13 Chapter 13

As Jon approached the Great Keep, he spotted Eddard, who was preparing to leave with a search party to find him. Without hesitation, Jon rushed in front of Eddard, urgently addressing him, "Lord Stark." Eddard, relieved to see Jon unharmed, took a deep breath to compose himself. Although inwardly relieved, he maintained a stern exterior, ready to play the role of a concerned parent scolding a wayward child.

Jon, finding it difficult to meet Eddard's eyes, gathered his courage and uttered, "Lord Stark, I wish to speak with you." Eddard nodded, indicating his willingness to listen, and Jon, aware of the prying eyes around them, requested, "Alone, Lord Stark." In response, Eddard signaled to the men gathered with him, instructing them to step aside. Despite the lingering gazes, Jon remained determined to speak privately with Eddard. Sensing Jon's hesitation, Eddard motioned for him to follow, stating, "Come with me." Jon hastened to keep pace with Eddard as they walked towards the Great Keep.

Finally, they arrived in an empty hall, and Eddard turned to face Jon, ready to hear what he had to say before potentially reprimanding him. Jon, grappling with the difficulty of addressing the situation, mustered his courage and addressed Eddard as "Uncle."

Eddard's expression shifted in response, and he even wondered if his ears were deceiving him. Just as Eddard was about to inquire, Jon continued, "I'm glad my mother has a brother like you. I couldn't imagine what you have gone through, uncle. You did let go of your pride to protect me; that's all I can ask from you." Eddard was taken aback by Jon's unexpected words. The secrets Eddard had planned to reveal to Jon were considered premature, as the truth could potentially ignite another war. In response, Eddard gently closed Jon's mouth and uttered, "Enough."

Jon looked at Eddard's face, which reflected genuine concern. Even Jon realized that he had spoken impulsively without much forethought. Acknowledging Jon's silence, Eddard withdrew his arm and let out a sigh.

After a few moments of silence, Eddard gazed at Jon, who seemed to be avoiding eye contact. "Jon," he began, his voice weighted with curiosity, "I wish to know how you came to learn of this." Eddard hoped against hope that his men hadn't betrayed him, wondering who else knew besides him and Howland Reed. Jon simply muttered, "God." Eddard, not hearing clearly, asked Jon to repeat himself. This time, Jon spoke louder, "God." Eddard's grip tightened on Jon's arms as he pressed, "How?"

Jon hesitated before confessing, "I met him." Eddard probed further, "Who?" Finally, Jon revealed, "Xerneas." Eddard, puzzled, echoed, "Xerneas?" Jon clarified, "One of the Old Gods." Eddard's emotions churned with complexity as he processed this revelation. Sensing Eddard's inner turmoil, Jon stated his purpose, "I'm leaving." This declaration snapped Eddard back to the present, prompting him to inquire, "Where?" Jon replied simply, "Where my God wants." Eddard, unsure of what to make of it all, asked, "Why does he want you?" Jon met Eddard's troubled gaze and replied, "I have a destiny to fulfill." Despite his disbelief, Eddard couldn't deny Jon's sincerity or the existence of God, having witnessed firsthand the miracles of the divine. He asked again, troubled, "What were you saying?".

As Eddard remained unconvinced, Jon hesitated before directly addressing him, "Lord Stark, I am not a Bastard nor a Stark. I am Aegon Targaryen of House Targaryen." Eddard, feeling a twinge of irritation, retorted, "Still, you have Stark blood running through you." Jon smiled at Eddard's response and affirmed, "I do." Eddard stepped back, turning away as he asserted, "You are not leaving." Jon's voice, fading, replied, "I do." When Eddard turned to respond, Jon was nowhere in sight, prompting him to shout, "Jon, come back!" Meanwhile, Jon raced toward the stables to secure a horse for his departure. Eddard emerged from the Great Keep and ordered his men to capture and detain Jon, despite their confusion. By the time they acted, Jon was already on a horse, heading towards the Hunters' Gate. He wanted to bid farewell to his siblings and possibly Catelyn as well, but he doubted he would have the chance.

As Jon approached the Hunters' Gate, it began to close, and the sound of bells rang out. Undeterred, Jon urged his horse to run faster, narrowly escaping the closing gate. He glanced back at the gate, then took a deep breath before focusing ahead. A sense of freedom washed over him, akin to that of a wolf roaming the wild. However, his sense of freedom was short-lived as he noticed horsemen trailing him, rapidly closing in as he approached the forest.

Surprisingly, just as the horsemen drew near, hundreds of wolves emerged from the depths of the forest, ready to defend Jon. They leaped forward, deterring the approaching men and giving Jon the chance to escape deeper into the woods. Jon was astonished by the sudden appearance of the aggressive wolves, but his horse remained steadfast, knowing its assignment.

Looking back, Jon watched as the wolves bravely confronted the horsemen, creating a barrier to delay their pursuit. The horsemen, bewildered by the unexpected intervention of the wolf pack, hesitated as they watched Jon disappear into the depths of the forest, beyond their reach.

Jon continued glancing back periodically as he rode through the forest. A smile gradually spread across his face, lifted by the sense of liberation. His joy deepened when he noticed a mother direwolf pacing alongside the horse, sharing the same direction. The sight warmed his heart.

However, amid the excitement, Jon's thoughts turned contemplative. Uncertainty clouded his mind as he realized he had no clear idea of what awaited him next. All he possessed was the spirit of newfound freedom. The horse galloped onward until it reached the location where Xerneas awaited their arrival.

Back in Winterfell, Eddard Stark received the news of his men's failure to intercept Jon, and the unusual circumstances left him in silence. He made his way towards the Godswood, treading the cracked rock path until he stood before the Weirwood tree. Facing the ancient tree, he muttered with a sense of questioning destiny, "Why him?"