Chapter Text
Helaena was awoken by a jolting bump, and the feeling of Jacaerys’ arm tightening around her.
“My flower, wake up. We’re here.” He whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple.
She slid open the airplane window and gasped. The runway and surrounding area were covered with snow, the sparkling and pure white blanketing the faraway mountains sand the evergreen trees.
“It’s beautiful.” She said, feeling a rush of giddiness. They were so close to being married, and with Frederick gone, she felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Alyra and Aemond were in the row across from them, Alyra bundled in a fuzzy sweatshirt and a thick winter coat. Helaena could hear her complaining about the cold to Aemond who was smiling fondly down at her, and wrapping her in his scarf.
“I can’t believe those losers got married without us.” Aegon said, leaning over the top of her seat’s headrest.
“I think it’s romantic.” Seraphine said, leaning atop Jacaerys’ seat in the same manner of Aegon. “Plus, we basically did the same thing, so, you can’t really judge them Aegon.”
Aegon blew out a raspberry. “Hells yeah, I can, Aemond proposed without telling me, and then they married without telling me. It’s like I don’t matter to their relationship at all.”
Seraphine rolled her eyes playfully. “Travel really doesn’t agree with you.”
“No, not traveling on the private jet doesn’t agree with me.”
Helaena laughed. “There’s no way we could write this trip off as an expense.”
“I know, Aemond’s told me plenty of times.” Aegon grumbled.
Seraphine kissed his cheek, and Aegon blushed slightly, turning to face her, silently begging for another kiss.
“And he says we’re cheesy.” Jacaerys mumbled, making Helaena giggle.
A cough got their attention. Alyra, Aemond, and Lucerys stood with their carry-ons in hand.
“You four ready to go, or do you want to take another five hour flight and meet us at Winterfell tomorrow?” Alyra drawled, tapping her foot impatiently.
Helaena forgot how antsy she got on planes and stood quickly, grabbing her bag.
Soon they were all standing out in the snow waiting for Cregan’s car to pull up.
“There he is.” Jacaerys said, pointing at a large, and expensive looking suv with thick snow chains on the tires.
The car came to a stop and a dark haired man darted out of it, tackling Jacaerys to the ground.
Helaena stood frozen and glanced at Alyra who just sighed and shook her head.
Jacaerys and the man who she assumed was Cregan rolled around in the snow, wrestling, until finally Cregan stood and pulled Jacaerys up with him.
“My brother, it’s so good to see you.” He said, his voice deep and booming, but with a warmth that made her feel comfortable in his presence.
Jacaerys clapped him on the back, dusting the snow from his coat. “Good to see you too, thanks for the surprise attack.”
“Had to make sure your reflexes were still there.” Creagn chuckled, before he turned towards Lucerys and Alyra. “Oh, and you brought my little brother, and the mean one.”
“The mean one?” Helaena asked, looking between Jacaerys and Alyra for answers.
Creagn threw his arms over Lucerys and Alyra. “She and my ‘sister’ did not get along so well during her last visit.”
Alyra rolled her eyes but returned his half-hug. “Sarah had it coming, and you know that.”
“She is a fiery one, for sure.”
“That’s one way to put it.” Helaena mumbled, remembering the disastrous dinner.
Cregan took her, Alyra, and Seraphine’s bags, stowing them in the trunk of his car before they all piled in.
The ride to Winterfell was lively, filled with chatter and Cregan pointing out landmarks to them, his pride in his country infectious.
When they pulled up to Winterfell, Helaena was mesmerized.
The manor was beautiful, sprawling acre after acre, the tops of a bright red tree surrounded by stone further inward.
“Welcome to your home away from home.” Cregan said, helping them take their luggage inside.
A dark-haired woman with beautiful bronze eyes came into the foyer, a warm smile on her face, a small bump showing through her soft looking sweater. “These must be our guests, welcome to Winterfell.”
Cregan went to the woman’s side, smiling proudly. “This is my beautiful wife, Arra.” Then he placed his large hand on her stomach. “And this is our son, the pride of our family.”
“A son? Congratulations.” Jacaerys said, pulling Cregan then Arra into a hug. “Your father would be overjoyed to hear that.”
Helaena echoed his congratulations, feeling a twinge of jealousy, she longed to be a mother, but all her life she had promised her mother she would wait until she was married to have a child.
“Let me show you to your rooms, then we have dinner ready once everyone has settled in.” Arrra said.
He would kill Cregan. He’d placed him and Helaena on opposite ends of the hall, citing that everyone else besides them and Lucerys were married, so they needed the bigger rooms, as his reason for separating them. It wasn’t a real reason and Cregan knew it.
Jacaerys went and gathered everyone else, leading them through the halls of Winterfell until they reached the dining room.
Pushing open the doors, he linked his hand with Helaena’s and guided her to a seat beside his.
The food smelled delicious, which didn’t surprise him. Arra was a well-known northern chef, famous for her cooking show that focused on making meals that were both substantial and delicious.
They all dug in, and it wasn’t long till they began discussing their plans for the following days.
“We could go skiing, but the beginners’ trails have been snowed over, so I wouldn’t recommend that activity.” Cregan said, his arm slung around Arra’s chair.
“You could visit the kennel instead? We just had a new litter born a month or two ago, you all might enjoy that?” Arra suggested, laughing softly at the way the group seemed to perk up at the mention of puppies.
“How many are there?” Helaena asked, the joy clear on her face.
Lucerys echoed her question, practically bouncing in his seat.
“Fourteen, we had three expectant mothers.” Cregan said proudly.
Cregan’s family was well known for their sled dogs, and he never missed a chance to brag about them when they were younger. Jacaerys remembered hearing hours of discussion between Cregan and his family about the dogs during his year in Winterfell.
“I’ve got to see these puppies; Sera needs her own dog to keep her company when I work late.” Aegon said, slinging his arm around her.
Alyra snorted at his words.
“No, you want Sunfyre to have a friend because you think he gets lonely when you’re gone.” Seraphine corrected him.
“He does! He misses me.” Aegon protested.
“How can you tell? He behaves perfectly when you’re gone and reacts the same way every time, he sees you.” Seraphine drawled, a teasing smile on her face.
Aegon gave her a scandalized look. “We have a soul connection; I can feel how much he misses me.”
“I think Aegon’s right, Sera, you need a dog, especially in this family.” Alyra said, coming to Aegon’s defense.
Seraphine sighed dramatically. “Fine, if that’s the price I must pay to stay married to Aegon, I guess I’ll suffer.”
Aegon pulled her closer, smiling victoriously. “Look at that, my wife does loves me.”
Seraphine rolled her eyes but snuggled into his side.
“So, it’s agreed? Tomorrow, we visit the kennel?” Cregan asked.
They all agreed and soon made their way to their assigned rooms, with Jacaerys soon knocking on Helaena’s door, and quickly being let in with a hushed giggle.