Hello my patient readers! Your wonderful reviews have kept me going in these hard times. I made a promise which I intend to stick to and no matter how long it takes believe me I still intend to finish this story. If any of you were wondering about my prolonged absence, I apologise but it was for personal reasons. I have had a very difficult few months and without going into the deep details too much, I will say that I lost someone very close to me recently. I could not return to writing for a long time because I felt like I had lost a piece of myself which I will never get back. But writing is my dream and there is no way I am losing another part of myself by giving up on it. I even had the courage to start an original piece of work the other day and although it may take a long time to complete, I'm certain it will be worth the effort.

So I'd like to devote this chapter to a friend who I've known for 17 years. The time we spent together will never be enough but it meant the world to me and I'd give anything to see your beautiful smile one more time. And if you're somehow watching over me and able to see what I'm typing right now, I'm sorry about all the times I sat in your spot. It'll always be yours and never forget that!

This chapter is largely inspired by the fanmade video "Frost Killing Hour" of Elsa from Frozen and Jack Frost. The song by Natalie Merchant is beautiful and it fits this chapter perfectly.

My Skin ~ Natalie Merchant.

Chapter 10: The Darkness

Take a look at my body
Look at my hands
There's so much here
That I don't understand

Your face saving promises
Whispered like prayers
I don't need them

I've been treated so wrong
I've been treated so long
As if I'm becoming untouchable

North on the Wall,

Eddison Tollett

"They've got giants." Weary and solemn eyes flickered from one exhausted body to the next as the men of the Night's Watch spanned the Wall in sparse numbers. The Wildlings would look for any weak spot along the wall and Edd noticed with some dismay that it would not be hard to find one with their numbers so scarce. Frost and resignation beat against the men's bodies and although many of them refused to cower to fear, they also knew that most of them would fall to the slaughter this night. The black emptiness of the North showed them no pity and the war fires of the approaching Wildlings would deliver no mercy.

A skinny boy with beady eyes flinched every time the wind howled and Edd rolled his eyes as the young coward eyed them all dubiously. "Giants," the leech emphasised again. "And some of their men..." The boy shivered with emphasis and Edd resisted the urge to strike him upside the head for instilling more fear into the men's hearts, "Some of their men, they say, eat their victims. Don't even cook 'em. Just eat 'em raw... like they was nothin' but steaks."

"What about their blood?" Another boy asked, voice quivering with terror. "I heard they drink blood instead o' wine!"

Edd rubbed his hands together, wincing slightly as his worn gloves chafed across his skin. "Well aren't you lot just a bunch of optimists?" he grumbled, hitching the collar of his cloak higher upon his shoulders.

"It's true," the coward continued. "They even say that the Wildlings can't die! They made some sorta pact with the White Walkers!"

"Yeah?" Edd said between gritted teeth. "Imagine what they say about us!"

The leech cowered under Edd's heated glare. "Look I'm jus' saying..."

"Would ya shut your gob?" Edd growled at last, shoving past him in annoyance. "Ya got a better place to be?"

He didn't really expect an answer but at that moment he didn't really care as he had caught the gaze of Jon Snow. A subtle jerk of Jon's head and Edd immediately strode to his side, ignoring the grumbles and gripes of the men behind him.

"They're getting restless," Edd responded to Jon's prying gaze.

"They're afraid," Jon lamented, his gaze fixed upon the white expanse of the North and the dark army of fire that marched ever closer to the Wall. "The Wildlings will be here in a few hours."

"They really have giants?" Edd couldn't help the nervous curiosity that seeped into his voice.

Jon turned his head slightly to regard his friend and gave him a solemn nod. "Saw them with my own eyes," Jon admitted, chuckling slightly as Edd stared at him in astonishment. "Sorry," Jon apologised. "Just thinking that if it weren't for the circumstances... this would probably be the most impressive thing I've ever seen."

