3 years later.
Late in the third year of winter, the snow had finally stopped, the wind didn't chill your bones the way it used to, and they were finally able to see some green in the forest, from the view above the wall. The nights watch had grown, from the mere 50 men, survivors of the Great War, to the newly and unprecedented 900 men, all stationed across the wall, and in some posts now and for the first time beyond the wall, in the Hunted Forest, Hard home, and the last all the way to Thenn.
Lord Tyrion, Hand of the King, had once said that the world will always need a place for bastards and broken things, and that had hold true, but when the common people heard that one of heroes of the Great War, the brother of Kings and Queens, the man who was now known as the best swordsman in the Six kingdoms and the North, a men so honorable, he would sacrifice his love for the good of the people, was again named Lord Commander of the Nights Watch, hundreds of men joined the Nights Watch, hoping to train under him, and be ready to protect the realm of men from the unknown Dangers from beyond the wall.
The great hole of East Watch had then become an entry port for the wildlings to cross when they needed assistance from the Watch. Lord commander was a generous man with the wildlings, and the Watch now mostly dedicated to avoiding conflict between the settlements of wildlings, that the Lord Commander had spent 6 months helping build himself. The second job of the Watch was doing research, expeditions beyond the wall to obtain information on the White Walkers and the Night King, no one ever knew why the White Walker were created or what was the reason behind the attack, other than the destruction of the world of men, but the Lord Commander was dissatisfied with this reason, insisting that the White Walkers could return, and that men should always be prepared.
"You kneeled as boys, now rise as men of the Nights Watch" Jon Snow said, finishing his speech for the newly graduated men of the Watch. The graduates cheered and congratulated each other, and the Lord Commander took his leave to his chambers, followed closely by his second-in-Command, Lester, who had been one of the few members of the old Nights Watch.
"Make sure you notify the new graduates of their assigned posts" Jon called to the man following him.
"I will, Lord Commander, did you get steward for yourself this time?" Lester asked, wondering why the Lord of Commander of the Nights Watch refused to allow a steward to serve him, clean his sheets, clear his bed pan, bring him his meals or sharpen his sword as it was customary.
"I do not need one, Lester" Jon replied, without giving it one thought or slowing his pace almost at the door of his chambers.
"You do all of that shit yourself? Even I have someone to do all of that stuff for me!" Intruded the Maester Sam, truthfully surprising Jon, who did not know Sam visiting Castle Black at all.
"Sam!" Jon yelled, moving in to hug his old friend, exited for it had been so long since their last encounter. "Why are you here, you could've sent me a raven letting me know" Jon moved to give Sam strong hug, causing Sam to feel crushed and exclaim "Oh ow"
"You've grown softer" Jon teased.
"I'm a Maester, I have no need for muscles" Sam objected. "And I would've sent a raven, but I thought it best to come in person and get those ancient artifacts your man found in the forest to the Citadel, and... I have some news to tell you... didn't trust it on a bird"
"Well come on in" Jon Snow stretched his hand to invite him into his quarters. "How's little Sam?"
"Aam, he is doing well, he is thriving in the Kings Landing, but about my news..."
"Bran is doing well I hear" replied Jon, ignoring Samwell's last sentence and setting a seat for him at his dining table and a cup of ale for each, and the sat across the table, nodding for Sam to do the same.
"Ahem yes he is but I had to talk to you..."
"We found artifacts containing the mark of the Night King and evidence of the Children of the Forest, I thought it might be of assistance..."
"Why are you avoiding my news?" Samwell interjected.
"I have nothing to do with the politics of the Kingdoms" Said Jon, with a quiet, stern look.
"We have reports of sightings of Drogon near Volantis..."
"Sam..."
"You know, you don't have to stay here, away from everyone, refusing to even hear about current events"
"It's my punishment" Jon took a long swig of ale, the set his cup down, more forceful than intended. Sam jumped at the loud noise.
"Nobody needs you punished anymore Jon"
"I need to punish myself... for what I did, and the Watch needs a Commander, someone has to do it"
"Actually, that's what I wanted to tell you, and I debated long enough if I should bring this to you. But Bran wants to bring Drogon to Westeros, and well the dragons always trusted you..."
"NO" The mere suggestion was infuriating for Jon.
"That's not all, and I didn't tell anyone else this, but the reports also mentioned a... a Silver Haired aaaam... women." Samwell said, he knew how much pain he was causing his best friend with this, be he truly thought Jon deserved to have all the information. "Which I first thought might be another Targaryen survivor but there is also this "
"That's not possible Sam, I know it" Said Jon, looking down at his cup, his dark hair covering his face.
