บท 34: Chapter 34

129 AC, Winterfell, The North

'It's been five years since I overthrew my uncle Bennard Stark and cousins for usurping my place as rightful Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. As a crime for treason, I had to execute them. And as I became a kinslayer, I have come every day to Godswood to pray to the Old Gods to judge me and only me as a Kinslayer and not my line if they have to,' Cregan Stark thought, his heart heavy with the weight of his actions, as he kneeled in front of the Heart tree.

"Old Gods, I have only what was required of me, and I became a Kinslayer because of that, but my son, Rickon Stark, heir to Winterfell, is born today. I beg you to only judge me of the crime of Kinslaying and not my son or any children that I have. I am the only adult Stark alive right now." Cregan Stark said out loud and moved to put his hand on the bark of the Weirwood tree.

As soon as Cregan Stark placed his hand on the white bark of the Weirwood tree, his eyes went white, and his body stopped moving.

-- Greendream Start --

As Cregan opened his eyes and looked around, he saw a large painted ironwood table showing the continent of Westeros. At the head of the table was a man, and on either of his sides was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. 'They are Valyrians', Cregan thought.

"Aegon, Father just died yesterday; why had you called us to war council so abruptly?" the woman sitting on Aegon's right side said, but Aegon didn't immediately answer.

"I mean to unite Westeros, Visenya." Aegon spoke slowly, and both his sisters looked at him.

'I am seeing Aegon The Conqueror and his Sister-Wives, Visenya and Rheanys Targaryen.' Cregan thought.

"I believe I had a dragon dream last night. First, a Valyrian Steel dragger was shown to me, and then three dragons flew over Westeros. And last but the most haunting parts were men fighting the undead on the wall." As Aegon said this, Cregan drew a sharp breath.

Before his sisters could interrupt him, Aegon continued, "When I woke up, I searched through the armory for the dagger and in the library for the clues about the undead I saw. I found these." Aegon put a dagger and a book named Mythological Tales of Seven Kingdoms on the table.

Aegon passed the dagger to Visenya, "Heat it over the fire," opened the book to a specific page, and passed it to Rheanys, "Read it."

While Visenya approached the hearth to heat the dagger, Rheanys began reading.

"A Brief History of House Stark and the North: Brandon The Builder is believed to be the grandson of Garth Greenhand and founder of House Stark of Winterfell. He is said to have played a pivotal role in ending the Long Night and fighting the Others, creatures made of Ice that could control the undead. He is hailed as the Architect responsible for creating The Wall, Winterfell, Moat Cailin, Storm Ends, and Hightower." Rheanys finished reading.

While Rheanys finished reading, Visenya moved away from the fire, staring at the dagger, which glowed; some writing on it became visible.

"From my blood will come the Dārilaros* That Was Promised, and Jāha* will be the Song of Ice and Fire."

As Visenya finished speaking, Cregan was pulled from in front of the painted table and brought to a tent set up in an open field. He saw an older man shouting at Aegon and moved closer to listen.

"These are the words of myself, Torrhen of House Stark, King of Winter, King in the North, Lord of the First Men and Green Men, and the Children True. Now go ahead and speak yours, dragonlord. Tell me why Winter should let the North bide under the auspices of Summer for a time." The Old Man, now identified as Cregan's ancestor, Torrhen Stark, King who Knelt.

"My ancestor, Daenys Targaryen, foresaw the doom, and we survived by escaping Valyria. I saw humanity's doom, which led me to conquer the kingdom of Westeros. I have no reason to give you other than..." Aegon paused his speaking and looked toward Balerion. After some pause, he continued, "Dragons are much more fearsome creatures than direwolves, lions, falcons, stag, or trout. We were born to rule, and we will rule. I know the Starks are honorable and care about their people. Please don't make me repeat Field of Fire because your people will burn, your lands will burn, and your line will end. Bend the knee to me and mine, in perpetuity, and you and your House shall have my trust but, more importantly, my friendship."

"Heh. I think I have some measure of you, boy. You have an overinflated sense of self and are experimenting with being a conqueror. You could burn me and mine, but House Stark will still overthrow you from the North. But yes, it will come at a terrible cost to my people." The Old King spoke with a sigh and looked toward where his army was camped.

"Heh. House Stark will witness House Targaryen's experiment. I can already see the end of your dynasty. I don't need to be Greenseer to see that; I will say this as one King to another after establishing your kingdom: abolish the custom of having sisters as wives. Have your children marry into different kingdoms and have daughters of other Lords Paramount marry into your line.

Whether you follow it or not does not matter to me. But if you don't, I can't see your family ruling over seven kingdoms for over three centuries. Now let's negotiate the price, for I will bend the knee." Old Torrhen finished.

Then the scene changed again; he saw a silver-haired woman talking with a black-haired boy on the fortifications of a castle on an island. 'Dragonstone again,' Cregan thought.

"Cregan Stark is closer to your age than mine. I hope you can find some common interests as men," the silver-haired woman said. "Yes, Your Grace," came the boy's reply.

He was again pulled and flew North, passing Winterfell in this dream. He was standing at the top of the Wall. The elevator pulled up and out came a man and woman. The man had apparent Stark features, and the woman was Targaryen.

"Tell me, Stark, will we win?" The Targaryen woman said.

"I hope we do. I have prepared my whole life for the coming war; I will fight it with the outcome to protect you, the little dragonwolf you are carrying, my family back in Winterfell, and the North", the Stark men said, gazing beyond the wall.

"I should thank your ancestor, Cregan Stark, for making The Pact of Ice and Fire and combining two of the most powerful bloodlines in the world, even if the Pact remained unfulfilled for almost a century and a half. And this one will be a princess; I can feel it. I have already given you a prince," the Targaryen woman said, and the man started laughing.

Stark was about to reply but stopped and looked toward the horizon again.

"They are here. Leave for Winterfell and protect our family." Stark then looked at Targaryen.

"Rhaella. Her name." He left and started to give commands to his men on the battlefield.

"Rickard and Rhaella," the woman murmured. "You better come back to me, Stark. I want more princes and princesses," the silver-haired woman shouted.

Nearby soldiers laughed a little. The man turned around and thundered, "You are marked by the wolf. And we don't leave our prey so quickly. We will meet again." Then turned around and whispered, "In this life or next, we will meet again. Old Gods watch over my family."

-- Greendream End --

Cregan was pulled from the green and thrust back into his body. When he opened his eyes, he thought, 'The Pact of Ice and Fire, huh? And White Walkers, too? Well Shit.'