[Chapter Size: 3600 Words.]
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Third Person POV
Hardhome, 299 AC.
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The explanations continued for a while, as the new Lord Commander reported the latest events from the past seven months and everything that had followed after Lord Stark's death, in a rather open and easy manner to the King of Arctic, whom he had grown accustomed to despising in the past few weeks.
Ser Alliser Thorne's change in attitude did not go unnoticed by his companions, nor by Sam, who now seemed to revere Jon as his own king — something that made everyone look on with a certain strangeness, but he did not seem to care and continued explaining with the same odd attentiveness toward Jon.
Jon still wore a startled and shocked expression from the news of his uncle's death, but he soon hardened that look, and his face became a cold mask.
In the last half-year, the entire South had sent letters pressuring the Lord Commander to know what was happening beyond the Wall, about the mysterious war against the 'dead'... Just as the strange event with the Sun had frightened everyone with only 3 hours of daylight until some moons ago; the harvests were no longer thriving due to the lack of sunlight and there would be no new shipment for the next year.
The lords of the Reach, even before the war broke out, had already been quite agitated, and those of the Riverlands as well, though they could not say much now that their lands were filled with war and destruction. The Reach was faring better than the Riverlands, despite the harassment from the ironborn.
While explaining, Thorne told Jon that he had left Slynt's corpse behind and allowed the horses to become more at ease. When they calmed down, they no longer seemed controlled — but the men of the Night's Watch also did not dare mount them again, not while Jon stood before them, out of fear of him.
"Then they were pressuring the old Lord Commander until he had to send a group to the North in search of answers," Jon suspected, and Alliser nodded.
"Exactly, Your Majesty. That is how the Lord Commander sent an entire group. They wanted answers about what was happening here, whether it had anything to do with the Sun's disappearance, and whether the war you all insisted you wanted to fight really was happening against, you know... the dead. That is how he felt the pressure from the king and all the houses of Westeros, even receiving a threat that all support to send men to the Wall would be removed. The former Lord Commander had no choice but to send a group that he himself assembled… which ended up killing most of the men of the Night's Watch," Alliser said.
"My uncle clearly won't be pleased with something like that, but I doubt he will care much anymore after hearing what happened to his brother," Jon murmured softly.
The still-uneasy men looked at him, even Sam glanced with cautious eyes. Whatever Jon was feeling at that moment, it was obvious he was hiding it, keeping himself serious.
'Maybe this is a normal attitude for a king, after all, even in the midst of tragedy, he must remain firm...' Sam thought.
"How many men do you have now?" Jon asked openly.
"We still have two hundred people in the Watch. I can count more later."
"It's a shame you lost so many... but it's still a good number. Larger than before, if I'm not mistaken." Jon believed the Night's Watch should have, at most, around a hundred or a hundred and fifty men before; the order had been in decline for a long time.
"There have been many recruits in recent years. Certainly the food, clothes, and drinks you gave us attracted attention. Many people volunteered on their own," Thorne said, with his men looking at him strangely, since he liked to complain about the items Arctic gave them.
Jon nodded at the explanation. "In any case, there were not just three kings fighting for the throne now, but five in total..." Jon murmured this after hearing the report. The latest news was that Robb was winning battles in the Riverlands, eventually earning his crown. Balon Greyjoy had also proclaimed himself king by rebelling once again, from what I see, and he is attacking the North, taking advantage of the territory being unprotected with the army in the South." Jon commented...
"And now your brother has bound the Riverlands to the North, and is now the King in the North and Trident..." Alliser murmured, and Jon could not help making a grimace.
"Yes, he was crowned king by his men… but what is Robb thinking?" Jon could not help seeing that with a terrible perspective. As a king, he understood the responsibility that came with it, and given the state the North was in now, it would be terrible to become independent when they were not ready for it and still needed the resources of other kingdoms — for example, the North did not have its own harvest...
It seemed like a dream for the Northerners, no doubt, to separate the North from the South, but it seemed like a terrible decision when the North was not prepared to become independent. The men of the Riverlands had also knelt before Robb, and Jon could see Catelyn Tully jumping with joy, imagining how that cold, pompous woman would react to her son being named king. Still, it was a terrible idea with little advantage...
