Rhaegal flies to White Harbor, though they don't think of the city by name. They think of it as the place Jon and Daenerys stayed before. It's the most nearby of the places that holds those of their Jon's Chosen they need. They'll pick up that one first, pick up one of Mother's chosen best at fixing her after that, and then they'll pick up the rest of their Jon's Chosen.

They land in front of the place their Jon stayed before and yell for the Chosen who shares his blood to come forward.

Their Jon's Chosen doesn't come forward. His chosen do, but not his Chosen. They are frustrated. Breathing in deeply has revealed their Jon's Chosen is no longer here. Where did it go?

If he had to guess, Arya returned to Winterfell. But she could be in town instead. Or she's with Daenerys' people.

They refuse to lose time by going to a place that might not hold the one they need. They need to know where his Chosen is.

It's a shame Rhaegal can't track through scent like Ghost can.

They shouldn't need to be capable of that. His Chosen should have stayed here.

Because everyone should put their lives on hold for Rhaegal.

Exactly. Now what to do next? Should they grab Mother's chosen first and then come back? Unlike other mortals, Mother's chosen are capable of making sense. They can make other mortals see sense as well.

Or Rhaegal could ask after Arya by writing the question down.

They have no idea how that whole thing works. It's just lines.

Jon can write. Just do as he says.

They do as their Jon says, scratching lines into the ground according to his directions. Jon realizes halfway through the first word he'll need to keep things simple. Through Rhaegal, the lines seem a chaotic mess to Jon, despite knowing what word he's having Rhaegal write down. Jon has no idea if this is even readable.

Jon tells Rhaegal to erase the scratches with their uninjured wing before making new ones. After finishing, they step back and focus in the way they need to in order to understand mortals. The noise they're making turns into chattering about them. Wondering why they're here, what happened to their wing, wondering what they want and what they're doing. Mortals, always wondering and never doing.

They focus on one of the mortals nearest to them. It's one they've seen with their Jon before. Jon assumes this is Lord Wyman, but it's impossible to know for certain. Rhaegal might be able to understand words, but men's voices still sound nothing like what Jon is used to. He does pick up on Arya's name, though. It's being said by others, but the mortal they're paying attention to doesn't say anything. They impatiently tap their wing down the scratches they made and demand the mortal tell them what they need to know.

To their relief, the mortal turns out to be a little more intelligent than most.

"You're... looking for Arya? Arya Stark?"

They move their head up and down. Signaling confirmation in the way Mother's chosen taught them.

"Arya left with the Dragon Fleet. When–"

They stop listening and leave. They have the information they need.

That was rude of them. Rhaegal could have at least given an acknowledgement of the words.

They did. They wouldn't have left if they hadn't gotten the information they need. Besides, their Jon finds their behavior endearing. They can't be rude if their Jon likes how they act.

Jon's affection for Rhaegal doesn't make them any less rude. Others don't find it endearing.

Why should they care about others? The only ones who matter are their Jon, their Brothers and Mother.

Jon really shouldn't be as touched by that as he is.

They follow the ocean, and seeing the ocean through Rhaegal is another indescribable experience. It's as endless as the earth and sky, similar to both and nothing like it at the same time. Just like the sky, the ocean dances, but it does so in an incomparable way. Endless currents flow through each other, joining and separating at a slow and steady pace. Solid as the earth and liquid at the same time. Jon can see the currents grow more massive the deeper they go, can taste how they become more similar to the earth yet remain so different at the same time. It's beautiful.

It's also familiar. Rhaegal can predict how the currents will flow in the same way they can predict how the sky will dance.

Of course they can. The sky might be where they belong, but they've known the ocean from the moment they left their egg. The ocean is as familiar to them as the sky is. Which is how they know what currents to follow in order to find Mother's chosen.

Did Viserion tell Daenerys' people where she is?

Of course they did. As best they could anyway. Unlike them and their Brothers, Mother's chosen aren't guided by her touch.

Jon doesn't wake up before Rhaegal spots the Dragon Fleet. They dive into the ocean instead of landing on a ship. The harm to their wing makes it easier to climb the wood than land on it. The ocean itself is wonderful to feel as well. It cleanses them, washing away some of their pain. They would have dived in before, except they need to get their Jon's Chosen to him as fast as possible.

They swim to Mother's favorite ship, lift their head and breathe in deeply.

They guessed right. Their Jon's Chosen is on this ship.

Climbing onto the wood, they move their tail in a signal for Mother's chosen to gather those best at fixing her. Then they focus on their Jon's Chosen.

Jon never would have been able to recognize Arya like this. The only reason he knows it's her is because Rhaegal picks up on the similarities her scent holds to his own. The similarities are faint and minor, but they're present. Arya doesn't look anything like him, though. She looks like all men do to Rhaegal.

