Draennar saw from the distance that the door was not completely closed, a clear sign of his invitation. Without holding back, he entered the room and closed the door behind him, and found Harper sitting on the bed. She stood up and he welcomed her in melting in his embrace. Draennar smiled at the fragrance of Harper's ginger hair and gave to her forehead a brief yet soft kiss.
"I'm right here Harp," he said with assurance. "I won't let anything bad happen to you again."
"The same can be said for you Drae," she replied. "After what we lost, we need to cherish what he found."
After Draennar took off his shoes, the smiling couple sauntered onto the bed. They sat there quietly for minutes with their heads against one another and their fingers linked.
"Before Ishiro left," he began. Harper smoothly tightened her hold on Draennar to console and give him the courage to continue. "He told me to look after everyone in MONARCH like how he and Vivienne did with me. It's a big responsibility."
"Would you mind if I share the burden?" she asked.
"If you're not planning on breaking your back."
The two immediately chuckled together at the jest.
"My mother taught you well in the art of bantering."
"She was a great teacher, taught us in every subject she learned."
Harper cocked an eyebrow upon hearing Draennar's words. A peck on his cheek was enough to make his eyes line up with hers.
"She taught me something in secret. Something I hope can help us in overcoming our regrets."
Her remark made him tilt his head quizzically. She smiled and delicately stroked his cheek before she leaned in and placed her lips on his. With her permission, he cupped her face with his hands and their kiss started to synchronize. Shivers wandered through their bodies when their tongues brushed each another, moaning at the sweet taste that they gave. Even the scent of their respective breaths eased their anxiety. The passion grew as he pulled her hips closer and she reciprocated by heaving his chest in, which eventually resulted in him on top of her. Once they pulled away, their heavy panting satisfied their mutual craving for air.
"Whoa." The simultaneous quip prompted them to giggle with excitement, electrified at the journey they were taking together.
Their mouths intertwined again as they patiently discarded their attires and undergarments to the floor. It took seconds for their unclothed bodies to be fully exposed and for the warmth of their skin to caress each other for the first time. She then rolled to make herself on top and allowed him to straddle her on his lap. They gasped and could feel a delicate and invigorating sensation pumping through them when she felt him inside her. Everything was set and she led him in swaying their hips together in a harmonious rhythm.
Intimate moans filled the room with her leading the dance, though he was eager in taking the reins. After five minutes, she allowed him to swivel their position made her below him and wrapped her legs around his hips. The exhilaration was the key for them to gradually accelerate the pace and the rhythmic pounding of skins masked the intermittent wheezes and huffs between the kisses.
One hour passed, an ample amount of time for the fatigued Draennar to cuddle alongside Harper on the ruffled bed. The lights of the room were dimmed but the darkness two never prevented their eyes from gazing one another.
"Your mother taught you that?" he asked.
"From top to bottom," she answered.
"Did she give you a lecture or did she show you footage of people doing it or did she…"
"They were all practical lessons."
Harper's swift answer made Draennar ponder for a few seconds, and his widened eyes made her bite her lower lip with a hint of mischief.
"Wow."
"Yup."
"But isn't it odd since she's your-"
"Oh put a sock on it Drae." Draennar was immediately silenced though he did let out a sigh of acceptance.
"She is a great teacher, and a loving mother, to both of us."
Harper nodded with a slight frown as Draennar pulled a blanket over their bodies. He also gave her the space to snuggle under his chin.
"I barely slept for these past few days since the thought of saving you and your mother kept me going."
She could hear a small sniffle from him and was adamant in shifting her position to attain eye contact.
"I forgave her, but I couldn't save…"
"Don't blame yourself," she replied with a crack in her soothing voice. "She did what she did so that we can be here. And I knew that taking you in and growing up with you were the best decisions in our lives."
Draennar felt butterflies fluttering through his heart and allowed Harper's hand to interlock with his, as inches were the distance between their lips.
"I love you, Harp."
"I love you too Drae."
Their whispers invited another amorous kiss to initiate until darkness persuaded them to doze in each other's arms.
