Note: After 54 chapters and more than one year, I have finally admitted to myself that "Master of Harmony" is an amazingly absurd and stupid title. As such, I have methodically gone back and replaced every single use of that phrase with something more appropriate and less cringeworthy: "Master of Order." So, those of you who like to reread stories, I just want you to be aware of that. Those of you who only started reading on September 22nd or after, pay no mind to this notice.

Grass. Nothing but grass as far as the eye can see.

There was plenty of grassland throughout the Seven Kingdoms. All that grass, however, was generally found on fertile land where crops could be sewn and grown. No crops could ever be produced by this land. The Dothraki Sea was as barren as it was massive. It's amazing how an entire civilization could actually thrive in these parts.

Then again, to belong to a civilization, one had to be civil. As such, it was debatable as to whether the Dothraki really were a civilization. I suppose we won't know for a certainty until we reach Vaes Dothrak.

They could not get there soon enough. Ellyn enjoyed riding on horseback as much as anyone, but every person could tire of it eventually. In her case, "eventually" was around two months. So far, the khalasar had been on the move for a little more than one month, but it already felt like two. Perhaps that was because the Dothraki typically rode from dawn to dusk, only pausing in-between for meals. The heat may have had something to do with it, too.

"Gods, it is hot out here," said Dacey Mormont, whose horse was trotting beside hers.

"No kidding," Ellyn muttered sarcastically. She turned towards her sister-by-law. Almost immediately, Ellyn could tell Dacey was doing much worse than she herself was. Although she had her reins in both hands, she was leaning in her saddle. She looked either dizzy or disoriented.

At a glance, one might have thought Dacey was sick or dying. Ellyn was wiser than that; she knew the Bear Islander was healthy as could be. It was the climate that was the true problem. Evidently, the heat was taking a toll on the Northwoman.

"Are you alright, Dacey?" Ellyn asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," the older woman insisted, though her tone suggested otherwise.

For that alone, Ellyn was not convinced. She was a very hard person to mislead or fool. She had noticed that ever since they set out from Pentos, Dacey had been sweating more and more each day. She obviously was not drinking enough water to compensate. That implied dehydration, which, in turn, indicated the early stages of heat exhaustion. If she doesn't get some relief from this heat, she could pass out and fall off her horse.

Ellyn wondered what she might do to help Dacey. The only practical solution would have been for them to stop and let her rest for a bit.

Alas, that was not an option. If they stayed still for too long, they would risk getting left behind. Aside from that, there was no telling who all would see them and what those people who think. Therefore, they could only stop if everyone else stopped, too.

Ellyn would not dare ask the khal to halt. It was unlikely he would fulfill that kind of request, regardless of who made it. And even if he was willing to do so, he would want to know why they were stopping, and Ellyn was not about to tell him that.

Khal Drogo had begun to respect Lady Dacey Clegane at his wedding. In the time since they all left Pentos, his bloodriders and many of his horde had come to respect her, as well. That was no simple achievement, particularly for a member of her sex. Incidentally, she was also the only person in the entire company who stood taller than Khal Drogo. Ellyn could almost claim the same. Another inch, and the khal and I would be of a height.

To the Dothraki, how much respect a person was afforded was proportional to that person's strength. That was one thing Ellyn had learned of them fairly quickly. As such, she was not about to suggest to Drogo that the leader of the Westerosi units was in a weakened state due to the dry weather. That would probably be enough to destroy the Dothraki's admiration for Dacey.

So, asking the khal to break was out of the question. Ellyn would have to find a way to help Dacey cope with the extreme heat through some other means.

As she contemplated what else she might do, the horses in front of her suddenly came to a stop. Ellyn, Dacey, and the others in their row hastily brought their mounts to a halt, too. She looked around the vicinity and saw that everyone was resting.

Lady Ellyn Lannister was perplexed. It was only midday. It was unusual for the khalasar to stop this early. The only exception was when the khal meant to pillage someplace, and the nearest settlement was dozens of miles away. She could hear some of Dothraki shouting something down the column, but she did not understand what they were saying.

Ellyn looked to the man in front of her. She knew him as Pono, one of Drogo's kos. He was also one of the few Dothraki in the horde who knew a bit of the Common Tongue. Not enough to carry a conversation, but more than enough to answer a simple question.

"Why are we stopping?" she asked him.

He rigidly declared "The khalessi commanded it."

"Why?" said Ellyn.

"Go and ask her, Imp's Bitch," he sharply retorted.

Ellyn chuckled at that. I'll never get tired of being called that. Most others would hate to go by that moniker. Many would expect Ellyn to feel the same way about that as her brother-by-law felt to be known as the Kingslayer. Not so. To her, "Imp's Bitch" was a compliment. It signified her relationship with her lord husband and how strong it was.

Tyrion and Ellyn Lannister never allowed anyone's speech to bother them. Both of them had long ago built up a resistance to harmful words. Of course, there were some types of words that could hurt people. However, in the long run, only gossip and rumor could do so, and only if other people were gullible and imprudent enough to believe in them. Slander and insult could only hurt a person if that person allowed them to. Tyrion and Ellyn never allowed themselves to be offended by rude remarks.

Each other, on the other hand…

Ellyn knew for a fact that Tyrion would never have tolerated all this "Imp's Bitch" business if his wife decided it upset her. Likewise, Ellyn would not put up with anyone saying cruel things about her husband. Any person who dared to do so was dealt a harsh lesson in pain.

The day after Khal Drogo and Princess Daenerys' wedding, one of the Dothraki had brazenly offered to take Ellyn riding. Straightaway, she realized he was not referring to horses, and she promptly declined. Unfortunately, the man did not give up that easily. Even when he became a little more forceful, she attempted to dismiss him calmly, as she did not want to resort to bloodshed so soon.

When she made it clear that Tyrion was the only man for her, the Dothraki had laughed and said "You and that… thing? No wonder you refuse. You do not even know how to lay with real man."

That was when Ellyn's patience reached its end. Determined to defend Tyrion's honor, she challenged the Dothraki to a duel. He was quick to accept, and he claimed "You will land on your back, and then you will submit."

The duel did not quite go the way he expected it to. As a matter of fact, it was rather short; Ellyn was taller, stronger, and faster than her opponent. She did not even have to draw her sword to defeat him. All she needed was the dagger Tyrion had gifted to her at their first meeting. His arakh was no match for it.

In less than two minutes, the Dothraki was on his knees, and Ellyn had a firm grip on his head with her left hand. She held her dagger to his face with her right hand. She was tempted to slit his throat or cut out his tongue, but she felt that would have been too merciful. She wanted to humiliate him the way he humiliated Tyrion. So instead, she cut off his braid and dangled it in front of his face. That certainly left an impact.

Before that day, that man had been one of the most esteemed riders in Drogo's horde. Now he rode near the back with the servants, the elderly, the children, the ill, and the lame. Furthermore, he made sure to keep a fair amount of space between himself and the Lannisters. Ellyn was pleased for that. He will not be disturbing us again for a very long time. Or ever, if he has the sense of a goat.

At any rate, Ellyn was curious as to why Princess Daenerys had ordered the khalasar to halt. She decided to investigate. She pulled on the reins of her destrier, and it carried her out into the open.

"Where are you going, Ellyn?" Dacey stated enquiringly.

"To find Daenerys," the younger woman responded, "She must have a reason for wanting to stop."

"I'll go with you," Dacey proclaimed. Ellyn would have questioned that proposal, but she chose not to.

Although Dacey was Ellyn's sister-by-law, she was also her superior officer. Ellyn was now a member of the Legion without Banners, and even the non-Legionnaire Westerosi in their party were following the Northwoman's orders. Aside from that, Dacey did not seem as bothered by the heat as she had been a few minutes ago. At least she does not look likely to faint anymore. For now.

Ellyn Lannister and Dacey Mormont separated from the rest of the riders in their row, and they trotted to the head of the company. They kept an eye out for Daenerys Targaryen. At first, they could not spot her or her silver mare. Then Dacey pointed to the southeast. Ellyn looked in that direction, and she saw a flash of silver.

"Where is she going?" Ellyn thought aloud.

"I do not know," Dacey remarked, "But she's won't be alone for long."

It was then that Ellyn realized another horse had parted from the horde. The rider of this horse was blonde, much like Daenerys. That could only be her brother, Viserys. He seemed to be following his sister, and he was armed with either an arakh or a spear. It was too hard to tell which at this distance.

