Just one quick note. Basically in the penultimate part of the Long Night Jon and Arya switch places. Arya had to scream in Viserion's face instead and Jon made it to the Godswood just in time to stop the Night King from stabbing Bran. Imagine a brutal, intense, intricately choreographed fight between the two ending with Jon barely being able to find an opening and end the Night King.
I loved Arya killing him on the show but thought that we were robbed of Jon and NK's final confrontation. Fuck you Season 8 and fuck you D&D
It felt like her heart had frozen in her chest, she couldn't breathe, couldn't speak. She gazed into Jon's dark eyes and saw fear. Looking back down at his scarred chest, seeing the dragon glass embedded within.
"I, I can't think straight with this cold." She got up and turned to the hearth. She knelt and began to rebuild the dying fire. Once the flames danced merrily in the hearth Daenerys turned back to Jon. "What are we going to do?"
"You are not to do anything. It will only be a matter of time until I am like the old Night King. I will disappear once you take the Throne. It will also solve any questions on who is the true ruler." Jon stated coldly. Daenerys rushed back to his side.
"No. You will do no such thing." She knelt before him once again. "We will take the throne together we will rule and you will not disappear Jon. You're too important."
"And what happens when I change when I am no longer a mortal man? When I become the very thing, I fought to destroy for so long." He challenged her. Daenerys was silent, thinking over what Jon had told her.
"The Three-eyed Raven said the old Night King only had the blood of the First Men. You have that, it's true. But Jon, you also have the blood of the dragon running through your veins. Fire made flesh. Perhaps it will balance out the Ice." Jon shook his head and stood, moving to stand by the window. The chamber was beginning to warm; rivulets of water condensed and ran down the inside of the window.
"What if it's not enough?" He asked looking out into the night. "Dany, I can feel myself changing." He turned again and went to her side kneeling down on the floor next to her. He took her hand in his and placed it on his chest, over his heart and his scars. Daenerys gave a shuddered gasp, tears prickled in her eyes. Where once a steady heartbeat resided was mostly silence, every once and a while a slow bah-dump.
"It's not just my heart. Tonight, the ale became water in my mouth, everything I ate seemed to be ash. Yet I still hunger, I still feel thirst." He rested his forehead against hers. "I feel something, calling out from within me. Begging to be unleashed. It's dark and Dany it scares me." Tears now freely ran down Daenerys's fair cheeks.
"Does it call to you now?" Daenerys asked. Jon was silent for a moment.
"No." He muttered, leaning back cupping her jaw in his freezing hand. He smiled sadly. "This is the first time it's been silent."
"Then I must stay by your side and you mine."
"Dany…"
"No Jon, listen. We are Targaryens we answer to neither gods nor men. The Old Gods will not take you. We will fight everyday if we must. I will make sure that you see your child grow." She immediately fell silent her eyes widened as Jon stared at her in shock.
"My child?" He asked hesitantly. This was not how she had wanted to tell him, Dany simply nodded.
"You were right. The witch was an unreliable source of information." She said, drawing his hand to her stomach. His eyes widened, feeling the small bump that rested under his hand.
"If you cannot fight this curse, this fate for me, then fight it for our child so that they may know the wonderful, amazing man who is their father. Jon stared at her in absolute wonder. Then he reached up and pulled Daenerys into a kiss. Their lips met and Jon felt heat run through his body once again.
"I am yours and you are mine." Daenerys whispered.
"I am yours." Jon repeated back. They sat together in the warming room, in comforting silence, Jon's hand still resting on her belly.
"We can't tell anyone." Jon suddenly stated. Daenerys sat up and looked over at him.
"What?"
" We can't tell anyone about me, about my true parentage or what I'm becoming."
Daenerys couldn't help but frown at him.
"I understand about your parents. That would change not only the succession, but the very history of Westeros, there are also those who could seek to drive us apart." A certain red head come to mind. "We can't tell anyone till the throne is secure. But surely, you must tell at least your sisters about what happened to you. I don't think becoming the new Night King is something you can hide."
