Fire of the Sea|1| HOTD

.27

Winterfell

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the weight at the foot of my bed. As my eyes were adjusting to the light casting in through a window, I saw a dog. A massive panting dog at the foot of my bed, he was black with blue eyes and sharp teeth. I started wondering how he got here when I heard heavy, fast paced steps to my room.

Cregan enters and looks stressed, "I'm sorry he woke you he's been missing for hours."

"He didn't, he's quite warm though. What's his name?"

"Reaper"

"That's a very dark name." I laugh.

"He's a very dark direwolf." He jested.

"A direwolf? I thought those haven't been on this side of the wall in years."

"He's the last of his kind. I've had him since I was a babe. Father thought he'd protect me." He explained.

"And has he?"

"Haven't needed much protecting, but he does train with me." He stated. "How about we leave you to get ready and then eat. It's a beautiful day as well, we could go for a ride?"

"I'd love to but I should be leaving for Dragonstone soon, though."

"After lunch, you'll need energy before." He persuaded. It worked. After breaking our fast, Cregan took me on a ride, accompanied by Reaper and we arrive back just before lunch. "Perfect timing." He says before rushing to the hall for lunch. I giggle at his eagerness for food and walk behind him. He waits for me at the door and we enter and eat.

I'm grabbing the small satchel I brought with me, almost ready to leave when Cregan knocks on the open door. "Leaving so soon?" "I told you I was leaving after lunch." I reminding. "Yes, but I thought you'd come say goodbye before." "I was, you just didn't wait." I laughed, "So impatient. It's like you want me to leave." "I'd be happy for you to stay here forever." He smiled. It was a kind smile, one that made me want to take up his offer and stay forever. "I can't, I have to see how everyone else's journeys went." Jace and Luke should be back by now, since they didn't stay as long as I did.

"Let me walk you to Cannibal, I haven't seen him since you were last here." I could tell he wanted reasons to draw out my stay, I did too. It felt like when I was at Winterfell there were no problems. Just me, Cregan, and the North. No wars for the throne, no sides to chose or ally's to make, and no Aemond. "Fine."

We made our way to where I left Cannibal, there was no dragonpit in Winterfell to keep him so he was free to roam. He was a behaved dragon though, not making any trouble or eating anybody. He stirred from his sleep and shot up, not recognizing Cregan from past meetings. "Lykiri, Canni, it's Cregan." I soothed. It calmed him down at he looked like he was smiling now. He liked Cregan the last time they met, he even let him touch his nose. Something he didn't even let Meagor do. I smiled at his change of mood and look to Cregan, telling him to come closer now that Cannibal wasn't threatened. He did and Cannibal laid his head on the blanket of snow infront of us.

Cregan and I both let our hand fall on his snout, feeling the warmth radiating off of the beast. As we did smoke puffed out of his nostrils and we both chuckled. We stayed there for a few minutes before I knew it was time to say goodbye, I turned to Cregan and smiled. "I should go now, I'll write to you when I arrive home." He didn't answer but instead pulled me in for a tight embrace. "I'll hold you to that, princess." He whispered in my ear. Hearing him call me princess made me blush even more than I already was from the chill. We pulled away and I did something I didn't even think about.

I kissed him. I pulled him in by the collar of his shirt and pressed my lips firmly against his. He didn't pull away, instead he too melting into the kiss. His lips were warm, warmer than you'd expect from standing in the cold this long, and soft like silk. He pulled away after a few moments and looked down at me surprised.

"That was- unexpected." He chuckled. "Well we are betrothed. Figured I'd give you a goodbye kiss." I giggled. "Well I'll remember to give you a welcome kiss next time I see you." "Only if Daemon's not around, he'll kill you if he see's." It was a slight joke but I knew it would be true, Daemon would be that father, to kill a man just for kissing a girl. Especially if that girl is his firstborn daughter. "Noted." He said looking a little scared of Daemon. We said one last goodbye before I mounted Canni, as I took to the sky I looked down and smiled one last time at Cregan. Who would've thought I would be so taken by this man.

On the ride home I was replaying the moments back in my head, smiling ear to ear and giggling. Cannibal didn't like my daydreaming state and shook to pull me back to reality. I worked and I stayed focused the rest of the way back.

Dragonstone was coming into veiw when I was reminded that both my brothers were on trips of their own. The one with the most risk went to Luke, he should be home by now and I was anxious to hear how it went. He went all the way to Storms End, a place that often has heavy storms hence it's name, but Arrax isn't the most experienced in storms so I hope it went well. There's also the fact that it's the closest region to Kings Landing that any of us have been to since the start of this all. The possibility of someone seeing him was low but it's still possible.

But I couldn't think of all the what if's, anyways they'd be answered when I land and rejoin my family. I just have to wait and not jump to any far fetched conclusions. And with all the thinking o have been doing I have already arrived home. It's time to assure Rheanyra of the North's commitment, and see the rest of my family.

Cregan s Direwolf:

I tried to find out if he actually had a direwolf but couldn't find anything. I thought him having one would be fun and add something more to his character. Also don't know how I'm pulling these chapters out this fast but I'm pleased with it so🤷🏻‍♀️ lmk if I made any mistakes.
-A