The bitter night air stung at her skin. It was an odd and unfamiliar feeling. It was unlike the slow continuous cold that slowly froze bone and blood and lulled many a man into a gentle, endless sleep. It was more like a wild, starved animal one that gnawed bit at its prey until the body simply could not carry on and succumb to its icy fangs.
No matter how big a fire you lit or what clothes you wore this far North the cold reigned supreme. She reflected briefly on what the teachings of the red priests, how their God fought to liberate the world from darkness and cold.
'You certainly lost the battle up here' she thought darkly as she pulled her cloak slightly tighter around her small frame.
As bad as the cold was, there was a peacefulness in its vast tundra and frigid woods, a harsh beauty and brutal serenity, a far contrast to the blood soaked nest of betrayal and death that was the South. 'It is a wonder that any remains' she thought, without bitterness or blame but with an immense sadness that almost threatened to overwhelm her. The smallfolk that lay dead in their burnt fields, the lone soldier bleeding to death, while his comrades lay still around him. 'They do not look very different when they are dead' she realised 'Lannister's, Bolton's, Baratheon's, Tyrells, and … Targaryen's all the same' it was a sombre thought.
She had led them across the sea to the sunset kingdoms, to claim what was rightly hers. They could not land the ships anywhere below the Neck for the war for the Iron Throne waged to fiercely along the coast for miles. They had to go north very far north. 'It is fitting' she had thought when the ships had made land within site of the Wall, 'We will sweep Westeros from top to bottom'. But she had been a different Women then, much younger more full of hope, a Women who had not seen a true war. True Horror. -
Her Dragons had not minded the cold when they landed, if anything they had glowed hotter, delicate snowflakes melting of their scales as they touched. It was to be a grand entrance into EastWatch by the sea, the triumphant return of the rightful heir to the throne. It had been anything but.
The handful of ragged black brothers had looked upon her procession of Unsullied, Dothraki, freedmen and sell swords with sullen eyes. Even her dragons did not garner the attention she had hoped for. Granted a few of the crows had stood with mouths agape and eyes wide with astonishment and no small degree of fear, the rest had simply looked impassive as Drogon landed atop the wall. 'We've seen the true monsters' their deathly silence seemed to say 'We've seen the true doom of this world'.
"This is Queen Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen" Ser Jorah had bellowed once the procession of soldiers had stopped," She is the rightful Queen and heir to the Iron Throne"
"Aye" cried out a voice in black," We know who she is."
"You will address the queen" he stressed the word," as 'Your Grace' or 'Your Highness'"
The black brother simply grunted," What would 'Her Grace' want with the lowly likes of us" he said, his mocking tone dripped from every syllable.
"I would speak with your Lord Commander" Dany spoke with her own voice "and ask for his hospitallit-"She got no further.
"We're not an Inn for fugitive royals." The man spoke with a strange flatness," Unless you and your army are going to sit atop that damned Wall and help us 'Guard the Realms of men' I suggest that you take your dragons and your army and bugger off"
Dany could practically hear Mormont fuming with indignation, she decided to adopt a more peaceful route," And what your name be" she inquired of the outspoken Brother.
"Me?" he replied sarcastically," I'm just the cattle thief who slays the risen dead and makes sure that you nobles can go on playing your bloody Game of Thrones in peace."
"I could have your head if I so choose." She replied coldly
The man let loose a bitter laugh," With all due respect, I'd simply get right back up"
The awkward silence continued for some time until the man finally broke it," Name's Cotter Pyke" he said simply," I'll send message to Lord Snow that you've arrived."
Drogon suddenly roared from atop the Wall but Pyke didn't even grunt," With that racket going on" he jerked his thumb upwards," he probably already knows."
Her army inland marched inland from the ocean following the gargantuan Wall towards its centre, where the tumbled ruins of the Watch's greatest 'stronghold' lay. That had not surprised her, Jorah had told her that the Night's watch was less than a shadow of its once great strength.
What had surprised her was the young commander of the Crows, he was dark of hair and eyes. He was pale, not the pale of a fair skin like she was but pale as if the very blood had frozen in his veins. Ser Jorah had hissed behind her when he saw the Young man, Dany did not need to be told why, from what she had heard of him this boy was the spitting image of Eddard Stark. The man who had exiled Jorah for Slaving. Yet there was something about the way that the leader of the Nights Watch had carried himself that suggested that, despite his relative youth, he was burdened by almost a lifetime of memories and thoughts. Burdened by those he had lost, burdened by those he had yet to lose.
