The moment Ser Davos informed her about the dragon glass cave, she requested the Onion Knight to take her to said cave so she can have a look for herself. The entirety of that day and the next, she explored the cave, memorizing every crevice, feeling the rough edges of the rock and the smooth uneven surface of the dragon glass under her fingers. She never took a torch because it was useless to her given her lack of sight. The echoes within the cave guided her as she followed the path until her hands felt a change in the rock. With a soft gasp, she traced her fingers carefully along the rock, her mind picturing what she found before realizing she found some kind of carving in the wall. Venturing further into the room, finding more carvings of symbols as her hands followed along the wall. Lyra memorized each carving, entranced by the discovery she never thought possible, until she gasped when she found one in particular that brought back memories of the dead creatures. Without hesitation, she left the area in the cave to find the Dragon King and show him what she found.


"Your Grace, there's still no word from the Unsullied?" Missandei asked Aegon as they walked down to the beach with some guards accompanying them.

"Soon." Aegon said, glancing at Missandei's worried expression, "He will come back to you." he added in an effort to quell her fear and worries.

"He better." Missandei said, an edge to her voice as they walked down the stone steps. Aegon stared at her in mild surprise at the change in tone when she talked about Grey Worm. "What happened?" he found himself asking as a secretive smile came onto her face, "Many things." Aegon almost stumbled at her words. "Many things." he repeated, guessing only one thing that could've happened between his translator and Unsullied soldier. Missandei let out a deep breath as she nodded, a smile still on her face that blushed at the memory.

The moment was interrupted by the loud padding and dog panting before they looked up to see another surprising scene coming towards them. Ghost was running towards them on the beach, his shocking white fur standing out under the cloudy sky. But that wasn't what surprised them, there, on the Direwolf's back was his mistress who held onto his fur as he ran towards the bottom of the stairs to meet them.

"That's different." Aegon said, blinking as the massive beast slowed to a walk before Lyra dismounted with ease. "Your Grace, there's something you need to see." Lyra said, urgency and excitement filling her voice as she panted from her ride with Ghost who stood dutifully behind her.

Aegon, Missandei, and the Blood Riders stared at the Northern Queen in surprise as the wind blew Lyra's hair out of her face, giving them a clear unhidden view of her misty eyes. The King walked down the steps with his advisor, his guards made a move to follow before Aegon told them it was alright in Dothraki. Joining Lyra at the bottom of the stairs, all three of them, plus Ghost who walked beside his mistress, walked along the beach towards the cave that was a mile from where they stood.

"The dragon glass you permitted me and my people to mine weren't the only thing I found in the cave. It's easier to show you rather than explain it." Lyra said before he could question her on what she found as they walked on the sandy beach.

Missandei eyed the horse sized Direwolf with wonder and a hint of fear, still not used to being around such a massive creature. Sensing her eyes on him, Ghost glanced at Missandei with curious red eyes that made her flinch and back away. "You shouldn't stare at him like that Lady Missandei, nor should you react in such a way. You'll hurt his feelings." Lyra said, not looking behind her as she sensed fear coming from the child of Naath.

Missandei glanced at the Northern Queen in surprise, the blind woman's voice held a reprimanding tone instead of a teasing one. "Forgive me, um..." Missandei didn't know how to address the Queen in the presence of her King.

"Just call me Lyra Snow." Lyra said, not bothered by her lack of calling her by her title since it got boring pretty quickly.

Missandei nodded, "Forgive me, Lyra Snow. I've never seen a creature like this in my life, or this large." she said, glancing at Ghost who faced forward beside his mistress. "Where did he come from?" Missandei asked, the question nagging her from the moment the Direwolf leapt onto their shores.

Lyra laughed under her breath, "The North holds many secrets, I mere stumbled on one of them." she said, resting her hand in the Direwolf's fur, "I found him along with his brothers and sisters who were beside their dead Mother." She explained, the memory of that day still fresh in her mind, "My Lord Father wanted to give them a quick merciful death, but I stopped him. Five pups for each of the Stark children. The Direwolf is the sigil of his House. His children were meant to have him." Melancholy filled her voice as she remembered that moment.

"Five pups? But there were six of you in total. How did Ghost end up with you?" Aegon asked, doing a quick math, remembering that this woman had five siblings.

