After placing a soft kiss on Dany's cheek, Baelon moved to the Heart Tree and knelt before it. With Daeron's hand in his, he touched the bark and then found himself walking into the Godswood though it looked very different. Each step he took was one filled with hope and trepidation and looking at his son in his arms, Baelon was relieved to see no distress in Daeron's expression.
When he saw the figure standing by the tree, he almost named her Arya so much like his sister did she look. To his surprise, his mother was of an age with him when he'd left for the Wall, mayhap even younger and it took him a moment to realize why that was. The tears that fell from his eyes upon remembering that she had died far too young were wiped firstly by his son and then by the fingers of the woman who'd brought him into this world.
"Be at peace, my son." his mother said as she wiped his tears away.
"I….is it… are you truly…"
"Oh my sweet little boy." his mother said as she embraced him and Daeron, his son welcoming the feel of her arms around them both just as much as Baelon did.
"I… this is your grandson, mother. This is my son, Daeron," he said as his mother looked at him and begged permission to hold Daeron in her arms.
A nod of his head later and he felt his son being taken from him. The sound of Daeron's laughter resounded around the Godswood as he was spun in the air. Baelon stood and looked on as his mother played some game or other with his son. His mind took note of the image and stored it away for future reference. This, this is how it could have been and just looking at how at ease both Daeron and his mother were with each other, was almost too much for him to bear. Seeing his distress, his mother moved to him and held out her hand and Baelon took it without hesitation.
"Father?" he asked as they walked to take a seat by the dark pool where his uncle would often sit.
"Your father looks on from his own place in the god's embrace, Bael." his mother said, and sad though it made him to know he'd not see him here, hearing her name him how she'd wished to, had made him smile just a little.
"You see each other?" he asked to a nod of his mother's head.
"As we do you and this little treasure here." his mother said, playing once again with Daeron as they spoke.
"Dany, Wylla. Rickon said they'd not be able to come with me because their gods are different, but you've seen them both?"
"She makes you happy, Bael. For that, she has earned her place in my heart. Tell your wife this when you return to her."
"Wylla, mother. I know she's not you…"
"I wish you'd have known her for longer, Bael. I've seen how much having her in your life has meant to you and she knows her place in my heart was earned years ago. I cursed my brother for so long for all he denied you, her love most of all."
"He's not here is he?" he asked, not ready to see him and not wishing this time with his mother to be infringed upon.
"No. He sees you too as does your other uncle, grandfather, and grandmother. But no, I thought it best if you and Ned were kept apart."
"I know not how to feel about him, mother. I love him, I know I do, and yet I hate him at times too."
"Give it time."
How long he stayed there, he knew not. Eventually, though, he had to say his goodbyes and after allowing his mother to hold Daeron tightly, Baelon then moved to her so she and he could embrace. The words she whispered in his ear as she told him how much she loved him and how proud of him she was were the ones he'd wanted to hear all his life. Then with a soft kiss on his cheek, she was gone and Baelon and Daeron were back at the Heart Tree with Rickon, Dany, and Wylla looking on.
"Thank you, brother. Truly. "Baelon said as Rickon helped him back to his feet.
"They'll always watch over you, brother. In time when the sapling we planted has grown, they'll see you through it and hear the words you speak."
"I'll speak to them often. We both will," he said looking at his son and then walking to where Dany stood and doing his best to tell her with his expression that he had seen all he had wished to.
That night he told Wylla what his mother had said. Later as he lay in bed with his wife, he told Dany too. He'd had to hold her in his arms as she decried the fact that the other side of their family followed a different set of gods. Yet she was happy that he'd been given the gift he'd received. As he drifted off to sleep, Baelon promised himself he'd share as much of his words with his Mother and family as he could in the years to come. In time he'd even forgive his uncle, he knew. To know he was loved and being watched over though, was more than he'd known up to now and all he truly needed to know.
Dragons' Rest Now.
