Jon Snow/Gaemon Targaryen (303 A.C. Ninth Moon)
Winterfell – Godswood
It was over for him. He knew it even before he hit the ground. His life was slipping away, the cold embrace of death creeping in. The Night had pierced his gut, and the wound was fatal—he could feel it. Yet, before the darkness claimed him, his blade had struck true.
Blood, his own blood, had splattered across Longclaw, igniting flames along the Valyrian steel. With one final, desperate swing, he shattered the ice-forged sword still slick with his blood. The force of the blow carried through, cleaving into the Night King's chest. A scream, inhuman, agonized, pierced the frozen air as light erupted from the ancient creature. The being who had wrought so much death and suffering fractured into a thousand shards of ice and shadow. And with him, the army of the dead fell, their master's destruction breaking the unnatural hold on their corpses.
It had happened mere moments ago. Dany's words echoed in his fading mind: "Death may pay for life." Her dragons had lived at the cost of her child, her husband, and Mirri Maz Duur's. Now, it was his turn. He would pay for life to go on.
As his strength ebbed, a vision filled his sight, a cascade of silver-gold hair.
"Gaemon!" It was Dany. Tears shimmered in her violet eyes as she took his hand. "It will be alright," she whispered, though a sob trembled in her voice.
Gaemon squeezed her fingers weakly. "No… it's over for me," he murmured, feeling the world slip further from his grasp. "I love you. I love our babes."
"Live," She pleaded. Yet he smiled at her weakly. "Lead the realm. Tell them… tell them I loved them the moment I saw them. And you, Dany… I was alive when I returned, but you brought my fire back."
Dany wept openly, shaking her head as if she could will him to stay. "Goodbye, my love," he breathed. "Tell my sisters and brothers… I love them."
"I love you too," she whispered brokenly, her lips trembling. "I will tell our babes of their father, and so will the world."
She kissed him then, soft and lingering, the taste of salt and sorrow on his lips. And with that final touch, Gaemon Targaryen left the world.
Or so he thought.
Darkness did not take him.
Something pulled him away from where he should have gone. He felt it a force, ancient and unseen. Dragging him through the abyss, away from death's embrace.
Then, a voice, a hiss curling through his mind, whispering like fire on ice.
"Awaken, son of Ice and Fire. Arise, a dragon once more. Change a time that brought the end of the children of fire."
Kingslanding (107 A.C. Second Moon)
Queen's chambers
Then, his body felt as if it had been pushed through something impossibly small, as if he were being forced through a passage that barely existed. A sudden, overwhelming cold struck him like a bucket of ice water dumped over his skin.
"What in hell, " he tried to cry out, but no words came, only the wailing of a newborn.
Then giant hands were all around as they grasped his tiny body, wrapping him in a soft cloth. "Oh, by the Seven, please tell me it is over," a woman groaned, her voice weary and strained.
"The babe is strong, Your Grace. His cries could be heard in Dorne," a man chuckled.
"What the fuck is happening?" Gaemon asked, but again, only a baby's cry escaped him.
"You have a son, my queen," the man continued. "Silver curls and purple eyes, yet almost black"
The woman barely had time to respond before another wave of pain wracked her body. "Another one is coming!" a maid squeaked in shock.
'What in the hell,' Gaemon thought, barely having time to process it before he felt himself being shifted away. "Another one? How?" the woman gasped. "Melos, you said I carried only one!"
"Your Grace, the head is already close. One more push and it will be over," Melos urged her before he could answer the woman's question. With a final, agonized cry, the woman bore down, and moments later, another newborn was cradled in strong arms. A second boy, this one with silver hair and bright purple eyes. 'Well, it seems I have a twin,' Gaemon mused as he looked at the boy.
"Tell me it is over, Melos," the woman pleaded, breathless and exhausted. "It is, Your Grace. The afterbirth will come soon, but the worst has passed." The man replied.
"Let me see my firstborn," the woman said softly. At her command, Gaemon found himself lifted and cradled against her warmth. He looked up into the face of Alicent Hightower.
'She looks kind, so full of love. Is this what my siblings felt with Lady Catelyn?' Gaemon wonder, a strange pang settling in his chest.