He had spoken to her with a stiff courtesy "Your Grace" he had bowed, "The wall is yours." He had said before stalking off as if she was a simple peasant who had wanted to stay the night. Dany did not need to be told why, her brother had kidnapped his aunt and her father had burnt his uncle and grandfather alive but it still chastised her nonetheless.
"Insolent boy isn't he" Jorah had remarked, Daenerys simply said nothing
It was later that afternoon when Dany crossed paths with the Lord Commander again. This time however he had brought two of his black clad men, riding atop black mounts. 'A gloomy colour to fit a gloomy life' she thought as the small procession approached her command tent, where her army had made their camp, outside the ruinous castle. She had thought it best not to try antagonize the Crows further by trying to take up residence in one of the towers, at least not yet.
The new arrivals to her camp finally dismounted, she could tell that the two lieutenants were looking at Rhaegal dozing peacefully on a snowless patch of ground while his brethren ranged up and down the wall, but The Bastard of Winterfell's brown eyes never left her Violet ones.
He spoke to the Dragon Queen in his Northern accent," Your Grace" he said respectfully giving a formal bow, his men did not even indicate that they had seen. He wore a near identical garb to that of all the other Black Brothers she had seen nothing stood out about him, bar the Wolf pommel sword at his belt.
Dany gestured towards the open tent flap, an indication that she wanted to take the conversation out of the cold. He gave a small nod and signalled the two men to remain outside. Dany graciously stepped within the warmer confines of the tent and he had followed suit. Within the tent a table and some chairs had been set up. They sat down.
"I must apologise for my conduct in the yard earlier Your Grace" he began, "You've come at a ah difficult time" he said carefully. She could see that he was choosing his words. "Stannis Baratheon broke his camp and marched for Winterfell not a fortnight ago, after I had allowed him the Watch's hospitality." He paused slightly," This has not made the most popular commander amongst the men, that and the fact that we will soon be settling the wildlings upon the Gift- "
"The wildlings?!" the Queen reacted with no small degree of shock " My advisor told me that the Night's Watch and the Wilding's have been at war for centuries and now to give them land! South of the Wall no less, no wonder the men are dubious of your command" She winced slightly internally. 'That sounded harsh' she had thought. She expected that he would be offended or at least show some form of emotion, however, he surprised her once again.
His face remained impassive, but his eyes grew clouded, as if he was seeing something that Dany could not.
"Times are changing, Your Grace" he said evenly," and so are seasons, Winter is Coming, and something is coming with it, something far worse than wildlings"
There they were she thought, the infamous Stark words. Words that did not boast, threaten or impress. They were words that promised of darker, harder times ahead. Despite the Woollen travelling fleece and pants she was wearing, Deanery's felt a shiver move down her spine.
In Meeren she had simply laughed at tails of Wight's and Other's and seen them as folklore, a tail designed to frighten children, but here, at the end of the World, in the shadow of the Wall, those once seemingly benign tails seemed much harder to just dismiss.
"You know of what I speak" He said not asking, but telling her. He stood. "When the dead march on the Wall and the sun hides its face behind black clouds and impenetrable snows, we are all that stands between them and the rest of the world, a thin line of black to guard a realm." He looked Daenerys directly the eyes, she could see the intensity in his," When that time comes' Your Grace' it won't matter who is sitting atop the Throne, all that will matter is who is brave… and who is dead"
He strode past her to the flap of the tent, he turned towards her briefly," I'll send a wagon of supplies this evening, as a token of … goodwill." He said before vanishing into the blizzard outside.
Daenerys sat at the table long after he had left, pondering the things she'd heard. She heard Ser Barristan slips into the tent.
"What's his name?" she asked as the old knight took a seat at the table.
"They call him the Bastard of Winterfell, but his name is Jon, Jon Snow" He replied.
"What can you tell me of him" She said, with her head resting on her palm gazing down at the table.
"I didn't find much" Ser Barristan conceded, "but I did find something of interest Your Grace."
"Go on" she said.
