Ok this will probably be the last update for a few days, back to work tomorrow after five days holiday. so enjoy.

Chapter 3

A month had passed since they had arrived in White Harbor and Eragana was starting to get restless. While White Harbour was a busy city there wasn't much variety to the days. Added on to the fact that she'd had very limited time to be able to spend with Saphira, she felt at times like she was about to explode. The boys thought this was hilarious, as with using the excuse of going hunting they where able to slip away from the city a lot easier in order to spend time with the dragons.

The dragons had found themselves a clearing on a near by forested mountain, close enough for them to still be able to hear their riders but far enough that they wouldn't be spotted by any locals. Saphira found it the hardest to keep hidden, usually sleeping the day away and venturing out at night under the cover of darkness. While they did hunt the occasional deer or boar the two boys had gotten a taste for marine life, as that was what they had lived on for most of their life, so the dragons did a lot of hunting out at sea. Where Dumer was a laid back easy going character, Snorre could be a bit of a handful but so far Saphira and Turid together had managed to keep him in line. Which Eragana was thankful for. Having got to know more about Westeros and more specifically the North, she got the felling that the discovery of even one dragon on this land would not bode well for them, and if word got out to the Targaryen king, she knew they would need to make a hasty retreat. From what she had heard of him he sounded much too like Galbatorix for her liking, but the history of his family fascinated Eragana. She had read every text that was in White Harbor she could get her hands on in regards to the Targaryen's dragons. Her readings had even piped Saphira's interest but she still regarded herself as the more magnificent.

Eragana was interrupted from her thoughts by a knock on the door of her chambers. She could sense that it was Arlene so she walked over and opened the door. "Sorry to disturb you my lady but Lord Manderly has asked for your presence in the hall" Arlene said as soon as the door was open. Eragana nodded at her and replied "Thank you Arlene, i'll be right down" before turning back into her room to get her cloak. She debated for a moment before picking up Brisingr and putting the belt around her waist and muttering a spell to make it invisible and settling her cloak around her shoulders. The two elves under glamour standing guard outside her chambers silently fell in behind her when she existed the room.

As Eragana approached the Merman's court she saw the three boys had returned from they're hunt (visiting the dragons) and where waiting for her at the doors. "Any idea what this is about" she asked as she approached them. Arne shook his head before his hand went down to rest on the pommel of his sword. Eragana nodded before walking forward through the doors, the three boys falling in behind her.

Lord Manderly sat alone at the top table but for the maester sitting to his right. "My Lady i am sorry to disturb your evening but we have received a raven from Winterfell and it would seem that they are requesting your presence at your earliest convenience." Eragana continued up to the table and took the seat he motioned her to on his left. "Did it mention why? " she asked him. "No but it is probably in reply to the raven i sent to Winterfell explaining your arrival in Westeros. As the Warden of the North it is Lord Rickard's responsibility to keep his land safe. I believe he just wants to meet you in person."

"Well then i suppose we shouldn't keep him waiting" Eragana said before turning to Arne continuing " How soon can we be ready to leave?"

"It would depend on what you wanted to take with you My Lady. We would need to bring the Pearl back in and unload the wagons. I'd say we'd be ready to leave in a few days."

"I trust you can send word to Lord Rickard that we are on are way My Lord?" Eragana asked Lord Wyman. "Yes My Lady, i will have an escort organised for your journey to Winterfell."

"Thank you My Lord. If you'll excuse us it seems we have some work to do" Eragana said as she stood up.

"Yes of course, it was an honour to host your here in New Castle". Eragana gave him a blinding smile before making her way to the door.

"Rolf can you sort getting the wagons of the peel and sorted with any supplies needed for the journey?"

"I'll send word to the Pearl now and tell them to come in at daybreak" Rolf said while walking towards the main door.

"Olav, can you go down to the stables and have luke and the boys make sure all the horses are fit for travel. Have them fit shoes to them, as I believe we will be travelling over some ruff terrain." Olav nodded his head and went to follow his brother to the stables.

She then turned to Arne and said " Make sure we have the last of the gems in the chest exchanged for gold, just in case".

As Arne went to carry out her orders Eragana proceed back up to her room with her two elven guards behind her.

"And so our journey continues Little One" Saphira spoke up in her mind. Eragana hummed back, before saying "Why do I get the feeling our life is about to change".