"They just fought a war to end the threat of the Night King. If anyone finds out that I am becoming the very thing they destroyed." Jon trailed up and removed his hand from her bump, rubbing the wound in his chest. "It will make the mutiny at Castle Black look like a tea party." Daenerys bit her lip as Jon looked at her desperately, "Please Dany." Daenerys wordlessly nodded. Jon closed his eyes and let his head fall back in relief. Daenerys pushed a stray curl from his face. The night had been far more draining that she had expected. For just a bit she wanted the world outside to disappear.
"Come to bed with me Jon Snow." Jon opened his eyes as Daenerys stood and pulled him to his feet. "I have found these last few days rather exhausting and can think of no better way than to recuperate than with a good nights rest next to the man I love, the father of my unborn child, my king." Jon smiled softly. Though the smile did not reach his eyes.
"I can think of nothing better my queen." Daenerys went to the door and opened it, letting Ghost in, the direwolf trotted into the chamber and hopped onto the bed, curling up and promptly falling asleep. Jon rolled his eyes but Daenerys giggled at the Wolf. The pair undressed and climbed beneath the furs. Jon's skin was absolutely freezing as he wrapped his arms around her but Daenerys didn't care.
"I believe it's my turn to keep your warm." She whispered, Jon chuckled and kissed her brow. Tonight, was about them, Daenerys would worry about the rest of the world and the future tomorrow.
Daenerys woke early the next morning, the sun's early rays not yet touching the horizon. Jon lay next to her, completely bare, she had somehow managed to steal all the furs, and Ghost during the night. She couldn't help but examine him in the early light. Before the Long Night, when Jon slept beside her, it was one of the rare times when he looked at peace. The worry lines faded; the constant tension dissipated from his shoulders. Daenerys secretly loved those moments, because it meant she could be at peace too. They weren't the Mother of Dragons, Khaleesi, King in the North, or the White Wolf. They were simply Jon and Dany.
Now though, Jon looked dead. Hesitantly, Daenerys reached out and laid her hand on top of his chest. Directly over the pulsing black veins that were spreading from the shard of Dragon glass embedded in his chest. Everything was still, Daenerys held her breath until she felt the faint thump of his heart under her hand. Suddenly it was like the room was pressing in around her. Dany couldn't breathe. She pushed off the furs, startling Ghost in the process. Jon use to awaken with the slightest movement or noise, now he remained oblivious. Daenerys dressed quickly, grabbing Jon's cloak along the way. Wrapping herself in the warmth of him, it smelled of leather and woodsmoke. Ghost followed her into the hall.
Winterfell was silent, the many occupants sleeping off the celebration of the night before. She entered the main yard and smiled softly as Ghost loped off to relieve himself and no doubt find some breakfast. Daenerys looked towards the gate that led to the Godswood. Without even thinking it through Daenerys moved to the gate and slipped inside. It was her first-time setting foot in the sacred wood. The North had made it clear she was unwelcome and seeing her step into their place of worship would without a doubt be seen as some sort of ultimate insult. If the castle was silent, the Godswood was dead. No birds chirping in the trees, no wind causing the branches to dance in the early dawn. Daenerys shivered and pulled Jon's cloak tighter around herself. Finally stopping in front of the infamous Weirwood tree. She stared at the blood red sap, the carved face. Was the Three-Eyed Raven in there now, watching her? Enjoying the destruction he wrought. Was that why Bran had told Jon the truth of his parentage to Sam Tarly? To break them apart so that the Raven could curse Jon and turn him into the very monster they thought to destroy. Just so the gods could have their immortal servant, their Great Other? If so then the gods were crueler than she ever could have imagined.
"Why?" She whispered "Why? Hasn't he done enough for you? Hasn't he given all that he is and more! The dragon was awake and suddenly it wanted to burn this stupid tree with it's stupid face to the ground. "Why can't we have peace?" She yelled fisting the fabric of her borrowed cloak. "We are Targaryens and we will answer to no gods. Not even you!"
"You may want to stop screaming like a mad woman." Someone said coldly. Daenerys jumped, spinning around to be greeted by Arya Stark standing several paces behind her. The assassin arched a brow at Daenerys. She suddenly realized that tears ran freely down her cheeks. "You shouldn't be here." Jon's favorite sister stated coldly.