Lyra held a melancholy expression, "I'm not a Stark." she sighed as she continued her story, "We were about to return to Winterfell with the pups in our arms. But then I heard something close by. I went to check it out, and look who I found..." she said with a hint of pride and affection as she glanced at her companion with her unseeing eyes, "...a beautiful albino runt with blood red eyes that were the first to open in this harsh world."

Their eyes widened at the adorable story before Aegon exclaimed incredulously, "That was a runt?" Lyra glanced in his direction, "Yes." she said, as though it was the most obvious fact in the world.

"No runt could ever become this massive for you to ride as though he were a stallion." Aegon said, eyeing the Direwolf who glanced at him when the sentence was directed at him.

Lyra chuckled under her breath, "I've said nothing but the truth, Your Grace. And for the record, that was the first time I've ever ridden on him like that. But I needed his nose to track you so I can bring you here. There was no faster way for me to do it." she said with a mysterious smile as she ran her hand through Ghost's fur.

Missandei laughed quietly at their banter before she asked another question, "Is Ghost the reason why you are called the White Wolf?"

"Yes and no, Lady Missandei." Lyra answered, which left them confused before she explained, "You see, the sigil of House Stark is a grey Direwolf on a white field. But for bastards from such a House, the colors are inverted to create a white wolf on a grey field." she said, having gotten used to the moniker a long time ago. "Having Ghost around seems to enforce that title. A living sigil and memento of my Lord Father's House if you would. It's quite fitting, symbolic if you think about it, a bastard white wolf finding a white wolf that opened his eyes too early and wandered away from the rest of his siblings." She said, making Aegon and Missandei stare at her in wonder before they glanced at each other.

"We're here." Lyra announced, smelling the cave and Ser Davos who held a torch in his hand before handing it to Aegon, "You're gonna need this." he said as the King took the torch that was offered to him before following Lyra into the cave, leaving her Direwolf standing guard by the entrance.

"I wanted you to see it before we started hacking it to bits." Lyra said as she led Aegon through the narrow passage, going off by memory of touch. Aegon held the torch in his hand as he followed the Northern Queen, her dark hair glowing under the torch's light. When Lyra came upon the large expanse within the mine, she stood by the lit brazier, waiting for Aegon to join her. Hearing him let out a quiet gasp at what he saw, Lyra spoke, "This is it, all we'll ever need." her voice echoed in the mine, bouncing off the rock and dragon glass as Aegon beheld the magnificence of the obsidian mountain.

"There is something else I want to show you, Your Grace." Lyra said, turning to where Aegon stood before beckoning him to follow her further into the cave. Aegon followed close behind her, her hands guiding her along the rough jagged walls that surrounded them.

"This may seem foolish to ask, but how are you handling these closed spaces so well?" Aegon asked, silently concerned for the blind Queen who is maneuvering herself through the rock with ease, stumbling slightly at the uneven ground.

"This is not the first time I've been in a cave, Your Grace." Lyra said before a light blush dusted her cheeks, "Though I must confess, the first time I found myself in a cave, I shared my first kiss with one of the Free Folk."

Aegon felt instantly jealous and territorial, before he could stop himself, he asked, "Who was he?"

"'She.'" Lyra answered, smiling when she heard Aegon stumble a little in surprise, "Her name was Ygritte. Red hair, beautiful woman, a fine archer."

Aegon's eyes widened at the image of the Northern Queen kissing another woman. " And you kissed her."

"She kissed me. There's a difference." Lyra corrected as they continued onward, "She knew I was a female from the moment we first met, and yet she fancied me the way a woman fancies a man." she paused, remembering her friend, "It was only a kiss, nice as it was, but I felt nothing for her the way she did with me." she sighed, hating herself for hurting her friend like that, "And she was so ready to be my first."

"What happened to her? Does she wait for you in the North?" Aegon found himself asking, the picture being painted in his head on Lyra and her friend Ygritte.

"She's dead. Been dead for quite some time now." she said, remembering how she burned her body beyond the Wall before the Weirwood Tree to prevent her from turning into a Wight.

"I'm sorry." Aegon apologized, feeling guilty for even bringing it up.

"Don't be, she's at peace now. I couldn't free her from the monsters that lurked beyond the Wall, but I was able to right some wrongs by making sure her people don't suffer such a fate. I owe so much to her." Lyra said, a melancholy smile blooming across her face in remembrance for her sister-in-arms.

"You seem to admire her despite growing up on different sides of the Wall." Aegon stated, noting the fond he heard in her voice.

