CHAPTER 12: CONSPIRATIONS

Dorne

Doran was in his solar, his mind filled with sorrow upon the thought of Norvos, a city obliterated by the wrath of the Dothraki. His wife had left for her home city. As she could not stand another day of life in Dorne or accept its customs. Though they had married for love in their youth, there was a constant struggle, due to their frequent disagreements toward every decision he made. Even the simplest disputes had them in a row.

He is at a predicament, a cross-road that has him pulling the strands of hair left on his scalp. Tell the truth to his children. Even if her life is uncertain, now, they deserved to know. Above all, they must know the future of the House, and what he has planned. Oberyn will certainly accept, especially if he avenges Elia.

But Arianne is who will be the most hostile.

Turning to a servant, "Send for my brother and my children." He says.

As Arianne walked to her father's solar, she couldn't help but think. What does he want? Since their mother had left, his children have drifted away from him. And he didn't even do anything to avenge their aunt Elia and their cousins. And now he sends for her. She had a suspicion of what it was, but she doesn't want to believe it.

When she arrived in his solar, she saw the entire Dornish retinue assembled inside. Uncle Oberyn had just returned from Essos, Quentin, Trystane and Areo Hotha. A somber visage was painted across everyone.

"What's it, Father," Arianne asked, her gut took a large turn at the dreadful musk in the air.

"Arianne, sit down. What I'm about to tell you is about your mother."

She sits and was shaking. What could possibly have happened to her mother?

"As you know your mother went back to her birthplace," her father said, and she nodded.

"About a month ago the Dothraki of Khal Moro plundered Norvos, took part of the population as slaves, as a tribute to not destroy it completely. Since then, we have had no news of her. Maybe she died, maybe she escaped or maybe she's a prisoner" Her father said, and Arianne felt tears coming at her eyes, but she quickly wiped them with her thumb. "But that's not the main reason I called you here, daughter."

She then looked at her father. What could other information he wanted to give her apart from the fate of their mother? Maybe it's the vengeance that they are craving.

"We recently discovered that Viserys Targaryen, his mother Rhaella Targaryen and his sister Daenerys Targaryen, are alive and under the protection of Illyrio Mopatis. "

"This could be our opportunity to avenge Elia and her children," Oberyn replied smiling.

"Yes. Part of the plan is that, but also a greater motivation," her father replied, and then turning towards her and adding "You, my daughter, will marry Viserys Targaryen, and...".

"What?" she cut him off, chuckling. "Is this a joke?"

"No, no joke. I'll have Dornish blood on the Iron Throne, and you daughter, will do what I say. You'll marry Viserys Targaryen, and Quentin will marry Daenerys Targaryen, who will be the Prince of Dorne, after me."

"You can't do this to me, I'm the oldest father. I..."

"If I order you to do that, you will. You won't destroy my plans to have Dornish blood on the Iron Throne."

She couldn't believe., that her father was forcing her to do that. His craving for power and his ambition will be the downfall of their House. She feels the rage rising in her body, and she felt betrayed. Her father was going to take her birthright for her own ambition, but she will not accept that.

"I'll not accept that father."

"You'll," he said raising his voice.

"Brother tell me one thing. What happened to Elia wasn't sufficient for your lust for power? And above all, there's a flaw in your plans. Rhaella Targaryen is alive. She won't let her daughter be married as a bargaining chip."

"She has no say in this. Viserys is the one who does the negotiations. And from what I hear, he wants to marry his mother to the captain of the Golden Company, in exchange for their support. And from what I understand he is a veteran knight of Westeros and according to some rumors, has Dornish origins."

"Yes, and he wants to sell his sister to the Dothraki," Oberyn replied.

This attracts the attention of his father "What?"

"He wants to marry Khal Drogo in exchange for an army. I'm surprised you didn't know, brother."

"He won't. For our support, we'd ask him to give us his sister as well."

"Who's going to do the negotiations?"

"You, brother. You'll have him marry Arianne by proxy. "

Oberyn sighed. "Fine brother. Can I go now? I would need some fun before I leave for Essos, and Ellaria is waiting for me in our bedrooms." and he left

Arianne couldn't stand it any longer, she got up and without saying another word she left. Maybe it's time to remove her father. If she doesn't get what she deserves then she'll take it by force. Strike like a viper. That's what Oberyn always told her when she was a child.

King's Landing

Varys was sitting in his chambers, rethinking the recent events. His little birds told him what Prince Joffrey did and he really wanted to keep an eye on him now. Prince Orys was another story. Although he has the same character as his father, he has a great touch for politics and above all, he could become a great king, with the right guidance.