"This could mean trouble," Ellyn perceived.

"Indeed," said Ser Bonifer Hasty, who abruptly appeared at her other side.

He had been riding near the front of the company. Ellyn had noticed that wherever he went, Daenerys tended to be close by. It was though he was determined to stay near her. Maybe he was obligated to protect her. I can tell he doesn't just want to fuck her. They wouldn't call him Bonifer the Good for that.

"We should go after them," Ser Bonifer proposed.

"I agree," Dacey conceded, "There is no telling what might be out there, and their safety is our priority."

"Oh, it is not his safety I'm concerned about," the Stormlander knight spat. As you've repeatedly demonstrated. Still, he made a good point. Viserys had proven to be a hazard to his sister's security.

Eddison Tollett then emerged from the column and muttered "Ser, my ladies, not to sound impertinent, but Daenerys specifically told us to wait here until she returned."

"So?" Ellyn bluntly countered, "We're under no obligation to follow her demands."

"She's right," Ser Bonifer stated, "We are only travelling with the khal; by no means have we actually complemented our forces to his."

"Besides, when orders compromise the well-being of the person who issued them, it is not wrong to discard them," Dacey contended, "Oftentimes, it would be wrong not to."

"Unless it was to look after the well-being of those who received the orders," Dolorous Edd disputed.

"We could debate this all day," Ellyn mumbled sardonically, "Or we could shut up and try to catch up with Viserys before he can damage his sister again."

"Right, right, of course," Dacey acknowledged. She turned back to the southeast and stated "Let's move out."

She, Ellyn, and Ser Bonifer proceeded to head after the Targaryens. They were accompanied by two of the Dothraki. Ellyn recognized them as Jhogo, one of Daenerys' khas, and Irri, one of her handmaids. They must share our concern. Of course, it would be in their interests to as much as it would be in ours.

At first, Ellyn and the other four only went at a brisk trot. Before long, they spotted Daenerys stopping her silver and climbing off of her. By then, Viserys was rapidly nearing his sister. That was when the others broke into a gallop.

Viserys managed to reach Daenerys almost thirty full seconds before they did. That was almost too late of them. When they were upon her, Viserys had forced his sister onto the ground, and his hands were clasped around her neck.

Jhogo was swift to respond. With a crack of his whip, he caught Viserys by the throat and roughly pulled him off Daenerys. The blond man cried out in anguish as the whip dug into his skin. Even when he was flat on his back, Jhogo kept tugging it hard to ensure that Viserys did not recover from his attack.

Ser Bonifer speedily climbed off his horse and went to Daenerys' side. As he gently pulled her to her feet, he queried "Did he hurt you, Your Grace?"

"No," the blond woman replied, "I am well, but thank you, all the same."

"Think nothing of it," Ser Bonifer asserted as he brushed the dirt off her attire.

"What were you doing out here, Your Grace?" Dacey enquired, "Why did you ask the company to halt?"

"I was trying to see how far I could ride out on my own," Daenerys illuminated, "I was not attempting to escape or anything of the sort. Doing so would have been pointless, anyway. All I wanted was a moment of solitude."

"I can understand that," Ellyn mentioned. In her youth, she had treasured her time alone greatly. Back then, she had actually preferred to be all by herself. It was not until she first met Tyrion that she became more outgoing. She still liked to have a little time to herself, albeit only occasionally. "Is it not ironic that we are surrounded by empty wilderness, yet there is not a bit of privacy to be found in our present company?"

"That is ironic," Bonifer Hasty conceded. He then turned back to Daenerys and inquired "Do you know why your brother attacked you, Your Grace?"

"He did not appreciate being ordered to halt," Daenerys answered him plainly.

Viserys was still squirming on the ground with Jhogo's whip coiled around his neck. The kha looked to Daenerys and said something in his native language. Irri translated it into the Common Tongue: "Jhogo asks what you would have done with this one, Khaleesi. Would death or disfigurement be a more suitable punishment for him?"

"He is my brother," Daenerys pronounced, "I would not see him harmed."

I am so happy my brothers did not turn out so rotten.

Irri repeated Daenerys' statements to Jhogo in guttural Dothraki. He seemed somewhat displeased, and he made another declaration. Irri translated this one, as well. She stated "Jhogo advises you to at least take an eye or a foot to teach him his place."

"Jhogo presents a fine proposal," said Bonifer Hasty, reaching for his sword, "Should you wish it, I will do the deed myself, Your Grace."

Viserys was starting to look really scared by this point. Ser Bonifer seemed pleased by that. In a way, Ellyn found it quaintly satisfying, too. She always took delight in seeing brutes learning a rough yet much-needed lesson in humility.

Nevertheless, she also believed in the sacredness of family bonds. As such, she professed "Daenerys can decide her own brother's fate. That is her prerogative."

Daenerys gazed up at the Westerlander and smiled at her. Obviously, she appreciated Ellyn backing her up. The young woman from the west smiled back at the girl.

Princess Daenerys then announced "My brother must be chastised, but so long as he is my family, I will allow no harm to befall him. However, he must realize where he belongs in the khalasar. So… take away his horse."

As much as Jhogo and Ser Bonifer advocated maiming Viserys, both of them seemed to approve of that idea even more. Ellyn was well-aware why. To the Dothraki, those who travelled on foot were viewed as the lowest of the low. Such men were regarded as eunuchs. Making Viserys an actual eunuch has some appeal of its own. But I'll not say that; Daenerys has already selected his punishment.

Jhogo released Viserys from the tight hold of his whip. As he went to take charge of Viserys' horse, the blond man struggled to catch his breath and regain his bearings. Once he was a little more composed, he shouted in a hoarse voice "Clegane, Hasty, kill these Dothraki dogs and discipline my slut of a sister!"

Didn't his mother ever teach him anything of courtesy? Oh, wait… she wasn't in his life for that long. I guess no one taught him manners then. That was hardly surprising. In fact, it explained everything about Viserys' unstable persona. If madness was not to blame, it was poor upbringing.

"Give us a reason why we should," Ser Bonifer spat mockingly, "It couldn't be because you are the rightful king of the Seven Kingdoms. The Targaryens lost the Iron Throne long ago."

"And even if they hadn't, your brother Rhaegar had two sons," Lady Dacey pointed out, "One of which rides with us."

"I was born in Westeros just as you were!" Viserys shrieked, "You would side with foreign scum over your own countrymen?!"

"Since this 'foreign scum' is our ally at present, yes," Ellyn wittily commented, "Far as I can tell, you hardly even qualify as a tentative ally. In fact, you are closer to a fiend than a friend."

"I wasn't talking to you, Lannister whore," Viserys snapped angrily.

"I'm the whore?" Ellyn drily uttered, "I am not the one who bartered with his own flesh and blood."

Viserys gave a wicked sneer and mumbled "Yet your own parents gave you away to the monstrous spawn of a backstabbing traitor."

In response to that, Ellyn grimaced, but she did not lose her composure. Instead, she brought her destrier a little closer to Viserys, glared down at him, and proclaimed "Firstly, I was not forced into that match; I consented to it. Secondly, Tyrion Lannister is seven times the man you will ever be. Thirdly… do you know what happened to the last man who slighted my lord husband?"

At that, she displayed her dagger. Viserys quivered at the sight of it, even though Ellyn did not remove it from its sheath. She just smirked, tucked it away, and remarked "Well, you'll see him soon enough. At the very back of the horde, where you belong."

Viserys was effectively rendered shocked as well as speechless, just as Ellyn intended.

After Ser Bonifer Hasty and Princess Daenerys Targaryen climbed back onto their horses, they – along with Lady Ellyn Lannister, Lady Dacey Clegane, Irri, and Jhogo – made their way back to the khalasar. Jhogo led Viserys Targaryen's horse away by the reins, leaving the prince without a mount.

As they went to rejoin the horde, Ellyn looked back at Viserys. He simply sat planted on the ground, pouting and sulking. He made for a truly pitiful specimen of a man. Even more pitiful than usual, that is.

"You think he'll just stay there?" Ellyn conjectured. A part of him hoped he would. But the other part remembered that they still needed him, alive and well. Unless the King changes his mind again.

"No," Dacey stated, "Sooner or later, he'll return to the company. Between his pride and his life, he would most definitely pick his life."

"Yes, even he must have that much sense," Bonifer Hasty contended.

