JON
The white waves washed up against the side of the ship before returning to the deep blue waters of the Narrow Sea. The sky a lighter blue intertwined between clouds of grey to the west and white to the south. The sun struggled to break free behind the clouds, when it did it gave the sails of the ship different shades as they blew in the wind.
The scales of the three-headed Targaryen dragon appeared snow white as the flakes stuck to the silk.
Jon Snow stood on the deck of the ship staring out over the sea with a stoic northern tone, the wind gently breezing through his cloak, snow gently falling around him. He thought about what lay ahead, happy to be returning home but not necessarily the manner.
This is the first time a Targaryen has come north for decades, he thought, the name Targaryen breeds sour thoughts throughout the Seven Kingdoms. How will the northern lords come to accept their King bending the knee to one? They fought and bled for me, for the north and now I must renounce my crown to their new queen. Will it matter how they feel, what they think? We need every living person in this fight, will they really dispute crowns and titles when the dead come crawling over the walls of their homes?
Around him, Unsullied soldiers worked at the sails, tended to their spears and shields and conversed between each other. They had been the most disciplined soldiers Jon had ever seen.
We could have used a few men like them on the wall, he thought to himself. Glancing around the ship, he saw the woman they had chosen to follow, the woman he had chosen to follow.
Daenerys stood on the bow of the ship as snow fell around her. Small flakes blending in with her hair as tiny particles stuck to her cheeks moments before melting away.
Her hair ever more stunning woven into neat vibrant braids positioned meticulously in a bun, the rest flowing down her back, a silver waterfall twirling into waves.
Wrapped around her was a white striped fur coat with streaks of crimson red lining the fabric, at times her hair almost blended in with the snowfall.
Most of the journey, Jon had seen her standing on the bow facing the open sea, the wind, the snow and always with the stature of a ruler. She had the ambition of a thousand men and the titles to go with it. She is our queen, he thought. She had proved herself a worthy monarch in the eyes of Jon Snow. But it's not me that needs convincing,
"Enjoying the view Lord Snow?"
The voice of Tyrion Lannister startled him, shaking him from his thoughts and causing him to grip the side of the ship.
"What do you mean?" He replied.
"Oh I think you know perfectly well what I mean." He retorted
"You're an honest man Jon Snow, you're not particularly good at hiding your feelings."
"What are you suggesting?"
"I've seen that look before, a man stares longingly at a woman like he can't believe she's real. That normally only means one thing."
Jon could feel his cheeks redden and he found his gaze wandering out to the blue waters once again.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh yes...of course, forgive me"
He knows something, he is the hand of the queen after all and he's not stupid.
"So, everything seems to be going well at least. You've made an alliance with our Queen, bent the knee. Our armies are now marching in the same direction to fight the common enemy and we managed to broker a peace with my sister. Aside from the impending threat of death itself, I'd say we're not doing too bad."
Jon turned back to face the hand of the queen. "Aye, it's the best I could hope for.
"Well, I'm not so sure I'd go that far" quipped Tyrion. Jon chuckled with a half smile. Tyrion Lannister brought forward a flask from his cloak, took a long swig, a few drops of wine dripping down into his beard. His cloak, a deep shade of grey, appeared to be twice the size of him and it billowed behind him like a set of wings when the wind blew through. He offered the flask to Jon who politely declined.
"All we have to contend with now is the northmen. I doubt they're going to be pleased when they hear their King in the north has bent the knee to a southern queen.
"No, they won't be but it can't afford to matter. There'll be no time for arguing when the dead are at our doorstep."
"Well I know you're not going to lie to them. You couldn't even lie to my sister and she could have killed us all in that dragonpit, so we both know you're not going to lie to the men that chose you to rule them."
Jon sighed for a moment, turning back towards the scarred face of Tyrion Lannister, rubbing his gloves together.
"But you do have something positive to think on, unlike a lot of Kings, they chose you as their leader."
"That not only means they trust you but that they believe in you, the same way all these people believe in her." Tyrion turned to look up towards the bow, Jon followed his gaze up to Daenerys. She's different, she's not like her father. All the people she's helped can see that, I can see that, I just need to make them see that. Tyrion glanced back towards him.
"And besides, it's not just her you're allying with. My brother will be bringing the full might of the Lannister army north to join us. We'll be facing the threat together."
"I never thanked you for that by the way. Convincing your sister to help us, we risked a lot for that meeting and I almost made it all for nothing. What did you say to her in the end that made her change her mind?" Jon could see him hesitate, avert his gaze slightly.
