The journey from King's Landing had been relatively smooth. It had rained moderately only once, to which the princess protested profusely. She completely despised the rain. Much to Kelnaerys' gratitude, this day was dry. Slightly overcast, but anything is better than rain. The sun was even attempting to poke through the clouds.
From far away, Winterfell looked much like a prison, but as she got closer, Kelnaerys realized it was actually quite beautiful. In a snow-covered, ice wrought, freeze-your-nose-off-your-face kind of way. Her mother landed Drogon just before the gates of the frozen fortress and Kel was quick to follow, guiding her own dragon down into the fresh snow. Yraexes had never been this far north that she knew of, but the cold seemed yet to bother him. Like Daenerys had hoped, her caravan arrived just in time.
"My love." The Queen called in a gentle tone. Kel slid off the back of her dragon and went to her mother's side.
"Yes?" She responded half heartedly, thinking of how Yraexes's scales blended in with the snow. The scarlet of his fins stuck out in the white terrain, like blood on a wintery battlefield. Drogon stood protectively behind his Queen, the ebony of his color compared to Yraexes' making them look like yin and yang.
"Kelnaerys." Her mother said in much harder tone.
"I'm sorry, you've my full attention." The princess was quick to say. Now was certainly not the time for day dreaming.
"We are royalty. We must act like royalty." The Queen started. "Which means no impulsive escapades on dragonback. No gallivanting around in the snow. We are royalty and we are also guests. Be respectful. Be kind. And more importantly, just be yourself." Daenerys finished in a gentle tone, hand placed on her daughter's shoulder.
Kelnaerys found herself suddenly a bit self conscious, hands flying to her mid section to smooth out her coat. The outfit she'd chosen was a black, leather tunic with white fur that lined the collar and sleeves. She picked black cotton pants for her legs and dark leather boots for her feet. The princess wore her silver, three-headed dragon pin that held in place the Targaryen red, scale-patterned cape that draped behind her right shoulder. Connected to the pin was a heavy silver chain that resembled a dragon's tail as it disappeared diagonally across the princess's chest and behind her back. Her mother had done her hair in two braids that met in the middle at the back of her head. The rest of Kelnaerys' chest-length, platinum hair was left in free curls.
"You look stunning, my love." Daenerys mentioned, observing the fretting from her child. "Now stop your fussing." She added.
"Alright, alright!" The princess put her hands at her sides. The caravan approached from behind them, the clatter of hooves on the frozen ground was unmistakable. Kelnaerys turned to Yraexes and bid him a temporary goodbye by stroking the horns of his chin. The dragon emitted a reptilian whistle that ended with a low grumble in response. Both he and Drogon took flight before the wagons got too close.
"Rytsas, issa dāria. Hello my Queen." Grey Worm greeted in Valyrian from the front of the party. A group of Unsullied marched rhythmically behind him.
"Sȳz naejot ūndegon ao vēttan ziry isse jēda. Glad to see you made it in time." Daenerys replied as her commander rode up to her.
"Rytsas thorgha nudha. Hello Grey Worm." Kelnaerys responded to her mother's Master of War. He had absolutely refused to let the pair ride north without him.
"I have brought the horses you asked for." Grey Worm confirmed as two white steeds were escorted up for the Queen and the princess. Kelnaerys mounted her horse, admiring the way the black leather of the saddle and reins matched her outfit. She was just as adept on horseback as she was dragonback, a skill her mother made sure of. Daenerys was the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea after all.
They spurred their horses on, riding through the doors of Winterfell as men in the towers heaved the heavy gates up. When it was clear to enter, the trio stopped in the courtyard followed by their entourage. It had been many years since Daenerys stepped foot in the snowy home of House Stark. Her time spent here during the war had been rocky at best, even if she had saved the North from utter oblivion.
Kelnaerys studied her surroundings. Lined up in the center of the yard were, who she assumed, the Starks. In the middle was a tall, cold looking woman with hair like dragon fire. She held a gaze that seemed as hard as stone and as frosty as ice. To her left, sat a man in a wheelchair who's lifeless stare was becoming quite uncomfortable. On the right was a shorter woman who was dressed like a fighter. That one kept her hand on her sword the whole time. The Starks were collectively surrounded by guards and servants alike.
Next to the man in the chair stood a young girl about the same age as she. She was very beautiful, Kelnaerys thought. The girl's hair was dark brown, the color of a wise oak tree. She was dressed in a dark blue gown and a heavy black cloak with thick, grey fur around the collar that was crisscrossed around her chest like a man would would wear. As Daenerys and her daughter dismounted from their horses, all bowed to the Targaryen Queen and the Targaryen Princess.
If that is Kyra Stark, Kel thought, than I like her already. She was still studying the girl when Daenerys gave the signal to for all to rise.
"Greetings, Your Grace." Said the woman at the center with a tone as cold as her blue eyes. Kelnaerys could only assume this was Sansa Stark, Lady Paramount of the North.
"Lady Stark, the North is as beautiful as I remember it to be. Thank you for welcoming us to Winterfell." Queen Daenerys smiled with hints of an expression Kel could not totally read. "Arya, Bran, it's good to see you again." Her mother included. The Stark siblings nodded respectfully.
There was history between the two, Kelnaerys thought to herself. The princess went stiff, shoulders back and chest out, remembering how to posture properly.
"It is....the pleasure of the North to host you, Your Grace. Winterfell is yours." Sansa commented insincerely. "This must be the Crown Princess and Heir to the Iron Throne." Lady Stark said smoothly, her focus shifting to Kelnaerys. Sansa gave her a once over, which had the princess feeling self-conscious all over again. Daenerys beamed with pride at her child.
"Yes, this my daughter, Kelnaerys. Future Queen of Westeros." The Queen proclaimed.
"Lady Stark, it's a pleasure to meet you." Kelnaerys responded with a bow of her head, voice and tone deep. She watched as Sansa studied her for a moment before motioning to the girl in the dark blue dress.
"This is my daughter, Kyra." Lady Stark introduced. The young Stark girl seemed a bit nervous, like if she looked in the Targaryen's direction for too long she would shatter. She had a gentle aura and seemed to be much warmer than Sansa. Kyra was closer now and Kelnaerys could make out the color of the girl's eyes. They were a soft, honey-brown with flecks of golden-orange. Much warmer than her mother, indeed.
"Your Grace. My princess." Kyra curtsied perfectly. Sansa must make her practice, Kel thought.
"Lady Kyra." Kelnaerys greeted. She reached out to the Stark girl's hand, bringing it to her lips for kiss.
"Yes, well..." Sansa interjected,"...perhaps we shall go inside out of the cold? I've prepared a feast in honor of your...visit." She continued. With the comment, servants immediately sprung from the courtyard into action.
"Yes. Let's." Daenerys retorted, face hard as a lumber board. Kel made a mental note to ask what the history was between her mother and Sansa Stark later.
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