Winterfell

Lord Rickard Stark stood in front of his household staff in the courtyard of Winterfell as he waited for their guests to arrive. Word of there approach had came in shortly before noon and he had ordered everyone out to the court yard to receive them. It had been hard work to get Lyanna into a suitable state that was appropriate for her station. Even now he could see her pouting beside her younger brother, Benjen.

The sound of horse's hooves could then be heard striking the cobbled road as the on coming party entered the courtyard. The first four horse's where bearing riders of Lord Manderly's house, obviously the escort he had provided, but behind them came a magnificent stallion who's coat was as black as coal. Even though he must be tired after a long journey the stallion bounced into the court yard. He was stunning and he knew it.

On his back sat a beautiful Lady that simply sat through her mounts antics with a smile on her face. Obviously she was used to this behaviour.

If the first stallion was as dark as night then the stallion that followed him was as light as the sun. On a golden palomino sat one of a set of twins, his golden cape almost blended into his mounts coat while his twin sat on a blood red chestnut, and in between them with a rider wearing a purple cape came a white stallion. Lord Rickard thought that all four stallions wouldn't look out of place on a battlefield.

As the guards came in to view, sixteen he counted, he noticed that most of they're mounts where of a different breed than the four stallions. They where of a stockier breed, the type that would find mountain work easy. Behind the guards came a wagon drawn by four black mare's.

As they came to a halt in front of his family several stable lads rushed out to take a hold of the horses however as the Lady reached for the Lady's stallion it reared up with it's ears pinned back and lashed out with its front legs. He just missed catching the stable lad who had jumped out of the way. "Whoa, easy Spartan, there's no need for that" his rider soothed willing stocking along his neck. The stallion calmed immediately as, from further down a boy jumped of his own horse and rushed to the stallions side and went to take the reins. Lord Rickard expected the stallion to react in the same way but he let the boy take the reins, shock his head and gave a snort. Once she had slide down from Spartan,the lady approached the stable lad and said "I'm so sorry about him, he is quite particular about who he let's touch him. Are you OK?"

"Yes my Lady, no harm done. I am sorry, should of known better than to approach a strange horse so quickly"

the Lady just smiled at him before saying "No harm, no foul. I am so used to his quirks that there is nothing he can do to surprise me now" and turned back around to face Lord Rickard and his family.

"Lord Stark, I am Lady Eragana it is a pleasure to except your invitation to your home"

"Lady Eragana. Welcome to Winterfell". Rickard replied. She was even more beautiful than wyman had described in his letter. From the corner of his eye he could see Benjen gaping at her. Even Lyanna was now looking interested, but he suspected that had more to do with the sword hanging from the Lady Eragana's waist and the bow and quiver attached to her stallions saddle. He suppressed a sigh at his unladylike daughters antics.

"May I introduce to you my daughter Lyanna and my youngest son Benjen. My two eldest are currently being fostered in other houses so are not here".

"It is a pleasure to meet you both" Lady Eragana said while dipping here head at each in turn. she then turned to the three men behind her "This is Lord Arne of Trune, If I am not available for any reason it is Arne that you should speak to. I trust him with my life" she said while gesturing to the man with the purple cape. He was a tall, muscular man, with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. She then gestured to the twins "The twins are Olav and Rolf Windsong"

"Pleasure to meet you all" Rickard said bowing his head slightly at them in greeting. " I'm sure you are tired from the journey, please come inside. Talia here will show you to your rooms, where you can freshen up if you like before we eat. A feast has been organised." he said while gesturing to the servant girl standing of to the side.

" Thank you My Lord that would be lovely." Lady Eragana replied before making her way forward to follow him into the castle as her men set to work unloading her things.

As Lady Eragana's party got settled he asked his children to meet him in the great hall. As they approached he pinned Lyanna with a stern stare and said "I want you both to be on your best behaviour tonight. These people are unknowns to us and we need to give of the right impression. They could either be a valuable ally or a dangerous enemy"

"Yes father" they both replied. Rickard kept his gaze on Lyanna a little longer to try and gauge the sincerity of her answer but her eyes gave nothing away. "Right well go get ready for the feast. I want you both down here before any of Lady Eragana's party"

As the two of them exited the hall he took a long drink of ale, hoping and praying to the old gods he'd done the right thing inviting the Lady Eragana into his castle.