Lyra was by the cliffs again, the wind caressed her face and the smell of the sea wafted into her nose. Ghost was with her as always, being her eyes as well as her ride whenever they traveled through the woods on the island. Riding on the back of her Direwolf was far different than riding a horse, it was more wild and required her whole body to hang onto Ghost. Despite the new aches and sores that came with this new mode for travel, she felt alive, feeling more like a Direwolf herself. Those who saw her on top her Direwolf, marveled at the picture she painted, her demeanor was cold and distant, yet wild and untamed like the North she grew up in.
She took in the sea air, her hand resting in Ghost's fur after she dismounted from their recent ride, his presence bringing comfort to her. Staring out into the horizon, she strained her ears to listen for the flapping of wings. A whole day has passed since her last talk with Aegon, her words quelling his impulsive decision to bring Fire and Blood to the capital just to end it all. She was both relieved and uncomfortable when she heard that he was going after the Lannister army with his largest dragon Drogon instead. While she was happy that no innocent people will die by fire in the capital, she could not stomach the idea of burning someone alive, not after what almost happened to Mance Rayder. Still, this was the lesser of two evils if it meant sparing the innocents living within the capital.
The sound of large wings beating the air and that familiar screech pulled her out of her thoughts. The wind whipped the fur-lined cloak behind her and her hair out of her eyes as she and Ghost stared in the direction where the dragon was coming from and getting closer to the cliff. Lyra switched on her inner sight as Drogon flew over their heads to land on the island, the sight that met her was a combination of black and red flames dancing before her. It was a strange yet beautiful in the world her inner sight allowed her to see that she barely registered the ground shaking as the largest dragon charged at her.
Ghost's fur rose up under her hand that was buried in his scruff as a growl tore through his throat, bearing his teeth at the approaching monstrosity, making her turn off her inner sight to face the darkness in front of her. All she can hear is the growls of her Direwolf and Drogon as he slowly came closer, the ground tremored with every step he took towards her and Ghost. She should be afraid, yet she found she was unable to. She couldn't understand why, all she knew was that she felt safe and at peace in the darkness with her Direwolf and the dragon before her.
Aegon couldn't understand Drogon's sudden behavior when his child charged towards Lyra. He spoke to the dragon in High Valyrian, telling him not to get close to the Northern Queen lest they accidently injure her, but his orders fell on deaf ears, making him frantic as he tried to get his dragon under control and Lyra out of danger. When Drogon slowed down, Aegon watched in bewilderment as his child lowered his snout to Lyra, showing the blind woman his large multiple teeth as though to frighten her. But looking at her face that was set in her usual far away expression, he saw no fear, just curiosity and wonder as she stared at the space in front of her where Drogon is currently approaching.
"What are you doing Drogon?" Aegon whispered to his child, trying to understand his actions, 'What is going on? Are you trying to test her?' he thought to the dragon that stopped just within arm's reach of the Northern Queen. He watched in fear and intrigue as Ghost growled at the much bigger creature in front of him and Lyra, as though he were challenging the dragon that dared threatened the White Wolf.
Lyra stroked Ghost's fur to calm him down before taking a small step towards the growling fire breather. She didn't know what possessed her to get closer to the dragon, neither did she question why she took her glove off her left hand. Something inside her was pulling towards the creature she cannot see, an almost childlike curiosity to touch the creature of legend just to confirm that it is indeed real. Her bare hand reached out towards Drogon, feeling both the wind and the dragon's warm breath hitting her skin. Her other hand slid away from Ghost's fur as she took another slow step forward, the air around her fingers becoming warmer as she approached the dragon.
Drogon stared at her curiously, sensing something strange yet familiar within the young woman his Father and rider seemed so fond of. She held none of the fear the way humans felt within his or his brothers' presence, or the arrogance that one human had when he dared to run his Father through with that spear. This mysterious human girl, who was staring back at him, but not looking at him as she bravely held her hand in front of her to find where he was without a hint of fear made him feel humbled. He knew this young woman was blind from the brief and hostile conversation he had with the overprotective fur ball that served his mistress the way Drogon served his Father. Feeling respect for this brave woman who captured his Father's attention, he gently moved his snout into the palm of her hand, instantly feeling the connection that can only be felt when in the presence of those who carry the blood of Old Valyria.
