#fire and ice ep

[greenqueenhightower]

Alicole was underwhelming, but B&C takes the cake as the worst adaptation of a single asoiaf/f&b event so far:

It was so rushed and whitewashed and did not focus on Helaena at all. Where is Helaena pleading for her son's life and offering up her own life instead? Where is Maelor whom Helaena was coerced to offer up as a sacrifice and does not bear to look at? Where is Heleana being forced to make a decision that haunts her entire life? She is obviously traumatized by what happened, but having her just say "they killed the boy" does not do her character and her grief justice. I really hope we get to see more of Helaena in episode 2 because it would be really upsetting if the show just brushes her off.

Not to mention Alicent's absence from the events of B&C. Alicent was really there, worried for her daughter's and grandchildren's lives, and was the first person to offer Helaena some comfort and consolation. The more I think about it the more mad I get because we got robbed of what could have been a truly harrowing and distressing scene that would do the events and the characters justice. Book!B&C was about two mothers and their shared agony, pain, and grief. It could have been powerful and shocking from an acting perspective alone if they had followed the events of the book.

[aphemera]

hotd s2 is really good if you don’t have an annoying book reader in your ear complaining about the changes

[thomas-jefferson-miku-binder]

The Dyana-Alicent scene in EP7S1 of House of the Dragon lives rent free in my head, because the first time you watch it as someone who's never read A Song of Ice and Fire before, you are like "Is Alicent... is she gonna kill her?". Which no, it's not a thing the Alicent we know would do, but the first time-skip we get also left us with a completely different character than that which was previously estabilished.

It is so much worse when you realize she sees herself in the girl. That, yes, she is worried about the consequences Dyana talking about it might have on the already flimsy reputation Aegon has. She is thinking about political damage reduction but also about the girl in front of her. We see Alicent comfort Dyana more than we see her comfort any of her children by that point in the show. Alicent was a child bride married off to a much older man, and that in itself already constitutes it as conjugal rape, even if the society they live in doesn't considerate it as such.

Alicent has been a terrible parent to Aegon her entire life because he is the constant reminder she isn't perfect. That yes, she has upheld "law, family and kingdom", but that that isn't enough to raise children. It bothers me so much how people don't seem to... talk about the rape scene. Like, at all. Aegon is always a poor boy in fanfiction and fanart and fandom discussions. And yeah, but suffering has never excused anyone from also causing it.

Aegon is incredibly mysoginistic and doesn't view women as humans but rather objects for his use. We see that in the way he treats every single female character he interacts with... save for Alicent, and the way his mother treats him directly correlates to how much he hates women. He can never stand up to Alicent, so he does it to the cloest replacement he finds.

[annagxx]

FROM RHAENYRA’S BLOOD COMES THE PRINCESS THAT WAS PROMISED AND HERS IS THE SONG OF ICE AND FIRE — ALL HAIL QUEEN DAENERYS STORMBORN!

GOT — S01E10 | "Fire and Blood"

HOTD — S02E08 | "The Queen Who Ever Was"

[izzy140105]

Saw someone on here say that Lyanna's abusers were the Stark's aka HER FAMILY and not the guy that kidnapped, raped and forcibly impregnated her 😨

[adarkandmagicalforest]

harrenhal has unexpectedly reached 'fucking your own mother' levels of haunted

[witchlingcirce]

Tessarion actually looking blue and bronze in the trailer okayyyy hotd u ate this oneee little thing

[intheyearofourlord800]

I just want to let you know, thanks 😊 for protecting Aemond it means alot to me because yes he is fictional but I grew up in a toxic dysfunctional family and had a manipulating mother who would deny everything you went through....Ewan's Aemond hits every beat of a person fighting for his family but his family denies everything happening around them blindly.

Relatable , absolutely relatable and it's true because, when we go off the books (Where he doesn't burn Aegon) he's still carrying his team on his shoulders and it will take a toll on him so, yes Ewan's Aemond hits every beat like book Aemond. I love the characters but, I hate Ryan condal's shitty plots, he should've just went off the book. Also, I've got a toxic family too get behind me , babes.

