(Hello everyone! So I am finally back and I would like to apologise for my long delay. Writers block is a bitch! But my muse is back and hopefully I will update more regularly than I have been. Enjoy!)
Why were men such idiots at times?
They could command an army of a thousand warriors, inspire such loyalty that those same warriors would willing follow them into war, gain instant respect based on their gender alone and yet they could still – at times - act like little children.
Daenerys Targaryen took a deep breath as she stormed her way from her ship's quarters to the stern of one of the many Masters ships she had acquired during the Siege of Meereen.
They had been at sea for close to two moons and thanks to the blessings of the winds were reaching Westeros far faster than either Ser Barristan Salmy or Lord Tyrion Lannister had anticipated.
But being stuck on a ship that one could reach from one end to another in but a few moments had its down falls.
Sick warriors who could not take to the shifting grounds beneath them, whining family members in the form of her nephew Aegon Targaryen who even though was but a few years younger than she, acted as young as her five year old son at times. An irritable husband who needed to kill something or someone soon or he'll go crazy and a grumpy child who was missing his much favoured aunt, had Daenerys wanting to pull out her hair.
Her only saving grace was the sanity of her handmaiden Missandei, whose soothing presence and sound advice stopped Daenerys on a regular basis from ordering Drogon to start setting people on fire! Especially that damn husband of hers!
All she had wanted on this eve was a nice, family meal in their quarters with her husband and her son. But being told by Missandei that her son had refused to come to dinner because he, his oversized father, his cousin AND Daario Naharis, one of her trusted advisors were 'in competition' had Daenerys' resisting the urge to scream in frustration.
"How long have they been at it?" Daenerys asked Missandei who followed quickly behind her.
"The Khal, Daario and Prince Aegon, since this morn, Khalessi. Prince Rhaego for the past hour." Missandei informed her, coming to a halt behind Daenerys as she came to a stop beside her husband, Khal Drogo.
He was such a fiercely commanding man, whose personality at times were at odds with each other. To most he was harsh and brutal, unrelenting and cruel. One of the youngest Khals in history, undefeated as evident of the long braid that reach down below his waist and able to kill an armed man in but a few seconds with just his bare hands.
His name alone made other Khal's cautious and his reputation in combat was less to none.
But to her and to their son – and as of late Arya Stark - he was just husband, father and brother. Protective, at times gentle and loving but never cruel. At least not to them.
Resisting the urge to run her hand over his broad shoulders, Daenerys stared at the three men and the one child, shaking her head.
Her husband sat cross legged a dark scowl on his bearded face as he glared at their son who sat opposite him mimicking his father, both balancing a blade on their outstretched hands.
Daenerys felt her lips twitch at the sight. Her husband so large, so dark so intimidating, with his brown skin, his black hair and large frame. Their son so much like his father in appearance save for his white blonde hair and his purple eyes that denoted him a Targaryen.
And even though the scowl on Drogo's face was dark and intimidating, there was no denying the father's pride in her husband's eyes as he stared at their son.
However the other two seemed to be locked in a private battle that neither wanted to end.
"Your grace is stronger than he looks." Daario Naharis drawled, causing a muscle in Aegon's jaw to twitch. "But I can see your arms beginning to shake."
"Concentrate on yourself, sellsword." Aegon sneered, lifting his hands higher.
"Should I even ask?" Dany asked them, one brow raised in question.
"Whoever shall win has the honour of courting our Arya without the other interfering once we get to Westeros." Daario told her easily causing Daenerys to shake her head.
It was like they did not know Arya Stark. Because the Arya Stark SHE knew would sooner stab them both repeatedly in the face than let herself be tied down into marriage with either of them.
She knew Aegon considered himself in love with the little wolf that had Tyrion Lannister muttering about history repeating itself and both Ser Barristan and Jorah Mormont watching the two very carefully.
But to their relief it seemed that the affection was one sided as Arya tended to treat Aegon like an annoying brother she couldn't get rid of.
Daario however was the consummate flirt who would and could charm anyone and anything. The one and only time he had tried with her had ended up with him nursing a knife wound to the throat and a broken arm thanks to the jealous nature of her husband.
But Daario flirting with Arya had Aegon brimming with jealousy, Drogo threatening to maim him and Rhaego asking Jorah Mormont about poisons and toxins.
And although Dany did have a sneaking suspicion that there was something more between the two, there was never any real evidence of a relationship.
Dany sighed wishing Arya Stark were here now. She had the amazing ability to handle idiot sellswords, pouting princes and stubborn Khals with naught but a smile and a firm word.
"And you two?" she asked her husband and her son.
"Ave said I could not last an hour." Her five year old son told her while smirking at his father. "I have lasted an hour." He told her triumphantly.
"And you husband?"
