Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
A/N: Sorry for the wait, but life gets in the way sometimes... I am trying to maintain the length of chapters to this size or slightly bigger - which will probably affect the updates..
Well, again thank you thank you for my faithful reviewers, you are the inspiration to keep posting! Also thank you for everyone who has favorite and/or followed.
And just so that you know that the translations of dothraki or valyrian is not word for word, what I found is that they express a lot through few words, so just so that you are warned what I write here is researched and used to best fit what I mean to say.. As always translations are at the end of the chapter!
Oh, and another thing this is not beta'd so any mistake please let me know!
Thank you and enjoy!
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Driftmark – 298 AC
Visenya smiles when she looks onto the coast to see that Losso is with her grandfather's sailors, learning about the ship and the sea. "Who would have thought that a dothraki would sail?" Monford Velaryon asks from her right, amusement clear in his voice.
"Yes and who would have thought that a Targaryen would be the cause behind it?" her grandfather laughs and puts his arm over her shoulder drawing her to his chest. "Thank you for ensuring that he has lessons on ships."
Monford shakes his head "No problem, sweetheart, I think it is important for him to have this knowledge, so that when he rejoins his people he will be able to teach them." Visenya nods and also understands the meaning behind his words.
"And it will make Daenerys' life easier" her grandfather laughs.
"Nothing ever gets pass you, much like your mother" he tells her fondly and she smiles at the comparison, he squeezes her closer to his chest. "A letter has arrived from Dorne." She lifts her head to look into his purple eyes and sees that there is more that he needs to say "Not only there was a letter from Dorne but there was also one from King's Landing."
Monford guides his granddaughter to a bench that had a view from the ocean, he gives her first the letter from King's Landing, as she reads it her brows furrows and then with wide eyes she looks up at him "Is this true?" she asks in Valyrian to him and he suppresses the happy feeling that he gets when she speaks Valyrian as if it is her mother tongue – much like her mother did.
He nods and she sighs angrily "How can this boy be king? Does he think there will be no repercussions, that he is safe in that Red Castle?" Monford understands that she is rambling because of her anger. Her hatred for the Lannister and Baratheons has always been strong, as it was the case with her father – they hated that family too much, or at least one man, Tywin Lannister as Robert is already dead and his son just murdered Ned Stark.
"This can be good for us" he reminds her, hoping that she can be more level headed, to put her anger and hate on the back of her mind and concentrate on the importance of their mission.
She nods "Hopefully Ned Stark's son will want allies to take King's Landing" she extends her hand for the other letter and quickly untangles the hidden messages on the paper, when she looks up her grandfather is frowning and she knows it is because he wouldn't be able to understand the real message.
"Doran thinks that Walder Frey will be a problem, he is loyal to Tywin so he will send our army to Ironman's Bay this way we will be able to breech the Twins if Walder truly proves to be on Lannister side. He wants me to go North as an envoy of the Martell family and Daenerys' army." She can see that her grandfather didn't like that she was being sent into dangerous territory.
He sighs trying to put things in perspective, she was the only one that could go speak to Robb Stark, she is a Martell and knows Daenerys "Who will lead the army at Ironman's Bay?" he asks instead of asking her to make someone else go, she smiles thankfully to him.
"Nymeria and Obara, my father and Doran cannot be seen leading the army. Yours and theirs meddling in this game cannot be confirmed at King's Landing. We must bide our time." Monford nods at her words knowing them to be true, but still he doesn't like that he won't be able to send some of his men with her.
"When are you leaving?" he asks changing back to the common tongue now that they aren't discussing sensitive information. Visenya sighs and looks back towards the ocean, it is calm unlike it had been weeks ago. She remembers that Losso had looked fearful to set sail with the ocean as angry as it had been, but she had had no intention of doing so, not without having heard any news from King's Landing and Sunspear.
It almost seems like the gods want her to meet with the Northern army as quickly as possible.
