Northern Conqueror

Chapter 48: Standing Vigil

Chapter 48: Standing Vigil

Those gathered to clear the bodies swiftly backed away when they saw Drogon land in the middle of the camp, lowering his wing to let their queens off his back while Viserion and Rhaegal circled overhead.

"Sansa!" Arya called, rushing to her sister's side and wrapping her arms around her.

Sansa quickly returned the hug. "Arya, Jon's fighting him."

Arya backed away as the others gathered, including Jorah and those returned from the kingsroad, "What?"

"Jon's fighting the Night King.. He came for me in the woods when Viserion landed, but Benjen, he was alive like Bran told us. He came to a help but there were seven on them and then Jon came with Gendry and the others. He was fighting him with Benjen."

Arya glanced to Jaime, who nodded as she turned to Sansa. "Where?"

Sansa turned, ready to point when suddenly Ghost let out a howl a split second before Drogon stood up and let out a screeching cry with his brothers. Rhaegal soared to the woods while Ghost ran, leaving camp.

As Drogon took flight, Sansa felt tears flood her eyes. She knew. She knew as she shook her head and begged, "No. Not again. Please not again."

"Sansa?" Daenerys asked, reaching to hold her hand. Seeing the devastation on her sister-wife's face made her think of all that had happened and suddenly her eyes widened, turning to the woods with a gasp. "Jon."

It wasn't long before they heard the calls.

"Riders!"

"The King!" They cried mournfully.

"King Jon!" They wept.

"King Jon!"

They spotted ghost first, striding beside Gendry's horse, his helmet and weapons hanging from his saddle as he held the lifeless body of Jon in front of him. It almost looked like Gendry was riding with a sleeping Jon, but the limp body and Gendry's tears made it clear what happened.

"Jon," Arya whimpered, tears steaming down her cheeks as she saw her brother.

Sansa turned to Daenerys, wrapping her arms around the shorter woman as both lost the struggle to keep from crying. After a moment they heard Rhaegals cry and people moved away, letting him land where his brothers had, watching Gendry arrive before the queens.

Dismounting, he let Jon slide into his arms, hanging lifeless from them as he turned, holding him out toward them as they separated. "I'm so sorry."

"How?" asked Melisandre, looking from the hole in his armor to the hilt of the broken Nightbane and dragonglass dagger tucked into his belt.

"The Night King," said Gendry. "He killed your uncle, broke Nightbane and stabbed him in the heart. Jon, he tried to fight, but he fell back and..."

"Beric stopped him from turning Jon," said Theon. "He injured the Night King. He didn't shatter like the others, but Beric's flaming sword ran him through, and then he burst into flames and made the Night King flee, leaving Jon's body untouched."

Sansa looked from Theon to Melisandre. "Is it possible?"

The Red Woman nodded. "If the Lord wills it, it will be."

Daenerys' brow furrowed before remembering what they'd told her of Castle Black and turning to Melisandre. She'd tried something like this before and it had cost her fertility, but then that was a Maegi, one who wanted to harm Drogo for what his men did.