Head North

"How is it fucking snowing in the summer? Snow, Jon! Snow everywhere." Aegon shivered as he watched the white blanket of snow stretch across the barren land.

"What did you expect, winter is coming. You and Daenerys should have stayed at the capital." Jon grumbled in displeasure as he looked back at the royal progression in the distance, nearly fifty caravans and about two hundred knights. If he had riden alone as he intended to, he would have already reached Winterfell but Aegon and Daenerys stubbornly followed him as well as half the royal court and delayed his arrival by an entire month.

"Brr... Its freezing!" Daenerys complained as she pulled her furs tighter around her shivering body. Her skin was paler than usual and her silver hair was as white as the falling snow. "Don't listen to him Egg. He loves the company. He is just bitter after what happened at the Crossing."

Jon shuddered as he remembered the horrid night he endured when Lord Frey hosted the royal family at the Twins. The old fool was arrogant enough to suggest that Jon marry one of his daughters in exchange for crossing the Green Fork river. Despite Aegon's insistence of paying the usual toll, that didn't deter his uncomely daughters from trying to court the unwilling prince. One even entered Jon's chambers during the night and nearly had her way with him before Jon realised what was happening.

"She said you were hard as steel and you didn't push her away. In fact she said that you were quite the kisser." Aegon teased his younger brother who shot him an angry glare. Jaehaerys shuddered once again, this time in shame. His first kiss was to a Frey. He was lucky that he woke up from his erotic dream before he dishonoured the Frey girl or else he would have been **** to marry her out of duty, a woman who looked more like a weasel than the silver-haired valyrian goddess that he was fantasising about.

"What about you, Dany?" Jon said as he turned towards the youngest Targaryen, who was still shivering beneath her furs. "Surely you didn't enjoy having all of those Freys staring at you."

"No but if either of them snuck into my room to have their way with me, they would lose their hands." Daenerys said as she gave her nephew a sly smile, suddenly forgetting about the cold. Jon and Aegon both reciprocated the smile knowing that despite being a blushing virgin, Daenerys was not a defenceless maiden. Unlike Rhaenys who sought womanly pursuits, Daenerys had always wanted to be like her surrogate mother and Rhaegar allowed her to be trained by Queen Lyanna Stark and while she was not as skilled at arms as her older nephews, neither Aegon nor Jaehaerys could shoot an arrow or ride a horse like she does.

"Look there it is!!!" Princess Daenerys exclaimed in joy as the grey walls of Winterfell came into view. Winterfell looked bleak against the dreary landscape. It may not be as imposing as Harrenhal, as majestic as the Red Keep or as impregnable as Casterly Rock but to Aegon, Winterfell was a seat fit for a king. Its grey stone walls stood tall, proud and emanate a sense that all would be safe within its protection and indeed, unlike Harrenhal and the Red Keep, Winterfell have never fallen.

When Aegon and his retinue rode past the double gates and into its massive courtyard, Lord Eddard Stark the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North bent his knees followed by every single one of his countrymen. Aegon couldn't help but feel proud as he saw the submission of the unruly and fierce crowd. Even with a Stark as Queen Consort, the Northmen have always resented the rule of the Iron Throne. Aegon dismounted from his horse and Lord Stark rose to his knees.

"Lord Stark, it is good to finally meet you once more." Aegon said as the Warden of the North greeted him.

"Aye, you've grown into quite a man ever since I last saw you upon the battlements of Pyke." The Lord of Winterfell replied courteously before he introduced the king to his family. First was the beautiful Lady Catelyn Tully, her auburn hair, porcelain skin and blue eyes enchanted the king the moment he laid eyes on her. Beside her was her youngest child, Lord Rickon Stark, a boy of only three who hid behind his mother in fear of the foreign looking king. Aegon had heard much about the Starks from his brother and in truth did not need an introduction. He knew all about the honorable Lord Eddard, his beautiful wife, his equally honorable heir, the adventurous Arya, the young Brandon who has aspirations to become the first Northern knight of the Kingsguard and last but not least, he had heard of the the beautiful Sansa Stark whom Jon claimed was deeply in love with the king despite never meeting him, until now.

