*The following chapter was written by reader sensfan90. Thank you sensfan90, for adding to this little world!

(Dragonstone 296) Maege III (by sensfan90)

The breeze from the Narrow Sea was a welcome change from the halls of Dragonstone. Out here with the vastness of the ocean she could imagine she was home again. The waves, the birds even the foul language from the sailors on the wind warmed her heart. Her eyes closed she soon focused on the flame, letting it fill her and leave her like a beat of the heart. Breathing was the beginning and the end of firebending and was never to be forgotten. Opening her eyes she heard the footsteps of a man approaching, smirking she knew only one family who loved this spot as much as she.

"It seems a mighty bear has arrived in preparation for my lunch. Laying an ambush for this poor man?" Chuckling she curtsied as the young knight of House Seaworth made his way to the small group of rocks she had chosen to mediate on. Breaking a piece off his loaf from his basket she sighed in contentment as the taste of the freshly baked bread filled her stomach. She always enjoyed time with the Seaworths, Lyanna's Bay was the probably the most common destination for the family of the Onion Knight beyond Dragonstone. Her father had even gifted them two vessels captured in the rebellion, though she could not remember if it was his idea or from Dragonstone. Mother just gave them ale, which they seemed to appreciate much more.

"Hello Ser Allard, how are you?"

"I am good Lady Mormont, enjoying the Dragonstone Academy?"

"I've met a few friends so far, still it's too damm humid."

"You have to the first person with Fire Nation blood I have ever met to complain about the heat." She shot him a look as he laughed a bit too loudly for her liking.

"I grew up along the Bay of Ice!"

"Believe me I know, I sailed with father more than a few times to Lyanna's Bay. Thought I'd lose a finger more than once. Beautiful though I can see why you'd love to live there. Unfortunately my future is in the south."

"Oh, how so?"

"I am to be married within the year." Clapping in delight she quickly got up and hugged the man, what wonderful news.

"Congratulations, how did this happen?"

"A couple of years ago the Firelord did the impossible and settled the disputes of Crackclaw Point."

"That's the land between the many keeps of Blackwater Bay and the Vale correct?"

"Yes milady indeed it is. Anyway like I said the Firelord managed to do what even most Dragon King's could not and forced them to quit bellyaching over land and taxes. She also to her and her husband's great anger discovered quite a few knights and lords were in violation of the King's law. My father was there for a few of the trials….."

"Did she?" Father had made it very clear the Firelord was ruthless to those who disobey, more than once her tales had caused a nightmare when she was young.

"Punished them swiftly and harshly, quite a few men were sent to the Wall and there sisters and daughters married to men sworn to Dragonstone. So you see several of these keeps have lacked a proper lord for some time. The Firelord and Lord Stannis has granted my father the former lands of House Pyne and House Hardy. I doubt he will ever spend much time there though."

"He likes the sea too much?" Shaking his head Allard smiled softly as he seemed to gather his thoughts.

"No, well yes that is true I suppose but mother has spent far too long on Dragonstone to move now. She has friends and colleagues she likes and my youngest brothers to worry about. Father instead gave my older brother Dale the lands of House Hardy and Pyne for myself. I gather he expects us to see my younger brothers in the future as landed knights." That was wonderful news, young men dreamed to become lords. Really though that is not what mattered.

"Well OK but whose the lucky woman?" A ghost of fear spread across his face, something she never saw father do when he spoke of the betrothal to mother. What was different with Ser Allard?

"A Dornish bastard, Nymeria Sand. I don't believe it but apparently she has Martell blood in her. Father says she is quite beautiful but I am a little worried. My father has only been a knight for a generation and yet some famous Dornish house seeks my hand? I worry there is going to be a catch. Maybe she killed another betrothed or caused a scene with her trueborn family." She frowned as she could see him shudder at the thought of such a troublesome match.

"Well she is a bastard, perhaps this was the best marriage she could get? I mean even in the North a bastard of Barrowtown or Winterfell rarely received more than dowry and some apprenticeship."

"It is possible I suppose, from what I understand she is the second daughter of second son. If the eldest child has heirs already she could be another mouth to feed in the future. And really it is not like I am being granted Stokeworth or Rosby; just a keep, some coastline and a small forest. You're probably right about their reasons. Still my gut tells me something else and years at sea tell me to listen."

"Maybe it's a favor for someone? I mean mother and father love each other but even I know they married so that the people of the Fire Nation could settle the land. Spices, coin, information even….what was the word they used when they talked about politics...oh that's it bribery?"

"Bribery? I suppose, perhaps her father did my father a great service and is now calling in the gold stag?"

"Perhaps they wish to work with the Firelord, I mean you and father have said Ser Davos is one of her most important vassals."

