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Chapter Text

Cregan Stark looked at his barely two-year-old son. The nobles of the North, his bannermen, were introducing him to his daughters and Cregan knew what that meant. It was time for the North to have a new Lady of Winterfell. Rickon could die at any moment and he needed more children.

Cregan was only twenty-one years old and still young and attractive, but more than that, he was a great warrior and a good man.

The maidens fainted at the passing of the North Wolf and many asked for his favor or a single gesture of his sympathy. Cregan didn't give anything, he must choose his future wife with great care. His uncle Bennard had been able to hold onto his power for so long because his wife had come from a powerful house in the North, the Karstarks.

So he needed to find a wife from a weak family…. Or a powerful family but without ties to the North.

-Isn't there a woman there from a powerful house, but ignored by her family and who has no chance of questioning the right to be the Guardian of the North of Rickon? – He said while celebrating a banquet with his closest allies.

The men mocked but one of them remained silent. That caught the attention of the others who looked at him and the man could only observe them.

-Is something wrong, Norbert?

-Well, Cregan. My wife is from the valley, from Elesham house. They are close to Runestone and the Royces.

-The house of the Rouge Prince's first wife? The one they called the Bronze Bitch?

The man nodded

-Yes, and the birthplace of Prince Daemon's first daughter. Princess Haelyx

Cregan remained silent. He hadn't heard anything from Princess Haelyx in so long that he had forgotten she existed. And it seemed like he wasn't the only one, because his allies were talking among themselves and he could see a clear difference between those who remembered the Princess and those who didn't.

He only knew that she was five years younger than him, that she was born in Runestone and after the death of her mother was taken to the Red Keep just in time to see her father banished again. After that he didn't know or remember anything else about her.

And that was strange

The members of the Royals gave a lot to talk about these days due to the division between the Blacks and the Greens. The North would support the Crown Princess, that was an undeniable fact.

A part of him thought about the Princess without a dragon, in the midst of the conflict she would become a political tool and she would be married to an ally or an enemy. Still she was a good choice of wife. She had royal blood and would be well educated having been raised at Court.

He just hoped she wouldn't make him build a Sept or some such nonsense.

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King's Landing was disgusting. Not only was it unbearably hot, but the city, its streets, its people,... were obviously poorly maintained. If even one of the streets in Winterfell looked like that, Cregan would know that his ancestors were turning in their graves, but here it was normal.

Royalty and the nobles were more interested in their dragons and their proxy wars than in the well-being of the people who had put them on their thrones.

Cregan tightened the reins of his horse as he watched a cream dragon fly overhead.

-That's Syrax, if I'm not mistaken. Apparently the Crown Princess will be present at the hearing. – One of the soldiers said it out loud and Cregan hoped that this did not become a big problem, or become a big problem for Princess Haelyx

In the two moons that had passed since he decided to ask for her hand in marriage he had tried to find out something about her, anything. But he had always been met with denials or questions about whether he was sure if this lady was real. In the end the cousin of one of his bannermen had consulted the book of the great houses and had confirmed the existence of Princess Haelyx.

Cregan had also discovered that she was an intelligent and well-read young woman, but she suffered from an almost paralyzing shyness and avoided being in public at all costs. She rarely spoke at large gatherings and stayed close to her guards and nannies who had followed her since her earliest childhood. No known commitments, allies or friends.

The Lonely Princess, the few who remembered she existed called her. There were people who doubted that the children of the King's second marriage or the children of the Crown Princess and her husband knew of the existence of Princess Haelyx. That was sad, because the children of the Scoundrel Prince were the brothers of the Lonely Princess.

That would explain why a lady of Valyrian lineage had remained single until she was sixteen years old. And another rumor said that she was as ugly as her mother and that was why they kept her hidden from the rest of the world and incapable of marrying.

Cregan didn't care about that. The important thing was that this woman would not pose a threat to Rickon's future. She didn't care if she was ugly or worse. He just wanted a woman who could properly take care of his home and his son.

