☆𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞☆

WINTERFELL

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The loud knocking on the door was enough to wake me up from my peaceful sleep. I rubbed my eyes and fixed my hair just a little to stop it from falling into my face.

As the knocking continued I decided to finally get out of the bed. I put on my robe and went to the door. I opened and saw one of Cregan's guards standing there.

 I looked absolutely terrible with my hair sticked to my face and my eyes were sleepy too, I had to use my control not to yawn before the guard.

"Lady Stark, your brother called for you." The guard spoke in a neutral voice and then continued while looking at me. 

"He wants you to come to the main room. He is waiting for you there."

My half asleep appearance was not adding to my seriousness. I wanted to ask why did Cregan call for me that early in the morning, but I knew the answer will probably be something like "Lord Cregan didn't give me this information." So I just nodded at the guard.

"Thank you, I will be right there. I said as I closed the door and went to make myself look at least a little serious. I grabbed my brush and tried to brush my tangled hair, which was not working so I decided to just braid into one messy braid I was wearing almost everyday. I then put on the clothes I had on yesterday because they were the first ones I grabbed and I put them on.

 I walked out of my chambers and headed to the main room where Cregan was supposed to be. The guards let me in and my gaze fell on Cregan's once again serious expression. I didn't pay extra attention to it because he was alway like that so I just took few steps closer. I soon realized we were all alone in there. My brother was leaning against the thick wooden table on which was the map of Winterfell.

After few passing moments he finally decided to speak first.

"Sister, please come closer. We have something to discuss," His eyes were never leaving mine and his face was unreadable.

I took few steps closer so I was now facing Cregan. I was quite nervous which wasn't really common for me, but I tried to ignore it for now.

"You already know about the war that is happening on south." He said and I didn't understand if that was supposed to sound angry.

"Yes, I heard something from the lords...but why did you call for me this early?" I asked while I was standing still, keeping mx hands intertwined behind my back. "And what does the war have to do with me?"

Cregan straightened his posture and some again. "The North will fight for the true queen, Rhaenyra...but there is a comlication."

I looked at him with confused expression. "A complication? What happened?" I said as I let my arms fall to my sides.

"The queen has sent a raven, she wants a hostage to prove we will stay loyal to her." He paused himself, waiting for my reaction.

I looked confused. "Yes? But why am I here?"

He sighed and took few steps closer to me. "The queen wants me to send you as a hostage. You will be saf-"

I knew it wasn't polite to cut him in the middle of the sentence, but my confusion took the best of me. "What? Me? You want to send me to Dragonstone?" I was in shock and Cregan could definitely see it.

"I would not send you there if it wasn't necessary, you know that Visenya. Nothing's gonna happen to you. I promise you that."

I shook my head because I didn't understand why would he send me. His sister. I had no idea but I was angry, confused and I didn't know what to say on that.

"Narya will go with me." I finally said after a moment of silence.

Cregan's gaze darkened and he rolled his eyes slightly. "And where do you think you will keep her?" He asked with a hint of humor, but it only made me more angry.

"I won't go without her." My answer was plain and I knew I probably sounded like a spoiled child, but my wolf was the only one who actually understood me. I turned and I left the main hall as I went to grab some piece of bread with butter to eat.

 I sat on my bed as I pet Rya while she was laying on my bed close to me. Cregan never allowed her to be on the bed, but if I had to be honest I didn't give a damn about what Cregan thinks right now. I was playing with Narya's snow white fur when my brother stepped into the room without knocking.

"You know, you should knock before you storm into someone's room." I said as I got up and got closer to him.

"And you should at least say "bye" when you're leaving." I hated when he was like that. I think I had all right to be mad at him.

"Visenya.. you can take Narya with you, but you have to go... I promise you, you will stay unharmed." I wasn't looking at him because I was fixing my braid.

"I don't care if I am or I am not hurt! Why do I have to leave my home? Why can't you go!" I raised my voice as I finally looked up to Cregan.

His expression darkened as well as he spoke. "Because I am the lord of Winterfell! I can't just leave this behind! You are a woman Visenya! You will do as I tell you!" 

He was basically yelling at this point and as I hear the words "You are a woman" my look became even more hateful, but I decided to calm myself down.

"Oh? Is that so? I am a woman so it's not important what will happen to me. But you the greatest lord of Winterfell." I paused as I faked my smile and innocence. "You are very needed because you have a co-"

"Visenya! Enough! You are leaving tomorrow. Early in the morning. Be packed and be ready." That was all my brother said to me before slamming the door, leaving me in my room with my wolf alone.