The blunted blades crashed together and Baelon shook his head before bringing the spar to a premature stop. Steffon looked at him worriedly as Baelon moved to the young lad and then began to correct his stance and hold on the sword. His young squire's relief was only matched by his eagerness to learn as much as he could. It had been but a moon or so since Steffon had arrived with his father to take his place at Baelon's side and the young lad was still nervous around him at times. He was getting better and more comfortable. While he improved daily with both sword and lance, that nervousness led to errors too.
"Now remember, it's a sword you hold, not a mace or Morningstar. Your grip must be firm but loose too. You seek to swing it as if it's an extension of your arm, not a club to beat a man with." he said as Steffon nodded "As for your feet…"
"Wide apart and on my toes," Steffon said and Baelon mussed his hair and offered him a warm smile.
"Aye, good lad. Now again," he said and soon the two blunted blades were crashing together once more.
After an hour or so, Baelon brought the morning lesson to an end. He watched as Steffon placed the swords back on the rack and then hurried to pour them both a mug of water. Taking a seat on the wall, he waited for his squire to join him and once Steffon had, Baelon began to impart other lessons that he hoped would serve the lad well. As they usually were, these lessons were eaten up as if they were the tastiest of meals. Something they would both now enjoy for true and which was much needed if the sounds of the rumbles from Steffon's stomach were true.
"Come, we'll break our fast, and no doubt my wife will give me yet another earful for denying you your meal," he said, rolling his eyes over extravagantly and enjoying the loud laugh that Steffon let out when he did so.
Dany had taken to young Steffon immediately as had Jorah and the rest of the Dragonguard. Even Edd who at times was still as dour as ever had liked the lad. Much of that was down to who Steffon's father was and yet it was not all because of Davos. For Baelon, just having Steffon by his side almost constantly as was the relationship between a squire and knight, or king in this regard, had helped somewhat with not having his brother here with him. He'd never be a replacement for Rickon and Baelon had not begrudged his brother for leaving. However, he'd be a liar if he said he didn't miss him or that some of the affection he felt towards Steffon was because of that.
They were greeted by his son when they entered the Royal Chambers. Daeron jumped up from his place at his mother's side to run over and throw himself into Baelon's arms. Swinging him around and hearing his excited laughter, while ignoring the chiding look he received from Dany in return, Baelon whispered in his son's ear and felt the nod before seeing it for himself. Taking his seat, he held Daeron in his arms and when his food was brought, he shared it with his son who ate heartily.
"Have you not been fed, Tresy?" he asked to a shake of Daeron's head and a roll of Dany's eyes "Well we can't have that. Wylla, more sausages," he said to a beaming smile from Daeron who then hugged him even more tightly.
It was a game they played, he, Dany, and Daeron with willing accomplices from whoever ate with them of a morn. Sometimes it would be Missandei who was the Mistress of Sausages, others it would be Olenna, though mainly it was Wylla, Daeron's grandmother by choice. The woman who would have raised Baelon if she'd been given leave to, now showed with his son just how blissful a life that would have been. She was ever present and there were no nursemaids or servants who did as much for Daeron as she. To both Dany and himself, Wylla was a gift from the gods. While to their son, she was mayhap even more than that.
As Baelon ate and fed Daeron from his own plate, around the table conversations were taking place. There was no formality or talk of work or matters of the realm. Mornings and evenings were their times. The times when they weren't the king, queen, and crown prince of the Seven Kingdoms. Instead, they were simply a family. He, his wife, his son, Missandei, Wylla, Olenna, their Dragonguard. The chosen few that they welcomed to their table and now Steffon Seaworth too. It had been what he and Dany had wished for more than anything else in this world. To know what it felt like to belong. What it felt like to be truly loved.
