[Chapter Size: 3900 Words.]
---------------------------------------
Third Person POV
Arctic, 298 AC.
---------------------------------------
Eragon flew north while Jon had a purpose for it — he wanted to take a look at the enemy.
His gaze turned downward, having to use the dragon's own vision, whose eyes were far sharper than Jon's natural ones, to look from the sky, searching for any signs of life that still remained there.
Arctic had soon been left behind, covered by the mountains as Jon continued northward.
There were no longer many signs of tribes passing through or living in the region, and even animals seemed difficult to find. Not that everything was gone — there were still a few people fleeing south, here and there — but they were now rare to see, since most had gone with Mance to Arctic, or Jon had needed to use Eragon to deal with them.
Not even Jon could spot any signs of life from that height.
Everything coming from the north was, obviously, fleeing. Animals and birds were the last to leave, as if sensing the premonition. Since animals usually perceived when danger was approaching, it was common to see flocks of birds heading south, and even animals — many of them rescued by Arctic, who tried to bring as many as possible into the forests within the kingdom's walls.
Jon alone had also brought a few packs of giant wolves, as he managed to identify them passing through forests around the kingdom. But he couldn't save them all, unfortunately. Some, farther west, were hard to reach. He only hoped they could make it south before the White Walkers reached them.
The mountains kept appearing one after another, and Jon's eyes were fixed northward, searching for any sign of his enemy.
It was only after a few hours that he felt the temperature drop considerably. Eragon and he were resistant to the cold and low temperatures, so it wasn't a bother — but it certainly meant only one thing. In the distance, a huge white cloud seemed to take over the horizon.
"It's there," said Jon, knowing what he would find. The dragon kept flapping his frozen wings, flying at full speed, getting closer and closer to the thick wall of mist moving southward.
'We have to be careful, buddy. Any sign of danger, we'll retreat immediately and use all your power to return at high speed, understood?' Jon remarked internally to Eragon, while looking toward the enemy somewhere inside that colossal storm, along with hundreds of thousands of dead slowly marching as the storm advanced south.
Jon knew it wouldn't be safe to get too close, and soon turned Eragon, who approached a mountain from which they could see the whole region ahead.
Eragon landed on the peak with such force that it even caused a small avalanche from the impact of the rough landing. Jon lifted his head to analyze the giant cloud covering the entire region.
The dead came with the storm — he knew it. Jon could imagine that inside it, countless blue eyes were preparing to destroy humanity. He stood there for a moment before feeling something.
"We're being watched," Jon concluded, sensing the presence of blue eyes upon him. Even Eragon seemed uneasy.
"Stay firm. We'll be ready to leave at any moment. We're not going to face them now. We don't know what's inside that cloud. Our battle will come at another time," Jon said, his eyes still fixed on the storm. He couldn't deny it was a grim sight — the storm covered the entire horizon with sinister sounds of wind and snow swirling in great quantities. There seemed to be no end...
"Winter has come, Eragon. And may the gods protect us." Jon couldn't help but say, feeling a chill run down his body. They were at least two moons' distance from Arctic.
Then, as he stared into the cloud of pure ice, several small dots began to emerge from it. Birds started flying toward him and Eragon.
"We'd better get out of here, buddy," he said, watching the birds draw closer and closer — there were thousands of them, covering almost Jon's entire view, though still at a considerable distance.
Eragon obeyed, soaring into the sky as his wings flapped powerfully, producing a sharp sound through the air. They left immediately.
The birds, however, kept flying toward them. All of them had blue eyes. Jon tried to see more clearly with his warg powers being tested there, but there was no possible connection against those creatures tamed by death — they had no consciousness.
Jon turned back south. There was nothing left for him there. The birds followed for a while but soon vanished from sight, probably giving up and returning into the mist.
He knew he wouldn't only deal with dead men but also with all kinds of animals the White Walkers had conquered along their way. He would have to learn to handle them all and prepare the kingdom for it.
When he arrived back at Arctic, he went straight to the castle, landing Eragon in the dragon area. He jumped off the bond while giving the dragon a few pats to step aside.
