Chapter 14
Ginny had been standing at the prow of the ship, the Golden Queen since the shoreline of Westeros had come into view nearly an hour ago.
She had been nervous nearly the entire journey about what she was going to find when she reached the capital of Westeros and now that she was so close to discovery, she could feel her heart beginning to speed up.
It was one thing to be on the other side of the Narrow Sea and know something like this was coming and it was another thing completely to be within walking distance of the man she might have seen in her dreams and might be marrying.
Ginny had gone back and forth between nerves and confidence so much on the trip west that she almost thought she was going bipolar.
Thankfully Sirius had been the picture of calm and whenever she had been nervous he had an innate way of always knowing.
Ginny had developed a very good poker face when she had still been in her first life and had to keep the news of Dumbledore's Army's rebirth a secret from the Death Eaters.
She had a high pain tolerance because of the many times she had been cursed in the so called Defense Against the Dark Arts classes and she had conditioned herself to be the picture of utter confidence and leadership because it had literally been her and Neville and Luna who had been leading the charge against the Death Eaters in the school.
Perhaps that was why she had a talent for being a princess.
Maybe that was why she was thriving in this new life.
As the coastline of the city neared, both the king and the princess were standing in the prow of the ship, watching as the capital came into view.
The first thing the pair of them had noticed was that it was nowhere near as beautiful as Mereen. Perhaps that was simply because due to the work of Vellaena, the beautification of the capital of the Essosi Empire had been greatly improved over the last two years.
It was a sun drenched day as the capital of Westeros was experiencing a period of summer and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The city itself appeared to be on the edge of a peninsula from the rest of the land and reminded Ginny of one of those small eastern European cities she had seen with her parents when she was younger.
They had come across a small uninhabited island about an hour back where Faebian and Septimus had been left as bringing both dragons to the city would be a bit of an inconvenience at this time.
Ginny had also no intention of leaving the beasts in the fabled Dragon pit in the city because King Aerys would no doubt try and seek to control them there. Both of them would wait for her and Sirius's call.
The first thing that hit Ginny was the smell as soon as they entered what was known as Black Water Bay.
It was as if the full scent of a sewer that hadn't been properly cleaned in years came at her with the force of the Hogwarts Express as it had chugged toward school every year.
Sirius curled his lower lip in disgust and Ginny raised the hem of her black cloak to her mouth. "God's, what is that appalling stench?"
"T'is the water your grace," one of the sailors who was tying down one of the crates next to her said. He paused in his task and bowed to them slightly. "Black Water is known for its smells because it's thought to collect all of the run off from the city pipes, especially those of Flea Bottom who don't have proper drainage."
Sirius and Ginny exchanged horrified looks before turning to look at the water below the ship.
It did appear to be darker than normal water and was nothing compared to the beautiful sapphire shade of Gryphon Bay.
I can see where it gets its name, the red head thought grimly to herself.
"Can nothing be done to see that the city has proper drainage and pipes?" Sirius asked the sailor and the other man shook his head.
"Those nobles in the city have other things to worry about than the poor and the stink in the air is just something they have to deal with. No one really cares about the drainage here and the ones who have to handle it the most are the poor in Flea Bottom. For the nobles who never go down there, it usually follows the standard out of out of sight, out of mind."
Ginny was as appalled as when she had learned that there were no such things as hospitals in Essos.
To have people living in conditions like this without a care in the world…it was beyond criminal.
Her blue eyed gaze turned fierce until she felt Sirius take hold of her hand and squeeze it. "Easy Gin, you're not a queen yet so put any notion of solving the sewer problems in this city to the side for now."
The red head nodded and with an effort, focused on the city that was rapidly coming into view.
Again, it was nowhere near as beautiful as Mereen but perhaps that was simply because she was biased.
The streets that she could see from this distance were lined with curious people who had no doubt come to see the arrival of the foreign king and princess and Ginny could see that the stones beneath their feet were cobbled and there were small alleyways going down every main street. The houses themselves were made of an almost sun toasted sandstone color and were always two stories high. Some had metal roofing and others were made of beams but almost all of the ones near the harbor that she could see looked rather dilapidated and run down looking.
"Is that Flea Bottom?" she asked pointing.
The sailor raised a hand to cover his eyes and squinted against the sun. "Aye your grace. That is the poorest region in this city."
"It certainly lives up to its name," Ginny muttered under her breath and Sirius hummed deep in his throat in agreement.
The closer the current drew them towards the city, Ginny turned her attention to the castle on the peninsula at the edge of the city in the bay known as the Red Keep. That too lived up to its name with it characteristic red stones and three high towers. The keep itself seemed to be surrounded by very high walls in some places and in others, particularly the ones that were on the water were lowered so people had access to the bay.
Although Ginny had no idea who would want to swim in that water given what she had learned about it.
The main part of the keep seemed to be nestled against the wall at the far end of the peninsula and the part where one entered through the gates seemed to inhabit gardens or courtyard areas that were there for the elites to enjoy.
Ginny was more than a little irritated by that as well.
She knew what it was like to grow up wanting. She had watched her mother work hard to keep food on the table and clothes on the backs of her and her brothers. She had seen her father work like a dog to make ends meet so she knew exactly what it was like to be poor.
Granted she had never been as worse off as some of the households she was seeing in Flea Bottom but the principle was still the same. She had not been part of the elites and it had only been her blood that had allowed her to even be part of the pureblood discussion.
Sirius leaned over and whispered in her ear. "There will be time to discuss the poor contingent of the city later. For now let's simply focus on the task at hand. Observation."
She nodded.
The city was rapidly approaching now and they were being propelled forwards by a stiff breeze.
Another thing Ginny noticed was that it was somewhat cooler in Westeros than it was in Mereen, not by much but enough that she was able to notice the difference.
The air also didn't smell nearly as sweet and was tempered with the accent of sewage that was heavy on the air.
"Hoods up Gin," Sirius whispered to her as he pulled the head covering of his own black cloak up to disguise his face. She nodded and did the same so her visage was completely cloaked in shadow.
Keeping what they looked like hidden until they reached the keep and stood before the king only added to the mystery and at the moment, Sirius and Ginny wanted to have every advantage possible before going into this nest of vipers.
There were always ambitious people everywhere and Sirius had had to deal with them on his own council. The difference this time however was that he knew no one here and judging from what Steffon Baratheon had told him about the king and his Hand Tywin Lannister before he left, Sirius was right to keep his guard up.
