15. Jon
Jon had been moving through the motions without much memory of it after his talk with Sansa. He could scarcely believe what Sansa proposed and until he got the confirmation that Hermione agreed, his heart had been in his throat. Sam had been called the next day to join Sansa and Jon wanted to fuss that it should be him, proposing this to Hermione but Sansa had insisted it was not proper. He was still a King and there were decorum and tradition they had to consider and follow. She would speak to Hermione on his behalf and Ser Davos would be there as her representation of her pater.
"Don't look so glum," Arya said sneaking up beside him. Jon jumped and then smiled as she looked at him innocently. "One might think you're not happy about this." She looked at him as if silently asking a question.
"I am," He clarified. "Or I will be when I know her answer."
"She'll accept," Arya said confidently. She looked at Jon quite smugly. "She's not very good at masking her emotions, especially where you're concerned."
"But you are," Jon said looking at his little sister. There was an ache in his heart at the thought of all that Arya had suffered.
"It was an important skill I learned," Arya merely said.
"What other skills have you learned?" Jon questioned.
"Why do you ask?"
"I saw you in the courtyard, the other day with Brienne," Jon said slowly. "Who taught you that?"
Arya smirked. "No one."
"Arya," Jon sighed. "I … I'm sorry I could not be there for you after father …" he trailed off wondering if his apologies would do her any good now.
She smiled ruefully. "You remind me so much of him, Jon." She looked up at the balcony where he had once stood, watching over them all. "We all suffered different battles after father died. It's foolish to think any one of us came away unscathed. But perhaps he would be pleased to see us now."
"You don't speak very much about your time across the Narrow Sea," Jon remarked.
"No, I don't," Arya said simply.
Jon nodded. He understood better than most about not wanting to speak about the horrors of what he'd experienced. It was sometimes better left unspoken in the past.
"You should not have had to endure so much," Jon said needlessly.
Arya looked thoughtfully at him but didn't refute him. "You should not concern yourself with that Jon," Arya advised. "Look, there she is now," she said looking across the courtyard.
Hermione emerged from inside with Ser Davos as her side. She said something to him and he nodded before she hugged him. He looked rather surprised but reciprocated it quick enough. When Hermione released him, she turned and caught Jon's gaze. Her face betrayed nothing before she turned and walked away.
"Go," Arya immediately urged him. "Now."
He nodded and quickly left the courtyard barely remembering to acknowledge Ser Davos as he went. He had an inkling of where she might go and he was grateful there weren't many people milling around now.
The Godswood was quiet and peaceful as it always was. The snow blanketing everything around them but for the Weirwood tree. The bright red of the leaves a sharp contrast to the white snow. She stood facing the Weirwood tree but Jon knew she heard him. She didn't say anything or even turn to him as he got closer. He was only an arms reach away when he stopped. He couldn't bear to think how he would handle her rejection if she chose not to accept.
"Is this what you want, Jon?" she finally asked. Her voice wavered for a moment, the only indication Jon had at her anxiousness.
"I want you to be happy," he said honestly.
"That is not what I asked."
Jon swallowed. "Yes."
At last, she turned to face him, her cheeks-tinged pink from the cold or otherwise, Jon was not certain. It was snowing again and the little flakes were caught in her hair, dark and curly much like his own. He took a step closer to her.
"Is this what you want?" Jon asked quietly.
"Yes," She breathed.
Jon grinned at her. "You accept?"
Hermione smiled, "Accept what? You have not asked anything of me."
Jon chuckled. "Alright then, my lady." He took another step closer pulling the gloves off his hands as he reached for hers. "Marry me."
"Are you asking or demanding?" she teased quirking a brow.
"I'm asking," he said smiling, "that you marry me, and stand by my side, as my wife and my queen. Do you accept?"
She made him wait for only a beat longer. "I accept," Hermione whispered.
She barely got the words out before Jon pulled her in, kissing her sweetly. She sighed against his mouth, relaxing into him. Jon wrapped his arms around her under her heavy cloak. This felt entirely too good and he wondered how he ever thought to go without her.
He pulled away, dusting a few snowflakes out of her hair. "Things are going to change now, Hermione." He warned her quietly. Agreeing to marry him and becoming his Queen was no small event.
"I know," she replied. "But I am not afraid." He smiled at her like he knew she would say that. "Are you certain, Jon?"
"Hermione, I meant it when I said I did not wish to give you up for any crown or title," Jon said. "The Gods have been kind enough to give me more than I have asked for. I will do my best to honour them. To honour you."
Hermione released a rasping breath, the air misting in the small space between them. She looked down at her frost-covered boots. Tears clouding her eyes.