[daenysthedreamer101]

Daenerys Stormborn conquering King's Landing

I see a red door

And I want it painted black

No colors anymore

I want them to turn black

[oof-ow-my-bone]

harrenhal to me is a beautiful woman.

[reidmym1nd]

my thoughts on tonight's ep

spoilers for s2 ep4

WHAT A FUCKING EPISODE

MORE OF MILLY AGHHH AND MORE CONVOS IN HIGH VALYRIAN

uh oh rhaenys knows....and she died knowing omgg

THE MOONTEA FOR ALICENT HELLOOO also now she's questioning everything LOL

alicent drinking the tea is such a parallel to her giving tea to dyana

WE GOT MORE OF AEMOND SPEAKIMG IN HIGH VALURKAN IM GOING TO FREAK THE FUCK OUT

ewans valyrian is so smooth and omg its like music to my ears(may or may not have rewind it a couple times)

aegon not knowing high valyrian vs aemond knowing how to speak ot omg, i love that scene, juat shows aegon isnt fit to be king and aemond is (CANT WAIT FOE PRINCE REGENT ERAAAA)

HELLOOO DAEMON DRESSED AS AEMOND

alys infact does not have a california/american accent LMAOO

HOW MANY DEAD PEOPLE ARE WE GOING TO SEE IN THIS EP?

yall why does gwaynw look kinda...LMAO

THE VISENYA BRAIDD AHHHH

SUNFYRE IS CUTEEEE i wasnt expecting aegon being nuzzled by him😭😭

THE LEAKS ARE TRUEEE AHHH

my girlie rhaenys, may you rest in power HOW YOU GONNA DIE ON UR BIRTHDAY UGH

top highlights of this ep was aemond's high valyrian, humiliating aegon in front of the council and him trying to kill aegon

THE PRINCE REGENT ERA IS HEREEEE i cant wait for the next ep

aemond in his kingslayer era 🤪☝🏽i literally dont care what yall say but aegon thinking he was gonna get help from his brother and forgetting he humiliated him in a brothel

i cant wait to see what aegon looks like now

[egg-emperor]

no wonder I love Fire & Ice Boom Eggman so much more than Rise of Lyric and most of the show, Eggman was written by Pontaff in it unlike RoL I forgot lol. man their Eggman always delights me in general

[lizard-reads-the-world]

🏝️Pacific Islander Books🌺

Okay, here it is! In "Asian and Pacific Islander" the second group often gets overshadowed, so here it is... a Pacific-only book list. This is of course by no means comprehensive. I tried to cover as many areas as I could find literature for. I've marked queer and disability rep based on book blurbs, but I have not read most of these (yet!). Feel free to comment if you know more!

Novels

Leaves of the Banyan Tree by Albert Wendt classic novel, Samoa The Adventures of Vela by Albert Wendt mythology epic, Samoa Scarlet Lies (series) by Lani Young romance, humor, Samoa (🏳️‍🌈 side character) Mata Oti: Eyes of Death by Lani Young zombie thriller, Samoa Telesā (series) by Lani Young YA paranormal romance, Samoa Scar of the Bamboo Leaf by Sieni A.M. YA contemporary, Samoa ♿ Where We Once Belonged by Sia Figiel literary novel, Samoa They Who Do Not Grieve by Sia Figiel literary novel, Samoa Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier Pacific fantasy, Guam author Turtle Under Ice by Juleah del Rosario YA contemporary, Filipina-CHamoru-American A Mansion on the Moon: A Guam Love Story by C Sablan Gault historical romance, generational, CHamoru (Guam) Lei and the Fire Goddess (series) by Malia Maunakea MG mythology adventure, Kānaka Maoli (Hawai'i)

