Daenerys Targaryen – Various Locations
Travelling from Qarth to the shores of Westeros had been a long and tiring journey but throughout it all she kept herself active. She spent each and every day learning as much as she possibly could about her homeland and the people she would one day rule. From Ser Barristan she learned all about the people of the Stormlands and the Crownlands where the old kingsguard had spent the majority of his life. Her ever constant shadow thought her about the different lords in each region and how best to impress them and show that she was worthy of their loyalty.
From William Frost and his fellow northmen she learned about all the people of the North specifically about the Starks and the free folk that now lived throughout much of the North. She was in awe when she heard about all the different customs and traditions the free folk had. Perhaps which surprised her most was when she learned that there were mammoths now living in the North and according to Frost and his fellow countrymen they were the reason why the Lannisters were suffering so much.
She was happy to say that she had won over all the Northmen that had come to Qarth. At first when she, her two knights and her dothraki boarded the ships she felt uneasy almost afraid as she received many angry stares from the crew. However she was pleased to say that she had won each and everyman over and was comfortable enough to walk unguarded around the ship without fear conversing with men both high and lowborn about their lives, family and many more things.
The fear and worry she had felt at the start of her journey was overwhelming her now once more. Her ship was anchored in the Bite now and she watched nervously as the crew was preparing to depart. In the distance she could see thousands of men stood along the shore with countless banners flying high in the air all waiting for her.
"Princess are you ready" turning she could see William Frost stood in his black and silver armor with his twin swords by his side.
Breathing deep she spoke strong not wanting to betray her nervousness "indeed, it is past time I returned home is it not." She wasn't surprised when the man simply nodded and gave a small smile he was a man of few words.
The journey from the ship to the shore was shorter than she expected and before she knew it she was home. For the first time in her life she walked onto her homeland. The land her family had united and ruled for near on three hundred years. She would have loved to stay right where she was and take in everything around her but she couldn't. She saw William Frost walk straight to a small group of men at the head of the army and talk to a man who could only be Lord Rickard Frost. She walked with as much grace and poise as she could muster with her two knightly shadows at her back.
Turning ever so slightly she could see Ser Barristan had a small smile upon his face no doubt he was pleased to be home. Ser Jorah however wasn't smiling tho he had the same scowl on his face since Qarth. Her bear had been against her accepting Stannis's offer and had been most vocal in saying as much. Jorah hadn't said more than a handful of words since they left Qarth which seemed to please William Frost and his fellow northmen. The man had informed her that Ser Jorah will be given a pardon for his past crimes but that the shamed Mormont would not be welcome in the north. Putting everything else from her mind she walked forward to meet the lords when she heard her name called.
She put whatever fear she had aside and spoke with as much strength and power as she could muster and to her massive relief the lords gathered seemed to warm up to her almost immediately. She was introduced to lords from the North, Riverlands, Vale and to her great surprise the Westerlands. To each man she spoke a handful of words asking them after their families or their lands which seemed to catch most off guard but seemed to please most.
They didn't stay long on the shores of the Bite only long enough for her Dothraki and some men to come ashore. From the Bite they headed to south along the Kings Road making camp several times. She was gifted a large wheelhouse where she sat and looked out the windows at the wonders of her kingdom. To the left and right of the wheelhouse rode her Princess guard as she heard the men call it. Knights and soldiers from the North, Riverlands, Westerlands and Vale were given to her for her protection by Lord Stark, Frost and Royce. Her guard included knights from many respected and old houses including Ser Robar Royce, Ser Perwyn Frey and Ser Hendry Bracken. From the north there was Hugo Wull and Jon Harclay. Those men coupled with Ser Barristan and Ser Jorah meant that she was guarded night and day.
The journey through the Riverlands had been better than she could have ever imagined every castle or keep that they stopped at Dany was treated with the utmost respect and courtesy the complete opposite of what Jorah said would happen. At the Twins she met with old Walder Frey who had offered her numerous daughters, granddaughters and nieces who could act as her ladies in waiting. Not wanting to seem ungrateful she accepted one of the man's granddaughters promising him that she would find the young girl Minevera a decent husband when the time came which seemed to please him greatly.
Travelling through the Riverlands she was amazed at the small folk who cheered and praised the army as they marched by. She heard woman and children shouting for young lord Tully and his new wife. She heard names like Stark, Blackwood, Bracken, Umber, Royce, Redfort, Frost and perhaps the most loud of them all Baratheon. What surprised her most was that she even heard her own name being shouted out.
"It's a sight to behold isn't Princess" she heard Lord Tytos Blackwood say riding up next to her carriage.
