It's very crucial to me that whenever Jason fights the untitled, he gets terrifyingly brutal. Disturbingly so. It's the one time he's allowed to let loose, and it's a natural hatred stronger than any he ever had. Moves faster, punches harder, uses techniques that have never been seen before due to the Castes isolationism.
It's a wake-up call to everybody that if Jason was truly as unhinged as they think, they'd be dead. He puts his body at risk just to tear the untitled apart, and it's gruesome, even by warrior standards
The Untitled have so much potential fr. A solo run where they're operating on a way larger scale would be really fucking good, would help build up the all caste, AND it would develop Jason even more, which he desperately needs.
Arya updates an old ritual and Jon confront Daenerys.
Also available on [Wattpad] [AO3]
“So you’re telling me I may lose half my archers?” asked Edd as he spoke with Jon. Both stood inside a Night’s Watch outpost. Edd had ridden out at the request of Jon to discuss an immediate and urgent matter. "You also want me to release our resources to fight in the fields? Jon, you of all people know we can not do that."
“It’s what needs to be done if we are to save the North.” Said Jon as he continued to stare down at the map. "If we could get that blockade we initially discussed set up. I can get it done with a few extra men."
“Jon…” said Edd grabbing Jon's hand as he tried to move markers into formation on the map. "They have already breached the wall, the blockades have failed. Now explain to me what is going on with the Dothraki? The Unsullied? Why are they no longer available?”
"Because…" Jon brought his head to his hand. He couldn't bring himself to tell Edd what he had seen at the camp. The sight of that man putting his lips on Daenerys, her response to him. It played over and over again in his mind. Each time he closed his eyes; those two were there. It hurt more than any injury he had received during the war. His mind wouldn't even allow himself to process it. Instead, he continued to focus on the Night King. “Daenerys has decided to focus on conserving her resources for the South.”
“She understands there is no South unless she fights in the North?” said Edd, confused by what appeared to be a sudden change of heart from the Dragon Queen. It made no sense to him that she would lead her armies North, just to immediately send them back South. “It doesn’t make any sense…”
"Well, that is what is happening." Snapped Jon "Now the more we discuss resources and support we no longer have, the further the Night King marches on. We need to come up with a new plan.”
"We will, but I can not support one that does not guarantee Castle Black's safety." Said Edd
“Castle Black may need to fall if we are to protect the North.” Said Jon
“If Castle Black falls, then so does the rest of the Wall.” Interjected Edd "You gave me Castle Black and as Lord Commander, it is my duty to protect it."
"The Wall will be nothing more then part of a graveyard if we don't do something." Said Jon before sighing and placing his head in his hands. He suddenly no longer had the strength to argue.
“I will return to Castle Black and see what we can spare.” Said Edd before taking leave. Jon didn’t even seem to flinch when he exited the outpost. Instead, the Young King returned to his work. Edd could see there was something wrong with Jon; he appeared exhausted, unfocused. The Lord Commander had never seen Jon act this way during a battle. It had made him worried. Before he rode off, he saw Arya approaching with Gendry. “Go, look after Jon, and make sure he gets some rest.” He told them before he commanded his horse. “Please, we all need him.”
When she stepped inside the outpost, Arya sighed at the sight of Jon. She found that looking at him recently hurt. He was tired, worn down. His face had become sunken from not only exhaustion but also something far worse. When they had left Daenerys, he had refused to speak with anyone, giving only orders. Even when she offered comfort and reassurance, he didn't seem to hear her. "Jon…" she whispered, "What's happened to you?" When he didn't answer, she grabbed his hands, holding them tightly in her own. “What happened back at the camp? Between you and Daenerys? Why are we here and she isn't? Why are you replacing her army?" Jon didn't answer. Instead, he pulled his hands-free and returned to his work.
“Answer me!” shouted Arya, throwing the map to the ground. Jon looked down at her wide-eyed. "I am your sister, and I love you but for fuck's sake; you aren't thinking right now. You are going to get us all killed unless you let me help. Now tell me, what happened?"
“Do you remember what you asked me before I received that letter from Cersei?" said Jon, his voice low almost inaudible. "Whether or not I was in love with her?"
“And you are…” said Arya “I have known that since that night in the cells. You killed a man for her…”
"I thought she felt the same." Said Jon "I did, but she kissed him…"
“Kissed who?” asked Arya, her voice already shaking with anger toward Daenerys for hurting her brother.
“Drogo.” Said Jon “I don’t understand, the stories I have heard about what she went through with him… Why is he even here?”
“I don’t know…" repeated Arya reaching for her brother. "But you are strong Jon; you are more than capable of winning this war without her. Right now though you need to rest.” Arya pulled his arm, leading him to a small fireplace. She opened a box containing a set of furs and handed them to Jon. He wrapped it around himself before sitting against the wall. As he rested his head against the wall, he could feel the warmth of the fire hitting his face. Arya sat down next to him, making sure he fell asleep.
