The Dragon of Winter
Chapter 8
Pentos
Viserys
Jon Snow; to Viserys, the name didn't sound like much. Nothing radiated from the name, not like a name such as Viserys Targaryen. His eyes glazed over with pride, I sound like a King, a true and rightful king.
Jon Snow had the name of a bastard, a bastard of the North. Though he had been told that he was a true born Targaryen, all Viserys could picture in his head was a drunken coward trying to wield a sword, only to fail. No bastard Viserys had ever met walked with grace, acted with bravery or sparked with intelligence.
He is the blood of the dragon…
But with his presence, your claim to the throne has been swept into the shadows!
He is Rhaegar's son.
And the son of that wolf-bitch! The one reason you do not wear your crown. Your family is in the ashes because of Lyanna Stark. Her and Robert Baratheon; the usurper… and Jon Snow's uncle, Eddard Stark!
Viserys slammed his pink fist onto his desk in fiery rage. His chair had dropped onto the sand-tiles on the floor.
"Guards! Fetch Magister Illiryo." He watched as the men caked thick with armor nodded and marched to the Magister's chambers; fetch him fast… I have something crucial to discuss.
XXXXXXXX
Winterfell
Eddard
He took no notice of the spitting rain, nor the melancholy howls of the six direwolves that his children had been bestowed with earlier that day.
All stormy his eyes could close upon was the rolled up piece of parchment that sat scrunched in his shaking arm.
A letter.
A letter from Robert… Jon Arryn is dead, and he is coming to Winterfell. The thought raced in his head; his mind flashed to the image of Robert, after Aerys' death:
He and Robert were in the Throne room of the Red Keep. Robert sat on his newly-won throne, wearing his golden crown. The war had been won; but the look on Robert's face matched that of a defeated man's. Robert had lost Lyanna Stark, and his clenched fist was balled in an unstoppable rage that had darkened Robert's mind and every thought.
"I will kill them ALL! Every last bloody Targaryen will die!"
Eddard could do nothing as his truest friend uttered death threats at the two remaining escaped -Targaryens. Robert had turned into a dark storm.
Ned's mind clouded with fear for Daenerys as he recalled the memory; the bitter anger and resentment that lurked in Robert's eyes, how Robert almost lusted for vengeance for Lyanna.
Ned cast his mind to when Daenerys had slowly trudged into Winterfell for the first time, held by Jon and Robb. A day later, she had shyly told him of why she was in Westeros:
"I was captured by Jorah Mormont on the orders of Robert Baratheon…" She had bitten her lip in uncertainty, yet continued with a fearful and doubtful ton in her soft-yet strong voice, "My Lord…I think he wanted to kill me."
Eddard could remember the bitter-fear in her watery violet eyes… how she was afraid of Ned himself.
Ned Stark studied the letter once more; trying to find anything else written on the yellowed piece of parchment- yet nothing but the words 'Jon Arryn is dead. I ride for Winterfell' were present.
Daenerys is not safe here… Robert will kill her.
And Jon… he becomes more like Rhaegar and Lyanna every day, I fear for him too.
"Promise me Ned…"
"I promise."
"Keep him safe, my child…Jon." Lyanna let out a sigh, and her eyes were shut. She did not move, and she said nothing. That was when he knew his sister had died.
Whenever he looked at Jon, Eddard could see a part of Lyanna inside of him, the way he laughed and smiled. His shield of courage, his eyes…
Lyanna's final words rang in his head like a chant, a beautiful, sad prayer, and Eddard knew he had to keep Jon safe- Jon and Daenerys.
Perhaps I will even sacrifice my honour… If that's what it takes.
XXXXXXXXX
Arya
Laughter rallied throughout the courtyard of Winterfell as Robb and Theon Greyjoy sparred together with Bran, Rickon, Arya herself and even Sansa who sat on a bench further away trying to stifle her laughter as Robb had Theon on the ground.
"I think…that's enough sword play for one day!" Theon said breathlessly, still lying on the damp ground.
"Of course." Robb mused while bowing mockingly, extending his arm to pull Theon up to his level.
Arya eyed the war from the Iron Islands as the arrogant and proud smirk trailed back onto Theon's face when he stood once more, wiping any traces of defeat away in one swipe. She had never been fond of Theon.
"Where's the bastard?" Theon asked, the smirk still on his face as he narrowed his eyes in thought.
Robb furrowed his eyebrows, "I haven't seen him all day…" He passed his eyes over every one of his sibling before settling them onto Arya, "Has anyone else noticed of his strange behaviours as of late"
Arya could feel her breath catch in her throat; he suspects something!
"No." Arya spat so fast the others weren't given time to ponder what Robb meant. Sansa looked confused and bit her lip, Bran kicked the ground and Rickon suddenly looked upset.
They all suspect him…
"What do you mean, Robb?" Arya dared to ask.
"I rarely see him, and every time he sees a flame, he stares at it, transfixed!" Though he was doing his best to hide it, Arya could sense a hint of upset and betrayal in Robb's deep voice.
"I bet the bastard wants that dragon bitch; Daenerys!"
Before he could react, Arya had pounced onto Theon, snarling and growling. He was on the ground again within seconds.
"Don't you DARE call Daenerys that again!" She screamed, trying to scratch Theon in her rage. Her anger shocked Arya herself; never had she wanted to hurt anyone as much as she had with Theon then.
