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TEN

A/N:-

Hello, sorry this chapter took too long everything has been getting hectic lately!

The beautiful new story cover is made by impriix!! I truly appreciate it!

Enjoy~

CHEERS erupted throughout the giant Great Hall of Winterfell, which was filled with soldiers, northern noblemen and wildlings. The men and women downed ale and ate their fill in celebration, sitting in rows. The feast wasn't exclusive to the large room, but extended to the outside and stretched throughout the common grounds of the castle.

Diana, Sansa and Rickon sat in the large chairs on the other side of the high table, which was positioned horizontally near a huge lit fireplace. The Amazonian Princess watched the delighted people in front of her, a sense of relief washed over her after today's battle, causing her to smile.

Her attention was brought else where when she overheard the redhead speaking to the youngest Stark.

"You shouldn't be sitting up here, the people, your people, are celebrating your safety." Sansa gently instructed Rickon, who swirled the porridge around in his bowl. "They're not my people." He corrected.

Frowning, the redhead furrowed her brows. "Yes, they are. You're Lord of Winterfell now."

"I told you, I'm not." He crankily replied, Diana pursed her lips wondering if it was alright to hear such an intimate conversation.

Sansa reached out her hand and held her brother's forearm, giving it a tight squeeze. "You're father's last living trueborn-" Her words were interrupted by Rickon's hurried response. "I don't care about any of that. There's Jon and Bran." The boy didn't want any of this power, being responsible for so many lives at such a young age didn't seem right to him. And with both his father and brother dying due to their position of strength, it frightened him even more.

"We don't know if Bran is still alive." Sansa chose to ignore Jon's mention, her eyes darting to him as he stood a few feet away from them, speaking with Ser Davos and Tormund. She didn't have anything against her half-brother, she loved him. Though she had a distant relationship due to her mother's influence-which, like her mother, Sansa later regretted-she loved him all the same, and their relationship as brother and sister became stronger when they are reunited. And after all, if it weren't for his help and Diana's, they wouldn't be here, having reclaimed Winterfell. But after having usurpers take their home and place as rulers of the North, it seemed only fitting for a true Stark to resume in position.

Yanking his arm away from his sister's, the boy hastily stood to his feet, muttering a few words before leaving the hall. "Yes, we do! He's north of the Wall and he's coming back!"

A deep sigh escaped from Sansa's lips as she watched her brother stomping his way out of the hall, he was still a child and she didn't hold it against him but it still frustrated her. She turned herself in her seat, and looked apologetically to the fabled heroine of the Battle of the Bastards. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

Diana simply shook her head and gave the younger lady a comforting look. "It's only understandable, I imagine, after what he's been through." Knowing that degenerate, Ramsay, he played his little games with young Rickon. So the latter had every right if he wasn't in a celebrating mood. Seeing Diana's, Sansa kindly returned the smile, but hers only revealed concern.

From one moment to another, the dark haired female felt pairs of eyes on her. Some murmurs rose in the Great Hall, the drunken celebrations drowning most of them out.

Slowly, Sansa took notice of the whispers around them, knowing full well that they concerned the woman beside her. "They can't stop talking about you, you know?"

"And what do they say about me?" Perking her perfectly shaped brows Diana inquired hurriedly, curiosity evident in her tone of voice.

Mouth half open in amusement, Sansa began to delve into the rumors that began to spread like wildfire, regarding Diana's military prowess. "Some believe you were sent by the Old gods of the Forest to help us in our time of need. The others, who've seen your shield-" She said, referencing the heavy Valriyan stone shield with the Seven pointed star carved into it. "they think that the Seven did." It was obvious that the northerners who still worshiped the Weirwood trees were the former, while the Knights of the Vale who believe in the New gods were the latter. Heck, those who witnessed her in battle believed she was some kind of goddess.

The Amazon Princess thought that in a way, the gods did in fact send her to them. She was tasked with killing the Night King, and as an Amazon, she also had to bring peace into the world.