House of Many Gods by Kiana Davenport generational novel, Hawai'i Song of the Exile by Kiana Davenport historical novel, Hawai'i The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera classic children's novel, Māori All That We Know by Shilo Kino contemporary, Māori ♿ The Pōrangi Boy by Shilo Kino YA contemporary, Māori How to Loiter in a Turf War by Coco Solid contemporary semi-autobiographical, multiple Pacific characters 🏳️‍🌈 The Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach fantasy mystery, Māori 🏳️‍🌈 Kāwai: For Such a Time as This (series) by Monty Soutar pre-colonial epic, Māori Auē by Becky Manawatu contemporary novel, Māori Dawn Raid by Pauline (Vaeluaga) Smith MG historical 1970s, Samoan-Aotearoa Falling into Rarohenga by Steph Matuku YA fantasy, Māori The Imaginary Lives of James Pōneke by Tina Makereti novel, historical, Māori 🏳️‍🌈

The Bone Tree by Airana Ngarewa novel, Māori Dirt Poor Islanders by Winnie Dunn novel, Tongan-Australian The Shark That Ate the Sun by John Puhiatau Pule literary novel, Niue [read here] Breadfruit (series) by Célestine Hitiura Vaite novel, humor, Tahiti Island of Shattered Dreams by Chantal T. Spitz historical novel, Tahiti Kalyana by Rajni Mala Khelawan novel, Fiji, Indian diaspora Maiba: A Novel of Papua New Guinea by Russell Soaba classic novel

Short Stories

This Is Paradise by Kristiana Kahakauwila short stories, Hawai'i Tales of the Tikongs by Epeli Hau'ofa short stories, Tonga The Unpainted Mask by Steven Edmund Winduo short stories, Papua New Guinea

Poetry

‘Āina Hānau / Birth Land by Brandy Nālani McDougall poetry, Kanaka ʻŌiwi (Hawai'i) Ocean Mother by Arielle Taitano Lowe poetry, CHamoru (Guam) from unincorporated territory (series) by Craig Santos Perez poetry, CHamoru (Guam) Coconut Milk by Dan Taulapapa McMullin poetry, Samoa 🏳️‍🌈 Rangikura by Tayi Tibble poetry, Māori Goddess Muscle by Karlo Mila poetry, Tongan-Aotearoa Civilized Girl by Jully Makini poetry, Solomon Islands [read title poem here]

Nonfiction

Polynesian Panthers: Pacific Protest and Affirmative Action in Aotearoa New Zealand 1971 - 1981 edited by Dr Melani Anae, Leilani Tamu, Lautofa Luli Hine Toa by Ngahuia Te Awekotuku memoir, Māori activist 🏳️‍🌈 Mau Moko: The World of Maori Tattoo by Ngahuia Te Awekotuku From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawaii by Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask Desert Warrior by M.B. Dallocchio memoir, CHamoru (Mariana Islands)🏳️‍🌈 No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies by Julian Aguon memoir, climate essays, CHamoru Don't Ever Whisper by Giff Johnson biography of Darlene Keju, Marshall Islands anti-nuclear activist [author not Pasifika] Samoan Queer Lives by Dan Taulapapa McMullin 🏳️‍🌈 Pasifika Heroes series by David Riley and Michel Mulipola illustrated legends/biographies, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands

Anthologies

Indigenous Pacific Islander Eco-Literatures anthology, climate focus (🏳️‍🌈several contributors) Vā: Stories by women of the Moana anthology, Pacific women Growing Up Torres Strait Islander in Australia, anthology Sista, Stanap Strong! anthology, Vanuatu Indigenous Literatures from Micronesia anthology, Kiribati, Palau, CHamoru, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, more An Ocean of Wonder: The Fantastic in the Pacific spec-fic anthology Hiwa: Contemporary Māori Short Stories edited by Paula Morris

Footnotes below:

Many of these will be indie/small press titles. I've tried to ensure they are available somewhere, even if it's just Kindle. A few (the Papua and Solomon Islands ones) you may need to inter-library loan.

Some authors have more books than listed, so please look into their full bibliography. Witi Ihimaera and Albert Wendt especially are pillars of Pacific literature and have many publications.

