Chapter 26:
I just won't say when I'll update from now on since every time I'm convinced I'll update at a certain time/day something always comes up and I end up looking stupid so…I will strive to put up at least 1 update a week. That's the best I can do right now (sorry) so in penance for not updating sooner, here's a long update.
Winterfell came easily into Ashley's hands. Theon Greyjoy had not been prepared to meet any opposition and thus had most of his men in a lazy mood, ill-prepared for any attack. A small group had entered through a backdoor for the servants that led to the woods. Spencer had said that it was used for throwing away all the waste that would have grown inside. Only the servants were aware of it as they were the only ones who used it. The group had entered quietly, sliced the throats of the sentries and whistled their success to the waiting army. Once the main gate had been opened it had been a quick victory with only the blood of Greyjoy's men staining the snow. Theon himself had been alerted by the sounds of fighting in the courtyard and had tried to rally the remaining men within the main house to force the intruders outside the gates again but once he realized that this was a futile venture, he had tried to escape unseen into the woods.
Ashley entered the home of the Carlins in slight awe. This was the home of the former Kings of the North although the wrong banner was flying high in the winter sky. She would need to have that remedied as soon as she could get the order out. She spotted what seemed to be heads on pikes near the banner and felt her body shudder in revulsion. What manner of a man is this Theon Greyjoy? She had left behind most of her hand maids, preferring to enter with her captains, giving her an aura of the conquering queen she was beginning to resemble. Her dragons had been kept far away from the battle as well. She still needed them to remain unknown until she could ride them, and the terror they would instill in unsuspecting enemies would win half the battle for her armies. This was how House Targaryen entered Winterfell.
"Where is he?" Ashley asked.
"We have him bound and waiting for your orders Khaleesi," Jhogo answered, a smile adorning his face, his beard stained with dried blood.
"Come, let us see to this matter." Ashley turned to Spencer, "Is there a hall I can use to hold council?"
"The main hall should suffice. My father greeted all visitors there." Spencer answered.
Ashley leaned in towards her, "If this is too much, you can stay behind and settle into your home."
"No. I want to see his face and to hear his reasoning on turning against the people who raised him." Spencer said, bitterness creeping into her face.
Ashley nodded once at the bitterness in her companion. They were lead into the main hall where a high chair sat at one end of the hall, facing the door. Ashley seated herself in the chair, Spencer standing on one side and Missandei on the other, handmaids in all appearances. Her captains entered first with Aggo bringing in a bound man who they brought to his knees in front of Ashley. Ashley took a closer look at her foe. He seemed nothing but a boy, a few years older than herself. She did not hide her disgust however and neither could Spencer.
"Theon Greyjoy. I offered you the chance to surrender and live out the remainder of your existence peacefully yet you scorned my offer, called me a young whore who would never rule Westeros. I believe I have changed your thought on me now."
Theon said nothing, his eyes remained focused on the ground beneath his knees.
"I would have thought you would have much to say. As much as you had stated before, hiding behind these walls," Ashley gestured to her surroundings. "No matter. Before I pass my sentence, I have someone here who would like some answers and I pray for your sake that you will answer them quickly."
Spencer took a step forward, needing answers, but needing Ashley's strength and steel at this moment. "Why?" she asked quietly.
Theon Greyjoy looked up, seeing his surroundings more clearly now. His eyes widened as his eyes found the owner of the voice that had just addressed him. "Spencer? But…you died. Killed at King's Landing after your father's treason."
"It seems I am not the only one who was misled," Spencer answered. "Answer me."
Theon laughed, a sliver of hatred in his voice. "Why else Spencer? Have you forgotten who my family is or the circumstances that brought me to Winterfell in my youth. My father believed me weak and changed. My sisters wanted my inheritance now that I had shown my true intentions. I may have not shown it before, but I am a Greyjoy, heir to my house and if seizing Winterfell proved my worth to my father again, then so be it."
"How could you? We grew up together, here in this house. Those woods outside were our hiding places when we were younger. My father cared for you as much as one can for someone who cannot be his son. If you were a prisoner, you were the only prisoner I know of that walked freely in his prison." Spencer stilled herself. "I guess Father was wrong about you as well. Once an ally of House Lannister, always an ally of that accursed house."