His Chosen is a mortal. One who carries whispers of cold and a great deal of blood from other mortals.

Jon memorizes Arya's exact scent and the way she looks. He wants to be able to recognize her even without Rhaegal's aid.

They focus in the way they need to in order to understand mortals and move their head in a signal for their Jon's Chosen to get on.

"What happened to your wing?"

They are exasperated. Can't mortals ever stop wondering?

"No, that's too complex. Is Jon hurt? Nod your head up and down if yes, left to right if no."

They become even more annoyed at his Chosen's continued wondering, but Jon tells them to answer Arya's question. He doesn't want Arya to worry about him.

Jon realizes he didn't think this through when Rhaegal answers in the affirmative. Arya is going to worry even more now. He doesn't need to be able to read her body language to know that.

"Are his injuries severe?"

Their Jon tells them to say his harm isn't too great, but they refuse. Every harm to their Jon is too great.

Rhaegal wouldn't be lying. His injuries are severe, but they're no longer life threatening. Which is what Arya is really asking.

They move their head side to side. Their Jon is correct, he won't die. Then they turn their attention to one of Mother's Chosen, who moved its arm in a signal for needing to talk about matters related to Mother's safety. They move their head to signal they're listening.

Rhaegal wasn't kidding about having a communication system with Daenerys' people. Jon had seen it in part already, but this is the first time he realizes how deep it goes.

Mother's chosen are unusually intelligent for mortals. It's one of the reasons Mother chose them.

"Healers will soon come aboard. Are you capable of carrying four of them?"

They shake their head. They need to pick up more of their Jon's Chosen after this. Those combined with that many of Mother's chosen would be too difficult to carry with the harm to their wing.

It's odd how Rhaegal can't truly count, yet at the same time, they can tell how many people they can carry before it becomes too much.

It's odd how their Jon can turn individuals into groups that don't involve species or bonds.

"Three?"

They shake their head.

"Two?"

They signal confirmation.

"It shall be done. May we examine your injury? It would please our Captain."

Mother isn't here and so she can't be pleased. They're about to signal refusal when their Jon stops them. Rhaegal's injury needs to be examined, and no one is better qualified to do that than Daenerys' people. They're exasperated by their Jon's worry, but they agree to have Mother's chosen look over their wing. Mother always worries until they do that as well.

They signal confirmation, before they stop listening and move into the position they need to be. When those of Mother's chosen who always examines them and their Brothers arrive on ship, they focus on them and signal that they're listening again. They bend down so Mother's chosen can inspect their injury, and they move their wing in the way Mother's chosen asks. Jon is glad to hear the healers proclaim that their injury is severe but not life threatening. He's even more relieved to hear Rhaegal can carry five people without worsening their injury. If they take enough breaks that is.

After Mother's chosen finish examining their harm, one of Mother's Chosen signals it needs to talk about Mother's location. They signal that they're listening. They've gotten a headache by now, but this is important. Mother's chosen need to be able to find Mother. Mother always feels better when they're with her.

"Is our Captain located near a wall made of ice?"

They almost signal rejection, but their Jon explains that Mother's Chosen is talking about the Abomination's cage. In particular, it's talking about the lock on the cage. If Mother's Chosen was asking about that, it should have asked about a structure of Cold, not one of cold.

Another one of Mother's Chosen does just that.

"Or a wall made of magic?"

They signal confirmation.

"Is she among as many or more people as there are on all our ships?"

This question is posed by the previous of Mother's Chosen who spoke. They signal disagreement. Mother's Chosen asks further about the number of mortals that are with Mother. Then Mother's Chosen starts asking about other things.

"Should the first light of the sun break, would you be able to reach the ocean before the sun has fully risen?"

They consider that. If they were unharmed and they pushed themselves as fast they can, they might be able to reach the ocean before then. They aren't certain, though.

Even at full strength, Rhaegal wouldn't be able to reach the ocean before then. Ignoring that, what Daenerys' people are actually trying to determine if she's near the shore or if she's further inland.

It's so much easier to make sense of mortals when their Jon is with them. They signal they wouldn't reach the ocean by then.

"My best guess is she's at Castle Black."

Their Jon recognizes that description and so they signal confirmation.

"Our Captain is at a place men call Castle Black?"

They let out a great breath. Mother's chosen might be more intelligent than most, but they're still mortals. Mortals always need to have things repeated.

They signal another confirmation. Then they repeat their order for their Jon's Chosen to get on. Their Jon's Chosen doesn't understand, but Mother's Chosen do.

"Lady Stark, Rhaegal wishes to bring you along to our Captain."