"One of the most trusted Lady Maege, not most important. It is a big difference in life and one you will have learn in the future. My father proved himself to House Baratheon of Dragonstone and was rewarded for his efforts. Though come to think of it Lady Azula may be rewarding my father in her own way. If he was good enough for her then his son should be good enough for a nobleman's bastard."

"Well Ty Lee says her mother loves to play games, I guess that includes politics."

"I suppose, now enough about me how are things in the academy?"

"The Scorching Bear Academy was more fun, we learned a lot of the same things there too. The feeling of the students and the classes are all different."

"Stricter I take it?"

"Un-huh, Azula absolutely wanted to sail away after the first week, it was a rude awakening for the both of us. Unfortunately mother and father made it very clear we will be here for a while do a few things we have to learn. Aunt Lyanna and her friends have made it easier, and Rina I suppose has helped me with some of the homework."

"Rina…Rina oh that the daughter of the historian?"

"Yeah she's really smart and a better fighter then me too. I mean she is really nice but mother warned me about someone like her. It makes things hard."

"Warned you about….oh she is the youngest child isn't she?"

"Exactly, mom told me to be careful when I was in Dragonstone, people will act like my friend in the hope of getting good jobs in the future. I mean I could be imagining things, perhaps she wants an excuse to avoid Takkar. He likes to befriend strong benders and students a little too much."

"How so?"

"His group the young dragons has a lot of really good students, especially benders. But I wonder how many are really his friends, I mean I barely see any of them hanging out when class has ended. Compared to the other groups…." Turning she looked at him for a moment, he nodded clearly knowing about the various cliques.

"Compared to the others they don't seem to actually like him. They like the idea of what he is doing but not who is he."

"Do you actually know him that much, I mean you sound like you really get annoyed by the guy just walking around."

"I don't dislike him, he just reminds of how mother talked about Uncle Jorah."

"Wait, the slaver?

"Yes." She did not even bother hiding the venom in her voice, slavery was one of the oldest taboos in the North and an affront to the Old Gods. Grandmother screamed for days on end when she heard what her nephew had been hiding and mother barely left her chambers for several days until she explained what happened.

"What did he do for you to think that? My younger siblings say he's a rather pleasant fellow. Comparing him to a slaver is pretty brutal milady."

"Oh he is pleasant enough to talk and it is not like he lacks the skill he boasts. What bothers me is he does not seem to take loss well or accept when someone or something is beyond him. When we sparred he gave his father a scathing look when he failed."

"Frustration making someone angry is a pretty normal reaction."

"Well obviously but it I've sat with my mother as she goes through the daily meetings with the people of Lyanna's Bay. I hated it but mother was insistent any lady had to understand her people. And all I learned were people were whiny and annoying about everything and screwed up all the time. Uncle Jorah never accepted he was too poor and isolated to please his greedy southern wife. Takkar is an excellent fighter in the classroom but he acts like he fought in the Stepstones like Ser Steffon. He just pretends to be more than he is and it feels weird."

"He has yet to be given that chance, perhaps he will prove himself." Before she could grumble some more she heard the bells ring.

"Oh damm it I am going to be late. Thanks for the bread Ser Allard, can't wait to see you at the wedding!"

"Wait, since when were you invited?"

Tactics were always so tedious in the academy. The Fire Nation took battle and war extremely seriously and left absolutely no room for incompetence. Unfortunately it also meant stating the obvious. "Lady Mormont as I am sure you already know what is the greatest danger in combat?"

"Losing sight of your enemy in the midst of battle."

"Such as?"

"A wildling with a broken antler is just as deadly as valyrian steel if you do not see the strike coming."

"Excellently said…"

"But we have firebending, we can have them burnt to a crisp if they so much try and touch us." Steeling herself she did not need the extra sight of Chi Ha's spark igniting to understand the look on her face. Haruto had just made the next few moments of life as terrible as the seven hells.

"Really Cadet Haruto, let us test that theory shall we?" Dumbly the Cadet found himself with his back turned towards the Lieutenant, utterly helpless. It was obvious to anyone that by the time she moved to strike it was too late to respond. Once, twice and finally a third time Haruto was slammed to the ground. Before he got up the Lieutenant took his hand and twisted.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH, my hand….what did you do?"

"In battle you would have died three times over, effortlessly against some barbarian beyond the Wall. I know everyone in this class feels special, that they are better than normal men and women. Get it through your heads to be a firebender is to be granted a sacred gift not to think oneself a god or goddess. As for the hand Cadet Haruto insubordination is not tolerated in the Fire Nation, do I make myself clear?"

Tears filling his eyes he nodded vigorously, "Good now get to the dammed healer to have that set." The room was rather somber after that, even some of the cadets approaching graduation were on edge. The Lieutenant smoldered at everyone who wasn't close to what she thought was acceptable and even some of those that were. She squirmed as she finally made her way to where her flames slowly died, she knew they were lacking.

