I don't know if you'll be surprised with this particular chapter but I had been thinking about it for a while. Some things had led to this point and I'd like to hear - read - your reactions.
As usual, thank you for your support.
Chapter 22 : Maternal Instinct
"You can't!" Daenerys hissed, her hands almost trembling over the surface of the Maester's desk. She felt her muscles tensing with rage and pain. Sorrow. This was bad news and she dreaded only the thought of saying it to Robb. "You have to keep this from him."
Maester Luwin frowned at his clasped hands. "Your Grace, I must remind you I've served your husband's family for a very long time, and I have never kept anything from them. Especially not when they involve one of the children I brought to this world."
Closing her eyes, trying to calm herself down enough to clear her mind, Dany tried again. "Please. You must listen to me. Robb…" her voice broke and she doubted the reasons behind it. What was he going to do? Would he lose his mind because of his rage? Would he turn bitter towards everyone? She only knew what his first measure would be. "He will kill the Kingslayer. He'll behead him as soon as he finds him."
"Are you questioning his decisions?" The older man looked at her inquisitively but his voice was soft and wise like always. It was hard to imagine him rushing into anything without giving it a proper thought. Fortunately for her, she was glad it calmed her.
"No, because that it is what his heart wants but it's not going to help him politically."
"And if he doesn't take revenge, do you believe it will be better for him?"
Probably, she thought. Not in the present time since most of his men would perceive it as weakness but showing a bit of mercy would be of great help if he planned on ruling lands still divided by many who wanted to become king.
"I know that northerners do not approve of mercy like this."
"Your Grace, they sent us Sansa's finger as a threat."
Scowling at the piece of fabric in which the finger was enveloped, Dany felt like crying. Catelyn was about to arrive home and the last thing she deserved was to find out one of her children was being tortured. It would devastate her. Dany couldn't bear the thought of someone hurting her child. It would destroy her to see Iagan maimed and she would kill whoever did it with her bare hands.
The Lannisters had done too much damage to them.
"But it wasn't Jaime who did it. It was his father. He is the one behind everything and the day I find him, I'm going to rip open his throat and burn him with my dragons for everything he has done to my family and the Starks."
Maester Luwin smiled faintly at her, as if he had seen something in her speech, something she had lacked before. "You speak like a mother and a queen. You reminded me of Lady Catelyn. Maybe the North is mixing with your blood."
"The North's heir was in my womb. I am part of the North and it is because of that, because of my love for my people and family that I ask you not to tell him." She knew it was probably not something reasonable to ask since he served her husband and not her. He owed everything to Robb as the King and he would always come first but she hoped she had proved herself before.
"I can't let this go without punishment for the love I have to the Starks."
"I'm not asking you that." Daenerys straightened her back and smoothed her hands on the skirt of her dress, her chin high in defiance. "I will deal out justice. I will defend my family, and Tywin Lannister will see that you can't tame the North or a Dragon."
"Your Grace," Maester Luwin called in a murmur. "What are you planning on doing?"
"He sent us a finger. I'll send him a hand," she stated firmly. "And I know who will do this."
"Jorah Mormont will be punished by the King if he does do this behind his back, and more likely than not that will cost him his head, his old sentence," Maester Luwin informed and Dany knew that was correct. Robb would see it as treason and he would not like to find out she had been talking to the man without his approval. Her husband was insanely jealous of Jorah.
"I will not ask Ser Jorah to do this but it will be a Mormont the one doing this for me."
"My lady," Maester Luwin called warningly. "Surely you have noticed how close Dacey and the Kingslayer are now that they fight together." But it was more than just closeness during a fight. Daenerys had seen them interacting, talking and training in the courtyard.
The lady of Bear Island might have told her she didn't dream about marrying a man, but that didn't mean she could make herself stop feeling attraction for a man. And Dacey was a beautiful woman, such a beautiful woman that Jaime Lannister had also tried to romance her, despite the rumors that said he had no eyes for anyone but Cersei.
"I do know. This will also serve me to test her loyalty to us."
"She could grow resentful of this."
"Through pain, we learn. We are in the middle of a war and she swore to protect us. She has to keep her word."