"Forgive me, Lady Arya." Daenerys said. The queenly façade falling easily into place. "I did not mean cause any disrespect. I will leave." She began to walk away from the heart tree.
"I mean you don't belong here in the North. And I'm no fucking lady." Arya replied as Daenerys passed her. Daenerys shut her eyes, and exhaled. She tried to bring her temper under control.
"You know," she said softly. "On our way here, Jon told me all about you. His favorite sibling." Arya just continued to stare at her blankly. "He told me of all your adventures. How you loved the stories about my ancestors, especially about Queen Visenya. I was excited to meet you. To see what a true family was like." Daenerys looked over back at the heart tree. "But then we arrived. And I was met with nothing but contempt. My people even more so, simply because of the side of the sea they were born on. Even though we came to help you win a war."
"You made Jon bend the knee." Arya stated. "You burn people. I was in Essos. I know what you did to the Masters of Meereen. You're no better than your mad father."
"I am NOT my father!" Daenerys hissed. "Yes I crucified 163 Masters of Meereen. Would you like to know why? Because on the road from Yunkai they crucified 163 slave children. To send me a message about my mission to liberate the slaves. The men I burned? I was at war, people die. The Tarly's betrayal of their liege lady was a crime where the punishment is execution. I imagine being incinerated instantly is a better way to die than being cooked alive by wildfire. And as for Jon, he didn't bend the knee until I swore to join the fight against the dead. After I flew north and saved him and his men on their mad quest past the Wall to capture a wight to show to the Seven Kingdoms. My sweet son died beyond the Wall to save your brother." Daenerys tried to hide the crack in her voice at the mention of her poor sweet Viserion. Arya's eyes narrowed.
"I had to fight that thing. There was nothing sweet about it." Daenerys bristled.
"He liked his head scratched, and if it were possible he would try to climb into my lap. Like he did when he was newly hatched. He was not a thing to me." Arya continued to stare at her. Daenerys shifted, uncomfortable with the assassin.
"You're telling the truth." Her eyes narrowed and she stepped closer. "Or at least what you believe is the truth. What about Jon?"
"I did not bloody seduce your brother. I'm not a whore, contrary to what many people seem to believe. I had no choice when I was forced to marry my first husband. Yet because I married into the Dothraki, I am labeled as such by the oh so righteous lords of the Seven Kingdoms, because I chose to have previous lovers warm my bed so I could feel just a tiny bit of comfort, so I wouldn't be so lonely." Now that she had started Daenerys couldn't stop herself. "I have never felt the way I feel about Jon with any other man in my past. I love him with all my heart. I love him and I want to be with him whether we rule the Seven Kingdoms together or we are just a man and woman together somewhere out in the world."
"So, you truly love him."
"Yes! How many times must I say it? How can I prove it? And don't bloody say that I should leave and never come back. Because I will not leave him and break his heart." Daenerys exhaled and shut her eyes, trying to get better control of her breathing.
"Damn." Arya stepped around the queen, looking at her like she was examining a piece of livestock. "Perhaps Sansa was wrong about you. You're not just using Jon for the North. But what about its people."
"Surely you must understand the North cannot sustain itself if it became independent. There has been nothing but war for the past eight years. You have no food, no allies, no possibilities for trade. The lords may be able to sustain themselves with their stores, but what about the small folk? Will the lords look to care for them? From what I have seen the small folk will be left to freeze or starve." Daenerys stated.
"I want to make the world a better place. I want to help those who have been ignored and made to suffer. Why is it that no one here seems to believe that. Jon was the first person I met on this damned continent that seemed to believe in my dream who didn't think I was a foolish girl trying to play some game.
"It's because Jon had a shit time of it growing up. I think you did too."
"It was not easy." Daenerys murmured.
"The problem is Your Grace," Daenerys set her jaw at the other woman's mocking tone. "The lords here don't want change. They want everything to stay the same. They want to keep their lands and titles, their little bits of power. They want to get more through selling daughters and sisters to the highest bidder with the most to offer and if that doesn't work, they go to war. Trust me, I speak from witnessing it firsthand. You won't be able to do it." Daenerys turned away, from the assassin. "At least not on your own. But maybe with Jon you two could begin to make the world a little bit less shite." Daenerys turned back to Arya. Who was still just standing there. Arms folded behind her back, staring at her.