"Cadet Mormont, I see you are having trouble with the heat of your flame. May I ask why? Your work in combustion has been impressive, the intensity of your flame should be a minor inconvenience in comparison."

"I don't' know Lieutenant Chi-Ha, the feeling isn't quite there. My breathing is fine and I can feel the spark grow but the flow just feels wrong to me."

"I find that hard to believe, Commander Chang assures me you could sink a longship with barely a thought."

"What he really said that? I mean well yes I suppose if I had to but thats different! Combustion is all technique, no emotion, no feeling. But my fire has always been from me, something about today has it suffering." Stiffening she felt the strong arm of her instructor on her shoulder, slowly she turned to look at her face. She had an uncharacteristic look of pity on her scarred features, which made it all the more frightening.

"Ah, you must mean Haruto and his injury. You do not like inflicting pain on others do you?"

"No ma'am."

"Understandable but something you will have to overcome. Feeling empathy is fine, even honorable in the right moment but it is not the same as being merciful. On my first deployment I failed and hesitated to end a young girl with a knife, it was all the time it took for this to happen." Oh so quickly her scar seemed more prominent, more hideous and her treatment of Haruto far less sadistic. She cared for her students in her own way. The sheer ferocity of the fire she saw when her classmate had made such a stupid comment now seeming a smooth comforting warmth as she walked away. A part of her felt ashamed, she had misjudged her instructor harshly.

"Lady Mormont, would you care to spar? One of the Chi Ha's sergeants has volunteered to referee." Ty Lee clad in her uniform approached with a broad smile on her face. Ever since their meeting in the cafeteria weeks ago she had made an effort to spend time with her. Though she seemed flighty at times there was no doubt who her parents were when you looked at her. Even at the young age the Baratheon height was already apparent compared to her peers, especially given the Fire Nation were shorter than Westerosi to being with.

"Of course Lady Baratheon, Ember or Sun rules?"

"Sun rules silly, Lieutenant Chi Ha would have us doing chores for months if we tried that. Not to mention my mother would have a fit if she heard!" She turned to hide her laughter at the remark, it was the opposite in Scorching Bear Academy. Ember rules meant the first one to burn the clothing of an opponent. Such an occurrence happened all the time among firebending with most decent practitioners able to snuff it out without even looking. Given the number of teachers compared to the number students back home it was easy to prevent accidents. Well besides the obvious rules of no shots to the face or back. Sun rules on the other hand were the first to make the other sputter with their flame, so called from the understanding in battle the last thing an opponent would see was a mighty ball of fire blinding their vision. Between friends and students it just meant having to use your own flame to cancel out another or deflect from harm. Much safer as the tactics were more conservative by nature. They bowed and took their stances, smirking she noticed they both took the same form. Each grew silent and still as the sergeant took his place and clapped.

"Huah!" Flames burst and danced between them immediately, both aiming low to disrupt each other's footwork. Quickly she began jutting side to side hoping to have Ty Lee overextend herself. Unfortunately she merely kept her distance forcing her to take initiative. Cackling a bit at the strategy she began pushing her fire into the air forcing Ty Lee to improvise her dodging or lose by default. The look of panic on her face told her she might even win if the young stag was off with her timing. Only at the last moment did she propel herself to the side with a deep burst of fire to the left. They kept at it for a few more minutes before the field tilted more and more in her favor. Fighting Lady Baratheon was weird, she was so good but so terrible at the same time! Her form was flawless and she could swear her flames had a blue tinge…yet everything was easy to see. Her breathing, her footwork even her eyes gave everything away. As they continued to move and dance through the flames it finally made sense, people had been going easy on her. Or perhaps after what Ursa did to Chang people feared what she was capable of if pushed too far. Either way it was clear the youngest daughter did not have the same tutelage as the first.

"Gotcha!" It was over in an instant, a small burst as she dodged came too close for comfort, on instinct the fiery Baratheon blew a stream to force it away. Grinning she bowed deeply in appreciation, Ty Lee was drenched in sweat but smiling all the same.

"Ugh mom is not going to be happy when she hears about this. I knew what was coming but I was too tired to move."

"You shouldn't have let me take imitative so quickly, you also gave away a lot of your moves ahead of time. How often do you spar with other students?"

"With other students? Not often, usually just my tutors and the class teachers." It made sense, elder benders would be worried far more over technique than prowess. Also it really was not much of a secret Lady Mai and Lady Azula dotted on the youngest doe, they probably allowed a great deal more freedom than her older siblings. The benefit of being the spare apparently remained the same in the Fire Nation.

"Well if you want to become top of the class you will have to get better at predicting your opponents. Try with my sister Azula next time, you're a much better bender but she does have a lot of friends back home to train with. She is pretty good at adapting when she actually takes time to focus."

"That would be lovely but it will be a bit before we have time. Exams are coming up and I will not disappoint mother and father."

"Ugh don't remind me."