BLACK BLOOD. [DAENERYS TARGARYEN.]

XXVIII.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
"GOODBYE"

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The Long Night came to an end, and a new dawn was breaking. The living had won the war and paid the price that came with it; loss.

Many people had lost their live during the battle, but no death was meaningless. Death paid the price for living.

Kali refused to believe her brother was one of them, that he was dead. Despite holding the lifeless body of Sorlo in her arms, she wiped her tears away and stood with weak knees.

"Help me get him up. We need to get him inside, we need to get him help." She stuttered, her voice waving from grief.

Jon knew that Sorlo was beyond saving. He died, and gave his life so Jon could end the war. He looked at the piercing wound in Sorlo's chest, and remembered how he once himself had been stabbed by his own brothers of the Night's Watch. His eyes began to water, stinging as the cold winds blew. He would not tear down Kali's hope, and simply nodded as he stood.

"Let's carry him." Jon said and carefully scooped Sorlo's body into his arms.

Kali swallowed hard as her body began to shiver uncontrollably. She couldn't tell if it was the cold, her anger and grief, or her broken heart. Or all at once.

She watched as Jon carried Sorlo and made his way towards the castle, the weight slowing him down. Kali still stood frozen while her heart and mind tried to process the last ten minutes of terror, and saw Jon's sword still laying in the now blood red snow. With trembling hands, she picked up the blade that had killed the Night King, and ended the nightmare. And was the beginning of a new nightmare.

She saw the dried blood on the Valyrian blade, coating it like a painted picture. And Kali finally managed to get her legs in motion and followed behind Jon.

Survivors and soldiers of the battle all piled into the castle for refuge. The aftermath had been pure chaos, pain and more death than any of them had seen.

After Daenerys had to give birth to her child, in the midst of it all protected by her people, the dead around her had dropped like flies. She knew that Jon and Sorlo had ended it, finally, and she could show the man she loved, the little girl they had created. They could be a real family, she thought, it brought her more joy than the thought of the iron throne.

She had been escorted right back to the castle and her chambers, layering the little one in blankets upon blankets. She didn't want to leave her child for even just a second, but the desire to look for Sorlo gave her no choice. Dany had to find him, so he could meet his daughter. A wet nurse took the little one, while Dany changed into new clothing despite the sore pain of her whole lower body.