DISCLAIMER: Chapter one.
Chapter rating: T
10868letsgo: I'm glad you liked it, on they won't hear about it for a bit.
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NicoleR85: Please enjoy the next chapter~
Svenion: Oh I have plans for Jon and the Night's Watch.
Shadow Wolf 15846: I hope you like what's next~
Chapter Seven: Dragons
Robb waited among the Winterfell residents who had been praying Rhaenyra went quickly. They waited to retrieve what they could of her to bury. Suddenly Grey Wind surged to his feet, surprising many as he bounced around the smoldering logs of the stables. He ignored the burned corpses of the horses in favor of staring into the smoke. Robb followed him, worried about his paws, he could see the ground still smoking. But once he got closer he froze in shock. There sat his wife, naked and unburned, but with three little creatures on her lap making him fall to his knees with the memory of hearing Valaena's words from moments ago. They shrieked and cried out as they watched him approach. Theon quickly joined him, before stopping in his tracks as Rhaenyra lifted her head.
They stared at the dragons; the red one almost the color of blood hissed sharply, wings flashing, the light blue one growled softly while the molten gold hatchling shrieked, some smoke leaving their mouths.
"Rhae?" Robb asked tentatively before undoing his cloak as the baby creatures hissed at him. A firm 'no' from his wife made all but the red one back down. The other refused as he wrapped it around her, protecting all of them as he carried her through the courtyard. The early light made many try and look closer but Raynor protected them as Theon led the way, Valaena joining them as she looked to her charge in shock. Ser Rodrik waited before declaring he would go with his men to sift through the crowd. They knew the Queen and Small Council had spies everywhere, they needed to have this dealt with as soon as possible. Maester Luwin came quickly and looked on in shock.
"Take her to your chambers, now. I will tend to her there," he ordered firmly as Robb nodded, carefully carrying his wife through the halls as Raynor led the way, keeping people out of their way. Robb saw the tub filled for Rhaenyra as Baela came into view, leaping a foot in the air as the dragons shrieked and flashed their wings once the cloak slid off a bit. Valaena stared at them in horror while Maester Luwin slowly entered. "Have a slip put on," he ordered as Rhaenyra nodded, still mute. The guard left quickly allowing their lord and lady alone with the maester. She carefully walked to the changing screen with her maids who jumped once more as the dragons hissed when she dropped the cloak, they were now clinging to Rhaenyra's soot-covered body. Carefully, she detangled her dragons from her body as she slid a slip onto her body, the babies quickly reattached themselves to her as she walked by them. She sat on the bed as the Maester examined her before freezing as the dragons growled.
"Enough," Rhaenyra ordered as they stopped, but small purrs escaped their throats along with smoke as the maester continued his inspection. She carefully shoved them off her lap before looking up.
"Out," he ordered as all but Robb left. "How..." he trailed off staring at the trio of dragons the size of cats, albeit smaller, but three living creatures that have been gone for a century and a half.
"Fire and Blood," Rhaenyra answered as the maester looked to her. Robb understood. Her ancestors left their house words for meaning just like his own, it took a blood sacrifice to hatch eggs, it did make sense once the hatchlings were born the meat was right there for them.
"And we can safely assume you are immune to fire," Maester Luwin commented noticing the charred remnants of a few things, aside from her mother's necklace and the ring she now wore on her left hand. Even her hair got singed considerably, it was shorter now but still elbow length.
"What does this mean?" Robb asked as he continued to stare at the dragons, just days ago they were eggs. Stone eggs that had been laid in the Eyrie hundreds of years ago.
"It could mean nothing, My Lord. Simply blessed luck," Maester Luwin replied as he examined his lady, feeling for any wounds, though he had a feeling that the fire would have seared them shut. He felt no breaks nor saw bruises. She was perfectly healthy. "But if one were to take a guess. It would mean a rising power in the Targaryen favor," he continued as she swallowed thickly.
"I did not mean for them to be born! It was simple luck that they hatched. I have read dozens of ways that have failed in my ancestors' attempts to hatch eggs," Rhaenyra whispered as she pet the red hatchling's head when she came closer.
"Do you have names for them?" Maester Luwin asked as Robb smirked in amusement.
"Aye, she told me," he grinned as she scowled at him.
"Well go on tell them," Maester Luwin urged her.
"The red one is Rhaella, after my mother. Rhaenys is the golden one, after my niece and ancestor and Alysanne the blue one, for the good Queen," Rhaenyra told him as she stroked each dragon using the name meant for them.
