DISCLAIMER: Chapter prologue. 10 reviews, that's awesome!
Chapter rating: T
XIII
Rhaenyra now sat in the war tent with her husband and his people as they discussed and across her lap was Rhaenys as she purred, accepting the pets her mother was giving her. Head to the base of her tail, her wings dropped a bit off her lap while Rhaella curled around Catelyn's feet with Alysanne. Both were eating a mound of burned meat that Baela gave them.
"Tywin's heading north. We can put him at a disadvantage if we fight him on broken ground," Rodrik spoke as Rhaella perked up and crawled up an amused Catelyn's lap as she set aside her stitch to watch the young dragon watch them move pieces around, sniffing it interestingly while the white haired man lightly shooed her head as she nipped at him with a light chirp, thinking it was play.
"No, the River Lords will join us if we break the siege of Riverrun, we need to go around them to defeat Jaime's army," Greatjon spoke against Tywin in favor of Jaime.
"But we need the bridge of Walder Frey to do either," Robb claimed as his wife paused in her stroking, Rhaenys perked her head up and nudged her mother's hand and arm to resume, a smirk left the mother who resumed her stroking.
"You want to go through Walder Frey?" Rhaenyra asked, a wrinkle in her nose. She's never liked the man, or the stories told about his House. Many of the lords chuckled at her face, a few understanding her hesitation.
"'The Late Lord Frey' as my father calls him," Catelyn spoke as she reached down gently petting Alysanne's head as she trilled. "He didn't appear until the battle was won at the Trident, others take their oaths more seriously," she growled as Rhaella carefully put her claws on the table, sniffing each piece within reach.
"Robb is right, we do need that bridge," Theon commented gently to his ladies both all the while petting Rhaella's head, stopping her from snagging a war piece as she purred from the attention. "Stop," he hissed softly removing the direwolves from her spot as she whined softly. Catelyn lightly knocked her off as she went to her mother instead, Alysanne remained in her spot though. Effortlessly returning the items to their original spot to the amusement of the men who chuckled while the dragon pouted to her chuckling mother.
"So who? Jaime or Tywin?" Greatjon asked wanting an answer.
"Pardon, My Lords, My Ladies. We've caught a Lannister scout," a soldier spoke as he and another dragged in a young man who froze at seeing two shrieking dragons, both of whom quickly flashed their wings, acting larger than they really are. Theon realizing Lannister quickly knocked all the pawns over when he pulled the map.
"Don't worry lad," Greatjon laughed. "He won't be leaving this tent with his head," the boy's eyes widened when he heard that after finally looking away from the dragons.
"Where was he?" Rhaenyra asked curious as she continued to pet hissing dragons who… now looked to be drooling at him.
"In the bushes, My Lady," one guard spoke.
"He appeared to be counting," the other answered, watching the dragons growl with caution in his face.
"How high did you get?" Robb asked as he approached, Rhaella carefully crawled up his cloak and braced herself with ease, growling quite loudly.
"20,000. Maybe more," he stuttered as Rhaenyra smirked, knowing he was off.
"Let him go," Robb ordered as the men nodded.
"Robb," Catelyn started before Rhaenyra quickly looked to her as Robb did the same. Realizing she had no pull here she lowered her head in shame at trying to overpower her son.
"Tell Lord Tywin, Winter is coming for him. 20,000 northerners marching south to find out if he really does shit gold," Robb told the scout as Rhaella growled, faking a lunge as she surged forward as the man fell into the guards. Rhaenyra smirked as did the others, realizing Robb didn't mention the other 10,000 Dornish marching their way.
"Yes, thank you My Lord," he bowed his head, looking to Rhaenyra who was still reclined in her chair stroking a hissing Rhaenys, her white frills puffed out like Rhaella's black frills. Alysanne who was seated more against Catelyn's leg while the woman had stopped petting her when her hand started to heat up.