Sansa was just like a younger version of her mother and Aegon were pleased that tales of her beauty were not lies. Her pale cheeks flushed as red as her hair when the king courteously kissed her extended hand and Aegon knew the girl was already under his spell.

Arya on the otherhand did not look anything like her sister. In fact she did not look like any of her siblings. Of all of the children of Lord Eddard, Arya was the only one who didn't inherit her mother's coloring as she had grey eyes and her father's brown hair and long sullen face. But nevertheless, Aegon had heard many great things about her, leading him to believe that she was Jaehaerys' favourite Stark.

After the members of House Stark were introduced, Lord Eddard then introduced the king to his guests. A woman with golden blonde curls, piercing emerald eyes, lush lips and an ass that would rival even that of Arianne Martell. Besides her was her equally beautiful daughter, though younger and much less well-endowed.

"Lady Cersei, this is a pleasant surprise." Aegon said courteously as he kissed her extended hand. However, it was a lie, Lord Varys had told him that Lord Robert and his family were visiting Lord Stark, hoping to arrange a suitable match for his only child and heir, lest his lands be inherited by his brothers. Another reason why Queen Lyanna did not accompany them to her family home.

"Lady Myrcella, you've grown more beautiful every day." Aegon said as he turned to the beautiful Baratheon heiress. Myrcella looked just like a younger, slimmer version of her mother. Despite a grown woman, Aegon was somewhat disappointed at how much younger Myrcella looked like most women her age with her flat-chest and childish but pretty face.

"You must forgive my husband, Your Grace." Cersei said as the king kissed the hand of her only child. "He has gotten a terrible cold while hunting and fears it would be inappropriate to personally welcome you, Your Grace."

"I understand, my lady. I pray that Lord Robert makes a speedy recovery." Aegon politely replied but everyone knew better. Robert Baratheon hated Rhaegar and his children ever since Lyanna Stark chose the Last Dragon over him. After the War, Varys convinced Rhaegar to send hundreds of his little birds to the Stormlands in order to keep a close eye on the recalcitrant lord. However, instead of singing songs about treason and rebellion, the only thing that the birds reported back to the capital were far-fetched and exaggerated tales of both Lord Robert and Lady Cersei's extra-marital affairs.

Aegon had a feeling that he would soon find out whether there was any truth to these rumours.

"What plagues your mind, Lord Stark?" Aegon asked as he poured his own cup from a flagon of sweet summerwine. It was cheaper and sweeter than the Dornish Reds he was so familiar with but Aegon enjoyed the refreshing change of taste. His companion however was silently brooding next to him, there was a tightness in his gaze as Lord Eddard looked at over the hall with his mind visibly elsewhere. Aegon now knew why Queen Lyanna called her older brother the Quiet Wolf.

"My apologies for not being a gracious host, Your Grace." Lord Eddard said, his voice stiff and full of sorrow. "I received some terribly bad news this morning."

"Oh... I'm so sorry for not offering my condolences, Lord Stark. I just heard about Lord Arryn's ****, he was like a father to you weren't he?"

"Aye, he fostered both Robert and I." Lord Eddard said sullenly as he sipped his wine, his mind still a thousand miles away.

"Lord Robert seems to have taken the news pretty well." Aegon said as he nodded towards the direction of the Lord of Storm's End. Robert Baratheon was sitting among drunk squires with a redheaded whore on his lap. He had wanted to seat as far away from Prince Jaehaerys as possible, the love-child of the woman he still loved and of the man he loathes. Meanwhile, his lawful wife, the beautiful Lady Cersei Lannister was quietly sitting next to Lady Stark with a blank expression on her face as she passively watches her husband kiss another woman.

"Lord Robert drinks when he is mourning." Lord Eddard said with a scowl as he watched his childhood friend grope the buxom lass as he jeered with several squires and downed yet another full cup of wine.

"Lord Robert must be in mourning every day then." Aegon said to the slight amusement of the Warden of the North.

"He is a good man, Your Grace. He may not be able to control his appetites but he is one of the bravest man I know." Lord Eddard said, trying his best to heal the wounds between two feuding Great Houses.

