Daenerys walked into the small shack hesitantly, watching Gwen finish some tidying up of the place. She let her hands run over the cool wood of the door frame, flinching when she pricked her finger. Sucking on it, she let her eyes wander, taking in the low to average ceiling height, the dirt of the floor. In the middle of the room was a small wooden table, a decorative jug housing flowers as it sat atop it. A single window was on the wall, letting in a wide beam of light, letting shadows dance on the floor. Stroking the scaly neck of vision, she stepped inside, leaving the door open.
"Oh, you already hurt yourself," Gwen worked as she turned to look at her, ushering her to the couch, a lumpy gray thing that was pushed up against the wall, sitting under the window. Daenerys shook her head reluctantly.
"Really, I'm fine…" she said, letting out a small pop as Gwen removed the finger from her mouth, saliva dripping too her chin. Carefully, Gwen inspected it, then with her long nails pulled out a sliver of wood that looked to be at least three inches long, much to her surprise.
"Splinter," she murmured to herself, "I told Daddy to fix the doorframe, I did…!" Flicking the thing onto the floor, she bustled into the kitchen, leaving footprints in the dust. Daenerys pecked the top of Viserion's head with a quick kiss, the animal squeaking absentmindedly, flicking a forked tongue between its lips.
"I know it isn't a castle," she said lovingly to the dragon as Gwen came back into the living room, "but it will have to do for now." The eggs in her lap clinked as they shifted, vision nuzzling its head against her neck.
"Wow," Gwen said, placing a cup on the table, "it seems to really love you." Daenerys sent a small smile her way.
"I represent a mother figure to them," she said with a sigh, "I'm all they have left." Gwen cast her eyes down to stare at her lap, her fingers playing with the cuffs of her sleeves.
"I know how you feel," Gwen sympathized, "my father is all I have left as well." Daenerys pursed her lips.
"Where is your mother?" she asked hesitantly, not wanting to cause grief with someone she and just met. Sighing, gwen wiped at tears that were beginning to form.
"My mother died when I was a little girl," she gasped, feeling the tears come, her body hunched as if she were about to start crying at any moment.
"I apologize," Daenerys said, "I didn't know…"
"It's alright, really," Gwen shook her head, "I mean, I have my father, and Gaius, Merlin…," she began to blush as she added, "And I have Arthur as well…."
"The prince?" Daenerys asked. Gwen nodded, a smile stretching across her face.
"it is a wonderful thing you have here," Daenerys said, "you are very lucky." Gwen nodded with a chuckle, saying, "I know. So I really shouldn't be so down about it. I mean, you've done so much more then me and you're not even sixteen yet-"
"We aren't talking about me," Daenerys said briskly, her shoulders tensing. Gwen cocked her head, curls shaking slightly.
"Are you alright?' she asked as the girl began rocking back and forth in her seat, humming a tune she didn't recognize. The dragon, Viserion was its name, I think, Gwen thought- began squeaking, quietly at first but then rising an octave, although Gwen didn't know why at first, just watching the pained look come across Daenerys' face, biting her lip until it bled.
"Daenrys…." Gwen warned cautiously reaching a hand out to soothe her, rub her back gently. As soon as Gwen's nails brushed her skin lightly, Daenerys jumped with a gasp, sliding over, just out of Gwen's reach, her arms wrapped so tight around the dragon the poor thing looked as if it were about to suffocate, barely letting out the smallest of roars. of course, th Khaleesi was oblivious, her mind reeling with memories f her brother, her abuser. of her dear Khal, her beloved Drogo, being exiled…
"Everything was ripped away from me…." she mumbled incoherently as Gwen reach dove and loosened her grip not eh animal, the thing sighing with relief almost, smoke blowing in clouds from its nose as it regained its breath.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Gwen asked gently.
"Viserys…. my husband…." Daenerys said, more to herself then Gwen. the name had sounded familiar to Gwen. She knew Daenerys had mention fit back at Gaius' chambers, not remembering who it was to her. Gwen sat on the couch beside, going to give her a hug, jumping back suddenly when Daenerys let out a piercing wail, "no place to run! No place to live! Exile! I've been exiled from my people!"
"Alright, alright!" Gwen tried shushing her between gulps and sniffles.
"Guienevere…" Daenerys sniffed, "i thank you for letting me stay. As well as my dragons…" Nodding, she let Daenerys lean against her.