More than even that, it was what they both wished for their son to know. To grow up in a world that was unlike the one that Dany and he had known. A world where he had a father who loved him unconditionally and a mother for whom he was her true heart. Baelon may have forgiven his uncle somewhat, but he knew now that he'd never been a father to him, not how he was to Robb, Sansa, Arya, Rickon, and even Bran. Neither he nor Dany had known what a mother's love was truly like. They'd instead been forced to imagine it. Picture it in their mind and hope that what they saw was true. Even then, they'd done so with the knowledge that their mothers were not by their side and so always somewhat unknown. Daeron would never know that and if Baelon and Dany had their way, he'd never know war either. Their son would grow up in a far better world than the one he and his wife had. For Baelon and Dany would break every single spoke until the wheel itself was crushed, just to see it so.
"Baelon, don't let him do that." Dany chided "Gods give him to me." she said a moment later as she took Daeron from his arms.
Around the table, people tried and failed to hold back their laughter as Baelon pulled the sausage out from inside his shirt. His son had hidden it for later no doubt. Throwing it to Ghost, Baelon cleaned himself up and then began to make faces at his son. Daeron hiding his own face in Dany's chest before peeking back at him, laughing, and then doing it again. These mornings proved that it was almost a blissful life that Baelon had come to know other than one small dark cloud that was soon to rear its head once more. A cloud that worried his wife more than him. As Baelon believed that when their son was ready and had something to say, then he'd speak the words they both longed to hear from his lips.
There was nothing wrong with their son, that's what he'd tell Dany each time her worries grew too much for her. Baelon, Wylla, Missandei, Marwyn, and even Rickon, before he'd headed back to the North, had all told her so. Yet at times, the lack of even a single word from their son would cause his wife to worry far too much.
" Daeron will talk when the time is right, Dany," his brother had said once. "Your son is perfectly healthy and you know it. Else the prophecy wouldn't have been realized and Baelon wouldn't have come back to you"
"What do you mean?" Baelon frowned, feeling his wife trembling in his arms.
"It was always Baelon. Your true love. The one that should be returned to you once your womb quickened and you bore a living child. It's always been him." Rickon said
"I know. I realized it when I held Daeron in my arms" Dany whispered. "But he -"
"He is alive and well, and will talk when he is supposed to."
Seeing the worry appear on her face once again. Baelon decided to change her mood before it became despondent.
"I think we should fly today, Dany. What say you?" he asked, the bright smile and nod of her head enough to give him an answer.
"Not too far, Baelon," Wylla said and Baelon nodded.
"No, not too far, just over the city and the bay, he loves it so," he said as Dany told Daeron who bounced excitedly on her lap.
After finishing their meal and making sure there was nothing too pressing that needed their attention. They made their way to the Dragonpit. In the years to come, it would be rebuilt and yet it would never serve as a home for their dragons, just a place for them to land without causing too much disruption to the daily workings of the city. Rhaegal, Viserion, and Drogon had found themselves lairs among the caves around Blackwater Bay and often roosted on Dragonstone too. The island had become, as it was for his father and Dany's mother, a second home for them and their family.
Riding atop his horse with Dany on the filly that had been birthed by her silver, they made their way to the Dragonpit and Baelon felt Daeron's excitement rise as they neared it. On some occasions, it would be Dany who rode with Daeron on horseback and then he who'd ride with their son on Rhaegal's back. Today it was to be Dany and Drogon that Daeron would fly with and in truth it mattered little to their son as long as it was with one of them. Handing his son to his mother when they reached the Dragonpit, Baelon bit back his chuckle at the way that Daeron's eyes searched the skies and how they widened when the dragons were sighted.
To his surprise, Daeron almost seemed to wish to break free of his mother's arms when the dragons landed and Dany looked at him worriedly.
"Give him here," he said, softly. Taking his son from Dany's arms much to her relief "Now what's gotten into you, Tresy?"
Daeron was agitated, excited, and yet not angered nor uncomfortable. His son's hand pointed to Viserion and Baelon looked to Dany in confusion. Shaking his head, he moved instead to Rhaegal only for Daeron to become even more agitated.
"Baelon?" Dany asked, her concern clear in her eyes.
"He wishes to be brought to Viserion, mayhap that will calm him," he said to a nod of his wife's head.
