[Chapter Size: 3500 Words.]
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Third Person POV
Arctic, 298 AC.
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Jon was making his way down to the ground floors of the castle, followed by two of his men after he had just eaten with his family, now needing to take care of some things.
He continued down the stairs through the great entrance hall of the castle when he saw someone entering at that moment — it was the general of Arctic.
Ducken had just entered the castle; after saying he needed a meeting with the king, the royal guards allowed him into the place. He found Jon at the entrance, while the king did not seem surprised to see him. Which was to be expected.
"Ducken, you're here? Say there's nothing worrying I should know about," Jon said.
"No, my king. I only came to speak with you. I have some documents I would like you to sign — about some of the strategies we were discussing last week," Ducken replied.
"I see. Let's take a look then." Jon said as he stepped up to the man, Ducken bowing his head to the king.
"Here, my king." He said, taking the scrolls and handing them to Jon.
He opened them and read in silence. "I understand. I accept this, but let's not return to my manor. I have training with my fiancée, so we won't go back up to the upper floors. Let's go to the garden," Jon said at the end as he walked and Ducken made way for him to pass, following him together with the royal guards.
They went to one of the corners of the castle, as they headed in the direction of Eragon with the other dragons.
There were several gazebos in the garden so the people of the castle could sit, have tea and talk. And the area they were going to was used exclusively by the royal family, extending across several gardens that Jon himself had built.
The flower that was most abundant there was the winter rose, like a blue ocean throughout the place. Jon went to the spot and sat on one of the benches and made a gesture to Eragon, indicating he would speak with him later, since the dragon had noticed Jon as soon as he left the castle, keeping his eyes on him as he always does.
He wanted Jon to greet him, but would do so after his conversation with Ducken. Ducken, although uncomfortable with a dragon embodying them — something he never got used to — settled in while Jon opened the documents and began to read, reviewing everything they had discussed last week to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything.
"Great. I want to check the devices we spread out to the north. This will not only be for the start of the war, but also the way we will decide whether we can destroy the majority of the army of the dead; with that we will have a great advantage in the war," Jon said.
"We checked three days ago, my king. Should we check again?" Ducken asked.
"I want you to check every day. I want to be sure everything is ready. The dwarves have been working on this for a year and a half, and now more than ever, it is time for us to use it once and for all," Jon replied, looking at a map full of tunnels beneath the northern region. All these paths had been built underground. It was a project Jon had begun since he returned to Arctic, with the intention of fighting against the White Walkers.
"We have this. We have weapons to fight them, an army with more than 100,000 Arctican warriors, and also the dragons — especially that giant one you recently acquired," Ducken said with a certain confidence.
"That's true, we will win this war, but we cannot rely too much. We have to be prepared for every scenario, even for a possible retreat. We must protect the Kingdom; including as we already planned to do, in case the walls are breached," Jon said with a serious tone. "I don't want to be an arrogant king; after all, if the North falls, no other kingdom in the South will manage to survive."
Still, his faith in victory was unshakable.
"That is what we have been discussing for more than a year, my king. In any case, I am ready. You pulled me from being a guard in one of the Northern cities in Glover territory to face the dead; even so, I cannot complain much," Ducken said in the end, as he watched Jon signing the papers and then lifting his gaze again.
"I brought you to the North to be ruled by a woman of the free folk," Jon mocked.
Ducken laughed, though he was quite proud. He was going through difficulties with that woman, even if she was the mother of his daughters and married to him.
"I cannot complain much," he said in the end, while Jon returned to signing some strategic orders. Everything had to be recorded in Arctic — even troop maneuvers and possible formations — for it would serve both future generations who would one day read what happened in this era, and also as proof that those were the king's orders, alongside the minister of war, the main general of Arctic.
"For the first man who knelt before me and said he would be my royal guard, you've changed a lot. After all, royal guards usually don't have wives," Jon said.
