DISCLAIMER: Chapter One.
Chapter rating: T
The Blue Insanity 8500: Lol, me too. Not a problem I hope to update faster next time, hope you like it! I've been binge-watching Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, it distracted me for a few days, lol~
NicoleR85: I can't wait to pop out the next chapter! I hope you enjoy it.
Mister LaGuardia: Yeah the Dothraki are ruthless but I liked Drogo and he adored Dany once they got on better~
Shadow Wolf 15846: Glad you liked it!
Chapter Nine: The Little Lion's Visit
Shrieks echoed as she stood there amongst the rubble, feeling the ash fall around her as cheers echoed under the calls of the dragons. The steel on her head made her feel powerful, and she called out for the army to march on. The howls made her and her dragon look South, mounting her large dragon she led her army as they raced after on horseback. The howls calling as multiple wolves joined, her dragon shrieked back and more joined, she looked and saw a beautiful golden dragon setting fire to the ground below her golden flames burning as men cheered. A silverish-blue dragon shrieked as her rider cheered on, Rhaenyra felt her dragon glide to the side and started to recognize the sea. She saw stags and roses and Krakens, golden Krakens. Anger filled her veins as her dragon growled just as angrily as her two rejoined, shrieking as their riders called out. Rhaenyra felt the power beneath her fingers as the dragon let loose her red flames, destroying the ships as they created a safe passage for the fleet. 'Queen in the North' was cheered as she flew over a burning castle. But the dragon's shrieks deafened everything else around her as she heard nothing else. It left her with an odd feeling of pride and satisfaction as she watched everything.
The young woman woke to a purring hatchling who trilled the moment she realized her mother was awake. Rhaenys softly nudged her mother's nose and cheek before curling up under her hand, purring as she slept. Feeling her husband behind her with his arm curled around her. Bran had been feeling stronger as of late, Robb and Maester Luwin wanted for him to try and walk, with help and a cane so he could get used to it. Rhaenyra had been happier in the last few days as they awaited Drogo's response, she also had been trying to teach her dragons better fire control in the forests under Raynor's watchful eyes. She struggled to control the stubborn Rhaella, who, despite her wanting her mother's attention most of the day, was very hard-headed and wanted to do what she wished. 'Like mother, like daughter,' Robb and Theon joked as everyone else chuckled. Rhaenyra though made sure her dragons were well-fed, Maester Luwin's words rang true. After they were finished scorching and gorging they eagerly burned what they're mother directed them to.
Rhaenyra smiled as she walked down the stairs with her hatchlings clinging to her dress. Many greeted her respectfully, very few saw the dragons in person. Raynor made sure very few would risk spreading the rumors of live dragons, healthy living dragons as Maester Luwin claimed. Rhaenyra was going to Maester Luwin's to have the hatchlings examined, she usually brought them down so the maester could bond with them. The hatchlings seem to like him well as he helped feed them when he is checking them over.
His examinations of the hatchlings showed they were healthy and their bellies always felt heavy, growing every day, as he'd stated before when he noticed they were already bigger than some of the cats around the castle at two months old. Robb started to worry they'd grow too fast and would be easily noticeable before they could defend themselves. Rhaenyra could feel it herself as they clung to her dress and are becoming heavier. Eventually, they will have to walk on their own before they start flying.
"My Lady," a young maid approached and looked nervous. Rhaenyra was going to the courtyard to check on the people as her hatchlings wanted fresh air, no doubt.
"Jeyne. What is it, what's wrong?" Rhaenyra questioned as her hatchlings growled and moved a bit.
"Lord Stark requests you in the solar. There is news from the Wall," Jeyne spoke as Raynor sighed.
"Let us go, My Lady." Rhaenyra nodded and started to walk as Jeyne walked away and to go inform Valaena what Robb wanted. Rhaenyra continued on as her hatchlings came to be unbearable being hidden for so long.
"Stay here, Raynor," Rhaenyra ordered as her guard nodded and stood at the door while she entered, greeting the direwolf who seemed to like sleeping nearby Robb. Like the dragons, it was not uncommon for the wolf to be near his master. "Robb, what happened? What's wrong?" Rhaenyra asked worried, she approached her tense husband. He gave her a letter as the dragons detached from their mother before they moved around and started to climb, trying to gain muscles in gliding. They were still too small to actually fly.
"Tyrion is returning from the Wall on his way to King's Landing," Robb spoke in a tense tone. "He arrives in a few days." Rhaenyra spotted the stress her husband was under and gently laid the letter down before urging him to lean back. Robb did so before bracing her as she settled on his lap, it brought a smile to his lips as she gave him a sweet smile.
"Please settle, My Love. Stress will do you no good but give you sleepless nights. We have already had those with Bran's long sleep," Rhaenyra soothed as he growled. "But hear me out, My Love," she requested as he paused.
"Why?" he narrowed his eyes warningly.