"You're a strange one, ya know that Snow?" Edd pointed out, grinning with his crooked teeth.

"Admit it," Jon smiled. "Where else would you see such things? Giants or White Walkers? Putting the war aside for a moment, this is as close to a miracle that the likes of you and me are ever gonna see."

"Jon!" Both men turned at the hysterical voice of Samwell Tarly, bewildered at the impressive pace that the larger man was able to keep up as he shoved past the other rangers. "Jon," he huffed as he stumbled to a stop in front of his comrades. "You better come quick." His gaze drifted momentarily to the view of the approaching army and he visibly paled.

"What is it, Sam?" Jon reached his hands out the steady his friend as Sam sucked in a breath.

"Riders," Sam gasped, returning his attention to Jon. "From the South. Three of them."

"So?" Edd snorted. "What? King's Landing couldn't spare us an army I suppose?"

Sam's eyes were wide as he shook his head frantically. "I don't think they're those type of riders. They're certainly not from King's Landing."

Edd raised an eyebrow as Jon looked down towards the gates. "What type of riders then?" he demanded.

"Well," Sam stuttered. "I don't know really. I haven't seen people like these before."

"Damn it Tarly, what did they look like?" Edd finally growled impatiently.

"Oh. There were two men," Sam said quickly. "Both quite impressive really. I think one was carrying a hammer."

"A hammer?" Jon echoed in confusion.

"Not a builder's hammer," Sam explained. "Like a war hammer. Biggest I've ever seen."

"You said there were three riders," Edd reminded him.

"Right," Sam huffed. "There was this real pretty lady too. With long silver hair. She wanted to speak with whoever was in charge."

"Where are they now?" Edd asked as Jon remained silent.

"With Master Aemon," Sam responded, tilting his head when he too noticed Jon's frozen expression. "You alright, Jon?"

"Silver hair?" Jon repeated in amazement.

Sam nodded. "Just like they described in the Targaryen lineage," he said excitedly. "I've always wanted to see hair like that. And to meet a Targaryen, of course. I mean Master Aemon is a Targaryen but his hair is more grey than silver really. " Sam drifted off then as he realised his mistake.

"That's Daenerys Targaryen, isn't it?" he blurted in astonishment.

But Jon was already moving, his boots almost slipping on the ice as he shot down the stairs, ignoring the bewildered looks of the other rangers.

"And here I thought you was the smart one, Tarly," Edd sighed as he shuffled past to follow Jon. He could swear he heard the faint roars of a giant as he slipped down the icy steps after his commander but that may have just been his imagination...

Contempt loves the silence
It thrives in the dark
With fine winding tendrils
That strangle the heart

They say that promises
Sweeten the blow
But I don't need them
No, I don't need them

Daenerys

She had never been to the Wall herself but Daenerys knew where the fabled 'edge of the world' was located, almost as far North as North could go. It was a giant structure of ice and power, built to withstand the assault of a thousand White Walkers or so it was foretold. On this night, we might very well be putting that legend to the test, she thought to herself.

She could feel the cold as any mortal could but the fire in her veins burned away the chill as though it were simply a cool breeze. As they neared the great Wall of the North, Daenerys, Thor and Loki descended upon foot, not wishing to cause alarm by approaching on the backs of dragons. They were greeted at the gates by several startled men of the Night's Watch who opened the doors somewhat uncertainly when she announced her title. Daenerys couldn't help but watch for Loki's reaction as he was introduced to the man-made wonder of the Wall. His eyes were alight with some unfamiliar emotion but he made no comment as they were led to the main council chambers. She requested the presence of Maester Aemon immediately as well as that of the Lord Commander but she was still unprepared when the last known Targaryen, other than herself, was led into the room by his steward.

Before she knew it, her feet were carrying her forward and much to the surprise of Thor and Loki, she knelt before Maester Aemon and grasped his hands in front of her gently. What Loki and his brother were unaware of however was that this was a gesture of familial respect, an act to honour the elders of one's house.