He and Ginny were very aware that should they say yes to this marriage that there would be people who would try and use her here too.
There had been people like that in Mereen as well but she knew how to deal with them there. Westeros was an entirely new political system that she was going to have to learn the ins and outs of if she was going to be here for the next three months.
It seemed a daunting task but she was determined she would be successful.
Plus she had the advantage of seeing into their minds, something which she was certain that many people here didn't know. They would know of her magic to be sure but they would not know that she could reach into their minds and exploit their thoughts.
In this way, the amount of threats she might face here would be enormously compounded.
The sun was shining brightly on the water and there was a cool breeze blowing which took an edge off the heat though it wasn't nearly as hot as it was in Mereen.
Ginny could see that an enormous crowd had gathered down near the harbor and that a space had been created which led to the streets and this space was formed on both sides by soldiers that had no doubt been sent by the king.
She recognized the golden armor that was so characteristic of what she had been told the Kingsguard wore along with the white cloaks and the odd helms they wore upon their heads.
While they drew near to the city, Orius and the rest of the Creed guard that were aboard the ship with them had come down from the stern of the ship behind the helm and assembled in a semi-circle around Sirius and Ginny.
"It would appear that all of the city has turned out to welcome your arrival your grace," Orius said quietly from his place behind Sirius.
"Indeed," the gryphon king smirked. "It seems that word of our reputations has reached not only the ears of the nobles Ginny."
"So it would seem," the red head said quietly. "Although I do hope what they've heard has been favorable. The last thing I want to go into is a hostile environment."
"I have a feeling that might be part of this situation whether you wish it or not your grace," Gavreen who was on her left side said.
"Aye, the place looks to be a den of vipers," Visrael added with some distaste.
The members of their guard all had their hoods up and on their backs they bore the same black cloaks that the king and princess were wearing to disguise their faces, along with the sigil of the golden gryphon on their backs but they were not as long. The two swords were strapped to each of their backs along with the metal bracers on their arms from wrists to elbows that had a hidden mechanism that released the blades in them on both sides. There were two long daggers in hilts that were strapped to their legs along with the peculiar sort of chainmail they were wearing.
The belts that the Creed wore about their waists were covered with very thin, very sharp circular disks that could be used to throw at an enemy.
Needless to say their version of the Kingsguard didn't use half measures.
Ginny squinted at the harbor and caught sight of a familiar figure. "I believe I see Lord Baratheon father."
Sirius looked toward where she was nodding her head and saw the man in question down on the dock in the black and yellow cloak of his house colors, his long black hair whipping in the wind.
"So it is," her adoptive father replied. "It seems King Aerys is doing what he can to make us feel comfortable by sending a familiar face. How…gracious of him."
The sarcasm that was thinly veiled was noticeable by both Ginny and the guard because the red head could have sworn she saw a white flash of a smile beneath Orius's hood.
"Well," Ginny mused. "I would rather have Lord Steffon show me about the city as opposed to some lord who is more concerned with how they can use us to benefit the realm or themselves for that matter."
Sirius chuckled deeply in his throat, a sound which made Ginny smile. "I suppose being led by him to the keep has its benefits. Although it would be nice if they did have chariots here."
"And how would our guard get to the capital then?" Sirius asked, amusement in his tone. "We all get there at one time or not at all."
At his words the members of the guard shifted slightly and seemed to stand a little taller and Ginny smiled at her adoptive father with pride. This was why he was a great leader, not only did he have the ability to give inspiring speeches, he had a way of making even the smallest child in his empire feel important. No one was beneath his notice or unworthy of his attention, and he valued the Creed very highly.
He's come a long way from the pranking Gryffindor school boy.
Sirius had truly come into his own before he ever became a king. Being a part of the Second Sons had hardened him so that he knew this world knew no mercy even though he had already experienced that when he had spent thirteen years in prison surrounded by demons for a crime he didn't commit.
He had matured, gained wisdom and become a commander and leader of men that people would follow to the death.
There was a reason he was so beloved by his people. Ginny knew she would have followed him anywhere when she was still in Hogwarts and his death had enraged and saddened her a great deal.
Now that she knew that wasn't the case, Ginny had vowed a long time ago that she was going to protect the man she saw as her second father. He was very different from
Arthur Weasley but it was an exceptional sort of different that had been perfect for her adjustment to life in Essos.
And now that he was by her side, she had no more fear of what she would face in Westeros, despite the danger. She could feel her confidence returning when he placed his hand on her shoulder and smirked.
And the game is on.
The dock was now only twenty feet away and the water was deep enough that they could come right up to it without hitting the bottom.
The many people gathered on the dock which were being held back by the Kingsguard were craning their necks to see the foreign royals.
Ginny was glad she had put her hood up because she didn't want anyone to know what she looked like until they had reached the keep.
Mystery was going to be the greatest thing to aid them in this case. It would add an air of power to their persona as not knowing a person's face created all sorts of possibilities in one's mind and therefore you had the power to hold them in thrall before you even met them.
That was what Sirius was going for now.
The moment the gangplank was lowered, the Creed formed a complete circle around the king and princess.
There was a pause before Ginny looked between the guards and saw that it appeared Lord Steffon was walking up the gangplank to meet them with a contingent of the Kingsguard at his back.
There was a deep silence in the air as all those gathered leaned forward to hear what would be said between the storm lord and the gryphon king.
The sun was shining on the water like a spotlight and the sound of the waves lapping against the hull of the ship were the only things that could be heard in the silence.
Sirius took a step forward and tapped Orius's shoulder so he could stand aside and the king could address the lord of Storm's End as he came onto the ship.
The moment the captain of the Creed guard moved aside and Lord Steffon saw Sirius, he bowed low.
"Your graces, welcome to Westeros. We are honored by your presence."
Ginny questioned his sincerity about that statement but since her face was half cloaked in shadow, he couldn't see her smirk.
"Thank you Lord Baratheon," Sirius said smoothly. "But was such a turnout completely necessary? My daughter and I have brought our own guards with us from Mereen. Surely the Kingsguard weren't a needed thing to escort us to the Red Keep."
"His grace, King Aerys insisted," Steffon replied and he almost looked apologetic. "He would not want his royal guests to be without adequate protection."
Sirius made a sound that almost appeared a cross between a snort and a cough and when he spoke again, he sounded highly amused. "And we could not have that now could we?"
Before Lord Baratheon could say anything else, Sirius turned to the Creed guard and said a few short sharp commands in High Valyrian, knowing that Steffon would not be able to understand them.
