Visenya Targaryen knew many things to be true. She was Harwin Strong's daughter. She was a Targaryen Princess regardless. And she was not going to marry for love.
With a war looming, Rhaenyra Targaryen must do everything in her power to strengthen h...
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Travelling with only one horse was slow but Cregan doubted Visenya had it in her to travel much quicker. Two days went by as they moved slowly back towards the Crossroads Inn where a legion of Cregan's would be waiting for them to continue onto Dragonstone with them. Willum Stark and Lords Cerwyn and Karstark would hold Moat Cailin with almost all of the Northern forces, ready for war. Ser Darron, Lord Umber and Edric would be waiting at the Crossroads for them.
Visenya didn't say much. She didn't say anything apart from 'thank you' when he passed her something to eat or fixed his cloak around her shoulders. She was pale still, her eyes and cheeks lacking that flush of anger or passion he'd grown so used to sparking in her. She would sit in front of him in the saddle, her hands holding onto the reins under his hands and Cregan could hear her sniffle and clear her throat to clear her tears but they still fell. He held her tighter, he gave her space, he kept watch while she slept and was there when she woke.
Cregan didn't know the first thing about being a good husband but he wouldn't let her slip away, not when he didn't know the first thing about getting back to a life that felt bearable where he wasn't her husband.
Ser Darron, Lord Umber, Ser Jarrald and Edric met them at the Crossroads Inn where they kept moving from until they stopped and made camp just before Maidenpool. Edric sighed audibly when he saw his sister-by-law. Cregan saw her flinch when he hugged her, saw how her hands gripped at Edric's shirt reminded only of her brother. Ser Darron and Lord Umber looked slightly unsure when they saw her, like they were frightened or nervous. Perhaps even worried that their Lady Stark who had flown to Bear Island spewing fire and gone toe-to-toe with Cregan multiple times was gone.
They moved quickly. With fresh horses and supplies from Moat Cailin they made Rook's Rest in a matter of days. They only stopped where they could sleep for the night completely hidden and they stuck to the unofficial roads. If anyone bumped into them, they didn't look like Lord or Lady of anything, just weary travellers. Cregan didn't sleep much, he couldn't.
The small ship that waited for them bore no crest or banners, sent by the Queen but covert and quiet. It was an old smuggler's bay, no harbour or docks. Just a sheltered cliff face, battered from wind and rain with a rope ladder nailed into the cliff wall.
Lord Umber and Edric went first, then Ser Darron and Ser Jarrald until it was just Visenya and Cregan left on the cliff.
"You're almost home" Cregan tried to comfort her, knowing that seeing her brothers and mother could be a comfort.
But Visenya shook her head. Her lilac eyes met his and she held his gaze for the first time in days.
"This isn't home." she nodded in the direction of Dragonstone that could be seen in the misty distance.
Ingrid had sent clothes with Edric for her lady. And after days of wearing whatever clothes Cregan found in the Riverlands after he'd found her, seeing Visenya dressed in her Northern clothes again, wolf pin on her cloak and heavy Stark cloak around her made something feel less tight in Cregan's chest. Something eased in Visenya too, feeling more like Lady Stark again if only like she was dressing up as her.