"It is an honour to meet you, Maester," Daenerys whispered to the man of the Night's Watch who shared her blood. Even though she knew he couldn't see it, she smiled warmly at Maester Aemon as he grasped her delicate hands in his withered palms before coaxing her to rise. Thor and Loki stood back as Daenerys was reunited with the last surviving member of her family. By law, he was no longer a part of the Targaryen line since he was sworn to serve the Night's Watch until the end of his days. But the dragon in her recognised the blood of her kin and she swore she could feel the child within her pulling on that connection, savouring the unique power it provided.

"I never again thought to encounter one such as you," Master Aemon croaked as the men of the black cloth gathered around them. "The last dragon heir."

Her smile widening, Daenerys guided his palm subtly to the swell of her belly and watched his face light up with delight. "Or perhaps not the last," he consented with evident joy.

His hand drifted to her face then, tracing the delicate features of her jaw and nose as he smiled in contentment. "Beautiful just like your Mother."

Daenerys forgot herself for a moment as her eyes brimmed with tears. "Did you know her?"

"She was a strong woman," Maester Aemon murmured. "Even until the end."

Daenerys at last noticed the curious murmuring of the men around her and she shifted her gaze to the rangers and stewards of the Night's Watch. She noticed Loki curl his lip distastefully at a few of them, evidently not impressed with their choice of black garb. She frowned at him, her eyes warning him to be respectful of these men and all that they did for the realm. He smirked at her and glanced away, content to keep his opinions to himself for the meantime.

"I received your letter," Daenerys said, returning her attention to Maester Aemon. "We've come to help you fight."

She heard several sniggers from the men around her but a look from Thor silenced them. "We can help," Daenerys emphasised, shooting the men a glare of her own. "We have brought weapons that will to help defend the Wall."

"The men of the Night's Watch defend the Wall," a sour man interjected suddenly and Daenerys' gaze flashed to his furiously. "Men," he hissed again. "You're a woman." He spat the word as though it were distasteful or offensive in some way. "And you have no business here."

Daenerys heard a soft growl behind her and she curled her fist, hoping that Loki would get the message and not retaliate. She was pleased when he did not intercede since that would only confirm what this vulgar ranger already thought about her. Maester Aemon's blind eyes shifted in the direction of the man, a soft sound of disapproval escaping his throat. "Ser Alliser," he acknowledged by way of introduction. "Acting Lord Commander."

Daenerys regarded the man in front of her with cool detachment. "And yet without this woman's help, you will not survive until morning," she responded smoothly.

"The men of the Night's Watch have defended the Wall for thousands of years," Ser Alliser retorted harshly.

"So imagine the embarrassment if the defences were to fall in one night," she said, her eyes narrowing. "Acting Lord Commander." She put the same emphasis on his title that he had placed upon her gender, smiling triumphantly when she saw a muscle tick in his aged jaw.

She ignored him then and glanced at the men around her. "You are mistaken to think that I am your enemy. I do not come here to relieve your commanders of their duty or to disrespect the defences you have upheld. I come merely to offer assistance against the army that marches upon the Wall. I know the White Walkers have come."

Ser Alliser snorted. "Are you daft, girl?" he demanded. "An army of Wildlings marches upon the Wall. Crazed savages, not White Walkers."

"Is that so?" she asked calmly, refusing to cower to his will. She noticed that many of the men looked uncomfortable with the way he was addressing her but still they held their tongues. They were either very loyal or very fearful of this man. It seemed that they were still unaware of who she was or at the very least they were uncertain of what to make of her. One thing for certain was that she could see the conflict in their eyes; the respect they held for Maester Aemon battled against their sense of duty to their Lord Commander.

"It is so. Pray tell, what weapons does a silver wench such as yourself have that would be of any use to us?" Ser Alliser hissed.

