The Rogue Stag
A/n: Twice in one day, my darling. I have a slight obsession with this recently and I just can't seem to stop writing.
Chapter 6- Family Breakfast
Aliviah awoke in a dark room with a belly full of dread and self-blaming thoughts. Aliviah's face was tense and unmoving as she blamed herself for the boy's danger. She should have prevented his death, she knew knew that but she still didn't do anything. Aliviah was enraged at herself. That poor boy's dreams were now no more than fairy tales for him to hear at night.
Aliviah turned on the soft bed to the right and gasped at the sight of Jon Snow sitting in her plush chair as he slept, his head dangerously sliding off of his shoulder. She slowly smiled at the scene but the sound hissing suddenly reached her ears and the smile she wore fell off her face as she gulped and her eyes hardened.
"Our Queen, we bid you well in this time of need." Aliviah gulped as Nero's crystal white, hard body slithered over to rest on her back and then slithered around her neck until he was facing her with his powerful, intimidating blue eyes that set on hers like they were twins. All of the snakes had her eyes. They were her's... Her's only.
"Nero, there is something you require of me or else you wouldn't be here." Aliviah's eyes set on her snake as his white body shakes with his wheezing laughter.
Nero was the leader, the strongest and biggest snake. His body was half the length of hers and he had the strength to kill a man as fit as a horse. Second in charge was Numerius who was a blue snake and was the one who was most intelligent, his eyes were the same as Nero's and his body was muscular and shorter than Nero's. Lastly, her littlest snake, Tatius, he was her black snake who was quite lean but long, longer than Numerius but not stronger and he was the eyes.
"A direwolf nearly ate Tatius, we want him dead." Nero's hiss was dangerous and as she gazed into his hard, stubborn eyes she played the same game.
"Which direwolf?" Aliviah's short reply agitated Nero as he hissed dangerously at her face and her gaze became hard and uncontrolled as her dominance rose over the leading snake.
"The white one, my Queen," Nero answered and bowed his head to her in respect before hissing at Tatius and Numerius who snickered to themselves at the power Aliviah showed over their leader.
"Keep this boy in your sight, as well as the wolf." Aliviah said after she glanced at the peacefully sleeping boy, he had no worries, he wouldn't have until she left Winterfell, she would make sure of that. Aliviah wouldn't let anything happen to him while she was in Winterfell.
"We wish to kill this wolf." Nero hissed as the other two join in with him with eagerness at the prospect of the kill. Aliviah's eyes flashed red for a brief moment as the snakes instantly hushed and bowed their heads to her.
"I cannot allow you to kill this wolf, my dears. He will be needed for the boy. You have not gained my permission." Aliviah hissed before the snakes and they nodded their heads, disgruntled but not disobedient.
"As you wish, my Queen." Nero hissed out before he and the rest of the snakes slithered off Aliviah's body and slowly slither towards the wall where the centimetre cracks were hiding.
"Safe travels, my loves." Aliviah whispered, the snakes showed no signs of hearing the words she spoke but Aliviah knew that they did, they always did. Throughout Aliviah's talk, she didn't realize that the certain someone sleeping in her plush chair was awake and did not plan on letting Aliviah know what he'd witnessed but keep it to himself in fear of his life as well as fear of what she was.
After the snakes disappeared, Aliviah pondered about what her future plans and who they involved. She turned her body towards the other side and gasped when the two grey eyes of Jon Snow pierced her blue icy ones. "Jon Snow, how nice of you to have awoken, sleep well?" Aliviah asked but something hissed in the back of her mind as her sharp eyes noticed his nervous nodding.
"Has something frightened you, child?" Aliviah asked with comfort as her mind flashed red and a pulsating vibration went through her body as she tensed and waited for his rushed reply.
"No, my lady, I, uh, wanted to know if you're all right. You have shown me great kindness and I would wish to know why that is." Jon's words were rushed and not well thought over as Aliviah kept her tensed body but smiled warmly at him.
"Thank you for your concern but I am well. I shall be leaving soon, Jon. You may leave if you wish." Aliviah reached over to him and tried placing a hand on his cheek like a mother would when caring for her son, he flinched and Aliviah frowned and placed her other hand on his other cheek. Showing she meant no harm at all.
"Jon Snow, you are a special child. You never had a mother. No matter, everything will work in the end. The gods will straighten your path and you will see your destiny with a fiery woman... She will be beautiful. Red like the fires you see." Aliviah whispered, her eyes unfocused and clear as she said what she said to him. Finally, as she ended, she realized what she had done and scolded herself at her own stupidity.
"Now, Jon, has anyone else been here to see me?" Aliviah asked twice as quickly as she finished and Jon seemed to nod, still in daze of her small future telling.
"Yes, my father has visited but everyone has been so worried about Bran..." Jon whispered through his pain and Aliviah tried to at least comfort him by squeezing his hand a little tighter, unconsciously making him realize what comfort meant.
"Bran will awake, I give you my word, Jon Snow. I wish to stay in Winterfell, help train Rob as a Lord when your father leaves." Aliviah spoke of her plans with Jon as he shook his head with worry.
"M'lady, Arya needs a mentor, you're fit for the role; she looks up to you, she told me herself." Jon tried to persuade, Aliviah raised her hand to silence him and turned to look at him.