"It appears, from what I have gathered from the men that while on a mission beyond the Wall Lord Snow took a wildling girl into his bed, she was later killed during the attack on castle Black and he refuses to speak of her."
Dany knew that pain, she knew the feeling of losing someone, her husband and later Daario had both died. It was not a pleasant experience to say the least.
"A wagon should arrive tonight. See to it that everything is distributed to those in need." She said, finally turning to face him.
Ser Barristan nodded and left the Queen to her thoughts.
When Jon arrived back at Castle Black, he managed to successfully use the cover of the blizzard to avoid the no doubt 'inquisitive' brothers and slip quietly into his quarters. It was bad enough after all the trouble with Stannis and the Wildlings, but to have another army and monarch, lest not forget the dragons, camped outside the small Castle might be too much for some of the Night's Watch. What would they say about him in the history books he wondered? Would they speak of the bastard who rose high or the boy who had broken his vows?
Jon hadn't exactly been shocked when he heard the news of the Targaryen Queens arrival. The entire realm seemed to be trying to tear itself apart, that another player had joined the fray concerned Jon very little. He had no more stake in the game, nothing to lose, not anymore.
That night dinner proved to be an interesting affair.
After the plates had more-or-less been emptied, and the chatter died down, Jon stood to address his brothers.
"If you've got a pair of working eyes, you'll probably have noticed that an army began putting up tents around Castle Black." There were a number of grumbles but otherwise the hall quietened.
"Now, just to dispel any rumours you might've heard" Jon said," It is indeed the Last Targaryen who is camped beyond our battlements. Now I don't need to remind you that we still have a duty to protect and serve the Realm, so I don't want anyon-"
Pyp's hand suddenly shot up, Jon gave him the signal to speak, "With all due respect, Lord Commander, could you please tell these people that are job isn't to feed, clothe and shelter them we barely have enough for our own!"
Jon replied," They have brought their own food, drink and supplies we need not give them anything."
This time it was Dolorous Edd that spoke up," And how long do you think those wagon's of food will last Sir, how long do you think it'll be before they come knocking for ' just a few rolls spare' and before you know it the cellars empty."
"I'll speak to the Queen Tomorrow. I'll tell her that she and her army can't stay more than a few months."
Jon felt sure that he could sense a change in the atmosphere when he'd mentioned the 'Queen'. He could see that many of them had heard of the young Targaryen girls beauty and wished to simply 'look' upon it themselves. 'I must tread carefully here' Jon thought. All it would take was for one of his men to act 'inappropriately' and she would have a reason and means to burn down castle black. 'I won't be another Northern victim of Dragon fire' Jon thought. 'I know I'm not to die by fire' he thought grimly.
The next morning dawned clear and cloudless, a far cry to the heavy Blizzard that swept across the Wall just a few days ago. Jon felt a heavy, extra weight on his bed and immediately realised what it was. Ghost lay curled up at his master's feet, eyes closed but still alert, he made for quite the guard dog. Jon knew that he should scold the Wolf and tell him to get off, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it, not this morning. Instead he gave the Wolf a good stroking down his back. Ghost opened his red eyes and sat up before jumping off the bed and keening at the door. Big dogs were still just dogs at heart, Jon supposed before letting Ghost out.
He remembered that he had another meeting with the Queen today and decided to dress as simply as he had yesterday. With any luck the meeting would be finished before midday, he had logistics to pour over, Jon thought gloomily.
Jon was greeted by a brisk but thankfully clear morning, he could hear Castle Black coming to life around him and behind that the sounds of the camp where his destination lay. Jon decided against taking the horses into what would now be a complete slurry of melted snow and ice in the camp and instead opted to travel on foot with his two aids.
The brothers stuck out like a sore thumb in the camp, despite the cold of the Wall seemingly having the ability to sap most colours the camp was vibrant, exotic and colourful. 'Disciplined too' Jon noted with silent approval. Especially the Grey clad spearmen.
The Queens tent was set up almost in the middle of the camp. It was larger and more regal in appearance than the other temporary dwellings of the camp. The Targaryen waited for Jon by the covered entrance to the tent. She too wore similar garb to their previous meeting except now with the addition of a fur cloak.
