32  | RIDING DRAGONS

"As soon as we heard about the Wall, I call all our banners to retreat to Winterfell. Lord Umber," Sansa called out for one of the Lords of one of the various families in the North at the meeting they were having upon the arrival of Jon and Reyanna, "when can we expect your people to arrive?"

Lord Umber stood up. "We need more horses and wagons, if it please my lady... and my King and Queen." Lord Umber nodded over at Reyanna and Jon.

"You'll have as many as we can spare. Hurry back to Last Hearth and bring your people here." Sansa instructed. She had all the insight on the upcoming war, so she led the organization of the fight.

"We need to send ravens to the Night's Watch as well. There's no sense in manning the castles anymore. We make our stand here." Jon spoke up.

"At once your grace." Winterfell's maester answered and hurried off to do so.

"If anyone survives the war to come, we'll have Jon Snow to thank. He risked his life to show us the threat is real. Thanks to his courage, we have brought with us the greatest army the world has ever seen. We have brought two full grown dragons. And soon, the Lannister army will ride north to join our cause." Tyrion announced, he had been sitting amongst the crowd with Sofina, so short you could barely see him; his intentions were to be grateful to Jon, but it only upset the crowd.

People grumbled and cursed until Reyanna had enough. She stood up and slammed her hand down on the table she, Jon and Sansa were sitting at. "We fought long and hard to have Cersei join our side. This war is not a war against our enemies to the south. This war is a war between the living and dead. And as much as we'd all like to say Cersei is so cold hearted she might as well be dead, she and her army are just as living as we are. We will take care of our kingdoms within due time, after the threat to the north is dealt with." Reyanna growled, gushing the crowd instantaneously.

"Any grievances or inquires? Please speak to Jon or myself directly. We will tear ourselves apart if we focus on petty differences." Reyanna finished.

Lady Mormont, a young child who had rallied the North to support Jon Snow as the king of the North, stood up.  "Please explain to me as to how you are second Queen of Meereen and Lady Sofina's army?" Lady Mormont asked in an aggressive manner.

"Think of me as her heir. She has no children and no other family except for me. If anything is to happen to her, I inherit her crown. A crown she gained upon merit, not idiotic bloodlines and marriages. In addition, I couldn't be called princess of her empire since I am not her child— so she simply gave me a new title, second queen. It's really simple." Reyanna answered to Lady Mormont.

"So, you and Jon still rule the North? And you rule her army?" Lady Mormont asked for clarification.

"Essentially, yes." Reyanna replied.

Lady Mormont nodded in satisfaction and sat down without hesitation. No one else seemed to have any other questions or complaints. Well... except for Sansa. "May I ask... how are we to feed the greatest army the world has ever seen? While I ensured our stores would last through winter, I didn't account for Dothraki, Unsullied and two full grown dragons. What do dragons eat, anyway?" Sansa asked Sofina.

"People, animals, really anything." Sofina informer Sansa.

* * *

The next day, Reyanna stood outside past the walls of Winterfell, alone with her horse, trying to figure out a plan on how to feed the only army that could possibly have a chance at winning the war against the dead. She knew they'd all starve before they'd get a chance to fight the walkers, unless something was to be done about the food stores. Somehow, she just knew Cersei wouldn't help, and with recent information, Reyanna learned that Highgarden was now under full control of the Lannisters. "You must be Reyanna." A girly voice spoke up from behind Rey.

Reyanna turned around to face the source of the noise and was met with the face of a young girl who had a delicate sword strapped to her waist. "Yes.. and you are?" Reyanna inquired.

"Arya Stark." She introduced, walking up to Reyanna.

Reyanna cracked a smile at her sister in law. "Nice to meet you, Lady Stark." Reyanna bowed her head to her.

Arya chuckled. "No need for formalities. I heard the news from Sansa, we're family now." Arya gave Reyanna a quick hug.

"That army is amazing. You and your sister have my greatest respect for forming an army like that." Arya admitted her awe for the Challinders' power.