"Hermione?" he asked concerned.
"Oh, it's nothing," She said sniffing. He grasped her face in his hands, his thumb running across her cold cheek. He waited patiently until she was ready to speak again. "It's just … when I arrived here, I never thought this was what it would come to."
"Nor I," Jon added.
"I can't even begin to think of my life being any different now," Hermione said. "All these months, I've thought on home, sometimes wishing I could go back."
Jon looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry. You must miss home often."
"It's okay," She assured him. "Because now I think… well I think I am home."
He kissed her again because that was the second-best thing he'd heard all day. "Have you and Sansa agreed when?" he asked a moment later.
"Not yet, but I am sure she will decide on a day soon enough," Hermione said. "I need someone to give me away at the wedding."
"Who did you have in mind?" Jon asked.
"Ser Davos," She answered almost immediately. "It doesn't feel right to have anyone else do it."
"Shall I ask him?" Jon offered.
Hermione thought it over. "No, I will. But you can be there when I do."
"If that's what you wish." He said.
"What do you think the lords will say, Jon?" Hermione asked worrying her lip with her teeth as she spoke.
"I don't know," he admitted with a heavy sigh. "I can only pray to the Gods that they will be understanding."
"Sansa told me about Robb," Hermione said suddenly. Jon looked quite surprised at the mention of his deceased brother. "Well technically Sam told me when we had our history lessons but she mentioned it again earlier – "
"Hermione," Jon gently interrupted her ramblings.
She blushed, exhaled and then continued, much slower this time. "It just got me thinking. What if the lords don't agree? They weren't happy when King Robb married his wife; what is to say they will be happy with our union? And when they find out you're Aegon Targaryen, won't they feel … cheated?" she finished uncertainly.
"I understand Sansa's hesitation as much as I understand yours. Perhaps they will feel like we have cheated them of something, but Hermione it is my life and I should have a right to decide who I spend it with." Jon said firmly. "What is the point of being King, if I can not be with the woman I love?"
Her eyes grew wide and she gasped. "What?" he asked quickly wondering what it was he had said wrong.
"You ... you love me?" she asked bashfully.
Jon chuckled despite his embarrassment. He was never good with words. "Aye, I thought that was rather evident, but perhaps I have not been very clear in conveying that to you."
She giggled. "No, you have been."
He grinned but then remembered what they had been speaking about. "We will deal with the lords together. I will make them understand." Jon said. "They are good men and they want what is best for the North." He looked at her pointedly.
"Very well," she said slowly. "Oh, and Jon?" she asked almost nervously.
"Hm?"
"When you said that … that you love me," she said uncharacteristically shy. Jon grinned enjoying her so bashful for once. "Well, I just thought I ought to let you know that I reciprocate that … very much."
It took him a moment to understand what she was saying and when he did he released a cloudy chuckle of air. "Are you saying you love me, my lady?" he teased.
She groaned burying her face in her hands. Jon caught hold of her cold hands, pulling them away. "Yes," she answered as calmly as she could.
"Well I'm glad for that," he said and she laughed. "Come we should get back before we get buried in the snow." He said and turned to walk but Hermione squeezed his hand. He stopped and looked back at her. She looked nervous and Jon worried for a moment that she was having second thoughts.
"What if I'm not a good queen?" she asked him worriedly. "I … I don't know how to be a queen!"
"And I have no idea how to be a King," Jon said. But she scoffed. "Hermione, bastards are taught nothing kingly. I have no idea how to be a king. All I am hoping to do is save my people and I pray to the Gods every day that that will be enough." He leaned in cupping her cheek gently. "I am here with you." He promised.
"You are a good King," Hermione told him. "And all I want is to be a good enough queen for your people. I want to help."
"And you will. You already have," he reminded her.
"You have such faith in me," she said in awe.
"As much as you have in me," he said knowing Hermione's faith in him was immeasurable. It ran deeper than anything Jon had ever experienced before. He was glad to see the pink tinge on her cheeks deepen. He couldn't resist and pulled her in one last time, a quick sweet chaste kiss before they had to go back to the watchful eyes of the entire castle.
When they left the Godswood it was with Hermione's arm tucked into his elbow as he walked them back to the castle. As they walked across the courtyard, Jon felt Hermione tense beside him and he knew she was now acutely aware of the stares and whispers that followed him. People might not know what had been agreed upon but that would not stop them from talking.
They had barely made it to the doors of the keep when Gendry appeared from the other side.
"Your Grace," he greeted looking at them both with a knowing smile as he pulled the doors open for them.
Hermione gave him one last nervous glance before they stepped inside together, and immediately Jon felt all eyes fall on them. Lord Manderly, Lord Glover and Karstark were waiting inside for them. As well as Jon's siblings and Ser Davos Seaworth.
