Chapter 15: A Dull Meeting

Jon's Point of View

It had been a fortnight since word of the dragon battle had spread like wildfire. The only time I found true peace was in God's Wood. The neighs and wild stomping of hooves filled the air as I leaned back against the heart tree. The thick, pale white tree felt firm against my back as I gently sang the melancholy song of the Dance of Dragons, forcing my own heart to ache.

If that war had never happened, so many dragons wouldn't have perished, and they would still be spreading wonder and awe across the world. But perhaps that era can return with my girls. As I sang, one hand rubbed Tyraxes' lower jaw, while my other hand scratched behind Meleys' thick white horns that poked out where her neck and head met. Tessarion soared high above the sky, screeching to the rhythm of the Dance of Dragons, or at least attempting to.

My voice vibrated in my throat, creating a soft rumble in my chest as I looked down at my two girls. Since our arrival in Winterfell, they had spent every waking moment here. The heart tree was doing exactly what Aemon theorized. They were growing much faster than either he or I had ever thought possible.

I smiled gently as I reached the end of the song, and both girls looked up at me, annoyed as if to say, "How dare you stop?" But the emotion of the song had even left me breathless. Davos had bid his farewells to me a few days ago; he was heading back to King's Landing to pick up the smith he believed would be able to craft armor for my dragons. I planned to wait until they were large enough to ride so that we wouldn't have to upgrade their armor every couple of months.

"Gorgeous creatures," I bristled at the sound of a thick, gravelly voice with a hint of a Braavos accent. The interruption involuntarily made my head snap up. My peace shattered in an instant as Petyr Baelish gave my children a longing look. "They aren't creatures; they are my family, my children. Remember that," I glared coldly at this backstabbing fool. In my anger, my hand slipped from Meley's horn, and confusion welled in her blue eyes as she sensed the tension in my body. Cocking her head to the side, I could see the muscles in her body tensing as she learned that he wasn't someone to be trusted, let alone liked. Tyraxes, on the other hand, grumbled lowly, and a growl began to burn in her chest. Her ruby eyes blazed with fire as I pulled my hand away from her as well.

I was more than a little shocked to see that not only did Littlefinger not back away with fear or shock, but he seemed to move closer to me. "I meant no offense, your grace; I simply meant that your children aren't like anything in the world. They are powerful weapons that lesser men would have abused."

I watched the way his eyes twinkled as he spoke of power and weapons. If he wanted to ease my anger, this wasn't the way to do it. A hunger built in his eyes as he looked at Tyraxes. With each slow, tentative step he took, I wondered what he was doing here. Lyanna Mormont, that fierce little she-bear, said I was the only king she would kneel to after the battle. I didn't want it, nor the title she claimed for me, but the others who were on my side joined in. Since then, those who fought with us have begun calling me "your grace" or "my king."

They can't name me king in the North without the other lords, and a few of them still aren't here as far as I know. Either way, he is not a northerner; he is a southerner. So, what does he seek to gain from being here? Though I saw the way he hung around Sansa, lust in his eyes, thinking he could hide it behind smug remarks and sly smiles. Just looking at him makes me sick, and with each moment she spends with him, I find myself trusting her less and less each day. We aren't the same as we were when we were children; we've changed. But she's spent the past five years with schemers and liars, and I'm not sure if she's changed for the better.

I could hear the sound of Littlefinger's steps, forcing my cluttered thoughts to clear as a light wind whipped around us. I noticed he was only a few feet from us when light flakes of snow began to descend. I could hear the sounds of the horses more clearly than before as a large whoosh of air-popped at me. Tessarion dropped to the ground, and as she rose, I noticed that she had put herself between Littlefinger and me.

Her silver and gray scales gleamed in the light as Littlefinger looked at her with avarice, and the hunger in his eyes only grew greater as he took in her beauty. I should consider myself lucky that the Vale arrived after the dragons attacked, or else he might desire them even more than he does at this moment. It's just the allure of power that has brought him here, but if he were to see what they had done, well, then this situation could be unfolding differently. "My, they are amazing beasts."

His hungry look intensified as he held out a rigid left hand, hoping to touch Tessarion. However, she snarled and pulled away, then took off back into the sky along with her sisters. A sly grin formed on my face as I slowly placed my freshly cleaned and sharpened blade into its sheath, strapping it to my right side while Baelish gave me a cunning look.

