Sorry for the long wait, I have been busy and burnout. Need some break, but here I am! And here you go!

"Your children seem very well, Khaleesi," Doreah said after inspecting Dany's growing belly in the Khal's tent.

The afternoon dunes do not really bother her, but the heat wore her down. Thank goodness they had decided to stop before they could go any further. It has been days since the attack, and she has not heard any news about Jon. Anxiety creeps into her like water, for their cubs need him as much as she needs him.

They have been more active as of late and she wished Jon is here to feel his cubs, for it is apparent that they will come any day now.

And that terrifies her. She can't do this without Jon.

"I suppose the Khal would not be pleased to have another cub that is not one of his," she dares asked, she needs to know the safety of her own cubs.

Doreah gave her a sad look, "Normally, that would be the case," once she said that Dany's instinct was to wrap her arms around her growing belly, her heart sank of the fact that someone would gladly take pleasure in destroying an innocent cub. "However, a growing child inside the womb of its mother is not our way of murder. And you are to be his mate from now on, the Khal doesn't think it is right to rid of the children of his mate."

Dany swallowed the lump in her throat, "Lest they are already born then?"

She shook her head, "Children are great assets for the future of the tribes. It does not matter where they come from so long as they can serve and protect the tribe."

She breathed out a sigh of relief, her hand rubbed her belly in a way to soothe her fears. They are not even born yet, and she has already grown to love them, the idea that they would be taken away from her…she was ready to form an escape plan whether she will survive in the dunes of death.

"What was your previous mate like?" Doreah asked suddenly, her tone rather excited and eager.

"What?"

"The father of your children," she pointed to her belly, "From what tribe was he from?"

"Tribe?" Dany could not understand what she was trying to ask. Do these people not know the concept of civilizations? She tries to answer the best she could, "We are not from these lands," she answered, "We are certainly not supposed to even be here."

"Oh," her handmaid hummed, "Then why are you here? I mean, in these lands, Khaleesi?"

Dany tried not to reveal too much, "Running away," she murmured, "Someone wanted us both dead because we are…..well, we did something we shouldn't do there." She tries to avoid the topic of her Starks and who they are.

"And you both thought of coming here?"

"Yes," technically, they did. If it weren't for Ser Barristan, they wouldn't even know where they could even run to. The thought of her mentor lying unconscious strikes fears in her. And so does Jon. She wonders where they are and how are they. Did the people here are hunting them down? She can't stand the guessing games and stood up, "I'm sorry, but I have to find my mate."

"Wait," Doreah held her arm gently but there is a feeling of desperation palpable from her, "You can't just leave."

"I can, and I need to," she said, the creeping anxiety and fear are eating her away, and knowing that her children may arrive any moment now is something she cannot do without the man who saved her life all those seasons ago. Their father has the right, "I'm not supposed to be here. They need their father. I must find him and my mentor."

"If the Khal sees your mate, he will tear him apart," Doreah desperately said to calm her down, her brows furrowed warily. "He will not allow anyone to take you."

"He has taken me against my will and hurt my mentor. My mate can take him down," she growled, trying to shake off her grip but she would not let. Doreah, for a bed servant, has quite the strength.

"Khal Drogo has not lost a battle for ages," she explained, "What are the odds that he will defeat him?"

What indeed, she thought. But she shook her head, her mate is trained by the greatest warrior of Westeros and the son of a wolf and a dragon. He won't lose. "My mate can handle him."

"And even if he did win, the tribe follows the strong."

"What do you mean?" She looked at him in confusion, where is this going?

"Whoever defeats the leader of a tribe, they will be the next leader. Their king," Doriah let her phrase hang in the air, letting Dany sink those words in. She pursed her lips, tilting her head down a little as she got lost in her thoughts. Doreah saw her confused expression, the servant may have realized that she may need time to contemplate this fact, "I shall prepare your clothing," and at that, she left her with her own thoughts.