"Valaena claimed the person she saw had long hair, Tyrion has short hair. He may not have pushed Bran but he is a Lannister, I know," Rhaenyra emphasized as Robb sighed. "But I fear it was the queen who did it, both men of the Lannister family have short hair, not long," Rhaenyra pushed while her husband groaned.
"Fine, I will try to be courteous," Robb scowled as he pointed at her while she smiled, kissing him as he thought. "In all the rush of things we never celebrated your name day as man and wife," he reminded her as he also thought of his plans for her name day.
"We had some very extreme moments, Robb. That was all right, I'm grateful that Bran's alive and with us," Rhaenyra answered, leaning against her husband who kissed her forehead.
"But now that he is alive and growing stronger, I can finally give you your present," he smirked as she sighed with exasperation.
"Fine." she got to her feet as Robb kissed her head. "Just remember your mother's lessons Robb, she haunts everything you question." Rhaenyra got a laugh from him as she walked down the hallway after gathering her dragons who shrieked to her. Rhaenyra hummed softly before a call reached her ears as she walked down the stairs, Maester Luwin came into view as he smiled.
"There you are," he spoke as he produced a letter for her. "It is from your sister." Rhaenyra took it and began her walk back as Rhaella trilled while her mother read the letter. Curious as her sisters also moved underneath the cloak.
"Rhae, I am happy among my husband's people. I can now call them my own. I am now expecting, I will have a boy, this I know! Viserys is getting worse. His temper rages, he keeps saying things that are horrible. I have night terrors he will kill me or you, he still claims you are to be his bride. No matter that you are married to Robb.
How is Bran? Has he remembered anything more?
Your sister, Dany,"
Rhaenyra sighed softly as she entered her chambers as Raynor stood at her door. She sat with ease at her vanity as her hatchlings detangled from her. Leaning back she sighed once more while groaning softly. Her side had been bugging her all day, she feared her blood would be painful this month, she would have to tell Valaena to have the white cloth ready for her bleeding. Rhaenyra decided to lay down for a bit as she had undone her dress and was in her slip as her daughters who had been gorging shrieked and trilled in interest. Raynor, worried at the amount of noise, softly knocked, and when he poked his head in, saw his lady sleeping as her daughters joined her. Smiling gently, he closed the door silently, making sure no one awoke his charge as she slept. Raynor noticed Theon and Robb approaching the chambers as Grey Wind perked up seeing the guard.
"Hello, boy." The guard softly pets the direwolf's head as Robb turned to him.
"Is everything alright, Raynor? You're quiet," Robb noted with concern.
"Lady Rhaenyra is asleep, she said she felt tired and wanted to lie down for a bit," Raynor explained as Robb nodded while Theon smirked, gently telling Robb he'd see him later. Nodding he entered after telling Raynor he could go sleep if he wished. Raynor said he would in a little, wanting to stay there a bit longer. He had a bad feeling that he wished to prove wrong.
Robb entered and smiled as Rhaella and Rhaenys shrieked to him softly as Alysanne purred, not moving her head but looking at Robb. He saw Rhaenyra sleeping peacefully as her hatchlings rejoined her in slumber. Robb gently undid his clothing before crawling in behind her as she shifted a bit, finding a comfortable position against Robb and with her dragons. Alysanne somewhat laid her head across his arm as it curled around Rhaenyra's stomach. Rhaella and Rhaenys laid on her hip and side, Robb smiled as Grey Wind quickly laid on the floor in front of Rhaenya and the dragons. Slowly, Robb slipped into his dreams, they filled with his family and now the dragons.
Robb could hear shrieking as he approached the cliffside as a young sun-kissed girl raced up to him. Beaming and filled with giggles, the white-haired girl with copper skin raced into his arms. Her chocolate brown eyes filled with love as he held her.
"Papa!" Another girl hugged his legs as he laughed softly.
"Hello, my sweet girl," Robb greeted as he held both.
"Mama's coming," the brown-eyed girl pointed to dragons approaching, a large black-red dragon landed with a large bluish-white following. Alysanne he recognized by her icy-blue eyes and white frill. The white-haired woman mounted on the black dragon dismounted with a warm smile.
"There is your mother, Little One," Robb urged as the girl leaped into her pregnant mother's arms.
"Your wife is returning as well, it would seem Rhaella was insistent on going to the Snow Caves," the woman laughed as Robb embraced her.
"Go inside, your husband will have my head if I leave you both out here," he urged as he hoisted his own daughter up. Earning a warm laugh from his sister. Alysanne shrieked loudly and with anger, as Robb turned, his daughter had followed her aunt and cousin into the castle yard. Frowning, he approached before watching her throat light up with a light bluish tint before her fires went past him.