"He does," Daenerys softly affirmed, "But I fear I may have woken the dragon again."

Ellyn and the others knew that was the expression Daenerys used whenever her brother was pissed off. Which, in truth, was quite often. Be that as it may, she only applied it in circumstances when she provoked him into threatening to physically injure her.

"Do not let that worry you, Your Grace," Ser Bonifer advised the girl, "His days of taking his rage out on you are in the past."

"Aside from that, Viserys is hardly a dragon," Dacey perceived, "My cousin Jorah would probably call him 'less than the shadow of a snake.'"

A fitting label for a deposed prince.

"What would he say of me?" Daenerys said inquisitively.

"I wouldn't know," Dacey admitted, "I suppose he would argue that you, your niece, and your nephews are the closest things to dragons left."

"Other than…?" Daenerys began.

"Yes, apart from those eggs," Lady Dacey interjected, "But we have no way of knowing when or how they will hatch. Until they do, you and your brother Rhaegar's children are the only true dragons in the whole of the world."

"What about the maester of Castle Black?" Ellyn pointed out. She and Tyrion had learned of Aemon Targaryen's true heritage when they visited the Wall. He was easily one of the kindest and most likeable of the black brothers.

"I did not forget Maester Aemon," Dacey claimed, "I once met the man, too, Ellyn. Alas, he is very old and frail, and a sworn brother of the Night's Watch besides. There is not very much of the dragon in him anymore."

"I still hope to meet him before his time ends," Daenerys remarked.

"With luck, you will, Your Grace," Ser Bonifer supposed. With more luck, that will be before the Others advance on the Seven Kingdoms.

After trotting in quietness for a little bit, Princess Daenerys brought her horse alongside Lady Ellyn's, and she politely stated "Excuse me, my lady."

"Yes, Your Grace?" said Ellyn, turning to the blond girl.

"I just wished to compliment you," Daenerys told her sweetly, "Your handling of that situation with my brother was superb."

Ellyn was flattered. She smiled and commented "You did quite beautifully yourself."

"Thank you," Daenerys murmured appreciatively, "I feel I owe that to you. Your support was a great boost to my confidence."

"You seem plenty confident already," Ellyn observed, "After all, an unconfident woman could not have endured what you have endured thus far."

"That may be," Daenerys debated, shrugging lightly, "Still… I have come to admire you and Lady Dacey. I would imagine that many of the women of the Seven Kingdoms look up to the two of you."

"They all do," Dacey cheekily stated, "Literally."

Daenerys giggled at that jape. Ellyn giggled, too. Because it is irrefutably true. After they had their laugh, the blond girl pronounced "I would be most grateful if both of you would feast with me tonight."

Ellyn was taken aback by the suddenness of that invitation. The invitation itself, on the other hand, delighted her. "Certainly."

"I would be honored," Dacey claimed.

"Wonderful," Princess Daenerys muttered giddily, "And, if you could, please bring my nephew's lover and maid along."

"What about your nephew himself?" Ellyn noted.

"As much as I would like Jon to attend, it would be for the best if no man other than my brother entered my tent whilst my husband was elsewhere," Daenerys contended, "Aside from that, my sun-and-stars plans to take him and his direwolf hunting this evening."

Ellyn and Dacey snickered. They both knew "sun-and-stars" was a term of endearment Daenerys reserved for Khal Drogo. By the way she used it, it sounded like a very affectionate term. That would suggest her marriage has at least a little happiness in it.

"We will be there, Your Grace," Dacey asserted.

"All four of us," Ellyn added in. Of course, she could not really speak for all of them just yet. Let us hope Ygritte is in one of her more agreeable moods today.

Soon, they got back to the khalasar. After that, the Dothraki and the Westerosi resumed their march to the east. Eventually, Viserys got up off his ass and ran after them, just as Dacey predicted he would. Ellyn and many of the Dothraki were amused by his efforts to catch up with the column.

The horde kept riding for several hours more. When they finally stopped for the day, the Sun was still overhead. Ellyn thought that quaint. Usually they did not cease until the Sun was starting to disappear over the western horizon. Drogo must have his reasons for stopping sooner. Whatever those reasons were, they meant a few more hours' respite for her and everyone else, so she could hardly complain.

As her fellow Westerosi and their Dothraki associates made camp all around her, Ellyn Lannister dismounted her brown destrier. It feels damn good to be on my feet again. Viserys might disagree, though. The thought of that made her grin wickedly.

Dacey was still with her. She looks exhausted. The Bear Islander climbed off her own mount. When she landed on her feet, she doubled over, as though she was going to collapse. Ellyn quickly stepped up to her sister-by-law and took ahold of her arms.

"Dacey?" she murmured anxiously.

At first, the Northwoman said nothing. Then she mumbled softly "I'm sorry. It's… it's just so fucking hot."

As Ellyn held onto Dacey's arms, she realized the sleeves of her tunic were drenched in sweat. However, Dacey's forehead was free of perspiration. That meant she had either run out of water, or she just was not sweating, despite the Sun's rays constantly bearing down on her.

That was not all that was amiss. Dacey could hardly stand straight, she appeared to have difficulty focusing, her skin was red and dry, her breathing was rapid and shallow, her heartbeat was unnaturally fast, and she looked as though she was going to expel her last meal.

The problem soon dawned on Ellyn. It was as she suspected earlier. She has heat exhaustion. Ellyn was no maester, but she knew the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion when she saw them. At this moment, Dacey was exhibiting many of them.

"Come on," Ellyn urged her sister-by-law, "Let's find you some shade."

Dacey was hardly in a position to protest or argue. Thus, she allowed the younger woman to give her a helping hand and lead her away from the scene. Hopefully, our tents have already been erected. She was reasonably certain they had. House Clegane and House Lannister had very reliable retainers.

They were still in the center of the Dothraki horde. Ellyn moved in such a way that it seemed she was the one who needed assistance, not Dacey. She did that so that the Bear Islander's weakened state was concealed, and thus, she would not lose the hard-earned respect of the Dothraki. There was a chance their opinion of the Westerlander woman might go down, but Ellyn did not mind. Personally, she could not have cared less what the Dothraki thought of her.

At any rate, this charade seemed to successfully mislead the majority of the people in the area. Alas, it did not fool everyone.

Before Ellyn and Dacey were anywhere near their tents, they encountered Princess Daenerys and her handmaids. The blond girl saw right through their act almost straightaway.

"Is something wrong with Lady Dacey?" Daenerys asked in concern. She is more observant than I gave her credit for.

"Heat exhaustion," Ellyn apprised her, "She needs to get out of the Sun. I'm taking her to her tent."

"That will take too long," Daenerys perceived, "Bring her to mine instead."

"Is that wise, Your Grace?" Dacey inquired.

"Standing out here discussing it isn't," Ellyn candidly remarked.

"Please, don't argue, my lady," Daenerys beseeched the Northwoman, "Just come with me."

Ellyn looked up at Dacey, as though she was awaiting instructions on how to proceed. Ultimately, the older woman sighed and mumbled "Very well."

Thank the gods she decided not to be difficult this time.

They only had to walk another twenty feet before they reached Daenerys' tent. Once they got there, the blonde girl discreetly let them inside. Ellyn noted the khalessi's accommodations were rather spacious and elegant. They practically made the highborn pavilion she shared with Tyrion and Duncan look like a cheap hovel by comparison.

Princess Daenerys and her handmaids followed the taller women into the tent. Once they were out of sight of the Dothraki, Ellyn was able to drop their act. Daenerys was kind enough to give her a hand with Dacey. She gestured to a pile of cushions in the center of the tent and proposed "Let's put her down there."

Ellyn nodded and brought her sister-by-law over to the cushions. She carefully lowered Dacey onto her back. As the Northwoman got settled, Daenerys dispatched orders to her handmaids. She instructed them "Doreah, fetch some water. The colder, the better. Irri, Jhiqui, help me get her clothes off."

The Lysene girl dipped her head and exited the tent. The two Dothraki girls obediently knelt beside their mistress, and they began to undress Dacey.

As they unfastened her cloak and removed it, Dacey murmured "Is this necessary, Your Grace?"

"You could continue to overheat if you keep all this attire on, my lady," Daenerys contended.

"She's right," Ellyn conceded, "You should not have been wearing so much to begin with, Dacey."

"Excess garments do cause excess heating," Irri debated, "It is known."

