Eddard

A year ago, he almost thought his family was on the brink of collapse. Viserys running away, Jon getting the pox, his wife praying for the deaths of his nephew and wards, and Robert almost declaring war against him to kill the Targaryen children.

But now, he felt his family was growing stronger than he thought it would, and he hoped it would continue to do so over time. Cat was better towards Jon and the Targaryens. Viserys, Jon, Daenerys, Theon, and Robb had all begun to grow close.

Sansa was beginning lessons to be a lady, lessons Daenerys never took because Viserys insisted against it. Arya would take the lessons too, but for a wild girl of three, she had a while until that happened.

There were few arguments, few fights, and overall everyone pretty much got along. Unfortunately, there were a few downsides.

For whatever reason, Viserys was distancing himself from him. Ned didn't know why, but the boy didn't seem to respect him as much as he had, if he ever even did. Daenerys and Jon acted weird whenever someone entered their rooms. And Cat, his wife, they still were a little distant. He just couldn't look at her the same knowing she prayed to her southern gods to bring death upon his own blood. But still, bad did not wash out the good.

Standing atop the castle wall, he looked down at his sons and wards, watching them train in under the guidance of ser Rodrick Cassel.

All four boys were swinging at each other. Viserys against Jon, and Robb against Theon. After Robb knocked Theon into the dirt, Rodrick called out to his pupils. "Alight lads, set down your weapons and come here."

The boys did as asked, though Viserys whispered something into Jons ear before the two walked over to Rodrick. Ned felt some joy, knowing that Viserys and Jon got along well, especially given Jon was secretly his kin.

Viserys did confuse him though, for as a boy of fourteen, he could train with live steel and against more experienced opponents. Instead, he chose to train with Theon, Robb, and Jon, using a wooden sword. Perhaps it was to be with them all? He did not know for certain.

"Jon against Robb, Theon against Viserys." the boys stood where Rodrick pointed, beside the person they were assigned to. "Brother against brother, ward against ward." he paused for a second as all four grabbed their swords. "Blades up, engage."

Immediately, Viserys went against Theon. The Greyjoy barely had time to raise his wooden sword up to defend against the hard blow. Viserys was bigger than Theon, and stronger and more agile.

After a few more hits, both boys had their swords locked in the air, and then Viserys raised his foot and pushed it against Theons chest, knocking the boy to the ground.

Viserys stood over Theon, and extended a hand for the boy to grab. Ned couldn't hear what they were saying, but the two boys had smiles on their faces.

Looking at Jon and Robb, the two boys were still at it, outlasting his wards in their duel. "Harder on the swing Robb." Theon yelled to Ned's son.

"Use your legs Jon!" Viserys shouted. It was still strange to him how fast Viserys went from not giving a damn about Jon, to treating the boy like family.

Surely there was no way Viserys could know, but that didn't stop him from wondering about the sudden changes that had occurred since they left the Wall. 'Aemon, he wouldn't have told him, would he?'

His thoughts on it were interrupted when Robb fell to the ground, Jon having tripped him with his foot. "Foul play!" Rodrick declared.

"No it's not," Viserys told the master at arms as he walked over. "Any man holding a sword could do that and end the battle quickly."

Ned sighed, knowing the two were going to argue. "Aye, the men who lack a sense of honor."

"Fuck honor," his ward retorted, earning a sigh from Ned. "it gets people killed on the battlefield."

Rodrick gave the boy a sharp look. "You've been living in the Stark household most of your life, how is it you lack everything they-"

"Because I'm no Stark," Viserys lashed out at him, then gesturing to Jon. "And neither is he."

Ned could see the bit of hurt in Jon's eyes, but the boy said nothing. He knew how Jon felt about being reminded that his name was Snow, and Viserys didnt seem to understand the insult he had laid against the boy.

Rodrick stared at Viserys, holding in his anger. "Go to the kitchens, I'm sure there's pots for you to clean."

Instead of complaining like he would have in the past, Viserys gave a nod and walked off. Ned stared at the boy, disappointed.

Then he glanced at Jon. The boy had pulled a slightly dishonorable move, but Viserys was right, on the battlefield any soldier could pull that trick and end their opponents life. He just would prefer it if his sons were not the ones doing it.

