[Chapter Size: 3900 Words.]

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Third Person POV

North, 297 AC.

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As Arya journeyed north over the following days, the entire Artican fleet, with the exception of the ship that had left White Harbor a day after Arya had arrived, passed by the Wall. The ships finally crossed the boundary line of the distant ice wall visible on the sea’s horizon.

“This…” Jon murmured from a corner of the ship, gazing at it while waiting for this moment to come. Alone, he felt his strength on this side of the Wall return, and an overwhelming connection with Artica surged within him. He knew that crossing the Wall had reestablished a bond with his homeland—one even more intense than before. Now, at 17 namedays, he felt stronger than ever. His eyes immediately turned toward his city.

The animals around Artica, particularly those without a clear bond to other Wargs, briefly showed white eyes, flickering back to normal in an instant. Through his sight, Jon observed it all at once, countless images flooding his mind.

Animals dashed through the streets and soared across the skies of Artica. He inspected every detail of his city, witnessing its growth and the progress of projects he’d left for the Articans to complete with their own engineers. Yet, none of this mattered to him—not even the tree that had grown even larger, despite him not energizing its core over the past year. His focus, however, remained on the castle where his family resided.

He had sent Phaenix and Bleufire beyond the Wall several days earlier, eager to reclaim his kingdom. At this exact moment, they reached the heart of Artica. Any birds Jon had previously sent to the castle were left behind as the two brothers sliced through the sky like bolts of lightning, descending to where their master willed them to be.

In the main chamber of Artica’s royal family, two children played at its center. Wooden toys shaped like dragons and wolves, even painted, clashed in imagined races and battles, gripped by their small, chubby hands.

Nearby, a woman watched with a gentle smile from time to time as she sat in a chair with her feet stretched out, calmly reading a book. She kept an eye on the children, always supervising.

The dragons weren’t in the room, as they were elsewhere in the castle—perhaps with Eragon in the courtyard or soaring with him, as they often did in recent moons. Thus, the only animals present in the room were two wolves lying in a corner.

The two children, Artica’s young princes, shared a competitive yet playful camaraderie. They babbled at each other, trying to push their wolf toys ahead of one another.

“My wolf is faster than yours, sister!” the boy muttered to his sister.

“No, it’s not!” she exclaimed with a laugh. “Mine is fiercer!” Her purple eyes locked onto her older brother’s in defiance.

“Look! Mine is winning!” The boy moved his wolf toy ahead.

“No! Mine is winning!” She stretched her tiny arm forward to put her wolf ahead of his.

“Stop! Mine is faster!” the boy insisted, knocking her toy with his own.

“Stop it, brother!!” she cried, hitting his wolf back in frustration.

“Don’t hit him!”

“Stop it! You’re hurting him!”

“You’re hurting mine too!”

The siblings were often competitive, and their arguments were frequent. But such intense moments, where they clashed with their wolf-shaped toys resembling the real wolves in the room, were rarer and often needed intervention.

“What’s going on here?!” Seryna’s voice rang out sharply as she set her book aside, looking at the siblings with disapproval.

“Mommy, mine is faster, isn’t it?” the boy turned to his mother, pleading for validation. But Seryna wouldn’t indulge her son.

“You must not argue about this, Jon. It doesn’t matter who is better at what. You are both unique, and each of you has your own qualities.” Her voice was firm, as though trying to teach them a lesson. Despite her tone being stern, Seryna, who was usually very gentle, felt the need to instill these lessons in her children, even if it required being strict.

“But mine is much faster, Mom!” Lyanna exclaimed as well, drawing her mother’s attention again. Even though Seryna wasn’t her biological mother, she had raised the girl since Ygritte left Artica. They referred to each other as daughter and mother naturally, a bond that had grown deeply between them.

“What did I tell you two about arguing like this?” The woman shook her head as the children lowered their heads under her gaze. Then, Seryna smiled gently, her tone shifting to something much calmer and more loving.

“You mustn’t fight like that over something so silly. Now, I want you to apologize to each other and say something kind.” Her tone made it clear this was more of a lesson than a scolding.

The siblings looked at each other, smiles slowly appearing on their childish faces as they set the wooden wolves aside.

“Sorry, sister,” Jon murmured in his young voice.

“Sorry, brother. I love you,” Lyanna replied with her innocent tone, gazing at her brother.

“I love you too, sister,” Jon answered in return.

“Good. Now, a little hug,” their mother instructed again. Both nodded, moving closer to embrace each other, giggling softly as their small faces pressed cheek to cheek. The earlier quarrel became nothing more than a distant memory.

The girl’s violet eyes met her brother’s green and violet ones as they laughed after pulling apart. Their affection for one another was unmistakable. But Jon’s gaze suddenly shifted from his sister to the window. A striking red bird had landed there, tilting its head from side to side as though studying them. Moments later, another bird, this one blue, appeared, perching beside the first. Both observed the children with curiosity.

