Dany sat on the ground as near the campfire as she could be while avoiding the smoke that threatened to sting her eyes. She had woken up colder than she had been when she went to bed. Sleep was still heavy in her eyes and her head felt stuffed with wool. The pale yellow glow of the rising sun was dulled by a dense mist around the steep slope of the Fist of the First Men. Birds were warbling in the forest below, sounds of life that had not been there in the night.

Her breasts had been uncomfortably full, and she'd had to go somewhere private to express them. She sorely missed little Aemon, and longed to hold his wiggly little body in her arms. It was unbearable to think that he could be lonely, and she hoped he'd been able to sleep soundly without her.

They broke their fast with oats and berries and mugs of hot spiced wine to help with the chill that had settled in her bones. The oats she managed to finish but she pushed her berries aside, offering them to Arya who accepted them happily. Her stomach was unsettled.

Leaning closer to Jon, who had wolfed down his own breakfast dutifully, she examined the map he held stretched out before him.

"Mance is said to have gathered the Wildlings in the Frostfangs," Jon said. "We might as well make our way there."

Dany looked to Edd whose facial expression never seemed to change. "Have you met any Wildlings, Edd? Would they speak with us?"

"Most would sooner kill than talk to us," he replied. "But no doubt information and goods have been traded between brothers and Wildlings for as long as the Wall has stood."

"Perhaps this King Beyond the Wall will be open to a meeting," Dany proposed. "We are not brothers of the Watch, afterall."

"The dragons may also make them more friendly," Edd added. "Provided we're careful. It's rumored they have giants among them." Dany traded a wide eyed stare with Arya. How many wonders would they see before their adventures were done?

After their breakfasts were eaten and their maps were studied, they packed up their sparse camp, and prepared for another flight. Dany was eager to be atop Dreamfyre again, his scales providing a rare warmth in this world of ice and snow.

Jon stood near her, packing away their bedrolls and cooking supplies into saddle bags. "Are you feeling alright?" he asked.

"Yes, only tired."

"Did you have any other dreams?"

"No," Dany said, only able to recall having awoken in the middle of the night. "I barely remember it now."

"You said something about a boy's face in a tree?"

"I don't know," she replied, puzzled. "Perhaps it was only a dream, and not like the others I've had."

"Maybe it's that charm helping you," he suggested, as he fastened the saddle bag.

Dany clutched the dragon glass pendant that hung around her neck. "Maybe it is."


The untamed snow covered wilderness was far below them, but Dreamfyre's boundless inner fire made her feel like she was back inside their cozy chambers in Winterfell. Narrow crumbling bridges jutting out precariously over deadly deep gorges amidst dark and twisting trees made an unsettling yet thrilling sight. Not long after they'd departed the Fist of the First Men, she'd watched a shadowcat stalk a mountain goat along a cliffside, but the land was otherwise desolate.

Edd was seated behind her, diligent about maintaining his distance. Dreamfyre continued to regard the brother with quiet hostility, but suffered the indignity of an extra rider faithfully. Still, it was safer for Edd to give her prickly black dragon a wide berth whenever they were on the ground.

A primitive village appeared beneath them. Nothing moved, and no smoke rose from the holes in the sod roofs. Rhaegal began to descend and Dany willed Dreamfyre to follow after.

They touched down at the center of the village beside a chestnut tree, overgrown with wild white roses. The village consisted of six one room houses surrounding a sheepfold and a well. But there were no sheep inside the rockwall and no people inside the village. An eerie chill crept up her spine.

Dreamfyre's horned head turned, molten eyes staring murderously at Edd as he prudently climbed down, avoiding the dragon's heated gaze. Jon met her at Dreamfyre's wing with Longclaw sheathed at his back, and affectionately offered his hand as she stepped down.

"You should carry Dark Sister," he cautioned, and for her part, she did not roll her eyes as she retrieved the blade and fastened it around her waist.

Arya ran up to them wearing Needle. "So this is a Wildling village!"

"It's so beautiful and yet so lonely," Dany remarked. "Like all the people were plucked out."

"Aye," Jon said, looking about. "Something feels off."

A pail was toppled on its side and a washing rack lay near the well and a gardening hoe leaned up against a house. Edd knelt down and plucked up a small object half buried in the snow. "Looks like whoever lived here left in a hurry," Edd said. He examined it a moment before passing it to Jon. It was a small wooden shadowcat not unlike Aemon's own toy direwolf.

A rustling sound came from the surrounding wood, thick with ironwood trees.

"Is that a shadowcat?" Arya asked excitedly.

"No," Edd replied succinctly.

Arya looked disappointed. "How do you know?"

"If it was a shadowcat, you wouldn't have heard it," the steward answered grimly.

"What sorts of animals are in these woods?" Arya pressed.

"Wolves, bears, shadowcats, giant spiders…"

Arya snorted. "You're lying."

"I wish I were," Edd said. A queasiness returned in Dany's belly to think Old Nan's tales of giant ice spiders could be true.

"Just stay close to the dragons, little sister," Jon ordered her before turning to Dany. "Edd and I will check the houses." He squeezed her hand before he approached the closest tumbledown house.

