Chapter 37: The Night Queen
In Essos...
Golden Company Camp...
Rhaegar Targaryen POV
Rhaegar was crossing the camp of the Golden Company, and it was vast. You could see that the soldiers were veterans, the way they were armed and the way they fought. Looking around from above his horse, he saw that they were divided into various divisions as they trained in various parts of the camp, and his eyes then settled on those legendary and mighty beasts in the distance who trained at their own pace. The so-called war elephants. The fear of Essos and perhaps even of Westeros, considering that the stories say that no warhorse in Westeros can beat them.
When he reached the main tent, Rhaegar saw men with spears and shields guarding it. As he got off his horse, he approached them, and they let him pass.
The inside of the tent was very large, with low tables at the sides, cushions, and further towards the back, there was a group of men around a table.
As he approached, he heard someone say, "Well, well, well. I see there's a true Valyrian in my camp."
And Rhaegar saw a man, tall with short, dark hair, a short, dark beard and eyes of a dark purple, almost black, a trait that some Valyrians possessed, including him. He wore a chainmail, with golden armbands, and a golden iron belt, while suppressing it he wore a gold and black cape.
As he lifted up from the table on which he was leaning, the man crossed his arms in front of his chest, and asked intimidatingly, "What is your name, Valyrian?".
"I think you know my name, sellsword," replied Rhaegar, not at all intimidated by him.
"Indeed, I know," replied the man grinning. "You are Rhaegar, son of Aerys of House Targaryen, heir to the Dragon's Castle."
"Yes, I am," said Rhaegar, never taking his hand off his sword, Blackfire.
"I suppose that's the famous sword Blackfire. The sword of kings. Wielded by Aegon the Dragon during his conquest," said the soldier.
"I see you know my family's history," replied Rhaegar, as he approached the table, followed by his men, and those who were around the table backed back a bit to make room for him.
"As well as your downfall," he replied, smirking. "My name is Aegor Targaryen, son of Haegon Targaryen, who sadly died in his sleep some years ago- I'm the commander of this Company."
"My condolences," replied Rhaegar, even though it wasn't. He was sure that Aegor was behind Haegon's death, and that might be one less reason to trust him.
"This is Ser Harry Strickland," said Aegor, pointing to a man with dark blond hair, shaved and wearing a light brown tunic, "a knight exiled from Westeros, though I don't remember from which kingdom, and he won't tell me." Rhaegar nodded in greeting.
Then after the Commander of the sellsword company offered him a goblet of wine and signalled to follow him, he asked, "Why are you here, Rhaegar Targaryen?"
"To hire you in the name of the North, King Jon of House Stark and my sister, Queen Daenerys of House Targaryen."
"Ah, yes. The famous Lady of Dragon Castle. From the icy North to the arid lands of Essos is sung of her beauty, and some voices even say she is the most beautiful woman in Westeros, and the only true and pure Valyrian."
"Yes, it is. And now she is married to the new King in the North, Jon Stark, the Wolf King," replied Rhaegar.
"So the Warg sat on the throne?" asked Aegor sipping.
"Yes. But now he would like to hire you to defend his kingdom," said Rhaegar, sipping from his cup as well, but never letting his guard down.
"Against what enemy?" asked Aegor, this time, seriously.
"Live and dead. South and North."
"Dead?" he asked almost without believing it. "Really?" and Rhaegar nodded, getting the laughter of everyone present, when Aegor looked at them.
"Aegon the Sellsword and Bittersteel swore an oath to King Cregan of House Stark at the time as a sign of gratitude for accepting House Targaryen. And for financing him in creating such a company."
Stopping laughing and sighing, Aegor asked, "What does that oath have to do with me?"
It was made for eternity. When the North or House Targaryen is in danger, the Golden Company will come to their rescue."
After a little silence, Aegor said, "All right. You'll have my decision and the price for such a service after I consult with my captains."
"I hope you don't expect to receive a Targaryen woman in payment."
"Actually, yes. Your sister," replied Aegor, grinning.
"She already belongs to another man," replied Rhaegar seriously.
"I don't think it's a big deal. Right men?" said Aegor, getting the laughter of his captains.
