Chapter Text
Varaena’s POV:
Her fingers slowly intertwined with Aemond’s, weaving in and out of each other as they held their hands up above the bed where they lay. Her back rested on his chest, the warmth of his skin against hers a comforting presence.
She knew she would have to leave soon to return to Dragonstone. For as much as her parents ignored her, they were likely to have noticed her absence by now, and there were only so many places one could go on that island.
“Do you wish to talk about it?” The rumble of his chest as he spoke gave her gooseflesh.
“About what, exactly?”
“You know what, Varaena. I won’t force you if you’re not ready, but at some point I want to know.”
She stayed silent for a moment, considering her words. She had known what he meant the moment he asked, but she hoped that if she played dumb perhaps he would just move on.
“My mother had invited me for tea,” she whispered. “She told me that Jace would be there as well, and that she wanted us to be on good terms before they left. And I foolishly believed her. I couldn’t give two shits about my mother, but despite everything that’s happened, he’s still my brother. It wasn’t his decision to be named heir, it was hers. I’ve spent my life trying to protect him, and I couldn’t give up on him now.”
Varaena sighed and sat up, wrapping her arms around her legs as she pulled them close to her chest. She felt the bed shift and an arm snake around her shoulders as Aemond sat up beside her.
“Jace said his piece, and I said mine. I believed things were alright. He left, but Rhaenyra asked if I could stay behind for a moment to talk further. I thought maybe, just maybe, she wanted to apologize, or at least express some semblance of regret, but she just started talking about how she regretted agreeing to our marriage, about sending me back here in the first place. She kept saying that it was a mistake to trust me, and that she was disappointed in how I’d let myself be taken in by you and your family. That’s when things started to get a bit…fuzzy. My vision started to go black, and I felt dizzy, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in my bed on Dragonstone, a few days later.”
Aemond’s grip on her shoulders tightened just a bit.
“I knew she was capable of some dark things, but I never thought she would poison and kidnap her own daughter. I’m surprised she even cared enough to, but knowing her I suppose it makes sense.”
“How does any of this make sense?” Aemond growled.
“My mother is extremely possessive, as I’m sure you are aware, and she also detests your mother and her children. If she believed that yet another thing had been stolen from her, she wouldn’t hesitate to commit atrocious acts in retribution.”
“You,” he said firmly as he took her face in hand and turned her gaze towards him, “are not a thing to be stolen. You are your own person. You are important, you are worthy, and you are precious. You are everything .”
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, so she leaned in close to him, resting her head on his, so that he couldn’t see her crying.
He held her against his chest so tightly, it felt to her as though their separate heartbeats became one. She took deep, calming breaths, collecting herself before she pulled back to look him in the eye.
His still working eye bore into her soul, while the sapphire that now sat in place of his lost one shimmered in the golden light.
Varaena reached up a hand to stroke the skin near his lost eye, her soft fingers leaving a trail along the scars that lay there.
Aemond shuddered a bit under her touch and tried to pull back, but she wouldn’t let him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry for what I did to you.”
“Varaena,” he started.
“Please, just…let me say this,” she pleaded, turning so that she was sitting on her calves in front of him. “I was so, so angry with you when I saw you again on Driftmark. You were the only person who had truly seen me, or so I thought, and then you had ripped out my heart and stomped on it. By that time, I had already been half in love with you, and I felt so stupid for it.
“My mother had long since lost interest in me, and Laenor was trying his best, but losing his sister broke him, and I had worked so hard to keep my brothers happy that it left me all alone to deal with my issues. When I saw you claiming Vhagar, I felt that rage boil over, because here we were, grieving the loss of a beloved family member, and you were stealing her dragon, and all I could think was how arrogant and selfish you were. Yes, I was trying to protect my brothers, but I didn’t need to take a dagger with me. I took it because a part of me hoped that I would get the chance to kill you. If I could turn back time and undo what I did, I-”
“Stop, just stop,” he sighed, extracting himself from the blankets so he could stand up. “You can’t change the past, Varaena, nor would I want you to. I believe everything happens for a reason. The gods guide our every step, even if we cannot see or feel it. I don’t yet understand why they would lead you to taking my eye, but they did, and I have to believe that something good came of it. Perhaps it was this very moment, where I could tell you that it doesn’t matter that it was you who used the blade, because I love you. And the fact that despite this grotesque thing on my face you still see me as I am only makes me love you more.”
