Hand of the Queen

23

Drogon and Rhaegal lounge in the snow around me, Rhaegal's green-scaled wing draped over my legs that lay stretched out before me. I watch as one of the babies stumbles toward me, it's scales blood red. She nuzzles her snout into my stomach, curling into my lap as I drag my hand down her scales.

"Beautiful Alysanne." Aegon says from behind me, Rhaegal perks up at the sound of his rider's voice. "The wolf has found her place among the dragons."

"It seems as though it is the only place left for this wolf, my husband." I say, he settles into the snow beside me and rubs my arm.

"Talk to me, my darling." I lean into his touch, my eyes resting lazily on the dragon in my lap.

"My sisters no longer consider me a Stark. Everything I have done is so my sisters can live in a Westeros that is safe. And now Sansa will not even look at me without anger behind her eyes." Aegon takes a moment to hear my words, allowing them to hang between us.

"You are every bit the Stark that they are, Alysanne. But you are also a dragon, you are a Lady of House Targaryen. You have brought Westeros the promise of a life without fear, and you did it for them. If they cannot see that, then they are blind." He brushes a hair from my eyes, smiling down at me. "You know I love you, you know Daenerys loves you, every person in this council sees the selfless leader you are, and that you will defend them fiercely. That is what matters now." He places a kiss on my forehead and I lean into his chest, letting out a shaky breath.

...

I stand on the balcony of my bed chamber as night blankets Winterfell, our armies rush about to prepare for the coming battle. The horizon remains still, just the thought of what lurks beyond sends shivers running through my veins.

"Alysanne." Aegon says, rushing in dressed in Targaryen armor. "You must go below now, they are nearly upon us." I take his face in my shaking hands, he pauses to cover one with his own.

"I cannot hide while you remain out here, facing these beasts." I say, a tear welling in my eyes.

"I swear to you, my Alysanne, I will return to you. I will not leave the both of you to face this world alone." He turns his head and places a kiss on my palm before brining his lips to my own. "Come; we must go now." Aegon takes my hand and leads me through the halls of Winterfell until we reach the crypt, buried far below. "I love you, my wife."

"I love you, my prince." He kisses me one last time, pausing to place a hand on my womb, before disappearing down the dark hall. I turn to look for Sansa, she refuses to even meet my eyes from where she sits across the room. I instead walk to Missandei, Edlin waits beside her.

"I promised Aegon I would remain beside you," He tells me, motioning to the place to sit in front of him. I lower myself down beside Missandei, taking her hand tight in my own. She leans into me, resting her head against my own as she grabs hold of my hand.

"We'll be alright." I whisper to her, feeling her hands shake in mine. Edlin places a hand on both of our shoulders, looking to where Varys and Tyrion sit beside us.

"Prince Aegon is a fierce dragon rider, I will be surprised if any dead men make it past the wall." Varys says, attempting to reassure Missandei.

Hours pass with no movement from the doors, no shouts of victory from outside. I rub my hands atop my swollen stomach as Missandei braids and unbraids small sections of my hair. My thoughts wander to Aegon and do not leave him, praying for the safety of my husband.

I look to my left just as the hands break free from the crypts. Screams of terror come next as dead man climb free from their burials, reaching for the first sign of life they can find. I pull the dragon glass dagger from my thigh and swipe through the wight closest to us, Edlin immediately finds his way in front of Missandei and I. We gracefully move in and out of one another as we fight the dead men until they all finally collapse to the ground. We all glance around in confusion, their sudden presence gone as quickly as they came.

"Do you think they killed him?" Missandei asks.

"They must have." I tell her, sliding the dagger back into its sheath.

"Are you both alright?" Edlin asks, placing a hand on each of our cheeks.

"Yes, we're fine." I tell him, watching as the door to the crypt is thrown open. A northern bannerman bursts inside, a look of utter shock on his face.

"We won, it's over." I do not utter a word before running from the room, tearing through the halls until I reach the outside. Wounded lay everywhere, crumbled bones and ash litter the ground. I search every face around me, the bannermen of Winterfell convene with Dothraki and Unsullied alike, tending to one another in wake of the battle. I make it to the front gate to see Daenerys leaning over Jorah's lifeless body, pain rips through me for her.

"Daenerys." I quietly say, kneeling beside her. She looks to me with tears filling her eyes, pouring down her bloodied face. I pull her against me, she wraps me in her tight embrace as she sobs into my shoulder. Aegon stumbles from the gates behind us, I let out a breath of relief and wave him closer. He lowers himself to the ground and wraps both of us into his arms. The three of us take comfort in one another, somber silence hangs among us as the reality of our lives settle in. We have won this war, the great war that will save us all, but what will be the cost?