"You mean, he wants to carry me? On his back?"

Their Jon's Chosen looks at them, which is something their Jon enjoys.

"You'll let me ride you?"

His Chosen isn't very clever.

She absolutely is. Rhaegal has made clear there will be lethal consequences should people touch them without their permission. Of course Arya wishes to confirm she won't get killed if attempting to touch them this time.

They told his Chosen they won't destroy it for touching them this time. Mortals need to stop questioning the truth.

Because why should anyone wish to confirm they won't lose their lives before doing something?

Their Jon is a lot more sarcastic than they thought he was before Choosing him.

Rhaegal likes it.

Yes they do.

They stop listening to the mortals. While Jon can't read Arya through Rhaegal, he knows she's overcome by joy. She's going to ride a Dragon after all. Then his attention is drawn to the person besides Arya. They'd recognized it as another of their Jon's Chosen, but now Jon is paying more conscious attention to what that means. Rhaegal considers this person one of his loved ones. To be more specific, they recognize this person as a loved one they've seen with Jon before. Which means this can only be one person.

This is Sam.

Sam needs to be brought to Castle Black.

No it doesn't. This Chosen won't make their Jon better.

Ignoring the fact that Sam is, in fact, a better healer than Ash, Sam knows more about White Walkers and their magic than any other. He can help Daenerys.

Why didn't their Jon say so before?

They make Mother's Chosen focus on them by letting out a sharp sound, before signaling they want the other of their Jon's Chosen to get on them as well. They focus and hear Mother's Chosen pass on the message.

"Me? Ride a Dragon? I, ah, I don't think that's a good idea. Am quite certain of it in fact, I'd throw up or fall off, maybe drag someone down with me and that's not a good thing for anyone involved."

"So you're going to take the long way when Jon is in trouble?"

"He didn't say Jon was in trouble, he said Jon is injured. He also said his injuries aren't life threatening."

They are not impressed with their Jon's Chosen.

They aren't impressed with anyone not a Dragon. And Sam will come. He just needs a moment to gather his courage.

Even if his Chosen doesn't agree to come, they'll bring it along. Their Jon's Chosen needs to fix Mother.

And he will. As expected, Sam agrees to come.

"Right, okay, I'm... I'm going to ride a Dragon. No problem, easy as pie, I certainly won't fall to my death. Or get burned to a crisp when I throw up on him."

They stop listening. Their headache has grown very painful.

It really does cost Rhaegal a great effort to understand men.

Mortals are annoying and far too difficult to make sense of. And now several mortals need to touch them. They will allow it because Mother and their Jon need them to, but mortals will be touching them. They are not looking forward to this.

Jon is incapable of putting into words his gratitude to Rhaegal for bringing his family. Fortunately, Rhaegal can feel how grateful he is. It soothes some of their aggravation. They like their Jon being happy.

They don't like touching mortals.

They wait while Mother's chosen arrive, and they start listening again when Mother's Chosen signal it's time to be prepared for travel. Mother's chosen needs a lot of things in order to fix Mother. It'll need those things to fix their Jon as well.

They follow the directions given, allowing Mother's Chosen to throw a net over their back, secure it, and then bind supplies to it. All without touching them. Jon is impressed by the creativity involved. People are dangling from ropes attached to the mast so they can secure supplies to Rhaegal's back without needing to touch them.

Jon wakes up before Arya and Sam get on Rhaegal. Or rather, he's woken up. Ash determined his fever was getting to high. Jon is tired and woozy, but his mind is clear.

"I need to go back to sleep."

"I just told you your fever was getting too high," Ash returns, not impressed.

"It doesn't have to be for long. Rhaegal is bringing Arya, Sansa, Bran, Sam and another healer to Castle Black," Jon explains. "Rhaegal is with Daenerys' people now, and he'll be going to Winterfell soon. The problem is that he doesn't know where Winterfell is." The general direction, yes, that they learned through Jon. But Rhaegal doesn't know the exact location, courtesy of Jon being unable to communicate specific landmarks to them.

Ash curses but also calls for Edd. As expected, Edd isn't pleased, but he does agree with the necessity of it. He's also relieved to hear Sam and another healer will be arriving soon. One who uses blood magic, for the healer's scent was distinctive to Rhaegal. It was similar to Arya's, though the blood of other people wasn't quite as strong as it was with Arya.

Did Arya learn how to perform blood magic as well? Why didn't she tell him?

Jon forces those thoughts aside. Right now he has other things to worry about.

"It'll take Rhaegal a day or so to arrive here," he tells Edd. A rough estimation, but it's the best he can do. He knows how far away Rhaegal is, knows how many days it would take him to reach them without having to think about it. He can use that knowledge to estimate of how many miles away Rhaegal and compare that to how long it took them to get there. It's not a perfect solution. For one, Rhaegal wasn't pushing themselves as much as they're doing now, and they took frequent breaks as well. On the other hand, carrying people will slow them down even further than their injury already causes.