"Well. Then you'll have to deal with an angry wolf," Rhaegar said, approaching him. "I'm sure you've heard about Astapor. I don't think you want the King in the North as your enemy."
"Is that a threat?" Aegor asked, seriously.
"No. A warning," replied Rhaegar, this time grinning at him.
"Tomorrow I will give you my answer. But I warn you, we won't be available before a year."
" A year?"
"Now go, Lord Targaryen. My men will show you to your tent," said the Commander, and Rhaegar left the tent, heading for theirs with his men, but not before he warned his men to never let their guard down.
Tyrion Lannister POV
After a long ride of almost three weeks, with due rest, they finally reached the head of the Golden Company, and now, stopping on a small hill, they watched the great camp of the most famous mercenary company in Essos.
"So these fucking golden asses are the best mercenaries in Essos."
"Yes."
"And what makes you so sure they'll fight for you?"
"Lannister gold," Tyrion answered, snapping the reins of the horse.
At the entrance to the camp, a soldier asked who you are.
"Tyrion of House Lannister and his companions. We are here to discuss with your Commander, Aegor Targaryen."
"Come," said the soldier, and as they descended from their horses they were taken to a large central tent.
Entering the tent, he saw two men inside. One with a beard and dark hair and the other with dark blond hair and no beard.
"Who are you?" The bearded man asked.
"My name is Tyrion of House Lannister, son of King Tywin and his Hand of the King," replied Tyrion. "What do you want?"
"Commander Aegor. I'm here to make a contract with you and hire you for the conquest of Westeros," Tyrion replied. "The Kingdom of the Rock and t House Lannister are the wealthiest of Westeros. You will be well paid."
The commander began slipping from his goblet as he looked at him, and for a moment Tyrion and Bronn glanced at each other.
"Are you a sellsword?" he asked Bronn after some silence.
"Yes," answered Bon his travel company.
"And is it true that they shit gold?" asked Aegor, getting the other man's laughter.
"I don't know. I've never seen their shit. Not that I give a shit of it. But they sure are rich as fuck," replied Bronn.
And the commander started laughing. "I like you. Have you ever considered joining a company?" he handed him a glass of wine.
"Never been in a company. My sword is my own and no one else. And so are the rewards," replied Bronn, taking the chalice, but never letting his hand from the sword.
Tyrion was confused about the path this conversation took, having no connection with why he was here.
"Commander Aegor..."
"You're not the only one who wants our help in the wars to come. There's someone else who does want too."
"I'm sure no one in Westeros or Essos is as rich as the Lannisters to hire you," said Tyrion.
"The North," replied Aegor.
"The North is cold and infertile. They have no gold for their men and food for their people. Do you really think they will be able to pay you fully?"
"I don't know if you really shit gold, but you dwarf shit a lot of bullshit," said the commander, and then looking towards the entrance he said, "Ah, my friend. Come, come."
And Tyrion saw a man enter with Valyrian features, and a tunic on him, with the emblem of the three-headed dragon.
"I don't think you two know each other. Rhaegar Targaryen, this is Tyrion Lannister."
"A pleasure to finally meet you, Lord Targaryen," Tyrion said, extending his hand, for a shake.
"The same to me, Lord Tyrion. Your reputation precedes you," said the silver-blonde-haired man, shaking his hand, and Tyrion was a little confused as to what he referred.
"What brings you to Essos, Lord Targaryen?" asked Tyrion, not really caring regarding what he was referring.
"Business. Just like you," replied the man. "I see your father is trying to hire all the men in the world to conquer Westeros."
"He does. And soon he will march with all the might of Westeros to the North."
"I have no doubt, Lord Tyrion. And he will march to his doom," said Rhaegar, with a smirk on his lips, then turning to Aegor, he asked, "Do I have our agreement? I need to return to the North."
"Yes, we do," said the commander looking towards Tyrion, and he didn't know what to do except leave the tent.
"There goes the lion with his tail between his legs," heard Tyrion from inside. "But you, my friend, will always be welcome to join us."
As they were returning to their horses, Bronn said, "You know what that Valyrian cunt says is true. I'm no strategist, but your southern balls will freeze as soon as they set foot on the snow."