"It is known," said Jhiqui. Once the cloak was off, the two of them proceeded to take Dacey's hauberk off next.

"If you'd like, we could provide you something else to wear," Daenerys offered.

"While I am grateful, I doubt you'd have anything that would fit me," Dacey stated drily. I don't think any woman would.

"I believe you are correct," Daenerys muttered, "However, Khal Drogo has amassed plenty of riches from his many campaigns. Among those riches is a vast collection of fine apparel. Perhaps we might find something in your size, my lady."

"That'll work," Dacey remarked as Irri and Jhiqui started to remove the jerkin she wore beneath her hauberk. As they unlaced the front of it, she added in "As long as you do not have to go out of your way."

"You needn't worry about that," Daenerys asserted. A minute later, Doreah returned with two pitchers of water. She placed them next to her mistress. Daenerys picked one of them up and held it out to Dacey, urging her "Drink. Slowly."

The Northwoman took the pitcher, raised it to her lips, and took a deep swig. After swallowing, she gave the pitcher back to Daenerys, who then turned to Ellyn and held it out to her. "Would you care for some, my lady?"

"As it happens, my waterskin ran dry a couple hours ago," Ellyn muttered frankly, "So, I would be delighted."

She accepted the pitcher from the blonde girl and took a long sip from it. To her amazement, the water was rather cool. This is quaint. The water's been tepid since we left Pentos. Yet today it isn't. Maybe we are near a pond or a river. I wonder… when's the last time I checked our position on a map?

After getting a drink, Ellyn lowered the pitcher and set it down on the ground, close to the cushions. At the same time, Daenerys took the other pitcher, dipped a small piece of cloth in it, wrung the cloth out, and placed it against Dacey's forehead. As she held the damp cloth there, she disclosed "Your sister Alysane did not react favorably to the heat when she first arrived in Essos, either. Of course, she had plenty of time to grow accustomed to it at Magister Illyrio's manse. You were not afforded the same opportunity."

"Indeed, I wasn't," Dacey muttered. To her credit, most of us were expecting to leave Essos on the same day we arrived in it. Had Daenerys not chosen to go through with her marriage to Drogo, we would have. "If I had known we would end up riding across the continent, I would have packed lighter clothes. A grave error in judgement on my part that I did not."

"Even you can't be totally ready for everything," Ellyn reassured her sister-by-law. Mostly, but not totally.

"I suppose so," Dacey admitted. Before Irri and Jhiqui could remove her tunic and leave her bare from the waist up, she stopped the handmaids and told Daenerys "I am immensely grateful for your investment in my well-being, Your Grace, but I do not wish to be a burden to you."

"You are no burden to me," Daenerys proclaimed sternly, "Lady Dacey, I owe my life to your lord husband, and your people took care of me and my brother for the last year and a-half. Please, let me take care of you for the rest of the day. It is the very least I could do in return."

For a moment, Dacey seemed as though she would protest again. Instead, she smiled lightly and said "If you insist."

I think she does. Very adamantly. In any case, it looked as though Dacey would be in good hands. Ellyn did not think her presence was required any longer. She rose to her full height, clapped her hands together, and pronounced "I would stay, but I haven't seen my husband and son since this morning. So, I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon with them. I'll be back for supper in the early evening. If for any reason you need me before then, you can find me in my usual spot near the western edge of the encampment."

"As you say, my lady," Daenerys avowed, nodding her head.

"Could you tell Alyver that I'll see him and Torrhen later tonight?" Dacey requested.

"Of course," Ellyn responded, "And don't worry; I won't say anything about what transpired here. I'll just tell him you had business with the khaleesi."

"Thank you," Dacey said appreciatively.

Ellyn Lannister then exited the khaleesi's tent, leaving her sister-by-law in the tender care of Princess Daenerys Targaryen and her handmaids. From there, she headed to the west.

Before long, Ellyn spotted a crimson red pavilion marked with the golden lion of House Lannister. That was where she, Tyrion, and Duncan slept.

When she stepped inside, she saw that Tyrion was not there, but Duncan was. Greta was looking after him.

"Good afternoon, milady," Greta greeted her mistress.

"And to you, Greta," the tall woman rejoined. As her handmaiden carefully handed her son over to her, Ellyn inquired "Have you seen my husband?"

"Lord Tyrion went to speak with the khal," Greta revealed. "He should be back soon."

"'Soon' being 'now,'" a familiar masculine voice uttered wittily from the entrance of the pavilion.

Ellyn turned, and sure enough, the owner of the voice was none other than her lord husband. She smiled at him, and Tyrion smiled back. She did not care that his smile was crooked; it always brought her warmth and joy.

"Is Duncan doing well?" Tyrion inquired.

"I wouldn't know; I just got here," Ellyn cheekily replied.

"He's just fine, milord and milady," Greta notified them, just before she left the pavilion to see to her other duties.

"Excellent," Tyrion commented. He waddled over to his wife, and she knelt to his level so they could both see their son. He was smiling, too. Tyrion tickled him under his chin, causing Duncan to giggle. Tyrion smiled again and said "I noticed he seems to prefer this weather to that of the North."

"So have I," Ellyn disclosed. That is one thing he and his aunt do not agree on; hot over cold. She solemnly added in "That is good. He should enjoy it while he can."

"We all should," Tyrion contended, "But no need to lament on imminent disasters."

"Quite so," Ellyn muttered in agreement. She sat down at the table where she and her family broke their fast, lunched, and supped together. As Tyrion sat in the chair opposite hers, she asked him "Why did you go to see Khal Drogo?"

"You may have noticed we made camp much earlier than usual," Tyrion pointed out. As Ellyn nodded her head to confirm, he expounded "I was curious as to why, and I decided to ask the khal. It turned out to be good news. Vaes Dothrak is less than another day's ride away, and Drogo aims for us to get there shortly after daybreak."

"Why daybreak?" Ellyn wondered. She did not see what possible difference the time of their arrival might make.

"I do not know," Tyrion confessed, "Maybe it is simply the khal's preference."

"It could be," Ellyn supposed. She then shrugged and observed "In any case, when we get there is Drogo's decision. We would be prudent not to question it."

"My thoughts exactly, my love," Tyrion concurred, "Aside from that, we should dwell on the most important part. We are nearly at our journey's end."

"The first half of our journey's end, you mean," Ellyn corrected him.

"Yes, yes, we still have to go back the way we came," Tyrion dismissively commented. "Still, there is no telling how long we will remain at Vaes Dothrak."

"However long that is, hopefully we can take a break from riding once we get there," Ellyn conjectured.

"That would be a welcome relief," Tyrion wryly pronounced. He spent the next few seconds stretching his body. Then he said "Spending so much time in the saddle is making my legs cramp even worse than usual, and my buttocks are almost numb."

"I know what you mean," Ellyn declared, rubbing a sore on her lower right thigh, "My loins have not ached this much since Duncan came into the world."

He scoffed. "Yes, and would I be right to assume this experience is nowhere near as rewarding?"

"No, not nearly," Ellyn affirmed, gazing down at their son and holding him close, "However, the pain is not the most insufferable part. For me, the most insufferable part is wandering through this vast landscape with nothing but tall, inedible grass all around us."

"Yes, it has become quite tedious," Tyrion mumbled. "Saddle sores I can tolerate, but not boredom. Boredom is the bane of my existence."

"Mine, too," Ellyn agreed. That's one of the best aspects of our marriage; we never bore each other.

Tyrion then turned to his wife with a devious look across his countenance. She referred to that as his "Impish" expression. "I know something we could do to combat our common enemy of boredom."

"What?" Ellyn asked in interest.

"The Dothraki believe all things of importance should be done under the stars," Tyrion informed her, "Perhaps tonight, after we put Duncan to bed, we could mate in the style of the horselords."

Ellyn did not know whether to guffaw or sneer. "You want us to have sex outside?"

"Only if you do, too," Tyrion assured his wife, "As long as we're among these people, we should show some regard for their customs. Furthermore… it would be a new experience."

Most women would be appalled if their husbands presented a suggestion such as that. Then again, most women were unwilling to marry a dwarf. In that capacity and others, Ellyn Lannister had been different from most women. Despite her initial shock, the idea did have an odd appeal.

Apart from that, Ellyn was never embarrassed to be seen with Tyrion. She even openly kissed him on the lips in public. Granted, this is much more than kissing or even snogging, but still… who knows? Ultimately, she told her husband "I'll think on this. You'll have my answer when I get back tonight."