In front of him stood Daenerys in a corner of the courtyard, staring at him as he made sure to approach her with a smile. Missandei was beside her, along with Grey Worm, who was at the castle. Arya still had their loyalty.
Missandei, who was now one of Dany's handmaidens, taken from the Bay of Slaves, seemed to share a strong friendship with Grey Worm. Jon and Daenerys' son was being held in her arms.
"How are you, my wife?" Jon asked, approaching Daenerys and greeting her with a kiss on the forehead.
"A little worried about my husband," Daenerys replied, giving him an intense look. "You simply left the kingdom, and no one knew where you had gone."
Jon kept a half-smile at her response. "I had to check on a few things."
"To the north?" she countered, her tone both worried and demanding, as if Jon shouldn't be taking such risks. "You know very well what's out there. I'm sure you weren't looking for more Free Folk tribes."
"I had to see what we're dealing with, Dany. Just animals is too limited — I needed to see it for myself. I kept myself safe, Eragon can confirm that," Jon said in a calm tone, trying to ease Daenerys's concern.
She still didn't seem very satisfied but only sighed. "Jon, please, don't take more risks than you already are. You've gone far enough since you decided to face that giant dragon. I'd hate to become a widow — and I'm not the only one who thinks that; you've got half a dozen wives waiting for you in this castle and a handful of children. Just... don't risk yourself anymore." She paused and looked at their son in Missandei's arms.
"Eragon needs his father," she concluded.
Jon lost his smile and nodded at Daenerys's words, but he knew he would do whatever it took to keep his kingdom and family safe. His plans had already reached their end, and he had prepared Arctic as best as he could. Even so, he never stopped surprising those around him — something he had long grown used to.
His gaze shifted from Daenerys to Aegon, the little one, as the boy with black hair and violet eyes moved his small hands, making the usual baby gestures toward his father.
"May I?" Jon asked gently, reaching toward Missandei's hands as she handed over the child.
Jon took him into his arms. The boy placed his hands on his father's chest and looked up at him, laughing. Jon smiled at the sight of his son and rocked him lightly beside his mother.
"He's becoming a strong boy," Jon said.
"Yes, he's so adorable... he has your looks, Jon, but my eyes came with him. I catch myself thinking about when the three of us will be riding through the skies, flying as a family on our dragons," she said in a dreamy tone.
"Soon, my love." Jon held the baby with his right hand while touching her face with his left, giving her a gentle kiss. "Soon, when all this madness is over, we'll live as a united and happy family."
"I know, Jon... I look forward to that so much," she said, brushing her face against his hands.
"Well... I can't say I had the best experience in the north. It was disturbing, to be honest," Jon admitted, the queen opening her eyes with a worried tone. "I don't want to do anything else but relax for the rest of the day... Would you like to go out and spend some time with me? If you're not too busy right now?" he asked Daenerys, who seemed to have bright eyes at hearing that.
"I wasn't in the mood to do anything, but if you want to spend time with me, Jon, I'd love to," she said, smiling like a very happy girl.
"Then let's go out for a bit. How about a walk through the city?" he suggested.
Knowing that Arya had gone out with the children stirred in him a desire to also spend time with his wives outside the castle. Lately, everyone had been very secluded, and Jon, too busy with the kingdom's defense, had barely had any real time to be with them. Not that they were complaining, but he knew they missed it — and so did he.
"Like this, right now?" she asked, though not rejecting the idea.
"I'll get some cloaks. If I go back to the castle, I'll run into someone and they'll lock me into meetings again. So, we'll just disguise ourselves. We'll put something over our clothes and take Eragon, Missandei, and you too, Grey Worm. I'd like you to come with us," Jon said.
Missandei nodded — she would go anywhere with Daenerys. Grey Worm wouldn't refuse Jon's orders either, even though his formal loyalty was to Arya. He knew very well it had been Jon who led the attack that freed the chained people of the Bay of Slaves.
