The next morning, Davos made his way to Jon's study, and then was disappointed to see that Fafnir had beaten him there.

"She keeps throwing herself at me," said Fafnir. "Says that if I want to protect you, I have to have sex with her. I don't want to have sex with her. She might have dragon powers, but that doesn't make her a dragon! Bestiality, I say!" He saw Davos lurking in the hallway. "Oh, hello. Quite sorry you had to hear that. Disregard."

"We should really keep that door closed," Jon agreed. "Come in, Ser Davos. Fafnir, you should go. And please, don't have sex with Melisandre."

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Fafnir exclaimed with a shudder. He walked to the exit, but Davos held out his hand to block him.

"Actually," said Davos, "you should both hear this, as it concerns both of you. Please sit, Fafnir."

Fafnir was taken aback. "Well, yes sir," he said.

Davos took a seat as well. "Jon, I want to begin with commending you. You have proven yourself an honorable leader and friend."

"Well, thank you, Davos," said Jon. "I sure don't feel like it."

"Leaders have to sometimes make decisions that people don't like," said Davos. "I believe that before the end, all will see the wisdom of your decisions. Even if that decision is to keep a dangerous murderer in your midst." He looked at Fafnir.

"I understand your concern," said Jon. "I too didn't trust Fafnir after the tragic accident, but he's proven his head is in the right place where Walkers are concerned."

"Fafnir," said Davos, "Jon. Dealing with the death of Stannis has been very hard. Stannis raised me up from a common smuggler and taught me to be an honorable man. I owe everything to him. However, I can accept that his death truly was, now that I know Fafnir a little better, a tragic accident."

"Well, thank you, Ser Davos," said Fafnir.

Davos held up his hand. "I said I accept what happened. It doesn't mean I forgive you. And Jon, I understand why you can't get involved in this. The Night's Watch doesn't take a side in the politics of the realm. I can respect that. But Fafnir is, as you said, no longer of the Watch, and is free to do as he pleases. Do I understand this correctly?"

"Yes," said Jon. "Fafnir is no longer a brother. He is here of his own free will, same as you."

"Then you will not object, I hope, to my challenging Fafnir to a trial by combat."

Jon and Fafnir coughed in surprise.

"Oh, you don't want to be doing that," said Fafnir.

"Oh, but I do. I must seek justice for Stannis, even at the risk of my own life."

"Davos, I must agree with Fafnir. This wouldn't be a fair trial. He is not of our world," said Jon.

"I don't care," said Davos.

"I think you do," said Fafnir. "If you die, which you surely would, what would happen to Shireen? You don't really want to leave her with us and the Red Woman, do you?"

Davos hesitated. "I find your insistence that I would lose insulting."

"I don't want to kill you," said Fafnir. "One senseless death is enough. Please, reconsider. I actually rather quite like you."

"This is on my honor as the last remaining knight of the Baratheon army!" Davos said roughly. "I cannot simply stand by while I watch my lord's murderer go unpunished! Meet me outside at noon. Pray to whatever gods you believe in. Fate will decide this." And with that, he left.

Jon's face was genuinely fearful. "Fafnir, please, do not kill him!"

"I don't want to kill him! I like him!" Fafnir protested. "But what can I do? It's either him or me!"

Jon buried his head in his hands. "Oh, gods! Maybe we can talk some sense of out of him before noon!"

Fafnir thought. "Perhaps if he knew what I was...truly...he would realize what a grave mistake he is making in challenging me."

"You sure you want to do that, Fafnir?" asked Jon.

"He's an honorable guy, it seems," said Fafnir. "I think he can handle the truth. I'll show him when I go to meet him at noon. It's not like anybody else in the castle cares about us. Doubt anyone else will be there, right?"


Wrong.

Fafnir and Jon met Davos outside and were dismayed to see that pretty much all of Castle Black had turned up for the spectacle. Olly was taking bets on the outcome. The odds were very much against Davos.

Davos drew his sword, and Fafnir went to do the same, but then remembered his sword was missing. Jon handed him Longclaw, but Fafnir shook his head.

"I'd like a fair fight, Fafnir," said Davos.

"It's already not a fair fight, my friend," said Fafnir. "Walker got my sword. I have no weapon."

Davos nodded, then handed his sword to Melisandre. "Fine. Hand-to-hand combat it is."

Melisandre stepped forward. "Ser Davos Seaworth has challenged Fafnir to trial by combat to avenge the death of King Stannis Baratheon. The outcome of this battle will determine who our Lord of Light favors. Ser Davos, will you accept the outcome of this battle as R'hllor's will?"

"I don't believe any god has anything to do with this, m'lady," said Davos.

Fafnir smiled. "Nor I. This is strictly between us."

Melisandre glowered. "Either way, R'hllor will decide who is innocent, and who is guilty. Are you ready?"

"Ready, m'lady," said Davos.

"Ready," said Fafnir.

"Begin," said Melisandre.

Davos and Fafnir circled each other as the black brothers egged them on. Ser Alliser's cronies were noticeably loud in their cheers for Davos. The Valkyries returned the favor by shrieking in support of their Fafnir. Finally, Davos made his move. With a loud grunt, he rushed at Fafnir. Fafnir held his ground and allowed himself to be tackled. Alliser's men laughed as Davos commenced to punching the man-dragon. Then, Fafnir grabbed Davos's arms.

"I'm so sorry, my friend," Fafnir whispered.

Fafnir pushed himself up despite Davos having him pinned down, and still gripping Davos by the arms, swung Davos around and hurled him over the crowd. The brothers screamed. Fafnir jumped, and just for fun, used Alliser's head as a springboard to propel himself onward towards Davos. Before Davos hit the ground, Fafnir caught him.