Immediately the guard stood to attention and Missandei who had been watching the proceedings came down from the stern of the ship to stand beside Ginny.
Sirius turned back to Lord Steffon who was watching the proceedings curiously. "Shall we proceed?"
The Lord nodded. "Of course. If you would but follow me your grace, we will arrive at the keep momentarily."
Sirius held out his hand to Ginny in the form of a fist which she rested her hand atop of and the Creed formed a circle about them once more as the royals disembarked from the ship. Missandei followed at a discreet distance but was also in the circle among the guards.
Lord Steffon and the Kingsguard led the way back through the city streets. Ironically the smell seemed to lessen the moment they were in and among the buildings, but Ginny still saw with distaste puddles of human waste being tossed out of windows.
Gods…if I do decide to become the queen of this land…designing better drainage for this city will be the first thing that I do.
Lord Steffon kept to the main streets which had much wider widths and less alleys for people to jump out of. The smells changed to one of meat cooking on open flames and spices that venders were selling in the streets. In some places, brightly colored tarps were hung over the alleyways to provide shade from the sun and the streets were all cobbled stones that rang as people walked upon them.
Though her hood was up, Ginny was still able to see all manner of the people who had gathered to watch this rather historic event.
As they passed a particular building, the red head happened to notice a great deal many children gathered at the door along with two women one of whom was holding a squalling infant.
The building itself appeared old but was in a state of disrepair if the peeling paint and chipped bricks were any indication.
Is this what passes for an orphanage in this country? Ginny thought to herself.
"Stop," she said quietly.
The Creed guard all of whom seemed to possess ears like a cat immediately halted though Steffon and the Kingsguard carried on a few paces before they realized they weren't being followed and turned back.
Sirius immediately saw what had drawn Ginny's attention and his expression darkened somewhat, not in anger for the orphanage itself but because such standards would not have been accepted in Mereen.
He had always told her that protecting the children of his country was the most important thing because they were the next generation that would live under the next rule of Gryffindors. In order to maintain a dynasty that lasted long after they were gone, the care of the next generation was paramount. In order to bring Essos out of the archaic past
Sirius had insisted that each child who lived in an orphanage in his empire be taught to read and write and know their numbers. A well educated people was one that was likely to improve and grow and build a more fortified future.
But Ginny could see that this was not the case in Westeros and it enraged her. Aerys Targaryen treats his subjects as if they are nothing more than cattle and people have to follow his laws because he is the king.
She was under no illusions that she and Sirius were perfect rulers but she acknowledged that they listened to the people.
Ginny placed a gentle hand on Gavreen's shoulder so she might slip in between him and out of the circle. Calmly she walked toward the orphanage and the children at its doors who looked shell shocked that the foreign princess was paying attention to them.
"Your grace I must insist that we continue to move on," Lord Steffon called but the red head paid him no attention.
"Peace my lord," Sirius said from somewhere behind her. "My daughter has a very tender heart and it is due to her influence that no child sleeps in the cold in our empire. I can see that that might not be the case here."
Ginny wanted to smirk at the subtle dig but she restrained herself because at the moment she had stopped before the children.
There was a moment's hesitation before the two ladies bowed low and the children followed suit right away. Their clothing was not well made but it was clean and Ginny could tell that these women worked hard to keep the children well kept. Though they were skinny, it was not the type of rail thin that hinted at malnutrition and some of them just appeared small.
The street had become very quiet as soon as the foreign princess had stepped out from behind her guards and made her way towards the orphanage. Everyone was watching to see what she would do.
But that didn't seem to matter.
Instead, Ginny smiled at the children. "Please stand up, there is no need to bow. Pray tell me, what are your names?"
One of ladies who looked to be in charge and whose face was swathed in veils straightened first and gave the princess a shy smile. "My name is Mylene your grace and this is an orphanage that we run for the children of the city who have lost parents to war."
"And how many children do you have?" Ginny asked.
"About two dozen your grace," another of the women said. She was short a somewhat plump but she had a round face and a pleasant smile that reminded Ginny somewhat of her mother's. "But more are coming in all the time. This city is a terrible place for a child with no parents."
"I can see that," Ginny murmured.
There was a moment of silence before she got down on her knees in front of the children who were all looking at her with wide eyes. "Now why don't you tell me your names?"
The little boy in front of her looked back at Mylene and she nodded at him and smiled before he turned. "My name is Jaeson your grace."
"And how old are you Jaeson?" Ginny asked.
"I'm nine," he responded.
"When did you first come here?" Ginny asked softly.
"Three years ago I think," he replied. The whole time he had been looking down at his feet as he spoke to her but as she asked her next question Ginny raised a hand so she might lift his chin and see his eyes. He reluctantly looked at her and she was surprised to see that he had large pale brown eyes that were almost gold. He would grow up to be very handsome no doubt.
"And do you like it here Jaeson?" Ginny asked.
He nodded eagerly. "It's much nicer than sleeping in the street. I have to share my bed and my clothes, but I don't mind. There's not always a lot to eat. But I'm not ever hungry."
"Good," Ginny said softly.
She smiled at him before getting back to her feet and turning to her father who was watching the situation with blazing pride in his eyes. The creed guard had stepped back to form a semi-circle about him so that he could see his daughter's activities.
"Father?" Ginny asked.
"Yes my daughter?" Sirius replied.
Ginny rested her hand atop the small boy's head. "Do you not think that Jaeson here has the build of a knight?"
Sirius smiled at her beneath his hood. "Aye, he does."
Ginny nodded before looking down at the small boy whose eyes had gone enormous at the mention of the word.
"Would you like to be a knight Jaeson?" she asked.
He nodded eagerly.
Ginny smiled again before turning back to Mylene who had begun to smile as well. Stepping back towards the older woman, Ginny leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "You will be hearing from me about these children in a day or so. I am going to be residing in King's Landing for the next little while so some of these children I might take into my service. As for right now however, come to me for whatever you need to feed them, clothe them or house them. Directly to me."
Mylene looked as if she were trying to keep from shedding tears but smiled at Ginny even though it was watery. "Yes your grace. Thank you."
Ginny bent slightly and kissed Jaeson lightly on the top of his head, not caring that his hair was slightly greasy and a little unwashed. As far as she was concerned, each child in that place was precious no matter what they wore or what they looked like.
She waved goodbye to them all before walking back to the circle of her guard and stepping in between them to join her father. "We can continue now Lord Baratheon, I apologize for the delay."