Arya drew closer. "Have you ever killed anyone with a sword?"

Dany bristled. She was growing tired of discussions of swords and being reminded of her own ineffectiveness with one. "No, only with dragonfire. Have you?"

Arya nodded somberly. "A boy in King's Landing. He was going to bring me to the goldcloaks. A sword becomes easier to use after you've killed with it, I think."

All of a sudden, Dany's stomach turned like a stormy sea, and she darted into the treeline, hunching over before an ironwood as she began to lose her breakfast. Closing her eyes, she leaned against the cold bark, waiting for calm to return to her body. Arya's steps crunched through the snow toward her and for once, Dany wished she was alone.

"Are you alright?"

Dany took a breath. "Yes."

"You're not getting sick again? Like you did at Moat Cailin?"

"No, it's nothing like that," she answered quickly, nausea bubbling up again. "Just please, don't say anything. I don't want anyone to worry."

"I won't," Arya said reluctantly. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes," Dany answered more harshly than she meant to. "Could you please give me a few moments?"

The moment she was alone she began to retch until she was sure every last bit of the oats she had eaten were deposited on the forest floor. She sunk to the ground, grateful the feeling had passed until anxiety began to twist in her gut. This was suddenly all too familiar. Please don't be what I think this is… not yet. Gods, what would Jon think? He surely wouldn't want her flying into battle in such a condition, but what choice would they have? Her head was spinning.

Forcing herself to her feet, she would have to return before anything was made of her absence. She began dusting snow and dirt off of her gown when she became aware of a presence behind her. Her spine stiffened while her trembling fingers closed around Dark Sister's hilt as she slowly turned around.

Air left her lungs but she was too terrified to scream as she tried to make sense of the horror before her. It couldn't be real, the grotesque and gargantuan spider-like creature hanging down by a string of silk that looked thick as a rope, this must be a dream. It had a hulking black body the size of a wagon, covered in thick hair, and eight long twisting legs. Furry pincers like little arms twitched at its mouth and eight glossy red eyes set upon it's small round head kept her pinned.

Carefully, she took small steps backward, but was soon pressed against the trunk of a tree as the inconceivable spider's eight horrific legs touched down on the ground in a flurry of motion. It made a sudden movement and without thinking, Dany drew her sword in two hands and slashed with all her strength. She was met with little resistance as the Valyrian steel cut through one great spindly leg.

The monster shrieked, jumping back before lurching forward again. Dany yelped herself before slicing through another leg, and then it was the injured creature that began sulking away. Heart pounding beneath her breast, her instincts propelled her forward as she chased after the wounded beast, raising Dark Sister high in the air before driving the point through the top of its head.

The great spider shuddered, tremors running through its six remaining legs, a dark wet ooze gushing down around her blade. Her blood continued to rush until the beast twitched for the last time, and then she huffed as she used the last of her strength to free her sword, landing with a thud on her backside as it came loose.

She sat panting, staring at the greenish black gunk tarnishing the steel of her sword.

"Dany!" Jon dashed in front of her, Edd and Arya close behind them. "Seven hells!" he exclaimed. "They are real." The dead spider's hulking form rocked as Jon kicked it, making sure it was truly dead.

"Wow!" Arya murmured in bewilderment. "Are all of Old Nan's tales true?"

"What did I tell you?" Edd added.

"Well done, Dany!" Jon told her proudly, tugging her to her feet. He was too impressed to be angry with her for straying away. "Now," he instructed. "Wipe your blade off on it. Makes it easier to clean later."

Dany beamed with pride as she wiped both sides of her blade off on its great fuzzy body. She'd slain a giant spider with her own sword. Wait until she told Dacey and Alysane.

"We'd best move on," Edd interrupted.

As soon as they began walking back toward the dragons there was a great thud, and the sleek dark fur of a shadowcat pounced atop the spider's corpse, devouring its flesh.

"You can see that cat's ribs," Edd said. "They're starving. There's even less game than when we were ranging. We best keep our fire well lit tonight."

"I hope Dreamfyre and Rhaegal will be able to find their fill of spiders and shadowcats."

Jon took her hand. "Let's move on. We'll make camp somewhere else."


They carried on toward a range of blue-grey mountains, a world of cruel sheer cliffs and mesmerising great lakes reflecting the snow capped mountains. Landing in the foothills of the mountain range, they made camp early at the base of a stony cliff with plenty of daylight remaining.

Biscuits, hard cheese and salt beef made up their dinner, but Dany's stomach only permitted the biscuit and she knew better than to force the issue. After they'd eaten, they gathered around the fire quietly, and Edd produced a needle and thread and began working at a tear in his cloak.

Arya cocked her head. "What are you doing?"

"Mending my cloak," Edd told her without looking up. "Ripped it on the branch of an ironwood this morning."

"I hate needlework," Arya lamented.

"You wouldn't like being a steward then," Edd told her simply. "You'd be a raggedy ranger too. All frozen and purple from holes in your clothes."

Jon barked a laugh. "Sansa would love to hear that." Arya shot him a glare.

