She sits with her back to me as I walk into the room. Her hair is longer than I remember. Waves of ebony hair fall to the middle of her back. A few braids mix in with the rest. Something is so different about this room. Almost familiar but not.

My legs are weak in this dream world. It feels like I've been drinking a couple pints of ale. Outside the sun shines in through the window bringing a certain glow to the room. It's not winter I notice suddenly. I feel warmer than I have in years.

As I get closer, Arya turns to look at me. My heart clenches in my chest. She looks so much older. Maybe twenty and five. Her features are more pronounced from the loss of baby fat but her smile is the same. She's so ethereal to me.

"My dragon, you're awake," she said, smirking. I blush and struggle to say something. Anything. Her voice is more mature and husky than before.

"Yes," I choke out finally. Arya laughs her beautiful laugh and waves me forward. I finally notice that she's holding something in her arms. I squint in confusion.

"Come and see. Some father you are, sleeping instead of playing with your babes," she said, rolling her dark eyes.

My smile drops and so does my jaw. She just called me a father? This really is a dream. One that must have been lying in the deep confines of my subconscious mind. My heart races and I move forward. I can't think straight.

Arya unravels the bundles in her arms carefully and I watch, completely enraptured. Two babes lie in her arms barely awake. A tuft of black hair and one of blonde lie on each of their heads. They can't be older than a month or two. And twins, just like me and Lydia.

"What are their names," I rasp, my throat feels dry and scratchy. Arya's lips pull into a gentle smile as she turns to look at me.

"Mirax and Aleks Of House Skuldafn," Arya announced with confidence. I clutch my heart and sob at the revelation. "I thought it best to name them after your mother and father. I know how much they meant to you, Ori."

I wiped a stray tear from my eye and launched myself at my new family. I lie my head on Arya's shoulder and cradle my children's heads with my right hand. Pride fills my body as they gurgle. I have a chance to start over with a new family. To be with Arya for the rest of my life.

"Arya, I love you and our children so much," I whisper fervently. I place my lips to her cheek tearfully and she laughs. I can't help but smile through the emotions.

Arya cradles my face with her free hand. We stare into each other's eyes for a moment. Only the sound of our children remains in the background. I never imagined being this happy in my life.

"Oerion, I love you...but now isn't our time," Arya whispers. My smile vanishes instantly. Tears fall from her eyes like diamonds onto her empty lap. Our children have vanished.

I look around desperately for Mirax and Aleks but the room has turned into a snowy landscape. Desolation lies upon the ice covered mountain in front of me. Arya is nowhere to be seen.

I turn around and there she is. She is younger now and blood runs from her mouth like a river. She is not alone. So many people stand behind her that I can't see the end of them. I glance behind me for an escape but I see the same thing.

I gasp at the sight. All of the people that have ever died by my hand stand behind me. Even some that didn't. My mother and father stand watching me with dead eyes. My best friend, Aela, stands with blood dripping from her stomach. My own heaves and I scream to the Mother.

"Oerion, you must kill the boy and let the man live," My father's deep voice calls in the distance. I scream in pain. There's flames all around me. It scorches me to nothing. Suddenly, ice freezes me solid. I can't even blink.

"My love, you have to wake up," Arya says, her young voice is almost unfamiliar. She can't be over nine years. Blood drops from her eyes now and I'm horrified. "Wake up."

I scream as ice breaks around me and I fall to the icy ground. My body is charred and frost bitten all at once. My throat aches as I scream from the pain. I won't survive this. I don't want to survive this.

"Wake up and live."

I shoot up roaring like an animal. Fury explodes through me without precedent. Whatever place that I'm in shakes like leaf and I shut up immediately. Taking deep breaths in and out to calm myself from shouting the world apart.

I blink heavily to clear my vision. Everything is blurry and clouded over. I don't know where the fuck I am. I need my senses to be able to defend myself from attackers. For all I know, I could have been captured by the Night King.

"Bad dream," a familiar voice calls sarcastically. I tense up at the proximity but my eyes clear finally. I sigh in relief as Daenerys and Lydia come into view.

They come to sit on the bed cautiously. I can sense that they expect me to fly into a rage randomly. That makes me feel bad. I don't don't know if using the Thu'um made me start changing or what. I just have this fury inside me. I need to get back to Arya.

"Aye, it was a nightmare. Maybe one of the worst," I said, wiping my eyes. I wonder how long I've been asleep?

Daenerys looks completely depressed and Lydia wraps an arm around her. Suddenly I remember what happened. I feel horrible for Dany. Losing a child has to take a major toll on you.

"Dany, I'm so sorry," I said, grabbing her small hand. She nods tearfully and leans into my sister. Lydia looks at her sadly.

"It's not your fault. I had to see it to believe it," she said, quietly. She sniffles and squeezes my hand before letting it go and moving to stand. "I need to go check on Jon. He hasn't awaken as of yet. We will be landing in a nights time."

We watch her go with skeptical eyes. She is hurting inside but doesn't want to show weakness. Looking at Lydia I see that she'll handle all of that when they get back to Dragonstone. My sister really has it bad.

"So, how are you feeling after using the Thu'um little brother?"

I roll my eyes and pull her into a hug. I haven't seen her in so long. Truly seen her and been in her presence. She hugs me back tightly and breathes into my hair. I clench my eyes shut tightly as the dream comes back to my mind. I let go reluctantly and hold her at arms length.