The man looked a little surprised at what she had done however and only nodded to her. "It was not a problem at all your grace."
They moved to continue walking on their journey to the keep, but before their pace resumed, Ginny caught sight of one of the Kingsguard looking at her through his helm rather curiously. It almost looked as if there was a flash of admiration in his eyes.
Perhaps honor is still valued here, despite the king that the Kingsguard is serving.
"A rather interesting idea daughter," Sirius said under his breath as they walked.
Ginny frowned at him. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that you showing interest in the children of this city is sure to draw the attention of the king. I know you did not do this with that purpose in mind but it is sure to be an interesting way to attain the support of the people."
"I suppose that is one result that may come of me taking notice of the children in this city," Ginny mused.
"I only stress caution because of the realm we are in," Ginny noticed Sirius had put up silencing charms about them when they were aboard the ship so if they ever spoke to each other, no one would overhear them. It was a useful tool to employ given where they were and who they would be around. She was glad for them now as they walked as it meant no one, not even the Creed guard around them could hear what they were saying. "We are going into a situation where the king is professed to be mad. He might see your empowering of the people through these children as an attempt to seize power."
"That is true," Ginny replied. "However if he thinks the people of this city have my attention then he may think it will be a way to keep me here and marry his son."
"Also true," Sirius noted.
The pair lapsed into silence as they continued through the streets with the overabundance of guards around them.
The keep began to come into closer view and with its tall deep red walls and looming towers it looked almost foreboding, a vast difference from the great pyramid that Ginny had called home for the past two years
"He certainly does seem to like the look of forbidden structures doesn't he?" she whispered to her father and he chuckled low in his throat.
There were a great many differences between the Red Keep and the Great Pyramid. For one the red keep was located on a peninsula on the outskirts of the city, detached from everything else that was in the city which was only a means of showcasing that those in the keep liked to keep themselves separate from all of the poor.
In Mereen however, the Great Pyramid was in the center of the city and no matter where one was, they could always see its pinnacle with the golden gryphon at the very top. It was extremely easy to get to and though an enormous structure, it was seen as a symbol of peace for the gryphon looks down on all.
When they reached the gates of the keep, the great doors swung open and Lord Steffon led the way into the enormous courtyard of the keep.
The red keep almost seemed to be an island on its own although it was connected to the rest of the city. The rock it was sitting on seemed to thin out as it approached the gates of the palace and then widened out again to accommodate the whole keep.
It was styled almost like a series of steps leading up to the palace itself and they were on the lowest and largest one. The palace itself looked out right over the water and its tallest tower looked over a hundred feet high. There were many gardens if the sweet scent of flowers coming her way was any indication. The walls were thick and high and she could see many soldiers patrolling its walls, armed to the teeth.
The gate behind them had two stone watch towers on either side of the road and an elevated ramp of sorts led through it to the second level of the palace. The levels after that had numerous gardens that looked out over the ocean. The palace itself seemed to be built in the shape of a triangle as the front of it was a straight line and the rest leading to the outermost point of the rock it was sitting on were two pyramidal lines.
Ginny couldn't say that she liked it but she was also biased because she thought Mereen was one of the most beautiful places in the world and there would be few things that would come close to it in beauty.
The gardens however that she was able to see from the courtyard did appear to be rather nice however and perhaps she could learn to like them.
When they had entered in through the gates and the doors had shut behind them, the Creed guard opened slightly so that Lord Steffon could turn and address the king.
"We will entering through the main doors of the keep your graces," he said. "The doors into the throne room are just inside."
"Very good Lord Steffon," Sirius said. "But might I have a moment with my daughter first before we go inside?"
"Of course your grace."
Lord Steffon turned away to speak with one of the members of the Kingsguard while Sirius turned back to Ginny and took both of her hands in his. "I will ask one last time. Are you ready for this and whatever might follow? Once we walk through those doors and into that throne room your life will change exponentially. Whether this is a good or bad change is up to you. Know that I am by your side every step of the way and there's nothing I wouldn't do for you."
Ginny gave her second father a gentle smile. "I know and I love you all the more for it. But we are here now and given what has happened over the last few months because of this, I feel I am ready."
He gave a sharp nod. "This is your decision whether or not you want to marry this man and I will not stop you if this is something that you wish. But know that you have an out and there is no pressure on you despite what this king says."
"I know father," Ginny replied. "I am probably more aware of that now than I ever have been before."
It had become a lot easier to call Sirius her father lately because he was in every sense of the word. He had protected her, cared for her, comforted her, listened to her and given her a second family and a home as well as helped her heal.
He would never be Arthur Weasley the man who had brought her into this world, but fathers were more than just blood. They were heart and they were head as well.
Sirius was her second father and she would call him that until the day she died for the second time.
"Are you ready then?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Very well then. Lord Baratheon?"
The man turned back from where he was standing. "Yes your grace?"
The members of the Kingsguard who had just accompanied them through the gates of the keep had gone back inside no doubt to report to the king that the royal visitors were outside.
"We are ready my lord," Sirius said graciously. "Will you please show us in?"
"Of course your graces," Steffon replied.
The guards of the Creed reformed their circle around Sirius and Ginny and the king offered his daughter his hand so they might continue walking.
It only took a few minutes to enter the door of the keep and the moment they were inside, Ginny became aware of an almost red, orange and gold color scheme in the marble tiles of the floor and the cream colored pillars. The windows of the keep were decorated with flowers and the halls were long and winding.
The moment they stepped inside of the cool shady quiet of the hall, Ginny became aware of the short hallway ahead of them leading to a pair of large glossy wooden doors with thick brass handles on them. They must have been the doors that led into the keep and judging by the murmur of voices that could be heard from within, it was a packed house that awaited them.
Ginny threw a glance at Sirius and saw that even beneath his hood there was an almost wolfish smile in the way he was baring his teeth. He seemed very keen to get inside those doors and meet this king that he had heard so much about.
Though not because he had any admiration for his reputation mind you.
He held out his hand once more and Ginny placed her hand atop of it, his smug laid back attitude almost infectious in the way that she smiled at him.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Ginny smirked. "I've been ready for a long time. I just didn't know it. Come, we shouldn't keep them waiting any longer. House Gryffindor is waiting to be unleashed."
Sirius's low rumbling chuckle was the last thing she heard before someone on the other side of the doors must have opened them for they swung open.
Keeping her expression completely blank and a smug glint in her eye, Ginny strode beside her father and behind the guard into the cool of the throne room that had gone utterly silent.