"He wasn't that brave during the Greyjoy Rebellion as I remembered. He didn't call his banners until after Balon Greyjoy surrendered." Aegon said as he remembered the events of the Rebellion vividly. He was his father's squire and only a young boy of 11 years. He remembered being on the Brave Rhaella, his father's flagship as the Iron Fleet was broken under the command of Lord Tywin Lannister, Lord Eddard and Prince Oberyn. He also vividly remembered the foolish Balon Greyjoy as he sank on his knees to swear allegiance to the crown once more and he remembered when a young Ironborn reaver tried to ambush King Rhaegar and slay him as he accepted the fealty of the defeated king. Before the king or any of his Kingsguard could react, Aegon instinctively picked up a spear that was lying at his feet and without thinking, he thrusted it into the man's chest, killing him instantly.

As long as he lived, Aegon would never forget the coldness he felt in his bones when he took his first life.

"What else worries you, Lord Stark?" Aegon asked the quiet Lord of Winterfell. Lord Eddard looked at Aegon with sad grey eyes and gave him a crumpled raven scroll. Aegon took it and noticed the black seal that is only used by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont of the Night's Watch.

"Jeor Mormont wants more supplies and men as he fears that the wildlings will attack the Wall before winter comes." Lord Eddard said as Aegon read the raven scroll.

"What do you think, Lord Stark? You are the Warden of the North, I refer to your expertise." The young king asked, Rhaegar trusted the counsel of Lord Eddard and so Aegon felt that he should too.

"More wildlings are fleeing south than ever before and the Wall hasn't been properly manned in centuries." Lord Eddard said somberly, "Make no mistake, Your Grace, the wildlings is nothing for us to fear but a day may come when I will have to call the Northern banners and deal with this Mance Rayder, because the Night's Watch surely cannot."

"You fear for Jaehaerys?" Aegon said, more of a statement than a question.

"He is my blood." Lord Eddard declared firmly. "The Wall is no place for a man like him."

"You mean a prince? I agree." Aegon said as he looked over to his brother who was sitting between Lord Robb and Princess Daenerys, with Robb stealing quick glances at the exotic Valyrian beauty much to Jon's displeasure. "Do not fear my lord. Your sister has taken precautions to ensure that Jaehaerys would not take the black."

"Precautions?" Lord Eddard raised his eyebrow out of curiousity. Queen Lyanna was never a schemer and would often take a more honorable approach than manipulations.

"Just know that the Others will take my corpse bef..."

"ARYA!!!" A loud anguished cry broke the king's attention and looking down the table at the source of the commotion, Aegon found a horrified Sansa as her face was all covered up with stew. Her beautiful blue eyes locked with the king's amused gaze and she quickly ran away in tears before anyone could say a thing.

"Quite a handful, aren't they?" Aegon asked cheerfully as he turned back to Lord Stark who looked slightly frustrated with his daughters before getting up to discipline them personally.

Aegon's head was spinning, the walls of Winterfell seemed crooked and bent as he staggered through the winding corridors and back to where he believed his room was. He was now regretting his decision to dismiss the kingsguard as he felt his knees buckle several times under his own weight. After the feast had winden down and his host had retired to his chambers. Aegon and Jaehaerys spent a few hours on the battlements of Winterfell overlooking the vast expanse of the North as they talked about snarks and grumpkins while they enjoyed the Dornish wine that Aegon had brought with him. Aegon was gifted several crates of an expensive liquor brewed only in the North by Lord Manderly of White Harbor. Since grapes are a rare commodity above the Neck, several merchants have fermented their own wine from the potatoes that are aplenty in the cold and barren gound of the North. The result is a liquor that was tasteless, odorless and colorless but nearly tenfold as potent as the strongest Dornish Red that Aegon had ever drank.

"Ugh... Im never drinking again!" Aegon groaned as he opened the door of his room. But it wasn't his room. The inside was not decorated in the standard Targaryen black and red but with the black stag upon yellow drapes of House Baratheon of the Stormlands. Aegon was about to apologise to Lord Robert when a graceful and buxom figure emerged out of the shadows and her sparkling emerald eyes locked with the king's indigo orbs.

"Oh my... Have the Gods finally answered my prayers?" Lady Cersei said in a seductive voice as she came closer to Aegon. "So, Your Grace? Are you just going to stand there and look?"