OUALD: Okie-dokie. Time for a new chapter. But for now, reviews! Most are saying that the story is interesting, some are asking what the Phoenix is for and some are saying that turning Lelouch into a girl has no place in the plot aside from overcomplicating the plot. Here's my reasoning: Lelouch wanted to understand Nunnally better and who better to understand a girl than another girl? Plus, Lelouch is young and people will think she has no political experience and will underestimate her because of her gender. And it gives her the chance to take a backseat with who's in charge and spend more time with Nunna. And I have plans for how it will later put her in situations where she will be powerless and will need to rely on and trust others, a trait she was lacking as a male in Code Geass.
Lelouch wriggled in the Dothraki saddle, trying to get comfortable as Suzaku helped Nunnally stay upright in her saddle. Rolo was a ways ahead, joking and laughing with Rhakaro. The raven-haired girl looked behind her at the tiny Khalessi riding slowly and wincing every now and again as her horse jostled her. Lelouch pulled on her reins until she rode side-by-side with Danaerys.
"Khalessi?" she said tenderly, snapping the girl from whatever fantasy had been playing in her mind's eye and she looked at the ravenette confused.
"Pardon?"
"Are you alright, Khalessi?" Lelouch elaborated. Dany sat up a little straighter and pushed some hair behind her ear.
"Yes. I'm fine. Thank you..."
"Lelouch. I'm Rolo's sister, so I guess that makes you my step-mother." Dany looked Lelouch over and the raven-haired girl scrutinized the dirty, flimsy pink silk gown the silver-haired girl wore.
"How old are you?"
"I'm seventeen. Or...ten-and-seven however you understand it, step-mother."
"Please just call me Dany. I think I'm just too young to be your step-mother. We're the same age after all." For the first time Lelouch could remember, Dany was smiling as she spoke. Albeit, softly but nonetheless, it was a smile. She looked towards Rolo as he shoved at Rhakaro, sending the two into a fit of laughter that spread through the other bloodriders. Even Khal Drogo chuckled some. Dany's smile faded. "Does that mean that Rolo and you are..."
"No. We share no blood with the Khal. He adopted Rolo. And since Rolo is older than both my sister and myself, I guess that means we're now his daughters," Lelouch explained.
"Your sister?" Lelouch nodded toward Nunnally.
"The boy helping her is Suzaku, a childhood friend of ours." Dany nodded and returned to staring at her hands. Lelouch pulled a waterskin from the back of her saddle and offered it to the Khalessi. "You should drink. Can't have the Khalessi falling off her horse because she's dehydrated." Dany nodded her appreciation and muttered a thanks under her breath. "What was that?" Lelouch teased. "I can't hear you."
"I said thank you for being concerned with me," Dany said a little louder with a slight smile.
"Thats better. Remember, you're a Khalessi now, I hardly doubt you have any reason to speak like a mouse. You've got a horde of at least thirty thousand men-"
"Forty thousand. My brother told me."
"Forty thousand then. Still, that many men follow your husband and in the occasion of his death, have sworn to take you safely to...the crones of Vaes Dothrak. If I were you, I'd prefer using my voice instead of squeaking like a mouse caught by a bird of prey of some kind."
"I am," Dany whispered. Lelouch looked at her again but Dany said nothing.
Lelouch couldn't help the groan that slipped out as she dismounted, thankful riding was over for the day. She looked over at Dany as the Khalessi was gently pulled from her saddle and Suzaku pulled Nunnally off her horse. A huge part of her was delighted at the fact that her sister couldn't feel riding pains as the four teenagers entered their tent.
"Poor Dany," Nunnally said as Suzaku put her down near the fire. "She looks so scared all the time. And she was really hurting after today's ride."
"She needs to start wearing Dothraki clothes," Rolo said sharply as he sat down. "That flimsy nonsense she wears isn't meant for the riding we do. Our clothes are made to be worn down and protect the skin."
"He has a point," Lelouch said solemnly as a slave girl came in and served their meal quickly before bowing out.
"Shouldn't we try to do something?"
"I did, earlier today. But she got really quiet and stopped talking all together after a little while," Lelouch pointed out.
"I saw her brother earlier...what's his name? Varys?" Suzaku asked.
"Viserys," Rolo corrected as he bit into his meat.
"Yea, him. He still hasn't changed into Dothraki clothes either. Heck, he doesn't look like he's done anything for himself since we left Pentos."
"The dragon's too proud to change into something that could save its mad, miserable life," Rolo muttered.
"What?" Nunnally asked.
"Illyrio told my father before the meeting that dragons married dragons and for Viserys to give up his sister for father is practically unheard of."