"I'd be happy to demonstrate," Loki spoke at last, unable to withhold the warning tone that seeped through his words. He could hardly believe the gall of this man and it was only for the love of the woman in front of him that he did stake the Lord Commander upon the ice.

"This is your kingdom," Thor spoke up as well, his large arm jutting towards the colossal icy fortress outside the chambers. "But mark my words when I tell you that it will fall within hours if you do not listen to this woman."

Daenerys eyed Ser Alliser once more before turning from him, impatient with his failed attempts at negotiations.

"I want to speak to the man in charge," she demanded.

"I am the Acting Lord Commander," Ser Alliser growled.

"Someone else in charge," she said in a bored tone.

Maester Aemon's lips quirked in a proud smile. "Samwell Tarly," he called loudly as a door to his right banged open, nearly making Daenerys jump.

A rather large steward came bustling in to stand beside Maester Aemon, his eyes widening a fraction when he encountered the sight of Daenerys, Loki and Thor. He did not have the typical build or appearance of a man of the Night's Watch but he had a kind face.

"Yes, Maester?" he queried, smiling nervously at Daenerys when she met his gaze.

"Fetch Jon Snow from the top of the Wall," Maester Aemon requested. "Tell him we have guests from the South that he should meet. It cannot wait."

The steward hurried out without another word and Daenerys returned her focus to the Acting Lord Commander as his face grew red with rage.

"You dare undermine my authority?" he said between clenched teeth.

Sensing the inevitable retaliation from Loki, Daenerys stepped right up to the Lord Commander until the crown of her head almost grazed his chin. As a reflex, he stepped back, not out of fear but so she would not bump against him inappropriately. Daenerys noted each of his movements with satisfaction, pleased with her assessment of this man. He was rude, ignorant and cruel in his command but he did not act out of selfishness or disdain for the realm. The years had taught him to be harsh but Daenerys had nothing to gain from him being hurt by Loki simply because he had offended her.

"Enough," she whispered dangerously. "Far be it for me to have to prove myself to someone like you, but if you truly wish to see the weapons that I speak of... then follow me."

She strode past without another word and several dozen men scrambled and clamoured to follow her out into the courtyard. It was not a question of loyalty to their Lord Commander anymore but plain curiosity and perhaps even a vain hope for victory that the men held in their hearts. Her boots sank into the soft snow as she walked across the court yard, attracting the stares of some of the younger boys who had yet to encounter her.

"Open the gates," she ordered, coming to a stop in front of the giant metal doors. A shout from further up signalled that the gates were about to open and as the metal groaned in protest from the weight of being lifted in the frozen air, Ser Alliser came to stand beside Daenerys cautiously.

"Is this a trick?" he asked her directly as Loki and Thor came to stand on her other side, eyeing the creaking gate with wary interest.

"No trick," Daenerys responded. "I wouldn't gamble with this many lives."

Daenerys paused for a moment as the men peered through the gates into the seemingly empty white landscape beyond the doors. As the gates opened fully, she looked to Loki and gave him a short nod. His eyes sparkled with mischief and he dropped the illusion that had been shielding her dragons from sight since they had reached the Wall.

Snow and fire suddenly exploded into the keep and the alarmed shouts of the Night's Watch could be heard across the grounds as three fierce and snarling dragons tumbled through the gates. Her largest, Drogon, slid across the snow with his claws, coming to a halt in front of his Mother as he eyed the foreigners dangerously. Rhaegal and Viserion stopped behind Loki and Thor consecutively, tilting their giant reptilian heads in every direction as they surveyed their surroundings.

"Do not harm them," Daenerys said loudly as she stood her ground whilst the men of the Night's Watch scrambled for either cover or their swords. "And they will not harm you."

"By the Gods," Ser Alliser moaned, pulling himself to his feet from where he had fallen in the snow. "Dragons." He marvelled at the creatures before him, his gaze roving from their sharply curved claws to the flickers of flame that slipped through the gaps in their teeth. His eyes at last fell upon Daenerys and she searched his face for signs of fear or violence but she was unable to find any.

