9.) The ice dragon, Talk between a wolf and giant

AN: here we go guys. Just gonna ride this wave of creativity till the wheels fall off. The title of this chapter is pretty self explanatory.

Also, tell me your thoughts on the dwarves intermingling with the ibenese. Check out the images page for an idea on how I'll be imagining and therefore writing to describe the ice dragons size, build, color, etc.

Hope you enjoy

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The North, Cave Dwellers/ Milkwater meeting point, 128 AC

Harald Pov

All men are silent as my world shifted from looking at the massive head and body of a dragon a size I didn't even know was possible.

I'm now looking at a group of men. I recognize myself, but my eyes are completely white.

I quickly realized what was happening and let go of my control over this very sentient creature if his thoughts were anything to go by.

All the men around me are silent as I walk alone towards the beast larger than anything I've ever thought could exist. Sure, I'd seen pictures and videos of the dragons and an ai version of balerion.

But the thing in front of me is real, I can feel him in my mind. Like a spot that's always been empty is now filled. And seeing such a massive creature, feeling his breath like the coldest winter, I'm both awed and a little scared.

As I pass the dwarves who've all now looked away from my men and toward the towering mountain of ice and flesh edris calls out. His yellowish amber eyes alight with concern.

((Harald! Get back here and let's go. Maybe If we go slowly we won't attract its ire!))

I don't respond to him though. I know what has to happen. I slowly make my way towards the towering beast. Behind me, Turin murmurs softly, ""the pale dragon.""

Again, I don't acknowledge him because I'm focused on the dragon in front of me.

As soon as I get within distance his long neck can reach me. His head swiftly moved in front of me, towering over my body.

I've yet to see a dragon in this world. However, the one in front of me is at least the size of the black dread. Also, given the way he just moved through the skies I assume he's not too old. Something that will help immensely in battles against smaller, more agile dragons.

I slowly raise my right hand and take the glove off. Careful not to make any sudden movement in case his temper flares up, I slowly lay my bare hand on the freezing scales of the ice dragon.

I speak to him in the old tongue, ""Hello. I assume you're the one who's been watching me?""

The response I get isn't with words. But it very well might as well have been. A deep, rumbling grumble comes out of the dragon along with emotions of happiness and comfort.

I slowly run my hand across his snout and head towards his wing which acts as a staircase for me to climb and grab onto a spike made of ice.

My observation about him sounding like the gojira of the monsterverse is true. In fact, he looks a bit like shimo or shimu.

The spikes along his back aren't as dense as the huge monsterverse titan, but they are simalrly shaped.

Truly, this is the most beautiful dragon I've ever seen. It's deep blue eyes speak to a level of intelligence I thought impossible in animals.

As I make my way up the wing I call out to my men who seem dumbfounded. Though I can't tell for certain given how far away they are.

((Settle here for the night. I will return.))

As soon as I said those words I found a spot where the spikes aren't present right in line for a rider. 'Like it was meant to be,' I thought.

I sat down and once again, the Godzilla roar from earlier was realeased from my dragons body. I could feel the vibrations of the roar in all my bones. Sitting atop him while he roars is incredibly humbling. It truly quantified how far apart we are. It also furthered my believe that this world was crazy. What animal of this stature would bound itself to a man?

However, I don't get the time to truly understand the deep mystery's of this insane world when the ice dragon takes 4 big strides and jumps high into the air while flapping his wings and we're off.

I don't know what the future holds truth be told. But I know one thing, my entire war plan has just shifted dramatically. The realities of what the creature below me now in the sky Maneuvering like a raven brings in a world such as this begin to weight heavy on me.

Envy and greed are the most prevelant of these.

But maybe, the very reason such envy and greed would arise can also be my solution.

I'm broken out of my thoughts of the future implications of what's happening right now when the ice dragon goes into a steep dive.

For the first time since mounting the dragon I don't think about the Benefits and drawbacks of such a formidable ally. I simply enjoy being in the cold air north of the Wall.

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Winterfell, The North, 128AC

Cregan Pov

I've been home for about a sennight or so now. My ravens to Gage Umber and Karl Reed should have reached their respective keeps by now.

I pat Dusk on the head as I head out of the great hall and towards my solar. As soon as I'm seated the maester comes in to Dusk's low growl. He never liked the maester. Something that always gave me pause. Harald outright refused to interact with the old man.

I break open the letters with both the umber and Reed seals respectively. Written 5 days ago.

By the time the suns beginning to set I'm informed via a runner that both Umber and Reed banners have been spotted in winter town.

I make my way to greet them.

I see Gage Umber, one of Harald and my best friends since we were children, get off his massive horse first. His family, the Umbers, have always been said to have giants blood in them. Seeing Gage solidified such claims to me. The man was a head and shoulders taller than myself and Harald are now with a dark beard and long dark hair and mud brown eyes he looks more like a human bear than anything.

Next my gaze goes to Karl Reed. Another kid our age more close to Harald than myself.

In fact, had he not been the heir to the graywater I'm sure he would've left with my brother on his journey around the world.

He and his family had sharper features than others. Many attribute this to their rumored blood of the children of the Forrest that makes it so. I never understood the mystical aspect of things.

And Karl himself was everything the reeds rumors speak of. A quiet observer. Harald always liked him. Said, ""he knows the value of having two ears and only one tongue.""

I didn't know what he meant at the time. Just thought Karl was weird. But now as a man who's grown up a bit, the wisdom in my brothers words isn't amiss.

I greet the two, ""Lord Karl, Lord Gage, please come with me. While I would usually allow you two time to rest and recover I find myself needing to get to the bottom of my query as soon as possible.""

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3rd pov

What Cregan didn't know is as he was having his doubts about the truth of the long night, his brother was fulfilling a prophecy unknown to the world. One that'd been left unfulfilled in the timeline he saw.

Now, a new dragon lord and his family will rise. Westeros isn't ready.

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The North, Cavedwellers and milkwater meeting, 128AC

Edris

As I and torrent sit around the fire in the night I finally speak my thoughts on the event that happened earlier.

((What the hells happened? Why did Harald seem so relaxed around the dragon?))

Torrent looks at me and I see even he is shaken. The first time I've seen him so in the years we've spent traversing the world.

((Truthfully? I know not. I've never heard of anyone riding an ice dragon. Their said to be incredibly volitile and kill anyone who gets close.))

Our conversation is interrupted by the cave dwellers growing volume, one statement however breaks through the cacophony of voices.

""Enough. It is him. The pale dragon. When he returns we will speak to him. Keep your prejudices to yourselves. I won't allow any of you to endanger the group. Am I understood?""

The leader named Turin said with the threat clear in his words. All his men nodded before we all heard the sound of beating wings against the sky.

We see Harald atop the dragon who's eyes are glowing almost white in the night sky. Seeing the silhouette they cut sent a shiver down my back. And not just because of the sheer cold of the dragon itself.

I can only imagine what such a thing will mean for the future of our group.

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AN: decided to have a quick edris chapter. Will post some pictures of the ice dragon in this chapter. So be on the look out for those. Do hope you enjoy the chapter. I'll see you later