Prince Hidden in the Sands

This chapter took me a bit to write because I was hoping to take care of something but after some research, it wasn't possible. But I'm still doing it so I'm sorry if something doesn't make sense. What it is, is the travel time between Highgarden and Winterfell, which would take a little over 2 months but here it takes little less than 2 weeks.

This chapter was originally going to be much longer but I decided to break it off. The reason will be explained in the next chapter. This chapter ends very abruptly and the reason will be explained in another chapter.

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Winterfell

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King Eddard Stark watched as the East Gate opened to reveal the banners of House Tyrell. Today was the day when the talks between the two families would commence, one that will hopefully build an alliance that could hopefully last decades.

Besides the Winter King was his family, to his left was his wife and in her arms, the week-and-a-half-old Lyarra Stark and to Ash's left were Beron and Cregan Stark. To Ned's right was his heir Robb Stark and Ulrick Stark. Behind the main family was the household stuff.

The only one missing was Dyanna who has been legitimized by her father, during the second day of his reign. But the reason for her absence was that she was heading towards her cousin to deliver a message and gift in the form of the second sword of House Targaryen, Dark Sister.

Ned watched as the carriage that housed the ladies of Tyrell stopped before him and his family. When the door opened he found himself looking at an old woman who was wrapped in furs, and following her was a lady with silver-like hair and another with beautiful long brown hair.

As the Winter King kept his watchful eyes on his guest, his heir did the same. The eyes he got from his mother watched as Margaery Tyrell stepped down from the carriage, and made her way towards him, and with her was her mother and grandmother.

The king watched as they all bowed to him, all light and small bows which were understandable since he wasn't their king. "Lady Olenna, Alerie and Margaery." He said, his voice matching the temperature. "I welcome you into Winterfell and her walls. I also thank you for accepting the offer I gave you."

"Like we had a choice." The aged voice of the Queen of Thorns spoke as she rolled her eyes. "Now may we go inside? It's freezing her and I didn't bring enough furs to fight this cursed cold of your Kingdom."

Ned went to respond but was stopped when he caught movement on the walls. However, it wasn't only that which made him stop. "Grandmother." The youngest of the three said as she stepped forward. "Thank you, Your Grace, for welcoming us to your home. I hope we aren't bothering you or taking up your time."

He looked at the girl, examining her and found that she knew how to not only plan the game but also manipulate things to be what she wants. Ned shook his head and said. "Not at all." He then gestured to his son. "This is my heir Robb Stark. He'll be leading you to the great hall where you'll find a feast and music waiting for you, and I must apologize but I will not be joining you until dinner time." His eyes then found themselves on the armaments on the wall. "Now if you'll excuse me."

With that, he made his way to the stairs and before he left he turned around and said. "I also must apologize for the wolves. You know how us Starks and our wolves are. They are our eyes just as much as we are theirs." Ned then left not noticing the wandering brown eyes at his words.

Climbing the stairs, his brother and captain of his guard followed behind him, and what he found was a giant of a man with furs and barely any armor. The man also had an unkempt beard and hair, and it didn't take long for the Starkman and Mormont to figure this person was Skagosi.

Looking at his brother and claw he said. "See if Lady Val or any other freefolk are still here. We might need their assistance in translating for us." Benjen nodded and left to do as his king and older brother ordered. Looking back to the uninvited guest, Ned used the little Old Tongue he knew. "Skagosi?"

With that, the unkept man looked at him with slightly widened eyes and a nod followed. The Winter King then listened as the man spoke, only understanding a few of the words he knew, but minus that Ned didn't know what the man was saying.

"Jorah." He said, calling his captain of the guard who stepped forward. "Have a few maids prepare a room for our guest. Tell them to put it as far away from the Tyrells, and have them prepare a bath for him just in case."

"Yes, Sire." The aged man nodded, his hand still on the bear pommel of his family's ancestral sword, Longclaw. With his orders, Ned watched as the man left to do his orders.

Looking to the men manning the drawbridge and gate he nodded, giving them the signal to open and allow the Skagosi to enter their home. Cold gray eyes followed the unkept man as he walked into his castle and once he made his way down the stairs to meet him, Ned spoke again. "Follow." Once he got a nod, Ned led the man to the Godswoods where he hoped the Skagosi would find it satisfactory for the time being.

—

Hours passed since the arrival of House Tyrell and the Skagosi, and Robb found himself enjoying the company of his betrothed. She was beautiful no doubt about that but was also smart, willing and kind. However, even with all of that the Stark heir couldn't help himself but feel guilty, for he fancied others over her.

Walking along the catwalk with the young Tyrell, Robb enjoyed the sight below. His brothers sparring as the direwolf pups watched as they tried to nap, but couldn't because of the smell of new people and things in the castle.

He was taken from his thoughts when the person beside him spoke. "I'm going, to be honest with you and say that I'm sorta surprised at the beauty of the North," Margaery said as she looked at the people who will one day be his to protect. "I expected the North to be a barren frozen wasteland with barbarians for people. But it seems that it is a wasteland but its people are just like us southerners but worship different gods and have a different culture."

The Stark Prince nodded but kept quiet as they continued their walk. Robb wasn't trying to be anti-social, it's just that he didn't know what to talk about. The topic of the south of an option but that will never really be something Robb to worry about for he was the next Winter King and his people were of the North.

"You don't fancy me don't you?" This made Robb stop what he was doing and looked at the woman beside him with widened eyes, which led to a chuckle from Margaery. "You don't need to hide it, Prince."

Feeling a little heat on his cheeks he straightened up and fixed himself. "I apologize for what you just saw, My Lady… it was something a prince shouldn't have done," Robb said and watched as she waved the apology away. Linking their arms once more he continued their walk towards the Godswoods. "But yes I fancy someone else… two in fact."

