As usual, thanks for your reviews.

Now, I must say that I enjoy and like this chapter much more than the previous one (and therefore, I hope you like it better as well). Many surprises ahead.

Chapter 9 : Mother of Dragons

Since the day Robb had left, Dany felt something missing. It was certainly different to be quarreled with him and choose not to share a bed for a night than to not have him at all.

There was a quality about him that was hard to ignore – he made Winterfell feel warmer and livelier just by his sole presence. She noticed she wasn't the only one who felt that way since Rickon and Bran also seemed to miss him as badly.

Bran disliked his duties as a lord and Rickon felt lonelier than before which Daenerys tried to help with by playing with him or inviting him to the library, hoping that he would also learn a bit since he was too wild to enjoy his education.

Lately she had acquired the habit of reading about her own lineage and seeing what had driven them to this point of near extinction.

She had also written letters in the best words she could find to the lords she thought would be loyal to her and her husband, planning on a future as rulers of their respective kingdoms. Dorne had been quick to answer – their dislike towards the Lannisters was something known even if they tried to conceal it. Under Maester Luwin's advice she had decided against writing to the Tyrells, claiming that they were too interested in their status to play against the current but illegitimate king. So she had sent a raven to the Rowans - but with more faith she sent another to Randyll Tarly, a man who was a famous and seasoned soldier who had defeated Robert Baratheon once.

Worry invaded her all the time and she felt queasy at the thought of Robb being hurt during battle.

"My lady," Maester Luwin interrupted as she thought about the possible outcomes of war.

She lifted her head to see the gentle smile on the old man's face. There was something about him that gave her peace – maybe because the man had welcome each of the Stark children into this world, and no evil man could have been around such good children.

"This concern about him will not do you any good," he said in the voice that demonstrated the wisdom he had acquired through the years. "He's a smart man, raised by an honorable man and a caring woman."

"It scares me because he's so… warmhearted," she murmured and sighed heavily at the thought of her waking up with his arms around her and his grumbling when he had to leave the bed.

"Men of the north are different, Lady Daenerys," Maester Luwin commented. "They are the opposite from those in the south – the cold teaches them mercy and the importance of family but it makes them just and keeps their minds clear. For that, their hearts are warmer."

She turned her eyes down as she nodded. "I just… miss him."

"You feel you should not?"

A feeble smile found its way to her lips. "Yes. I believe I shouldn't because we barely know each other."

"Is that so? Have you not learned his likes and dislikes, his quirks and to read him?" Maester Luwin offered good-naturedly and Dany had to widen her smile at that. "He might be a lord and you might be a lady, both from families with histories longer than books could tell. But that's not all you are."

"So it's not wrong of me to miss him as terribly as I do?" Her hands were soon placed over her belly, rubbing lightly her flat stomach only to hug herself tightly as tears threaten to fall down the corners of her eyes.

"My lady?" Maester Luwin called with a pinch of worry but also as calm as he always tried to be.

Tears ran down her cheeks beyond her control and her lips pressed together in a tight line. "I know. I feel it inside me but I don't want to believe it."

"You're with child," the old man stated, confident of reading the signs she had thought she had hidden so well.

Over the time Robb had been away, she had felt different and, after going through one pregnancy before, she knew the signs. She couldn't believe she would get pregnant but she hadn't drunk moon tea or discouraged Robb's advances – in fact, she had found herself enjoying his eagerness for learning her body. Robb was a wonderful lover, one who ignited a fire in her soul and body.

Hiding the signs, she had kept herself busy, only trusting her secret in Irri who helped her silently or so she thought.

"Your handmaid, Irri, she was worried. She asked for the customs here, and told me about the stallion heart."

Daenerys chuckled through her tears not having the heart to be angry at Irri, who had only tried to help her as much as she could.

"I doubt we'll need to perform such ceremonies," Maester Luwin quipped.

"No, we won't need such things." Dany sighed and sniffled, carefully wiping away her stubborn tears. "But I don't want to write to Robb. This is no news you send with a raven and… I don't want anyone else knowing."

"Your secret is safe with me, my lady," Maester Luwin promised.