The tears began to fall in earnest now, and she did nothing to hide them. Aemond moved quickly over to her, sweeping her up in his arms while she threw hers around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his shoulder.
“I love you,” she whispered softly between tears. “You are the very breath in my lungs, Aemond Targaryen, the other half to my soul.”
He pulled back just long enough to look into her eyes, before planting his lips on hers in the softest kiss, which slowly turned more and more passionate and forceful, as though he could actually become the breath in her lungs, as though they could meld into one person.
She hated that this had to come to an end.
“Aemond,” she gasped, “I have to go.”
“Go where?” He chuckled.
“Dragonstone. I’m sure they’ve noticed by now that I’m missing, I have to return before too long.”
She stood from the bed, searching quickly for her clothes which had been strewn all across the room in their haste to be together.
“Why would you go back to them, to that place?”
“My brothers are still there, I can’t just leave them. Besides, if being there gives me a chance to end this war before it even begins, I must try.”
“Varaena, you know what they’ll do to you if you go back. I can’t let you do this.”
“I don’t have a choice, Aemond. They’re my brothers.”
He was silent for a moment. “What about us? Are you going to come back to us? To me?”
She looked at him incredulously. “Of course I will, how could you even ask that?”
“Because I need to hear it. I need to know that you will come back to me. That I won’t be forced to spend the rest of my life, however long that may be, without you.”
“Aemond, I swear to you, I will return. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, there is nothing that could keep me from you.”
She kissed him deeply, breaking away all too soon to finish dressing. He, too, stood and dressed, ready to follow her out. They made their way silently through the halls, ducking around any available corners to avoid being seen.
Before they left the Keep, they stopped at Aegon’s chambers, so she could say goodbye.
He pressed her again for a decision as to whether or not she was going to claim the throne herself, but she remained tight-lipped on it. Not that she had changed her mind, but as much as she loved Aegon he would not be the first person to hear her choice. He did promise to keep looking for any kind of proof of Viserys’ last wish.
He hugged her tightly, and whispered in her ear that if anything happened to her, there would be a bloodbath on Dragonstone.
Aemond followed her down through the bowels of the Keep, all the way out to the hidden beach where Cannibal had left her.
She watched the skies, waiting for him to reappear.
“Before I go, there’s something that I should tell you,” she said as she turned to her husband.
“What is it?” He furrowed his brow.
She took a deep breath. “I’m going to fight for the throne. I cannot stand by and let my mother win. If I had any other choice, I would take it. I never wanted the throne, and I still wish I didn’t have to do this, but I must. For the good of Westeros.”
Aemond smiled slowly, his pride evident on his face.
“I will stand by you, no matter what,” he promised her.
Her heart squeezed just a little, still surprised at his love for her.
She heard something behind her, the sound of wings beating heavily against the wind.
Without turning around she knew her dragon had come for her. Aemond looked up in awe at the sheer size and features of Cannibal, doing nothing to hide his shock at the fact that she of all people had claimed this dragon.
“My first plan of action is to fly north, to see Cregan Stark. He’s my best chance at an ally, if I can speak with him. My mother will likely wish to send someone north anyway to reaffirm his oath to her, so I’ll find some way to either be the one to go, or to follow along. I’ll send you a raven once I’ve spoken to him.”
She walked up to Cannibal and stepped on his leg which he had bent down for her, holding on tight as he lifted his leg and placed her upon his back.
