The Death of Winter's Princess

Chapter VI

Ashara watched her hawk fly in lazy circles like her brain. She hadn't gotten a wink of sleep last night as her brain over thought and mulled over every word that woods witch had said. Only one of Maggy's answers made a tiny bit of sense. But what did "silver their shrouds" mean?

She looked across the field, watching the silver-haired man talk to her mother, a sinking feeling of dead building up in her. Surely Aegon wouldn't kill his own children, right? Ashara shook her head, furiously. Even inbred Targaryens wouldn't kill each other, they shared a bond and blood. She let out a sigh and rubbed her eyes.

Today they were going out and all Ashara could focus on was not falling off the damn horse. She regretted going to the woods witch. She was no help and Ashara was stupid enough to let it get to her. The meeting had been replaying her head all night, never allowing her to get a wink of sleep.

"Are you alright?" A voice questioned and she looked to her right.

"Robb, tell me if you went to a witch who told you that your children would die possibly at the hands of their own father, how well would you sleep?" She questioned, stifling a yawn. Her brother chuckled. "Well I know for one that witches aren't real and what they spew out is nonsense, so I'd sleep easily. Why are you asking?"

Ashara smiled wryly before urging her horse forward. "Wait, wait, hold up!" Robb caught up with her and leaned over in his saddle. "You didn't meet up with one did you?" He questioned in a low voice and the look on his sister's face answered everything.

He shook his head and let out a sigh. "I see Mother has sunk her claws into you."

Ashara smacked his shoulder and hissed, "First off, don't insult mother, and second I didn't think that it would hurt, but now I'm regretting ever leaving Winterfell!"

"Well, that sounds like a you problem, not a me problem." "You- Those are you future nieces and neph-" He laughed and rode off, leaving Ashara with the urge to strangle him the next time she saw him.

"Your brother seems like a charming man," Rhaenys said, appearing at her side, nearly making Ashara fall off her horse.

"Really? Which one?" She asked, tilting her head to the side. "Brandon the Stiff, Rickard the Great Mother, Robb the Annoying, or Benjen the Quiet?"

"I'd take them all, having one sister and one brother...we've never had a big family before." The Targaryen said wistfully. Ashara smiled, watching her oldest brother, Brandon talk with their father.

There was the neighing of a horse that signaled someone's arrival.

"Ah, Rickard. Where have you been?" Ashara asked, eyeing him. "Ridding." "Really? Who?" Rhaenys asked, making Rickard smile as he rode past them. "A beautiful mare."

"Well, it's ever so good to have you here, Rickard!" She called as he rode past them. She sighed and shook her head. "Siblings," grumbled Ashara and Rhaenys chuckled. "You might not like them, but you wouldn't give them up for the world." The Targaryen said, watching Ashara's hawk fold its wings and dive down through the air.

"How are you liking the North, er...Your Grace?" Ashara tried and Rhaenys shrugged. "It's more beautiful than Dragonstone, but it's just so cold."

She winced at Rhaenys's words and fiddled with her reigns. "Sorry about how I greeted you when you first arrived at Winterfell," she muttered, staring down at her horse's reigns. Rhaenys smiled. "Personally I think it was a warmer greeting than the one we got on the way up here," she said, making Ashara smile.

"We can be quite stubborn." She said, holding out her gloved arm. Her hawk landed on it and despite the thick leather, the bird's talons dug into her skin. Ashara took the rabbit from its beak and gave it a chunk of meat. Rhaenys smiled, glancing at Ashara. "I've had my own taste of the North's stubbornness."

Ashara blushed and looked down, knowing that the woman's comment was pointed directly at her.

She cleared her throat and looked forward again. "If you'll excuse me," she muttered, bowing her head to hide her embarrassment and urging her horse forward.

The dogs around them picked up on a scent and went into a frenzy, scaring the horse that Ashara was ridding. One of the many hounds accidentally scratched the already nervous animal, causing it to bolt and she let out a shriek of surprise, gripping the reigns for dear life. She felt a feeling of terror fill up inside of her as the world zipped by as her horse crashed through the woods.

Ashara pulled back on the reigns to hard, causing the horse to rear back and she tumbled off of the animals back. She landed in a pool of mud as her horse galloped away, completely unaware that her rider had fallen off.

"Stupid horse," she grumbled, flopping back into the mud as her heart pounded wildly. "This is why I only ride my horse and not some other random one picked out for me."

There was the sound of pounding hooves, making her sit back up immediately.

"Are you alright?" Ageon dismounted and ran over to her. Ashara blinked in the mud puddle before laughing as he offered her a hand. She took it a he helped her up. "Don't worry, she knows her way back."

"I wasn't talking about the horse, Ashara," Aegon said, looking down at her and she bit her bottom lip.

"Yes," She said flatly. "I'm fine."

"Then you won't argue about ridding with be back to the others." He mounted his horse and held out a hand. She pursed her lips before taking his hand and pulling herself up behind him.

She hesitated before wrapping her arms gently around him, lacing her fingers together. "Are you secure?" Aegon questioned and she nodded, careful not to let her cheek brush against his back.

"Are you not worried about getting yourself muddy?" She questioned and he chuckled. "I've been through worse."

"Oh well in that case..." Ashara scraped a clump of mud from her arms and dropped it on top of his head. "What the-" Aegon stopped the horse and looked over his shoulder at her, finding her grinning like a cat.

Author's Note:

I'm ashamed of this chapter. I'll probably go back and edit it later when I get the chance. Anyways I hope you enjoyed this extremely short chapter. Happy New Year and stay healthy!