"Good morning your Grace." He said bowing as naturally as he could. He could almost hear Ygritte laughing at him, he'd become a kneeler, first to Stannis Baratheon and now to this foreign queen, her lost was like an old wound. It never healed. 'You haven't learned anything Jon Snow' he thought as he rose and spoke to the Queen
"I trust the night wasn't too hard. The Northern weather can be very harsh on newcomers." He said, trying to keep his pride out of his voice. No matter what, the North was his home, no matter who sat the iron throne would change that. 'The Others might' spoke a voice within Jon's head. A voice that grew stronger every day.
"The night was uneventful." The Queen replied offhandedly as if she'd detected the note of pride in his voice. She indicated that they move inside and Jon again ordered his men to stand watch.
Daenerys watched as for the second day in a row, Jon Snow climbed into her tent and took a seat at the table. She moved around and took her own seat. His face was completely impassive again, she thought that she had heard something in his voice outside that might've passed for pride here in the North, but by now any trace of that was gone.
"Your Grace" he began," Unfortunately due to our dwindled food stores, we will not be able to provide your army with any rations should your own food supply run dry."
"Fear not Lord Snow, we should not be here more than a few months, we will let the war take its course before we decide to march. We should have ample rations to last six months." She replied. They discussed matters of supplies for a while before Jon rose from his chair
"Thank you, if that is all I will take my leave." He said formally,
"Tell me about your father Jon Snow" She said suddenly trying to catch him off guard. His face didn't change but she could now sense a guarded look in his eyes as if his mental shields had gone up. He turned to face her but didn't sit back down.
"Why would you want to know that?" He said carefully.
"If I am to rule over these lands one day, I must know the people and the rulers who have preceded me."
He sat back down," My father was a good man, just, caring and honourable."
"An honourable man, who rose against his rightful King?" She said raising a quizzical eyebrow.
"The same King who demanded his head on a pike shortly after killing his father and brother." Jon replied coldly.
"He was still his King." Daenerys said with a trace of heat in her voice.
"He was insane." Jon said flatly," He burnt men alive for amusement and tried to ensure that all of Kings Landing perished with him. I doubt he even knew right from wrong towards the end."
She stood up suddenly, starring daggers at Jon with her violet eyes ," You are referring to when the Lannister he called a guard opened his throat."
"I have no love for the Lannister's, but can you say with conviction that it didn't need to be done?" Jon said rising from his seat as well.
"Who the hell do you think you are, to talk to me like that!?" She yelled at him. Anger clearly evident on her face.
He simply stared at the enraged Queen and in a voice that could freeze the Summer Sea," I'm just a bastard your Grace I don't know anything." He made as if to leave but before he stepped outside "When you decide to march on Winterfell, Your Grace, don't forget that the North Remembers."
She simply stared at the back of his head fuming at his arrogance, her fists were tightly balled and pressed against the table. 'Damn him' she thought' him and his whole bloody country can burn in hell'. She realised that she was shaking in rage. 'Why do you care what some baseborn, traitors son thinks, you're the Mother of Dragons' it was a question she couldn't quiet answer.
Grenn looked at Jon as he stepped out of the tent, with no dragons around to occupy his attention today, he had clearly heard at least some part of the heated exchange. "Later" Jon told him quietly.
"Is she mad?" he persisted," Mad like her father?"
"Later Grenn" Jon said with force. Grenn simply shrugged. No one said a word the rest of the way back to Castle Black.
For three days Jon waited, waited for dragons to swoop from above and burn his home to the ground. For three days all that happened was a few more grumbles from the Crows about Wildlings and foreigners. Jon didn't regret his actions, he would be damned if he let anyone, even her, speak ill of his father, but he did concede that he had been perhaps a bit harsh on the young queen. 'It doesn't matter about what you think now the damage is done'. He had kept Ghost by his side since the confrontation, he found comfort in having the silent wolf by his side though he seriously doubted if Ghost could provide a match for a dragon.
However, when the Queen finally did show what her reaction was, it was not one of blood and fire but rather an olive branch of peace, delivered to Jon but none other than Barristan Selmy himself.
Ghost had pricked his ears at the man's approach, Jon had turned to face the man who was a living legend across the Seven Kingdoms.
Selmy had strolled right through the yard of castle Black up to Jon.