Davos was speechless. He shivered in Fafnir's arms from fear. "What are you?" Davos asked.

Fafnir put Davos back on his feet and spun Davos around in a headlock. He leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Dragon."

"A Targaryen?" Davos asked.

Fafnir didn't respond. He was watching the crowd, which was starting to move towards them. "Davos, I'm going to win," said Fafnir, "but you're not going to die. Do you trust me?"

"Yes," said Davos.

Fafnir looked up at the sky. "Alright, Azor, you old bastard, let's see exactly what this world is made of."

The next words Davos heard were garbled gibberish, and then Davos blacked out. Fafnir dropped him into the partially melted snow and stepped back. The Valkyries were the first to catch up to them, followed by Jon and Melisandre, and then the rest of the brothers.

Melisandre bent down beside Davos and checked his pulse. She looked up at Fafnir. "R'hllor has passed judgement. Fafnir is innocent!"

Frustration and sadness rushed over Jon. "Prepare a burial for Ser Davos," he ordered. Fafnir went to talk to him, but Jon pretended he wasn't there.


The Valkyries prepared a victory meal for Fafnir in the Great Hall. Melisandre crashed the drunken party. "Well done, Fafnir," she said. "You truly are the warrior the living need."

Fafnir stood up and took a bow. "Why, thank you. It's good to be recognized for my talents."

Melisandre sat down in the chair Fafnir had just abandoned. "Yes, I think I've had this all wrong after all. Jon is clearly not Azor Ahai."

"Thank you!" Fafnir cried. "Cheers to that! Let's get Melisandre a draught of mead!" The Valkyries cheered.

Melisandre ran her hands through Fafnir's hair. "You are Azor Ahai."

"Oh, Melisandre, you ignorant slut!" Fafnir said, slamming his goblet down on the table. "Cancel that request. Melisandre!"

Melisandre pushed back the chair and dropped to her knees. "Azor Ahai. I pledge myself to your service."

"Get up!" Fafnir growled, pulling her off the ground and placing her on the table next to the goblet. "I'm not Azor Ahai!"

"Who else could you be, with your power?" Melisandre asked.

"Has it honestly never once crossed your little mortal brain that this whole Lord of Light deal might be built on a lie?" Fafnir asked.

"I have seen his power. His power lives in you," Melisandre persisted. "I mean, my god, the snow melts at your feet!" She started to weep.

Fafnir picked up his goblet and took a giant swig of mead. "Oh gods. I can't deal with this."

"All my life I've searched for you," said Melisandre. "All my life I've dreamed of this moment, but I never imagined what it would actually be like to stand in your presence!"

Fafnir wiped spittle off his mouth and looked at the still weeping Melisandre. He sighed. "Fine," he said.

She looked up. "Yes, my Lord?"

"Yes, I'll be your Lord," said Fafnir. "I'll be your Azor Ahai. I'll be the best damn Azor Ahai this world has ever seen." He grinned, imagining how this must be irritating the real Azor, if he were watching. Can't beat him, join him, right?

"I'll do whatever you want, my Lord," said Melisandre.

Fafnir thought. "Well, I guess I could use a sword."

"Yes, my Lord!" Melisandre said. She pushed herself off the table, planted a reverent kiss on Fafnir's cheek, and then exited.


They built a funeral pyre for Ser Davos in the spot where he and Fafnir had met. Jon was reading a eulogy he had prepared while Shireen wept at his feet. When Jon finished his words, Sam handed him a torch. Jon bent down to light the pyre.

Fafnir, Melisandre, and the Valkyries burst out of the castle. "STOP!" Fafnir bellowed.

Jon turned around. "Go away, Fafnir."

"He's not dead," said Fafnir.

"Fafnir, please," Jon pleaded.

Fafnir pushed himself through the crowd. "He's not dead," Fafnir repeated.

"He is too dead," Jon said. "You strangled him." Fafnir jumped onto the pyre. "Fafnir, get off the pyre, or I will burn you along with him," Jon warned.

Fafnir ignored Jon and bent down beside Davos. He placed a hand on his head and muttered the counter curse. Jon rolled his eyes. Then, with a great gasp, Davos awoke. The brothers screamed.

"All hail Azor Ahai! Through him, Lord of Light has brought Ser Davos back from the dead!" Melisandre shouted.

Fafnir helped Davos stand up. "A little late," Davos muttered.

"I'm sorry, friend," said Fafnir.

Melisandre knelt, as did the Valkyries. To Fafnir's surprise, some of the brothers knelt also. "All hail Azor Ahai!" Melisandre repeated.

"All hail Azor Ahai!" the kneelers repeated.

Fafnir dismounted from the pyre and looked at Jon with a big smile. He could tell Jon knew this was all a big show, and Jon nodded. With Jon's permission, Fafnir proceeded.

"IT IS TRUE! I AM AZOR AHAI!" Fafnir yelled. "And this..." He unsheathed his new sword and brought it to his lips. The sword burst into flames. "...IS LIGHTBRINGER! AND I SHALL VANQUISH YOU, NIGHT KING! WHO'S WITH ME?!" The Valkyries raised their spears and half of the brothers raised their swords and cried in agreement. Jon and Sam raised their swords and joined in. The Valkyries uttered a shrill war cry. "FEAR ME, ALL YE WHO THREATEN THE REALM OF THE LIVING! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHH!"

Fafnir danced fervently through his adoring fans and thrusted a middle finger in the air to the real Azor Ahai.