I may not have been tutored by schemers, liars, and dishonest individuals, but I won't fall for such a fool. Scratch that; I refuse to fall for such a man. I shifted my gaze to the sky. Tessarion flew over Winterfell in an 8 formation as Meleys and Tyraxes went off to hunt, their hunger outweighing their concern.

"The lords are here and waiting in the great hall." With a sharp nod, I whistled, and Ghost jumped off the lowest branches of the heart tree. I enjoyed the shocked look and the momentary fear that appeared on Baelish's face. What did he think? That I would ever trust him alone with me in an isolated place? "Shall I get going?"

The walk from the godswood to the great hall felt like a procession, with me being the one on display. Lords and their men stared at me with wide eyes as Tessarion screeched with rage, as if upset that she couldn't accompany me. A smile tugged at my lips as Ghost stayed at my heel. The darkness of the great hall swirled around me as my eyes adjusted to the lack of light.

Soft golden light streamed in through the windows as the cold air whipped at my back, only to subside when the great mighty door slammed shut behind me and Littlefinger. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Lyanna nodding her head at me with pride in her eyes. I smiled gently at her and took my seat on the high dais. Chaos erupted in the hall.

Screams about dragons and Boltons filled my ears as I listened to them gripe and complain for minutes, or maybe even hours until I finally lost my temper with them. I snapped at them, my voice hoarse and commanding.

"ENOUGH! To those of you who sided with us, you have my thanks and gratitude. For those who did not or chose not to partake, I will hear none of this. Did you only consider siding with me because of my dragons?"

My voice boomed and filled the hall as each of them looked away. Some did so to hide their amusement, while others did it out of shame. I sucked in a steady breath and continued to speak, "If you would have only supported us because of my dragons, how could I trust you? If you answered the call without knowing that we had a secret weapon, then I would have known that you were true and loyal. But if you are here to tell me that you feel outraged because you were lied to, you are the ones in the wrong. You should have wanted to do it because it was the right thing to do. That being said, I can understand that our position wasn't one of strength, and you didn't want to be terrorized again, as the peace you just realized was taken from you."

I stopped, simply looking at each one of the lords, some of whom I had asked for help, and others I hadn't. Some of them looked relieved at the moment. I couldn't blame them; many had died because of Robb's broken oath and the cruelty of the Boltons. I could understand their hesitation in standing behind a 17-year-old girl and a 21-year-old boy.

With a heavy sigh, I spoke one final time, "I'm no Lord of Winterfell; my sister Sansa is the Lady of Winterfell, and she is the one who rules these lands, not me. But to answer the most common question I received about the dragons, I obtained them from Castle Black. They were left there by a Targaryen queen who passed long ago."

Even as I spoke the words, I could sense the room's unrest dwindling as shame and guilt began to set in. But that's not what mattered. The only thing that matters is the war beyond the Wall. That is what we should be focusing on, not how I acquired dragons. The silence and tension in the air told me that they were not pleased with me. In the silence, it was Lyanna Mormont's voice that echoed through the hall with harsh, cutting words.

"Your son was butchered at the Red Wedding, Lord Manderly," Her tone was cold and direct, stabbing him like a weapon. After a silent pause, she turned to face a larger man, round in the stomach and far too fat for even a horse to support his weight, with white curls falling down his shoulders and a bushy white beard with streaks of gray. "But you refused the call."

She then directed her gaze at Robett Glover, her face hard and cold, her piercing brown eyes forcing shame into the hearts of the men around her. "You swore allegiance to House Stark, Lord Glover. But in their hour of greatest need, you refused the call. And you, Lord Cerwyn," her gaze fell upon one of the younger men among the lords, lean and clad in boiled leather and furs, "your father was skinned alive by Ramsay Bolton. Still, you refused the call." Lord Cerwyn's eyes fell to the floor, shame filling them as he began to shrink under the stares of the more loyal lords.

"But House Mormont remembers; the North remembers. We know no King but the King in the North, whose name is Stark." She looked directly at me, cool and calculating, her words filling the air with confidence and power. "I don't care if Lord Snow's a bastard. Ned Stark's blood runs through his veins. He's my king from this day until his last day!"

Her chin jutted out as she gave all the men in the room a look of daring boldness and outrage as if to say, "Question me, I dare you." Lord Manderly stood up, giving me a saddened look before turning to lock eyes with Lyanna in a cold gray meeting fierce brown gaze. He spoke in a booming voice that reverberated against the walls.

