Blood Upon The Snow ||| Cregan Stark

twenty-nine

Many in Winterfell claimed their lord as the greatest there ever was because he rode a dragon. Lord Cregan shut that talk down immediately.

His wife rode the dragon. Commanded the dragon. He'd held onto handles for dear life. It was Jacaera who was the dragonrider. Not Lord Cregan.

Still, Jacaera felt extremely fulfilled and trusted by her husband. To give himself over and trust she could control her beast. He was hers. And she was his.

Despite Jacaera's time in Winterfell quickly coming to an end, she was adjusting nicely. Making allies and friends in Cregan's court, even those who she may have disliked, Jacaera was friendly with.

She couldn't expect to marry into a house and be respected immediately because she was royalty. To have true loyalists, she needed to earn their trust and respect first.

So Jacaera was kind and strong. She took things with grace, was silent when she knew she needed to be and offered her opinion where it was warranted. Jacaera was the lady of Winterfell, she wasn't in her mother's council.

There were things she had to learn. So Jacaera was willing to push a bit of her pride aside to learn them.

Being connected to House Stark wasn't so bad. Their House motto inspired fear. Jacaera liked it.

Winter is coming.

Ominous.

She was very happy with her husband. Being able to pretend like that would be her life forever. But there was that creeping dread of when she would have to leave for an indefinite amount of time. To fight her war and take the Iron Throne for Rhaenyra.

There were some in Cregan's court, however, who took Jacaera's kindness as something more. An invitation.

Some knew of the strained beginning of their marriage. Maids and servants like to talk. About how a husband wasn't going to his wife. Word did spread.

But that had been rectified. Jacaera was extremely pleased with him, with his treatment of her. And they'd come to an understanding.

Others had their own views on that. They thought it was an act, to protect the marriage. And there was one man in the court who thought he could use that to his advantage. To have an affair with an unhappy princess.

The old tale, wasn't it? Jacaera was just being kind. If she didn't smile and laugh with him, she would be called a cold bitch. No one would respect her, they'd think she was a pretentious royal.

He had his plan. To go to her when he was sure the Lord of the castle would be away. Offer his services to her. Give her a child.

If she said no?

Well, he couldn't risk being denied. He was a reasonably strong man. Women who had affairs were exiled or killed. It would work itself out.

This man was so sure of himself, so sure he would get to stick his cock in a princess, he'd told someone about it. Bragged about his perfectly laid plan to take what he wanted.

Sure, there were whores. But nothing was better than having a forbidden woman.

Cregan had spies in his own court, though. Ones who pretended to be unhappy with the Lord of Winterfell. They were being paid by Cregan and were very discreet.