A/N: Here's an update, because...IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! :D First off, I would like to apologize that in pretty much all of Dany and Drogo's chapters, you're just getting snippets of everyday life in a caravan and the occasional update on the civil war. Sort of boring, I know. That'll remain true for a little while more, but I promise you that both of their stories are gearing toward a drastic turn and then there will be no more fartin' around in towns and trading goods with the local merchants. But for now, enjoy reading some more caravan action. Many thanks to my beta reader (and sister) GrowlingPeanut. Reviews are appreciated. They can also count as birthday gifts.

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. It all belongs to Bethesda Softworks and George R. R. Martin.

Rating: T for minor language.

The road to Riverwood was short and, much to the relief of the caravan, devoid of any guards or soldiers. The quiet journey served as a much needed reprieve from the paranoia of their few days in Helgen and Drogo was glad to be back on their way, never having been fond of staying too long in one place, even if the safety of his caravan wasn't in jeopardy. Caravans were meant for the roads and even if the towns and cities across Skyrim did serve as the best chance for profit, the roads were where they belonged.

As far as he knew, Riverwood had managed to keep itself out of the politics of the civil war so he assumed that they would be safe for however long they stayed within its walls, a correct assumption by all of the accounts he'd heard.

"My Khal?" Dar'Jazha's voice broke Drogo from his thoughts and he looked over at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Pardon?"

"Are we staying long in Riverwood?"

"Oh. No. We'll leave before nightfall and head on towards Whiterun if we're able." The gates of Riverwood slowly parted to grant them access as he continued. "I need to speak with Valerius about a trade arrangement. If you'll get together the things we have to trade and then set up a stall outside the Sleeping Giant, you can try to earn us a profit while we're here." He hesitated for a moment. "And see if you can teach Daenerys a thing or two about peddling."

Sharp teeth poked out from beneath thin lips as he smiled and nodded his acquiescence. "My Khal will no longer need Dar'Jazha if she learns my trade; wait and see."

Drogo laughed and shook his head. "I'll always need you around. Besides, my wife will have other duties to attend to in time."

His companion nodded in agreement and glanced back to where Daenerys was walking beside Ahkari and Ma'ahni. She had quickly grown fond of the young Khajiit and her mother and she looked up with a smile when they waved toward the front of the caravan. Drogo and Dar'Jazha waved back.

"Keep them entertained," Drogo said with a smile, dismounting from his stallion and handing the reins to Dar'Jazha before striding off in the direction of the Riverwood Trader. The creatively named general goods store was nestled near the center of town and its cozy wood exterior somehow managed to make up for its cautious and lackluster owner.

Lucan Valerius was arguing with his younger sister Camilla when Drogo entered.

"Well, one of us has to do something!" Camilla was saying, throwing her hands up in a gesture of exasperation.

Her brother sighed wearily and shook his head. "We are done talking about this."

"Well, what are you going to do then?" Camilla retorted. "Let's hear it!"

"I said no!" Lucan replied forcefully, slamming his fist down on the wooden counter between them in a rare fit of passion. "No adventures, no theatrics, and definitely no chasing thieves!" Sighing again, he looked over toward the door and managed a weak smile. "Oh, Drogo. I'm sorry you had to hear that."

After shooting a pointed look at his sister, she left in a huff and Lucan turned back to the caravan master at the door. "It's nice to see a friendly face. Camilla seems to be getting harder to handle with each passing day. If she could just choose between those two men that are mooning over her and settle down, she would be finally be out of my hair."

Drogo chuckled and walked over to stand on the other side of the wooden counter. "Still hasn't made a decision between those two?" When Lucan shook his head sadly, he smiled. "So what was she on about this time?"

Valerius hesitated for a moment then leaned forward and rested his elbows on the counter. "You remember my golden claw don't you? The family heirloom given to me by my father?"

Drogo nodded and noticed for the first time that it was missing from its usual spot between them.

"Well...we had a bit of a break-in. They left all the rest of my wares and just made off with the claw. Camilla wants to go after the bastard that took it."

The Redguard frowned. "She may have a point you know."

Lucan groaned and put his head in his hands. "Not you too...I know that my sister is a perfectly capable woman, but I just...I don't want her getting hurt. All the things she wants to do are dangerous and she's the only family I have left."

"I know how you feel," Drogo admitted. "I was just recently married and trouble seems to be following my wife wherever we go."

Lifting his head again, Valerius raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly. "Married? Good for you. It wouldn't hurt for you to settle down either."

"Perhaps not, but I'm not planning to leave the caravan anytime soon. It's my life as much as this store is yours. And while we're on the topic of business, I have a proposition for you. One that seems all the more beneficial in light of the recent theft."

"Oh?"

Drogo nodded and reached for the piece of rolled parchment tucked into his swordbelt. "As you know, since we've taken a few of Ri'Saad's routes over the years, he's found himself with a handful of extra men that are no longer needed and are currently only a burden on his coinpurse."

He handed the paper to Lucan and continued as the other man broke the seal and began scanning the scroll's contents.