"Say what you will Spencer but I did this not for me but for my father, for the name of my family. Your brother would have done the same. He does this now, leading a rebellion against his king. How are we any different?" Theon finished.
"I have heard enough," Ashley interjected. "I have much to learn about the men in this land it seems. Not many of them believe in honouring their word, something I will have to repair once all is said and done."
"You really believe your house will rule Westeros once again and succumb this land to your madness?" Theon laughed again, in disbelief and cruel amusement. "Your house will never taint our land again with your insanity."
Ashley eyes could not have been any colder. The taint upon her family was one she ran from every day. She would not be another mad Targaryen and for this coward to state otherwise tested her more than anything else had before. "You may believe that," she feigned indifference, "but I will rule Westeros again. And when that day arrives, I shall remember House Greyjoy and all it has done for the good of the kingdom." Ashley turned to Brown Ben, who was holding Theon down. "Take him away from my sight. Cast him to the wolves outside the gates and make sure he leaves this place with nothing but what he was born with. Let the forest decide his fate."
Theon grimaced as he was raised by Brown Ben. He looked once more to the girl who would be queen and spat at her shoes. Ashley did not flinch at his action, instead she turned towards the rest of her captains as the prisoner was lead out of the hall. A cry went up as the prisoner was stripped of his clothing in the courtyard and the wind blew into his bones.
"Now that that is finished with we must plan our next move. It would be good for us to rest here for a while. Gather strength, health and supplies. I know the army cannot all stay within these walls but the woods will ensure that there is enough wood for fires to keep everyone warm."
"Do not harm the direwolves." Spencer said as she spoke up from her silence. "They are tied to this place and will leave us alone if we leave them to live their lives in peace."
"Send the message throughout the army. No one shall harm these creatures. Understood?" Ashley asked. At the nods from the men in front of her she continued, "We must seek out alliances with the houses of the north. I know most are at war right now but maybe we could persuade them to join up with us."
"That might be more difficult than you realize, Your Grace," Ser Selmy Barristan replied. "These houses will remember the reign of your late father and might not take too kindly to House Targaryen ruling again."
"They would prefer this bloodshed then any alliance with me?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Ser Selmy answered. "Many of the lords fought against your father with the Usurper and rejoiced in his defeat. They will be suspicious of your intentions."
"Can I not meet with them and convince them that I will not be my father? I convinced Clay Carlin, why not his brother or the rest of the lords. Surely they do not lack sense and will see that this could be a better way for them all?"
"He listened to Spencer, Khaleesi. These others, I do not think they will listen to you." Jhogo replied.
"What do you suggest then? We could march upon them from behind and defeat them easily. Surprise would be on our side. Yet I do not wish unnecessary battles, you all know this. So what then?"
The room fell silent at her question. The Dothkari knew their ways and what they felt should be the way forward in this situation but they knew their Khaleesi would only use force if there was no other way. Brown Ben did not care, either way there would be war and he wanted to find a way away from the bitter cold this kingdom had greeted him with.
Ser Barristan hesitated before speaking up. "We could send Spencer to her brother, as an emissary."
"No!" Ashley said. "That will not happen and it will not be discussed.
"Khaleesi…" Spencer began.
"No! I will not hear another word of this. I command it!"
"Your Grace, you must consider…" the old knight tried again.
"I must? Am I to be ruled by my own captains, ser?" Ashley hissed, watching Ser Barristan carefully. "This matter is closed."
"Yes Khaleesi," was the reply.
Ashley rubbed her temples, suddenly feeling like a little girl playing at queen again. "I understand your reasoning but it is too dangerous. Any man on the road, if he should discover Spencer's identity, would ensure he captured her, dead or alive. We do not know who can trust out there yet and I will not send anyone to their deaths. We shall find another way." She sighed heavily. "Get some rest or join in the drinking outside. You all fought well today and deserve any just reward. We shall meet again in the morning."