"Lady Mormont speaks harshly and truly. My son died for Robb Stark, the Young Wolf. I didn't think we'd find another king in my lifetime." He turned, smiling proudly at me, before dropping to his knees, his sword placed in front of his body. A faint golden glow reflected off the longsword before me.

"I didn't commit my men to your cause because I didn't want more Manderlys dying for nothing, but I was wrong! Jon Snow avenged the Red Wedding! He united the Wildlings, the Northmen, and even dragons, as no man who lived could. He is the White Wolf; he is my king from this day to the end of days." He didn't know how right he would be; if the army of the dead wasn't stopped, then this truly would be the end of our days.

Lord Reed stood, his deep moss-green eyes burning with pride, his wild black curls tumbling down to his shoulders. A proud grin spilled onto his face as he nodded firmly at me. "I speak for all when I say I never thought to see dragons live again, but not only did you bring them back, but they were born in the North and are as much a part of this land as any other. If that isn't a sign that you truly are a king, I don't know what is. You truly are your father's son. The king in the North."

Even as he began to kneel, something about his tone amused me, yet it also felt somewhat ominous, making me uneasy. But, just as Lord Manderly had done, he dropped to one knee and bowed his head, placing his sword out in front of him.

Lord Glover stood up next to the kneeling Lord Manderly. His voice boomed, filled with regret and sullen shame, as he looked directly into my eyes without flinching for even a moment. "I did not fight beside you on the field, and I will regret that to my dying day. A man can only admit when he was wrong and ask for forgiveness."

I smiled gently at him and shook my head sadly, "There is no need; there is nothing to forgive. I understand the odds were not in our favor." Someone called out "The King in the North," and the other lords chimed in, chanting and cheering. The great hall boomed with sound, and even Ghost howled with pride.

As the cheers died down, I let my voice boom across the hall, glancing at Sansa, who wore a proud yet somewhat forced smile. I told them about the White Walkers and the Army of the Dead, and the horrors we would face if nothing was done. But then I spoke, this time in a more upbeat voice.

"Valyrian Steel is rare, but if my hunch is right, we may soon be able to forge a few more blades from it. Additionally, fire can kill them, and we have three dragons. Furthermore, dragon glass, also known as obsidian, might be useless against humans, but in a battle against the dead, it's a dangerous and valuable weapon."

I let that sink in for a moment, watching as heavy frowns formed on their faces and the air grew more suffocatingly silent. Only then did I give my next order, my voice dripping with command and power.

"I want every northern master to scour their records for any mention of dragon glass. Dragonglass kills White Walkers; it's more valuable to us than gold. We need to find it, mine it, and make weapons from it. Everyone, from ages ten to sixty, will drill daily with spears, pikes, bows, and arrows."

As I spoke those words, I could see more battle-hungry men smiling, none more so than Lord Glover, who had an amused grin spreading across his face as he joked, "It's about time we taught these boys of summer how to fight!"

Even as he said this, I knew what came next might be less than pleasant. Taking in a small breath, I turned to look at Sansa, her face blank as she stared out over the lords and ladies, an air of arrogance spreading across her features. I then turned back to the men and women of the North.

"Not just the boys. We can't defend the North if only half the population is fighting."

Snarls and angry shouts filled my ears. I looked over to see Lord Glover glaring as he jumped from his seat, his bushy white eyebrows knitted together, a sneer forming on his face, and outrage buried in his cool gray eyes. "You expect me to put a spear in my granddaughter's hand?"

I shifted quickly to see Lady Mormont jumping from her seat, her face full of determination as she spoke with contained outrage. "I don't plan on knitting by the fire while men fight for me. I might be small, Lord Glover, and I might be a girl, but I'm every bit as much a Northerner as you."

I watched Lord Glover take a step back, only to bump into the table, his face hard and his fist clenched as he spoke in a more ashamed voice this time around, "Indeed you are, my lady. No one is questioning..." I almost felt bad for him, a small twinge of pity burning as she lashed at him again, her words as powerful as dragon fire.

"I don't need your permission to defend the North!" She looked over at me, a slight smile pulling at the corner of her lips, and I nodded my head thankfully at her. But she wasn't nearly done speaking.