Ω
They must have created quite a picture striding into the throne room at the center of a circle of heavily armed guards with their faces covered and their black and gold cloaks trailing the ground behind them.
The Creed always walked with a pace that while smooth and had the feline quality of a big cat, there was always a purpose in their stride and so when Ginny and her father all but strode into the throne room, people took notice right away.
The first thing that the red head noticed as she and Sirius and their guard walked in was the sheer amount of people in the room. It seemed that nearly every noble in the city was present to view the king and the princess from across the sea. Ginny saw a sea of faces, many of them bearing expressions of eagerness, hostility, confusion, anxiety, but mostly curiosity.
It was a large throne room and had galleries on the left side of the room in which one could watch court proceedings. There were six large pillars in the room as well, three on each side and they were surrounded in their lower half by steel grates that contained firewood to be lit when it was cold. The pillars went up at least fifty feet and the ceiling of the throne room was lofty like that of a church in the way it came up in a triangle formation.
The color scheme in the room was a curious scheme of black and white and brown but the differing shades were the last things that Ginny thought about as she looked around.
What did catch her eye were the skulls of the dragons scattered throughout the room. Some of them were enormous, the size of Septimus or Faebian's head and others were so small they were the size of her fist and barely noticeable.
The only reason she did see those ones at all was because they were sitting on the steps of a raised dais at the far end of the room. There were six wide steps that led up to a platform upon which rested the ugliest throne Ginny had ever seen.
As she looked more closely at it, she was able to see that it was made out of melted down swords, several of them which had been attached to the back of the chair. It was enormous and looked highly uncomfortable but it was what it symbolized that disgusted her.
Sirius's throne in Mereen symbolized who he was, the gryphon king that many had put their faith and trust in and of which he had taken a vow to lead and protect. It was a symbol of prosperity as well because of the twelve gryphons that were swooping about their city and that the gryphon princes were well and healthy.
But this throne was a symbol of oppression because it symbolized all those who had fallen to obtain the swords that had made it.
How many armies have risen and fallen just so the Targaryens could add to that monstrosity of a chair?
The throne itself was situated beneath a tall window in which suspended a wrought iron circle and contained within the circle was a seven pointed star in blood red and made of glass. It was the symbol of the faith of the Seven of Westeros, the primary religion. There were candles everywhere and at the wall behind the throne on either side were two tall archways which led into other part of the keep.
All of this only held Ginny's attention for a moment however before the rather pathetic looking creature seated on the throne captured it.
If this is King Aerys I would hate to see the poor in this city as they must look a thousand times worse.
He was a pale almost wraith like creature with platinum blonde hair and violet eyes set deep in his face with dark circles underneath. He was dressed in rich red robes that hung loosely on his thin frame and atop his head there rested a wide band of gold with twelve black spikes sticking up out of it.
His eyes had fastened on the Creed guard and those two within it that were very obviously the people who had come to see him. His smile was greedy and his eyes were vibrant with a light that Ginny did not like.
It was then that she noticed the two people standing beside him. On a small wooden chair to his right was a woman who was obviously the queen. She had the same platinum blonde hair and violet eyes as her husband betraying her familial relation to him and there was a thin band of silver on her forehead. She was attired in a stunning purple dress that bared her arms and gave way to her beautiful face. But it was the expression in her eyes that made Ginny frown. You might never have been able to tell in her posture or stance but…she looked tired. Almost as if she had been fighting a battle born of emotion for so long that she had forgotten how to simply live.
And then Ginny turned and gazed upon the person standing on the left side of the throne dressed in dark robes accented in red.
He bore no crown but his hair was neatly combed back and his violet eyes were watching the proceedings with mild interest and curiosity. He was tall, at least half a head taller than she was and his build was strong and lean as if he had spent a lifetime training himself to be at his full physical potential.
But it was his face that struck her.
Her dream had not done justice to his exquisite features and Ginny felt as if she were truly seeing him for the first time as he stood there beside the throne. His features were high and chiselled as if they had been cut from stone and his jaw was hard and well defined. The planes of his face were aristocratic betraying the looks of his ancestors and
Ginny felt her heart rate quicken ever so slightly.
For this was the man she had seen in her dreams.
There was no denying it and now she was left to try and grasp the reality of what this all meant. If what the Undying had shown her two years ago was true in that dream and now in this reality, did that mean that all of the other things she had seen would come true as well?
She was snapped from her thoughts as she continued walking into the center of the throne room with her father and finally the Creed guard came to a stop. They were standing in a circle around Sirius and Ginny with their hands clasped in front of them and their feet shoulder width apart, their hooded faces gazing at the king with impassive expressions on their faces.
Sirius barked something in High Valyrian and immediately the Creed smoothly transitioned into the semi-circle they had been in on the ship.
There was a long silence throughout the throne room and Ginny was certain she could hear the breath of every single person standing there in that moment. The tension was so thick one could cut it with a knife and in spite of herself she smirked, completely unconcerned with how it looked.
She felt Sirius' grasp on her hand tighten subtly as the two of them stood before the Targaryens.
Sirius turned his head to take in all of those gathered and his eyes lit upon the skulls of the dragons. His eyes widened slightly in amusement at the pathetic attempts of the dragon kings to hold onto the past.
Ginny could practically hear the smirk in his voice when he spoke finally.
"So for once the rumors are true."
His thunderous voice echoed and cracked across the throne room with the force of a whip, causing Ginny's smirk to widen. Sirius's voice had deepened exponentially since he had come to Essos and it now carried a rumbling tone to it that in the right circumstance resembled thunder. It was a voice he had commanded legions of men with and just hearing it made someone sit up and take notice.
As she glanced around, Ginny could tell that Westeros's nobles were certainly taking notice now. People standing in the back and deep amongst the crowd were standing on their toes and craning their necks to get better look at them.
Ginny had a feeling she knew what sort of game her second father was playing. In speaking first the power in the room had shifted to him because all would know what he wished to say now. And he could hold people in thrall for as long as he liked.
She decided to play along and turned to him, a smirk on her face. "Rumors father? What rumors do you mean?"
Sirius's smirk became almost feral in that moment. "They really do keep dragon skulls in their keep. Fascinating isn't it?"
There was a slight murmuring among the crowd as people began to wonder to each other what this new king was doing.
Ginny's smirk widened. If anything, Sirius loved being unpredictable and it was a trait he had upheld since his days at Hogwarts. No doubt people would not know what to expect now.
