Disclaimer: With great regrets I am still not the owner.
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A/N: I hope this chapter was to your liking, it is slighter bigger than previous ones. That is a question I have for you, do you prefer bigger chapters or smaller ones? I can't say if it will dramatically affect the updates, because sometimes the editing is fast and sometimes it isn't… Well, just tell me your preferences, who you would want to see written (I'll try to write it), how do you think the pace of the story is going, or any other question you might have, pleaaase I would love to hear from you! Thank you for all the favorites, follows and the faithful reviewers!
Oh, and I am expecting that if not in the next chapter then the next after that Visenya and Robb will finally meet and finally we will begin our romantic part of the story!
Another thing, translation of the Valyrian and Dothraki language will be at the end!
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Vaes Dothrak – 298 AC
Khal Drogo looks on as his bloodriders drag a young woman who is snarling at them spitting words in the common tongue – which he has a better grasp of now thanks to his Khaleesi and he is amused with the curses and dark promises that leave her mouth. From the corner of his eye he sees Daenerys tensing and slightly moving forwards as if she recognizes the young woman.
She is thrown at the ground and kept kneeling in front of himself and Daenerys, he turns to his wife noticing how she frowns in disapproval of how the woman is treated. When the unnamed woman raises her eyes he sees purple irises glaring at whoever is in front of her, which means she is glaring his way, but he doesn't get angry as he knows his people are expecting from him, he is much more surprised to see the color of her eyes.
Her angry eyes turn towards his wife and that is when he tenses, but she seems to soften them a little bit when her eyes meet Daenerys "Issa sȳz ūndessun iksā sȳrī, ñuha Dāria." The woman speaks to his wife in High Valyrian and bows her head in Daenerys' direction. The small woman by his side looks to be in a dilemma on what she should do, he can see that she wants to go towards the woman but she also knows she cannot until he makes up his mind if the stranger is friend or foe.
"Skorio iksā kesīr?" Daenerys asks the woman, Drogo looks on interested he can see that his bloodriders are looking at the woman with interest, probably wanting him to give her to them as punishment for her and a present for them, but with the way his wife is looking at the woman he knows that the purple eyed woman will be under his protection and therefore their protection as well.
"Iksā ñuha Dāria" Drogo puts his hand on top of Daenerys' when she moves to get up after the woman speaks to her. Her lilac eyes lock onto his and she changes from speaking High Valyrian to his mother tongue "She is my friend, my very first friend." He can see that she is not explaining what just happened, what they had talked about, instead telling him that the girl belonged to her, that the stranger was not to be harmed.
"Eshat" he tells the stranger who cocks her head to the side, Daenerys translate his word to High Valyrian and then slightly narrow her eyes in his direction telling him silently to speak in the common tongue. He wants to roll his eyes at his wife, but knows that in front of their people he cannot do so "Who are you?"
The woman now on her feet raises her chin in a proud stance and he can see the fighter in her for the first time "I am Visenya Nymeros Martell, daughter of Prince Oberyn Nymeros Martell and Valaena Velaryon and I have come to align my house to the true heirs."
Drogo is looking at her carefully, but the way she was standing it was obvious she wasn't lying, though she seemed to look at Daenerys when making the statement. It makes him wonder if the woman came to align her house to Viserys or his wife and it is somewhat clear to him that Daenerys is the one she wants to see on the throne. He had heard the name of her father, he had made a name for him on Essos and Drogo knows that he is not a man to be trifled with. His instincts tell him that the same should be said about his daughter, it makes him a little uncomfortable to have Daenerys in close contact with the woman.
He reverts back to his mother tongue "Shouldn't she be speaking to your brother?" Daenerys nods and looks to Visenya her eyes slightly narrowed something he had noticed she did when her Khaleesi persona came through.
"Skoros hen issa lēkia?" Daenerys question almost makes the woman snarl, then her eyes become hard and cold, like a viper preparing to strike. He tenses seeing that she is indeed a dangerous woman, not enough to be a problem to him, but surely a threat to his wife and unborn child.