It didn't take long for the royal guards to approach. At that moment, Eragon drew everyone's attention — not just from the castle, but from the entire city. As soon as the king returned after a few hours in the north, it wouldn't be long before people began greeting him with reverence and respect.
Jon handed Aegon back to his mother and went to his royal guards, who were approaching — Lancelot was among them.
"I need something from you all — we're going to the city. Bring cloaks and have the horses saddled," he ordered. Panis had already returned to the royal stables after Lancelot brought him back from the dragon mountains.
In the end, everyone was ready. Mounted on their horses, Jon and Daenerys rode together — she on Panis, with little Eragon in her arms and Jon behind her. The boy might have been only a few months old, but a short ride through the city wouldn't do any harm.
Missandei, Grey Worm, and four royal guards, all hooded, accompanied them. The outing consisted of visiting the markets along the main streets. Still disguised, they didn't draw much attention, though a few people realized who was really under the cloaks talking to them — Jon, his queens, and their children didn't have a common appearance.
"My... the king?" murmured a man, surprised to see Jon speaking to him. Seeing the green eyes of the hooded stranger — there was only one man with such eyes in Arctic — startled him.
Jon placed a finger over his own lips, signaling for silence. "I'd prefer you not to shout to everyone around. I'm here with my wife and son. Just treat me like a customer," he said calmly, keeping a friendly smile for a man he was responsible for protecting within those walls.
Beside him, Daenerys watched little Aegon stretch his hands toward a wooden toy — a carved wolf. The boy seemed utterly fascinated by it.
Aegon's real wolf was at the castle, still too young to accompany them, and the baby seemed to miss him. He held the small carving as if he recognized his absent companion, laughing with pure childish joy.
"Of course, Your Majesty," the man finally murmured, lowering his gaze and speaking the title in a low, almost trembling voice. Daenerys couldn't help but smile at her husband after glancing away from their son.
When she was young, she had believed she would be queen of the Seven Kingdoms — alongside her brother Viserys, back when she still thought he was the only other Targaryen alive. In the end, the years passed, and everything changed drastically. She lost Viserys, but she gained much more... Now she truly was a queen. Not of the Seven Kingdoms, but of a place far greater than she could have imagined. She stood beside the man she loved — the man who had saved her and given her something Viserys never had: belonging.
Now she was there, a queen of a magical realm, walking through the markets among common folk, buying toys for her and Jon's son — none other than a prince. It was something simple, yet it brought her genuine happiness — a feeling of peace and safety she had never known in Essos or anywhere else.
"Name your price," Jon said, pulling a pouch of coins from his pocket.
"Please, my king... I wouldn't want to charge you for this," the man replied, visibly nervous, while the guards around them kept a vigilant eye, preventing anyone from getting too close.
"Name your price, my good man. I'm not here to take advantage of anyone. You already pay your taxes, and your work should be rewarded. I don't take anything for free. Tell me how much it's worth, and I'll pay for it — nothing more, nothing less," Jon said firmly, though keeping a friendly tone.
He never accepted gifts that could turn into debts. He preferred to pay, even for something simple. To him, money was the fairest price — the easiest to offer in exchange. And as king, Jon didn't want to owe anyone anything, not even for the simplest toy worth almost nothing.
"Alright... two silver coins, my king," the man said at last, as Jon placed the coins in his hands. Daenerys pulled their son close, the boy still clutching the little wooden wolf, happy and excited.
"He looks like you, Dany," Jon said with a laugh as they began walking away from the stall. Daenerys held the boy in her arms, smiling as well.
"Yes, Jon, but his smile reminds me of yours," she replied, leaning slightly and resting her body against his.
Jon slid his hand along his wife's back in a tender gesture as they walked through the streets. The city kept its steady flow of people coming and going, full of life.
"How about a walk to the docks? Have the horses taken back to the castle," Jon suggested, pointing toward the river, where a large bridge arched high above the water, allowing small boats to pass freely underneath.
"I'd love to, Jon," said Daenerys as the two joined one of the lines to cross.