“Who are they, Mom?” Jon asked, pointing to the birds at the window.

“That…” Seryna turned to the window and widened her eyes as recognition struck her. They were the offspring of Caraxes, the birds Jon had taken with him on his journey. Now, they were here, staring at the children with an inquisitive gaze.

If those birds had returned to Artica and were watching her children so closely, it could mean only one thing…

“It’s Jon! Your father. He’s returned!” Seryna exclaimed, rising immediately from the bed. She hurried over to the children, scooping them up in her arms with an uncharacteristic agitation. The children looked at their mother in surprise as she reacted with such excitement.

“Our daddy?! Is it really him, he’s back?” Jon asked his mother, his young voice filled with awe as she held him. The boy, barely a nameday and a half, stared at her in disbelief.

“Daddy! Daddy is finally here!” Lyanna exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. Although she had never met her father, who had left the kingdom when they were only a year old, she didn’t hesitate to shout joyfully.

Jon had left the kingdom 18 moons ago, and both children expressed unique emotions at the news. Despite their young age and not having known Jon, Seryna had always spoken of him. She told his stories, recounting his adventures during the year and a half he was away. Even as infants, she had narrated Jon’s tales to help them sleep every night.

“Yes… your father is finally back…” Seryna said softly, tears streaming down her face as she spoke of Jon’s return. She wanted desperately to see him again, but she knew she would have to wait a few more days. Her gaze returned to the birds, watching them with a storm of emotions in her heart. Her husband had returned, for her and for their children.

Both Jon and Lyanna were surprised to see their mother so emotional, but they too were excited at the prospect of finally meeting their real father.

“Daddy! Daddy has finally returned!” Jon couldn’t help but exclaim with emotion. It was confusing for him not to have his father around while he saw other children in Artica with that figure present in their lives. He often questioned his mother, feeling as though something was missing in his family. Seryna always assured him that Jon would soon return home, that they would be together again, but no matter how much time passed in recent moons, he never came back.

At times, Jon had even raised his voice to Seryna, accusing her of lying and suggesting that their father might have abandoned them. Of course, Seryna felt hurt by this, but she understood her son’s feelings. Lyanna, on the other hand, would cry during these moments, too young to fully grasp what was happening.

Seryna knew that Jon would never have left his children unless it was absolutely necessary. If he was finally returning home, it meant that his journey outside Artica had come to an end. His purpose in the world beyond was fulfilled, and now he could live alongside his family without the heavy burdens he had carried. It was what Seryna had always dreamed of since finding him south of the Wall.

Not only would her children finally have their father, but Seryna would also have the man she had always loved by her side once more, to share their lives together.

“Let’s tell the others. Everyone must know that the king is returning!” Seryna said, holding both children effortlessly in her arms as she headed to the door, where the guards stood at attention.

“Announce it to the kingdom: my husband has arrived!” she ordered, still carrying her children.

The guards looked at her in surprise. “My queen, are you certain?” one of them asked.

“Of course. Ask the bird that’s been following us,” she replied. The two birds that had been near them entered through the door Seryna had left open, watching the children curiously, as if to confirm her words. The birds kept their eyes on the children the entire time.

Quickly, the message began to spread. The castle staff started drafting scrolls to send word to other parts of Artica, while other messengers left the castle for an emergency meeting with the ministers.

“Jon…”

Meanwhile, on the main ship still passing the Wall, Jon stood, lost in thought. He had just seen his children for the first time in so long. Beside him, someone approached—it was Hiyori. She came closer, watching him with concern, noticing the emotional expression on his face. He wasn’t crying, but she could see he was deeply moved, perhaps even saddened—something she had never seen before.

“Jon, are you all right?” Hiyori asked softly, her voice low and cautious.

“I just saw my children…” Jon murmured, his voice almost hollow as his eyes remained fixed on the northern horizon where the Wall stood.

Hiyori continued to watch him, moving closer carefully, her gaze studying Jon as he seemed to sink deeper into his emotions. Eventually, he broke the silence.

“They’re so grown now… So beautiful and strong. I can’t help but feel a little incompetent, even though I know it was necessary for me to leave Artica…” Jon admitted. He couldn’t deny how hard it had been to be away from his children for so long. Even the thought of them asking if he truly was their father, now finally returning, felt like a knife piercing his chest. Yet it was understandable, given the circumstances and the responsibilities he bore for the kingdom.

“They say that being a good king doesn’t necessarily mean being a good father. King Jahaerys I Targaryen, the greatest king Westeros ever had, is a prime example of that. But I promise, I will be both for my children and my kingdom…” Jon murmured, the image of his four children flashing vividly in his mind: Jon, Lyanna, Jahaerys, and Brandon.