“I love you,” she shouted to Aemond, just before Cannibal took to the skies.
She would never tire of this, she knew. There was nothing else like it in the world.
In the air, she could simply exist. She didn’t have to worry about the war, about her parents, about her responsibilities. She didn’t have to think about the things in life that had gotten her to where she was, especially the memories she had tried so hard to forget but had never been able to expel from her mind.
She simply was.
And it was glorious.
The sun had long since set by the time she landed on Dragonstone, not far from the Dragonmont. Cannibal lifted his wing and leg to help her down easily, and she thanked him silently before he lumbered off back into the mountain to sleep.
She made her way carefully down the mountain, trying not to slip and fall as many people had done before. She was already dreading the things Daemon might do to her, she didn’t want to add a perilous fall down the mountainside to her injuries.
Quietly she opened one of the side doors to the castle, keeping a watchful eye for anyone around, before creeping down the hall towards her chambers. She opened her chamber door, and closed it, trying hard not to let it slam shut given how heavy it was. She let out a breath in relief, and turned to walk further into the room, but was immediately confronted by an unexpected presence.
“Just where the fuck have you been?” Lucerys asked from his seat on the balcony.
“Gods!” she screamed. “Luc, what are you doing here?”
“I’ve been waiting for you. After you disappeared, everyone was searching the island for you, but I had a feeling you would reappear sooner or later, it was just a matter of time. So I’ll ask again. Where the fuck have you been?”
Varaena had never seen him so serious, so demanding. She knew he didn’t come from a place of anger, but rather extreme concern over her wellbeing. But it still rattled her to see him this way.
“I was–I just–well, I had gone out for a walk and I fell a–and I must have been unconscious, because I only just woke up a few hours ago.”
She hated lying to him, but she wasn’t ready to tell him about her dragon just yet. Not because he couldn’t be trusted, on the contrary. He was perhaps the most trustworthy person she had ever known. But, rather, because here on Dragonstone, she couldn’t trust that anything she said wouldn’t make it back to Rhaenyra. The woman seemed to have eyes and ears everywhere, most especially on the island. It was her domain after all.
She was just lucky that she did indeed have a nasty bruise on her head from an unfortunate incident with Aemond and a wall which he felt extremely sorry for, and she would certainly never let him live down.
Lucerys’ eyes raked over her disheveled appearance, and she could tell that he didn’t believe her, but he was willing to drop it for now.
“I expect you’ll tell me the truth at some point?” was all he said in response.
She nodded silently.
“Fine. Then I’ll say nothing more about it.”
In a few short strides he was upon her, pulling her into a tight embrace, his fingers digging into her back. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his own, appreciating his need for comfort, as she needed some as well, and there was nothing better than a warm hug from her beloved brother.
“I’m leaving in the morning,” he whispered. “So is Jace.”
“What?” she backed up. “Where are you going?”
“I’m to fly to Storm’s End, to reaffirm the oath made by the Baratheons. Jace is to fly north, to Winterfell, to do the same with Lord Stark.”
This was it. This was the moment.
“Lucerys, I need to tell you something.”
He looked at her quizzically. “What’s the matter?”
“Not here,” she shook her head.
She grabbed her cloak, which was still resting on the chaise at the foot of her bed, and motioned for him to follow her. In the hall, she took one of the torches from it’s hook on the wall, and led him through the castle, back down one of the side stairs, and onto the beach. At least there she could be sure no one would hear.
“Is there a reason you’ve dragged me all the way out here?” he laughed.
“I need to tell you something, and I can’t say it in the castle. There’s too many prying ears in there.”
“Well, what is it? What’s going on?”
“As you know, before he died, Viserys expressed his wish that I be made queen instead of Rhaenyra. As of yet, there is still no proof of this beyond my word, as I was the only one present when he made his declaration. But Aegon has promised to keep searching for any evidence that Viserys might have left.”