Robb awoke as he saw Alysanne setting a man on fire before red and golden flames joined the blue streams of fire. He had dropped a knife as the hatchlings continued to spit fire at the man. Rhaenyra woke with a start when Raynor raced in as Grey Wind snarled as the man continued to scream. They left the bed as Lynara and Valaena ran in, wrapping their lady in her robe as she called for her hatchlings to come closer. The snarling babies clambered off and rejoined their mother as they continued to screech and spit at the man while Robb grabbed his sword before ordering everyone out as Raynor kept his lady nearby while Grey Wind allowed the hatchlings to cling to his fur. Baela quickly gathered the hatchlings as more people started to pour into the hallway, she quickly smuggled them to the maester's chambers as Valaena started to guide her lady through.
"What is going on?" Rhaenyra questioned, still hazy as Baela made sure to keep pace with them as they rushed to the maester's.
"The man snuck into your chambers by the window. He did not get in through the door," Valaena explained as Maester Luwin worryingly had Rhaenyra settled on the bed so he could examine her.
"What happened?" he ordered.
"An assassin broke in, tried to kill our lord and lady. The hatchlings stopped him," Lynara answered as the maester froze.
"The..." he stopped himself as he turned to see the three dragons snarling and hissing as Rhaella stalked around, angrily spatting at everything she saw. Rhaenyra soothed her red dragon by running her fingers over her frills and down her spine. The dragon trilled to her mother before laying in her lap as Robb came in with his guards as Raynor closed the door.
"Love, are you alright?" Robb asked as she nodded with a tired look.
"Yes, Robb. I am fine, just startled and tired," Rhaenyra admitted as Robb nodded, knowing she was disoriented.
"We will find out more, My Lady. But now you must go rest, both of you are in good health," Maester Luwin ordered as Robb nodded, softly guiding his wife and her dragons from the maester's chambers, they would be moved to another chamber until their own was cleaned. Her dragons were antsy and agitated when they were placed in Rhaenyra's old chambers. Baela and a few other maids had quickly put down the bed and fixed things so they could sleep. Robb sighed softly as he saw his wife stand at the window to look out at the courtyard.
"Love, you must sleep," Robb urged as he approached her from behind. "Please, you will worry yourself sick if you do not." Robb kissed her temple as she sighed gently.
"He was from Cersei, I know it. Gods be good that woman will not leave me be," Rhaenyra snarled angrily as her dragons overheard her agitation. Rhaella glided down and waddled up to her mother as her sisters followed, the trio chittered and squeaked at her as she sighed.
"Hey," Robb called gently pulling her to him. "You will be safe with us, you are my wife. The Lannisters can only do so much. If I have to I will pull in all our forces together, to make sure that Tywin Lannister nor Robert Baratheon will touch you," Robb swore as she leaned into him as her dragons circled her feet.
"I know, Robb. I just hate that I cannot do anything, because if I do or they somehow are spread." Rhaenyra motioned to her dragons who now climbed up her slip. "I don't know who will help us," she whispered, fearfully clinging to her husband. "I've told you it wasn't Robert who scared me but Tywin Lannister, and that's true. But now, I fear to lose them as I would my own children," Rhaenyra told her husband who pulled her close.
"We will not," Robb swore. He would sware a thousand times until his wife believed him, but he knew and feared for their safety too. "We will protect them, Rhae. I promise you this," Robb promised as he held her close. "I swear to you," Robb looked out as Rhaella moved to his shoulder, chirping and trilling softly as she nuzzled his hair. Rhaenys and Alysanne calling out as Grey Wind sat beside them, still on guard refusing to sleep.
IX
(Daenerys)
"Vaes Dothrak. The city of the horse lords," Ser Jorah told Dany and her brother as they followed Drogo and his riders who raced ahead, cheering and whooping as they went.
"A pile of mud. Mud and shit and twigs...best these savages can do," Viserys snarled, disgust across his face.
"These are my people now. You shouldn't call them savages," Dany reminded her brother who glared at her.
"I'll call them what I like because they're my people. This is my army. Khal Drogo is marching the wrong way with my army," Viserys grumbled as he urged his horse on, despite the long trek from Pentos, he still had not grown accustomed to riding in the Dothrak saddle. Dany and Jorah followed at a slower pace.
"The Dothraki have never crossed the Narrow Sea. They fear any water their horses can't drink," Jorah offered as Dany looked to him confused.
"But if they did?" Dany assumed they'd follow after Viserys when he would go.
"If King Robert is fool enough to meet them in open battle..." he began and then paused thoughtfully. "But the men advising him are different."
"And you know these men?" Dany asked, wanting to know more.
"I fought beside them once, long ago. Now Ned Stark wants my head. He drove me from my land," Jorah said sadly in remembrance of his former liege lord.
"But you sold slaves!" Dany exclaimed as he sighed.
"Aye," the elder knight agreed.
"Why?" the gentle ruler questioned.
"I had no money and an expensive wife." Jorah could remember his second wife, how she demanded things they could not afford. A Hightower.