"All at the right time, Bronn," said Tyrion helped to get on the horse and ride away, back to Myr. The Dothraki are surely already in Volantis and he needs to take their ship for there.
In the south…
Ollena Tyrell POV
Ollena stood on the balcony of the great hall watching the destruction that was on her city. The houses were destroyed by catapults. People crying in the streets. Soldiers running to protect the people, or to remove the messy stones, or to reinforce the walls with rubble, which according to Willas would harden.
Three weeks of hard chaos, in which the Lannisters besieged them almost constantly, but never set fire to their first line of walls or their labyrinth, nor advanced with the army, even though they had the numbers.
"What game is this Lannister playing?" Ollena heard her nephew Willas ask, leaned forward on the table of the great hall. "He has more men than we do, his ships are in the river besieging Highgarden, and yet he stands there wasting resources on a pointless siege."
Everyone was inside the great hall. Her son the king, his wife, and her two nephews, Willas and Loras. They still had no news of Margery and it made her heartbeat of worries. She really hopes that sending her to the Stormlands in exchange of help wasn't a mistake.
But returning to the table, putting on some wine and sitting down, Ollena said, "He does what any good commander does during a siege. Wait for the enemy to yield out of hunger or patience. And don't worry about resources. He can certainly outlast us."
"Maybe we should try and put you to safety, Grandmother. You, my father, my mother."
"And how do you plan to do that?" asked Ollena curiously, not that she was planning to leave the city. She was already old and lived her life, but for her grandchildren and her son, she was ready to listen, "We are under siege and you have not yet used the Wildfire."
" Until they' re near the walls, I can't use it, grandmother. You know I placed it there," replied Willas. "Regarding the escape, we can use the secret passages, hid there, and once the city falls, escape."
"Escape! Maybe you should have thrown the wildfire on the army and don't waste it on the field," said her son, angrily.
"Maybe you shouldn't have sent Garlan to the border with Dorne, that way you'd have your favourite son. Your warrior the defender of the city," snapped Willas. "Or maybe if we try to throw him out of town, the soldiers will accidentally blow themselves up with that shit."
Sighing and tired of the tension in the room, Ollena said, "Enough Mace. The boy's right. And if we're in this mess it' s also your fault, as well as Garlan's." Then turning to her grandson, she said, "you did well with the Wildfire. And luckily the weather is in our favour and the Lannisters don't use fire weapons."
But Willas didn't answer and angrily left the room.
"Well done, Mance," she said, drinking from her goblet.
"What did I say, Mother?"
"Shut your mouth," she said, getting up and leaving the room. She was tired of all this, and needed to rest and think. Alone.
Jaime Lannister POV
After he received the messenger sent by his father, Jaime immediately stopped the attack on the city and summoned all his captains and lords, as well as the commander of the second Lannister army.
"Lord Brax. Welcome," said Jaime, greeting the Lord.
"Prince Jaime," he said, greeting him. "Why are we no longer attacking the city? And why didn't you burn down their labyrinth?"
" That is exactly why I have summoned you here, Lord Brax," replied Jaime, putting the letter on the table, and taking a sip of wine from his goblet. "You see. This has just been delivered to me," he added, seeing that the lords were passing the letter to each other, and taking another sip to wet his throat, he continued swallowing, "It was sent by my father the king, informing me that Highgarden had obtained help from the Kingdom of the Storm. The so-called Wildfire."
And they started whispering between themselves.
"My lords," Jaime called them back, and they turned their attention back to him. "The reason I don't attack the city or use fire on the labyrinth is the Wildfire. I don't know where it is, but that doesn't mean I'm giving up on the siege."
"So, Prince Jaime. If you don't intend to attack the city or retreat, what do we do? "asked Roland Crakehall.
"We wait, Lord Roland. Until those inside the city destroy the gates and walls, thus unleashing the Wildfire that can only be used once," replied Jaime, looking towards the Lord of Crakehall. "But until then. To distract them from seeking our spies, we will continue to attack the city, without fire of course."
"What about reinforcements, Prince? Is there any news of Hightower?" Ser Adam asked.
"No. Not yet at least. But Lord Tarly blocked one of the passes, and half of Lord Brax's army defends the other."
Seeing the food was about to be served, he said, "Good. If there's nothing else to discuss, let's eat, and then we'll all go back to our duties while we wait."
