The Dragon in the North

Last Wish

High Valyrian is in italics

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arriving in Winterfell, Daenys landed her dragons at the usual spot. Shadow slid off Meraxe's wing into the snow, which made Daenys think back to his puppy days. Together with Shadow, she ran towards the gate of Winterfell. Nora was already waiting for her there. 'Daenys, my dear. You didn't have to fly all the way here.' 'Yes, you're just as much my family as the ones who live on Dragonstone.' Nora and Daenys hugged each other. 'Nora, where can I find Cregan?' 'At the Goodswood.' Daenys thanked Nora and made her way to the Goodswood.

'Cregan!' When Daenys saw him, she ran towards him. Cregan, who was very surprised to see Daenys, got up from the ground and took the young princess in his arms. 'Eny, what are you doing here?' 'Nora wrote to tell me that Arra had died, and I couldn't leave you alone during this time. After all, you are my big brother.' 'I've missed you, sis.' 'What happened?' 'Rickon's birth was actually quite normal, and we were both so happy about our son. Shortly after the birth, Arra started feeling very unwell and the Master's couldn't figure out what was going on, so she just slipped out of my hands. Everything was suddenly so quiet. Rickon is fed by a wetnurse, and she looks after him. I try to visit him as often as I can.' 'Oh, Cregan. That's terrible. I hope you were able to give her a proper burial.' 'No, I'm afraid we haven't been able to yet.'

Cregan's gaze turned skywards. 'What do you mean you couldn't give her a proper burial yet?' 'I couldn't bring myself to write to you. I think that's why Nora wrote to you sometimes.' 'What was Arra's wish?' 'Arra was a Northern through and through, but you were also her best friend. Her wish was for a Targaryen-style burial.' 'What dragon?' 'She always loved Meraxes for her beauty and charisma.' 'We will fulfil her last wish.'

They both just sat there for a while, looking up at the sky in thought of the deceased Arra. 'Eny, let's talk about something else. What's new with you?' 'Not much, really. Except...' 'Except what? I'm curious.' 'I've met someone, and we try to see each other as often as we can. My family doesn't know anything about him, and I don't think they'd be happy if they found out.' 'I see. Are you happy with him? You don't have to tell me who he is if you don't want to reveal it yet.' 'Thank you and yes, I'm very happy with him.' 'I can see in your eyes that something else is bothering you, what's going on?' 'I overheard a conversation between my parents. My father said that we need another big dragon on our 'side'. A dragon like Balerion.' 'But as far as we all know, Balerion is no longer alive. But there's something bothering you.' 'If he was still out there, I would do everything I could to prevent him from falling into my father's hands. I don't want him to be misused as a war machine again. The same goes for my three. I won't let that happen. I don't want them to do anything they don't want to do. Dragons have a mind of their own. We would be fools to think we control them. I don't control Meraxes, Silverwing and Vermithor. We have an incredibly deep bond that unites us and would do anything for each other.' 'That's what I admire about you. Three great dragons and you protect them like your children. Let's hope that if Balerion or a similar dragon finds its way to a Targaryen, it will hopefully find its way to you. My loyalty will always lie with you, even though we have sworn an oath to King Viserys and his heir to the throne. The North will never turn against its own people, and that is you, one of us.' Daenys knew that Cregan was completely serious about this and also knew that she would try anything to protect him and the North. She was, after all, the Silver Dragon of the North.

Cregan turned back to Daenys and looked at her seriously. 'Eny, I will prepare everything for the fulfilment of Arra's last wish.' 'All right. I'll go back to my dragons first. Shadow seems to have been on his way to them for a long time.' So, the two of them parted ways for the time being.

Daenys hadn't really reached her dragons yet, but it felt like she was having a flashback. Shadow, who jumped onto Meraxe's back and then slid over her wing into the snow. He did the same with Silverwing and Vermithor. Daenys was a little surprised that Vermithor allowed this. She watched the activity for a while until Shadow spotted her and greeted her with a joyful bark. Daenys stroked Shadow through his soft fur and also stroked the muzzles of all three dragons.

'Meraxes, we have a very important task.' Daenys hugged the huge muzzle of her she-dragon and silent tears ran down her cheeks. The fact that Arra had an incredible interest in dragons was nothing new to Daenys, but she didn't realise that she admired Meraxes so much.

'Daenys. Cregan has prepared everything, and all the Lords and Ladies are ready.' 'I'm coming, Nora.' Daenys and Nora walked together to the place where Arra's last wish was to be fulfilled. Daenys stood next to Cregan. Meraxes landed opposite Daenys, Cregan, Nora and all the Lords and Ladies. The she-dragon looked at her rider and waited for the command. Daenys looked again at Cregan, who just nodded at her. She took a few steps forwards and looked at Meraxes, then spoke in a tearful but firm voice: 'Drakarys!'

Meraxes pulled her head back and with full force she rained her fire down on the deceased.

Arra's last wish was granted, leaving her best friend, her husband and her family in tears.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I found this chapter more difficult to write than I thought. 😢

-Bails ❤️