There are more Māori authors than listed here! But I wanted to keep a balanced list.

I have left out children's picture books of which there are many, though some may be locally published.

I included Sia Figiel for her contributions to Samoan literature despite her recent... troubles.

I am not PI, I just make lists. Feel free to correct any mistakes I've made or add more to the comments!

[hamzahsn1gf]

Hamzah x YouTubergf Out Of Character 😊👫🏽

Title: "Out of Character Ep. 58 — She's Finally Talking (feat. Y/N!)"

[intro music]

Martin: “Welcome back to Out of Character, the only podcast where two idiots talk too much and somehow people still listen.”

Hamzah: “Speak for yourself, bro, I’m insightful.”

Martin: “You just said Fruit Loops are a personality type, Hamzah.”

Hamzah: “...And I stand by that.”

Martin: “Anyway, today’s a special episode, because — drumroll please — the legend herself is here. The YouTube queen. The cat mom. The mystery behind the vlogs. Give it up for Y/N!”

Y/N: (laughing) “That was the most dramatic intro ever. Hi, everyone!”

Breaking the Ice:

Martin: “Okay, you’ve been in the background of so many episodes. The fans know your laugh at this point.”

Y/N: “I know! I always sound like a gremlin dying.”

Hamzah: “That’s my gremlin. Be nice.”

Martin: “See? This is what I deal with. He’s fully whipped. I respect it.”

The Story time:

Martin: “Alright, alright, the people want to know — how did you two meet? Tell the whole story. Hamzah, don’t cry this time.”

Hamzah: “That was ONE TIME. Anyway—okay. So, picture this. I’m at this event, right? For creators. I’m eating dry mini muffins in the corner, minding my business…”

Y/N: “You were fully hiding, don’t lie.”

Hamzah: “Okay, hiding. Then she walks in, wearing this gorgeous purple dress, looking like she owns the place. I swear it was like one of those slow-mo movie scenes. I actually choked on a muffin.”

Martin: “Romantic.”

Hamzah: “She came over, handed me water, and said ‘You okay?’ like I hadn’t just seen the love of my life.”

Y/N: “I thought he was dying!”

Hamzah: “No. I was just falling… for you.”

Martin: “Get OUT. That was so cheesy.”

Y/N: “He’s so dramatic but… he’s not lying. He looked at me like he already knew me. It was weird. Good weird.”

Spill the Tea:

Martin: “Okay, now that you’re comfortable, we’re playing a little game called Soft or Sus.”

Y/N: “I already hate this.”

Hamzah: “I already love this.”

Martin: “I say a scenario. You say if it’s soft or sus. First one: ‘I made you a playlist but every song is by One Direction.’”

Y/N: “Soft.”

Hamzah: “Soft. Especially if it’s ‘Best Song Ever.’”

Martin: “Sus. Be original.”

Y/N: “Martin’s just bitter no one’s made him a playlist.”

Martin: “Okay wow. Mandy has...”

Getting Real:

Martin: “Real talk — you guys keep your relationship kinda lowkey. Was that intentional?”

Y/N: “Yeah. We… we don’t hide it, but we like having something that’s ours, you know?”

Hamzah: “Also I’d probably post her 24/7 if she let me. I get it though. She grounds me. I’m the loud one.”

Martin: “You? Loud? Noooo.”

Y/N: “He’s passionate. And very soft at 2am. And super supportive. He once bought me an entire box of mismatched earrings because I said I liked one pair.”

Hamzah: “She wore them in a video. It was an important moment.”

Martin: “This is why we need video versions of this podcast. Hamzah looks like a rom-com protagonist right now.”

Final Moments: Chaos Returns

Martin: “Okay, quick fire round before we wrap.”

“Who hogs the blankets?”

Y/N: “Him.”

Hamzah: “Red.”

“Who said I love you first?”

Y/N & Hamzah: (at the same time) “Him.”

Martin: “I KNEW IT.”

“Weirdest thing about each other?”

Y/N: “He talks to the cats like they’re coworkers.”

