***This chapter again deals with sexual assault, sensitive readers need to be aware of this I don't want to trigger anyone or cause emotional distress*** That being said Happy Holidays and here's four more chapters, enjoy !
As Sandor and I stand the outer wall of Winterfell watching Landon, Anjelae and their retinue recede into the distance I feel a sense of both accomplishment and sadness. Sandor, ever attuned to my emotions offers a cuddle and a kiss and leads me to the warmth of the kitchens. Tyrion and Dany are both there finishing their meals .
I know they too must leave and soon, the business of running a kingdom ever pressing.
" They are well suited to each other and will make fine leaders you know ", from Tyrion. " Yes, we were remarking on it just now ", says Dany.
A wave a nausea hits me and before I can utter a sound a steaming bowl of mother's soup is placed in front of me, courtesy of Culla, with a wink and a smile. Sandor also breaks his fast in the kitchens and soon he and Tyrion are deep in discussion on the raising of another keep in the North. While Dany and I have our own talk of motherhood.
" So how, pray tell how did you convince Tyrion to try for another child ? "
" I have my ways ", says she with a blush to her cheeks.
" I'm sure you do ", I say with an arched brow. To which we both dissolve into laughter and got curious looks from our men.
We are soon joined by Suozahn who looks more than a little worse for wear after last nights festivities. A meek smile and a request of tea and warm bread her only wants. I look at her and remember the first time we met in Quarth several weeks after I gave birth to Ned...
I am accustomed to the rhythm of our new home. Thankfully Ned has gotten into a routine as well and sleeps at least five hours through the night. He is fascinated by the dragons and they of him. They are intelligent creatures having already learned the commands stay and come and no.
Tyrion and the Silver Queen spend most days in each others company her thirst for knowledge and everything about Westeros insatiable. Dany is a fair ruler except when it comes to assaults against women of any age or ilk. I oft sit in at court to learn what it is to rule. The cases today are mostly debt related of one person owing another. Then comes a case of rape of a child. The man is brutish, slopped shouldered, greasy of hair, with a rabid look to his eyes which are small, furtive and dark.
The child in question was brought forth. She is thin to the point of emaciation, bruises cover her arms and legs, dark circles like ink smudges are beneath her eyes giving her a hollow appearance . Her eyes...They are of a blue as mine. Though her skin is marked by black and blue and filthy I think she has my pale skin as well. This girl is of the North I swear it. My observations did not go unnoticed by the Queen.
To the accused she asks, " What say you of the charges against thee ? "
" I didn't rape no girl. "
To the girl she asks, " What did he do child ? "
The girl tries to speak but but only a hoarse rasp comes from her mouth.
Ser Barriston while casting a harsh look towards the accused says, " Do to the nature of the assault she is unable to speak ", your Grace.
Danys brows knit together and her eyes slide to the brute. " Well if you did not rape her what did you do ? "
" I tried to fuck her but her cunt was too tight, so I shoved my cock in her mouth to fuck her throat and the little bitch bit me ! " " So I slapped her around a bit but it's not like I killed her or anything. " " She was in a pleasure house and was being billed as fresh from the North. I never had no North cunny from across the sea. " " Does it not bother you she is a child ?! " From the Queen. " Cunt is cunt as long as it's warm I not much care, besides they said she bleeds and her teats though small are budding and tasty ", says he with a leer.
It is all I can do not to charge down the steps to the floor and run him through but not before I cut his tongue and cock from him I think with a sense of justice and...Glee ?
" You are judged guilty of an attack on a child in a manner which is repulsive and profane . " " I sentence you to be castrated, root and stem and be tended to so as not to kill you." " Your throat will be cut your tongue pulled through and your own sex will be shoved into your mouth and your sex be pulled through the cut as well to dangle as so much meat, your lips will be sewn shut so you may not spat out that which you are fed. " " You shall also be impaled upon a length of wood sharpened at one end, you wish to shove things in children, let you experience it first hand ."
" Strongback, Swiftfoot, take this animal to be dealt with and see he survives. " " His final punishment will be administered at another time of my choosing. "
Two men in loin cloths and funny hats snatch the criminal by both upper arms and drag his now gibbering form to places unknown.
Dany looks at the wide eyed girl. " I know you cannot speak but I will ask only yes or no questions of you, okay ? " " She nods once her large blue eyes holding those of the Queens. " " Do you know your letters ? " She holds up her thumb and forefinger to form a small space between them. " Give her a quill and some ink and parchment ", directs Dany. She writes slowly in a bold hand the name of Souzahn Snow. " I was right, she is of the North ", I say quietly to no one in particular.
She stares now at me with some intent. " Do you know this woman ? ", from Dany. Her blue eyes dance between Dany and myself. " Where are you from ? " She draws a picture of the walls and parapets of Winterfell. " Then you know who this is then ? " She nods and points from me to her picture of Winterfell, from Winterfell to me. " Send her to Syrio, I would know more of her ", says Dany to Ser Barriston. With a bow and, " As you wish, your Grace " , he and the girl depart.
Court over for the day I return to my husband and child as it's time to feed Ned. I find them on the patio Sandor showing him his Great sword, Bane. I stand behind them for a moment to hear Sandor describing the various parts to it and their function. He ends with someday this sword will be yours my son as he nuzzles the top of Ned's head. " Starting his arms instruction already my husband ? " I tease. It is Sandor's turn to feel the heat of blush upon his cheeks.