Dany absent-mindedly ghosted her hand on her stomach, trying to find comfort in this fact. If they are to lead this tribe…..this tribe they know nothing about, then what? What do they even know anything about leading?

"So," Ser Jorah grunted back on his chair, "how prepared are you to lead a tribe of savages of the dunes?"

Jon swallowed the lump in his throat, clearly lost in words. His choices are limited. If he steals Dany away, the tribe will do whatever it takes to take her back, who knows who else would be killed. Their one source of protection and home is gone, they can't afford to lose their mentors too in this strange new world.

The obvious choice would be to challenge the leader for Dany. But after that…..what then? What does he know anything about leading? That's Robb's thing.

"The tribe leader, Khal Drogo, has quite a history of not losing a challenge," The Seer Priestess added, "How now will you challenge him?"

"He is still a growing wolf," Ser Barristan argued, his voice sounding monotone and angry, "I will not risk my student to fight a grown monster!"

"That is not my choice to make," Ser Jorah said without a hint of fear or anxiety, the old man then turned to Jon, who is still contemplating his choices, "That is the decision of your young prince."

Young prince. Leader of the pack. King. He had heard these words many times over the past few weeks and months. How can he be one when he's not ready? Who would want to follow a bastard? What must he do? How must he get his mate back?

Unable to bear these thoughts anymore, he quickly got up on his feet and nearly toppled the chair behind him, "Sorry, I need to be alone." And at that, the young prince strides away from everyone and out of the house, unintentionally slamming the door.

Greyworm was about to follow him, to help his friend, when Kinvara lifted her hand up to stop him, "Let him be."

"He needs our assistance," the centaur shifter said.

She nods, "He needs answers that only he can answer without any interruptions from anyone," her red eyes shifted to the window where she can see young Jon walking up the hill that leads to the dune and standing there, watching the horizon as the sunlight shone upon him from the covered clouds. Her mouth curled up, "And I believe, he should get his answer soon."

But Jon didn't feel like he knows anything at all.

All his plans burned to ashes. The simple plan is to just lay low until the day they can go home…gone. Gods, how long will the war end? How long must they stay in this heating new country? Most of all, what must he do?

While debating his thoughts, he heard footsteps coming in his direction. Fuming, he shouts, "I thought I said that I need to be alone!"

"Of course, you do," a voice he did not recognize said.

He turned around and found himself face to face with someone whom he did not know at all. He was fully clothed with robes and a hood, and in his hand is a dagger. Jon immediately prepared for his battle stance the way Ser Barristan taught him, shifting will not help. How he wishes he has his sword with him, for a wolf is no match with a tool of man, "Who are you?"

The hooded man only cackled, "The Lannisters sent their regards."

Jon's eyes widened at the name he had not heard for a long time. Before he could ask how he knew where to find him, the man only lunged at him. Instinctively, Jon sidestepped and grappled him to the ground. But his challenger proved to be as competitive as him, rolling him over, catching him off guard, and struggling to get him pinned down and trapped. Jon struggled as he held a vice grip on the attacker's wrists as he held the dagger, trying to drive him down to his heart. He won't let that happen again!

With a pump of adrenaline rush expelled through his muscles, he grew his nails into talons and once it grew longer and sharp enough just like his dragon form. He then dug the talons into the attack's wrists until he can feel them touch his palm. His attacker screamed in pain, causing him to drop the knife and weaken in strength.

Jon took that moment to overpower him until he pinned him to the ground, kneeing his chest and ensuring that he couldn't fight back. With a surge of anger, he let out an animalistic growl that he himself couldn't recognize, "What is it that you want? How did you find us? Who sent you?"

His attacker sputtered, "Your price to live is high for a bastard," a sick grin spread across his face, "The lions will pay me a high price for a damn white wolf such as you."

Unable to control the anger of the dragon inside him, Jon brought his hands around his throat, ready to stab. The man tried to release his vice grip, but Jon wasn't going to let him, "My brother will bring them down," he said to him dangerously vicious, "In time, the Lion's time will end. I will make sure of that when I join him and his pack. I'll destroy every single one of those cats!"