"And where is she now?" The white-haired woman asked as they rode through the beautiful bronze horses.
"In another place, with another man." He knew that she went to Lys. Dany looked back to the road as she spied the stolen statues of fallen enemies of the Dothraki, she saw so many.
IX
"Khaleesi," Irri called out as Dany watched her tent being set up.
"Yes, Irri?" Dany asked curiously as her servant gave her a parchment, it was thick before spotting the direwolf as Dany smiled. "Thank you, Irri," Dany spoke to her companion who nodded and went to go finish her chores before tending to Dany. As Dany looked through the pages of the letter she spotted one for Drogo, the other for her. Hearing one call that her tent is settled she went inside with her handmaidens, they set up a firepit for her as she read her letter.
"Hello Dany, I never thought I would miss the young ones more than I do right now. Bran is getting better, I thank the Gods every moment that his back remains intact but he still is unhappy, Tyrion will no doubt be here by the time this reaches you. But I wish to confide in you my idaña, I do not think it was Tyrion, my maid claimed that it was someone with long hair, but neither brother has that. I am not saying the Lannisters are innocent, they are not. Like any family, they will close their ranks, including the smallest. Arya has lost her wolf along the way, she said that she and Jory threw rocks to make her runoff. Nymeria apparently attacked Joffrey after he threatened the girl with the sword while on the road. Sansa was only able to keep her wolf, Lady, because Jaime Lannister spoke up for her. I will admit to you that I am happy that Robb and Drogo are starting to talk. I cannot wait to hear more. Love you always, Rhae."
Dany felt tears in her eyes as she read her sister's letter.
"Khaleesi?" Irri asked worriedly as Doreah and Jhiqui also surrounded their leader.
"No, I'm sorry. I just… I wish I could be there for my sister," Dany soothed them, they have been very sensitive to her since her finding out she was pregnant.
"I am sure once your brother conquers Westeros, you will be with her, he still intends to marry her..."
"It is forbidden to marry a Khal's wife!" Jhiqui scolded, interrupting the Lysenne girl as Irri agreed, both glaring at Doreah.
"But he says it is different in Westeros. If she is still of childbearing..."
"The Starks will kill Viserys. The North will defy him," Dany spoke up knowing her good brother's family would protect her, the people would stop all invasions. Robb had said so, but she also knew her sister was not like her. Ser Jorah had told her that northerners were cold and harsher in personality and temperament, he claimed it would be no doubt that she gained the same type. "Jhiqui, a hot bath. I will sup with Viserys, Doreah, could you go and invite him?" Her bother seemed to like the young woman, she knew the ways of the flesh, as Irri claimed, having overheard the talks the woman gives.
"Of course, Khaleesi." Doreah bowed before leaving.
"Irri, go and buy fruits and meat, but not horsemeat. Viserys hates horseflesh," Dany ordered as Irri agreed though she thought horse meat was better. As she waited for her bath she thought of Robb's letter, after she bathed in the hot water, grateful they would stay for a bit. Afterward, she was arranging the last of his gifts; a sand-silk cloak, green as grass, with a pale grey border that would bring out the silver in his hair when Viserys arrived, dragging Doreah by the arm. Her eye was red where he'd hit her. "How dare you send this whore to give me commands!" He shoved the handmaid roughly to the carpet. "I should have sent you back her head!"
"Forgive me, Khaleesi. I did as you asked," Doreah cried as Dany was alarmed that her maid had been harmed.
"Hush now, it's alright. Irri, take her and leave us," Dany said gently as her Dothrak maid did so, cooing to the woman as she held her close. Jhiqui remained and watched with caution in her eyes, as a Dothrak she distrusted Viserys, always watching her Khaleesi's brother as requested by Drogo. "Sweet brother, please, forgive her, she misspoke herself, I told her to ask you to sup with me, not a command. If it pleases Your Grace." She took him by the hand and drew him across the room. "These are for you."
"What are these?" he demanded as she showed him the gifts.
"Gifts, I had them made for you," Dany gave a soft smile as Jhiqui left to go retrieve the remaining food.
"Dothraki rags? What, are you going to dress me now?" he snarled with disgust.
"Please, you'll be cooler and more comfortable, and I thought maybe..." she began but was interrupted.
"This stinks of manure. All of it!" He started throwing things at her in anger.
"Stop, stop it," Dany pleaded, becoming angry herself.
"Next, you'll want to braid my hair," he interrupted as Dany frowned furiously.
"You've no right to a braid...you've won no victories," she said which seemed to anger her brother, waking his dragon.
"You do not talk back to me!" He slapped her as she yelped in alarm. He quickly mounted her fallen form as she tried to defend herself. "You are a horse lord's slut and now you've woken the dragon!" he snarled as she grabbed the golden belt she had made for him before whipping it across his face, drawing blood as she stood panting in anger. Viserys stared at her with shock on his face.