"I made her see the reality of her situation. She was never going to come out of this conflict the victor, even without the support of the Reach, the Dornish and the Iron Islands, Daenerys was always going to win this war...I was there when she let her dragon loose on the blackwater rush. I...I saw first hand the destruction her children can bring". Tyrion looked back towards the bow once more,
"If we defeat the dead, Daenerys will take the Iron Throne. If my sister plays a part in helping us ensure that victory, maybe Daenerys will be merciful. If she doesn't… and she betrays us" Tyrion turned to face Jon. "Our queen doesn't take prisoners." Jon could see the concern on the face of Tyrion Lannister.
"But you know, as much as I'd like to give myself a pat on the back about Cersei. I'm not quite as certain as I hoped to be."
"What are you saying? You think she still means to betray us?" Jon interjected.
"You don't know my sister like I do, she has all the traits you wouldn't want in a person".
"So you think she's planning something?" asked Jon.
"She's always planning something, it's just a question of whether or not the plan works in our favour. Even though she agreed to a truce, I wouldn't bet against her devising a scheme to kill us all, if we survive that is."
"If you have doubts, what makes you think she'll keep her word?" Jon enquired.
"She revealed something to me and if it's true,...I know she will do whatever she needs to survive…" He trailed off.
"What did she tell you?" Jon pried. He doesn't want to tell me, he wants to keep it a secret…
"She's pregnant". Tyrion replied
"How can you be sure she speaks truly?" Jon asked after a long silence.
"Cersei's cares and concerns are few and far between in this world, but one thing I know for certain, she will do anything to protect her children; lie, cheat, steal, murder...anything.
"So she lied to you about being pregnant to earn your trust?" pried Jon
"She knows it's the only thing that I know she cares about, besides my brother.
She's not going to help us, I know it. "So do you think she's going to help us...or not?
Tyrion glanced at him for a brief second, "Even if she doesn't, I'm sure we will still receive some Lannister forces."
"She didn't agree to send us 'some'." Jon took a step towards him. "How can you say that there's a chance we'll even receive some men?" Jon asked with a certain glare.
"Because my brother will, I trust him with my life, in fact he's one of the few people in the world that I trust. If my sister has lied to us, Jaime will be able to talk sense to her I assure you."
Jon exhaled a deep sigh, "How sure are you?"
He saw Tyrion smile, "I know my brother, and as much as I've wronged him, he's never let me down, not once, not ever. And even though it may very well be the end of the world, I know he won't now."
He leaned up against the side of the ship, taking another swig from his flask. He was clearing freezing, the wind whistling through the curls of his golden brown hair.
"Anyway, I must get back below deck. I'm still not entirely used to this cold yet." Jon nodded and watched as Tyrion passed him by heading towards the cabin to go below. We could have used those swords. He thought, will our forces be enough, we're already in a better position than before we went south but we could have used those swords.
He looked back to the bow where she still stood, felt himself take a deep breath and began to walk towards her. Climbing the stairs, Jon felt the wind biting at his face. The northern chill brought a familiar feeling of home.
She was looking up at the sky now as the snowfall began to pick up. He opened his mouth to say something but she spoke first, still facing the waves.
"The first time I saw snow was when I flew north to rescue you beyond the wall."
"Really, not a pleasant experience then."
"No, but I'm glad to see it now. It has a quiet peacefulness to it." She held out her gloved hand, the flakes landed elegantly onto the leather.
"I'd forgotten how different the climate is here compared to Essos. Across the narrow sea it was always blazing hot and humid day after day. Even though I'm not accustomed to these temperatures, I imagined snow many times. My dreams were often filled with visions of snow falling."
She finally turned to him, smiling as she met his face. Her beauty was simply radiant to Jon Snow, her smile as bright as the sun, her eyes a sea of blue and purple, beautiful but fierce. If she does become queen, she will certainly be loved. He pondered to himself.
"I can tell you're not used to warm weather; you keep your fur cloak on all the time, even when we were in the capital." She said
"I never thought I'd ever experience warm weather again, the Nights Watch vows are for life. I was sure I would die in the north. Jon replied.
"And you did". She extended her hand to touch the breastplate on his chest where the scars lay. "A knife in the heart for your people, that wasn't an exaggeration was it?
"No, it wasn't," He said solemnly.
"What happened exactly? You were betrayed by your brothers, but what happened after?
"I don't know, they led me into the courtyard, told me there was a wildling that knew my uncle and said he was still alive. When I saw the sign with 'traitor' written across it, I knew."
"Then they took turns driving their blades into my chest until I lost the strength to stand. I didn't even feel the last blade plunge into my heart. After that…everything went dark. Next thing I knew, I woke up on a table in a dark room and I was back. I saw Ser Davos first, he told me the Red Woman had brought me back somehow."
