A new destiny

Chapter 11 | Jon

"This wasn't supposed to happen in this way" I thought in anguish as I watched Daenerys Targaryen burning the pyre of her beloved friend Sir Jorah Mormut. After having defeated the Dead Army we had decided the first thing which needed to be done before celebrating the victory we achieved was to give a proper funeral to all the important members of our forces; for this reason, I stood in front of Winterfell along with Daenerys, my family, our advisors and what was left of our armies, busy at mourning for all our losses. "What if she looses Missandei and Rhaegal just like my dream showed?" I thought in horror "I can't let any of this to happen. She has to sit on the Iron Throne without loosing too many people close to her". The fact I had managed to shield my love for Daenerys and give both her children a chance to survive was already a victory; however the most important war still waited for us and after Sir Jorah's fall, I didn't know if I could prevent my dream from occurring. "I should have forced Sir Jorah to leave Winterfell" I thought "I should have been the one to protect Daenerys". "Jon are you alright?" I heard a voice asking. I turned my back to reality, only to find Daenerys watching me. "Are you alright?" she asked me again, worry depicted on her face. I sighed, not sure how to answer. "I don't know Daenerys" I finally said "This is the second loss you suffer because of me. I d.....". "Jorah's death isn't your fault" Daenerys interrupted me fiercely "He chose to protect me. He knew he could risk his life by going into battle. His sacrifice contributed to our victory". "Was it worth?" I retorted "Do you accept his death even if we managed to win?" I asked, pain depicted on my face "For me Sir Jorah's death is a defeat since I swore to myself I would have done my best to prevent his death". With these final words, I walked away, unaware of leaving Daenerys Targaryen crying for me, for the pain I was feeling in that moment.

"We got an important victory" Sansa said to the lords gathered "A victory which will be remembered for many years, a victory which happened thanks to house Stark!". Everyone cheered happily in response. "How can you happy?" I mused "How can you celebrate when a more important war hasn't begun yet?". I focused my attention on Daenerys and found her saddened; I knew why she was sad, I knew she was suffering because no one admitted we managed to win thanks to her and her armies. "My friends" I said as I rose from my place "As my sister just said, a great victory was achieved last night". "Thanks to you Little Crow!" my friend Tormundud said, raising his glass in salute "You were the one who slayed the Night King in combat!". These words were followed by other cheers "And you the first man in the North to have ridden a dragon!" Tormundud continued "This will be forever be rem....". "Yes, it will be remembered" I interrupted my friend with a smile "However, if we managed to win it's because a powerful queen decided to help us". Silence fell at these words and everyone watched me carefully "This queen could have turned her back on us and choose to carry on her war plans but she didn't". I turned towards Daenerys, making sure everyone focused on her "DAENERYS TARGARYEN AND HER FORCES ARE THE TRUE REASON FOR OUR VICTORY!" I announced as I rose my glass "THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A TOST TO DAENERYS TARGARYEN, THE TRUE SAVIOUR OF WINTERFELL". Everyone, Daenerys included, looked me with astonishment and then, out of the blue the northern lords raised their glasses in salute. "LONG LIVE TO DAENERYS TARGARYEN, THE SAVIOUR OF THE NORTH" Many lords said in unison before drinking their wine. I turned to Daenerys and found her smiling for the first time in that day. "That's it" I thought as I watched her "If I can't have you, at least I will have the satisfaction of having helped you to sit on the Iron Throne with your friends and children at your side. I hope you will find someone who can love you".

"Are you alright?" a voice behind me asked an hour later. After having ensured Daenerys got what she deserved for having saved the North from certain defeat, I retired to my room feeling necessary to be alone. Everyone seemed to be happy after we managed to defeat the Dead Army, everyone except for me. I slowly turned and found Davos watching me with worry. "Why do you ask?" I replied with a sigh, not knowing if I would be happy again. "Because I saw everyone smiling back in the room except for you. I don't understand why since you along with Daenerys saved Winterfell from the Dead". "Yes" I agreed "I saved Winterfell from certain destruction; however, I didn't manage to prevent Daenerys Targaryen from suffering another loss". "Jon you can't blame yourself for Sir Jorah's death" Davos told me gently "He knew his life was at risk when he chose to take part in this battle. You are a member of his family or a close friend of him so stop blaming yourself". "Davos, this is the second time we see Daenerys mourning for a person close to her because she chose to take part in our was against the Dead" I countered "Besides, did you notice that many Northern lords didn't want to accept she contributed to our victory? I hoped she would be accepted when I brought her here but unfortunately none of this happened". Davos sighed, knowing I was right in this. "In time they will accept her" he replied "In time everyone will realize she is not like her father; give everyone some time to get to know her". "I'm afraid we do not have much time" I replied in a saddened voice "I pray she won't have problems in claiming the Iron Throne once Cercei Lannister will be defeated". "You think no one will accept her?" Davos asked me "Was this another thing which your dream showed you?". "I'm afraid so" I answered, deciding to reveal only a part of what I had seen "In my dream everyone claimed I was the one who deserved to sit on the Throne, not her. I can't let this happen: I swore to her I would help her to get the Iron Throne and it is my intention of doing so". "Lad, stop panicking" Davos chided me "First, if you don't want to sit on the Iron Throne, you just have to refuse; secondly, how do you know your vision will come true? I understand you desperately want to prevent it from occurring but I'm afraid you are starting to lose your mind by focusing your thoughts only on it". "Than what I should do?" I asked in desperation "How can I stop thinking about it?". "By focusing on the present" Davos answered with a smile "You are still very young and have a life ahead of you. Stop worrying about the future, about the happiness of the others and focus on what makes you happy. Live your life, you deserve to be happy just like all the other human beings". I nodded, feeling optimism feeling my heart for the first time in several hours and I fiercely hugged my advisor and mentor. "Thank you" I said softly "Thank you for guiding me, for constantly be at my side". "At any time lad" Davos replied with a chuckle "Now stop brooding here all alone and return to the feast: the others have already noticed your absence".