"I am a Khaleesi of the Dothraki! I am the wife of the great Khal and I carry his son inside me. The next time you raise a hand to me will be the last time you have hands," Dany commanded, strength in her tone as she took in the power of being a Khaleesi. "Leave me now, before I summon my khas to drag you out. And pray that Khal Drogo does not hear of this, or he will cut open your belly and feed you your own entrails."
"You will rue this day! You and your bastard!" Viserys snarled as he left the tent, holding his torn face. Dany dropped the belt in shock as she held her hand. Stunned at feeling the raw power behind her hit. Jhiqui came in quickly, having seen the man leave with blood on his face.
"Khaleesi?" she asked softly as Dany shook her head, clearing her face as she turned with a gentle smile.
"My brother has decided not to have supper with us, please summon Irri and Doreah. You all shall eat with me," Dany decided with a smile as Jhiqui nodded, honored as she went to go see if Doreah wished to eat. Dany sighed softly as she looked to the food, seeing the goat meat she had been craving. She could not await her husband's return from the Mother of Mountains.
IX
Dany awoke the next morning to see her husband joining the tent. He greeted her. "Jalan atthirar anni." He kissed her forehead as Irri left after waking her Khaleesi.
"My Sun and Stars," Dany greeted back as he sat beside her. She quickly pulled Robb's letter from her own.
"Khal Drogo, From my lessons about the Dothrak, I can confirm we have someone even we follow, a King. He is who we follow when commanded. Though he does have my father and sisters within King's Landing, I fear they are now Lannister prisoners. As we are direwolves, the lions overrun the South and very little protection for the wolves. Yes, the North is vast and from my father's say there are a million people that cover our lands, and yet he says a million people live in King's Landing alone. I pity those poor souls.
As for my brother, my wife's maid claims it must have been a woman. That would mean declaring the queen of attempted murder of my brother. As we know it was a Lannister who did this, so attempting to prove it will be damn near impossible. I do not wish to put my family in further danger who are down south, but I will get justice for my brother's injury. The Queen's father is a cruel man who would do anything to ensure his family remained together and in power. I would like to hear about your ways as well. I hear you move around over the East, we remain in our territories.
Our King is who we follow when it is time for war. He has a warden of each nation. The Starks are the wardens of the North, we control the lesser families of our nations, there are three others and the Lannisters are another warden, of the West. They produce what we use for money such as gold, silver, and such. They are famous for their gold mines from what we need and is used all over Westeros. My young cousin, Robyn rules the east with his mother, my aunt from my mother, ruling in his stead. My uncle Jon Arryn, her husband, is the one who's family ruled the Eyrie for generations. Just as we Stark have ruled for thousands of years here in the North.
My wife proclaimed she would like the whip, as arracks are unknown to us here, we have swords and daggers. In response to a gift being given, we would like to offer a gift to you both, a dagger for the Khaleesi, Daenerys, and a longbow for you, made of our Weirwood tree, it is a very special tree to my people. Only ones left are in the north and prayed to by the northerners.
Westeros is in fact separated by two different cultures. The Old Gods, who my family prays to, they were here long before the Seven that the South pray to. My mother's side is southern worshipers, but we pray to the Old Gods more.
Please tell me more about your culture as well, Robb Stark,"
Drogo listened as his wife translated the letter with ease and even looked curious about the weirwood.
"The weirwood is very old but strong wood, it's regarded as precious to the Northerners from what Ser Jorah tells me," Dany explained as he hummed interested. "Would you like that My Sun and Stars?" Dany questioned as her husband looked to her with a nod before pushing her down feeling her large belly as she put the letter down.
IX
(Rhaenyra)
"Welcome Lord Tyrion of House Lannister," Rhaenyra greeted, she was the best one to do so as Robb greeted the Night's Watch wanderer. She had barely convinced him to keep his sword sheathed, begging him not to do anything.
"I must say I received a slightly warmer greeting last time I passed through Winterfell," Tyrion said sarcastically as Robb sat amongst his advisors and wife who sighed to herself. Grey Wind settled in front of them as he watched the dwarf sharply.
"Any man of the night's watch is welcome here, My Lord," Robb said clearly as Tyrion frowned.
"Any man of the night's watch, but not I, eh, boy?" Tyrion goaded as Robb growled. Rhaenyra grabbed his hand to soothe him and looked to Theon who nodded and left to go retrieve Bran and Rickon. Grey Wind started to growl which alarmed Rhaenyra, who looked to Robb who frowned as well.
"I'm not your boy, Lannister," Robb scowled. "I am the Lord of Winterfell while my father is away."
"Then perhaps you should learn a lord's courtesy," Tyrion snapped back before Hodor came in wheeling Bran in his special chair. "So it's true," he muttered to himself before looking at the boy. "Hello, Bran," he greeted him gently. "Tell me… do you remember anything from what happened?"