Hamzah: “She has a playlist called ‘outfits that deserve a moodboard.’”

Martin: “Honestly? Power couple behavior.”

Outro:

Martin: “Y/N, you survived the pod. How do you feel?”

Y/N: “Like I spilled too much and the fans are going to make edits of Hamzah being soft.”

Hamzah: “I hope so. Send them to me.”

Martin: “Thanks for watching Hamzah being pussy whipped. Byeeee.”

[end music playing softly over Y/N and Hamzah bickering about who made better tea that morning]

[witchlingcirce]

Since there giving Rhaena nettles storyline can I PLEASEEEEE see sheepstealer next episode??? I want to see this mud looking dirty bastard!!! HBO PLEAK 😭😭

[fabled-fiction]

Temptations of the Wolf

Cregan Stark x Targaryen!Reader

Summary: Being a Targaryen meant sacrifice. Being a Stark meant sacrifice. Both these houses know the service of duty well. But when war is amiss, and two leaders of these respective houses meet to discuss allegiance, feelings for one another bubble to the surface and get in the way. Oh how the winds of war turn would be lover on would be lover.

Word Count: 3.4k

Warnings: MAYBE POSSIBLE SPOILER ISH FOR EP 1. Angst, Foribbiden-ish Love, Use of (Y/N), proof read only by author.

A/N: I AM A HOTD TV SHOW PERSON ONLY!!! I did research on wikis to try and write Cregan correctly, however I am but a simple man that writes fanfiction, so mischaracterization isn't totally unavoidable. ENJOY!

A dragon does not get cold.

A dragon does not feel the cold as they have fire brewing under their scales, penetrating not only their bones but also their soul. The soul of a dragon is a fiercely burning one, said to run so hot that their touch alone melts the thickest of ice.

(Y/N) Targaryen knew of this fire better than any dragon. Or that is what the people of King’s Landing had quickly grown to best know them by. Growing up within the tense house of Targaryen, especially during war times, justly called for you to have more than just a spine of a predator.

To survive amongst dragons, you must be able to breathe their fire.

Making every other tense occasion feel as though you were walking on air.

Perhaps there was another reason as to why you felt no fear as you flew North. A reason that bore the Stark symbol.

That is why, as Polarxes rode through the winter chill, with the wind daring to snip at your skin you felt calm. At peace almost, even as the great Wall came into view.

It was realized that in order to keep the throne that was meant to stay in the hands of your brother Aegon, relations had to be made. Families and Houses had bent the knee for King Visery’s heir not long ago, and it was soon made apparent that your family would have to make the same bend the knee again for Aegon. Just to make sure that loyalties lied with the correct Targaryen.

Whilst you particularly did not care for such politics, or politics in general, your mother had other plans. Seeing as you and Aemond stood as…the most intimidating of the family it was an easy decision to send the both of you out to ensure alliances were made and pacts bonded.

You knew that the decision to send you to the Wall was laced with more than just truce in mind. Your mother was a cunning woman, and recalled the times that whenever the Starks came to make your acquaintance you favored the nip of the cold family over the burning of the dragon pit. The touch of their ice, and the gaze of one particular wolf.

As your dragon landed, her talons digging in to break, you took a moment to yourself to feel the snowflakes rest on your warm cheeks and melt into the white of your roots. The cold felt nice on your skin that had grown used to the humidity of King’s Landing. To feel at ease in your skin, to have even the opportunity to cool off was an unknown blessing of this trip.

“I hope the ride here was not too tiresome for your dragon here, the winds can be quite hard in preparation for the change of season.”

Looking down at the boy, who looked no older than four and ten years of age, you smiled as you slid off your dragon with ease. She shook her head in response, her ivory scales offering her a sort of camouflage to the elements around her as she settled down. The heat of her breath alone melted whatever ice laid around her, the rest becoming swept up as her wings folded in. 

Whilst you looked at her with admiration, you could tell that this was the first dragon the boy had ever seen. It was a mix of awe and fear that flooded his eyes, which you did not doubt also kept him frozen still in fear of her eating him to remain warm.