He gives me one of his crooked grins and stands to greet me with a sweet kiss. Ned's small arms waggle and he kicks his legs by way of greeting. I walk with my son in my arms and sit the bed to feed him. He latches greedily onto my nipple. My breasts are sore and...Huge, my nipples chapped the first week of feeding my son. The midwife gave me a balm and it helped much.
I look with longing at my husbands broad back, at the hair on his chest peeking out from his tunic as he turns to me. His linen breeches snug on his backside and thighs. I watch as he dons the lighter layers of this land. I am counting the days until I may love him again physically after I have fully healed. Ned has finished feeding and I burp him and switch to the other breast which he responds to with vigor. When he is finished I lay him down for his midday nap.
" Husband a girl from the North was in court today", I say casually. My husbands reaction is anything but casual. He comes to me swiftly and grasps my arms all but shaking me for information. I relate the sad tale. He nods with approval at the punishment given to the criminal. " How many more children and women have been stolen from our Land to be bought and sold as so much chattel ?! " " Husband I want you and the others to seek out these pleasure houses and see if there are more like her."
" My wife I can tell you there are many of them. " " You think all children or women are runaways, eaten by predators or fell down a ravine ? " " Nay, they are abducted and spirited in the bellies of slave ships and sometimes in the holds of so called honest merchants. " " The coin one gains in human cargo too much to refuse for some. " " Some are beaten into submission but those of fairer flesh are oft drugged with tainted wine. " " When we retake Winterfell and we rule the North we will address this issue, my husband ", I say with renewed conviction. " So we shall my Little Bird, so we shall. "
As we make our way to midday meal I see the young girl from court has now joined us. She is cleaned up and wearing a dress of linen dyed in shades of blue, a belt of matching fabric cinches it at her small waist. He eyes near start from her as she takes in Sandor's large frame. He cradles still sleeping Ned in the crook of his arm but is soon relieved of him by an aunt eager to hold him. Dany takes him gently from his father's arms and cradles him to her. Her eyes light up whenever Ned is in her arms. She goes to sit by Tyrion who brushes gently his pink cheek and says, " About time someone showed up here that is shorter than I ", to the chuckles of those assembled, including Sandor.
" Lest you think I am remiss Sansa as we sit this table men are scouring the cities pleasure houses to see if there are anymore children. " " This manner of depravity sickens me and I will not knowingly abide it. " From Syrio comes, " This young girl says you knew her mother ", directed at me. " I do ? " " Yes something about lemon cakes or tarts, her mother would give them to you, especially if you were feeling down ? " " Traecii " " Her mothers name was Traecii, she was a cooks assistant . " " Suozahn nods her head hard and tears spring form her eyes . " " Where is your mother child ? " She points to her drawing of Winterfell.
" We know Theon Greyjoy took Winterfell and it is now in the hands of another ", says Ser Barriston. " Whom is that ? " Suozahn hands a drawing to Tyrion who's eyebrows shoot up in surprise, he hands it Dany and the picture makes it's way to me. The drawing is of a flayed man, Sigil of House Bolton. " My father's bannerman ?! " " Yes we had a raven saying as much but had no way to confirm ", again from Ser Barriston. " However it isn't Roose, it's his bastard daemon spawn the former Ramsey Snow, now referred to as Ramsey Bolton. " " He's a sadistic sort and enjoys games with women kind involving a hunt. " My small hands curl into fists and Sandor covers one with his large hand to give a gentle squeeze.
A slow fury breeds within me, I stand and address the assemblage. " The more I hear of these degradation's the more I intend to sweep the Land of this foulness with the fury of steel and hellfire. " " We have five more months till our mounts are air worthy and I intend to work long days training not only the dragons but myself ", as I look to my husband and Syrio and Ser Barriston. " It is not enough to be a Rider I must also be a Mistress to steel as well, my Lord husband has taught me much but I must needs to learn war craft as well, all of your combined battle lore you must impart to Dany and I. " " If I intend to call my father's bannermen back to our Sigil and unite with Daenerys forces to rid Westeros of the insanity it now suffers from I...WE must be worthy of the blood shed in our names and for our cause. "
Ser Barriston's heads slowly nods and a small smile appears on his face. " You Lord father would be proud to know his child is now a woman grown and has found her Northern steel, as am I. " I look to Sandor and he gives me his crooked grin and rests his hand on my hip. Pride also shines from his eyes. From Tyrion, " I agree with the She~Wolf, they both must be trained in battle lore, in the event that they are separated from us... Or we fall. "
Starting the following morning after our dragon training Dany and I were instructed on battle craft from ancient battles to our own times. As the weeks went by we both took to our lessons and learned the differences in seize engines, catapults, trebuchets, the secret of wild fire, parley, honor codes of men and warfare. Parley, Dany and I agree there will be no parley for some. I think to myself I am glad we come atop dragons breathing fire, I think at times the only way to cleanse Westeros is to char it from one end to the other to get the corruption from it. We were instructed on Robert Baratheon's rebellion and his war craft, I was proud to know my Lord father was considered an excellent strategist an proved invaluable to insuring Robert sat the Iron Throne.
More disturbing news from beyond the Wall, the Others and their minions slowly advance to the Wall and there be not enough men to mount it's defenses. My brother Jon has recruited women wildings to man the barren outposts long abandoned by the Night's Watch for lack of man power. The man who claims himself King, Stannis has been to the Wall and left a small amount of men to help defend it along with his wife and daughter. I am proud of Jon, though it shames me how badly I treated him at times. He is now the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, to the chagrin of many I am sure. I pray he can hold the Other's and them that trudge alongside with cold limbs and glowing eyes until we can get to him...
