Hi again! Hoping I can keep updating this regularly, I've already started chapter 29 :D thanks for reading!


8th of the Fifth Month of 300 AC

The Day After the Wedding

King Viserys III

"I know it is is very early to be convening, considering the wonderfully long night we all had," Viserys started, as he looked around his assorted council. He pointedly ignored looking too closely at Quentyn as he was sure the young lord would still be grinning after spending the night with a women well out of his league. A woman that happened to be his sister. "But I leave for the North in the morn and there are certain things I wish to make official and clear before I leave, for we do not know when or if I shall return." From the corner of his right eye he could see Ella sat poised, the numerous decrees that she had written in front of her ready for him to publicly sign.

"Firstly, Lady Ella and I are officially betrothed and will wed after I am finished in the North, perhaps a year or so from now. However, if before her and I are able to wed and conceive children, I perish, I name Daenerys, of Houses Targaryen and Martell as the heir to the Iron Throne." As he finished the sentence, Ella slid him the first piece of parchment which he signed then handed to Willas, who had agreed to be the keeper of these documents. "If in fact, I die after my future wife and I have children, the eldest son will inherit my throne, and I appoint Daenerys to rule on behalf of him as regent until he should come of age." That had been difficult to decide as he had of course wanted Ella as regent but they had both come to the conclusion that one with Targaryen blood must sit the throne and it also meant Ella would have time to properly grieve and raise their children should he die too soon.

Daenerys and her new husband seemed shocked at his appointment. Quentyn a little more apprehensive than his wife. Viserys pondered on whether he should make clear that Quentyn would be Dany's consort in any such situation but decided against it. He didn't want to cause any upset in their union.

"Onto brighter matters, I think," Oberyn laughed, his niece and Nymeria chuckling along with him.

Viserys smiled tightly. "Lord Tyrell has given me use of twenty thousand of his men of which I will leave five thousand to defend Dorne's borders from enemies she may have inherited due to me. The rest I will take to the North, via ships, along with my four thousand Unsullied soldiers and the three thousand Second Sons. There, I plan to aid the Wall in their war and lend hand to a Stark resurgence. If this is successful, I will set up camp at Winterfell, rest my men and then march for King's Landing."

"A Stark resurgence?" Doran asked. "Are you certain you wish to go against the Boltons?"

"The North has been nearly stripped of its fighting men," Ella informed him primly. " The Boltons do not stand a chance. We will also be stopping in the Vale before we reach the Wall, to see if we can gain their allegiance."

"And while you are all gone playing hero in the North what are we to do?" Arianne demanded. "Wait around so Tywin Lannister can attack us?"

"No," Viserys answered. "Your mission is to capture and hold Dragonstone, as it's my family's ancestral seat. You have until I reach King's Landing. You may do so by any means necessary, although I'd prefer if my sister approved of the methods as it is us and our House who it will reflect. However, as Tywin has made no moves as of yet, when he eventually learns I am in the North I doubt he will ambush Dorne."

"Is that all?" Oberyn drawled.

"Patience, uncle," Viserys said, mockingly using the title that was now technically true due to Dany and Quentyn's marriage. "Lastly, with me, I will take my betrothed, all her siblings, ser Jorah, Lord Tyrion and the young Trystane as my official squire."

"My son?" Doran said. "Who is not even old enough to be in this meeting with you?"

"Many boys leave home much earlier," Mace interjected. "We sent Loras off to Storm's End when he was barely ten and he did quite well."

"As did your own son, Lord Quentyn," Olenna added.

"Trystane is but eight," Arianne said, her eyes on Ella. She assumes El is the weakest link in our chain, the easiest to sway.

"Trystane is the king's goodbrother," Ella said simply, a friendly smile on her face. "Why are you so concerned about Trystane being amongst his family?"

"We are concerned with Trystane being amongst battles and warring men and the rapers and thieves on the Wall." Arianne corrected.

"We have more men in our party than the North could ever possibly muster even on threat of war. Trystane will always be with at least two trained knights. He will be far from danger, I assure you."

"Think of what he will learn," Dany added. "At the side of the king, surrounded by thousands of trained soldiers, knights and maesters alike. I am of the opinion that the North produce the most capable men." At this, Ser Jorah blushed profusely.