“I know all this already, why are you repeating this?”
“Because I have decided something that will change the course of both our lives, for good or bad. I wasn’t sure for a long time how to handle this. I’ve never wanted the throne, as you well know. I’ve never believed myself suited for it, but now I feel I have no choice. I cannot let Rhaenyra take control, and destroy this land that our ancestors worked so hard to build. She cares for nothing but herself and the power that she holds, and I know if she were to sit the throne, it would lead to the ruination of the Seven Kingdoms.”
Lucerys; eyes widened. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
She nodded. “I’ve decided to fight for the throne.”
Lucerys’ mouth dropped open slightly, his shock evident even in the dim light of the torch which she had stuck into the sand.
“Well?” she demanded after a few minutes of silence. “Say something!”
He immediately knelt to the ground, putting one arm across his chest, and bowing his head in reverence.
“My Queen,” he started.
“What are you doing?” she interrupted, but he kept going.
“ I, Lucerys Velaryon, promise to be faithful to you, Queen Varaena Targaryen. I pledge fealty to you, and shall defend you against all enemies, in good faith, and without deceit. I swear this, by the Old Gods and the New.”
Tears came to her eyes, and she instantly moved to pull him up from the ground.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she tried to say, but he wouldn’t have it.
“Yes, I did. You must know, Varaena, I will always remain loyal to you. You are my queen now, but you shall always be my sister first.”
She smiled and reached up to stroke his cheek, then pulled him in for another hug, whispering that she loved him.
“What do we do now?” Lucerys asked.
“Now, I have to figure out some way for Rhaenyra to allow me to travel north with Jace. That was already my plan, but it seems I must accelerate my plans. Lorde Stark and I already have a good relationship, so I’m hoping I can persuade him to join my side. As for you, perhaps you can speak with Lord Baratheon for me.”
“Me? You would trust me to do that for you?”
“There is no one I would trust more than you to speak to potential allies. If there is anyone who could convince him to join my cause, it’ll be you.”
He nodded solemnly. “Then consider it done. But how are we to keep Rhaenyra from knowing of this until the time is right? Will the Lords not declare for you publicly?”
“I’m hoping to persuade them to keep their allegiances quiet, telling only those who must know, until I decide to step forward. That is another thing you might discuss with Lord Baratheon. But, for now, let’s return to the castle and get some sleep. If I stay awake much longer, I’m afraid I might drop.”
They both laughed, and Lucerys jokingly offered her his arm to keep her steady as they walked back to the castle.
Unbeknownst to them, someone had been watching their entire exchange from their balcony.
It had taken much convincing for Rhaenyra to allow Varaena to travel north with Jace. Thankfully, she had said nothing about Varaena’s long absence, nor even noting her sudden return. But she was incredibly wary of sending someone she knew was on the cusp of defecting to speak to an ally, with no assurance that Varaena would indeed speak in her favour. In the end, Jace surprisingly stepped in and convinced his mother that he would do all the talking, and would keep an eye on Varaena.
Varaena bristled at the way Jace said this, as if she was a child who needed to learn her place.
Luckily for her, she had a good relationship with his dragon, Vermax, so they were able to fly there together rather than having to take a ship and then horses. But it was still extremely uncomfortable. They were both silent the entire way there, though they wouldn’t have been able to say much anyways with the force of the wind creating such a roaring in their ears that they could hardly hear a thing.
The air turned frigid the further north they flew, and high in the clouds it felt even colder. She was sure that icicles were forming on her lashes, and it hurt to breathe. But soon enough they landed, on the outskirts of Winterfell.
She knew from her history that it had been many, many years since a dragon had been this far north, and it was quite obvious that Vermax was not a fan of the climate as he took flight again shortly after dropping them off, presumably to head somewhere warmer till he was needed again.