Lyra softly, "Women are not allowed the same freedom as men, everyone in Westeros knows that. But that doesn't stop some of us, North women mainly, from picking up the sword and being ready to fight. House Mormont of Bear Island is famous for that." Aegon's mind flashed to Jorah Mormont at the name as Lyra continued, "The Free Folk women on the other hand are free to pick up a spear and fight for survival. They aren't tied down by what their genders dictate of them, and they aren't afraid to fight." she stopped walking to glance behind her at where Aegon stood, "The Wall may have separated us, but the blood of the First Men flows through our veins, and they are as much of the North as I am." Aegon couldn't help but feel inspired with the way she spoke, those who have listened to her in the past probably felt uplifted and hopeful, a quality that made a fine ruler whose voice is filled with wisdom and genuine kindness for their friends and comrades.

"We're getting close." Lyra said, turning back around as they approached the part of the cave she needed him to see. The air around them shifted as they entered another chamber, the King's breath quicken at what he saw before him. All around them, on the walls were carvings and symbols etched into the rock. He felt as though they entered a different world, just them, alone, and no one else. Aegon walked further into the chamber, taking in all the different writings that seemed to scream at him, the light of the torch making the markings glow.

"The Children of the Forest made these." Lyra answered, her fingers tracing each marking in wonder as she slowly walked beside the wall, remembering where each carving was located.

"When?" Aegon asked, completely spellbound by this amazing earth shattering discovery as he slowly moved the torch around, meeting more symbols through the dark.

"A very long time ago." Lyra answered, smiling lightly at how amazed the King sounded by what was sitting underneath this castle.

"They were right here. Standing where we're standing." Aegon said, wonder filling his voice, "Before there were Targaryens, or Starks, or Lannisters. Maybe before there were men."

Lyra faced the sound of his voice, "No." she said, bringing his attention to her, standing beside a wall carving he was unable to see as her hands traced the etchings in the rock. Coming forward with the torch in his hand, the light from the fire showed him what she was seeing through touch. "They were here together. The Children and the First Men." Lyra said as Aegon took in the carving depicting of Westeros' first inhabitants.

"Doing what? Fighting each other?" Aegon asked, glancing at Lyra who stared off in the darkness, shaking her head at his question before she followed the etchings to the one that frightened her the most. Aegon followed her movements, her hands guiding her in her search for the answer she wanted to show him.

"They fought together..." Lyra said, her hands finding the grotesque drawings on the wall as Aegon drew in a breath at what he saw before him, "...against their common enemy." Aegon felt a shiver go down his spine at the skeletal monsters holding spears, their stares freezing him on the spot. "Despite their differences, despite their suspicions... together." Aegon turned to Lyra who talked in his direction, her right hand not leaving the carving. "And we need to do the same if we're going to survive." she said, her fingers trembling as they traced the marks, "Because the enemy is real." she said, being haunted by the everlasting image that was both under her fingertips and in her memory, "It's always been real." Aegon stared at her, long and hard, though she tried her best to hide it, he saw the way she trembled as she spoke about the monsters up North. She was trying so hard to be strong for her people, it almost seemed like a burden to her to even wear the crown.

"And you say you can't defeat them without my armies and my dragons." he stated rather than asked, watching as Lyra bowed her head, "No, I don't think I can." she admitted, being humble and honest with the King.

Aegon stepped forward, slowly with moderate sound in order not to frighten her until he was standing in front of her. He took in her beauty, the torch's light reflected off her pale skin, and her eyes, though they were veiled under her bangs, he was able to catch the glow from her unseeing gaze. She stared up at where his eyes were in the darkness, no fear, just a firm resolve. This brought a light smile to his face, the way she held herself was endearing, almost challenging, and loathe he was to admit it, he enjoyed it.

"I will fight for you. I will fight for the North..." Lyra's eyes widened slowly, hope filling her soul until Aegon added, "...when you bend the knee." her hopes were almost immediately crushed, the look in her eyes told him that much, and he couldn't stop the guilt that struck him.

Lyra turned her eyes to the ground beneath her feet, shaking her head slowly, "My people..." her voice crack slightly, trying to remain calm under his gaze that wanted to burn her soul, "...will not accept a Southern ruler. Not after everything they've suffered."