"There are plenty of those here in Dorne," Nymeria pointed out. "Princess," she added at receiving a harsh look from her cousin.

"A young man such as Trystane deserves to travel and experience the realm," Viserys said loudly, ending the minor argument with his loud voice. "I have already made the arrangements for him to come and my goodbrother, Quentyn has assured me the young lord is very excited to come along."

No one said another words about it, though Arianne and her father gave Quentyn endless hard glares that spoke of betrayal and distrust. Of course, Viserys had lied about that last fact. Quentyn had not told him directly, that Trystane was happy to come along, he may have mentioned it to his wife however who in turn told her older brother.

The unofficial council meeting continued on, interrupted frequently by demands and questions and squabbling that it tired Viserys to constantly have to squash. Despite lowering the prestige and power that Dorne had, it's lord and lady still behaved with quite the audacity, as if Viserys was bound by any laws to answer their questions. Only his appreciation for them letting him stay in their palace and bringing him out of Essos kept his tongue in check; for there were many times he wished to scold Arianne for her comments directed towards Ella, or Oberyn for his riling up of Daenerys and her husband.

"If that is all, you may be dismissed," Viserys said. Finally.

The various lords and ladies all rose from their seats, muttering quietly as he left. Staring at the backs of Oberyn, Doran and his daughter, he wondered if he'd ever truly be able to assert his authority over them. Dorne and its people seemed immune to the wishes and orders of their king. What does it matter, he told himself, in a generations time my nieces and nephews shall fill their court and my son married to its lady.

He glanced at his wife-to-be who was frowning at some papers. "What upsets you?"

"Just this letter from Lord Royce in the Vale," she mumbled, eyebrows furrowed over the parchment in her hands. "He speaks as if he is his own liege lord."

"You read too much," he said, looking over her shoulder at the letter.

"I think this means we have an opening," she said. "If such a powerful lord in the Vale has detached himself from the rest, there must be a larger majority willing to do so too." She looked up at him. "Perhaps we skip that Lord Baelish. Grandmother speaks ill of him anyways."

"No," Viserys shook his head. "We visit both. You say the heir is a young boy."

"Younger than Corman," she answered.

"We manipulate him into signing over his men that don't stand with this Lord Royce. Surely they must want to fight, if only to escape boredom."

Ella looked at him appraisingly. He enjoyed the times he made her proud, and was happy to note that they occurred more often of late.

"And the Lord Baelish?" she questioned.

"The whore monger? He is of no consequence."

Ella chuckled quietly as she leaned up to plant a kiss on his cheek.

26th of the Fifth Month of 300 AC

Princess Daenerys Martell

It had been seventeen days since the royal party had sailed for the North. Without her. It still bothered her. How can it be a royal party without the princess? Though she understood why she had to stay behind it didn't stop the intense feeling of loneliness and yearning she got whenever more than a few days passed without a letter from Ella, or she spent time with her niece who would inevitably remind of her brother. Viserys is truly king now, she mused somewhat proud, I always knew he would be. With Ella by his side, as it should be. Knowing they were together and presumably happy made being left behind easier. She'd made the sacrifice to become a Dornish wife for them. Had she married Willas, Dany was certain she'd be with him and the rest of them on their way to the Wall. But so would Arianne, as she would be Viserys' wife had I married a Tyrell.

I must find the silver lining, she reminded herself. I have Quentyn. He is quiet and albeit a tad boring, but he is mine. And with no one else left at court whom she really liked, Dany had spent a lot of time with her new husband; surprising herself with how quickly he rooted himself in her affections. They broke fast together, took walks around the city together, read together, played with Rhaena together and ate dinner together. They even shared the same room and bed, thought they had not yet consummated the marriage.

"I am willing to wait," he'd said nervously on their wedding night, nearly naked because of the bedding ceremony, that Viserys very nearly forbade. "I recognise you are quite young."

Dany had laughed at that. "I have been wed before once already, my lord. I am no maid."

He blushed at that. "I-I know that, but I am."

"You are a maid?" She'd japed.

This made her husband almost glow red. "A virgin, my lady."