“You think I was a fool don’t you?" Jon said. When she nodded, he almost felt as if he may laugh. Since they had been reunited he was beginning to feel as if his sister was the only person he could trust to tell him the truth. As his exhaustion overtook and his eyes fell heavy, the last thoughts were of how lucky he was to have her.
Once she knew Jon was asleep, Arya stepped out of the outpost. She ordered two Stark guards to make sure no one disturbed Jon. As she began to collect her weapons and locate her horse, she found herself performing an old ritual.
“Cersei, The Mountain, Drogo, Daenerys”
“Please…” Daenerys whispered as she approached the Dragon. She was unsure how Rhaegal would respond, as she had never ridden him before. “We need to help Jon.”
The Dragon was hesitant to allow her to climb on his back, once again thrashing to shake her off. Jorah informed her that it might not work, a Dragon had to choose its rider and that it would take time. She didn't have time though; she needed to find Jon and help him.
“Find her the fastest horse.” Shouted Drogo, who watched her along with the other Dothraki.
“No!” she sternly exclaimed. “This will work.” She once again climbed on the beasts back. This time he didn’t shake her off; instead, Rhaegal rested his head on the ground. "Progress." She whispered to herself as she gave her child some time to adjust.
“How long is this going to take?” asked Jaime as he and Tyrion watched her from behind the Dothraki. “Swyft and his men are getting restless. Soon I do not know if I will be able to convince them to stay.”
“Give her a little bit more time.” Said Tyrion
"Also should we have a Dragon this close to Wildfire?” said Jaime “If it gets even near it, the North and all of us are gone.”
“Yes and that would solve all of our problems.” Said Tyrion sarcastically “The Wildfire is being kept at a respectful distance. The Unsullied along with Brienne and Bronn continue to look after it."
“Soves!” they all heard Daenerys say. Tyrion explained to Jaime that it meant “fly” in valerian, while Jorah translated for the Dothraki. When the Dragon didn't move, they again heard the Dragon Queen give the order. Once again there was nothing. Jorah sighed, losing hope that Daenerys would be able to command the Dragon.
“In which direction do we need to go?” Drogo asked Jorah.
“West, until we find any sign of the others.” Responded Jorah
“Then right now we begin to ride west.” Said Drogo before climbing on top of his horse. Believing he had a solution to their current problem he ordered that the Dothraki ride behind him. They immediately did, shocking Jorah, Daenerys, Tyrion, and Jaime.
To her surprise Rhaegal began to stir, lifting his head and his feet at the sound of the retreating horses. “Soves!” she shouted over the sound of their hoves. “Soves!”
Those around them were almost knocked over by the rush of air from the Dragons wings as they lifted in flight. They all held their breath as they saw Daenerys struggling to maintain her balance as Rhaegal began to rise.
Once she found her balance, she grabbed hold of his sharp scales, guiding the Dragon to fly ahead of the Dothraki. “Thank you” she whispered to her child.
“How did you know?” asked Jorah as he rode ahead to meet Drogo.
“She is the dragon’s mother.” Said Drogo “It came here to help her. It would not leave her alone and unprotected out here.”
As Jorah continued to ride ahead, he couldn't shake the feeling that somehow death had changed the Great Khal.
“Halt!” shouted Gendry. He had been keeping watch around the outpost when he heard the sound of riders approaching. Due to the darkness, he couldn't make out who it was. He found himself reaching for both a horn and his hammer, fearing it may be a wight. “In the name Jon Snow, King In The North I order you to stop!”
Gendry then heard the sound of laughter, two voices he immediately recognized from his previous time beyond the wall and with the Brotherhood. "Such formalities, I see this war has gotten Jon becoming more of a traditional King." Said Tormund as he approached, Beric riding at his side.
“What are you two doing here?” asked Gendry, relieved that it was Tormund and Beric, and not foes.
“When I saw Edd leave Castle Black at Jon’s request, I decided it was time to come back to help.” Said Tormund.
“Are you to able to fight?” asked Gendry, remembering the sight of both on the brink of death when they first arrived at Eastwatch.
“As ready as we shall ever be.” Said Beric “The Lord of Light has allowed us to return the King In The North’s service.”
Tormund grunted at yet another mention of the Lord of Light. It was the only thing Beric seemed to speak of, especially since his first near death experience without the help of his Red Priest. “Let’s not discuss how we got here, Gendry I believe your little lady friend is planning to ride off somewhere without you." The red-headed giant pointed just off the path. Gendry turned and saw Arya on a horse, weapons, and reinforcements strapped to her belt and the horse side pouch.
