Chapter 459

What do I think?

Jon Snow found himself speechless.

This matter could be interpreted in completely different ways depending on perspective. Daenerys fought alongside the Night’s Watch with her dragons, and in return, the Night’s Watch supported her claim to the Iron Throne. The arrangement was mutually beneficial, reasonable, and fair. A win-win scenario—or so it seemed.

But the problem was simple: the Night’s Watch, or more specifically, the Lord Commander, had no authority to make such a deal.

Aegor might hold lord-like power over the Gift and the Wall, but he wasn’t a true lord. He didn’t “own” the land he ruled. By extension, his legal rights were inferior to even those of a landed knight. He had no legitimate power to align the Gift with any faction.

By swearing fealty to Daenerys, Aegor had violated his sacred oath and broken the Watch’s neutrality—a crime with no justification. What could Jon say to defend that?

His thoughts tangled. As a volunteer recruit driven by a sense of honor, Jon had joined the Night’s Watch prepared to spend a lifetime guarding the Wall. By all accounts, he should have been among the most vocal critics of Aegor’s overreach. Yet here he was, standing in a meeting meant to provide the North with insider information to undermine Aegor, and instead finding himself defending him.

Why?

Part of it was personal loyalty and admiration for Aegor, forged through their shared service. But there was another reason, one that complicated Jon’s thoughts every time he looked at Daenerys: she was family.
----


The revelation came nearly a month ago, on one of the Wall’s typical cold, gray days. Lady Catelyn Stark, visiting the Wall to inspire the Night’s Watch, had stopped at Castle Black as part of her tour. As Jon was technically her husband’s illegitimate son, he had arranged for his steward and officers to receive her instead of greeting her himself. Yet, to his surprise, she insisted on seeing him personally.

Reluctantly, Jon agreed. When they met, Lady Stark’s demeanor was uncharacteristically kind—far removed from the cold indifference she had shown him throughout his life. Alone in the hall, she took his hand in hers, her grip trembling as she revealed a truth that changed his world forever.

Jon Snow was not Eddard Stark’s bastard. He was Lyanna Stark’s son, born of her union with Rhaegar Targaryen, the Mad King’s heir. His true name was Aegon Targaryen.

Bran Stark had seen the truth through the weirwoods and relayed it to Catelyn. Wracked with guilt over how poorly she had treated Jon, her nephew rather than her husband’s illegitimate son, Catelyn chose to tell him the truth, hoping to ease her conscience.

Jon was stunned. Learning that his blood tied him not just to House Stark but also to House Targaryen had shifted his perspective on everything. His feelings toward Daenerys, in particular, grew more complicated. She was no longer just the “Dragon Queen” but his aunt—the only living person who shared his Targaryen bloodline. Even without this familial connection, her bravery, compassion for her followers, and noble qualities stood in stark contrast to the rumors that painted her as the “Mad King’s daughter.”

Should he reveal his identity to her? And if so, how, when, and where?

Jon hadn’t yet found answers to these questions, but a more immediate problem had arisen. Two great houses, Stark and Targaryen, stood at the brink of war. Jon felt torn between them, unsure how to act to prevent disaster.
----


Under the sharp eyes of the gathered Northern lords and ladies, Jon struggled to form coherent thoughts. His mind raced. No, I can’t freeze now. Not at this crucial moment.

He tried to recall Aegor’s teachings. Once, Aegor had advised him that when confronted with an argument he couldn’t win, the best tactic was to change the topic entirely.

Robb had asked for Jon’s opinion on Aegor’s betrayal of his oath. What could he say about an act that was so clearly wrong? Trying to justify Aegor’s actions on that front would only lead to failure. The best course of action was to shift the conversation to another angle.

Gathering his composure, Jon began hesitantly, “I heard that when the queen arrived at Crown Town with her dragons, ready to join the Gift’s forces in pursuing the White Walkers, she publicly demanded Aegor swear loyalty to her before she would join the battle…”

Lady Barbrey Dustin scoffed. “And yet that boy swore an oath to the Night’s Watch first. Any subsequent vows to the Mad King’s daughter are null and void.”

Jon countered, “Who decides which oaths are valid when two vows conflict? Are you suggesting that after the queen lost one of her dragons helping the Watch win the war, Aegor should have turned around and said, ‘Thanks for your sacrifice, but your claim to my loyalty was invalid. You can go home now’?”

Robb interjected, his tone measured. “Keeping his promise to the queen is understandable, Jon, but his actions have strayed from his duty and are now endangering the North’s interests. We can’t overlook the threat he poses just because he’s kept his word.”

Jon felt a glimmer of hope. His tactic of shifting the discussion had worked; the room’s attention was now focused on the North’s interests rather than Aegor’s broken vows. “Aegor’s only request is for the North to grant him passage south so he can fulfill his commitment to the queen. Is that truly a significant threat to the North?”

Lord Hayward Tallhart retorted sharply, “Letting the Watch abandon their post and march south to fight for the Mad King’s daughter isn’t a threat? And what of the road south? They’ll have to march through Winterfell and other key fortresses. What if they attack? Even if they don’t, they’ll need to pass through the Riverlands, loyal to King Stannis. Do we let them suffer while aiding Aegor?”

Jon faltered under the barrage of questions, but he pressed on. “Yes, there are risks, but we’re discussing what’s in the North’s best interest. We have two choices: allow Aegor to pass or oppose him. Which option better protects the North?”

He paused only briefly, determined to keep control of the narrative. “Granting passage would be an embarrassment, perhaps, but it avoids unnecessary conflict. And let’s not forget, the North is vast—too vast for Aegor and Daenerys to conquer easily. They’d have to commit months to such a campaign, leaving them vulnerable elsewhere.”

“And what of refusal?” Jon continued. “The Gift’s forces aren’t weak—they just defeated the White Walkers and have a dragon on their side. Militarily, we’d face heavy losses. And even if we sought to outwit Aegor, he’s proven himself a master strategist. I mean no disrespect, but do we truly believe we could outmaneuver him?”

Rickard Karstark erupted in anger. “That boy only became Lord Commander because the North allowed it! If Stannis’s candidate hadn’t withdrawn, Aegor wouldn’t even hold his title. And now, his threats are forcing us into a corner?”

Before Jon could respond, Lord Glover interjected. “Enough, Karstark! Let the boy speak. Or are you still shaken from losing Last Hearth to a dragon?” He glanced around the room. “We’ve shed enough blood. If letting Aegor and his queen march south keeps the North out of this mess, I say we grant it. Better to save our strength than squander it on a fight we might not win.”

Other lords murmured in agreement, though dissenting voices still lingered. The room had devolved into chaotic debate—pro-war and anti-war factions trading barbs.
----


In the shadows, Roose Bolton quietly observed. The North isn’t as united as I’d hoped, he thought. Jon’s unexpected loyalty to Aegor had stirred something dangerous. The anti-war faction had gained traction, fueled by a weariness for conflict and Glover’s rhetoric.

Bolton’s sharp eyes settled on Robb Stark, whose contemplative expression betrayed his uncertainty. If Robb aligns with the anti-war faction, my plans will crumble. The North can’t remain passive. I must act.

Bolton’s lips curled into a thin smile. War will come. One way or another.