"Wait...you mean..."
"Had our father not married Dany, Viserys would have." Nunnally made a gagging noise and Lelouch hid her face.
"That's disgusting," Suzaku said. Rolo shrugged.
"Dany's mother and father were brother and sister apparently. The Magister also mentioned something about how when a Targaryen is born, the gods flip a coin and the world holds its breath to see if it will be mad or great."
"Let's drop the ghost stories of Dany's past, alright? No one chooses to whom they're born. If we could..." Rolo and Suzaku nodded in understanding to Lelouch's words. Nunnally reached over and hugged her sister tightly. The rest of the meal was eaten in silence, followed by the boys leaving to converse with the bloodriders outside as the girls fell asleep.
Lelouch glanced around as the fire licked at her pants. The warmth prickled her skin as she moved forward.
She knew the Phoenix would appear eventually so instead of looking for it, she looked around. In the distance she could see massive stone structures crumbling away, the forest growing within and about them burning as balls of fire rained from the skies. On her other side was a tall structure like a wall. If she didn't know better, it looked to be made of ice. Fire licked at it and it wept from the heat, but the fire never died. Behind her was a Dothraki camp. Her own or someone else's, she couldn't tell. All she could tell was that it was also burning. She looked ahead, seeing a great city sandwiching a river crossed with bridges and three skyscrapers reaching towards the darkened heavens. Fire lit the roads, lighting up the labyrinth-like streets. Even from where she was, she could see all the wynds and crisscrossing alleys and narrow crookback streets.
At that moment, the fire before her surged and the Phoenix appeared again. It looked at her and released a coo of sorts.
"Well? What did you want to show me?" Lelouch asked. The Phoenix reached down and nuzzled her hand gently before grabbing her by the back of her shirt and lifting her up. "Hey! Put me down!" she yelled as she tried to wiggle herself free. "This is so undignified."
The Phoenix spread its wings and flapped once. Instantly the wall, the camp, the city and the ruins were gone, replaced by tall, red walls with dragon skulls mounted on them, ranging in sizes from the size of two men atop one another, to the tiniest one being the size of an apple. A set of stairs led up to a massive chair made from melted-together swords, although each looked sharp enough to cut any who sat there to pieces.
The Phoenix put Lelouch on her feet and a black stag, a silver wolf, and a golden lioness stood by the throne. The stag bowed its head, pointing sharp antlers at the lioness and the wolf began to snarl. The lioness snarled back. Behind her were three tiny cubs lined up like ducklings. The first one was skinny and looked sickly. Part of an ear was missing and the eyes were almost shut. He started growling and pushing his head into the floor as he walked in circles before going to his mother's legs and starting to gnaw on one. A bear and a small, red lizard with three heads appeared and began to swat and snap at both the lioness and the wolf and stag. Atop the throne, a small, silver mockingbird sat watching, making a noise when it suited him. Off of one sword, a spider hung. Lelouch didn't know how she spotted it but it swung from side to side between the lizard and the lioness.
On the steps leading to the chair, more animals began to appear. A fox, small black fauns, birds, fish, more stags, more lions, more wolves, more lizards, ducks, roosters, squids, griffins, bats, moose, dogs, horses, crocodiles, warthogs, turtles, and mermaids and -to Lelouch's horror- a man with no skin.
"They will fight. It is the only way. Time will tell us when but there is no doubt that they fight for one thing." Lelouch looked around for the deep voice's owner but there was no other person in the room aside from the flayed man and he was focused on the throne.
"What in the-" The Phoenix squawked and Lelouch turned as fire poured from the creature's beak, bathing the girl in the warmth they brought.
Lelouch snapped awake and looked around. Suzaku, Nunnally and Rolo were still asleep and the fire had died. The girl got up and looked outside at the dark night sky.
"What was that?" she breathed as she went back into her tent.
Lelouch sighed a little to herself as she climbed into her saddle. Her black mare whinnied in protest as the teen plopped into the riding instrument. She patted the dark neck as Rolo rode up beside her, pulling Nunnally's bay mare alongside his stallion.
"Good news, Ave wants us to ride upfront with him today."
"What significance does that hold, exactly?"
"Means he wants you and Nunnally in places of honor. As his daughters, you'll ride near him Dany and myself. Its his acceptance of you two. You ask me, our new mother had a nice effect on him last night," the teen said with a smile. Lelouch shot him a heated glare.
"Never speak of such things around Nunnally again." Rolo chuckled a little as the last of the tents came down and the khalassar began to leave. A group of slaves were moving ahead with long blades, cutting down thick grasses and clearing the path for the horde. Khal Drogo took the lead within moments and Rolo was in-step right behind him. Dany rode just on the outer flanks of his bloodriders, dressed as a Khalessi in similar clothes to Lelouch and Nunnally.
