Blood Upon The Snow ||| Cregan Stark

eighteen

It was getting colder across the Realm. That was clear to Jacaera as she flew further North. She was glad she was wearing her cloak and had the foresight to pack a heavier one for Winterfell.

The Vale was supposedly beautiful; Jacaera had never been. With bastard allegations, Rhaenyra hadn't done royal progress since her children were born.

That was where her late grandmother had come from, though. Aemma Arryn. Jacaera would have given anything to meet her. Instead, she was stuck with Alicent in her place.

She knew she'd entered the borders of the Vale when the land beneath Cannibal became mountainous. The Vale was somewhat isolated from the rest of Westeros because of it and their harsh winters.

It wouldn't take long once she got into the Vale. And she couldn't miss the Eyrie when she saw. Hell, Jacaera could've almost run into it, it was so high in the sky.

The smallest of the castles of the Great Houses, no bigger than Maegor's Holdfast, it sat atop a mountain. The castle was made of fine whitestone and had seven slim white towers that were bunched together.

Quite cold all the way up there, Jacaera wanted to find somewhere to land quickly.

She had Cannibal circle the castle, so she was spotted and so she could find a place to land. And despite its small nature, the castle still had a stone courtyard. Just big enough for Cannibal to land; Jacaera would let him fly off and keep himself occupied. She could call him back.

There were household knights in the courtyard watching apprehensively. If she was there to torch them, there wasn't much they could do about it.

Carefully, as careful as a dragon could be, Cannibal lowered himself into the courtyard of the Eyrie.

Jacaera was extremely stiff from her flight. She stretched on his back as he leaned down. She checked her messages and took the parchment meant for Lady Jeyne, keeping it close, and climbed off of her dragon.

"Good. Go hunt," Jacaera said, giving the dragon permission to be released and go find prey in the mountains. Not people or livestock, but wild prey.

The dragon growled and took off again, shaking the ground as he pushed himself back into the air. When he was gone and the knights were cowering, Jacaera approached them, feeling the brisk air that invaded the castle walls.

"I am Princess Jacaera Velaryon. I bring a message to Lady Jeyne from the Queen."

The Queen. They'd heard of a King.

Nonetheless, the knights bowed to Jacaera and took her with them to see the Lady of the Eyrie.

They took Jacaera to the High Hall. Through the courtyard and to one of the towers. Up some stairs until they arrived at their destination. Warmth, finally.

The High Hall was a long and austere hall, with walls made of blue-veined white marble. It was decorated with rows of slim fluted pillars and a blue silk carpet.

At the end of it sat two thrones carved of weirwood, one the high seat of the lord and the other a lesser throne for a consort. Lady Jeyn was sitting in the high seat, the second throne was vacant.