The Legacy

Part 6

Silence surrounded the Stark family. All waiting for Maester Luwin to tell them that Bran was going to live, that he was going to be alright. Ned held his wife as her quiet sobs overwhelmed her. Siblings were finding comfort within each other. Viserra held the youngest Stark, his tears stained her tunic and his tired body fell asleep cradled in her arms. Everyone jolted at the sound of the door opening and Maester Luwin walked in to the solemn room. He told them the truth. Only time will tell. For the following weeks Lady Stark did not leave her son's side. Viserra took it upon herself to take care of her aunt even though she refused help every time.

Ned Stark had accepted the king's proposal and was to become The Hand of the King. Ned told his niece that she was to come to King's Landing by order of the king. Viserra fought her uncle for days, she refused to leave especially now that Bran had still not woken up. Finally Lord Stark had convinced her it would not be for the king, but for Arya and Sansa. He knew the influence she had over them, and would act as a second mother to them. On that condition, Viserra agreed. Catelyn Stark held resentment toward her husband and niece for abandoning her and Bran. On her last day in Winterfell Viserra spent it with her boys in the Wolf's Patch. She was leaving to King's Landing, and Jon was going to join The Night's Watch.

"I can't imagine Winterfell without you two." Robb laid on his back and stared into the sky. Viserra laid on a branch of the center tree a few feet above Robb. Jon leaned back on a log that Theon sat next too.

"To be honest I never imagined myself leaving." Viserra let her leg swing. "Much less under these circumstances."

"No one expected this to happen." Jon threw a small rock at Robb.

"Do you think he'll ever wake up?" Theon asked.

"I do." Viserra sat up on the branch. "Bran is to stubborn to give up without a fight." The group agreed.

"I wish I was going to be here when he wakes up." Jon picked at the grass around him.

"I hate that I won't be here, I hate that I'm leaving." Viserra jumped down from the tree.

"We all hate that you are leaving." Theon stated. The patch fell quiet.

"We should get back." Viserra walked toward her horse. "I still have to finish packing."

"You leave tomorrow and you still aren't finished?" Theon prompted a chuckle from the group. "How much clothes do you have?"

"It's not the clothes that's the problem." She faced the boys. "It's the weapons." They all laughed and stood in a circle. "I'm going to miss you lot. I don't know when the next time we will all be together again."

"Don't get sentimental now Serra." Robb said.

"I mean it. We have never been separated from each other." Viserra place her outstretched hands on the shoulders of Theon and Jon.

"Come here." Theon held out his arms and welcomed Viserra into them. "You are like a sister to me. I'll miss you." Theon squeezed her tightly before letting go.

"Alright then." Robb hugged his cousin firmly. "Watch yourself." He gave a small kiss on her forehead. Viserra then turned to Jon who was avoiding her playful smile.

"Come on Jon!" She beckoned him into her arms. Jon sulked his way in to her arms. "Don't pretend you didn't want a hug from your favorite person."

"Will be riding together for a while, we don't have to say goodbye now." Viserra let him go.

"Fine, let's go." They all followed her and mounted their horses. One by one they all left the Wolf's Patch together for the last time.

Viserra had said her goodbyes to everyone except Bran. That was one goodbye she left for last.

She returned to her room and finished the last of her packing. She walked over the her mother's chest and opened the bottom compartment. Every night she held the opalescent dragons egg and watched the flames reflect off of the surface. She did not know much about the lore of dragons eggs, only that with time they turn to stone. Bantis shared the admiration for the egg, he would lay next to Viserra as she held it. She quickly became entranced by it beauty. She knew she was going to bring it with her to the capital. There she could find more research about it. This night she did not put it away, but slept with it on the pillow beside her. She slipped in to slumber and felt the familiar touch of a cold iron chair. She was dreaming again. Her eyes searched the room for the two figures, but to no avail. A small fire began in the middle of the room. The flames danced in different colors. Like a beating heart the flames grew bigger and bigger. Her lap felt heavy. She looked down and saw her egg. The flames continued to grow, heated radiated to her face. Her hand reached out toward the flame, her fingers outstretched. Then she heard the voice.

"Fire and Blood." She sat up in her bed unsure of her surroundings. She looked around and felt comfort in seeing Bantis asleep next to her. She looked at the egg beside her. The voice was the same as before but no figures. Viserra looked out the window and saw the sun was about to rise. She cradle the egg and walked to the window. She enjoyed the last Winterfell morning she would see for quite some time. She put the egg back in it's safe place. She got dressed for the long journey to King's Landing. When she was finished she walked to Bran's room. Her aunt asleep next to him. She placed a fur around her aunt and knelt down by her cousin.

"I'm leaving little pup, not by choice." Viserra held his hand and kissed it. "I know you'll wake up and when you do I'll come visit you." She smoothed sown his hair. "I love you." She kissed his forehead and stood up. She walked over to her aunt and kissed her forehead. "I love you Aunt Cat." She left the sleeping pair and walked into the courtyard. Her belongings were already being put in carriages. She said goodbye to Robb and Theon one last time. Jon approached with a saddle. Viserra looked for Bantis to see him playing with his siblings. Her heart felt heavy for separating them. With everyone saddle they began their journey. Jon and Viserra rode together ahead until it was time to split. They both dismounted and embraced each other.

"So this is it. All my life I've lived with you telling me what to do." Jon chuckled. "I'm worried I don't know what to do with myself." Jon looked at Viserra.

"Consider it as training for The Night's Watch."she smiled.

"Thank you." His voice was sincere.

"For what?" Viserra smiled confused at her cousin.

"For always taking care of me, and treating me as your equal." Tears started to form in Viserra's eyes. Jon always thought he was less than the rest of the Stark children, and that always pained her.

"Jon you are my blood, you will forever be my equal now and forever." She hugged Jon tighter as the King's procession started to arrive. "I love you, you know that? I will always be here for you." She held his face between her hands. "Never forget that". Viserra hugged him one last time before they mounted their horses and waited for their uncle Benjen to catch up. When Ned and Benjen Stark reached Jon and Viserra, she said goodbye to her uncle as father and son had a moment.

The road to King's Landing was long and tiresome. Prince Joffrey was attacked by Nymeria, Arya told Viserra what had happened and she advised her to set the wolf free. Anticipating the queen's revenge, Viserra freed Lady before any harm could come to her. Viserra knew that Bantis would be safe.

It was well known that only Viserra could command him and as much as the queen tried she could not convince the king to kill Bantis. The king had complimented her on taming the wild beast. By the time they reached the capital everyone was upset and just wanted to rest.

Before they could settle in Ned Stark was called for a small council meeting. He asked Viserra to help the girls settle in. She obliged and walked to her new room in The Red Keep. She sat on the bed with Bantis beside her, and felt the air around her heavy. This was not Winterfell, this was not the north. She was out of her element and for the first time in a long time, she was scared.