"Are touched boy?!" the Greatjon roared when he stood at the tent flap after the scout had been taken out. "Letting him go?" he growled getting too close for Rhaella's comfort as she growled even louder and smoke started to come from her small mouth.
"You call me boy again," Robb warned, eyes narrowed as Rhaella continued to smoke. Rhaenyra worried she'd attack the Lord to protect Robb if he did anything else that seemed threatening to the protective dragon. It wasn't often that Rhaella climbed on someone else, she was quite picky on who held her. Greatjon growled before flicking his eyes to the growling creature clinging to his lord's shoulder, obviously showing she'd protect him against the larger man. "Go on," he goaded the large man, not backing down. Theon looked to Rhaenyra who frowned herself as Catelyn caught both her wards' gaze too. Huffing the larger man left as Robb continued to watch him, cautiously raising a hand to Rhaella's head as she ceased her noises and the smoke cleared as she chirped and trilled to him while he pet her, the other two stilled their movements as well, Rhaenys happily laid her head back down on her mother's knee while Alysanne crawled up the table to come to her biggest sister curious, trilling to her as Rhaella hissed softly, nonthreatening.
After they all returned to their tent Robb sighed with a frown on his face. He was not paying attention as Rhaenyra gave her dragons bigger chunks of meat so they could eat.
"Robb?" she asked worried.
"Did I do right in letting him go?" he asked suddenly as she sighed, she figured it was that, that was going to get to him.
"I don't know, if I am honest. But I do know that the lie will make Tywin think he has the upperhand if he thinks he will overpower us," Rhaenyra spoke as he scoffed. "Robb neither of us have gone to war. We don't know what would be a good idea or a bad one," she spoke cupping his face as his closed his eyes, laying his forehead to hers, he pressed a kiss softly to her lips before she deepened it. Gripping his Tully curls, she forced Robb to sit as she straddled him, still continuing to press kisses to his neck, his own hands rubbing her waist as he kissed her cheek and neck.
XIII
(King's Landing)
Ned barely remembered the last person he saw before Varys came out of nowhere, dressed in black as he held a torch and a flask. He remembered this man who always spoke so happily of Rhaenyra and asked how she was, if she was safe and healthy. Now was offering him something to drink again, carefully sitting as Ned drank slowly.
"Sansa came to court," he started suddenly as the father looked to him quickly. "Arya's still missing. Sansa begged the King and his Queen mother to spare you, send you to The Wall if you confess," Varys wanted to keep telling Ned all he could and he knew a something this man would want to know. "But that's not why I'm here," he revealed as Ned looked to him.
"Then what?" Ned asked bored but when the spider refused to tell him he turned to look as the startled man. "What is it?" he asked worried it was bad.
"Your son, your eldest. He and all your loyal northernmen are marching south with an army of Northmen? Loyal lad. Fighting for his father's freedom. But not just them, his young wife. Lady Rhaenyra Targaryen has joined her husband and brought her three dragons along with them," Varys revealed as Ned looked to him with shock and horror.
"Dragons?" he asked confused.
"Many of my birds went silent along with the Queen's and even some of Petyr Baelish's became deadly silent. All after an attempt of their lives," he spoke.
"You think Rhaenyra and Bran's attacks were done by the same person?" Ned asked as Varys paused.
"Yes, yes I do," he claimed. "Dragons, My Lord. Three fire breathing beasts when they become bigger," he spoke as Ned sighed.
"The last dragon didn't grow bigger then a cat," Ned tried.
"My spies on the road told be they are the size of Ravens. Eating larger amounts of meat a day. They grow bigger and bigger and soon, soon they will come," Varys spoke as Ned scoffed.
"Targaryen supporter, all this time?" he asked as the man sighed.
"I've kept tabs on her brother and sister. But some other information I've learned. A young girl named Baela Snow or is it Baela Velaryon, daughter of Valaena Velaryon?" Varys asked as Ned tensed.
