Wild Horses
Chapter 1
"NO!" His deep growling voice called out; as he sat up from his bed. His body caked in sweat as his chest heaved. He cursed himself for being weak to his thoughts in the middle of the night.
It had been nearly 9 moons since his Daenerys and unborn son was taken from him. He could still see the wide eyed expression on her face as her own flesh and blood brother Viserys threatened to cut their son out of her body; while taking her back until Drogo paid for the wife he'd bought in her. No one in the celebration tent thought he would do it. Drogo stood and as he did Viserys thrust his sword into her stomach; effectively murdering his unborn son.
Drogo's bloodriders ceased Viserys as he screamed about being the dragon.
Drogo watched helplessly as the moon of his life bled to her death in his arms. He remembered as despair was taken from him and anger filled his body. Blood shed was not allowed inside the walls of Vaes Dothrak; he would not bring dishonor to his people by shedding blood – no. Instead he tossed his gold belt into a boiling pot and gave him a crown others would tremble to behold as his bloodriders held Viserys down Drogo poured the molten hot liquid gold over his head and watched with hate in his heart as he died on the very same floor as the moon of his life and unborn son.
Scrubbing a hand down his face he pulled his tired body from the bed. Since the death of Daenerys he had taken no slaves to his bed; he had taken no slaves at all. The thought of dishonoring his wife for a quick fuck was out of the question. He had already vowed that he would bed no woman until the Great Stallion brought him another worthy Khaleesi. It was his punishment for not protecting the moon of his life.
Drogo dressed as he prepared himself for the day of travel. He was leading his 40,000 men to Qarth where he'd been summoned to trade men who would become army for King Robert of Baratheon of Storm's Ending for an innocent girl who had not yet been spoiled by another man and King Robert her uncle was trying to get her married off. It would take another 3 moons to get to Qarth since they were going through The Red Waste –which was nothing but desert. He was sure by the time they got there he would be ready to wed and bed another Khaleesi. This one he would protect with his life as he should've before.
King Robert paced his bed chambers of the Qarth palace as he looked at his wife Queen Cercei Lannister. "Do you think she'll be ready by the time the Dothraki arrive?"
Queen Cercei nodded. "If you will give her time. She's been learning the Dothraki tongue better and better every day, by the time Khal Drogo makes it to Qarth; she'll be ready and she'll not disappoint." She watched as her King stalked over before plopping down in his chair with an exaggerated sigh.
"I trust you my dear. I just don't want there to be any reason why Khal Drogo would not take her."
Cercei stood from the bench at the end of bed and walked over and let her finger run through her Kings soft hair. "There will be no reason for the Dothraki King to dispute. She is a little older than his last bride at 14. Liliana is just 18 and she might be slightly different but he will take her no less. Then all we have to do is get rid of that little brat Lilliana. She will fetch a pretty penny making babies for some sniveling brat in another kingdom and you will have no more hang ups about your throne. We didn't plan all of this just for it to backfire. Trust me love; it will all come together."
"Has Uncle Robert told you anything about him?" Rebeka asked animatedly; while bouncing on her older sister's bed. Her black curls flowing all over.
Liliana smiled as she turned at looked at her little sister who was just 14. "He's told me little things, but most of them I get from my handmaiden. She was a Dothraki slave and had been traded to Uncle Robert to help teach me. They said he is a fierce King who rides a huge steed. He has long hair because he was taught at an early age that to lose his hair would be a shame and dishonor to him; she said he's never lost a fight."
"He's not going to hurt you is he?" Rebeka stopped jumping as she landed on her bottom on the bed. She was getting serious.
Liliana looked down at her hands for a minute before she shook her head. "I do not…I do not know Rebeka. I can only hope he is a good King and that once we are married he never lay a hand on me in anger."
"I hope so too." Rebeka stood up and began bouncing on the bed once more. Her serious question had ceased and she was back to asking questions to annoy her big sister. "So what do you think he is like? Do you think he will be handsome? Do you think he will want you to have babies right away?"
"Ugh Rebeka, you are driving me mad with all these endless questions. I must finish packing my trunks. There's only a few more days left before he will be here. Go finish your studies and I will come tuck you into bed."
Rebeka giggled as she landed on her bottom once more before she hopped off the bed and scampered out of her sister's bed and down the hall; her sister's laughter carried her all the way.
The Red Waste was unforgiving to Drogo and his men; 3 moons worth of the harshest, sandiest wilderness that ever existed. Usually the Dothraki feared it, but Drogo and his men welcomed the challenge to get their new Khaleesi.
Drogo sat around the fire eating his fill of horse meat and drinking wine. They were camping outside of Qarth because they did not go inside their walls at night. Once sundown was upon them, Rakharo would be riding to the gates and bringing back his new Khaleesi's handmaiden. She would be the one informing him what she was like. He was curious what she was like and what she looked like. He would ride into the gates of Qarth to the palace for the acceptance ceremony. The next day they would be married and he would take her back to Vaes Dothrak.
Drogo was no fool. He knew he was trading the young lady for men who would eventually go to war against him; which was why he had his Ko-Kos to through the army of 40,000 that he led and mark off 10,000 slaves from other tribes for the trade. He would never dishonor his own people by forcing them to another ruler to fight against him or another Khal.
"King."
"Khal."
"Queen."
"Khaleesi."
"Tribe or clan."
"Khalasar."
"Lieutenants."
"Ko-Kos"
"Very good Liliana." Tamika stated proudly. Tamika was the Dothraki handmaiden her Uncle Robert had traded for to teach his niece the Dothraki ways and language. "The Khal will be very pleased with your Dothraki tongue."
"I hope so. I really don't want to disappoint him." Liliana stated.
"Why would he be disappointed?" Tamika asked curiously.