"I don't want anyone to know about this. One thing is people knowing about me being his wife but is different if they know I'm carrying his heir." She pressed the pads of her fingers against her belly and frowned. "We both were born during war. Maybe this was meant to happen."

"There is something you don't want to tell me. You have made up your mind, have you not?" The man asked and once again she looked at him a bit surprised, thinking that there must have been a spell on the wall of the Great Keep that made all the people inside them be as good and honorable as they could be.

She nodded. "I need to tell him. I need him."

"You know is dangerous, not only because of your condition but because of who you are and where you are going."

"I'll take Irri with me and two of my dragons. And I've ridden before until birth." She stood up and approached him. "I'll trust in you as Robb does." She chuckled at the man's smile and the way he nodded at her words. "And I'll be back soon since he will probably send me here as soon as he can. Knowing him, he won't be too happy with my visit."

"You are about to be surprised. Starks are very solitary but welcoming people."

"So I've heard," she jibed. "Now I'll have to speak to our current lord. Hopefully, Bran will be happy that I'll write with news more often than Robb does."

"He'll miss you."

"I'll miss them too."

Dany was walking out of the library, feeling more comforted after sharing her secret and also after voicing her decision to go to Robb and ease her heart once and for all – the man had barely written to her two letters and he hadn't doubted for a moment to scold her about writing to other lords to join him but he had also shared a few words that swam in her head at night.

Grey Wind howls at the moon at night. I might join him. I miss snowdrops and blue winter roses.

She knew a few children that had seen her called her Lady Snowdrop. And she had fallen in love with blue winter roses – and Robb had asked Jhiqui to always keep fresh ones in their chambers while he was away.

Maester Luwin tapped a finger on the open book she had discarded on a desk and said, "You know you're not the last Targaryen alive." Dany turned to him. "Maester Aemon, serving to the Night's Watch. Very wise man."

"Not all Targaryens are mad, I suppose," she offered.

"History proves us there are many great rulers amongst you."

"Do you believe Robb would be a good king?" she questioned.

"He's been raised to be an honorable man, merciful and brave. He is beloved by his people. But he's not a man who plays the games of politics. He judges based on other's actions and for that he might not see the benefit on playing them to his favor."

Daenerys nodded, understanding what Robb lacked to be successful as a king if he ever sat on the throne.

"He'd need someone trustworthy at his side. Someone who sees beyond what he believes is fair."

And maybe that was what had drove Eddard Stark to his current position. They believed so firmly in justice and honor that they didn't bother to play dirty, to see that for greater good, they would need to take some questionable decisions.

"Will I ever win his trust?"

Maester Luwin smiled. "I think you already have it. You have proof."

Instinctively her hand fell upon her stomach and she grinned, looking down.

-o-

Having to say goodbye to Bran had been difficult. She had sat with him and explained she was leaving to join Robb. She never said anything about her pregnancy, afraid that the situation would put more weight over his small shoulders. She knew that through her, much damage could be done to Robb and that was the last thing she wished for.

"I'll leave Viserion with you. You'll feed him and train him." Dany smiled encouragingly at the boy and placed a hand over his arm when his eyes widened. "I trust you and I know that when he's big enough, you will ride him. Doreah and Jhiqui will help you with him and in return he'll be loyal to you, he'll protect Winterfell with you."

"But how will I train him?" He scowled at his legs and then his eyes fell upon Hodor. "I can't."

"You can. I know so. You'll find a way. You and me, we are survivors, Bran, and as such we always find a way."

Saying goodbye to Rickon almost broke her heart. The boy needed so much love. The only thing he longed for was someone who would take care of him, to hold him whenever he was scared – and that loneliness reminded her of her childhood, of how much she had missed to have a mother with her.

"Will you bring Robb back?" Rickon asked in a little voice as his fingers dug in Shaggydog's fur, petting him in a compulsory fashion, to ease his nervousness.

"I'll try. But I will return, Rickon. I promise, even if Robb can't come back now, I will."

"Mother said the same," he scowled and tugged Shaggy's fur so hard that the direwolf growled deep in his throat.

Cradling his little face in her hands, Dany shook her head. "You need to believe me. I need you to trust me because I'm trusting in you and Bran to take care of Viserion. He'll keep you safe for me, until my return."

