embrace.
"Morning, my love. Happy nameday," he said, giving her a kiss. "Thank you, Jon," Alysanne said, hugging him back. "Happy nameday, darling," Ashara said, enveloping her daughter in a hug once he and Alysanne broke apart.
"Thank you, Mother," Alysanne replied. "Congrats, Alysanne!" Meera said, hugging her friend as well. Soon, everyone in the hall wished her a happy nameday.
"So, my dear, we have prepared a great feast for tonight with all the things you like, plus something special. But to see what it is, you'll have to wait," Howland announced once everyone was seated.
"So, Alysanne, from whom would you like your first present?" Ashara asked. Alysanne didn't take long to decide. She looked toward him with a timid smile. "Jon, I would wish to have yours first," she said, smiling.
"As you wish, my dear," Jon replied, kissing her hand. He picked up the chest and placed it in front of her. "Alysanne, these past months since I arrived at Greywater Watch, my life has changed for the better. Over this time, I have grown to love you. I see you as one of my future partners, and to show my commitment, I give you this present. There's also something else in there I thought you might like to see. Perhaps everyone else will find it interesting too."
Alysanne's eyes teared up as she opened the chest. She gasped. "Jon, are you sure?" she asked almost immediately.
"Yes, it's yours. It's part of our future if you still want it," he replied, finding himself enveloped in another hug.
"My dear, what has he given you that's so special?" Ashara asked. Alysanne pulled out her first gift—a dragon egg with purple and silver streaks.
"One of the four eggs," Ashara said, gasping. The colors were fitting, Jon thought—purple for the Daynes and silver for the Starks. "Thank you," Alysanne said again, and he nodded.
"Take good care of it," he replied. She nodded and carefully placed the egg back in the chest before picking up two scrolls. She opened one and gasped again.
"Is this who I think it is?" Alysanne asked, smilling. "Yes, it's him," he replied. 'I love her smile,' he thought.
"Mama, look," Alysanne said, her voice choked as she held up the open scroll. Tears appeared in Ashara's eyes, and she softly murmured, "Ned."
"So that's how he looks now," Howland chimed in. "He's older, but still Ned. In a few moons, you'll be able to see him in person."
Alysanne hugged Jon again. "Thank you for these gifts," she whispered. "There's still one more gift to open," Jon said as they broke apart, gesturing toward the second scroll. Alysanne nodded and unrolled it.
"Starfall and Winterfell?" she asked, her eyes widening. "Yes, those are drawings of Starfall and Winterfell. I suppose Howland and Wylla can attest to that," He said with a smile.
"It's true, darling. That's Starfall. I've never been to Winterfell, though," Ashara confirmed. "Howland?" Alysanne asked. "Hmm, that's Winterfell, all right. You have a true talent, Jon," Howland said warmly.
"Thank you," He replied. "Jon, I will cherish these gifts. Thank you," Alysanne said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"You're welcome. Happy nameday," He said, hugging her again.
Aenar's Chambers
He looked at the helmet. He was surprised there wasn't any rust on it. Yet he knew the steel. It was Valyrian Steel, or at least something similar to it. The runes on it were a mix of both Valyrian and First Men. He wondered how he got it here and how he found the events to happen. Was it voice doing, or was it the damn lade plan of perhaps powers beyond his control? He did not know. Only that is what he had found it, and it was from a time forgotten and shadowed in mystery.
Then, a knock broke him out of his consecrated stare. "Come in," He proclaimed.
Alysanne walked in, flushed. Like him, she had retreated from the main hall, where a small feast was held. "Hey," she said as she sat beside him on the bed. Alysanne was a beauty, and at five and ten, she was even brighter.
"Did you have fun today?" He asked. "Mmm, the gifts you gave were very special. To see my father was something I did not expect." Alysanne replied. He smiled and took her hand. "He would have loved you had he known." He added.
"I know, seeing how he took you in." Alysanne said smiling. He looked at her as she smiled and looked. He kissed her then as he had done many times before.
Alysanne leaned into the kiss, her lips soft and warm against his. He felt the tension in his body melt away as her hands moved gently to his shoulders, pulling him closer. His fingers threaded through her hair, the soft strands slipping through like silk. There was a sweetness in the moment.
Alysanne's breath hitched as he shifted, cradling her face in his hands. His lips moved with slow deliberation, savoring every second. The room seemed to fall away, leaving just the two of them. Her hand slid down his arm, feeling the strength beneath his tunic, and she pulled him closer.
Breaking the kiss for a moment, he looked into her eyes, his forehead resting against hers. "Alysanne..." he whispered, his voice barely audible. Her gaze was soft, filled with trust and affection, and she pressed her lips to his again, a little more insistent this time. He responded in kind, his hands traveling down to her waist, drawing her flush against him.
Time seemed to stop as they lost themselves in each other, the world outside fading into the background. The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more consuming. He could feel his pulse quicken, his heart racing. Yet, even in the heat of the moment, there was a tenderness—a shared understanding that this was more than just passion. The connection, an intimacy that had grown between them over time, and even kissing felt more passionate. Even if they had done more than kissing.
When they finally pulled away, both breathless and flushed. With Alysanne smiling, her cheeks a rosy pink. "You always know how to take my breath away," she murmured, brushing her fingers against his jawline.
He smiled back, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths. "Well, I hope that was a good nameday kiss," he replied softly, leaning in for one more gentle kiss, one filled with the promise of many more moments like this. "Mmm, very," Alysanne replied.
"Will you stay here tonight? So we shall wake up together in dawn." He asked. "Yes, will help me out of my dress." She replied. He nodded and started to help unlash her dress. Soon, it fell down and revealed her smallclothes beneath.