"Ziry iksos daor se zaldrīzes, ao issi" Visenya hisses not wanting to raise her voice and have Viserys hear her, she knows she will have to speak to him, to tell him a lie, she doesn't plan on giving him the help he needs, she wants to see Daenerys on the throne and have Westeros prosper. "Ziry ynot zālagon vesteros" Daenerys smirks upon her remark, knowing it to be true, her brother was too volatile to rule, but from the way the woman is speaking, as if she doesn't want to be heard Daenerys knows that for now they will have to pretend that the help that is being offered is to Viserys and not herself.
Daenerys sees from the corner of her eyes how tense her husband is especially when she steps closer to the woman and offers her hand to her. Visenya puts her hand carefully onto the young Khalleesi's, knowing that any wrong move would have her killed – she knows that Drogo would find a way to kill her without spilling her blood. "At Pentos you had not said you were a Martell" Daenerys comments and Visenya looks a little embarrassed.
"I didn't think it would be wise, my father didn't know I was in Pentos at the time." Visenya explains and Daenerys offers her a small smile, understanding. If a Martell had come to them, Westeros would have known and she wasn't even sent to them as a missionary, she just had been curious about them.
"Now does your family know you are here?" Daenerys asks and Visenya sees that the young Khaleesi is teasing her but she nods in confirmation just to be on the safe side. She looks to the bloodrides still standing close to the two of them, though she is glad that they are no longer holding her down.
"Inside of my bag, there is a letter from my uncle offering your family the assistance you need." Daenerys smiles at what the woman says and with a nod to Cohollo who looks for the said letter, when he finds he offers it to her but she shakes her head.
"Give it to my brother; I do not need to see it to know she speaks the truth." Drogo sees the illuminating smile that comes upon Visenya's face, glad to hear what his wife said to her people, when the moon of his life looks over her shoulder to him he nods and gets up from his seat, walking towards them. The room is even more silent than before, Visenya tenses when he nears and he is glad to see that she finds him intimidating and probably fears him and his wrath – it would be enough to warn her from harming Daenerys and their unborn child.
Drogo motion with his head to the bowl with blue paint, Haggo brings it to him; he then dips his fingers in the paint and goes to the Martell woman. Without a word he takes her chin and moves her head to the side. She stands very still and holds her breath when he presses three fingers under her eyes and drags them to the side until he reaches her hair. With a nod to Haggo his bloodrider moves his hand over her long hair, taking out the braid she had and starts to make a new one.
Daenerys picks Visenya's hand again and gives her a gentle squeeze of fingers "They have accepted you as one of their own."
Visenya's eyes widen as she looks to Khal Drogo who nods his head confirming his wife's words and once she feels the hands of his bloodrider leave her head she bows to him and Daenerys. He accepts her show of respect when he puts his hand on top of her head and Daenerys is happy that Drogo seems to understand that she thinks fondly of the girl with the way he is giving Visenya his highest regards.
Later when it is only the two of them and Visenya is away with the handmaids Daenerys tells him of the present the younger woman had given her, what it had meant to her and she can see in her husband's eye that he will grow to respect Visenya Martell.
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Winterfell – 298 AC
Robb looks despondently to the weirdwood tree. He still cannot believe that his father had left when it was clear that their household would need him more than ever that his mother would need the strong shoulder of Eddard Stark as Bran fights to survive. Robb had seen the way his father had been troubled with his choice but in the end he had chosen his honor to the crown instead to his own family.
His father should have at least let Arya stay. He had seen how his little sister had been upset with Bran's fall and not knowing if her brother would live. She had been incredulous about his fall, telling him that Bran had never fallen, that even in the worst of weathers he had never fallen. He too doesn't understand how his brother took his fall; it was one of the towers which he would climb the most.
He sighs for what feels like the tenth time on the day and it was still morning. Being in the forest calms him, but still he can feel something boiling under his skin, he is uncomfortable as if he should be prepared to do something. Since the letter had come notifying that the royal family would be coming to Winterfell he had felt a restlessness as if the old gods where warning his family of something.
And right now he thinks they weren't listening to the warnings. The Stark children had been given direwolves for protection, they had finally became a pack – even Sansa would admit to it, though a little reluctantly and still it felt as if it had no effect in calming this feeling he had.
Especially now, that he and his siblings have been torn apart.