"Why am I being brought here?" Catelyn's voice came loudly down the hall. "I must return to Bran, he was..." her voice faded out as she spotted the creatures on her good-daughter's lap. "How?" she asked as she approached cautiously, especially when one hissed at her.
"We think they see us as a threat to their 'mother,'" Maester Luwin claimed, motioning to Rhaenyra who now had two of the three on her lap while Rhaella hissed, flashing her wings. "Rhaella, the red one seems to show more attitude than the other two," he added as Rhaenyra softly smacked her dragon's hide. The hatchling squealed instantly.
"This cannot leave Winterfell, the King would have your heads if he knew. All four of you," Catelyn said worriedly, even she saw the bad side to allow the dragons to live. But she knew already that Rhaenyra would never allow them to die, the girl was a northern raised child, but her Targaryen blood ran deep.
"Ser Rodrik's people are going through the crowds. Making sure to silence any of the council's spies," Robb disclosed as Catelyn looked horrified.
"Someone sent a woman after me," Rhaenyra explained as Catelyn frowned with confusion.
"I beg your pardon?" Catelyn asked.
"There was an assassin who perished in the fire. She was blonde and quite young, a maid from the looks of her." Rhaenyra tried to recall the woman, but all she kept doing was thinking of her dragons.
"A man was sent after Bran as well," Maester Luwin revealed as Robb frowned furiously. Someone went after his wife and brother, it made him beyond upset, as the boy was unable to defend himself and his wife was defenseless without her guard. "Lady Stark is well and unharmed," he continued as Robb nodded.
Robb thanked the elder who took his leave as Catelyn decided to leave with the servants. He watched his wife gently pet the dragons like he had done Grey Wind. "Rhae," he called as he slowly approached. The dragons squawked at him, they must have realized he was no harm as Alysanne came right up to him chirping. Cautiously, he stroked her nose as she purred. Rhaella though wanted to stay in her mother's lap, Grey Wind stayed near the door as she pushed her dragons off her lap, wishing to bathe so she could wash the soot off. She pulled off the slip and slid into the warm water, it had cooled as it sat there until she used it. He calmly walked to join her, gently rubbing the dirt from her body. He thanked the Old and New gods that she survived, and was given gifts from the gods, just like he and his siblings. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder as she held one of his hands to her chest in thanks that she was still there to be with her husband. Now, she had to secretly raise dragons who would grow bigger and bigger, but the last one was no bigger than a cat, it had been broken. But hers looked strong and bold, especially the one she named after her mother.
"We will have to gather meat to feed them," Rhaenyra commented as Robb nodded in agreement. "I believe someone once said they ate burned meat. I will have to teach them to burn their own meat," she continued as Grey Wind attempted to approach them but Rhaenys shrieked at him making him snarl at her in warning while Rhaella growled in her own warning.
"You can, and you will. It's in your blood after all." Robb grinned as she chuckled softly. "We will protect them from the King, by the time he would hear and have time to gather everyone and march here, they will be big enough to defend themselves," he added confidently.
"I will not cage them. That is where my ancestors failed, they were great and magnificent in Old Valyria and centuries before they started to be housed in that ruin that was once the Dragon Pit," Rhaenyra said firmly as Alysanne glided to the tub and tittered on the edge, she sniffed the water and jerked back when she got wet. Grey Wind realized one was closer and approached before jerking back when she hissed.
VII
A few days later, Rhaenyra sat at her desk as she laid pieces of meat in front of the dragons. Rhaella nudged it before looking to her mother, chirping as Rhaenyra smiled softly.
"Dracarys," Rhaenyra ordered as the dragon turned her head sideways, confused. "Dracarys," she repeated slower as Rhaella looked to the piece of meat. She exhaled on it with nothing but smoke before trying again and sparking the piece to be scorched. Rhaenyra clapped, praising the hatchling with strokes down her back as she purred. Rhaenys and Alysanne followed their sister's example and were able to scorch pieces for their own. Rhaenyra praised them just the same with strokes before offering more pieces to watch them continue to practice their fire. The three ate peacefully as Rhaenyra watched them. They were adorable, for now, she thought. Knowing once they grew bigger they would lose their baby features and gain adult ones. Maester Luwin had asked if he could study the dragons, sketch their features and make notes as they grow. Since the fall of the dragons, many books were destroyed so not many knew the truth about the dragons. She agreed, finding no problem as she wanted to learn as well.