Without giving Diana time to respond, the redhead quickly added. "They're all grateful for what you did. We all are." To fathom all the stories she'd heard of Diana's combat abilities was quite difficult, she was extremely regretful she missed it. Sansa had truly thought that the battle would've been lost when she showed up, but instead it was the Bolton forces who'd been anihalated.

"I did next to nothing." Responding monotonously was Diana. She truly believed that her efforts held no meaning if the Night King wasn't gone once and for all. This peace was not a permanent state of affairs. The real enemy doesn't tire nor feel like the rest of them, the Others were just tasked with bringing humanity to an inevitable doom. Which is why she needed to stop him.

"It's just not possible." Jon said in a calm voice, but the expression of incredibility didn't fade from his face. He had no answers as to why Diana was so incredibly powerful, far outclassing any man's strength, something that should be impossible; he had no answers as to how her equipment - an armor that seemed to be made of leather, bracelets and a shield - could withstand virtually anything. Normal humans simply couldn't do that. And he didn't know how exactly she was doing that, but Jon had a feeling that if he asked Diana all she would answer was 'I am an amazon.'

The three men stood across the room from the High Table of Winterfell, the subject of the Amazon's battle feat coming up in their conversation.

Davos Seaworth nodded in understanding, what they saw her do out there was not easy for the human mind to comprehend. "It's not like we're the only ones who saw what she did out there. The castle guards we took prisoner repeatedly said they saw her leaping over the the castle walls and busting the gate open."

Concuring with the Onion Knight, Tormund Giantsbane spoke. "Not even the giant outside took out as many people as she did. Honestly, seeing her fighting earlier," He trailed, both men looking his way expectantly to finish. "it made my nether regions engorge." Jon Snow held the urge to punch the wildling at his outrageous declaration, he scowled in utter irritation. Though no one could disagree with the brass wildling, because a woman -shouting and fighting battles- was a sight for sore eyes.

"Alright. What did she exactly tell you?" Choosing to ignore that last sentence, Ser Davos questioned Jon, his voice laced with curiosity.

"She said that it was her duty to kill the Night King, and only by killing him will all the wars end." Said Jon, pursing his lips in thought. To believe that by killing one creature, they could end every horror in this world. That by ridding the realm from the Night King they could not only end this war, but every other war. That evil itself would be destroyed and the hearts of men would know only peace. It was a beautiful belief. He was a soldier to the core, he had fought for years now. And that was why he really wanted, even for a second, to believe this could be true; because war was terrifying, dirty and all around horrible and to imagine a world without it would be a blessing.

But at the same time, he knew it was naïve. Diana, for all her proven competence as an amazon warrior, still was very much like a child; untouched by the filthy that surrounded all of them. Even when covered in blood and mud, she glittered like a diamond in the battlefield, a bright sun that would charm the soldiers as if they were seeing the most beautiful sight in the world.

"You think she's telling the truth?" At Tormund's inquiry, the three men turned their heads to stare at the dark haired princess, who was pleasantly conversing with Sansa Stark. No matter how you look at it, the woman before them shouldn't have been so capable in the art of warfare, but then again looks were deceiving.

Maybe it was the old age that had made Ser Davos a skeptic. Maybe it was the constant war. But the same way he did not believe in the Red Woman's ramble on the Lord of Light right up until Melisandre gave birth to a shadow demon and it came back successful in killing Renly Baratheon, he did not believe a little woman could fight.

Of course, he had completely eaten his own words.

Not only Diana could fight, she was a warrior. Maybe not trained exactly like their men were trained, but honed in the art of war in a way he had never seen before. More than that, she was powerful; now, he couldn't explain why, Jon couldn't explain why, but that little woman was stronger than the Mountain himself.

Luckily for them, they didn't have to be able to explain anything, they just needed to point her in the right direction and unleash her upon their enemies; it being the Army of the Dead.