"But they are bigger and Robb said not to leave the castle."

Dany smiled at his words. He was so little but followed his brother's words as if they were law.

"There's the godswood and before he's too big for it, you won't need to hide here anymore."

Rickon nodded firmly before letting go of Shaggydog and clinging to her skirts, his small arms winding around her waist. Her hand carefully fell on his back and the other on Rickon's curly hair. She was sad to leave him but she was sure she would honor her promises.

-o-

Maester Luwin refused to let her go alone with Irri and her two dragons that were now the size of cats but growing much rapidly every day. So for her safety, he had delayed Yoren's departure to King's Landing. The recruiter of the Night's Watch was quite ugly and had poor manners but what he lacked in those, he had in loyalty.

"Want me to take you to King's Landing, my lady?" He said as he spat the juice of sourleaf right next to them and onto the snow.

"No," she replied, pulling the hood of her cloak over her head to cover the telltale of her inheritance. "I want to go to my husband."

"You don't want to take your throne now?"

She looked at him into his eyes and clenched her jaw. "I want to find my king first. I'll go to him and if you won't take me matters little to me because I will meet him anyway."

His lips twisted into the semblance of a smile. "I'll take you to him." He tugged her hood more firmly over her head. "But out there you follow my rules."

She respected a man who made himself deserve such honor and despite all of Yoren's glaring flaws, he had a few virtues that balanced things out.

-o-

She didn't remember taking so long to arrive to Winterfell when she had ridden with Robb but now, finding her way to him seemed to take forever. Daenerys wanted to ride all day and night until she was with him, until she could sink her fingers into his hair and feel his lips on hers. She felt words lodged in her throat at the thought of telling him she carried his child.

Yoren had scolded her more than once and she had to bite her tongue. She wouldn't jeopardize her plans in favor to be prideful.

The last day, she felt tired but she would keep riding without a pause. A hunch told her he needed her as much as she needed him and it wasn't just about politics or for her to convince him about fighting for her and the throne.

After days, they finally caught sight of the camp and the thousands of men at Robb's service.

Her heart beat wildly in her chest and Flacor, her horse, was spurred to run as fast as he could while she clung to him.

Irri behind her called for her. "Khaleesi!" was what Daenerys heard at the distance but the Dothraki woman couldn't follow her since she was carrying one of her dragons in its small cage and wasn't driven by the urge to meet someone she missed, like Daenerys was.

She only slowed down enough to look for Robb through the army around them. Her instinct and luck soon took her to the right place and she saw the familiar head covered in auburn hair. Robb had her back to him but soon Catelyn, standing in front of him, saw Dany.

His mother's eyes widened and it was only then he turned and saw her. His eyes didn't show surprise but his body kept still, as if he didn't know what to do.

Daenerys dismounted her horse and smiled at him before she walked to him, each step faster than the last until she found herself in front of him.

He looked older, as if in his time away he had aged years. His eyes seemed colder but soon they melted at her sight and his full lips barely curved at the corners while hers split her face into a wide grin.

"Wolf," she murmured.

"You couldn't listen to me."

She chuckled and shook her head while her eyes filled with happy tears at the sight of him unharmed. "I told you, I'm not a dutiful wife."

He swallowed hard and clenched his teeth. Before she knew it, he had sunk his fingers in her mane of platinum hair and kissed her fervently. Her eyes shut tightly and she relished in his warmth, feeling pleased that he showed her how much he had missed her. Her hands gripped his furs and refused to let him go.

"We can't talk here," Robb breathed out, pressing his forehead to hers. "I can't tell you how stubborn and stupid you are," he said through clenched teeth but with a smile.

"Just like you."

"No," he murmured and only then she followed his gaze after he had uttered that single syllable.

Every man around her was watching either her or her horse, where Drogon roared in his cage. In the midst of her race to Robb, her hood had fallen and it wasn't hard for them to guess who she was. Things were more complicated though, because now they had seen her dragons and it was no time until news travelled around Westeros about the Mother of Dragons and her alliance with the Starks.

"You planned on keeping me a secret for the rest of our lives?"

He breathed deeply and released the air in a slow, calming breath. "No."

"Good, because there is more you need to know."