The man only laughed with a squeak, "You? A bastard? Serving a false King? Gods, you are not even worthy to do such a thing!" He spat, "Last I remember, you are banished by your own kind. A cast out! A worthless rogue you are-"

Without realizing it, Jon's talons pierced his throat. His mouth started to bubble with a pool of blood and his eyes widened with shock, even the White Wolf was startled of what he had done. He quickly got up, looking at his hands and back at his predator, sinking into what he had just heard and done. This had never happened before, to lose control and…..

"Jon!" he heard Ser Barristan call him.

Turning his head, he saw his mentor, and the rest of the people who were in the dining room come up to him, "What's going on?" the Old Knight asked as he turned to him, then the dead body.

Jon couldn't speak immediately, words were still stuck in his throat and his head is running a thousand things at once.

Ser Jorah walked up to the body and knelt, inspecting him, "this man," he held his head and his body, "He seems to be a native from another city."

"Why did he attack you?" Ser Barristan asked.

Finally, Jon found his voice, "I do not know," he answered, "He… said something about the Lannisters."

"What?" His mentor's eyes widened in disbelief, "The Lions are working together with Essosis now?"

"That's not possible," Ser Jorah said as he stood, "The locals here have better things to do than getting involved with your politics. There is no way they'd join them lest it's within their gains."

"Or maybe," Jon began to piece things together, "The Lions are already doing a wider search for us…."

"Perhaps," Jorah said, "Either way, it seems that you are still being hunted anyway. And even worst, by both the native of these lands and from your own lands."

Jon pursed his lips, feeling the pressure of danger piling on his shoulders. Everywhere he went, it'll always be a danger for him and Dany. How can he protect his own family? He didn't even do anything, yet he's hunted like a piece of meat. Running away would not solve the problem either. What must he do? What must he do to stop them from hunting him and his family?

His eyes then caught Kinvara's, who has been silent all along. When he looked at her, her red eyes began to glow, and no one seemed to notice her do this save him. That same feeling he had when he met Melisandre came back again, but this time, there is a surge of calling that of determination, "What will you say then Dragonwolf cub?"

Should you decide to take me, you take on the pack.

The small voice inside of him echoed through his mind and heart, and at that moment, he knows the answer. And no matter what will come, it's what he must do.

"Yes," he finally answered, the Red Priestess can see a new glow in the cub that the Lords have told her to watch over, "I will fight."

The tribe took off again the following day with horses and their forms.

Dany, being with child and ready to burst any day now, rode on a white stallion carefully whilst Drogo sat behind her. Her 'husband', according to what Doreah could tell her, preferred for her to stay closer to him. Apparently, he feared for her life just as Jon. Would she have married him in another life, perhaps they wouldn't be too bad for a couple.

In this world, her heart has already belonged to Jon. And nothing can break the bond they developed together.

Dany gazed out at the horizon, feeling uneasy in a land without anyone she know but Missandei, who sat behind the Dothraki warrior, riding on a brown horse. She too didn't look like she's liking this journey, her eyes caught hers and she gave Dany a reassuring smile as if trying to stay strong. She smiled back and looked ahead again, doing her best to be confident too.

I am the blood of the dragon, she kept chanting in her head, I am the blood of the dragon.

From the lead, Drogo suddenly shouted something, and everyone stopped moving.

"What's happening now?" Dany asked.

"We are going to set our tents here," Doreah answered as she got off her horse, the warrior did the same, "There are trades to be done with another tribe."

The young soon-to-be-mother tried to lift one of her legs to get off the horse too but find that she was struggling. Her belly isn't helping, my children, just how heavy are you both?

Just as she was nearing to get her leg up, someone shouted something, and two warriors came up to her white horse as if trying to bring it somewhere. Dany's attention turned to them as they spoke something to the horse's ear, it then lowered itself to the ground until Dany's toes could feel the ground.