"Tomorrow" she voices when she makes up her mind. Monford sputters and she knows it is because he thinks it is too soon. She shakes her head not letting her grandfather speak, knowing that he could dissuade her – it was something her father hated how much her grandfather had such sway over her. "I need to do this, the death of Lord Stark will only make things unravel faster than ever before, Stannis and Renly are already pushing to see who is the rightful heir to the throne with the news that the children belonging to the queen are not Robert's, we need to be in front of them." She puts her hand on her grandfather's arm "Now more than we thought before, we will need the northern army and you will have the difficult job in buying your time with Stannis, the sooner I am gone from here the better it is for both of us."
He nods accepting it, not liking the truth but having to accept it "Then tomorrow you and Losso will be hidden in one of our ships going to collect cargo, that way you'll find the Northern Army before reaching Moat Cailin."
Visenya nods accepting his help, though she bites her lips, knowing that she can't be parted from the horse the Khal had given to her as a present nor does she want to make Losso part from his. Monford sees her discomfort over something and realizes what it is about "The horses will go, Losso doesn't need to be hidden, he can be the owner, if someone asks he is a hired braavosi that went in search for dothraki horses, and no one will question him." Visenya nods, smiling gratefully at her grandfather, throwing her arms around him and hiding her face in his chest.
"Thank you." Monford gives her a kiss on top of her head, knowing that she is fearful of the mission she must set sail to. He knows his granddaughter will do what was asked from her and she will pretend to not be fearful of it, but he is glad that in this moment she can let herself show her insecurities, something that she won't be able for a while now.
"You are strong, my sweet. That is why your mother named you Visenya; she knew you would be as strong and as headstrong as the Targaryen queen. I have all confidence in you." He tells her and he feels her nodding in his chest and not making any move in moving from where she is. He lets her have the time to have all her insecurities and fears go through her head, until she draws back, he will lend her his strength.
For the moment he will enjoy these last moments with his granddaughter, not sure when they would see each other again or how much changed they each will be the next they see each other – after all, war changes people.
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Somewhere in the Barrowlands – 298 AC
Robb sighed for what felt like the tenth time just that day, he was tired of having to explain everything he was doing, every single order he gave, not to his lords but to his mother. She had become even more blinded by revenge since they learned of his father's death fou days ago and that Sansa was now a ward of King's Landing, what really bothered him was that no one mentioned Arya and he feared for the worst. His mother still hadn't noticed how they would only make Sansa write the letters, that it was always about Sansa being in the lion's den, his mother believed that they were speaking about them both. He hoped that they were or that his little sister by some sliver of luck had been able to escape King's Landing and would be able to come to him.
It was already four days since he was called the King in the North and already he had received more crows than he had ever before, one that was brought to his attention was one from the Commander at Castle Black. He told him about Jon leaving the black cloak, he said that though his brother hadn't made the vows he was somehow already pledged to the order. His letter – no it was more of a note, had been curt "If my brother didn't take the vows he is a free man, owner of his own choices."
Robb knew that even if his brother had taken the vows and left the moment he had learned of their father's capture he would have made it void, he would receive him with open arms and would dare anyone in suggesting he had to punish him. The auburn haired man was waiting for his brother to show up at any day now, there hadn't been any notice of him, but he could feel he was close, Grey Wind felt Ghost too. They were only waiting until another part of the pack came to him.
Catelyn hadn't been happy with the news, Robb hadn't been expecting anything else from his mother, but had reprimanded her when she insinuated that he would have to punish Jon. "He is my brother, though he didn't take the vows I would dare anyone to raise their hands to punish him. You should be glad he left them to join me, he is another I can trust blindly in." He hadn't been able to look at his mother's face for another day, Catelyn needed to open her eyes to their new reality, he was in the middle of a war, though he knows he can trust the Umber house, Rowland Reed and Mormont House.
Grey Wind stands up from the corner of the room and howls, Robb feels his hair standing on end and quickly leaves his tent, he lets his feet walk on their own accord, but he knows he is moving to the right direction when Grey Wind doesn't try to make him change directions. He had heard Theon calling for him, but he doesn't stop to answer or even to look in the direction of his friend, he merely walks. He sees from the corner of his eyes Theon joining his side and some soldiers doing the same and at the back of his mind he realizes he must be leaving the protection of their camp.