"Jon, I will be needed here... To supervise Robb. You know how Catelyn gets and I'm afraid she's going to do something foolish when she finds out who pushed Bran. Bran will awake. " Aliviah indulged Jon with this information and instantly regretted it as he stood quickly, the plush chair toppling after him.
"Calm yourself, Jon. I will leave to King's Landing if you swear to me that you'll stay and help Robb meanwhile I am in King's Landing, trying to bring the justice to your family which you were robbed off by worms." Aliviah spoke softly, trying to comfort Jon's sudden rise of temperature as he looked down, thoughtfully.
"No... I can't. I want to go to The Wall and... Lady Catelyn, does not want me here." Jon's eyes widened and he squeezed her hand, turning to look at Aliviah with frightened eyes. He was more of a child than she thought and she understood. Aliviah wanted to be the mother he lacked for the remaining days she had with him.
"I expect an answer on the night before we leave." Aliviah ordered him gently as she saw his eyes shut slowly and she chuckled to herself. The poor boy was sleeping uncomfortably in the chair again and so Aliviah woke him and ordered him to lay on her bed while she drifted off to sleep.
The next day came faster than Aliviah thought, although it was a fresh day; Aliviah felt dread down deep in her belly. Aliviah's thoughts and ponders were uneasy as she saw flashes of different worlds and people, maybe onr day everything would be peaceful.
As Alivah raised from her bed, she noticed that Jon Snow was no where to be found and so she smiled to herself gently and shook her head. With a sudden bang of the door Rosa ran in, her breath quick and rugged as she flapped her hands with urgency. "What is it?" Aliviah's eyebrows were both raised in amusement as her lips pulled into a small smirk which let her amusement pour out like a wave.
"My lady, Tyrion Lannister requests your presence at morning fast with his family." Rosa's answer was voiced with urgency and Aliviah finally found the the will to laugh whole heartedly.
"Oh my dear Rosa, was that the reason why you're all so frustrated? Rosa please do my hair and help me with my dress. We better not keep Lord Tyrion waiting" Aliviah said with careful words as she looked through her elaborate gown collection. Finally, she chose a sad black dress that did not look like any of her vibrant gowns.
Rosa quickly mustered up some elaborate design in Aliviah's hair and so Rosa lead her Lady towards the place Lord Tyrion was waiting for her, while conversing pleasantly with Aliviah, she noticed that Aliviah's expression was hard and tense but she did not speak or ask what was troubling her dear friend.
"Rosa, are you heading to the kitchens by any chance?" Aliviah asked as she turned to look at her dear servant who's raven coloured hair tumbled down her back as she shook her head with an amused smile on her face, probably knowing what her lady wanted of her.
"Indeed, m'lady. Is there a reason why you're asking, m'lady?" Rosa's smile was blinding as she smiled at Aliviah and laughed when Aliviah looked down with childishness, those were the rare moments when Aliviah acted bashful and so much childlike that nobody would presume she was a battle hardened, strong woman.
"I would kindly request for some lemon cakes, Rosa. I'm not feeling too well and would like to sweeten my mood with some deliciously baked lemon cakes, it would surely pick up my mood. Is this where Lord Tyrion was supposed to be?" Aliviah kindly ordered Rosa before asking her of his whereabouts to which she nodded, smiled politely and left promptly; not being needed any more.
"Where is the little imp?" Aliviah walked up and down the hall she was supposed to meet Tyrion at and as she caught the sight of his blonde hair, she turned and pretended not to see anything.
"Lady Aliviah, I will not fall for that. I know that you saw me before I even caught a glimpse of your beautiful stature." Tyrion caught Aliviah out as her sweet chuckle filled the gloomy hall and instantly brought some light into it.
"You flatter me, dear sir. Spoiling my fun however is a cruel task which you have done." Aliviah looked down at the imp as she started to besides him, wondering of where about he was taking her.
"I am glad m'lady." Tyrion turned to her with a big grin as he chuckled and walked towards the Great Hall to break his fast with his family unbeknownst to Aliviah.
"I was told you requested my presence quite urgently, I cannot see why. Humour me." Aliviah's bright crystal eyes shined with mirth as she looked at her dear friend with slight curiosity.
"You're smart, Aliviah. I do not need to humour you when you already know the purpose of me requesting you. Simply come and break your fast with me, m'lady." Tyrion innocently droned on as she listened to what he had to say. At the end of his sentence she smiled but quickly pursed her lips with satisfaction.
"Alright, m'lord Tyrion. I condone to your request." Aliviah smirked at the little man and rolled her eyes at him. They passed a few Lords and Ladies and she smiled and nodded at each person and exchanged pleasantries.
"I see you're quite happy with your stay in Winterfell, m'lady. You never exchange pleasantries with the Lord and Ladies at court but I supposed that every conniving spider in that shit hole is a poor excuse of a Lady and a Lord." Tyrion spoke with quite an amused tone to his voice as Aliviah laughed and decided not to answer the imp until they arrived at the Great Hall where her eyes widened and her breathing escalated, her anger pulsating back in waves of strong currents as she stared at the people who were responsible for her pain.