It seemed to do the trick and once they'd reached the golden dragon, Daeron's little hand began to stroke Viserion's face. For a moment the sound of Viserion trilling was all that Baelon could hear. Looking at his wife and expecting to see a smile on her face, instead, he saw tears rolling down her cheeks and he knew not why that was. Then he heard the words and he shed his own happy tears as he realized why Dany was crying.
"Soves Sion." his son said as Viserion's molten golden eyes looked into Daeron's and seemed to agree.
The wing when it came down almost shocked both Baelon and his wife. Yet still, he moved to it and climbed up to take a place on the golden dragon's back. No sooner had he done so, than Dany joined them. Closing his eyes, Baelon told Rhaegal what was going on or tried to. It seemed that both he and his larger brother not only knew already but were most keen to see what was about to happen. Feeling Dany wrap her arms around his waist and with Daeron relaxing in his arms, Baelon readied to bid Viserion take to the sky only to find he had no need to do so.
"Soves Sion," Daeron said and at his son's command, Viserion's wings began to beat and in the blink of an eye, they were flying away from the Dragonpit and off toward Blackwater Bay.
Despite telling Wylla that they'd not fly too far or for too long, Baelon now changed their plans. Out over the bay, around the city, and then onto Dragonstone where they finally landed. Baelon handed Daeron to Dany once she'd dismounted and when he joined her, he once again found his wife's tears had begun to fall. It took him a moment to hear the words that his son was saying and how he kept his own tears at bay when Daeron repeated the word and then turned to him and spoke another, only the gods knew.
"Muña." (Mother) Daeron said as his little fingers brushed Dany's tears away.
"Kepa" (Father) he said as Baelon moved to him.
When they spoke to their son he spoke back. Four words were all he used, Mother, Father, Fly, and his attempt at Viserion's name, and yet no song had ever sounded as beautiful as hearing their son's voice for the first time. Later as he flew back to Dragons' Rest atop Rhaegal and with Daeron in his arms, Dany being too emotional to dare risk flying while carrying their son, Baelon felt as happy as he'd ever dared to dream he could be. In front of him, his son looked to where Viserion flew close by and Baelon had no need to know that one day in the future, they would both fly together without a need for either him or Dany to hold Daeron in their arms. Looking at the wide blue sky, at his wife atop Drogon, and at Viserion almost showing off for his future rider, Baelon smiled a true smile.
"This is your playground, Daeron," he said and he swore his son nodded his head at his words.
The North 307/308 AC.
Rickon Stark.
They all huddled in Sansa's room to sleep the first night, even his goodsister and his nephew. The room looked like a Dothraki tent, with pillows and furs on the ground, as well as makeshift beds, and everyone enjoyed camping out there. Some could say that Baelon and Dany's attitude was not becoming of a King and a Queen. But this was the North, the people here only saw family and almost long-lost friends from the moment they arrived and Rickon would not begrudge them. Especially since he wanted so much to be close to all of them.
The Pack was finally reunited and his heart warmed at the feeling of contentment he could sense from his siblings. Rickon smiled as he stared at Arya, who was watching over a sleeping Daeron. So he then began to reminisce about the moment they had landed near Winterfell.
" You've grown, little brother." were the first words Arya whispered to him when he ran into her arms.
The Wolfswood was still sporting some scars from the battle with the dead, but Rickon could feel it heal slowly, as his family did too. Nymeria was there to greet them with her pack as they dismounted the dragons and she wagged her tail happily when she spotted his nephew.
Welcome, brothers, nephew. The Pack is waiting for you. Rickon heard her say in his mind.
The shock of seeing Arya standing next to Sansa was enough to give the latter some respite, as Rickon knew that the news she would share would earn her a stern talk with their brother. Baelon, however, was focused on embracing each of his sisters and introducing his son to them. His brother glowed with pride and happiness as both of them took their turn to hold Daeron in their arms.
"I can't believe you're taller than me," Arya said, making Rickon snort and shake himself from his thoughts.
"I am a man now, sister." he retorted proudly.
"You'll always be my annoying little brother as far as I'm concerned."