Jon is allowed to go to sleep, though he'll be woken up in a quarter of an hour. Before sleeping, Jon tells Edd that he'll be doing this again when Rhaegal arrives at Winterfell. He wants to be there when that happens. He trusts Rhaegal, but while he knows Rhaegal will protect the people he considers important, they also hold a disregard for people's lives that would be chilling if they weren't a Dragon.

When Jon rejoins Rhaegal, he discovers why Dragons hate carrying people they don't have a bond with. Three people are on their back and it feels wrong. It's revolting and almost violating. Worst of all, it itches. The sensation is so awful Jon wants to scratch all over their body like a madman. Rhaegal is in a constant struggle not to throw all three people off them.

They hate carrying mortals.

Jon will never again ask them to do this unless absolutely necessary. He had no idea it caused true physical discomfort, never mind that it felt as horrible as this does. It makes Drogon agreeing to carry him all the more exceptional.

Their Brother usually agrees to carry mortals if Mother asks. They and their other Brother don't unless it would lead to her chosen dying otherwise, for even this horror is preferable to Mother being sad. But their Brother usually agrees even when it won't lead to Mother becoming sad. Out of all of them, their Brother loves Mother the most.

Given how deep Rhaegal's adoration of Daenerys runs, that statement holds great weight indeed. Now, do they know where they're going?

Of course they know where they're going. They're going to his Chosen.

And they know the general direction of where his family is, but did they learn the exact location of Winterfell? Or rather, did they agree to follow directions? Either from Arya or from Sam.

They did not. They don't need mortals to guide them. They'll find the place their Jon's Chosen are without aid.

If Rhaegal follows directions, they'll reach Winterfell sooner, meaning they won't need to carry people for as long as they otherwise would.

Fine, they'll follow his Chosen's directions. After they've landed to rest, because communicating with his Chosen would be far too difficult while in the air. They already need to take a lot of care to keep one of them from falling off. The most important of his Chosen is capable of moving adequately, but the other one isn't.

Jon is not surprised Sam is having difficulties staying on.

Jon is woken up before Rhaegal takes a break from flying. Which means he needs to go back to sleep again. Even with a pirate there to translate, communicating with Arya and Sam will not be easy for Rhaegal.

Jon remains awake until Rhaegal stops moving. Then he tries to fall asleep again. And fails, for why should things ever go easy for him?

By the time he manages to fall asleep, Rhaegal is already moving again.

They've talked to his Chosen, and with Mother's chosen's help, his Chosen made clear where they need to go. His Chosen will guide them. Later. There's no need to be guided by a mortal yet.

Well. Seems Jon was worrying over nothing.

Their Jon does that a lot.

After being woken again, Jon remains awake until he estimates Rhaegal is perhaps an hour away from Winterfell.

His estimation of how far away Rhaegal is turns out to be accurate. Or rather, it's accurate enough. Rhaegal isn't near enough to Winterfell yet to need Arya's directions.

The itching is even more awful than before. Their Jon is lucky they love him so much, they'd never have agreed to carry mortals for him otherwise. Especially not for this long.

Jon is more grateful than he can put into words.

They revel in his gratitude. At least their Jon is appreciative of what they're doing for him. This would be even worse otherwise.

Rhaegal is in a bad mood.

They'd like to see their Jon be in a good mood when feeling like this.

Point taken.

Their Jon's Chosen lets them know it's time to listen by tapping their scales in the agreed upon manner. They focus and lift their head in the way they agreed to do to let Jon's Chosen know they're listening. It makes the other of their Jon's Chosen yell, but there's no meaning behind it.

There is, actually. Sam was either surprised or afraid. Or both.

Like they said, there's no meaning behind it. Not one that matters.

His most important Chosen does say something meaningful.

"You need to fly more towards the– fly more to the left."

They adjust their course.

"A little more."

They adjust their course a little more.

"Perfect. Keep flying just like this."

They keep flying just like this. And become even more aggravated when the other of their Jon's Chosen expels what it ate before. They just burned off the last of it, and now they need to burn it off again.

Sam wasn't exaggerating about needing to throw up.

They don't like this Chosen, not one bit. At least his other Chosen reacts to flying in a sensible manner.

With delight?

It did indeed say it was happy before.

Their Jon feels so much joy over that they feel a little better themselves. They might hate carrying mortals, but their Jon is worth it.