"You're talking about Westeros, aren't you? You dismissed me back then saying I would be better as the kingdom's general and had me train the free folk ever since. And don't forget that half of your royal guards have children," Ducken replied, while glancing at the royal guards around them, listening to the conversation in silence.
They always remained silent, offered a piece of advice here and there, but generally Jon did not need counsel. Perhaps an occasional exchange of words, but most of the time it was Jon who had the answers to everything. Besides, he was the fastest and strongest with a sword — more than any other blade in the world.
Jon signed the papers and Ducken rolled them up, storing them away. The king stood at that moment, looking past Ducken and seeing Val approaching with the royal guard she had trained the previous day.
"Well, Ducken, I suppose you don't need me anymore, correct?" Jon asked casually, as he waited for Val to approach.
"No, my king, that is all. I will only record this in the Senate and intend to return to training the army. I heard you assigned Lord Jin Sakai to a specific task."
"Yes, I discussed it with him. He will take his training team and head south on a mission in my name," Jon said.
"I understand," Ducken said, asking no further questions. There was nothing more to say — it was the king's order.
"Then I'll be going, my king. Have a good day," he said.
"Before that, how are your daughters? I haven't seen them for a few moons," Jon asked before Ducken could leave, for he was a godfather to those girls.
"They are well, thank you for asking. They also ask about you often, but with the war at our doors, they understand why they cannot see the king, being so busy."
"Well, Aemon spoke to me yesterday... perhaps I should start addressing the Kingdom more often," Jon commented. Ducken heard this and nodded.
"I agree with him, my king," Ducken said immediately. "I think everyone needs to hear what the king is doing to stop the dead, and what he thinks about what is happening in Arctic. The people are restless, even the army. Hearing you would be good for everyone. They need the confidence of their leader," he said.
"Aemon meant the same thing, but in other words... very well. Thank you for your opinion, Ducken," Jon said.
The general nodded, beginning to move away. Before leaving, he greeted Val and the royal guards, and then withdrew without looking back.
"So you're going to train me today?" Val asked as she approached Jon with a curious look.
"I said I would, didn't I? I'll join you in training this morning. Just give me a few minutes, I need to greet my dragon first," Jon said, turning back.
While Val began her warm-up, Jon went to Eragon, who was waiting for him. Looking to the side, he also saw the other dragons. Beyond his earlier view was Daenerys with hers, running her hand along its scales and performing the same ritual Jon carried out every morning, as was customary. She didn't even notice him.
Jon saw little Aegon in Missandei's arms a short distance from her. Then Jon turned his attention back to Eragon, who lowered his head, and Jon touched his snout.
"We can go for a ride today, but not for long. I will fly with Vezofēdrur again," Jon said, to Eragon's displeasure. Even so, the dragon replied with a slightly happier snort; at least his father would fly with him again after such a long time.
Jon returned to Val, and together they began training with a light warm-up. The king didn't need to put on special clothing; he wore a looser noble tunic made in Arctic, which didn't restrict his movements.
"Let's see how you are, Val. I need to remember to teach you some interesting fighting styles," Jon said.
'She kept me busy all night yesterday... Let's see how long this excitement lasts.' Jon thought, looking at the blonde.
Val nodded, stepping into the middle of the field and waiting for him. It wasn't just grass in the castle garden — as a training ground between Jon and the royal guards, there was also a patch of firm soil, used for the training of the royal guards or even the royal family.
Jon picked up his wooden sword and kept it lowered, while Val stared at him, already looking for a way to break his stance. He seemed arrogant, not even raising his sword to defend against a quick strike. But Val already knew, after so much training with him, that such things meant nothing to Jon. He was far too fast and could defend against any attack, even from a disadvantageous position. At first, Val used to growl when he acted like this, but over time she learned she had no right to call him arrogant.
"Are you here, Jaehaerys?" In another corner of the place, hidden among the gazebos of the garden, a child jumped at hearing the voice behind him.