Looking to the Riverlord she spoke softly "indeed it is my lord, I had always heard the Riverlands suffered greatest in times of war but from everything I have seen the people and the land seem unaffected"
Blackwood smiled when he heard that "aye never before has a war had less affect on these lands, thank the gods. If Tywin Lannister and his like had not been driven out then what happened at Stoney Sept could have happened everywhere"
All she could do was nod when she heard the last bit, she had learned from Ser Perwyn what Tyrell forces had down to the town of Stoney Sept and she couldn't help but be saddened by the loss of so many innocents.
She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Lord Blackwood address her once more "look there Princess Riverrun"
Turning her head to where the man was pointing she smiled when she saw the three sided castle of the Tully's. It wasn't long before she was passing under the battlements into the heart of the castle.
Stepping out of the carriage holding onto the hand of Ser Robar Royce she walked with as much grace and dignity that she possessed. In front of her stood what looked like the entire household of Riverrun bowing their heads respectively. She saw three people at the head of the group who could only be Lord Starks, mother, wife and sister. Walking forward she asked for everyone to rise "my lords and ladies, good and loyal knights and men at arms I thank you for such a warm welcome. I am honored to be here in the presence of each and every one of you" she said which brought a smile to Lord Stark's mother and young wife.
With that done she was introduced to the Stark woman as well as various lords and ladies who had come from across the Riverlands to greet her and bade farewell to the army which would be marching south soon. After introductions were made she was escorted to a section of the castle that was to be assigned to her and her Dothraki.
There was a feast the night she arrived to celebrate the upcoming union between herself and Prince Robar Baratheon. She met and talked with more people that night than any other in her entire life, for the most part the lords and ladies had no issue with a Dragon one day being queen again. For those that seemed to have an issue with her she did her very best to convince them that she held none of the instability that her father and many of her ancestors had. She spent much of her time convincing the northern lords that she wasn't another mad Dragon and she was glad that most seemed to believe her.
It was the morning after the feast when she was being dressed by her dothraki handmaids and Minevera Frey when there was a knock on her door. "Enter" she called out.
"Princess Lord Stark has called a meeting with the lords he wishes for you to attend" her new guard Hugo Wull said gruffly.
"Yes I shall, wait outside I will only be a moment" she said in response to which the big northman nodded.
Shortly after she was walking down the corridors of Riverrun with her princess guard in tow being led to the meeting chamber. Arriving at the room she saw a number of guards already in place outside the room and her new guards joined. She, Ser Barristan and Ser Jorah made to enter but were stopped by a man wearing the Tully crest. "I can only allow yourself and Ser Barristan to pass Princess" the man said eyeing up Jorah.
"I will not allow the queen to go inside without protection" Jorah all but shouted to the knight.
"The PRINCESS will be in no danger slaver" the Tully knight spat back.
She let out a large sigh and turned to Ser Jorah "I will be perfectly safe Ser, the lords within this room are my allies." Before waiting for Jorah to respond she entered the room closely followed by Ser Barristan. She couldn't help but think that Jorah was becoming a problem he wouldn't accept her new status as a princess. Dany herself at first had a hard time coming to terms with losing her queen title but after speaking with Ser Barristan she agreed that it would be a sign of good faith to Stannis Barristan if she saw herself as a princess and not a queen. She hoped that this would show the man that she wasn't against him and would gladly wait her time to become queen.
Looking around the room she had just entered she was pleased to see that the lords and lady Stark all stood and welcomed her. Taking a seat next to Lord Royce she nodded to Robb Stark who begun speaking.
"Thank you all for coming so early I know ye are busy preparing for our march south but there are things we need to discuss. We have had word from his grace he will be marching on the capital within the next week, he is waiting on the remainder of his men and will attack the capital in full force ending the Lannisters hold on the throne "Stark stopped speaking for a moment which allowed the gathered lords to clap and voice their approval.
Waving his hand to silence the chatter he spoke once more "our spies south have also reported that the sellswords that Renly brought with him have left the capital and are marching to meet with Lord Tywin at Duskendale. It is because of this that we will be marching tomorrow at dawn instead of three days time. We will meet with our forces at Harrenhal and Maidenpool and end Tywin Lannister once and for all." Again when Stark stopped speaking the whole room erupted in a chorus of cheers and excited laughs.
When the excitement had died down Lord Bolton spoke up his voice barely above a whisper "my lord has there been any word from the north have the Iron Born been dealt with"
It was Lord Frost who answered "the last word we had was that my son and Ser Jon had landed and were giving out justice to the krakens"
"My brother will not let me down he will kill each and every Iron Born scum I promise you that" Stark said loudly looking to his mother who had a mournful look upon her face which Dany could understand. Lady Stark had lost her husband and two youngest sons since the war begun a fact Dany had only learned on the way to Riverrun. She felt sorry for the woman who had lost so much and couldn't return to her home in the North until her late husband's bastard son had rid the land of the Iron Born.