He stops as suddenly as he had begun walking. His heart is hammering in his chest and then a smile is breaking across his face when a black horse comes towards them, his men all tense not seeing the face of the rider, but he knows and it isn't in the slightest surprised when Jon pushes the hood of the cloak from his face, jumping quickly from his horse. Robb moves as well, meeting his brother half way.
Robb holds him at arms-length "You look like shit" he laughs at his brother and Jon lets a small smile come to his lips.
"I have had only two nights of sleep in the week, I think I am entitled" Robb laughs at his explanation and draws his younger brother into his arms, slapping him at his back, glad to have him by his side in this war.
"I am glad you are here." He admits, not caring if anyone else can hear him and when he holds his brother at arms- length again, Jon seems a little insecure and sad, Robb knows why.
"Father…" Jon begins and Robb can feel the heartbreak coming again accompanied by the anger, Jon shakes his head and Robb had never been gladder that his brother has the same color of eyes as their father, because seeing those angry orbs makes him resolute in his decision of bringing the wrath of winter to House Lannister "they should have never come North."
Robb can't help but agree with his brother and he knows the same feeling of vengeance and retribution is on Jon's own blood along with the need to rescue their sisters.
"What news you have of our sisters?"
Robb sighs and he knows he will have to tell him about what he thinks of Arya "They have Sansa that much is certain, but I am not so certain about Arya, they never mention her."
The auburn man sees his brother blanch at the news of their younger sister, but then he looks resolute "Arya must have run, she must be coming to us. If we weren't able to rein her in I don't think Cersei Lannister or anyone of them would be able to."
Robb smiles ruefully finding truth in Jon's words.
"You didn't like the Wall I take it?" Theon asks and Robb feels his brother tensing beneath his hands, but Jon only smirks at Theon.
"I have other responsibilities now." Jon informs Theon and Robb chuckles at his brother dryness, but as he looks towards his friend he sees that something akin to respect is there in his blue eyes.
Theon comes and slaps Jon on the shoulder "It is good to have you here."
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Moat Cailin – 298 AC
Robb hadn't believed when one of his men had come to him with a heaving chest "We have apprehended two spies, they are being taken to your tent, milord." Robb frowns at the news; he knows that Tywin wouldn't send two people or at least not two people that would be easily caught. He quickly leaves the war tent to go towards it, glad that he had made the decision of not having them too far from the other.
As he is coming closer he can hear a feminine voice speaking in a different language "Vos ildat!" he enters to see a rather small woman, being held down by one of his man, but beside her there is a tall, broad man fighting against three of his men and he seems to be winning only stopping when she speaks again "Losso, vos ildat!"
The man seems furious and the tiny bells in his hair still make noise as he tries to keep himself in check. "Who do we have here?" he asks walking to be in front of the two strangers, he is taken aback at the beauty of the woman, her purple eyes burning in anger, her full lips pressed together displeased, her high cheekbones more defined with the angry flush in her cheeks.
Her shoulders if possible turn tenser and even in her lacking height she seems to be looking down on him "I am Princess Visenya Martell, daughter of Prince Oberyn and Valaena Velaryon." He feels his blood turn cold but before he can tell his men to unhand her she continues "And I am standing on your camp as an envoy of House Targaryen."
That is when he tells them to unhand them both "I am sorry Princess Visenya, for how you were handled" he offers, hoping that she will accept his apology and he glares at his men, they should have asked who she was before manhandling her that way. Visenya bows her head in acceptance and the tall man scoffs at the movement.
"Yeri jif vos koholaan vannakhoo mae" Robb hears him tell her in that strange language and she sighs, looking like she would like to pinch the bridge of her nose and the King in the North can see that Oberyn's daughter has a temper and something tells him that he will find amusing.
"Me kemik, me Khal." her tone of voice seems like she is admonishing the man, then she turns back to him "I am sorry, Losso is still accustoming to Westeros."
Robb inclines his head and offers a seat to both, Visenya accepts but Losso stands at her back, arms crossed glaring at anyone that dares to move close to his charge. "I take it he is from Daenerys' khalasar" Visenya seems to want to wince at his choice of words but she holds it back.