"Discipline is a warrior's friend on the battlefield. I will teach our son discipline." He told her gruffly in his native tongue, never taking his eyes from their son.
Sighing in annoyance, Daenerys turned to Missandei.
"How long till we reach the shores of Westeros?" she asked her.
"Lord Tyrion said it should be the day after next if we remain sailing the way we are."
"Good." spinning on her heels she snapped the skirts of her dress closer to her body, shooting all four males a look of annoyance. "Once we reach the shore be sure to inform Lady Arya of the idiocy of those two –"she nodded her head toward Daario and Aegon. "And how they planned her future without her knowledge on who she is going to marry –"Daenerys' lips twitched as both Daario and Aegon quickly dropped their blades a look of trepidation crossing both their faces. Small as she was Arya Stark inspired a fear in most of the men in their company. The others held a healthy respect for her. "And how her Gaezo wasted his time playing silly games instead of planning for the upcoming war –"she watched as her husband's scowl deepened before he too dropped his blade getting to his feet and stretching that long body of his causing Daenerys' eyes to be drawn to the length of his muscled torso.
Resisting the urge to release a girlish sigh she then turned to her son.
"My-Arya loves me." her son told her causing a smile to cross Daenerys' features. To Rhaego, Arya had always been "My-Arya" ever since he laid eyes on her. Her son being so much like his father with his possessive nature.
"Aye she does. You are probably the only one who would remain unscathed once she is told of this foolishness." She told her son fondly, brushing a hand over his blonde head causing her son to grin up at her.
"I miss My-Arya, Mai." Rhaego told her seriously as he too got to his feet, grimacing slightly as he stamped his left foot to probably try and wake it up. "I do not like that she has been away from me for so long." He finished, placing his hands on his hips and frowning deeply.
"You are not the only one, Tih rizh, it seems as if we all are missing her." Dany told him softly, running her hand over his head.
This was her heart. Her Rhaego. Whereas Drogo was her sun and stars, her son was her heart, with his quick wit, his easy smiles and his fierce nature.
Five years old and already he spoke in four different languages fluently thanks to Missandei, could charm the masses like Daario, was learning to fight in hand to hand combat like his father and had a clear head for battle like Arya.
Five years old her son was, and already conducted himself like a man.
And to temper the harshness of life that surrounded him she also made sure that he was encircled by those who loved him unconditionally. Missandei, Daario, his father, Arya and even Aegon.
She was determined that her son's upbringing would not be like hers.
"Do you think she misses us?" Rhaego asked. "That she misses me?"
Dany smiled down at her son, cupping his face.
"Aye, I believe she does."
"Especially you, young prince." Daario drawled, grinning down at Rhaego. "If there is anyone that our Arya would miss the most, it would be you."
Rhaego beamed at the sellsword, drawing himself up to his full height.
It was funny how the tiny Stark girl had ingrained herself in their big family in such a way that her absence was felt by them all.
For Rhaego he probably missed yet another female that catered to his whims and wishes.
While Dany tried to instil a certain sense of discipline in Rhaego, Arya and Missandei tended to give her son anything within their power to give. Even if it was behind her back.
But in all honesty, Dany knew her son missed his much loved Aunt fiercely. So much so that he made sure that his other much loved Aunt – Missandei – was never far from him, in case she too disappeared. He had even gone as far as to order her to never be away from him longer than an hour.
Her son being as possessive of Missandei as he was of Arya. They were his aunts. His family. Women who were his if not by blood then definitely by heart.
Missandei, she knew missed the only other woman besides Dany who ever treated her like she were someone of value and not just a slave who had her uses.
Other than Dany, no high-born had ever treated Missandei with respect or as an equal. But Arya Stark did, ignoring the lines of tradition and etiquette she treated Missandei as if she were family, oftentimes drawing the usually reserved translator out of her shell where she now spoke her mind during discussions and council meetings, refusing to be silenced until her opinion on the matter was heard.
Aegon who had ideals of weddings, marriage and babies, missed the object of his obsession. Dany wasn't too sure if his feelings were true or if he were caught up in his father's past, wanting a woman who would not want him back.
Daario had no other female to flirt with. Flirting with Dany meant the sharp end of Drogo's blade or the hard end of his fist, and flirting with Missandei earned him a dead panned stare that had the charming swordsman shifting uncomfortably. With Arya they would exchange witty repartee that had him grinning like a madman and Arya rolling her eyes at him.
And her Drogo, he missed the one person he considered his sister in every which way but blood. Oftentimes he could be heard muttering to himself in Dothraki that there was none worthy to fight as none had the skill or the head for battle as his inavva. His sister.
Her skill rivalled his, as did her blood lust. But whereas Drogo lost himself in the kill, Arya tended to remain clear-headed. Which was why as an opponent Drogo loved going up against her. He loved the fact that she was forever thinking on her feet when she fought taking note of her opponent's weaknesses and exploited them.