Aegon stepped closer, his hand coming up to rest beside her head, trapping her between his body and the wall, "They will if their Queen does." he said as she looked up at him, feeling his dragon heat wrapping around her. On reflex, her inner sight opened the world human eyes can never see, and behold, the same dragon she saw in that throne room was not only in front of her, but his wings surrounded her, not allowing her to escape as she had no choice but to look into the dragon's violet eyes. Unable to handle seeing the dragon's eyes, she switched off her inner sight, opting for darkness because it made more sense to her at the moment.

"They chose you to lead them. They chose you to protect them." Aegon whispered, his hand leaving the wall to brush the bangs out of her face to get a better look at her eyes, her ice cold skin meeting his scorching fingers. "Isn't their survival more important than your pride?" he said, but was met with silence. Her lack of response should've irked him, but right now, he couldn't find it in himself to care. His fingers stroked along her cheekbones, reveling in the icy smoothness of her skin, and taking in the sweet smell that exuded from her rich silky hair. His inner dragon wanted so badly to conquer this haunting woman in his grasp, to take her right there, in this very cave, and have her experience the joy of riding a dragon. But he held himself at bay, refusing to let such primal instincts control him, no matter how much he wanted to just let go and have her for himself.

Lyra felt as though her body was going to melt like ice on a warm summer's day if he kept his hand on her face. She fought the urge to lean into his hand and just forget about the world, forget about the White Walkers, and forget about her previous demise. She remained still, like a frozen statue trying to withstand the elements that dared bring her down the way the King in front of her was trying to do. Unable to give him the answer he wanted, she turned to the side, away from his hand as her arm dropped from the carvings her fingers traced.

Aegon's heart twisted at her reaction, catching the uncertainty in her eyes for a split second before her bangs quickly covered them. "It isn't my pride that keeps me from bending the knee to you." she finally spoke, but didn't look at him, "You're right, they did choose me to protect them, to lead. Even though I didn't want it, I accepted the responsibility." she confessed, surprising Aegon who didn't realize her feelings on her leadership. Lyra looked up at him, her firm resolve returning, "The crown for which I never desired nor sought after is my burden to bear until I trust you to lead us, fore the survival of Westeros is more important than your conquest for your crown." her tone was barely above a whisper, yet her words seem to echo off the walls, making her speech seem louder than it was. "I brought you here to show you the truth, but it seems your desire for the Iron Throne has left you blind to the needs of your people." she said, giving him the iciest stare that screamed her disapproval of his quest for his family's crown. "I myself am blind, but I know what's important for my people, for this nation. I have said this before, I will not bend the knee, not until I am certain I can trust you."

Aegon was taken aback by the ferocity that was instilled within her voice, making her sound like the protective Queen she was chosen to be. Without another word, Lyra walked away from him, exiting the chamber the way she came in, disappointed by the lack of change and progress Aegon refuses to make. She heard him following behind her, but didn't turn to acknowledge him after the way she talked to him, practically scolding the man like he wasn't King at all. The journey back was spent in tense silence as they made their out of the cave to be greeted by Tyrion and Lord Varys.

Aegon stared at them as he approached his Hand and Spider with Missandei standing behind him and Ser Davos behind Lyra. "What is it?" he asked, seeing the frowns on both of their faces. At the corner of his eye, he saw the massive Direwolf leave his post beside the cave entrance to stand beside the Northern Queen.

Tyrion was silent for a moment, unsure how to deliver the news, "We took Casterly Rock."

"That's very good to hear." Aegon said, confused by their expressions as Tyrion and Lord Varys glanced at each other. "Isn't it?" Aegon asked, feeling as though things were about to get bad as the waves crashed on the shores.

Tyrion swallowed his spit before opening his mouth, "The Lannister army wasn't there. They let us take the Rock while they marched on Highgarden." Aegon's eyes widened as Tyrion bowed his head, "Lady Olenna is dead, House Tyrell is gone."

This was a major blow for the King, not only has he lost his fleet and Dorne, Highgarden is now under Lannister control. Furious, he marched away from the cave with his advisors following behind him.

"You'll want to discuss this amongst yourselves." Ser Davos said as he tried to help the Queen get away from the dragon rage that was the King, "Perhaps-"

"You will stay!" Aegon ordered, not looking behind him as he felt anger burning beneath his skin while Tyrion glanced at the Onion Knight with accusation for wanting to run away like a coward.

Lyra sighed quietly as she, her advisor and her Direwolf reluctantly trailed after the angry King. "All my allies are gone. They've been taken from me while I've been sitting here on this island!" Aegon seethed, angry at himself for not being there to protect his comrades.