It seemed that Aerys had let the monologue continue on long enough and decided to take control of the situation.
"Welcome to Westeros King Sirius Gryffindor and Princess Ginevra. Long have we waited to meet you."
His voice was high and didn't care nearly the presence that Sirius's did. It almost sounded soft in the courtroom as if his voice had been lessened to half of its power.
Sirius gave an almost imperceptible nod of his head like he was inclining it to the king and then raised his hands to the hood of his cloak, drawing it down from his face so his visage might be seen.
There was a very long silence as he lowered the garment, revealing his face, his bearing and the winged crown he wore upon his brow.
Ginny could feel the intense scrutiny of her father from everyone's gaze but Sirius remained the picture of an almost lazy serenity. The red head darted her eyes to the sides of the courtroom and could see many of the women gathered looking at him with an appraising look in their eyes.
She smirked to herself again.
She had seen pictures in Number 12 Grimmauld Place when the Order had been meeting there and had been stunned at the almost movie star good looks that Sirius had exhibited when he was younger.
Time had been good to him before it only made his bearing appear even stronger and give an air of authority to his presence that he had not had in England. He had always been a solidly built and well-muscled person but the air and the food and training of Essos had done wonders for him.
He was a king in every sense of the word and Ginny knew that he knew it too for the confidence he exhibited when facing a king that physically at least did not bear mention of the name, was infectious.
"I am afraid that matters of state may take unprecedented amounts of time to resolve, King Aerys," Sirius replied smoothly. "But you understand this of course."
Ginny wondered at his tone for a moment before she ignored it.
"Of course," the king replied and Ginny saw the glint in his eye. He obviously didn't like knowing that there was another man as powerful as he was with the dragons and the empire to back it up. Or that he had been kept waiting.
But then he turned his attention to her. "And this must be the princess Ginevra whom my cousin has told me so much about."
Ginny smirked quietly to herself and took a silent breath before reached her hands to her hood and lowering it like her father had done.
This time and she was certain she didn't imagine it, there was an almost imperceptible gasp from the members of court and if anything it made Aerys eyes narrow even more greedily as he took her in.
As Ginny lowered her hood, her thick blood red curls tumbled down her back and about her face and she could feel the prickling of hundreds of eyes upon her. They would analyze her just as they had done to Sirius.
And so to hold off any rumors about her lack of proper decorum, Ginny swept into a deep curtsy. When she stood again, she looked at the king and did the only thing she could do.
She smirked.
Aerys eyes widened in manic delight and he began to chuckle softly, drawing the attention of many of the people in the room. "Pardon me for using your own words King Sirius, but it also seems that the rumors we have heard are true as well."
Sirius's lazy smile only widened as did Ginny's and she folded her hands comfortably in front of her. "I don't purport to be anything but truthful your grace."
The king's chuckle became a resounding laugh. "So it would seem. You do have the look of the ancient Gryffindors my dear."
"Thank you your grace."
What else could she say after all?
"The both of you are very welcome," Aerys went on and the manic glint in his eye only exacerbated. "There will be a feast in your honor held this evening. That way the princess may acclimatize herself to the royal court of Westeros. This is to be her home after all."
Sirius's smile continued but a dangerous look appeared in his eyes. It was the look he usually wore before he went into battle on the back of Faebian and Ginny knew right away that Aerys was delusional if he thought what had taken place here today meant she was somehow guaranteed as a bride for his son.
"Time will tell King Aerys," His voice was smooth as honey but carrying a hard edge all the same. "Time will tell."
The violet eyes of the other king narrowed but some shred of logic seemed to convince him that now would not be the time to counter his guests because he knew what they could do.
Lord Steffon who was standing near the foot of the throne was looking increasingly uncomfortable. Hoping she would put the man at ease Ginny smiled at him.
His response looked more like a grimace but at least he attempted it.
Aerys must have caught sight of the focus of her attention and his smile turned to a small sneer.
"Steffon!" he barked.
The man nearly jumped. "Yes your grace?"
The king's sneer was almost feral even though Sirius kept on smiling. "Please see our royal guests to their chambers. I'm sure they have had a long journey and we want to make sure they are as comfortable as possible."
Sirius answer was preceded by a deep smirk. "That's not necessary King Aerys, my daughter and I plan to look around the keep. If this is to be her home, then I would ensure that it is as…safe as possible. You don't mind do you not?"
Aerys looked somewhat put out that his orders were being overlooked but diplomacy and the fact that he was also standing before a king himself seemed to retain some of his rationale. "Of course King Sirius. The keep is open to you."
It was Ginny who answered this time. "Thank you your grace. I'm sure our stay here will be very…informative."
Her mouth curved slightly in a smile and it was then and only then that she allowed her gaze to wander to Prince Rhaegar.
It appeared that his eyes had not left her for the entirety of the time that she had had her hood lowered. As soon as his violet eyes met her blue ones, Ginny felt a tingling along her skin and a prickling at the back of her neck.
There was a feeling of memory there and in that moment all of her memories and emotions from the vision she had had nearly two years came rushing back to her and it was like no time at all had passed.
Fortunately none of what she was feeling showed on her face for it seemed that the prince had a very intense gaze and could melt someone who wasn't emotionally stable beneath it.
Ginny now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was the man from her vision and her confusion about what that meant was acute.
She held his gaze for a moment long before she curtsied once more to the king and took her father's raised her hand. The Creed guard immediately assembled in a circle about them once more and smoothly turned on their heels so they might escort their rulers out of the throne room.
The doors opened for them, and immediately they were gone.
But Ginny could feel Prince Rhaegar's eyes on her back the whole time.
Ω
A few hours later saw the two Gryffindors walking slowly about the gardens. They had both shed their cloaks and left them in their rooms which were now being set up by Missandei and the servants they had brought with them.
The air of tension in the keep had dissipated somewhat since the two kings had parted and the king and princess were simply taking a moment to assess what they had seen and speak about it with each other.
Silencing wards had been put up around them as Orius, Gavreen, Visrael and Sion followed at a discreet distance, their footsteps barely a tap on the stones.
"What did you think of them?" Sirius asked quietly. "It seems that King Aerys is a madman just as we have been told. However I was rather pleasantly surprised at the diplomacy he showed us."