The girls fell into stride with their step-mother and a man rode alongside them. He had sandy-grey hair, a goatee and was built like a bear. He was dressed in similar clothes to Viserys but in more dark green colors.
Lelouch regarded the man and he matched her gaze.
"May I ask why you're staring at me like that, Khalakki?" he asked gently.
"Who exactly are you?"
"Ser Jorah Mormont of Bear Island. I hail from the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros."
"Then why are you here?" Lelouch asked.
"I was banished by King Robert. When I heard the true King was here, I decided to do something right and put him where he belongs," the man said calmly. Lelouch narrowed her eyes and wrapped her reins around her hand.
"I don't exactly trust that story. But, so long as you don't hurt my family or do anything to make someone else do so, I'll tolerate you."
"Lelouch," Dany said, partially annoyed. Lelouch shrugged.
"You may very well learn to think the same, Dany." The Khalessi shook her head and the journey continued with all three girls asking the knight of Westeros or anything he knew of the Dothraki. After some time, Lelouch and Nunnally pulled back to ride by Suzaku. Khal Drogo looked back at them from time to time and Lelouch could see his eyes soften at them as if he wanted to smile but couldn't in front of his men. Often, though, his eyes looked sad, as though he pitied them. Either way, Lelouch simply surmised it as Rolo simply telling their story to him. Many times, he would share a glance with his Khalessi.
Rolo looked back at his sisters around midday and pulled on his reins until they were closer to him.
"Ave wants you to know, the men are going ahead to hunt for the evening meal. I'm staying here for Dany." Lelouch looked behind them at Viserys who was glaring at them.
"Is it just me or does he seem to not like us?" the raven-haired girl whispered to her brother.
"If he liked us at all, I'd be surprised. He expected to get all of Ave's men once Dany was married. He never expected Ave to have me or adopt you and Nunnally."
"Why would we matter? Isn't it men that Dothraki follow?" Nunnally asked as Drogo and his bloodriders galloped ahead.
"Yes, its true Dothraki follow only men. But you two can be married to other Khals," Rolo said pointedly. Lelouch sighed.
"Even here we're just political tools?" Dany looked over at the teens and pulled on her reins.
"Tell them all to stop," she ordered. Rolo and Jorah gave her looks of confusion.
"You want the entire horde to stop?" Rolo asked as he pulled on his reins.
"For how long?" Jorah asked.
"Until I command them otherwise," Dany said, almost sounding impatient. Jorah smirked a little and Lelouch couldn't help but feel a spall bit of pride bloom in her chest.
"You're learning to talk like a Queen," Jorah commented.
"Not a Queen," Dany said with a slight smirk as she looked over at Lelouch. "A Khalessi." Lelouch smiled a little as Rolo turned and ordered the horde to stop and Dany dismounted, walking into the thick bamboo.
"Think she's alright?" Rolo asked.
"I hope so," Lelouch said. The girl craned her neck to catch sight of Dany's silvery hair.
Dany released a shaky breath as she came to a stop in a small clearing. Her skin felt almost unbearably cold despite the sweat running down the back of her neck.
Her stomach made an almost treacherous churn and she felt bile make its way up her throat. She swallowed down the feeling, telling herself she would not be sick.
Somewhere close-by, the leaves in the trees rustled. The sound of hooves gave her a few ideas who it could be. Her husband might have seen her dismount and had sent one of his new children to find her or came after her himself, or maybe Jorah was coming to make sure she was alright.
A new cold sweat broke out when it was Viserys who emerged from the trees, swinging his sword wildly. His eyes were dark and alight with madness.
"You dare!" he roared, making the Khalessi step back a little. "You give commands to me? To me?!" The Beggar King dismounted and grabbed Dany by the throat. The girl's eyes never left her brother's sword.
Fear drowned out his words as Dany's eyes looked into her brother's wild ones, then back to his sword, then to the trees.
Instantly, Dany began praying to the Seven, the old gods, the Great Stallion, anyone who could hear her that something would happen and Viserys would release her
"Do you hear me?" Viserys hissed as he raised his sword so the tip was just over the skin above his thumb.
A horse whinnied, catching the attention of both siblings as Rhakaro and Suzaku rode out from the bamboo and towards Viserys. He released Dany and the two horsemen began circling him, Rhakaro twirling his whip above his head and Suzaku held a coil of rope with a noose at the end.