"He would like to offer two able-bodied guards to defend against thieves and the like and would also include a guarantee that he would personally pay the amount to get a replacement for anything that went missing under their watch."

"And in return?"

"You pay them each their wages and for every item you sell while they are in your employment, Ri'Saad asks for thirty-five percent of the profits."

"Thirty-five?" Lucan frowned and spread the parchment out on the counter between them. "That's a steep price."

Drogo shrugged slightly. He wasn't there to bargain on details. Ri'Saad had made it clear that he was to be nothing more than a messenger and that if his terms were rejected, he would take his business elsewhere.

"To be honest," Valerius continued, retreating briefly toward the back of his shop to retrieve a quill and inkwell. "If I hadn't just been robbed, it wouldn't be worth it, but right now, security is more important than profit." He signed the parchment and resealed it before handing it back to Drogo. "Tell Ri'Saad I'll take his deal."

Drogo nodded and returned the scroll to his belt. "As soon as this reaches his hands, he'll send your guards. If you wish, I can leave a few of my men here until they arrive."

Lucan shook his head and straightened a few items on the counter when the door opened. "There's no need. I'm sure Faendal would keep an eye on the shop if Camilla asked him to."

Drogo chuckled and stepped aside so the new customer could browse the wares on display.

"You tell your sister that I want her to make up her mind."

Lucan smiled and glanced back toward him. "That I can do. Good day, Drogo. You know you're welcome here anytime."

Waving a farewell, Drogo ducked back out of the shop and left it behind in search of his partner on the other side of town.

As expected, Dar'Jazha was standing behind his makeshift wooden stall, gesturing exaggeratedly as he called out their wares to the passing villagers, Daenerys standing at his side. When he approached, Dany picked up a silver and ruby ring and held it out in his direction.

"Would you like to buy this ring, my lord? To gain favor with a young lady perhaps? Only two-hundred sixty septims; a fair price for its value."

Drogo smiled and leaned down to give her a kiss. "Thank you, but my lady already has a ring." He tapped the silver band on her finger that signified their bond of matrimony and she smiled back at him happily. Though she was wearing the heavy bear pelt cloak he had fashioned for her in Helgen, the chill had still left a tint to her cheeks and Drogo marveled, not for the first time, at how beautiful she was.

"Dar'Jazha should make you pay for that kiss," the Khajiit grumbled, shooting a look at his Redguard partner. "It was given at my stand."

"Here." Drogo flipped a five septim coin in his direction. "Buy your wife something pretty."

Dar'Jazha rolled his eyes and turned away, muttering under his breath and swishing his tail in mock annoyance.

Dany giggled and then looked back at her husband. "Did you finish what you needed to?"

He nodded and fingered the edge of one of the tunics on the stall's counter. "Yes. And this ring made me think of something." Returning the ring to its spot beside the matching amulet, he nodded toward the woman standing a few paces away, deep in conversation with the town's lumberjack. "That's Camilla Valerius. The Bosmer that's staring at her is Faendal. The Nord bard over there watching her from his porch is Sven."

Daenerys raised her eyebrows. "Oh..."

"Her brother is the man I was talking with. He owns the general goods store. He and everyone else in this town would like to see her settle down with one of them, but it's been years now and she hasn't yet chosen between them."

"Those poor men."

"My thoughts exactly. If you could somehow convince her to make a decision, Lucan would be forever in your debt, and, therefore, in mine, which could be beneficial sometime down the road."

Dany nodded in understanding. "I'll see what I can do."

She started off in Camilla's direction then hesitated and turned back around. "Which is the right one for her?"

Drogo shrugged. "They're both good men. You decide."

Raising her eyebrows, she shrugged slightly and then continued on, leaving Drogo and Dar'Jazha alone at the merchant's stand.

"Does my Khal wish to return to the road?"

Drogo looked back at the Khajiit and shook his head. "No. Keep selling here. I need to speak with one more person before we leave."

Dar'Jazha nodded and managed to lure a customer over before Drogo even had the chance to leave his side and walk toward the sawmill.

Faendal had returned to his work at the mill as soon as Dany and Camilla had left for the Riverwood Trader and he put down his axe when Drogo approached.

"Good day, Drogo. What brings you to Riverwood?"

"Business."

"I didn't realize you were going to be here so soon. I had heard that we would have a visiting caravan, but I thought it was sometime next moon."

"It was going to be," Drogo admitted, rubbing his hands together to combat the chill of the autumn wind. "But there were a few unexpected events that brought us here early. Do you know where I can find Gerdur?"

"I think she went to talk to Alvor about new blades for the saws. Hod says they're getting a bit dull."

Drogo nodded his thanks and left the Bosmer to his work, heading off in the direction of the blacksmith's shop. Just as Faendal had said, Gerdur was speaking with Alvor when he arrived. He turned to Alvor's daughter as he waited for them to finish their business.

"Helping out your father at the forge again Dorthe?"

She nodded and smiled proudly. "Papa says I'm going to be the greatest blacksmith that Skyrim has ever seen!"