Theon

After they had finished training with ser Rodrick, Theon accompanied Robb to the Great Hall to watch lord Stark rule as lord of the North.

It was quite boring, he wouldn't lie. But with Robb being heir to Winterfell, and needing to learn from his father, the boy needed to learn.

So Theon would watch, because Viserys was doing work in the kitchens and Snow was just a bastard. He supposed it would probably be a good idea too, given that he was the heir to Pyke, and would need to learn to rule.

"My lord Stark," one of the messengers said to Lord Eddard. "My lord Wyman Manderly has requested me to bring this urgent matter to your attention."

Lord Stark looked the messenger over, and Luwin spoke. "And why is it that lord Manderly could not bring this urgent message himself?" the Measter asked.

In Theons eyes, the Maester had overstepped his place. Maesters didn't have a right to speak up without permission at Pyke, infact, no one even cared for the Maesters. It seemed lord Stark didn't share his views however. "It is alright Luwin, what has Wyman asked of me?"

The man cleared his throat and began. "Pardons my lord, but lord Wyman, he has...grown to the point where he cannot travel by horse." people in the hall began to chuckle, and Theon did as well.

Lord Stark raised his hand to silence everyone, and Robb didn't seem to understand that everyone was laughing because lord Wyman was too fat to travel. "Continue,"

"White Harbor is a fine port, and lord Manderly has offered to build a fleet of ships for House Stark to use in case of war." the messenger continued. "We offered these terms to your lady wife while you were fighting in the Greyjoy Rebellion, but she refused us, stating Lord Stannis had already provided a strong fleet."

If lady Stark was here, Theon doubted she would be amused with this messengers comment. Stark looked at Robb and said a few words, words that he couldn't hear or make out. "What's all the ruckus about?" a voice from behind him asked.

Theon turned to find Viserys standing behind him, before pulling back a chair to sit. "I thought you were in the kitchens?" Theon asked, surprised.

Viserys shrugged, "I thought you didn't ask stupid questions." he retorted, looking up at Lord Stark. "That was three hours ago, I finished."

Well, he had a point there, it seemed Theon just hadn't payed attention to how long he'd been sitting here dying of boredom. "Lord Manderly has requested Stark allow him to build a new naval fleet."

The Targaryen eyed lord Stark, who was still dealing with the Manderlys. "Come with me," Viserys said as he stood up and started towards the door, ignoring what Theon said. Theon didn't know what he was up to, but it was likely more entertaining then sitting here and watching this.

They walked in silence to the elder wards room, but before entering, Viserys looked him in the eye. "What happens tonight, no one can ever know"

Noticing the seriousness in the Targaryens' tone, Theon nodded. If there was one person in all of Winterfell, perhaps all of Westeros that Theon truly called a friend, it was Viserys. They both had the same lifestyle, though the Targaryen was a few years his elder, and had lived as a ward most his life. "I promise."

They both entered, and Theon looked all over the Targaryens room. Viserys barley let anyone in his room, and he could tell why, it was an absolute mess.

On a desk against the wall were papers and documents all spread around, and a few on the ground. His bed was un made, and his clothing was all in a pile in the corner of his room for the servants to clean. A few chests were also laying around, all with the sigil of the Targaryens, save one that bared a white one headed dragon. "How do you live like this?"

Viserys ignored him and grabbed some rags and a cloak. "Put these on." he said like a command.

Theon looked at him curiously, expecting this to be a joke. "No, why would I-"

"Its getting dark outside, nobody will recognize us with this on." Theon stood and watched Viserys put the rags over his clothes, and place the cloak over his head, concealing his silver hair as best he could. "Theon!"

Hesitant, he gave in and grabbed the rags. As he put them on, he had to ask, "What are we doing anyway?"

"Were going to Wintertown," Viserys answered as he picked up a satchel that looked several years old. He removed a single silver stag, and was too disgusted to look at it. The currency was just another reminder of the Baratheon usurpers that stole both their fathers kingdoms. So why Viserys even removed the coin, he knew not. "Have you had a drink before?"

Theon gave a nod. "I sometimes drank with my brothers, till I came here." A part of him missed his brother's, but for the most part they acted like cunts to him. "Why?"

His elder shrugged as they walked out of his room. "Because we're going to Winter towns tavern, and last time I went alone I ended up sleeping in the mud on the side of the Smoking Log" he replied.

