The journey from White Harbor to Winterfell was going smoothly and faster than the guards expected.
Wagons are known to slow down journeys, but the wagons they were using did not break down even once and were so comfortable that they allowed them to ride a little faster without causing discomfort to the passengers.
They had taken the route by the White Knife. The road was less maintained and crude, but it was well traveled and not in such a condition that it would make wagon travel impossible.
"How much longer?" Aegon asked, tilting his head back to look up at Ra, as it was his turn to ride with Ra.
"Still a few more days, son, like the last time you asked... a few moments ago," Ra said with a wry smile under his helmet.
"Father?" Aegon asked in a low voice, as if debating whether he should ask something or not.
"Yes?" Ra replied with a gentle voice.
"Are dragons real?" Aegon asked after a little bit of silence.
"You did meet your grandfather not long ago, son," Ra mentioned with confusion.
"I meant the dragons that Aegon the Conqueror had. I don't think grandfather is that type of dragon," Aegon clarified, standing on the horse's back by using Ra as support and fully turning towards Ra.
"We will talk about that after we visit Nightshade. I promise," Ra said, brushing some hair from Aegon's forehead and caressing his head gently.
Aegon nodded and held Ra for balance, and stuck his tongue out towards the wagon Elia was in when he saw a jealous Rhaenys sticking her head out from the wagon and looking at them.
Rhaenys pouted and stuck her head back into the carriage. Aegon laughed and raised his chin at that before it fell when he heard Elia's voice from the wagon.
"You tease your sister again and I will not allow you to ride with your father," Elia said from her wagon, her voice carrying to Ra and Aegon because they were riding just beside the wagon.
"She is the master of whispers for mother," Aegon muttered under his breath, earning a chuckle from Ra.
It took them three more days to arrive at Winterfell, where they were welcomed by the Stark family as they were the first time. In the middle stood Ned and Catelyn, who was holding baby Sansa in her arms, while on Ned's right side stood Robb who looking up at Ra with admiration.
Ra greeted Ned first as they shook hands and nodded at each other. While Elia hugged Catelyn lightly, as baby Sansa was in her arms. "I truly missed you," Catelyn said and smiled as Elia nudged Sansa's cheek with her finger.
Ra moved to help the soldiers with unloading the luggage and the gifts they had brought, but he was stopped by them.
"Please, Ser. We will do this," one of the soldiers said firmly with a respectful tone.
On their journey, Ra had helped the soldiers with guarding the wagons and killed a lot of bandits they encountered on the way, earning genuine respect from the soldiers who were escorting them.
Ra raised a hand to insist, but the soldier shook his head before Ra could speak, indicating he would not budge.
"Thank you," Ra said. Rather than insisting, Ra just thanked them before returning to his family, who were walking with the Starks to the castle.
"We have a grand feast prepared for your arrival," Catelyn said excitedly, holding Elia's arm with one hand and Sansa in the other.
"It is good to see you, Ra, truly," Ned said when Ra returned and walked by his side.
"It is good to be back at Winterfell," Ra replied, smiling under his helmet.
"Where is little Jon?" Ra asked, looking around.
"Eh—He must be causing some mischief somewhere. I brought him with me to welcome you, and he seems to have run away when I was not looking," Ned looked around at first before shaking his head with a wry smile.
Ra chuckled and glanced at Robb, who was having trouble keeping up with the adults because of his tiny legs. Ra bent down and picked the boy up and placed him on his shoulder, getting a giggle and huge smile from Robb.
"Whoa- I'm big, giant!" Robb shouted with a giggle and his arms outstretched.
Aegon saw that and was about to run to Ra before Elia stopped him by holding his hand, with Rhaenys in the same position of being held by her other hand. The kids pouted and whined, but Elia ignored them and just kept walking.
"I am happy for your marriage with Ra. He is honorable and worthy," Catelyn mentioned when she noticed Robb on Ra's shoulder and the kids almost running towards Ra.
"Thank you. He has made me the happiest I have been in my life," Elia said with a smile, glancing at Ra.
"I wonder, what gods he follows. Do Nightshade have their own gods as well?" Catelyn asked. She knew to called it Nightshade and not Goldmere because they had lived with her for a year.
"I... have never seen him pray," Elia said after a pause.
To Elia, Ra's father was basically as powerful as a god walking the earth, and Ra had told her what he knew about the rulers of Nightshade as well.
She did not mention all that to Catelyn and just gave a vague answer.
"Good... that makes it your duty to show your husband the light of the Seven," Catelyn said with a nod.
Catelyn was very devoted to the Seven and knew Elia was a follower of the Seven. So, she considered it natural that Elia would show Ra the light of the Seven if he did not follow any other gods already.
Elia just nodded and moved along. She did not mention she was not a follower of the Seven anymore and had found gods who walk the world.
The feast was grand and jovial, as the Starks were happy to have Elia and the family back. Dornish wine and fruits were gifted by Elia to the Starks and were served during the feast as well.
Ra had ensured the soldiers got the same food as well after they turned down the gold Ra had offered them.
Ned and Catelyn raised their eyebrows in astonishment when they squeezed a touch of a lime in the smoked fish and got a much better taste and aroma.
"I told you," Elia said with a chuckle, getting nods from the Starks.
Robb also liked the touch of Lime on his food and calculated in his mind that raw lime would taste much better, leading him to squeeze a little bit of lime directly into his mouth.
"EEK!" Robb let out, sticking his tongue out and started to drink water as if his life depended on it.
Ned chuckled when he saw that, and Catelyn just shook her head and gave Robb a bite of plain bread.
"Eat this, it will take away the taste of the lime," Catelyn instructed gently and fed Robb the bread.
"I had a similar incident when I was your age. This thing is deceptive," Aegon said, patting Robb's back and gesturing towards the lime.
"Tungie hot! Buh-n," Robb said, sticking his tongue out and showing it to Aegon.
"It's not burnt. I thought that the first time as well," Aegon said with a shake of his head, as if he was guiding a junior about life.
The adults chuckled at the interaction and went back to enjoying their conversation and food.
A/n: Give me your thoughts on the chapter and please leave reviews on the fic.
Oh! don't go before leaving the power stones behind.