Draennar and Harper sat together at one side of the great table with their colleagues on their flanks. The black fabrics of the massive tent flapped with the wind, but little noises were heard from the outside. Around them were leaders and agents of those who were unable to attend the conference. Among the participants were Tycho Nestoris of Braavos, Yara Greyjoy of the Iron Islands, Gendry of the Stormlands, Edmure Tully of the Riverlands, Robin Arryn of the Vale, Manfrey Martell of Dorne, Archmaester Ebrose of the Citadel, Illyrio Mopatis of Pentos, and Daario Naharis of Meereen. Some were talking amongst themselves with voices that would not resonate all over the tent, either about each other or the current states of the lands they represented. Minutes later, Jackson and Anthony opened the tent's doors, which allowed Bran Stark of the Six Kingdoms, Sansa Stark of the North, and the Small Council to enter and take their places around the table.
"Right, let's jump right into the main focuses."
Harper smiled at Draennar's quick actions as he stood up and clicked the button on his remote. The great screen in the tent came to life by revealing the accumulation of footage, of Titans laying wastes on settlements and people.
"About a month ago, the known world was under attack by Titans, ancient beasts of god-like proportions that originated from an era long before humanity. They inspired many of the myths and legends we know today. However, these attacks did not happen at random points in the past. All of them awakened together, because of Him."
Draennar pressed the button again to reveal a three-headed dragon-like monster perching and screaming on the ancestral stronghold of House Targaryen. Illyrio shifted on his chair uncomfortably, for the appearance of the beast reminded him of his previous allegiance.
"Ghidorah. He emitted a powerful call that awakened the Titans, commanding them to reshape the known world. However, a few of them chose to fight against Him."
Another click and revealed more new footage of…
"Godzilla and Mothra. They knew Ghidorah's existence would mean the end of all life in the known world. It was in King's Landing where they fought together. Mothra gave her life and Godzilla eliminated Ghidorah, reclaiming His rightful place as the Alpha."
"Reclaiming?"
Draennar anticipated Sansa's question and decided to hand the remote to Harper. The redhead conceded to his call and took the reins of the presentation. She clicked the button to reveal paintings and murals of Godzilla facing off against Ghidorah.
"From these findings, we concluded that Ghidorah was an interloper who challenged and battled Godzilla millennia ago. Their rivalry supposedly ended in the Land of Always Winter with Ghidorah imprisoned in the ice."
Harper inhaled and exhaled deeply until she was ready to continue.
"But one of our own decided to deteriorate the situation."
She clicked again and the screen brought up a face that brought frowns on every MONARCH personnel in the tent.
"Alexander. He and several others believed that humans have caused too much damage in the known world and took matters into their own hands. They released Ghidorah from His confinement, which in turn gravely injured Godzilla and usurped the Alpha status. Many lives were lost, and more would have been added to the pile if it weren't for…"
Despite the emotional weight, Harper refused to back down and made the click to show the face of the one she had lost.
"Gianna, my mother. At first, she and Alexander were conspiring together. They orchestrated the Titans' mass awakening, but she eventually realized the consequences of her actions and sacrificed herself to restore balance."
Comfort veiled Harper when Draennar draped his arm around her waist. Tyrion, Samwell, Davos, and Bronn beamed at the couple's growth. She then handed the remote back to him before returning to her seat.
"That leaves us with the task of finding and capturing Alexander."
Draennar clicked the button and showed footage of MONARCH soldiers searching an empty shelter.
"This image was taken not long after Godzilla destroyed Ghidorah. Alexander and his subordinates already left the place when the Titans battled in King's Landing."
"So where are they now?" asked Daario. "They can't be that difficult to be tracked down."
"Alexander's mind is sharper than his looks," Diane answered. "He knows how to evade MONARCH and can find his way around this vast world. We've been sending out troops for reconnaissance missions across the known world. But as of now, luck is not our ally."
Harper's eyes locked with Bran's. She could ask him for help in locating Alexander, but knowing the Three-Eyed Raven's enigmatic words, it might take time for them to find the breakthrough they needed.