Jaehaerys was at a distance, watching his father begin training with Val, when he was spotted by Seryna. As he looked at her, he saw her approaching with two royal guards, her hand resting on her very rounded belly. A new sibling for him there.
"Munã Seryna!" the boy said, breaking into a shy yet happy smile. After all, Seryna had always been very kind.
"Where are your royal guards and the maid who takes care of you, Jaehaerys?" Seryna asked, as she drew closer to the boy, looking a bit concerned.
"I ran away from them," he replied, giving an embarrassed little smile.
"Your mother is going to scold you," Seryna said.
"Don't worry, Munã, I'll talk to her later. I wanted to see Father," the boy answered.
"And you don't need to run away for that. You only had to ask," Seryna said, stopping at his side and looking ahead, where Jon was clashing his wooden sword against Val's at that moment.
"Besides... you seemed restless this morning. Did something happen?" Seryna asked as the boy looked rather annoyed.
"Mother said I have to learn now about Westeros... She wants me to know everything about the Seven Kingdoms of the South. Why does she want that? I asked her, and she said it would help me in the future. I don't understand how... I'd rather learn about Arctic. I don't want to learn about the South..." Jaehaerys said, while watching his father fight.
"Your mother has some intentions," Seryna said with a slightly sad smile.
She knew that Rhaenys intended to help the boy after Jon had spoken about the unification of the Seven Kingdoms in the future. If that were Jon's decision, Seryna would support him. Truth be told, Seryna had never had any intention of having children just to place them on the throne and gain power.
When she and Jon were together, things were easier and simpler — she simply loved him and wanted to be by his side. She married him after she had taken on a human form, and now her son, the most precious thing her husband had given her, would be Jon's heir and Arctic's.
But Jon knew it would not be that simple. As long as the boy was prepared to take on the Kingdom, he would inherit it. If not, Jon would have to choose another heir. And Seryna could understand: Jon was very cautious and, after learning about the wars in the South, knew that whenever someone claimed a throne, a thousand complications arose — people trying to usurp it, brothers killing brothers.
Jon wanted to leave behind a king who would take his place after him, someone who had all the qualities to keep the Kingdom safe and thriving. A successor who could guide Arctic on the path of prosperity.
If that person were her precious Loki, Seryna would do everything to help him meet his father's expectations.
Her hand automatically rested on Jaehaerys' head, the boy looked up at her and gave a small shy smile. Seryna loved that child, just as she loved all the others. They were sons and daughters of other women, but still part of her love.
Even having to share Jon with others, she would never stop loving any of his children. From the moment she met him, foretold in his personality and magic, Seryna had loved that boy half her age — after all, she had sixteen namedays when Jon was eight, when they met along with the other giants in that forest below the Wall.
She loved Jon, and she would also love the children he fathered with the other wives. It had always been that way.
In any case, they turned their attention back to the fight. Val seemed a little clumsy, with Jon easily deflecting her strikes while making remarks here and there about her stance. At that moment, Jaehaerys' royal guards arrived with the maid, relieved to see that he was safe. The last thing they wanted was to find him inside fireplaces, as Princess Lyanna used to do to escape her own mother.
"Father is so strong... They say he is the best swordsman in the world. Loki always says that," Jaehaerys said with eyes shining as he watched Jon easily handle Val — she was no challenge that could make him exert himself. Rumors like that, about his father being the greatest living warrior in the world, didn't come only from his brother.
Jaehaerys turned to Seryna. "Do you believe that?" he asked curiously, while looking once again at his father fighting.
"I wasn't on the last journey to Yi-Ti, but I heard that Jon faced many powerful warriors, and his nickname in those foreign lands was the invincible general. You can even ask Hiyori yourself. However, there is no doubt that he stood above them all.
I was in the Dothraki desert when we faced hordes of Dothraki charging against us, even though we were fewer in number. Your father was always wise, commanding his forces with positions and formations. He defeated all the enemies, but he also fought individually against several famous khals — the greatest living ones — and they all fell beneath his sword."
