Thora Eriksson great-great-great granddaughter of Elara Nightshade and Jon Snow tells the story of how they met and changed the history of Westeros.

Created and written by Garth using Scrivener, Campfire, Plottr, Midjourney, Eleven Labs and D-ID AI technologies.

Blood Twitch Heartbeat

Chapter 1: A Fateful Encounter

Jon Snow was vigilant, his senses heightened as he struggled through snowdrifts, scanning for signs of danger. The snow was falling heavily on the battlefield. He had lost track of his comrades amid the trees and the chaos of fighting and was now alone in the stillness, surrounded by the bodies of his fallen friends.

He walked in fear, the snow blinding him as he sensed someone nearby, but not yet seen. White Walkers. Any warrior who did not fear them was a fool. Just ahead, he heard a strange sound - a soft, almost melodic chime, like the tinkling of ice crystals. As Jon trudged forward, a white shadow emerged through the snowfall and he braced for the confrontation, his heart heavy with the weariness of endless strife. He longed for an end to the bloodshed and the madness of war, “Is this my fate, endless fighting?”

Elara Nightshade stood motionless in the snow beneath an endless white sky, as light snowflakes landed on her battle-weary shoulders. Her crimson blood fell melting the snow, as her heart beat in steady rhythm against the icy wind. A dark shadow emerged through her snow-blind eyes, her heart heavy with unrelenting war. Trapped between desire and necessity, longing and obligation, “I cannot escape my duty,” she sighed. Her sword tip glinted, twitched, waited.

Jon stepped out of the trees and into the clearing. A rare female White Walker stood before him, with pale skin and piercing blue eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light. Elara Nightshade, the name, came to him uninvited, and she was watching him with curiosity and amusement. He heard tales of these female White Walkers and their deadly powers, and he had no desire to meet his end at the hands of one of them. Elara approached Jon with an air of calmness and grace. As she approached, he found himself drawn to her icy beauty and her otherworldly grace. He knew he should run, or fight, but he stood there, rooted to the spot, transfixed by this strange, enthralling creature. Yet he found himself somehow drawn to her despite the danger.

Elara was intrigued by Jon as well. She had seen countless battles and witness the horrors of war, but there was something different about this man. Perhaps it was his eyes, fierce with determination or the way he carried himself with quiet strength. Whatever it was, she was drawn to him and wanted to know more about this man.

Despite his fear, Jon felt excitement at the challenge she presented. He tested her, lunging forward, his sword flashing in the cold air. The White Walker dodged easily, her movements frighteningly fast. Their skirmish grew fierce, each blow striking sparks as their weapons clashed. The sound of their swords rang out over the battlefield as they fought.

In the end, neither Jon nor Elara prevailed, their strength and skills evenly matched. As the snow fell harder around them, they both stepped back, staring at each other in mutual respect. For a moment, there was silence between them, broken only by the rhythm of their breathing. Then, as if by a silent understanding, they retreated, each stealing parting glances over their shoulder as they disappeared into the snowfall.

Jon made his way back to the Night Watch camp, his mind filled with thoughts of Elara. The encounter left him in confusion and with so many questions. He felt fear, exhilaration, intrigue and was curiously drawn to her. Why did he not feel anger and contempt for her? She was a White Walker, and they had killed many of his comrades and brothers. People he loved. He hated the White Walkers, but somehow he could not conjure that feeling toward her. Why? Was he enthralled? Under this White Walker’s spell? He couldn’t shake the feeling there was something more to this encounter than a simple skirmish, or that if she had wanted to, she could have killed him. Why didn’t she? What made you hold back Elara Nightshade? What stayed your hand? He knew he should be afraid of her, that they were enemies, but that’s not how he felt. What he felt was that they would meet again.

Elara had seen his mind during their skirmish when his blood ran hot. Jon was the Commander of the Night Watch and their fiercest warrior. So why had she let him live? Was it because she saw something in him that surprised her? That he, too, was weary of war and yearned for a peace he thought impossible? Did they both share this same hope and despair? She now realized that these feelings drew him to her in a way that was unsettling. But there it was, that nagging question and now perhaps with an answer, “are you the one, Jon Snow?” And with it, the realization that what might lie ahead would be very dangerous for them both.

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To be continued…