Everyone started to eat in silence, while Jaime continued to watch them. He was really hoping that none of them would do anything stupid until the right time to attack comes.
In the North…
Daenerys Targaryen POV
As Daenerys was caressing the little dragon in her arms, and holding on to her belly, lovingly looking at him, she remembered what happened just before she was taken and dragged into that House and how her father had fallen to his knees in the middle of the yard. Turning to Grey Worm, she asked, " Ñuha kepa?" (My father?)
"Ēza issare gūrogon naejot zȳhon tistālion." (He has been taken to his rooms.)
And she immediately headed there in haste, clutching her cape around her, with the Unsullied escorting her and Ghost behind her, hearing in the distance the people speaking almost in fear.
When she reached her father's room, she saw him lying on the bed with her mother beside him holding his hand, and kissing. His eyes were shaking closing and opening, and they were turning back-head.
She, putting the dragon down, climbed onto the bed next to her father, taking his other hand and caressing his face, at least as much as her belly allowed, and started to cry. She didn't want him to die.
"Father. Stay with me. Please, don't die," she said, crying and trembling.
"Daenerys!" her mother called her, with tears in her eyes. "Don't stay naked. Go and get dressed."
And she, looking at herself, saw that it was true. The cloak didn't cover much and after seeing Master Luwin enter, Daenerys kissed her father's cheek and hurried to her room to change with the dragon in her arms and Missandei following her.
She should also clean up the ashes that covered her body, but there wasn't time for that. She had to go back to her father and be with her mother.
As Missandei was helping her with her dress, Daenerys heard, "I'm sure he will be fine. Lord Aerys is a strong man, and Master Luwin will be able to heal him." Daenerys nodded, giving a faint smile, although her mind was full of storms and thoughts on that regard.
"I can't believe. A dragon," Daenerys heard Missandei saying chuckling, although at this moment his mind was far away from the dragon.
After getting dressed and putting the dragon into a chest that previously had clothes that he had emptied there, Daenerys ordered the Unsullied to not let anyone in, and to take a look so that the basket is always there.
"I can't believe. A dragon," Daenerys heard, although at this moment his mind was far away from the dragon.
After getting dressed and putting the dragon into a basket of clothes that he had emptied there, Daenerys ordered the Unsullied not to let anyone in, and to take a look so that the basket would always be there.
Returning to her father's room, on entering Daenerys saw that Master Luwin was talking to her mother, and she had a very worried look.
"What's going on?" Daenerys asked as she approached.
"Your father. The blade that wounded him at the leg was poisoned," Luwin replied, seriously, and sadly. "It is the same poison that brought King Eddard to his grave, but of course it wasn't given the same way."
"We need to do something," Daenerys said, going to her father' side and kneeling beside the bed, taking his hand and stroking his face.
"There is nothing we can do, Your Grace. He can last a week at most. But it will be a week..."
"No!" said Daenerys looking at him angrily and in tears. "You have to save him! I command you!"
Sighing the master, approaching, said, "Until King Jon and Lord Aerys had found the reason for the old king's death, we were not aware of this kind of poison. But now we do. And it was a merchant who sold it."
"Bring that merchant to Winterfell and find out the cure."
"There's no time. He is in the lands of the Naaharis, Your Grace. Even if he has the cure, Lord Aerys will die before our man returns."
"I said bring him here!" she said angrily and standing up.
"Your Grace..."
"Master Luwin," Arya called him as she stepped forward. "How long can you keep him alive?"
"Keep him alive? I can't keep him alive. It's all up to his body to fight this poison," replied the old master. "Perhaps his Valyrian blood will make him live longer than King Eddard. Or maybe it will make him die sooner. I can do nothing more than give him milk of the poppy to ease the suffering and pain that will increase with each passing day."
At that moment Daenerys realized that Arya had something in mind, and then heard her said, "I'll go see this merchant and get the antidote."
"Arya. You'll never make it back and forth in five days. Not even with Winterfell's fastest horse."
"I'm not going to ride a horse," she said, smirking. And at that moment Daenerys understood who she was referring to, after looking at the entrance, seeing that Ghost was guarding in the hallway.