Jon had no love for Robb; if he received news that Robb was dead, he would not be shaken as he had been by his father's death. With him still hiding his emotions behind his cold mask, he was sad and angry, but he was still the King of Arctic and had to think rationally about the whole situation.
He could not act emotionally, even if his uncle was not a relative as close to him as his own Arctic family, but he still had memories of him as if he were a father, even though he had failed many times in that role for Jon — and some memories were unforgettable... even with all the bitterness, Jon still kept them with care.
But if he had to analyze the North as a king, considering the North's own resources… after all, neither Robb nor any other Northern lord was like him. None of them had the powers, abilities, or knowledge that Jon possessed.
And now, separating the North would bring a crisis upon its people. They would not have enough food for the coming winter. After all, even though the White Walkers were influencing the temperature, winter had not yet arrived — and it would be the harshest of all. The North would be devastated right now, with the ironborn invading. The entire region would be destroyed, just like the Riverlands, which would also be devastated by war. The people would suffer, there would be no way to feed everyone or gather resources, and with winter approaching, it would be a catastrophe.
That is what the North would become. Is that what the Northern lords wanted? Robb had already made a mistake with the Greyjoys — it seemed the son could not escape the same hell that had fallen upon his father. After that, they launched an attack on the North, waiting only for the right opportunity.
Jon had much to think about. First, he still had a plan to conquer all of Westeros, and now he would certainly have to fight against the Stark family itself if they did not surrender in the end, for he expected his uncle to kneel to him when the war finally came against the Seven Kingdoms...
In the end, he and Robb would meet again, if they survived the war. Or perhaps the responsibility would fall directly upon his son — for Jon had heard from Thorne that Robb had married and impregnated a girl from House Westerling, the same family as the man who led the campaign of sixteen thousand men to the North of the Wall many years ago when he was on his journey to Yi-Ti, and who had been imprisoned in Arctic ever since.
But Jon merely shook his head. "I understand. I won't take any more of my time with this. I will return here in a moon's time," Jon declared. "As surprised as I am with the North, I still have a war to fight. I cannot always leave my kingdom, for it seems the White Walkers notice that, and their attacks grow more intense when I am not present..." he commented, while Alliser nodded.
"I understand, Your Majesty. The South is in chaos right now, with still four kings fighting in this war. Stannis is preparing to launch an attack at the Blackwater… if it hasn't already happened. News takes weeks to reach Castle Black..."
Jon nodded and looked at Sam, who was still close to him and swallowed hard under the king's gaze. "How is he in the Night's Watch? He seems to have difficulty fitting in if I'm not mistaken, correct?" Jon commented, suddenly becoming interested in the boy, while Alliser swallowed hard.
"Well… he always helped the maester, but he isn't necessarily good in battle." The man looked a bit embarrassed as he said this, but there was something in his expression. 'He isn't good enough… in fact, he's useless… I don't even know why he's here.' That was what Alliser meant, but seeing the king's expression — which seemed to hold some favor toward Sam — he softened his words.
"I would like you to speak honestly to me, Lord Commander. No games meant to displease me, whatever the reason is for you treating me this way now. After all, I am still the King of Arctic — who always seemed to be your enemy in some way," Jon said. Alliser stared at him cautiously, remaining silent for a few seconds before responding.
"He is a waste, Your Majesty." He ignored the provocation about Arctic and answered honestly. "It would have been easier if he had died to the wildlings than returned to the Wall and become one more mouth to feed."
Jon nodded at that and turned his attention to Sam, who hung his head after hearing such humiliation — 'they would rather he were dead than return and be a burden.'
"I understand. Then it won't be a problem to take him with me to Arctic, will it?" Jon asked suddenly, making Alliser look surprised.
"You intend to take him, my lord?"