"When does she plan on telling him?" Rickon asked as he plopped down next to Arya, looking at their other sister sleeping on her bed.
"How do you… I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Not with your gift. She won't be able to hide it on the morrow. She eats as if she had never eaten before."
"Well, she's eating for two. Dany was the same before she birthed Daeron. Any mood swings?"
"When do they not?" Arya snorted. "Have you seen the future?"
"You don't need to be a greenseer to know that Baelon will lose it." he chuckled.
"And Sansa will stand her ground. Do we have to intervene?"
"Nah, they need to talk. Have you already warned Snow? Shall I visit him myself?"
"The Hound smacked him, and I roughed him up a little. But if you want to talk to him, be my guest." Arya said with a wicked grin on her face.
"Good."
"Don't be too hard on him, though. She loves him."
"Aye, I know. But still, I want to be sure he won't break her heart."
"As much as I dislike the man, you and I both know he won't."
"You're no fun," Rickon whined, his heart warming up when Arya smirked.
"That's not my role, brother. You're the one who gets to have fun."
"Trust me, if it weren't for Baelon, Dany, and Daeron, I would not have fun at all." he sighed loudly.
"Thank you," she said, surprising him by being serious again. "For watching over him and for bringing him back."
"I did nothing. You and Daeron brought him back."
"They wouldn't exist if it weren't for you. If you hadn't stood up to Bran and stopped our brother from taking a dark path. You've been his anchor when he needed something to hold onto."
"As you were with Sansa. Thank you for coming back for her."
"You were the one who made me come back," she said to his surprise.
"But I thought… Sansa said she prayed and then you were there suddenly."
"You were torn between both sides of the family, and the Gods needed you to focus entirely on our brother. Aye, Sansa needed help, but she had Old Nan to watch over her. Why do you think they brought me back?"
"Because it wasn't your time?"
"And they owed it to you for serving them faithfully. Now that the threats they feared are no more, I'm here to protect the Starks of Winterfell and the curse on our family has been lifted, so you're free to do whatever you wish to."
"Dragons' Rest might be at peace now, I on the other hand cannot rest until I'm sure Baelon risks nothing more than he should."
"You can, brother. There is no threat looming on the horizon. Else the Old Gods would have warned you already. You just do not want to let go yet. Why?"
"What about you? You're a skin-changer now, and you're bound to Winterfell." he changed the subject, not wanting to think much about his true reason.
"I finally found my purpose, brother. I chose my fate knowingly and I know that should I wish for more, the Old Gods would not hold it against me. Look at all the things Old Nan had managed to live through during her time as a protector before then going back to her ancestors."
"Does that scare you?" he asked curiously.
"No, because I know that at least one member of my pack will be with me through it," she said, mussing his hair. "Does this scare you?"
"A little," he admitted. "I do not know if I will be able to witness the passage of time and not be resentful to watch all whom I care about die. I -"
"You're not Bran, Rickon."
"Yet everyone fears me as if I was. Even Baelon and Dany look at me sometimes with fear."
"Are you sure they fear you? I think they fear the moment you realize that it is time for you to live for yourself."
"When did you become so sage?" he japed, signaling in his own way that he didn't want to prolong the conversation.
"Probably when you had your growth spurt, you cheeky bastard!" she retorted, mussing his hair before they wrestled a little, Arya's laugh ringing throughout the room until Daeron got awakened by it.
They bid each other good night and Rickon's mind wandered as it did each night ever since he knew he would be traveling back North.
He soon found his little friend in the same room he always was in and he smiled when he saw some stale bread in the corner.
"She's left some for me every day since she noticed me. I and my family thank you for this." the mouse said as it ran over to the bedside.
"I'm glad I've been of help, but you have to thank her. Not me."
She wasn't sleeping and seemed to be waiting for him, which made his heart flutter when their gaze met.
"You arrived well and without issue?" she asked and he nodded. "Good. About time you would visit your sisters. Now that you found your way back to them, I hope you'll stop badgering me about them."