"What IS the matter with you?" Theon demanded, shoving Arya off him as fast as she had tackled him to the floor. Amongst Sansa's screams and Robb's laughter, Arya felt herself being picked up and whisked into the air; it was her father and her mother, both sharing faces of shock and horror.
"Arya!" Her mother screamed, "What are you doing?"
"Theon called Daenerys a dragon bitch!"
"Do not say that word ever again Arya, now go to your room!" It was her father this time, in his soft yet strong voice; she knew nothing but to obey.
XXXXXXX
Daenerys
She laughed as the icy wind swept across her face; it had been her idea to ride into the woods, and it had taken all her efforts to sway Jon into joining her. He was not far behind, the hooves of his mount creating a rhythmic beat that matched that of Daenerys' heart.
"What's so funny?" She heard Jon ask warmly.
"Being free, no one knowing we're here; just us."
"And the eggs…" Jon pointed out.
Daenerys turned her gaze to the sack that was strapped to the side of her mount, it had been Jon's idea to bring them, and she could say nothing but agree.
In a swift movement, Jon had swayed in front of Daenerys' mare and was shouting "Follow me, there is a place I wish to go with you!"
They rode through what seemed like masses of trees, Daenerys smiling at every sight.
All my life, I lived in fear; inside great stone castles, not knowing that the world outside held such beauty.
Jon slowly turned his head round to look at Daenerys, she saw him laugh; a rare sight… and so beautiful.
"What are you smiling at, Daenerys?"
"The world."
XXXXXXXXX
Eddard
It had grown dark, and all his children were sick with worry; Jon and Daenerys had not been seen since dawn, where they had been seen taking two horses, food and swords and small daggers from the armoury.
"Where are they?" Arya cried, eyes watery and her mouth in a tight frown. He heard her take in a sharp breath, "and, when they return, what do we do about King Robert?" She jumped up from her chair in furious energy, "He hates Targaryens?" She looked at him with uncertainty.
After the excitement of the Royal visit had smouldered, an unease had settled over Winterfell; Daenerys had grown upon many in Winterfell over the months, and the thought of the slayer of dragons discovering the exiled Targaryen had caused distress in and outside of the castle.
"We will find them, Arya." He passed his arm over her skinny shoulder, "I am certain they decided to go riding for the day, and the dark came too fast."
"But they didn't take Ghost!" Arya's direwolf, Nymeria's ears picked up at hearing her brother's name. Her and Arya were insuperable.
"Ghost and the rest of the wolves were asleep at dawn, perhaps Jon didn't wish to wake him."
At that, Arya's mouth formed a straight line on her face, and a piece of worry faded from her eyes, "I hope they return soon."
Ned ruffled his daughter's tangled hair, "They will Arya, they will."
XXXXXXXXX
Jon
The darkness had swept over the lands, and he and Daenerys had no choice but to make a large fire to keep them warm. They sat and watched in a comfortable blanket of silence, gripping onto the dragon eggs. Jon kissed her then, and it grew passionate just like the night before. He felt warm again.
Soon, Daenerys and then Jon had softly fallen asleep, and the fire rocked them into a world of dreams…
"And who do we have here?" Jon shot up as he heard the voice.
His heart began to pound like a drum as the fire allowed him to see five men. Each was armed with swords and daggers, which shone in the light of the fire which was still burning fiercely. Jon felt his heart sink as his own swords and silver daggers shone on the first man's belt, glinting brightly.
"A pretty boy with a prettier woman, kill the boy and fuck the girl!" Like an instinct, Jon's arms flew across the body of Daenerys. He could hear laughter from all men, making him grip on more fiercely. He felt Daenerys moan softly and open her eyes.
"Pretty girl 'as woken up! Let's take a closer look." The shortest man sneered; by then Daenerys was aware of what was happening and cried out when the man turned her over to look at her face.
"RUTCH!" He shouted, "come 'ave a look at the girl!" The tallest and strongest looking man grunted as he was called over and slowly trudged to Jon and Daenerys.
As soon as Rutch locked his eyes into Daenerys', the flew wide with a sudden resentment, his fists were clenched so tightly they had turned white.
"TARGARYEN!"
XXXXXXXX
Daenerys
They know who I am.
Her wrists were bound to a nearby tree, and Jon lay next to her bound to another tree, blood still poured from where they had hit him.
She had screamed when the blunt end of Rutch's dagger had struck Jon on the back of his head; he had hit the ground as the five men cackling rang through the forests. She wanted to help Jon, she wanted to touch the eggs that still lay on the burning fire, she wanted to be in Winterfell, with Jon.
"The Mad King burned my father and made me watch, my sister too. Then he forced me to rape and kill her, all while laughing." Rutch screamed at Daenerys.
Daenerys could not speak; a gag was tied around her mouth.
All she could feel was a sickening twist in her heart; how he treated his people. MY father! The Mad King…
He earned his name.
A third man stepped forward. Sweat was trickling down his large forehead in the heat of the flames, his grubby hands fingered the stolen sword that was tucked into his belt. "Revenge." He said, "You always wanted that. Yeah, Rutch want's revenge don't he?" The man's twisted smile sent shivers down Daenerys' spine, "What do you say we do Rutch? What do we do for revenge?"
Rutch's mouth mirrowed that of the third man's.
"I say we burn her."
XXXXXXXXXXX
NOTES: DUN DUN DUUUUUN
Please review, constructive criticism is welcome