Figuring out his purpose in coming, he supposed it wasn't that bad. He keeps Viserys from passing out drunk, and gets ale in return.

Daenerys

Sound asleep in her room during the hour of the wolf, Daenerys woke to the smell of smoke, and screams coming from outside her door.

Opening her eyes, she saw her three dragon eggs resting beside the fireplace where she set them. The red and black one in the center, and to the left of it sat the blue egg with its streams of silver. And to the right of both, was the green egg she had given to Jon.

He had kept it for a while, but in the past few years he was accepting that he was a bastard, something Dany hated. Jon was still a living person, and he was her closest friend. And while he said she was the same to him, it still hurt that he returned the egg saying it was 'no gift a bastard should have.'

Again, she heard the screams that woke her, and turned her head to the door. Bright orange flashed from the other side, the same color as the flames that warmed her eggs.

Realizing what was going on, she rose from her bed immediately and ran to her door. She tried opening it, but it would not move. "Is someone there?!" she shouted.

A few screams of burning and dying men answered her, and again she tried opening the door. She kicked it, ran into it, but it would not budge. Something was blocking it from the other side.

After failing a few more times, she finally gave up. "Viserys!" she yelled out her brothers name. Moving towards the wall, she pounded on fiercely on it, hoping her brother was on the other side in his room. "Viserys!"

When no answer came, it became clear that there was no escape, the fire would come for her, or else the roof would collapse on top of her. Either way, she would die.

After all that had happened, to her and her brother, dying like this wasn't something she had prepared for. She was beginning to feel fear, but something made her look over her shoulder.

Glancing at the dragon eggs still resting by the fireplace, she walked over to them. But as she moved, and her wooden door began to burn, she realized she wasn't even that hot, rather just a little warm.

Kneeling, Dany grabbed her three eggs, and huddled them close to her. She didn't want to think about the coming flames, or that her death was approaching.

Looking down at them, she felt that same connection she had the first time she and Jon found them, and before that in her dreams.

A few moments passed, and the wall dividing her and her brothers room collapsed from the flames, which caused sparks and smoke to engulf her, but she didn't burn.

For whatever reason, she wasn't hot, and wasn't burning. She couldn't explain it, but when she looked inside her brothers collapsing room, his cream colored dragon egg caught her gaze.

Daenerys didn't hesitate, and entered the flames consuming Viserys room, moving closer to the dragon egg. The flames did not touch her.

As she grabbed all four eggs, she sat under the night sky where the roof had collapsed, to avoid not being crushed by the collapsing structure. And then a cracking noise came from the red and black dragon egg, and she was shocked at what she knew was happening.

Eddard

It was so random, and it seemed impossible to believe. Somehow, the section of the castle where his wards were staying had caught fire.

Just moments ago he had been resting in his chambers, until a few guards and Jory Cassel covered in ash came to his room.

"Were the Targaryen children and Greyjoy in there?" he asked one of the guards that got out of the building. Gods he hoped the answer was no.

The guard was breathing heavily, and shook his head. "I never saw Greyjoy or Viserys enter my lord." he paused, and that was when Ned knew. "But the girl, she had gone to her room to rest for the evening."

He didn't want to believe it, but he just knew it was true. The girl he had practically raised, in a way the first daughter he had, was now a burning corpse.

Before he could even begin to grieve or mourn her, he heard one of his guards yell out "We have Theon, my lord."

Ned turned to see the boy half awake being escorted by two guards. He ran to his ward, both glad he was alright but needing to know where he was if not a sleep at this hour. "Where were you?"

The Greyjoy did not respond, instead staring at the burning building, shocked. "Theon?"

"The boy was walking through the main gate when we found him," one of the guards that had escorted theon said. "Judging by how he was walking and acting, we deduced he was drinking in a tavern."

"He also said he was with Viserys, my lord." The other guard said.

Realizing the two were together, he again tried to get Theon to speak. "Theon listen to me." He demanded as he placed his hands on the boys shoulders, and finally getting his attention. "Where is Viserys?"

Theon looked at him, then to the flames of the burning building. "We…were walking back and-"

"Let me go!" A familiar voice said screamed. Ned glanced over to find it was indeed Viserys. "Get your hands off me!"