"Her Grace, Queen Daenerys Stormborn, requests a meeting with you tomorrow evening." He said calmly.
Jon tried hard not to keep his mouth from falling open.
"Did her Grace s…say why she wishes such a meeting?" he finally stammered, thoroughly shocked.
"No, she didn't." The old knight replied, "But I do believe that it has something to do with what … transpired the other day." He raised an eyebrow.
"Does she expect an apology from me?" he inquired, cautiously.
"I suppose that you'll just have to ask her yourself." He said, eyeing Jon curiously," Good day to you Lord Snow." He said before walking away.
Jon paced up and down his chambers for much of the next day, what would the history books say about him? The Lord Commander who let the wildlings through the Wall and entertained the dragons.
The sun had fallen low in the sky by the time Jon realised that the day had slipped away from him. With a slight sigh he stopped his pondering and forced himself to get ready for his meeting with the Queen.
She had asked her attendants to try and keep fire pits lit throughout the camp, in order to try and keep the incessant cold at bay. It wasn't that there was a shortage of wood, far from it actually, but the incessant snows and midnight blizzards constantly doused the flames in slush.
Daenerys wore simple clothes beneath her thick fur coat, she had quickly learned that in the North practicality always won over aesthetics. However, she still took time to adorn and braid her platinum hair. She thought ahead to her next meeting with The Lord Crow, she hoped that it didn't go as badly as the last one, she winced slightly at the memory. It wasn't that she wasn't still angry at the words he had said, but she had learnt something very important from the encounter: The northerners were honourable, fiercely loyal and not the type who forgave easily, she would have to remember that during her journey south.
She would have to try and find a way to appease the realm, to show them that she wasn't anything like her father. 'Starting with tonight' she thought. She wasn't sure why she had called for a meeting with Lord Snow especially after his words had nearly warranted treason last time. She reasoned that if she could convince him that she truly was the best candidate for Queen, then she could convince anyone.
When she left the confines of her tent she was greeted by Ser Barristan, four unsullied soldiers and the bitter cold. The Soldiers maintained a respectful distance around her and Ser Barristan as trudged towards Castle Black in the watery moonlight.
He didn't ask her about the meetings purpose and they hardly spoke, but she felt reassured by his presence nonetheless.
Lord Snow greeted them at the unofficial 'entrance' to castle black flanked by two of his own men, even from a distance she noticed the guarded stance he took and as the two groups converged it became clear to her that he too had not forgotten their last meeting.
He spoke first," Beg your pardon your Grace, but I've arranged for us to sup in the Kings Tower as, despite its appearance, it is far more befitting than the armoury."
"Lead the way, Lord Snow." She replied.
He led the party to an oaken door and gestured for them to move inside. Daenerys in an attempt to off-balance the young Lord Commander ordered her guards, bar Ser Barristan, to remain outside. Almost reluctantly he ordered his men to do the same.
The tower interior was a welcome change from the cold but it was drafty nonetheless. The dinner was nothing exquisite but it might have passed as a banquet among the Crows. The air was tense and awkward as both sides tried to carefully step around the elephant in the room. In order to break the ice Dany brought up the topic of The War of the Five Kings and how it affected the realm. She sensed that this too was a personal topic for Snow but they were able to at least agree on certain points.
She gleaned that the death of his brother had been hard for him and that he was closer to his family than he cared to mention. She tried to empathise but found she could not, she had only ever had Viserys for family and he was…. Difficult.
Eventually when the food was finished and Ser Barristan had seemingly come to the conclusion that Jon would not try to poison his Queen, he took his leave, saying that he wished to meet with Ser Allister Thorne to discuss the situation at Wall, leaving the two virtually alone.
Eventually after a prolonged silence, she spoke directly to him.
"What's it like on the Wall?" she was curious and didn't wish to enter into another shouting match with him.
He replied simply and rather flatly, "Cold."
She gave a snort of laughter, before rising from her seat," Show me."
His eyes widened in surprise, "What… what would you like to see your grace?"
She took some small pleasure in finally having caught him off guard, "The Wall."
His mouth hung open for a while before he responded," At this …. At this time of night?"
"Yes." She answered simply.
He finally seemed to have regained some of his composure, "But, your Grace, why?" there was a hint of suspicion in his voice now but he finally rose from his chair.
