She bounced Rhaello on her knees. The child shrieked with laughter, waving her chubby fists in the air. She could stand, if she was being held up under her armpits. She loved to bounce in place and kick her legs out wildly, giggling. She had managed to leave a faint bruise on Drogo's chest doing so the other day. She was wearing a soft, gauzy dress made of flowing lavender fabric. The latest one Jhiqui had made. It was light and airy, and a bit more practical than the tiny silks and satins she had. Her soft hair was coming in curly. It was like silvery pale copper. As it bounced and fell with her it appeared copper, then silver, then copper again. Against the sun, it framed her face like a soft golden halo. Dany kissed her forehead, Rhaello babbled happily.
Viserion sat next to them on the ground, his head up, looking at Rhaello curiously. She reached out a tiny fist towards his face, and he gently rubbed it with his snout. Viserion often kept an eye on Rhaello, he would follow her around while she crawled and he would sit next to her while she was being held. Dany had even found them sleeping together, he would crawl into her cradle and curl his body around her. Though the last time he had done this he had also broken her cradle, so Rhaello's new bed was larger than it needed to be, with a thick beam underneath it to support the two of them.
"This is your brother." Dany told her child. "Viserion. Vis-ear-ee-on. Can you say it?"
Rhaello babbled something like "Vee-son." And then smacked his snout. He snorted with indignation and lay his head back down on his feet, which made Rhaello laugh. Dany laughed with her and kissed her again.
Rhaello already had a trunk full of toys and gifts. People made her tiny wooden swords and shields, dolls and blocks, small fabric animals, whirring contraptions and puzzles. Rhaello had no interest in any of them, she preferred playing with dirt and sand. She would pick rocks up off of the ground and throw them at people, and put sticks in her mouth if she found them. Dany often gave her toys away to the children she encountered when she toured the khalasar. She had more than she would ever need or want. She did keep the small wooden swords and shields, for later. And Jhiqui had made her a purple dragon toy that was larger than Rhaello was, it's silk body shimmered in the light of the candles at night. She kept this too.
She was a fiery child, full of spirit and attitude. Her current favorite thing was to throw things people gave her. Often at the people who had given them to her. She could not really crawl yet, but she tried. She could usually roll and drag herself wherever she wanted. She often got frustrated when she tried to crawl, as if she was not learning fast enough. Dany liked to hold her under the arms and let her "walk" around and visit people. Her tiny feet did not seem bothered by the heat of the sand, but Dany had little leather slippers for them anyways.
An arm wrapped around her shoulder. Drogo's. He sat next to them, holding her close. Rhaello shrieked and reached out to him, so he pulled his arm off of Dany and took her tiny body in his huge hands. They made her look like a newborn. He bounced her on his knee while she babbled and tried to pull on his hair, she loved the bells and often tried to yank them out. He offered her a finger that she happily gnawed on.
"My love, that will hurt a lot more when she has teeth, and she will not hesitate to do it later if you let her do it now." Dany warned him.
"I have killed hrakkar with my bare fists, I am not worried about her tiny baby teeth. See? She enjoys it so." He told her. Dany supposed she did seem very pleased with herself. She hoped Rhaello was not about to start biting her handmaids. She stroked his face adoringly and kissed his cheek.
"You are turning my whole world upside down." He said. His brow was furrowed, his expression unreadable. "I did not expect any of these things when I was asked if I wanted a silver maiden princess for a bride. I was told you were small and easily frightened, complacent and compliable."
"I know my love." Dany replied. "I did not expect any of these things when I was told I'd be marrying a fierce Dothraki warlord. I grew up expecting to be small and frightened my whole life, always being watched over by my brother. Always being scared of him. I thought I would always be scared of you, too." She smirked.
"From what I've seen," He chuckled slightly, shaking his head. "You should not be scared of anyone."
