Winterfell V

(Rhaegon's POV)

"I'm not keeping it." I said as I held the pup by its scruff in front of me

We had reached Winterfell's gate behind Ser Rodrick as he and a few others had dragged the Giant Boar back. 

I was still on horseback when Robb reached me as he held his pup while holding the reigns of his sword, "Why not?" He asked, "Who else do you think should have it?" 

I nodded at Theon, "Him." I said, "He lives here." 

Theon shook his head, "Oh no." He said, "I will not be responsible for the beasts." 

I saw as Lord Stark strutted next to me on his horse, "I thought there were just five." He said, "Jon has one and so do you." 

I handed him the direwolf pup, "Oh, Lord Stark, this one is yours." I said

He took the pup, "What?" He said with a frown, "I don't want it." 

"Well, the Lord of Winterfell should have a physical symbol of his House, no?" I said, "I already have a dragon, don't need a Direwolf. Besides, where would I put him on Morghul's saddle? What if it falls off? Ever thought of that." 

"Ah...." He said as he raised the pup in front of him "Little runt.....very well...."

I chuckled, "If you don't want it, keep it for Robb and the Princess's children." I said, "In case their dragon egg doesn't hatch." 

I dismounted the horse as Hodor walked over to me, "Hodor." He said as he took the reigns

"You're not wrong." Lord Stark said, "I didn't think of a gift for Robb and Daenerys's wedding....." 

"Hm...." I said as I took my gloves off, "Where is she, anyways?" 

As I said that, I saw Daenerys walk towards us as a young red haired girl walked next to her. 

"Ser Rhaegon." She said as she stopped, "A word." 

I looked at Robb who gave me a nod with a slight smile, "Good fortune, Ser." He chuckled

I sighed, "Hm...."

I walked over to her as Daenerys gave me a smile, "Nephew." She gestured at the girl next to her, "This is the Lady Sansa Stark. My soon-to-be goodsister." 

The girl was short and petite, and had beautiful green eyes, much like Lady Catlyn's. Her long and pretty hair was reminiscing of her mother's but was a bit lighter and brighter. 

I bowed slightly, "Ah, Lady Stark." I said, "Of course, I remember you. From four years ago. You were much smaller though." 

She smiled, "H-Hello, Ser Rhaegon." 

I looked behind me, "You Father has a gift for you, Lady Sansa." I said as I looked back at her, "You ought to go and see. I think you'd be fond of them." 

Sansa's eyes darted past me and behind me, her eyes widening slightly and then bowed at me, "S-Ser..." she said before walking past me in a hurry to where her father was

I looked at Aunt Daenerys who raised her eyebrow at me, "What?" I asked

"May I ask why you haven't considered the Stark's eldest daughter for marriage?" She asked

I frowned and glanced back at Sansa Stark, who was holding one of the Direwolf pups with an overjoyed smile on her face. 

"Uhm...." I said as I looked back at Dany, "Because she's a girl?" 

"She's right for you." She said, "Please consider it at least." 

"That's not up to me." I said, "Father said he'd consider it but it's highly unlikely." 

She frowned, "Since when do you care what your Father says?" 

"Since he's the Lord of Storm's End." I said 

"You're Ser Rhaegon, rider of Morghul." She said with a chuckle, "The man who flew to Essos and fought a Khal in single combat." 

She said the last part with a hint of sarcasm. 

I took a step back, "The North is changing you, Aunt." I said, "The cold here, it doesn't bother you?" 

"It did at first." She said as she took a deep breath, "But I enjoy it now. I like taking walks in the snow, enjoying the feeling of snow falling on my hair." 

I looked up at the sky, "I don't like it." I said, "But I'll tolerate it." 

"You should learn to like it, should you end up marrying Lady Sansa." She said

"I highly doubt that'll happen." I said as I looked around, "Can we talk? In private?" 

"Uh, sure, we can go to our chambers." She said with a concerned look

"No." I said, "Away from here." 

She looked at me, "You...." She said, "You want to go for a ride?" 

I nodded, "That'll be best." I said as I patted my sleeves, "Morghul doesn't like the cold anyways, the flight will warm his bones." 

"Okay then." She said, "I can use a flight. But not too far, okay? I know a spot, a nice hill where its quiet and in sight of Winterfell." 

"That's fine." I said with a smile, 

"Let's go." 

***************************************

"So..." Aunt Dany said as I stood on the hill, "What's on your mind?" 

Behind us, Shrykos and Morghul were sitting next to each other, vocalizing loudly. 

I looked off into the distance, seeing the sight of Winterfell a bit far away. It was indeed quiet on this snowy hill, but they could see everything on it, should they worry. 

I looked at her, she was as beautiful as the last time I saw her, "Are you happy here?" I asked her

She looked at me, "Me?" She asked, "I am, why wouldn't I be?" 

"This is a foreign place to us, The North." I said, "We're of Fire and Blood, we're not used to this.....Snow and Ice." 

"Fire and Blood?" she chuckled, "You're half-baratheon, Nephew. The Stormlands get chilly once in a while, do they not?" 

I frowned, "Not like this." I said, "And who cares of what my Father's blood says about me? I have him." 

I gestured back at Morghul as Dany looked at me. 

"I am happy here, Rhaegon." She said, "I'm glad you asked me. I am happy you're here too and would love it if you stay." 

"Why would I stay?" I asked her

"The North is beautiful." She said, "Once you get used to it, you can fly around here with the nice cold breeze on your face. Everyone will treat you with respect; they already do. There is so much land, so much freedom." 

"Freedom? Here?" I said as I looked around, "Deceiving, isn't it?" 

"What is it now?" She said, "You always had something to say." 