"I'm fine, Lyd. It's easier than I thought. I feel powerful."

Lydia nods and scowls a bit.

"I wanted to use mine but Daenerys wouldn't let me off of Drogon to fight. I swear that woman is too protective of me sometimes. She only let me use it at Dragonstone and when we ambushed the Lannisters."

I narrow my eyes at that. No one had told me about them fighting any battles. I forget about it and move on to a question I've been really wanting to know about for a while.

"So you and the queen," I asked, smirking. Lydia chuckles a bit and nods. Her smile is bigger than I've ever seen it. Love does things to you that nothing else can.

"So you and Jon Snow's sister? How is that going," Lydia asked, smirking wildly. I shove her gently and she punches my arm. We laugh heartily together for the first time in a while.

"It's going. I feel like she's the one, Lyd. It's only been a short time and I hate when I'm away from her," I said, looking down at my bruised hands. I miss her now even worse. That dream made me feel like she isn't safe. I need to make sure. "She makes me feel stronger and...she reminds me of mother."

Lydia's smile becomes somber and she nods slowly. Her hand wraps around mine and massages the bruises away. "I feel the same way about Daenerys. I haven't left her side since we met and I never will. As long as she'll have me."

"Even if that means becoming her queen when she takes the iron throne? Even if that means dying by her side?"

Lydia stopped for a moment to think. Her brows furrowed and she frowned. "If it means I'll be with her then of course. Though I don't like the thought of it, I'd be a fucking amazing queen."

I burst out laughing at her ridiculous ego. I have to admit that she would be. She is just and tactical. She can fight wars and also make commands with the fierceness of a warlord. Lydia will bring a new age to Westeros alongside Daenerys for sure.

"I must be going, little brother. Get some rest," she said, standing. Her face was suddenly solemn as she looked toward the door. I inclined my head toward her.

"We are on our way to Kings Landing. After we convince Cersei of the threat, we will make our way to Winterfell. I suggest you write Arya. Tell her the plan."

I sigh and close my eyes. Even though she is strong I still worry about her. "Of course."

Lydia walks out the door quickly. No doubt going to find her queen. I envy the ease in which she is able to be with her love. I'm stuck here almost a thousand miles away on a ship headed for another dangerous place. What am I to do, my love? Our lives hang in the balance.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Arya

Little Finger's blood is crusty on the blade of my dagger. A beautiful crimson color that I've grown so accustom to spilling. It took the servants an hour to scrub the stain he left on the floors of the great hall.

I can still see his useless tears as Sansa beckoned me forth. He had played his last game and lost. One does not toy with a pack of wolves without expecting to be bitten. He was not bitten though. He was scratched by his own sharp claw.

"You've received a raven from your...very large friend," Sansa said hesitantly. Her hands fumbled with the scroll. Eyes watching me with suspicious mirth.

"What are you smirking about, dear sister," I said, trying to keep my face neutral. He'd finally written me. I'm not used to worrying about anyone but I...worry about him.

Sansa shook her head with smile and tried to hand over the scroll. Oerion's sigil lie there in red, taunting me. "I may not know the new you yet, Arya, but I know what love looks like when I see it."

I bite my lip hard and try to take the scroll from her with stiff fingers. Sansa grips it harder and stares me in the eyes. I have to look away from her. I feel like she sees right through me. This...love, or whatever it is, makes me feel weak.

"You love him," Sansa said accusingly. My heart jumped in my chest for the first time since my father died. How could she know when I myself can't even admit it?

"I don't know what love means. He makes me feel like there are ravens flying around in my gut. But he also makes me so angry," I muttered. My hand grips the dagger on the table tightly. "There is only one thing I know better than anything else. This...love scares me more than any foe I've faced."

Sansa scoffs and tosses the scroll over to me. "You are not just an assassin. You are Arya Stark of Winterfell and you deserve to be loved," she said adamantly. I lowered my head. "If you don't know what love is, learn. If you knew the way he looks at you, you wouldn't be so hesitant, little sister."

I look up at her in disbelief. Sansa becomes thoughtful for a moment and sighs heavily.

"You don't know how lucky you are."

Sansa takes her leave with a proud smile. I roll my eyes at her need to taunt me. The scroll feels odd in my hands. Knowing that he had thought of me enough to send it. My heart is warm. These feelings are so foreign.

I unravel the scroll slowly. As I begin to read, tears develop in my eyes. He reminds me of my father. This man. This beautiful man is the bane of my solitude. I've always been fine with being alone until now. I want him here beside me for as long as I can manage.

I can only hope for his safe return. I may not know everything about Oerion Skuldafn, my dragon. But I know that his foes are mine and none will harm him once he has returned to me.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

My Wolf, we made it out alive. Jon Snow lives. Now we are on our way to Kings Landing with a wight. We plan to show Cersei that the Great War is real and it is here. After that we will be on our way to Winterfell. All of us, including Daenerys and my sister. You will enjoy her.

I would have wished to see you first. Being away is more strenuous than need be. Though I know that when we meet again I will be stronger for it. I will know that nothing, not even the gods, can keep us apart. I can only hope that you feel as strongly, My Lady.

I pray to the Mother for your safety and your health. I pray for strength in your sword arm and clarity in your mind. I pray for your enemies. For they know not what they've done nor what darkness lies ahead. You and I together will be a force like the gods have never seen.

Oerion Dragonborn of House Skuldafn

In Blood and Fear