[Chapter Size: 3700 Words.]

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Third Person POV

North, 297 AC.

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The small footsteps echoed through the castle corridors as someone tried to keep up with the running boy.

“Wait, Prince!” the woman murmured, trying to stop him.

“Hm?” The boy turned to the woman with a slightly surprised expression.

“Is something wrong, Erica?” A voice came from the hallway as a royal guard approached them.

“Sir Lucke.” The young woman looked at him cautiously. He was one of the hundred royal guards and was tasked with directly overseeing Prince Jon today.

“Don’t look at me like that, Erica. I know it’s not your fault the boy acts this way. So… where is our little prince running off to in such a hurry?” He glanced at the boy, who was staring at them.

“I want to see my father…” the boy murmured, eager to leave.

“The king is in his chambers… but I think he’s busy, according to what the queens said,” the royal guard informed him.

“But…” The boy tried to argue.

“Leave him to me. I’m heading to the chambers with the children.” A new voice came from the hallway, and everyone turned to see Queen Seryna carrying Lyanna in her arms, while the little girl stared at her brother.

“You were going without me,” the girl accused in her childish voice.

“I want to see Father…” the boy insisted, while the girl pouted.

“It’s not fair for you to go without me,” Lyanna said.

“Hey, stop fighting, you two,” Seryna said in a slightly firmer tone but softened it with a smile. Three royal guards accompanied the queen and Princess Lyanna.

She approached her son, and the woman tending to the princess stepped back slightly, bowing her head.

“Queen Seryna…” the woman murmured as Seryna nodded toward her.

“I know my son can be a handful. Thank you for taking care of him,” she said to the young woman. “Anyway, let’s go to the chambers and see if your father can see you…” Seryna said at last, seeing both children looking at her with sparkling eyes, practically begging to see their father after hearing that Jon was still in his chambers.

“Really?!” the boy exclaimed, watching his mother approach him. She took his little hand and pulled him along. The girl smiled, content in her mother’s arms.

The servant stepped aside to let the royal guards pass, and the four of them accompanied the queen and the children to one of the top floors, where the king was staying. Jon had been in his chambers all day since he woke up, even having his first meal there after Seryna asked for something to be brought to him.

Jon sat at his desk by the window, holding a quill, drawing something on a parchment spread across the table, and making notes.

“Jon?” Seryna called after entering the room with only the children accompanying her. Jon, who was gazing out the window with a wide view of the northern city, didn’t seem to notice her entry. Instead, he remained focused on his work. Finally, he turned, seeing his wife with their children as she set Lyanna down on the floor.

The children hesitated, observing him cautiously, but it was clear they longed to approach their father.

“Your children wanted to see you. Are you very busy?” Seryna asked, knowing that sometimes Jon couldn’t just be a father due to the growing administrative demands of the kingdom that had been placed upon him since his return.

Jon looked at the children and gave a small smile. “I think I can take a break,” he admitted, seeing the need for his attention reflected in his children’s eyes.

“Go on, your father is waiting,” Seryna encouraged, gently nudging them forward. The children nodded and ran toward their father. Jon set the quill aside, knelt down, and welcomed them with open arms, pulling them off the floor and into his embrace.

“Father!” Lyanna exclaimed with an innocent smile. Little Jon followed his sister’s lead, grinning sheepishly by her side.

Seryna approached soon after, joining them. “Are you working on a new map?” she asked, glancing at the detailed drawing Jon had been working on, more intricate than any other.

“Yes. I want to create a giant model, not just of the city, but of the entire North beyond the Wall,” Jon explained, turning toward the parchment so that the children could see the drawing.

“I remember you once mentioned that your ancestor built something similar in Dragonstone,” Seryna said, recalling Jon’s words when he gave her and others a lesson on the history of Westeros, before he even knew he was also a Targaryen.

“Aegon did that when he conquered Westeros with his two sisters… I’m basically replicating the idea,” Jon admitted. “I need to devise some strategies, considering it’s not the South we need to worry about at the moment. With the news that the large group of northern tribes is moving southward…” he explained.

“Yes, I heard that from Brynden. But I told him we’d leave that for you to handle when the time comes since it isn’t a major issue yet… Besides the dark forces chasing them,” Seryna added. “So, I’m glad you’re here to take care of it, my husband,” she said, and Jon nodded.

“Yes, the tribes themselves aren’t the problem. We’ll deal with them depending on how they approach us,” Jon remarked.

“But I’ve also heard some concerning things coming from them,” Seryna continued.

“We’ll have to deal with it one way or another, but I won’t discuss it in front of the children,” Jon said, aware of the matter at hand, while his children watched him curiously, even looking a little upset.