"It's true," he whispered as a deadly silence fell over the keep, the men too afraid to make any sudden movement in front of the deadly beasts. "You are the Mother of Dragons."

Blue fire erupted at Daenerys' fingertips, travelling up her arms as she lifted her palm to Drogon's neck. The flames danced from her skin to the scales of her dragon but her beast did not flinch, trusting her completely not to hurt him as she stroked the scales by his face.

"I am," Daenerys responded and she prayed to whatever Gods were listening that this man would see sense. If she couldn't convince the Night's Watch to stand beside her in the battle, she feared they would not make it.

Ser Alliser remained frozen in place for a long while before astonishingly he sank to his knees in the snow. His men were dumbfounded, looking at Ser Alliser and then to each other in confusion as their Lord Commander knelt before Daenerys.

"What are you all doin'?" Ser Alliser abrubtly growled, glaring at his men from his position in the snow. "Bend the knee to your Queen."

And just like that, the entire black keep of the Crows bent in unison to the young dragon Queen. Thor smiled at the sight, turning his attention to his brother but Loki was not watching the men who bowed to Daenerys. His eyes were only for his Dragon Queen, the one who carried his child and wept for the deaths of mortals. Her gaze was drawn to his in turn and he saw the relief in her eyes. It was not their obedience she desired but their cooperation and she had just gotten both. Despite this small victory, Daenerys still felt a brimming uncertainty within her as she had yet to see Melisandre, the red priestess among the company of the Night's Watch. Hadn't she said that the Red God would be here?

The clamber of footsteps momentarily drew her focus to the base of the keep as a ranger with dark curly hair appeared in the door, turning his head to regard the sight before him. His dark gaze met with Daenerys and she suddenly felt another spike in power as her stomach contracted tightly. Her surprise nearly overwhelmed her and she wondered for a moment what had caused the familiar sensation of her blood calling to another.

As the ranger approached however, she felt the sensation again and her lips parted in amazement as she realised that this man must somehow share her blood. She heard the dismissive grunt of Ser Alliser in front of her as he turned to see what had caught her gaze. "The wolf," he commented snidely and she saw that the ranger did indeed have a ghostly white Dire wolf trailing along behind him.

Her lips then turned up in a smile as the ranger stopped in front of her and she faintly recognised the delicate features of the Targaryen lineage in his handsome face.

"A dragon," she whispered and the ranger tilted his head slightly as though confused by her words.

More footsteps and a thinner ranger appeared behind the dark one. He froze as he reached the bottom of the steps, taking in the sight of a small, silver haired woman flanked by three enormous dragons.

"Well I'll be damned," he muttered audibly. "What was that you were saying about miracles again Snow?"

I'm a slow dying flower
Frost killing hour
The sweet turning sour
And untouchable

Do you remember the way
That you touched me before
All the trembling sweetness
I loved and adored?

Daenerys

"Do they have names? Your dragons, I mean?" the large steward asked Daenerys once they were all settled back within the council halls. They had only a small window of opportunity to discuss their plan of attack and yet the men seemed more interested in her dragons rather than war itself. She was seated at a large table with Ser Alliser, Maester Aemon and the young Targaryen ranger as well as several stewards as they all eyed her expectantly. It felt odd, having such a placid and casual conversation with trained warriors when a war was approaching but she found herself fast becoming attached to her new comrades. She glanced at the steward who had spoken, having since learned that his name was Samwell Tarly and that she had been right in her assessment of him. He was a kind soul and oddly loyal to this Jon Snow, the young ranger who also happened to share her blood.

"Yes," she responded with a pleasant smile. "Would you like to hear them?"

Sam nodded in excitement as some of the other men chuckled at his eagerness. "Well, Drogon is the largest," she said. "His colouring is quite dark, you'll notice. Some even call him the Winged Shadow."