Drogo then came to her view, walking stoically with pride. She swallowed as she gazed at his black eyes, there was something in him that she can feel. Something powerful, something somewhat…. monstrous.

Her thoughts snapped away when he offered his hand to her. Dany looked at it for a while before she took it, he has a firm grip on it before gently pulling her up on her feet and off the horse.

"Thank you," she told him, but the clan leader didn't seem to understand what she said as he continued to stare at her. Dany felt uncomfortable under his gaze and turned to Doreah, "Umm, how do I say, 'thank you' in your tongue?"

Doreah only shook her head, "Our tongue does not have that word."

What a strange language, she thought, "Then, can you at least tell him that I am grateful for his help?"

The young slave nodded and walked up to him. She bowed politely and spoke what she just said in their tongue. Drogo nodded and said something else to her, to which she nodded. He then walked closer to her and gave her a peck on her head.

Dany blinked at his affectionate gesture. This is the savage leader who took her against her will? Once he left them, she turned to Doreah, "Why did he do that?"

"Why, you are his Khaleesi, of course," she said simply, "Why wouldn't he?"

"I'm not his to just claim easily," she huffed angrily.

"Well, that's not how our culture works," she replied as she walked in another direction, "Whoever defeated the mate of the previous leader will be his in an instant, and his tribe must also follow the orders of the new Khaleesi."

"And that is why I am what you call the princess here?"

"In a way, yes," she said, "We shall follow your orders, for you are the strong's wife." Dany felt uncomfortable to be singled out instantly as a leader of the people she barely knew. Was this what Jon felt when he was voted as a leader when he was in his new pack?

"Come with me," she tugged her arm, "the Khal instructed me to prepare a meal for you. He believed that it'll be good for you."

She nodded, after all, she still doesn't want to be anywhere near the Khal.

Dany and Doreah weren't alone when they all 'dined' together.

Drogo had her sit beside him as they eat their cooked rabbit meat, she would be lying if she said she didn't like how she was very near to the man who took her away.

She looked at her bowl, steering it a little lazily. She's not in the mood to eat, nor did she want to eat.

Drogo said something to her in a deep voice that startled her.

"He asked you to eat, my Lady," Missandei, who sat beside her, chimed.

Dany turned to her, "You speak their tongue, Missandei?"

She nodded, "Yes, my lady."

The last time she heard, Missandei could speak Valyrian and the common tongue. To be able to speak another language is impressive. "You'll have to teach me one day." She doesn't like it when the Dothrakis are speaking and they have their eyes on her, it makes her feel uncomfortable knowing that they are talking about her, but she couldn't understand a word they spoke. But from what it looks like, it doesn't seem good.

The young servant nodded, "Whenever you are ready," she said, "But right now, the Khal is right, you need to eat."

She nodded, "I will." But honestly, she is just not in the mood to eat.

The young princess felt exhausted a lot more. No, she's emotionally and physically exhausted. It has been days she's been apart from Jon, maybe weeks? She can't be so sure anymore. Being apart from him feels like a life time. And her anxiety crept into her like venom. Is he okay? What will happen to Jon and Ser Barristan? What of Illyrio?

While lost in thoughts, she suddenly caught a whiff of something foul. A scent of toxic and…death.

In reflex, Dany dropped her spoon in a clatter, the foul stench made her want to vomit and her heart raced to a million speeds. The cubs inside her began to move in a rather struggling way, making her gasp in pain by the sudden kicks.

"My Lady," Missandei cried, "What's wrong?"

"My bowl," She coughed, hugging her swollen belly in pain, attempting to soothe her children that everything is fine. She shuts her eyes in pain, the vile stench marked death to all her body and her muscles felt as if they'll fall apart, she felt so faint, "Something…something is not right."

Missandei quickly got up to her feet and inspect Dany's food, looking closer for some strange in there. Without looking for too long, she found the mysterious aspect that shouldn't be in her food. But it is very subtle, how is the Lady able to detect it so fast?

