Fellowship of Burdens

A/N: Hello again. I am so sorry for the long wait but December turned out to be a very complicated month for me. My laptop was in need of repairs, my government announced that they were going to lock us up again indefinitely which made me want to work while I could to get some extra money and, of course, there were the holiday celebrations to enjoy. But I am back now and while it took longer than anticipated, I wanted to start the new year with a brand new chapter so I hope you enjoy it.

It's a bit...different. You will see why soon enough but long story shorts it has a few developments I am sure you'll find unexpected. All part of the set up for my future plans, I assure you. And good luck to my fellow fans that spot a few references :D

As always, read, enjoy, and review!

Sansa Stark was walking to the forges of Ironrath with Lady and Ghost escorting her the entire time. She bit her lower lip as she stared at the frenzy of activity from the outside as the blacksmiths worked overtime even with all the additional help and volunteers they received once the siege was lifted. But while she tried to appear composed on the outside, she was getting increasingly concerned in silence.

The Lady of Winterfell in-exile had excused herself from the presence of Princess Val shortly after their enlightening conversation and as soon as she could, she found a more quiet place inside the walls where she wouldn't be interrupted suddenly so that she could open up her new mental link and speak with her beloved brother. However, when she tried to inform Jon that she had discovered that Val is actually his sixth cousin to their shared ancestry with Bael the Bard she was met only with silence.

At first, she just waited calmly, thinking he was a little too busy to respond. But as minutes grew longer and longer, so did her sense of dread. She wanted to tell herself that he was probably just asleep but then she remembered the infamous Faceless Men of Braavos and that Jon was planning to take Arya back from them. And while she tried to **** herself to remain calm, she imagined that if anyone could kill a god in this world, it would be members of the greatest order of assassins in history. Still, she believed in Jon and while she was concerned, she knew it was still too early to panic. So, she decided to throw herself in the work of overseeing the progress that has been made by smiths.

It had been nearly a week now that she gathered with the Forresters and they tried to discuss where to focus their resources in preparation for the eventual battle with Ramsay's forces. In the end, it was agreed that while the Free Folk and the bannermen had enough weapons and supplies, the giants were another story when it came to armor. So, they meet with Chieftess Magash Char and an Old Tongue translator to discuss the situation.

In the end, it was unanimously agreed that they didn't have enough time to make full suits of armor for all the giant warriors but since Magash assured them that most giants have thick skin and strong bones that can stop arrows fired from short-bows, they decided to concentrate on making them helms to protect their faces since their eyes remained a weakness during the chaos of battle. To compliment the basic visored helms they were trying to churn out to fit their larger heads as fast as they could, the master craftsmen of House Forrester were making them thick ironwood shields so that they can offer an additional layer of protection while keeping their other arm free to grab their long war-hammers. Once it was decided to implement that plan, Sansa couldn't help but smirk because she was imagining the look on Ramsay when he stared at the horde of well-equipped giants rampaging towards him

And as she stared at the enormously tall creatures waiting in line for their helm or for the chance to get the measurements for their heads outside the forge, the redhead smiled lightly, since it got easier to visualize that yet again.

When she approached the entrance of the blacksmithing workshops, however, she had seen Asher Forrester as he made his exit.

Apparently, he had had the same idea. Then, he spotted her and approached.

"My Lady," He said as his serious expression turned into a grin, bowing his head in the process. "I take it you also wanted to know how much progress has been made on these gigantic helms?"

"That I did," She replied with a polite nod.

"Well, in that case, know that things are progressing quite well, all things considered," The brother of the Lord of Ironrath assured her. "Given all the extra help the blacksmiths had received and all the metal we have gathered for them, they have managed to make almost 60 visored helms by now. To be honest, they are of much poorer quality than what we are used to delivering but well, they will still manage to stop most arrows so that's the important part."

"Indeed," Sansa responded in agreement. "Any news from our scouts?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," Asher said slowly. "Our patrol is escorting someone that claims to have worked as a servant of House Cerwyn. He claims to have important information for us. I was just about to head outside to greet them."

"In that case, I would like to accompany you, if you don't mind," The Lady of Winterfell in exile responded.

"Not at all, my Lady. Please follow me."

And with that they headed outside, wondering what news would come from Castle Cerwyn. Inside, however, Sansa sighed inwardly, hoping that her brother would answer her prayers and ease her fears soon.