"How are they?" Robb asked as he came in the door.
"Good, they're learning quickly. All that comes out are sparks for now," she smiled as he bent down to kiss her head.
"They'll turn to fire soon enough, Love. All we can hope is that no one finds out about them," Robb prayed as she agreed. They were her babies, but also Robert would see it as a reason to execute her. That she was positive about. "You have another letter from Daenerys," he added showing the letter as she took it.
"Dear Rhae, I hope that Bran awakens soon sister. He sounds like such a sweet boy, I hope you recover as well. It is getting harder and harder to send out letters so my next one might be from Vaes Dothrak, we should reach it soon. I hope. With love, Dany."
Rhaenyra prayed her sister made it to Vaes Dothrak, and that she'd have a child as well. Something that would give her someone to love and care for.
"What does it say?" Robb asked curiously as he put his arms around her waist.
"Nothing much, she hopes that Bran wakes up and she should be reaching Vaes Dothrak soon," she answered as she allowed Robb to take the letter to read.
"I hope she reaches there safely," he murmured before a knock quickly made them turn to see Baela come in.
"Lady Catelyn requests you both in the woods with Theon, Maester Luwin, and Ser Rodrik," she explained as Valaena joined to help ready Rhaenyra. The young woman instead stood and simply readied herself in her riding outfit, trousers, and a tunic was easier for her dragons to cling to. When she approached they quickly climbed up to her hair, Alysanne clung to her chest while Rhaenys and Rhaella settled on her shoulders. Valaena aided in putting her cloak on, it'd help hide the dragons until they reached the forest.
Together, they all walked out as many greeted their lady. It had been a few days since the fire and many were quiet, not about Rhaenyra but about the dragons, those who saw them or heard them remain silent. The people of Winterfell cared for their lady and would protect her from southerners who came to kill her. Ser Rodrik had already dispatched quite a few spies and made sure none got out. They walked further out as Raynor made sure no one followed. Grey Wind joined them as well, sniffing her cloak as he could smell the hatchlings underneath. They made their way to a clearing that Catelyn stood at, beside her stood Maester Luwin and Ser Rodrik. Theon quickly looked to see them as Rhaenyra undid her cloak.
"Is it wise to let them out?" Ser Rodrik asked worriedly as Robb nodded reassuringly.
"They need to get used to the northern air, besides they will grow faster if they are not kept indoors," he said.
"I agree," Catelyn said as she smiled softly, kneeling and allowing the hatchlings to come to her as they smelled her covered hands. "Now that we have gathered, I have called you here to discuss a terrible truth, but what I am about to tell you must not leave Winterfell," she told them. "I want your oaths on that. If even part of what I suspect is true, Ned and my girls have ridden into deadly danger, and a word in the wrong ears could mean their lives," she continued.
"Lord Eddard is a second father to me," said Theon. "I do so swear."
"You have my oath," Maester Luwin said.
"And mine, my lady," echoed Ser Rodrik.
She looked at her son and her good-daughter. "And you, Robb, Rhenyra?"
They nodded their consent.
"Of course," Valaena and Raynor bowed their heads respectfully. Ned was a fair lord who cared for his people, no matter their station he treated them fairly, better than most.
"Your aunt Lysa, my sister," Catelyn started aiming at her oldest who frowned softly. "Has told me something grave. She believes the Lannisters were responsible for the death of her husband, the Hand of the King." Catelyn continued as many paused, fearing what would come. "I recall that Jaime Lannister did not join the hunt the day Bran fell. He remained here in the castle," Catelyn said as Valaena swallowed thickly. "I do not think Bran fell from the tower. I think he was thrown," Catelyn finished as Valaena looked down.
"My lady, that is a monstrous suggestion," said Rodrik Cassel. "Even the Kingslayer would flinch at the murder of an innocent child. From the whispers all those years ago, they speak of those who flinched or looked horrified at the displayed bodies of Prince Rhaegar's family," he brought up as Rhaenyra swallowed the bile she felt in her throat.
"I thought I saw long hair, My Lady," Valaena spoke as Catelyn looked to her.
"Long hair?" she questioned as Valaena looked around.
"It was a split moment. I thought I had seen someone with long blonde hair," Valaena swore. She was no liar, she was as honorable as a northern man, Ned once said as she would keep a secret to her death.