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Haelyx watched Caraxes and Syrax land in the Pit and contacted Morrigan through her bond. Her dragon was peacefully asleep in a cave deep in the Pit. A place that no one came to look at often.

Haelyx assumed that her cousin and her father had gone there to see the Guardian of the North. He was an interesting man, Haelyx had to admit. He led a revolution when he turned eighteen after his uncle refused to give him back his rightful place and he was a great ruler.

But none of that really mattered.

Haelyx would not spend much more time in the Kingdom. Her uncle's health was getting worse and worse and the situation was increasingly unstable. Even so, a small part of her still refused to leave this land and go to Sothoryos even though everything was already prepared.

-Princess, today is a good day. Everyone will be busy in the audience that the Guardian of the North has requested with the King, the gardens will be empty.

-You're right, it's been a while since we've had food in the garden. Today is a nice day and I would like to eat there. The Queen and the ladies of the Court will not bother us. – Haelyx was having problems lately with her spell that made her go unnoticed, so she was avoiding public places in the Fortress more strongly than before. But Haelyx knew that was only a temporary solution.

Maybe it was time to stop hiding. But in this life she had sworn to stop being as impulsive as she was when she was a witch...

She missed the last name Potter, his green eyes and her black hair. Why had the only thing he had brought with her was her indomitable curl? She had to wear her hair almost to her knees to minimally tame the powerful curl that she had inherited in her two lives.

Even this face was too pretty, hell, if it was just the face she would be happy. But she had a more attractive body than last time, and different from the slender and fine figure that characterized women of Valyrian blood. Her breasts were generous, her waist was strangely narrow and her hips were wide, she truly had an hourglass figure, and to complement that she had the most damn pretty face she had seen in two lifetimes.

More even than that of her cousin, the Crown Princess

If she were still in London she would be the kind of person who would become an actress or model, but in her Kingdom her beauty was dangerous for her. It meant that she would need a husband capable of protecting her and for her to live up to her standards. Although a part of her still dreamed of freedom and being crowned the Queen of Sothoryos sounded so good.

-I surrender, if they call me to Court I will go without my spell. – The guards and nannies looked at each other in panic. – I'm tired of hiding. Although I doubt they will call me to court, it has not happened in sixteen years of my life nor can it happen now.

(Later that same day, Haelyx Targaryen cursed the gods who had decided that she would be reincarnated with her memories, the curl of her hair, and the Potters' hundredfold cursed luck.)

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Cregan looked at the Royal family. They were on both sides of the iron throne. On the right Crown Princess Rhaenyra, her husband Rogue Prince Daemon, her firstborn son Jacaerys, said son's fiancée Princess Baela, Lord Corlys, Princess Rhaenys, the second son of Crown Princess Lucerys Velaryon, his fiancée son Rhaena, the youngest son from the first marriage, Prince Joffrey, and a nanny with the two youngest children, princes Aegon and Viserys.

On the left Queen Alicent with Prince Aegon at her side, her daughter Princess Helaena, her son Prince Aemond, Prince Daeron and then the children of Princess Helaena and Prince Aegon. Cregan couldn't remember the names of those children. From behind Prince Aegon the Hand of the King emerged and positioned itself between his daughter and the King.

The King himself looked more like a corpse than a man, but he still brimmed with a vitality that surprised Cregan.

-Lord Stark... It has been so many years since the Red Keep has received a visit from the Guardian of the North. It would be wonderful to hear the stories of the North, so far from these lands.

-It would be an honor to share the stories of my land with you, Your Majesty.

The King smiled at that in a way that reminded Cregan of a younger man. The King's hand came forward with an arrogant step

-I am sure that the Guardian of the North will be able to tell us all the stories we want about Winterfell. But I doubt the man came down here just to tell stories

-That's how it is. I have come to make a request to the King. It is to ask for a lady's hand in marriage.

The King smiled and saw how the nobles relaxed, as did the Princes. Cregan was following tradition and asking the King for permission to marry a lady from another of the Kingdoms. It was something that all Great Lords had to do if they married ladies from outside the territories they managed.

