Led By Fiery Passion { Aemond Targaryen}

Part 58

Aenyra woke to the cheerful chirping of birds outside her window. Gazing at the icy glass, she noted how the sunlight streamed through, brightening the room. Climbing out of her familiar bed, she dressed for the day, letting her hair cascade freely down her back. She slid into her black leather attire, accented with matching furs.

As she made her way to the main hall, Aenyra spotted Cregan already seated at the table, accompanied by a little boy she could only assume was Rickon.

"Good morrow, Lord Stark," Aenyra greeted, announcing her presence.

"Indeed it is, Princess. Allow me to introduce you," Cregan replied, gesturing toward the boy beside him as Aenyra quickly took a seat across from them. "This is my son, Rickon. Rickon, this is Princess Aenyra, a close friend of mine."

Rickon smiled widely as he studied Aenyra before climbing off his chair and unexpectedly settling into her lap. "Well, hello there!" she exclaimed, taken by surprise as his tiny fingers began to run through her white hair in fascination.

"Rickon—" Cregan started, but Aenyra raised a hand

"Do you like to play with swords, Rickon?" Aenyra asked, her voice warm and inviting. The little boy's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Yes! I have a wooden sword, and I pretend to be a knight!" he replied, his small hands gesturing animatedly as if he were already swinging his imaginary weapon.

"Ah, a brave knight defending the realm, are you?" Aenyra teased, gently ruffling his hair. "What do you protect the kingdom from?"

"Monsters!" he declared confidently. "There are dragons and giants everywhere! But I can defeat them all!" His eyes sparkled with the thrill of imagination.

"Dragons, you say? That sounds quite dangerous. How do you fight them?" Aenyra leaned closer, intrigued by the child's tales.

Rickon puffed out his chest, clearly taking his role seriously. "I use my sword and shout really loud! And then I roar like a dragon!" At that, he let out a dramatic roar that made Aenyra and Cregan burst into laughter.

Cregan shook his head, a proud smile on his face. "He takes his battles very seriously, Princess. I sometimes fear for the furniture."

She laughed, picturing the chaos that would ensue during Rickon's epic quests. "Have you ever seen a real dragon, Rickon?" she asked. He shook his head, pouting slightly. "Would you like to see one?" His face lit up at her question, while Cregan's expression shifted to one of terror. Aenyra chuckled, then picked the little boy up, securing him on her hip.

She walked to the other side of the table and took hold of Cregan's hands, encouraging him to join them. He grasped her hand gently, a hint of apprehension in his voice. "Aenyra," he began, sensing what she was planning.

"Do you trust me?" she asked, turning slightly to gauge his reaction.

"You know I do, but—" Cregan hesitated, struggling to voice his concerns. However, the excitement shining on Rickon's face and Aenyra's gentle smile made it difficult for him to object. "Alright, but if I say let's go, my word is final. Understood?"

Aenyra smiled warmly and nodded in agreement. Together, they stepped beyond the safe walls of Winterfell.

Walking across the open expanse of snow, Aenyra led Cregan and Rickon to the edge of the field. As they reached the corner, she turned to Cregan and Rickon, raising a finger to her lips to signal for them to be quiet. Then she walked towards Cannibal, who lifted his head at the sight of his rider, shaking off the snow that had settled on his scales.

"Gīda, Cannibal," she called softly, calming the dragon. Aenyra ran her hand along his sleek neck, encouraging the boys to approach him slowly.

Meeting them halfway, she picked up Rickon and took Cregan's hand in hers again. Together, they cautiously reached out to touch the dragon's powerful neck. Little Rickon burst into an excited laugh.