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35

Challenge

The front lines were already beyond the gates. Sy hadn't taken us to safety. With every flight the Night King took us on, he had full control of the dragon.

A low growl warned me to not to move again. An undead woman tapped my leg with her spear, another warning. Screams erupted inside the fortress. Flames lit the battle. If I don't do it now, it won't happen. Everyone I love is in there.

The icy wound had spread throughout my entire side. It sliced open with each breath. It was either taking my life or changing the inside with unbearable intent.

The woman sneered with a sharp growl when I tested her. One foot forward brought her spear down on my shin. I cried out and fell, as intended. She gazed forward with no regard.

Now.

The exit was unblocked the second her knees gave. I kicked her, hard enough to free the way. I clawed at her as I barreled through the snow. The trees were too dark, I slammed into one. I bit down to suppress the scream.

Run.

They should be chasing me. The battle neared. Run faster.

I tripped. Looking back, it was a body. A wildling? I've never been to the north. Another slice bore my teeth. I clung to my wound and knew it wasn't just that pain. Bodies lay everywhere.

Find Rhaegar. Find your husband.

The Night King was closer. Were they together? A gathering, near a tree painted red, took the silence. I should be running that way but I couldn't. The bleeding started again, through the ice this time. A body with torn clothing lay to my right. I gathered what I could to make better bondage. Around my torso, tighter for the fight, I breathed in and tied it.

He was over there. Rhaegar was with the Night King. I couldn't tell if they were fighting. A familiar scream erupted with a heart-wrenching break in the opposite direction. The tears blinded again as I tried to think. Daenerys was in the skies with Drogon.

I stood and flinched at the obstacles before me. There were more of the undead then before. Would they recognize and attack? Something else was wrong. All three dragons were here. The fog was too heavy to see through. But they were here. They fought hard. Although one was fighting against our cause, he was still ours. I couldn't go to Daenerys or Rhaegar yet. They needed to be kept safe first. It was the temptress who demanded this above all else. No one was in as immediate a danger than they were. Too many spears, too many enemies, the sides were mixed up, how can I do this?

I was injured, most likely under the influence of the undead. Would their king know where I am, what I'm doing?

Drogon.

Something was happening to him and Daenerys. There were too many for him, he's too low. I could barely make out what was happening. Then I saw it. He met the ground hard. They attacked. That was enough. Once again, I found myself running, tripping, pushing and lunging towards those I loved.

With hard shoves and little retaliation, I aimed for a screeching man ready to claw Daenerys. She hadn't seen me yet, and wouldn't. Jorah came from the fog and plunged his sword down. He kept her behind him as they protected each other. Drogon needed me more. He cried out as more of them aimed for his head rather than his body. If a dragon can't fight them, what can I do?

Make him stronger, make them fight harder.

It was happening before I felt it grow. The heat pushed aside, leaving the bondage with another splitting crack. I met the ground. Daenerys heard my pain and tried to come to me but Jorah stopped her. Drogon felt the surge of power instantly. Their attention snapped behind them as Drogon heaved a flame so powerful and focused, there was silence after. The distant battle had even quieted. Gael was inside the castle, still ours yet immobile. As soon as the fire calmed, her cry claimed us.

When he pulled Daenerys back, a group of undead assailed Jorah. When the smoke cleared, he still stood. His body shook. He reached out just as I stumbled into his arms. We fell. Daenerys grabbed onto us. Jorah tried to breathe, the damage was irreparable. I felt Drogon's wings wrapping around us. The tip of his tail caressed the side of my face. I stared at the sky and listened to Daenerys weep. She clung to my arm and buried herself in his chest. His final breath came. Our heated tears melted the snow. Jorah had found my hand at some point, I tried to warm his. My own guttural sob escaped. Daenerys crawled over to me. I held out my other arm, she curled up next to me. Her nose met my cheek.

"Dany," I choked.

Her throat the same as mine kept her voice.

Drogon's wing scraped against the snow until it cloaked us completely. "We need to find the others," our noses met.

"We have to burn him," she lifted her head just as I lurched forward, clinging to my lower rib. She put her hand over mine. "Is it Rhaegar?"

"Where is he?" it must be him. She couldn't know.

If the Ice King could feel me, perhaps I could feel him. This was too different. With the dragons, it was without effort. It came to me regardless with heat, not snow. Daenerys leaned against Drogon and stood. She held out her hand, still tearful but she knew we needed to move. "I know, his pyre must wait. We'll ride to find them. Come, sister."

The dragon lowered himself at the command. Jon was here too, his family, his soldiers. It wasn't just Rhaegar now. There were more we needed to protect. The pain intensified. I couldn't move without their help. Daenerys lifted what she could of me, Drogon did the rest. I found a grip on his crown, my breathing quickened as soon as I settled into him.

It didn't work. The Ice King did something to stop me from finding him. He knew who I was. Rhaegar hadn't sent that pain, it hurt more than he would give.

Drogon took to the sky. Daenerys placed her hand on my back, trying to soothe. "Nalareth?"

A slight tremble let her know. No, I won't do this again, be helpless while she holds me up. If I can give the dragons strength like I did Drogon, they can do the same for me. I leaned heavily into his neck and asked the only way I knew how. He turned back to look. We stared. His golden eye flashed over black and it began.

Working fast, webs of molten power healed and replaced. I couldn't feel Daenerys behind or Drogon beneath. I tightened my grip to not fall. Its revival did more than I thought possible. The temptress within grew beyond what I was. Our connection became massive in entire. I felt everything. I could reverse any and all effect. It couldn't have been done before. I needed death first, twice. They needed separation, reunion. Sy wasn't far, Gael was above. A signal had been sent, I became aware. It burned enough to reach them. I cried, pushing this further.

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a/n

So much has happened, lovely readers... Sorry for the personal unload ahead..

These past 7 months... Left my full time job to work part time=Bank account is crying but sanity is healed & free time means creativity has been reborn. Job hunting has become bearable with writing... First heartbreak=Poured myself back into my imagination & heart's piecing itself back together... Why did life get so hard? Dramatic much, maybe, could always be worst, it'll be ok.. sigh.

Last thought, I really want to meet Emilia Clarke in real life, she's my spirit animal & I just adore her.

Back to the story, I was so shook by this show's ending, so expect something different from this one.. Not to say I ever want this to end..

Thanks for coming back to this everyone!