Jon sees Winterfell appear on the horizon. Or rather, he sees the people appear. Countless starbursts dot the ground, a strange the night sky that's nothing like it at the same time. Stars don't move around as people do. Jon revels in the sight as Rhaegal nears. He can't tell apart the buildings, can't recognize any of the things that should be familiar, but this is Winterfell. It's his home.

They're glad their Jon is happy. They – scream as something touches them and it's touching them on the inside! They're about to release their Fire and destroy it except suddenly their Jon is fighting them, suddenly his Fire bright and freezing and their Jon is harming them and Jon doesn't want to hurt Rhaegal but he will, he'll fight to keep them from attacking the endless presence with all he has because somehow this vast being is familiar, somehow he knows who this is.

Bran?

Jon?

Jon wakes up and he's burning, can't breathe, can't tell where he is, barely able to see the blurred shapes moving in front of him.

The blurred shapes look at him with eyes of ice. Jon tries to fight the dead as they touch him with freezing hands but he's too weak. Part of him is aware that something is wrong. Part of him is aware the dead aren't supposed to be here. He's in Castle Black. The dead can't enter Castle Black.

Can they?

He doesn't know how much time passes before he rejoins Rhaegal.

It turns out enough time has passed for Rhaegal to have left Winterfell. They're on their way to him.

They're carrying his family. Five are seated on Rhaegal's back, and the itching is almost unbearable. It's not just their back that itches, though. Their talons do as well.

Rhaegal is carrying a sixth person.

The most important of his Chosen insisted they take this Chosen with them. They didn't want to, but they wanted to keep arguing with the abomination even less.

Bran isn't an abomination.

It contains the entire World, it watches not just now but before and later as well, and it touched them without their permission on the inside. It's an abomination. They only reason they didn't destroy it is because it will make their Jon better.

If Rhaegal kills Bran, Jon will never forgive them.

They just said they won't destroy the abomination. Their Jon is being insufferable.

Rhaegal is in an even worse mood than before.

Their Jon is being an even greater moron than usual.

Jon might have been annoyed by that if he couldn't feel how awful this experience is for Rhaegal. The itching hasn't merely doubled in strength, it's been magnified several times over. Every person added amplifies the horrible sensation in the worst of ways. Bran is a case all on his own, though. To Rhaegal, Bran doesn't feel like a man. He feels vast and impossibly heavy. Feels like the entire song of the world compressed into a single being. The weight of that is crushing, to the point Rhaegal is having true difficulties remaining in the air. Bran is deafening as well. Rhaegal can barely taste anything beyond him. If Jon hadn't felt Bran's mind, he wouldn't have been able to recognize this being as his brother either.

Jon wonders. He talked to Bran before. Can he do so again?

No. It was difficult enough to talk to the abomination without destroying it when they were on the ground and carrying none. Talking to it in the sky while carrying others is impossible. Either they'll destroy the abomination, or they'll throw off everyone they're carrying.

No talking to Bran, got it. He isn't an abomination, though. Bran feels natural in a way the Night King doesn't.

The Abomination might be worse than this thing, but the Abomination didn't touch them without their permission on the inside.

Rhaegal is never going to forgive Bran for that, are they?

Never.

They hear the abomination speak, its voice layered and echoing before and later instead of just now. They have no intention of putting in the effort needed to understand the message. Neither do they have any intention of doing so for the rest of their Jon's Chosen when they speak. Jon can't blame Rhaegal for that. They need all their focus to keep flying while carrying the crushing weight that is Bran. This isn't good for their wing. Had this involved anyone but his family, Jon would have told Rhaegal they don't need to bring Bran to him.

But it's Bran. It's his brother. Jon couldn't resist the need to see him even if he wanted to.

The sooner they can drop off the abomination with their Jon, the sooner they can go back to recovering.

When their harm requires them to rest, which happens much sooner than it would were they not carrying the abomination, they go low, drop the one held in their claws from a height that won't harm it, and land. They waste no time in picking up the abomination by their teeth and lifting it off them, struggling not to let go of it. The World is so heavy.

One of their Jon's Chosen, the one who gave directions before, runs over their neck to get off. Normally they wouldn't allow that, but if they were to shake it off, they'd harm the abomination and that would cause their Jon to harm them in turn.

The moment they let go of it, relief overwhelms them. They feel so much better now. Even with the mortals still getting off their back.

Jon looks at Bran and is overcome by joy. Bran doesn't look recognizable in any way, holds no similarity to other people. Instead he looks vast and endless. He looks like the earth and sky, like plants and animals. Like all that ever was, is and will be.

Bran has three eyes. All three are looking at different times, but the one watching Rhaegal is the eye that sees the present.

Yet even with Bran looking nothing like he should, even with Rhaegal's aggravation and revulsion, Jon is happy. He's seeing Bran.

