Love beneath the Snow

35| 𝔟𝔢𝔱𝔴𝔢𝔢𝔫 𝔩𝔦𝔣𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔡𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔥

𝔠𝔞𝔰𝔱𝔩𝔢 𝔟𝔩𝔞𝔠𝔨

— JON SNOW AWOKE TO THE DIM LIGHT OF THE CHAMBER, HIS BODY FEELING HEAVY AND UNRESPONSIVE. As consciousness fully returned, he noticed Ser Davos standing nearby, a look of relieved concern on his face. Jon's first instinct was to rise from the table where he had been laid, but his limbs felt like lead.

He pushed himself up, trying to get off the table, but his strength failed him. His legs buckled, and he fell, collapsing onto the cold floor. Ser Davos moved swiftly, catching him before he could hit the ground. "Easy now," Ser Davos said, his voice steady and comforting. He grabbed a blanket from a nearby chair and draped it over Jon's naked body, offering him some warmth. Jon's breath was labored as he looked up at Ser Davos, his face a mask of confusion and disbelief.

"How... how am I still alive? How is this possible?" Ser Davos, crouched beside Jon, his face lined with fatigue, explained quietly, "Melisandre performed a rite of the Lord of Light. It's a powerful spell—one I don't fully understand, but she believed it could bring you back. And it seems she was right."

Before Jon could respond, the door to the chamber creaked open again. Valira stepped inside, her eyes widening in disbelief as she saw Jon alive. For a moment, she stood in the doorway, her expression a mix of shock and hope. Jon's gaze met hers, and a flicker of relief crossed his features. "Valira..."

Ser Davos, recognizing the need for privacy, gave Jon a brief, encouraging nod before quietly exiting the room. As soon as the door closed behind him, Valira rushed to Jon's side. She knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she pulled him into a tight, desperate embrace. Tears streamed down her face, each one a testament to the relief and anguish she felt. Jon's voice was barely a whisper, his words tinged with guilt and sorrow. "I'm sorry... for everything. For the hurt I caused you, for the mistakes I made." Valira pulled back slightly, her tear-streaked face inches from his. "Shhhh... It's not your fault," she said, her voice a soothing balm to his wounded spirit.

Jon's eyes were filled with a deep, unspoken sorrow as he took a ragged breath. "I can't keep this secret anymore. Not after what just happened. There are things you need to know. About your mother... and what happened in Winterfell." Valira's tears fell freely as she looked at him shocked and confused, her voice trembling. "What?" Jon's expression was one of deep regret. "I was trying to protect you. Cersei threatened me. She said she would kill me if I continued seeing you. I thought if I ended things, if I lied, she'd leave you alone."

Valira's eyes flashed with pain and anger. "You thought breaking my heart was the way to keep me safe? You should have trusted me. You should have fought for us." Jon's voice was filled with remorse. "I didn't want to put you in danger. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I see now how wrong I was. I should have been honest with you. I should have faced it all with you." Valira's expression softened, her anger mingling with sorrow. "We've both suffered so much. I didn't know if I could forgive you, but seeing you here, alive... it changes everything."

Jon's eyes held a mix of sorrow and hope. "I was afraid I'd lost you forever. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just wanted to keep you safe." Valira's voice was quiet, yet resolute. "We can't undo the past. We can't change what happened. But maybe, we can find a way to move forward." The room was filled with the weight of their shared pain and tentative hope. They sat together on the cold floor, Jon covered in the blanket, their hands tentatively clasped.

The silence between them was heavy with the weight of their past and the uncertain future. Valira's gaze lingered on Jon, her expression a mix of sorrow and reluctant hope. Their dialogue was sparse, but the unspoken understanding between them was clear. They had faced the abyss and come back, and though the path ahead was uncertain, they were united in their shared resolve to face whatever came next.

A/N:
Shorter chapter but I hope you enjoyed it
Love you all!