"We'll begin training every man, woman, boy, and girl on Bear Island." The other lords banged their knees against the tables in agreement, and I had to admit that if it wasn't for Lyanna, we would be in more trouble than just a few disagreements.

I quickly turned to Tormund, my thoughts consumed by the wights marching closer to the Wall and the poorly manned castle. I spoke in a cool, impassive voice, "I'm not the king of the Free Folk. The last time we saw the Night King was at Hardhome, and the nearest castle is Eastwatch by the Sea. The castle hasn't been properly manned in years." Tormund didn't even hesitate to respond. He is the most loyal brother I could ask for, and I understood why the Free Folk chose him to lead them.

"Then that's where I'll go. Looks like we're the Night's Watch now." Just hearing that forced a light laugh to leave my lips as I drank in the tension and hostile mood for a moment. But we didn't have time for their nonsense. Old grudges had no place in this war.

After a moment of silence, I began to speak again, this time in a more grave and informative voice, "The Wall is all that stands between us. If it were to fall, the first two castles in the army of the dead's path are the Last Hearth and Karhold." To my surprise, a Vale lord stood up. I was no doubt grateful for the help that I didn't need, but he had no right to be discussing northern affairs. He spoke in a proud and arrogant voice that made me sneer.

"The Umbers and the Karstarks betrayed the North. Their castles should be torn down, with not a stone left standing." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Were the stones and stables to blame for their lords' rebellion? If that were my intention, I would fly the dragons there and have them burned down. Were all the Vale men this ignorant?

I gritted my lips, ready to speak, only for Sansa to break the silence. I glanced at her and saw a stern and cold look in her eyes, so I leaned back in my chair to study her for a moment. "The castles committed no crimes, and we need every fortress we have for the war to come. We should give the Last Hearth and Karhold to new families. "Loyal families that supported us against Ramsay," she declared. I could hear murmurs of agreement, and I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. She had to be out of her mind. I turned to look at Sansa, my face now grim and cold. It was shocking that she was agreeing with the Vale lord. I wouldn't be surprised if Littlefinger had a suggestion about who to give the castles to.

"The Umbers and the Karstarks have fought beside the Starks for centuries," I tried to argue, but Sansa's anger burned in her blue eyes, and she cut me off with outrage on her face. "They've kept faith for generation after generation—"

"And they broke faith when they aligned with the Boltons," she retorted, her tone seething. I could understand her anger. She had been a prisoner in her own home, tortured and raped by that monster. But that didn't mean that all the men who served under him, out of fear for their families or their own lives, should pay the price.

"I'm not going to strip these families of their ancestral homes because of the crimes of a few reckless sons," I responded firmly. But before I could continue, she pressed on, "So there's no punishment for treason and no reward for loyalty?"

My blood thumped in my ears as a fire lit in my own eyes. I was sure that by now the dragons were circling the great hall, wondering if they should crash the meeting. I could feel them waiting for my orders, but I held my temper and took in a few deep breaths before speaking in an even tone.

"When I was Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, I executed men who betrayed me. I executed men who refused to follow orders. My father always said the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword and I have tried to live by those words. But I will not punish a son for his father's sins. And I will not take a family home away from a family who it has belonged to for centuries. That is my decision, and my decision is final." I glared coldly at her through narrowed-defined slits before calling out for Ned Umber and Alys Karstark to come forward.

Two children walked over to me one a boy no older than 12 and the other a girl with red hair and cool blue eyes who couldn't be older than 16 both of them rigid, with fear in their eyes and hesitation in their heart. I could tell that it took all they had not to shrink with shame in front of the other lords.

"For centuries our fathers fought side by side on the battlefield. I ask you to pledge your loyalty once again to House Stark, to serve as our bannermen, and to come to our aid whenever called upon."

Shame and relief burned brightly in their eyes as they realized they wouldn't lose their homes, or ranks, or face the wrath of the dragons. The two of them drew their swords and knelt before me. As they pledged their oaths, they began to rise slowly.

"Yesterday's wars no longer hold significance. The North must unite—all of its living inhabitants. Will you stand beside me, Ned and Alys, now and forever?"

Now and always," they replied with sharp nods. I recalled King's Landing and spoke again, this time with fury in my voice. "The South has made us suffer at every turn. They took our father, our brother, our sister, our dearest friends, and our oldest commanders. They took our king and our lord. By now, I'm sure word has reached them that we won the battle and that dragons played a part. But hear these words: for all the losses we've endured, once this battle is over, and the dead are nothing but dust, we will not forget. We will never kneel to a southern ruler again."