"I don't often feel scared anymore." She admitted. "At least not for myself. I fear for Rhaello often. I fear for you. I fear for my dragons. But I no longer feel vulnerable and helpless."
"Good." He kissed her forehead, then he kissed Rhaello's cheek, blowing air onto it to make a rude sound. Rhaello squealed with joy.
"I'm proud to have you as my own, you should know. But I feel as though I've become involved in something that doesn't concern me. As long as it involves you and my child I will stand by you. But please… can you explain to me what is happening to your hands?"
"I cannot." She sighed. "I do not understand it myself. I have not heard of this happening before. I am hoping that someone in Qarth can help me." She slowed her words, proceeding cautiously. "They have people there that understand these things."
"Men will call you maegi if they find out you are consulting with these people." He sounded worried. "They will be angry and scared."
"If they were going to do something about being angry with me or scared of me, they would have done something ages ago when the dragons hatched. Or when Rhaello was born. Or when they learned of my plans. This is not so much more strange or outlandish." She stroked Rhaello's hair. "I have a feeling that more strange things will happen before we are done. The world is changing. I must change with it."
"I suppose." He agreed. "I cannot speak for my men though. If you continue to do this thing… I do not want you to be on your own. I want you and Rhaello to have a guard, one of yours or one of mine, at all times."
"I can defend myself!" She exclaimed indignantly. "I am learning how to fight!"
"I know that." He replied. "I know you are growing stronger. But my love… It would ease my heart to know someone is with you. Please."
She sighed. Her shoulders sank. "Alright. But you know Lillouet and Athnash are never far away. Especially since they became my bloodriders. I can hardly take a piss without Lillouet asking me if I need help." She grumbled. Drogo laughed.
"Only because they want to be, now they will have reason to be. If you ask them. Please." Dany sighed, relenting.
"Your grace!" Dany heard Jorah call. He walked over and sat next to them. Rhaello reached out to him and he patted her head.
"So is it true?" Dany asked him. "Is the Usurper dead?" Jorah nodded, solemn.
"Yes, Khaleesi. My informant has confirmed it. He also confirmed that the lord the man spoke of is Lord Petyr Baelish, or Littlefinger as the commoners call him. He is someone to worry about. He is clever and devious, and has half the kingdom under his tiny thumb. Ned Stark was killed by the queen's men because of him and now her boy sits the iron throne."
"What do we know of the boy?"
"He is a few years younger than you, raised to be the queen's puppet. She has groomed him to have delusions of grandeur while she whispers suggestions in his ear. But I have heard that he is outside of her control. He is wild, cruel, without a care for politics or the state of his kingdom. He cares only about power and punishing people. And there is more." He pulled a letter out and handed it to her.
"This was contained in their baggage on the horse they intended to escape on. It is written by Lord Stannis Baratheon, though he styles himself King Stannis now." She read it.
"The light of the lord?"
"He is also called R'hllor. The red priestess that has Lord Stannis in her clutches has converted him to her fiery god. I have heard that she also proclaimed Stannis is Azor Ahai come again, and that his burnt sword is a burning sword."
"What does this mean for us?" Drogo asked him.
"Stark's boy Robb has stylized himself King of the North. Stannis' younger brother Renly has claimed the iron throne for himself. There are four kings marching around, proclaiming things and fighting each other. By the time we arrive, some of them should have managed to destroy the other."
"So this is good for us, right?" Dany said.
"It is. But I have more news." Jorah replied. He looked grave. "The maesters have declared that the great summer is over. Winter is coming, and it may last ten years. Maybe more. A long summer means a long winter. There is news from the wall that the Others have risen again. Unless we arrive in a matter of moons, the land we will arrive on will be scarred, soaked in blood, covered in snow and monsters."
"I see." Dany said simply. She thought for a moment. "Then the land we will arrive on will be in dire need of leadership and strength."
