The Gathering Storm | Aemond Targaryen

Chapter 19

It was two days later that Haera found herself dining in the quiet of her chambers alone. With the Warden of the North as her more than generous host, he was often busy elsewhere. That left Haera to wander the peaceful and serene grounds of Winterfell. She found the Godswood to be her favorite most of the time, similar yet so different to the one in the Red Keep.

Here everything constantly lay branch a fine dusting of snow and with the natural hot springs beneath the ground the small pond often had clouds of steam rising up from it to greet the cold air. When she wasn't there she was either curled up next to Stormdancer in the ravine cavern with a book that one of the maesters had let her borrow or in the Library of Winterfell itself. When it was the latter little Elyse often found her and asked her to tell her stories. Haera always obliged. Sometimes she drew her sword and sparred with the gaurds in courtyard, surprising them all greatly with her skills.

But when the quiet became to much and her mind reminded her of why she was in the north, she sought out Cregan. They went on rides through the Wolfs-wood and told eachother tales of their youth late into the night until the fire in the hearth in the great hall was all but smoldering coals.

It was nearing the hour of the ghosts when a small knock broke through the steady silence of Haera chambers, the noise making her look over her shoulder from where she sat in front of the fire.

When she opened the door she was only slightly surprised to see the young serving girl that had frequented her side for the last several days.

"It's quite late for you to be here is it not young one?" Haera raising an eyebrow as she spokes.

Elyse darted her eyes to the side letting out an awkward "no."

Haera stepped to the side allowing the young girl to dart into her room without an invitation. She said no word of it though, as the days passed it was clear that the young girl didn't know the proper etiquette for being in the presence of a Princess. Haera didn't mind though, if anything it made her feel normal, like she wasn't some high and mighty princess with the weight of the seven kingdoms bearing down on her.

Haera had barely shut the door behind her when Elyse spun on her heels, wide eyes full of excitement. "Can you take me flying? Pretty please?"

For a moment Haera was startled by the question and then a tiny smile pulled on her lips. "You've heard the other servants and guards talking about my dragon haven't you?"

"Perhaps. . . They say they've seen him in the Wolfs-wood hunting for food."

"I would not be surprised. He has an appetite on him." Haera mused, sinking back down into her chair in front of the fire, the little girl going to sit at her feet. "But I'm afraid you are much too young to sit Stormdancers saddle as of now."

"Oh please? Pretty please?" The girl begged, grabbing the hem of Haeras skirts as she did, her big blue eyes looking up at her.

For a moment Haera wondered if this was what it was like to have a little sister. In that moment she hoped and prayed that the babe inside her mother was a girl.

"Forgive me, but I cannot."

"I would hold on really tight, I promise!"

"It's not about how tightly you hold on, it's how you carry yourself overall. Dragons are mighty beasts and though it may seem like we Targaryens control them, we do not entirely. They can be unpredictable. I would not want something happening to you should something go awry. Does that make sense?"

Falling back onto her bum, Elyse let out a sigh. "I suppose. Can I at least see him?"

"Perhaps. But it's late and you should be abed—"