"Back from what?" Tyrion queried.

"Oh, I forgot to mention," Ellyn realized, "Princess Daenerys invited me and a few other women to dine with her this evening."

"I see," Tyrion muttered, almost indifferently, "Well, we've still a few hours of sunlight left until then. What say the three of us pass the remainder of the afternoon together?"

"There is nothing I'd rather do," Ellyn stated sincerely. Unless, of course, we had the option to bond back home instead of here.

Ellyn Lannister spent the rest of the afternoon mingling with her husband and son. About half that interval they spent by themselves in their pavilion. For the other half, they went outside and interacted with their friends and associates. Those individuals included Ser Lothor Brune, Ser Brynden Tully, Prince Jon Targaryen, his paramour Ygritte, Dolorous Edd Tollett, and, of course, Ellyn and Tyrion's nephews Alyver and Torrhen.

To Ellyn's relief, the boys did not seem too bothered by their mother's absence. Torrhen had been fed shortly before they stopped, and Alyver could find plenty to keep himself occupied. Luckily, if they needed anything, they were not unattended. Their Aunt Alysane was voluntarily supervising them until her sister returned that night.

When the Sun began to set in the west, Ellyn kissed her husband and son good-bye, and she left them with the promise to come back to them whilst the night was young. She fully intended to fulfill that promise. To her, time with family was precious. Additionally, she had not forgotten the suggestion Tyrion had made earlier. True to her word, she would give it some serious thought. I just may indulge him, just to see how he would indulge me.

At this time, Khal Drogo was preparing to go on the last hunt of the day. As always, his bloodriders and the usual members of the hunting party were going with him. This time, Prince Jon Targaryen, Ghost, Ser Gerold Hightower, and some of the other Westerosi were coming along, too.

Over the course of the last several weeks, Ellyn had noticed how Khal Drogo and Prince Jon had progressively gotten better-acquainted with each other. Being the former's wife and the latter's aunt, Princess Daenerys Targaryen had been the catalyst who brought them together.

Ellyn could not tell which of them was more interested in getting to know the other. For all she knew, they really were not so interested in one another, and they were only mingling for Daenerys' sake. Since both men are still alive and unscathed after a full month, I can assume they do not despise each other. That should count for something.

Shortly after the khal and his hunting party set out, Ellyn went to meet an appointment of her own. She easily convinced Ygritte and "Myrna" to come with her. What she did not anticipate was that Lyarra, the mother of Ghost and his packmates, would accompany them, too. Ellyn was somewhat hesitant to bring the grown direwolf along, but her mistress assured her that Lyarra would not cause any trouble.

It takes one wolf to know another, so I'll hold her to her word.

When they got to the khalessi's tent, they found Aggo with his bow, Jhogo with his whip, and Rakharo with his arakh standing guard. When the women were upon them, the three Dothraki stepped aside to allow them entrance. They eyed Lyarra warily as she approached, but they did not try to stop her from going into the tent.

Did Daenerys know that we'd bring Lyarra? Her khas would not have let a direwolf into her tent unless she permitted it. She knew Ghost was fond of Daenerys, seeing as his master had bonded with her frequently ever since she wed Khal Drogo. Perhaps Jon's "maid" and Ghost's mother had been present at some of their encounters with Daenerys. Or…

When Ellyn entered the tent, she found it in much the same condition as before. There were some notable differences, though. A small table had been placed in the center of the room. The table was very short; almost level with the ground. Its surface held a platter of roasted goat, an assortment of fruits, a block of cheese, two loaves of bread, a bottle of wine, and a bottle of fermented mare's milk.

Daenerys sat at the head of the table. She had changed out of her normal bare-sleeved riding gown into a flowing dress of red silk and black lace. It complemented her petite figure nicely. Irri and Jhiqui stood at the wall of the tent behind their mistress. Doreah was nowhere to be seen at present.

Furthermore, Dacey was no longer lying on her back on the pile of cushions. She was sitting up straight at the table next to Daenerys, and she seemed to have recovered from her heat exhaustion. She looked totally revitalized. Interestingly, her apparel had changed, too.

She was now wearing a sleeveless gown of green silk and purple lace. Although the dress went all the way down to her ankles, it must have been made for a shorter woman originally. It was more than a little tight on her, particularly across the upper chest. At a glance, Ellyn could tell the bodice was too small for her bust. If she moves too quickly, something might pop out. She snickered at the thought of that.

In spite of that, she thought her sister-by-law looked beautiful. Ellyn had only seen her wear a dress twice before, and both those occasions had been her brothers' weddings. As it happened, other than her own wedding, those were the only times Ellyn had willingly worn a dress in her life, too.

"Well, don't you look nice," Ellyn wryly remarked, folding her arms and walking over to the table, "Had I known this would be a formal event, I would have dressed for the occasion."

Dacey smirked and commented "Well, luckily for you, we went ahead and thought of that."

Daenerys made a gesture, and Irri and Jhiqui stepped forward. Each of them took one of Ellyn's arms and guided her over to a huge covering. Doreah stood on the other side of the covering with another sleeveless dress in her hands. This one was about the same size as Dacey's, but the color scheme was different. It was made of yellow silk and red lace.

"What do you think, my lady?" said the Lyseni girl.

"It's… lovely." Ellyn Lannister was widely considered to be one of the wisest and most observant women in Westeros. However, she did not need her wits to figure out what was about to happen.

Her supposition was confirmed a couple seconds later, when Irri and Jhiqui began to undress her.

At first, Ellyn felt a strong desire to protest. Then it occurred to her than Daenerys and her handmaids may have gone to a lot of effort to procure this dress. To refuse it would have been impolite and ungracious. Besides, it is a lovely gown.

Of course, Ellyn was still fully capable of dressing herself. She had been since her sixth nameday. Nonetheless, this was Irri and Jhiqui's livelihood; to obey their khalessi's every command. As such, Ellyn felt it would not have been right of her to prevent them from doing their jobs. At least I know they can be discreet.

Ellyn said nothing and allowed the two Dothraki girls to strip her down to her smallclothes. She blushed when her breasts were exposed to them, but she did not cover them up. Never let your embarrassment show to anyone, she reminded herself.

Thankfully, her discomfort only lasted about another minute. That was how long it took Irri and Jhiqui to dress her in the gown. Ellyn discovered it was an almost perfect fit. Like Dacey's, the bodice was a little small. Other than that, it felt as though it had been specifically tailored to her physique.

Once the Dothraki girls were finished, Ellyn tentatively stepped out from behind the covering. Dacey looked as though she would laugh. She did not; she just grinned and nodded.

"It suits you, my lady," Daenerys perceived.

"Thank you, Your Grace," Ellyn said gratefully. For both the compliment and the gown.

Daenerys Targaryen gestured for Ellyn to sit down. The Westerlander woman compliantly walked over to the table and took a place beside the blond girl.

Once Ellyn was seated, Irri and Jhiqui went over to Myrna, and they led her over to behind the covering. A couple minutes later, Lyanna Stark emerged in a sleeveless gown of grey silk and white lace. It has been years since she last wore such fine clothing, and she likes it even less than Dacey or myself. Yet even so and even now, she wears it well. Ellyn watched as Lyanna sauntered across the room and planted herself next to Dacey. Lyarra padded over to her mistress and sat on her haunches.

After that, Daenerys Targaryen announced to her handmaids "You may go now."

Irri, Jhiqui, and Doreah collectively bowed to her and filed out of the tent. As they exited, they passed by Ygritte, who took the liberty of taking the last seat at the table, between Ellyn and Lyanna.

"Thanks for not forcing me to wear a dress," she mumbled gruffly.

"Well, Jon did say you do not care for such attire," Daenerys recounted.

"Yeah," Ygritte confirmed, "Never worn a dress in my life. Nor do I plan to."

Ellyn Lannister, Dacey Clegane, and Lyanna Stark were of a similar mindset. Normally, they would pick chainmail and boiled leather over silk and lace any day of the week. Be that as it may, they were not completely averse to flowing gowns. In fact, Ellyn was quite pleased with the one she currently wore, and apparently, so were the Northwomen. I wonder if the princess will let us keep these. She never expected to think that about a dress.

Right then, she noticed something peculiar. Her dress was yellow and red. The colors of House Clegane of Clegane's Keep and House Lannister. Dacey's dress was green and purple. The colors of House Mormont and House Clegane of Moat Cailin. Daenerys' dress was red and black. The colors of House Targaryen. Lastly… Lyanna's dress was grey and white. The colors of House Stark… how could that be?