Thinking back and considering the new news he has received and the secrets he has discovered, it would be better to bet on a king who doesn't have a dragon and magic or who won't become crazy.

As he got up, Varys called one of his little birds and gave him the messages to deliver to the citadel and Prince Orys. It was time to destroy the magic and with it the new dragon.

As he prepared to go out, Varys saw a guard coming.

"The king gathered the small council."

"Is Lord Baelish present?" asked Varys.

"Yes, my lord."

Well, two birds with one strike.

Once in the council room, and when all were gathered, Varys gave a nod to Prince Orys who said to the King "Father, I found the murderer of Jon Arryn.

"What?" the king asked, standing up and putting his fists on the table.

"Yes. It was Lord Baelish who answered Orys, pointing the finger."

Baelish becomes white and, in his eyes, there was fear.

"My king that's…" but the king was furious and drawing out his sword he cut Baelish's head off with a slit.

"Put his head on a spike outside the city, so that everyone will see what happens to the traitors."

"There's more to it than that, father. The king, calming down, turned to his son. "Robert Arryn is the bastard son of Baelish. So, he has no claim to the Eyrie."

"Pycelle, send a raven to Lord Royce and tell him to take Lysa Arryn and her son under arrest until I get to the Eyrie. And send a raven to Riverlands and tell Hoster Tully to come to Kings Landing and answer for his daughter crimes."

"I'll do it, your grace."

"Is there anything else? "asked the King.

And Varys knew that this was the opportunity to destroy the magic by exterminating the Targaryen.

"Your Grace. The Targaryen are about to invade us" Varys said, "My little birds just informed me that Viserys Targaryen has started the negotiation with the Dothraki, the Golden Company and Dorne."

"What? How the beggar King intends to get them on his side."

"He has the intention of giving his sister in marriage to the Dothraki, his mother to the Golden Company, with the addition of lands, and Dorne, marrying Princess Arianne. Having in this way about 150 thousand men, not to mention the small Houses still loyal to the Targaryen or who hate your family. With the Golden Company, there is also the son of your enemy, Prince Rhaegar."

At that mention, the King slammed his fist on to the table and said with anger, "Send the Assassins, I want them all dead and I want their heads on the spikes. Send a raven to Tywin Lannister, the new Hand of the King."

Varys smiled to himself. Now the magic will be destroyed and with it the Targaryen. 14 years ago, he made a mistake in saving Prince Aenar, but now he no longer. It was time to bet on a new prince.

The King stood up and walks furiously out of the room.

"Lord Varys. May I ask what your game is?"

"I don't understand what you're talking about, my prince."

"Oh, I know that you know." Orys said giving him a look "I'm watching you" and then he left.

He's smarter than his father, but it will be easy to manipulate him, certainly better than the Targaryen Prince, who after Valyria, has the magic in himself.

Robert was in his study. He felt anger rise, anger and other unprecedented states of mind. Anger and anger towards his second son, who wanted to rape the daughter of his best friend and Warden of the North, as well as his future wife. He still remembers the moment when he first saw her. Lyanna. He fell immediately in love with her. But he would never dare to do that to her. And this damn boy has shamed the royal family, and now the throne has lost the support of the North. And that was 40,000 less men.

After drinking the wine that was in his goblet, Robert took the broach that contained the wine and threw it against the wall shouting, "Damn you!"

He felt the fury rise and take control of his body. And what's worse is that the Targaryen planned an invasion. And the son of the man who raped, kill and steal his Lyanna, was alive.

Robert heard someone knocking. "Come in!" said Robert angry.

The servant opened the door and to enter was Cersei. Damn woman. It's only because of her that Joffrey became a cunt. Too long she whispered in his ear and spoiled him too much as a child. Certainly, more than Orys.

"What is it?"

"We must secure the future of our family. And the throne to our son."

"What do you propose? Joffrey made us lose the North. And the others already hate us a lot. They are plenty of Lords in the Seven Kingdoms ready to swear fealty to that madman of Viserys Targaryen."

"My father is already riding towards King's Landing. I sent him a raven when we left Winterfell. We don't need the North or the other lords. We have Westerlands, Vale Stormlands and Reach."

Robert started laughing. He really couldn't believe how stupid his wife was.

