BELOW ZERO: The Green Knight & The Winter Wolf VOL 3 (Cregan Stark x OC)

Chapter Fourteen (Cregan)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Cregan

Winterfell

Three Days Later...

I adjust the cloak that sits on Rickon's shoulders. He looks up at me and smiles and Gods all I see is a reflection of myself when I look at him. I know when I look at him I should search for Arra in his eyes and in his smile. But he took nothing from her. Nothing but a face that makes me almost repulsed when he cries. Babies are cute but when they cry and have snot bubbles and their faces go red as apples it's not cute at all. Arra used to cry like that and when he throws a tantrum that is all I see. That's not as often anymore though since he has fallen closer to his second name-day.

"You look like a little Lord of Winterfell now..." I tell him softly and he smiles at me. Pointing to the sword on my bed that I've yet to strap to my back. "No, you don't get one yet. But.." I go to the corner of the room and grab a small wooden sword. "Here, my little lord... You can use this. But go easy-"

He swings it and thankfully I have quick reflexes. He nearly blackens my eye with it. "Rickon... Do not make me regret giving you that."

Rickon smiles again and then puts his sword under his arm. I rise to my feet and sling my sword across my back. Adjusting the straps and settling myself in. This is the first time since before Rickon was born that I'll be seeing Jacerys. This time he brings his sister with him and from what he's told me she's kind but can be a pain.

I take my son by his little hand and he looks up at me as we exit my chamber. Going down the stone steps ever so slowly. He has his own speed and I do not dare to try to increase it. We will get there when Rickon says we get there.

The boy has taught me patience and to have an abundance of it.

"This is your first time receiving royal visitors, my son." I tell him as he takes his time on each step. Looking down at his feet ever so carefully. "Try to keep your head up high when they speak to you and certainly keep your fingers from your nose."

Rickon shoots a glare at me and it occurs to me he certainly understands when I tell him things. He is a smart child but sometimes I wonder if only hears me rather than listens to me. As we reach the bottom of the steps I can see the dragons fly off in the distance. I know Vermax and I know his size but the other dragon is twice Vermax's size. I did not expect Jace's sister to have such a large dragon.

The gates opened and Jacerys came running toward me. It was amazing to have my best friend, my brother by oath, back by my side. He'd promised me he'd be here for me and he certainly had stuck to his word.

As Jacerys hugged me I felt somewhat human again. He pulled away and I mussed up his thick curls on his head. "Good to see you, Jacerys."

"You know I would never leave you to suffer alone. I do apologize for how long it took for me to get here. Helaena sends her regards and her sympathies for the loss of Lady Arra. We were so saddened to have gotten the news."

I tense slightly and watch as Jace looks to my side.

"And this must be little Rickon..." He musses up my son's hair and smiles. "Gods you look like your father... But only cuter."

I laugh and then wink jokingly at Jacerys. "So that does it? You do think I'm cute?"

"In your dreams, Stark."

"In my nightmares, Velaryon."

We laugh together. A laugh I didn't realize I'd needed, suddenly I felt so free. Free to be who I was before Arra betrayed me. Before she hated me and before she died cursing my name. I no longer felt weighed down by the feeling of wanting to change it all. Of fearing that perhaps she had been right about me all along. That I was worthless.