"I hope you won't do anything crazy while I'm away with Nymeria and Ghost," said Arya, leaving the room after whispering something to Dacey, who nodded.
When Arya left Ghost also followed her, Daenerys approached Gareth. Take twenty men and go to that merchant inn, and bring him here to Winterfell." And the Wolfsguard, bowing, left the room
Then returning her attention to the master she asked, "Will she be back in time?"
The master sighing lowered his gaze and shook his head, leaving the room, and she felt the tears come down from her eyes again, as she was returning to her father.
Arya Stark POV
After she left the room of the Hand of the King, Arya went straight to hers with Ghost following her.
Arriving there, Arya immediately started to change herself into something light so that she would not weigh the Direwolves on the ride, because they had to be fast. She wasn't completely sure she would succeed in this, since she didn't practice much with Nymeria, and Ghost has never even been ridden. Realizing that, once she was ready, Arya approached the White Direwolf, saying, "I know you won't like what's going to happen, and that you'd rather it was Jon, even though I'm smaller and lighter, but it's because of him that we have to do it. Jon needs Lord Aerys." She was sure he understood her, so looking him in the eye, she said, "So, boy. Will you help me on this mission?"
He looked at her for a few moments with his big, intense red eyes, and then gave her a lick in response.
"Good boy." She said, giggling and caressing his fur.
"Arya. Here is a map of the location of the shop," said Master Luwin, giving her a map. Arya nodded, leaving the room.
Arya stood up and walked out, seeing that Nymeria was already waiting for her in the middle of the courtyard.
Approaching her, she said, "You are ready for this journey, my friend, and she lowered herself, allowing Arya to climb up, and at great speed, she left Winterfell in the direction of the Naaharis and Bolton' land.
After two days...
Arya finally reached the merchant's hut, in a wood, and saw how tired and breathless Nymeria was, while Ghost not so much.
Coming down, Arya whispered with her head resting against hers, "Rest now."
Approaching the hut, Arya opened the door, seeing a shop filled with various bottles and other goods that a merchant from the south, apparently, possessed.
"Welcome to my humble shop, stranger. What can I do for you?" the merchant asked, from behind the counter.
Arya looked around and said. "A poison that kills slowly. And makes people lose their minds for every day that passes."
"Yes, I have something similar. It's called Stranger's kiss. But it's very expensive."
"It doesn't matter. But along with it, I also want the antidote."
"Of course," replied the merchant as he walked away from the counter and returned with the vials.
"500 gold dragons," said the merchant smirking, and damn if it was expensive.
But Arya wanted to try something else too. "What about silver wolves? If you're in the North, you should use Northern coins too."
"I would, my lady, but the goods I buy are Southern. But I accept the silver wolves. But they're worth less than the golden dragons, which is the main currency of Westeros."
Arya took the bag with the coins and gave it to the merchant, and then curious about something, she asked, holding her hand on his dagger, "You are a southern merchant, right?" And he nodded. "About a year or so ago, did you by any chance sell this poison to a redheaded woman?"
"Maybe. Many Northern women and men come to me."
"King Eddard's second wife, Catelyn Tully."
"Well. I don't know. My memory is pretty old, and it forgets things sometimes," replied the old man. "But maybe with a few more coins... maybe, my mind will start to remember."
"Silver wolves," she said, putting ten on the counter. "Well, maybe..." he said, counting them. "But it's hard to protect a shop in the woods. There are many bandits around and the lords of these lands are very demanding. So maybe with a hundred silver wolves, maybe..."
Arya gave him a look and pulled out 100 more silver wolves.
"Yes. Queen Catelyn Stark came here with Lord Naaharis' son. Daario was his name if I'm not mistaken. Tall with dark brown hair and beard. I can't tell you why she wanted it, though. As long as I get paid, I don't ask questions."
"Good. Here are 20 more silver wolves for your silence," said Arya, taking the vials and leaving the shop.
Climbing on Ghost, who started complaining and purring, after a while, Arya started riding back to Winterfell, as fast as she could. She needs to get back to Winterfell in time. For Jon.