That story was already common inside the castle and even throughout the Kingdom, but it never seemed to stop impressing Jaehaerys.
"Father is amazing!" he murmured, turning his attention back to Val. She looked exhausted after dealing with Jon, while Jaehaerys' father kept his sword lowered once again. She launched an attack, he dodged easily. She tried several others, and Jon continued to parry and comment on her movements.
Jaehaerys remembered when Val used to get annoyed at being corrected by his father, almost taking offense. Now, however, she no longer did that.
His eyes returned to Jon, who fought with a calm look, making remarks here and there. The boy watched him with admiration. He wanted to be like Jon. He wanted to be as incredible as his father was.
Seryna smiled beside him, seeming to see his thoughts. Every child wants to be like their father. But when that father is Jon Arctic, king of Arctic, the man who traveled the entire world and won countless battles, amassing victories throughout the known world — from the North beyond the Wall, to Dorne, across Essos, through the Dothraki desert, along the coast, Volantis, Valyria, the Slaver's Bay, and even Yi Ti and the Jade Sea — his name burned everywhere.
All of it was the result of conquests he had made in each of those territories. Loki always said he wanted to adventure like his father. That was entirely normal, given the circumstances. But they were achievements that few of his children would ever be able to repeat. All that remained was to hope they would not be disappointed for not reaching the same heights Jon had achieved.
Not to mention that this was only the beginning. Jon Arctic's name would still echo throughout the entire world in the coming years, with new deeds. Of that, Seryna was certain.
Jon finished the training with Val, exchanged a few words with her, then accompanied her to Jaehaerys and Seryna, speaking with the two, while Lyanna and Brandon also approached. The king spoke a few more words with his children and wives before leaving the castle, warning them that he would not be able to have lunch with them and would only return at night.
Jon went straight to meet Jin Sakai, who should have been with the army. He mounted Eragon and flew over the city, avoiding the crowded streets, before reaching the place he wanted.
He didn't need to call Jin or have anyone come see Jon, since he had already said he would fetch him for a few more words the next day.
"My king," Jin Sakai said, lowering his head.
Jon nodded. "Hello, Jin. How are you?"
"I'm well, my king. I studied a bit the mission you wanted to give me and I've been working on executing it since we left the Senate yesterday."
"Good. I will help you with a few more things. I just need you to prepare your men and take everything you can for an infiltration mission; you depart in two days. It's like invading Castle Kaneda, like you did in Yi-Ti, only they won't be expecting it and there will be no army on the other side. You will simply take a girl and bring her to the North," Jon said; the Arctican ships were faster than any other in the world.
"I understand. I will be ready."
"Don't worry, Jin. I want to give you a bit more information by tomorrow," Jon said, handing over some papers. "Here are some pieces of information we have about Casterly Rock. I hope this helps for now."
"Of course, my king. I will carefully review the documents and prepare the team you requested," he said as Jon nodded.
"By the way, can you get me a horse and do you still have that cloak?" Jon asked, looking at one of the horses, since he would enter the city.
"Of course, my king," Jin Sakai replied.
Jon then walked again through the streets of the city and went to a small house in the special corner of the kingdom. It wasn't extravagant, but it was well kept. There was a lake that the river had formed there; the houses were built like chalets around that lake. Upon arriving at one of them, the person who lived there opened the door, already aware of Jon's arrival.
"My king..." she said carefully as Jon looked at the man.
"Hello, Brynden... I could have sent a letter, but I wanted to see you," Jon said.
"You're bold to come here without royal guards..." he said.
"You speak as if Arctic weren't safe," Jon mocked.
"Which it is. But a king needs guards in his shadow, always," he said.
"Anyway, I need to ask a favor..." Jon began while Brynden's face urged him to continue. "I want to see Casterly Rock through the green sight; I need to study the fortress. Would you accompany me to the sacred wood so we can see that vision?" Jon asked, smiling at Brynden.
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