"Yes, he was chosen by the Khal and Khaleesi to be my protector and the first of the dothraki to cross the ocean."
Robb nods and lets a small frown take place on his features "I imagine you are here for a reason, as we were not expecting you and your protector." She lets a small smile grace her features. He couldn't imagine that the Martell woman could turn more beautiful and he can't help himself in wondering if a full blown smile will take his breath away – somehow he knows it will.
"Well, we couldn't send a crow to you without the danger of having it falling into Tywin's hands." He nods in agreement, knowing that Tywin had a firm hand in the ins and outs of the realm, even if he is still not in King's Landing. "If your soldier would give back the pouch I had with me I can give you documents belonging to the Targaryen, Martell and Velaryon houses."
Robb acquiesces motioning to his soldiers to do as the Princess asked, he looks as her purple eyes follow the movements his soldier makes while getting closer, her back turns taut and it is enough for him to know that she does not trust them, not yet anyways, and she does not need the protection of the broad tall man behind her back. She raises her arm to take back the pouch and Losso moves to be more to her side and Robb sees that that way the man could protect her better; relaxing a tad she quickly takes the documents to be handed to him.
He rapidly reads through the papers, he is going to the last one pertaining to Monford Velaryon when Grey Wind enters the tent. Discreetly he looks up to see the reactions of the two newcomers. Visenya doesn't show fear, merely intrigue and the man moves as if preparing himself in protecting her. When Grey Wind lies down by his feet he finishes Velaryon's document, then he drops it to a table in the center of the room.
"So if Daenerys takes the Iron Throne I do not have to fear her setting her sights in the North?" he asks, honestly interested in that aspect. He knows that Stannis won't recognize him as the King in the North and after he has the Iron Throne he will turn his attention North and something tells him that it will be the same with Renly, even if he says it differently to have their support.
Visenya nods "At the time she had been willing to give you the North, now I am sure she will not be opposed to have the King in the North in her favor." Robb feels some of the worry he had been feeling slip away.
"I gather she is still in Essos?" he asks her and she nods "How do you speak with her?" Visenya smirks and he feels a shiver run down his spine.
"The Martell house has ways in which to do that." She simply tells him and he thinks that she will not give him a straight answer when she doesn't trust him. Her purple eyes seem to shine in challenge as she inquires him "Then, King Robb can we call you an ally or must you discuss this with your Lords?"
Daenerys merely wants his support in taking the Iron Throne and while she does that he will be able to have his revenge against the Lannisters and he will not have to worry about the North being invaded in the upcoming years, it seems a little too good to be true, especially since she is not even in Westeros, but Doran Martell and Monford Velaryon have already promised him help, should he need it.
"It worries me that she is still not here to help us with the war." He says sincerely whilst pretending that she hadn't asked the second question, a small taunt for his supposed naivety – one that will finally be put to rest when he wins the next battle, and he can see some respect shining in the purple irises of her eyes.
"I understand, but I can guarantee that as you go south your army will have help."
He chuckles at not so straight answers she gives him, but he sees in her eyes that she is not lying to him, that in her side of the fence they must have plans with the job to help the northern army. He rises from his seat, decision already made and Visenya follows his example and raises her hand to stop Losso from coming to stand before her and separate the two of them. He offers his hand and she gives hers to grips his "Yes, you can count me as an ally as long as the North continues to be mine."
He was right, her full blown smile takes his breath away and the way her purple eyes gleam turning a shade lighter makes his heart double its beating "Then, we will guarantee that as long as a Targaryen is in the Iron Throne the North will belong to the Stark family."
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Robb looks at her from the corner of his eyes; she seems to be perfectly at ease while receiving the apprising eyes from the northern lords, her head is held high, shoulders loose, hands closed around each other in front of her body, there is a small smirk at the corner of her lips that makes her all the more alluring and for some reason more regal. Robb knows that she is far from a demure woman, she is dangerous, he had seen it in the way she seemed to see where everyone stood, analyzing every man that passed by her and when her belongings where returned to her she had an alarming quantity of knifes, throw knifes , a sword and two spears. He thinks she might have had more things than her companion, who had a strange crescent moon shaped sword that he later was informed it was an Arakh, he had a long sword and some other knifes.