Jace didn’t even bother to wait for her before starting the walk towards the castle, determination in his every step. She struggled to keep up with him, her lungs aching and her muscles burning from all the exertion over the last few days.
Considering it was only a few days ago that she’d been unconscious with a powerful sedative coursing through her system, it was a miracle she was able to accomplish all that she had.
The guards stopped them as soon as they arrived at the gate, but allowed them entry once they saw the sigil they carried, though they remained under guard until they reached the main hall.
Lord Cregan Stark sat in his chair at the end of the hall, in front of the great stone fireplace, a look of boredom on his face as he watched Jacaerys approach.
But his eyes lit up when he saw Varaena.
“Well, well, this is a welcome surprise,” he said as he motioned for them to come closer.
Jace offered a slight bow to the Lord of Winterfell, who nodded his head in return to the Prince of Dragonstone. But for Varaena, for her he stood from his seat and offered her a hug, which she readily accepted.
Once they were all seated, the discussions began.
“To what do I owe this honor, Your Highnesses?” Lord Stark asked.
“My Lord, we have come as an envoy, sent by mother the Queen Rhaenyra, to remind you of your oath to her. The Hightowers are plotting to usurp the throne, and have already been spied planning their war.”
“So you’ve come to…what? Ask for my help?”
“I’ve come to ensure that you fulfill your duty to your Queen and call forth your banners,” Jace furrowed his brow.
“As I recall, I promised to call forth my banners only after war had been declared. I do not wish to put any further stress on my people. They’ve been through enough. So until such time arises that a formal declaration has been made, my bannermen will stay where they are.”
“With all due respect, Lord Stark, would it not be wiser to call them forth now? It takes at least a month to march an army from here to King’s Landing. If you wait till we are already at war, by the time your army reaches us, it will be too late.”
“Be that as it may, my decision stands,” Lord Stark said firmly. “If Rhaenyra finds herself in need of my men sometime in the future, we will answer. But until then, we remain in the North. You and your sister, however, are welcome to stay for the time being. I’m sure you have much more you wish to say to me to try and plead your case, so I will not deny you that.”
Lord Stark rose from his chair, followed by Jace and Varaena, and motioned to one of the servants.
“Please show the Prince and Princess to their chambers and help them get settled in,” he turned back to Jace and Varaena. “Please, join me for supper tonight.”
Before he left he locked eyes with Varaena, and offered a subtle nod of his head. She returned it in kind, then followed the servant as she led the two of them to their chambers.
The fire had yet to be lit, which meant the room was cold enough that she could see her breath.
“Here you are, Your Highness. We’ll have someone in to light the fire shortly, but until then, this is for you.”
The girl held out a thick, fur cloak and waited for Varaena to take it and wrap it around herself before reaching out to help her fasten it.
The cloak was indeed incredibly warm, and kept the chill from seeping into her bones.
“Lord Stark has granted permission for you to go anywhere you like in the castle, but he warns against leaving the grounds without an escort. It’s especially cold right now, and with the snowstorms many Northern natives have been losing their way.”
“Thank you,” Varaena acknowledged. “I’m so sorry, what was your name?”
“Alaine, Your Highness,” the girl curtsied.
“Well thank you, Alaine. Your kindness is appreciated. Perhaps you could direct me to the quickest way outside for some fresh air?”
The girl told her to follow the passage down and open the door on the right at the end of the hall, which ended up leading her out to one of the ramparts.
The frozen air nipped at her nose, and the space between the cloak, so she reached around and pulled it tighter around her body.
The expansive North stretched out far and wide, the open land covered in layers of snow which continued to fall slowly. This was her first time traveling this far North, and in all honesty, she didn’t ever want to leave. A part of her wanted to send a raven to Aemond and tell him to come North with her, they could hide away from the rest of the world in some remote corner of the kingdom. She was sure that Lord Stark would offer her safe haven, he was known to do that.
But she knew there was no running from the future.
War was coming whether she liked it or not, and there was no escaping it.
