The early following morning the guests all went their respective ways, but not before they had a glimpse of their king and his new dragon. If they weren't sure about Jon's parentage before, they were now. Ravens were sent to The Mountain clans and The Citadel, their purposes different but with hints of similarity in them. The men of The Night's Watch went away as well, given food for the establishment and excess weapons from the armoury.
The wall behind Cregan Stark's statue was broken down a few hours after the guests had left, careful enough to not damage the structural integrity of the crypts. A lost path to a hot spring pool had opened up for them and the people of Winterfell had one more pool to relax in. The pool and the cavern it was in were huge, big enough for a dragon easily. In the water, Jon found five more eggs, but he felt nothing from them like he had from the one that hatched for him. He decided to keep them close to his person rather than in the pools. He didn't want them stolen and sold off.
The one that did hatch had taken to Jon right away and to Ghost just as fast. The dragon, just long enough to comfortably wrap around Jon's neck, was bluish-white with wings the same shade as its body, crimson eyes and frills. When Jon had walked out with the creature from the crypts, there was an obvious panic from anyone that saw Jon with the white creature. When Jon's family had seen him with the dragon, they were spooked. But when Rickon had come forward and the dragon had welcomed his touch and nuzzled his hand, the rest were less frightened.
"Dragons can't have raw food," Jon told Rickon and Arya, who was staring with amazement at the little creatures, "you have to burn the food and offer it to them" he explained, holding a piece of charred meat for it to eat.
"Why is that?" Rickon asked, mesmerized at the way the dragon nibbled at its food.
"That is how the gods made them" Jon answered.
"But why?" asked Rickon.
"I don't know."
"But why not?"
"I'll- ask the gods" Jon sweatdropped.
"Thank you" Rickon muttered. "Do you think Bran will wake soon?"
"He's a Stark. Starks are fighters, every last one of them. We'll have Bran with us soon" Jon assured the boy. It was worrying, to see Bran still in a coma. Without Bran being actively healed thanks to Brynden, the recovery was slow. Brynden had warned him that Bran might not even wake again, forever kept alive and in bed like that. He had suggested that death might even be a mercy for the boy. But Jon had refrained from making any calls on that, it was a decision that Bran's parents had to make.
"Are you going to war?" Arya asked, looking away from the dragon and to Jon. "You're the King, stay back and let the others fight for you."
"That wouldn't make me much of a King now would it" Jon smiled at her kindly. "This is my battle, and I need to fight in it as much as anyone who swears their allegiance to me" he explained.
"I want to fight" Arya muttered.
"I need you to stay here" Jon ruffled her hair. Arya did not look too happy about that. The door to Jon's room opened and in walked Ned Stark, Robb not too far behind him. He looked at the dragon first, a little apprehensive, and then looked to Jon and smiled.
"Arya, Rickon, I would like to have words with Jon, alone. Give us the room please" the man stated and the two shuffled out. Robb closed the door behind them while Ned took the other empty chair at the desk. "It's already grown since it hatched last night" Ned commented, watching the dragon curl up and go to sleep on the desk.
"The more you feed them, the quicker they grow" Jon smiled, tracing a finger over the dragon's spine. "Beautiful isn't she? It's like looking at ice and snow" he murmured.
"Aye," Ned answered, but not feeling confident enough to touch the dragon just yet.
"You came here to talk about me about letting Robb lead the delegation party" Jon stated.
"Skaagos is a dangerous place, said to be home to man-eaters and savages. Maybe sending someone a little more experienced and with more men would be a good idea" Ned argued. Jon looked at his Uncle and then at Robb, who did not look too happy about the talk. Jon remembered Skaagos from his memories, the place where Rickon and Osha had gone off to hide in before false news of Winterfell being back in Stark control had lured them out. They were welcoming and had given Rickon protection.
"To those outside of The North, we Northerners are savages" Jon argued not unkindly. "We know little about the Skaagosi, not more than what we were told in stories. And I'd say Robb is a good choice for this. He's led Winterfell in your absence, and I'd say he did a good job of it" Robb smiled at the praise. "Trust in him and he'll bring us results. Besides, he's not going alone. Wyman Manderly's two sons and Donnel Locke are accompanying him, all good men and warriors too. And Roose Bolton will be there to advise him on matters. And these men will come with their men as well. He's in good hands" Jon put a hand on his uncle's shoulder. He then turned to Robb.
"You'll be representing me and House Stark. Be on your best behaviour" Jon grinned.
"I will, your Grace" Robb grinned back. There was the familiar brotherhood between the two, the ease at which they talked for so many years. Sure enough, they couldn't talk as freely as they could before, but they still held the same energy towards each other.
"You will also take Greywind with you" Jon instructed. "And if he shows signs of there being a threat, listen to him. The dire wolves can feel danger more keenly than we. Never ignore their warning" Jon said with a bit more seriousness. Robb gave a nod to that, looking just as serious. He then turned back to Ned, who looked defeated as he looked at his nephew.
"I'll need you here for when The Mountain Clans come. I might be King, but they pay respect to The Stark of Winterfell. I'll need you to act as my buffer as I sit with them" he spoke.
"Aye," Ned gave a small nod of his head.
"Tell me about Gendry" Jon changed the subject, "how is he settling down?" he asked.
"He's taken to Mikken and his style of forging quickly enough" Ned spoke, a small smile now on his lips. Jon has kept the royal bastards close to him and Winterfell, with Gendry working in the forges, Mhaegan working in the establishment that Ros used to and by extension having young Barra in Wintertown. The younger boys began work in the stables and kennels while the girls began work in the Winterfell castle itself as either serving girls or servants. The older boys joined the training to become met at arms, their Baratheon blood calling for action as Ned had said.
"Want to touch her? She's quite the gentle thing" Jon offered, the young dragon lifting its head slightly before lowering it again and resuming its slumber. Ned hesitated at first, hand opening and closing before finally a finger gently trailed down the dragon's spine. In response, it let out a soft purr.
"Her name's Lya" Jon informed the man, who looked up at him with slightly wide eyes. Jon just smiled at him and then watched his dragon sleep. Ned and Robb left not long after, and after them came Brynden with a piece of parchment in hand.
"The spider?" Jon asked, straightening when Brynden nodded. "What does he have to say?"
"Daenerys will touch down at White Harbour in a day or two. And then will make her way here."
"And so it begins" Jon sighed, looking out the window and taking in the sight of a peaceful Winterfell. The peace won't last long. Daenerys coming is the sign of the start of the war after all.