That could have been a coincidence and nothing more, but given the circumstances, the possibility of coincidence was extremely unlikely. The only other explanation was that… Daenerys knew.

"May I ask you a question, Your Grace?" Ellyn stated quietly.

"Certainly," the blond girl said in response.

Ellyn chose her words carefully: "For my curiosity's sake, how much do you know of your nephew's maid?"

"The truth," Daenerys answered straightforwardly, "Jon confided in me a couple days ago."

Ellyn was somewhat relieved that Daenerys had not seen through that farce, as well. All the same, she could not relax just yet.

"Does Viserys know?" she said anxiously.

"Jon may know nothing, but his halfwit of an uncle knows even less," Ygritte japed.

Dacey and Lyanna laughed, and Daenerys gave a polite chuckle. It would be for the best if Viserys remains in the dark. Unlike his sister, he cannot be trusted with sensitive information. Of that, Ellyn was certain.

"My khas and my handmaids are unaware of her identity, too," Daenerys disclosed. I was just about to ask that. "Outside of your lord brother's inner circle, I am the only other person who knows that both of my brother's wives still live."

"We should keep it that way," Ellyn advised, "Every time someone more learns the truth of Lady Lyanna, we increase the chances of her exposure."

"There we wholeheartedly agree," Dacey assured her sister-by-law.

"That is why I have elected to keep my facial mask on until we sail back to Westeros," Lyanna claimed.

"That would be wise," Ellyn stated approvingly.

"Yes, it would be," Daenerys concurred. She then looked to her own sister-by-law, smiled at her, and remarked "Even so, I hope to see your true face soon, sister."

"I hope for that, as well," Lyanna pronounced. She smiled back and added in "Sister."

There came a short period of silence. It was broken when Ygritte murmured "Now that that's over with, I say we eat."

So, they did. Daenerys served the other women herself. She gave each of them a relatively equal helping of goat, fruit, cheese, and bread. Lyanna's serving of meat was bigger than the others'. That was only because she was sharing it with Lyarra. The mother direwolf had a hearty appetite. Thankfully, it was a very large goat.

Where drink was concerned, they all poured their own cups. At first, no one other than Ygritte touched the fermented mare's milk. Then Ellyn built up the courage to give it a try. It was a little strong, but it was something she could get used to.

All in all, everything tasted delicious. This was easily the best meal Ellyn had eaten since she left Moat Cailin. It was also the most pleasant, the most filling, the most comfortable, and even the most sophisticated. Who would have thought Daenerys Targaryen would be such a gracious hostess? Especially to four older women she has only known for a single turn of the moon?

At the end of supper, Daenerys wiped her fingers and mouth on her napkin, and she cleared her throat. Once Ellyn and the others gave her their attention, she looked around the table and stated "There are two reasons why I invited you all to sup with me tonight. The first is the simple pleasure of your company. The second is because I wanted to celebrate today with… well, people such as you."

"We're celebrating?" Dacey presumed, a little baffled.

"Just what are we celebrating?" Ygritte inquired.

Daenerys enlightened them with "Today happens to be my sixteenth nameday."

Ellyn was stunned. Apparently, so were the others. Whether that was because they were astonished by this revelation or they were mortified not to have realized it before now, she could not say. It was a little of both in her case.

"Do not pity me," Daenerys told them in a reassuring tone, "I did not expect anyone else to remember that. I would have been far more surprised if someone actually did remember. Viserys might have, but I do not think he cares. In fact, when I was younger, I even forgot it myself at times."

"Somehow, that makes sense," Ellyn perceived, "The anniversary of one's birth must seem very insignificant when one is desperately striving to avoid one's death."

"Just so, my lady," Daenerys affirmed.

"Well, I'll be the first to wish you happiness on your nameday, Your Grace," Dacey proclaimed, raising her wine goblet.

"I'll drink to that," Lyanna declared, raising hers, too. Soon enough, Ellyn did the same, and Ygritte ultimately followed. Finally, Daenerys lifted her own.

After the toast, Ellyn turned to the princess and stated inquiringly "May I be so bold, Your Grace, as to ask what you meant by 'people such as us?'"

"Please, no more of this 'Your Grace' nonsense," Daenerys bade the others, "I would like you all to call me 'Dany.'"

"Very well, Dany," Ellyn conceded, grinning a bit.

"And in answer to your question, I meant that as praise," Dany specified, "By 'people such as you', I speak of people I admire, people I can identify with, and – most importantly – people who remind me of myself."

"How do we remind you of yourself, Dany?" Dacey inquired. That is something I'd like to know, too.

"There are a number of facets I share with the four of you," Daenerys debated, "Some of you may have noticed a few of them."

"Well, we're all women, we're all natives of Westeros, and we're all a long way from home," Lyanna pointed out.

"While that is all true, there is much more that connects us than that," Daenerys Targaryen revealed. She folded her hands together and stated "I would like to play a game."

"What sort of game?" Lyanna enquired.

"A guessing game, really," Daenerys responded, gazing around the table once more, "There are three special things all five of us have in common. These things may not seem obvious at first, but if you think carefully, they will quickly come to light."

"What exactly is the point of this game?" Ygritte asked, somewhat demandingly.

"I just wish to see if any of you have noticed what I have noticed," Dany claimed.

"Perhaps we have," Dacey conjectured, "Would it be unreasonable to ask for a clue?"

Daenerys shook her head and remarked "Since I believe in fair play, I will give you one hint: all three of them involve family. Beyond that, I will say no more."

Ellyn Lannister, Dacey Clegane, Lyanna Stark, and Ygritte spent the next ten minutes in silent meditation. Each of them sought to determine all the possible characteristics she might have shared with the other three and Princess Daenerys Targaryen.

This was one scenario where Ellyn's sharp wits proved to be a tremendous asset. She was the first to produce a response. She looked to the blond girl and proclaimed "I believe I may have figured two of them out."

"Go ahead, my lady," Dany bade her.

When all eyes were on her, Ellyn professed "First, each of us has been involved in a rather unlikely yet extremely meaningful relationship."

"How so?" Lyanna queried.

"Well, for instance, twenty years ago, no one would have suspected that you and Prince Rhaegar would fall in love," Ellyn elucidated, "Likewise, the relationship between Jon and Ygritte would never have happened if my brother Gregor had not pushed to bring the Free Folk south of the Wall. On that note, the odds of the world's tallest man and tallest woman getting together were practically negligible, yet Gregor and Dacey overcame those odds. As for Tyrion and myself… our difference in height alone is enough to turn heads. Lastly, there is Dany and the khal."

"That speaks for itself," Dacey interjected. Just what I was about to say.

Ellyn leaned back a bit and stated "All of us were matched with someone we may have seemed incompatible with. Despite that, at some point, love blossomed from each of our unions. That happened quite early in my case. I loved Tyrion from the moment he and I were introduced to each other at Lannisport. I would wager none of you felt the same when you first met your own husbands. Or husband-to-be, in Ygritte's case. Nevertheless, I've no doubt that you love them right now."

"You are absolutely right, Ellyn," Dacey proclaimed, "Your brother and I were only colleagues at first, but I've loved him longer than you've known your husband."

"Rhaegar was the only man I've ever loved," Lyanna recounted sadly.

"Your son is the first person I've ever truly loved," Ygritte apprised the wolf woman.

"I did not love Drogo when I married him," Dany confessed, "Our wedding night was far from pleasant. Every night of the following week was almost as bad. At one point, I doubted my own ability to even survive my marriage. No more, though. I know I will survive it. I still do not know if I really love Khal Drogo, but I feel I will come to in time."

"I applaud your resolve," Dacey commented.

Daenerys smiled, turned back to Ellyn, and told her "You are correct, Lady Ellyn. Our unusual romantic relationships comprise the first of the three special things we all share. Now, would you tell me what you think the second one is?"

"The second thing is the various political and social benefits that come with those relationships," Ellyn pronounced.

"What the fuck does that mean?" Ygritte muttered bluntly.

"I believe she means that by getting involved with the men in our lives, our houses and our people have gotten stronger as a result," Dacey perceived. She glimpsed over at her sister-by-law and asked "Is that right?"

