It was not difficult to locate Robb and Jon, the entire North seemed to be whispering about their movements with a wildling army, intending to take back Winterfell from the new Lord Bolton, who was once Roose Bolton's bastard son, Ramsay Snow. What was more difficult was setting the lies from the truth. If Jon was with his brother Robb, then it meant he had abandoned his Watch on the Wall, which Rhaena could not bring herself to believe as Jon would never forsake his vows, not even for his brother. There were so many whispers and rumours that neither Rhaena nor Sansa could tell which were the true from the false, but at least they had an idea of where to find them. After all, it should not be too difficult to find a wildling army from the back of a dragon. "How many men is said to follow Robb and Jon?" Sansa asked quietly as they made camp along the coast between the ports of White Harbour and Widow's Watch. Rhaegal lay upon his belly with his neck and tail curled around them with his wing lifted to keep the rain and snow from falling upon them, his hot breath keeping them warmer than if they had lit a fire.
"The rumours vary. Some say just a few hundred, others say near enough two thousand. Ramsay Bolton is believed to have over five thousand men under his command. If he has that many defending Winterfell, then either way he has the advantage. If he holes up in Winterfell, he can readily defend it. In open battle, his numbers will overwhelm any that Robb and Jon might have. I do not know how many bannermen still swear for Robb, it seems to me that many have sided with this Ramsay." Sharing the last of their provisions, the salted pork, bread and hard cheese, Rhaena was glad that they were not far from finding Robb and Jon. She could not wait to sink her teeth into a proper meal. "But that will not matter. Rhaegal is now of a size where he is a considerable threat to an army. Especially if they are not expecting to see a dragon. They will quake in their boots and flee long before we can attack."
"But still…it seems to me that my brothers will need more numbers on their side in order to secure the North. Even if they defeat this Ramsay, they will have to settle their scores with the traitor lords. Do we know who they are?"
"As far as I know, the Karstarks and the Umbers are the only ones who have declared from Bolton. To my understanding, the Karstarks resent Robb for the treatment of Lord Karstark, who very well may be dead by now, and the Umbers are against Jon bringing the Wildlings from beyond the Wall. All though I do not know the particulars, I can only presume that Jon had good reason to bring them. Perhaps it is because of the threat of these White Walkers said to have awoken once more. We shall hear the truth from your brothers when we find them, I expect." Glancing across to Sansa as she thought deeply, Rhaena smiling affectionately to see the creases in her brow as she contemplated to herself.
"Robb and Jon will need more men." She decided finally, nodding her head as if in self-affirmation. "Even with Rhaegal, I do not think we should risk him against Ramsay's five thousand. I expect they will have archers and spears, and we already know that it is possible to wound a dragon. If they somehow bring Rhaegal down, then we shall be lost." A strong pang struck Rhaena's chest at the thought of losing Rhaegal. She would rather lose a limb than him. Turning her head in order to look at him, Rhaegal chittered softly to her as if knowing her concern and trying to reassure her that he would not be killed so easily. Her hand reached out and pressed against his side where he inhaled deeply. "I think I know where to find the men," Sansa began with uncertainty. "Petyr Baelish…he married my aunt Lysa. She's dead now, but he has always been close to my mother. If I asked him…do you think he would help us?"
"I think Petyr Baelish will do whatever best benefits him." Rhaena answered as she recalled the small, shifty man she had never trusted. "If there is something to be gained by sending the Knights of the Vale to Robb and Jon's aid then he will do it. All we must do is present an offer to him he simply cannot refuse." Thinking hard, Rhaena attempted to consider what Petyr would want more than anything. Some of the answers were obvious. "I think he would do it if you asked him and gave him a promise of repaying the debt somehow, Sansa. He loved your mother, but since she is no longer with us, I think…I think he may want you instead. Be careful of him. Even if he agrees to send aid, do not trust him. He is as slippery as an eel and I suspect he is Lord of the Vale because it suited his plans. He may have even murdered your aunt in order to consolidate his power."
"From what I remember of Lord Baelish, that would not surprise me." Sansa muttered dismally so Rhaena put her arm around her in order to draw her against her, bringing her head to rest against her neck. "If I marry him, I think he will agree to help us. Through me he will have what he always wanted. My mother. But I cannot give him anymore than that." She continued to muse, no longer the naïve and innocent child, but a clever, mature and perceptive young woman. "Lord Baelish was ambitious, I remember Joffrey once told me that Lord Baelish was good at currying favour with powerful men. For a man like that, I doubt the Vale is enough to satisfy him. He will always want more."
"Most likely he will wish to rule the Seven Kingdoms himself." Rhaena agreed with a heavy sigh. "It seems to be what most people want these days."
"How will we persuade him to send aid to my brothers? We cannot offer him the Seven Kingdoms."
"No, but we can offer ourselves," already beginning to plot in her head, Rhaena smirked to herself. "We ourselves have value. They still call Robb the King in the North, which makes you a princess, and I am sister to a queen and the blood of an ancient House, just as you are. It is highly likely that my sister will win the Iron Throne, and until she produces an heir…then I am next in line to rule after her. Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Gods, I hope it never comes to that. However, Lord Baelish will undoubtedly think of all this. We can write to him and offer him either a marriage alliance or something else he might want."
