Chapter 56: Skybound Bonds
The morning after our first flight over Winterfell, anticipation hung thick in the air like the mist that hovered just above the training yard. The Stark family stood lined up near the edge of the courtyard, eyes darting to the sky, waiting for the moment they had dreamed about since yesterday. Even the guards abandoned their usual vigilance, captivated by the idea that someone—a boy they had once known as a bastard—could command the skies.
Only Lady Catelyn, watching with a worried frown from side of the yard. I understood her concern. A mother's heart rarely made peace with danger, even if it came on wings of wonder.
The rest of them, however, couldn't wait.
I stood at the center of the yard again and whistled sharply. The cry echoed into the open sky, and almost immediately, it was answered. A piercing shriek rang from the heavens, and then the wind stirred, and two shadows dropped from the clouds.
My eagles.
They landed beside me with controlled grace, their powerful wings kicking up a gust that made everyone stagger back in awe. I stroked their heads, whispering to them, letting them know today wasn't a mission or battle. Today, we were sharing joy.
I turned to my father first.
"You're up, Father," I said with a smile.
He raised an eyebrow, still wearing his usual stoic expression. But I saw the flicker in his eyes. The part of him that had once been a boy dreaming beneath the stars.
With only a moment of hesitation, he stepped forward. I helped him onto the eagle's back, guiding his footing as he found his balance. Then I climbed up behind him.
"Ready?" I asked.
He nodded once.
We took off with a mighty rush of wind.
Winterfell fell away beneath us, shrinking like a painted model. The towers, the walls, the godswood — all became lines and shadows under the brilliant blue sky.
My father said nothing for the first minute. Then he spoke, his voice quiet, almost reverent.
"This... this is the greatest experience of my life."
He said it with such honest awe that I smiled deeply. We soared for five full minutes, gliding above the land he had ruled, now seeing it as a bird might. When we returned, he dismounted in silence, his face filled with wonder.
Arya was next, and she nearly jumped into the air before I even called her.
"YES! Finally! I've been waiting since yesterday! Come on, come on!"
She practically scrambled up the eagle's side before I could offer help, her enthusiasm crackling like fire.
"Do you think we'll see beyond the wall? Is it cold up there? Can we dive like hawks? Do the eagles understand words or just sounds? Do they have names? You really should name them. I would name them Bloodfang and Shadowwind!"
I chuckled as we took off, Arya's non-stop chatter nearly lost to the wind. Her arms wrapped tightly around my waist, but not from fear—only from sheer excitement.
"Woooooo!" she shouted into the open air. "I want one! You HAVE to get me one!"
We did loops around the tallest tower and skimmed low over the lake. She cheered with each new turn, and when we finally landed, she was red-cheeked and grinning so wide her face might have split in half.
"Best thing EVER!" she cried.
Robb stepped forward next, calm but clearly eager.
"Well then, let's see what all the fuss is about," he said with a cocky grin.
We mounted smoothly, and as we rose, he let out a quiet, surprised, "Whoa..."
He held on with strength but let his body move with the eagle's rhythm. He was built for this—a natural-born rider, whether horse or sky-beast.
"Incredible," he muttered, eyes scanning the lands that would one day be his responsibility. "You see everything from up here. Makes all the arguments about border patrols and grain shipments seem... small."
We flew in silence, brother to brother, heirs of two paths. When we landed, he gave me a rare and sincere clasp on the shoulder.
"Thank you. Truly."
Next came Bran and Rickon.
They were younger, so I had both of them ride with me at once. Bran sat in front, gripping the feathered neck with care, while Rickon held onto my side.
"Are we really going up there?" Bran asked.
"We are," I said. "Hold tight."
When we took off, Rickon screamed in delight, and Bran went completely silent. I wasn't sure if he was scared or in awe. His eyes were wide as saucers, taking in the world from a view no maester's book could ever describe.
"It's... it's like a dream," Bran whispered.
We circled high above the forest edge and then dipped low over the castle so they could wave at the people below. When we landed, Bran looked dazed, while Rickon immediately began jumping and shouting, "Again! Again! Can we go again?!"
And then came the last.
Sansa.
She stood at the edge of the courtyard, her hands folded tightly in front of her, lips slightly parted as she stared at the eagle. Her face was pale.
"Are you sure?" I asked gently.
She nodded, her eyes not leaving the creature. "Yes. I'm just... I'm a little afraid of heights."
"I'll be right behind you the whole time. You'll be safe."
With trembling hands, she allowed me to help her climb up. Her movements were slow, cautious. When I mounted behind her, she immediately leaned back into me, wrapping her arms around my torso tightly.
"Don't let go," she whispered.
"Never."
We lifted off, and she gasped. Her grip tightened. I could feel her heartbeat racing through her hands.
"It's alright," I said, my voice low and calm. "Just breathe. Look at the sky."
Bit by bit, her breathing evened out. Her grip relaxed slightly, though she still leaned against me.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
We glided gently above the clouds, avoiding any sharp turns. The wind teased her auburn hair, and her face turned slightly pink. She didn't speak for a long while, just held onto me.
Then I heard her murmur, almost as if to herself, "It's like a story... like a prince whisking a girl away into the clouds..."
I turned my head slightly. "What was that?"
She shook her head quickly, embarrassed. "Nothing! I just... thank you, Jon. I didn't think I could ever do something like this."
I smiled.
When we landed, her cheeks were still flushed. She dismounted slowly and looked back at the eagle, then at me.
"Thank you," she said again, quieter this time.
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