She did not allow her diminutive size stop her from being one of the deadliest opponents her husband had fought against.
That respect had not come easily though. Arya Stark gained it the hard way. By protecting Drogo's only weaknesses. Her and his son.
They had just raided the Lhazareen people and Dany had stepped in to stop a Dothraki man called Mago from raping one of their women.
The spoils of war, she had been told. Something that they had done for centuries.
It did not mean that it was right. The rape of women was something she did not and would not condone.
No matter what her husband had said.
As Dany and Drogo stood debating on the wrongs and rights of war, neither had noticed that Mago and a few of his loyalist had surrounded Dany and Rhaego until it was too late.
"You are a foreigner." Mago interrupted, staring at her through impudent eyes. "You do not command me."
Dany stared back at him unflinchingly.
"I am Khalessi." She told him proudly. "I do command you."
Mago's glare turned deadly, his hands fisting by his side.
Drogo chuckled.
"See how fierce she grows?" he mocked Mago. "Unafraid and proud. She birthed my son, he filled her with fire. Go somewhere else to stick your cock in. Your Khalessi has spoken." He laughed.
Mago drew his Ankh, spitting on the ground in front of Drogo. A blatant display of disrespect.
"A Khal who take orders from a foreign whore is no khal." He said in disgust.
Suddenly there was a scuffle and Dany turned just in time to see Arya Stark sneak up behind a member of her Khalasar holding her son captive, his blade touching the tender skin of her son neck and she watched as Arya snap the man's neck like he wasn't a full head taller than her.
Dany's heart dropped at the thought of how close she was to losing her son and she watched as Arya swept the boy and deposited him into Missandei's arms in one smooth movement.
"Kill the half breed!" Mago raged. "And anyone who gets in your way."
Dany felt the yank of her arm and spinning she came face to face with Ser Jorah who drew her into the circle of his arms protectively.
"Rhaego!" she screamed. Struggling when Ser Jorah pulled her away from the fray.
"Khalessi please. The prince is safe with Lady Arya." Ser Jorah insisted. "We must get you to safety.
She heard her husband's roar of rage as he clashed with Mago. Saw those still loyal to Drogo as they fought against those who sought to betray them. And saw little Arya Stark as she wounded and killed anyone and everyone that dared to try and take Rhaego from Missandei's arms.
For such a small being there was such strength and speed in her. Seasoned Dothraki warriors could not seem to touch her, as she darted around them, making them look like lumbering idiots as she cut and sliced them open. There was precision in her movements as she slashed at legs, thighs and bellies. Ignoring them as they fell, a pile of bodies at her feet.
And then within minutes the uprising had been squashed. Their enemies lay at their feet, dead while their loyalist surrounded Dany and Rhaego in a protective circle.
Drogo paced like a caged animal as he glared down at a fallen Mago whose throat he had just ripped out.
Dany knew her husband. Knew that he would be feeling betrayed and humiliated that a man he trusted had been able to turn so many of his Khalasar.
"Mai!" Dany turned and opened her arms to her son who ran to her, his constant protector a few paces behind.
"Thank you." She whispered to Arya, who gave her a small bow.
"You!" her husband roared pointing to Arya who turned to face him serenely. Dany rose to her feet to intervene only to have Ser Jorah take her arm.
"Wait Khalessi." He advised.
"You fought like a Dothraki to save the life of my son." Drogo told her fiercely, storming towards her and coming to an abrupt halt in front of her.
"Aye."
"Why."
A smile crossed Arya Stark's face as she glanced down at Rhaego.
"Because him I like." She told him truthfully, smiling down at Rhaego who beamed up at her.
Drogo nodded.
"And you I like." He told her. "You are now considered family." He told her firmly. "My sister. You saved the life of my son. I give you a gift I have given no other. We are now brother and sister."
Dany stared at her husband knowing the enormity of such a statement.
Apparently Arya did too.
"You humble me with such an honour, Khal." She bowed. "I thank you and I accept."
Drogo nodded, turning to the crowd of loyalist.
"Take their bodies. Those that died with honour, we burn them and send them to our ancestors. The others we feed to the animals. Go!"
And from that day on, Arya Stark was now known as blood sister to Khal Drogo. And good sister to Daenerys Targaryen.
"Two days, Tih rizh." Dany told her son soothingly. "We will see your Arya in two days." Dany paused shaking her head as she spied her nephew and Daario get into another one of their silly competitions and her husband stomp his way to the other side of the ship.
"And it cannot come soon enough." She heard Missandei mutter, echoing Dany's own thoughts.
(So I used the online Dothraki translator to find the words for Father (Ave), brother (Gaezo), mother (Mai) and My Son (Tih rizh) Hopefully they were right!)
