Falling Like ✸ Jon Snow ✓

60| 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔡𝔯𝔞𝔤𝔬𝔫𝔯𝔦𝔡𝔢𝔯

winterfell, the north

— WINTERFELL HAD BECOME A FORTRESS. Inside, those who couldn't fight were preparing for the crypts to be their shelter while the battle raged aboveground. Led by Gendry, the forges were working overtime to produce dragonglass spikes for the walls and outer defences, as well as being forged into daggers, arrowheads and spear tips. Outside the castle walls, northmen trained harder than ever while the Dothraki patrolled the land beyond and the Unsullied dug trenches and set dragonglass-spiked barricades in place.

Amongst it all, the queens of the North and South walked side-by-side. While they talked, Nymeria kept half an eye on those training and the officers leading them.

Daenerys had officially named Nymeria the Princess of Dorne when they'd returned to Dragonstone after negotiations with the Lannisters and sent ravens to ensure their loyalty, but they'd decided it was best for the Dornish armies to hold the southern end of the continent for now. Nymeria doubted they had ever had to live through cold before, so to expect them to fight in it successfully was nothing short of ridiculous.

Daenerys' attention was drawn away when she spotted a small group of Dothraki heading towards them, and Nymeria followed her in that direction.

The Dragon queen asked them something Nymeria didn't understand, but their response didn't seem to please her. She looked a bit concerned, in fact, when the men took off back towards the castle.

"What's wrong?" Nymeria wondered.

"The dragons are barely eating."

It didn't take them long to reach the grounds a short distance from the keep where the dragons seemed to prefer staying. The ground around them was blackened where they'd breathed fire to warm themselves while they slept and the charred and half-melted bones of several types of animal were littered about.

Even so, Nymeria felt that they weren't particularly happy, though they perked up at the sight of the women approaching.

"Are they alright?" Nymeria wondered with a small frown.

"It's getting colder," Daenerys replied, her hand reaching out to brush Drogon's snout gently. "I don't think they like it very much."

Rhaegal dipped his head towards Nymeria curiously, and she smiled, heart quickening. She'd adored dragons since she was old enough to love anything. The very first thing she could remember wanting was to be able to fly like they did.

"Hello," she spoke softly. "Remember me? You saved my life. Thank you."

Slowly, she reached out, smoothing her gloved hand across the scales of his cheek. He made a soft, pleased noise in response, making her smile.

"You're beautiful, aren't you?"

Moving along Drogon's side, Daenerys climbed on his back, observing Nymeria and Rhaegal with a little smile. She couldn't have guessed why Rhaegal had done what he did North of the Wall, but it seemed now as if he'd taken a liking to her.

She gave a little nod. "Go on."

Nymeria's brows furrowed slightly in confusion, but her eyes widened when they met Daenerys'.

"I... really?" her eyes were alight with childlike excitement.

She looked back at Rhaegal, whose amber eyes were curious and welcoming. Grinning, she made her way to his shoulder, hesitating only a second before beginning to pick her way up his spiked side. The green dragon rolled his shoulders as she settled in the space between them, a wondering breath escaping her. In all her years, after all she'd seen, she'd never quite pictured herself here, on the back of a living, breathing dragon.

"How... what do you hold onto??"

Daenerys shrugged with amusement. "Whatever you can."

Glancing around, Nymeria settled on a pair of spikes at the base of Rhaegal's neck, and leaned forward to grip them tightly. As soon as she did, it was like a command.

He crouched for only a second before spreading his wings wide and leaping skyward. For a second, as he reached for momentum, his wingbeats were harsh and deafening. And then suddenly they were flying smooth. Nymeria's breath caught in her lungs as Rhaegal turned almost ninety degrees to the side to turn in the air, then to the other side, swooping straight past Winterfell and over the woods beyond.

She let out a loud laugh of disbelief, exhilaration flooding her veins.

Drogon and Daenerys swooped low in front of them suddenly, and Rhaegal followed his brother through the sky. Then Drogon plunged, diving into a ravine and Nymeria's eyes widened. Rhaegal passed the edge and suddenly the ground dropped even further below. Then he dove after his brother and Nymeria let out a joyful scream that was whipped away by the wind.

When they eventually landed in a nearby clearing, Nymeria hopped to the ground with a grin.

"Well, now you've done it," she teased. "You've completely ruined horses for me."

Daenerys laughed. "You may not have much Targaryen blood left, but you do make quite the dragonrider."

"Why thank you."

°

When Nymeria returned, she found Jon speaking with a familiar-looking figure in the courtyard. When she caught a glimpse of his face, she felt her heart skyrocket.

"Sam?"

He turned, smiling widely when he saw her. "Nymeria!"

"Sam!" She rushed forward to pull him into a bone-crushing hug as Jon smiled. "Gods, you have no idea how good it is to see you!"

"I came from the Citadel not long ago, while you were away," he smiled. "But I heard the North has a new Queen. I couldn't be happier for you both."

"Thank you, Sam," Jon smiled.

"And for my sake, too, of course. Do you have any idea how hard it was not to scream at you two for more than five years?? Gods, the stares and the closeness- you two were unbearable."

Jon blinked at him while Nymeria laughed, delighted.

"It's good to have you back. How are Gilly and little Sam?"

Sam gestured to Nymeria's right, and she turned to see them both just a short distance away.

"Gilly." She smiled as she embraced the woman. "Oh, you look lovely. I hope Oldtown treated you well?"

"It was very warm," Gilly agreed. "Little Sam enjoyed it too."

"Did you?" Nymeria grinned, scooping the boy up to prop him against her hip. "Have you been behaving yourself, young northman?" He giggled, making her eyes glimmer with amusement. "We missed you. It hasn't been the same without you three."

"I missed you too," Gilly smiled. "And I know Sam and little Sam did too." After a second, her expression became more serious and she shifted on her feet. "They're really coming...?"

Nymeria nodded, absentmindedly letting little Sam, who she was still holding, play with her fingers. "They are."

"... Do you think we're going to make it?"

"I don't know," she replied honestly. "But I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you two are safe. I promise."

A/N:
Y'all... I just finished writing the final battle against the White Walkers... I was not prepared. Holy fuck.