Jon felt the weight of his responsibilities. He knew he would have to act against those who wouldn’t be welcomed in Artica. Some tribes and certain individuals posed a threat, and he would need to make difficult but necessary decisions to protect the kingdom and even save some of those people.

‘The role of a king is heavier than it seems, and hard decisions must be made,’ Jon reflected silently.

He had no trouble eliminating maesters or septons who threatened his family. Even unarmed, they still posed a problem and had to be dealt with. There had been no room for trials when he attacked Oldtown, as the maesters were already plotting against him wherever he went in Westeros.

However, he knew that waging war against some of the tribes would result in a massacre. But he would have to remove the weeds that could harm the kingdom. Instead of letting them die at the hands of the White Walkers while outside Artica when the war came, he preferred to give them an honorable death on the battlefield.

Jon already anticipated that he would have to commit a massacre, even involving innocent people. That was why he didn’t want to talk about it in front of his children. At least, he hoped to leave the kingdom prepared for the next king, who wouldn’t need to make such harsh decisions regarding the northern people.

In any case, Jon wanted to change the subject and turned to his children.

“How have my children been? Yesterday, I heard that even Aemon tutored you personally while I was busy in the city,” Jon asked.

“I doubt they learned much yesterday since they spent the whole time asking about you,” Seryna replied with a smile. “They’ve grown up hearing so much about you, Jon, but they wanted to hear again how their father built Artica and lived his life as the great man he is…” Seryna said, smiling.

Jon looked at his children, who were watching him with hopeful, innocent smiles.

“Really? What did you learn about your father?” he asked gently.

“That Daddy is the chosen one of our old gods and that he came from south of the Wall to make Artica,” the little girl said cheerfully.

“And I heard that Daddy is the greatest warrior in the world and that no one can beat him in a fight! Daddy, I want to be as strong as you!” the little Jon said excitedly.

“You heard that?” Jon chuckled. “Well, I’ve faced some of the most famous warriors in various places during my travels. I can say I’ve bested them all,” he commented with a smile.

As he said that, Jon winked at Seryna, who couldn’t hold back a laugh, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Really? I heard that in the South, there are famous warriors. They say everyone considers Arthur Dayne the greatest warrior Westeros has ever produced, but he died a long time ago. Could you beat him, Daddy?” little Jon asked curiously.

Jon smirked at the question, glancing at Seryna before responding.

“Yes, he really was very famous in his time,” Jon admitted. However, he still didn’t know exactly how Arthur Dayne had died, as he hadn’t seen that moment in his visions. But Jon was certain the man had probably been at the Tower of Joy when his mother died giving birth, and only his uncle knew the truth about it.

“I can’t say for sure. After all, he was a man who left this world long ago. Maybe I’ll ask some people who knew him… But I believe I could defeat him,” Jon said at last.

“Incredible! I want to be a warrior like you too!” little Jon exclaimed.

“Can I be a warrior too, Father?” Lyanna asked, looking at Jon with eager eyes.

Jon smiled and gently touched his daughter’s head. “Of course you can. Isn’t your mother a warrior too? She’s one of the best archers in the world. And your other mother, Seryna, along with your aunt Arya, are also great fighters,” Jon said as Lyanna nodded, excited.

“I’ve never seen Mother fight, but they say she’s really good with a bow. And Mama Seryna too! All the royal guards say she’s very strong,” little Jon commented enthusiastically.

“Of course I am, my son,” Seryna said, smiling. “And I’m sure you’ll be just as strong as any of us if you follow that path.”

“Well, since we’re here, would you like to learn more about the North where we live?” Jon asked suddenly, pointing to the map spread out on the table. The children’s curious eyes followed his gesture, tracing the marked areas on the parchment.

“Do you see these mountains? They’re called the Fist of the First Men. It’s quite a famous place, both here and among the northern people who know this region,” Jon explained as his children observed the map closely.

“What’s special about it, Father?” little Jon asked.

“It was one of the first places the First Men settled after crossing the Narrow Sea, many millennia ago. They established themselves there, and for a long time, the Fist was a natural fortress against invaders. Today, it’s a place full of stories, but also dangerous. They say ancient things still roam there…”

“Ancient things?” Lyanna asked, both curious and slightly frightened.

“Things you should only hear about in bedtime stories,” Jon said, winking at her.

Seryna smiled. “Let’s leave the scary stories for another time.” She didn’t want her children to hear about the White Walkers yet.

“Of course.” Jon pointed to the map again. “Here, a little further south, you can see the Haunted Forest. It’s the largest forest beyond the Wall…”

“Have you been there, Father?” little Jon asked.