"He has no memory, My Lord," Rhaenyra answered quickly.
"Interesting," he muttered.
"Why are you here?" Robb asked, tired of being here already.
"Could you possibly come closer? Your wolf makes me nervous." He offered a grin as Hodor went closer at Bran's behest when the boy agreed, ordering the wolf to stay put. "I hear that you can walk still, even after the accident?" Tyrion asked as Rhaenyra felt her throat clench at Bran's refusal to talk about it.
"Yes, Maester Luwin said that I will have to walk with a cane, but I may hopefully be able to ride," Bran said hopefully as Tyrion smiled encouragingly.
"With the right horse and saddle, even a cripple can ride," Tyrion commented lightly as Rhaenyra felt her throat close up.
"I'm not a cripple," Bran snarled.
"Then I'm not a dwarf. My father will rejoice to hear it," Tyrion smirked as Bran tensed. "I have a gift for you," he continued. "Give that to your saddler." He gave the boy a parchment as Lynara appeared looking down at the drawing, seeing something that would help his legs stay in place while he trained himself. "He'll provide the rest. You must shape the horse to the rider. Start with a yearling and teach it to respond to the reins and to the boy's voice," he explained as Lynara nodded with understanding.
"Will I really be able to ride?" Bran asked as Tyrion nodded.
"You will. On horseback, you will be as tall as any of them." Tyrion smirked as Robb frowned, not understanding the gesture from the dwarf who came from the family who was meant to hate his.
"Is this some kind of trick? Why do you want to help him?" the Winterfell heir questioned.
"I have a tender spot in my heart for cripples, bastards, and broken things," Tyrion explained as Rhaenyra felt herself soften towards the dwarf who had been nothing but kind to her.
"You've done my brother a kindness," Robb said grudgingly. "The hospitality of Winterfell is yours."
"Spare me your false courtesies, Lord Stark," Tyrion said sharply. "There's a brothel outside your walls. There I'll find a bed and both of us can sleep easier." At this, Rhenyra looked at Theon who nodded slightly. As it was well-known he was a common patron, he knew a few of the girls would tell them when Tyrion left to continue on to King's Landing.
"Lord Tyrion, may I see you out?" she asked as he nodded.
"Of course Lady Stark," he smiled as Yoren beamed at seeing her.
"My, you've grown!" he cheered, giving her a small hug. This man had been there since her childhood at the Wall, she loved going to see him and her great-uncle. "Your Uncle sends these, and this," he produced a wrapped package and an unbroken seal.
"I'll take those My Lady," Lynara offered as she nodded.
"My Uncle has been finding most of the Targaryen books that hold our history. I was only taught what Valaena knew, but I'm what Maester Luwin calls an ever-learning mind," she never heard Tyrion laugh that loud.
"Ah a young lady after my own heart," he beamed as she grinned.
"Whenever she came to the Wall she was always with her uncle Maester Aemon or the Lord Commander. She learned a great deal from them," Yoren told Tyrion who looked to her in shock.
"I thought the men were jesting me when they said she used to visit," Tyrion informed as they all laughed. Theon chuckled, having joined them.
"Us lads were always happy to take a break from her beating our arses," he spoke as the Lannister man looked interested.
"She must be a fearsome opponent," he smirked as she laughed while the guards set up. "My Lady, what happened to your hand?" he asked worried, lightly picking her hand up to see the bandages around her first and middle fingers. The wound was healing fine just needed to be kept covered up.
"I was playing with Shaggydog and Rickon when the pup bit me harshly. He didn't mean too just a small nip," she smiled with ease as Theon cut his eyes to her. He was stunned to see her blank face while she hid the truth about her tiny marks. Rhaella had bitten her a few days ago, Rhaenyra had been feeding them with meat pieces. Rhaenyra had smacked Rhaella's hide in reprimanding, the hatchling still tried to trill to her mother to be pet. But Rhaenyra refused by pushing the hatchling away.
"Ohh," he mused softly and smiled. "You are a true animal girl, aren't you? You can handle anything they throw at you," he praised as she smiled.
"Well they're wolves so they'll get snippy," she warned as he laughed before frowning as he climbed up his horse.
"Lady Catelyn Stark, where is she why didn't she receive me?" He asked the pair who gulped.
"Our Lady isn't well," Theon frowned. They had all gone through this, claim Catelyn was sick by staying with Bran for so long.
"Is she even in Winterfell?" Tyrion asked not believing them.
"She is My Lord. But as Theon said, Lady Catelyn had suffered an illness that took over while she stayed beside Bran. She finally went to bed to rest when he woke, But it was still hard on her." Rhaenyra was doing everything in her power to put a believable lie on and prayed he bought it.
"Oh, well I wish I knew. I would have liked to see if she was feeling better," he spoke feeling a bit bad.
