Chapter Text
The Lion of Night and the Maiden-Made-Of-Light had called for the all the gods. A council unlike anything seen in the heavens in eons. Gathered in lofty halls of marble and ivory they stood. The Lion of Night in the shape he used most often. An immense lion made of the cosmos itself. Eyes as bright as stars fixed other gods and rooted them in place. Inky dur as deep as the night sky was studded with constellations. Constantly rearranging themselves in the time it took a mortal man to blink. An ever-changing tapestry. At his side stood the Maiden. Dressed in silver robes upon which wisps of light danced as she moved. Her hair was the color of moonlight upon dark waters, and on her face was a look of serenity. Idly her fingers ran through the Lion's dark mane, almost without thought.
Other gods stood together. Together the Seven in a loose line. The Father, bearded and stern, dressed in gold and sapphire. The Warrior, sword and shield in hand, dressed in his armor. Standing proud and tall. The Mother, soft and gentle, dressed in deep green with wisps of grey at her temples. The Maiden, hand in hand with the Mother, dressed in pale blue, flowers braided into dark hair. The Crone was withered, hunched and dressed in a tattered grey dress. A pale lantern in one gnarled hand, while a cane helped her stand. The Smith, in a blacksmith's apron, hammer in hand. Eyes glowing with the fires of the forge. The Stranger, clad in hooded robes. A skull in one hand, bleached bone with many runes carved into it. A shepherd’s crook in the other, for he would guide his flock to the afterlife.
The formless fae of the old gods stood slightly apart from them. Some stood as tall trees with faces, others as half man, half beast. Here and there claws and teeth. Others still took the forms of the world. Made of streams and earth, wind and stone. Wild and unsettling. There with them stood other deities of the same like. Aquan the Red Bull, the Black Goat of Qohor, the Horse God of the Dothraki, and many others. Mother Rhoyne, with her serene and handsome face. Blue-green robes made of the waters of her mighty river changed subtly with every look. The Weeping Lady of Lys, the Drowned God, the Great Shepherd, the Lady of Spears and all others great and small stood assembled. R'hllor and the Great Other, side by side. Their differences momentarily forgotten. The Lord of Light was a great man of fire, eyes bright as the sun. While his brother and greatest rival was seemingly made of the coldest dark. Eyes colder than glaciers. Had a mortal looked upon that room of deities they would have gone mad. Too much power in one place. Even the nearly forgotten gods of Valyria stood in that room, many in the forms of dragons or serpents. Other forgotten creatures and things worshipped in the dark stood in corners and alcoves. All listened and forgot rivals and feuds. For this was a matter of the greatest import. Prophecy had been upended. The balance of the world was out.
"This should not have happened," The Lion of Night said, his voice deeper than the rumble of the earth itself. To his side the Maiden glowed softly, silvery light illuminating the room gently. "The Prophecy of Azor Ahai was not fulfilled. This cannot stand."
The Maiden threaded silver fingers into the Lion's dark mane. Scratching behind his ears. Each pass of her silver fingers soothing his anger and irritation. A gentle smile came to her face as she felt him let out an involuntary rumble. The sound was that of the earth shifting, but it was a sign of his temper cooling. When she spoke, it was as the ringing of clear bells.
"We must act. Else the world be thrown into disorder. Victory came. But not the way it should have. The She-Wolf was not the one who should have ended the Others."
It was many moments until another spoke. A smaller deity of wind and stream, from the North of Westeros. Its voice was as a leaf on the wind. Soft and subtle. "The Wolves did their work too well, for he was made of ice and snow. No fire to be found."
The small deity ducked behind a larger one made of rock and iron. Hiding from the larger gods who had zeroed in on it. The larger deity made no move to force the other out. The Lion snarled, teeth like blades shining in the silvery light of the Maiden. The black of his mouth was a screaming void that would drive mortals and gods alike mad should they stare too long.
"The Dragons must come together. Ice and fire. It is written into the bones of the world. It must be done." The Lion said sharply.
There was a moment of silence. Before the Stranger spoke in his raspy, stone on steel voice. Boney fingers gripping his hook tightly. "The Dragoness was not meant to come to me the way she was. She and the Dragon-Wolf should have stood together. Him at hers, hers and his. It is known. We must fix this."
Across the room, dozens of voices murmured in assent. The Lord of Light spoke his voice that of a roaring blaze. Not dragonfire, but wild and untamed fire that burned all in its path. "My priestess came too late. Came the wrong way. I will guide her myself. My hand alone will guide the Shadowbinder known as Melisandre."
Even the Great Other nodded, icy and cold. Eyes like glaciers. Colder than the deepest winter. This would be done. The gods would act. For the first time since the Great Empire of the Dawn, and the death of the Amethyst Empress, the gods would interfere with the realms of men. The Stranger pulled open his robes, and from it came an orb of silver and amethyst fire. The soul of Daenerys Targaryen herself. The orb was small, the size of a pea. Then another, the soul of Jon Snow, grey and cold. He handed these to the Lion and the Maiden. The pair held the souls in their immense hands. Hands that had shaped the world. The dragon form of the greatest Valyrian god came forward. Balerion, dark and shadowy, he bent his head toward the souls. Snout puffing hot air as he did. The Maiden touched him with her free hand; the Lion leaned his bulk into the dragon. The three of them together worked a spell so complex and ancient the world shuddered. As if kicked by some immense titan. The souls in their hands were bound by tethers of fire. Silver and amethyst fire touched cold grey snow. Each marking the other subtly. Enough to notice, but so much as to change the other. That was not the intent. It was to guide them to each other; their fates were now one. Fire and Ice. With that done, the dragon form retreated, the Maiden and the Lion let go of the souls. Together, tethered, they were suspended in front of all the gods. The Maiden was the one who spoke.
"Together as one. They go back to the earth to begin anew."