-o-
It had been a long time since she had manipulated him this way. In reality, she had never manipulated him because the first time she tried, he refused her advances like the good boy he was. But he was no longer that innocent boy, yet he was far easier to distract. When his heart was in her hands, Robb just accepted whatever she offered.
Shuddering pleasantly as his lips traveled down the column of her neck, playfully sucking and licking at her skin, across her shoulders, Dany felt he could also have that power over her. She trusted in him with her life. He had done such a magnificent job at keeping her safe and happy, it was easy to forget why she had found herself in his bed, as his lover.
It was a conflicting situation for her. The love she felt for him was so strong, so overwhelming, she often wondered if her decisions were made thinking about him, them or her.
Inside her there was still the yearning for being queen, for following traditions and demonstrate her house was not extinct. They had never lost their power. And yet she also wanted Robb to be King on his own right, to win and prove himself worthy of not only her as a wife but also of the honor of avenging his father.
"Robb," she gasped as his fingers travelled up her sides, the rough pads of his fingers leaving a trail of fire on her skin. His beard grazed against her tender skin before he bit on her ear, chuckling deep in his throat.
"My Queen," he breathed out, making her tremble.
His eyes were openly looking into hers, searching for something deep in her soul. She was his and there was nothing that could say the opposite. He knew it. Robb loved her.
That sense of power, the knowledge of it made him feel powerful and it was addicting.
He might have been a Stark, silent and superbly loyal, but like any man, he wanted more. Power was for his to take and, given the chance, he wouldn't refuse it.
Her hands traveled up his spine, from his backside to rest between his strong shoulders, her nails scratching the taut muscles. He was everything she could have dreamt about for her perfect king, for the father of her heir.
He collapsed, rolling on his back to lie next to her. Pressing a kiss to her shoulder, Robb prompted her to turn to him. She happily hugged him, throwing one arm over his stomach while she placed her head on his shoulder, feeling the kiss pressed to her hair.
"I love you," she murmured and tightened her hold on him, fearing that one day she wouldn't be able to have him like this, at her side feeling so much love.
Humming dreamily, Robb closed his eyes.
Dany looked up to see him smiling as he drifted off.
She only hoped his future would be this peaceful and that she could be by his side during that journey.
-o-
Robb's mother arrived one afternoon, while snowflakes fell lightly covering the ground.
Rickon almost jumped with excitement, and wanted to run to meet his mother when he saw her horse at the distance. Daenerys stopped him by holding his hand and asking him to wait, just a moment longer.
She could see Catelyn's smile from the distance and imagined what she would feel as a mother, if she hadn't seen Iagan for a very long time. Dany's heart clenched, and she grinned as well. She was immensely happy for Robb's younger siblings since they needed the warmth and comfort of their mother. They had missed her so terribly, even if she had tried to do the best she could for them but it was impossible to replace a mother figure.
Another person was riding beside Catelyn and, at first, Daenerys thought it was a man due to the size of the knight but, as they approached, she realized it was a woman probably a bit taller than Dacey and much more muscular. She wasn't very pretty and there was worry and sadness etched on her face.
"My boys," Catelyn cooed, almost jumping off her horse at the sight of Rickon and Bran on Hodor's back. She hugged her children tight to her chest and peppered kisses on their cheeks.
It was the first time Daenerys had seen Bran grin so widely since she had met him.
"You must tell me everything you've done."
Rickon seemed happy at the thought. "Would you tell us stories?"
"Many," Catelyn promised. "But first I want to meet my grandson." She looked at Dany and they both shared a soft laugh before the older woman trapped the young queen in a hug. "Is he strong? Healthy?"
"He's magnificent," Dany whispered with a watery smile. "Like his father, you'll see."
"Mother," Robb interrupted, trying to sound imposing and cold but the love for his mother showed despite everything. "Welcome home."
"Oh, my boy."
It was the first time Robb had only smiled at the term. He would always be a boy in his mother's eyes and that would never upset him, because who could refuse the warm love of a mother? Robb might have been taller and stronger, but Catelyn hugged him just like she had hugged Rickon. No differences for they were all a part of her.
Daenerys decided she was right. She wouldn't taint this moment by telling them about the note that had arrived from King's Landing. She would keep the secret of the harm done to Sansa and deal with it herself.