He can feel the anger bubbling inside of his chest, he is angry at his father and that is the truth. How could he have left them, how could he have taken his sisters, how could have he let Jon go to the Wall? Robb takes a deep breath and he is reminded again why his father have done everything he has done so far, it was because of his honor. The honor to the king, honor to Catelyn.
Robb couldn't help but think that his father's honor would be a weight against him in Kings Landing and now he is angrier because he is scared for his father and his sisters in that city.
He hears a howl and seconds later Grey Wind howls back, when his direwolf looks at him and hurries back to the castle Robb doesn't think twice before following his protector. When he realizes that Grey Wind is going towards Bran's room he makes his steps become faster. He enters the room before the large wolf and sees his mother struggling with a man, her hands bloody, Summer with his teeth sank into the other assailant's neck. The russet man doesn't think twice before taking his sword and sinking into the man that had been trying to harm his mother.
The now Lord of Winterfell doesn't let the man fall on top of his mother. The dead man falls onto her side and he quickly helps her get up. "What happened here?" he asks taking her hands in his to see the damage done to them.
Catelyn doesn't have a chance to answer him when they hear a loud gasp, immediately they turn to Bran, who has his eyes opened, one hand gripping Summer's fur, the direwolf having finished his opponent had gone to lie down with his owner.
Catelyn is by Bran's side in an instant, her hands moving through his face, tears falling from her eyes when she notices that she spilt blood on her own child "What happened, Bran?" she asks tearfully, a hand on his shoulder another on his cheek, her fourth child shakes his head.
"I don't remember" he says and when Catelyn looks over her shoulder Robb sighs knowing that his life just got a little bit more complicated.
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"No, mother!" Robb says for the fifth time in the half hour they had been discussing what they should do. Catelyn wanted to go hunting for answers, wanted to go speak with her sister, but Robb knows that if that happened disaster would follow.
She narrows her eyes on his form but he doesn't cower – he is not a child anymore. "I will go speak to my sister, whether you like it or not Robb!"
Robb goes still, shoulders tensing and lets ice grips his veins a comfort reminder of the North in his veins "You are no longer Catelyn Tully, mother you are a Stark. What do you think the crown will think when they hear about you going to your sister?" He asks seeing her fury growing, but he doesn't let her answer continuing with abandon "The sister who was spewing words about the Royals, your husband is the Hand of the King it would be seen as detrimental to him if you acted like that, it would be detrimental to the Starks and I can't let you do it."
He can see a sneer forming in her face, an expression he had seen her do it plenty of times before to Jon and an ice cold fury settles in his chest at that reminder. "There is nothing that you will say to me that will change my mind, mother. You cannot go, we have a responsibility to this house, to the North and we will act accordingly – that was what I was taught and I will do what is right for this family." He can't help himself but forcibly remind her that she is no longer on the South and things are different on this icy land – something that by now she should have already known. That is why she can't have a more important role in the household, that is why she hasn't been left with the taking care of the House while his father is away and he is still learning the ropes – because she hadn't accepted the ways things were done there.
She moves to speak once more and this time is Maester Luwin who interrupts "Lord Robb is correct, Lady Stark. If anyone in the realm knew about you conferring with your sister Lord Stark would be a in a precarious situation and so would do the North and your son, because his people would believe that he cannot be a good leader if he can't even makes his mother do what is right for the family." The elder man gets up from his place and puts his hand on top of Catelyn's bandaged ones "Bran will need you more than ever, Lord Stark will be better without having to worry about you putting yourself at risk as well, my Lady." Robb sees some of the tension leave his mother's shoulders and the kind smile Luwin gives her is almost enough to take all of it from her "please reconsider your plans, my Lady."
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Vaes Dothrak – 298 AC
Visenya had made extra effort to not encounter Viserys after the first time she was presented to him. Drogo and Daenerys had been with her, controlling the situation and soon enough she was taken away from Viserys' company to shadow Daenerys and learn more about the Dothraki.