"Aunt, look, I am happy for you, I really am." I said, "But this whole.....this whole thing, I don't know about it. It...doesn't seem-" 

"Right?" She said, "It doesn't matter how it seems, it is going to happen, Rhaegon." 

I looked down, "I know, but...." I said, "I...." 

"I know, Rhaegon." She said as she walked up to me and patted my cheek, "I know...but Robb is my betrothed. I care about him, I really do. You and I.....we can't happen." 

I frowned, "What? No, that's not what I meant...." I said, "I just heard something-" 

"Oh, please, Nephew." She chuckled, "The way you looked at me all of our youth. When we were playing as children....the way you treated me, the way you spoke to me. Have you not become aware of your own feelings?" 

I looked at her, "What feelings?" I said

She smiled, "I...." She said as she glanced away towards the dragons, "When I came here, I heard you flew away to Essos. I thought it was because of the decision I made. I told my brother that yes, I'll go through with the Union. I thought that you were.....envious." 

I looked away, "Hm...." I said

"I thought maybe Viserys saw it and decided to poke fun at you, hence why you were angry and went and did what you did over there." She said, "I.....I didn't know what to make of it." 

"That's not it, Aunt." I said as I looked at her, "I...Yes, I care for you. But my feelings for you....they're complicated." 

"Does it matter now? Just tell me, to get it out in the open." She said, "I don't want things between us to be...odd. I will stay in the North, with Robb. We will marry, I will bear his children. And he becomes Lord of Winterfell, I will become Lady too. The Stark line will continue through us as the Baratheon line continued through my sister and your Father. Do not forget that." 

I thought of the times we played as children; Daenerys, Myrcella, and I. I do remember Viserys chaperoning us while we had such fun times. 

That was so long ago, it felt like a lifetime. Even if I was just ten and seven, I felt so...old and those fond memories were from such a distant past that I don't even recognize them at all. 

Did I lover her? Was I in love with my own Aunt? It was wrong to even think that. Such.... incestuous thoughts weren't pure....I don't care what the Targaryens did in the past. 

"Aunt Cersei.....Mother...." I said as I clenched my fists, "They all tell me the same thing. That I have feelings for you. Yes, when I heard that you came here, I felt.....a bit angry. I didn't know why and your brother Viserys, he didn't aid one bit. That foolish prick actually managed to goad me into going to Essos. The things that happened there....the fights I picked....I did it out of frustration." 

She frowned sadly, "Frustration of what?" 

"Frustration that....." I said as I looked away, "That we wouldn't be together. Not like you think, though. At least, I don't think so. I think of you as my equal, Dany.....You, Shrykos....I want a partner in my adventures, that's all. It's....Maybe it's romantic, I don't fucking know! Maybe....Maybe I do love you...in that way....but as far as I know, I just wanted someone that flies alongside Morghul and I....above in the skies and looking down at the ground....that's all...." 

I said the last part so softly that I could barely hear it myself. 

"Oh....." She said 

I looked at her, "You're my aunt, I do care for you." I said, "But....I don't know...the moment you and Robb wed....we won't see each other that much. Shrykos won't see Morghul that much either. You'll be alone here, no matter how friendly the Starks will be. A Targaryen alone is a tragic thing." 

She chuckled as she patted my arm, "Oh, Rhaegon." She said softly, "I've always loved you like my own brother." 

I nodded, "I know." I said, "It's just.....damnit, we're drawn to our duties, that is all. I hate it. I don't want to marry, I....I just...." 

"I know." She said with a smile, "I know more than anyone. I also know one thing now that we are in the topic of marriage." 

"What?" I asked

"If there is one person that should get your affection..." She raised her eyebrow, "It's my dear Niece." 

I frowned, "What?" I asked, "Myrcella?" 

She nodded, "Yes." She said, "She's a good match." 

I stepped away from her, "You can't be serious." I said, "Tywin implied that when I was in the capital. She's my cousin, Dany. I can't do that. You know how I feel about such relationships." 

"You just said you're not aware of your feelings for me." She told me

"Because I feel conflicted about incest, Aunt." I said looking at her, "Isn't it obvious? You of all people should know that." 

"Well, you're both Targaryens too, I don't see a problem." She said

"Of course you don't." I said as I crossed my arms, "You're really acting your part, aren't you? An aunt chooses her nephew's suitors, huh?. We're the same age." 

"You're still my Nephew." She chuckled, "But I'm serious. She loves you, you know that right?" 

I closed my eyes and thought of what happened at Duskendale; Myrcella and I kissing atop Morghul. There was an odd sensation that I felt in my stomach and I quickly shook it off. 

"No, I can't." I said, "People will claim me as the heir if I marry the King's eldest daughter. Whether I like him or not, Viserys is the Heir. That route only means trouble for the Realm, so no. People want an excuse to overlook him, especially with what happened at Duskendale four years ago. Or have you forgotten?" 

"Okay then." She said as he looked at me, "Well tell me, you went on tour, who is the most suited women for Ser Rhaegon Baratheon." 

I sighed, "Mother and Father want me to go for a paramour route." I said while looking down, "Three Sands from Dorne. Prince Oberyn's daughters." 

"Whoa....." She said with sarcastic surprise, "The Mighty Rhaegon gets three women as an offer? Who would've thought that Dorne was that generous." 

I looked at her, "Is that funny to you?" 

She chuckled, "It is, a bit." She said, "Most men would kill to be in your position. You get to have three pretty, I'm assuming, women. What's not to like about that?" 

"They're illegitimate. The realm will frown upon it." I said, "If I do, my children won't be acknowledged." 

"Rhaegar would legitimize your children if it comes to that. He loves you dearly." She told me, "For you, he'd forgive treason." 

"Do not joke like that." I told her as I looked at the sky, "I don't know.....I..." 

"I hate all of this at the moment."