Whispers In The Wind

[A/N: For the sake of moving the story a bit faster, I'll skip over some events that happen in Winterfell; The Feast and Etc. Also, the Wedding when it happens, there will be some timeskips here and there. We're almost at 40 chapters and I think this subplot has gone long enough.]

(Rhaegon's POV)

"I've been here a bit longer than I want to...." I said as I rubbed my cold hands together

"Why haven't you left yet?" I heard Jon Snow said

We were on Horseback, a few dozen miles away from Winterfell. I had received word from one of Lord Stark's men of strange bonfires being lit nearby, akin to the ones I light with Morghul. Which is strange indeed, I haven't done any bonfires recently. 

The Feast was last night, every Lord and Lady enjoyed themselves in celebration of my Aunt's engagement. Even Viserys, the fool, showed up but I left as soon as he got there. I had told the Lords of the North not to utter a word about what the whispers say. 

I looked at Jon, who was shifting atop his horse, "I have things to deal with." I said as I looked around us, "It is hard to explain." 

"You mean about the whispers?" He asked

"Of course you'd know about that..." I muttered

"Everyone does." He replied

"Hm..." I said 

Morghul was currently slumbering, which is why I am currently on horseback and dealing with this guy. Lord Stark told me that it would be good to have company of men instead of a dragon once in a while. 

I am glad Morghul doesn't speak because I figure he'd be like Jon; he wouldn't shut up. Jon has found every single opportunity to speak his mind and he's been a bit annoying before now. 

"What are we doing here? We've been sitting on the horses for more than half an hour." He said

I looked at him, "Waiting, obviously." I told him

"You want to hear the whispers too?" He asked me, "The wind hasn't picked up. Worry not, Ser, you'd hear them in time." 

"N-No, not the whispers." I said with a frown, "The smoke, the fire, they said that they're making bonfires nearby." 

"Ah, like the ones you usually light." He said, "Why do you light them anyways?" 

"Because it's colder than Bolton's eyes in the North." I said as I scanned the horizon, "Got to keep warm, Snow." 

"Nothing is colder than that man's eyes." He replied

I sighed, "You can say that again." I said, "Why would they make bonfires like mine?" 

"Mayhaps they're learning from you. It can be cold." He suggested

Off into the distance, I saw smoke. It was past a line of trees and the amount of smoke that was rising into the air was enough to come from a bonfire similar to mine. 

"There." I gestured, "Let's go." 

We both took to a gallop and made our way to where the smoke was coming from. 

As we rode through the trees, the scent of burnt flesh filled the air. 

I furled my nostrils, "What the...." I said

"That doesn't smell good, Ser." I heard Jon say as he rode next to me

"Oh, you think?" I said

We then reached a clearing, in the middle of it a massive bonfire with around four men around it. The stench of burnt flesh hit my nose even harder now that we were closer. 

We slowed to a stop as I covered my nose, "Seven hells...." I said

I noticed that at the base of the bonfire, there were at least three burning animals heads, rapidly being reduced to ashes. 

"What are they doing?" Jon said as I dismounted my horse and gave him my reigns

"I'll find out." I said

The men around the bonfire had their arms into the air, seaming unfazed by the heat of the bonfire. Something told me that I knew what they were doing. This was the same type of sight I saw back in the Stormlands, with Stannis and his zealots. 

As I got closer, I felt a small gust of wind hit me and a strange and cold voice speak. 

".....death...."

I stopped and looked around, "What?" 

The voice was low and distorted, came as fast as the wind hit and left even faster. It was but a split second, so quick that I figured I was going crazy. 

I looked at Jon who was on his horse, giving me a frown. 

"Did you hear that?" I asked him

"No, hear what?" He asked

I shook my head and turned to face the men, "Ahem...." I said, "May I ask what you lot are doing?" 

I then saw as one of the men slowly lowered his arms and turned around, his eyes devoid of any emotion. 

"You....." He said with a cold voice, "It's you....." 

I placed my hand on my sword's handle, "Me....?" I said raising an eyebrow

The man drew his sword as he gave me a menacing glare, "Pretender..." He growled

I drew Fury in response, "Whoa." I said, "Sheathe your steel, I am warning you." 

"Ser Rhaegon!" I heard Jon call out

The other men also drew their swords as they slowly walked over to the first man. 

I took a step back and readied my blade, expecting a fight. 

"Whatever this is, cease this at once." I said with a serious expression, "You don't want to lose your life." 

"When we fall, the Lord will raise us back up." The man said as he looked down at his sword

I heard as he began to chant something unfamiliar, low and quiet. He raised his sword to his hand as his eyes began to give off a faint glow. 

In a swift motion, he cut his palm and as he drew blood, I saw a massive spark ignite the entirety of his blade in flames. 

"What the fuck?" I said 

He pointed his flaming sword at me as the others began to do the same, "Pretender. If you don't convert to his Ways, we will force you to." He said with an angry tone

I glared at him, "Oh is that so?" I said, "Well, I'll-" 

I was cut off by another gust of wind, 

"....Seek the Tree...."

I grimaced, "What?" I said

This time, the voice was a bit louder and clearer. I didn't understand what the fuck was going on right now. I was about to fight four men with flaming swords and I got a whispering wind. 

The men slowly took a few steps as they raised their swords into the air, ablaze. 

I let out an exhale, "Snow." I called for Jon, "If I fall in battle, ride back to Winterfell and tell them what happened. But...." 

"I doubt that'll be necessary."