The Wars to Come - J.S.

27 - LAST NIGHT

— winterfell —

"I promised to fight for the living, I intend to keep that promise." Jaime Lannister argues his case in front of an unwelcoming crowd. 

Aurora is sitting beside her brother at a table on the side of the room, she is barely paying attention to the trial going on in front of her, instead her mind is on the events of the night before.

She now harbors a secret from all of her friends, the people that she loves. She can't tell Jorah, or Missandei, and especially not Daenerys. 

And that's not the only thing that is on her mind. Her mind is still trying to grasp the fact that Jon asked her to marry him last night. 

She still hasn't even answered him, not entirely at least.

"Jon, I.. I don't know what to say." 

"You don't have to say anything, it can wait." he says, a reassuring smile on his face.

"No, it can't. The Army of the Dead is coming to our doorstep. We might die." she responds as she steps closer to him and takes his hands.

Jorah's hand on her own brings her out of her head and back into the moment. His eyes convey his concern as he looks over at her. She smiles at him to reassure him that she is okay and he raises a brow but leaves her alone and turns back to Jaime Lannister's trial. 

Brienne stands up to defend Jaime, which convinces Sansa to allow him to stay. 

"What does the Warden of the North say about it?" Daenerys asks, turning to look at Jon beside her.

"We need every man we can get." he answers.

"Very well." Daenerys reluctantly allows Jaime to stay in Winterfell. 

Jaime thanks her after Grey Worm gives back his sword, and she stands up followed by everyone else in the room. 

Sansa and Jon exit through the back and Daenerys goes around the table to pass by Jaime and her advisers follow her.

Aurora, however, follows Jon. She finds him in their quarters, his head in his hands. 

A sad smile is on her face as she approaches him. He looks up as he hears her footsteps and a matching smile appears on his face.

"I don't know what to do." he says.

"I don't know either." 

He sighs as he reaches out for her, she steps into his grasp and he leans his head against her stomach while her hands go to his hair. 

"If we survive this, we'll get married." she says softly, her hands playing with the hair at the back of his head. Jon looks up at her and nods. She smiles at him and then continues.

"I was raised by Jeor Mormont and he will always be my father. If I found out who my parents were today, it wouldn't change that fact for me. Did what you learned yesterday change anything for you?"

"Ned Stark was my father. Robb, Bran, and Rickon are my brothers. Sansa and Arya are my sisters." Jon answers, confirming her theory.

"And you don't want to be King." she states, and he nods. "Then if all of that is true, why should you throw away your life for a life you don't even want? If we tell Daenerys, she won't be happy. If we tell your sisters, they will want you to be King. So the way I see it, we should just keep quiet. Swear Bran and Sam to secrecy. Don't destroy everything we have for no reason. All that will come of this is anger." 

Aurora backs up so Jon can stand in front of her, his arms finding a place around her waist.

"I love you." he says softly.