Jon Stark was surrounded by darkness. For a moment of dread, the ascended human wondered if he was dead yet again and that perhaps gods lack proper souls but Jon didn't feel dead and he had already been through that once so he was fairly certain he could tell the difference. He suspected he wasn't awake though but this didn't felt like an ordinary dream either, since he was lucid.

Suddenly, a bright, golden light erupted in front of him and Jon shielded his eyes in surprise, his senses overwhelmed. Briefly, he wondered, if the extremely powerful god that granted him his powers wanted to have a talk with him again but when the light finally seemed bearable, he blinked rapidly in confusion at the utterly unfamiliar sight before him.

Even with his recent travels across the omniverse, Jon had never seen a creature even remotely similar to the one in front of him. It seemed like...a floating, magical being that resembled artistic symbols. And yet, while he could feel the power coming from it in waves, he didn't feel threatened. The light surrounding it filled him with a soothing embrace after that realization, which prompted him to take a few tentative steps closer. Slow musical chimes echoed within his mind and, though a word was not uttered, the King in the North and the Trident felt an assurance of safety.

"My promised one," The male-sounding being said from an unseen mouth. "We meet at last."

Jon frowned at that for a moment before his eyes widened once the realization hit him; the words of Red Priestess Melisandre surfacing in his mind. He swallowed.

"Are you...are you the Lord of Light?" He asked.

The what passed for eyes in the floating creature stared at him momentarily before responding. "That is one of my names, yes. Others know me as the Red God. Some also insist on calling me the God of Flame and Shadow, although I don't particularly like that one due to the misunderstood events that lead to that title being given to me. But if you wish to know how I prefer to be addressed, I much rather be called by my original name: R'hllor."

"I...see," Jon said, still more than a little overwhelmed that he was meeting one of the ancient gods of his world. "Just to clarify, simply R'hllor then? Not Lord R'hllor or something like that?"

The musical chimes seemed to echo with melodious amusement as the tune shifted. "No need to be so formal. Especially considering that, now, it could be said that we are actually peers."

Jon opened his mouth at that, only to close it again when he wasn't quite sure what to respond to that, even if it was accurate. In the end, however, he said the first thing that came to mind.

"I...didn't ask for it," He replied, his voice small. "Yes, I have come to prefer it and what it has entailed over simply dying through treachery but...it feels so overwhelming sometimes. And I am concerned that, by seeking to do things the hard way, I will let down so many people before the White Walkers are defeated...if we manage to win, that is," He added, looking down.

Abruptly, the tune of the melody changed again, this time bringing about a feeling of cascading calm. Jon looked back up slowly and felt nothing but empathy and understanding emanating from his fellow god.

"I must admit," R'hllor began, "when I first felt the presence of the deity that choose to empower your ascension, I was very surprised. His powers were so vast that for a moment there I couldn't help but wonder if I was actually sensing the collective presence of a...mighty and titanic pantheon that I had not heard from in very many thousands of years. But no, it was a single god that decided to turn you into one."

"As you can imagine," He went on, "I had reason to be concerned. There hadn't been new godly arrivals to this world from beyond the stars since before your recorded history began and this one decided to meddle in our affairs by granting godhood one of its mortal inhabitants. And not just anyone either, but the very Prince Who Was Promised that I saw in my visions over 5,000 years ago."

R'hllor grew silent at that, clearly seeking to give him a moment to digest that. Jon shook his head, thoughts whirling all around it at a fast pace. "So...it's true then? What your priestess, Melisandre, had said? I was to be the prophecied champion to defeat the resurgent Army of the Dead?"

The melody suddenly took a more solemn yet firm tone. "Yes," The light-filled god confirmed. "But as you can imagine, your ascension has altered the course of history and the precise future of certain prophecies, including that one. In fact, while you may not know it yet, new omens and prophecies have risen, fall and converged around you because the echoes of your new godhood were felt across the world and even all the way to the past. That is why some people with the spark of magic within them sensed the importance of such an event, even if they didn't get details. But some were more affected than others, especially Greenseers and other wizards that could foresee the future. You will learn more of those developments and how they now apply to you in due time but for now, I have two messages for you."

Jon remained quiet as he analyzed the ancient god's words and proceeded to let him speak. He didn't have to wait long.