"I'm not much to look at and I'm not like a normal lady. My father taught me how to hunt with my brothers with a bow and arrow. I don't sit side saddle on a horse. If it were not for some particular body parts; I would have been a son."
Tamika could not stop the giggle as it slipped past her lips. "Liliana, do you not see what I see when you peer in the looking glass?" Tamika took her by the shoulders and slowly turned Liliana around. "Look at your dress." Tamika encouraged her.
Tamika shook her head. Liliana was beautiful from head to toe, clearly no one had ever told her as such before. Her laughter would be what drew the Khal in though. A woman who could laugh with her heart would pull him closer to her. Liliana would be the perfect Khaleesi to her Khal and it would be very nice to be back with her people once again.
Liliana turned around and gasp at what she saw; her deep blue eyes stared at the reflection as it started back at her from the looking glass. Her handmaiden had been altering her white satin wedding gown. She turned sideways as she looked at her silhouette. It fit perfectly. It fit perfectly everywhere. Her bottom lip was between her teeth as she turned the other way to look at the gown from all angles.
"Liliana, do you like it?" Tamika asked softly as she watched her twist and turn.
Liliana spun around and threw her arms around Tamika. "I love it! Thank you so much. It's so beautiful."
Tamika hugged her back. "It was my pleasure Liliana. The Khal will be here tomorrow for the acceptance ceremony and the following day will be the wedding. Are you ready to be the Khaleesi to the Khal?"
"I am so nervous Tamika. What if I do something insanely stupid? What if the Khal does not want me? What if I cannot make him happy? What if…what if I am not happy? What if we never love each other?" Liliana fired away at her handmaid.
Tamika giggled once again. "Liliana, you ask me too much. You ask me all questions I cannot answer. The answers will come to you when they are ready." Tamika helped her out of her wedding gown. "I'll get this hemmed and fixed up you will be perfect for the Khal tomorrow."
"Tamika…I'm going to have to consummate the marriage. I've – I've never…" Liliana was suddenly worried she wasn't going to be what he wanted because she was inexperienced and would have no idea what to do.
"Don't worry Liliana, things like that come naturally." Tamika stated as she put the wedding gown on a hanger. "In to bed with you Liliana, I have to go meet with the Khal so he can question me about you. You need your beauty sleep. The next two days are going to be very busy. I will see you in the morning."
As the sun set over the West, Tamika walked outside the gate and was met by one of the Khal's bloodriders on a stallion.
"I am Rakharo I will take you to the Khal." Rakharo announced as he leaned over and grabbed the handmaiden's arm and helped pull her up onto the stallions back before he kicked the great animal in the side and steered it back to the Dothraki camp.
Once there Rakharo helped the handmaiden off the horse and led her to the Khal's massive tent. Tamika entered alone. She stopped in front of the Khal as he sat in a chair.
May I enter?" Tamika asked in the Dothraki tongue.
Drogo growled slightly before he nodded. "Are you my Khaleesi's handmaid?" He asked roughly in Dothraki; he only knew a few common tongue words.
Tamika nodded. "Yes Khal."
"Tell me what you know." drogo demanded.
"Liliana is a free spirit; she is often found in the fields outside of the palace walls in Storms End; with all due respect she can hunt as well as any Dothraki. She has eyes as blue as the sea that sparkle and her beautiful skin is soft to the touch. Her long raven hair is nearly to mid-thigh and when she is in the sunlight it seems to shimmer blue. Most of the locals here and in Baratheon will not go near her." Tamika stated in a warning tone.
Drogo sat up straighter and had his fists planted on his thighs. "Why do you say that?" He grumbled as his dark eyes peered at her almost as if they were looking straight through her.
"They say she has the gift to speak to animals. They say she can make any animal turn on her enemies. I have not seen it but many people talk about it." Tamika stated to the Khal.
Drogo scoffed. "Do not believe in everything you hear handmaid. People as such do not exist. They only exist if you have seen them with your own eyes."
"Yes Khal."
The following morning, Drogo dressed and mounted his stallion; He and his three Ko-Kos took off for the gates of Qarth. Once they entered the horses hooves clacked against the stone covered streets that led to the palace.
As they road up, Drogo could see King Robert standing on the steps to the great Qarth palace than he saw the handmaiden he had spoken to the night before standing next to a raven haired beauty. He could not help but marvel at her beauty. He wanted to dismount his horse and touch her and claim her, but he stayed as he was.
Liliana watched with wide eyes as Khal Drogo stopped his huge stallion in front of the steps as his eyes locked with hers. She could faintly hear her Uncle Robert as he announced the names of the family before he said Liliana's name effectively snapping her out of her reverie.
Drogo watched as King Robert told the girl to move closer to him. And he watched as she walked down the steps with her handmaiden following closely behind her. Once her feet were on solid ground in front of him he watched as his horse bobbed his head before taking a step towards her; giving her a deep sniff. He felt first the right shoulder spasm and then the left of his noble steed.
Drogo continued to watch as her eyes left his and looked at his stallion as he stopped his foot a few times before he softly touched his nose to hers. A hint of a smile played on her lips before her soft voice said 'good boy'. It was so soft he almost missed her words. Drogo pulled back on the reigns as he attempted to regain control over his steed.
Liliana watched as Khal Drogo's stallion stepped back a few paces before he reared up and let out a loud whinny. Another hint of a smile crossed her lips again as her eyes locked with Khal's once more before he nudge his horse in the side; he nodded at her Uncle Robert and they took off back through Qarth and out the front gates.
Liliana felt Tamika take her elbow as her hand came up and covered her stomach. It felt like the flapping of bird's wings in her stomach. She wasn't sure what it meant and she was sure she didn't want to ask; whatever it was…it did not hurt.
She was now curious to see what tomorrow would bring.