This caught her attention as they made their way down a set of stairs. "Really?" He nodded and watched as the cogs in her mind worked. "Isn't it against your Gods to marry more than one like it is to my Gods."

Robb shook his head and responded. "Not at all. The only things the Old Gods frown upon are incest, slavery and kinslaying." He watched as Margaery nodded interested and willing to hear more about his faith. "The Old Gods aren't picky but they have laws that one needs to follow and rules to abide by. Like the Law of Hospitality. When you entered our halls you ate or drank our water. You are protected by the Gods and neither our family nor mine can harm one another. Breaking the law involves the gods' anger and wrath."

He finished as they stepped before the godswoods, and nodding to the guard standing by, Robb watched as the door opened to reveal the woods of the Old Gods. Together the two betrothed entered and what welcomed them to the surprise of the southern lady was warmth and the smell of nature in its finest.

Robb watched as Margaery looked around at all the different kinds of trees and now and then a rabbit or fox. He smiled at the surprised look on her face and the amazement of seeing such a place. "Is this?"

She didn't need to say more for the Stark Prince nodded and spoke. "It is. This is the Godswoods of Winterfell. Where you and the southerners have Septs, we of the north have the Godswoods to worship." Margaery nodded slowly as they began moving towards the weirwood. "If I remember correctly Highgarden has a Godswoods, how is it?"

Still looking at everything around her the future northern princess nodded. "We do. But it's not as grand or nice as this one." She then stopped bringing Robb to a halt as well. "I must apologize but the Godswood at Highgarden is all but dead, and from what my grandmother has told me is that it's been like that for a long time."

Robb tilted his head in confusion. "Why are you apologizing for something that isn't your fault?" Her brown eyes then landed on his Tully blue. "Your family has been praying to the New Gods, and if I'm, to be honest, I would also be praying to them if my Mother brought me south with her. But even so, I'd like to see what it looks like." He finished with a gentle smile.

She nodded slowly, probably haven't not expecting that answer. After regaining control of herself, Robb watched as a small smile appeared on her face. With that all done they continued, the prince leading them to the weirwood tree.

Once they got there Robb watched as the future princess looked at the frowning face, and after a few minutes, she spoke. "I remember reading something." She began as her brown eyes looked at him. "That you can't lie before the weirwood tree?" Margaery asked.

Robb nodded as he placed his hand on the white bark of the tree and closed his eyes, giving a small prayer to the gods. Once finished he removed it and looked at young Tyrell. "Aye. That is indeed how it works. Why do you ask?"

Margaery looked at him with a smile as she placed her hands before her. "I have a properssion." She said as she stopped below the red leaves of the large tree. "I have grown fond of you, Robb Stark." Her words spoke true and the named man watched as she looked up at the frowning tree. "If your father didn't return my mother's family ancestral sword, I would have been married off to the Prince, Joffrey Baratheon. Which rumours have said is cruel."

Robb nodded as stood beside the southern lady. "I've heard about that and to be honest if he ever sits on the throne I don't see anything good coming from it." He said as he looked at the face.

"I can agree on that." The voice beside him said. "So I'd rather marry you. I'll be honest it will take me a while to get used to this coldness or even your faith but I'm willing to do so. So I propose that we wed and you can also wed those you fancy as well." Robb looked at her with wide Tully eyes, and her Tyrell browns looked at him. "I am someone who fancies both men and women and I have for a while, and because your Gods aren't against it, I see nothing wrong with it."

The Stark Prince looked to his betrothed and into her eyes and found them truthful. Blinking Robb allowed a smile to appear. "I think that is a wonderful idea, my Lady." With that, the two enjoyed the peace and quiet the woods around them gave, and when they left it was about dinner time.

—

Ned finished his letter to the Watch when he heard knocking on his solar's door. "Enter." He said plainly as he watched as the aging Maester Luwin entered and with him was the beautiful Lady Val and the Skagosi. "What can I do for you Maester?"

The balding man gave him a small nod as Luwin reached into his robes. "A raven from Prince Doran Martell arrived earlier today, Sire." The Maester said, and with it, Ned sat up straighter as he was handed the scroll.

"Thank you, you may leave if that is all." The Winter King said as he nodded, taking the scroll and putting it in a drawer. With a small nod from the small aging man, the Maester went to leave. Once only the three remained Ned looked over to the former wilding. "Has Benjen told you what you are here to do?"

The woman nodded. "Aye." She said as she sat down in one of the chairs. "I'm to be a translator," Val said as she looked at the giant of a man. "To this… Skagosi." Hearing this the man looked at the woman, and spoke starting a conversation with Val, and from the gestures, he was making Ned could tell that the giant of a man was explaining something.

Watching all of this Ned took notice of the looks the Wildling Princess gave off, and when the man finished speaking Val had wide eyes. "What did he say?" The Stark King asked, making the woman blink.

"The… the people on Skagos… found something that you might want to see." She said and looking at Ned, she continued. "They believe it might be of absolute importance… for it's a dragon… one with charcoal black scales and menacing green eyes."

Hearing this the Winter King's eyes widened, and he looked to the man who nodded hurriedly. 'Charcoal Scales… Menacing Green Eyes… why does that sound familiar?' He said to himself, and when it clicked Ned shot to his feet. "By the Gods… it's the Cannibal… and he is one of 'those' dragons."

—

TBC

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The reason why Ned had Dark Sister was that Bloodraven left the sword behind in Aemon's care, who has been keeping it hidden and when Ned and Daemon visited the Maester felt a familiarity form Daemon and before they left he gave it Ned, in hopes that it will one day be in the hands of another Targaryen more worthy.