Davos' voice snapped both men out of their concentrated gaze. "A warrior hones their skills by gaining experience on the battlefield. But she possesses the strength of a thousand men, without ever truly going to war, until now at least." He had exaggerated when he described her strength, however, she did cut down more Boltons than half their men combined. The anointed Knight took in Jon's uncertain expression and continued to speak. "You saw what happened out there, the way she charged at those men firing arrows at her, the way she flipped over those wagons, the men she took out in the castle before you got there. Maybe it's true, maybe it isn't. But what she's capable of proves how much having her by our side is invaluable."

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The numbers of people in the Great Hall was gradually dwindling, Sansa already left for bed and only Diana and Jon sat at the high table.

"Tormund, Tormund, no." Jon waved his hands and weakly indicated to the large redhead, who repeatedly came up to the former Lord Commander to refill his glass with either ale or wine.
"I still have to work. I have to plot for what to say in the gathering of the northern lords tomorrow."

Tormund's laugh echoed through the hall, raising the pitcher of wine high up in the air. "There's nothing to be done for now! Leave that for tomorrow, now we drink!" He bellowed, seemingly convinced Jon Snow. The blue eyed wildling approached Diana to fill her glass, his bushy brows perking towards her, a flirtatious smile stretched across his face.

"Thank you." Diana took the glass of wine, she inspected it and almost lost herself in the darkness of the drink. What she didn't notice was the heated glare Jon sent Tormund's way, and by the time she looked upwards he was long gone.

The two sat in a peaceful silence, observing the people happily dancing in front of them. Joy shone in the darkness of Jon's eyes. "You did this."

A satisfied smile raised in the corner of Diana's lips, she tilted her head to the side to look at him. "We did." Her exclamation made Jon chuckle in delight. She was smiling brightly, humble, as if she was just a pretty girl and not some sort of super-woman who had just helped them win the war.

Well, maybe he would have to get used to the fact that she could be both of those things.

"I'm sorry for-" He wasn't able to complete his apology for wanting to stop her from fighting, as Diana interrupted him.

"You don't have to apologize. I know your heart was in the right place." She softly said, joyfully watching the people move to the music playing.

"I remember begging my mother to train when I was little," Diana said, making him turn to her, "seeing my aunt training my fellow sisters. I would imagine myself in their places, punching invisible enemies, just begging to grow up fast so I could be there too. To be an amazon." She smiled, as if seeing herself on the past, and then her smile disappeared. "Real war isn't anything like that."

Jon kept looking at her for a few seconds, then turned his gaze to the front again. "No, it isn't," He agreed. He, too, wanted nothing but to leave everything behind so he could become a ranger, to become man of the Night's Watch, to fight. But he later found-the hard way- that war was nothing to hope for. "But sometimes we have to fight, so that others can be spared from it."

Diana could only nod in full-heartedly.

"Where is Lady Melisandre? It's been a while since I've last seen her."

"She's gone." Jon paused, scrutinizing on what to say regarding the red woman's heinous crimes, and he chose to omit the truth. "She rode south."

Diana's dark brows scrunched, the puzzlement drawn on her face. "Why would she leave so abruptly? From what I understand she's sworn to serve you from here on out," Jon turned to her. "she believes that you're destined for great things. I can see why."

To say that Jon was humbled would be an understatement.

"And you believe her? You two worship completely different gods." The Bastard argued, the concept of gods and prophecies was truly lost on him.

"You misunderstand me, Jon." Diana interrupted him. "I would never make light of anyone's faith, certainly not the faith of a woman who wants to do good." She looked at his surprised expression. "No one should ever apologize or hide what they truly believe, no matter what others say or think in response. And although we differ in opinions regarding the divines, we agree that the dead are the true enemy."

Jon stared at her, his eyes crinkled with a smile. He couldn't help that feeling of a weight settling on his chest whenever he looked her way.

"What do you think of her?"

"She's a fierce warrior, and she has a good heart."

