Lyra opened her eyes upon waking up in her bed at Dragonstone, her body recovered after a fortnight from its arduous journey beyond the Wall. Letting out a breath, she pulled herself out of bed and located her clothes for the day. She wanted to step outside on firm unmoving ground after weeks of being on a boat and inside a cabin to heal from another of her near-death experiences. Since that day on the boat when Aegon nursed her back to health, they have spent more time together as equals, sharing each other's council and strategies on how to best defeat the dead when the battle does come. Despite their rocky start and distrust at the beginning, they somehow were able to establish a friendship based on genuine love and fear for their people's well being.

She breathed in the fresh cool air the moment she stepped outside. Never did Lyra enjoy being confined indoors for too long, wolves are meant to be in free open spaces after all. Letting her other senses paint her surroundings, she followed a familiar stone path to the clearing where she sensed Ghost. She felt steady yet uneven ground when she found the clearing with Ghost greeting her with an affectionate nuzzle against her hand that buried itself in his white fur.

Distantly, she heard a growl that was filled with pain. With a mental command, her Direwolf guided her to where the dragons were located.

Aegon gently shushed Viserion who whined as he applied the healing herbs to the dragon's shoulder. It pained him to see his gentlest child suffering such a harsh wound, by a creature of Seven Hells no less. He clenched his teeth when the fresh memory of that icy nightmare came forth. Oh how he wanted to destroy that monster for nearly enslaving one of his children.

The sound of footfalls pulled him out of his thoughts before he turned around to see the Northern Queen and her Direwolf walking towards them.

"You're supposed to be resting." Aegon stated as Lyra and Ghost got closer to him and Viserion.

"I'm alright." She assured him, although her voice still sounded raspier from the change in temperature within the air.

Before Aegon could say anymore, Viserion lifted his head before moving closer, but stopped when his shoulder flared up, causing him to release a small cry of pain. Lyra turned her blind gaze to the sound. Her hand released Ghost's fur and began to walk towards where Viserion was located. Aegon soothed his dragon's pain, but his eyes remained on the Unseeing Queen. One of her arms were in front of her, searching the darkness as her feet slowly but surely carried her to Viserion.

The dragon in question lowered his head until her hand felt the hot breaths coming from between his large teeth. With careful precise movements, her fingers found the scales of Viserion's snout, eliciting purrs of contentment at her gentle touch. Lyra laughed softly in relief as she stroked the dragon's scales, "Viserion. You've regained most of your strength."

"Most, but not all." Aegon stated as he resumed applying the herbs to Viserion's wound, "He won't be able to fly with this shoulder."

"For how long?" Lyra asked as she gently shushed the dragon who whimpered in pain from the stinging herbs.

"A month at most." Aegon estimated while comforting Viserion.

Lyra nodded, "It's for the best. He won't be able to come with us to King's Landing when we meet with Cersei."

"Speaking of, are you looking forward to another journey by sea?" Aegon asked as he stepped away from Viserion who curled into himself to get some rest.

"Not really, but I can't put it off for much longer with the days growing colder. Sea travel is absolutely terrible." Lyra said as Ghost came to her side once more.

Aegon chuckled but stopped immediately out of respect to the Northern Queen. "I promise, once we return to Northern shores, you never have to travel by sea again if you don't want to."

Lyra smiled in Aegon direction as her hand unconsciously found itself in Ghost's fur. "Yes, no more sea salt, rocking, swaying...and vomiting."

Aegon chuckled, "If it makes you feel better, the Dothraki never traveled by sea, and they had a much harder time trying to cope with the ocean."

Lyra released a small laugh that snuck up on her at the image of fierce Dothraki screamers vomiting in the middle of the ocean. Aegon smiled at the sound that came from her lips, the way her shadowed eyes lit up in humor was refreshing compared to her usual brooding expression. Yes, she looks more alive now than how she previously looked days ago.

Movement to the side made Aegon turn to see Rhaegal watching Lyra with curiosity and wonder. Lyra turned in the direction of the sound as the green and bronze scaled dragon lowered his head to her, waiting for her touch like she did with his brothers.