The vile stench of death. Something venomous was seeping into the bowl, she could smell the subtle scent of venom, something she learned to recognize when she was assigned as a food taster by her previous owner.

Nightshade!

But without thinking too much about it, she quickly turned to Doreah, who is standing right beside Lady Daenerys, looking equally as worried as her, "Her food is poisoned!" she shouted in their tongue, not just for the Dothraki slave to hear, but the entire clan too.

All entirely, the mighty clan leader of the Dothrakis stood up fast, coming towards his 'mate' with pride and an angry thud. When he walked, the ground seems to have shaken as if the behemoth inside him appeared even though he was in his human form.

Khal Drogo strides toward Dany, lowering himself to her eye level and lifted her chin up to meet his eyes. His fierce eyes bore deep into her she felt as if he is staring into her soul, making her nervous.

He quickly gazed down to her bowl and take a quick sniff, "Nightshade," the clan leader growled before turning his fierce eyes into the crowd.

Dany is too distracted to maintain her pain s to be shocked that Khal Drogo does know some basic common tongue, but she saw how he was stomping towards a group sitting somewhere further from them.

The young princess couldn't hold onto her consciousness for so long, her eyelids felt heavy, and her muscles are all weak. Without realizing it, she blacked out.

The first thing the young Targaryen noticed is that she is lying down on her side, and she felt a little discomfort. Blinking away her drowsy state, she carefully and slowly got up on her elbow to examine her surroundings. A warm fire burns brightly in front of her, and she's on her makeshift bed.

She's in her tent.

What happened to me? She thought, trying to recall the last thing she remembered.

Just as she was about to jog her memories, the entrance of her tent flapped open, revealing to be Missandei, "My Lady!" she cried, and skipped towards her in relief, "Are you alright?"

Dany nodded slowly, "What happened to me?" She asked in a whisper, still comprehending her surroundings. She swore she was outside just a few minutes ago.

The young servant looked at her with a serious face, her brows knitted together, "You fainted," she said, "Your food was poisoned."

The last word made her heart drop and her eyes widened, "Oh gods," her hand drifted to her belly, "Are my children hurt? Am I going to die?"

"Thankfully, you are stable," she answered as she covered her hands with hers, holding her to calm her down, "That poison was meant to kill a bull in one bite, but somehow, you were able to spot it. Thank the gods."

"Oh," the young princess blinked in relief, "Who cooked that meal for me? Was anyone else hurt?"

"The Khal is interrogating the cook," she said, "Apparently, Doreah said that she had never seen that cook before."

Oh no, she thought. "Who were they?"

"Apparently, he was hired by someone," she said, "But that's all I know as of now before the Khal sent me to see to you. But thank the gods, you are alright!"

But Dany's mind isn't celebrating just yet. She was sure Jon and she were careful when they moved here. If someone wanted her dead, it'd be none other than the Lions. But how did they know that they are here? Did the people of the Night's Watch sell them out already? What did they want with her and Jon? Didn't they know that he's dead too?

"My Lady?" Missandei called her, snapping Dany from her wary mind, "You don't look so good."

How can she not? Her life is in danger, again. But this time, it's not just hers. It's her cubs. Oh god, did they get to Jon already?

Suddenly, her eyes were filled with tears, and she couldn't help but bury her face in her palms, trying to silence her weeping. Her heart broke for the fact that she's the reason why no one can be safe. First the Lord Alpha Stark, and then his pack, now it's her cubs and Jon.

What did she do to deserve this? Why did she have to be a dragon?

"My lady," she heard her call her, "Why are you sad?"

"Oh gods, Missandei," she sobbed, "I am a danger to everyone. First, my clan. Then my mate, and now…." She couldn't continue and continued to cry. "If only I never came, if only those lions just finish me, then everyone will be safe! There is no need for bloodshed, it's all my fault! Now, my children are in danger! I must leave!"