"Bran was always sure-footed," the Maester smiled slightly. "He's climbed in rain and snow, he knew every stone." He smiled at the memories.
"If what Valaena speaks of is true… then it might be all Lannisters we should be wary of," Rodrik spoke, a moment worried he accused Valaena of lying but she knew better. "The blade the male assassin used. It was too fine a blade for a man like him."
"And the man you describe is most certainly not a partner of the woman who attacked me, she did dress in a bit of fine clothing. But nothing like noble or royal, like a southern maid. One I would gather in the queen's company," Rhaenyra growled as Ser Rodrik glared at her.
"Careful girl!" he scolded. "You don't know who is listening." He looked to the hatchlings scouring the cold ground. They were squealing and chattering to one another as Grey Wind nudged them, ensuring they didn't wander off.
"Lord Stark must be told of this," Maester Luwin interrupted quickly as Rhaenyra knelt to her hatchlings who came to her.
"We cannot trust these words to be carried by a raven," Catelyn decided as everyone looked to one another.
"I'll go," Robb spoke as everyone shook their heads.
"There must always be a Stark in Winterfell. I will go," Catelyn decided as all four teenagers disagreed.
"You cannot, My Lady," Rhaenyra spoke, standing as her hatchlings cried out in confusion.
"I must," Catelyn countered, knowing as much as her wards and sons needed her, she needed to tell Ned what they suspected.
"What about Bran?" Robb's confused voice asked. "You can't mean to leave." He had not a clue as to what his mother wanted to do now. She was so desperate to stay with Bran she had neglected Rickon and himself, despite having a wife of his own and he was full-grown now. But he needed the guidance of ruling Winterfell, as did Rhaenyra now that she had three little ones to look after.
"I have prayed to the Seven for more than a month, Robb. Bran's life is now in the Gods' and Maester Luwin's hands." Catelyn decided to truly trust her maester and their Gods.
"Then we shall send Hal and a squadron of guards," Robb spoke as Theon agreed.
"It is a dangerous trek, My Lady. You cannot go alone," he pleaded as she frowned to them.
"Too large a party attracts unwanted attention. I would not have the Lannisters know I am coming," Catelyn denied.
"My lady, let me accompany you at least. The kingsroad can be perilous for a woman alone," Ser Rodrik spoke in worry.
"I will not take the Kingsroad. But two riders can move as fast as one, and a good deal faster than a long column burdened by wagons and wheelhouses. I will welcome your company, Ser Rodrik. We will follow the White Knife down to the sea, and hire a ship at White Harbor. Strong horses and brisk winds should bring us to King's Landing well ahead of Ned and the Lannisters," Catelyn decided as her guard nodded.
"Will Lord Stark be told of them, My Lady?" Maester Luwin asked as he saw the hatchlings tackling one another as Grey Wind continued to watch them.
"No," she spoke quickly. "I do not know who will be listening, I do not feel comfortable going to King's Landing. So I do not want to mention the dragons to anyone."
"Very well, My Lady." Ser Rodrik nodded, he looked to see the babies squawking at their mother.
"I believe they are hungry," Rhaenyra laughed as they climbed up her dress and underneath her cloak.
"Return to Winterfell. I will leave at first light on the morrow," Catelyn decided as they agreed. Robb guided his wife back with the guard and maids who were on the lookout for others.
"Rhae," Theon called as he jogged ahead. "I got this earlier." He showed her a bloody tin. "It's rabbit. Baela went on a hunt with me earlier and I finally skinned them," he explained proudly as Baela smirked.
"We figured it was easier than you and Robb constantly going hunting. Until they can hunt on their own," Baela suggested as Robb smirked.
"Not a bad idea," he agreed as the babies started to move and trill, smelling the blood. "We need to go inside," Robb ordered instantly seeing the movement get more violent.
"Agreed," Raynor agreed quickly guiding the way. Rhaenyra knew it would be a challenge for them to keep them quiet. "Rodrik and I have situated a guard of mine and his to stand at each end and if they hear any talk of you surviving a fire or the dragons, they are to order them to keep quiet or will be sentenced to the jail for a few days," Raynor spoke up suddenly as Robb nodded.
"Good, it is the last thing we need for them to let it get out," Robb added while the girls frowned, thinking it was excessive but knew if Robert found out, they were dead. All of them.
