He's in the Godswood in Winterfell, snow covering the ground. The bright red leaves and haunting faces a stark contrast to the surrounding landscape. Small footsteps in the snow and familiar laughs let him know he is not alone.
He feels himself sitting on the same stone his Uncle had sat upon for hours sharpening Ice with a whetstone. He expects to find Blackfyre in his lap, following the ritual many Stark men had done before him. But upon looking down, he finds something that takes his breath away.
In his lap bundled in many layers of furs is a babe. A small babe stares up at him with bright violet eyes.
Dany's eyes.
The soft coo the babe emits makes his heart swell and before he can mutter so much as a word he hears the melodic sound of his wife's voice.
"There you are, my King," she says and he turns to find her holding an identical bundle in her arms.
"Dany?" he questions, not sure exactly what.
"They cannot be apart for long it seems," she says with a giggle, gently lowering herself to sit on the stone with him. "Our darling little girls."
Girls. Daughters. Twins. He stares at their small identical faces, memorizing every feature he can.
He sees Rickon and Jae running past them, not much older than they are now, reminding him of his childhood playing with Robb.
"I need you to swear something to me, love," Dany says and he turns back to look at her.
"Anything," he answers.
"A year ago you came back to me, against all odds and since then we have been together defeating our enemies," she starts and he nods for her to continue. "I need you, we need you to come back to us after this, we swore together and I want you to promise me you'll remember that and make sure to make it out of the last war alive. Promise me, Jae."
Promis me.
Promise me…
He wakes, finding himself back in their quarters on Dragonstone. He turns and sees his wife sleeping peacefully. His gaze lowers towards her abdomen.
Could she be?
He remembers the early days of her pregnancy with Jae and sees similarities to now. She has been nauseous in the mornings, her temperament was short, and her breasts had become sensitive. Not once since their reunion, have they taken care to avoid pregnancy, no pulling out, no moon tea. They both were willing to simply accept whatever happened.
Now those two little babes in his dream could be growing within his wife.
"Jon?" her voice startles him from his daze. "What is it?"
He caresses her face, their daughters' faces, and his heart swells at the memory, at the possibility that it may be true.
"Jon?" she asks again, her hands moving across his cheeks.
"I had a dream," he says softly. "We were at Winterfell, not long from now, and in our arms were two beautiful babes. Two little girls that looked just like you, Dany."
Her face brightens, her eyes gleam with joy and hope, and without her realizing it her hand travels down towards her abdomen.
"I… I had some suspicion but did not want…"
There is a knock on their door.
"Your Graces?" Missandei's voice calls out.
He kisses his wife, drawing her attention back to him.
"She a maester, love. We need to know if you are carrying our babes," he says softly.
"And if I am? We are in the middle of a war Jaeharys," she questions.
"Aye. But regardless I would be the happiest man in the world knowing you once again carry my child and that I will not miss a single moment this time," he reveals with a bright smile.
She kisses him until another knock breaks them apart.
"Your Graces, there is someone here demanding to see the King of the North," Missandei calls out.
Demands?
That word alone brings him some concern and by the looks of it, to his wife as well.
"I will handle it. You need to rest, see a maester and spend the day with our son," he says.
"But Jon…" she tries to protest.
"No. Please do this for me. Just for today," he begs as Jae takes that moment to come into their room and their bed.
She smiles softly, not bothering to argue, as she holds their son close.
"Very well. But please be careful," she tells him.
"I will," he answers before turning to their son. "Take care of muna while I go meet our new guest."
"Yes, kepa!" his son answers happily.
He stands to get ready as Missandei enters to attend to Dany and Jae. He finds Griff and Greyworm waiting for him outside his quarters.
"Well, you seem to be in a good mood today. No brooding in sight," Griff teases.
"Aye, I am," he answers with a smile. "Do you know who it is that is demanding to see me?"
"No, I do not. I was woken by some members of the Golden Company and given the same information as you," Griff answers.
"Greyworm?" he asks turning towards the man.
"Unsullied found this person sneaking through the castle," the Commander starts. "Not sure how got on the island, but once capture, claimed to know King and demand to speak to you."
He takes a deep breath, trying to think of all possibilities and how to best handle this situation.
"Is the person armed?" he asks.
"Took sword away," Greyworm confirms.
"Alright. Bring him to the throne room and I will meet with him there," he says ready to walk in that direction.
"Her."
"What?" he asks, stopping midstep.
"The person found is a girl. Brown hair grey eyes," Greyworm describes and his heart begins to accelerate.
"What… what kind of blade was she carrying?" he asks, his voice catching.
"Thin, lightweight, Bravosi style," the Commander answers.
Could it be? Could she have survived?
Hope similar to the one he felt this morning begins to grow within him.
"Snow," Griff says taking him out of his mind. "I know who you are imagining. I know who you hope it might be but we do not know…"
"But what if it is her Griff? Sansa survived, Bran and Rickon did as well. What is to say she didn't?" he asks.