“Do not worry about her, she is not the dragon that will eat you alive should you make one wrong move.”

A wolf does not get cold.

A wolf does feel the cold because the wolf knows how to bear the frigid winds. Their fur having grown to shift with the winds that come with winter. They stand strong against the chill of winter, and stand headfast at the front of the storm. 

The gaze of a wolf alone makes one question whether or not the storm bends to the wolf’s howl.

Cregan Stark knew that his house would come to be called upon soon enough. That is what comes with the winds of war. He just never felt bothered enough to actually busy himself with the calls of the storm.

But it became increasingly hard to ignore as a dragon landed at the gates of the Wall.

Especially when it was a dragon he recognized, that held a rider that had occupied his mind in the dark of the night as he stared into a fireplace. The lick of flames taunting him the same way a certain Targaryen had whenever in their presence.

He had begun to regret not knowing what exactly this storm of war would make him face.

The warmth of a Targaryen was hard to ignore, it made the men wish for the comfort of home as they were reminded of just how cold winter really was when left in their absence. A reaching hand hoping to grasp onto the hearth that was your soul. 

Even as he looked up toward the wall, the announcement of your presence was made when he felt sweat beghin to build on the back of his neck.

Turning towards you he noticed the sea of men that had parted to make a runway for you,almost as if they were presenting you to him. Or maybe it was the other way around as he noticed the way your predatory gaze ate up every inch of him.

He should have felt intimidated just by that alone.

You stood there before him, adorning only the one coat that seemed to mock the furs that he had adorned in order to retain even a fraction of the heat that you held onto. Your head was held high as you looked upon the Stark, giving him the smallest courtesy bow as your hand reached to shake his. He should not have been so eager to be in your presence upon the precipice of war.

Cregan Stark was no fool, he knew the reason for your visit. But still, appearances seemed to be becoming more and more important in this age.

“Lord Stark, I hope I am not intruding? There were some important business I’d like to discuss and well…dragons are faster than ravens.”

He offered you a curt smile as he stood to his full height, hoping to give himself an advantage on the conversation. Or at the very least to provide some distance to distract from the pit that had been lit a flame from your very speaking of his name.

“You’re not intruding in any way. Would you like to take this discussion somewhere more private, if the matter happens to be so important?”

You were not used to the Northern accent. The regality of the South had become your norm as you dealt with many affairs there, instead of bending to the will of the many Lord and Lady that wanted an audience with the great Targaryen rulers of the day. Thus you were used to their customs, clothing and accents.

Everything about the North always took you by surprise, and assaulted every sense that you had.

Cregan Stark was no different. If anything he made the divide even more stark as you set your gaze upon him.

He stood tall, and unbroken as he looked at you. The Wolf of the North was everything that had been said about him. Tall, broad, strong…handsome. His steeled eyes locked you in your place almost instantly. You weren’t sure if it was because you feared a single wrong move from you would provoke the beast or because you wanted to soak in every minute of his undivided attention. Never had you met someone with the same resolve as you, nor the same gaze.

You knew now why people were so intoxicated by you.

He always had that effect on you.

Taking his hand, stepping onto the lift you couldn’t help but be drawn to the cold that laid on his hands. The chill that ran up your arm from his touch alone made you want to keep a harsh grip on his gloved hand.

When the both of you were locked in, it was only then did your hands regretfully break apart by the jostle of the cables.

“I’m sure you know why I have made the trip all the way out here?” 

“Was it not to take in the view atop the wall?”

The chuckle that left your lips resonated throughout the cart, it made Cregan want to fill a book with quips that would draw similar sounds out of you. He smiled to himself as the ride came to a halt, and the two of you made the trip to a balcony overlooking the edge of the forsaken wall.

“ While that is a plus, I have come here as a courier from the Queen Mother. Whilst I believe you are busy with the responsibilities of defending the South from that of which come from those blasted woods, it would shock me to find you do not know of the developing situation within my family?”