"I'm not my sister. I don't make decisions about people and refuse to change them. I don't trust you even a little. But everything you've said has been true. So maybe, just maybe you aren't completely mad."
"You have my thanks. I think." Arya nodded at Daenerys and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Arya stopped and turned to the queen. "Jon told me that your favorite stories were the ones about dragons, would you like to meet them?" She asked, hesitantly extending the proverbial olive branch. Arya stared at her for a moment, debating whether to say yes. The child in her was screaming yes, but the other, the one who had been through hell and back was saying don't trust the foreign queen. Even if Jon did. For once the child won out. Arya nodded. Daenerys couldn't help but smile as the pair exited the Godswood and made their way to the gates, around them the castle was finally starting to awaken. Drogon and Rhaegal rested a fair bit from the castle. The walk to their nest was quite until Arya decided to speak.
"Why call them your children?"
"I was gifted three stone eggs at my wedding. But when I touched them I felt life moving within. When my husband was dying I made a bargain with a witch to save him. A life for a life, I thought she had meant his prized stallion but I was wrong. It was my unborn child who died. Then my husband died anyway. The witch had tricked me you see, she gave him life, but he couldn't move, speak, eat, or drink. I smothered him to put him out of his misery. That night I placed the stone eggs on his pyre and lit it. Then I walked into the flames expecting to die. The next morning, I walked out of the ashes with my dragons. They became my children. I thought that they would be the only children I would ever have."
They finally reached the dragons. Rhaegal was curled up as tightly as he could. His wounds from the Long Night were still healing and he was significantly weakened. He raised his head and puffed some smoke in greeting before curling back up. Drogon stretched out almost like a giant cat before moving to Daenerys and Arya. Daenerys smiled and reached out stroking his snout. She turned to Arya and nodded at the young woman.
"You can pet him. As long as I am here he won't hurt you." Hesitantly, Arya reached out and touched him. She couldn't help but grin wildly running her hand over his hot scales.
"I'm touching a bloody dragon." She whispered. Drogon huffed and Arya stepped back as he stretched his wings and took to the sky. Rhaegal chuffed, staring longingly at his brother flying.
"Oh, hush you." Daenerys walked over to the green dragon, running her hands over his neck, checking the wounds Viserion had inflicted during the battle. "Once you heal you can fly with your brother again." Rhaegal rubbed his huge head up against her, causing Dany to stumble. She laughed, gently pushing him away.
"They really are your children." Arya was staring at her incredulously. Daenerys's hand instinctively went to her stomach.
"Yes they are."
"Soon they won't be your only children. You're with child." Daenerys looked at Arya shocked.
"How?"
"Last night at the feast you drank tea. And you keep touching your stomach. It's not hard to figure out. Does Jon know?" Daenerys nodded.
"I told him last night."
Daenerys fell silent, looking around the two of them were alone, no one could overhear them. Daenerys knew Jon wanted to keep what happened after the battle a secret. But it was impossible, his change could not be kept a secret. Arya was his sister; she knew they were close. But she also knew that Arya was close to Sansa and Daenerys saw the hunger for power in the redhead. She would undoubtedly use Jon's curse to get the Northern Lords to back her.
"Arya I need to tell you something. And you cannot tell a soul, especially your sister." Arya stiffened a mask slipping back into place. "It's about Jon." Daenerys hoped she was doing the right thing. She hoped Jon would forgive her.
It seems like the only time I can write half decent fanfic is during an indecent hour at night. This was written when I should probably be sleeping. Dany and Jon are going to have a lot to deal with. Those poor kids just can't seem to catch a break! Not gonna lie this is most definitely the fic where I take my anger out on characters I do not like. Just to be clear I love Sophie Turner and Peter Dinklage as actors. I loved Tyrion in the beginning but from season 7 onwards he just somehow managed to press all my buttons. Sorry if you like him! It's just me being me. I will also say, never really been a Sansa fan. Maybe in my other fic she'll get a redemption, maybe not idk. I also firmly believe season 8 robbed us of an amazing friendship between Arya and Dany.