"I do not know, she may have and it may be her down there. But keep in mind that even if it is, she will be a completely different person than the one you remember," Griff tells him and he knows he is right.
He nods in silent acceptance and Griff places a hand on his shoulder.
"I know she was your favorite sibling, the only one that treated you as an equal. But remember who comes first now," Griff adds.
Dany. Jae. Rickon. Bran. Their possible babes.
They were his priority and if this was truly Arya, he would need to learn to get to know her once again before trusting her with his family.
"Let us go to the throne room. Send for her and we will see who she is and what her intentions are," he turns to look at Greyworm. "Grey, the priority is and will always be my family. Daenerys, Jaehaerys, and Rickon must always be kept safe."
"They will my King," Grey assures him.
He nods and together with Griff walks to the throne room. He takes in the Dragonglass throne, as he does each time he sees it. It is the true seat of House Targaryen. Aye Aegon and the first Balerion forged the Iron Throne but this throne had been made with magic, magic that the only survivors of Valyria possessed. He knows what it means to sit upon that throne, how much it is an acceptance of the power and title that he was born with. Sitting on it might bring confusion if it truly is her that is demanding to see him. So for now he decides to simply wait, standing upon the steps.
The doors open and there, walking in between two unsullied soldiers, is his sister Arya.
He cannot help but compare the young woman standing before him to the little girl he had hugged last in his quarters in Winterfell. She has grown, her hair bound reminiscent of the way Ned Stark was accustomed to and that he himself had adopted much to his wife's chagrin. She still wears trousers instead of pants and her face seems as it did years ago.
Her eyes are the same as his own. However, her eyes hold some coldness in them, some emotionlessness that makes him uncomfortable and weary to approach her. But when those eyes make contact with his own there is a fondness and warmth that reminds him of that little girl.
"Jon?" she questions with hope.
"Arya?" he asks simultaneously. As soon as he nods she rushes towards him and wraps her arms around him. It takes him a moment to react but he reciprocates and gently lifts her truly savoring the moment, knowing how fragile it is and how quickly it will most likely end.
"I found you," she sighs in his embrace and he holds her a bit tighter.
"Gods, I am so happy to see you alive," he answers back with a soft smile before gently putting her down and letting her go.
"How did you leave the Nightswatch?" she asks.
"It is a long story, better told at another time," he says with a partially forced smile. "And you? How did you survive all these years?"
Her smile also falters.
"It is a long story," she answers.
"Why are you here? Why are you not in Winterfell with Sansa and Bran?" he asks, trying to move past a topic they are uncomfortable speaking about at the moment.
"I could ask you the same thing," she turns things around. "I heard on the road that you were named King of the North after taking Winterfell back from the Boltons."
"Aye, I was," he confirms.
"But you are here on Dragonstone instead of up North," she points out.
"I came to meet with Queen Daenerys," he answers.
"You came to deal with the Dragon Queen?" she asks and he grimaces at the name many have called his wife to degrade and dehumanize her.
"Do not call her that," he tells her.
"What? Dragon Queen? That is what everyone calls her."
"Her name is Daenerys, Queen Daenerys, Arya and she deserves respect and to at least be called by her name," he answers, trying to keep his overprotectiveness towards his wife low. His sister however simply shrugs.
"Perhaps. But I have learned that respect has to be earned," she says. "I do not know her and do not trust people I do not know."
"I do. I know her, I trust her, and I need you to do the same," he says to her.
Arya stares at him for a moment, seeming to be looking for something, and not once does he look away or cower.
"You love her," she states, no question in her voice whatsoever.
"I do," he answers truthfully.
There is a moment of silence where she seems to be considering what to say next.
"I… I was there, the night Robb was killed," she reveals her voice cold and unfeeling. "I saw what they did with his body and all I heard afterward was that love for a foreign woman led to him being killed…" she pauses as a crack in front shows and she struggles for a moment to cover it back up all while looking down towards the floor. "I… I do not want to lose another brother because he fell in love with the wrong woman."
"Arya, look at me," he orders and she obeys. "I am not Robb. He made mistakes that led to his death. But love was not a mistake, his wife being a foreigner was not a mistake. His mistake was being too honor-bound and forgetting his given word. His mistake was trusting the wrong people…"
He sees her ready to interrupt but he does not let her.
"I know who to trust," she assures her. "There are very few people I do and Daenerys is one of those people. Aye, I love her and many will call me foolish for it and compare me to Robb because of it but I am not him."
He can still see some doubt and wariness in her features.
"I understand Arya, how hard it is to trust after seeing things, experiencing things and all I ask from you is to try," an idea comes to mind and he turns to Griff, who has thankfully stayed in the room. "Griff do you know where Rickon is?"
He hears Arya gasp.
"Rickon? He… he is alive?"
He does not answer his sister, waiting first for Griff to answer.
"He should be with the maester doing his lessons or getting ready to meet with the Northern Lords," Griff answers.
