4. Samwell

He mumbled softly as he climbed the steps of the library tower in Winterfell. There was something in the tomes he had brought back from Old Town that was bothering him. In all his research in trying to find another way to destroy the Night King, all he could find were two answers. Dragonglass, which Jon had been lucky enough to acquire. Sam hoped it would be enough, then of course there was the option of Valyrian steel which wasn't so much as an option as a last straw of hope. Valyrian steel was expensive and almost impossible to come by. The maesters who had once known how to properly forge and temper the blades were now dead. There were only a handful of those swords in the realm. Two of which he knew were in Winterfell; Jon's Longclaw and his family sword, Heartsbane. Yet, something told him they would need more to win against the dead. Which brought him to the second answer he had found. One that had left him quite puzzled. There were barely any mentions of it and Sam found himself questioning its legitimacy.

"Lady Hermione," He greeted upon entering the library. "I'm sorry to have woken you, I thought you'd still be resting. It was a rather long journey." He shuffled some things about the table almost nervously.

"I couldn't possibly sit in my room for another minute! Besides, I have missed this," she said gesturing around the room. "It's quite alright. I'm glad you called Sam." She assured him. Sam watched as she pulled her thick cloak a little closer to her. It was a fair bit warmer in the library than the rest of the castle, but still it was winter. A winter unlike any she had ever experienced, if Sam were to guess.

Sam liked her. She enjoyed the comfort of books and scrolls as much as he did. She was an excellent reader and always had the most interesting questions for him. She was currently reading one of the books he had brought back from Old Town. Normally he would have never allowed anyone to touch let alone read the books but Hermione seemed to possess the same sense of reverence for books as he did. He had come to realise that Hermione was every bit of an academic as he was. Sam was hoping Hermione might be able to help him find out more about how to defeat the walkers.

He moved a stack of books out of the way, clearing some space on the table. "I heard you were quite impressive against the Dragon Queen."

Hermione chuckled. "Ser Davos is somewhat biased I feel."

"But it was Jon that spoke so well of you." Sam said with a knowing smile.

Hermione returned his smile, watching him for a brief moment before reaching out to place a calming hand over his. "What troubles you, Sam?"

"All we have to defeat the army of the dead is dragonglass. I fear it might not be enough." Sam confessed. "What if it's not enough?"

Hermione nodded somberly. "It will be." She assured him. But when he didn't look any less convinced, she leaned forward. "Do you think there could be more?"

"What if I missed something?" he asked in turn. He looked at her almost guiltily. "Will you help me? It wouldn't hurt to look again."

"Of course, I'll help Sam. It definitely wouldn't hurt to look again." She agreed.

Sam looked quite relieved at her answer and handed her a book as he took one for himself and shuffled into a chair. They sat in the quiet of the library flipping through the books and scrolls for quite some time. The day's light had long since disappeared and the candles burned low. Gilly joined them eventually with baby Sam in tow. Hermione cooed and awed over the adorable little boy before Gilly pulled him into a corner with a book to read. Her words were quiet murmurs that filled the space as she practised reading. Every once in a while, Sam would look up to catch the pair of them, a fond little smile playing on his lips.

"Sam?" Hermione called breaking his reverie. "All these scrolls mention something about A Prince that was Promised?" she asked.

Sam pulled one of the scrolls she had been looking at and sighed. "It's a prophecy," he said noting the way Hermione's face fell at that. "Don't believe in prophecies, my lady?"

"No, I do. I simply thought I was done dealing with the likes of prophecies." She grumbled.

"You've dealt with prophecies before?" Sam asked keenly.

He had of course known Hermione was not of this world. Being one of the few people Jon has entrusted with that information. He had been eager to learn more of her world but there hadn't been any time as of late.

"Yes." She said sadly. Looking at him with haunted eyes she explained. "A war was started on the basis of a prophecy. A lot of people died, my parents included. My best friend, well he was at the centre of this prophecy and the only way to fulfil – well you see – he had to die."

Sam squeaked a little in horror. "Oh, I- I'm very sorry. I shouldn't have asked…"

"It's okay, Sam." Hermione interrupted. "It was a few years ago and thankfully; he didn't stay dead. He was brought back to us."

"Like Jon?" Sam asked.