"I wasn't," Ginny put in. "He's never been face to face with someone who has equal to or greater power than he does and that makes him wary. When we weren't here he could posture as much as he wanted and no one would have reason to disbelieve him. But now that we are here and standing before him and he saw that it was not going to be easy to manipulate you or me, it had him backpedaling. Don't think he'll give up however. He seemed rather forward that this was to be my new home."
Sirius snorted. "You'll make that choice yourself without any pressure on his part. You know I have no qualms about doing what is necessary to ensure our family's safety."
Ginny smirked. "Let's hold off on an assassination attempt just yet. I still have yet to speak to the other person that this decision will be affecting."
"And you are certain that he is the one from your vision?" Sirius asked.
Ginny took a deep breath. "That is the only thing that I am certain of right now."
Sirius looked a bit grim. "Very well then, we will commence with the plan we have put into place in Mereen. If the king does not agree to it then we will be departing from this city without delay."
Ginny raised an eyebrow at him. "You do not like the city?"
Sirius's lower lip curled in disgust. "It is a poor representation of a city. Mereen is far superior."
The red head chuckled. "Don't you think you're a little biased? Mereen wasn't much better than this city before we arrived and beautified it."
"I suppose that is true."
"And speaking of arrival," Ginny said suddenly remembering something. "Ought you not to check in with Vellaena and see how court for the day went? Morosh is still adjusting to new leadership and needs to be kept an eye on."
Sirius raised an eyebrow at her. "Only you would think of the running of an empire while we are discussing your potential marriage."
Ginny shrugged and smiled. "What can I say? The running of the empire helps distract me from my thoughts at times."
Sirius chuckled. "Perhaps I will check in with them. Are you certain you will be alright here while I do so?"
Ginny raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm not that helpless am I? And give the triplets a kiss for me."
Sirius smiled before kissing the top of her head. "Just keeping an eye out for you my dear. I should be gone no more than half an hour."
He turned away to speak to the guards for a moment before he disillusioned himself and apparated away with a crack.
Ginny nodded to the four of her guard and they continued slowly walking through the garden. "What do you think of this place Orius?"
"I find I am in agreement with the king your grace. It is a most disagreeable place," the captain replied.
Ginny chuckled. "You and my father are such pessimists sometimes. Was not Mereen in a state of disrepair before the king and I came to settle in it?"
"Aye your grace it was. But I do not think it was nearly as bad as some of the city I have seen from the ship. The area of Flea Bottom seems to be in need of serious redirection."
Ginny nodded. "We can agree on that at least."
They continued walking through the garden in silence and Ginny found she rather liked the cool quiet of the place. It would be a good place to reflect for her if she decided to make this place her home as Aerys seemed to hint she would.
The trees were tall and the flowers were plentiful and with the shining of the sun down upon her, it almost seemed to be as perfect as the gardens she loved so much in Mereen.
For a moment she closed her eyes and allowed herself to imagine that she was home. Though she felt confident in what she and Sirius had come here to do, now that she was here in the keep there would be things she would need to account for that they might not have expected.
King Aerys had actually seemed to possess some shred of rationale when speaking with them although that probably had more to do with the fact that they were equal to each other in power if not more.
Ginny had a feeling it wouldn't bode well with the dragon king to know that there was someone with more power than him in the world.
She also knew that there had to have been a shred of logic in his brain which prevented him from acting how he wanted to do as their situation with the king was still precarious.
I've always like engaging in politics, but this is on a whole other level.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, wondering how she and Sirius would plan their next move.
The game was different here and though they had the advantage of dragons and magic that didn't mean that they could be too cocky.
Ginny knew that Aerys would find it difficult to intimidate Sirius given the fact that he was not only a king but a commander.
That fool has probably never even seen what a battle looks like.
Ginny felt an iron clad nerve settle in her heart once more. I came here for myself, not at the behest of some king and I will make my choice to say yes or no, no matter what he does.
There were few people that would be able to stop her and Aerys Targaryen was the least of them.
"Are you well your grace?" Orius asked.
She smiled at the captain. "I am. Just thinking."
No sooner had she said the words when an unfamiliar sound permeated the silence of the garden. It sounded almost like a violin but the plucks on the string were much softer and as it carried on the wind the melody of it was one of great sorrow that almost made her want to weep as it reminded her of another time.
Where is that coming from?
Curious, Ginny followed the sound until she was standing at the entrance to a garden with a short stone wall filled with pale white silvery flowers that seemed oddly familiar.
And it was there that she saw him.
It was a bit of a surprise to see someone of his position doing something so normal, but then Ginny did a lot of journaling in her spare time as well which might have been odd for someone to see of her position as well.
Seeing Rhaegar Targaryen sitting on a bench in that garden with a harp in his hands calmly coaxing music from the strings caused Ginny to smile. His eyes were closed as if he were feeling the melody and as the sound drifted toward her, the tenseness in Ginny relaxed slightly.
She didn't even know she had been feeling stiff until it fled from her and she leaned slightly against the wall of the garden, listening to the music.
The red head felt a wave of confusion upon seeing the prince as such an action only confirmed that the man she had seen in her vision was sitting before her and it challenged that she needed to do something with that information.
And truthfully Ginny didn't know what she was supposed to do with this knowledge. She was concerned because if the man she had seen in that vision was a living breathing human that she had married and had a child with then did that also mean any of the other visions she had seen would come true as well?
Obviously the one with the woman and the small dwarf like men she had no idea of what it might mean. And then the one with her family was certainly not going to come true as they were all dead. But the one of the ice covered throne room that looked eerily like the throne room of the red keep was one that was deeply concerning.
That one she would need to think on.
Ginny turned her attention back to the prince who appeared to be plucking the last few notes of his song. The moment the notes faded away, the prince appeared to take a deep breath as if releasing some hidden emotion.
It was then that Ginny decided to speak up.
"What is it about?"
His head shot up and his violet eyes crashed into hers before widening slightly as he took in who was standing before him.
"Your grace," he said getting to his feet and bowing slightly. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Ginny looked around the area and smiled slightly. "The gardens of this place remind me somewhat of home. It's…soothing."
The prince nodded and she couldn't tell if he was simply feeling a sense of awkwardness about the encounter or whether he was just wary because he didn't know her.
Perhaps it was a bit of both.
"I can agree," he said. "Out here the politics and affairs of state don't seem to matter as much."
Ginny cocked her head to one side. "Matters of ruling don't interest you?"
His eyes narrowed slightly before he saw the tiny smile on her face and realized that she was only gently teasing him. He responded by giving her one of his own and it did wonders for his face. Though he had been handsome when she had first seen him, the smile seemed to light up his whole face making his features entirely more beautiful.