She almost laughed when some of the other men leaned forward in interest and she wondered when was the last time they had heard a story or had some light conversation. "Rhaegal is my gentle dragon," she explained. "Named after my older brother who was always so kind to the people he cared for. His colouring is green and bronze. Then there is Viserion, named after my other brother, mostly for his temper. His markings are gold and cream."

"And what do you call the little one?"

Daenerys snapped to attention when Sam spoke again, following his gaze to her youngest dragon who was now sitting contentedly upon Loki's lap a table away from them. Loki sniggered when he saw her furious glare, for she had been unaware of Loreley's presence up until then.

Damn illusions, she thought angrily.

"You brought Loreley?" she hissed in accusation, knowing he could hear her. He shrugged helplessly from his position before getting up and bringing the young dragon to her mother.

"You try refusing this creature," he smirked at her, rubbing the purring dragon affectionately under her neck scales. Like her other dragons, Loreley had gotten bigger over the time and Daenerys knew that soon she would not even fit upon Loki's lap.

"She's just a baby," Daenerys said angrily as she held her hands out for her youngest dragon who happily crept along her outstretched arm and onto the back of her neck, wrapping around her like some ethereal and bizarre neckless.

"Incredible," Sam breathed as he gazed in awe at Loreley. "Just incredible."

He returned his gaze to the men at the table as he smiled at them confidently. "We're going to win," he said with conviction. "The White Walkers won't stand a chance against the fire of these dragons. And the Wildlings? They'll take one look at these creatures and run back to their Mothers' breasts like scared little children!"

There was a resounding chorus of approval across the room and Daenerys felt her heart sink as she realised she would have to tell them the awful truth. An army of fire demons would soon be upon them if it wasn't already and they would in all likelihood tear this keep apart and burn the remains. Ser Alliser and the rangers began arguing tactics as they planned their front lines of defence for the White Walkers rather than the Wildlings and Daenerys pressed her lips together, unable to force this new horror upon them.

"You don't seem very reassured, my Lady," the quiet voice of Jon Snow reached her ears and she turned to regard him.

"The Wildlings are not a concern to me," she murmured softly and he nodded as though he realised it too.

"There are other things that move in the dark," he agreed. "They belong to the cold. They are the cold and they bring the darkness with them."

"There's more," she said regretfully. "The Red God has awoken. A false god; a demon with immeasurable power. He plans to meet the leader of the White Walkers in battle. Their slaughter and thirst for bloodshed will rip this continent apart."

"Can you be sure of this?" he breathed, aghast.

"I have seen it myself," she said, unable to keep the tremor from her voice. "I have seen what he can do. His wrath tore apart the city of Meereen. Not even the bones of the dead survived."

Jon Snow stared at her in horror. "If that's true, then Gods save us. How are we to do battle with two immortal armies on the same front? And hold off the Wildlings?"

"You need them on your side," Loki interjected quietly, having heard Jon's concerns. "The Wildlings and your people share a common enemy now. They have the numbers. And you'll need numbers to fight an immortal army."

"How?" Jon asked, staring at Daenerys and Loki. "I was a man on the inside for several months. I fought beside them, I watched them die beside me. I was one of them for a time and I could not convince them not to go to war against the South."

"They want to be on the other side of the Wall, correct?" Loki stated and Jon nodded slowly. "They'll have three rather large and angry dragons to get through if they want to be on the safe side of the Wall. I'm sure they can be sawyed."

Jon seemed to recognise the sense in his statement but he still remained unconvinced. "They still won't fight for us," he said quietly. "They're proud of their freedom and they won't give it up fighting White Walkers. What makes you certain you can change their minds?"

"Give me ten minutes with them," Loki said with a sadistic grin.

I need
The darkness
The sweetness
The sadness
The weakness
I need this

I need
A lullaby
A kiss goodnight
The angel sweet
Love of my life
Oh, I need this