"You are Rhaegal, aren't you?" Lyra asked as she raised her hand to the third and final dragon she has yet to greet. If anyone saw her, they would think she was mad for willingly approaching a fire breathing dragon as though it was a direwolf. Was she mad? Well that's still up for debate at this point after what transpired in the North. The moment her hand made contact with Rhaegal's scales, she felt a sudden wave of emotion wash over her. The feelings were completely unexpected and they made her gasp from the force of it. This was different from when she interacted with Drogon and Viserion. With Drogon, it felt like a test of will, as though he was trying to see if she was a worthy opponent or potential ally. With Viserion, she felt like he was looking for a source of guidance and comfort while trying to remain strong in this harsh world. But Rhaegal...it felt familiar, lost but recently found after years of separation. Almost the same as the bond she shares with Ghost; an extension of her soul.

Lyra's eyes were wide with wonder as she stroked Rhaegal's scales. "Well now, you're certainly different from your brothers."

Aegon walked over to Lyra's side, observing their interaction with a fond smile. "Rhaegal is a unique combination of Drogon and Viserion; fierce and gentle, yet he's also the most rational of the three. He was quite impatient to meet you. I think he's jealous that you touched his brothers first before him."

Lyra glanced in Aegon's direction, her hand still on Rhaegel. "Really?"

"You sound surprised."

"Well I earned the affection of three dragons, how can I not be surprised." Lyra stated as she turned her attention back to Rhaegal who purred contently at her touch.

'Four dragons actually.' Aegon thought to himself, unwilling to say those words out loud lest he make things awkward between them.

"I still find it strange though." Aegon began, "They never acted like this anyone...not unless they have Valyrian blood in their veins." He paused before asking, "Was your Mother of Valyrian descent?"

Lyra froze at the mention of her Mother, her face changing from peaceful content to melancholy. "I don't know. My Fa-Lord Stark never spoke of her." she let out a quiet breath, "Many have wondered who the woman the great honorable Ned laid with during the war whilst married to Lady Stark, but he refused to say anything." Ghost sensed his mistress' sadness and nudged her side as a way to offer his support. Lyra gave her companion a soft smile in return. "She could be anyone; a noble, a fisherman's wife, a whore. I don't know whether she's living or dead. If she is dead, then I consider it a blessing in disguise. That way, she'll never know the fear and anguish of facing the Army of the Dead."

Silence passed between them as the wind blew their hair out of their faces, one filled with accepted sadness while the other holding sympathy pain. "I'm sorry." Aegon said, hating himself for not thinking about what that question would do to her.

With her sad understanding smile, she turned to him, "Don't be. I'm not the first bastard child who sought answers to whom their parents are." She removed her hand from Rhaegal's snout when she sensed that he had sated his curiosity. "Lord Stark was a good and kind man who treated me as one of his own. Not many who have sired a bastard would go out of their way to bring them into their homes. The one thing I always remembered whenever the subject of my Mother came up, was how he would tell me how much my Mother loved me, and how he promised her that he would protect me." She swallowed a lump in her throat when she thought about her sire and Lord. "I'll never understand why he never wished to tell me my Mother's name, but I can tell that he loved her enough to take me with him on his promise to her, even if it meant dishonoring himself before the realm."

Aegon saw the reverent respect she had for her Father the way she spoke of him. He felt envious towards her for having a Father that loved her dearly, whereas his own was a twisted monster. But he was glad that her life wasn't entirely unhappy compared to other illegitimate children. "You truly love your Father."

Lyra nodded, "He was a Father to many within the North. That was what being a Lord meant. Watching over his people and protecting them from those that hurt them. Every minute, of every day." She smiled at the memory of her sire, "That's what he would always tell his children, Robb especially, about their role as Wardens of the North. I never truly understood his words, not until they declared me the Queen in the North."

"I may not have met Eddard Stark, but I genuinely believe that he would be proud of you for everything you've done for the North." Aegon said with sincerity as Lyra glanced at him.

"I want to believe that. I truly do." she paused, "I want to believe that all the sacrifices I had to make for the living are not in vain, and that we have a chance at life once all the fighting is over, and we can all begin anew."

Aegon stepped closer until she could feel his breath on her face. She released a quiet gasp of surprise when her hand was engulfed in his warmer ones. "It will be over." Aegon said with certainty, "We are here for one reason now, to fight for the living." His thumb stroked her cold hand as a way to give her reassurance.