She heard the young servant gasp, "But you can't leave," she cried in desperation, "You are meant to save us!"

This made her look up, "What?"

"I know why you can easily pick up the scent of the Nightshade poison," Missandei confessed, "And the Red Priestess came to me a moon ago."

Dany's eyes widened, and her grief is replaced with anxiety and a little comfort, "You know who I am?"

"I do not know of your family history, but Lady Kinvara told me of your kind," she rubbed her hands and looked at them as if she did not feel worthy to look at the princess in the eyes anymore. Dany had seen this reaction when she felt as if she wasn't supposed to do something that she shouldn't, "I know you are part of the Dragon clan."

Kinvara, of course. "Why did she tell you who I was?"

"I swear to you, I did not pry about you," she looked back at her with alarm, "She came to me one morning, and told me to take care of you because you carry the cubs of the Dragons."

Dany sat up straight, trying to compose herself regardless of her state. She wanted her to know that she too can still be in control, "So, you knew I was part Dragon?"

She nodded, "The moment she said that I knew I had to be by your side, for you are the one whom they meant in the prophecy and the tales from the Priests."

There it is again, something about a prophecy and prayers from priests. "What do you mean?"

"Lady Daenerys, what do you know about the prophecy of the "Song of Ice and Fire"?"

"How long until I can reach Dany?" Jon asked Kinvara as he packed his bags.

"Judging from their migration speed and weather, I say in a week or two," she answered, "Vaes Dothrak is not a simple journey, nor are they a short one either."

"That long?" he exclaimed in horror. His cubs would be born anytime soon there. He made up his mind to finally fight this clan, and to find them could take this long?

"Keep in mind that you have two elder people to carry," she said, looking at the old man who is also doing his best to pack things up. Greyworm and Ser Jorah is helping up on his tunic and packs. His mentor was the first to protest when he told them about his decision, but Jon's mind is set. He must fight him.

"I will fight this Khal," Jon said with a growl, "I am done hiding."

"And how do you think you will fight him?" Ser Barristan argued back, "As your mentor, I forbid you of this foolish decision!"

But Jon isn't having it either, "Then as your Prince, I order you to stand aside from my decision!" Without realizing it, his voice turned into a rumble of an angry dragon. The same voice he used to Robb.

And at that, Ser Barristan stopped arguing, and instead, he sadly nodded.

Kinvara, who was watching the whole exchange, smiled triumphantly.

"Are they really going to Vaes Dothrak?" Jon asked one more time, he needs to ensure that when he gets there, he can be with Dany.

Kinvara looked at him in a serious manner, "I have lived here longer than you do, my prince. I know these lands and those who dwell in them."

Jon huffed in frustration, fist clenching tightly until he can feel his nails digging into his palms, "I don't know how I will be able to reach her in a short period of time then," of all times to kidnap her, it had to be when she's nearing her stage of birthing.

When his eyes turned back to her red ones, he saw a hint of amusement, "I did mention that you'll arrive there in a week or two," she crossed her arms and lifted one delicately like a snake so she can touch her chin, "but that is assuming that you'll be on foot."

"What are you trying to tell me," The young wolf grumbled, he is quite annoyed with all these riddles and never getting to the point. However, it took him several moments to realize that she wasn't expecting him to walk or run. "Don't tell me…."

The Red Priestess chuckled, "Perhaps it's time to put a good use to your wings, shall we?"

Hi all! Sorry for the long wait! I got a new job in a new division, so I was a little busy. Plus, this piece was hard to come up with, honestly. I never wrote something that made Dany and Jon separated for so long, and I had to find a moment where they both found the spark to finally step up and be a leader.

I hope this suffices. I never planned to put too much here, it's hard to think of something for them. But otherwise, this shall do until the next one.

I'll try to update you soon for the next chapter. Thanks for reading! Be sure to review! It helps a lot!

Hope you like it! Take care!

- Claire