"My precious boy," Alicent murmured, tears slipping down her cheeks as she pressed a kiss to his forehead. Then, her body shuddered again. "Ah," she gasped, her breath hitching.
"Easy, Your Grace, just the afterbirth," Melos soothed.
'Dany looked much the same after birthing the twins,' Gaemon thought, though the memory brought a rush of sorrow. The weight of it squeezed at his heart, and before he could stop himself, he began to cry again.
"Oh, it's alright, my sweet," Alicent whispered, rocking him gently.
The door creaked open, and murmurs filled the chamber. "Alicent? Twins, I heard," a deep voice spoke. An older man, perhaps in his thirties or forties, stepped closer, his silver hair and purple eyes marking him as unmistakably Valyrian.
'Alicent, like Alicent Hightower, second wife to Viserys Targaryen. That must be Viserys Targaryen.' Gaemon thought, shocked, as he let out a wail of surprise.
"Your Grace, one of your sons," a maid said as she handed over the second child.
Viserys smiled as he cradled the newborn. "Ah, what a comely boy. I was thinking of naming him Aegon after my brother."
'Not even going to ask your wife?' Gaemon thought, noting the flicker of irritation that crossed Alicent's face.
"Viserys, that is your secondborn son. I hold your firstborn, Gaemon," Alicent declared firmly, her voice steady.
"Well, look at him, just as comely, those eyes, they are almost black," Viserys said with a grin as he sat beside his wife and kissed her brow.
"Gaemon and Aegon Targaryen," Alicent confirmed, though her smile now seemed more forced than before. Then, softening, she turned to her husband. "May I hold Aegon?"
"Of course, my dear," Viserys said, passing the newborn to her.
"Come, my boys," Alicent cooed, "it's time for your first meal."
Gaemon had no choice in the matter as he was pressed against her breast. 'Well, this is awkward,' he thought begrudgingly as he suckled. Yet, despite the strangeness of it all, the warmth was soothing, and his body instinctively relaxed.
While he and his new brother fed, Viserys bombarded Maester Melos with questions about the twins' health and Alicent's well-being. The conversation barely registered in Gaemon's mind until the door creaked open again.
"Your Graces, I heard the good news," another man said, stepping forward. His hair was a rich brown, combed back neatly, and his full beard was well-groomed and with a hand of the King badge on his chest.
'Otto Hightower, Alicent father, the man partly responsible for the damn Dance. Then again, both Blacks and Greens were to blame for that one,' Gaemon mused as he looked at the man as he continued to drink.
"The realm and the crown have been blessed with two princes," Otto said warmly, offering Viserys a congratulatory handshake. "Indeed, two strong, healthy boys. Your daughter has shown great strength," Viserys replied, glancing toward Alicent.
"Well done, daughter," Otto praised as he sat by the bed. His gaze flickered to the infants in her arms. "Two boys… strong, from what I hear. The first one cried quite fiercely."
"Gaemon was quite loud," Alicent chuckled. "Gaemon," Otto repeated thoughtfully. "A strong name." Alicent's expression softened as she looked down at her firstborn. "I named him myself, and my wonderful husband named Aegon for his younger brother, yes?" she asked pointedly.
"Indeed," Viserys confirmed. "For the brother who never got to live."
A small burp escaped Gaemon, drawing a giggle from Alicent. "Ah, it seems someone is full." She kissed his forehead before looking to her father. "Would you like to hold him?"
Otto smiled. "Of course, daughter." As Gaemon was transferred to new arms, sleep began to tug at him. His thoughts drifted in the haze of exhaustion.
'I'm not dead. But I will never see my wife or children again. A blessing or a curse? The gods aren't done with me yet. There is a part I must play in what's to come,' Gaemon wondered, as sleep took him.
Notes: The first chapter. This will be mostly a green faction story. Yet Rhaenyra and Daemon will play their part. In this, Jon dies after winning the war for the dawn. Yet the gods played their games he sent back to the time of the Dance era, as Alicent and Viserys were firstborn. What will happen? How will the game be played when another player enters it.