Hi! I struggled a bit with this chapter but I hope it's not obvious. I don't want to make the story too rushed. I hope you guys enjoy this!
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or anything encompassing the realm of Game of Thrones. :)
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Jon woke up before the sunrise. No matter how many years has passed by, there's nothing like the sight of Winterfell in the morning.
He could see that aside from him, the stable keepers were busy gathering hay for the horses. He could hear the distant sound of clanging from the blacksmith working. He smiled and said, "this is home."
He walked around the castle on his way to the Great Hall to break his fast. To his surprise, he wasn't alone.
"Jon." He heard a feminine voice say, and he turned around though he already knew who called him as onyx eyes met onyx.
"Little sister." Jon knew that she wasn't his little sister but old habits died hard.
He stood and waited for Arya to catch up to him, and they walked together to the Great Hall.
"You're up early," he said to Arya. Now that she was closer, he saw the dark circles beneath her eyes. Before he even heard her reply, he understood.
"Couldn't sleep. You?" she said in a nonchalant manner.
"Same." They continued their walk in silence. When he got back to Winterfell, he was glad to see her at last. He hadn't thought it was real, but there she stood. It was all a blur since she jumped and hugged him before he could move an inch. He was happy but then he noticed something. There was darkness behind her eyes, her smiles never reaching it. She looked tired. The most disturbing thing though, was that she never told him what she went through. He didn't understand the scars she had, or how her small smooth hands became rough. It was strange that before he could read her with ease, and her only troubles were Sansa and her needlework. Now, he wished he knew what he could do for her. But he settled on waiting for her to open up to him once again.
He noticed Needle still on her hilt and remembered the day when he gave it to her. He's glad that at least Needle withstood the test of time. He noticed though that her sword was always on her. She'd grip it's hilt when she hears something, then after realizing it was nothing, she'd release it. He has yet to see her without it.
Before he noticed it, the wide doors of the Great Hall were in front of him. They sat down and their food placed in front of them. A short while later, he saw Sansa walk through the doors and sit with them at the table.
I wonder if Bran will come to breakfast today, he wondered.
He didn't have to wonder long before he heard the wheels of a burrow entering the great hall and saw Bran.
The clanging of cutlery against plates resonated throughout the stone-walled hall. He wondered if telling them about the dragon right now would be appropriate. He was always hesitant before talking to them. They are family, but the years have changed many things. Once, the walls of Winterfell contained laughter and glee. Now, things felt strained and heavy, even the silence.
They're family, they deserve to know.
Jon cleared his throat then announced to the table, "I have something to tell you all."
He saw Sansa put her cutlery down to listen like the proper lady she vowed to be. He saw Arya stop mid-bite waiting curiously to hear the news. He saw Bran wait patiently for him to speak. He wasn't sure exactly how to phrase the news, but informed them in a straight forward manner.
"There's a dragon under the crypts."
Sansa looked shocked and terrified at the same time. He looked to Arya and saw her eyes brighten, brimming with curiousity.
"How big is he? Is he still there? Can I see him? Are you going to put him in the courtyard?", Arya asked rushed. Before he could answer, Sansa's voice interrupted him.
"We can't keep a dragon in the courtyard! He might end up burning us all and Winterfell to the ground!"
"Why not? He's a dragon, dragons aren't meant to stay hiding underground. They need to fly!" Arya replied passionately.
Jon sighed and felt an oncoming headache. Despite himself he smiled though in the midst of their bickering. Some things don't change at all.
He realized if he waited for them to stop arguing, he'd end up waiting forever.
"We can't keep him in the courtyard." He said, and he saw Sansa's face turn smug while looking at Arya.
"But, wh-" Arya started to say, but before she could finish her question, Jon went on.
"He's too big to take out of the crypts. He's hidden in the deepest level. He can't fit through the passageways."
Or at least the passageways I know of, he thought. Winterfell has been known to be a maze with mysteries hiding behind its walls.
"So we're just going to leave a dragon beneath the castle?", Arya said indignantly.
"For now." Jon replied.
"What do you mean 'for now'? He's beneath the crypts, we can't destroy the crypts! They're sacred. It'll anger the gods!" Sansa said defensively.
To be honest, even Jon himself didn't know what to do. He could only think of the words Bran told him last night, which wasn't much to go by.
"When the time has come, we'll all know it." Bran said nonchalantly. The table fell silent. Bran never said much since he became the "Three-eyed Raven", but when he did speak it always felt strange to follow.
