Chapter 4

Artax laid against Andromeda, her neck craning to see the book that he was holding. It was a nightly ritual of theirs that he would read each night to her before going to sleep. He read slowly and confidently, making sure she was hanging on to each word. As he read, he would feed her apple pieces and in return she would blow softly into his hair.

Dany approached the area where the messenger said he saw Artax last. She wanted to speak to him alone without the formal attire of the room and the people. She wanted to see if there was a way to get him to see that supporting the cause to rid the Westeros of nightwalkers and then to set sights on defeating Cersei is for the people and not about winning a title. She was born to be the Queen of all Westeros and she cannot sit by while its people are being ravaged and torn apart by an unfeeling tyrant. She also just could not get him out of her mind. For the life of her, she did not understand. He was arrogant, rude, and unyielding but she is excited to hear the man's opinions and to find out what drives him.

Dany stopped when she saw him. She hid behind some bushes as she watched the scene in front of her. Artax laying against Andromeda on the ground, her head on his shoulder listening and watching as he read from a book. She heard his melodious tone as he gave voice to the characters. She watched with rapt attention as Artax gave Andromeda a piece of an apple and Andromeda nuzzle his head lovingly as he continued to read. Slowly, Dany sank to the ground to not only watch this scene but to also listen to his honeyed voice as they roamed through the pages.

"…The children ran and they ran through the meadow. They played until they could play no more. So free in their movements, it was if the terrible events that had happened the day before had disappeared. It was not because they had forgotten what had been done to them, but it was because they had lived through the horrors and had finally reached a place of peace were, they able to be finally free to be as they are and no more." Artax looked at Andromeda as he closed the book, signifying the end. "The end"

Andromeda shook her head. "what? The book is over. That was the last of the writing. What, did you not like the ending?" Andromeda shook her head again and took the book away from Artax. She laid the book in front of her opening it up to the last page as if to see if it was really over.

"what are you doing? Why do we go through this each time?" Artax asked playfully. He reached over to take the book back from Andromeda would not let it go. Her lips flipped up baring her teeth and she nickered. "Oh, for goodness sake. There is no more to that book. You have to let it go."

She shook her head once more but put the book down. "finally…" Andromeda stuck her face in his bag and brought out another book. "oh no. no, no, no. You know the rules. We only read one chapter a night. Its bed time for you. You get cranky when you don't get enough sleep."

Andromeda kept nudging him with the book, placing it in his lap. She nuzzled his face and nipped his neck. "Ow! Alright, alright! Fine! Just one chapter. But only because you will eat me otherwise. I fear for my life." Andromeda snorted right in his face.

Dany watched with fascination, the relationship between man and his horse. The more she watched, the more the warmth in her chest grew. She was unfamiliar to the feeling. She started to feel a tenderness towards a man she hardly knows. Dany saw Andromeda falling asleep and knew that this was not the night for a talk with Artax. As Artax got up, Dany also turned to go.

While reading Artax would rub Andromeda's nose and her eyes heavier and heavier. He finally put down the new book as Andromeda's heavy head rested on his shoulders. He got up and laid the blanket over Andromeda. He heard rustling and turned quickly towards the sound. Artax saw the retreating back of Dany, white against the moonlight, and wondered how long she had been there and what she had wanted.