"Did you know that Rhaenys is reading a book about House Stark?" Daenerys commented, starting a conversation as they waited in line like the common folk of Arctic.
Jon raised an eyebrow. "About House Stark?" he asked, laughing.
Daenerys laughed too. They both knew that Rhaenys had recently started taking an interest in the histories of their families. House Stark was an important part of Jon, but Rhaenys had always avoided talking about it or researching too deeply. She held some resentment toward the house of Jon's mother.
"Perhaps the Stark heritage in our two children has awakened something in her. It's good that she's showing interest. After all, our children share the blood of a great house and a great history through you," said Daenerys, and Jon nodded.
"Makes sense," he replied. "And how's it been sleeping with Aegon? Did he go through that phase?" Jon asked.
"He wants to nurse all the time, Jon, he's always hungry, but I'm taking good care of him. He doesn't wake up at night anymore — at least not as much. Missandei has been helping me the most with that," Daenerys replied, giving a knowing glance to the friend walking right behind them.
"It's nothing, my queen, my king. It's a pleasure to help with little Aegon," said Missandei, smiling.
"You don't need to feel obliged to anything, Missandei. But thank you for taking care of my son," Jon replied. She was no longer a slave, and he always made sure she was aware of that. Being a handmaiden came with responsibilities, yes, but Jon didn't want her to feel bound to Daenerys in servitude.
"My king, I must disagree with you — I hope you won't take offense," Missandei began carefully. "But both I and Grey Worm have no words to describe how you've changed our lives, along with the rest of the freed people. Both those who came here and those still in the Bay of Slaves. I know about your plans there... and even if it's a strategic move for the kingdom, you're still improving the lives of many people. Just as you improved ours."
She paused and looked around, admiring the scenery. "I never imagined living in a place like Arctic. Here there's no hunger, no cold, and certainly no whips. Only a peaceful life, full of abundance. I'm the handmaiden of Queen Daenerys, but I live better than I ever did among the slavers — better than the slave master himself, I can assure you."
"I'm glad you think so, Missandei. I want you to keep up your excellent work, and if you ever have any problems, you can report them to Daenerys first — but you can also ask her to bring them directly to me to resolve," Jon said.
He hadn't asked Missandei to speak directly to him because he respected the hierarchy of the kingdom. If she went to him before Daenerys, it would mean going over the queen — something that could not happen. The kingdom had a well-defined structure: the king, the queen, and the princes came first, followed by the ministers, then the senators and their administrative subdivisions. But right below the senators were the judges, who had authority over everyone else within the Civil area. There were also other areas such as the military, commerce, and manufacturing. Everyone knew exactly how that order worked.
The boat they were on began to fill, and soon no one else could board. Jon sat with his family in one of the corners. Aegon, already sleepy, rested in his mother's arms, still clutching the wooden direwolf, while Daenerys leaned against Jon's shoulder, savoring that rare moment of peace. Missandei gently took the baby when Daenerys wanted a moment alone with her husband, allowing the couple to enjoy a few quiet moments together in silence.
The boat ride was calm. No one disturbed them or seemed to realize they were in the presence of the king, one of the queens, and the prince.
After the ride, they went to another part of the city. Daenerys led them to one of the orphanages she helped maintain. As they approached, they stopped to avoid revealing their identities and causing confusion.
"So these are the children you've been caring for since you arrived?" Jon asked with a smile, finding his wife's dedication noble. He already knew — having watched her through his birds — but it pleased him to see one of the orphanages Daenerys oversaw.
"Yes. It's been a while since I last came here, actually. Aegon has taken most of my time... I'd love to go in there and shout to the children while we play, sing, and tell stories, but it's better not to," she said, laughing softly.
Jon showed a satisfied smile, watching the children running around, excited, playing and laughing. This was just one of the orphanages in Arctic, and his wife had devoted herself to caring for them.
They took another boat, which brought them directly to the university. The day was already beginning to darken, and that would be their last stop before returning. Jon wanted to walk through the campus — to see the movement of students, life unfolding there. They passed through the gate after one of the royal guards spoke to the sentry.
