Author's Note

I do not own Game of Thrones.

Ned had to admit, a small part of him wanted to mount the dragon himself, just to say he'd done it once in stories when he was drunk and old, but he doubted Sara would allow that, and so let Jon do the climbing up to measure her shoulders. He noted down the measurements, already trying to work out exactly what a saddle for a dragon the size of a carthorse would look like. Too far forward and Jon would throw off the balance, but too far back and the straps and his feet would interfere with her wings. Perhaps if they raised the saddle from her back – but would that not be uncomfortable for both dragon and rider?

Ned rubbed his jaw. Were there still books, somewhere, on how the Targaryens saddled their dragons? Perhaps. But how would he ever find one? Especially without giving away his sudden interest in dragons?

"I think you'd have to bring your legs up," he said at last. "So as not to be sitting on her neck, but not catch on her wings. We'll have to put the stirrups far back."

"Oh, like Cregan's then!" Jon replied happily.

Ned looked at Cregan. Sure enough, his collection of straps had the stirrups far enough back that one could never ride him like a horse. You'd need to lean forward, over the wolf.

"Yes, something similar," he agreed, and picked up the leather straps he'd brought with him. "With straps to make sure you don't fall off."

Jon blushed.

"If you're determined to fly tonight, we can tie you on, but I'd sooner see you with a proper saddle."

Jon turned a deeper shade of red. "Oh, that's fine. We've flown before; that's why she needs a saddle. She's too big now for me to sit right and hold her collar. Last time I nearly fell off."

Ned stared at him for a long, long moment. "Jon?"

"Yes Father?"

"Do not fly again until you have a proper saddle."

"Yes Father." He looked at Cregan. "Can I still ride Cregan?"

"Will he let me check those straps first?"

"Yes Father."

Cregan was more cooperative than Sara in being touched and handled. But then he was far more accustomed to Ned. The straps were sturdy enough, though perhaps overly complicated.

"Do you ride Cregan often?" he asked.

"Only sometimes, when we want to run." Jon frowned. "You've never ridden Winter."

"I'm too big."

Jon folded his arms. "Are not!"

"I'm twice your size, and Winter has a bad leg."

Jon pressed his lips into a tight line, and then his eyes lit up. "What if you ride Cregan? He's big 'nough, and all tacked up already."

"I don't think Cregan would appreciate that."

He was certainly the more laid back of the two, at least where it came to other people, but how far that could be pushed, even by Ned, who he'd once followed to Pyke, was to be debated.

"He'd let you. Cregan likes you." Jon glanced at the dragon the size of a horse still occupying the stableyard. "Not like Sara."

"Sara doesn't like me?"

The dragon snorted and shook her head. Well. That certainly explained why he never saw her.

"Is there a reason why?"

He had yet to work out where the ghosts had come from, but the fact he had apparently managed to end up on the wrong side of one was a little more than concerning. Especially when she was still currently a beautiful silver dragon. And stood in his courtyard.

Jon shrugged. "Sara doesn't like anyone."