"Yes. It is good to have good minds in Arctic. We are always open to that. I won't remove him from the Night's Watch, but I want to keep him with me for a while, take him as I did with my uncle Benjen and the other rangers who are in Arctic. When the war ends, if he proves himself worthy, I would like to take him from the Night's Watch — obviously in exchange for goods such as food and clothing in abundance. I am sure you will be able to gather hundreds more men ready to defend the order by giving away one who doesn't seem to fit your standards."
"And the oath..." someone murmured.
"He will still be fighting against the dead just like my uncle... The Night's Watch oath has always been for the White Walkers, not for the people who live on this side of the Wall." Jon said to the man.
This made Alliser nod. "Your Majesty, if this is what you want, you are very generous and we are grateful for it..." he murmured. Obviously, Sam was worth far less than the goods offered by the king.
Jon shrugged. "Well, in any case, I'm going. I need to return to my kingdom."
"Do you need a horse, my lord?" Alliser asked.
But Jon only shook his head. "Do not worry about that. I have my own mount. I'm leaving. The horses will no longer be a problem for you — you may take them in any case. Farewell, everyone. We will meet here in one moon."
After Jon left the front of the Night's Watch members, Sam quickly hurried when he saw him farther away, running with some difficulty.
"My lord… I mean… Your Majesty… Do you really intend to take me to Arctic?" he asked, incredulous, as he walked beside Jon.
"Yes. Why not? That's why I asked questions about you. I want to take you with me. We are in the middle of a war, but there are still many people studying. I would like you to be one of them, perhaps find a place in Arctic that you could not find in the Watch... Who knows, you may have a secure future and not be a Night's Watch member belittled by your own peers... And your father won't be there to be cruel, nor Thorne to mock you," Jon said.
Sam was clearly happy about this. His time at the Wall had been anything but pleasant, so the idea of going to Arctic sounded wonderful — not only because of the kingdom he had idealized ever since hearing Jon talk about the stars or when Jon let him participate in a proper jousting match when they faced each other at the beginning of the competition in Highgarden. He had also heard rumors about the kingdom. Some members of the Night's Watch were also in the realm, fighting the dead together. And if what had happened in the Citadel was true, Jon now had thousands — hundreds of thousands — of books, forming the largest library in the entire world. After all, he had stolen most of the Citadel's collection and had also bought many books over the years in his travels, always seeking new tomes to add to the cities he dreamed of creating.
In any case, they headed for the forest. The men of the Night's Watch mounted their horses again and left for the Wall, always looking back, fearing the forest's interior.
Eragon looked at Jon arriving with a low growl. His gaze seemed to ask: 'Why are you holding back? Release your rage! Roar like a dragon!'
But Jon ignored him. He had responsibility first and foremost, sealing himself behind his cold mask. In any case, Jon mounted Eragon, ignoring the dragon's persistent look.
Sam climbed back into the saddle and strapped himself in before they took off. He simply did not receive the same treatment as Joy Hill — Eragon's saddle could hold more people spaced apart, and Jon would not simply embrace anyone who was not one of his wives.
Sam wanted to ask many questions as they flew back into the air, having grown somewhat used to flying in that freezing northern wind thousands of feet above the ground... trying to steady himself, he wanted to speak, but he knew it wasn't the right moment.
Jon's fury seemed to make the very air around him freeze, burning the skin more than dragonfire itself could. Sam had not liked the sensation when he got close to him earlier, and he simply continued the journey in silence.
As they returned to the North, Sam simply widened his eyes upon seeing the enormous city in the distance as they reached the skies of the kingdom, with the storm that was larger than all the surrounding mountains. But what really caught his attention was the city in all its splendor, something he had never imagined existed there in the middle of the North — fully developed, more beautiful than any city in the Reach.
And that tree… as if it were a rule, it impressed all its spectators for the first time. Even hearing rumors, no one truly believed there was a giant tree in the middle of a city, capable of casting shade over the entire place.
What also surprised Sam was the number of houses. The size of that city should be able to shelter hundreds of thousands of people. And to think that all of this was north of the Wall… the only thing they could see from there was the light in the sky, like an aurora borealis every night, emitted by the city.