Hiyori, standing beside Jon, observed him with a keen and understanding gaze as he spoke. She could deeply comprehend his actions, the sacrifices he had made, and the price he had paid. During the months they spent together, she had come to know every detail of Jon’s life: his childhood, his adventures, how he nearly died at the farm when he was only 8 namedays, his training, his relationships, and the countless battles he had fought, many of which occurred while he was still a child. From his days in Winterfell, to his journey beyond the Wall, to the founding of Artica, his childhood was shaped by relentless trials. She had listened intently as he recounted his journey through Westeros up to this very moment.

She knew Jon was extraordinary. Despite inheriting the lineage of the Iron Throne, he had not achieved power simply because of his heritage. He began at the lowest rung, merely the bastard son of a great lord. His accomplishments stemmed from his determination and extended far beyond the gifts that the gods seemed to have bestowed upon him to shape his destiny. He hadn’t squandered those gifts. He had helped and saved people, forged alliances, created a nation where no one else could have imagined, and had become arguably the most powerful man in the world. Yet, most of the world still didn’t know it.

Hiyori, who had been completely smitten with him ever since he saved Yi-Ti, found her admiration for him growing even stronger. Now, with the prospect of becoming his wife, she couldn’t imagine anyone better to share her life with in this world.

Hiyori raised her hand and gently placed it on Jon’s arm with affection. Inspired by her mother’s example of unwavering support for her father, Hiyori understood how to help Jon. Even when her father had been out of sorts at times, her mother had kept him on the right path—not through fights or demands, but with a calm and loving demeanor. She had been a true companion, believing in her husband and always bringing out the best in him no matter what he was doing.

“What matters now is that you will be with your children. You no longer need to leave the kingdom. Although I do hope we can return to my homeland one day… on a journey in the future, now that you have a dragon. I’m sure if necessary, you’ll be able to travel faster than any ship,” she said, gazing deeply into his eyes. After a pause, she continued.

“Now that your travels are over and the trade contracts for the sea routes are established, you should reap the benefits here. Not only will Artica grow from this, but the entire world will benefit. You will bring wealth and commerce to countless lands, changing the lives of thousands of people.” Hiyori’s voice was firm yet tender, maintaining eye contact and reaffirming her faith in Jon.

Even without any intimate contact between them, as Hiyori’s honor was preserved until their marriage, there was a connection between them that transcended words. It was clear that she believed in him unconditionally, and Jon felt the strength that radiated from her. He could not have asked for someone better to share his life with and raise future children.

A small, reserved smile quickly formed on Jon’s lips, mirrored by Hiyori’s own smile, sweet and showing her teeth. Standing beside him, Hiyori leaned her shoulder against Jon’s arm, as she was smaller in stature. Her gaze turned forward as well, fixing on the icy lands in the distance, where the Wall loomed far away, attempting to lift the mood.

“So, that’s the Wall where you spent your nine namedays?” she asked, curious. Jon nodded, his memories surfacing unconsciously at her mention of those days from more than eight years ago.

“Yes,” he replied. “It stretches at least 300 miles—482 kilometers—from the Narrow Sea, where we are, to the Sunset Sea in the west, crossing the entire northern expanse of Westeros. It was built to protect the lands south of the Wall from the monsters that inhabit this part of the world.” Jon’s tone lightened as he shared, continuing to speak.

“But the South seems to have long forgotten that, using the Night’s Watch for other purposes.” He paused, gazing once more at the vastness of the Wall. “Even so, I can admit that some of the free folk contribute to the South’s persistent hatred of them. There are many tribes here that still need to be dealt with. It’s not easy. But we’re changing that with Artica. That’s what the gods intended for me, and that’s what I’m doing—protecting these people against the great enemy.”

Hiyori nodded silently, understanding his words, and was about to ask him more when another voice interrupted.

“May I join you?” Daenerys’s voice broke in as she approached them.

“Of course, Dany,” Jon replied with a smile, watching the Valyrian woman draw closer. “I was just about to share some stories about the North… if you’d like to hear.” He gestured for her to join the group.

Daenerys nodded and came nearer. As they conversed, Jon tried to keep the mood light, though inwardly his thoughts were with his children, growing increasingly excited at the prospect of meeting them in just a few days.

A few more days passed, and Jon knew that Artica was already preparing for his arrival. Even the Wargs, sent along with the birds, had confirmed the fleet’s proximity. The birds circled above the ships, transmitting messages to the kingdom’s scouts, who awaited and watched the fleet for the remainder of the journey.

“I wonder how our little Wolf is doing south of the Wall?” Tormund asked, breaking the silence. Jon, who had accepted a drink with the group, stood at the ship’s prow alongside several dwarves, Tormund, and other Artican men.