VII
(Kingsroad)
"Arya!" Shouts from the northern guards continued as hounds barked and cried out. Searching for the missing girl. Ned was desperate as he feared what rumors he has heard. That Arya set Nymeria on the Prince, despite the horrible temper the boy had. It was a penalty that will not go unforgiven. He saw the bond between his children and their wolves. Rickon, of course, needed more training which Theon and Ser Rodrik were trying to do for them. Bran had seemed close with his wolf before his fall, the beast had refused to leave Bran and Rhaenyra when they laid on the ground. Sansa and Arya's wolves had their mistress' tempers; Lady true to her name and Nymemria just the same. Robb and Jon both had already trained their wolves, but Ned knew they would require more and hoped that Robb could, he prayed to the Old that Jon would be allowed to keep his wolf at the Wall, the silent creature whose face reminded them all of their Weirwood trees deep in the north.
"My Lord!" A guard raced up to him as he turned, their torches nearly going out from the gust of winds. Another of Ned's fear that Arya would get sick from the chill. "My Lord, they found her. Her and Jory both." The man smiled as Ned felt relief in his bones and stomach relieved of the dread that has been there for four days, for how long his pup has been missing. He nodded and frowned suddenly, realizing something.
"Why have they not been brought to me?" he questioned instantly.
"Lannisters found them before we could, they took them both before the Queen. Ignoring Jory's claims to go to you," the soldier spoke as they all turned back to head to where the King and Queen brought Arya. Ned and his men shoved through the Lannister men, not caring for how they handled them. He spotted an irritated Jory who greeted his lord quickly and turned the young girl he held close. Arya sobbed the moment she spotted her father and embraced him as he held her close.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she started as he stopped her.
"Are you hurt?" He asked ignoring the others.
"No," she answered as Jaime came in leading a fearful Sansa, despite his attempts to soothe her. He quickly offered her to Ned who checked on her as well.
"What is the meaning of this?" He surged around to face his best friend who held a sullen look. "Why was I not told that my daughter had been found?" Ned demanded, his voice rising. "Why was she not brought to me at once?"
"How dare you speak to your king in that manner?" Cersei snarled before Robert snapped at her.
"Quiet woman," he ordered as Jaime sighed, standing near the Stark trio. Knowing Ned and their King were close and would protect one another for anything, though his daughter's happiness is more important as Jaime could see. "I am sorry Ned, I didn't mean to frighten the girls, either of them. I just wish to get this all straightened." Robert hated that he had negated Ned's parental duties in seeing his child first, his youngest daughter at that.
"That daughter of yours and her butcher's boy attacked Joffrey, they set on him with clubs. Then she set her wolf on him."
"That's not true!" Arya denied to the Queen's statement as Sansa became horrified. They were bending the story! Rhaenyra's words of staying true to her sister rang in her ears as she heard Joffrey call her sister a liar. She did not know what to do, either she betrayed Joffrey and stayed loyal to her family or betray her kin for the Prince's favor. She feared for Nymeria when they found her, she prayed the direwolf remained far away. She only became aware of the King directing the attention to herself now, as she was the third person who witnessed everything.
"Tell it all and tell it true, it's a high crime to lie to a King, girl," Robert spoke softly, even he could see the fear across Sansa's sweet face. Robert felt like something was off about this whole situation, he hoped Ned's loyalty and honor were in his girls as well.
"We..." She paused looking to a smug Cersei and Joffrey and then to her worried sister. She looked to her father who she had told the truth too before returning her gaze albeit nervously to the King. "The Prince and I came upon Arya playing sticks with the butcher's boy. It was a simple harmless play Father allowed. Arya likes something to do and she gets bored. When...when we got...closer..." Sansa stuttered as Arya reached over taking her sister's arm to ground her. "I do admit, everything did happen quickly but Micah had run off at Arya's urging. At some point, Arya fell backward when the Prince had turned to face her, he did have his sword drawn. He was originally showing it to me, I never look at swords closely...that is more Arya's hobby. Nymeria must have thought he meant her harm and she did lung at him, I did not realize she bit him until she ran off, Arya right behind her." Sansa tried to tell the truth as much as possible, but it was hard. She could feel Arya's grip on her tighten, not truly painful but it did hurt a bit.
Prince Joffrey was pale as he began his very different version of events. When his son was done talking, the king rose heavily from his seat, looking like a man who wanted to be anywhere but here. "What in all the seven hells am I supposed to make of this? He says one thing, she says another."
Robert stared the girls down as his wife all but glared at the red-haired child. Cersei assumed she could control the older one, but she did not realize that the Targaryen had long gotten to Sansa. As the young girl did not have a family she wanted to make sure Sansa's remained together.