Lyra let out a quiet shaking breath when her hand felt the warm scales of the dragon before her. A smile filled with wonder and peace lit up her features as she stared up at where Drogon's eyes were, feeling she can trust him the way she has trusted Ghost for years.
Aegon could not believe what he was seeing: his dragon, the most intimidating and vicious of his three children is allowing the Northern Queen to touch his scales. He felt Drogon relax underneath him, swearing to the Gods above that this dragon was purring at Lyra's touch. He wanted to laugh at how incredulous this is to him, but he kept his composure as he moved to dismount from Drogon's back.
Lyra didn't lose that look of wonder as she removed her hand from Drogon's scales, as her nose catching the familiar scent that came from Aegon whose boots touched upon the ground after dismounting to walk towards the Northern Queen.
Drogon, satisfied with what he saw, glanced at Ghost who stopped growling, stared back at him, then at his mistress, before return his red gaze on the dragon. After a moment, he bowed his head in respect, the dragon returning the gesture with his own before flying off to join his brothers.
Lyra pulled her glove back onto her left hand, "That was strange, a good kind of strange." Lyra commented to Aegon who stood with her, "Has that happened before?" she asked, completely shocked and surprised by what had just occurred.
Aegon stared at her in bewilderment, feeling just as surprised by Drogon's behavior towards Lyra, "No, it has not."
Lyra looked away from the sky before changing the subject to Aegon's recent trip, "You came back sooner than expected." she stated as Ghost padded to her side.
"I have." Aegon replied, standing with his hands behind his back before Lyra added, "And?"
"I now have less enemies than I did before." Aegon answered as Lyra sighed, frowning as she nodded in acceptance for the fates that have befallen their foes.
"I can tell that you do not feel happy about that." he said sensing Lyra discomfort on the matter.
"War is war, death is inevitable on either sides, regardless of how I feel." Lyra said as she began to walk away from the cliff, her hand in Ghost's fur and Aegon beside her.
"You have killed a hundred Boltons to take back Winterfell, there's hardly a difference." Aegon stated, before Lyra shook her head, "No, it was thousands. Many of them were intentionally killed by Ramsay himself in his attempt to wipe us all out when he rained arrows down on us." she scoffed, "Sacrifices I understand, it is a soldier's duty to fight for their leaders. But to be shot down by the man they have sworn to fight for? It is disgusting." she shook her head, "I can bet my life on Cersei being willing to sacrifice millions just to stay in that chair. I pity the men you have killed today because they were foolish to serve that tyrant. If there's one thing I learned in my time at the Black, there is good and evil on both sides." she said, having learned the hard way after spending time with the Wildlings and fighting alongside her brothers.
"I've heard those words before." Aegon muttered to himself, remembering the same words Ser Jorah told him back in Mereen while he ruled the former slave capital.
"Pardon?" Lyra asked, hearing him say something before Aegon shook his head from the memories, "It's nothing." he said as they continued walking together, "We both want to help people. The only way we can do that is from a position of strength...and sometimes strength is terrible." he said, understanding why Lyra would never want to be a bringer of bloodshed since it has a terrible after effect on the person's soul.
"Aye, and with that kind of strength, comes the thirst of power until it consumes them." Lyra said, "I despise that kind of strength, it is too dangerous, too tempting. I prefer to stay as far away from that."
"Yet you became Queen in the North." Aegon stated as Lyra let out a frustrated sigh at the title, "Only because those damn stubborn lords overlooked my sister." she said, unhappy with how the many lords that served House Stark refused to acknowledge Sansa's contribution to the Battle of Bastards. "I may have won that forsaken battle, but it was Sansa who saved us. She called upon the Knights of the Vale, they turned the tide for us because of her. For all the shit she's endured, she's proven herself a Northerner and a Stark through and through. Yet they refused to acknowledge her." she said, stopping in her strides to face Aegon who stared at her in surprise for how proudly she spoke of her half-sister. "She's the reason we won, she's the reason why I'm still alive and fighting for our people. If anyone deserved to be Queen, it's her."
Aegon could see how much she loves her last surviving younger sibling, far more than Viserys loved him. In a way, he felt jealous of the Starks and their unbreakable bonds of brother and sisterhood he never had with Viserys. "Tell me, Lyra, if she had been Queen instead of you, what do you think would happen?" he asked, curious about how things would be different if Lyra wasn't Queen.