"It is a simple sickness," Maester Luwin spoke up while he came out. "The children have been doing their best to make sure everything is in order when she recovers." Tyrion nodded. But he was looking at all three, feeling like something was wrong. "I actually came here to steal My Lady away if I could," he claimed as the Imp nodded and smiled to Rhaenyra who returned the look before continuing with Maester Luwin. "Very good My Lady," he praised as she smiled softly.
"The saddle Lord Tyrion designed. Can it actually be made?" she asked curiously.
"I believe so, the horse would be the challenge," Maester Luwin spoke as Rhaenyra narrowed her eyes.
"I think Valaena might be of help, she helped Lord Stark pick Gael for me," she explained as he nodded.
"I'll make sure to ask," he spoke as she smiled. Rhaenyra approached her husband who waved his brother off with Lynara who rolled the paper and walked off with the Maester following, talking with her.
"She giving that to the saddler?" Rhaenyra asked as Robb nodded. "How are you?" she asked smiling while cupping his face softly, he gave off a tiny grin.
"Fine. I promise," he swore as the woman smiled. Pressing a kiss to his lips while he pressed another to her forehead as she lowered her head as he watched around them. "Go be with the girls," he encouraged as she nodded.
"Please be nice," she begged as he chuckled softly sighed.
"I'll try," he reasoned as she snorted.
"That is all I will get" she smirked as he chuckled again before embracing her softly as she walked away with a smiling Valaena. "Also," she spoke up catching Robb. "Maester Luwin says the saddle is possible and like Lord Tyrion said it's the horse that we need to focus on. The right one is what we need and I remember your father, picked Gael with Valaena's aid," Rhaenyra commented as Robb thought before nodding.
"Can you Valaena?" he asked as she nodded with a happy smile.
"Of course My Lord, I'm honored," the maid thanked him as he nodded with a small grin of his own. Together the women went back to her chambers where shrieks could be heard, they were faint but would get louder once they grew. They found Baela sitting with the hatchlings who were sitting in a small group face one another, they seemed to be singing. Their postures were relaxed and calm, Baela was watching them with a small smile as she listened before looking up as the girls quieted down.
"You needed to keep them quiet," Rhaenyra reminded her friend who winced.
"Sorry. I just… I couldn't do it. It was beautiful," she admitted as Valaena sighed.
"I know," Rhaenyra smiled as her hatchlings perked up at seeing her. "Robb loves listening to them at night as well," she claimed, knowing that before when the window had been open a crack the hatchlings had sung the entire night, it didn't bother anyone, the guards liked it and Grey Wind would occasionally howl with them. "I've never known them to be singers," she joked as Valaena laughed with her while stroking one of the hatchling's nose while she started to clean up.
"How long will Lord Tyrion be here for?" Baela drawled out. Already bored in the chambers but until Robb could walk her back to her own chambers she had to remain in there.
"Just until tomorrow and please be more respectful," Valeana reprimanded before the girls looked to her confused.
"Why?" her daughter asked curiously.
"Because I said so," the elder snapped, her blue eyes lit up with fire as they pierced her daughter's somewhat darker ones, turning to look at her daughter who straightened, realizing she upset her mother, completely unintentional, but all the same.
"A...Alright, Mama. I...I'm sorry," Baela stuttered, alarmed at her mother's reaction. She'd never upset her mother before like this, naturally, she had done a few things to irritate her but never received this reaction before. Valaena froze at the stunned reaction from both her daughter and Lady who also looked concerned.
"No, it's just, um, I'm sorry Baela. It's...Tyrion was one of the nicest people I knew back in King's Landing, our Lady is right, he is a nice man but he's still a Lannister," she spoke as she sat with the hatchlings and Rhaenyra who sat on a chair, allowing one of her children to glide over.
"Mother?" Baela asked softly crawling closer.
"Did I ever tell you about your father?" she asked as both tensed. He was a sensitive subject for the younger handmaiden, she didn't like talking about him.
"No. All I know is you spent a night together and then were separated. You went with Queen Rhaella on Dragonstone to attend to her during the birth." Baela did not know who he was but never wished to know. "I have no reason to know," she defended while giving her mother a hug from behind as the older woman smiled, laying her head against her daughter's while Alysanne shrieked at them, crawling into Valaena's lap, making them giggle together as it brought a smile to Rhaenyra's happy face.
"He's not a bad man. But he swore an oath, one that he wanted to keep," Valaena spoke as her daughter sighed softly.
"'His oath prevented him from claiming us…' that's what you told me," Baela claimed as Valaena nodded, kissing her daughter's cheek and sighed softly.
