Game of Thrones White Dragon Rising Chapter 37 37: Old Flayer, You're Too Arrogant

Fili's hands road over Roman's head until he finally noticed the change himself.

Two small horns had pushed through his hair.

They were tiny, but they were real.

Roman stared at his reflection in mild disbelief. In the original story dragons just grew by eating and living. Apparently he needed dramatic magical events to trigger each stage. First Balerion's fire when he touched Harrenhal's ghosts. Now the Wall's ancient magic had given him horns and lightning.

He held up his hand. White sparks crackled between his fingers. Fili took a nervous step back.

"My lord… is that your magic?"

"Yeah. Still rough. I'll figure out the details later."

He snuffed the lightning, finished his letter to Lady Shella, and handed it to the night-shift raven along with verbal instructions.

The bird pecked at so grain, then hopped onto the windowsill. Before it flew off it turned to Fili.

"Lady Fili, are you staying with Lord Roman tonight?"

Fili's face went scarlet. The raven didn't wait for an answer. It launched into the dark.

"So you're dead set on sleeping in my bed?" Roman asked with a crooked smile.

Fili's cheeks burned, but she lifted her chin and t his eyes. "Lady Shella said once my courses started I'm a woman grown. I can share your bed now."

Roman's smile faded. Lady Shella had sent her? That ant she wasn't planning any political marriage for him.

Harrenhal was growing stronger every month. By the ti the red cot arrived, House Whent would be more powerful than House Tully. Roman liked Fili. He fully intended to make her his wife one day.

Just not yet.

Right now Harrenhal was still in that awkward "not quite there" stage. Strong enough to matter, but not strong enough to ignore the rest of Westeros. His unmarried status was still a valuable bargaining chip.

He looked at the girl standing in front of him.

She had filled out beautifully—curves in all the right places, yet still that sa innocent spark in her eyes.

But she wasn't an adult.

Westeros kids grew up fast because the world was brutal and food was scarce. Here you had children by sixteen or you risked your line dying out. Fili didn't have that problem. She ate well and lived safely in Harrenhal.

Roman cupped her face and gently pinched her lower lip.

"Sleeping together is fine. Nothing else. You're still too young. That kind of thing can hurt you."

"I already had my first blood! I'm not a child anymore!"

"I say you're still a child, so you're still a child. I'm not going to hurt you. Don't you trust ?"

Fili's shoulders slumped. She looked genuinely hurt, like she thought she wasn't pretty enough. Roman didn't bother arguing. He just pulled her into his arms and went to sleep.

The next morning he woke to find her smiling like an idiot, probably dreaming sothing nice. She was pressed tight against his chest, one hand still wrapped around his tail.

When he stirred she blinked awake.

"Mmm… good morning, my lord. Thank you for last night."

"You went from sulking to grinning in one sleep. Impressive."

Fili hurried to explain. "I just felt like I wasn't attractive enough. I wasn't blaming you!"

Roman ruffled her golden hair until she squeaked, then told her to stop worrying.

After a short rest at Castle Black the column turned south. Staying longer would start eating into their own supplies, and that wasn't aid anymore.

Before they left, Roman said goodbye to the Old Bear.

"Lord Commander, House Whent will always stand with the Night's Watch. If the Wall ever needs help, send word."

"Thank you for the supplies. Give Lady Shella my regards."

Without the heavy cargo the ride south went much faster.

They made one unplanned stop.

Roman had planned to resupply at Winterfell, but out on the open wilds they ran into Roose Bolton riding north from the castle.

The Leech Lord's normally smooth face looked pale and strained. Eddard's punishnt must have been harsh—nothing that would break bones, but clearly unpleasant.

Roose spotted Roman and his expression darkened further.

"The North rembers, Roman Whent. You should have handled my son with more dignity. A direct insult like that will bring suffering to your own family."

Roman raised an eyebrow. The real Roose Bolton was supposed to be cold, calculating, and patient. He didn't make open threats. He smiled, nodded, and stabbed you in the back six months later.

Eddard must have really gotten under his skin.

"So you're willing to go to war with over a bastard who broke half the laws in the North?"

Roose's voice stayed flat. "They were only servants. Ramsay was my son."

Roman almost laughed. If Roose had truly cared he wouldn't have given the boy that stinking servant to begin with.

He kept his tone polite. "Lord Bolton, I was upholding the Iron Throne's laws. Lord Eddard, Warden of the North, follows those laws without exception. Are you saying House Bolton is above the law?"

Roose didn't answer the question. Instead he delivered a quiet warning.

"House Whent has grown too loud lately. Lady Shella should teach her boy better manners before the old woman ets an unfortunate end."

Roman had been willing to let it go for Eddard's sake. But the old flayer clearly thought he could push.

Roman's face went cold.

Fili leaned in and whispered, "The ravens already checked. No one else is around."

Good enough.

Roman gave a short whistle.

Heavy cavalry in full plate surrounded Roose's small party in seconds. Long lances leveled at the Lord of the Dreadfort.

Roose's normally emotionless mask finally cracked.

"Roman Whent… are you declaring war on the North?"

"The North belongs to Eddard Stark. n who trample the law don't get to speak for it."

Roman pointed at the ground. "Get off your horse. Apologize to Lady Shella. Or I kill you right here."

Roose didn't move.

Roman flicked his wrist. White fla burst from his fingers and splashed across Roose and his n.

The horses panicked instantly. Roose's mount reared and dumped him in the dirt to the sound of laughter from the Harrenhal soldiers.

Roose looked up at the giant warhamr, the burning hands, and the killing intent in Roman's eyes.

He finally understood. The boy was serious.

With a face like he was chewing glass, Roose Bolton apologized to Lady Shella Whent.

Roman kept his word and let them ride away.

So of his captains asked why he'd let the man go. Everyone knew how vicious and vengeful Roose Bolton could be.

Roman just smiled and said Eddard would handle it. The n shrugged. Worst case they'd fight the Dreadfort soday.

Fili knew the real reason.

She leaned close again. "The ravens say Roose's n are already on the wilds. Nothing alive for miles except grass."

Roman pinched her cheek. "Good girl."

He snapped his fingers.

The tiny white sparks still clinging to Roose's clothes and those of his n flared into full dragonfire.

The flas swallowed them in seconds. Not even screams escaped before the bodies collapsed into charred skeletons.

Lightning crackled through the white fire and scattered the bones across the empty plain like stars.