"Yes, that is precisely what I mean," Ellyn confirmed. It's nice that at least someone knows what I'm talking about. "Although the Targaryens molded the Seven Kingdoms into one, the North has always stood apart from the rest of the realm. It was Lyanna and Rhaegar who brought ice and fire together. Furthermore, their affair may have been the precursor to Robert's Rebellion, but it was also the precursor to the realm's unification."

"It was?" Lyanna murmured in perplexity. Ellyn Lannister nodded her head solemnly.

"Had you and Rhaegar not eloped, Robert Baratheon would never have seized the Iron Throne," she debated, "Had he never been crowned, the position of Master of Order would not have been created, and my brother would never have occupied it. As such, the Legion without Banners would never have existed, either. Think of all the other things that would never have been if that was the case."

"I suppose Gregor would still be in the Westerlands," Dacey hypothesized, "He and I would never have known each other."

"I concluded as much," Ellyn affirmed, "We are quite fortunate that you do know one another, though. You were and still are the best possible match for the Mountain That Rides."

"I appreciate that, Ellyn," Dacey Clegane muttered thankfully.

"I mean what I say," Ellyn asserted, "Gregor's marriage to you was what officially established him as a Northman and a vassal of House Stark. The Legion has only gained greater status and influence since you and he were wed. One could even argue that your union led to a string of other, equally advantageous unions."

"Such as yours?" Lyanna Stark supposed.

"Yes, such as mine," Ellyn contended, snickering a little, "Now, that is an interesting tale. The whole reason Tyrion and I were acquainted with each other in the first place was because of his father's paranoia."

"How do you mean, my lady?" Dany inquired.

"Ever since my brother founded the Legion and renounced his right to Clegane's Keep, Lord Tywin Lannister has viewed him as a threat," Ellyn elaborated.

"The Old Lion tends to perceive everyone as a threat," Lyanna disputed.

"Fair point," Ellyn admitted, "However, every person outside of the royal family is subject to the Master of Order's judgment. That includes Lord Tywin, even though he is the King's father-by-law. So, Gregor is one of the few men he would ever be subject to."

"Then you can hardly fault him his suspicions," Ygritte argued.

"Another fair point," Ellyn muttered, scratching her temple, "When he realized how powerful Gregor truly was, Lord Tywin thought to keep another member of our house close-by. So, he took my brother Sandor on as his squire. Alas, that was only a temporary solution; it ended when Sandor married Obara Martell. Even so, Tywin was quick to replace one Clegane hostage with another."

"Which was what led to the contract between you and Tyrion," Dacey recalled.

"Correct," said Ellyn, "Tywin Lannister knew that by marrying me off to his son, he could keep me at Casterly Rock indefinitely. My brothers and I realized that as soon as the match was proposed."

"Yet you consented to marry the Imp anyway," Ygritte noted.

Ellyn gave a dismissive shrug and commented "I loved him, and he loved me. That's reason enough to marry. Aside from that… Tywin Lannister underestimates the both of us. He has not even realized that I can be just as much a danger to him as Gregor."

She felt a queer type of amusement from seeing the astonishment on the others' faces.

"If you are wondering, I do not intend to kill my father-by-law," Ellyn Lannister reassured them, "I would never do that, even though he despises his son and only sees me as a hostage. But I am no one's hostage. If I was, I would not be on this side of the Narrow Sea with the rest of you."

"I should say not," Dacey concurred.

"Furthermore," Elly went on, "By tying House Clegane to House Lannister, Lord Tywin has effectively increased the wealth and prestige of my family. And of all his grandchildren, Duncan is the only male among them whose family name is Lannister. Although he hates Tyrion, he holds no enmity towards his youngest grandson. It is quite possible my son will be the Lord Paramount of the Westerlands and Warden of the West."

As long as Jaime and that bitch Lynesse remain as cold to each other as they have been lately, that will definitely be the case.

All of a sudden, Lyanna started laughing.

"Something funny, Lya?" Dacey enquired.

"That is just too rich," the older Northwoman comically remarked, "Duncan's great-grandfather – Ellyn's father's father – was the kennelmaster of Casterly Rock. Now one of his descendants may be the Lord of the Rock one day. I wonder what Tywin would think of that. I mean, can you not see the irony?"

"Oh, I see it," Ellyn drily disclosed, chuckling with her. Enough iron there to forge a suit of armor. When she was done giggling, she said "Before we get any further off-track, let us return to our previous topic of discussion."

"Very well," Ygritte murmured. She knows she's next.

Ellyn turned to the wildling and professed "Even when the world believed Jon to be a bastard, his association with you served as a precedent to relations between the Seven Kingdoms and the Free Folk. It went beyond age-old hostilities and diplomacy. Even if your relationship turned out to be nothing more than a fling, it was founded on trust and intimacy. Two qualities that have almost never existed between the people who live north of the Wall and the people south of it."

"None of that can be denied," the young red-headed woman candidly admitted.

"Your affiliation with Jon is even more significant now," Ellyn pointed out, "Since it turns out he's a trueborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen, he will be instrumental in restoring House Targaryen's presence in Westeros. To do that, he will require a bride. He could have chosen any woman in the Seven Kingdoms, but he chose you. That will strengthen the alliance between your two cultures even more than before. It is also worth mentioning that since Jon is a prince, once you marry him, you'll become-"

"Don't finish that sentence," Ygritte interrupted, speaking through gritted teeth.

Ellyn scoffed and said plainly "Very well."

Daenerys brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes and told Ellyn "You needn't explain the benefits of my marriage to Drogo, my lady. I am very much aware of them. In fact, they are the very reasons I decided to stay with him."

"Really?" Ellyn stated, intrigued.

Dany nodded, gazed around the tent, and proclaimed "Some of you must have been surprised when I willingly agreed to go through with my marriage."

"Well, none of us expected you to," Dacey remarked.

"My husband suggested you might," Ellyn recounted, "But none of us shared his conviction."

"I actually did consider accepting your offer to escape," Dany confessed, "If you had presented the option to me a year ago, I would have taken it without hesitation. All I knew of the world before then was what Viserys told me. Then your countrymen found us at Pentos. While we were in their protection, I had a new, less subjective source of knowledge. As a result, I have a much better understanding of the world than I did in my childhood. One of the things I learned was that some sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. That was why I chose to be Khal Drogo's khalessi."

Ellyn was astounded. "Do you mean to say you relinquished your freedom and your dignity just so the people of Westeros would gain an alliance with the Dothraki?"

"That is correct," Daenerys firmly pronounced, "It was the hardest choice of my life, but I know it was the right one. After all, the alternative was to leave Drogo behind. By doing so, we would have made an enemy of the Dothraki, and we do not need any more enemies."

"Maybe not," Ygritte remarked, "However, since there would have been a sea between us and him, he would not have posed an immediate threat."

"An immediate one, no," Dany conceded, "But we must think beyond the Long Night. Ever after we defeat the Others, the Seven Kingdoms will continue to engage in trade with the Free Cities. If they so desired, the Dothraki could impair those dealings."

"Worst case scenario, they would attack any Westerosi on sight," Lyanna pointed out.

"Now that I think on it, I may have overestimated my people's ability to extract you, your brother, and ourselves from the wedding," Dacey thought aloud, "Over the last month, I have reflected on every possible way that escape could have gone, and all of them ended in bloodshed on both sides. The only way we would have gotten out of there without suffering heavy casualties was if everything went perfectly. Alas, even for the Legion without Banners, plans never go perfectly."

"That occurred to me, as well," Dany revealed, "That is another reason I do not regret my choice to stay with Drogo. We are going to need every ally we can find in the fight against the White Walkers. The Dothraki are a fearless people, and even Viserys recognizes Khal Drogo's reputation as a warrior and a leader."

"He and his horde would be invaluable to us," Ellyn said in agreement.

Daenerys turned back to the Westerlander and stated "I must salute you, Lady Ellyn. You have correctly placed two of the three special things the five of us share. I don't suppose you have managed to uncover the third one, as well?"

At that, Ellyn Lannister merely shrugged. What family-oriented issue could be just as prominent as our romantic relationships and the benefits of them? She did not want to admit it, but she was at a loss.

Daenerys nodded in understanding and said "I will not fault you if you cannot guess the third one. I myself did not realize it until today."

Is that a clue? If it was, it was a vague one.

By now, Dacey, Lyanna, and Ygritte were not even bothering to speculate as to what this third similar feature might have been. They were more interested in watching Ellyn and seeing if she would determine what it was.