"Yes, alright you," she aimed at Rhaenyra who perked up. "Are retiring early tonight and we'll all go on a hunt tomorrow once the Lannister party is through. We'll go deep into the Godswood to start," Valaena instantly took on 'Mother Dragon' better than anyone. "They need to start learning what is food and what isn't," she instructed Rhaenyra who nodded. "The moment these dragons start killing unnecessarily it will turn the people against you if they can look at them and stare at them without fear of being burned. I think it may help protect them," Valaena explained as Rhaenyra bit her lip. She knew they'd have to start practicing on their own but they were still so small. "I know you want to protect them longer but unless they explore more and get to know others, they'll be uncontrollable," the elder knew her Lady's fear of them being hurt. "They'll turn out like Shaggydog." That got Rhaenyra's attention, the wild direwolf pup Rickon claimed, despite her attempts with Robb and Theon, the direwolf was as wild as his master. It takes all three of them to chain the pup while Rickon fights the guard.
"I won't let that happen," Rhaenyra tightened her grip a bit on Rhaenys who had settled there, only for the small creature to growl a bit about being restrained. Soothing her hands over her tiny child she ran her thumbs down the female's back and over her leathery wings, wings started to drape over her legs. Small vibrations left the trilling baby who purred about being pet.
"And we'll make sure that doesn't happen either," Valaena spoke up while embracing her daughter.
Rhaenyra was laughing as she played tug with a piece of rope while Rhaella growled viciously. Biting a better grip on it she tugged and yanked it from her stunned mother's hand. Suddenly it was yanked from the hatchling by a smirking Robb, who had snuck in, watching the hatchling while hugging his laughing wife from behind. Rhaella cried out for Robb to return her toy when he offered a part of it she growled and launched for it. They laughed as she hung from it flapping her wings frantically to win her prize back. Carefully plucking her energetic daughter from the air Rhaenyra held the struggling hatchling for a moment before she settled in her mother's calming grip. Robb smiled as he threw the rope to the floor, rather watching his wife bond with her red hatchling but noticed the other two quickly dove to play with it while Grey Wind was let in by a guard who greeted the hatchlings when the shrieked at him. The three instantly started to play with the rope together while Robb and Rhaenyra watched.
"The girls are how old now?" Rhaenyra asked suddenly as Robb gently pet Rhaella's spine.
"Hmm," he hummed, smiling when the hatchling turned over a little. "Going on three moons I believe," he mused as Rhaella yawned softly. "These are the first dragons in 150 years and they happen to be born in the coldest place in Westeros," he added as she smirked.
"No, The Wall is the coldest place of Westeros," she corrected as he sighed while she giggled, pressing a kiss to his lips.
"You wanted them kept safe. Protected by anyone who would turn on you," Robb defended as she chuckled while allowing Rhaella to leave her lap to try and launch herself off the bed as she almost fell off making the pair laugh. She laid her head against his while he nudged her back, kissing her temple.
"I don't think I'd handle losing them Robb," she spoke suddenly, feeling stupidly like Catelyn when Bran was asleep. "Why would I feel so strongly about this? I didn't bear them..."
"It doesn't matter. They are your children. They listen to you and look to you for food and protection. Like any child would their parent," he chuckled as she smiled. She felt Robb was much calmer than this morning when they were facing Tyrion Lannister. One of Theon's girls had sent word that Tyrion and all his party were at the brothel that night, though Yoren was sleeping he did flirt with a few of the girls for the fun.
"One thing I wish for them," she started suddenly making him look to her. "Is to take them to the Wall, I would like my Uncle to see them and Jon too," she smirked as he nodded.
"Your Uncle was the one who even gave you the words," he spoke as she nodded.
"I never realized it at first, until they were born but my House words are everything to how we were the Dragonlords," she responded as he got up to change. She stood to help him as he undid his laces she helped by yanking his shirt free and helped him yank it over as she pressed a kiss to his lips while undoing his breeches. As he kissed back and cupped her face, she succeeded in loosening the strings before a shriek made them jump apart as Rhaenys poked her head against her mother who pressed her face against Robb's bare chest while he stroked the hatchling's head when she chirped.
"Children they are indeed," he chuckled as Rhaenyra nodded before stepping away from him to allow him to ready himself for bed as Grey Wind went to his small bedding. Rhaenyra had put some furs down because the dragons would occasionally sleep with him, enjoying the furs. "You do realize once they grow bigger they won't have furs to sleep on?" he questioned as she smacked his shoulder.
"They are babies and it's cold here, I am going to give them furs," she gripped as he chuckled, kissing her forehead.
"Alright, the moment we are told they left and will not hear the girls. They are quite loud," he commented as she nodded. "We will all go to the Godswood. You know Grey Wind would love to join us," he spoke as she nodded, eventually, the dragons became tired from their play and joined the direwolf on his bedding and snuggled up to him to bed. "Come, bedtime," he kissed her a final time before pushing her to lay down before pulling the furs over them as she curled up into his side before falling asleep.
IX
End of the chapter, I hope it was good! Please, Read and Review.
~Rusty14~