"With Godzilla victorious, the other Titans acknowledged His dominance and withdrew their attack on humanity." Draennar clicked the remote and allowed the screen to show footage of Titans burrowing into the earth or submerging into the sea.
"Some decided to return to the place where they first emerged, while others are elsewhere in the known world. But regardless, wherever they go, life follows." Another click and more footage were shown, this time of an abundance of life in places where they would not usually grow.
"The radiation they emitted allowed the lands not only to heal but also improve. Deserts and tundra sprout with edible plants, rivers flourished with fish drawn by its fruitfulness, even the excrements that the Titans left behind are shown to be very potent fertilizers."
"So Titan shit can be used as manure," quipped Bronn. "A decent reason why we should have them around. They're more or less Garth Greenhand in the flesh, make the lives of farmers less grueling."
"Not as grueling," Davos corrected the Master of Coin and Whisperers.
"Our best advice is to leave the Titans be if you see them," Draennar suggested. "If we aggravate them, we might just repeat the catastrophe that was already remedied."
"As simple as that sounds, I doubt that everyone in the known world can or will listen to your proposal. While some do worship the Titans, others fear them and we know what men would usually do to what they fear."
Ebrose's statement caused much of the tent to murmur in agreement. Draennar knew it was her cue and Harper nodded to approve his idea.
"Gianna taught me that people are afraid of things that they don't understand. But she also taught me that if they start to understand the things they fear, they will no longer be afraid. In the wake of this new era, my colleagues and I have concurred to truly leave the shadows and travel around the known world to raise awareness about the Titans. If we educate them about these creatures, how to live with them and what actions they must take to abate potential conflicts and to maintain the balance of the natural world. After seeing how humans and Godzilla worked together in confronting Ghidorah, coexistence is an obligation. All we need is your full consent."
The silence that followed brought mild uneasiness to the MONARCH personnel. They hoped that they would not cross a line that was created for certain reasons.
"I."
The first vote of approval came from Bran himself, who gave Draennar and Harper a warm smile. The second was from Sansa, and then the Small Council, the Lords of Westeros, and everyone else decided to accept the proposal. Rick and Sam exchanged looks of solidarity, undoubtedly elated with the positive outcome. Harper smiled at the results and leaned onto the invigorated Draennar.
Great flocks of ravens soared out from their rookery. Their caws echoed from the partially reconstructed Red Keep and the new King's Landing. Many buildings were incomplete and had to be different from previous designs. Great bursts of plants bloomed throughout the streets and alleys, a scenic sight that could rival Highgarden. Aside from the ravens, the sky buzzed with aircraft transporting blocks of stones from one place to another. MONARCH and the people of King's Landing were cooperating in rebuilding and advancing the city, preparing it in case another Titan incident would occur.
Draennar and Harper stood together on the Argo's flight deck as the great vessel hovered above Blackwater Bay and kept watch over the bustling capital of the Six Kingdoms.
"Thank goodness Lord Bronn kept the royal treasury deep beneath the Red Keep," commented Draennar. "Otherwise King's Landing would be completely bankrupt and not worth investing in."
Harper laughed quietly at his comment before she smiled at him.
"My mother would be proud Drae," Harper said. "You're realizing her vision."
"We both are," he corrected her. They rested their heads together after sharing a fleeting and fond kiss.
"So what happens after we finish our tour with a massive success?"
Draennar was thinking about some ideas in his mind until he remembered something and reached into his pocket and brandished the journal his mentor gave him before his departure.
"Ishiro gave me this when he decided to complete our mission in the Hollow Earth."
"The Hollow Earth…" she repeated with curiosity.
"We were only around the area where Godzilla was rejuvenating Himself. But from the looks of it, the place is much, much larger than it looked…"
As Draennar's words trailed off, his eyes and Harper widened with excitement. With their hands held together, they left the flight deck behind.
"Rick is going to be extremely stoked, as well as Houston."
"Oh yeah, Dr. Brooks. He's a clever man Drae, but I somehow haven't seen him lately."
"Rick said that he went on a private expedition to Sothoryos a couple of months ago. Haven't heard from him since."