-That is wonderful news. What family is the lady in question from? Does she know of her intentions?

-I haven't spoken to her yet. And the lady I want to marry is Princess Haelyx Targaryen, eldest daughter of Prince Daemon Targaryen and his first wife, Lady Rhea Royce.

The relaxed atmosphere from before became as tense as the ice forming on the lakes and Cregan could see several of the nobles whispering among themselves. The Scoundrel Prince's gaze swept over him, but as far as Cregan knew, the man had never spoken to her daughter or cared about her. Why was she looking at him like that?

A movement on the other side caught Cregan's attention and he saw that Prince Aemond had hit his older brother on the head.

-A daring young man, asking for a Dragon Princess so easily. – The King chuckled. - What do you think, Haelyx?

The nobles all looked around, as did the Royal family.

-Where is she? We were all supposed to be here. – The servant who was asked stammered before kneeling before the throne

-I'm sorry, I didn't remember that Princess Haelyx should also be invited to this meeting! – The King made a gesture with his hand and Cregan knew that that boy would be whipped for his mistake. But that solidified his decision. What kind of family ignored a member so much that even the servants forgot about her?

-Very well, the guards will go look for my niece. She is a charming and very beautiful girl, Lord Stark, somewhat shy, but nothing that cannot be endured. Although I expected other people to ask for Haelyx's hand. – The King's eye looked at his second son from his second marriage and the Queen grimaced. Prince Aemond seemed indifferent to his father's slightly veiled suggestion. – If she agrees with the union, I don't see any problem.

-My love, I must say that this seems hasty to me. Haelyx is extremely shy and quiet, she may feel forced to accept marriage just because it is what she thinks we all want. She has always been very accommodating and marriage is something very important for a lady, we should not force her.

As if she hadn't forced her two older children to marry. Everyone knew that none of her older children had wanted marriage and that they would prefer to have remained siblings.

-Crap. Haelyx is a sensible and intelligent girl, good with numbers and a great reader. She will be able to make her own decisions. She is a sweet and kind girl, but she will know that this decision is for her to make.

-That's what I heard, Your Majesty. From the rumors that have reached Winterfell, Princess Haelyx seems like a charming and sweet girl. That's why I wanted her to be my second wife. The North is a hard place, I would like to have a warm and sweet wife by my side so I can endure it.

-And will my niece's comforts be covered? I do not want that girl to suffer, my niece is very dear to me

-They will be covered, a man who cannot take care of his wife is not a real man. – Cregan nodded his head, that was the Northern way of doing things and he would not fail.

The Queen made a cruel face

-My love, it's so sweet that you care about Haelyx like this when her own father doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with the girl.

Prince Daemon took a step forward.

-Of course I will talk to Lord Stark, but it is rude to interrupt the King. Have your gods not taught you not to interrupt your husband?

The Queen pressed her lips tightly.

-Yes, just like they have taught me to love my children. Isn't that a lesson my good brother seems to have forgotten? When was the last time he saw your firstborn? As far as I know it was just before he was banished from the Kingdom after…

The blow of the King's sword against the ground silenced all voices

-Alicent, you are going too far. This is a confusing situation for everyone. We will await the arrival of Haelyx while Lord Stark delights us with stories of Winterfell

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Haelyx was pouring her first glass of wine when she saw several servants running like headless chickens down the hallways that led to her chambers. She looked at her maids and they nodded. One of them approached the corridor and stopped one of the servants.

They hadn't been talking for even thirty seconds when the man ran up to the gazebo where Haelyx was hidden from view by the flower vines. The servant blushed and widened his eyes when he saw Haelyx. But this one she didn't say anything and looked at him with a sweet smile.

-What is happening on this beautiful morning that the Fortress is so agitated?

