The Forgotten Visenya (HOTD)(GOT)(Cregan Stark)

Winter's Embrace

The cold was the first thing Visenya noticed as she woke the next morning. Winterfell lived up to its name, and the chill seeped into her bones even through the heavy blankets that covered her. She dressed quickly, donning the warmest clothes she had brought with her, and made her way down to the Great Hall.

As she descended the stairs, she couldn't help but think about the day ahead. The meeting with Cregan Stark the night before had gone well, but there was still much to discuss. The North's support was crucial, and she needed to secure it, no matter what it took.

When she entered the Great Hall, she found Cregan already there, speaking with several of his bannermen. He looked up as she approached, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"Good morning, Princess," he said, his voice warm despite the cold around them.

"Good morning, Lord Stark," she replied, inclining her head slightly. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting."

"Not at all," Cregan said, dismissing his bannermen with a nod. "I trust you slept well?"

"As well as can be expected in such a cold place," Visenya said with a teasing smile.

Cregan chuckled. "The North is not for the faint of heart, Princess. But you seem to be managing well enough."

Visenya smiled, appreciating his light-heartedness. "I've faced worse than cold weather, Lord Stark."

"I have no doubt," Cregan replied, his expression growing more serious. "Shall we continue our discussions?"

"Of course," Visenya said, gesturing for him to lead the way.

They walked together through the halls of Winterfell, discussing the terms of the alliance. Visenya laid out the Black Queen's needs, explaining the strength of the Greens and the importance of the North's armies. Cregan listened carefully, his expression thoughtful as they spoke.

When they reached a quieter part of the castle, Cregan turned to her, his grey eyes piercing into hers. "I will not lie to you, Princess. The North is cautious when it comes to southern wars. We do not take our men to fight lightly, especially for causes that do not concern us directly."

Visenya nodded, understanding his hesitation. "I know the North values its independence, and I would not ask you to send your men to war without good cause. But this is not just a southern war. The Greens seek to usurp the throne and rule over all the realm, including the North. If they succeed, they will not stop at King's Landing. The North will be next."

Cregan's jaw tightened, and he looked out over the snow-covered landscape beyond the castle walls. "You make a compelling argument, Princess. But words are not enough. The North needs assurances."

Visenya knew what he was hinting at, and she took a deep breath before speaking. "You mean the marriage alliance."

Cregan turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "That's one way. A marriage between us would solidify the North's loyalty to your cause. It would bind our houses together in more than just words. It would ensure the North the protection of a Dragon as well."

Visenya's heart raced at the thought. The idea of marrying Cregan Stark was not as repellent as she had imagined it would be when she first set out for Winterfell. There was something about him, something that drew her in despite the cold and the distance between their worlds.

But this was not a decision to be made lightly. It was one thing to marry for politics, but another entirely to marry someone she felt a growing attraction to, someone who might actually be able to see through the walls she had built around herself.

"Marriage is a serious commitment," Visenya said, her voice measured. "It is not something to be entered into lightly, even for the sake of an alliance."

Cregan nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. "I agree. Which is why I want to know, Princess... why did you try to scare away your previous suitors?"

Visenya's eyes widened slightly at the question. She had not expected him to bring that up, and the memories of those days came rushing back. The madness, the desperation to avoid being sold off like cattle to a man she didn't love, the reckless behavior that had earned her a reputation.

"I didn't want to be married off to someone I didn't care for, someone who saw me as nothing more than a prize to be won," Visenya admitted, her voice soft but firm. "I wanted to be free, to live my life on my own terms."

Cregan's expression softened slightly. "And now? Do you still feel that way?"

Visenya hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. "I... I don't know. This is different. This is not just about me. This is about the realm, about my family."

Cregan stepped closer, his gaze intense. "And what about you, Visenya? What do you want?"

The question hung in the air between them, the weight of it pressing down on Visenya's shoulders. What did she want? She had always been so focused on her duty, on doing what was right for her family and the realm, that she had never stopped to consider her own desires.

But now, standing here with Cregan Stark, she couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him. The attraction, the connection, it was there, undeniable and growing stronger with every passing moment.

"I... I don't know," Visenya whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Cregan reached out and took her hand, his touch warm despite the cold around them. "Then perhaps we should take our time and figure it out together."

Visenya looked up at him, her heart racing. The idea of taking their time, of exploring this connection between them, was both terrifying and exhilarating. She had never imagined that she might find something real in a marriage alliance, but now, with Cregan, she was beginning to see the possibility.

"I would like that," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cregan smiled, a genuine, warm smile that made her heart skip a beat. "Good. Then let's not rush into anything. We have time to discuss the alliance, to get to know each other."

Visenya nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. This was not what she had expected when she set out for Winterfell, but now that she was here, she couldn't imagine things going any other way.

Cregan released her hand, and they continued their walk through the castle, the conversation turning back to matters of the alliance. They spoke of armies, of oaths, of the logistics of war. But there was a new understanding between them now, a connection that went beyond politics.

As they neared the end of their discussion, Cregan turned to her once more. "I will give my bannermen time to consider the alliance. In the meantime, you are welcome to stay here at Winterfell. I would like to show you the North, to give you a sense of what you would be marrying into."

Visenya smiled, appreciating the offer. "I would like that very much, Lord Stark."

Cregan's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Please, call me Cregan."

"Cregan," Visenya repeated, the name feeling strange yet familiar on her lips.

With that, Cregan called for the maid to show Visenya back to her chambers. As she walked through the corridors, her thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions. She had come to the North expecting to find an old, grizzled lord, but instead, she had found something entirely different. Something that made her heart race and her thoughts spin in a way she hadnever experienced before.

When she reached her chambers, she was once again reminded of how close her room was to Cregan's. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to be with him, to share more than just words.

But those thoughts were dangerous, and she pushed them away as she prepared for bed. Still, as she lay there in the darkness, her mind kept drifting back to Cregan Stark, to the possibilities that lay ahead. And for the first time in a long time, she found herself looking forward to what the future might bring.