"Ho-"
"I make it my job to locate those of Targaryen blood," he spoke as Ned frowned.
"Why?" he asked as the man froze.
"I made a promise long ago to watch them," he finished before leaving a small packaging with food. "Take carefully, My Lord," Varys claimed before leaving as Ned thought about the information he was just given.
XIII
(Northern Army)
Rhaenyra woke to her husband running his hand up and down her back. She could feel a dragon sleeping around her legs, seeing tiny gold wings on her thighs, while Grey Wind slept around Robb's side, listening to the hissing and growling of the dragons sleeping while Robb breathed evenly, he was still asleep. Gently she snuggled more against him while the dragon grumbled softly and pressed herself more against her mother. Robb's hand lightly drifted to the dragon's nose as she sniffed it before rubbing her nose against it, he seemed to stroke her nose while she purred happily in her sleep. Smiling softly, she nearly started when lips pressed to her forehead.
"It would seem your child thought she needed to join our sleeping," he spoke as he continued to pet her nose as she trilled, sleepily. "Sleepy girl," he cooed as Rhaenyra giggled with a small grin.
"We head to the Twins today right?" she asked as he nodded.
"Theon had an idea with the Greatjon, when we arrive," he claimed as she hummed.
"What is it?" she asked curious as he smirked.
"An odd one, I'd assume," he surmised as she grinned.
XIII
Rhaenyra stood alongside her husband, Catelyn, Theon, Greatjon and Rodrik as she watched with a small grin while the ravens were shot down by Theon, as a result he threw the dead ones to the dragons who happily ate, occasionally Grey Wind would snag one. Robb was snagging them before kicking the raven corpses to the dragons, who would read them aloud.
"It's a birthday message to grand-niece Walda," Robb revealed as Theon nodded.
"Or so he would make you think," he warned as Rodrik nodded along with Greatjon.
"Keep shooting them," Catelyn ordered. "We can't let Walder Frey send word of your movements to Tywin Lannister."
"Can we not expect his support?" Robb asked not understanding why some men don't take their oaths to heart. It was clear Walder Frey did not, he only allowed those to cross where he gain almost everything against that crosser. Rhaenyra feared what this man would want exactly.
"Expect nothing of Walder Frey and you'll never be surprised. Look," Greatjon ordered as they all spotted men riding up with the Frey banners. Rhaenyra ordered her dragons to come closer to her as they did so.
"Father rots in a dungeon. How long before they take his head? We need to cross the Trident and we need to do it now," Robb growled angrily as Rhaenyra held his hand softly with a frown.
"Just march up to his gates and tell him you're crossing. We've got five times his numbers. You can take the Twins if you have to," Theon suggested as Rhaenyra glared.
"Not in time. Tywin Lannister marches north as we speak," Greatjon denied as Catelyn gave them all looks.
"The Freys have held the crossing for 600 years, and for 600 years they have never failed to exact their toll," Catelyn spoke up as Rhaenyra frowned.
"What will he demand from us then?" she asked as the Tully woman looked to her worried.
"I'm not sure," she frowned. Hoping he wasn't going to go too far. "I will go."
"You can't!" All three of the ones she raised cried out before she sighed.
"I have known Walder Frey since I was a little girl. He would never harm me," Catelyn denied as Greatjon frowned, it was no show he loved Catelyn like his kin and would do everything to protect her.
"He would at the right price," he spoke as Rhaenyra tensed.
XIII
The wait for Catelyn to return was nerve racking for Rhaenyra, who felt a bit hot and clammy, was carefully trying to stitch in her tent before sighing with defeat and threw it in a bin that Baela, Valaena and Lynara worked on. Gently plucking one of the pieces of work from it she examined the three dragons, surrounded by tiny eggs. There was a 'V' in the back so it was Valaena's, she loved doing something with the dragons and even with the wolves occasionally. She had been banished by Robb and Baela, both of whom were tired of her pacing, waiting for Catelyn to return. Her dragons were sitting with Baela who decided to sit with her mother a bit away from the camp. Lynara sighed as she entered when her lady perked up.