"Come," He said, and he stepped into bed. Alysanne snuggled close to him. "I love you." He murmured as he gave another soft kiss. "I love you too." She replied. Not much later, they both drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 13: Robb Stark
Robb Stark (295 A.C. Twelvth moon)
Winterfell – Great Hall
He sat beside his father's right side as people came into the hall, and wish him well, and gave him gifts for his nameday. His three and ten nameday, and what meant he was close to becoming a man. Then his eyes lit up as Alys and her father came walking up. "My Lord," Lord Rickard said to his father., then the man turned to him, "Young Robb, Congratulations on your name. May we present this gift as a representation of our loyalty and bond to House Stark?" Lord Rickard nodded to his daughter. How unveiled a tapestry. With six wolves running under the Karstark White sun. 'mmm, six wolves, my father, and my siblings, and there was also a white one representing Jon.' Thinking of his brother brought sadness. This was the first time his brother wasn't here during his nameday. He thought sadly.
"Thank you, my lord, a wonderful gift. It will truly be a great addition to the décor of my chambers. Perhaps in the future, even in this great hall." He replied and gave Alys an extra smile. "Thank you, Young Robb. It was my daughter who came up with the idea of representing all the starks children and your lord father." Lord Rickard explained.
"Thank you, Alys, and also for including my brother Jon; he means a lot to me." He said, and Alys's smile brightened. "Thank you, Robb. I remembered that you told me you missed him." She replied. "Yes, I do." He said, giving her another warm smile.
"Speaking of Jon. I shall give you his gift. I received it three days, as well as a quest coming from Lord Reed's Household. I shall return in a moment." His father announced. As his father left, Alys and her father returned to their seats in the hall. "I wonder what Jon has for you. Don't think it's strange he hasn't returned any of our letters, yet he sent you a gift." Arya asked.
"Yeah, I feel the same. No letters so far, and I have tried to send at least one each moon. The same goes for you to the right." Arya nodded in response. "Mmm, odded. Yet I'm curious about what he sent me." He added.
Then his father came back, walking into the room. Holding in his hand a wrapped cloth behind him, another man was also walking. Someone he hadn't seen before. Also, holding something warped in cloth.
"Son may represent Jossell, a household guard of Lord Reed." He looked the man over. He was dressed in green from head to two, with only a black cloak hanging from his back. "Welcome, Jossell." He said. "My Lord." The man responded. "Jossell has brought the gifts with him. One is from Jon and Lord Reed himself, and he also has letters from all of us to make sure they arrive. Jon seemed to have received our letters and responded, but somehow, none had arrived so far. I shall give them to you all tomorrow." His father explained.
He let out a sigh of relief and heard Arya doing the same. 'Good, I thought Jon was maybe mad at me, and that's why he didn't write back or didn't care.' He thought, relieved.
"Well, Robb, here you have Jon's gift." His father said, and he unraveled the cloth. Underneath was a wonderful sword scabbed. With a leather, he had never seen before. Inside was a sword with a white wolf's pommel. "Wow," he said as his father gave him the sword and scabbed.
As he looked at the sword and felt the leather, he saw a note connected to it. He grabbed and opened the note and began to read.
'Dear brother,
Happy nameday, I hope you enjoy the gift.
This sword is a twin. I have one myself as well, but it has a grey wolf pommel. So we always hold and stand beside each other until the end.
As for the scabbed, it is made of Lizardlion leather, the one I hunted down myself a few moons ago.
Happy nameday, I hope to see you soon.
Your brother Jon.
"Jossell is true. My brother hunted a lizardlion. He says so in the note." He asked the man. Before the man could answer, Arya yelled. "Jon did what? Oh, that's so cool."
The room chuckled. "He did, my lord. It was a huge female. He even has a lizardlion pup now as a companion. It's truly a wonderous site to see." The man replied, smiling. Jossell even looked proud. 'Mmn, it seems my brother has integrated himself with crannogmen.' He thought.
"Well, that's amazing. My brother truly has outdone himself. Tell him if you see him again, I am grateful for the gift. That I miss my brother." He said. "I shall my lord. Speaking of which, may I present the gift of my lord?" Jossell asked, and he nodded.
Jossell untied the cloth, revealing a longbow. "The gift of lord Howland Reed. A Marsh-Oak bow they are the pride and joy of my people. My lord hopes your aim will be true when used in the future." Jossell proclaimed as he lay the bow on the table in front of him.
"Give Lord Reed my thanks and gratitude." He said. "I shall, my lord," Jossell said and bowed.
He admired the bow, running his fingers along the smooth wood. It was light but sturdy, and the craftsmanship was evident in every curve. "It's a beautiful bow," he said softly, imagining the skill it must take to make one so fine.
As Jossell bowed and stepped back, the Great Hall continued to hum with quiet conversations, but his mind was elsewhere. He thought about Jon, out in the Neck with the crannogmen, hunting lizardlions and raising one as a companion. It was hard to imagine his brother so far away, living a life that felt foreign to him now. But the sword—the twin to Jon's—was a reminder that no matter the distance, their bond remained unbroken.
Arya leaned closer, her voice low. "I wish we could see Jon. Imagine him with a lizardlion pup." She grinned, her grey eyes shining with mischief.
He smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. "One day, maybe. I just hope we all get to see each other again soon."
The feast continued, and more guests came to offer their gifts and well-wishes, but his mind lingered on Jon's letter and the sword by his side. The white wolf pommel caught the flickering firelight, and for a moment, he felt as if Jon was right there beside him.
Tomorrow, he'd read Jon's letters with his family, but tonight, he would hold on to the thought of his brother, their bond as strong as the steel in his hand.
"To family," he whispered under his breath, gripping the hilt of the sword.
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