He's seeing Arya as well. She's jumped off Rhaegal's neck and is now holding Bran. Then the person Rhaegal dropped first runs in front of Arya and Bran. Now that Bran is no longer smothering their sense of taste quite as badly, Jon can pick up on the magic this person holds inside them, a memory of frost creeping over Rhaegal's tongue. He also sees that the person is walking on four legs. And Jon realizes. This isn't a person at all.

It's Ghost. And Ghost is baring his teeth at Rhaegal. Why is Ghost baring his teeth at Rhaegal?

Who cares why it acts the way it does. It's nothing but another pest they have to endure for their Jon.

Their Jon's worry is incredibly offending. Of course they won't harm this one, it's one of his Chosen. Their Jon needs to stop worrying about the wrong things.

Easier said than done. But Rhaegal's assurance that they won't hurt Ghost does help him get rid of his fear. He knew Rhaegal wouldn't hurt Ghost, of course he knew, but having it confirmed is still soothing.

They look at the rest of their Jon's Chosen as they finally get off them. Jon drinks in the sight of Sansa. Just like everyone else, she'd be unrecognizable if not for the similarities to both his and Arya's scent. Sansa shares the same whispers of cold Arya holds as well, though she doesn't smell of the blood of others.

Sansa throws up. Which leads to Sam throwing up as well. Part of Jon is worried, but most of him is amused. Of course Sansa doesn't react well to flying either.

Mortals are strange and annoying. The only reason they're tolerating these is becomes they make their Jon happy.

Jon is grateful.

They put distance between them and the abomination and the mortals. Curling up, they lament that their Brothers aren't here. The itching is lesser now that the creatures are off them, but it's still there. They want to have it burned off. Through Rhaegal, Jon knows their own fire would be ineffective. They need another Fire to get rid of the awful feeling. Or the ocean. The ocean is great at cleansing them as well. But neither those options are possible. They can only endure this horrible sensation.

Jon wishes he could do something to ease Rhaegal's suffering.

He can get better. That would make them happy as nothing else could.

He'll do his best.

They hear the mortals make noise, and when they feel their Jon's longing, they resign themselves to listening. They look at the mortals as well, for their Jon feels happy when they do.

Mother's chosen is explaining that this is a temporary rest, not a permanent one. To their relief, one of the most important among Jon's Chosen talks next. It's these Chosen who their Jon wishes to hear.

"Can you talk to it again?"

Jon knows the question is posed by Sansa but he's more preoccupied by Rhaegal's sudden rage. They yell a warning at the abomination. They might not destroy the abomination if it tries to touch them on the inside again, but they will throw it out, harm done to it or not. They know their Jon will fight them to keep them from harming the abomination, but this is something they refuse to allow even knowing what the consequences would be. The abomination needs to keep its disgusting touch to itself.

They can throw Bran out of their mind?

Of course. The abomination isn't their Chosen. It has no right to touch them, inside or outside.

"I think that's a no," the abomination says and oh, Jon is hearing Bran talk. He can't tell what tone Bran spoke in, can't determine whether the words were spoken with fear, panic or something else entirely. But he's hearing Bran talk. Even with the words being impossibly loud and rippling through the past and future both, even with Bran's voice containing the very world itself, hearing him talk is a gift more precious than any other.

They're glad their Jon is happy. They also stop listening to the abomination and mortals. It's giving them a headache. And they're tired.

And they can't sleep because of Jon. He's sorry.

Their Jon has nothing to be sorry about. They're the one harming him.

Jon hurt them when saving Bran. He's sorry for that as well.

No he isn't. Their Jon would do it again if they were to try to harm the abomination.

He would. He wouldn't want to do it, but he'd hurt Rhaegal again if it meant saving his family. Why isn't Rhaegal angry about that?

Why should they be angry? They'd harm their Jon if it meant saving Mother. Depending on the circumstances, they'd do it to save their Brothers as well. Which means their Jon must never put Mother or their Brothers in danger, in the same way they must never harm the abomination.

Rhaegal's easy acceptance of what Jon is willing to do for his family makes Jon love them even more. They revel in their Jon's love for them. It helps them feel better.

They rest and do their best to ignore the horrible itching that won't fade. When Mother's chosen approaches and signals a request to light a fire, they move over and set the wood it had gathered ablaze. Then they burn the ground besides it, warming it for their Jon's Chosen. Jon has realized they must be getting cold. It's night, meaning the temperature must be freezing.

They settle themselves so their Jon's Chosen are shielded from the wind, before continuing to rest. The entire time, Rhaegal watches his family for him. They don't make an effort to understand them, and while part of Jon wants them to, most of him wants Rhaegal to rest. Rhaegal is exhausted and still enduring that horrible itching. A headache on top of that would make them feel even worse. Jon wishing to understand what his family is saying isn't worth that.

