CHAPTER 9: HIDDEN

Jon walked through the corridors with a torch in his hand. They had all had a crazy day: the attack, the arrival of the Steel Company, the dragon... Jon could still not believe it. Dragons existed and his new "allies" had one following their commands. Well, not their commands, but her commands... Jon was about to reach the cell when he saw Ghost lain in front of it.

"Your direwolf has been keeping company Lord Snow, was it your idea?" the girl asked. Jon opened the cell door and got in. Ghost followed close behind and sat beside her, touching her check with his nose, whimpering like a puppy until she started caressing his fur. "How is everything upstairs?"

"Your brothers look restless... Your uncle Stannis is unconscious and I suppose you will be happy to know that the masters could do nothing to help the lady Melisandre."

"Oh, come on Snow! Someone had to do it... She was driving Stannis insane and you know it. I live in the free cities, in a place where people play with magic... I know when a person is under the effects of a spell... You should thank me instead of keeping me inside this cell."

"Should you not be more careful with your words? After all, I could order for you to be executed tomorrow at noon."

"You could, but you will not."

"And why is that?"

"Because you need me. You need to make more dragon glass, and in order to do that you need my dragon, which you do not know where is hidden. You could always use other ways to make me tell you... but taking the number of men that have visited me offering a way out of the castle... I believe it will be better for all of us if we avoid a mutiny, do you not?"

"Tell me, where is the dragon?"

"Hidden."

"Where?"

"Do you really think I will tell you? I thought you were smarter than that."

"I thought you were the nicest one, at least, that is what Davos has told me..."

"Do you really think you will win me over with cheap flattery? You should learn more from this white cutie." She said scratching Ghost behind his ears. The wolf was a goner. He was lying on his back, so she could scratch his stomach, with his mouth slightly opened and his tongue sticking out... Jon had never seen his pet like that...

"How come you have a dragon anyway? I thought the Targaryan girl was the only one that had been able to bring them back from the death."

"I was lucky to have a library full of books back in Lorath..."Jon lifted one of his eyebrows when Alara said that. "Alright... I found her egg in the house when I was ten, I think. I took it with me and searched the library until I found a journal where I found most of the information I needed."

"How did that egg end in your home?"

"It was a gift to one of my ancestors. She was a mistress to one of the Targaryan kings, and he gave it to her because he thought it was dead. Later she found the old journal in the Red Keep and took it with her, I suppose."

Jon searched her face looking for lies, but he did not find any. She was still wearing her brown leather boots and breaches. She was wrapped in a black cloak that had golden designs all over it. Jon could see the sleeves of a blue shirt underneath it. His grey eyes got lost in her violet ones as soon as their gazes locked.

They heard someone walking in their direction, and Jon shook his head. He was surprised when he saw Stannis turn the corner.

"Lord Commander" He said. "I believe you should let the girl go... I have something to discuss when my nephews return."

Jon approached Alara and released her from her handcuffs, before helping her get up from the floor and asking her to accompany him to her new chambers. Once they reached her new accommodations she sat close to the fire with Ghost by her side.

"Where are y brothers?"

"They left as soon as my men escorted you to the cells... They wanted to look for the dragon..." The king said.

"Those two idiots... They will never find her... Please tell me they left with someone that knows the woods."

"I am sure they will be back soon, my lady."Jon interceded. "How are you feeling your grace?"

"I am feeling quite well, actually, I feel incredibly awake, like if I had been asleep for a very long time... I see everything clearly now, that is why I need to talk to my niece and nephews..." Jon smiled when he saw the 'I told you so' look on Alara's face, he could not help it. There was a knock on the door and Gendry and Eddrick ran towards their sister.

"We could not find her... for an animal that is so damn big, she sure knows how to hide..." Eddrick said.

Stannis cleared his throat before he started talking again.

"I believe I need to apologize to you Gendry, I honestly do not know what I was thinking when I accepted to the lady Melisandre's request. I am glad Davos disobeyed my orders and freed you, and I am happy you found your siblings. Now, I know that may not mean a lot for you... That is why I have decided that, if you wish, I will have you all legitimized."

"That is a very generous offer, your grace." Gendry said. "I do not know what to say..."

"Say yes, and you three will have a name of your own..."

"Gendry Baratheon... It does have a ring to it little brother." Alara said.

"Think about it. Now I will leave you four, I must rest." The king said leaving the chambers.

"I need to talk to you Lady Alara." Jon said. "As you said before we are running out of dragon glass... I would pardon both you and your dragon if you would help us."

"We should first look for her, do you not think?" And just like that the Lady Alara stood up, uncloaked her brother Eddrick, put the cloak on her shoulders and left the room. Gendry looked towards him with a bemused expression on his face.

"You should follow her Lord Commander, she does not wait for anyone."

So Jon left the room and ran the few meters that separated Alara and him. They walked down the stairs until they got to the yard. Jon noticed that every time they crossed paths with a member of the Steel Company they would bow to their lady. They walked until they reached the doors, where Jon asked for them to be lift up. What surprised him, however, was that they were walking out the southern gates of The Wall, which meant that the dragon was nowhere near where they thought it would be. He followed Alara to the woods where she called out for her dragon.

"Āeksion!"

Jon felt the wind around him and, before he had had time to react, the dragon stood before him. Jon could not believe his eyes. She was big, extremely big, at least as tall as a two floor house, when she had her head held high. Her scales were golden and reflected the sun rays. Alara approached her and the dragon lowered its head so she could pet it. She had two twisted horns that came out of the top of her head and bright topaz coloured eyes. Alara looked his way and signalled for him to get closer.

"She will not bite, I promise." She said. "Would you like to go for a ride?"

Jon walked the few steps that separated him from the beast, and climb up to its back behind Alara. When Āeksion straightened up, however, he almost changed his mind.

"Hold on tight!" Alara said. "sōvegon"

Jon decided he had made a bad choice when the dragon started beating its enormous wings. How had he missed them before? He held Alara's waist when he almost lost his balance and fell down. If he was not sure before, he was now... That woman would be the death of him. He could feel her laugh in front of him, but once Āeksion's flight turned smooth Jon was able to enjoy the ride. Alara directed its movements with a gentle voice, and Jon saw The Wall with new eyes after their ride.

It could have been hours before the three of them landed on the front yard of Castle Black. Alara asked if her dragon could stay in the dungeons, surrounded by small fires to keep her warm. Jon was headed to his own chambers when Howland Reed stopped him.

"You looked comfortable riding that dragon, son."

"Believe me, it is not as easy as it looks like."

"Did you father ever talk to you about your mother?"

"No, my Lord, he did not."

"Well, I believe it is about time…"

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Hey guys!

I know this chapter is shorter than the other ones, but I promised I would update this week so… I will probably start working on the next chapter tonight so I'll update on Wednesday or Thursday.

I don't want to be annoying… But I don't really get any feedback from you guys and I don't know if I'm doing things right… So if you would share your thoughts from time to time it would be awesome…

Thanks for everyone who followed and favorited the story this week, you are all great!

Be kind to one another!

Star :*