"You... You what?!" Luke questioned in disbelief. "What? Like it's hard to tame a dragon?" Lyarra said proudly with a grin. "She was almost his next meal" Jace muttered with a smirk.

"How big is he?" Luke asked. "He's big. I could smell the shit run down Otto Hightowers legs once he saw him" Rickon said as they all laughed. The children's laughter quietened down as they listened to the battle plans that were being made in the other room.

"Do you truly think there will be a war?" Luke asked anxiously. Serena put a hand on the boys shoulder giving him a weak smile. "If there is... You should return with us to Winterfell. Let the rest do the battles" she said.

"If there is a war to come, i want to fight for mother" Jace said. "As do i. The greens deserve to burn for what they did" Lyarra said. "Not all of them" Rickon muttered. Everyone gave him a judgmental glare as Serena shuffled uncomfortably. "The princess Helaena is innocent. I believe if she was given the chance, she would join us."

"Maybe" Ned mumbled. "I do not understand why we are not allowed in the other room. I have many plans for battle" Baela said slumping in her seat. "You heard what our sister said. She does not want us involved in this war" Rhaena said.

"What she wants is irrelevant. We will be involved and you all know it" Baela said. Luke grew more anxious the more everyone spoke. Serena gave Baela an annoyed look as she nodded to Luke. "But i mean... Only the ones who wish to join the war will" she mumbled.

"Look," Serena began. "Rhaenyra will win back her throne without bloodshed. I'm almost certain. She is the rightful heir and i'm sure the lords and ladies will realise this and she will sit the iron throne soon. Then everything will go back to as it was."

Everyone stayed quiet. "I pray to the gods you are right" Lyarra said. "Am i ever wrong?" she questioned. "Nearly always" Ned teased holding back his smile. Serena hit her brother at the back of his head as everyone laughed. "If Rhaenyra does win back the throne-"

"You mean when she does" Jace cut Lyarra off. "My apologies, your grace. When she wins back the throne," she said with a smirk. "I want to be the first one there to see her sit it. If she becomes queen, i can do anything i please."

"I don't know if that's how it works" Serena said. "It is how it works! If a woman can rule the Seven Kingdoms, then a woman can own land and no man can say anything about it... And if they do, then i'll just have to remind them who sits the throne. That's what my father told me" she said.

"I want to go West. Past where all the maps stop. I'm sure Moondancer would love to see what goes beyond it" Baela said. "I want to return to Kingslanding. I didn't truly get to see all of it whilst i was there" Serena said.

"It's not as good as it seems" Jace muttered. "Well, i'll tell you what i want to do" Rickon said. "I want to see all the greens lined up and bow to their new queen. Maybe some of them weren't given a choice to support Rhaenyra, but i'm sure once she sits the throne, everyone will show their true colours."

"What do you want to do, Ned?" Serena asked. Ned snapped out of his daze as he looked to everyone. "I just want to go home" he said with a weak smile. Everyone went quiet. "We'll be going home soon, brother. I know it" Lyarra said putting a hand on his shoulder.

Ned nodded, but he didn't believe it. He felt something deep down that something bad was about to happen. But he did not know what. He was frightened. He felt as if he would be torn apart from his home. From his family.

That feeling stayed within him for the past few days. And it would stay with him forever.

"What about you Rhaena?" Lyarra said to change the subject. "Well, if everything goes to plan. I'll be living at Driftmark soon and i'll be very happy" she said as her eyes drifted to Luke.

Lucerys blushed as Jace nudged his shoulder. "And you'll be the lord of the tides, huh Luke?" Rickon said with a grin. "Yeah... I guess i will" he said.

"I say we toast to the rightful heir to the Driftmark throne" Lyarra said pulling out wine that she had stolen from gods knows where. Everyone laughed as she began to pour the wine into the chalices. "To the future lord of the tides" they all cheered taking a sip of the wine. For a moment, they were all happy. All content.

A moment of peace, for a lifetime of sorrow.

Alysannes Pov:

"It's no easy thing for a man to be a dragon slayer. But dragons will kill dragons. The simple truth is this, we have more dragons than Aegon" my father said, everyone listening around the painted table.