Yet while he can't understand what his family is saying, he can watch them. Can watch as Ghost ensures he's always between his siblings and Rhaegal, the sight causing a surge of affection. Ghost is still protecting his family like Jon asked him to.

Ghost would fight a Dragon in order to keep them safe.

He's glad his siblings insisted Rhaegal take Ghost along. Jon hadn't thought of Ghost when asking Rhaegal to bring his family, and not only does he regret that with all his heart, he feels guilty for insulting Ghost like that. Ghost is as much his family as his siblings are.

Ghost is as important to him as Sansa, Arya and Bran are. Jon might not be able to understand what his siblings are saying, might not be able to read their body language, but he can see how Sansa and Arya remain close together. Can see how they make sure one of them is always holding Bran. Can see Ghost protect all three of them.

He's seeing his family.

When their harm has lessened enough, they signal the mortals to get on again. They grab the abomination last, put it down their back, before telling the one of their Jon's Chosen who can't remain stable on their back to get in their talons. After they have a secure hold on it, they take off.

It hurts Rhaegal to take off like this. Even ignoring Bran's sheer weight, a running start would have been far more preferable. Rhaegal's wing throbs painfully, and there are stabbing aches in their side as well. Jon knows Rhaegal is putting too much stress on their wing, knows it's undoing the little healing they managed while resting. Yet he can't tell Rhaegal to be more careful. Rhaegal is taking as much care as is possible. Both for themselves and for his family. They're making sure no one falls off.

They'll continue recovering after they've brought their Jon's Chosen to him. And their Jon will recover then as well.

They worry about their Jon. They should be able to feel him more clearly now that they're closer to him, yet he feels more faint than he ever has.

Preventing Rhaegal from killing Bran took a lot out of him. Jon worries about that as well. He was not coherent when waking up before. Him not being woken up again isn't a good sign either. Yet he can't find it within himself to be afraid. Not when Rhaegal is so certain he'll live.

Not when he's going to see his family.

Rhaegal needs to rest several times more before they finally reach Castle Black. Their Brother meets up with them long before they arrive and asks if they need anything. They need a lot of things, their Jon getting better most of all. But their Brother can't help with that, and so they merely ask for aid in flying. Their Brother goes to fly in front of them, manipulating the winds so they're easier to ride. They also share curiosity about the abomination, but they return all their aggravation and tell their Brother they have no wish to pay more attention to the abomination than they have to. That includes talking about it. Their Brother shares acceptance.

Jon is glad Viserion is the one who came instead of Drogon. Drogon would have shared anger, and right now that's something Rhaegal can definitely do without.

They ask if Mother has woken up yet. They're disappointed to hear she hasn't. They wished to talk to her before leaving.

Jon will tell Daenerys whatever they wish them to when she wakes up.

They're happy their Jon will do that.

Rhaegal needs to rest several more times even after Viserion has joined them. To their overwhelming relief, their Brother cleanses them with their Fire. They also offer to carry Mother's chosen and the one of their Jon's Chosen who can't remain stable on their back. They share gratitude with their Brother. The abomination is still horrible to carry, but carrying two less is so much better is so much better than before.

It makes it easier for Rhaegal to take off as well. Without Ghost, they can perform a running start. Which is the reason their Brother offered to carry that one. Without their harm, they would have offered to carry Mother's chosen only.

They arrive at where their Jon and Mother are and land with their Brother's aid. Normally they'd land with aid, harm or no harm, but they want to get rid of the abomination as fast as possible.

Their Brother puts down the one of their Jon's Chosen held in their talons, before landing as well. Their other Brother, seated near Mother, shares anger. They ignore their Brother's demand of why they haven't been taking care of themselves, grabbing the abomination instead. Jon watches Ghost as Rhaegal picks up Bran. Ghost doesn't move to protect his family this time. Instead he runs inside.

Good riddance.

They put the abomination down while their Jon's Chosen finishes running over their neck as it always does and jumps off. To their overwhelming relief, their Brother releases their Fire to cleanse their neck. They let their Brother cleanse their mouth as well, before they cleanse their Brother's talons in turn. When the mortals finish getting off them, their Brother cleanses that part of them as well and their relief becomes even greater. They share both their relief and their gratitude with their Brother, their Brother sharing their own when they cleanse their back as well.

They share determination with both their Brothers and tell them to not destroy the abomination under any circumstances – the world spins and suddenly there are uncountable scents and muted colors, suddenly there are sights and sounds so strange yet so much more familiar than what he experienced before.