For some reason Drogo's bloodriders helped in keeping her from the walking king – as they referred to Viserys and she knew it was not a kind moniker. They would let her participate on some of their trainings, but they were paying especial attention on having her ride her horse the right way and how to fight on top of it. Daenerys would watch from the sidelines her hand on top of her growing belly, Drogo by her side and the two of them laughing when she would easily fall from the horse whilst trying to battle Haggo or any of the other bloodriders. Though Visenya noticed the pleased glint in Daenerys eyes when the brunette would get back on the horse and last longer than the last time, she could also see the smirk demonstrating Drogo's pride at her tenacious attitude, pleased that his moon and stars had brought someone worth to their family.
There were times which she couldn't escape Viserys, times like now.
"I never understood why your family took so much time to offer me their allegiance." His voice appears suddenly, she hadn't noticed when he had slithered inside her tent.
Visenya is quick to school her expression when she turns to see the last male Targaryen. Had she not known of his temper and his cruelness towards his sister and anyone else who didn't seem to follow to his ever order or who seemed to not treat him as the god he believes he is, she would have been impressed with his beauty.
Now, everything she sees is the viciousness in a man that cannot rule Westeros or any other place.
"I am afraid I cannot answer your question, your highness" he looks pleased with how she calls him, but her response aggravates him, she can see with the way he walks around the tent, fingers caressing everything in his reach, the way his eyes narrow and lips turn into a cruel smirk.
He stands before her, towering over her, his hand cups her cheek and with a gentleness she thought he would be unable to possess – that is why Daenerys holds onto her brother, forgiving him – caresses the side of her face, fingers dropping to draw on her lips. Visenya sees the way his pupils are dilated, breath fawning on her face as he draws closer, his nose brushes hers and if she had been on the outside looking at the scene he is making she would think the touch is affectionate. Yet, it is a way he is showing his power over her.
"Were they scared when they heard I had gathered an army and sent you to show their support?" his eyes are locked with hers, the color of his eyes much brighter than hers, pure lilac against dark purple, lips touching hers as he speaks, the hand on her face descending to her neck and the other climbing her arm. "Did they send the woman who would most resemble my dead cousins so that I would be constantly reminded of what my house lost and what your house lost as well?"
Visenya is careful to not raise to his bait, even if he had been saying was true, that was why her uncle had chosen her and not Arianne to come – he didn't need to say anything to her, it was plain for her to see. She goes to her feet, slightly surprising him, her chest is glued to his, his hand tightens in her flesh, her lips drags on his skin until it reaches his ear and then she whispers to him "So that we are reminded of our vengeance, my king".
She had dropped her tone like Nymeria had taught her and much like her sister had said it would happen, the red flush appears in Viserys neck, her eyes meet his – now much darker, his hands start to travel over her body and she wants to rip him away from her, but she can't. So she keeps up the pretense of flirting with him, of enjoying his attention. "They were smart to have sent you, then" he says a smirk appearing and she lets one of her own to take place on her features.
Viserys takes his hands off of her, dropping a kiss to her cheek, his demeanor of courting and kind king is very well played, but she can see the etches were the mask doesn't completely cover his true self, where the madness of his father hides. Her thoughts go to Rhaella and it must have been like this that she had controlled Aerys around her and their children, baiting on his ego and pretending anything that was needed so to not have his temper escalating.
He turns on his heels and leaves her tent, Visenya drops in her cot limbs shaking – she doesn't know if of anger or fear of what she was prepared to do so that Viserys wouldn't cause her trouble here.
She takes a deep breath and pretends that her father is close enough should she need him.
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Visenya watches entranced as Daenerys bites into the horse heart, her friend's eyes never straying from her husband. Visenya dares to look at the fearsome Khal and blushes at the intensity in which he is watching Daenerys. There is hunger, pride, lust and so much love in his dark eyes – something which she had only seen reflected in her father's eyes when Ellaria would be asserting her place at his side and she can't help but wish that one day a man will look at her the same way.
It must be a powerful feeling to have that intensity on your person, to know that another person would move mountains and skies if it would please you. Visenya sees that the intensity that she finds in her husband's eyes is what makes her bite harder into the flesh. Visenya can see that her friend is almost smiling as she takes the pieces of the heart and swallows it whole, the people inside are waiting with bated breath to see if the small silver haired woman would be able to finish and not hurl.