-We were looking for you, Princess Haelyx. The King requires the presence of the Princess in the throne room

Haelyx cursed inside her and stood up. She always dressed up because she thought it was better to be prepared and not need it, than not to prepare and end up making a fool of yourself. Her curly hair was loose down to her knees, only one braid emerged from both sides of her face and pushed the hair aside, the braids joined at the back of her head and ended up being gathered in a red bow that Haelys had embroidered with runes of protection

She was wearing a simple red dress, but it highlighted her figure in a splendid way. It was closed in the front of it with some small buttons that were left inside the fabric. On the edges of it there was a black hem embroidered in silver and gold where the symbol of the deathly hallows, the feathers of a phoenix and a dragon, was repeated over and over again. Under the dress she was wearing a very light black tunic, which was only visible in the small opening at the foot of the barely twenty centimeter skirt and the opening in her chest that gave her a V-neckline.

Hanging from her neck was a ruby that her uncle Viserys had given her on her last name day. A beautiful stone well set in a silver necklace.

-I guess I can't keep my King waiting. I'll be back later to eat, so cover the food but don't pick anything up.

Haelyx started walking and tried to cast the spell on her so as not to be noticed, but she felt a sharp sting that made her realize that she couldn't cast the spell. It was very rare that only that spell failed while all the others worked perfectly.

The servants stopped to look at her and Haelyx placed a sweet smile on her face as she straightened her back like Narcissa had taught her and lifted her chin.

The doors to the throne room came very quickly before Haelyx's eyes and she stopped before taking two deep breaths before calming herself. The servant at the door was gawking at her and she smiled.

Haelyx's nurse glared at the boy.

-Aren't you going to open the door for Princess Haelyx?

The boy blushed deeply and opened the doors to the throne room. Haelyx instantly felt a multitude of eyes directed towards her as she walked with a firm and composed step to the empty space before the throne where the man who must be Lord Stark stood.

A part of Haelyx's heart clenched as she looked at him. Black curly hair, beard and gray eyes, like steel. Sirius Black. The first love of this life and godfather of her previous life. A dandy, a playboy, a casanova,…. The first man who had made her heart beat, even if it was only through a memory.

They looked alike, enough to tell that Lord Stark could be part of the Black family. Haelyx didn't stop her gaze on him for long and fixed it on her uncle. Especially because of her cousin Aegon's rude comment about her and Aemond's blank stare.

-Have you called me, Your Majesty?

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Viserys blinked slowly at the sight of his niece.

-Have you become more beautiful since the last time I saw you, Haelyx?

-It's just that His Majesty looks at me with very kind eyes. – Viserys could feel the gods calling him to the land of eternal peace behind the beautiful and radiant smile of his niece, literally. Which made him look at several young and not so young people in the throne room.

Most single people looked at her with covetousness, and the married ones too, but with sadness. Viserys realized that her niece would have to marry very soon or the ravens with requests for her hand would fill the roofs and towers.

But from the looks on Rhaenyra and Alicent's faces he guessed that it would soon become a serious problem.

Chapter Text

Cregan was screwed

Utterly and absolutely fucked up. He was really mentally panicking as he saw Princess Haelyx for the first time. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, even more than the Crown Princess who looked at her with a surprised expression.

No, almost all members of the Royal family were surprised to see her, although some hid it better than others. Only the King had not been surprised to see her and Cregan had the impression that this was the first time in many years that they had really looked at her.

But she was fucking pretty

He knew that he had expected her to be ugly like her mother, but he had also prepared himself in case she was a beautiful woman of Valyrian blood. And it seemed like most of that generation's beauty had focused on Princess Haelyx.

Cregan couldn't see a single flaw or find a single way in which her beauty could be improved in any way. Even her body was more beautiful than the thin and slender bodies of typical Valyrian women. She had curves and generous breasts, wide hips that he imagined holding in her hands while he spilled her seed over and over again into the young woman's belly.

And he was not the only one, from the appreciative looks of the gentlemen who were in the room. The young woman kept her gaze fixed on her uncle, with her back straight and her hands in front of her belly in a gesture commonly used by southern women.