Drogo chuckled. "I don't doubt that one bit. And I promise that my caravan will sell your weapons once you're old enough to run your own forge."

Dorthe's smile widened. "Really? Thank you!"

"You're welcome. Send your mother my regards when you see her again, would you?"

She nodded and scampered off when her father called her over, leaving Drogo and Gerdur standing together outside the blacksmith's home.

"Drogo. What a surprise. Is there anything that I can help you with?"

"I don't know. It's information that I'm looking for."

"You'd probably be better off talking to Orgnar at the Sleeping Giant then."

"Perhaps. Do you know if it's true that Viserys Targaryen has sided with the Stormcloaks?"

Gerdur narrowed her eyes. "You ask that as if it would be a bad thing." Drogo shook his head and her suspicion faded. "I hope to Talos that he has, but no, I hadn't heard that. I haven't gotten a letter from Ralof for moons now. Suppose he's busy fighting the war with Robb Stark. He says that he's the Young Wolf's most trusted advisor. Do you suppose that's true?"

"I wouldn't know," Drogo replied, frowning slightly. "I've never had the pleasure of meeting your brother."

"Well, he's a good man, but sometimes he likes to make things sound grander than they really are. He writes about that Stark boy as though he's Tiber Septim reborn. Why is it that you're asking about Riften?"

"No reason," Drogo said absently. "I just heard a rumour and wanted to confirm it. If it's true, my trade route will be slowed by Stormcloak troops and I needed to know if I should account for a delay in travel."

"The woes of leading a caravan in times of war," Gerdur replied sympathetically. "But gods know Ulfric needed the East firmly in his grip to defeat the Legion. They may be robbing forts right from under Tywin Lannister's nose, but everyone knows that the lions have a larger army and better trained men. It gives them an advantage that poses a threat to all of Skyrim."

Though Drogo knew well how strongly both Gerdur and her husband Hod supported the Stormcloak rebellion, he wasn't entirely in agreement with their views so he merely nodded and offered silence as comment.

"If you'd like, I can send a courier with news as soon as I hear word from Ralof."

"Thank you. I would appreciate that."

Gerdur nodded and after apologizing for having to return to the mill, let him continue on his way to the inn. Perhaps Orgnar would know more than she had. Even if he didn't, he could share what little information he did get with Daenerys. He'd seen her and Camilla disappear into the Sleeping Giant half an hour earlier, presumably in search of Sven.

Much to his surprise, the bard was nowhere to be seen when he entered and Daenerys waved him over to the table where she sat with Camilla and Faendal, the latter with a rare smile on his face.

"How did you manage that?" he asked quietly as he lowered himself onto the bench beside his wife.

Dany laughed and slid a piece of paper across the table to him. "I gave this to Camilla and told her it was from Sven."

Drogo raised his eyebrows and looked down at the parchment, making sure that Camilla was occupied before reading it.

My Dearest Camilla,

I yearn to have you as my own,
Washing my linens,
And my fine blond hair,
To cook my dinner from my stove,
And tend to my house while I wander.

Yours truly,
Sven

He snorted and pushed it back to Dany. "He didn't actually write that did he?"

She shook her head. "Oh no. Faendal did." She laughed at the look on her husband's face. "Don't worry, I talked to them both first, and to her. In the end, I thought she would be happier with Faendal, so..." She gestured toward the happy couple. "Problem solved."

"One problem at least," Drogo replied, turning somber as he moved to face his wife. "Though I do have good news regarding your brother."

"Was he finally removed from the throne of Riften? That would be an answer to my prayers."

"No. Nothing like that. Not yet at least. The woman that owns the sawmill is the sister of a fairly important Stormcloak soldier so I asked her if she had heard word of the alliance yet."

"And?"

"She hadn't. And that means that the woman in Helgen only knew because the news came with the Imperial troops. If the Legion is planning to act against you for your brother's treason, they need more support than they have at the moment."

"So we're safe?"

"For now."

Dany sighed and leaned her head to rest against his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"It's my fault that you're in danger now. You and your entire caravan."

"Our entire caravan," he corrected, running his fingers through the thin strands of her silver hair.

"Either way, it's almost a hundred innocent people that are at risk just because of who I am."

"Don't worry yourself about it," Drogo said gently, lifting her chin with his thumb so she met his gaze. "I promise that no one will get hurt while I'm alive. Not you, not me, and not anyone else that's traveling with us."

"And if the Legion sends soldiers after us? Or arrests us at the next city?"

"Then I hope the gods will damn them to the deepest realm of Oblivion." When Dany raised her eyebrows, he shrugged. "The next city we'll be in is Whiterun and Jarl Balgruuf isn't allied with Stormcloak or Lannister. His guards' only allegiance is to him and to the people of the Whiterun."

"And Markarth?"

"Markarth is Imperial controlled, but once we get there, we'll have more important things to worry about than the soldiers on the streets."

"Such as?"

"The Forsworn." Drogo smiled slightly. "When we reach Markarth, I aim to get you an army of your own."