"It is my pleasure, Daenerys," Gwen said with a smile, "after all, you're the most interesting hing to happen to Camelot in, well, a while." Daenerys looked up at her, all child like innocence, hiding a hard demeanor underneath as she asked, "Really?"
"Truly," Gwen confirmed. Wiping her nose, Daenerys sat up, the eggs in her lap clinking as they rolled around between her legs.
"Well, once I overthrow King Jofrey and claim the Iron Throne, the house of Taeragryn will remember you greatly. I trust we will be in touch for years to come."
"I guess that sounds nice," Gwen said, smiling with newfound excitement- it wasn't everyday you became friends with a queen who was not only younger then you, but whose country allowed dragons to roam free. Wait… she thought, if Westeros is allowed to house dragons, do they have magic there as well? Daenerys furrowed her brows as a look of determination was etched into Gwen's features.
"What is it?' she asked.
"I was just thinking…." Gwen trailed off, then said, "if you have dragons in Westeros, does that mean you also have magic?"
"What do you think?!" Daenerys scoffed, laughing as she wiped stray mucus from her nose, her tears drying, "of course we have magic!"
"How exciting it must be," Gwen said, "to know those who can control the elements, bend things to their will…"
"Well, i must tell you," Daenerys cleared her throat as she realized the magic she was talking about was completely different from that in Westeros, "the magic i've heard is used in Westeros isn't really that kind of magic." Her friend's face fell as she heard this, "What do you mean?"
"It isn't the kind of magic you're thinking of," Daenerys said, "we really use it to tell the future or prophecies what is to come."
"Oh," Gwen said somewhat disappointed, "it still is exciting!" And to Gwen it truly was: as far as she knew, magic in Camelot was banned for over twenty years after King Uther's wife was killed by a witch. Along with magic, all the dragons had been killed, except for one, which was supposedly chained up underneath the castle, kept as an example of some sort. What example, she didn't know, but the idea of being able to freely express your opinion and practice what you like was astounding, she felt giddy just thinking about it. Takig a deep breath, Daenerys licked her lips nervously.
"Gwen," she said, breaking through Gwen's thoughts, "i was wondering about something."
"Yes, yes, what?' gwen said, coming back to reality.
"On my way to Westeros, I had contacted a friend of mine who lived there. I asked him to accompany me to Westeroes, so he agreed and traveled to the Dothraki Sea to make sure i get there safely."
"Well, that's nice," Gwen said complacently as Daenerys continued, "he agreed to help me overthrow King Joffrey, and unbeknownst to us, camelot was on the way. Of course, my brother came along, and the caravan left this morning without us- which was Visery's' doing, of course. He always did things like that when we were kids." Gwen widened her eyes.
"Then what a terrible companion to have!" she cried in shock. Daenerys shook her head suddenly, realizing that Gwen had the wrong idea entirely.
"No! No, Viserys is my brother!" she protested, "Tyrion was the companion i contacted!"
"Tyrion?" the nae sounded foreign on Gwen's tongue, playing with vowels an syllables. Daenerys nodded.
"Yes," she said, "Tyrion Lannister, Right Hand of King Joffrey Baratheon/Lannister of the Iron Throne."
"So they're related?" Gwen asked.
"Yes. Tyrion does not like his nephew's decisions, so he agreed to help me overthrow him. The Lannister family is a family of wealth and power, and they will do anything to sustain it for themselves." Gwen wrinkled her nose- Joffrey didn't sound very nice, just by the overall family description.
"So Tyrion is Joffrey's uncle?' Gwen clarified for herself. Daenerys nodded, "And he'll kill in an instant. He's addicted to the flow of blood, the power that comes with taking another's life, bending everyone to his will, even his own mother, his betrothed." Gwen creased her brow with worry and sympathy.
"Arranged marriage?"
Daenerys nodded, "it isn't uncommon to marry at the age of thirteen in westerns. I myself was married at fourteen, sold by Viserys as a wife in trade for an army to protect the people." So that's what she meant when she mentioned a miscarriage earlier, Gwen thought, she had lost her and her husband's child.
The door creaked suddenly, the two girls snapping their heads in its direction as it creaked open. Immediately, Daenerys folded the cloth of her dress over the eggs in her lap, wildly searching for a place to hide Viserion, finally pushing him under the couch just as the door swung fully open to reveal a tall lumbering man.