“Alaine told me I would find you up here,” a deep voice behind her said.
She smirked. “Following me, are you?”
“I like to keep track of my visitors,” Lord Stark laughed.
“I suppose it’s to make sure I don’t steal your army from you, isn’t it, Lord Stark? Afraid they’ll take one look at me and decide the rough, scraggly Northman they’ve been following isn’t worth it?”
Now he well and truly laughed, the sound echoing in the air around them.
“I’m sure they would. And please, call me Cregan. We are friends, are we not?”
“Indeed we are. I hope you’re well, Cregan.”
“As well as I can be, I suppose. Though it does get lonely here at times.”
He gave her a rather sad look, and she felt a pang in her heart.
“I’m so sorry, Cregan,” she took a step closer to him, taking his hands in hers. “You know I didn’t wish for any of this to happen the way it did.”
“Such is life then,” he chuckled darkly. “Tell me honestly, did I ever truly stand a chance?”
She grimaced. “I honestly don’t know. It’s true that my marriage was against my wishes, but to tell you the truth, I think it would’ve happened anyway. Aemond and I are bound in a way I can’t explain, and have been since we were children.”
“I thought you hated him. At least, that’s how it seemed to me when last I saw you two.”
“Yes, I did hate him. For a very long time. But we’ve since resolved our issues. If we hadn’t we most likely would have killed each other by now. But I do believe the gods brought us together for a reason, and though I don’t know for sure yet what that may be, I have an inkling.”
“I had a feeling there was something you wished to discuss with me. Otherwise why else would you be here?”
“Could it not simply be because I wished to see you? Or perhaps because I am on a mission for my mother?”
“You don’t fool me, Varaena. I know for a fact that you couldn’t give two shits about your mother, and even if you did, your brother is perfectly capable of delivering Rhaenyra’s message on his own. As to the other possible reason, as good a person as you are, simply wishing to see a friend would never be enough reason to bring you this far north on such short notice.”
She laughed nervously. “You’re too observant for your own good, Cregan.”
“That’s what makes me such a good leader.”
“You’re right, though,” she sighed. “There is something I wish to discuss with you. But not yet. Later. In private.”
“Your wish is my command, Your Highness,” he bowed with a flourish.
She lightly shoved him, chuckling with embarrassment, but he just grinned at her and offered her his arm for a turn about the castle.
They walked for a while, talking about their respective lives. Cregan told her that he had yet to find a wife, but his advisors were pressing him to make a match soon. And with the colder weather setting in, more and more people were struggling to put food on the table and keep their families warm. He was doing his best to provide for them, but with all the rumours of war in the south, it was only adding further stress that wasn’t needed.
She told him of her life in King’s Landing, though she left out many of the details regarding the Hightowers, as well as her relationship with Aemond. Some things were better kept private.
She did assure him that she was happy, or at least as happy as she could be.
By the time he saw her back to her chambers, it was time to prepare for dinner. He left her to get ready, then returned for her later to walk her to dinner.
Jacaerys was already waiting for them, his eyebrows shot up when he saw them walk in together arm in arm. But she just gave him a warning look to not say anything.
Cregan helped her to her seat, then took his place next to her, at the head of the table.
“I hope your chamber is to your liking, young prince,” Cregan said after a while.
“Indeed it is, thank you, Lord Stark.”
“I apologize for the temperatures, I’m sure it’s not what you’re accustomed to.”
“On the contrary, it’s actually rather refreshing. Sometimes it can be a bit stifling in the south.”
Jace was playing the part of the Prince, though he was a bit heavy on the formalities. But it was clear that he was in a bad mood. Obviously angry that Cregan refused to rally his bannermen.
“So tell me, Prince Jacaerys, what is it that you do? I mean you are heir to the throne are you not? That is if your mother can keep hold of it.”
“My mother is the rightful Queen of Westeros, Lord Stark. No matter what anyone says.”