She walked to him then, pressing her lips against his tenderly. "Then we can wait, if that is what you want."

"Unless you are in a rush to sire children?"

Her chest constricted involuntarily. "I would prefer to wait until after Vis has won his wars."

"As would I." Quentyn seemed to become less nervous after the possibility of coupling that night was ruled out. "Besides we have Rhaena to look after."

Dany's heart had warmed at that. "Yes, we do." And they'd spent the night in a comfortable, loving embrace, falling asleep soon after.

Dany did not necessarily ache with longing to make love with her husband, but some nights, when they stayed up late talking about any and everything, she did wonder what it would be like to be with him intimately.

"Princess," Nymeria nodded respectfully as they passed each other.

Dany acknowledged her greeting with a polite nod and continued down the hall she'd been exploring. Dornish history and culture was rich, and as a present to Quentyn she'd vowed to learn everything she could about it. Including the fashion Quentyn's ancestors had enjoyed, by studying the various portraits hung about the Old Palace. She was looking upon a man who'd been painted wearing a daring turquoise when she heard the muffled sounds of Doran and his son. Making sure to check nobody could see her, Dany hid in the shadows behind a tapestry and listened in.

"She must control the beast," Doran was saying.

"Drogon causes no significant trouble, my lord," Quentyn replied stiffly.

"He burned leagues of land in the Marshes," his father argued.

"Nobody goes to the marshes."

"Regardless, she trains it or sends it away with the others."

"It can't be separated from her for that long - she's his rider," Quentyn protested.

"Well since you know so much about them, you train it. Daenerys is your wife and your responsibility. As is her niece. Keep them out of the way," Doran instructed.

"The young princess is my niece as well, father," her husband said softly.

Doran did not immediately respond; Dany imagined he'd not taken that last comment well. Quentyn's devotion to her and eagerness to share her familial responsibilities had shocked Dany too, but she'd very quickly come to embrace it and learnt to share her load with him.

"So you would prefer a Targaryen bastard in this keep rather than your own brother?"

"Father! That is not what I meant - "

"What is the point in being wed to his sister if you cannot convince the king to not harm your family?" Doran demanded.

"Because I love her!" The usually quiet and mumbling lord shocked his wife with his loud declaration. I've never heard him raise his voice, once. "Daenerys is good woman and the king is an honourable man. You and I both know Trystane is perfectly safe. As I was with the Yronwoods." I had completely forgotten he'd been fostered by another family. Dany quickly realised that was why her husband was not as close to his father and sister.

"What do you know of love?" Doran asked, though the angry edge to his voice had vanished.

Quentyn stayed quiet, Dany imagined he was shocked at his own outburst and worried he'd disrespected his father. Though they were not close, Quentyn loved Doran.

"Have the dragon tamed," Doran said eventually.

Dany heard the dismissal in his tone and hurried away, making sure to keep silent. I need a spy network, she thought. That means handmaidens, guards, and whoever else I can keep in my service. Her mind drifted to Missandei, the only person outside her brother, Ella and Jorah who she trusted. Perhaps I can send for her? She tried to fill her mind with anything that would distract her from the foreign feelings bubbling in her stomach for her lord husband.

xxx

Lord Quentyn

The young man sighed as he closed the war tactics book he'd been reading for the last week. He'd made the change from the more academic books and literature he usually read to that of war and politics in hope that it could be of some help to his wife and brother by marriage. He didn't know why he was so invested in Daenerys' and her brother's success, but after weeks of deliberating over it, he'd decided to embrace it. Even if his family berated him for it. He unwillingly thought of all the comments they had made since he married her.

"You have let some pretty Targaryen make you forget your loyalties," his uncle said scornfully.

"Remember this is your home, she is but your wife," Arianne whispered to him at his wedding feast.

"She will never love you back," Tyene laughed.

But Quentyn did not know where his loyalties lay. He respected his father but he'd been raised and cared for by another man for as long as he could remember. I was only summoned from the Yronwoods to make this marriage alliance. And though he loved the friends he'd made while being fostered, they were not his kin either. Law said his loyalties should lay firmly with his wife and children now that he had been wed. Being completely loyal to Dany was also much simpler than all the other options he had. She did not manipulate him, or twist his arm to do things for her, or make backhanded comments about his shortcomings. Her intentions also seemed much purer to Quentyn than that of his father and sister: she wanted her birthright back. That was all.