He nods before turning to Arya.
"Come with me. I'll take you to him and you can get to know him again," he tells her.
"He is my brother," Arya says.
"Aye, but he has changed, just as we have. He was very young when you all left Winterfell Arya and his memory of all that is very limited," he warns her, knowing full well that Rickon may not want anything to do with Arya.
"He is still my brother," she answers and he nods
They walk together through the halls of Dragonstone until they arrive at the maester's quarters. He knocks on the door and is bid enter by the maester. He enters the room and a quick scan confirms that both Rickon and Shaggydog are still with the maester.
"Your Grace," the man says standing and giving a bow. "To what do I owe the honor?"
"My sister arrived and wished to speak with Rickon," he explains with a smile which the man promptly returns.
"Of course your Grace," the maester says. "I will then make my way to the Royal Chambers. The Queen requested I come once Lord Rickon's lessons were over."
"Maester, please inform me when your exam is done," he asks and the man nods.
"Of course your Grace," the maester says, excusing himself and leaving them alone.
Arya immediately moves towards Rickon and attempts to embrace him but Rickon sidesteps her and looks at him in concern.
"Is Dany alright?" Rickon asks and he realizes his misstep.
"Of course she is Rickon, there is no need to worry," he reassures his brother knowing how protective of Dany and Jae his brother has become. But his reassurance seems not to be enough to calm the lad.
"Then why is the maester going to go see her? Is she hurt? Is she sick? Is Jae…"
He hears the panic in his brother's voice and he immediately steps forward to place his hands on his shoulders in an attempt to calm the boy.
"Breathe, Rickon. Breathe," he says looking straight into his brother's eyes. "Dany is alright, Jae is alright, I promise. You know I would not be away from them if they were not and I would never keep you in the dark about it. Breathe brother."
"You… you promise?" Rickon asks.
"I promise. How about I take you to see them after you spend some time with Arya, hmm?" he offers.
Rickon nods and he seems to finally realize that there is someone else in the room. He glances over towards Arya, seeming to take her in for the first time. He hides slightly behind him suddenly turning into a shy boy.
"Hello Rickon," Arya greet realizing Rickon does not recognize her.
He gives Rickon a slight push towards Arya and he turns to look both at him and Griff for reassurance before turning to look at Arya.
"Hello Lady Stark," he says politely with a slight bow.
"I am not a Lady. I am just your sister. Part of your family. Do you remember?" she asks softly.
But Rickon simply shakes his head. He hears a clearing of a throat and looks towards Griff.
"Your Grace," Griff says, seeming to try his best to keep a straight face while saying his title. "Why do you not leave both your siblings under my watch while you go to see the Queen?"
"Would you two be alright with that?" he asks Rickon and Arya, who both nod, Rickon less enthusiastically. "I will come back to bring you to Dany and Jae alright Rickon."
This brings a stronger, happier reaction from his brother as he agrees before he turns to leave the room.
He has to rub his temples in an attempt to relieve some pressure that had formed.
He was happy his sister was alive, he was happy she was safe, but part of him believes everything would have been easier if she had gone to Winterfell and they had reunited when he finally returned there with his family. There is so much he needs to reveal to her and so much trust he needs to rebuild with her not to mention how to handle her relationship with Rickon, Jae, and Dany.
But those are problems for later. Right now he needs to know if his suspicions were right if that hope and happiness he felt this morning were truly warranted and if his wife now carried their children.
The walk to his quarters is much quicker than it usually is, his steps nearly a run to get there. He arrives and enters the room just as it appears the maester is finishing his examination.
"Jon!" Dany says with a smile from their bed, holding out her hand towards him and making him stride to her side.
He takes her hand in his own, placing a gentle kiss upon it before turning his attention to the maester.
"And?" he asks and thankfully the man understands what he is asking.
"Congratulations, your Graces, the Queen is with child," the maester announces.
He immediately leans towards his Queen, unable to stop himself from kissing her in pure joy. It is not until the maester clears his throat that he pulls away and reminds himself to keep some form of composure.
"I apologize, maester. It is news that the Queen and I were anxiously expecting after our reunion," he explains.
"Understandable, Your Grace. The Queen and child appear to be in perfect health, nothing to worry about as I see it," the man answers.
"We are in the middle of a war, maester, I plan to fight alongside my people when the time comes," Dany says.
"As is your decision, my Queen. I would simply recommend extra precautions, no hard falls, no hits on the abdominal area, and no wounds," he lists off.
"I will make sure she is well-protected maester. If you could," he interrupts, needing to be alone with his wife.
The maester nods, bowing and leaving them alone.
"I love you," he says to Dany kissing her on the lips once more.
"I love you too," she returns, gently caressing his face with her free hand before taking their interlaced hand down to her abdomen where they now know their daughters grow.
He may not know what will come next or how to handle all the changes occurring at once but right now he is the happiest man alive and he will enjoy it for as long as the gods allow it.