“Arya!” Gendry yelled, startling the girl who obviously had wanted to remain unseen. "Where are you going?"
“Off to find Drogo and Daenerys.” Said Arya as Gendry, Tormund, and Beric approached her.
“Why are you doing that?” asked Gendry “Do you know how stupid it is to ride out there alone?”
"It's simple, I am going to find them, and then I am going to kill them." Said Ayra as she tried to leave, but Gendry grabbed at her horses' reigns, stopping its movement.
“I am sorry, you are going to do what now?” asked Gendry, not believing what he had previously heard.
“Why are you going to kill Daenerys?” asked Tormund, even more, confused then Gendry. “Also who is Drogo? What did we miss while at Castle Black?”
Arya did her best to not only fill both Tormund and Beric in on recent events but also make a case as to why she needed to kill them. Tormund, Beric, and Gendry still weren’t having it. “Did you not see how big that man was?” said Gendry “Also did you not see all those other big men kneeling at his feet.”
“So, I have killed ‘big men’ before, maybe over a hundred.” Replied Arya
“All at once? With only a sword and some dragon glass daggers?” responded Gendry.
“The Lord of Light brought this Khal Drogo back for a reason.” Said Beric “He must have some role to play in the wars to come.”
“The Dothraki don’t believe in the Lord of Light.” Said Arya
“Still we are all the same in the eyes of the Lord.” Said Beric "I believe the same Lord who brought me back, brought your brother back, brought this man back. He serves a purpose, one you do not have the power to stop."
“Arya, Jon doesn’t want you to do this.” Said Tormund, placing a hand on the young girl's shoulder. "I was there at Castle Black when Jon came back. Yes, he needed to execute those who murdered him, but it brought him no joy. It would kill him if his sister were to die trying to bring him justice."
Arya had no chance to answer, nor did Gendry who did not understand what the men meant by the discussions of Jon's death. Across the camp, they heard the sound of three blasts, those around them began to head to the other side of the outpost, weapons drawn. Arya commanded her horse to follow; as she did, she could see the army of the dead, many heading over a clearing flooding into the camp.
Jon's sleep was disturbed as the fighting outside began. As he was jolted awake, he quickly grabbed Longclaw, heading out. The first thing he saw was Beric’s flaming sword, and Tormunds unmistakable red hair. Both men were cutting down multiple wights alongside Arya and Gendry. Jon looked in the distance; there he saw numerous White Walkers approaching. "Archers!" he yelled, “Attack toward the East!”
With his sword unsheathed he ran toward the fighting, cutting down wights with Longclaw as he did. “What are you doing here?" he asked the red-headed giant as the two met.
"I think you are going to need all the help you can get," shouted Tormund as he delivered another blow, cutting down two wights. “Don’t worry about me Baby Crow, just get you and your sister somewhere safe!”
Jon charged forward as Dragonglass arrows flew above his head, only one hitting a Walker who watched from the hills above. Its death didn’t seem to lessen the number of wights in the area. As he tried to reach his sister a surge of the dead charged toward him, circling him. He used his sword to clear as many as he could, but they continued to surround him.
“Jon!” Arya yelled as she saw the wights circling around her brother. She and the others began trying to break through to him. The young girl surged forward using a Dragonglass sword to pierce a line of wights, though they continued to block her path. While she continued to fight another sword cut in front of her path. She turned to see The Hound attacking any wights who tried get close to her. “Go!” he shouted when there was an opening “Get you and your Brother out of here!”
She reached Jon as he was being helped back to his feet by Gendry and Tormund. She ran to him, making sure he was unharmed. “We need to leave.” She said trying to urge him away from the fighting.
Jon shook his head before once again trying to head back into the battle. Tormund was quick to try and stop him. “You need to get away from here. Jon if you die then we are all fucked!”
“What type of King am I if I don’t fight for my people?” said Jon as he was held back by Arya and Tormund.
“A smart one!” said Tormund “Now follow me, if I remember correctly that outpost has a safe house under the floorboards."
“I will not hide from this!” shouted Jon pulling himself away from their grip. He ran forward, driving Longclaw through another small group of Wights.
As he looked around, he started to feel as if it was becoming hopeless. A strong sense of dread consuming as he saw his own men fall. These ambushes were dwindling their numbers, and without Daenerys, he wondered if he even stood a chance. Still, he continued to fight, his honor and duty to the North remaining strong.
Among the sounds of the wights' screeches and rattles, the living heard the roaring sound of hoofs and distant screams. Within seconds the camp was circled by Dothraki riders, their weapons making contact with wights as they went. Through the Dothraki Jon and Arya watched as Lannister soldiers also came arrived.
Jon looked up to find Davos, Jaime, Tyrion, and Jorah staring down him while they observed the fighting from horseback. He could only nod toward them to show his thanks before returning to the fight.