His suspicions were confirmed. While there was no doubt you had come to discuss the usurping of the throne, it lifted some weight off his shoulder to know that you had been the one to broach the topic first. For some…unknown reason he felt hesitant to the idea of bringing up a topic that would only bring a scowl upon your face. Or any topic for that matter that would cause a crease to form between the bridge of your gaze.

But upon the question he found that you were calm and collected. As if you had not just brought up the topic of a deed that often led to disorder amongst the throne and council. Many of the men that served the wall had been sent here for just the discussion of mutiny alone.

Your confidence alone shook him, and confused him at the same time.

“I’m sure even the farthest reaches have heard of your brother taking his seat upon the Iron Throne. I'm confused however on what this has to do with me?”

Taking your gloves off, Cregan watched as you placed your hands on the edge of the ice that formed this pocket amongst the wall. Your shoulders dropped along with your head as you took in a deep breath. It was interesting to take in your mannerisms when it was just him instead of him and an audience. You behaved…well like a dragon. A foreboding presence that did not easily reveal their intentions, a ticking trap of anguish and fire. A continuous stream of steam left your nostrils as you took a moment to contemplate.

The dread that spilled from your exhale had Cregan convinced there was something more amiss this meeting of allegiance. 

“I truly do not care of the affairs of my brother, he has rarely acted on his own accord. Thus why I am here, to gather support of others that will make sure whatever whims he does hold are defended from those that aim to make all of this harder than it has to be.”

Looking at the palm of your hand that had been grasping the ice with a fury, you noticed that it had only now just started to turn pink. Whereas you were sure if anyone else had dared to meet flesh with ice, it would be purple and dead by now. It was a calming reassurance to feel the calming touch of ice. When looking into Cregan eyes, you felt a similar calm as his brows furrowed into a look that resembled something of sympathy.

He understood more than anyone the weight of duty.

“If I may ask, it seems as if you do not have much desire in the battles that are brewing? So why come here to make a play with a house that is known to keep their oaths?”

Of course he knew the weight of duty. The Stark house was known to be one of the most noble houses when it came to keeping a promise. They had bent the knee for your half sister years ago, so why must you have come out all this way to try and turn their tides? You truly did not want to come out all this way, only making the trip at the request of your mother who had become a thorn in your side ever since you made your indifference to the throne known.

You knew coming out this way would not sway the Stark, but instead sway you. 

“Who wishes for war? Only mad men desire a battle that would take their life,” Taking a moment to compose yourself, you straightened your back.

“Which is exactly why I come in hopes that you share the same sentiment.”

Your eyes seemed to hold all the emotions of the seven kingdoms. Cregan took a moment to compose himself, and remind himself that he was the Warden of the North. He does not need to consult himself on ways to keep the blaze of your heart lit. He had a job, just as you had yours.

Which is why he felt himself faltering.

“A Targaryen that does not wish of war? You are a rarity amongst your family (Y/N).”

Your name should have felt foreign to say. It was not dressed with honorifics, and he meant it. The lack of title that came before your name was with the purpose of bringing this conversation down to a more personal level. 

He watched as you tensed with him saying your name. But he knew it was not in offense, he could never offend you. It was in realization of the fragility of this conversation.

His informality was sealed when he rested his hand on the small of your back. The both of you just took in the moment to look beyond the wall. Cregan knew that this simple action could warrant reaction from you, it would be justified for you to take his hand and his tongue for even speaking to you in such a casual way.

Instead you melted into his touch, turning to face him.

He took this as an invitation to invade your space once more, taking a step forward to move a piece of hair that threatened to obscure his view of you.

“You flatter me, Lord Stark. But a compliment such as that will only do so much to sway me. I was sent here for a reason.”

His title wavered on your tongue as you spoke to him. This just drew more a response from him as he did not move, humming almost in agreeance as his hand found its place on your cheek. For a moment he felt jealous of the leather that dressed his palm, for it had the honor of holding you truely.