Robb had been impressed with their horses "They are a breed from the dothraki, they are very fast but also very strong, I was afraid of how they would compare to your northern horses, but I think they're more sturdily." She had spoken the truth, their horses where slightly bigger than the other northern horses. He was interested in seeing how it was that her protector, Losso moved on his horse, having heard about the proficiency that dothraki had on top of a horse. ]
He looks at his brother and sees that he is curious about the woman by his side; he wants to know if they can trust her, and something tells Robb that they can. Theon's eyes on her are a little annoying, as if the Greyjoy wanted to consume her.
"How do we know we can trust you and your Queen? She is not in Westeros." Lord Karstark is narrowing his eyes on her form and she doesn't seem ruffled with the way he is speaking to her.
"She might not be in Westeros, but the Martell and Velaryon families have already pledged alliance to her – their army is hers to command." Her smirk turns a little cruel "We will have to have blind faith that my family will come forth with their promises as we will have to believe you will come forth with your promises. After all, both of our sides have dealt with deception before, I am sure we don't want to see it happening again."
Theon snickers lightly at her answer, but Robb feels her eyes on him and an apologetic turn of her lips and he finds himself nodding to her, understanding why she had said what she said, not that it didn't hurt being reminded of his father's death but she seemed to genuinely be sorry for bringing it up this way. Maege Mormont narrows her eyes on the dornish woman "You being here should be a guarantee that your family would come through with their promise?" when Visenya nods at the question, the rugged woman continues "It is my understanding that you are one of Oberyn's many daughters, albeit not being his bastard, and you aren't the next head of you house, you are quite expandable aren't you?"
The purple eyed woman tenses and her smirk turns feral "Dorne is so very different from the rest of Westeros, milady, in a family we do not see each other as expendables nor do my father or I see my sisters as anything less than they are, my sisters. My cousin is to be the head of the House, than her place is at Sunspear while my place is to lead the army" she holds up her hand stopping Mormont from saying anything else "I was chosen to do this because my lineage intertwines with Daenerys', there is also the fact that I know Westeros and Essos better than Arianne and of course that I am as deadly as my father, so no, I am not expendable – I am one of the best Dorne has to offer."
Lady Mormont smiles and nods, "Ishish chare acharoe hash me nem ejervae nharesoon" Losso rumbles behind her and Robb sees her smiling at whatever he had said, but she turns to him as if recriminating what he had said and he can see how the dothraki is not in the least sorry for whatever he had said.
"Your friend doesn't speak or understands the common tongue?" Lord Glover asks and Visenya turns back to the northern lords, she shakes her head an apologetic smile in her lips.
"He hasn't taken well in speaking or understanding it, preferring to continue the usage of the dothraki language."
"Khogar shiqethi chiftik" Losso mumbles under his breath and a small amused smile ticks in the corner of her lips but it is only there for an instant before her face is smoothed over again.
Again, very demurely she puts her hands closed in front of her body "Then is it safe for me to assume that we have an agreement?" all of his lords nod at her words and she nods, turning towards Robb she takes a letter from the inside of her cloak and hands it to him "I am afraid this is only for your eyes."
He nods and reads it, there scribbled in what he thinks is haste is the location where the dornish army will meet with them at Ironman's Bay. He frowns before putting the letter on his pocket and then offers his arm to her "I will escort you through the grounds, so you are familiarized."
She puts her gloved hand on top of his arm and he tries hard not to think of the warmth that spreads through his neck at the touch and he refuses to meet his brother or Theon's eyes, knowing that they will be sporting identical smirks. He was rather missing the days when the two of them were at each other's throats.
When they have put some distance between them and where the northern lords are, Robb asks her the question that had come up once he read the note "Why are they coming through Ironman's Bay, wouldn't it be better to not go right under Tywin Lannister's nose?"
She nods, having made that same question to her grandfather once she had read it. Monford had merely smiled at her and had told her what she tells Robb now "The old lion would not think anyone would dare do such a thing, hiding in plain sight is better than finding a dark place to hide."
"They will wait for us to pass the Twins?"