"I will never stop badgering you, stupid!" he tried to yell, but he knew she wouldn't understand.
"Oh, do shut up, will ya? You'll wake someone up and I will not be responsible if a servant takes your familiar's life." she snapped as he came closer.
"Why didn't you come? I thought you would be here when I arrived," he asked without words or answer.
"Now leave this poor beast alone and go to bed."
Part of him felt angry as she blew her candle and settled on her bed, but he was more saddened that he was not able to talk to her properly. He knew Lyanna still resented him for leaving even after all this time. As she did Talia even though she still corresponded with their friend in the Reach. Lyanna had stopped doing so with him and he had resorted to watching her through various familiars around Bear Island to make sure she was well.
Rickon now had a bear cub, a sparrow, a cat, and a family of mice that he could ask to share his mind with in that regard. He had tried to be discreet, yet as years went by, he grew less and less careful and she'd been more able to spot him. Since then, not a day had passed without him coming to listen to one of her famous tongue lashings.
"Good night, Rickon. See you on the morrow." he heard her whisper as he was about to leave the mouse's body, making him smile as he then sought another familiar for the night.
Bear was enjoying a hunt with Nymeria, Ghost, and the rest of their pack, and Rickon could feel the joy the direwolves felt at being reunited. He basked in it, sharing the beast's mind to keep his own at ease, as he'd done since he'd left Winterfell with Baelon and Dany all those years before. He had never needed much sleep since he'd come back from the dead and the magic flowing through his veins made him even less prone to exhaustion. Yet Rickon always craved for a moment out of his body every night.
The horrible truth was that Rickon was struggling to find his place in the new world Baelon and Dany wanted to create. He'd been so used to war, betrayals, and fighting for his survival that he felt almost out of place during peaceful times. Ever since the House of Black and White fell, no one had tried to challenge him or his family. It had meant that while a part of him was happy that nobody dared, he also felt useless now. Useless, alone, and misunderstood.
Still, he would rather be a mystery for everyone as long as it kept his family safe. He got to see Baelon grow and was quite fond of Daeron, though seeing Sansa ready to bring a babe into the world made him wonder what his own babe would be like should he ever know one of his own. Not that he thought he was husband material, as he had nothing to offer a Lady. Nothing but fear and mistrust.
"Your pack isn't scared of you. Intimidated, aye, but not scared. You can find a mate in your pack." Bear retorted.
"My pack is my family."
"The one who you name me for isn't."
"She is, in a way."
"She's not a sister. I would know. I feel the same about your sisters, and I don't feel the same about her."
"And this is why I do not talk with you about feelings. Focus on the prey." Rickon ordered as the other wolves snickered.
The days he spent in Winterfell were the happiest he'd had in who knew how long. Bringing Daeron to visit the keep and watching him play with the pack's cubs had made his heart full. He knew that someday his nephew would have a familiar of his own, mayhap after his bond with Viserion had strengthened, and that he would grow to be a formidable man. His nephew would even continue his parents' legacy by keeping the old gods in his heart. Daeron would watch over his brother and sister, Aemon and Rhaella, whose marriages with Jeyne Hardyng and Oberyn Martell would help consolidate the bonds between the Crown, Dorne, and the Vale. Aemon would become the Lord of Summerhall, perfecting his parents' vision as a safe haven for bastards and people in need of learning trades. Along with the help of the Missandei of Naath, the Mistress of Education, and her adopted daughters.
He also watched Sansa's life carefully, knowing of her future and that of her children. Due to the magic in his parents' veins, Robb Stark would be the next powerful warg of the family. His younger sisters, Elsera and Cat, would not hold a candle to what he would do, though they would be happily bonded with Nymeria and Shadow's cubs. The three of them would, thanks to their parents, change the rules set in the North, adding more of the Old Ways of the Free Folk and helping them settle in the improved realm. Robb by being the next Warden, Cat the Lady of Ironrath, and Elsera would be holding the North Grove behind the Wall as her ancestors once did. In time they would expand the Seven Kingdoms whilst the Free Folk would willingly join the realm later on. Theon and Benjen Stark, their brothers, would happily spread the wolves' influence in the North as lords of Sea Dragon Point and Moat Cailin respectively.