“Hmm yes, you were sent here for a reason. But could there not have been another? One that you hold instead, that trumps the duty you feel to your house?”

He was always good at reading you.

Perhaps you should have felt unease in coming here, to think it would just be a simple trip to the Wall that would just lead you to return home with nothing but a word that the Starks were not aligned with your house.

You were blinded by the urge to see him, the want to make his acquaintance one more time before the realm tore itself apart. “Cregan…”

His name fell from your lips with a whisper, as if you were praying to the gods above to harden your resolve.

“Tell me the real reason you came here.”

He was incredibly close now, his presence shadowing over yours. He covered you in a shroud of snow, his touch almost paralyzing you as you remained locked in a fight of wills.

Who would win? The fearsome dragon or the unbending wolf?

“To speak with you. There are…alliances that need to be made in order to keep my family from tearing itself and the world apart.”

This earned a frown from him as he leaned even closer to you. He assaulted every sense you had now. His eyes burned into yours, rivaling your gaze as his scent came over you. There was a reason you favored the smell of leather and musk. It reminded you of him.

“Could you just this once make a decision that was not dictated by your family, but rather made in lieu of what you wanted?”

Your hand reached up to hold his wrist of the hand that grounded you. Your touch was searing, Cregan knew that had you touched his skin he was sure there would be a burn where you had touched him. And he would wear it with honor.

He wondered if a kiss from you would be just as searing. If steam would rise from the both of your lips as you became one.

The fan of your breath over his cheeks threatened the very resolve he was known for.

This very act alone could be considered taking a side. The both of you would seal your fate if you fell blindly into your passions right at this second. A thought crossed the wolf’s mind, how truly awful would it have been to give in, even for just a moment?

Your hand on his cheek, a mirror of his own action, made him clasp his eyes shut as a shaky breath escaped his own trembling lips. 

He looked beautiful, in this very moment, you thought.

The both of you were so close, the desire of one thing burning in your mind as you stared at him.

You were never one for politics, but could that argument alone be excuse enough to betray the whims of your family for a single kiss from a man that would stand against them?

You wished to lite his lips ablaze with the passion of your touch.

He wished to swallow the fire that burned in your throat.

A dragon does not feel the cold.

A wolf does not feel the cold.

But right in this very moment they both wished the winds would freeze them in place, if not to hold onto the memory for just a moment longer.

“Cregan..”

“(Y/N)..”

The side of his nose seemed to fit perfectly against yours as he leaned in. Your hand rested up against the nape of his neck perfectly, anchoring both of you in this stance. 

Just as the both of you felt a graze of the other, there was the annoyance of another made present.

The squealing of the lift cables broke the silence, and thus breaking the tender moment of the two of you.

It wasn't until they came to a halt did you finally step back, and Cregan was left to imagine the moment for only a second before opening his eyes to the reality of the situation.

“Lord Stark, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon of house Velaryon has arrived to speak with you.”

With a small huff of a laugh, you straightened your cloak and looked out over the wall once more. 

This would probably be the last time you saw winter…the snow…and him.

Feeling his hand grip your chin, making you face him you could only chuckle as you held his face again. Only this time with longing and remorse. You were already mourning any possibility you had with him, and he knew it too as he looked down at you.

“I wish it were that easy…”

Leaning forward, you played with fire one last time as your lips came to rest on the corner of his. It was a quick moment, only giving yourself enough of it for the small gesture. You knew if you lingered for even a moment the Northerner would take it upon himself to seize whatever he could. And then you truely would be gone to the whims of a lovely passion.

Pulling away, you watched as he held where you had kissed him, before breaking away from your eye as you made your way to the lift to leave him.

But when his hand found your wrist, you could feel the fire brimming in your throat.

“Just…think about what I said…before its too late.”

Looking over your shoulder, you couldn't help but take the moment to study his face. Commit it to memory. Perhaps that is truly what you came here for. Not some silly test of allegiance, for you already had that answer before you even mounted your dragon.

No…it was to take in one last memory of the cold.