College of Winterhold

By the next day afternoon, a train pulled into the station at Winterfell. From its polished cars disembarked Princess Visenya Targaryen, along with her companions, Vaella Celtigar and Lysa Hayford, and the rest of her retinue. The air hummed with anticipation as they were formally greeted by prince Rickon Stark and his family, including the newly awakened Cregan himself, who observed the arrival with a keen, analytical gaze.

Stepping forward from the welcoming party was Mordred Stark, Cregan's aunt, her face alight with an uncharacteristic warmth. Beside her stood her husband, Artos Skoll, a sturdy, quiet man, and their daughter and son, who stood respectfully.

As soon as the formal introductions were made, a burst of genuine affection broke through the courtly decorum. Visenya, her violet eyes shining, rushed forward and embraced Mordred tightly. "Aunt Red!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with delight. "How are you?"

Mordred returned the hug with equal fervor, a rare, soft smile gracing her lips. "I'm fine, sweetling, how are you? Gods, you were up to my knees the last time I saw you!" She pulled back slightly, looking Visenya over. "How was the travel, and how are Rhaenyra and your brothers doing?"

Visenya, beaming, assured her, "Everything is fine, Aunt. The travel was long, but comfortable. Mother sends her regards, and my brothers are... well, they're brothers." A small, knowing smile touched her lips, hinting at the typical chaos of princely siblings.

Mordred chuckled, then turned to her own children, drawing them forward. "Visenya, these are my children. This is my daughter, Lyanna, and my son, Beric." The children bowed politely, their expressions a mixture of shyness and curiosity as they met the Targaryen princess who would soon be learning at Winterhold.

The warmth of the reunion, though fleeting, seemed to cut through the formal stiffness of the arrival, promising a more personal connection during Visenya's time in the North.

For three days, Winterfell hummed with a quiet excitement. Princess Visenya Targaryen spent most of her time with her Aunt Mordred Stark, exploring every nook and cranny of the ancient castle and marveling at the bustling, steam-powered Wintertown. Mordred, with her characteristic blend of Northern practicality and unexpected warmth, delighted in showing Visenya the intricacies of Winterfell's defenses, the roaring forges, and the orderly chaos of the market streets, a stark contrast to the stifling court of King's Landing. Visenya, eager and bright, absorbed every detail, her violet eyes wide with wonder at the innovations that defined Asgard. Cregan, though silently observing, took note of Visenya's keen intelligence and her genuine connection with his aunt.

Finally, on the fourth day, the time came for Visenya to begin her formal education. Accompanied by her companions, Vaella Celtigar and Lysa Hayford, and guided by Mordred Stark, along with Cregan Stark, made their way to Winterhold College. For Cregan, the journey felt momentous; it was the first tangible step into his new, awakened life. For Visenya, it was the start of a journey much like her mother's.

The education awaiting Visenya at Winterhold was precisely the same comprehensive, cutting-edge curriculum that Rhaenyra had received years prior. It encompassed not just the classical histories and languages, but also the sciences, engineering, statecraft, strategy, and combat training that made Winterhold College truly unique in Westeros. The goal was to forge not just a learned princess, but a capable and well-rounded leader, prepared for the complexities of a changing world. Visenya, eager to learn and removed from the Southern court's suffocating politics, embraced her new studies with a zeal that promised to make her a formidable student.

A year passed swiftly in the invigorating halls of Winterhold College. Princess Visenya Targaryen, a diligent and eager student, had absorbed the Northern teachings with remarkable speed. Her intellect blossomed under the tutelage of Winterhold's scholars, and her spirit thrived in the robust, unvarnished environment, so different from the veiled intrigues of King's Landing. Cregan, while focusing on his own rigorous physical and intellectual training, had observed her development with a detached, yet curious, interest, noting her sharp mind and growing confidence.

Then, word came from the South. After a year of intense study, Princess Visenya returned to Dragonstone, the ancestral seat of House Targaryen, leaving the progressive North behind once more. She returned to find a court in turmoil, her mother, Rhaenyra, facing a fresh wave of vulnerability.

A profound tragedy struck Driftmark. Laenor Velaryon, Rhaenyra's husband, was found murdered. The whispers quickly named Qarl Correy, his long-time companion, as the culprit. Though Qarl initially vanished, he was later hunted down, brought to justice, and his head was removed, a stark warning to any who would defy the crown or its family.

The sudden, brutal death of her husband, coupled with the ever-present rumors about her sons' parentage and the escalating animosity with Queen Alicent's faction, left Rhaenyra in a precarious position. She was a Crown Princess with no consort, her political standing weakened, her children's claims continuously questioned.

Then Rhaenyra made a drastic, yet pragmatic, decision: she married her uncle, Daemon Targaryen. The marriage was a quiet affair, a union born of necessity and ambition rather than affection. It shocked the realm, stirring renewed controversy and fueling the flames of discontent among those who already doubted Rhaenyra's legitimacy. But for Rhaenyra, it was a move to secure her claim, to present a united, dragon-backed front against her enemies, even if it meant sacrificing a measure of her own happiness for political stability. The Dance of the Dragons edged ever closer.

In the turbulent years that followed Laenor's death and Rhaenyra's controversial marriage to Daemon, the Crown Princess made a decisive move regarding her children's education. Rhaenyra sent all her children – Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey – along with Daemon's twin daughters, Baela and Rhaena Targaryen – to Winterhold for their studies. She believed, fiercely, that the progressive and rigorous education of Asgard would better prepare them for the harsh realities of their future, far more effectively than the stifling court of King's Landing. They would gain not just knowledge, but a practical understanding of leadership, strategy, and innovation, just as she and Visenya had. The presence of so many Targaryen heirs in the North further solidified the burgeoning, if complex, alliance between the Crown and Asgard.

Meanwhile, back in King's Landing, King Viserys I, ever keen on maintaining peace and a fragile semblance of unity, recognized the value of the Northern education. Having seen the marked changes in Rhaenyra and heard the glowing reports from Visenya, he urged Queen Alicent to send her children –Aegon, Helaena, Aemond, and Daeron – to Winterhold for their studies as well. He hoped that shared experiences, even in a different realm, might foster a sense of camaraderie between the half-siblings, or at least equip them with the skills needed to navigate the treacherous political landscape.

However, Queen Alicent vehemently objected. Her distrust of Rhaenyra and anything associated with her ran deep, and the North, with its strange ways and independent spirit, felt alien and threatening to her traditional sensibilities.

"There is no need, Your Grace," Alicent stated, her voice tight with thinly veiled disdain. "Our children are princes and a princess of the realm. The Maesters of the Citadel are the most learned men in Westeros. They can enjoy the same, if not superior, education here in King's Landing. There is absolutely no need to send them to Asgard, to that... peculiar land. They will be safe here, and learn what is proper for their station."

Viserys, weary of the constant conflict and ever one to avoid direct confrontation, sighed, but ultimately conceded. Alicent's children remained in King's Landing, their education overseen by the Maesters and the Septons, steeped in the traditions and doctrines of the South. The divide between the 'Greens' and the 'Blacks' grew wider, not only in political ideology but in the very upbringing and worldview of their future leaders. The North, Asgard, became increasingly the training ground for Rhaenyra's faction, further emphasizing the distinct paths being forged for the future of the Targaryen dynasty.