"Also, there is a red priestess, just like Melissandre was, asking around about you, looking for you. And if it really is not possible Jon, then then then" Sam stuttered, as it was known of him to do when nervous. "Then how come you are here?"
Dany... is it really possible? He refused to let his heart hope for more. He attempted to wrap his mind around it. The words bouncing over and over in his head.
"I'm going" Jon said, standing suddenly. "Lester" He called, knowing Lester had been listening the whole time just outside his door.
"Yes, Lord Commander" He answered, embarrassed to be caught eavesdropping.
" I'll be traveling for some time, you'll be in command in my absence, remember to visit the wildling settlements at least once a month, make sure they all have enough food to eat, winter will be over soon so it shouldn't be a problem" Jon was walking in circles around the table where Sam was still seated at. Nervously stroking his beard and pulling on his hair. "You'll need to send envoys to the posts outside the wall every now and then, you'll need to meet my Sister every month to get the supplies for the Watch, when I come back..." Jon then stopped near the window but did not finish his statement.
"Come back? If the queen is alive you've committed no crime my Lord, I'm sure no one would complained if you'd stop serving this punishment" Lester said to Jon, understanding that although life at the Wall wasn't bad, the life-long promise of loneliness was one of the hardest sentences.
"I'm not doing this sentence out of anyone else's conviction but my own, Lester" said Jon, lookingout the window. "Sam, we ride tonight"
"What tonight? But I've just gotten here"
"Samwell!" Jon Snow chastised him as he walked towards the door.
"Oh... of course tonight" Sam replied quietly.
Lester decided his Lord Commander was one of the most complicated people he'd ever met. And even though he spoke with the same strong, forceful voice he used to command; he could've sworn she saw him smile for a bit.
The roads where easy, no amount of snow was visible anywhere. Jon and Sam rode at a fast pace.
"Aaam do you think she'll want to see you" asked Sam, concerned.
"We don't know anything yet Sam" Jon replied solemnly. He didn't want to get his hopes up.
"I know but I mean, we've seen so many things, it isn't unreasonable to think she is alive"
"... I doubt she wants to see me..." Said Jon sadly, thinking it had been such a long time, and he didn't forgive himself why should she.
"Then why are..."
"Because I have to see her, it goes beyond reasoning, I just do" Jon never even looked to Sam as he answered, kept on riding and never took his eyes off the road. His stomach was in complete knots, felt like bats were threatening to erupt from his belly any moment now.
"We are at the border of Winterfell now; we mustn't get too close or my sister will hear all about it"
"Couldn't she help us get a ship? She is Queen if the North, she could secure the fanciest ship"
"She can't know, she'll never allow it" Said Jon. He knew if his Sister knew what he was planning on doing he would throw him in a dungeon until she thought him of sane judgement, who knows what else she'd be capable off. "No, we need to go around, get to bear island and hope their memory of Ser Jorah Mormont will be enough to want to kindly take us across the narrow sea"
"I feel like this The sort of thing we should've discuss prior to arriving to the border of Winterfell, and I also feel it maybe a little late for that" Sam said as even he, who couldn't " see all that well, was able to see the red haired figure riding a horse heading his way. Jon's heart stopped, he cursed his damn luck for the unlikely encounter with the Queen of the North, the ruin of all of his plans.
"That's not Sansa!" He breathed at last, able to see up close, the red women approaching them on a horse, that for all the things seemed to be red as well.
"Aegon Targaryen!" The red priestess called.
"It's Jon" Snow responded bitterly.
"Doesn't matter what you call yourself, you cannot change who you are, but more on that later, I've been looking for you my lord, the lord of Light has a great gift for you, and I'm prepared to take you to it" Said the red women, and strange smirk played on her face.
"Not interested, we have plans already" Replies Jon, as he turned his horse around to circle her.
"Plans? Are you planning on scouting a whole continent in search for her? I know exactly where she is my lord, if you'd please follow me, I have a ship arranged for you" She turned her horse and started ahead, she didn't even doubt Jon would follow her.
"I don't trust in red priestesses" Jon told her, remembering the last Priestess of Rhollor he'd met, and the horror he felt when he heard that the women who had saved him, had also sacrificed a little girl for her god.
"You don't need to trust me, you need to follow me, and I'll take you to see who you're looking for, want it or not, I'm your best option"
And she was not wrong, Jon thought, his plan was rather illogical, but when he heard of the possibility, he sprang into action. He was never one to be patient.
"Why where you are looking for me?" Asked Jon, riding alongside the red priestess, while Sam struggled to catch up, and hear the conversation.
"Rhollor brought you back for a reason Aegon, and, believe it or not it was not to save the world from the Mother of Dragons"
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