Chapter 6
In Winterfell
Two days prior to leaving with Arya to King's Landing, Lord Stark had agreed to allow Rhaenys under the name Armea Caspian to visit her aunt Daenerys in the North, much too Dany's delight and sending Theon with Sansa, back to the Iron Islands with his permission to wed Sansa. Lord Stark became wary of the Lannisters after what had happened to Bran. With his favourite cousin's imminent departure due to her betrothal to his younger half-brother Prince Gendry, Jon had fashioned a sword as a parting gift to Arya. While forging the sword, he encountered the last person he wanted to meet, Jaime Lannister.
"Forging a sword, I see. Fine work and excellent balance but it is not the appropriate size for a man of your stature? It is far too small and thin. Do you know how to wield a sword? Do you even know how to kill a man?" Jaime said tauntingly
"The sword I am forging is a parting gift for my cousin. I have my own sword, I know how to wield it but I have yet to kill a man if I were to kill, I prefer to face him when I finish him off. I hope I never will but we can't all have what we want." Jon replied menacingly
"True, I hear congratulations are in order for our newly acknowledged heir to Storm's End and soon to be lord husband of the beautiful dragon spawn, or is it the direwolf whore now ?" Jaime smirked
"I thank you for your sentiments; I never expected the acknowledgement although I know it did not sit well with your sister I welcome it regardless. As for my engagement, I am pleased that my father chose Daenerys to be my bride. I love her with all my heart and I would kill for her. She is my family and the Starks value their family the way a Tully would. If you'll excuse me, I must say goodbye to my cousin." Jon retorted calmly
One Week Later
Before Prince Rhaegar left for Braavos, he sent for Lord Darklyn and his daughter Rhaenys who seemed to be more heavily with child than an expectant mother of three moons and left him with strict instructions to watch over Dany, Rhaenys, and Bran. Robb became fast friends with Dany's new good sister and her sworn shield Ser Lucius (Jaerys Darklyn). Two days later while guarding Bran in his chambers at the North Tower, Lady Catelyn and Lady Lyanna watched them like hawks. Robb, Jon and Dany absorbedly observed as Armea played with Bran and Rickon.
"Do not worry about Rhaenys she will be a good mother." Jon declared so softly only she can hear, as he planted a kiss in her lips. When Lady Lyanna cleared her throat; he pulled his face away from Dany and just held her in his arms
"I hope so" Dany sighed as she relaxed in the warmth he offered as they watched Bran lays his head on his pillow
"Look at Robb" he pointed out then Dany noticed Robb's love struck gaze directed at her niece
"Oh, gods" she gasped in shock
"Careful cousin, don't forget Armea is an honoured guest of your house and she is married to the dragon." Jon warned
"Who lives across the sea, dear cousin" Robb countered but stopped when Lady Catelyn looks at him sternly and just jealously looked at Rickon who was sleeping in Armea's arms.
"Something is wrong" Lady Lyanna said
"Oh, gods, what is that terrible smell?" Armea cried while holding a sleeping Rickon as Robb opened a window
"Fire! There's a fire." Robb said as he ran out of the tower with Jon and Lady Lyanna.
"Lady Armea, Let me take you to your chambers, my dear. Breathing the fumes is dangerous in your current condition." Lady Catelyn led Armea back to her chambers followed by Ser Lucius.
When Dany returned to Bran's chambers after taking Rickon to his own, and finds an assassin attempting to kill Bran.
"You are not supposed to be here." The man said.
Dany grabs a dagger, attacks the man and screamed to wake the boy.
"Bran! Run!" Dany screeched
The assassin nicked Dany's arm when she got distracted trying to make the boy leave the room. When he was about to slit her throat, she held the blade to keep him from slitting her. Then Bran's direwolf came in the chambers and bit the assassin's arm, releasing Dany. She grabbed the assassin's knife and stabbed the man while Bran's direwolf tear out the assassin's throat.
"Well done, Summer." Bran said to his direwolf
Dany went toward the door then Robb and Jon came in. Robb went to his shocked brother as Jon went straight to Dany.
"What happened here?" Jon asked while holding Dany.
"An assassin came for Bran." Dany blurted out and winced when Jon accidentally touched her scarred arm.
"You're hurt" Jon said as he removes the bloody sleeve that covered Dany's wound.
"Bran, take Dany to the maester" Robb ordered his brother.
Snapping out of his reverie, Bran takes Dany to Maester Luwin. Lady Catelyn notices the wound on Dany's arm and her bleeding hand and the dead man in Bran's chambers
"What happened here?" Lady Catelyn asked
"Someone wanted Bran dead and sent a thug to kill him, fortunately Dany was able to finish the man with the help of Bran's direwolf" Robb said
"This is to fine a blade for a simple farmer, it is made of Valyrian steel and the hilt is made with dragonebone." Jon notes holding the knife Dany used to stab the killer then he searches the man and finds a pouch in his persona.
"Robb, Look at this." Jon instructs as he tosses the pouch to Robb.
"Fresh Lannister gold" Robb observes.
Lady Catelyn notices something on the hilt of the knife.
"Jon, let me see that knife?" Lady Catelyn orders
"Here" Jon handed it to her then she removes the rubber wrapping around the hilt, revealing the sigil of House Lannister.