“Unfortunately, I can’t see anything south of the Wall, just as I can’t see north when I’m in the South,” Jon replied after taking a sip of Artican whiskey. “The ice wall blocks my magic,” he explained before continuing.

“Even so,” Jon added, “there are many guards with her, and the ship left the city port a day after her arrival. Somehow, I’m certain she’s more than ready to visit Winterfell. She’s grown so much and is already an adult.” The king spoke with quiet confidence.

“I’m sure the Wolf will surprise the family,” one of the dwarves commented with conviction, drawing a smile from Jon.

“I’m certain her father will be very impressed, and her mother will wonder if Arya is really her daughter,” Jon remarked.

“It’ll be good to hear tales of her punching and breaking the nose of some Southerner or another,” Tormund said enthusiastically.

Jon continued speaking in a calm tone, maintaining his neutral yet relaxed demeanor. Though he enjoyed the camaraderie, it was clear his personality had changed over the years. Unlike Tormund, who was boisterous, loud, and always showing off, Jon had become calmer and more composed, authoritative when needed. His transformation reflected the responsibilities he bore as king over the years. Still, he shared moments of friendly conversation with his men, offering occasional smiles. Despite the hardness required of a king—sometimes even cruelty, as he had demonstrated in the slave bay—Jon still found time for moments like these.

Their conversation continued until Jon’s two wives appeared, carrying children as they approached him on deck.

“Jon, Jahaerys is restless. He wants to see the dragons. Are you willing?” Rhaenys asked, smiling apologetically for interrupting her husband’s time with his men.

“Daddy!” the boy exclaimed joyfully in monosyllables, reaching out for Jon from his mother’s arms.

“Of course,” Jon replied with a nod. “If you’ll excuse me,” he said to the group.

“Of course, my king. You needn’t even ask,” one of the dwarves responded with a respectful nod.

Jon left the group and approached Rhaenys, taking Jahaerys from her arms with a smile and kissing the boy’s forehead. Ygritte, who was holding Brandon—a baby of just 6 moons—accompanied the two women back inside the ship, heading to a lower deck below their quarters.

He led his two wives and the children to see the dragons at the ship’s dock. As they neared, the sounds of roaring and playful exclamations grew louder. It was clear that the dragons were engaging in their usual bouts of play.

In the pen, the dragons, now as large as horses, moved about with a striking presence. It was awe-inspiring to see these enormous creatures walking, playing, and occasionally tussling with one another. Some even released small bursts of flame, making it a challenge to keep them under control—a task Jon managed only thanks to his Warg abilities.

Jahaerys, brimming with excitement, sat in Jon’s arms, while Brandon remained nestled in his other arm. As the dragons attempted to run toward the three of them entering the pen, leaving the two women behind, Jon used his Warg powers to keep the dragons under control. Without this intervention, the situation could have turned chaotic and potentially dangerous for the children.

The dragons quickly surrounded Jon, eager to approach him. Jon set Jahaerys down, allowing the boy, who was just beginning to take his first wobbly steps, to look at the dragons with great interest as he ventured closer to them. Meanwhile, Jon brought little Brandon to one of the dragons, allowing the infant to touch the dragon’s head while Jon himself petted any dragon that came near.

“Jon, do you know which dragons will belong to Jahaerys and Brandon?” Rhaenys asked. It was evident that one of the dragons would choose the boys, but it was intriguing how all the dragons behaved around Jon, Jahaerys, and even Brandon since they had begun bringing the children to the pen.

“I’m not entirely sure,” Jon replied. “But Lyanna and Jon already have their own dragons in Artica…” he revealed for the first time, watching the draconic creatures behave almost like a pack of affectionate dogs seeking attention.

“Really?” Ygritte asked, surprised. “How many dragons have chosen my daughter and Seryna’s son?”

“Jon has three dragons that follow him most of the time, and Lyanna has two. None of the dragons follow them as they did before…” Jon explained calmly.

“And the other dragons? A dozen of them stayed in Artica. Does that mean there will be more connections with other members of the house in the future?” Rhaenys asked curiously. Her own gray dragon, with amethyst eyes, observed her attentively as she stroked its head through the fence separating them from the pen. Only Jon and his two sons were inside, as the dragons were too dangerous for others to approach closely.

“I don’t know,” Jon admitted. “But as soon as we crossed the Wall, I realized I could control all the dragons that don’t have a defined rider. However, the dragons that have chosen my two children don’t follow this rule. It seems they’ve bonded with more than one person. It’s unusual, but perhaps we’ll learn more as the dragons grow and new generations emerge.”

Jon spoke thoughtfully. It was strange that he could control all the dragons—it would be bizarre to command dozens of fully grown dragons. Even he struggled to imagine such a vision becoming reality.

Still, it was something Jon planned to explore once he reached Artica and in the years to come, as both the dragons and his family continued to grow.

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