Viserys took another step back and Rhakaro snapped his whip around the man's neck as Suzaku caught his foot and both pulled, yanking the madman off his feet. Rolo, Lelouch and Nunnally rode out from the bamboo, Lelouch immediately by Dany's side and inspecting her throat for injuries. Rolo dismounted, pulled out his bone knife and bent over Viserys, firmly planting a knee on his uncle's chest and pointing the edge of the blade at his face.
"What will you have us do mother?"
"What?" Dany asked, her mind still trying to catch up with all that had occurred.
"Do you want him dead?" Rolo asked, never once taking his eyes away from his uncle's.
"No!" the Khalessi screamed. Rolo glanced towards her then back at his uncle.
"If you won't have him killed, then maybe you should have his ear cut off, just to teach him respect." Rolo's blade touched against the lobe of Viserys' ear. He looked towards his sister in desperation.
"Please! Please, don't hurt him," she begged. Lelouch eyed her then Rolo, who turned a similar look towards his mother, as if he was expecting something.
"You're a Khalessi, Dany, not a mouse," Lelouch whispered. Dany nodded, took a deep breath and stood up straight.
"Rolo, I do not want my brother harmed," she said, much more confident than before. Rolo glared at his uncle then sheathed his blade. He gave an order to Rhakaro, who released the tension in the whip. Suzaku dropped his rope and moved over to where Lelouch's horse and Nunnally were waiting. The raven-haired girl moved back to her horse and Suzaku made a foothold with his hands. The girl looked at his hands then his face. He eyed the horse as if silently saying, 'Hurry up.' Lelouch set her boot into the curve of his fingers and let him hoist her into the saddle as Jorah came into the clearing with Irri and Dany's horse.
"Is all well?" he asked. Viserys jerked around at the knight's voice and his eyes became wild again.
"Mormont! Kill these Dothraki dogs!" he screamed, beating a hand on the hard earth. Rhakaro and Suzaku eyed the man as he turned to look at Dany. "I am your King!" Lelouch rolled her eyes.
"Shall we return to the Khalessar, Khalessi?" Dany nodded and made her way to her silver. Irri put her hands into a foothold and Dany let her help get the young lady into her saddle. One by one, the riders fell into a formation with Dany in the lead, Jorah and Rolo behind her, Lelouch, Nunnally and Suzaku behind them and Rhakaro bringing up the rear with Viserys' now burden-less horse.
Lelouch chuckled a little, knowing that Viserys was being reduced to the same stature of a slave. Nunnally couldn't help her giggles either.
Dany looked back at the girls and smiled. Rolo offered her a warm smile as they stepped back onto the trail and the horde began to move again.
Lelouch stretched contentedly over the furs of Rolo's floor.
"That was an interesting day," she commented. Nunnally giggled.
"The bloodriders are calling Viserys Khal Rhae Mhar," Rolo said as he shed his gold belt and tossed it onto his bed.
"King Sore Foot?!" Nunnally bent over herself again, clutching at her stomach as she giggled.
"Wish I could have seen his face when Rhakaro told him to walk," Lelouch added. Rolo nodded as he sat down by the fire.
"You know what I'm wishing for?" he said, looking towards the door. "Dinner." Lelouch and Suzaku shrugged.
"Maybe it's fattier than what we usually have and they're trying to make sure we get meat," Suzaku suggested. Irri stepped in then and bowed low.
"Khalakka, Khalakkis, the Khal and Khalessi want you in their tent," she said softly. "The Khalessi expressed a desire for the family to eat together." Rolo nodded and stood up again.
"If they don't mind, I'll stay close just to make sure Lelouch and Nunnally are safe," Suzaku said as he picked up the smaller of the mentioned two. Irri nodded in understanding.
"I will tell the Khal and Khalessi." With that, Irri left the tent and Rolo began putting his belt back on.
"Does this have some kind of deeper meaning?" Lelouch asked as she brushed off her skirt and the group left the tent.
"Probably Dany just wanting to have a real family and home. So after this afternoon, maybe she wants to thank us or its just a family dinner."
The rest of the walk was made in silence, trying to avoid being seen by the drunk bloodriders who were snatching slave girls right and left. Lelouch didn't miss how Rolo's hand was practically strangling the hilt of his bone-handled knife, knuckles turning white in his grip. The tension didn't lift until both girls entered the Khal's tent.
Lelouch didn't waste time trying to compare the tent of the Khal with that of his son. Many of the items looked the same but for Drogo, they were bigger, more elaborate and far more numerous. Dany and Drogo were seated at a small table spread with food and drink. Behind Dany was a small glass case with three stones covered in ridges like dragon scales resting on sand and surrounded by candles that cast a warm glow over the Khal and Khalessi.
