20 JON IX

Sometimes he felt he carried The Wall on his shoulders

There was nothing anew to bother him but somehow his life became a series of unfortunate events.

Just after the tantrum Lya threw, he was informed that he will soon to accompany Lord Petyr Baelish to the Gift to ask or order- whatever you choose to call it -the free folk to pay for their stay there as if they didn't earn it with their blood already. This greed and condescension disgusted him and the prospect of accompanying little finger for even one hour was irritating him.

Lya doesn't make his life any easier either. She was like a spoilt child most of the time and the worst thing that they were really bullying this child. He knew he should defend her but he was trying to gain Robb's trust again and God it's almost impossible with the continuous provocation they were subjected to all the time.

Lya spent the whole last week slaving on some velvet embroidery , she refused to tell him what she was doing and finally today she dragged him after lunch, lead him to their room, asking him to close his eyes and "ta da ….."

He opened them to see their old bed transformed into a four poster elegant one, the posters were ornamented with iron direwolf and stag heads with red velvet drapery covering the back. He tried to make out the embroidered sigil but failed miserably

"Can't you see the wolves?"

"Wolves? They looked more like dragons!"

She stuck her tongue out to him and he laughed

"What is this really? How could you make it, It's like a royal solar"

"Really? You think so?" she seemed so happy with the praise and elaborated "I just thought it would be such a shame to lose my red dresses and cloak because of Lady Stark so I decided to change them into drapery and adjust the sigil to a direwolf"

"And the posters? This is still our bed? Right?"

"Yeeeees, Gendry offered to make them and Wex polished the wood to look new then Gendry surprised me with the iron heads on each poster. He is so talented, what do you think?

"Amazing" I didn't have the heart to dampen her enthusiasm, she was rarely like this but I felt bad, she had to lose her dresses because of the tyranny of Lady Stark, because of the cowardice of her husband. I should have defended her, I should have bought her other dresses. I should have done many things…

But I have no funds, the king didn't assign me any allowance. I held no post, I have no earning and I didn't want to fight for anything anymore. I was striving to win Robb back and I felt helpless

"What's wrong? You don't like it?"

"No noooo but they really looked nothing like direwolf, lion or even a stag. They must be dragons" I joked to hide my black thoughts but she got irritated and just pouted "you just missed your queen!"

Oh I did, you have no idea.

I looked away and lost to my thoughts till I hear Lya asking "what was she like?"

Who? Dany? Does she really want to hear that? I answered with a shrug feigning nonchalance

"Like Targaryens, you know violet eyes and silver hair, she was much shorter than you though"

"No, I meant how she was as a woman?"

"Aha,… she was fierce and proud" I think that will sum her up

Lya thought for a while then said in a low voice "but you don't like it when I am fierce and proud"

He felt guilty for unknown reason. He doesn't love his wife and she knew it and that's was so cruel and unfair. Another reason to hate yourself Snow!

I tried to joke "I don't remember you leading an army before"

She felt my attempt at evading the talk and just smiled sadly "I will leave the army to you"

I needed some air.

I took Ghost and rode my horse as far as I can from Winterfell. I don't know how far in the north I ventured but nothing felt far enough. I was so frustrated, I almost felt the agony in my body not just my soul and I screamed to the wilderness with all my might.

You know nothing Jon Snow*

Then I heard it, a roar that almost echoed my pain. A sound once heard, can't be ever forgotten. Could it be? He felt his heart racing inside his chest

Was it fear? Hope? He couldn't tell but he ran with his horse towards the sound with irresistible urge and without thinking of the consequences

It took him awhile till he could reach the source of the roar. With every inch he near, his heart pound in his chest till it almost reach his throat. He had to squint in the white surroundings

It was an open area surrounded by few mountains that had wide slopes. Some were covered with grass and others were stony and covered with snow and a frozen lake was nearby and the roar thundered again. It was like a small green hill covered in snow that started to rise and shrugged off the snow

Gods, it was really him

Rhaegal!

The red fire eyes were now boring into him. Was he blaming him? Was he angry ? Will it be the end of his life?

The glorious creature rose and stomped towards him in determination, producing this soft roar. This must be it, the fire that will end his misery. Jon closed his eyes bracing himself for the fire and waited.

The wait prolonged and no fire came but he felt this warm hot air enclosing him. He opened his eyes to see the dear dragon nuzzle him and what can he do but pat him

"How I missed you Rhaegal"

Their time together was the best of his life, this ultimate freedom, power and trust

He remembered Dany's words

Zaldrīzes buzdari iksos daor **

Rhaegal wasn't his slave but they were bonded together by an eternal bond. When the mother of dragon died, Rhaegal came searching for him. He was honored and touched.

The last time he saw him, Rhaegal was reluctant to follow Dany to kings landing and only did when Jon ushered him to go and he can't forget the death glare Daenerys shot him then. It was her last look at him. That was sad to remember

As if it was a curse, to love your enemy first a wildling then a conqueror and now a Lannister. Wait, Lya isn't a Lannister but a Baratheon, he doesn't have to follow Robb's insolence

What was that? He doesn't love Lya in the first place

Rhaegal leaned to his touch and closed his eyes. Oh, how much have you suffered my dear boy? But no more, dear friend. You are safe with me. No more wars. No more losses. We both had no one left but each other.

He wanted to ride him so badly, he still remember the first time. He was hesitant and wary, Dany had just told him how Rhaegal had burnt Quentyn Martell when he tried to tame Viserion. The boy thought his Targaryen blood will save him. She then told him he is free to try to ride Rhaegal if he wish

"I don't know how to ride a dragon!"

"Nobody does; until they ride a dragon."

"What if he doesn't want me to?"

"Then I've enjoyed your company, Jon Snow."

She must have known that he wouldn't burn him alive. She wouldn't have risked his life so or would she? He can't be sure anymore

It will still amaze him to the end of his life how Rhaegal accepted him despite his bastard blood. Maybe dragons were kinder than people

Maybe he really was half Dayne as the old rumor says. Maybe his mother wasn't a random whore but Lady Ashara Dayne as he once hoped. The Daynes were loyal servants to the Targaryen. Could it be that Rhaegal know the secret he never knew? If you only can speak to me Rhaegal….

You know nothing Jon Snow!

He moved to mount the gorgeous green beast but was cut by Ghost jealous protest. He came to cut his way to the massive beast. It was a rare occurrence for Ghost to move wildly but Ghost was always angry at his relationship with the dragon. On the other side, Rhaegal was always calm around Ghost. He never tried to attack him which was one of Jon's worst nightmares.

His bond with Rhaegal was as strong as much as it was different from his bond with Ghost

Ghost was my silence but Rhaegal was my wrath…

I patted ghost head, knelt and rubbed his ears to reassure him then proceed to mount. I leaned to the green scales and whispered "rise" and that was it, with just one word I was conquering the sky again

*quote by Ygritte

**A dragon is not a slave