-Why have you called me, Your Majesty?

Shit, even her voice was beautiful.

-Dear niece, Lord Stark has asked for your hand in marriage and we wanted to know your opinion regarding that proposal

The Princess turned and looked at Cregan. She didn't judge, she didn't seem disappointed or anything that Cregan could see. She smiled and turned to look at her uncle with a calmness that Cregan immediately envied.

-I would like to give my opinion after having a private talk with Lord Stark. I was heading to eat in the gardens. Would Lord Stark care to accompany me?

-It would be an honor for me.

Cregan could see the young woman smile shyly and the King applauded.

-Marvelous. Go do that. In six days we will meet and know Princess Haelyx's decision. But I hope she gets married within six moons.

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Haelyx sat down while a second dish was quickly and diligently prepared before her, her servants were incredible. The servants who had served her all her life brought a roast duck with honey and orange followed by various seasonal vegetables and fruits. Haelyx took the jug of wine and poured her male companion's glass before pouring her own drink.

-Can we be honest with each other, Lord Stark? – Haelyx began to carve the duck and left a juicy thigh on each plate before starting to arrange her vegetables around the meat in an almost beautiful way. She could almost hear Aunt Petunia yelling behind her for not hurrying.

-Of course. You can call me Cregan if you want, Princess Haelyx

-Marvelous! So I insist that you call me Haelyx. Can we trust the men behind you?

-Of course. Can you trust your servants?

-I trust my servants with my life every day, Cregan. They have all my trust.

-Is your life in danger every day Haelyx? Why, what is happening? In the North the news takes time to arrive.

Haelyx smiled at the stunned Lord Stark and laughed. He was innocent, and he had led a revolution in the North to regain his rightful place from the hands of his uncle and his cousins. Still he was too trusting, too honorable

He became more and more like Sirius, always trusting Dumbledore's words as if they were the absolute truth of the universe. Thinking that justice would prevail and that in the end the just would win

Silly, sweet, beautiful Sirius.

Harry had understood long before the birth of his first child the true nature of Albus Dumbledore. His manipulations and his plans, within plans, within plans

Poor Sirius, who only saw the surface of the water without seeing its depths

-I am the daughter of Daemon Targaryen. – Was the simple answer, and it was. The simplest of all the answers. The root of all of Haelyx Targaryen's problems was her father, Daemon Targaryen.

The problem didn't matter

-And wouldn't that give protection instead of putting you in danger?

-Sweet child who lives outside the Court and the vipers of the South. It's precisely the opposite, Cregan. Think about my father for a moment, all of his great deeds, his achievements in wars.

-He is a very famous man

Haelyx nodded. She hated her father, a lot, but that didn't mean she didn't feel proud to be the daughter of such a powerful and strong man. She is the daughter of a warrior who would make Godric Gryffindor himself proud if he could see Daemon Targaryen.

Someone worthy of Valhalla

-For each of those feats there is a powerful person angry with him, sometimes more than one. The Triarchic, the Royces, a part of the Velaryon, Dorne, a Dothraki clan, many noble families, the Sept, quite a few prostitutes and I think a red priest swore he would put his head on a pike. Or he was a faceless killer. That's one of those stories that I'm not really sure about the legitimacy of it. Just that someone swore that my father's head would end up on a pike one day.

Haelyx watched as the Northmen began to understand what she meant. Daemon was a very powerful and feared man. Hated and loved alike. Arrogant, strong, proud, mocking,….

A man with many enemies.

But intelligent enemies who knew better than to confront the man who rode the most powerful war beast in the world. So the eyes of the enemies fell on the next weak point.

Haelyx.

The other children were too well protected to go after them, but Haelyx noticed that Cregan understood that she did not have as much protection.

And Haelyx had not spoken of the attempts of the Queen or the Hand of the King. Hell, she had to bring all her supplies from Outside the Keep because the ones that came from inside the Red Keep were so poisoned it sickened her.

They weren't even hiding anymore

-Understand….