"We don't need the North!? Are you crazy woman? If the North doesn't intervene, neither will the Riverlands." He took a breath and continued, "The Targaryen over the narrow sea are already plotting as you know. Viserys Targaryen wants to sell his sister to the Dothraki in exchange for an army, and his mother to the Golden Company. The first army has never been defeated and has 100,000 men. If the Khal attacks us, the other lords could join Viserys'cause, to not be sacked by the savages, even those loyal to us. Only a madman will challenge the Dothraki in open field. Then there is the matter of the Golden Company. 20,000 men well-armed and trained in the tactics of Westeros, and 100 War Elephants. I have never been afraid in the war. But to face an enemy I don't know; I admit it gives me cause for fear."

"So, there's only one thing to do: make sure that those who were loyal to House Targaryen will no longer loyal."

Robert was a little surprised by his wife's sharp mind, but one thing is certain. She wasn't smart. But she has a point.

"Explain yourself better?"

"The Dornish have already started plotting behind our backs. They want the end of our family for 14 years, and the invasion of Viserys will give them the right reason to take revenge, and above all, combining the marriage of that whore of his daughter and The Beggar King, Doran will have Martell blood on the Iron Throne. "

"So, you suggest I declare war on Dorne for no reason?"

"No, not you. Sellswords. From Essos. And a pact with the Iron Bank of Braavos, before our enemies do."

They were all good suggestions, but the only problem is that the Kingdom was in debt.

"Marry Margery and Orys as soon as possible. And after the wedding when the family returned to Highgarden, send the murderers with the Targaryen coats of arms.

"Damn it, Woman, you have an evil mind." He said laughing, and she gave him an evil smile.

"Then when your father arrives, we will reveal the truth about Robert Arryn and Lysa Tully. Her father will be called to King's Landing. And Lord Yohan Royce will become Lord Warden of the Vale."

"Marry Joffrey to Lord Yronwood's youngest daughter, and after House Martell has disappeared from the face of the earth, appoint House Yronwood as Dorne's Lord Paramount. They have always fought against the Martells. Poison the Lord and the heir with Dornish poisons so that Joffrey can be Prince of Dorne."

"I'll have to talk to your father first, the hand of the King," Robert said but saw that she didn't like him not approving her plan.

"War is coming, my king," she said angrily. "You have to decide whether to prevent the fall of our House or waiting for our extinction, on your beautiful throne in an honorable way, fucking, drinking, and hunting. Dynasties survive in this way, with conspiracies and betrayals. The choice is yours" and with this last statement, she left.

Damn woman.

Winterfell

Ned was sitting in the Godswood, thinking about the tragedies that struck his family. Sansa was almost raped by that damn prince, and Bran had fallen from the tower, and he could remain crippled. Ned felt tears coming from his eyes, and he wiped them off right away.

After a while, he saw Cat coming.

"Ned, you wanted to see me?"

"It's time I tell you why Robb went to Essos." Taking a breath Ned said, "When I went to look for my sister in Dorne after the war, as you know I found her. I told everyone that she died of a fever. But the truth is, she died in childbirth, giving birth to Rhaegar Targaryen's child." Ned felt the tears come down from his eyes again. Every time he talked about his sister or thought of her, tears came to his eyes, and a sadness, that nothing can take it away."

"Ned?" Cat's voice brought him back to the present.

He looked up at her and gave her a smile and said, "The child born was a boy and now he is in Essos, under the protection of Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of Dawn, and he will soon take over the commandos of the Golden Company, from Arthur."

He saw that Cat was taken aback and had widened eyes. "And you've been hiding this from me all this time?" He saw that she had tears in her eyes "Didn't you trust me? Did you think that I would go to the first one who passes by and said everything? You hurt me thinking this about me, Ned" She said with tears falling from her eyes.

"I know that I made a mistake not to tell you, and especially not to tell you what I intended to do. That's why I'm saying it now, and I want to ask for your forgiveness."

He saw that she was still hurt because he didn't trust her with the secret and now he really felt bad.

She wiped her tears and said looking down "So you told Robb, and he decided to go there, in a dangerous continent, full of slaves, pirates and other dangerous people. How could you allow him!? And what's worse is that Arya followed him because of the ideas you put in her head. Only to meet your lost nephew."

"He wanted to go. He wanted to meet him, so he could give him his support when he landed in Westeros."

"It doesn't matter," said Cat shouting and sobbing. Standing up, she said, "You let him go."

"I know you're hurt, but..."

"No, Ned. Enough!" As he got up, he said, "I have to go back to Bran."

At that moment Maester Luwin "My Lord, Lord Reed has arrived?"