Ha had seen much of his brother and sister's line and never said a thing, knowing he would be content to witness much by himself when the time would come. No matter how many times he'd been questioned, did he say a thing to his siblings, other than assuaging their fears and advising them to trust the Gods. In a way, he felt he had intervened too much already and didn't want to test the Gods' will by saying too much. Although hiding things from his family had sometimes made him feel like the Raven rather than the Wolf, he had wanted them to experience the joys of discovering good news rather than being already in the know.
" Is that why you haven't looked into your future?" Arya had asked after he tried to explain this to her. "Because you want to witness it yourself?"
" I… Am terrified of the outcome. What if I end up -"
" If you're about to say like Bran, forget it. You're nothing like him." She cut him off and he shook his head.
" I was about to say, alone. What if I end up alone because of what I am? Being a greenseer always leads to solitude."
" Things have changed, brother. Most of those changes are thanks to you. You should look out for your own fate too, for you've been blessed by the Gods, not cursed by them." Arya said, hugging him before they joined the others to say their farewells.
Try as he might, he couldn't bring himself to swim in the rivers of time for him, and his frustration grew when he traveled back to Dragons' Rest with Baelon. Being back North, even for a short amount of time had opened something in Rickon that he couldn't shake. The fact that he hadn't been able to see his friends other than by warging had then made it even worse. Only in the moments when he was with his family and, strangely enough, the Grandmaester, was he able to feel something other than deep sadness.
His days were almost all the same. He would break his fast with his extended family, which he was glad soon would include young Steffon Seaworth. Then he would take a moment to scour the Seven Kingdoms and watch over those he and Baelon cared about, as well as the Wardens and Lord Paramounts. He would then take a walk through the streets of Dragons' Rest with his brother to tour the city and watch the progress of its construction. Before then going back to the Dragon's Lair and having a talk with Marwyn, who recorded all he could from the chronicles of the past. When he was finally alone, he would let his mind wander into Bear or his other familiars until dinner. Then he would travel to Bear Island to hear about his dearest friend's day and to wish Lyanna a good night.
The day his routine changed was the one of Robb Stark's birth. He had awakened earlier in the morning, feeling a shift in Winterfell. The pack was restless and worry overtook him as he thought of the North being under attack at first. When Arya told him that they were sharing her own worry because Sansa had gone into labor, he'd felt relieved even worried still.
Rickon had felt it then, the need to be closer to them, to watch over them, so he warged into one of the wolves and stood by Arya's side while informing Baelon of everything that was going on.
As it did for Daeron, hearing Robb's first cry made him sigh in relief. Not that he doubted what the Gods had shown him, but his fear of losing anyone he cared about was always present in his heart and it would take a long time for each of those fears to disappear.
"The babe is healthy. As is Sansa. She named him Robb." he said, smiling as he could see his brother's relief.
"You hear this, son? You have a cousin named Robb Stark!" Baelon beamed, bouncing Daeron in his arms. "I had thought she would call him Eddard, but Robb is a good and true name for a future Warden of the North," Baelon said wistfully, thinking no doubt of the brother they'd both lost.
"She wanted to, but she said something about leaving the name to me." Rickon shrugged when his brother's smile grew.
"So, are you going to name your son Eddard?" Dany teased him.
"I don't even know if I'll ever lay with a woman, let alone have a child," he growled, making Baelon frown.
"You're a greenseer, you should know -"
"I have no time to look or think about this!" Rickon snapped and immediately regretted his reaction when all in the room watched him with alarmed expressions.
Overwhelmed by his shame and feeling his old demons resurfacing, he ran out of the room, heading straight to Daeron's Hall, where Bear was already waiting for him. He sat near the weirwood tree as the direwolf plopped behind him, surrounding him with his warmth and calming him down.
---- TBC----