Daenerys Targaryen POV
Daenerys was in a darkness that she could not understand until she saw a door half-open and icy air enter. Leaving the dark room, she found herself in a hallway all destroyed with holes in the walls and in the ceilings, while all around there was snow, looking on the walls that were still standing, Daenerys saw the banner of the House Stark torn to pieces.
As he passed through the Hallway, Daenerys saw the frozen bodies of the Stark soldiers, women, and children inside the corridors, hugging and frozen. Then she realized that the destroyed place she found herself in was Winterfell and the dark room was the one of her and Jon.
But what terrified her the most was what she found in the great courtyard, once she reached the large balcony, which was destroyed too. It was full of Unsullied impaled on ice spikes.
Once down the stairs, Daenerys heard a powerful scream like ice on ice, and when she looked towards Winterfell's entrance, she couldn't believe what she saw. It was Jon. Her Jon. But it wasn't him. There was something very different about him.
His hairs were snowy, but untied, his beautiful eyes, once dark grey and full of warmth, were blue and soulless. And he wore dark armour? Never seen it until now.
He rode a great white direwolf, all bitten and with the same eyes, and had on his sides, the heads of her parents, her brothers, Lady Ashara, Arya, Robb, Benjen and Arthur. Then her eyes were set on what Jon had in his hands. In one was an icy sword, while in the other, there was a... child. Blue, eyes open, and Jon was holding him by the heel.
When she saw that, Daenerys wrapped her arms around her waist, realizing that it was flat and empty, she let out a scream and fell to the ground. That was definitely her baby. There was no other explanation. Even though the baby hadn't been born yet and she never saw him, she could feel it in her bones. Daenerys started to cry loudly, trembling, as Jon approached and began to circle her.
Then, while she was on the ground, Daenerys heard another windy voice, feminine, say, "Feel my vengeance Queen usurper of the North. This is the end of you. First, I will take your husband, then your son, and then I will take you. And finally, your kingdom. And you will be the last to fall, after I have taken all that is yours, as you have taken mine. With what was rightfully mine." And suddenly Daenerys finds herself in the crypts.
As she walked through them, Daenerys felt the gaze of the statues on her, reaching a large door.
He felt something inside. Dark and evil. Then when she tried to put her hand on the seal that was there, Daenerys felt cold, and suddenly darkness enveloped her.
Then, the darkness was gone, and she found herself in Winterfell's throne room, face to face with a woman. A beautiful woman with silver-blonde hair and blue eyes. A prosperous bosom, and a body that would surely make every man's head turn.
"Who are you?" Daenerys asked, but the woman did not answer, but instead started turning around.
Then stopping in front of her, she grabbed Daenerys by the chin and said, "I am the Night Queen." Then, looking towards her with eyes changing between red and blue she added, "But before that, I was a dragon-rider of the great House Belaerys, by the name of Jaenara. Exiled from Valyria because of you."
"Me?" Daenerys asked confusedly.
"You Targaryen, a minor House. You seduced me with your charms, humiliated and then rejected me as a mere whore," she screamed.
"I had nothing to do..."
"You stole my future by stealing my king!" she screamed, grabbing her by the neck and lifting her up. If this wasn't a vision or a dream, she'd surely have choked to death instantly.
But it still seemed so real, as her breath was missing and especially when she heard her cold breath add whispering, "If I can't have him, you won't have him either."
Throwing her strongly backward.
Daenerys awoke immediately, struggling to breathe, feeling sweaty and trembling.
"Jon," she whispered, holding her hand over her heart. She really hoped he was well in this expedition.
That's when the baby woke up too and started kicking like he'd never done before. Which was strange. Maybe he felt her concern for Jon and so he was too worried.
So, sitting under the covers, Daenerys lifted up her robe over her stomach, and caressing it, she said, "Don't worry, my little one. I'm sure your father is all right."
But one thing Daenerys knew she had to do. Go to the crypts under Winterfell.
So getting up, Daenerys put a dress on her, and then approached the chest with her little dragon. Ghost had gone with Arya, and as a result could not protect her, so she took the dragon in her arms, who looked curiously at her.
It was magnificent, and Daenerys felt a great connection and attachment to him, as he certainly did to her.
But as she watched him Daenerys remembered that she had not yet given him a name. "What should I name you?" she asked, caressing him under his chin, as she began to think of all the names that came to her mind and read in the books about House Targaryen, and old Valyria, returning to the bed.