"For one thing I wouldn't be stuck on this island arguing with you on which war is more important." Lyra answered bluntly, "Sansa would be here instead, she knows how to play this game better than I do. If she was able to convince the Knights of the Vale to come to our aide in battle, she certainly would've had better luck with you." she added, though truthfully, she highly doubted that Sansa would last two day trying to get this stubborn man to see her side of things.
"Maybe, but then you wouldn't be here mining the dragon glass your people need...and you wouldn't be here to convince to not use my dragons on the Capital." Aegon stated, catching the way she twitched at the mention of what he previously intended to do.
Lyra looked to the side slightly, "Doesn't matter anymore. No matter how much I believe she deserves it, I'm stuck with the role that is given to me." she said, unhappy with the leadership that had been forced upon her by her fellow Northmen who placed a heavy burden of trust in her hands. "Still, if I'm being perfectly honest," looking back to where she faced Aegon, "I would never allow Sansa anywhere near the South, even if she was Queen. I'd never let the South poison her anymore than what it has already done to her." she said, being Sansa's big sister first before she being Queen.
Aegon smirked, "Cersei would never get her claws on your sister with the way you hold the sword." he said, making Lyra smile faintly, "You're right, I'd have lopped off her head if she so much as breathed in Sansa's direction."
Aegon chuckled under his breath, "That'll help you sleep at night." he said, making the corner of her mouth quirk up at his attempt at humor.
The sound of people approaching turned their attention away from each other to acknowledge the Dothraki blood riders as they spoke in that foreign language Lyra was unable to understand. The moment the Dothraki stepped aside to present a man who claims to know Aegon, the last dragon felt all breath leave his system. "Ser Jorah." he whispered, unable to believe what he was seeing as his dearest friend and sworn stepped forward and knelt before him.
"Your Grace." Ser Jorah said, happy to be back in his King's presence once again after finding the cure that saved his life. Aegon smiled, just as happy to have his friend and father figure by his side at last. The bear knight rose to his feet as he shifted his attention to the woman beside his King and the large Direwolf in bewilderment.
Aegon smiled at his reaction before introducing his friend to and Lyra to each other, "Lyra Snow, this is Ser Jorah Mormont, an old friend." The Northern Queen's eyes widened at the familiar name, "Mormont. You're the son of Lord Commander Jeor Mormont?" she said, staring in surprise at the space where the man stood, unable to believe that she would ever meet with her mentor's son.
"You knew my Father." Jorah stated, his and Aegon's expressions filled with surprise. Lyra nodded, "I have, I served with your Father. He was a good man." she said, bowing her head in respect for his Father.
Jorah's eyebrows shot up, "You served at the Black?" "I have." Lyra nodded, anticipating where this is going.
"The last time I checked, women were not allowed to guard the Wall, not with rapists stationed there." Jorah stated, staring at the woman's pupil-less eyes in confusion.
"That is still a rule. I merely hid my identity for the sole purpose of joining their ranks." Lyra said, smiling faintly as she stroked Ghost's fur absentmindedly. "I'm sure you'll want to hear more about your Father on a later date. But right now, I believe you and His Grace would love some privacy at this moment." she added, glancing in Aegon's direction.
"I wouldn't mind that actually." Aegon said, wanting to catch up with his old friend and know how he is doing physically if he found the cure for grey scale.
Lyra bowed her head to Aegon, "If you will pardon me, Your Grace, I must check on the dragon glass progress." she said before she walked away with her Direwolf by her side, the Dothraki parting the way for the massive beast and his mistress. Aegon and Jorah watched her leave before the former dismissed the Dothraki to speak with his friend privately.
The Dragon King turned to face Jorah, "You look strong." he said, glad to see him looking much better than before.
"Yes. I have found the cure and I return to your service, if you'll have me." Jorah said, swearing himself as his King's knight.
Aegon smiled, "It would be my honor." he said before stepping forward to wrap his arms around the bear knight, which the latter returned with the same amount of strength and love he held for his surrogate son.
Jorah pulled away to look over his King, noting how the young man's hair has gotten longer and how much stronger he looks at his age. "We have much to catch up on, Your Grace." Jorah said as Aegon placed his hand over the former's that rested on his shoulder, "Indeed we do." With that, they spent the first half of the afternoon talking about what happened in each other's absence.
Sorry, this one's shorter than the previous chapters. I wanted to stop here because the next one will be that council meeting that decides the next course of action. I'll update soon, until then, leave a review.