Cheers erupted, and shouts filled the air. People chanted "The King in the North" at the top of their lungs. A burning determination filled my heart; my words were true—the South would never rule us again.

After a few moments, the tension dissipated, and the roar of approval died down. At that moment, I turned to Lyanna and said, "My lady, would you walk with me? There are some people you should meet." With the grace and elegance of a true Northern lady, Lyanna rose and nodded firmly.

As we walked out of the great hall and headed for the godswood, I knew people were watching, including Lyanna's men, but I paid them no mind. I spoke in an even tone, expressing my gratitude.

"Thank you, my lady. The last time a Mormont defended me, it was your uncle, a strong and just man, much like yourself. He knew how to lead and never shied away from a challenge. He called out falsehoods whenever he saw them and made weaker men better, just as I believe you will do. Without your words, things could have taken a different turn. I consider myself fortunate to have you as both a friend and ally."

The warmth of the sun felt pleasant against my face as I gazed at the girl draped in bear fur and smooth cowhide. She remained silent, not even cracking a smile, but her slow nod gave me hope.

"Dragon flames can revitalize the land, my lady, and that's why I started having you harvest your crops early. Once the crops are in, we can get one more harvest in good faith. When my sister and I were in need, you didn't hesitate to act, even without knowing I had dragons to help. I know there's soil on Bear Island that has been dried up and barren for some time. So, once my dragons are large enough to carry my weight, your fields will be the first to be visited."

As I spoke those words, I could see Lyanna beginning to relax, but even that didn't bring a smile to her face. All I received was a simple "Thank you, your grace." It felt somewhat underwhelming. However, as we entered the godswood, everything changed. Her eyes filled with wonder, and a smile tugged at her lips. Her once cold, brown eyes now radiated warmth and light.

I turned to see my daughters—Tyraxes, with her ruby-red eyes, rushed over to Lyanna. Unlike with others, she seemed almost pleasant with She-Bear, perhaps because they knew she had defended me against men who might have ranted and raved at me.

Tyraxes lowered her head to Lyanna's face, which appeared star-struck and unable to move. Tyraxes sniffed her gently, her nostrils flaring as she recognized Lyanna as a friend, not a foe. Then, she did something she only ever did with me: she nuzzled Lyanna's limp hand, demanding attention. An excited squeal escaped Lyanna's mouth as she snapped out of her daze.

Tentatively, Lyanna ran her finger along the large head of Tyraxes, scratching her jaw as she tried not to flinch away from the heat. A genuine smile formed on her face as Meleys came and dropped down next to her. Her blue eyes filled with intrigue as a soft hiss filled the air. Lyanna kept one hand on Tyraxes and the other on Meleys, scratching them both, while Tessarion came to stand by her sisters.

A sense of levity and joy filled the atmosphere. I looked over at Tessarion, her eyes studying Lyanna. Lyanna stared right back in wonder as new trails of gray and white ran down Tessarion's shimmering silver neck.

"They're beautiful. Do they react this way to everyone?" Lyanna asked, her eyes fixed on Tyraxes and Meleys, childlike wonder in her expression, her dazzling smile warming my heart.

"No, you are the only person they've taken to like this. Even my brothers at the Night's Watch never received this treatment. Tyraxes doesn't even like girls, but I guess they see you the way I do—a warrior, and a kick-ass one at that."

Even in the warmth of the sun, it felt right to be in the sheer heat of my dragons. It felt perfect to share this moment with another person who saw them as magical beings and not just weapons.

"When I fly down to Bear Island, we'll have to go for a ride, just the two of us. What do you say?" I suggested.

Lyanna's head snapped up, and she gave me a loving stare. It brought the ache in my chest to the forefront. Moments like this made me wish for Rickon. Bran was missing, and so was Arya. At this moment, I was grateful to see one child happy and enjoying even a small moment like this.

"Thank you, your grace. That is truly kind of you," Lyanna replied.

I chuckled gently as Tessarion nudged me aside with her head, wanting her turn to meet Lyanna. I laughed as I felt the eyes of the Northern lords and their men on me and Lyanna. This was the first step in the North coming to love my dragons, not fear them.