"The Red Woman?" she enquired.
"Her name was Melisandre, she advised Stannis Baratheon but returned to Castle Black when he was defeated by the Boltons at Winterfell.
"Melisandre?" She repeated.
"Aye, do you know her?"
"She came to Dragonstone shortly after we arrived. She was the one who told me about you.
"She was at Dragonstone?"
"Yes, it's because of her I knew who you were." Jon could feel his brows furrow as he looked past her towards the horizon where the blue waves met the grey sky.
"She was the one who brought you back?"
"She was also the one I banished from the North."
"You banished her...why?" He turned to meet her eyes, pausing for a few seconds. "While she was advising Stannis, she often spoke of prophecies and visions in the flames of a fire. She believed her God would speak to her, guiding her along her righteous path."
"Lord Stannis had a daughter, one Ser Davos treated as his own. On their way south to Winterfell they got caught in a storm and became snowbound, half of the army abandoned Stannis, stole the horses and vanished. To appease the Lord of Light to move the storm on she...she burnt her at the stake." Jon could see the face of the dragon queen turn from wonder to intrigue to horror as the words took hold in her mind and he could see her slightly recline into herself.
Her eyes darting, slowly lowering to the wood of the bow.
"They burnt her alive?" she asked. Jon nodded slowly.
"How old was she?"
"I don't know, I never actually met her properly but I'd say no more than fifteen."
"Fifteen?...
"It's done Dany and you didn't know." he said trying to comfort her.
"Didn't her mother and father try to stop her?"
"I don't know, from what she told us, they were complicit."
"How could they, their own daughter?" She turned away from him, resting her hands on the edge of the ship, her gloves washing away the white coat that lay on the dark oak of the wood.
"It's best not to dwell on it Dany, she's gone now."
"She left as soon as you arrived as well, knowing what I know now I'm not surprised."
"Best we forget about her then."She glanced at him for a second nodding in agreement.
"You know I just remembered something she told me when she came to Dragonstone, she told me about this prophecy, 'The Prince who was Promised will bring the Dawn', the noun in High Valyrian has no gender so she believed I had a part to play as do you. She said the Long Night was coming and now I know what's coming with it. She told me about everything you'd done as Lord Commander of the Nights Watch and then what you'd done as King in the North. Do you think we've been destined to fight in this war?"
"I've never been one for destiny or fate and this doesn't concern just you or me. It concerns the whole world. If we don't fight we'll all die, it doesn't matter who we are or what we've done. We'll all end up as soldiers in the Night King's army. Whether there's a prophecy relating to this war doesn't matter to me, I'm here to fight, for my home and for the people of the north." That is my fate, that is my purpose, he thought to himself.
He felt her gloved hand encase itself in his and she smiled.
"And so am I." She said. "How are you feeling, to be going back home?" She asked.
"Nervous." He said, chuckling.
"You must be happy to see your brother and your sisters again."
"Aye I am, but it's been years since I've seen them Dany. Sansa changed so much in that time; I suspect they will have too.
"Well that's only normal isn't it, I can't imagine what they've been through, I'm sure you're not entirely same person you were when you first joined the Nights Watch."
"I suppose". He said smiling. What will they think of their new Queen? Will they accept her for who I claim her to be? They might be harder to convince than the northern lords. He pondered to himself.
"What about the northern lords?" He heard her say. "Now that I know what we're up against, it'll be important to have peace between us. I know that won't be easy.
"No it won't be."
"I'd suggest not telling them you've bent the knee but I know you won't agree to that."
"I can't govern the north on deceit."
"I know, that's not your way. I appreciate your loyalty; it means a great deal to me. I know it will take some time to gain the approval of the northern lords but if I speak to them myself, maybe I can prove to them who I am."
"I'm not sure they'll be time Dany. Whether they accept you or not, it won't matter when the dead come for us."
"I suppose not, but nevertheless I should speak to them, show them who I really am."
"I don't think you'll achieve that by speaking to them, you'll need to show them Dany and the best way to do that is to fight by their side and defend their home when they come; no oaths, no vows, no promises, just actions."
"I see." She turned back out to sea, "How much further to White Harbour?"
"About three more days, two if the wind stays with us."
"Will we stay there long?"
"No longer than we need to, we have to get to Winterfell as soon as we can. When we were beyond the Wall, the Night King wasn't far. He'll be at the Wall before long, if they get past, we have to be ready."
"Very well then, I look forward to seeing where you grew up Jon Snow, to see your home."
She smiled and began to turn and walk away; he nodded as she glided past him ever so gracefully and left him standing on the bow. Jon remained there for a while enjoying the bite of the wind.