After almost ten minutes, she found the right name. "Syrax. Like the dragon of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen."
Sitting on the bed, caressing her dragon, Daenerys thought back to her father. It had been three days since Arya had left, and her father's conditions were getting worse and worse.
Master Luwin gave orders to the guards not to let anyone into the room because he was unpredictable. He was also tied up to avoid anything, but his body fought against the poison.
Her mother weeps in Ashara's arms, who was trying to comfort her, while Daenerys tries to be strong, for her child. Two months left and she doesn't want anything to happen to him, so she tries to stay calm.
But now she had to go to the crypts. She had to find out what happens when he gets up, wearing Jon's fur coat, Daenerys leaves the room, seeing two Wolfsguards, and four.
"Your Grace," greeted her SmallJon.
"I'm on my way to the crypts," she replied, holding the little dragon, and the Wolfsguard nodded, accompanying her.
When she reached the entrance, Daenerys said, "Wait here. I'm going alone."
And though hesitantly, they nodded, and stopped, while she, taking the torch, started to go down the stairs, and began to walk down the corridor with the statues of the old kings.
As she walked towards what she had seen in the dream Daenerys remembered the stories about this place. This is where all the Kings in the North were resting.
King Cregan placed the body of his bastard sister in the crypt with her children. Lyanna Stark was placed too, in the crypts of Winterfell.
And it seems the only queens to be placed with their Kings were, Daena and Daenerys the first, that way united in life and in death.
She wonders if when she will die, she too would be placed where Jon would rest, or will she be burned and throw to the wind?
And then she reached. The darkest part of the crypts. There was a great door with a direwolf on its centre sealing the two parts that compose it.
Glancing at her dragon, she saw him spat a bit of fire on it, like feeling its evilness. She placed her hand on it and it was cold, worse than ice itself.
"Can you feel my coldness, Queen in The North?" Daenerys heard a cold woman voice that made her skin chilling. "That will be my wrath and vengeance against you."
Daenerys was starting to worry about it. To be afraid and above all she didn't want that what she saw in her horrible dream to come true.
Suddenly an icy cold wind came from under the door and the torch went out, and Daenerys immediately ran away in fear, without looking back, clutching Jon's fur cape. But when he reached halfway through the crypts, Daenerys realized that her little dragon was not there.
"Fuck!" she said, ready to go back. But at that moment someone ran after her and once in front of her, with the torch in her hand, saw that it was Little Jon.
"What is it?"
"Arya is back," he said, and Daenerys immediately headed for the exit, but not before telling Small Jon to send Unsullied to the crypts to look for her dragon.
When she reached her father's room, Daenerys saw that Arya was at the entrance and with the guards at the door, that was closed.
"Did you find it?" she asked seriously, breathing fast.
"Yes. Master Luwin is inside the room, giving him the cure," she answered with her arms crossed and leaning against the wall.
Seeing her thoughtful, upset, Daenerys asked, "What's the matter, Arya?"
"I found my father's killer," replied the young Stark, looking towards the floor.
"Who is he?" asked Daenerys, seriously.
"Catelyn Tully and the Boltons."
"What? But why? I thought she loved him?"
"I don't know. But I'm going to find out." "Then it is good that I sent Gareth Glover with some men to take that merchant and bring him to Winterfell," said Daenerys, putting her hand on the girl's arm, with a smile, and she smiled back. With the merchant witness, they will have the proofs to imprison that Tully bitch and finally get rid of that woman.
"We should warn Moat Cailin that an army from the south may advance in the coming months. After all, I am sure that as soon as we put Catelyn Tully in a cell, her brother and father will march north, while the Boltons will surely attack us."
"So war is coming," said Daenerys, dreading it. Jon was not here, her father was in bed not knowing if he would survive, Rhaegar was in Essos, and she was pregnant. What in a mess they were right now.
At that moment Daenerys saw Master Luwin coming out of the room, " Well?"
"I give him the cure, but now we need to wait for it to take effect, Your Grace," said Luwin, sighing and she nodded, with her heart full of joy.
"Can I go in and sit beside him?" asked Daenerys hopefully.