"Howland?" Why would he come, Ned hadn't sent for him? It was very strange, and Ned was beginning to get a little premature.

Once he got to his studio, Ned saw that Howland was atoning him. And he smiled at him. He really had changed after fourteen years. Long hair and fairly long beard, a little flattened compared before, but Ned saw that he still had pain from the wound he received from the White Bull. He saw that when he got up because he put his hand on his side.

"Howland my friend. So long. What brings you here?"

"You said, Ned. A long time." They hugged each other; he was still short.

"We need to talk about your son, Bran."

"Why?" Ned asked, becoming serious, and not knowing what Howland wanted from his son.

"I know you won't believe me for what I tell you, and we have to get ready before they get here."

"They? Who are they, Howland?"

"The White Walkers. They are real, and they are coming for us."

"White Walkers." Ned chuckled, stories to scare the children, but he saw that Howland didn't laugh.

"And what does this have to do with my son, Bran?"

"Bran is a Greensight and a warg. The most powerful ever to appear in this world after 8,000 years. "

Ned sighed "Why are you telling me this, Howland?"

"The Grate enemy has returned. Your son needs to go Beyond the Wall to meet the Three-Eyed Raven and learn all he needs to teach him. We will need him. Because we don't know yet what the Great Other want.

"Beyond the Wall? Great Other? Are you mad Howland!" Ned couldn't believe that Howland would ask him this? "My son is only seven years. And he is a cripple. He won't survive Beyond the Wall."

"He won't go alone. Me, and some of my men will accompany him. My ancestors are descended from the Children of the Forest, and this gives us more advantage to survive out there because we know the way. I will protect him with my own life, Ned."

Ned sighed. He put his hand on his face. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. The Great others, warg, and greensight. Magic and other stuff. But if this was the only way to defeat the Great enemy, which he still doesn't believe, he will try.

"Okay, Howland. I'll let you take my son there. But if anything happens to him, I will destroy your house. You understand me," he said pointing his finger at Howland.

"Of course, Ned. But you'll need to prepare the North. And maybe make peace with the Wildings."

Ned begins to laugh so hard that almost chocked "Pace!? With the Wildings!? Are you serious?"

"Yes, Ned. We will need every man alive. And if your nephew will come to Westeros, and you'll go South someone will need to defend the Wall if the White Walkers attack before you are back.

Ned nodded. He didn't like. But if Howland said that the enemy was true, then he will try.

"Go now. I'll have to talk to Cat about this. "

Pentos

Rhaella and her children were having breakfast in silence, but she did not take her eyes from her daughter and continued to look at her with a smile. After finishing, Viserys got up and without saying anything went out of the room.

"Viserys!" Rhaella called him, but he didn't answer. So, she decided to follow him and find out what he was plotting.

"Daughter, go wait for me in our room," Rhaella told Daenerys. Then turning around, she went in the direction that Viserys had gone.

Arriving at the room, Rhaella leaned against the door to hear what they were saying.

"Your grace, your mother will not come?" Rhaella heard Illyrio's voice.

"No. I don't want her to hear what I decided to do. Especially about Daenerys."

About Daenerys? What Viserys wanted to do to her. Rhaella didn't really like this story. And she won't let anything happen to her. She felt the blood boil at the mention of her daughter.

"So! What about Khal Drogo? Did he accept the alliance?"

"Yes. In exchange for your sister, he will give you a large army. With the Dothraki, you will surely win the throne."

Khal Drogo? Rhaella had never heard this name, but the reputation of the Dothraki. They were the most feared warriors of Essos, and they were stubborn. He will not have his daughter and she swore so. she has to go in and intervene, but she has to listen a little more, to better understand their plan.

"When does he intend to come?"

"He will come by the end of the year. First, he wants to kill Khal Moro and claim his Khalassar."

"Well, this is excellent news. We will have to prepare to welcome him. Don't mind the expense. We have to make my sister the perfect bride for the savage..."

At that point, Rhaella couldn't stand to hear how they were selling her daughter. She entered the room with anger but putting on the mask of the old queen.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Viserys asked surprised, making disappear the smile he had on his lips.

"What, this is not the king's council where the future of our house is discussed?"

"It is, but women are not allowed."

"Any decision you make for my daughter must be approved by me. If I don't agree..."

"Here I interrupt you, Mother." Viserys cut her off, raising his hand. then calling for a servant he said "Servant, send for my sister."

" What the hell are you doing, Viserys?"

"Oh, you'll find out soon enough, Mother. For too long I have sacrificed my future for her. This time she will do."

