GoT AU: The Heart Wants What It Wants

4: Back To School

Ages:

- Robb, Jon, Gendry, Meera, Arianne – 19; Sansa, Joffrey – 18; Arya, Alys – 16; Bran, Jojen, Myrcella – 15; Rickon, Tommen, Shireen, Robin – 11

MEERA

Meera was more nervous than excited in going to Dragonstone. She wasn't nervous in taking classes in college, she was nervous about how her family would be doing without her since it would be the first time she would be away from them for an entire school term.

She didn't know how Howland Reed's taking it with his only daughter going away. With her Mom gone, Meera had basically become the lady in their family mansion, both literally and figuratively. She had learned to cook at age nine and since then she cooked their family meals; she used to go with her Dad to a supermarket in Moat Cailin for groceries, but when she turned sixteen her Dad had allowed her to take the mini-van with Jojen for errands. Now, with her off to college, both her Dad and Jojen would have a lot of adjusting to do. Especially since, it was her who woke them up early on weekdays.

Like she had said, her father wasn't the crying type, but Jojen was the exact opposite. He tried hiding it, of course, but he was as transparent as glass. She knew him too well, she could always see right through him. Jojen had an outburst of tears and he gave her a fierce hug when the day came for her to leave for Dragonstone, which she found really cute for a grown fifteen-year-old.

Now, she was sitting at the shotgun seat of their family mini-van with her Dad driving for Dragonstone Island.

Aegon Targaryen University, Westeros' top university is located on Dragonstone Island in the Crownlands, with the entire island being the university compound.

Her Dad had recalled that during their time, the Aegonfort Bridge from Crackclaw Point to Dragonstone Island didn't exist. Back then, they had to take a six-hour ferry shuttle ride from King's Landing Harbor across Blackwater Bay to get to Driftmark Island, then a two-hour bus ride across the Monford Bridge over the Driftmark-Dragonstone channel.

The Aegonfort was only constructed and finished during the first presidential term of Aerys Targaryen II, mostly for the convenience of the students of ATU and the residents of Driftmark, also making it the second longest bridge in the world next to the Long Bridge of Volantis in Essos.

Looking at the Aegonfort, it was more like the Kingsroad interstate freeways over the Trident River than it was a simple bridge connecting mainland Westeros to an isolated island. Just as you reach the end of the bridge the road splits into two: the one to the right leads toward the Monford and to the neighbor island of Driftmark, and one to the left leading straight to ATU.

"You nervous, sweetie?" Howland asked as he drove to the left to the University.

"Going to college? No." Meera admitted. "I'm more nervous about how you and Jojen would do without me."

"We'll be fine." Her Dad assured. "You shouldn't worry about us."

Soon enough, they entered this stone and metal archway that says Aegon Targaryen University with a black winged dragon statue on top of each of the posts. And about a block from the school entrance was another streamer sign that says Welcome Freshmen!

When she got her acceptance letter from ATU, they also sent her a registration form, which she had filled up and sent back. In return, they sent her an orientation packet, the name of her dorm building and the number of her dorm room. And all she had to do was to get her picture taken for the I.D., and dropped off her stuff for it to be delivered to her dorm room.