There is determination in Daenerys' shoulders and Visenya knows that her friend will not hurl and she will be able to finish eating the heart. It will be an image that Visenya will never be able to forget, this must be the complete turning point in Daenerys believing in herself as a Khaleesi as a Queen. This is a woman that Visenya is completely sure will be able to lead people, will incite people to follow her, that is much more dangerous than people will believe her to be and that will be their advantage.
As Daenerys put the last piece of the flesh into her mouth and cleans the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand, the Dosh Khaalen make Drogo wait for a few seconds before rising to meet with his wife, Visenya understands quickly that they are waiting to see if Daenerys will vomit.
Into those precious seconds is when Viserys appears drunken sputtering words and finally makes the mistake that will cost him his life: puts the tip of his sword onto Daenerys stomach and promises to kill the unborn child of Drogo if the golden crown he was promised is not delivered.
And thus is when he finally gets his golden crown.
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Kings Landing – 298 AC
Varys sighs pinching the bridge of his nose. The king made him so tired and it was not for the first time that he is left wondering just how Robert Baratheon won the war against the Targaryens. The answer which follows is the same as always "he had the right incentive to win", poor Lyanna Stark wanting so much of her freedom of choice of being who she wanted to be and have people left and right trying to control her.
Truly tragic.
He gathers the quill he had been using to finish off his letter to Stannis Baratheon, the brother of the king would want to know how the small council meeting had gone with the new addition of Ned Stark. Varys knows how much Stannis still harbored ill feelings towards his brother, after the gruesome work the stoic man had done to guarantee that Dragonstone was under their hands and Robert had given him the barren land and nothing else. It was a slight Stannis wouldn't forget and Varys thought it was something he could exploit – especially with the plan of having the Targaryens brought back – though now he sees that it was more likely that Stannis would be going after the crown for himself.
So many variables, he sighs again and he thinks that before Ned Stark had happened upon Kings Landing things were easier, even if Jon Aryn had been attentive about the on goings of the realm he didn't really know what happened inside the court. It was easy to play him, he believed Varys and so it was easy for the eunuch to give him false leads to assure him that he hadn't hear about any plans regarding a Targaryen uprising. He lets a smirk grace his features, quickly schooling it as a knock reverberates around his study.
"Come in" he says softly, trying not to sigh again and turns the letter over so no one would be able to see what he had written and to whom he was writing it to. A child no older than seven with dirty cheeks, chest heaving is carrying a letter. Varys motion the child to come inside and close the door, not saying a word the child gives him the letter.
Varys is quick to give a little silver coin to the child, who leaves quietly as if never existing inside of Varys' study.
After the bald man is sure that no one is even close to the vicinity of his study he quickly looking to who had sent him, it had been someone from Oldtown – he frowns not knowing who it could be. He opens it and a smirk graces his face when he recognizes the handwriting – Oberyn Martell.
"He is cunning, more so than people give him credit for. Truly ingenious to send his letter through Oldtown, I wonder who he has on site."
It is a rather short message, but enough for Varys to not need to send his little birds to get the information, it reads: "The ruins are being built again."
Those little words make his heart beat faster, as nothing had been able to in years. Everything he has been working for is finally within reach. When Oberyn and Doran had told him about sending Visenya Martell to reach out instead of Doran's son - Quentyn – he had his doubts, especially if Viserys was inclined to keep the Targaryen line pure even Visenya with her Valyrian blood would be hard to persuade his mind. Now it seems his worries were for naught, Visenya had been able to encounter the siblings and offer to them their alliance.
The timing couldn't be more perfect, Varys could see that the realm wasn't going to be as peaceful as it had in years before. No, something was coming their way, he just doesn't know what exactly, but he will.
And he will know before anyone else, after all he is Lord Varys, the Master of Whispers.
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Translations:
Issa sȳz ūndessun iksā sȳrī, ñuha Dāria. = It is good to see you well, my queen.
Skorio iksā kesīr? = Why are you here?
Iksā ñuha Dāria = You are my queen.
Eshat = Get up
Skoros hen issa lēkia? = What of my brother?
Ziry iksos daor se zaldrīzes, ao issi = He is not the dragon, you are
Ziry ynot zālagon vesteros = He would burn Westeros