Visenya shakes her head and furtively looks around seeing that while people were watching them they didn't seem to be able to hear them "Father and Doran believe that Walder Frey will present trouble." She sees the frown in his face and continues to explain "We have reason to believe that Walder is filled with Lannister gold."
Robb sighs knowing that his mother will have trouble in hearing this, thinking that the Frey house was loyal to the lords of Riverrun. He needs to be sure of their information "Are you certain about it?"
"Father would at times attend Walder Frey's wedding, he only took me one time and it was enough to see how pleased he was that many Lannisters would attend and he would ramble how the Starks never had the decency to attend, he was rather sold on the idea that your late father thought himself better than him." They have stopped and he can clearly analyze everything that she is saying to him, finding that she is not lying and the clear disgust she has for the Frey house right along with her dislike of the Lannisters. "Walder is a very petty man, he knows that you'll ask for passage and he will try to twist your hand in his favor, now not only you but Daenerys. My queen didn't say I could make a deal with him and I will not, because I don't want to be extorted by such a small man."
"Then the plan is to attack the Twins?" he asks and a smirk curls in her lips, her eyes gleaming with mischief and he can't help but feel apprehensive and eager with what she will say.
"Attacking would be too obvious and Walder would hide out forever in his Twins, infiltrating would be a better word." She links her arms back to his and starts to walk to back towards the middle of camp and he notices how they had been gathering the attention of some of his soldiers and the way both Theon and Jon were tense and had frowns on their faces, the woman by his side didn't miss much. "Seagard we would attack, that is a place of interest too for Tywin, especially since you carry Tully blood."
He nods at her words knowing how true they were, his mother side of the family were the Lords Paramount of the Trident. Tywin would see it as a problem he had to eliminate, he sighs and thanks the old gods for the alliance they had sent to him. He looks at Visenya from the corner of his eyes and isn't surprised in seeing that she is taking everything in and is probably burning everything to her memory, but he is glad that she is giving him time to digest everything she had been telling him.
He guides them to the tent that belongs to her, he opens the flap and lets her in first, his brother, Theon and Losso stand outside guarding. "I hope it is to your liking" he offers to her when they enter and she laughs, amusement shining in her purple eyes, when she sees his confusion she offers him an apologetic smile.
"I meant no disrespect, your highness. This is a palace considering that I was hiding away at the hold of the ship" she turns on her heels heading towards the table and chairs he had asked to be put there, she offers the seat across from her to him "It is an experience I hope to avoid in the future." Her tone lowers as if she is conspiring with him and he can't help the amused chuckle that leaves his lips.
He stays there until night fall ironing their strategies and he knows that they would have to do these meetings at least every day – as war doesn't stay the same for long, he finds himself looking forward to it. It is easy to talk to her as he doesn't feel the pressure in having to show her he is not a green boy as he has with his northern lords and it is almost as if having a kindred spirit – they are both young and thrown at the eye of war and he realizes that she has it worse than he does, being a woman sent in the name of another woman. He could see in the tenseness of her shoulders that she had the need to be perfect.
When he meets with his brother and best friend he ignores the way their eyes are gleaming and how their voice sounds saccharine sweet when they ask where Visenya is, if she is not accompanying them to dinner. "She knew that the lords would like to question me on what I have discovered, she thought it would be better if she was not there for the inquisition."
That might have shut his brother and best friend up, but it hadn't been enough to rid them of their stupid smirks and the knowing looks they kept throwing his way, he knows that had they been at Winterfell they would be making kissing noises and not letting the subject go. He is glad that they stop with their knowing looks when they meet with the other for dinner, but the smirks though a little more contained remains in place. Robb sometimes hates them.
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Vos ildat - Don't strike/Stay down.
Yeri jif vos koholaan vannakhoo ma - You should not bow to him.
Me kemik, me Khal. - He is an ally and a king.
Ishish chare acharoe hash me nem ejervae nharesoon - Maybe the ear will listen if it is removed from the head. (He tells her that because he is tired with how much the lords are questioning her).
Khogar shiqethi chiftik - Khogar shiqethi refers to their iron suits and chiftik means cricket, but it is an insult, much like calling a foreigner a walker (ifak).