-If you marry me, Lord Stark, you will have to be able to protect me from assassination attempts. I want to make that clear from the beginning. – Haelyx looked at the man before her. – I think I understand why you have chosen me as your consort. I have unintentionally become the ideal model of a second wife

Haelyx watched as Cregan blushed.

-I have to say that you really meet all the requirements I wanted for a woman I can marry and who will not harm my son's position as heir to Winterfell.

-It's understandable, Cregan. If she were in her position she would also choose a woman like me to be my son's stepmother. But now let's not talk about this, let's get to know each other better. – Haelyx smiled. – If you are still interested I would like to meet you, Cregan. In order to give a good response to your proposal

-What do you want to know, my lady?

-We had agreed to be on a first-name basis, Cregan. I would like to know about the wall, I have read my great-grandmother's writings about the construction and it seems fascinating. Furthermore, I think I know that Winterfell Castle is built on hot springs whose boiling water runs through the walls of the fortress like blood and keeps it warm. Could you tell me about these things that are so common to you and so strange to me?

Haelyx watched as Cregan smiled before he began to talk about her home, the wall, her lands,…

He was a good man and a good gentleman. But Haelyx wasn't sure she wanted to imitate Alicent and take the place of a beloved wife.

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Haelyx had finished brushing her hair in front of her mirror by candlelight when she felt someone watching her through the window. She couldn't see anyone, but she braided her hair quickly and approached the bed with her candle in her hand.

She took off her robe before covering herself with the sheets and blowing out the candle. Whoever she was waited a good half hour before entering the bedroom through the balcony. The assassin walked slowly to the young princess's bed and Haelyx could see the silver of the metal in the man's hand.

She emerged from the shadows behind him and grabbed his arms. Her turning them back and causing him to drop the knife.

-Look what the cat has brought…. – Haelyx purred in the man's ear. - What should I do with you now, Mr. Assassin?

Haelyx guided the man to the bed and snapped her fingers. The rope that held the canopy curtain tightly tied the man's arms. The man was surprised and started fighting hard.

-You and I are going to have a lot of fun, kitten. It seems that one of the things I have inherited from my father is my talent for making sources talk quite a bit…. – Haelyx spoke in a low and calm tone, as if torturing a man was the most normal thing in the world for her. It was that tranquility that terrified most of the murderers and people who came for her.

The man collapsed and Haelyx called for the guards from the floor below. The room lit up and Haelyx looked at the dead man before her.

-Clearly this fabric is from Yi Ti. So he is not a Yi Ti killer. – The maid touched the fabric carefully. - Dorne?

-It wouldn't be a murderer, it would be a snake. Harder to detect, more lethal. – Haelyx looked at the man. –He has cut his tongue with his teeth when he was captured, and he seems to have no companions…. Check if he is neutered or not. He may be an Immaculate

After a few minutes one of the guards confirmed it.

-The triarchy. We have to sound the alarm. If this were business as usual we would get rid of the body in the usual way, unfortunately we can't move as freely right now

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Haelyx was dressed in her blue robe over her nightgown as the white cloaks checked the garden and surrounding area. Aemond was there, as was Daemon.

-I don't understand why the murderer committed suicide. Even three guards were no problem for him. – Said Sir Errick as he got up after checking the underside of Haelyx's bed.

-Maybe those were his orders. – Haelyx looked at the men. – Commit suicide after carrying out an assassination attempt to cause chaos and discord among the royal family or alienate my suitor

Aemond looked at Haelyx with a hungry expression and lust in his eye as he scanned the figure that was visible beneath the robe.

-I think it is not safe for Haelyx to remain here. I will take her to her family wing so she can rest.

-No, she will come to the room next to Nyra and mine. – Daemon grabbed Haelyx by her shoulder and dragged her like a puppet. – I have good instincts, she will be safer there than with your weak defenses.

Criston Cole seemed to take it personally and Haelyx decided it was too late to see a fight between who had the biggest penis.