He looked around the table and saw Sansa and Arya go back to eating. He stared at his unfinished food and forced himself to stomach it all. Ever since he was revived, he found his appetite dwindling.
"Excuse me, I'll take my leave. I'll be in my quarters if you need me," Jon said as he excused himself from the table. He stood up and walked the length of the Great Hall and out its doors.
I still need to plan on what to do about the White Walkers. Winter is here, we need to stop them. Jon was lost in his thoughts and didn't notice the faint footsteps following him.
"Can I see the dragon?"
Jon was startled out of his thoughts and looked at Arya behind him. How long has she been following me?
Jon knew first hand how relentless Arya can be, well at least when she was younger. He hesitated though, scared of whether the dragon would take to her so easily.
"I'll be fine." She said, trying to convince him. She must have noticed the worry on his face.
"He might try to burn you. He isn't trained." He said, though he knew a losing battle when he saw one.
"I'll dodge. I swear." For a moment, Jon saw Arya's childishness again and he was glad for it. She was the one he had missed the most. That's why he gave in.
"Fine," he said to which he saw Arya rejoice. "BUT, if I sense danger of any sort, I will haul you out of there whether you like it or not." His warning though fell on deaf ears as Arya started to walk towards the crypts.
"Come on, hurry up Jon!"
Jon sighed and hoped that he could control Edrion if the need arises. He caught up with Arya and stepped in front to lead. He walked through the crypts to the spiral staircase until they reached the lowest level. His heart was hammering in his chest.
I shouldn't have given in, if something happens..
Then he stopped himself from following his train of thought. He had too many memories of burned bodies to not know what it would look like. His fear for her grew with each second.
He felt a small push at his back, and turned around and saw a very impatient looking Arya.
"What are you waiting for? Go on." she ordered him. I give this girl too much liberties, he thought.
He pushed his fear aside and stepped steadily, past the unreadable crypts until he arrived at his. He heard the stop of footsteps behind him. He saw her read the name on the crypt with a small smile on her lips.
"It's yours." She said so softly, there wasn't even an echo.
"Aye, it is," he said before stepping further into the crypt, "come on, he's down here."
She followed him, slowly, as if she was walking on sacred ground. He signaled her to stop when she was a few feet away, thankfully she obliged. He neared Edrion to check if he was asleep.
Please be asleep. Please be asleep. Please be asleep. Please be asleep.
Alas, he saw the white dragon with onyx eyes wide awake. He seemed pleased to see him.
"Hi, Edrion." He greeted as he neared to touch him. Edrion was as docile as Ghost was when he was a pup.
"We have a visitor today. Try to be nice, okay?" he told Edrion, hoping the message would get across.
I should write Daenerys to ask how she tamed her dragons.
"No killing, okay?" he followed up tentatively as he stepped back to where Arya was.
"Step forward.. slowly," he instructed her. She gave a slight nod, and he watched as she neared Edrion one step at a time. He watched with bated breath as he saw Edrion slowly stand up and near her. She stopped moving forward and instinctively held out her hand. He watched as the onyx eyes of Edrion took her in. He braced himself, ready to act if ever he needed to. He could see Edrion sniffing her hand while baring his teeth. He moved forward and he let Arya pet him.
Jon released a breath he didn't know he was holding as relief washed over him. He stood and watched as Edrion relaxed and lay down at Arya's feet.
"He's beautiful." Arya whispered to him. He saw her eyes full of awe at the sight of Edrion. "What's his name? I heard you call him something.."
"Edrion."
"Edrion.." she said slowly, rolling the name around on her tongue. "After..?"
"After Eddard Stark." he said, and he swallowed a lump in his throat at the thought of the one who raised him as a father. Jon saw Arya stop for a second as she heard the name of her father. It was just a moment but he knew she still missed him. "It's a good name," she said with a sad smile on her lips.
As much as Jon wanted to let the two bond more, there were things to plan and do. He also knew she had to train with Lady Brienne.
"We should get going," he said.
Arya gave a slight nod, and with one more goodbye to Edrion, they turned and left going into the courtyard. The courtyard seemed brighter and louder than he remembered it from moments before. The sun was high in the sky now.
"Go on, you'll be late for your training." Jon said. The sun's rays seemed to remind him of all his worries. Reality seemed to cease to exist when he was down in the crypts. As Jon walked away he heard her voice say "Jon.."
He looked at her a few feet away.
"Thank you." she said then she turned on her heels heading for the courtyard to train. Jon swore that her smile finally reached her eyes. He headed to his quarters to once again stare at a map of the North. He had many things to do, and he hoped that there was still enough time to figure things out.