"You still have the largest armies." Tyrion tried to assure Aegon, but was quickly cut off, "Who won't be able to eat because Cersei has taken all the food from the Reach!" he exclaimed, knowing what this loss has cost them.

"Call Greyworm and the Unsullied back, we still have enough ships to carry the Dothraki to the mainland." Tyrion said, trying to come up with a better strategy and solution to their problem. "Commit to the blockade of King's Landing. We have a plan, it's still the right plan."

Aegon turned on his heel to glare a his Hand in frustration, "The right plan!" If it was possible, Tyrion looked much smaller, "Your strategy has lost us Dorne, the Iron Islands, and the Reach!"

Tyrion bowed his head, "If I had underestimated our enemies-"

"'Our enemies'?" Aegon emphasized, "Your family, you mean. Perhaps you don't want to hurt them after all." he accused, his trust in his Hand diminishing from this failure to predict the Lannisters' moves.

Aegon breathed in and out, trying to reign in his anger before turning to the ocean, watching his children circle over the water. Hearing their loud echoing screeches, Aegon felt the temptation to bring Fire and Blood to his enemies. "Enough with the clever plans. I have three large dragons. I'm going to fly them to the Red Keep." Aegon declared, turning back to Tyrion who tried to reason with him, "We've discussed this-"

Aegon cut him of again, "My enemies...are in the Red Keep. What kind of a King am I if I'm not willing to risk my life to fight them?" he asked rhetorically, still glaring at his Hand.

"A smart one." Tyrion said, trying very hard to reason with the King, but felt like he was losing if Aegon really did intend to use the dragons to burn the Red Keep to the ground along with many innocent lives.

Aegon tore his eyes away from his Hand before turning to Lyra who stood unmoving from her spot, staring into the space in front of her. "What do you think I should do?" he asked, surprising his advisors and the Queen who looked in the direction his voice originated from. "I would never presume to-" Lyra began, shaking her head, not wanting to get caught up in the middle of this discussion.

Aegon cut her off, "I'm at war. I'm losing." he said, taking strides toward her, his advisors watching them with tension and anticipation. "What do you think I should do?" he asked slowly as he stopped in front of her, the Direwolf standing at her back, watching his every move.

Lyra stared at where the man stood, sighing quietly at how she is given little choice but to offer her suggestion to the King who recently lost all his allies. She turned her gaze to where the dragons flew over the ocean with Ghost following her motion, listening to their screeches before she opened her mouth, "I never thought dragons would exist again. No one did." she began, feeling everyone's gaze on her before facing Aegon, "But the people who follow you know you made something impossible happen. Maybe that helps them believe you can make other impossible things happen. Build a world that's different from the shit one they've always known." The advisors stared at her in awe for her words that seem to placate the King as she glanced out at where the dragons were, "But if you use them to melt castles and burn cities, you're not different." she added, returning her shadowed gaze to Aegon whose gaze was soft as he listened to her words, "You're just more of the same."

Aegon allowed her words to sink in, his thirst for vengeance for his fallen allies quelled to a certain degree that made him less angry and more calm. Turning to look at where his children were, at Drogon specifically, he came up with a different alternative. Letting out a sigh, he nodded to Lyra, "Thank you." he said, thanking her for her counsel despite the previous tension they felt in that cave.

Before Lyra could respond, Aegon walked towards the castle to make preparations. The advisors watched him leave, completely dumbfounded by Aegon's change in demeanor before turning to Lyra who was rooted on the spot, feeling just as surprised as them. The Northern Queen turned her gaze to where the advisors stood, the wind blowing her bangs out of her eyes, "What the Seven Hells just happened?"

"I think you just saved a city. Excuse me." Tyrion said before dismissing himself to catch up with the King.

Ser Davos had the look that was reminiscent of a proud parent as he regarded the Queen, "Once again, your words have broken through yet another hard stubborn son of a bitch." he said, earning a look from Missandei and Lord Varys while Lyra glanced at her advisor, "Watch the language, he may be stubborn but he's still a King, and it wouldn't do well to insult his Mother." she said in both a serious and humorous tone before she and Ghost walked away, leaving the advisors alone with each other.


Your welcome, and thank you for reading this chapter. Sorry I took longer than I expected. I made a couple more stories, one of them being a companion piece for this fic called "That One Moment" if you haven't read that yet. Once again, thank you all for following and reviewing this story. Let me know which part of the chapter you liked in the review box. Thank you.