Ginny felt her heart stutter and then resume at a slightly faster pace than before for she remembered that being the same smile he had given her in the vision.
Get a hold of yourself Gin.
"It's not that," the prince replied walking a little closer so they were now standing in front of each other. "But there is certainly a lot to learn and there are times when I do crave being alone."
"I can understand that," Ginny said quietly. "Essos certainly has its fair share of intrigues and matters to look into. It seems the work of a royal is never done."
He looked at her carefully. "You seem well suited to handle it however."
Ginny raised an eyebrow at him. "I do? How do you mean?"
He offered her his arm as any prince or noble who had come to court with the hopes of speaking to her would and it was with some reluctance that Ginny took it.
With her guards following at a discreet distance the two of them began to walk slowly through the garden.
"It would seem that you hold the same amount of confidence as King Sirius," Prince Rhaegar observed and Ginny chuckled. "My father has always been a confident man but it has served him well as a king. He was rather intrigued when King Aerys sent his own cousin to our court to propose this marriage."
Rhaegar absently ran a hand through his hair, musing it slightly. "Yes I can imagine. My father's cousin had much to say when he returned from his visit to Mereen."
Ginny's eyebrow rose even higher. "Really? Do tell."
He looked down at her and Ginny thought for the moment that this was the first time he was really seeing her and assessing what he was seeing. "He had nothing but good things to say both of King Sirius and of you."
Ginny smirked. "A most pragmatic answer Prince Rhaegar. Surely there was more said than that."
The prince nodded. "There was but I am hesitant to say it."
Ginny frowned at him. "Why is that?"
The prince gave an almost wry smile. "Let us just say that my father did not take lightly to the knowledge that he would be kept waiting."
Really? Well isn't that interesting. He's going to love the proposal we have put forth then.
"Hmm," Ginny said. "And my father is someone who…likes to take his time when making decisions."
To her surprise, Prince Rhaegar seemed amused by that. "So it would seem. It will be rather amusing to see such differences in personality in the small council chamber."
"Yes it would be wouldn't it?"
They walked for a little while longer down a long pathway lined with trees. Ginny knew her guards were still behind her as she could hear their quiet footsteps on the stones but most of her attention was focused on the prince.
He seemed contemplative and she wondered what he was thinking about. After a while though he seemed to come to a question.
"May I ask you something your grace?" he asked quietly and she nodded.
"Of course."
"Why did you decide to come to Westeros? You had not given Lord Steffon an answer of confirmation or of rejection yet you traveled weeks to come here because you were curious?"
His curiosity of her presence shone through in his question and Ginny decided she would give him credit for getting right to the heart of the matter.
"My father is a cautious man your grace," she replied easily. "He does not like to make decisions without first ensuring he knows all of the facts tied to that decision and neither do I. It has what has helped us be so successful in our military campaigns in the Free Cities because despite the power we possess, we do not like to underestimate anyone. That would be the height of hubris and would not reflect well on us as rulers."
To her surprise Prince Rhaegar looked amused and chuckled slightly.
Ginny frowned at him. "Did I say something amusing your grace?"
The prince shook his head. "Nay princess, only some of what you said reminded me in part of my father's Hand. He is a cautious man as well."
"Hmm, well then I look forward to meeting him," Ginny replied.
"I'm sure you will. Depending on how long you will be here, I'm sure that you will meet all the important nobles at court. Knowing my father he wouldn't have anything less."
"He does seem rather…eager about the potential for this marriage doesn't he?" Ginny murmured.
Rhaegar looked surprisingly apologetic. "Yes, my father has long believed that House Targaryen was the last remnant of ancient Valyria and to know that there is now another house from what he deems that glorious lineage, he is quite…keen to see the two connected."
"And this has nothing to do with the…rumors that have been speculating about the abilities of my father and I?" Ginny asked.
It was a direct question but she wanted to feel him out. If she was going to spend the next three months in this place she wanted to go into it with her eyes open.
"Even if I were tell you that it didn't you wouldn't believe me would you?" the prince asked and Ginny gave him a wry smile. "No I wouldn't."
"I didn't think so," he said softly. "And what do you intend to do now that you know where my father's ambitions are?"
Ginny looked up at him suddenly going very serious. "I'm less interested in his ambitions than I am yours your grace."
Rhaegar looked slightly surprised. "You are interested in my ambitions?"
Ginny laughed lightly. "Of course I am. Based upon what I decide it will be you I am marrying and not him. It therefore stands to reason that I would be more interested in you."
The prince gave her a long and serious look. "And have you decided anything so far your grace?"
Ginny narrowed her blue eyes slightly. "Not yet. But…I am optimistic."
"You are?"
"Indeed. I've always been an optimistic person no matter the circumstances. And I think I will like what this situation affords me."
Rhaegar frowned. "And what will it afford you?"
Her smile became almost a smirk. "Clarity."
It was then that she released her hold on his arm and he felt an odd sense of loss from the removal of it.
The princess turned back at her guards but then looked back at him and gave him a small smile. "I will await your attempts to make me yours. But I will warn you your grace…I am not easily impressed."
He was about to respond when she suddenly placed a hand on the arm of the captain of her guard…and the five of them vanished.
There had been a slight cracking sound and the prince blinked wondering how on earth she had done that. Lord Steffon had been rather vague in the rumors about their magic but the subtle way he had described it made it seem as if this was quite a thing to behold.
And Rhaegar agreed with him.
I can see that this is another thing the rumors were true about, he thought to himself as he stared at the place where she had been.
But despite everything, she had his attention and if there was one thing the prince did like…it was a challenge.
Ω
So Aerys is on his best behavior for now. But we all know that it will not last. Though Ginny has now received confirmation that Prince Rhaegar is the man from her vision, she's not going to fall into his arms and the two of them will live happily ever after. That would be the height of stupidity but she does want to feel him out if she does decide that she wants to marry. She's gonna put him through the fire folks and try and learn everything about his character in the six months period that she and Sirius have decided upon. So that's all for now. In the next chapter, there will be the occurrence of the feast that Aerys was talking about and more opportunities for Ginny and Rhaegar to speak and get to know one another better. Also in the next chapter we will see the small council meeting between Aerys, Tywin, Ginny, Sirius and Rhaegar in which they discuss the terms of the contract the Gryffindors have drawn up and they are both going to play some hard ball, so I'm excited for that. Don't forget to review and happy reading everyone!