"It wasn't my doing. It was my sister's. She just gave me a title for free. I didn't earn it." Reyanna told Arya.

"I heard about everything you did in Castle Black. You did earn it." Arya assured, then left Reyanna before she could argue her credibility.

* * *

Reyanna found Sofina on the other side of the outskirts of Winterfell, tending to her dragons. She looked upon with a worried stare, leaving Reyanna to become concerned as well. "What's wrong?" Reyanna asked as she rode up near her sister.

"They're barely eating. They don't like the North." Sofina spoke as she pet Rhaegal.

Viserion leaned his giant head close to Reyanna and flashed his sharp teeth at her. Reyanna eyed him down, asserting her dominance over the enormous beast that could swallow her whole if he wanted to. "Sometimes, I feel so evil for taking these dragons from Daenerys. But, she never could control them. Only I ever could. I know they care for me, but, I am not a Targaryen. They were meant to be with Targaryens, descendants of Valyria." Sofina told Reyanna.

"They were slaves to the Targaryens. Locked up in chains and forces to fight in dragon pits. You saw Daenerys locked up her dragons, too." Reyanna tried to comfort her sister.

"But I got one of them killed! And now the Night King has Drogon under his control. They chose me and I failed them." Sofina allowed a few tears to fall down her cheek.

"You set them free, Sofina. They came with you north of the Wall because they wanted to protect you. It wasn't your fault." Reyanna told her sister.

"That doesn't stop me from feeling like I don't deserve them." Sofina told.

The two sisters stood, admiring the two dragons as they grumbled and sniffed the two girls. "Get on." Sofina told Reyanna, suggesting for her to mount onto Viserion.

Reyanna looked over at her sister, shocked. "What?"

Sofina quickly climbed Rhaegal, leading by example. "Go on."

Reyanna reluctantly obeyed her sister's order and climbed onto Viserion's back. As soon as she was situated, Sofina took off with Rhaegal and Viserion followed them. Reyanna wished the flight was effortless and beautifully perfect. But it wasn't. She felt like she was tumbling down a mountain the entire time. She struggled to hold onto Viserion and was being thrown around like a rag doll.

When they finally landed back where they came from, Reyanna felt lightheaded from all the whiplash she experienced. "Remind me to never do that again." Reyanna rubbed her temples, then dismounted Viserion.

Sofina chuckled and helped her sister regain balance on the ground.

* * *

Later on that night, Reyanna saw Jon for the first time that day. They were in their chambers, readying themselves to go to bed. Jon had a nervous and stressed expression crossing his face. He was never any good at hiding his internal emotions. "What's wrong with you?" Reyanna snickered at him. He was always so stressed about something and never allowed himself to let loose unless it was only between them two.

"Your sister... she killed Sam's family." Jon croaked out, hesitant to share the information with Reyanna.

"She's killed lots of people. Even our own brother. Even the Daenerys Targaryen herself." Reyanna shrugged the news off.

"That's not all... Sam told me who my parents are. Who they really are. You and I both know he wouldn't kid about such a thing. I am not a bastard. My mother is Lyanna Stark," he paused, Reyanna's eye were widened and surprised, "and my father, Rhaegar Targaryen. They married before I was born. Then had me."

Reyanna was quiet, unsure as how to process the information. "So," she gulped, "that would make you the... true king of the Seven Kingdoms?"

Jon nodded slowly. "We have to tell your sister."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Reyanna shook her head.

"Why? Is she too proud to give up her crown?" Jon asked, a bit annoyed.

"You never wanted the crown in the first place, Jon. You really want to take on the role of the King of the Seven Kingdoms? The people are tired of changing their Kings and Queens all the time. Maybe we should sort this all out after the war." Reyanna suggested, careful not to anger her husband. She didn't want Jon just announcing his legitimacy to everyone just yet, because she knew he was afraid. And she knew Sofina was stubborn and wouldn't let go of her crown so easily.

"Let us sleep on it. And we may speak more about it in the morning." Reyanna told, receiving a small nod from Jon. And with that, she postponed the initiation of chaos until the next day.