The guards holding the Targaryen looked at Ned, and noticed Theon beside him. Ned gave a nod for them to let the boy go, and they did such.

It did not take long for Viserys to notice the burning structure. Staring for a second, his face turned worrisome. "Where is my sister?!" Viserys demanded an answer as he walked closer to Ned. "Where is Daenerys!?"

Ned didn't want to be the one to tell him the hard truth, especially after all the lad had been through. "Viserys…she's gone."

Viserys stared at the burning building, and a tear came down his cheek. "Dany" he barley said.

Ned tried to put a hand on his shoulder, to comfort him, but the boy slapped his hand away, and ran towards the fire. "To hells with you!"

"Viserys!" Ned called after him, but the boy ran to the flames.

Whether the boy was planning to jump into the fire himself or whatever else he did not know, but thankfully two men of his household guard caught him before he could do anything.

"Dany!" Viserys again screamed, and Ned bowed his head in sorrow for both Daenerys and Viserys, for he knew that what the boy was going through was by far worse than what he had with his own sister.

When the guards finally released him, Viserys fell to his knees and screamed at the flames. Ned wanted to walk over and comfort him, but he doubted the boy wanted his company.

One by one everyone left as the flames died out, and Ned left Viserys there, and went to his chambers. It felt wrong, leaving him out here, but he doubted Viserys wanted to leave his sisters ashes, just as Ned didn't want to leave Lyannas.

Viserys

Waking up after falling asleep on the ground, he was hoping that last night was a dream and that he passed out drunk on the ground.

But after opening his eyes, and looking at the burned down building he had called home since moving to Winterfell, the truth hit him, and it hurt.

He had lost everything, his father, mother, brother, his kingdom, and now his sister was gone with them. A part of him wanted to cry again, to lay in the ash and mourn for his family, while the rest of him felt he had let out everything he had last night.

Closing his eyes for a moment, he sighed, and then walked into the rubble. It was still warm, and the ruins of the building were like charcoal.

It was early in the morning, and the sun had not yet fully risen. But high in the sky, replacing the sun, was a comet as red as blood.

Nobody was up walking around, and it seemed nobody could have been bothered to move him to a room with a bed. He felt stiff, and got warmer as he stepped into the ashes of what was his sisters room.

Viserys didn't speak, didn't cry, he didn't do anything besides stare at the ground. 'Forgive me mother,' He had failed to keep his promise, the last thing his mother had asked for, to keep his sister safe.

If he had just been there for her more, acted more like a brother. Alas, his main focus had been on restoring his house, getting vengeance on the Usurper, and now he would never see Dany again.

Again Viserys sobbed, and heard a chirp come from where his room would be. It was no chirp he had ever heard before, but then again he didn't pay much attention to birds.

It came again, and a few more chirps joined it. They were faint, but still loud enough for him to hear, and they began to annoy him.

Walking over to the rubble that had once been his room, he had to climb over some of it as there was a lot of charred wood spread around and piled up from the collapsed building.

Once he reached the source of the chirping, his eyes widened at the sight. The chirps left his mind as he laid eyes on his sister, covered in black soot, sitting up on the ashes and ruins of the building, unburnt.

Disbelief came over him, but as he took a few steps further, and noticed the red and black dragon curled in her arms, the green dragon on her shoulder, and the blue dragon on her lap, he knew either he was dreaming, or was mad, for their was no explanation for this.

When his sister looked up at him, it seemed she was also doubting this was real. "Viserys?" she uttered his name as he knelt beside her, and the cream colored dragon that had been his own dragon egg last night, came and laid at his feet.

He had no words to answer his sister, and he doubted their was any explanation for the four hatched dragons, not that he needed one. What he knew, was that his sister was alive, and that his house had been given a second chance.

The cream dragon climbed up Viserys arm, its tiny claws jabbing into his skin as it did so, but barely did he notice any pain. After it rested on his shoulder, Viserys hesitantly raised a hand to gently pet it, feeling its scaly features.

After a few moments, the dragons cried out into the sky, for the first time in hundreds of years. That was when Viserys realized, and looked at his sister, finally knowing what to say. "We need to hide."

A/N: Apologies for the long wait, but the next chapter is finally here. I was going to make it longer, but decided to split it into two chapters, so chapter seven is going to be uploaded right after this one.