It was coming close to the end of the meeting when Dany spoke for the first time "my lords and lady if there are no objections I would like to send Ser Barristan south. His skill and knowledge would be invaluable would it not?"
"Aye a fine idea Ser Barristan you will be a welcome addition" Lord Edmure Tully said happily to which many nodded and Lords Stark, Royce and Frost agreed to.
That had been two days ago now and in that time Dany had stood in the courtyard with the other ladies and watched the army march off to war. Since the army and the lords had left she had spent time getting to know the various ladies of the Riverlands and the Stark women. She was now sat in Lady Starks solar with the lady herself, her good daughter Jeyne Stark and her goodsister the new lady Tully.
"Princess I have only met Prince Robar once and that was many years ago when his family travelled to the Pillar to visit Lord Rickard and his family. Myself and Ned travelled to meet them and from what I can remember the boy was kind and courteous" Lady Catelyn was telling Dany which made her smile slightly no doubt the woman was thinking of happier times when her family was whole.
"Yes Lord William spoke highly of his cousin on the journey from Qarth I look forward to meeting him" Dany said in response.
"Princess what was life like in Essos" Jeyne Stark asked but before Dany got a chance to answer there was loud knock on the door to which Lady Stark said "enter".
Dany turned and saw a Tully knight standing in the door out of breath "my Lady Ser Jon Wolf has sent a rider he is an hour's ride from Riverrun"
Nodding to the knight she spoke again her voice much more somber than previously "I will be down shortly to great him"
Dany and the two other young ladies offered to accompany Lady Catelyn to which she gracefully accepted. Walking down to the main yard where she could see the rider that Robb Starks bastard brother had sent she was a bit confused as to what the boy was doing here. From what Dany knew he was supposed to be in the North freeing it of the Iron Born and after that he was meant to ride to join up with the rest of the army to the south.
Putting those thoughts from her mind she looked to the gate where she saw a group of riders bearing various northern sigils enter, leading them was Ser Jon. She watched as the boy rode through the courtyard jumped from his horse and walked straight to Dany and the other Ladies.
"Ser Jon I had thought you would be in the north or else riding south to meet my son" Catelyn Stark said coolly.
"My lady the north is free of the Iron Born once more. My forces are still several hours north of here, I had to come to Riverrun myself to see you so myself and my guards rode ahead" the northern knight said all the while looking at the Lady of Winterfell as he spoke before he turned around and called out to come forward.
Dany looked to where the knight was staring and saw a small boy coming out from the group of northerners tagging onto a woman. Before Dany knew what was happening she saw Lady Stark running across the yard falling to her knees before the small boy and grabbing him in a fierce hug. Confused she looked to Jon Wolf and saw that he had a massive smile upon his face.
She and the others stood in silence for a few minutes before Lady Catelyn stood up once more holding the small boys hand and walking back to the group of confused onlookers. Before getting a chance to ask any questions Dany was shocked when she saw the lady of the North bringing her husband's bastard into a big hug all the while thanking him constantly.
"Jon. Rickon" she heard someone shout and before she knew it she saw Arya Stark running into the others joining with the ever expanding hug.
"My ladies, Princess Daenerys I would like to introduce you to Ser Jon Wolf and my son Rickon" Catelyn Stark said between sobs.
She was speechless everyone she spoke to said how the two youngest Stark children were butchered by the turn cloak Theon Greyjoy.
Dany, the ladies Stark, Lord Bracken the commander of the castle garrison and Lady Tully spent the next few hours learning of all Jon Wolf had done in the north. From freeing the North of the Greyjoys to finding Rickon Stark and his guardian Osha in the Wolfswood and learning of what really happened in Winterfell before finally learning of how the man brought down the bastard of the Dreadfort and punished those Northmen who had betrayed Winterfell. By the time Jon Wolf stopped speaking lady Stark was on her feet once more hugging and thanking the boy who looked extremely taken back.
In the end Ser Jon Wolf stayed in Riverrun for three or four refusing to stay overnight instead deciding to ride south with his now arrived forces and join up with the rest of the army. Dany had been present when the northern knight and his men rode out of the castle accompanied by the cheers of the people of Riverrun.
As the days went by Dany and the rest of the castle heard conflicting reports about a massive battle at Sow's Horn and death of thousands.
Notes
As always I own nothing but the Frosts and the more reviews the better