Hermione tensed once more and instinctively tried to remove her hand from his but he quickly covered it with his other gloved hand, keeping her there.
"My Lords," Jon greeted them all as they walked to the centre of the room. He heard the doors closing shut behind him.
Lord Manderly stepped forward, his face set in that hardened scowl of his. "Your Grace," he said roughly looking at Jon. He glanced over at Hermione and hesitated for a moment before breaking out into a joyous grin. "Your Grace," he said tipping his head down to her.
Jon watched almost amusedly as her eyes widen and she did her best not to stutter. "Not yet, Lord Manderly." She finally spoke.
"Aye, but soon enough." He said still smiling and then quite seriously he bowed again, taking her hand in his. The one Jon refused to let go. "The North welcomes you, my lady."
"Thank you," She replied quite sincerely. She looked around the room nervously.
Lord Glover approached her next. "A fine addition to House Stark." He said sounding rather proud.
"Thank you," She said again though this time a little more cautiously.
"Something amiss my lady?" He asked.
"No" she answered and then added, "I just did not expect that you would so easily accept."
"We did not," Lord Manderly said truthfully.
"Then why have you?" Jon asked frowning.
There was a tense silence before Lord Manderly continued. "Your brother and sister explained to us the importance of having this woman in your life."
"She did?" Jon asked raising a brow as he looked at Sansa.
"Aye," Lord Manderly said. "But that is not the only reason." He said looking at Jon with remorse. "I did not approve when your brother married his queen and I wish I had. I cannot change the past. No man can control who he loves. If she is who you choose and she is loyal to the North then we will not stand against it."
"You won't?" Hermione asked in disbelief beside him.
"You're a fine young lady," Lord Manderly said affectionately. "I'd be proud to call you my Queen."
"Aye, the Lord speaks true," Lord Glover said.
"I would be honoured, my lords," Hermione said.
"Well, there we have it," Lord Karstark called happily. "To the King in the North and his Queen. May the Gods bless you both." He said jovially.
The other lords echoed his sentiments as they toasted to Jon and Hermione. Jon looked over to where his sister stood, smiling and silently thanked her. When Sansa smiled back at him, drinking to their good health, he felt relief fill him.
"Now that's all in order, Princess Sansa, shall we plan a wedding?" Lord Manderly asked excitedly. "These are dreary times, we could use a little cheer."
"Oh," Hermione said beside him. She nudged him and glanced over at Ser Davos.
As Sansa and Lord Manderly conversed, Hermione and Jon joined Ser Davos.
He smiled sincerely at them. He bowed as they got closer and this time when Hermione tugged her hand, Jon let her go.
"Ser Davos," She said before glancing over at Jon then back again at the Onion Knight. "I was hoping… well that is to say, would you mind very much if you gave me away?"
Her question brought silence to the room. "My lady… Your Grace…" Ser Davos stumbled. "There are far worthier lords who should have that honour."
Hermione turned to look at the lords behind her. "The North is filled with worthy men, Ser Davos." She said turning back to him again. "But I would feel truly blessed if it were you." She paused and then as if contemplating whether or not to continue she said slowly, "My father is not here to give me away, but I know he would be pleased if you did it on his behalf."
"My lady…" Ser Davos said quite emotional.
"Please."
"Yes, of course." He answered. "It would be my absolute honour."
Hermione beamed and throwing propriety out the window one last time, she hugged him. Jon was amused to see the rough knight blush so deeply.
The doors to the Keep swung open again, Gendry entered looking rather grim. Jon almost selfishly didn't wish to hear it for it would end the small moment of happiness they had found.
"Your Grace," Gendry said coming to him quickly. His voice echoed in the quiet of the keep. Jon nodded and he went on. "The Kingslayer has arrived."
Jon would have thought it happy news if it weren't for the bleak look on the lad's face. "Whom does he ride with?"
"No one, Your Grace," Gendry answered. The lords murmured amongst them now. "He rides alone."
Seven hells, Jon swore, Sansa was right.
Solemnly Gendry added, "No army has come from Kings Landing."
AN: Hi all!
I'm going to keep this brief. Thank you all for the astounding response to this story! I am truly humbled. To all the wonderful readers who have followed, favourited or reviewed, i am truly grateful.
Please understand that I never intended for the Northern Lords to object or reject to harshly to Jon and Hermione's relationship. They understand their is a much bigger fight that needs to be won and as far as they know it, Hermione has proven herself worthy of being with Jon and being their queen.
Please don't forget to leave a little love and review!
Untl the next chapter!
Stay safe!