Moments later the world seemed to stand still as they heard the sound of a Dragon in the distance. They all looked up to see Daenerys mounted on Rhaegal overhead. She flew toward the Walkers who had watched from above, their bodies quickly covered in flames.
Many of the wights fell as their makers died, but some remained. Jon continued to move forward, plunging his sword into any who dared get close to him. As he did he watched as a horse rode past him, it's riders weapon getting quite close to him as it cut down an approaching wight He looked up to find Drogo, his hair now shorter, riding forward into the battle.
As Daenerys circled from above, she looked down to see Drogo ride past Jon. Both men were continuing to fight. She then focused on creating a wall of fire toward where she believed the ambush had come from. She hoped this would prevent any others from coming through while the armies regrouped.
She returned, landing her dragon in a clearing next to the camp as the fighting ended. As she dismounted she shouted for Jon, he ignored her, instead going to check on his sister.
"Are you hurt?" she heard him ask the younger girl.
"No, how about you?" Arya said as she sheathed her sword.
"No, I don't think so," Jon said before heading to speak with the others.
"Jon!" shouted Daenerys as she followed him. He didn't turn, nor acknowledge that she was there. "Jon, look at me!"
He was unsure if he could look at her, face the woman who had betrayed him. When she approached him, he was continuing to process why she was here. He couldn't understand why she would continue to risk her life for him. She persisted, following him as he checked on his men. When she grabbed for his forearm, he quickly turned toward her, but away from her touch.
When his eyes finally fell upon her face, he saw the confusion and worry in her eyes. He could also see those around him beginning to stare. He didn't want to make a scene. Their quarrel had no place on a battlefield. He instead motioned for her to follow him to the outpost. When they reached the old building, he shut the door, giving the two privacy.
"Jon... I think we need to-"
"Daenerys, thank you for continuing to help the North," said Jon immediately cutting her off. "Your resources are irreplaceable and I will be forever grateful for your continued support in this war."
She stared at him, her eyes narrowing in confusion. "Why did you think I would pull my men from the battlefield? I made you a promise... we promised each other..."
At the mention of their promise, his face contorted in disgust. Their previous words now meant nothing to him. He once again turned away from Daenerys, toward the door as if to leave before once again speaking. "Prepare your commanders for a strategy meeting. We need to come up with a new plan." As he opened the door, she spoke
"Jon I am sorry!" her voice was almost desperate. "It was a mistake." As she had traveled toward the battle, she began to suspect what had sent Jon away so quickly. That kiss, it was a mistake. When Drogo had walked into that tent, she had been overwhelmed. The memories of her time with, the shock of once again seeing him. All at once it had clouded her judgment and she had made that awful mistake.
"A mistake?" he said, his voice was low and shaking, his hands tensed as he moved them from the door.
"Yes, a mistake." she rebutted "Please try and understand..."
"Understand?" he laughed before facing her. "When we first met you spoke of all the horrible things you went through. I know many of them were with him. Somehow he is here again, and there you are, loving him. How am I supposed to understand that?"
"Ygritte..." Daenerys said. When Jon traveled to White Harbor, he had spent a night calling out for her, the Milk of the Poppy and fevers causing delirium. Tormund had told her everything. The Wildling who had brought him to the King the Beyond the Wall as a prisoner, yet Jon had loved her. When she had died, he had gone against Night's Watch orders, burning her body beyond the Wall instead of in a pile at Castle Black. "Think of how you would be if she were to return."
"It is not the same," said Jon
"Yes it is." said Daenerys "You loved her! Given the circumstances it may have been what you had to do to survive, but over time you loved her."
"It's different!" raised Jon. "Now I don't know who told you about her, but she never did the things I heard Drogo did to you."
"Remind me of how you got that scar on your thigh." said Daenerys "How many arrows did she try to kill you with?"
"Enough!" he said, but Daenerys continued.
"During the battle for Castle Black, you stayed with her as she died, just as I was there when Drogo died. You burned her body, just like I burned Drogos. You loved her and if she were-"
"and I loved you!" he said cutting her off. "I loved you more than I ever did her. I was a fool to believe you could ever feel the same."
"Jon you're wrong!" she said, "I love you more than anyone I have known..."
He put his hand up, shaking his head not willing to hear it. "Enough, like I said gather your commanders and prepare for a strategy meeting."
Without another word or glance, he left her in the outpost. Daenerys was now alone. She wrapped her arms around herself unsure of what to do. She wanted to go after him, once again explain to him her feelings but she knew it wouldn't be enough. Words alone wouldn't make up for what she had done. She looked at the table where she saw some of the drafts for what Jon had planned. Under them were the old ones he had written in Winterfell when they had discussed Wildfire.
If words weren't enough, she would find another way to prove her love and loyalty to him.