-o-
She walked around the castle in search of Dacey. The need of sending the message to Tywin was urgent. The longer it took her to reply, the more Tywin would believe they had doubts about what they were doing.
After dinner that night, after Catelyn had introduced them to Brienne of Tarth, her new personal guard, Dany had decided it was the right time to execute her plan. Robb and Catelyn had left to discuss the future of the North and Winterfell, war and its possible outcome, which gave her enough time.
Walking past the room in which Robb and his mother were speaking, Daenerys saw Brienne standing outside, standing tall and strong like one of the most fearsome soldiers. She seemed like a woman who would be loyal until her death. Catelyn had chosen a good guard.
As she climbed down the stairs, Daenerys remembered what Doreah and Jhiqui had told her about Dacey and the Kingslayer. According to her handmaidens, the two soldiers had been doing more than training in the stables – and it had not been as if Dany hadn't expected it. They were free to do with their bodies as they pleased as long as it didn't affect their judgment. Besides, according to Doreah, who took great delight in witnessing such scenes, the Kingslayer had been subdued by Dacey.
Danerys only hoped that those games meant just lust and nothing more.
Gently knocking on the door, Daenerys waited.
Dacey's eyes were wide when she saw her standing there, and quickly opened the door to let her in. "Your Grace, you should have sent someone for me if you needed me."
"I could not do that, since what I am about to ask you must remain private," Daenerys said, sounding more like a queen than ever before. She had to separate her heart from her mind, think about what was best for Robb and the Seven Kingdoms.
"Of course. You know I am at your service."
"You are, aren't you? You will keep your word and keep us safe," Daenerys reminded and soon saw the doubt and the unspoken questions in Dacey's face.
"Yes."
With trembling hands she unclasped her hands and outstretched her arms, presenting Dacey the offending present sent from King's Landing. She unwrapped it carefully, and Dacey's face turned pale at the sight of the decomposing finger. "It's Sansa's. The Lannisters have sent it to us as a reminder of what they can do to her, as a threat for us to retreat from their lands." She sighed, eyes trained on the finger before she scowled at it, covering it. "We will show them we do not fear them and, for that, we'll send them a present of our own."
Dacey was a smart woman and soon knew what Daenerys was asking. "Are you sure? Is the King aware of it?"
"It's a personal favor. And I ask of your help as a friend to my most loyal guard." She was looking into Dacey's dark eyes when she said, "You must cut the Kingslayer's hand."
"But, Your Grace, he won't be able to fight. He will be of no use to us." Dacey was frantic but her excuses were not very convincing.
"His left hand. I'm sure he'll survive. Besides, what is it for a soldier like him but another reminder of war? Of his bravery? I'm sure he'll be thankful for my decision, for my husband would have chosen his head instead of a hand."
Understanding the decision, and knowing there was no way to convince her other way, Dacey nodded. "Yes, Your Grace."
"We'll do it now."
"Now?"
"We need to do this as secretly as possible." Danerys pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and walked past Dacey to leave the room. "Go for the Lion and bring him to the stables. He doesn't deserve honor."
"Your Grace?"
Dany turned to Dacey and saw the pleading look in her eyes, her beauty almost shining thanks to it. "Please let me do it in the courtyard and not among the dirt and hay."
"For you, not him," said Daenerys after a second, leaving before Dacey asked for more since she didn't know if there was mercy left in her.
-o-
She would be the only witness of this, of Dacey's trembling limbs as she held the sword, of Jaime's look of acceptance as he knelt there, his arm on the same surface where wood was cut every day.
It was hard to understand why he looked at Dacey with a small smile, as if she was already forgiven. They did not speak a word but it wasn't needed. They could pretend to hate each other but that was very far from reality.
"Do you have something for me to bite on?" Jaime asked her, as serious as he could be while seeing the blade and his arm, ready for his punishment. Ready to face his destiny.
Daenerys looked distant and emotionless. "I want you to scream. Like my mother screamed. Like Bran did when he fell. Like I'm sure Sansa did when your father ordered to hurt her. Like my niece and nephew, you shall scream."
And that's how the secret was revealed, as the scream broke the silence and the blood stained the white snow in the courtyard.