Lyra sighed, "For the sake of Westeros, we need to be united. The lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. That is what we all are, one pack."

Aegon couldn't help but smile, "You consider me part of your pack?"

Lyra gave him a soft smile, "I do. I also genuinely believe that you are the King Westeros needs, not for a throne, but towards a better tomorrow."

Aegon felt his heart flutter at her praise, "You do?"

"Yes." Lyra nodded, "You opened your eyes just as I hoped you would. You came North despite the dangers, and almost lost Viserion in order to save us." she paused, "Had the Night King gotten his cold hands on him, we'd have been fucked, and it would've been because of me." The memory of the dead rising at Hardhome still haunted her, and the very idea of an undead dragon under the Night King's control terrified her to the core.

Quickly composing herself, she spoke the words her fellow Northerners would never forgive her for, "Which is why I am ready to be of service to you in the wars to come my King." Her humble declaration stunned him from the way she felt his hand stiffen around hers.

"You're...bending the knee?" Aegon asked, utterly shocked by what he just heard from her.

"Yes. Your dragon got hurt because of me, and you've set aside your quest for the throne to save our people. I owe you my loyalty for that selfless act." Lyra said, bowing her head to the man she has come to respect as a ruler.

"Have you talked to Ser Davos about this?" Aegon asked, not feeling satisfied by the Northern Queen's decision to swear fealty to him.

"No. I've thought long and hard about this decision. My siblings and my bannermen will be pissed at me, but actions speak louder than words. Once they see for themselves what you can do against the Long Night, you'll earn their respect and trust." Lyra's face held certainty and resolve as she spoke to Aegon.

"So you set aside your title, your crown, face the Northern Lords' anger out of a debt you feel you owe me?" Aegon asked in bewilderment as he stared at Lyra for a long time.

"You came here to save the Seven Kingdoms, not just from Cersei, but from the Night King. I may be blind, but I do see you as a soul that is worthy of the title for the lengths you've gone to in order to protect you people. Besides," Lyra allowed a humorous smile to grace her features, "the crown is giving me a fucking headache."

Aegon chuckled at her terrible joke before composing himself. His gaze remained on her unseeing eyes, even though the color was indiscernible, they were beautiful and full of wisdom beyond her years. Memories of her deep scars that were impossible to survive flashed through his mind. A knife in the heart for her people. Those words echoed in his head ever since he saw those painful marks that held a tragic story.

'Who are you Lyra Snow?' Aegon wondered as he thought about her swearing fealty to him. It was what he wanted from the moment he heard of her, but now, call him selfish for thinking such, he wanted more from her besides loyalty.

"No." Aegon said, this time surprising Lyra with his response before he explained, "You should keep you title for as long as your people want you to, not because you owe me."

"I don't understand, I thought me bending the knee is what you wanted?" Lyra stated.

Aegon smiled, "It is. But you said it yourself, the North will never follow a Southern ruler. You swearing fealty will only tip the balance, not in the way we both want." He let out a breath, "Make no mistake Lyra Snow, I still intend to rip Cersei off the throne once the Night King is vanquished. To do that, I need all the realms' help, the North's included."

Lyra nodded, "They still want justice for their Liege Lord."

"That's right. They'll never follow a Targaryen, they will only follow you for as long as you remain their Queen." Aegon stated, not angry as some may believe for another monarch claiming the Northern Kingdom. "You yourself have proven to be a much better Queen than Cersei will ever to be. You knew what you wanted for the North long before you became their leader. You are what the North needs...what Westeros needs in dark time."

Lyra was silent as she listened to Aegon praise in words she could never imagine him using. "Why do you say all that?"

Aegon smiled at the sheer innocence of her question. Instead of answering, he asked his own question, "When was the last time Westeros had a queen that wants to protect them? A queen who is willing to fight for them even when the odds are stacked against her?"

"I don't understand. What are you trying to say?" Lyra asked as she was beginning to lose her patience with the Dragon King who was speaking in riddles.

Aegon sighed, then said the words he knows he will never take back, "I am asking you to be my wife."


Cliffhanger! I didn't know how else to end this chapter. This one was a struggle, but I delivered on my promise that would change the game. I hope this met your expectations, if not, then I apologize because this was the best I could come up with. Thank you for your patience, until next time. Happy Thanksgiving!