And it is cool. The endless fire that is Rhaegal is gone, replaced by softly falling snow. By frost clinging to the leaf's edges, by a thin layer of ice across a barely frozen pond.

He hears that overgrown lizard roar and he struggles with what to do. He needs to stay here, his touch is what's protecting Jon. The sour smell of sickness is receding, but it'll return if he stops touching him. Yet he has to protect the rest of their pack as well, and he can't do that while touching Jon.

The solution is simple. Not easy, but simple.

He and Jon need to stay together even when they aren't touching.

Jon wakes up and gasps for air, feeling like he can breathe again for the first time in forever. Rhaegal is still an endless fire pressing against his mind, and Jon can feel their panic and worry. But he no longer hears their thoughts or share their senses. It's like there's something between them. Something cool and quiet and fiercely protective.

It's Ghost. Even now that Ghost is no longer touching his cheek with his nose, even with him slipping out of the room, Jon can still feel him. Not like Rhaegal, he isn't picking up on Ghost's emotions. Just his presence. Just the essence of who he is.

That essence is preventing Rhaegal from overwhelming him.

The room darkens when Rhaegal peers through it. Their worry is replaced by rising hope.

"I'm fine," Jon croaks out, making joy join Rhaegal's hope. Jon realizes Ash is in the room with him when Ash hands him water and orders him to take slow slips. Ash also takes his temperature and lets out a great sigh of relief.

"Your fever's broken."

Because Ghost is protecting him from Rhaegal.

Rhaegal lets out a hopeful rumble, and even without experiencing the world through their senses, Jon understands them as though they spoke in the Common Tongue.

Are they no longer harming their Jon?

"You aren't," he says, knowing his words are true. Rhaegal is no longer harming him.

Relief overwhelms Rhaegal and they let out a great breath. Then they lie down, close their eyes and fall asleep in an instant. Jon feels the endless fire they are surge forward, feels how Rhaegal's mind attempts to join his.

Rhaegal fails reach him. They can't burn through the layer of ice that is Ghost.

Is Ghost alright? Is this harming him? Jon can't tell like he can with Rhaegal.

He needs to know.

"Jon."

Arya's voice makes him snap his head towards the door. Which turns out to be the wrong thing to do, for now his head is spinning and stars are dancing across his vision. It's a good thing he's already lying down, for he would have fallen over otherwise.

Then Arya is hugging him and his weakness becomes unimportant. It becomes even less important when Ghost enters, looking tired and worried but not in pain. Sansa enters right after him, looking disheveled in a way she normally doesn't allow herself to be. Her worry makes way for relief when she sees him. Then Bran is brought inside by Sam and everything else ceases to matter. Jon tries to get up so he can hug Bran but his body refuses to obey. The best he can do is push himself upright.

Sam brings Bran over and Arya lets go of him so Bran can be seated next to him.

And then Jon is hugging his brother, is feeling his warmth and breathing in his scent and he can't believe Bran is here. He pulls away just enough that he can look at his brother. Bran might have seemed vast and endless through Rhaegal's eyes, but to Jon, he looks just like he remembers. Still the same dark brows and even darker eyes, still the same pouting lips and the same large ears sticking out of his hair. The only difference is how big he's gotten.

"You've gotten so big." Even more so than Arya.

"That's what happens when you grow up," Bran says deadpan, his voice unfamiliar in a way his appearance isn't. It isn't layered and deafening as it is to Rhaegal. To his ears, Bran sounds normal. Just unfamiliar.

He sounds like a man instead of a boy.

Jon couldn't stop smiling even if he wanted to. He pulls Bran in another tight hug. Bran hugs him back loosely, but having Bran hug him at all is a gift more precious than he ever dared hope for.

Arya and Sansa move closer and embrace the both of them as tightly as Jon is embracing Bran. Ghost comes up to the other side of the bed and lays his head on Jon's shoulder, and it makes Jon's sense of him grow stronger. Makes him feel Ghost truly is unharmed by Rhaegal's fire.

It makes his joy even stronger. His family is here. His family is here, and Jon is no longer being harmed by Rhaegal.

Rhaegal was right. His family made him better.

His family makes him want to live as no one else can cause.


AN: Sorry for the long wait, it's a combination of the chapters growing longer and me having less free time because of personal reasons. But fear not, the updates will keep coming! A little slower than before, but they'll keep coming.

As for the chapter itself, I'm so happy to finally reach this part of the fic! Sansa and Bran are finally here! And SO IS GHOST! Some of you already guessed that Ghost was the missing piece to stabilize Jon, and you were absolutely right. Jon is a Targaryen AND a Stark, and I'm absolutely going to emphasize this fact. Also, the lack of Ghost in the show is criminal. No single caress here, Ghost is going to get all the affection he deserves.