"I suppose." He replied. "I admire your devotion to people you have never met living in a land you have never set foot on. Some call it madness, I call it kind hearted. You have a beautiful heart, you know." He was looking at her with soft eyes.
"She is beautiful in many other places, too." Drogo told him, grinning. Dany smacked his shoulder. But he continued.
"Though you would know this, with how you admire her so." She smacked him again, he laughed. He had been poking fun at the knight like this lately. Jorah looked at his feet, his ears red.
"Drogo! Why do you tease him so? What do you hope to accomplish?" Dany exclaimed. Drogo laughed.
"It seems as though everyone with eyes can see that you desire each other, except you and him. I am only adding wood to a fire that is already burning." Dany flushed.
"Drogo, you are my Khal." Jorah started. "I will not pursue her, no matter how much you goad me. She is the wife of my lord, my queen and the blood of my blood. I have no wish to cause pain between the two of you. I do not desire your wife."
"That is horse shit!" Drogo barked. "There is no one in the world that does not desire her. You do not wish to cause pain… look at the pain she is in. If you do not wish to cause pain between us." He grinned. "You should consider finding out what it is like to be between the two of us at night."
"Drogo!" Dany cried. She took Rhaello from him and stormed off. She could still hear him laughing as she walked away. He is enjoying teasing us! She fumed. She went to her tent to sit and think.
Stop it. She told herself. He just told you he does not desire you.
He has told me before that he does. I do not understand.
He simply fears the Khal, he does not wish to die and he does not wish to slay Drogo. Your husband obviously does not object to sharing your bed with others.
He cannot guard you and love you at the same time. It would not be right.
Drogo guards me and loves me quite well.
"Gahh!" She cried out in frustration. She poked the fire with a stick viciously, causing sparks to fly everywhere.
"Khaleesi!" She heard from behind her. It was Lillouet. "What is wrong? Are you hurt?"
"No, all is well. I am just… confused." Lillouet sat down next to her and took Rhaello, who was happy to play with her braid.
"I feel as though I am a piece in a game I do not understand." Dany told her. "I do not know if my husband is mocking me, testing me or encouraging me. He told me and Jorah we should be lovers. He thinks the knight desires me." Lillouet sighed.
"Ma dan. Of course he desires you. Look at me." She reached out with her free hand to place her palm on Dany's cheek. She stroked it with her thumb.
"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met." Dany looked up at her, Lillouet's dark eyes smoldered. Her face and chest were flushed.
"You are fierce and kind hearted, you are a better leader than you think you are. And stronger than any of your enemies think you are. And more determined to prove the world wrong than anyone I have ever met. You are capable of burning away this land that you seek, but you wish to nurture and protect it. I look up to you Khaleesi."
Dany flushed. She placed one of her small hands over Lillouets.
"That's odd, because I find myself looking up to you." She replied. Lillouet laughed. Her laugh was like music, like deep smooth chimes in the wind.
"Do what you wish, Khaleesi. If you wish for a lover then you should have one, Goodness knows you deserve it. I know that you'll end up doing what you think is best either way. And I know you put the good of your people before your own personal desires… But you deserve to enjoy yourself." She took Dany's hand from her face, and threaded their fingers together. She pulled it towards her chest, pressing it against her heart.
"You deserve to be happy, ma dan." She murmured.
And then she leaned towards Dany. She smelled faintly of freshly baked bread. Her breath tinged the space between them with mint leaves. Dany could feel her heart racing under her fingers. Her lips parted.
"Lillouet!" Athnash shouted out from the entrance of the tent. They jerked apart.
"I need you out here. For guard duty. Now." She demanded. She seemed to be fuming. Her wild hair gave her the appearance of a lioness. Lillouets face and ears turned red. She looked deep crimson with her dark skin.
"By your leave, Khaleesi." She said politely before rising and leaving the tent. Rhaello was on the ground now, putting sand in her mouth.
Dany let out a large sigh and poked the burning logs again before she went to grab her daughter.