Jon headed toward the urban center. The army was stationed in the North without seeming to have any problems; logically, the dead had made no move this time, but he could not stay away for too long.
They were clever and always watched in some way, trying to breach Arctic's defenses — and they did not seem willing to give up until they destroyed it, as if they had the obligation to bring down the kingdom before advancing south. Jon truly did not understand.
In any case, they continued on their journey. Sam gripped the handrest even tighter as the dragon flew close to the city, until they reached the Senate, landing on the docking platform above the building.
"Come," Jon said, and his voice came out unquestionable. He dismounted the dragon quickly.
"Wait for me in the North. Stay with the other dragons. I don't know how long I will be gone."
With that, Jon and Sam headed to the Senate entrance up there, and Eragon took off as they moved away. Sam still seemed cautious, but he looked at the entire city from atop the Senate.
The streets were mostly empty, and the houses closed; a few were open, with some people walking back and forth. Still, it was easy to imagine that city full of life, thousands of people moving among the buildings, entering and leaving through those streets.
He even wanted to ask, but the aura around Jon kept him from trying to speak to him.
They entered the Senate and soon began descending staircases — staircase after staircase — and as soon as they were outside again, there were men waiting. As soon as they spotted the dragon, they ran to the place where it would land.
"You have returned, my king," said Lancelot, always ready to receive him at the entrance.
Jon merely looked at him and nodded. Soon after came his horse, running on its own after receiving the command to go to the Senate. At the same time, another group of people approached, and Jon saw Seryna coming toward him, cautious, staring at him with concern.
The guards noticed that Jon seemed indifferent, colder than usual, and cast inquisitive looks at Sam, who immediately shrank before those men — they seemed even more intimidating than his own father.
Jon, seeing this, sighed. "This is Sam. He will stay in Arctic at least until the war with my uncle is over... I want you to take him to the Sanctuary and introduce him to Maester Aemon. I want Aemon to see how he can be useful," Jon ordered. He knew the Wall would never be kind to a boy like Sam, so he brought him here. If he found his place in Arctic, all the better.
"Yes, we will do that. I will assign men to take him," Lancelot said, still observing Jon, studying him, wondering what the problem was.
"Jon, are you alright?" Seryna asked, while the king arched a brow at his wife.
"Why do you ask that?" He knew Seryna had no way of knowing what had happened in the South.
"Your animals, Jon… all of them began to grow agitated... They all went wild, growling and frightening everyone... The dragons were restless, beating their wings above the city and spitting fire into the sky; your wolves were howling. Even your giant birds, the ones inside the bunker along with the others, Caraxes, his mate, and their young, were all uneasy. That's what I was told," she said, still looking at him with concern. Knowing her husband, just by looking at his face she could tell that something was very wrong.
"We will talk later. First, I want to go to the godswood to see what Leaf wanted with me," Jon said, taking on an even colder posture.
Seryna's eyes glimmered with worry, knowing he was masking anger or sadness without her understanding why.
"I'm going…" Jon mounted Panis, who was clearly agitated as he stared at him. Jon sighed before moving toward the godswood, leaving Seryna and the others behind. Jon's wife continued to watch his back, while Sam seemed lost in the midst of everything. In the end, he was left on his own among strangers. He was afraid.
One of the men in Valyrian steel armor — like all the others, which left Sam speechless — approached him.
"Come. We have a place to go," the soldier said.
Sam simply nodded, receiving a horse and mounting it with difficulty due to the weight.
Jon entered the godswood and soon found Leaf, who looked at him with a suspicious gaze. She had also noticed something different, but said nothing; if Jon did not share, she would not insist.
"The gods summon you, Jon. There is a way to destroy the White Walkers' mist... You will not need to complete all the wildfire liquids you are creating," she said, surprising Jon, who grew serious.
"Then let me find them," he said. She simply stepped aside, and he walked toward the tree.
There was something else he needed to ask the gods. If they gave him the opportunity, he wanted to see his uncle's death — to see his final moments. He wanted to see every son of a bitch who smiled as they watched his uncle lose his head. And if the gods were kind to him, they would open a green vision for Jon.
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