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

Chapter 52: Jon Snow

~The Price of Mercy~

Jon Snow's heart pounded in his chest as he strode through the desolate halls of the Red Keep, each echo of his footsteps reminding him of the devastation that had unfolded just hours before. King's Landing had crumbled under the weight of Daenerys's ambition, reduced to smoldering ruins and ash. The cries of the innocent haunted him, a constant reminder of the horrors that had transpired, and he struggled to suppress the swirling turmoil within him.

The Iron Throne awaited him at the end of the hall, a cruel reminder of power's corrupting influence. Daenerys stood before it, her silhouette stark against the flames flickering from the braziers lining the chamber. She appeared regal, but there was a fierceness in her posture that unnerved him. There was no remorse in her eyes, only the cold certainty of a conqueror.

"Daenerys," he said, his voice a mixture of anger and desperation as he closed the distance between them. "What have you done?"

She turned to him, the firelight casting shadows across her features. "I have freed the people of King's Landing, Jon. I have taken what is mine. The Iron Throne belongs to me, and now it is reclaimed."

Jon felt a surge of frustration, his blood boiling at the calmness with which she spoke. "At what cost?" he demanded. "You've slaughtered thousands—innocents! This isn't liberation; it's murder!"

She stepped forward, the intensity of her gaze locking onto his. "They were loyal to Cersei," she replied, her voice steady and unwavering. "They supported a tyrant. I had to show them the price of their loyalty. The world cannot be rebuilt with mercy for those who would see us fail."

"Mercy is what we need, Daenerys. It's what you need. You can't justify this bloodshed," he said, trying to reach the woman he once cared for. "This isn't the way to create a better world."

Her eyes narrowed, the defiance in them sharpening. "You do not understand. The old world must die for the new to be born. I am not blind to what must be done. And you, Jon, should stand beside me in this. We could build a future together."

The thought made Jon's stomach turn. He didn't want this future. He didn't want to rule beside her. All he could think about was Alarys, the life they could have together, their unborn child. "I'm not the man you think I am," he said, his voice strained. "I can't stand by your side if it means becoming a monster."

Daenerys stepped closer, a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes that made his heart ache. "You're the only one who understands me. You're the only one who sees my vision," she said, her voice softening, almost pleading. "I need you, Jon. I need your strength to help create this new world."

Jon felt her desperation wrap around him like a vice, and he took a deep breath, forcing his resolve to solidify. "You need to listen to reason, Daenerys. You're losing yourself in this obsession for power." He let his words hang in the air, searching her gaze for the flicker of doubt he hoped to ignite.

Her brow furrowed, uncertainty creeping into her expression. "You don't understand what I've sacrificed for this. I've lost everything. I need to build something lasting."

"Maybe I can help you see that there's another way," he said, the weight of his words heavy with intention. He stepped closer, the intimacy of their proximity sparking a dangerous idea. "If you trust me, we can find a path together."

The moment hung in the air between them, a tension thick enough to cut. He could see her resolve wavering, the intensity of her obsession for him battling against the reality of her choices. "Jon..." she whispered, almost hesitating, and he seized that moment.

"Show me," he urged, leaning in closer, his heart racing not with love, but with the urgency of his plan. "Let me in."

Before he could second-guess himself, he pressed his lips against hers, feeling the warmth of her body against him. For a heartbeat, he allowed himself to feel her trust, her desire. It was intoxicating, a dangerous game that he played for the sake of the world.

But then, as her guard lowered in that fleeting moment of connection, he struck. He drew the dagger from his side and plunged it deep into her back, feeling the warm blood seep onto his fingers as her eyes widened in shock.

"Jon... why?" she gasped, betrayal spilling from her lips, and he felt his heart fracture at the sight of her pain.

He knelt beside her, the weight of his choice crushing him. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, tears stinging his eyes. "I had to do it."

As she collapsed to the ground, the fire in her eyes dimming, Jon's heart raced with horror and regret. He cradled her in his arms, his world unraveling with each labored breath she took.

Drogon roared outside, the sound reverberating through the hall like an echo of impending doom. Jon looked up to see the dragon land, fury blazing in its eyes as it approached them, but all he could feel was the weight of his actions crushing him.

As Drogon nuzzled against Daenerys's lifeless body, the dragon let out a mournful cry that pierced Jon's heart. He was the harbinger of her death, the man who had betrayed the woman who had loved him with such fervor. He had taken her life to save others, but in doing so, he had condemned himself to an existence steeped in guilt.

Drogon's rage erupted as it took in the scene before it, and Jon braced himself for the dragon's wrath. He had expected death, but instead, Drogon unleashed its fury upon the Iron Throne, melting it down into a puddle of molten metal, a symbolic act of vengeance against the very symbol that had driven Daenerys to madness.

As Drogon lifted Daenerys's body and took flight, Jon felt a cold emptiness wash over him. He had lost her, lost Alarys, lost everything. He had acted out of desperation, trying to save them all, but now he was left with nothing but the ruins of his choices.

Jon knelt in the aftermath, the cold stone beneath him a stark reminder of his betrayal. He felt like a monster, a traitor to the very love he had sought to protect. He had sacrificed Daenerys, believing it was the only way to save the world, but now he saw the shattered pieces of what remained.

The fires of King's Landing had consumed everything, and he was left standing alone in the ashes, haunted by the ghosts of his decisions. As the dragon soared into the night sky, Jon knew that he could never escape the darkness that lingered in the depths of his heart. He had done the unthinkable, and now he would have to live with the consequences for the rest of his days.