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

Chapter 43: Jon Snow

~The Tides of War~

The wind howled through the ancient trees of the godswood, the chill biting at Jon's skin even through his thick cloak. He stood by the heart tree, its pale white bark glowing faintly in the moonlight, the red leaves rustling like whispers from another world. The faces carved into the tree watched him, impassive and eternal, as if they had seen countless kings and queens stand in this very spot, burdened by the weight of their crowns.

Jon wasn't a king—not in his heart. He never wanted to be. But the North, the wildlings, and even his own people had hailed him as one. Now, as he looked out over the silent godswood, he wondered if they had made a mistake.

The victory over the dead should have brought relief, but the battle ahead against Cersei weighed just as heavily on him. He thought of the forces gathering in King's Landing, the allies Cersei had promised through her cunning deals with the Golden Company. The road ahead was long and bloody, and Winterfell's victory felt fleeting.

His thoughts drifted to Alarys. Just the mention of her name in his mind brought a warmth to his chest, a comfort in the midst of chaos. She had been a beacon of light during the darkest times, her unwavering strength and fiery spirit giving him the courage to face what lay ahead. Their marriage had brought him a measure of peace, a glimpse of a future he had never dared to dream of.

But even that peace was fragile. Daenerys had not taken their union well. Jon could see it in her eyes every time they crossed paths—the hurt, the anger, the simmering sense of betrayal. It wasn't just about him anymore. Alarys had become a symbol of the shifting tides of power, and Daenerys was drowning in a sea of uncertainty.

Jon wasn't blind to the danger. He knew what desperation could drive someone to do. He had seen it in the eyes of men who had fought for their lives on the Wall, in the eyes of those who had lost everything. And now he saw it in Daenerys.

The godswood was silent, save for the rustling of leaves. He turned toward the sound of footsteps crunching through the snow. Daenerys stood at the edge of the grove, her silver hair glinting in the moonlight. There was something haunting about the way she looked at him, her violet eyes filled with emotions he could not quite place.

"Jon," she said, her voice soft but laced with an edge of steel. She stepped closer, the tension between them as palpable as the cold air around them.

"Daenerys," he greeted her, though his tone was guarded.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The godswood seemed to hold its breath, waiting.

"You've married her," Daenerys finally said, her voice trembling with barely suppressed anger. "Alarys."

"Yes," Jon replied, his eyes never leaving hers. There was no point in denying it. The entire North knew of their union by now. "We're married."

Daenerys's fists clenched at her sides. "How could you do this? After everything we've been through?"

Jon sighed, running a hand through his dark curls. "It's not about you and me, Daenerys. It was never just about us."

"It was about us!" Daenerys snapped, her voice rising. "We fought side by side. We saved each other's lives. And now, you've abandoned me—for her?"

Jon's heart ached at the pain in her voice, but he forced himself to remain calm. "I haven't abandoned you. This was about uniting the North and Dorne. About securing alliances that we'll need if we're going to take on Cersei. I love Alarys"

"I didn't need alliances!" Daenerys spat, her eyes blazing with anger. "I had dragons. I had armies. I had you!"

"You had all of that, yes, but you never truly had me. Alarys has had a part of me since the moment we met." Jon said softly. "And now things are different. The North has its own needs. My people need to know that they're secure, that I'm fighting for them."

"And what about me?" Daenerys whispered, her voice breaking. "What am I to you now?"

Jon swallowed hard, the weight of her question pressing down on him. He had once cared deeply for Daenerys, but he hand never thought they could be something more, when he met Daenerys he had already started to fall for Alarys. But even that was before he knew the truth about his heritage, before he realized what his responsibilities truly were.

"You're still my queen and my friend, I hope," Jon said carefully, choosing his words with precision. "But my duty is to the North. And to Alarys."

Daenerys looked as though she had been struck. She stared at him, her eyes filling with a mixture of hurt and fury. "Your duty," she echoed, her voice cold. "Is that all I am now? An obligation?"

Jon shook his head, stepping toward her. "No, Dany. You're more than that. You always have been."

"Then why does it feel like I've lost you?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

He didn't have an answer for her. All he knew was that his path had diverged from hers. He was bound to the North now, to Alarys, to the future they were building together.

Daenerys turned away from him, her shoulders shaking with silent rage. "I should have known," she muttered, her voice thick with emotion. "I should have known you'd choose her."

Jon's heart sank as he watched her walk away, her figure disappearing into the darkness of the godswood. He wanted to call after her, to explain, but no words would make this easier. No words could change what had already been set in motion.

As the night grew colder around him, Jon stood in the quiet of the godswood, the weight of the crown feeling heavier than ever before. He had made his choice. But the consequences were only just beginning to unfold.

Tensions were rising, alliances were shifting, and the war against Cersei was fast approaching. And somewhere, in the darkness, Daenerys's anger was festering, a dragon's fury that he feared would soon ignite.

With a heavy heart, Jon turned away from the heart tree and made his way back toward Winterfell, the cold wind biting at his skin. The battle was coming. But he wondered if the war within their own camp would destroy them long before they ever reached King's Landing.