Ignoring his slighted sister, Jon got up and retrieved cloth and oil before taking his seat beside Dany again. He gave her an appreciative look before handing her own piece of cloth. "Make sure your blade is shining prettily for the next monster you kill."

Dany couldn't keep from grinning as she accepted the fabric, and Jon beamed back at her. It was still hard to believe she'd killed the eight legged beast on her own. She was feeling more sure of herself and she cheerfully unsheathed Dark Sister.

"You've seen the army of the dead?" Arya said to Edd.

"Aye. I've seen them. What I could anyway with the world gone white with snow."

"What were they like?"

"Bones and rags mostly. Rusted swords or bony fingers. It didn't matter what they used for weapons because they didn't tire, and even when you hacked away an arm or a leg, they kept coming all the same."

Arya drew her legs in and rested her head up on her knees, and did not ask anymore questions.

Dany mimicked Jon's movements, and polished her blade until the smoky steel was glimmering in the firelight. A queasiness was coming over her again as she returned Dark Sister back to her black leather sheath. Jon was still meticulously polishing his already pristine blade when Dany squeezed his arm. "I'm going to lie down."

His brow furrowed with concern. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she answered, growing tired of people fretting over her. "I only need rest." She climbed into their bedroll already prepared and laid close to the fire. Perhaps she was only adjusting to life on the road again. Perhaps it would subside.


Dany opened her eyes and was once again surrounded by the ghostly white trunks of the weirwood grove. The dream she could not remember when she was awake came back to her. And when the familiar voice called her name, her eyes flitted instantly to the slender tree with the face of a boy. She recalled the smell of death from her first encounter and did not move closer.

The boy's red eyes regarded her patiently. "You're going to find the Wildling army. Not an army, really. More like people gathering, desperate to survive. I thought you would come to the cave beneath the great weirwood."

"I meant to," she started, feeling bemused. "But when I awoke, I had forgotten. Who are you?"

"That isn't an easy question to answer," the strange boy said placidly. "Come to the cave and everything will become clearer."

She ran her hands down her arms, beginning to grow colder. "I fear I'll forget in the morning."

"I'll send someone to tell you when you're awake."

That made her afraid and she opened her mouth to protest but a white branch reached down and touched her, and then everything was dark.


Jon bolted upright in the pitch dark as someone was shaking his shoulder. The fire was still alive with orange flames and when his eyes adjusted he found Edd kneeling next to him, scrutinizing the distance ahead of him.

"Wildlings," Edd whispered.

"How many?" Jon asked, scanning their camp. The dragons were gone, and with so little game in the woods, it took them longer to hunt.

"At least two," Edd said. "Best wake the girls."

Edd stood with his sword at the ready, while Jon shook Dany awake next to him. "Wildlings," he said to her as her eyes fluttered open. "Wake Arya. Arm yourselves, and stay back."

Dany scrambled to her feet and darted toward Arya while Jon picked up Longclaw and moved to stand near Edd. Two disheveled men stepped into their camp with mismatched armor and crude axes.

"Looks like we found a crow, and a boy," said the first Wildling.

"And two little girls behind them. Pretty."

"You're a long way from the Wall. Are you lost?"

Jon gripped Longclaw in both hands waiting for the man nearest him to make his move.


Dany and Arya stood close together, both had their swords drawn, though Dany's were shaking like leaves. She wasn't sure which was scarier anymore, men or giant spiders. She cringed at the first clang of steel, her eyes fixed on Jon intently, holding her breath until after two strikes his opponent's agonizing cries were echoing in the night. Edd and the other Wildling man were still at it when a woman's voice startled them from behind.

"Southern girls. I've never seen southern girls."

They turned around to find a wildling girl with a tangled mess of flaming red hair standing behind them, her bow pulled taut with an arrow at the ready.

"Always thought you'd wear pretty silk gowns," the Wildling girl taunted them. "Fancy swords you got there, but I'll be putting an arrow through each of you before you can reach me. Best you drop them."

Dany shared a glance with Arya before they both lowered their weapons to the ground. The redhead flashed a satisfied smile until a dark shadow passed over them. Dreamfyre landed with a great thump before Dany, unleashing a protective roar that shook the branches and caused the wildling girl to scream and lose her footing.

"What is that?" she whimpered.

It was Dany's turn to smile. "A dragon," she said, petting his snout. "My dragon." Jon and Edd came running toward them, Jon stepping in front of Dany while Arya crept forward and picked up the girl's discarded bow.

Rhaegal landed with a screech, and a moment after taking in the scene, scampered to where the slain wildling men lay and began feasting. Dreamfyre screeched in a jealous fury before joining his brother for the meal.

The wildling girl's face glowed as white as a sheet even in the dark, and Dany took pity on her. "They won't hurt you so long as you do not try to harm us. We have not come to quarrel, we wish to speak with your king, Mance Rayder."

The girl said nothing, still entranced by the gruesome scene before her.

"Winter is coming," Jon added. "The dead will soon march on the Wall and kill everything in their path. We need each other."

The redhead gave him a stony stare. "If you want to talk to Mance, you won't be needing my permission."

"We aren't looking for permission," Dany told her calmly. "Only an introduction."