Disclaimer: I don't own HBO's Game of Thrones or any of its characters, wishful thinking aside.
Authors Note #1: This is my first Game of Thrones story, so I am pretty much testing the waters right now. I have not yet had the pleasure of reading the books, but I'm aware of the general arc. So, in respect to that, this story is mostly based on the material we have been given in the TV show rather than the book series.
Warnings: This story is meant to fit in some point between the Battle of Blackwater in season two and before the Red Wedding in season three. This is an AU after the battle of Blackwater. *Contains: adult language, adult content, sexual content, TV show spoilers for all three seasons, smut, a magic spell, 'serious' crack, and cuteness abound!
Dragon's Breath
Chapter One
She woke with a start, her long curls tight and strangling around her neck as a soft cry broke free from her throat. She untangled herself from her sheets, drawing her knees to her chest as she drew in a shuddering breath. She pressed a hand to her breast, feeling it race underneath the thin shift she wore, mind struggling to remember what had frightened her so.
It was just a dream, she assured herself. Only a dream.
It was still dark, perhaps only a few hours from dawn, but already she could hear the sounds of the castle waking - the klank-klank of armor from the battlements and the faint, but still discernible murmurings of a group of Septas heading down towards the main hall. The castle servants were already hard at work, stoking fires and readying their masters for another day amidst all the pomp and splendor King's Landing had to offer.
It was soothing in a daft, childish sort of way. She hadn't had a night terror since-
She shook herself from her thoughts, unwilling to dwell on such things as she pushed aside her sheets and crossed to the window. She gazed down at the courtyard below, watching as the shadows gradually lengthened, twisting and warping as dawn streaked across the sky. She was to be brought before the King today. She didn't know why, but she could certainly guess. The entire castle had been abuzz with the news, talking in hushed voices whenever she passed, giggling and whispering as she held her head high and tried to ignore it.
She was to marry the imp. Tyrion Lannister.
They meant to marry her to a lion and be done with it. She bit her lip, running her hands along the cool stone as she leaned up against the window ledge. In many ways it was good match. Perhaps not in all the ways a young woman might hope for when she is courted by a suitor, but in terms of allegiances and lordly politics, well, one could not ask for a better set of circumstances. She was the daughter of Lord Eddard Stark, high born and the heir to a powerful house – and further to the crown's benefit, after her father's death, she was officially a ward of the King.
She was no fool, marrying her to House Lannister would better secure their ties to the North. And with Robb dead - Bran and Rickon feared to be the same - by right of marriage her husband could claim Winterfell as his own. She would return home a lion, not wolf.
She prayed to the seven that her father would forgive her.
The queen had already ordered new gowns to be made for her, claiming she had outgrown the ones she'd arrived with. And while that certainly wasn't untrue, with her hems now riding well above her ankles and her bodices almost crushingly tight, she knew the truth behind Cersei's supposed 'good-will'.
They meant to strip her of her Stark roots. To throw away her beautiful Tully colors and warm winter silks and replace them with red and gold. But just like the North, she would never forget. The wolf was in her blood and that, at the very least, was one thing they could never take from her.
But logically, that was as far as her defiance could go. She was the eldest daughter of her house, once queen to be and adored by all, she was now, by affiliation to her late father and brother, a lady in disgrace. She was nothing more than a pawn in the hands of both the King and the Small Council, a prized little rook that was to be carefully paired with the House that would best advantage their own interests, their own private little plots and schemes. She had no say in the matter and at this point, the risk of voicing any defiance, any hint of refusal or ill-content on her part was far too great to chance.
For all intents and purposes, she had been sold, and the Lannisters had been the highest bidder.
She ran her fingers through her hair, considering her position, watching a harried looking baker hurry across the yard, dodging guardsmen and washerwomen alike as he angled towards the main hall, balancing a platter of fresh rye in front of him like a shield. The heavenly smell of freshly baked bread seemed to permeate the air long after he'd disappeared.
Her stomach grumbled in response, mouth watering as her body reminded her that she'd barely touched her supper the night before. She hadn't had much of an appetite of late.
She combed her fingers idly through a few sleep-mussed tangles as she watched the people come and go. Today she would be expected to play her part, to act surprised, yet still somehow honored by the match when the King announced her fate. Joffrey would be delighted, no doubt; after all, he believed he'd succeeded in holding in her suspense for the past few days. Perhaps he hoped she would be near hysterics, overcome with nerves as to what his Lordship could possibly want with his castoff queen.
But to her credit, she'd heard the whispers long before the royal summons had arrived. It hadn't taken long; she'd simply donned a plain brown cloak and haunted the alcoves by the castle wells until she'd caught up on the latest gossip. And while she'd cried herself to sleep every night since, she refused to let it rule her. She might have to marry Tywin Lannister's youngest son, but she wouldn't give them the satisfaction of knowing it had broken her.
She was a wolf of the north after all.
And she'd grown tired of her cage.
A/N #1: Thank you for reading. Please let me know what you think! Reviews and constructive critiquing are love! – The next chapter should be up in a few days.