Hermione considered that for a moment. "Yes, a little like Jon I guess." Hermione shrugged. "It was apparently in his destiny to die. It was the only way to rid our world of that evil."

"Well, I don't think Jon dying this time is going to help us against the walkers." Sam said grimly.

"No, it's probably not," Hermione agreed. "Which makes the fact that he's going beyond the wall all the scarier."

Sam patted her hand soothingly. "He'll be fine, my lady. I know you haven't truly seen him in action but believe me, Jon's one of the best ranger's the Night's Watch ever had."

"But he's not part of the Night's Watch now, is he?" she asked in reply. "He's a King now."

Sam couldn't argue with that. As much as he too hated the idea of Jon going beyond the wall, he knew it was important. They needed proof.

"So, this prophecy?" Hermione asked to bring them back on point.

"Ah, yes. Well, the Red Priestess did mention that Jon was the Prince that was Promised but there isn't much to that theory." Sam answered.

"That's why she had brought him back?" Hermione clarified.

Sam was sure she must have heard the people talking; about Jon's miracle return from the dead. The work of the Red Priestess that had freed Jon from his oath to the Night's Watch.

"Yes, that's what she believes."

"Don't you? I mean she did bring him back." Hermione argued.

Sam sighed. "I don't know what to believe my lady."

"Tell us about the prophecy, Sam," Gilly asked quietly. She adjusted a sleeping baby Sam in her arms as she listened to them.

"It was quite a popular theory that came from people who put their faith in what they called the Lord of Light." Sam started explaining.

"Ser Davos mentioned this Lord of Light before," Hermione said.

"Yes, Stannis Baratheon denounced his old gods and took up with the Lord of Light and well ... the Red Priestess that brought Jon back believed at one point, that Stannis was the Prince that was Promised," Sam said wincing.

"What is this Prince that was Promised?" Hermione asked frowning.

Sam looked at them quite eager to share his knowledge. "A long time ago, the people believed that a great evil would fall upon this world and only the Prince that was Promised could save them. See he had a weapon, a special weapon that he had sacrificed almost everything for to forge. Lightbringer, he called it. A flaming sword he would wield in the darkness and save his people."

"So, what happened to this Prince and his Lightbringer?" Hermione asked intrigued.

Sam shrugged. "Many people have claimed to be the prophesized Prince. Some going so far as to burn themselves in fire to prove it. But it never is." He smiled, apparently deep in thought. "It's said that even the Targaryen Prince thought himself to be the Prince at one stage."

"Targaryen like as in …"

"Yes, Daenerys' brother." Sam answered. "He died on the Battle of the Trident just before she was born." He looked at her a little morosely. "Eventually people stopped believing in it and what was once a powerful prophecy became nothing more than song and dance."

Sam watched Hermione as she bit her lip, turning the pages over, obviously absorbing everything he had just told her.

"Do you believe in this prophecy Sam?" she finally asked.

"I don't know, my lady," Sam said truthfully. "All I know is that Jon died. Took a knife to the heart from his own brothers; died and somehow, he came back. For some purpose, the Gods decided to bring him back. That is all I know."

"So maybe this prophecy is true." Hermione pressed. "What if Jon is the Prince that was Promised?"

"Hermione…" Sam started hesitantly.

"You said it yourself, he was brought back for a reason. Maybe this was it." Hermione argued.

Sam looked between her and the scrolls uncertainly. "She's got a point, Sam," Gilly said. She came up to the table. "You were looking for another answer. Maybe this is it."

"Well, what good is the prophecy to us now, anyhow?" Sam asked both women.

"What about this Lightbringer weapon?" Gilly offered. "Maybe that could be used against the walkers."

Sam had to admit she did have a point.

"And if the Prince that was promised was indeed supposed to rid the world of evil, then what greater evil then the undead?" Hermione added.

"We'd need more than lore and an ancient prophecy if we're going to convince anyone of this," Sam advised them. "Especially Jon."

"Then we better start looking," Hermione said firmly, pulling more tomes towards her.

They had combined through more than half of what Sam and Gilly had 'borrowed' from Old Town when dinner had been brought up for them. It was far later when the candles burned low and his eyes were itchy that he heard the heavy footsteps. It was too late for people to be meandering about the castle now. When the door pushed opened and Jon stepped in, Sam breathed a sigh of relief.

