The True and The Brave

𝔉𝔦𝔳𝔢: 𝔚𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔣𝔢𝔩𝔩

Aemma was pleasantly surprised by Winterfell and the hospitality of the Starks. Five moons had passed since her arrival and she had stuck to Cregan as if he were her lifeline. Lord Rickon saw her as a daughter, since their only daughter had died of babe fever, and did not live to see a day after her birth. 

Lord Rickon laughed warmly as he saw from the balcony, their son, Cregan sparred with Aemma with wooden swords. It took three moons to get the Velaryon girl to show a pearly smile. Until her nine name days, when Cregan attempted to make Seafyre eat a slice of cake. 

"Come on, Seafyre, cake is good for everyone, even big dragons such as yourself... you don't understand me, do you?", he said, thinking of himself hidden away from the prying eyes of Aemma who was holding her laugh. 

The dragon only huffed and turned away from the Stark, laying back inside his cave. Aemma suddenly turned to him, laughing softly. 

"Cregan. I think my dragon would appreciate fish instead of cake, but fish are rather scarce up North", she softly stated. 

Cregan almost jumped, but his long solemn face remained, cracking half a smile. 

"You scared me, Aemma. I just thought even dragons celebrated their riders' name days", he shrugged. 

"I am flattered, Cregan. I'm sure Seafyre is also flattered. Come on, you know you have her affection at least. She does not let anyone ride her other than me and my father... and my uncle", she said softly. 

She missed her father dearly. They had exchanged letters, but the distance made it hard to communicate. They had left for Dragonstone at Rhaenyra's request. Laenor send her a chest with velvet dresses in the color she adored, along with cloaks and the finest furs he could muster, along with jewels that could only be found in Driftmark.

She had truly been happy here, away from her stolen duties, away from the scornful eye of her mother. But she did miss Aemond mostly, the comfortable silence they had in the archives that made her feel somehow peaceful, how his touch was tender only with her. 

She missed Aegon and Haelena. She also exchanged letters with the latter, after she left her a letter. She knew Haelena would suffer the most from her warship in Winterfell. Aegon liked her presence but did not voice it to her either way. Haelena said that they were to be betrothed and that ever since she left, Aegon had only spiraled down in his cups. Since she left, the castle lacked warmth. 

Even Viserys had felt it. He missed his granddaughter greatly. He missed her curious nature of old Valyria and his lessons in Valyrian. He would never forgive himself for sending a small little girl all the way to Winterfell. Even Daemon, who did not know the girl had rushed to the defense of Laena's niece, his own daughter's cousin. 

How could his brother let a young girl be sent, and much less with the Starks? He could not even imagine Rhaenyra agreeing with such a prospect, but it was Laenor's letter to his twin sister that clarified the incident. Her niece had truly done this. To protect her sons. To protect the bastard children. Daemon was loyal to his blood. Rhaenyra's blood ran through the bastards, but it was pureblood who ran through Aemma. 

"Come on now, Aemma, father says that we must visit the wall today. You will get to see the wall". 

And it was greater than she had imagined. She flew on dragonback to the wall, circling the massive structure. Seafyre, as if sensing her riders' astonishment, flew closer to the wall, her wings reflecting upon the cold hardened ice. 

Cregan stood from the top of the wall, watching Aemma circle. He looked down, trying to see if any free folk were there to see the spectacle. They had never seen a dragon this far North. Not since Aegon the conqueror.