“Yes. That’s where many of our people who now live inside Artica’s walls once lived. Your father found them there and began recruiting them one by one. There were also many giants living there at the time. A part of Artica was built within the forest, so it’s connected to the city,” Jon explained.

“Now, look at this,” Jon pointed to a part further east on the map. “Hardhome.”

Jon began explaining about the places beyond the Wall, mentioning locations like the Milkwater, the Village of the Thenns, the Giant’s Stair where he met most of the giants with the Winter Crown, the Skirling Pass, the Frozen Shore, and even more remote places like the Lands of Always Winter.

But soon, his children’s attention shifted southward.

“That island… what is it?” little Jon asked, pointing to the southern part of the map.

“That’s Skagos. It’s not part of Artica, if that’s what you’re wondering,” Jon replied.

“It looks so beautiful… I’d like to visit it,” the boy said, voicing his thoughts.

“I’m sure we can visit it one day. Did you know there’s a giant dragon there?” Jon said with a smile.

“Really?!” Lyanna exclaimed.

“Yes… Your father will see it soon,” Jon said. “He’s four times the size of Eragon,” he added.

Both children’s mouths fell open at what their father had just said.

“Isn’t that dangerous, Father?” Lyanna murmured cautiously.

“Maybe, but your father knows how to take care of himself,” Jon replied with a tender smile.

“That’s the Wall, isn’t it?” After a moment of silence, little Jon asked, pointing to the edge of the map.

“Yes… a great wall of ice. The South keeps it to protect themselves from the things beyond the North,” Jon said.

“Why is it so big? Are they afraid of us?” Lyanna asked.

“They are, to some extent. But the Wall was built for something else. Long before Artica was ever constructed,” Jon explained.

“And what’s beneath it… the map ends there,” little Jon pointed out.

“Do you want to see the South beyond the Wall?” Jon asked as he looked at his children. They all nodded simultaneously. Jon walked over to the basket of scrolls, pulling out another one and spreading it on the table.

“This is the Kingdom below Artica,” he said, showing them the map of the northern kingdom.

“Is this where you’re from, Father?” Lyanna asked excitedly, her pure violet eyes scanning the map for details.

“Yes. I was born here.” Jon pointed to a specific location on the map. “The largest castle in the North and one of the greatest in the entire continent—Winterfell.”

“So you were born there? That’s amazing!” Little Jon clapped his hands enthusiastically. “Can we go there someday?” he asked with hopeful eyes.

Jon hesitated for a moment, unsure if he could easily promise such a thing. “Maybe… Maybe we can, son,” he replied with a reserved smile.

“Wait!” Lyanna suddenly exclaimed as if she had just remembered something. “Mother said she met you before crossing the Wall. So… you met here?”

Lyanna’s eyes widened in surprise as she made the realization, while Seryna chuckled beside her.

“Oh yes, dear. Let me see…” Seryna said, moving her finger across the map. “It was here that your father found me.”

She pointed to a northern section of the Wolfswood, within the Glovers’ lands, below Deepwood Motte, near the town of Frostroar.

“Yes,” Jon confirmed. “I met your mother after she fled from beyond the Wall. While I was exploring the North, heading to the very place she had escaped from, I found a group of giants… and your mother was among them. We’ve been together ever since.”

“That’s so cool, Father! I want to explore the world too, just like you. I want to visit many places!” little Jon said excitedly.

Jon smiled at his son. “If that’s your wish, my son, you’ll be able to do it when you’re older. But only when you’re prepared enough. After all, I won’t let you go out unless you’re ready,” he warned with a serious but fatherly look, wanting the boy to grow as strong as him.

The boy nodded, feeling encouraged. “Then I will, Father! I want to get ready!”

“I want to go too!” Lyanna said, pouting and crossing her arms.

Jon laughed, shaking his head. “Yes, yes. Well… since you want to see the world, let’s take a look at an even bigger map.”

He pulled another scroll from the basket of parchments and unrolled it across the table. It was a detailed map he had drawn himself, showing coasts and trade routes they had navigated, combined with existing maps to fill in all known areas. Though Jon believed it to be imperfect, he knew it lacked details of the world, something he would need to explore in person. Perhaps, one day, he would commit to creating a complete world map alongside other Articans.

“Let me tell you about Father’s great adventure sailing the world in search of trade,” Jon began, pointing to various points on the map. He then started recounting the story of Artica’s first voyage toward Dorne, carefully avoiding sensitive details that children shouldn’t hear.

His children’s eyes sparkled with excitement as they listened to every detail of their father’s journeys. They hung onto his words, fascinated by the tales of adventures, distant kingdoms, and the people of those lands.