As they walked among the buildings and gardens, they asked one of the royal guards to bring a few books from the library. Jon requested children's stories to read to Eragon. They sat beneath one of the large courtyard trees, Daenerys and their son resting against his chest.
A few nearby students glanced curiously at the group of hooded figures but didn't dare approach — the guards had given them permission to stay there. Jon opened one of the books he had asked his guards to fetch and began reading softly, his voice blending with the evening breeze.
Aegon, however, didn't hear even half of the first story. He fell asleep peacefully in his mother's arms, while she rested against his father's chest, listening to the tale that Jon continued to read, smiling in silence.
Jon and Daenerys chuckled softly at the little boy's quiet snores but remained as they were, comfortable. She kept their son warm and safe.
"Looks like I'll have to tell these stories to my wife instead," Jon joked, laughing quietly.
"I'd love to hear them, Jon," Daenerys replied, sniffing lightly against him in a teasing tone.
They stayed there for a while, enjoying the silence and calm of the moment, until someone approached — someone familiar to them both. It was none other than old Maester Aemon, who recognized them the instant he came closer. He had a far keener eye for hooded figures than most.
"Hello, Jon," he said with a warm smile.
Jon smiled back, lifting his head to greet the man who spent much of his time at the university. "Maester Aemon. It's good to see you. How have you been?"
"Busy as always, my king," the elder replied, "but I must admit, it's rare to see you here. Especially with... one of my nieces. And it is certainly a charming sight — your family."
Aemon spoke with misty eyes, watching the three Targaryens together — father, mother, and son — embracing as a true family in a peaceful moment, their identities hidden among the crowd scattered across the lawns.
It was a sight that touched the old maester's heart, reminding him of times of mourning, of old losses, and of all the pain he had carried. Now, seeing the Targaryens alive, united, and happy was like witnessing the rebirth of a dream he had once thought lost.
It was a sweet twist of fate — a silent healing for his old wounds. To see dragons and heirs of fire walking once again under the sunlight was a blessing he had never expected to witness after so many grim tidings at the end of Robert's rebellion.
It was a most welcome vision in the life of Aemon Targaryen.
"In any case, Maester Aemon... I've been thinking about what you told me a week ago," Jon began, a kind smile on his face. "In six days, I intend to deliver a speech to the entire kingdom."
He spoke with a voice firm yet calm, feeling conviction grow within his chest. It was time to return to his roots — to speak as the King of Arctic he truly was, before his people.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
🦝 Raccoon here: 🦝
I deeply appreciate your support since the beginning of this exciting journey!
I hope each chapter has provided incredible moments. If you like my work and would like to support the continuation of this fanfic, consider becoming a patron with plans starting at $2!. As a token of gratitude, I offer access to more than 210 extra chapters with 7 active fanfics at the same time, along with other exclusive benefits on my profile, such as images and significant decisions for the stories.
Even if you are not a patron, I am making chapters available a few hours earlier here, so become a free member on the platform!
🌟 RaccoonLeague | Patreon🌟
Visit our Patreon for more: https://www.patreon.com/RaccoonLeague
Extra Content Already Available:
🏴☠️ One Piece - I Am a Different Luffy!: 30 extra chapters!
👑 Game of Thrones: The Legend of Jon Arctic!: 30 extra chapters!
🌀 Naruto - Minato Namikaze SI!: 30 extra chapters!
🗡️ The Witcher - As Uchiha Madara! 30 extra chapters!
⚡ Harry Potter - Shadow Monarch! 30 extra chapters!
👑 Game of Thrones: DragonBorn! 30 extra chapters!
Except for One Piece with daily chapters and DragonBorn once a week, all fanfics are updated 3 times a week, there's just a pause in updating in the week, only to create drafts for the week's chapters.
In addition to the extra chapters, daily chapters are posted and 25 chapters per week!
Your support is very important and makes all the difference in keeping these stories alive.
Thank you very much for being part of this journey! I hope you continue to enjoy the story and that it brings even more joy to your life!
Visit our Patreon for more!!
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