"No, your grace. We wait a few hours for him to be cured."
She nodded sadly, sighing.
"Come, Daenerys. I'm hungry, and I'm sure you are too," said Arya, accompanying her to the great hall while she kept on being thoughtful.
Brandon Stark POV
Bran was running through the crypts following a shadow that looked a lot like his father, Eddard Stark, then suddenly found himself in a forest, holding his bow, and trying to climb the trees, hearing nothing but his mother's voice saying, "Brandon! How many times have I told you? No more crypts and no more climbing."
She grabbed him by the arm, shaking him and dragging, making him fall. But he didn't fall down. Instead, he found himself already on his back in the middle of a snowy field.
Looking around, he saw there was a Weirwood tree with a strange symbol on the ground around it, made of stones.
Getting up, Brandon started to approach the tree slowly, observing it and its weird face. He felt like there was magic all around him strong and old magic.
Then suddenly, he felt that there was someone behind him, and turning around, he saw an army of blue-eyed dead men. While on a horse behind them there was a man all blue, with the same eyes and a crown of ice on his head, staring at something.
Brandon started walking through these dead men, approaching the Ice King, and stopping a short distance, observing him.
He saw the Ice King turning toward him, frightening him, and when he looked toward the army whose gaze was on him now, Brandon was grabbed by the Ice King and dragged on the ground toward a cliff.
As the King was holding him in the void, Brandon was screaming when he felt his skin burn, and then the king let him fall into the void.
As he was falling into the void, Brandon didn't feel the fall, but found himself again already on the ground, but this time in a darkness.
"Come and free me, my prince," said the female voice of the woman who trained him in the warring path for all these moths, and then he saw her appear. She was always so beautiful when she appeared at him and continuing, she said, "Come to the crypts, my little prince. Find the secret door and use your blood to free me. If you do that, I will make you a king. And together we will take what is rightfully ours."
After that, she leaned down, and Brandon felt her icy lips on his cheek, kissing him. And from that kiss his face started to freeze, and immediately he woke up with a scream, breathing hard.
He had to go down there again. He had to put her out of her misery. From captivity.
And in fact, as he stood up, he put on his tunic as fast as he could and tied it as he could.
Looking out the window, Brandon saw that everything was still pitch dark, which meant that everyone was sleeping at this hour.
Opening the door, a bit, Bran looked around, seeing that no one was there, and so he left the room, but feeling Summer behind him. His great Direwolf was always at his tail, ready to protect him.
Bran went to the crypts through the secret parts that only he knew, and above all where there was usually no one.
As he walked through the crypts, he thought back to the dream in which he saw his father here, and when he reached his statue, he stopped for a moment to look at it, thinking about what he would think of him.
He always said: "When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives." And yet his mother has always pushed him to claim the throne and to hate his brother, saying he was a bastard and he wasn't his father' son, despite him and Arya were the ones that looked the most.
But Bran couldn't hate him. Although they have different mothers, they have the same father, and Jon is the eldest son and king. And above all he loved him. Jon had taught him how to wield a sword and a bow, how to hunt and how to fallow trails when his father was busy in running the Kingdom.
As he approached the dark red door, Bran could feel the cold and death behind it.
"Cut your palm, my little Brandon," said an echoing windy voice through the crypt, and Summer started growling towards the door.
But Bran, ignoring him, lowered himself down by taking a small knife that he had, cutting his palm, and then placing it on the door.
When his hand made contact with the door, Bran heard it open, and inside everything was dark. He couldn't take any steps forward, because it was as if he was frozen, and he saw her come out. The woman from his dreams.
Summer kept growling, putting himself in his protection with her big body. He knew that of all the direwolf, he was the weakest, but no less dangerous.
"Hello, my little prince," said the woman with a smile on her lips. "At last we meet." And she started circling him, as Summer was starting to growl even more and was ready to attack.
Bran was partly terrified and partly curious about her, but when she tried to touch him, Summer threw himself at her to bit.
What happened next left him speechless. The woman grabbed Summer by the neck and killed him.
Bran backed away from her in fear, hit the wall and so he stopped deadly. The woman started to approach him slowly, and grabbing Bran's chin, she leaned down, pressing her cold lips to his, making him loose conscious.