"First of all," R'hllor "Allow me to apologize. I took advantage of your dormant state from that concentrated form of milk of the poppy in order to read some of your thoughts and memories so that I could better understand what exactly happened to you. And also to see if the power might have destructively gone to your head. That is why I want you to know that while I understand your feelings on the matter, I was quite pleased when I learned that you were imposing moral limits on yourself to avoid the corruptive nature that can come with your newfound powers and status. Most mortals wouldn't have that strength of will and it reinforces my beliefs that, had you never ascended, you would have still become the chosen champion that humanity would have needed.

"Yes, you have made some mistakes along the way," He went on. "And you will continue to make them while going down this harder path but knowing you still seek to save this world and its peoples while unifying them with a worthy cause to rally behind fills me with hope for the future. Because, now, I see the potential for even greater things for mankind to strive to thanks to your strong but mindful leadership; beyond even my original expectations when I thought you to be my prophecied champion. Now...I see the wonderous possibilities that could spawn from your rise to power and even the aftermath of your hard-fought victory."

The new god couldn't help but feel a sense of relief as he heard that. No offense to his beloved sister but a sympathetic ear from a more experienced deity certainly had a way of easing some of his fears because he figured they both dealt with a similar weight on their shoulders. R'hllor's message still implied that he would have to deal with tremendous pressure through his burden of command but he did feel a bit better about his chances now.

Suddenly, the light around the ancient god dimmed notably. "My connection to you is starting to fade. I could only sustain it while you were **** and even then I had to wait until you crossed the Narrow Sea so that you would be closer to my center of power in Volantis. But your body is stiring now and will soon wake."

Jon nodded in understanding. "Don't worry. I can use my wishes to establish our mental communications when I have the chance if you have more to say."

"That...may not work." R'hllor replied slowly. "I know you have encountered few limits with your new abilities that allow you to reshape reality but, from what little I can gather about the very essence of your godhood, it appears the cosmic energies that fuel it are in direct opposition with the dark powers that restrain me."

"Wait, restrain you? What do you mean by that?" The King on the North and the Trident asked in surprise.

The musical chimes that filled his mind suddenly took a somber tone and he could have sworn he heard the light-filled deity sigh. "I am...imprisoned," R'hllor admitted. "And have been since thousands of years. That is why there are so many misunderstandings among my religious followers. I had only been able to commune with them indirectly for a long, long time."

Jon shivered in dread. "What could be powerful enough to contain you for millennia?"

Abruptly, the soothing music ended and its absence filled the room with cold.

"The god of the Night King," R'hllor responded in a solemn tone. "Known to my disciples as the Great Other."

The new god swallowed as he processed that. He hadn't considered the possibility that there could be a much greater evil behind the leader of the Army of the Dead and the mere idea filled him with foreboding.

"It seems there really is always a bigger fish," He thought to himself with unease.

The light grew dimmer still. "We don't have much time left. Try to establish communications with your powers if you can but if not, know that it is probably because the very fabric of the magical prison that cages me is made with energies that are the antithesis to what fuels the powers of gods specifically like you and me. However, there is another way for us to communicate. When you have the opportunity, travel to Skagos. There, you will find an artifact that will allow us to have a much needed and far longer conversation. And be sure to bring Spring, the last of the Children of the Forest, with you. I need her to fill in some of the gaps in my ancient knowledge as we unravel the mysteries of the last Long Night in order to prepare for the next one."

Jon nodded slowly. "Very well. I still need to reunite with my people and reclaim the North from the sadistic usurpers that took my family's home but I promise to make my way to Skagos as soon as I can. But I have one more question: did you have anything to do with why the Faceless Men hadn't taken their chance to kill me while I was **** and defenseless?"

"Actually, you have the high priestess of an old friend of mine to thank for that," R'hllor replied, his voice increasingly distant. "I suggest you don't squander that second chance. But also, not only don't forget why you fight but why you choose to fight the way you have. It's important not to lose sight of one's self."

The new god's vision became blurred again and he no longer could see the so-called Lord of Light. But just as he was in the process of regaining consciousness, he was filled with a profound sense of determination.

"It seems I have taken additional steps into a larger world," He noted. "Time to get to work."

And with that, his surroundings faded into the background and Jon could feel he was about to open his eyes.

A/N: Well, the Lord of Light has entered the game. I am curious to see if any of you managed to spot my inspiration for that deity in the image I incorporated, as well as certain references in the dialogue.

Regardless, why don't we start the new year on a good note with nice reviews? Like I have said before comments from my readers certainly fuel my motivation to write faster. And I would like to update a lot more this month to make up for the last one. Anyway, good to be back guys. Hope you liked it.