Plus, he had truly grown to love her. The fact that she was beautiful made falling for her much easier.

"Quentyn," Dany's voice woke him from his reverie. "There you are."

"I'm sorry, were you looking for me?" He frowned. He'd seen her just over two hours ago for lunch.

"Yes," she replied, sitting herself opposite him. The dark lighting in his private library made her eyes almost glow.

"Did you want something?"

"Yes actually. I want to send for my former handmaiden."

He liked how upfront and frank Daenerys was. Had it been his sister in her position she'd have either demanded a handmaiden or tried tricking him into getting one. Daenerys on the other hand, merely stated what she wanted. No hidden agenda, no arrogance.

"Missandei?" He remembered. "The slave from Naarth?"

"We freed her actually," Daenerys reminded him primly. "But yes - Viserys left her in Dragon's Bay to be his eyes and ears."

Quentyn stroked his chin wondering how he could fulfil her request. It would take quite a bit to have the girl safely transported to Dorne. "And you need this girl?"

"Yes, I do," she responded. "My brother left coin behind for my needs, I am willing to use it to send some Unsullied men back to retrieve her."

"That will take weeks, my lady," Quentyn pointed out. "Those Unsullied were left here to guard you."

"Do I have reason to fear for my safety?" She asked pointedly. "Any assassin hired to kill me will likely try to have me poisoned, not attack my physical person."

"While that may be true, the Unsullied are not my guards to command. I can only ask my father to spare some Dornish men." Though I doubt he will agree.

"No," she said quickly. "I will spare two of my Unsullied men, leaving me with ten more. I just need your assistance in acquiring a boat and horses for them to ride."

It is not too unreasonable a request, Quentyn thought, every lady deserves people she can trust in her service. Particularly Daenerys, as she had no female relatives who can serve as her handmaiden. "That, I can do for you. I will have a route arranged for them by the end of the month."

"Thank you," her smile of gratitude washed away all apprehensions Quentyn had about going behind his father's back and bringing someone loyal to Daenerys into the castle. "I'll write and let Missandei know."

"Was there anything else, Daenerys?"

His wife surprised him by fidgeting some and casting her eyes towards the ground before answering. She'd never been timid before. "I do appreciate you, Quentyn," she told him. "I love how much you care for Rhaena, and all the things you've read to help me with Drogon. Your patience and understanding."

Her words took him aback. He'd not done all those things to earn her love, he'd done it because she'd already earned his. Her eyes were wide with genuinity and she'd reached over to take his hands in hers. They were warm, as always. The fire in her blood.

"You needn't thank me for doing my duty as your husband," he barely whispered. "It is my honour."

"There are very few men like you Quentyn," she said earnestly. "I am glad I have you."

What can I possibly say? He exclaimed in his mind, there are no words to express how I feel. Interrupting his train of thought, Daenerys leaned over and kissed him. Not the sweet gentle kisses she'd afforded him during their courtship and on their wedding day and the various times after they'd wed, but a long, slow, wet one. He felt her tongue dancing with his, her dainty hands clasped behind his head; before he could realise, she was straddling him, sat on his lap. He felt her rub against him, there. Without warning, everything he'd ever read or heard about sex flashed in his mind. Take control, Quentyn! Quick before he had time to second guess himself, Quentyn placed his arms around Dany and held her closer, their chests pressed against each other, and deepened the kiss.

"I love you," he breathed into her mouth.

He didn't expect a response, but thought it might be appropriate. His arousal only grew when his princess whispered back, "And I, you."

They continued their impassioned kissing until Quentyn found himself nearly stripped nude and his wife in a similar fashion. He began slowing down, speaking of moving somewhere else, but Daenerys just pressed her lips over his and removed her undergarments. Just follow her lead, he thought, stay calm.

"Are you sure?" Quentyn heard himself asking.

"Yes," she panted. "Please, Quentyn," the longing in her voice was enough to convince her husband to go through with the act.

The entire time, Quentyn was almost certain he was in a dream.