“Do you understand what it means to rule, boy? Just being in a position of power means being questioned and undermined every fucking day. It doesn’t matter if you’re the rightful king or queen, lord or lady, none of that matters. There will always be some person who will question your authority and seek to displace you.”
“That’s why we have soldiers to keep the rabble in line.”
“That’s a great way to maintain order, send the fucking army after the innocent people.”
“If they’re trying to usurp the throne, they’re hardly innocent, now are they?” Jacaerys’ face was turning red in anger.
“Unless they’ve taken deliberate action against the throne, they’re not guilty of anything. And back to my point of who’s the rightful whatever, that doesn’t mean shit. Do you honestly believe that Maegor the Cruel was a good ruler?”
“No, but-”
“But what? Was he not still the rightful king? Does that not justify his every action in the end?”
“Of course not, he slaughtered the gods know how many people.”
“Yes, he did, and it was all in the name of maintaining his power,” Cregan pointed out. “See, it doesn’t matter who should or should not inherit. At the end of the day, not everyone is suited to ruling. I’m not saying every king or queen should be deposed, but defending one’s position merely because they believe they’re entitled to it is the most idiotic reason.”
Jacaerys opened his mouth to say more, but this time Varaena interrupted.
“I swear to the gods, Jace, if you say one more thing about this right now, I will treat you like the child you obviously are and lock you in your chamber till we leave.”
Jacaerys glared at her, obviously angry at being talked to in such a manner, but he said nothing, only slumped back in his chair.
“I apologize for my brother’s tactlessness, Lord Stark.”
“Not at all, Your Highness. I appreciate a good debate in politics. Especially one such as this, it gives me a chance to assess our possible future king’s knowledge in these matters.”
“If you’ll excuse me,” Jace butted in, standing suddenly from his chair. “I’m rather tired, I think I’ll retire.”
Cregan nodded his head in acknowledgement, and Jacaerys left without so much as a second glance at his sister.
“What’s your opinion on this, Varaena?”
She was a bit startled by his question. “To tell you the truth, I agree with you. I think that entitlement doesn’t count for anything. To be in power means to be constantly under scrutiny and be questioned in all you do. I’m sure you experience this all the time. I doubt a day goes by without people questioning your ability to lead, no matter the fact that your father was a good ruler.”
“You’d be right in that. People trust what they can see, and even that falls short at times. Sometimes, despite all that you do to protect your people and do right by them, there are still those who think they can do better than you. Or even if they don’t, they still want what you have.”
“At the end of day, what matters is how you lead, not how you came to power. Inheritance does not make you a fit ruler, as you pointed out with Maegor the Cruel.”
Cregan was silent for a moment, nodding his head in agreement with her statement.
“Is now the right time to discuss whatever it was you needed to say to me?” He asked with a smirk.
She shook her head. “No, as I said, we need to be alone. Away from prying eyes and ears.”
“My people here are loyal, not a word we’ve spoken will leave these walls.”
“And I appreciate that trust you have, but I cannot say the same. What I have to speak of is an extremely delicate matter, and dangerous if anyone should find out. I’d rather not take any chances.”
“I understand. When and where would you like to meet?”
“Come to my chamber tonight, after everyone has gone to bed.”
“You’re not afraid I’ll take advantage of you?” He wiggled his brows.
“Please,” she rolled her eyes, “if you even tried you would be dead before you could lay a hand on me.”
He laughed at her threat, finding humour in her violence but knowing that she meant every word of it.
“I’ll see you tonight,” she said as she stood.
The entire walk back to her chambers, and the hours that she waited for him, were spent thinking about what exactly she would say to him.
She hoped that she was right in trusting Cregan with this. The Starks were known for their honour and loyalty, and almost never broke an oath. But she thought that his speech about a person’s entitlement not meaning anything in the long run was a good sign.
Now all she had to do was wait for him to show.