"The nerve of those scums to feast with us and then think they can get away after attempting to murder my brother in his bed and injure my good cousin to be" Robb rages
"Cousin, calm yourself. Now is not the time to lose your wits. Think about this situation with care." Jon tries to soothe Robb
"I'm beginning to doubt that Bran fell from the tower. He was always a sure footed climber." Robb scoffed
"True, why would they attempt to kill a boy twice?" Lady Catelyn asked
"If that boy saw something that he was not meant to see." Lady Lyanna answered behind Lady Catelyn with her was Daenerys and Bran holding her good arm.
"Is there something I should know, Daenerys?" Lady Catelyn asked coldly
"The day Lord Caspian-"
"Your brother, I know who he really is. I'll spare you the truth later." Lady Catelyn interrupted.
"I'll explain later" Jon offered looking at his cousins who were obviously knocked for six
"That day my brother and I broke Bran's fall by dragon's flight. I saw a glimpse of the reason why Bran fell. However what I saw is merely a speculation. The one who can confirm it is Bran alone." Dany said in a gentle voice.
"Dragon's flight? There are no dragons for the passed three hundred years." Robb said
"My mother had left me three dragon eggs, but my father gave my eldest brother three dragon hatchlings. Before he was murdered, my father passed some knowledge about dragons to my brother, the secret of Fire and Blood that I now possess." Dany replied
"Impossible!" Robb huffed in disbelief
"Incredible, yes, but not impossible, my dear nephew for I have had the same experience as your future good cousin." Lady Lyanna
"Enough! Brandon, what did you see that day?" Lady Catelyn asked her son
"I was climbing on one of the abandoned towers then through a window I saw the queen and her twin brother together. The man pulled me in and asked me what my age was while the queen kept saying 'he saw us' then the man pushed me out of the tower and the next thing I knew I was with Dany and Lord Caspian at the balcony of the Great Keep." Bran told his mother as he still clutched Dany's hand.
"Again, I thank you for saving my son, Dany." Lady Catelyn said gratefully.
"Aunt, there is more. Yesterday, Ser Lucius and I went to investigate the tower where Bran fell and found this in a room." Jon said as he revealed a lock of long golden hair.
"I must warn Ned of this but I don't trust a raven. I will go to King's Landing at first light."
"It is too perilous a journey, my lady" Dany protested
"I must." Lady Catelyn insisted
"Then I will go, mother" Robb offered
"There must always be a Stark in Winterfell. I will not go alone. Ser Rodrik will be coming with me to ensure my safety. The Lannisters must pay for their crimes"
When they all left to their own devices, Jon and the Stark boys; accompanied by Ser Lucius left for a hunting expedition at the Wolfswood. Dany had gone to her niece's chambers, not finding her niece in the bed she looked in the bathing chambers, there she found Rhaenys clutching her belly and screaming, her dress covered in her own blood.
"Aunt, please help me! My child is coming!"
"It is too soon" Dany squealed as she helped Rhaenys into the bed.
"No, it is my time, aunt. Viserys took my maidenhood ten moons ago and he married me in secret before telling father and Aegon."
Laying down, Rhaenys again screamed in agony when she felt the next pain then Dany called for a page.
"Boy, send for the maester, immediately." Dany said in a panicked voice as the boy hurriedly left, Lady Lyanna was passing through.
"Dany, Why did you call for the maester? Are you unwell, dear?" Lady Lyanna asked with a concerned voice
"No, it is not me, my lady. Rhaenys is in labour. The babe is coming." Dany said as she followed Lady Lyanna into Rhaenys' chambers. Lady Lyanna was sitting next to Rhaenys soothing and guiding her.
"Armea, dear. Listen to me. Just breathe through the pain. Trust me it helps." Lady Lyanna soothed.
As Rhaenys was breathing through another pain, Maester Luwin came in with the page carrying a basin of cold water and cloths.
"You are doing well, Lady Caspian. Spread your legs and when I say push, push the babe out." said the old man as he covered her with a blanket
Instead of replying Rhaenys screamed in pain, grabbed Lady Lyanna's left hand and seized Dany's good arm
"Alright PUSH!"
Rhaenys grunted as she pushed
"Dany, I would like you to check if you see the babe's hair" the maester instructed.
Dany shifted and looked into the blanket. Rhaenys tightened her grip on Dany's arm
"Maester Luwin, I do not see the babe's hair or head. I see it's backside" Dany answered
"This is going to be a long night." Lady Lyanna muttered
"I don't care. I just want the child in arms." Rhaenys screamed
"Breathe then PUSH, my lady." said the maester
Again with a grunt Rhaenys pushed the child out until four hours later, a sound filled the room.
"Armea, you've given birth to a girl" Dany said as she handed the babe to the maester to be cleaned and embraced her niece.
"Congratulations, my dear girl. You are now a mother." Lady Lyanna said and kissed her forehead.
"Thank you. May I see her?" Rhaenys asked
"Of course. Here she is, my lady." Maester Luwin handed her the babe and Rhaenys nursed her child
"She is beautiful" Lady Lyanna said as she left to tell Lady Catelyn
"What will you name her?" Dany asked as Maester Luwin left them, Jon and Robb came in silently.
"Annalysse Targaryen is her name" Rhaenys said