[Fictional castle bearing no resemblance to the actual Barrowton. Credits goodfon for the wallpaper]
Time healed a great many things. People who grieved deaths of their beloved, now let past enemies be past. Those wounded and charred, once thought not to survive, began relearning how to walk without wincing. Workmen tried to rebuild tattered towers in ferocious snow. Swords were sheathed, shields polished, and men of Manderly drank deep with those of the Reach. Forced enclosure with Stark and Targaryen strengthened peace rather than shattered it.
While snow trapped them inside, Jon had the time to meet fellow northmen. Davos was still recovering, but Maester Avery had said the danger for death had passed. With Davos indisposed, Jon planned for the future alone. They had left from Winterfell with fifteen-thousand strong, but now had seven. Daenerys Targaryen had yet not replied to his proposal of sending dragons beyond the Wall to destroy the Night King’s army. If she refused, or did not believe him, Jon would have to lead seven thousand northmen to defend the Wall from a hundred thousand.
He wondered what kept Daenerys from making her decision. They had been spending a lot of time together, perhaps since he was one of few people not afraid of her dragons anymore. The green-and-bronze scaled one had even taken a liking to him, and Jon often petted him while speaking with Daenerys. Rhaegal. It had to be him.
Formal discussions among monarchs inevitably went deeper. Before he knew it, Jon was telling her about his defense of Castle Black against Mance Rayder, while she recounted her liberation of Slavers Bay. Each passing conversation made his decision to wage war against her seem more foolish. Not only did she command the greater force, she is actually worthy of the Iron Throne.
The wild branches in his mind had not stopped growing, but experience had made him wiser. He recalled the time he was entrenched between Ygritte and his oaths to the black.
Love is the death of duty, rang in him Maester Aemon’s voice. As of now, his duty was to be king, fight the Walkers and save men from becoming monsters.
*
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