"I've noticed you've been staring at her good heart." Ser Davos humorously teased.

"There's no time for that." Jon said, in an attempt to shrug off the Knight's suggestion.

"There's always time to enjoy the beautiful things in life, Jon." The Onion Knight answered him, as poetically as he did.

As he looked at the Princess, Jon didn't think he could feel this way again, not after the last time he's been in love. But that was before he met her. A woman of such beauty, gallantry and strength, yet with such a bewitching light shining in her eyes. Her smile could make worlds fall at their knees.

She was truly a gift.

"It makes you think, doesn't it?" Jon started again, not really talking to anyone. "If she was telling the truth all along, about being made by the gods."

"I'm not much of a believer, so I'm afraid I can't answer that." Said Davos.

Tormund's festive voice shouting from all the way across the room seemed to break whatever spell Diana's eyes had cast on him and Jon jumped back, very aware of how hot his cheeks were feeling.

With an uneasy gulp, Jon gathered the courage to ask the beautiful woman beside him a question. "Do you have dancing on your paradise island?"

"Of course, yes." She answered almost incredulously, setting her glass on the wooden table before her. "These people are just... swaying." Her respond gave him his answer, she seemed to have not danced before, not with another at least.

The dark haired man jumped to his feet, "Okay, if we're going to be fighting the Night King, we might as well." Now with his hand reached out and offering it to her to take.

Diana's lips stretched even further, her pearly white teeth on display, she got up and took his hand. "Well, it would be rude not to."

Jon led her to the center of the hall stopping in front of her. "Alright, so give me your hand, like so." As told, she placed her hand on his, with the delicacy she only seemed to possess. You'd think her hand would be cold and rough, calloused from the supposed years she'd spent training with swords, but it was as soft as a babe's cheek, he thought.

He attempted to gulp away the nervousness of being in such close proximity to the princess, and he hesitantly wrapped his arm around her waist. "And I'm going to place my arm around you, like so. And then we just... Sway." He spoke, with that small smile still drawn along his lips.

Diana took her gaze from their joined hands and then to his eyes, his face was a short distance from hers, and this managed to make the air trapped in her throat. "You're awfully close."

A short stutter came out of his half-open mouth before speaking correctly. "Th-that's what's it all about."

"I see." She swiftly nodded, and felt flustered with the heavy look of Jon Snow on her. He was fascinated by her, as if she was the most splendid piece of art ever made.

Clearing her throat, Diana seemed to snap him out of his momentary daze and he listened intently as she spoke. "I never noticed how much shorter you are than me until now."

Her words slightly embarrassed him, but it also brought a smile to his lips. "Is that so?" He asked with a playful tone that reached his eyes.

"I've come to find that most northerners, unlike you, have quite the tall stature." She stated in a manner of fact, in no way attempting to offend him. In all honesty, she didn't care about people's outer appearance, but she was still fascinated by how different they could be. "Don't worry, you're a nice change."

"Good." He gently muttered, smiling.

The two swayed from side to side, Diana looking down occasionally to make sure she doesn't step on his feet, but mostly unable to withstand their intense gazes on each other. "Is this what people do when there are no wars to fight?" She asked, her eyes drowning in the intensity of his dark ones.

Reluctantly tearing his eyes from hers, Diana's question seemed to drag Jon out of his haze. "Yes," He answered. "they do this among other things."

"What things?" She eagerly asked, truly and utterly curious as to how life was in a peaceful world of man.

Almost chuckling in amusement at Diana's childlike curiosity, the Snow replied. "They do a lot of things. They get married, have children, grow old together."

Jon's answer made the Amazon gulp, her mind clueless when it came to such a life. Something about how Jon had said it made her want to try.

"What is it like?" Diana stared at him, she watched his perfectly combed back hair and how his broad shoulders lowered and raised by his slow breathing.

Until that moment, Jon's nose had not caught sweet scent she radiated naturally, he found himself lost in her everything, intoxicated even. "I have no idea."

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