"Robert, I want her punished," Cersei snarled furiously.
"Seven hells," Robert swore. "Cersei, look at her. She's a child. What would you have me do, whip her through the streets? Damn it, children fight. It's over. No lasting harm was done."
The queen was furious. "Joff will carry those scars for the rest of his life."
Robert Baratheon looked at his eldest son scornfully. "You let that little girl disarm you? Perhaps this will teach you a lesson. Ned, see that your daughter is disciplined. I will do the same with my son."
"Gladly, Your Grace," Ned said with vast relief.
Robert started to walk away, but the queen was not done. "And what of the direwolf?" she called after him. "What of the beast that savaged your son?" The queen was exaggerating, Robert knew it, he'd been told of the wounds. Simple bite marks, he gained worse from his hunting hounds when they became excited to hunt.
The king stopped, turned back, frowned. "I'd forgotten about the damned wolf."
"We found no traces of the direwolf, Your Grace," a guard spoke as Robert turned to him. He nodded to the guard and turned to Cersei.
"No? So be it." He turned and started to leave.
"We have another one," Cersei smirked at the horrified northerners' faces. If Sansa refused to behave then she would make her, by slaughtering the precious beast that meant more to the girl than her son Joffrey.
"Wha..." Arya froze realizing they meant Lady! "No!" Arya spoke up, determined to defend her sister's wolf. "Lady wasn't there! You leave her alone!"
"No, not Lady! Lady did not bite anyone, she is good!" Sansa begged as Robert paused, hearing the desperation in her tone but before he spoke another voice spoke up softly.
"Your Grace. Lady Sansa's direwolf is nothing but a giant puppy. I've met the wolf myself," Jaime spoke up as Cersei's enraged gaze flew to him. "Why punish an innocent creature when the true culprit has long run off? It has been days and my men have found neither hide nor hair of the direwolf, Nymeria." Jaime knew he was treading on thin ice with his twin. But he saw the resignation in her face a few moments later.
"You are right Ser Jaime, I feared all wolves are the same but if you vouch for..." she paused to glare at Sansa lightly. "Lady Sansa's wolf, then it must be true," she glowered at him. Robert paused as well before nodding.
"Make sure the wolf is always on a leash, girl. This is your only warning," Robert warned Sansa who nodded quickly.
"Yes...of...of course...Your Grace..." she stuttered as Arya leaned against her, happy her sister's wolf would remain alive. Ned also sighed in relief before looking to Jaime who gave him a small smile before looking away following the King with Ser Barristan who looked at Jaime as well.
VII
(Winterfell)
Rhaenyra woke to little bodies snuggled up to her face as another was coiled behind her. A nudge to her face made her look up to see Rhaella chirping and trilling. She was hungry no doubt. Soon, the red hatchling woke the other two up causing her to untangle Robb's arm from her waist without waking him. She placed her robe on and walked to the tin that held the meat inside. Valaena had created a small braided rope for the dragons to climb up until they could on their own, she had Raynor nail it to the table so it would not move. She laid pieces out as she offered some to Grey Wind who ate a few, Rhaella already scorched a few of her own and started eating. A few days ago Rhaenyra noticed the tint of fire from each hatchling. At first, they could only produce sparks, but now they could do small spats of fire. Rhaella's was more reddish, a hint of black to match the frills that were slowly growing, Rhaenys' was yellow with a flare of molten gold, and Alysanne's fire was light blue with a hint of white in it. Robb had found the new knowledge a bit interesting as did Maester Luwin. She watched them eat their fill as Grey Wind laid at her feet, listening to the hatchlings growl and shriek at one another. Maester Luwin suggested that they would prefer to eat their fill, most animals were better trained with full stomachs.
"They are quite a sight to wake up to," Robb spoke as he embraced her from behind.
"They've grown a bit in two weeks," Rhaenyra revealed as Robb hummed in agreement. He ran a finger down Rhaenys frills that were growing, she extended them as he continued to examine them, Robb had become quite interested in their body changes, when the hatchlings had been born they did not have their frills and barely any of their now growing spikes and crests as Maester Luwin calls them. Originally single-colored eyes, he saw Rhaella's orange-red glare, Rhaenys cat-like green eyes filled with mischief, and Alysanne's piercing blue gaze that sent chills down one's spine.