"One of us will have to marry him?"
"Oh no, sweet Sansa, of course not. I would sooner cut his throat than marry him, but Lord Baelish need not know that. We shall word the correspondence carefully. In truth he might not come despite what we would offer him." It was an unsettling thing, the uncertainty of allies, but Rhaena agreed with Sansa's point that Robb and Jon needed all the support they could get if they were to take back the North and then hold it. Especially if it was true that there were White Walkers stirring in the North. Out of everything, it was this which concerned Rhaena the most. She had heard the stories of the Others that walked during the Long Night, and they were frightening enough. The idea that the stories were real and that an army of the undead was making it's way south…Rhaena hoped that they were susceptible to fire. Stroking Rhaegal's side, Rhaena and Sansa agreed that they would compose a letter to Lord Baelish and send it with a raven to ask for his help. It meant they would have to go to a holdfast in order to beg use of their ravens, which in itself was a risky venture. With the North so divided, it was difficult to know who their friends were and who were foes. Sasna, however, was adamant that although the Manderlys of White Harbour had not declared, they would not hurt either of them. So long as they went quietly and no one other than Lord Wyman knew of their presence, then she was certain that he would at least allow them the use of a raven.
This time, Sansa insisted upon going to White Harbour alone. Rhaena did not like the idea of leaving Sansa to venture into White Harbour without either her or even Lady to protect her, but Sansa insisted. It would be easier for her to enter the port unnoticed and beg audience with Lord Manderly to ask for his aid. Rhaena was too noticeable even when covering her hair, and Lady would give Sansa away immediately. Lady whimpered softly but stayed put when Sansa instructed her to wait with Rhaena, rubbing her head and kissing her gently before lifting the hood of her cloak and setting off rather bravely with Rhaena's dragon horn at her hip as Rhaena had insisted she take it so that they would hear her call if she needed rescuing. As she watched her figure gradually fade from view, Rhaena wondered when had Sansa grown so strong. She was utterly changed from that little girl she had first met so many years ago, in fact Rhaena had lost count of them. More than five, to be certain. Had it really been so long? Time was moving quickly now, as if rushing in order to know the end of the stories that had been playing as if orchestrated by the gods for their own amusement. In truth, it would not surprise Rhaena if that were the case. The gods were whimsical creatures and seemingly cared nothing for the lives of petty mortals. Whatever games they were playing, Rhaena did not approve.
Her nervousness churched in her gut as she took to pacing back and forth underneath the shelter of Rhaegal's wing, ignoring his growls for her to settle whilst Lady watched her with the occasional whimper. It felt strange that Sansa would be the one risking herself and Rhaena did not like it, wanting to continue sheltering and protecting her from any possible danger, but Sansa had blossomed ever since leaving King's Landing. She knew her own abilities and had learned from those around her, so Rhaena scolded herself for being so anxious and to have more faith in Sansa. Even as the time seemed to drag by, Rhaena did not completely relax herself until she saw Sansa's figure returning to them on horseback, escorted by several men bearing the Manderly crest and colours. Lady immediately leaped to her feet and barked, tail swishing happily before she climbed down from their perch and began to make her way to Sansa who had stopped a short distance away, turning her horse in order to speak to her escort before then dismounting and beginning to walk back towards where Rhaegal and Rhaena waited. Rhaegal lifted his head and unfurled himself so that he no longer looked like a huge, jutting rock. Stretching his wings he flapped them once to stretch them out before rising up onto his legs and shaking off the dew and snow which had settled upon him. Below, Rhaena saw the horses dance nervously whilst the riders stared open mouthed up at them. She smirked to herself.
Lady walked back with Sansa who had placed her hand upon her back to help her climb back up the steep slope, returning to them with a breathless smile as her cheeks glowed with warmth from the climb. "It is done. Lord Manderly allowed me the use of one of his ravens to send it to the Vale. I could not persuade him to declare for Robb as his son is still a Lannister captive, but he promises he has no intention of declaring for Bolton, so at the very least we can count on his absence. It is better than him sending men to he enemy, in any case."
"Well done, sweet Sansa. Well done indeed." Rhaena praised, glad to have Sansa back in her sights as she embraced her. "Come. We have rested long enough. Let us go to your brothers. No doubt they will be overjoyed to see you." Nodding her head eagerly, they all mounted onto Rhaegal's back as he lowered himself down for them to easily make the climb before taking them back into the skies once more, giving a triumphant roar which caused the horses below to bolt with their riders who remained utterly in awe of the sight of a real dragon which before had only been known as stories and legends. Directing Rhaegal in the direction of the White Knife river, he plunged forwards in order to race upstream to follow it as the river would take them in the direction of Winterfell, and there Robb and Jon would be waiting for them. Rhaena smiled and urged Rhaegal to fly faster, unable to hold back her anticipation any longer. After so many years away, it felt as if she were finally returning home.