"Viserys, please don't do it." Rhaella pleaded, seeing the smirk on his face, "If you do, you will lose my respect, my trust, and my love. You'll stay alone because I won't separate from my daughter again. "

But at that moment Daenerys entered and giving her a big smile, but when she saw that she was serious, the smile disappeared.

"Ah, Daenerys. Come! We were just planning your future."

She comes and sits next to Rhaella taking her hand.

"You will marry Khal Drogo, in exchange for his army."

She saw tears falling from her daughter's eyes. And this was brooking her heart. She heard Daenerys begging with bowed head and pleaded voice "Viserys, please!" but he, in a burst of anger, took her by the neck and dragged her on the table. Rhaella rushed towards him but stopped when Viserys drew his sword and pointed it at her throat.

"Mother, if you interfere, I'll slit your throat. And I'll choke her. When we met you dared to slap me in the face. Your King! Don't you ever dare do that again," said Viserys with a threatening voice and the face of a mad man.

If Viserys hadn't his hand around Daenerys throat, Rhaella wouldn't have cared if her son held his sword at her, she would have slapped him and placed herself between him and Daenerys, even if it would have cost her life.

"You, dear sister, will give me the Dothraki army, even if you have to fuck them one by one, and their horses. Too long I've taken care of you without getting anything. It's time for you to repay your debt."

Rhaella couldn't believe the words that came out of her son's mouth. He was now lost. Madness has taken hold of him and what's worse is that he wants to become King.

"And you, dear mother," Rhaella heard Viserys say, "You will give me the Golden Company."

"What?"

" Tell them what you told me, Illyrio." Said Viserys still pointing the sword at her throat and kept Daenerys' neck tight.

"The Golden Company is camped between Pentos and Myr. Their commander is a former veteran Knight of Westeros, and he plans to return home."

"Having no money with which to pay the mercenaries, I will offer the Commander, who, if I'm not mistaken, should be nearly forty, a former Targaryen Queen and lands."

Rhaella remained open-mouthed and eyes wide open. She began to move away from Viserys "Do you intend to sell your only family for an iron chair? And that you could lose it. You are just like your father. Cursed be the day I gave you birth."

After this, Viserys smirked and left Daenerys. Rhaella, taking her by the hand, took her away from the room, hearing the evil laugh of Viserys.

Arriving in the room where they were sleeping, Rhaella hugged her daughter and heard her crying.

"I don't want to marry that Dothraki Khal, mother," Daenerys said, sobbing, with her head on Rhaella chest. She began to rub her hair, kissing her head, and she felt tears coming down from her eyes.

"You are not going to marry the Khal, daughter," replied Rhaella raising Daenerys' face upwards, so that she could look her in the eyes. Then, wiping Daenerys tears with her thumb, she firmly said, "It doesn't matter what I do, and it doesn't matter how long it takes, but I'll take you away from here. We'll leave together, Dany. We're not doing this for Viserys. For too long I've suffered your father's torture and the rapes. I won't let the same fate happen to you."

Then whispering into Daenerys' ear, she said, "Don't mention this conversation to anybody, Dany."

Daenerys nodded and hugged her.

Golden company fort

Aenar gathered all the captains of the Golden Company. He intended to expose to them the plan to face the Dothraki.

"As you know, I decided to accept the contract with Myr. Khal Moro is marching on Myr from Norvos. He sacked it to get more men and slaves to fight against Khal Drogo."

"Good! Are we going to use the city as a defense?" asked Falco.

"No. We'll face them here," replied Aenar, pointing to the map.

"It is a path they will take because they believe that no one knows him. It's off the main roads and it's great for ambushing.

"It's too tight to use the elephants."

"In fact, I don't intend to use elephants. As you know before leaving for Volantis, I gave orders to build load-bearing palisades as well as a siege shelter where our men will be placed, with a shield wall of Spearmen in front of them. "

"So, you're going to face them there with that tactic?"

"Yes. 3.000 Unsullied defeated 25.000 Dothraki in the battle of the three thousand when they were defending Qohor. We will do the same and use the advantage of the land. You know that there are rocks on the sides."

"Yes."

"It is there that our archers will be hidden and when the time comes, I will have a rain of arrows on the Dothraki. What do you think, Balaq?"

"It can be done. The Dothraki have no armour, they will fall like flies."

"Exactly! Until here it's clear."

Everyone nodded

"Our heavy cavalry is armored and when they are demoralized we will charge them."

"But they will not charge against our shield wall?" asked Blackburn, the captain of the spearmen.