"No child," she shook her head as the girl deflated.
"How long does it take to barter a deal?" she asked impatiently.
"It could take all day, especially if either side reject," Lynara spoke as she folded a cloth, suddenly seeing her lady being a bit pale or paler than usual. "But I'm sure she will be back-" a soldier running in cut the women off as they froze.
"Lady Stark has returned, My Lady," he panted as Rhaenyra shot up with Lynara holding her arm while they ran out with the guard, up to the war tent as another guard held it open for her. Catelyn turned to Rhaenyra with sorrow in her eyes as Robb frowned.
"What?" she asked as Robb sighed.
"Rhae, please sit down," he asked as she narrowed her eyes before doing so.
"Bad?" she asked worried.
"Depending on how you take the news," Theon muttered before being smacked by Robb and Greatjon.
"Walder Frey has agreed to the crossing and even 400 men," Catelyn began as Rhaenyra frowned. "But when we get Arya back, she'll have to wed one of his sons, Waldron, when they both come of age," a snigger left her and Lynara whose eyes widened before muttering 'that poor boy.' "I am to ward two of his grandsons, Robb will take on Olyvar his son as his squire," she took a breath and looked down as Rhaenyra gritted her teeth.
"What else?" she asked as Catelyn winced.
"When you give birth to a boy, he will be sent here to be warded," she spoke cautiously as the Targaryen woman bit her tongue, not wanting to snap at her mother by law. "And will wed one of his granddaughters when they come of age," Rhaenyra felt a bit sick suddenly as Rhaella shrieked coming in making everyone jump, but her mother who just swallowed as her dragon purred and crooned to her softly, trying to ease her.
"Rhae?" Robb asked worried. Targaryens were protective of their blood, especially his wife. As far as some are aware no Targaryen or Valyrian blood has mixed with a Frey, and Rhaenyra did not look like she wanted to break that running line.
"We can't say no, we need the bridge," she spoke suddenly needing to talk to her twin more than anything right now. Her throat constricted before groaning softly, feeling a sudden throb in her temple, Rhaella growled softly as she breathed while petting the red youngling's head. Robb was about to come closer before Lynara did it for him, softly touching her shoulder.
"Tell Lord Frey we consent," Robb claimed before moving around his men to his wife as she felt her forehead, feeling a bit damp. Her body suddenly started to heat up as she got up to go outside, needing some fresh air, ignoring her family and lords who called for her. She was completely unaware of Smalljon and Theon somewhat stopping her before she dropped, eyes rolling up as Robb caught her with a yelp as Rhaella snarled and snapped before being shoved back by Robb, Rhaenys and Alysanne quickly joined. "Rhae?" he called as the Maester ran over with Lynara who looked worried.
"My Lord, you need to take her to your tent," he ordered as Robb nodded and carried her as the babies bounced around him before Baela and Valaena held them.
Shrieking continued as she walked around, watching half-dressed men attacking people- butchering them and raping the women. And she was standing there feeling odd pride and sorrow? "Khaleesi?" a man's voice asked.
'Khaleesi? What is that?' she thought before turning to the man. But the wailing soon faded as she looked back around and realized she had a somewhat growing belly. She was so hot and felt like she was burning, and saw desert, horses and lambs.
But when she blinked her surroundings changed, she felt normal except for the sudden feeling of rage as she glared. Feeling it boil in her veins. "In words of my brother 'you paid the iron price' or tried to," the smirk on her face made the man gasp.
"You can't do this!"
"Shut up!" she snarled as another sound echoed. "You will be nothing, your house will fade, you have no heirs, no one but the ones you threw away," speaking in a calm tone, feeling nothing as she slowly walked, bright yellow flames came through the roof as people screamed. "You should have picked your allies more carefully," she finished as the man screamed when more barrels of fire came down mixed with blue.