Ashley watched as all left the hall, leaving her to her thoughts. Is that all we can do? Send Spencer down a path that could lead to her death? She knew what the consequences of this thought would be. Spencer would die or become a prisoner, she would reach her brother safely and convince him to ally with her, or she would reach out to him, he would refuse, and they would be forced to attack. Any way she looked at it ensured that she would lose Spencer. Feeling tired, Ashley stood from her chair and made her way to her assigned bedroom. She found Missandei and Irri waiting for her outside the hall. They both bowed as she approached them and followed her silently, sensing her unease and weariness. "Does my room have a balcony?"
"Yes Khaleesi. It is small but one can see the forest from there." Irri answered. She wondered why anyone would place a balcony in this house. There was nothing out there to see except trees and deceptively cold white powder that the Westeroi called snow. Some days she longed for the Dothkari plains.
Ashley slowed as she approached her room. "I will have no need for any of you tonight. Go to you rooms and rest."
"Yes Khaleesi." The two handmaids bowed before taking their leave for the night.
Ashley entered her room and moved towards the balcony. She shuddered as she stepped outside but she did not return inside to gather a coat. "Come, my children," she whispered out into the night air. Shrieks were heard not too far away from Winterfell. They grew quiet as they approached the main homestead of Winterfell. Now too big to rest on her arms, the three dragons flew over and around the balcony where their mistress and mother stood outside for them. Rhaegal came closer, needing to be coddled once again. "How is the land treating you? I know you hate the cold but we'll be home soon. Then you shall fly and feast freely with your brothers." Ashley said as she rubbed the scales nearest to her.
"Where would they stay in King's Landing? I have never seen a dragons' keep there." Spencer asked as she too stepped outside to greet the new visitors to her home.
"Dragonstone is my home, and theirs. When I rule Westeros, they shall remain at Dragonstone while I rule in the Sun City."
"And what if you are in need of them? How will they know?"
Ashley smiled at Spencer's curiosity. "As they grow older, my connection to them increases. They heard my call tonight without my need to shout or raise my voice."
"What else can the connection do?" Rhaegal growled in satisfaction and in deterrence to his brothers as they tried to approach their mistress, stopping Ashley's answer. Spencer did not miss the flush on Ashley's face at her question.
"They…when they…need to mate, the connection…it…I feel whatever they feel," Ashley answered, her flush growing darker under the gaze of Spencer's eyes.
"Oh…" Spencer said, thoughts and memories rushing through her mind. "How…strongly do you feel this connection?"
"Stronger each and every day," was the whispered response.
"Is it…is that why…"
"No!" Ashley turned, her eyes conveying her emotions. "I…it gave me courage when I could not find any."
Spencer stepped closer to her queen. "Do you feel it now?" A daze fell upon her as she watched the change in Ashley's eyes. She placed a hand on her cheek. "Beautiful."
The three dragons flew higher into the sky, as if they sensed what was to come was not something they had to bear witness to. They continued to snap at each other, siblings to the very last, but kept a safe distance from their mistress.
Ashley felt the heat flow through her again. This time, it was all of her own doing, and that of Spencer's. She silently stepped back into her room, holding a hand out to Spencer, who clasped her palm in Ashley's and was lead to her bed. A silence surrounded them as they undressed each other, slowly but with more assurance than the first time. They both dared not speak, not wanting to break the air around them. Ashley fell onto the bed and beckoned Spencer to her. A small gasp was heard as they met, naked flesh upon naked flesh, before their breathing deepened with each touch, each stroke. Ashley watched as Spencer's eyes darkened with every passing moment, knowing her own were showing her heritage now more than ever. She lost herself in the sensations Spencer coaxed from her, the room warming with their actions. With a silent cry, she released everything, and with a satisfied sigh, she fell fast asleep.
Spencer watched as Ashley fell asleep, smiling at the innocence Ashley still possessed after all she had been through. She reached over and pulled the bear skin which had covered the bed over both of their bodies, knowing the fire before them would warm up the room as they slept. A whispered sentence was all that was heard before she too, succumbed to her tiredness.