A Song of Fire & Snow (GOT)(Jon Snow)

Chapter 22: Alarys

~Jealousy and Cave Drawings~

Alarys followed closely behind Jon and Daenerys as they ventured deeper into the ancient Valyrian dragonglass mine, their torches casting long shadows on the damp stone walls. The air was cool, thick with the scent of earth and history. She found herself distracted by the heavy silence that filled the space, her thoughts swirling with everything that had transpired since they had arrived on Dragonstone. But there was something else—an unease building in her chest, a strange mixture of emotions she couldn't quite name.

She watched as Jon moved ahead of her, leading Daenerys through the narrow passageways with a determination that only seemed to grow the farther they went. His broad shoulders cut a steady path through the shadows, the flickering torchlight illuminating his face in a way that made her chest tighten. He was focused, purposeful, and for the first time since arriving, Alarys felt a pang of something she hadn't expected—jealousy.

It was a foolish emotion, she knew. Jon was only doing what he needed to do, trying to secure an alliance with Daenerys to defeat the Night King and the White Walkers. But as she watched him interact with the Dragon Queen, a knot formed in her stomach. She tried to push the feeling away, telling herself it was irrational, but the sting remained.

Ahead of them, Jon slowed as they approached a wider chamber, his voice low and reverent. "This is what I wanted to show you," he said, turning toward Daenerys with an intensity in his gaze that Alarys hadn't seen before.

Daenerys stepped forward, her violet eyes narrowing as she examined the walls of the cave. Alarys, too, found herself drawn to the strange markings and symbols etched into the stone. They were ancient, older than anything she had ever seen, filled with an energy that hummed in the air around them.

"These were made by the Children of the Forest," Jon said, his voice echoing slightly in the chamber. "Thousands of years ago, before men ever set foot in Westeros."

Daenerys's eyes widened, and Alarys could see the surprise in her expression. "The Children of the Forest," Daenerys murmured, reaching out to touch one of the carvings. "I thought they were a myth."

Alarys watched her closely, feeling a spark of something deeper than curiosity stir in her chest. The Dragon Queen's awe was genuine, but it was Jon's reaction that kept drawing her attention. His eyes never left Daenerys, as if he needed her to understand the significance of what they were seeing.

He led them into another chamber, this one filled with even more intricate carvings. Alarys recognized some of the figures immediately—the First Men. But there was something else, something darker etched into the stone. She stepped closer, her eyes tracing the sharp lines and jagged figures.

"These," Jon said, gesturing toward the walls, "show the Children and the First Men together. They didn't always fight each other. They joined forces once, to fight something worse."

Daenerys tilted her head, her brow furrowing in thought. "Worse?"

Alarys's breath hitched when Jon pointed to the next set of carvings, the ones that made her blood run cold. White Walkers, carved in meticulous detail, their icy eyes staring back at her from the stone. Among them, one figure stood taller, more commanding than the rest—the Night King.

Jon's voice was grave. "The Children and the First Men drove the White Walkers away the first time by joining together. They fought for their survival, and that's what we have to do now."

Alarys felt a chill run down her spine as the weight of his words sank in. This was the reason he had brought Daenerys down here, the reason he had been so focused on convincing her to ally with him. Their survival depended on it, and yet, even now, Alarys couldn't shake the jealousy gnawing at her insides. She told herself again that it was irrational, that Jon was doing what needed to be done, but the hurt lingered all the same.