Later that Morning…

As the day came to an end, Jon left the room with his children and his queen, heading to lunch with the rest of the family. After the meal, he decided to take them to see the dragons, accompanied by the other children.

The children walked alongside Rhaenys and Daenerys, while Jon followed them. The dragons had grown to five meters in length, while the younger ones brought back from the voyage measured three meters. The two dragons belonging to the Targaryen women quickly approached them, while Jon guided his children toward the others.

Even though Brynden was just a baby, they couldn’t contain their excitement when they saw the magical creatures. Five of Lyanna’s and little Jon’s dragons ran toward the older children.

The children rushed to embrace the dragons with their small hands. It was a new way of interacting with such creatures, but they still had to be careful. Despite their bond, the dragons could accidentally hurt them with the spikes that some had growing on their scales.

“Take it slow. They’re still growing and need to be handled with care,” Jon warned, watching his children cling to the dragons, who could unintentionally injure them.

Jon approached, and the five dragons snorted softly at his presence but allowed him to touch them. Lyanna and little Jon stood beside him, laughing with joy as they ran their hands along the dragons’ scales.

Jon ignored the watchful gazes of Rhaenys and Daenerys, who were holding Brandon and Jahaerys in their arms while observing the dragons Jon wasn’t bonded with. Although those dragons were more controlled by the older children, they weren’t hostile to Jon as they might be to Daenerys and Rhaenys.

Jon saw Lyanna hanging from the neck of one of her two dragons, laughing as she tried to reach its mouth. But Jon stepped closer.

“Don’t get too close to their mouths,” Jon warned. “They enjoy affection, but they’re like wolves. They know their worth.”

Lyanna slid down from the dragon’s neck but kept a bright smile on her face as she stroked the dragon’s scales.

“He likes me!” she said confidently, and no one could deny it.

“Yes, he does,” Jon replied, smiling. “But even so, we must always show them respect.”

Jon moved on to the other dragons, bringing his two youngest sons to meet them. Even though Brandon was still so little, he seemed happy, babbling like a baby as he interacted with the dragons.

Before long, Jon was surrounded by the other twenty-one dragons, while Eragon kept a steady but calm gaze on him.

“They’ve chosen each of you… so I want you to respect them. These dragons will be your companions for life,” Jon told his younger children.

“I want one too…” Jahaerys murmured, looking enviously at his older siblings, who already had dragons.

“And you will have one, my son. Just be patient,” Jon said calmly.

“Jon!” Ygritte’s voice called out from a distance. He turned to see her approaching with three royal guards and city guards accompanying her.

“My king,” one of the royal guards said, clearly with something urgent to report. None of them came too close, knowing the dragons would attack anyone unfamiliar who approached unannounced. They had to call him from a safe distance.

“I’ll see what they want.” Jon picked up his children, ignoring the dragons’ grunts, and walked toward Rhaenys and Daenerys with their dragons.

“Look after the children,” Jon instructed the two women, who nodded before he turned and made his way to the guards, his expression serious.

“Is something wrong?” Jon asked as the men bowed their heads respectfully.

“There’s been an incident at the quarries, my lord,” one of the guards began. “The prisoners we captured in the northern raid are demanding an audience. To make their point, they’ve taken two dwarves hostage. They disarmed them inside the quarry, and since no one can enter without risking more lives, they’re threatening to kill the dwarves.”

Jon frowned deeply, clearly irritated. “How did two dwarves get disarmed by a group of prisoners?” he asked in a harsh tone.

“From… from what we saw, they appeared to be somewhat drunk,” the guard replied, hesitant.

“What the hell were they thinking? How did you allow them to get drunk during work hours?” Jon raised his voice, his irritation growing.

The guards lowered their heads, unable to offer any adequate explanation for the king’s fury.

“Ah, forget it,” Jon finally said, shaking his head in frustration. “Let’s go see what those bastards want.”

Jon was far from pleased to be interrupted—especially on the first day he had decided to spend fully with his family. But situations like these required his immediate attention.

Seryna, Ygritte, and Hiyori, who were also in the castle courtyard, could only watch as Jon left the area after exchanging a few words with them. Meanwhile, the rest of the family remained with the dragons, the children watching their father leave with visible disappointment.

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Raccoon Here: I wrote this chapter to give Jon some interaction with his children, while also showing that his duties as king demand his attention, preventing him from spending as much time with his family as he would like.

————-Nexts Chapters —————-

Chapter 222 – The Truth 03. 

Chapter 227 – A student from Arctic 01. 

Chapter 237 – Entering the Dothraki Sea. 

Chapter 246 – Status of Westeros.

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