A Northern Light - A Game of Thrones Fanfiction (x reader)

Part 50 - Epilogue

A/N: Well, that's it guys, 3+ years of my life done. I can't believe it. Hope you've enjoyed the ride. And I hope this ties up any loose ends for you.

Also, just a heads up. I posted the last chapter and this epilogue together, so you may want to make sure you read that before you dive into this.

Warnings: None

Word Count: 975

Please feel free to drop me a message or comment, your feedback would be very much appreciated..

The gentle warmth of the sun filtered down through the leaves, creating dappled shadows across the pages of her book. Closing the cover, (YN) leaned back against the trunk and shut her eyes, her palms skimming across the tips of the grass surrounding her. There wasn't a single place in the world she would rather be. She wanted for nothing.

Inhaling deeply, the crisp clean air filled her lungs and she found herself smiling, thoroughly content as her ears caught the song of birds in the distance, a lovely rarity in the north. Interrupting her peace, not that she was at all disappointed, was Jon, when he dropped down in the grass beside her. Leaning across, he placed a tender kiss to her lips, "Have you finished your book already?"

Leaning against him, she rested her head upon his shoulder, almost humming in response, "It was so good, I couldn't put it down."

Drawing her attention from Jon, came the toddle of tiny boots, crunching their way through a path of fallen red leaves and the laughter that followed was a sound that would forever fill her heart with the purest kind of joy. Running towards her with little outstretched hands came the sweetest most precious gift she could ever imagine. Throwing himself into her waiting arms, the little boy squeezed her with all his might. His sweet little laugh turning into a delighted squeal when she grabbed him and fell to the ground, collecting his father along the way, the three of them a tangled mess amongst the leaves.

Giving him a kiss, she sat him in her lap, her body leaning against Jon, "Did you help daddy pick all the fruit?"

Little Ned nodded, crawling from her lap he ran towards a basket overflowing with the fruit she had watched them pick together. Grabbing an apple, his little legs hurried to get back to her, his wild hair bouncing with every step and his gentle grey eyes bright with joy.

Offering her the apple, she took it and grabbed him, peppering his face with multiple kisses, the poor child squirming with joyful torture. But before long, he was returning the favour. After just learning to give kisses himself, he placed a string of messy lips across her cheek, wet sloppy kisses that she couldn't bring herself to wipe away.

Pulling them both into his arms, Jon laughed. A laugh she had only ever heard at Mountainbreak. And a laugh she heard more and more with each passing day. Never had she seen him so free and full of joy, nor so content. The endless affection he displayed for his son, never failed to melt her heart. It had been a long wait beyond the wall, waiting for word from Tyrion, but eventually, it came, the two of them arriving home just a week before Ned was born. And for the first time, in a very long time, it seemed life was finally allowing them to live.

It was so peaceful, the two of them resting their foreheads together as Ned laid across them. His little hands reaching up to point at the leaves as the gentle breeze whispered through the branches of the heart tree, his quiet babbles sweetly filling the air around them. This little valley really was their most favourite place in all of Westeros. With their foreheads still joined, Jon kissed her, "We really should head back, we have a lot to organise before we leave tomorrow."

(YN) inhaled and smiled softly, "If we leave tomorrow we should arrive at Winterfell before Bran... I'm told he is leaving the Red Keep at the end of the week." Sitting up, she placed Ned on her knees, "Are you excited to meet your new little cousin... Uncle Angus is very excited for you to meet her, and he's going to be so surprised to see how big you've grown." Ned was too little to understand everything she said, but he easily read her excitement, clapping his hands enthusiastically in response.

Reaching over, Jon gently ruffled Ned's messy hair before getting to his feet, taking his son with him. Perching him over his shoulders, he announced, "Come on Ned, we have to go see Uncle Tormund too, he'll never forgive us if he doesn't see you before we go." The little boy, grabbed at his father's hair, jumping up and down on his neck, any mention of Uncle Tormund always managing to produce the same response. Besides his mother and father, he was Ned's most favourite person.

Jon extended a hand to (YN), helping her to her feet, thinking out loud as he watched her she straightened out her dress, "I hope Arya makes it to the feast."

Picking up the basket of fruit, she placed her book inside and wrapped her arm around his middle, making their way over to the horses, "If it was a feast for the birth of any little princess, probably not. But she is not any little princess, is she?... Don't worry, Arya will be there."

Emptying the fruit in the satchels hanging from Jon's mare, she attached the basket before jumping up on her horse, Jon speaking as he handed her Ned, "It's a pity Rhaegal isn't still around, it would make for a much quicker trip."

Nestling her son safely in her lap, she leaned down and rubbed Old Pip's neck, the old horse looking as ancient as he always had, yet remaining forever calm and patient, even as Ned tangled his fingers in his mane. "No thank you. I think I'd much prefer travelling with this old boy."

Jon only smiled, as he jumped up on his horse, "All right then, but we better get moving because it's going to take a while. And the sooner we leave, the sooner we can get back home."

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