"Rizh," the horselord said with a nod towards Rolo.
"Ave." Lelouch heard Nunnally shift in Suzaku's arms as Drogo looked them over.
"Yeri akat inavva ki Rolo?" You two are Rolo's sisters? Lelouch nodded.
"Sek. Kisha akat inavva ki Rolo," Yes. We are Rolo's sisters. Lelouch said with a nod. Drogo looked to Rolo who nodded as well. Dany smiled and gestured the girls sit next to her. Suzaku set Nunnally down by the white-haired woman and backed away until he stood by the door.
Drogo's eyes didn't leave the teen as Lelouch sat down.
"Kirekhdirgi hash mae vikovarerat?" Why does he remain? Lelouch almost cast a glance at the teen but kept her eyes on the food in front of her.
"Khalakki savidosalat ki anna. Anha vikovarerat kash Khalakki astolat esemrasalat," Suzaku replied coolly. I protect the Khalakkis. I remain until the Khalakkis say to leave. Drogo raised a brow and a smirk appeared on his face as if he was pleased.
"If you want to stay near, stand guard outside," Lelouch ordered over her shoulder. Suzaku nodded and left the tent.
"Anha tiholat asshekh yeri vijazerat mai, fini tawak jini." I understand today you all defended your mother, what is the truth of this?
"Hash yeri dothrakhqoyi vos astat, ave?" Did your bloodriders not tell you, father? Rolo asked.
"Anha charat san vekhika, vosma Anha zalat me ha gomma ki mori haz thilat." I hear many things, but I want to know what happened from the mouths of those who saw it.
Lelouch started explaining what she could, with Rolo jumping in with a correction or addition intermittently, but as the story went on, Drogo's eyes darkened more and more. His fist clenched and Dany began casting nervous glances towards the teenagers.
By the end of it, Drogo was livid and Lelouch was almost afraid she'd said too much.
"Anna Khal," My Khal. Dany said gently, putting a her hand over that of her husband.
"Yer laz addrivat mae vosma yer okkat vijazerolat mae edavrasa atthirar. Hash mae frakhat yer save hash Anha tat rissat torga mae ven eshina," You could kill him but you chose to save his miserable life. If he touches you like that again, I'll cut out his stomach like a fish. Drogo said with finality. Dany nodded.
"Anha hash vos astolat ki mel. Jin atak lanlekhi kisha ray ven rhojosor ma Anha zalat nesolat qisi yalli anni," Let us not speak of bad. This is the first dinner we will have as a family and I want to learn of my children. Dany said, turning to Nunnally.
After that, dinner was filled with nothing but laughter and joy.
Lelouch felt her heart fill with warmth and she couldn't help but smile. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had a dinner like this. No formality, no condescending tones, and parents who actually wanted to know her. The meal was plain, the packed earth hard, Drogo and Rolo were belching aloud whenever they pleased but it had to be the best dinner Lelouch had ever had.
Not once did Drogo or Dany ask about the children's past and Lelouch was grateful for it. Never once did they ask Dany about her past. Drogo would mention his own only when he would tell a story he'd heard as a child. Lelouch supposed it was just the new, unspoken rule about family dinner; no talking about your past unless you wanted to and no asking.
The fire no longer bothered Lelouch. She simply stood where she was and waited for the Phoenix. But he did not come.
"You are her," said the deep voice from earlier. Lelouch looked around but saw no one.
"Who's there?" she demanded. She turned around again and found herself in a small, stone room with three walls and a ceiling so low, she had to curl into a ball. The missing one opened to a larger room. She crawled out into the larger room and looked around. Everything was dark and right in front of her was a bed covered in thick furs. Under the furs was a young boy, probably fifteen or so, with dark brown, curly hair and pale skin.
"The one they call Snow," said the voice. "He will need your aid."
"Why?"
"Winter is Coming." Lelouch turned and the Phoenix stood in the fireplace, having somehow shrunk itself to the point of standing fully upright within the small space. It turned to her and she walked over to it, reaching a hand towards it. The bird breathed out its warm fire onto her fingers and the flames licked their way up her arms, over her pants until her entire body was consumed in fire.
A slight groan from the bed caused Lelouch to turn back to Snow as he sat up in bed. For a second, his deep grey eyes met with her own. She blinked and the boy, the room, the bed, everything vanished into blackness. A crow cawed somewhere in the distance.
OUALD: Alright. That's all for now. I hope you all liked this chapter and I am trying to make them longer but I'm doing it slowly because it's a new terrain for me. But in any event, can any of you tell me the places Lelouch saw burning? Please review! Love y'all!