"Daddy!" Gwen feigned surprise, as her father put down a stack of logs he had been holding. Pushing herself up, Gwen wrapped her arms around him in a hug, her father's hands uncurling from fists to loving hands as he did the same.
"My dear daughter," he said with a smile, "how was the Lady Morgana today?"
"Oh, she was fine as always," Gwen said nonchalantly, "sends her regards as well." Daenerys bit her lip. Gwen's father was a tall man, large muscles adorning his body, his clothes straining against them, looking as if they were about to rip at any moment. Just looking at his large hands made her think of Drogo, how he would always embrace her lovingly…..
"Oh!" Gwen's father said in real surprise as he finally noticed Daenerys sitting on the couch, wiping newfound tears away, "Gwen, who might your guest be?" Daenerys looked at her lap shyly, absentmindedly petting her dragon eggs through the folds of her blue dress, hoping he couldn't see them.
"Right!" Gwen exclaimed, "my guest! Father, this is my friend, coming to town for a few days." Nodding, Daenerys stood up artfully, holding the eggs as one would hop their stomach while with child.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet any of my daughter's friends," her father said, reaching out a hand to shake. Daenerys looked at it warily, noticing how similar it looked to Drogo's hand.
"What is it?" Gwen's dad joked, "cat got your tongue?" Gwen looked at Daenerys, then at her father.
"How about you sit dow for a while, alright?" Gwen suggested to her, then to her father, "Daddy, is it alright if she stays for a few days? Lady Morgana couldn't find any spare guest rooms at the castle." Gwen winked at Daenerys and she smiled. She knew she and not met this lady Morgana at the castle, but she was grateful for the cover up.
"Fine by me," he said, then to Daenerys, "you're free to stay as long as you like."
"Thank you, sir," Daenerys said nervously.
"Oh! I forgot to introduce you!" Gwen complained as she pulled up a chair of her father, "father, this is Daenerys Taeragryn, Daenerys, this is my father."
"What an interesting name!" Gwen's father commented, grunting as he bent into the chair. Nodding. Daenerys bit her lip. As a child, her only friend had been her brother, so it was slightly awkward thats he was meeting someone else's guardian for the first time. She opened her mouth to speak, but Viaerion suddenly squeaked, slightly muffled from underneath the couch. Quickly clapping a hand over her mouths eh apologized.
"No need to apologize, Daenerys-" her father began.
"Khaleesi," Daenerys interrupted him. He gave Gwen a confused look, and she retaliated with one of nervous apology.
"Excuse me?" he asked her.
"My title," Daenerys explained.
"Oh," he said, "like, a Lord or Lady?" Daenerys nodded, thankful that Viserion was now silent.
"A little higher up then that, father," Gwen said, playing with the lace on the cuffs of her sleeves nervously. Daenerys gave her a pained look- did she really have to bring that up?!
"I don't understand," Gwen's father shook his head, "what does Khaleesi mean?" Gulping, Daenerys gave Gwen a look that cried for help.
"Go on, tell him," Gwen encouraged with a shrug of her shoulders, "it's alright." Sighing, Daenerys licked her lips before announcing, "In Dothraki, Khaleesi is the term for Queen. Khal is the word for the male counterpart, King." At this, Gwen's father was in complete and utter shock- a queen was staying in his home! A queen was friends with his daughter! Looking at the girl sitting in front of him, he would never have guessed that she was queen. For one, she looks young, he thought, although she does have white hair, like Gaius…. he let out a gasp, thinking, does she use magic to keep herself looking young?!
"What is it, Daddy?" Gwen piped up.
"Miss Daenerys, I'm wondering, how old are you?" he asked.
"Why does it matter?"
"Your hair is white, but you don't look to be older then about fifteen years old!" he sputtered ecstatically.
"Well, white hair is a common trait among the Taeragryn house, and it is true, My sixteenth name day is approaching as we speak."
"That's a birthday, father," Gwen clarified for him. Nodding, he rubbed his chin, amazed with the fact that someone so young could become a queen and have whit hair at the same time.
"Well," he clapped his hands together, "it is most definitely an honor to have you here, Daeneys!" A smile kept onto his face, eyes crinkling at the corners. Getting up, he placed his hands on his hips, nodding, "I guess we'll have to find you a room to sleep in, no?" Daenerys shook her head.
"No, no, this is fine" she said, petting the couch.