"Dracarys," she spoke before blood red flames came down as she continued to leave as people screamed, hearing roars of 'King in the North!' a familiar white hair man proclaiming their King their hero and protector. The face surprised you before you blinked and it was gone.
"Rhae?" a voice asked distantly.
"Rhae?" Robb asked softly, cupping her hair. Damp with sweat as Maester Lyon cared for her, he had Robb strip her and dress her in a slip but she broke out in a sweat and gooseflesh skin as she panted. "What's wrong with her?" he asked with fear in his tone.
"I am afraid she has caught a fever. But our lady is strong," he reassured his lord who had fear in his blue eyes. "She will break this My Lord," he swore as Robb held her hand tightly while the dragons cried and trilled for their mother. "All we can do is wait," he finished before leaving with a distraught Catelyn and worried northerners.
Robb though sat alongside her as he held her hand and cupped her face as she whimpered. He saw the tint to her cheeks and knew it was the heat that was making her uncomfortable, despite who she is.
"Rhae?!" a voice screamed as the white haired woman sat on her knees as she was faced with her battered men. A fearful Rudy holding his wounded arm. Baela was held by a guard, knife to her throat. But her eyes slid to Lynara who held her eyes, the woman was tied to a post, nodding she screamed. "Dracarys!" Before black-orange flames flew all around them, green and yellow flames followed as shrieks and roars deafened the people including the woman who felt a blade to her neck, tensing.
"Rhaella," she whispered. "Dracarys." Before a deeper cry echoed before red flames surrounded her vision, followed by screams
Surging awake she gasped and panted, looking around to find it was pitch black out still. Small rumbles left a horde of bodies while snoring from two sources reached her ears; one wolf, the other man. Looking she saw her husband's arm across her waist, turning over she saw him sleeping with his head buried against her back as she slept. She felt sticky and softly removed her husband's arm before trying to get up, a body prevented her, Grey Wind was laying on the floor growling up at her while Rhaella was glaring at her mother from over her sisters, tiny rumbles leaving her as Rhaenyra glared softly.
"Quiet, both of you," she ordered in a whisper, before carefully getting up, she was thirsty and slowly walked around, a bit weakly. Carefully she came up to the table gently lighting the cold candle as she felt around before finding something, sniffing it revealed it to be some wine, Sweet Grape, she remembered Catelyn called it, the Tully woman's favorite. The only wine the northern women seemed to like, but the Stark children had a taste for a sweet drink too. Pouring in a small glass she took a small sip before yelping when arms embraced her.
"Your awake!" Robb whispered in shock before putting the cup down and turned her around to look her in the eye.
"Of course I'm awake Robb," she smiled as he frowned. "What happened?" she asked as Rhaella climbed to the table gently nipping her ear and rubbing her head against her cheek as the mother smiled.
"You've been asleep for four days," Robb spoke as he cupped her face, thumbs resting on her cheekbones, as Rhaella purred to both.
"Four?!" she asked alarmed. Rhaenys and Alysanne chirped to their mother confused as Robb soothed her.
"The maester said we could not move you and I refused to unless you woke," he spoke as she sighed.
"Robb," she ordered making him look into her fierce eyes. "Your father and sisters do not have time for me to recover. If you must march without me and few of the men while we pack and continue the way to you, that is fine," she started as he glared.
"I will not leave my wife to continu-"
"So you will risk your family in King's Landing? Their safety is us getting to them," she knew he worried for her health but he should have still had part of his brain remember that his family is still in danger.