"I wish to see the edge of the Kingdom that my ancestors ruled." She carefully avoided saying 'my father'. As she strode towards the door, wondering if Lord Snow was even following her. He bloody well better be she thought.
Snow easily matched her step as she strode across the courtyard. Her cowl drawn up against the incessant oppression of the weather. Four Unsullied guardsmen followed at a respectful distance. Dany did not feel afraid, she told herself that her fear had died long ago. Died with her unborn child. The odd pair moved in silence towards the cage that would carry them to the top, Dany had considered using Drogon to get her to the top of the wall, but her control of the beast was tenuous at best, and she would look a right fool if he simply refused to move once she mounted him.
The ride to the top was nerve racking, not because she feared heights, but because the cage rattled and shook with every breath. She noticed that Snow didn't notice the constant swaying and rattling, his eyes had a faraway look in them, and the silence between them stretched the journey to almost agonizing length. The two guards who joined them made the cage cramped. Dany was sure the weight of four people would send the rickety box plummeting to its doom.
A few fires burnt at sporadic intervals around them, but the Wall was shrouded in silence.
"Follow me" Snow told her simply, leading her and her small escort away from the small number of Crows who hung about the area like shadows.
He marched further than expected, beyond the point where the torch light flickered out. They marched in Darkness for a while, until finally he came to a guttering bracketed torch and halted, he glanced briefly at the Guards and Dany signalled them to take up a watch position at a distance on either side. Snow turned to her.
"Look out there" he gestured to the darkness beyond "What do you see?" his voice was soft.
"Nothing, it's just shadows out there" she suddenly felt struck by the immensity of uncharted land that lay beyond the Wall, land of mystery and magic.
"Ay not one living thing is out there yet still that Darkness is coming for us, an army larger and more powerful than any that has existed before"
Up there at the end of the world, she believed, she believed the resignation in his voice, the acceptance of failure in his tone. She believed in what caused it.
"I have dragons, I have an army. When I'm Queen I'll send thousands to hold the wall"
"Send your dragons, send your armies, your legions of followers. It doesn't matter, it's hopeless. Even if every man, women and child in the world manned this wall, it wouldn't matter" He looked at her with eyes that had lost everything. She saw a man who had lost his home, family and worst his reason to continue, his motivation to get up. She saw a broken man.
"We can't stop what's coming" he finished quietly.
"What is coming, Jon Snow?"
"The End." He replied simply.
"I think you doubt the power of Dragons their breath is molte-"
"Don't you fucking get it? Burn ten thousand and thirty thousand will rise out of the dirt to take their place, no matter what we do, how many of those creatures we destroy, it doesn't mean shit. The Others have been preserving the dead for over a thousand years, keeping them ready under the snow until they call them, slay a million and it'll be a small setback for them. Nothing more. It's over" He pointed South of the Wall "they just don't know it yet."
Jon realised that it had all been a show, a farce. All his talk of being brave and confronting the horror beyond the Wall was just that, talk. In his heart of hearts he knew that he had given up a long time ago, he kept on doing what he did, because he didn't know what else to do. There was nothing else to do but continue even if he knew it was pointless.
His acceptance of defeat and hopelessness in his voice shocked her. He had been beaten, in his mind the battle was already lost. He looked over the edge and gazed into that endless void of blackness beyond the wall. He seemed to take half a step forward, a step towards the edge. Her hand shot out and grabbed his wrist.
'Gods he was about to jump wasn't he' she thought alarmed. Slowly he turned and looked at her. There was no suicidal madness in his eyes, no fevered delusion. Just acceptance and, despite her belief that her fear had died, that terrified her.
"You can't give up, those men down there believe in you, they trust in you."
"Most of them want to kill me" he said flatly, "You should ride south Your Grace, play your game of thrones while you still can. With luck the dead won't reach the South for years, decades even. You could grow old down there, raise a family, make a home and enjoy the warmth while it lasts, but up here" he gave his head a slight shake.
"This, this world of cold, ice and snow." He gestured around.
"It's no country for the Old."
So while I'd love to say that I'm going to update this regularly I know, that even though I'd like to, life can get very busy very quickly. If you'd like me to continue drop a review letting me know how I can improve and what you thought of the story.