"That is most definitely not fine," Gwen's dad said, "as long as a queen is staying in my house, she will have a comfortable bed to sleep in. I must warn you though, this house is not going to be as lavish as the castle you live in back ho-" He stopped short when Daenerys let out a sudden moan, her body becoming wracked with sobs. Hurriedly, Gwen sat beside her, wrapping her in a hug, swaying gently from side to side as Daenerys stained the shoulder of her dress with tears and snot.
"D-did I say something wrong?" Gwen's father stammered out as the two broke apart from the embrace.
"It is unbecoming of the Khaleesi to cry," Daenerys said, "I do apologize…. it's just…."
"Her home is a very touchy subject at the moment," Gwen said for her, "and don't especially mention the Dothraki, alright?"
"Why?"
"My hu-husband…" Daenerys blubbered, "my moon and stars….." Gwen stroked her white hair, shushing her to calm down, that everything was alright. Husband? Gwen's father thought, what does she mean by that? Getting up, Gwen led her father into the kitchen, saying, "If I explain, you must promise not to make fun of her, alright?"
"You know I would never chastise another's life choices Gwen," her father said, "now please explain because I am very confused about all this."
"Well," Gwen began, biting her nail, "she was exiled from her people- Don't interrupt!- her brother sold her to a warrior tribe as a trophy wife in exchange for an army to protect the people. Of course, they fell in love, which was wonderful, but they lived in the middle of the barren of the Dothraki Sea- trust me, i've never heard of it either- and now she's here because she and her friend, someone named Tyrion Lannister want to overthrow King Joffrey of the Iron Throne in Westeros to claim it as hers." She finished with a little huff, not realizing she had run out of breath. In the meantime, her father had a very strange look on his face, a mix of confusion and astonishment all in one.
"I don't know how to react to that one," her father shook her head. Gwen nodded in agreement, "I know- i still can't wrap my head around it! But there-"
"How old was she when she was married?" he asked.
"Thirteen or fourteen, I can't remember, but that isn't the point-"
"Children?" he asked. She had been carrying her stomach carefully.
"I believe she said she had two- one a miscarriage, another murdered. But father-"
"That's terrible," he commented thoughtfully, his voice full of wonder.
"Yes, it is terrible, but father, there's something amazing I need to tell you!"
"What would that be?" he asked, watching a child-like gleam enter his daughter's eyes, thinking, After that depressing story, this better be good!
"in Westeros, they practice magic!" she squealed.
"But magic is illegal in Camelot!" her father said, "surely she knows this? Does she practice it herself?"
"I don't know if she practices herself, but I informed her, although heir magic isn't the same as maid here, they really only use it for telling the future or prophecies, you know?" Now she was on a roll, not wanting to stop. Just speaking the magical word mad eyer heart race, blood pump loudly in her ears as it ran through her veins. Her father, meanwhile, nodded, trying his best to take it all in, for it sounded very bizarre to be true at all.
"I see…." he said warily, not so sure he wanted the girl to live there anymore.
"Oh! There's one more thing!" Gwen added, "you know how she was holding her stomach when you came in?" He nodded, "I thought she was with child."
"Well, she isn't, so there isn't anything messy to deal with," Gwen assured him, "but those in her lap, they're eggs." Her father opened his mouth to speak, but Gwen stopped him, "No, not chicken eggs, father, they're dragon eggs! Can you believe that?! They let dragons roam freely and practice magic in westerns, it all sounds so amazing!" His heart suddenly caught in his chest- what would happen if the king found out he was housing someone who illicitly raised dragons and possibly practiced magic? He gulped- the king would throw Gwen and himself in the dungeon for treason, get executed by morning, that's what!
"What is it, Daddy?' Gwen asked worriedly.
"Are those eggs hatched?" he asked nervously.
"Well, on elf them is, but-" she began, her father cutting her off, "One of them?! She has multiples?!"
"Only three!" Gwen raised her hands defensively, "honesty, daddy, it isn't a problem dn she didn't train them to kill-"
"How do you know that?!" her father exclaimed, "she could be a murderer for all we know!"
"If she was a murderer don't you think we'd be dead by now?!" Gwen shot back, cosign her arms triumphantly when his face fell, devoid of an answer. Sighing, Gwen plopped down into a seat at the kitchen table, "Please, father. Yu cannot tell anyone about this." Nodding, he rubbed his chin. It was going to be very difficult in the few days to come, that he was sure of.