"Are you going to spend time with Bran today?" Robb asked as Rhaenyra nodded. She occasionally spent a few moments in Bran's room, unlike her good-mother she did not stay there all day, but Lynara did. The elder swore to Ned to protect the children and would do that caring for Bran for his parents, she wanted him to wake to a familiar face.
"Aye, they seem to like it too," Rhaenyra motioned to her dragons who finished as Rhaenys yawned, she trilled and turned to her mother who offered her hand as the hatchlings crawled onto it. Rhaella finished the remaining pieces as Alysanne stretched her wings while walking to the edge of the table as Grey Wind stopped her. She clung to his face like a bat as he backed away, she carefully glided, albeit shakily, to the ground.
"They are impatient," he mused with laughter as she giggled. "They would be perfect practice," he commented softly, kissing her shoulder as she scoffed.
"And your sisters and brothers were not?" Rhaenyra asked as he chuckled.
"Fair point," he kissed her cheek as they both watched Rhaella sniff around a bit more before she looked to the tin and tried to pry it open. "Someone is a glutton," Robb joked as Rhaenyra frowned, pushing her sleeping hatchling onto her shoulder she swatted the red hatchling's hide. Rhaella hissed at her before being swat another time and this time deposited onto the floor. "She might be hard to control," Robb frowned as Rhaella whined softly as Grey Wind sniffed her head wondering what happened.
"She will learn. I just need to keep reminding her who is 'mother,'" she joked as he laughed softly, Rhaenys softly nudged his cheek as he carefully pets the dragon. The dragons learned he was a good person as he slept alongside their mother.
"They will learn," he reassured her as she smiled.
VII
Rhaenyra walked with Baela alongside her, the young woman had taken to wearing a cloak mostly to cover her dragons. It was to protect them from the cold as she could feel them cling to her skin or dress. They made their way to Bran's chambers and came across Lynara who had finished a stitch on a dress for Rhaenyra.
"Go break your fast, we will watch over Bran," Rhaenyra offered as Lynara smiled gratefully.
"Thank you, My Lady." She laid her stitch down before leaving as the dragons perked up at smelling a familiar human. Undoing her cloak, they emerged as Bran's direwolf perked up. The unnamed wolf still had no name as Bran slept. They hoped he'd gain one once the boy woke. But the wolf seemed to like the dragons as he'd lick their faces while they would climb all over him. Rhaella paused at spotting Bran sleeping, the tiny hatchling was confused as to why this one slept all the time. She nudged his hand and tried to wake him like she did her mother, even her sisters tried before their mother removed them. Rhaenyra would sit and read to Bran, telling him stories. Alysanne had laid her head across his legs, trilling softly. She seemed to like the talking her mother did as she always watched her. "Dany sent me another letter, apparently Drogo has taken an interest in who she is continuously writing to. He wanted to see if Dany would send letters for him to Robb. I will admit, I am curious as to why a horse lord wants to send letters to my husband," Rhaenyra told Baela who raised a brow.
"Well Robb technically is another leader so maybe he wishes to know how we fight on this side?" Baela suggested as she continued with her stitching. Unlike her lady, stitching was a favorite pastime for her, it kept her busy when she had nothing else to do.
"I don't know, I haven't told him yet," Rhaenyra admitted as Baela laughed softly.
"What do you think he'd do?" Baela asked as Rhaella shoved herself into her mother's lap, wanting attention.
"Probably answer her, Robb was always curious about the Dothraki," Rhaenyra commented as Baela hummed in interest. It was then when Rhaenys perked up and cried out made them look at her, trilling at Bran who remained motionless. "Rhaenys, gīda ilagon," Rhaenyra ordered as her dragon looked to her before back at the boy, trilling and nudging his arm as the wolf did so to his hand as well. Rhaenyra confused stood and leaned over to brush the hair from the pale boy's face as she thought she saw movement in his hand. Baela also stood, hoping the boy would wake. "Bran?" Rhaenyra called as the boy's eyes opened suddenly. "Bran!" she breathed in shock.
"He's awake!" Baela shouted as Raynor who had stood guard raced off to tell Robb. Rhaenyra laughed softly as she held his face between her hands. The Lord of Winterfell raced in and laughed as he saw his brother awake.
"His name is Summer," Bran said quietly as his wolf licked his hand happily, Rhaenyra beamed with tears in her eyes as she felt her dragons push closer.
VII
Author's note: End of the chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it!
~Rusty14~