"I know, I know," he cried out, frustrated, pulling away from her. He had been dealing with his decision as his lords did understand but others were trying to get him to send part of their army a head. Catelyn had told Walder Frey they agreed and he had also planned to send a young girl to be Rhaenyra's new handmaiden. To Baela, Valaena and Lynara's agitation, they were still her maids and had their routine down. Catelyn could barely contain Lynara who was loyal to her from northern years but Valaena and Baela were Valyrian loyalists to Rhaenyra, it was subtle but they did hold some restrictions against others. Robb was fearful on telling his wife who seemed to have trouble holding her disdain for the Frey family. "Love I will stay with you, my family is you too, remember?" he asked as she glared.
"No I seem to have lost my memory since waking!" she yelled as Rhaella growled softly, not liking how her family was fighting.
"They won't do anything to them, Mother says Sansa and Father are more use alive than dead," he sighed, sitting on the bed as she deflated in anger, she joined and allowed her dragon to slither down and coil around her two sisters that went back to sleep. "But there is something I must tell you that Walder Frey requested. As I need to take his son Olyvar as a squire, he would like one of daughters or granddaughters. Of any generation he claimed. To be one of your handmaidens," the look on his wife's face told him of the plan.
"I already have three. I don't need another," she growled out as Robb sighed.
"We can have Lynara-"
"Robb, no! I will not take one of his kin as a maid for me. My girls are enough as it is. We already have to give up our son to be warded by him," she snarled angrily as he groaned. His mother had told one of Walder Frey's sons that his wife had fallen ill and needed to recover, when they came asking on her answer, he had offered his healers and maester to care for her before their own spoke out, claiming he was caring for their lady.
"Then you will tell Mother, as she was expecting you to say yes," he knew his mother would try and talk her into it like he tried. But his young wife was stubborn and if that girl was forced on her, she would not exactly be welcomed.
"Fine, I will," she huffed. "I don't like him, never have," she defended herself as he chuckled and kissed her cheek as he hugged her close.
"Your sister sent a letter," he spoke out suddenly as she lifted her head. "Read it in the morning," he urged as she chuckled before allowing him to pull her back under that furs as he held her closer, burying his nose in her hair while she pressed more against him.
XIII
End of chapter! I was happy to get 10 reviews, thanks guys! And I'm happy for all of you guys enjoying the story! Please keep leaving reviews, following and/or favoriting the story. Did you guys like the King's Landing scene and how Ned learned of the dragons? And what do you guys will think happen in the next few chapters? Also for their growth I'm trying to not speed them up too fast, lol.
UnknownReaderHasJoined: I'll reveal her father probably in the next few chapters! But he's a good candidate and very important to the story. I'm really glad! It took me a moment when you wrote addition and I remembered I threw the Dornish in there ;P, I know I kind of had a direction it was going and now I'm suddenly thinking of multiple ways for it to go. Also I think Dany's going through the Red Waist, stunted their growth and as Rhae's has food no matter what because if the humans don't hunt Grey Wind does, he's sort of like that adoptive sibling that helps care for them, I'm doing my best not to grow them too fast though. Oh I hated how that ended! But yeah I'll go into talk about them both real soon. I'm glad you see that! I wanted her to have a warrior's heart but she is an emotionally strong girl. Don't think it didn't cross my mind! Oh I so wanted to think it!
hateme101: Great and so do I.
LunaDoesArt: No she doesn't, they hadn't told yet. Also I'm very glad you are, I can't wait to read it!
Crystal-Wolf-Guardian-967: Here you go!
NicoleR85: Great! Hope you like it.
bfireworks5: Yep, Rhaenyra will always be a threat to his family's reign.
infinityneverlasts: An excellent guess, one of my favorites. Like I said I'll reveal him in a few chapters.
Rudy P: I'm glad and I hope to have it soon.
Isurus2317: I loved Oberyn! Thank you. Can't hurt to have one that doesn't turn into a bitch at times.
xlovelytink: I know I almost never do unless it's really good. I'm so happy to hear that! Oh because everyone always has how they're going to do their 'Red Wedding' haven't decided if it'll be apart of it or not, might not. I hope this helps!
~Rusty14~