"Viserys spoke often of Valyrian histories, i know them well... When dragons flew to war, everything burned. I do not wish to rule over a kingdom of ash and bone" Rhaenyra spoke softly.

"Please do not tell me you are considering the Hightowers terms, your grace?" Cregan asked, clasping onto his sword. "As queen what is my true duty to the realm, lord Stark? To ensure peace and unity or that i sit the iron throne no matter the cost?" she questioned sharply.

"That is your father talking" my father muttered under his breath. "My fathers dead. And he chose me as his successor. To defend the realm, not cast it headlong into war-"

"But the enemy has declared war? They killed my child! What are we going to do about it?!" i exclaimed. Everyone went quiet as i sighed. "My apologies, your grace... I... I-"

"We need to return to Winterfell, your grace" Cregan interrupted. My head spun as i gave him a deadly glare. "We have been absent for far too long. Winter is coming there for we must collect the harvest for our people... And tensions have been high" he said as his eyes drifted towards me.

"I understand, lord. You are free to leave tomorrow" Rhaenyra said. "You can not be serious?" i whispered to him.

"We are useless here. If you truly wish to help, we must gather our men and return home" he whispered back. I rolled my eyes but i knew he was right. And in truth, i needed to go home. I needed to comfort of the North now more than ever.

"I will write to Jeyne Arryn once i return home, ensuring that her oath still stands. I will also write to lady Blackwood. She rules her house in her young nephews stead and i'm certain she will side with you, your grace" i said.

"That would be much appreciated, Aly. I will write to you if anything changes once you return home... Now," she said resting her hand on her pregnant belly. "It's been a long day. I believe it's time we all get some rest."

I stared at the woman... Almost jealous of her. I then instantly scolded myself for thinking these thoughts. It was not Rhaenyras fault for being with child whilst i was not. But i did curse the gods for landing me with this fate.

"Should we retrieve the children and go to bed?" Cregan asked snapping me out of my daze. I gave him a weak smile. "Yes... Yes" i muttered as we left the room. Before i could walk any further, Cregan spun me around giving me a stern look.

"We should take our leave now. We should return home" he said. I shook my head. "I'm fine, Cregan" i said. "No your not. I think we need to talk about it, Aly. I-"

"What makes you think i wish to talk about it?" i questioned sharply. "If we talk about it... Perhaps it might bring you some comfort... Peace even" he said. "The only thing that would bring me peace, is seeing that cunt of a knights head on a spike on the walls of Winterfell."

Cregan sighed as i held back the tears that tried to escape me. "I'm sorry" i said putting a hand on his chest to keep me steady. "I'm just... I'm just so tired" i said with weak laughter. "I can't stop seeing his face. That babes small face and it-"

I couldn't even finish my words. Cregan embraced me tightly resting a kiss on my head. "They won't take anything else from us. Do you hear me?" he said. I nodded. "I'm going to get the children. We can say our goodbyes and go home... It's an order" he said jokingly.

I smiled softly as i scrunched my nose up at him. "You sound like your father" i joked. "Gods i do, don't i?" he said. I gripped onto him tightly kissing his lips gently. "Thank you" i whispered to him. He gave me a small smile as we went to get the children.

As we walked in, we heard laughter from down the hall. It gladdened my heart that they weren't letting this ruin them. But my smile faded as i saw them all sitting around drinking wine. "What in the seven hells is going on here!?" i exclaimed.

All of their smiles faded as they went silent. "Who gave you that?" Cregan asked folding his arms. They still stayed quiet. "Lyarra" i said with a stern look. "It wasn't me!" she exclaimed. "Who else would it be?!" i exclaimed back.

Cregan and i were trying to hold in our laughter knowing we had to be the parents here. "Just put it back. We're leaving now" Cregan said. "We're leaving? What do you mean we're leaving?" Serena questioned.

"I mean, we're going home to Winterfell. We have Northerns to feed and you also have a sister there... Or have you forgotten" Cregan said ruffling up Rickons hair. "We will be back soon. You have my word" i said.

