Days had gone since Tyrion Lannister had come back to Winterfell from The Wall and left for Kings Landing. There was no fall this time, so Cregan did not have to worry about his mother arresting him, or his father getting injured. It gave him the time he needed to get matters at Winterfell at hand, plan what needed to be improved on and what could be added or removed.
He had ordered for the space by the First Keep to be utilized for an additional Glass Garden, which is coincidentally closer to a vein of the hot springs that turned the place into a place of moist warmth. Word had come from across the narrow sea that they would be able to send the products soon.
The First Keep itself was the oldest part of Winterfell, a squat and round drum tower that was taller than it appeared. It was decorated with weather-worn gargoyles. The First Keep's blind side is near the guards' hall. In the fortress's shadow is an ancient Lichyard containing the graves of servants for the Kings of Winter. Cregan wanted it restored, while the Maester advised him that such a restoration would take time and money, the latter of which they did not have enough of. So the project was shelved for now.
Another project he wanted to take on but at the moment could not be the restoration of the broken tower. It was located near the Lichyard and the First Keep. Its stones had loosened, as their mortar turned to ash with time. The top third collapsed inward and the lower level was full of fallen stone and ruined beams. The structure was the tallest watchtower of Winterfell and to him, it was a shame that such a place was not being utilized at all.
Outside of Winterfell, talks surrounding Moat Cailin were also going smoothly. With House Reed taking note of Moat Cailin and its state of it, it freed Cregan's mind to worry about Sea Dragon Point. He wanted a port there so trade from both sides could come into The North. He did not want to hire any foreign help for that, choosing instead to utilize the manpower of the North. Deepwood Motte was the closest place to Sea Dragon Point and through correspondence and even a visit from Galbert Glover, it had been decided that the wood surrounding Sea Dragon Point and the Wolfswood would be used to build the structure for the port at Sea Dragon Point with Stark, Glover and whichever men or women volunteered to help, and an additional marriage agreement between Erena Glover, niece of Galbart Glover to whoever would be elected as Lord of Sea Dragon Point. With Galbert without a wife, Deepwood Motte would pass to either his brother or his nephew. The work on it had already begun by the time Galbert had returned home, having sent a raven beforehand.
Things went on as such and before Cregan had known it, the day had finally come when he began his work in eliminating his enemies one after the other.
Five figures moved through the Wolfswood that surrounded a side of Winterfell. Three of them wore clothes of ruined leather and furs while the other two were in all black.
"We're going as far south as south goes. There ain't no white walkers down in Dorne" one of them said, one of the two that wore all black.
"And how do you plan to travel down to Dorne? Killing and maiming?" a sixth voice made them all freeze. From behind the trees came out Cregan who stood leaning against the tree and from a tree behind them came out Grey the Direwolf, who was now the size of a pony. The direwolves had grown, faster than they should have. It made Cregan suspect whether this spell had done more than just swap his life for his twin's.
The five drew their weapons but Grey growled at them in a warning. "I'd be careful if I were you, Grey is a little protective of me."
"You're one man and a wolf against five," one of the men in black said.
"As a man of the Night's Watch, you should be familiar with who I am," Cregan said darkly. The man went to charge but a hand on his arm stopped him. The only woman in the group was the one to grab him, and when he looked at her she motioned to their surroundings. Ravens sat on every branch of the trees that surrounded them, staring at them sharply. Some even looked ready to pounce.
"I will make an offer to you" Cregan drew their attention to him, "you can die here and now. Or you can swear your allegiance to me, bound in blood in the name of the old gods, to serve me and do whatever I require you to do. And in exchange you will be under my protection". His eyes moved to the two men in black, "the offer does not extend to you two. You have broken the vows you've taken and you will lose your lives for it."
The two men in question growled in anger, "you speak big for a green boy" one of them snarled. Whatever the snarling man had planned failed the moment his companion stepped in front of him and sliced his gut open. The man fell on his knees, his insides pouring out of him. The killed then turned to Cregan, put his sword on his own throat and sliced it open. He too fell dead not long after.
"That was a sin" one of the three-spoke, a man. "You warged into another man. It's a sin for your kind."
"Is it? Who made that law? What god?" Cregan stepped forward, the three stepping back in fright. "The offer stands for you three. Swear an oath by blood to me in the name of the old gods to be loyal to me and do as I ask and you will be under my protection."
The three looked at one another before they nodded hesitantly. With a knife that one of them carried they sliced their palms open and on one knee they swore their oath of allegiance in the name of the old gods, blood freely falling on the ground. Cregan bid them stand when they were done.
"Tonight you will be guests under my roof. You will eat my food and sleep in comfort. But tomorrow morning you will leave before daybreak and kill the man I want you to kill."
"And who is this ma? How would we know about him?" the oldest one of the three asked.
"While you sleep, you will dream of him. And tomorrow one of my ravens will take you to him. Once the deed is done you will return. Understood?"
The three nodded their heads and Cregan led them back to Winterfell, Grey right behind them. The bodies of the two men in black remained in the woods, feasting for the ravens that were in the trees watching them.
Winterfell had come to a standstill when Cregan had returned with the three. All of them knew these three were wildlings. Ser Rodrick came forward with his sword drawn, but Cregan stopped him. "These three are my men," he told him before ordering bread and salt to be brought. They came almost immediately and Cregan fed it to the three. Guest Right, a sacred law of hospitality. Even the Wildlings knew of it and what breaking it meant. None of them wanted to invoke the wrath of the gods of old and new.
She was back there, the place she associated most with home. That house with the red door. Walking through the red door brought so many memories. In every room she walked through she was reminded of a time she was truly happy, young and carefree. Finally, she reached her room, the one with the window that gave her a good view of the lemon tree. She gently pushed the door open, not a sound coming from the hinges, and she froze.
"Hello Daenerys," a man said with a friendly smile. He had a long, stern face, and grey eyes were tall and to Daenerys very handsome. His hair was brown, a clean-shaven face, and he wore a simple grey tunic and a pair of black pants.
"Who are you?" she asked, hesitant about whether she should enter the room or not.
"A friend" the man smiled. "Condolences, for your brother, Princess."
"I'm a Khaleesi."
"Are you now?" the man smiled, motioning for her to come in. But Daenerys did not move, instead choosing to stand at the door frame and watch. "I've been watching over you, Daenerys. You've suffered a lot… and there's so much more waiting for you."
The Khaleesi looked at him in confusion. Watching her? How? She was certain she had never seen him before. She went to ask, only for a sharp cry to interrupt her. A raven sat on her shoulder, her raven. The bird that has been with her for a few years now, her protector of sorts. It looked at her, nipping at her ear before flying over to the man who gently scratched it under its beak.
"Congratulations are in order I suppose, for your son Rhaego" the man spoke while Daenerys made the connection between the bird and the man. "But his life is in danger."
"I will not let you harm my child," the woman said aggressively, a hand on her belly.
"And I will not harm him" the man assured her. "You still have friends in Westeros, Princess. As one of them, let me offer you some advice. Do not trust a witch when she offers you something you desire more than anything you've desired in your life."
"What do you mean?"
"You will see when the time comes. For your son, be very careful."