-I'll go to the rooms next to my father's tonight. Tomorrow more things will be decided, but it is late and you are depriving this young woman of her dream for a useless discussion. – Haelyx yawned behind her hand.

-You are right, it is cruel to leave the Princess in the middle of such a commotion after such a strong shock. – Sir Errick approached. – If she allows me, I will escort her.

-Thank you, Sir Errick

-I'll accompany you. Tomorrow we will continue with this

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-Are you okay? – Haelyx nodded as she and Cregan walked through the library.

-Yeah…. It is not the first assassination attempt. But the first one to commit suicide. – Haelyx took the book she wanted and opened it. - Is this a suitable illustration of Winterfell?

Cregan leaned in and was surprised by the drawing. It was a beautiful vision of his home, but not entirely correct. Because his ancestor was seen kneeling before Aegon the Conqueror at the gates of his castle.

-It wasn't like that, it was in a meadow half a day away from Winterfell. And my ancestor didn't kneel like that. Here they have put him as if he had almost his head on the ground. – Cregan seemed offended by the excessively submissive posture that his ancestor had in the illustration of the conquest

-What he thought. Most of the illustrations of the moments of the Conquest are like this…. I'm pretty sure the Conqueror had short hair, not these long locks that dance in the wind and snow.

Cregan suppressed a laugh when he saw what Haelyx was saying.

-I think there are maidens who would like to have hair like that. What man has such beautiful hair?

The library door opened, interrupting them both. Aemond entered and frowned at them together. He had tried to find Haelyx alone a few times now, without any success. He angrily went to a shelf three rows from where they were.

-Cregan, I found one

The Lord of Winterfell let out a cheerful laugh before turning his attention back to the open book before them.

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-I have made my decision, Your Majesty. I, Princess Haelyx Targaryen, will accept Lord Stark's marriage proposal and leave for Winterfell with him and my dragon.

The Court was filled with whispers and a couple of people applauded. The Maester looked ecstatic as he jumped for joy, the ravens around Haelyx had started arriving three days ago and the rooftops around his tower were a sea of black, cawing.

Rhaenyra looked at his cousin.

She wore her hair in a simple northern braid and a dark gray dress similar to the clothing she had seen Northern ladies wear.

-That's wonderful Haelyx! But what do you mean by your dragon?

-Morrigan. My dragon. Dear uncle, I told you that an egg had opened for me. – Haelyx sighed and the King grimaced.

-Yes... I remember it. I don't remember seeing her for years.

-Oh... She's going to fly over the fortress. She wants to meet Cregan

-What? – Haelyx turned to look at her now fiancé. – You haven't told me anything about this

-It is a tradition. When a Targaryen marries outside the family and has a dragon, they have to present it to his spouse. It's worse than good parents, in many ways

Cregan nodded and a black shadow covered the windows, plunging the room into sudden darkness. Everyone stood up and watched as a black beast with red horns landed on the parade ground. The dragon growled and shot its flames into the air, creating a column of black fire that would be seen for miles around.

-That's Morrigan, my pretty girl!

Haelyx ran down to see the dragon and leaned against the side of her gigantic head as she whispered something to the black, brutal-looking beast. All the riders gulped. That was a beast born for war. Toothed tail, large claws and four legs with independent wings. The teeth were the size of children entering their teens. The dragon was larger than Vhagar, perhaps larger than the great Baleryon in his day.

All the nobles gained a little more respect for Lord Stark as they saw him approach the dragon. The being's head rose and stood before him. Smelling him calmly and looking at him appraisingly. Lord Stark raised his hand and the dragoness moved closer until the spot between her nostrils collided with the man's hand.

The dragon made a light chirp before starting to fly again.

-You've passed! Now we can get married without problems.

No one said anything as they saw Lord Stark's legs trembling slightly.

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-Then it is like this

-Yes, that dragon is a war machine. I have no idea how that girl managed to keep it hidden for so long or why Viserys hasn't said anything. But everything is already decided

-Yes, the balance of war will tilt in favor of whoever that girl supports.