Baela and Rhaena embraced me tightly as i kissed both of their heads. "Or you could return to Winterfell with us?" i suggested. "We should stay here. Our grandfather will be here soon. We wish to see him" Rhaena said. I nodded. "Alright then. But come visit. Or i'll drag you there myself."

They both broke out in a fit of laughter as Cregan made his way over to the Velaryon brothers. "Come" he whispered to both of them pulling them away from the others.

Lucerys always found the Stark man very intimidating even from a young age, but Jace did not. Jace respected him more than anything. But he also found the man quite funny at times.

"Now... You both listen here, alright?" he said sternly. They both nodded. "These next few days even moons will be tough. But you are the rightful heir to the throne after your mother. You are the rightful heir to Driftmark. You fight for you position, do not let anyone take that away from you. You write to me if anything is to happen, and i'll come right away."

"Of course" Jace said. Cregan man gave them both a weak smile as he ruffled up their hair. "Be good to your mother, lads" he said. Luke smiled softly at the man before running back to Alysanne to say his goodbyes.

Before Jace could follow, Cregan pulled him back. "And you, be good to that lady you are betrothed to arseling. She's my sister by marriage and if you hurt her, i will have to cut your balls off" he whispered.

Jace gulped at the man's words. Cregan paused giving him a stern look before bursting out into laughter. Jace laughed uncomfortably back, not knowing if he was being serious or not.

"Come here, sweet boy" i said wrapping my hands around Luke. He embraced me back tightly as i rested my head on his. In truth, i didn't want to let him go. "You be brave whilst i'm gone. Be brave for your mother and be brave for me."

"I... I will" he stuttered. I covered his head in kisses as he jokingly shook me off. I knew Luke was the sweetest but also the most fragile out of all of the children. I just wanted to take him back to Winterfell with me and keep him safe.

But i knew i couldn't.

"Will you come visit?" Ned asked. "Maybe" Luke said. "He will. We both will" Jace said. "You will? I'll have to lock up the ale then" Lyarra joked. Jacaerys bit his tongue at her comment as she chuckled.

"I... I will miss you" she admitted. A smirk tugged at Jaces lips. "You will?" he questioned. "Don't let it get to your head. I'll miss your brother more. He's better company anyways" she teased.

"Well... Like it or not, i will miss you too" he said. A moment of silence washed over them before Lyarra shoved her ring on Jaces finger. "Now you must come to Winterfell. That is my favourite ring. I will want it back."

Jace looked to the silver ring with a wolf carved into the steel as he smiled. But before he could speak, Cregan came up behind Lyarra looking Jacaerys up and down. "Come on. We must get going" he said, his eyes still on Jace. Lyarra tutted at her father before walking away.

"Remember what i said, arseling. Watch your balls" he whispered. Jace gulped once again as he hung his head. We all made our way outside where are dragons lay.

Rhaenyra and my father were waiting to say their goodbyes as i took Cregans arm. "Kepāzma" Lyarra said with a nod as she was met with Daemon. "Grandfather."

"Lyarra... Nyke ūndegon ao Jiōraton nykeā zaldrīzes. Gōntan ao biarves skoros īlon spoke bē?" he asked. "Lyarra... I see you tamed a dragon. Did you remember what we spoke about?"

"I remembered every word" she said. He smirked at her words as she ran towards Cannibal. Rhaenyra gave me a weak smile as i caught her hand. "Take care of yourself" she said. "You know i will... We'll be okay... We all will be okay." She embraced me so tightly i was almost sure my ribs would shatter. "You" my father spat looking to Cregan.

Cregan rolled his eyes, afraid of what he was about to say. "Take care of my daughter and my grandchildren" he mumbled. Cregan straightened up. "I will, your grace" he said. Daemon patted him on the back with a small smile. "Write to me once you return home" he said. "Issa, kepe" i said. "I will, father."

We all mounted our dragons as Cregan reluctantly mounted Saphira with me and we began our journey back to Winterfell. I was clueless about what was to come. We all were. I didn't know that leaving was the best but also worst decision we could have made.

And this was just the beginning of it all.