Sam looked nervously at the books spread out on the table. He was still certain he didn't want to tell Jon just yet. Sam didn't want him to think he was wasting time on nonsense, as most people presumed to think of such prophecies.

"King Jon," Sam greeted jovially. He always thought his friend was a great leader; wasn't the least bit surprised when he was named King in the North. Though, Sam noted that despite his lack of crown as he approached them this time, there was still something undoubtedly kingly in him. Jon had always exuded the natural air of a leader.

Hermione rubbed the sleep from her eyes from where she had been sitting in the corner and quickly shoved a book out of sight.

"Sam," his friend greeted with a heavy sigh.

Sam frowned; he knew that voice. Recognized that look in Jon's eyes. Something terrible must have happened, something that worried Jon greatly to seek out him this late at night.

"What is it?" Sam asked when Jon said nothing. "Have there been more wight sightings?"

"No," Jon said softly and Sam was sure he should have looked happier for that. Jon cleared his throat before sitting down at the table, silently asking his friend to do the same. "A raven arrived, earlier this evening."

"What is it, Jon?" Sam asked nervously. Watching his friend looking so distraught, Sam felt a knot twist in his stomach as the possibilities of what terrible news the raven might have brought.

"Your father and brother were executed; by Daenerys Targaryen. She asked them to bend the knee and they refused." Jon told him.

Sam felt sick, as Jon's words registered in his mind. He vaguely heard Hermione gasping as he felt Gilly's hand take his.

"I-I see," he said weakly.

Jon bowed his head. "I'm sorry Sam."

"Do you still have the letter?" he asked.

Jon nodded and handed it to him. He took it with shaky hands and did his best to read it through misty eyes. Refused to bend the knee, burned alive were all that he could understand. When he noticed the parchment wet, he realized he had been crying.

He sniffled, trying to quickly regain his composure in front of his King but when he looked at Jon, he saw nothing but sorrow. There was no judgement there. This was his friend that had come to tell him such horrible news, not his King.

"S-she burned them. Alive." Sam whispered aghast. "I – I …"

"Oh Sam," Gilly whispered tearfully.

He turned to her, "What's going to happen to my family now?" he asked helplessly then he looked back at Jon quickly. "You don't think she would …" he trailed off.

"No, I don't think she'd go after them, Sam. She wanted their allegiance." Jon said. "When she executed your brother and father, the other Lords fell in line. Your family is safe."

"For now," Sam said gritting his teeth. Hastily he stood and rubbed at his face. "Do you think … may I be …"

"Yes, Sam. Go." Jon said softly.

Sam nodded and turned away from them all. Before he could leave though, Jon called him again.

"I am truly sorry Sam," Jon whispered to him as he grasped him in a tight hug.

"I know Jon," he said. Sam looked back at his friend with steel in his eyes, "Do you still think it's a good idea to bend the knee?"

He didn't wait for an answer, turning and storming out of the library. His footsteps echoed harshly in the quiet of the cold night.

AN: Hello!

Firstly, I would like to say a very big thank you to all those who have given this story such a wonderful response! I am glad that you are enjoying it.

Secondly, and most importantly I would like to address the continuous requests for Hermione to get her magic back. From the very outset of this story, I had decided that she would be without her magic. As I planned and wrote it, I found that it was the right choice for my story and the characters. I wanted to write a Hermione without her magic because she is more than just the brightest witch of her age. There is strength in her character and that does not solely revolve in her ability to do magic, however badass she might be with it. I had no intentions of writing a completely infallible Hermione who stumbles into a completely different universe and has the ability to perform wonderful magic. For me to give Hermione her magic back I would be adding another complicated element to an already complicated story. It would mean another thing I would have to track through the story not to mention I would probably get twice the number of comments asking why she did or didn't use her magic for this or that. Ultimately, I made the choice that the story and the characters would be better of without that element. She is not without her purpose in this story and unfortunately (for some) while she is a hero she is not the only hero here. I have no intentions of changing this factor, especially considering that this story is now nearly complete. I ask only that you have faith in how I have chosen to write this and if still you feel like this is not worth the read then that is entirely up to you.

Fanfiction, as much as it is written by the fans for the fans, cannot always please everyone.

I hope you haven enjoyed this update, don't forget to leave a little love!

Stay safe!