After a minute of uninterrupted silence, Dany declared "I will give you one more clue. The third thing we have in common is something we also have in common with Lyarra."

Well, that narrows it down. Perhaps it narrowed it down too much. What could three highborn women, a deposed princess, and a wildling share with a mother direwolf?

Wait… a 'mother' direwolf… Ellyn noticed something. Lyarra had given birth to a litter of six wolf pups. Dacey was a mother of five. Lyanna was a mother of one and stepmother to two. Her son Jon had gotten Ygritte pregnant. Ellyn herself was a mother of one.

All of them had children or were expecting children. That was something they had in common. As far as Ellyn Lannister knew, the same did not apply to Daenerys. Then Ellyn remembered, something she only learned today…

Ellyn gradually turned to face Princess Daenerys Targaryen and asked her "Dany… are you with child?"

The blond girl said nothing. She just smiled.

Ellyn smiled, too. "So, that's the third thing. We're all mothers or expectant mothers."

Daenerys lightly nodded her head. "You really are as astute as people say you are, my lady."

One of the many reasons why Tyrion and I are so well-matched for one another.

"Congratulations, Dany," Lyanna bade her late husband's sister.

"Does the khal know?" Ygritte enquired. Her tone suggested she was not actually interested in knowing.

"Not yet," Daenerys replied, "I am going to tell him tonight, when he returns from his hunt."

"I can guarantee he'll be pleased," Dacey contended, "Sometimes, men take the news better than we do. When Gregor and I found out I was pregnant with Rickard, he laughed."

"Rhaegar was enraptured when he learned I was carrying Jon," Lyanna recounted, "Not long after, he went off to war."

"Jon got drunk when I told him of this," Ygritte recalled, placing a hand on her protruding abdomen.

Tyrion wept. Granted, they were tears of joy, but that's the only time I ever saw him shed a tear. To spare her husband's dignity, Ellyn did not say that aloud. Instead, she asked Daenerys "What do you think the khal will do?"

"Nothing, at first," Daenerys theorized, "But when we arrive at Vaes Dothrak tomorrow, he'll probably want to celebrate the news then."

"That sounds like him," Lyanna observed, "In any case, I look forward to becoming an aunt again."

"And if ever you have any questions or if ever we could be of assistance to you in any way at all, just say so," Dacey advised Daenerys, "We would be happy to counsel and console you."

She's been through the process five times, so she certainly knows what she is talking about.

Daenerys grinned at the tallest woman there and said "I will remember that, my lady. Thank you. Thank all of you for coming here tonight."

Oh, the pleasure is all ours. And partially yours. Clearly, she had enjoyed that little guessing game.

Not long after, Daenerys' dinner guests left her tent. As Ellyn hoped, she, Dacey, and Lyanna were allowed to keep the dresses the princess had lent them.

Of course, before she went outside, Lyanna exchanged her gown for her usual commoner's garb. It would not do for an ordinary maid to be seen prancing about in such refined formal attire in public.

Dacey's clothes from earlier were still drenched in sweat, and they desperately needed washing. For that reason, her dress was still the only article of clothing available to her. So, her only option was to wear that.

In the meantime, Ellyn's everyday clothes were perfectly fine. She thought about changing back into them. However, she quite liked her own dress. Generally, she hated dresses. Yet this one was an exception. She did not know why. Maybe it was the design, or the person who had gifted it to her.

Ultimately, Ellyn chose to keep her dress on. She fastened her belt around her waists and draped her cloak over her shoulders, but she carried the rest of her clothes under her arm.

Fifteen minutes later, she made it back to the Lannister pavilion. She found Tyrion leaning over Duncan's cradle, singing softly. He'll never admit it, but he has a wonderful singing voice.

When Ellyn entered the tent, the dwarf looked up, and he grinned at his wife.

She grinned back and walked over to him, saying "Is he still up?"

"No, he just went to sleep," Tyrion informed her.

Sure enough, Duncan Lannister's eyes were shut, he was lying very still, and he made nary the softest sound. He was definitely in the midst of a deep, peaceful slumber.

Ellyn knelt on the other side of the cradle, and she placed a delicate kiss on Duncan's soft cheek. The little boy stirred, but he did not wake up.

"Isn't he beautiful when he sleeps?" Tyrion asked rhetorically.

"He's beautiful always," Ellyn countered.

"Yes," Tyrion stated in agreement. He smirked and wittily murmured "Are you certain he's mine?"

"Quite certain, my love," Ellyn cheekily answered, "If he wasn't, there'd be no other way to explain him."

Tyrion chuckled at that jest, and he returned his attention to their son.

Ellyn went over to their bed, placed her earlier clothes beside her, and removed her cloak. As she unfastened her belt and set it aside, Tyrion looked over at her again. Noting her change in apparel, he drily proclaimed "I see you have had an eventful night. But I don't believe I've seen you in that dress before."

"It was a gift from the princess," Ellyn illuminated.

"Daenerys Targaryen has good taste," Tyrion remarked, "You must think the same, seeing as you're still wearing it."

"If it didn't like it, I would never have let her dress me in it in the first place," Ellyn contended.

"She dressed you?" Tyrion uttered in mild astonishment.

"No," Ellyn refuted, "Her handmaids did."

That revelation brought a devious grin onto her husband's face. The same grin he had earlier, when he suggested that they make love outside the pavilion.

"You're thinking about the two of them with me, aren't you?" Ellyn blankly presumed.

"I can't help it if it makes for an enticing image in my head," Tyrion said shamelessly, "You must think so, too. Otherwise, you would have dressed yourself."

"I know I could've dressed myself," Ellyn asserted, "But they… insisted."

"Did they?" Tyrion said enquiringly. He sounded as though he did not believe her.

Ellyn thought back on when Irri and Jhiqui had changed her into her current apparel. They never actually asked to undress her; they had only done so at Dany's orders. Ellyn then realized that she had not resisted them at all. In fact, she had welcomed them. She mumbled anxiously "Well… no. I guess they didn't. I don't really recall protesting their advances, either."

Tyrion smirked and jokily proposed "If you want, I could invite them here and leave for a while. I would take Duncan with me, of course. Wouldn't want him to wake up and see his mother rediscovering herself."

Ellyn rolled her eyes and muttered sardonically "You are terrible, you know that?"

"Yes, I do know that," Tyrion said cockily, "I cannot help it, though. Imps are terrible by nature."

"So are bitches," his wife retorted, "Speaking of which…"

Ellyn donned an evil smirk of her own, and she brought her hands up to her bodice. As she casually brushed her hand against her cleavage, she murmured sensually "What say you and I step outside?"

Initially, Tyrion was confused. "For what?"

Ellyn giggled and slyly told him "I seem to recall suggesting that we partake in the practices of the Dothraki. One in particular stood out. I thought about it, and I figured there would be no harm in trying."

Her husband immediately realized what she was implying. Even so, he seemed taken aback. "Are you serious, Ellyn?"

Ellyn's smirk grew a bit. She rose from the bed, sauntered over to her husband, knelt to his level, and seductively murmured "Don't tell me you're having second thoughts."

"Oh, no, definitely not," Tyrion claimed, "I'm just a little surprised, is all."

"Well, then let me set you at ease," Ellyn suggested, bringing her other hand down to the front of his trousers. He felt him underneath, and already he was a little stiff. "Come on, Tyrion. I am feeling adventurous tonight. Let's do something that would be frowned upon in the Seven Kingdoms. Something that other nobles would shudder at. Something that would make your father's hair stand on end. If he had any."

As she predicted, that won him over. Tyrion smirked once more, leaned his head upwards, placed a firm kiss against his wife's lips, and muttered "When you put it that way…"

After ascertaining that Duncan was indeed sound asleep, his parents went over to their bed and swiftly removed the bedsheets. Together, they brought the sheets outside, and they spread them out on the ground in front of the pavilion. The on-duty Lannister guards looked bewildered, but they did and said nothing. Before the night is out, they might be wishing they had gotten an earlier shift.

Once they had a makeshift bed on the ground, Ellyn laid down on it and turned to her husband. His lustful gaze made her drip in anticipation. She beckoned him with "Whenever you're ready."

He was ready right then, as Ellyn soon discovered. She fully expected him to be; she knew him better than any other woman.

On his feet, Tyrion Lannister was only half as tall as most men. On his back, he was more of a man than any other man could ever hope to be.