"Yes. They will. When they can no longer use the bows and arrows, they will charge us against, with spears and arakh. Then when they are close, we will raise the spike palisade hidden in the sand, that is usually used to protects camps. And if someone passes the palisade, he will meet our fearsome spearmen."

"It's a good plan. We'll have to prepare and give orders to the men," replied Falco.

Everyone left the room. Except for Robb and Arthur.

"Robb, would you train with me? I have already defeat Arthur so many time" Aenar said and Arthur gave him a look.

"You know Arthur that you're always the best," Aenar said chuckling.

And Arthur gave him a smile.

"It will be a great pleasure, cousin. But Arya will definitely want to see."

"Where is she, by the way?"

"With Ashara, if I'm not mistaken."

"Arthur goes to tell her to join us at the training camp."

And Arthur left.

"Come, cousin."

As they walked through the streets of the fort, heading toward the training area, Aenar thought back to the nightmare she had almost every night since returning from Valyria. The ice king who pierced his heart with his sword.

"Are you all right, Aenar?" asked Robb.

"Yes. Just thinking about a dream, I had."

"You want to talk about it."

"No. It's just a dream. I have a lot of them. Ugly," and then smile and added, "and beautiful. Very beautiful".

Robb smirched.

Looking ahead, Aenar saw the captain who oversaw the recruits approaching.

"Commander. There are two men who would like to join the Company."

"Who are they?"

"One is northern. His name is Asher Forrester."

Aenar looked towards Robb and saw that he was with an open mouth.

"You know him, Robb."

"Yes. He is Lord Forrester's second son. A bannerman of House Glover and very loyal to my father. He gives us wood for shields and other structures."

"Who's the other one?"

"Chris of House Aldridge, a House of the Crownlands, who was loyal to your family.

"Fine! If they're worthy, accept them. Then send them to the training yard."

"Commander!"

When they arrived at the training yard, Aenar saw that the men were training hard in the formations he had set up, with all the captains starting to give orders and that Arya was waiting with the direwolves and Caraxes, for him with her hands crossed over her chest, furrowed eyebrows and banging her foot on the ground.

"You took your time! Have you lost your way?"

Aenar gave her a smile and patted her head. This little girl really got into his heart, and they begin to bond quick. With his passion for dragons and especially for Queen Visenya. If they let her, she will talk about those arguments all the time. And Aenar, he always laughed.

But what struck him most about Arya was her challenge to the rules. He wanted to imagine that his mother was this way.

Turning to Robb, he said, "Let's get started!"

And they put themselves in position. Aenar remembered Arthur's first lessons. 'Remember, always look at her eyes.'

So not knowing how Robb fought, Aenar decided to use a defensive tactic, so she could learn his moves to anticipate Robb's attacks in advance.

Robb began to launch attacks on the left and right, fighting with technique and ferocity. A true Northmen. But Aenar noticed that he left his flanks uncovered when attacking from the sides. These mistakes gave Aenar the chance to counterattack and disarm him, causing him to fall to the ground.

Aenar smiled, he was happy to have won, but that didn't mean that you had to mount your head. Because humility was the key to everyone's heart and above all to the loyalty of his men.

Approaching Robb with a smile, he held out his hand to help him rise.

"You have won. You are a better warrior than me," Robb said.

"Don't beat yourself down, cousin. You are a great warrior too; you only tend to leave your side uncovered when you attack from the sides. This gives your opponent a chance to defeat you."

Robb nodded smiling.

As they approached the bench where there was water to settle down and chatted with Robb about moves and other techniques, Aenar heard Arya say, "You did well, big brother, but you still lost."

Aenar chuckled.

"If you think you're better than me, Little Wolf, why don't you try it?"

Aenar was really intrigued by this thing. His little cousin, who knew how to use the sword. And he thought his mother was like that.

"Come little wolf, let's see what you can do," said Aenar smiling. He'll go easy on her. After all, she's only eight years old and doesn't want to ruin her dreams.

He saw that Arya took the sword with her left hand; it was a bit heavy for her. But the grit in her eyes didn't allow her to give up. After a few attacks she got tired, and yet she didn't give up.

But he stopped her, "Enough, little wolf."

Putting his hand on Arya's face, she said, "I'll teach you how to use your sword better and you'll become a great warrior. Like Visenya."

She gave him a big smile and hug him.

"Don't spoil her too much, or you'll never take her off you," said Robb chuckling, receiving a bad tongue from Arya.

Aenar sighed. This is family, he thought between himself and himself.