Chapter Text

Day 24

Jon woke up with new motivation, shoving the feelings of hatred he had developed for Hoster Tully to the back of his mind as he walked to his desk.

It was the last letter he took out, slowly opening it before reading it.

“Dear Jon,

I’m sorry for the abrupt end of the last letter, but I really had to calm myself down.

The topic is still one that causes me a lot of pain, and I hope you might understand that I had no other option: it was either the marriage, or certain death for myself, my family, and my friends. Even so, what worried me the most was that they might even find you and your mother. I couldn’t risk either of you getting hurt.

You know how the rebellion ended, and I won’t tell you all of that again — it would only waste your time.

After I went to Dorne and found your aunt dying in her birthing bed — still clutching a stillborn daughter to her chest — I rode to your mother’s home. I was sad and exhausted, but I couldn’t have known what awaited me there.

Your uncle had awaited me with you in his arms. He wasn’t angry at me, and he didn’t blame me: he understood I had had to do what was needed to save my family.

It broke my heart to find out that your mother had jumped into the sea from the tallest tower of her home. For days her family had searched for her body, but they couldn’t find it. At some point they had given up, assuming your mother had died and was washed away by the sea.

Maybe they had given up too fast, or searched in the wrong places: I don’t know it yet, but I will find out the truth, my son.

I look forward to finally seeing you and your siblings again tomorrow. Make sure everything is prepared.

Love,

Father”

A tear rolled down Jon’s cheek, but he brushed it away. His father was still searching for the truth, and Jon was sure he wouldn’t rest before he found it.

With a sigh he got up. His clothes should be waiting for him with the seamstresses, and Maester Luwin wanted to check his toe once more before his father was back.